#i really wanted to paint this but i didn't have time to :(

[jayhyunglover]

On the first snowfall

Fairytale AU

Prince! Zayne x princess! Reader

Contents: depictions of violence (not hardcore because I am soft) , mentions of injuries and blood , slightly suggestive at the end , childhood friends to lovers. Angst but happy ending (yippie)

Synopsis: only a true love kiss can bring him back (based off Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs )

Word count : 8.9k

A/N: this took me forever to finish (4 days to be exact). It's my first long fic and English is not my first language so please be kind. Reblogs and like are appreciated. Happy reading !!

"Please Daddy" the toddler tugged at Zayne's sleeve lips jutting out in a small pout that made her resemble so much to her mother

"Ok but you promise you'll go back to bed after" Zayne sighed in defeat it was past curfew and his little angel seemed intent to give him an hard time.

The little girl nodded,  hazel eyes lighting up at the prospect of getting a bedtime story.

Zayne picked her up effortlessly making his way towards the bed to lay down on her bed full of plushies

With his daughter tucked comfortably against his side on the small bed he spoke in a rather monotone voice.

"Once upon a time , in a kingdom far far away lived a prince"

"Was he pretty ?" She interrupted him , voice filled with childlike excitement and wonder.

"According to some yes" he replied making small projections with his evol.

"This prince lived with His dad and never knew his mother"

"What happened to her?" She asked tilting her head like a sad puppy .

Not wanting to crush the 5 years old little girl's spirit Zayne choose his next words carefully.

"She joined the Angels up in the skies where she now look after him" he replied

"Oohh" her lips was forming  a small Oh,  surprise painting her soft features.

Zayne felt his heart melt at the sight , the love he felt for this literally bundle of joy too overwhelming.

"One day the prince's father the king got married to another woman , who had a son" Zayne continued the story while she listened intently,  eyes flickering over the snow figures he created with his evol to animate the story.

"The Queen didn't like our prince none bit"

"Why?" She asked pouting.

"Well because,  my snowflake,  the Queen wanted her son to become the next king" he retorted flicking her nose which make her pout deepens

"But our prince was there first" she huffed crossing her small arms over her chest.

Zayne just smiled patting her hair that was already ruffled from turning in her bed before picking the story where he left it.

"One day there was a big event taking place in the Palace. An hunt where the Winner will have to go in a forest and catch the biggest and fastest animal and bring it back to the Princess to earn a kiss from her"

"You're not considering participating right Zayne?"

Her voice made the young man jolt almost dropping his book.

"You" he looked at her who was standing on her tip toe to peek over his shoulder.

Adjusting his glasses he replied

"I am the Prince of Eladia , it is my duty to attend"

"You know there's no need" she waved him off "I am willing to give you a kiss whenever you-" her words got cut off by Zayne's hand who dragged her in a secluded corner , the tip of his ear flushed red , eyes darting around awkwardly to make sure nobody heard them.

"So you want it now?" She smirked deviously at  him , her words slightly muffled by his hand he hastily removed.

What is wrong with her?

"This is not-" a sigh "this is not what you think" he pinched the bridge of his nose but her smirk just got wider

"Sure your majesty" she nudged his elbow playfully before speaking in a more serious tone "but Seriously Zayne you really shouldn't participate to this hunt"

"And may I know why ?" He shook his head

Not even letting her answer he strutted his way ahead leaving her rotted to her spot.

"Why is he so rude?" The little girl exclaimed making Zayne stammer in his tale , the tip of his ear flushing bright pink.

"He might  be a bit stubborn" he replied before continuing

"I've heard the forest is dangerous with weird creatures roaming in it" she jogged after him but he was quicker , his legs way longer .

"You've  heard,  not seen" he retorted pace not faltering.

What a jerk I am looking out for him and this is how he Thanks me ? She thought to herself.

"But isn't it better to be prepared?" She retorted holding the pans of her dress while literally chasing after him , not even a care for the weird glances the servants and the Guards were casting toward them.

Everyone in this palace knew the Prince of Eladia and the princess of  Eralyon were close.

"I will be" Zayne reassured her finally stopping in his track.

"Fine" she sighed raising her hands in surrender "go ahead and participate but you better win because ain't no way I am kissing that pearlescent frog" she jabbed a finger in his chest earning a small smile from him.

He caught her wrist gently before bringing it to his lips and leave a delicate kiss on her skin.

"Anything for you your highness" he murmured against her skin , hazel eyes looking up at her.

She quickly withdrew her hand from his grasp , feeling her cheeks flush and her heart thump

"Hmm w-well" she stammered , words failling her . Cheeks blushing the prettiest shade of pink he has ever seen.

"All I can say is good luck and make sure to come back in one piece." She uttered after finally regaining her bearings

"I sure will" he nodded but she was already making her way toward God knows where leaving him dumbfounded in the alley.

What's wrong ? Was kissing her wrist inappropriate?

Zayne's eyes followed her form until she turned into a corner. Mind still mulling over her reaction as he made his way to the Royal library to return the book he was reading.

"How I hate this" she muttered herself,  moving her fan like she was wrestling with it , this dress felt too tight , the heat unbearable even if they were outdoor .

The Queen  was sitting on a small platform while the princess was sitting alone on another. The King well wasn't present because he was ill its been 3 months since he doesn't step out of his room. Only the Queen knows about his whereabouts.

The princess's eyes were roaving around the crowd below searching for Zayne When her eyes fell on him she quickly excused herself to go wish him Good luck.

"Zayne" she sauntered over him., eyes filled with a mixture of excitement and worry. 

A small smile crept up Zayne's lips when his eyes fell on her.

"I cant believe you didn't listen to me" she crossed her arms over her chest, a small pout tugging at her lips .

She looked so adorable he caught himself of thinking about leaning down and kissing that pout of her lips.

"I thought you gave me your blessing" he said tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear making a small shiver ran down her spine.

"You were gonna take part with my blessing or not" she retorted batting his hand away. "Just come back safely" she murmured in a small voice hands grasping his

He looked down at their hands before looking back at her face

"Why do you worry so much about me?"

His question seemed to catch her off of guard making her sputter out

"Because you're my friend of course" yet she didn't seem herself convinced by her words "and you have to win because I am not kissing that pearlescent frog you have for a brother" she let go of his hand to cross her arms over her chest .

Zayne was tempted to prob further but the sound of clarion interrupted them.

Before he could hop on his horse she took his hand and left a kiss on the top of his palm.

"Good luck kiss" she winked at him before making her way to her seat leaving him a fluttery mess of heartbeat and flushed cheeks.

The princess made her way toward her seat,  eyes heavy with a mixture of sorrow and sadness she couldn't quite pinpoint.

Zayne rode through the forest mind still reeling from the unexpected kiss she gave him , he could still feel the skin where her lips touched him tingling.

Get a grip Zayne he scolded himself.  You're here for a purpose not to daydream like lovesick fool.

The sound of scrunching leaves made his ear perk up , his horse coming to a stop when he felt a shadowy presence around him.

The forest was eerily quiet,  not even a bird singing only the rustle of leaves could be heard . Drawing his bow , his senses were on high alert ready to eliminate Whatever threat was lurking in this dense forest

"Well well look like his majesty can't even catch a simple prey" his stepbrother's voice Christian echoed , grating his ear as always.

"Christian" he lowered his bow , eyeing him suspiciously. "I dont recall inviting you"

Christian let out a small laugh stepping out the shadow, brown locks neatly styled , gray eyes filled with mischief. Hands raised in mock surrender

"Relax brother we're on the same boat aren't we ?" He grinned pearly white teeth gleaming like fang "both fighting for the princess's Attention and maybe more"

Zayne ignored him getting off of his horse to lead it through the dense foliage.

Christian was never up to no good and he wouldn't let him ruin his day , nope not today not when he has a beautiful princess waiting for him with a kiss.

"Do what you want" Zayne spoke not sparing him a glance. "Just stay out of my way"

Christian just trailed behind him, unnervingly silent

"The princess seems quite fond of you" he observed trying hard to sound disinterested  "Its a shame you didn't listen to her" he shrugged nonchalantly

"What the-" before Zayne could process anything he found himself pined against a tree a dagger pressing against his stomach

"Such a shame we could have been best buddies" he let out a dramatic sigh , eyes gleaming with a feral hunger "all because you had to be a legitimate son" he tsked dagger piercing through Zayne's stomach making hot white splashes of pain wash over him , the metallic tang of blood filling his mouth.

He withdrew his dagger , letting Zayne slump against the ground

"Its nothing personal you know" Christian reassured him cleaning his dagger in Zayne's overpriced coat "just politics and dont worry" he pressed his feet down Zayne's wound making him choke on his own blood . "I'll make sure to take care of your princess , I bet her lips taste sweeter than those  desserts you love to indulge yourself in Huh?" he smirked feet pressing harder against Zayne's stomach.

"Rest in peace , your highness, the kingdom will hardly misses you" he bowed dramatically before turning his heels leaving Zayne for dead in the deep forest

The young man couldn't do nothing but lay there in his own blood as his murderer walked away leaving him hopeless mind swirling with thoughts of her , his mom, his father , her bright  smile when she found him crying in the palace gardens after his mom death , how she offered him sweet to brighten his day  , how he likes them since that day.

What a shame she will never know how her smile brighten up his day , how he loves seeing her scrunch up her nose in annoyance when he tease her too much or how he likes it when she openly flirt with him even if he pretend he's annoyed by it . She will never know how much he loves her,  never know how much he wanted to win so she won't have to kiss his brother but it was too late now laying in the blood soaked ground , only his dead body and regrets remain.

"Is he dead ?" The little girl tugged at Zayne's wrist making his heart clench in his chest.

"No my little snowflake" he reassured her stroking her cheeks gently.

She nudged closer to him , her head resting against his shoulder waiting for him to continue.

The princess was pacing back and forth in her room , heart twisting with worry . It was already late in the evening and Zayne haven't returned.

"Be safe , be safe" she continued to murmur , clutching the jade necklace he offered her for her 18th birthday 3 years ago.

"Your highness" the sound of 2 guards standing at her doorstep pulled her out of her trance and before she knew it she was standing in front of them.

"What happened? Has his majesty returned?" She fired  question after question,  her anxiety coming off in a wave.

The guard looked oddly uncomfortable,  eyes darting away from her.

"What's wrong? Where's Zayne?" She pressed on

"His majesty hasn't came back" one guard spoke up eyes looking anywhere but her

"According to Sir Christian" the other continued "he got attacked by a beast and didn't make it"

"Bullshit"

The guard's eyes widened.  It was the first time they heard the princess Swear .

"Zayne is the best archer in the kingdom unless that beast was a certain pearlescent frog , I don't believe your charades" she waved them off strutting her way out of the room

"Your highness where are you going ?" The guards called out after her

"Going to do your job since you are so incompetent at it" she shouted adjusting her cloak.

"The princess did what?"

"S-she left" a small gasp left the messenger's lips when the butter knife that was in the Queen's hand flew pass his head.

"This little Eralyon brat" she stifled through her teeth before excusing the trembly messenger

"No need to get so worked up Mother" Christian who just arrived in the dining  room patted her shoulder.

"She's just a little girl with no defense ,a damsel in distress and who will be the prince that will save her?" He offered his mother that same mischievous smile.

"You" she scoffed "but that still doesn't solve our issue"

"What issue ?" Christian plopped himself on a chair across the dining table

"You haven't done your job properly Christian,  he's still alive" she retorted

The man drew a long breath , the gears already turning in his mind .

"How could you be sure ? The dagger was poisoned and the wound was fatal"

"Those nuisances of creatures saved him , the mirror told me so"

Ah this infamous magical mirror, such a pain in the ass Christian thought.

"So now what do you suggest?" He asked caressing his stubble.

"We finish the job obviously" she rolled her eyes as if the answer wasnt obvious.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~◇~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Is he alive ?"  A fluttery voice asked

"Obviously- what the fuck!!! Why are you naked? we have guest over"

"Narilyn stole my clothes- ouch! That hurts"

Zayne's head was throbbing , the pain in his stomach almost unbearable and now he was hearing voice ?? Was he in hell?

"Stop fighting you 2" another voice more mature, more firm "you're disturbing his sleep" 

Zayne's eyes fluttered open only to see 3 colored heads snapping back toward him

"He's awake" the same fluttery voice exclaimed making the blue haired being smack a book on her head. 

"PUT SOME FUCKING CLOTHES ON" she continued to smack her making her fly away.

Wait fly . Zayne eyes widened further . Aren't those early signs of schizophrenia ?

"No you arent dreaming" the white haired one who seemed the oldest spoke up.

Zayne had so much question . How did he get here ? Wasnt he supposed to be dead ? What were those winged being ?

As if reading his mind the white haired fairy provided him with answers

"We found you for dead in the forest and brought you here and as for what we are-"

"We are the 7 guardians of the forest" Zayne was startled by the presence of another fairy , this one had green hair and eyes , long wings shining with bright glitter that looked like stardust.

"Narylin" she offered him her hand with a bright smile. Zayne hesitated to grasp it still confused by this situation but she didn't seem to mind .

"Narylin you pest give me back my clothes" the fairy who was still apparently naked exclaimed, blonde hair sticking to her skin as she tried her best to avoid her sister's  book attack.

"I didn't take it" Narylin shrugged while the white haired fairy let out an heavy sigh.

"I am here" another presence stepped inside the small house only to quickly bend down to avoid a lamp thrown after the blonde fairy.

"They are fighting again" the red haired fairy who just arrived shook her head.

Feeling her patience wearing thin the white haired fairy flicked her fingers  making them stop their useless bickering.

The fairies all gathered around her after the blonde one successfully found her clothes.

"State your name stranger" the purple haired one pointed a lance at him making the blonde one giggle and the blue haired facepalm herself

"Melida this is not how we greet a guest" the oldest scolded her gently.

Zayne just watched them dumbfounded,  the fairies were no bigger than a water bottle ,  there were 7 of them all with different hair colors and translucent wings that shone brightly.

"Its an honor to meet you, your majesty" the withe haired one bowed at him making the other follow suit. 

They knew he was the prince ? How ?

"I-" Zayne's words failed him , this was too outlandish to be true , he never believed in fairytales or the existence of strange creatures not even when the princess would tell him tales about them.

"The pleasure is mine?"  He found himself replying , the words more like a question than a statement but that seemed to satisfy them.

"I am Sonia" the blonde haired one exclaimed flying land on his shoulder.

"And this is Melida." She pointed at the purple haired one , "Hydrangea" blue haired one that chased after her for dear life "Lily" red haired one , "Narilyn" green haired one "Rose" pink haired one "and our older sister "Sapphire" she pointed at the white haired one. She was the only fairy whose eyes were a different color than her hair , they were blue not white.

"What about you ? What's your name ?" Sonia inquired head tilted to the side to look at him.

"Zayne" he murmured eyes snapping from Sapphire

"Zayne it's pretty like you" she giggled

"Its pretty like you" she smiled brightly.

Zayne felt his head throb at the memory eyes screwing shut as the pain washed over him.

"We should let him rest he still hasn't healed properly" Sapphire said making everyone hang their head low in shame.

Sonia who was perched on his shoulder flew towards the rest of her sisters leaving him alone.

"Rest well your majesty" she waved at him.

Zayne waved back at her mind swirling with unanswered questions.

He plopped himself down on the small bed he was resting on thinking.

He's alive . Well that's a good sign . But how many times has passed since he's here? Does everyone think he's dead ? Does she think he's dead ?  Is she alright ? Knowing how stubborn she could be , she's probably searching for him everywhere but even him didn't know where the hell he was Exactly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~♡~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What made her think hopping on an horse and rode through this forest a good idea?

The thing you'd do for love. Wait love no she's not in love with him,  she's  just doing her duty as a future Queen and his bestfriend. That's it.

"Yeah that's it- AHH" the footsteps of nearby horse made her own drop her

"Fuck" she massaged her head taking of dead leaves stuck on the strands

"Princess,  princess" Christian tsked kneeling to be at her eyes level "don't you know this forest is dangerous for such a precious thing like you"

"You tell me it seems the perfect a habitat for a pearlescent frog like you" she shrugged leaning against her palms.

Christian chuckled trying his best to mask his irritation

"Such a sharp tongue" he cupped her chin , thumb caressing her bottom lip "makes me wonder if it can only give witty remarks"

she felt a wave disgust washes over her . Bile rising up her throat

Who the hell does he think he is ?

"It can also bite" she retorted making his eyebrows furrow before he could process her words she bit him hard enough to draw blood before starting to run away in the dense forest

"This little bitch" he hissed  "get her" he ordered the Guards "seems like I'll have to teach this Eralyon brat a lesson"

She ran as fast as possible, her heart pounding in her chest, breath erratic. She didn't have a destination in mind, engulfing herself deeper in the dark forest without a care for her safety. She needed to get away from this mad bastard and find Zayne.

But alas, fate had other things in store for her since she tripped on a dead branch and fell flat on her face, the impact causing the breath to get knocked out of her lungs.

No, you can't stop now. She was about to stand up and keep running, but Christian's booted foot pressed against her shoulder blade, pushing her against the ground.

"Such a shame, Princess. If only you didn't have to be so difficult," he yanked her by her hair while she tried to fight off his grip.

"So feisty. I'm going to have so much fun with you, Princess of Eralyon," he grinned ,nosing her pulse while she felt like throwing up. "I'll tame you," he murmured against her neck, inhaling her scent, "make you my little puppet."

"In your dreams, Christian," she spat, eyes blazing with fury.

"A dream that's about to become true," he chuckled darkly before injecting a potion into her side, making her body fall limp in his arms.

He carried her back to his horse after instructing the guards to get back to the palace.

Zayne was getting better with the fairies tending to his wounds when they weren't busy fighting that is

"It's mine" Hydrangea shouted  hugging the small snowman Zayne made for them with his evol.

"Nope" Sonia countered pushing Hydrangea off the snowman with a jet of gold glitters "my friend's confection,  mine" she retorted standing on top of the snowman,  wings fluttering.

"And stop fighting over this human ?" Melida who was sharpening her weapon added

"Will you 2 stop shouting for 2 minutes? There's people trying to read in peace" Lily who was reading a book interrupted them

"Its her fault" the blue haired fairy pointed at Sonia who stuck her tongue out mockingly.

Zayne just observed their interaction with a small smile while chopping the vegetables for dinner.

The oldest fairy suggested that he stayed here until he completely heal . The others were eager for hjm to stay (Sonia and Narilyn in particular) while Melida was still wary of him.

"Your majesty are you single?" Sonia asked flying to rest on his shoulder which seemed to be her favorite spot.

The question caught Zayne off of guard making his cheeks flush

"Mmh I guess" he replied focusing on the dinner he was making.

"You guess ?" Hydrangea tilted his head at him , eyeing him suspiciously.

"I mean I am not engaged or married" he shrugged,  stirring the pot on the stove.

"Strange your heart says otherwise" Rose the pink haired fairy spoke up , she has the softest voice out of them all.

"Haha told you he was taken" Hydrangea exclaimed before dodging the pea thrown by Sonia who was pouting arms crossed over her chest.

"How would you know?" Zayne asked in disbelief.

"Rose is a fairy of love of course she knows when someone's heart is taken" Lily who was still absorbed in her book replied.

"And your dear crush is" Hydrangea taunted Sonia who was now on top of her fighting again.

"Why would you have a crush on a human?" Melida who finally put her weapon down scoffed.

"Yeah he's so big it's not like it's gonna fit" Narilyn who appeared out of nowhere shrugged making Zayne's eyebrows furrow

"What is not gonna fit?" Zayne asked curiously making Sonia's cheeks flush red and Hydrangea giggle.

"How is he so innocent?" Lily whispered under her breath.

Some days when They weren't bickering they all gathered around Zayne to hear him talk about his life back at the palace or the princess who've taken his heart (not that he'll ever admit it )

Days turned into weeks and even if Zayne appreciated the fairies and their care one part of him longed to return to his home , to see his people,  to see her , hold her,  kiss h- no Zayne get ahold of yourself

They were in the forest,  picking up branches and berries for dinner when the pink haired fairy came up to him with a flower crown in her hands

"And a flower crown for the prettiest prince of the kingdom" Rose put the flowery crown on his head making his heart melt and his mind jog back to vivid memories

"I am the only prince of the kingdom and what's that for ?" The 14 years old boy asked , his eyebrows furrowing in confusion

"Consider this as a pre wedding gift until you actually accept to marry me" she replied resting her hands on her hips

"aren't we a little bit too young for that?" He asked adjusting the crown on his head

"Why ?" She muttered creeping behind him to steal a glance at his book "we are both from Royal family arent we ?" She smiled looking up at him and she was so close , her perfume enveloping him in a soft cloud.

"you cant even tie your own  shoelaces properly and you're already thinking about wedding" he flicked her forehead playfully causing her to let out a small oof nose scrunching up in annoyance

"I'll have you know I can perfectly tie my shoelaces" (lie she couldn't)  she retorted rubbing the sore spot on her forehead "and beside I don't need that to get married"

"To get married to me you do" he countered already making his way ahead while she trailed behind him. "And beside as I said  you're too young" he added making her huff

"I am 12 years old already" she retorted clutching the hem of her dress while she tried to keep up with his pace.

"Exactly too young" he deadpanned still walking ahead , flower crown sitting perfectly on his head.

He really hoped his words would dissuade her but it seemed doing quite the opposite

"Does that mean you'll marry me when I get older?" She asked , eyes gleaming with excitement

Please no.

Zayne let out an heavy sigh finally turnin back to face her.

"If you can tie your shoelaces by this time,  then yes" he nodded , the tip of his ear turning red while his eyes darted away awkwardly

"But I can tie my shoelac-"

"We both know that's not true" Zayne retorted pointing at her shoelaces that were undone

Before she could say anything he bent down on one knee to tie her shoelaces leaving her dumbfounded and blushing like a tomato

"Here future wife" he winked at her.

"Future wife" Zayne smiled to himself caressing the Jasmine petals of the flowers crown sitting on his head

"You really do love her, dont you?" Rose sat down on his shoulder pink eyes looking up at him

"Who ?" Zayne asked in disbelief

"Your princess" Rose offered him a soft smile

"You're mistaken" Zayne shrugged making her fly off  his shoulder. "She's my friend"

"It doesn't change the fact that your heart belongs to her" she retorted shrugging her shoulders playfully while Zayne bent down to pick up a stray branch.

"Aren't you planning to tell her ?" She asked wings fluttering as she flew around him

"There's nothing to tell" he replied making his way deeper through the woods

"Are humans always this stubborn or is it just you?" She asked her voice soft and genuine.

"Its not called being stubborn, it's the truth" he mused aloud adjusting the strap of the bag that was carrying the wood for the fire.

"It doesn't sound like it" she retorted

Now she was the one being stubborn. He thought

They continued to bicker (more like Rose trying to open his eyes and make him realize he's hopelessly in love. ) unaware of the fact the Queen was observing them through her enchanted mirror.

"Stupid creatures" she spat under her breath nails digging in her palms

"Why cant he just die?" She muttered to herself voice dripping with venom before turning her head to the princess who was trapped in a deep slumber

"Hopefully we got the perfect bait" she smiled , creeping closer to the girl peacefully asleep .

Once she was at her level , she cut a strand of her hair to carry on her schemes.

"Dont worry dear" she caressed her face "your beloved will join you soon" her devilish laugh rang across the room bouncing off against the walls

"The wound is healing nicely,  you'll be able to go back home in a few days" Sapphire who was checking his almost non existent wound spoke up.

"What do you mean 'go back'?" Sonia who was playing card with Hydrangea and Narilyn exclaimed making her way to where Zayne was sitting on the bed

"You didn't seriously expect he'd stay here?" Melida scowled but Sonia's eyes were already gleaming with tears making Zayne's heart clench.

Even if it was hard to believe during this short time Zayne spent here , he's grown quite fond of the fairies , even if they fought (over him) a lot , he found their relationship endearing .

"I mean" he rubbed the back of his neck nervously "I have to go back to my duties"

"And his lover" Hydrangea added earning a glare from Sonia

"But you won't forget about us right ?" Rose who also flew towards where he was sitting asked in a gentle voice pink eyes shining with a mixture of sadness and hope.

"Of course no" Zayne reassured them and before he knew it they were all tackling him on the bed in a group hug even Melida who seemed hostile towards him at first (and still now)

Zayne hugged them back carefully to not crush them with his arms when a shout of his name echoed outside.

This voice.

"ZAYNE" another shout.

"Who dare interrupting us ?" Melida grumbled under breath before they all carefully untangled from Zayne.

"Zayne" the girl shouted again voice bordering on desperation.

Zayne stepped out the small house only to fall face to face with her , his princess,  his love , the one he spent all those days longing for , all those nights dreaming of .

"You're here" he whispered,  he couldn't believe it , she was there standing in all of her glory. Face lighting up when her eyes fell on him.

"Zayne" she ran towards him arms wrapping around his neck to squeeze him tightly "you're alive, I was so worried" she cupped her cheeks to look closely at his face "I thought you were dead" her thumbs stroked his cheeks softly.

Zayne's head was swimming in an ocean of relief and joy , his love was there , she was there with him looking way to lively , clean and polished for someone who just rode all the way through those woods

The fairies who followed closely behind Zayne observed the scene with wary gazes.

"Something is off" Lily muttered making Rose nod

"She doesn't seem to be the one his heart call for" she murmured in that soft voice of hers

"How did you find me?" Zayne asked cradling her head gently

There was not a  single leaf in her hair as if she appeared out of nowhere but Zayne was too happy to notice

"I went through the hell that are those woods , even when I felt like  giving up I didnt because I knew I'd have to find you" she stood up on her tiptoe , hands caressing his chest in a way that felt way too wrong way too out of character.

She's there with you no need to get lost in semantics

"I don't know what I would have done  if I didn't find you" she murmured eyes dropping to his lips in a way that made Zayne shudder.

"Shouldn't we intervene?" Sonia asked voice bubbling with a mixture of jealousy and concer.

The energy coming off of this girl screamed to run away but they didn't want to come off as rude and possessive so they watched from the sidelines.

"So worried" she murmured tugging Zayne closer by his collar and he didn't  fight her off because why would he ?

After all this time , he finally get to see her ,to touch her , as if hypnotized he let her pull him in her grasp lips hovering above his.

"We need to do something" Sonia exclaimed shaking Narilyn by her shoulders.

But alas it was too late because as soon Zayne's lips collided with hers he sank to his knees,  a wave of fatigue  washing over him.

"So pathetic" she scoffed pushing him with her foot "it was almost too easy" she knelt beside him while Zayne was fighting to keep his eyes open.

"I knew taking this little bitch's appearance would do the trick but I didn't think you'd fall for it so easily" her tone was cruel,  dripping with venom so different from the Princess he knew.

"Who are you?" Zayne mumbled eyes drooping.

"I am the last face you'll see before leaving this world." she bent down to whisper in his ear before Zayne's body fell limply on the cold ground.

"Me?" Her eyes gleamed with a mixture of madness and feral hunger that reminded him so much of Christian.

The fairies all bolted towards him , Sonia furious threw a bolt of lightning toward the impostor princess who dodged it easily.

"Its too late" she laughed out features twisting into such a feral grin "it's just a matter of time before he die"

"You scum" Melida surged  forward planting her lance above the corner of the impostor's eyes who let out a shriek of pain.

The soft features that was once the the face of the one who stole Zayne's heart morphed into the sharp features of his stepmother.

"You have no right to be there Onyx" Sapphire who just arrived spoke up.

The Queen stopped dead in her track eyes narrowing at the fairies.

"You won't be able to save her this time sister" she spat before turning her heels , leaving Zayne cold and unconscious on the ground.

Will he make it out ?

Her eyes fluttered open , her head throbbing ,her mouth and throat dry.

"Where am I?" She sat up only to realize she was bound to the bed she was laying on by chains.

"What the-"

"Your majesty , you're awake" she heard a small voice says .

She turned her head toward the sound only to see a white owl talking.

Wait a white owl talking???

"What the fuck??" She almost shouted but the owl quickly shushed her

"You're gonna wake him up" he hushed out.

Pressing her lips shut , she observed the owl curiously,  after days being unconscious the first thing she sees when she wakes up is this!!.

"We need to find a way to get you out of here" the owl exclaimed landing on her arm with the key in his mouth.

Since only one of the Princess's hand was bound she took the key from him to unlock the locket that bounded her chains together.

When she was finally free she got off the bed not without caressing the owl's head.

"Thank you for your help"

The owl nuzzled against her hand before replying

"You're welcome,  your majesty,  please find my son and save him I've been too blind by love to see she was a degenerate,  only you now can save us all"

His son wait was that owl the king who apparently got sick 3 months ago ?

She had so much question but she knew now wasn't the time to ask them she needed to get away from here and fast.

The room she was staying in obviously wasn't hers , there was a large mirror clad in the walls and a table full of weird potions and instrument.

This has to be the Queen Room.

"Hurry, your highness" the owl croaked out.

The princess quickly grabbed a dagger that was resting on the table with a bottle that had "Don't touch , for emergency only" written on it . Shoving them on her nightgown's pocket , she stole one of the Queen's overpriced coat and stormed off the room with the owl following closely behind her.

The palace seemed to be in a whirlwind,  servants walking back and forth preparing what looked like a grandiose banquet.

Not wanting to dwell on this she clutched the cloak tightly around her making her way toward the palace horse boxes to steal an horse.

Her plan went smoothly,  way too smoothly for her taste as if someone laid out the path for her to take.

Focus , we need to find Zayne and fast. She shook her head, pulling on the reins of her horse.

The owl continued to follow her , leading her way through the forest to find Zayne.

"How did the Queen managed to trap you in this form?" She questioned him curiously

"She poisoned me" he replied  , still flying

"Poisoning you?" She tilted her head curiously.

"With a kiss" he responded before landing on a stray branch.

"How outlandish" she whispered under her breath.

She hasn't spent a lot of time with the Queen but she always found her shady , especially since her son Christian couldn't stop trying to win her over even when she make it clear she wasnt interested.

They continued their journey through the forest only stopping to feed her horse , she was too anxious to eat anything. The knot in her stomach not easing until she found him.

It was past 3 weeks since he disappeared the day of the Hunt. She didn't know what  could have happened to him during this time . Was he safe ? Was he alright? Oh Christ she was going die of worries at this rate.

"Do not worry" your majesty the owl reassured her, resting against her shoulder.

"My son is a tough one , he'll be alright"

"I hope" she let out a small sigh.

"Will he make it out ?" Sonia asked caressing Zayne's pale skin.

He was laying in a sanctuary of Jasmine's flowers , eyes closed shut , his beautiful features relaxed in a peaceful slumber.

"The incantation is strong" Sapphire mused blue gaze dropping to the ground "I fear only a true love kiss can bring him back"

The silence that fell upon them was deafening.

"A true love kiss" Rose repeated voice distant as her eyes roamed over Zayne's face.

"Snow" she looked up at the sky feeling a small snowflake landing on her nose.

"Its snowing" she murmured to herself.

"Its snowing Zayne , come and play with me" the little girl exclaimed tugging at his arm.

"No you'll probably catch a cold" the little boy shook his head not budging an inch from where he was sitting on the couch.

"B-but" her lips wobbled "it's the first snowfall of the season and you know what the legend said"

"I don't" he retorted,  hazel eyes boring into hers "please enlighten me"

"Don't you know" she sat down legs crossed in front of him , eyes gleaming with that same spark of excitement they had everytime she talked about something she was passionate about.

"If 2 people share a kiss under the first snowfall, they wil last forever" she smiled widely , eyes knowingly gazing at him.

"And what does this have to do with us?" He asked still skeptical

"Let's go outside and kiss so we will last forever" she exclaimed making him choke on thin air.

What is wrong with her ?

Zayne erupted in a fit of coughs , face red from embarrassment .

she's only 11 for God's sake . Why does she keep catching him off of guard like this?

"Are you ok?" She quickly stood up massaging his back as he slowly regained his composure

"I am fine I am fine" he uttered , his embarrassment finally subsiding.

She nodded seemingly reassured even if her eyes still held a trace ofconcern.

"Then let's go play , your majesty" she took her hand already dragging him outside to play.

"The first snowfall" she murmured letting the snowflake melt on her palm.

"2 people who kiss under the first snowfall will last forever. Sounds straight out of a fairytale,  don't you agree princess ?" Christian's sly voice made her ears perk up. Her senses on high alert.

"Here are we meeting in this forest again" he creeped closer towards her , boots scrunching the dead leaves , the same feral look in his gray eyes that haunted her nights . "I am starting to think this is becoming our little secret place" he smirked still wincing closer towards her while she took step back after step back putting as much distance between them as she can , mind running a mile per minute to find an escape

As if reading her mind he spoke again

"Don't be scared I won't hurt you as long you collaborate"

As if to prove his point he opened his arm widely.

"You are right" she sighed in defeat finally stopping backing down.

A flash of surprise passed over Christian's face.

Why the sudden switch up?

"Chasing after Eladia's little brat can be so exhausting, I tought if I tried hard enough and found him I'd finally seal an alliance between Eralyon and Eladia but now" she looked up at hom shoulder slumping in defeat.

"All hope seems to be dead just like him" she sighed before a slow smirk pulled at the corner of her mouth.

"You really think I am going to believe you did all of this for an alliance" he chuckled shaking his head "princess princess" he tsked crossing the distance between them in two effortless strides.

"You are so naive" he whispered hands hovering above her face and to his surprise she leaned into his touch

"Not naive" she left a kiss on his palm "just as power hungry as you are"

Oh now she was talking his language.

"And you haven't seen nothing,  your majesty" she leaned in to whisper in his ear the sound sending shiver down his spine. Coating his mind with the sweetest intoxication.

"And here I thought you were just a lovesick brat" he cuppoed her cheek caressing the soft skin with his thumb "you're full of surprises,  princess"

"Princess" he leaned in to nose her pulse , inhaling her scent.

"Yes my king" she caressed his shoulder blade , palm gliding down until it reached his side.

Lost in the sensation of finally having the princess at his mercy.  After years dreaming of this moment,  finally,  finally he had her Exactly where he wanted but not for long because a sharp pain on his side brought him back to reality,  paralyzed he sank to his knees,  eyes wide open looking up at her while the syringe stayed planted on his side

"You" he croaked out , the taste of blood filling his mouth.

She planted a foot on his shoulder pushing him down.

"Stay down Christian,  the only thing you'll rule is the dirt beneath my feet" she said voice dangerously calm and serene , eyes devoid of any emotions.

He convulsed on the ground , coughing blood while his skin started to darken eyes rolling to the back of his head.

"Do not worry,  the kingdom will hardly misses you, I just hope you have the most peaceful descend on hell" She turned her heels , leaving him laying on the ground writhing in pain with his unfulfilled dreams and wishes , like an unfinished canvas.

After leaving Christian for dead in the forest she hopped on her horse following the white owl who guided her toward Zayne.

She looked serene on the outside,  eyes fixed on the path in front of her but deep down she was shaking,   mind reeling as the impact of her actions finally sank in . She took a life , no matter how evil Christian was he was an human , a living being and she took his life  she was a murderer , a murderer.

"We almost there Princess" the owl's voice snapped her out of her morbid thoughts,  horse coming to a stop before she hopped off it , trembly legs running on the Snowy ground.

She was exhausted both physically and mentally,  legs almost giving out , head spinning , heart racing but she couldn't stop, not now , not when she was that close , not after all those sacrifices,  she had to find him.  She promised so.

"No matter what happens I will always find you" she intertwined her pinky with his offering him a toothed smile

"Always?" the little boy squeezed her pinky wiping  the remnants of his tears

"Always" she nodded eagerly leaning in to kiss his tear away.

"I'll always find you my prince" she hugged him.

"My prince" she murmured breath coming in short condensed puffs , vision blurring.

A loud crash made the fairies's head snap back toward the entrance of the sanctuary.

They haven't left Zayne's side since he was cursed by the King , waiting , hoping he'd woke up.

"You" Sonia surged towards the intruder tigging harshly at her hair but the poor girl didn't have any energy to fight back,  sinking to her knees at the sight of Zayne laying among the white colored flowers,  looking pale and lifeless.

"I am too late" she whispered tears streaming down her face.

The fairies a stood frozen and dumbfounded.

She was crying.

"His love is here" Rose murmured pink eyes fixed on the princess who crawled her way toward where Zayne was resting.

"What If it's that evil Queen" Sonia exclaimed still wary but no longer attacking her

"No" Sapphire murmured "her heart is not as evil as Onyx"

"I am so sorry" she sobbed , bouce broken, limp body resting at his side " sorry for not keeping my promise" she murmured against his hand , it was so cold but nothing was colder than the sorrows engulfing her , torturing her already battered heart. "Sorry for not finding you earlier"

The fairies all hand their head low , watching helplessly as she poured her soul out tears coating the white fabric of Zayne shirt. Hair splayed out like an halo around her.

It was still snowing outside , the first snow of the season.

"Your highness" Rose approached her , patting her hair gently making the heartbroken princess finally look up at her.

"Do not cry" she wiped her cheeks "he wouldn't like seeing you so heartbroken"

"It doesn't matter anymore" the princess sniffled softly "he's gone"

"Not quite" the pink haired fairy retorted

"you can still bring him back" Sapphire spoke up approaching them as well.

"With a true love kiss" Sonia trailed eyes fixed on the ground.

The Princess's eyes widened,  a new found flick of hope glimmering in her earlier dull eyes.

"A kiss?" She croaked out, voice hoarse from her sobs

"A kiss" the fairies nodded looking between Zayne still trapped in his dream and her.

Her eye flickered to Zayne as well , inhaling deeply. She moisten her dry lips bracing herself to kiss her childhood friend , her long last love. The man she sacrificed so much for but a fluttery voice interrupted her.

"Wait you cant just kiss hil withe day lips" Sonia interjected making Hydrangea groan

"Sonia now it's not the time" but  she wasn't listening already making her wat towards the strawberry plant then come back with a fresh and red strawberry.

"Here" she placed the fruit in the girl's hand who tilted her head curiously at her.

"For your lips" Sonia instructed.

"Oh" a flash of realization washed over her features before she hastily applied the red berry on her dried up lips.

Smacking them together to smear the pigment.  She took another deep breath.

"Ready now" she murmured more to herself than anyone.

She leaned down,  eyes darting between Zayne's closed eyes and startly parted lips.

Just do it just do it.

All the fairies hold their breath Sonia burying her face in Hydrangea's flower to not see her beloved being kissed by a woman.

When the Princess's lips finally pressed against Zayne's she felt small tingles down her spine. Her heart speeding up  but as he stayed still unconscious she untangled herself from him , sitting up to gaze at his peaceful face.

It didn't work

She looked over the fairies who were as lost as her.

Losing hope she sank against him , eyes filling with tears that trickled on his skin.

"Strawberry" an hoarse voice croaked out "I thought you hated them"

She quickly sat up, eyes widening in disbelief.

"You" she bursted in sobs , smacking his chest making him let out a small grunt "you're awake" she wrapped her arms around his neck , holding as physically close as possible.

Zayne caressed her back softly  , letting her cry against his chest.

"Dont cry" he murmured chin resting on top of her head.

"You stubborn little" she smacked him again still sobbing. "If only you listened to me and didn't participate to that damn hunt" she sniffled finally untangling herself from his form to glare at him.

"Well at last, I got my reward" he caressed her cheeks softly wiping her tears.

"On the first snowfall" he looked up at the Snowy sky through the glass above their head

"You know what that means?" He looked back at her cupping her cheek to bring her closer to him "we'll now last forever" he whispered against her lips before capturing them in a passionate kiss pouring all those years  of  longing  and  unconditional love in a single kiss.

"I love you my Queen" he murmured between kisses refusing to part enen for a second , afraid she might slip through his finger "and yes I wish to marry you" he rested his forehead against hers thumbs stroking her cheeks.

She was too stunned to speak , overwhelmed by too many emotions to process them properly

Her hands found their way to his hair caressing the soft  strands while she planted a kiss on his mouth another and another puncturing each of them with a small o love you. They were both lost   in their own words

While the fairies were celebrating ,dancing around them while causing small snowflakes raining upon of them .

"So how does it feels to see your dear crush having his happily ever after ?" Htdrangea teased Sonia who seemed to be the happiest of them all.

"It feels good I feel happy just by seeing him happy" she chuckled making Hydrangea's eyebrows furrow

Why isn't she jealous?

"I am still not forgiving you for not listening to me though" the princess murmured against his lips hands caressing the hair at his nape

"Its alright" he hummed still holding her close against his chest " I have a whole lifetime to make up for it." He placed a tender kiss on her forehead.

And this how hidden in secluded sanctuary in the deep forest , under the first snowfall they sealed their fate , after facing the hardest of the challenges , they finally got their happily ever after.

"And what happened to the Evil Queen and the owl king ?" Te little girl asked , brown eyebrows furrowed in confusion

"The evil Queen had to pay the price for borrowing the power of her mirror , some legends said she got trapped in that said mirror while her son rotted in the deep forest." Zayne replied adjusting her in her bed , tucking the little girl nicely under the covers

"Did the princess and the prince get married and the king ? Did he turn back into an human?" She fired question after question

"Yes , yes he did and the princess and the prince indeed got married and had a lovely daughter together" he said before leaving a kiss on her forehead

"Now go to sleep my little snowflake" he patted her head softly.

She hummed in response sinking into the plush mattress

"Goodnight Daddy" she murmured before letting out a yawn

"Goodnight my angel"  he smiled softly before carefully getting out of her room

"Is her majesty finally asleep?" A voice rang out behind him

"Finaly yes" he murmured turning around to face his lovely wife.

"Well now I guess it's my time to have the King's attention" she said before wrapping her arms around his neck

"Hmm" he braced his hand beneath her thighs lifting her effortlessly "I am all yours , my Queen" he murmured against her lips

"Ever since you kissed me on the first snowfall or even sooner" he added carrying her towards their shared bedroom.

"Careful if you keep saying things like that it will make it hard for me to stay quiet" she grinned cheekily , caressing the hair at his nape.

"Better keep it down sweetheart, we don't want to wake up our little angel do we ?" He teased closing the door behind him with his foot.

-----------------------------------

A/N pt2 : if you read it all the way there Well thank you for staying with us , this is the first Fic of the Fairytale series so stay tuned for the other fics (Sylus is next with The beauty and the beast )

Taglist: @jinwoosbabyboo @sunsethw4 @yourlocalcatscammer @mangooes @chibichibi-mia @zayneiezaynezayne

[nightplvmes]

*.⊹˚ RAFAYEL | paint (christmas special)

── ◜rafayel x fem!reader — mini one shot 1.3k words ◜Rafayel prepares a Christmas gift that she has been waiting for for a long time. — author's note here | christmas specials from the rest of the LIs on my profile

"Rafayel? We have to go. Come on." She ran through the halls until she reached the front door, waiting her boyfriend to reach her a couple of seconds later. "I almost forgot dessert," she whispered to herself as she started walking to the kitchen.

Until Rafayel got in her way. She frowned in confusion and tried to step aside but it didn't work. "Can you move? I forgot dessert," she said, thinking it was one of his usual pranks.

"We can't go out." He said quickly, not really wanting to make too much of a fuss. He knew how excited his girlfriend was to be able to attend this meeting, and she had been waiting weeks for Rafayel to meet her friends.

"What are you talking about?"

"The streets are closed because of the storm." He grimaced and felt guilty as he saw her face turned into disappointment.

"What? But this morning I saw the news, it said that…" She didn't finish the sentence. She had seen the weather that morning, everything pointed to snow but other than that it was nothing serious. When it turned into a storm? "I can't believe it!"

She groaned and dropped her bag on the floor. She felt completely disappointed, it was almost midnight and although they were already too late for the meeting, she hoped to arrive in time to eat dessert, introduce Rafayel to her friends and spend a couple of hours there before going home.

"We can stay here. It won't be so bad." Rafayel's arms wrapped around her, after all they had already been there all day. They had planned to spend the afternoon together, doing things that according to her were Christmassy and they would close their night at her friends. It was just a small change of plans.

"But I wanted you to meet my friends," she murmured in disappointment, her voice muffled as she had her face buried in Rafayel's chest.

"I can meet them later. We'll have a meeting just for that." He hated seeing her so sad. He knew this meeting was important to her, but he couldn't just stop the storm with the power of his mind.

Half an hour later she was sitting on the living room floor. She was still wearing the clothes she had chosen to to go out that day and Rafayel was in front of her watching her take spoonfuls of the dessert she had made for her friends.

"It's not that bad. We can still open the presents here." Rafayel pressed his lips against his girlfriend's forehead. He didn't know what else he could do to cheer her up.

"It's not that, it's just… You know I hate it when plans change." She made a face and looked at him.

Rafayel smiled when he saw the cream of the cake dripping from the corner of her lips. He reached out and with his index finger he took the cream before it slipped from her lips and stained her clothes.

Yes, he knew perfectly well how much she hated it when her plans changed. Rafayel always thought it was something more than just a change of plans and there was something else in his girlfriend's head.

He looked away, starting to think of something he could do to make her feel better. Letting her just sit on the rug and eat that dessert seemed to have made her feel better but she still had that pout on her lips.

Then he remembered… There was a gift he had kept in his studio and he didn't really think about giving it to her yet, not as a Christmas present at least. It was something she had asked him for a long time ago and Rafayel had simply refused after giving her a reasonable explanation.

"I have something for you." She frowned as her boyfriend got up from the floor and walked down the hall where the bedrooms and his studio were.

"What is it?" She asked taking a spoonful of the dessert again, thinking that it was simply one of the gifts he had bought her despite all the times she told him that she didn't really need anything. Finally she felt like she had had enough of that dessert. It was too much sugar and she was beginning to feel her body's rejection of it, so she decided to simply put it aside and clean any trace of sugar from her mouth.

Rafayel came back into the room a couple of minutes later. He had something in his hands and he seemed… nervous? Why did he seem nervous about a simple gift? It wasn't that she didn't appreciate it, but unless it was a pregnancy test she didn't understand his nerves. She had started joking about it since she found out that in seahorses it was the man who carried the baby.

"Here it is." He placed a gift wrapped in green paper on her lap. She looked at him waiting for some explanation, she felt like she needed some context because it was something important. "Do you remember when we started dating you asked me what you had to do to make a painting of you?"

She nodded, she remembered it perfectly because she had insisted too much until Rafayel told her that he couldn't because he didn't feel capable of capturing her beauty. Her cheeks turned red just by remembering it.

Then something clicked in her mind… she parted his lips in surprise and turned to look at Rafayel waiting for him to say something. He just looked at her with a small smile on his lips.

She tore the gift paper as fast as she could. She could feel her heart beating hard, until… She couldn't believe what she was seeing. It was a painting, of her.

It meant much more than he thought. She had wanted so much a painting of her completely made by Rafayel, but after having refused she had simply given up and stopped asking.

"You… But I thought…" She felt that the words were not coming out of her mouth. She turned to look at him waiting for something else, to explain the reason why he had decided that this was the perfect time to make a painting about her. Until she noticed something. "Where is this?"

She looked at him. She didn't recognize the background in the painting because it was focusing a bit more on her face but there was definitely some kind of cafe behind her.

"It was the first time I saw you. Do you remember?" She nodded. Of course she remembered because he had told her that story himself thousands of times.

"Of course I remember, it's just that… I can't believe it." She looked at him, feeling like she could cry at any moment. It was just a unique gift… too unique.

"I'm still think I didn't capture your beauty." She smiled. "I thought it would be a special gift. Much better than those boots you wanted."

She giggled. There were some nice black boots she had wanted a few weeks ago but had decided that it was a totally unnecessary expense.

"The boots would have been a nice gift too." Those words had come out of her mouth without thinking but in reality that gift was much better than any other. If Rafayel had simply bought the boots for her it would have been a great gift too. Anything that came from him was.

Rafayel laughed and put his arms around her to bring her closer to him. She still had her eyes on the painting he had made for her. It was her favorite painting now. "They're in the blue box," he murmured close to her ear.

She opened her eyes in surprise and looked at him. Had he bought the boots for her too? "Rafayel!"

He smiled at her excitement. He leaned in to press his lips against hers for a couple of seconds. "Merry Christmas, cutie."

[hmusunoo]

DIET PEPSI | K.TH

SYNOPSIS 》 Homework, exams, parents expecting the world from you and more, you just wanted a break. Better yet, you needed one. And who better than getting the resident campus bad boy plug Taehyun to help you out with that.

PAIRINGS 》 plug!taehyun x goody two shoes fem!reader

WARNINGS 》 plug taehyun, drug use, reader is really awkward and innocent she know's nothing about drugs, brief mentions of overbearing parents, unprotected sex, dry humping, car sex, corruption kink, loss of virginity, taehyun is a little bit of an asshole, cowgirl, slight hair pulling, not really proof read.

WORD CNT 》 6.3k

LIBRARY & BOOKSHELVES

You sit at your desk, the glare of your laptop screen searing into your eyes as you attempt to focus on yet another problem set. The numbers blur together, taunting you with their complexity. To your right, your history textbook lies open, mocking you with its dense paragraphs of information you’re supposed to have memorized by tomorrow. The clock ticks steadily in the background, a relentless reminder that time is slipping away. Your parents’ voices echo in your mind, a cacophony of expectations. "You have to be the best. We’re counting on you."Their words are like invisible weights, pressing down on your chest, making it harder to breathe.  

You don’t remember the last time you felt truly free. Even when you’re not studying, the guilt lingers. Shouldn’t you be doing more? Shouldn’t you be better? The questions swirl in your head, their answers always out of reach.And so, you sit there, the cursor blinking impatiently on your half-written essay, while your stomach churns from too much coffee and too little sleep. The thought hits you suddenly: This isn’t sustainable. You lean back in your chair and close your eyes, but the words and numbers are still there, painted on the insides of your eyelids.

You need to breathe. You need to escape.

The idea comes to you like a whisper, soft but insistent. Remembering what Sakura told you earlier in the day, about the one guy in school you never thought to talk to before. Kang Taehyun. He was no good, he was what everyone around town and campus called a waste of space. You had half a mind to text Sakura asking for his number. The thought feels almost rebellious. You didn’t know a single thing about weed or how to smoke it. All you knew was that he was the one person around here you could get it from. 

Would he even sell it to you? You didn't know, but you were going to try. You grab your phone before you can second-guess yourself. You sent her a quick tentative text swelling with anxiety at the questions you knew awaited you. 

It seemed your anxiety was for nothing though, as a short and sweet text from Sakura popped up on your screen not even a minute later: ‘I knew you’d cave (; here 999-000-3456’. You knew as soon as you saw her you'd be bombarded with a multitude of questions but for now you will be thankful for the solace she gave you. 

You didn't know the proper etiquette of ordering? Weed, so you didn't think it would be best to call Taehyun. You decided a simple text would do just fine. 

You: hi, how much for weed? It’s Y/n L/n btw. 

Taehyun: wtf? 

You: Sorry, can I buy some weed from you? 

Taehyun: i dont sell that. You have the wrong number. 

You: what? My friend Sakura gave me your number. She said you would have something to help me. 

Taehyun: Are you a fucking cop or something? 

You: No???

Taehyun: Whatever. if you're serious, meet me at lakeland park in 15 minutes. If I see any weird shit I'm leaving. 

Lakeland park was nearly a fifteen minute walk from you. He was giving you no time to overthink it instead grabbing you coat in a rush and bolting out the door. You pull your coat tighter around you as the wind bites at your cheeks. A fifteen minute walk isn’t far, but on a cold, dark night like this, every step feels heavier, the shadows stretching longer. Your breath clouds in the air as you walk, the rhythmic crunch of your boots on the frost-covered pavement the only

sound accompanying you. You’re not the kind of girl who sneaks out at night, let alone to meet someone like Kang Taehyun. He’s reckless, arrogant, always in trouble, the kind of boy your parents warned you about since middle school. But tonight, the weight of the day of every perfect grade, every strained smile, every pesky exam and desk filled with homework has crushed you into doing something reckless. Something that doesn’t feel like you. The park looms ahead, its iron gates blackened and wet with the mist that clings to the air. You hesitate at the entrance, fingers curling around the cold metal. It’s not too late to turn back, you tell yourself. But that same voice whispers that turning back means retreating to the suffocating predictability of your world. Straight-A student. Perfect daughter. Reliable friend. You just couldn't do that, you needed this. Bad. 

The park is deserted. The streetlights cast pale orange pools of light onto the pathways, but the spaces in between seem darker than they should. You clutch your phone in your pocket, your thumb hovering over the power button. Just in case.

The sound of a car engine idling pulls your attention to the far side of the park. There, parked near the frozen pond, is Taehyun's car. Its headlights are off, but the faint glow of the dashboard light outlines his silhouette. You almost stop in your tracks as he leans out of the driver’s side window, his dark hair tousled, an annoyed look on his face. 

“Didn’t think you were serious” He said as you walked up to the car. “Get in.” 

You hesitate, your hand brushing the cold handle of the passenger door. Pulling it open before you could allow yourself to overthink it. “I was told you could help me.” The inside of the car is warmer than you expected, the faint scent of marijuana smoke and leather wrapping around you. 

Taehyun shrugs a bored expression on his face as he leaned his head against the leather seat. His stance made you nervous. You could feel words bubbling up inside of you waiting to jumble out in a heap just like you always did in awkward silences like this. “I Just have a lot of stuff going on with school and my parents and-” 

Taehyun snorts, his amusement cutting sharper now as he interrupts the beginning of your rambles. “Well, don’t expect a medal or anything.” He leans back in his seat, his eyes flicking to the rearview mirror. “Hurry up. I don’t have all night. What do you want? How much?” 

“I have twenty dollars..” You trailed off your voice smaller now. 

Taehyun sent you a curt nod reaching down to the glove department between the two of you. He pulled out a bag filled with a green substance, assuming it was the weed. “Here.” He tossed the bag down in your lap lazily. You picked it up in your hands inspecting it with keen eyes. 

“Do..do i just eat it?” You asked him as you began to open the top of the baggie. 

“What?” He asked leaning forward, the nonchalant expression he once held was gone, now a look of shock in its place. “No. You smoke it.” 

“Oh.” Was the only response you could muster up. A red sheen coating your cheeks with embarrassment. “I-i don't know how.”

Taehyun laughs sharp and cold. “Little miss perfect has never smoked before what a fucking shocker.” His tone had a sarcastic lit to it. One that made your stomach churn with uneasiness. 

“I’m not a junkie.” You spit out at him. “I just need help with some stress.” 

“Are you implying that I'm a junkie?” His asked with raised eyebrows and an expression that spelled ‘i dare you to say that i am’

“N-no” You stuttered “I’m just making a statement about myself.” 

You shift uncomfortably in your seat, but Taehyun doesn’t let up. “What’s next, huh? Gonna jay-walk across the street on your way home? Or maybe—and this is a real stretch—you’ll leave your dishes in the sink overnight.” He grins, wide and mocking. “Oh no, the horror.” 

Your face burns, but you refuse to look away. “I’m not as boring as you think.”

“Sure you’re not,” he says, dragging the words out. He sends you a smirk. “Let me guess—late night study sessions? Babysitting? Volunteer work at the animal shelter?” 

You cross your arms, your nails digging into your sleeves. “I came here, didn’t I?”

“Yeah, and it’s adorable,” he says, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “You’re like a puppy trying to bark. Cute, but not exactly convincing.” 

The jab stings more than you’d like to admit, but you steel yourself. “At least I’m trying to do something different.” 

“Oh, you’re different, all right,” Taehyun shoots back, his grin widening. “Most people would’ve bailed by now. But not you. You’re too stubborn to realize when you’re in over your head.” You fiddled with the baggie still in your hand “I mean look at you, you thought you had to eat the fucking bud.”  

You glare at him, your frustration bubbling to the surface. “Why do you even care? If I’m so ‘adorable,’ why not just drive off and leave me here? No one is forcing you to sell to me ” 

Taehyun shrugs, his smirk softening into something more thoughtful—but no less infuriating. “Maybe I’m bored. Or maybe watching you squirm is more fun than anything else I’ve got going on tonight.” 

“Whatever.” You huffed, rolling your eyes at him. 

“So now that we've established that you do indeed smoke the weed and don't eat it. I’ll take that twenty and be on my way now-” 

“Can you teach me how to smoke it?” The words fell from your lips like spit fire before you could even think about them. 

“Seriously.” Taehyun sent you a deadpanned look. “Do I need to like, hold your hand while we're at it?” 

“Well no..” You trailed “I’ve just never done it before..” 

“I can tell,” He said, annoyed. “Whatever I have got nothing better to do.” 

He reached back into the saame glove department that he got the weed baggie from, pulling out a small pack of papers in his fingers. 

“These are wraps” He explained handing you the wraps. “We’ll put the weed into it before we smoke it.” 

“You're going to smoke with me?” You asked Taehyun, mulling the wraps in your hand as you carefully analyzed them. 

“Yeah, im not doing this shit for nothing do i look like a fucking teacher to you.” He snapped. Taehyun reached his hand out, yanking the baggie of weed out of your hands and although he did it with minimal force the action still shook you. He really was such a stark contrast to who you were. He was rough, arrogant and cocky. You were shy, timid and very inexperienced in everything he was comfortable with. This was a recipe for disaster. 

Taehyun continued by showing you how to ground up the weed then stuff it into the little paper carefully. You watched as his lips poked out, licking the paper to seal the week inside. Really, it shouldn't be something you're finding hot but you do. 

“This is a blunt” He explained. You watched him with careful calculation soaking in everything he said to you. The blunt dangles lazily between his fingers, the faint ember glowing like a tiny, taunting beacon in the dim light of the parking lot. He’s leaning against his beat-up car, all leather jacket and sharp jawline, looking like he stepped out of a 90s music video. You tried to steer the thoughts away. Just mere minutes ago you were rolling your eyes at him for poking fun at you, now in the dim light of the overhead dash coupled with the hues of the park street lamps you had thought he looked..well, beautiful. 

“Alright, princess,” Taehyun says, his tone as sharp as the smirk tugging at his lips. “You begged me to teach you, so here you go.” 

And there you were back to rolling your eyes. “I wasn’t begging,” you snap, your arms crossing defensively over your chest. You know your voice sounds weak even as you say it, and his smirk deepens, like he’s already won some unspoken argument. The nerves for what you were about to do finally really creeping in on you. 

“Sure, sure,” he drawls, handing you the blunt like it’s some kind of sacred ritual. “Just don’t go crying to your choir group when you cough up a lung.” You take it with more confidence than you feel, holding it between your fingers the way he does, even though you’re certain it doesn’t look half as natural. You leaned slightly forward in your seat, over the glove department that was between the two of you. 

For a quick fleeting second you could have sworn you saw his eyes flicker downwards catching the flesh of your exposed skin. You wore a hoodie half zipped down to reveal your black tank top with tiny little lace on the top. Your cleavage was slightly visible at this angle and he surely noticed it. 

“Now, put it in your mouth,” he instructs, deadpan, and you glare at him because you can hear the barely contained laughter in his voice. 

“Do you always have to be this crude?” you mutter, but you follow his instructions anyway, the filter feeling foreign and dry against your lips. His eyes flicker over you, quick but deliberate, before he leans closer. You freeze, the scent of leather and marijuana smoke filling your senses as he reaches up to flick his lighter. The flame catches, small and precise, and his hand shields it as he tilts it toward you. 

“Breathe in—gently,” he says, his voice softer now, almost serious, though you swear there’s a hint of amusement dancing on his face. You inhale, maybe too sharply, because the burn hits the back of your throat like fire, and you’re coughing almost immediately, doubling over as your eyes water. 

He barks out a laugh, loud and shameless, but there’s something about the way his hand hovers just shy of your back, like he’s deciding whether or not to steady you. “I told you to go easy,” he says, shaking his head. “What, you thought you were gonna look cool on the first try?” 

“I hate you,” you choke out, still coughing, and he grins like you’ve just made his night.

“Cute.” He mutters. “That’s cute.” he says, and for a second, you think you catch something softer in his expression—like he’s a little proud of you for trying. 

You straighten up, glaring at him through watery eyes. “Let’s go again,” you say, more determined than ever. 

He raises an eyebrow, surprised but impressed. “Look at you, all rebellious now,” Taehyun teases, taking the blunt from your hands, putting it to his lips and effortlessly inhaling. You wish you could say it wasn’t so erotic looking, the way his lips envelop the blunt, sucking in and then blowing out like he's done it a million times over. Because well, he has. He looks over at you again, eyelids narrowly heavy. You don’t miss the way his gaze lingers just a fraction too long, though, like he’s seeing you differently. But before you can dwell on it, he’s all smirks and sarcasm again, holding out the blunt with a mock bow. “Alright, princess. Round two.” 

And as you fumble your way through another attempt, you can’t help but notice the way his expression turned darker, almost lustful as he watched you bring the blunt back to your lips tentatively.

The second drag is smoother. Not by much, but enough that you don’t hack up your lungs again. It still burns on the way down, leaving a bitter taste on your tongue, but there’s something else now—a strange kind of lightness creeping into your chest, like you’re not quite tethered to the ground.  “See?” Taehyun says, his voice smug. “Not so hard, is it?” 

You roll your eyes, but the edges of the world are starting to blur, the space inside the car feeling smaller and softer all at once. “It’s weird,” you admit, your voice quieter now. “But… kinda nice?” 

Taehyun chuckles, resting one arm over the back of his seat as he watches you. “Yeah, it’ll do that. Just wait. You’re gonna feel like your brain’s floating soon.”And he’s right. A few minutes later, the buzzing in your chest has spread to your head, leaving you light and a little disoriented. You can’t stop yourself from giggling, the sound spilling out before you can catch it. 

“What’s so funny?” he asks, arching a brow. He took the blunt from your hands, taking a drag from it. The smoke flew out of his lips in ‘O’s’ like some kind of party trick. 

Unfamiliar heat pooled in your belly at the sight, your thighs fidgeting in your seat. “I don’t know,” you say, leaning your head back against the seat. “Everything feels… floaty. Like I’m a balloon or something.” Your eyes felt heavy as you stared at him with a dopey smile on your face. The softness of the lights from the overhead light casted down on his face like a glowing frame of his face. It was a beautifully confusing feeling this way. You had found yourself wanting something from him you've never had before, something way worse and more irreversible than smoking for the first time. 

He snorts, shaking his head. “You’re high as hell,” he mutters, but there’s a hint of a grin tugging at his lips. A sharp keen to his eyes as they darken at the sight of you, leaning back against the seat, head turned towards him. Your glassy eyes staring up at him doe eyed.  

Your gaze lingered on the way his fingers tap absently against the steering wheel. “You’re not as much of an asshole as you act, you know,” you say, your voice unfiltered and soft. 

His head snaps toward you, his eyes narrowing. “The hell’s that supposed to mean?” 

“You act all tough,” you say, shrugging. “But you’re still here. Putting up with me. Teaching me. You could’ve just told me to screw off.” 

“If I recall, I did do that when you texted me.” Taehyun says slowly, his speech becoming slightly slurred. For a moment, he doesn’t say anything. His gaze flickers over you, like he’s trying to decide if you’re messing with him or not. Then he shakes his head, letting out a low chuckle, the sound sending a bolt of electricity through you and straight to your core. It was an unfamiliar feeling for you. You had never felt such intense heat and want for someone. You didn't know whether to blame the weed or your hazy mind, either way you weren't sure you minded. 

“Guess the high’s getting to you,” he says, but his voice has softened, the sharp edges dulled. His own lust lingered heavily in the compactness of the car. You are both hyper aware of the shift in the dynamic of the car. You smile lazily, sinking further into the seat. The hum of the moment feels bigger than either of you, like the space between you has shifted somehow. He handed the blunt back to you but with a shake of your head you refused it, already feeling relaxed. Your body is like jelly as you slumped against the seat of the car. 

You tilt your head to look at him, his profile is sharp in the dim light, the amber glow of the lighter from earlier still dancing in your mind. “Why are you staring?” he asks, his voice low and rough, like gravel underfoot. 

“I’m not,” you lie, even though you can feel the weight of your own gaze on him. 

“Yeah, you are,” he says, leaning back slightly in his seat, his fingers drumming absently on the steering wheel. “What’s going on in that good little head of yours, huh?”

You open your mouth to answer, but the words get stuck somewhere in your throat. The buzz in your chest has spread, making everything feel too big and too small all at once. You shift in your seat, suddenly hyper-aware of how close you are to him, how the scent of smoke and leather clings to the air between you. “I don’t know,” you say finally, your voice quieter than you meant it to be. 

He doesn’t say anything for a moment, just watches you with that same unreadable expression. And then, like the space between you is pulling him in, he leans forward, just a fraction—enough to make your breath catch. “You’re high,” he says, almost like he’s reminding himself. “That’s all this is.” His breath fanned against your lips close enough that even a mere inch forward your lips would be touching. 

You shake your head, though the movement feels sluggish. “It’s not just that,” you whisper, your voice barely audible. 

Taehyun’s hand twitches where it rests on the steering wheel, and for a moment, he looks almost unsure, like he’s teetering on the edge of something he can’t pull back from. “You don’t know what you’re saying. You don’t want this.” 

“I do,” you insist, your gaze locking with his. The pull between you feels magnetic now, impossible to ignore. The heat in your belly felt like fire only being fueled by the constant darkening of his eyes and his pure adultured need for you. You may be inexperienced and naive but you were stupid, he wanted you as badly as you wanted him. 

He lets out a low, almost defeated sigh, his fingers running through his messy hair. “You’re gonna regret this Tomorrow.” But he doesn’t move away. 

You lean forward first, closing the already minimal space between you. It’s tentative, the barest brush of your lips against his, and for a moment, you think he’s going to pull back. But then he doesn’t. 

Taehyun’s lips press against yours, slow and deliberate, like he’s testing the waters. There’s a hesitance in the way his hand hovers near your cheek, as though he’s not sure if he’s allowed to touch you. But when you don’t pull away—when you lean into him instead—he seems to let go of whatever was holding him back. 

The kiss deepens, his hand finally coming to rest on your jaw, his thumb brushing against your skin. There’s nothing rushed about it, no desperation, just a quiet intensity that sends your heart racing. You don’t know if it’s the blunt, the high, or him, but the world outside the car has completely disappeared. It’s just the two of you now, tangled in this strange, unspoken pull that you can’t quite explain. 

“You’re gonna blame this on the high,” he murmurs with a groan. “If we don’t stop, I don't know how far it will go, princess.” 

You shake your head, your eyes still closed. “Don’t stop.” for a moment, neither of you says anything, the quiet hum of the night wrapping around you like a blanket. 

He doesn’t move away. If anything, he’s closer now, his hand sliding from your jaw to cup the side of your neck. His thumb brushes just under your ear, and the touch sends a shiver skimming down your spine. “How far have you gone before?” 

You shake your head “Nothing further than kissing.” 

He pulls back a small look of bewilderment on his face “Are you sure about this?” 

You nod, disconnecting yourself for a second to look at him, although your mind was hazy nothing about the decision to go further with Taehyun was, you were sure you wanted this. “Yes” You spoke with a surge of confidence. “I want this, so bad.” 

Taehyun reconnects your lips in a messy entanglement of lips and teeth, his hands grabbing at your waist to pull you closer to him even in the confines of his car. “Tell me to stop,” he says, his voice low, almost a growl. It’s not a demand—it’s a plea, barely restrained, like he’s fighting himself and losing.

You don’t tell him to stop. You can’t. Instead, your hands find their way to him, one resting on his shoulder, the other fisting the fabric of his shirt like you’re afraid he’ll pull away if you let go. “I’m not going to,” you whisper, and your voice shakes, but not with fear. 

He kisses you again, harder this time, like he’s been holding himself back and can’t anymore. There’s nothing hesitant about it now—his lips press firmly against yours, and you meet him with the same urgency, like you’ve both been waiting for this moment longer than either of you is willing to admit. 

Taehyun’s free hand slides to your waist, gripping you just hard enough to make your breath hitch. The space between you feels nonexistent, every inch of him pressing into you in a way that’s both overwhelming and addictive. You’re not thinking anymore—not about where you are, not about how this started, not about the million ways this could go wrong. All you know is the way his hands feel against you, the way his lips move like he’s memorizing the shape of yours, the way your entire body feels like it’s on fire. 

You tug at his shirt, pulling him closer, and he groans softly against your mouth, the sound vibrating through you. Taehyun’s fingers dig into your waist, grounding you even as the world feels like it’s spinning out of control. The high from the weed makes your skin a buzz and your mind spin. 

“You’re gonna ruin me,” Taehyun mutters against your lips, his voice rough and raw, like the confession slipped out without his permission.It makes you want him even more. You tilt your head, deepening the kiss, pouring every ounce of emotion you can’t put into words into the way your lips move against his. Your hips raise slightly, searching for some semblance of friction. 

The small space of the car feels suffocating now, the air thick and heavy as his hand slides up your side, brushing just beneath the hem of your sweatshirt. His touch is searing, leaving trails of heat in its wake, and you arch into him instinctively, a soft sound escaping your lips.

“Careful,” Taehyun murmurs, pulling back just enough to look at you. His eyes are dark, his pupils blown wide, but there’s something else there, too—a flicker of restraint, like he’s holding himself together by a thread. “You don’t know what you’re starting.” 

“Maybe I do,” you whisper, your voice steady even as your heart pounds in your chest. He had you craving something you had never indulged in before, something you knew you would miss as soon as it ended. 

For a moment, he just stares at you, like he’s trying to read your mind, to figure out if you mean it. Whatever he sees in your expression seems to be enough, because his lips crash into yours again, his hands gripping you like he’s afraid you’ll disappear. He grabbed at your sweater, unzipping it until your frilly tank top was revealed underneath. When his lips leave yours, they trail along your jaw, slow and deliberate. 

The feeling of his lips sends a shiver down your spine, and you tilt your head instinctively, giving him more access.“God, you’re dangerous,” he mutters against your skin, his voice rough and almost reverent. His hands move up the expanse of your body and torso cupping your breasts in his hands. A gasp leaves your lip, a chill crawling up your spine. 

“These fucking tits.” Taehyun growled. “How has no man ever touched these before?” Your chest heaved as explored the entirety of your upper body, cradling your breasts in his hands. Your heart is pounding in your chest, and the high from the weed feels distant now, overshadowed by the way he’s making you feel. Every nerve in your body is alive, hyper-aware of his every touch, every breath, every unspoken word.

“Take this off.” He growls his lips ghosting over your collarbone as he tugged at your tank top in his big hands. You met his hands at the hem of your tank top, lifting it in one fail swoop over your head. Your top half is now completely bare and out in the open for his eyes to see. 

You didn't think his eyes could darken anymore then they already have but to now avail his irises became nearly black pools of desire. Your heart was thumping hard in your chest as your breath left you in harsh pants. He made quick work of running his hands to his grey sweatpants, yanking them down just enough to pull himself out of his boxers. His cock spring free, the rip red and angry. 

Your eyes widened at the sheer size of him. He smirked at you with a knowing look. “Cute.” He muttered. “You never seen a dick before or something.” You could tell he meant it as a joke but one single look at your expression made him realize just how little experience you’ve had. 

“I..” You trailed “I haven’t.” Your face was flush red from the embarrassment of your admittance, you hadn't even really watched porn. Seeing a dick was so obscure to you, so unheard of. 

“Come here.” Taehyun softly said as he held his hand out for you to take. You lifted your legs to gently maneuver your body over the center console of the car. The sudden movement coupled with the high that was still lingering had you feeling a bit dizzy. 

You sat on Taehyun’s lap. His hard cock now resting against your thigh. Awkwardly and out of instinct you lifted your arms to cover your breasts that were now smack dab in his face. A man’s dream you thought to yourself. 

“No, don’t do that princess.” He took a hold of your arms gently in his hands pulling them back until they were at your sides. “Don’t hide.” He toyed with the hem of your shorts and he brought his other hand to your hips, gently guiding your hips to rock back and forth against his cock. 

A gasp fell from your lips at the movement. He started slowly rocking your hips steadily against his to create just the perfect amount of friction. Your clit throb in your shorts wishing you were completely bare against him. 

“That feel good?” He asked you with a grit to his teeth trying his hardest to keep his groans at bay. You nodded dumbly, a whimper falling from your lips as you continued to allow him to guide your hips against his. 

“I..i think i need more.” Your voice was airy, a sigh that sounded a lot like a moan slipped from your lips. “More, please.” 

“Hm.” He hummed grabbing ahold of your hips with both of his hands, his grip tighter than it had been all night. “Pretty little princess wants more huh?” He was teasing you, rocking your hips faster against him. 

“Y-yes!” You squealed, as a foreign feeling twisted in your stomach, the intensity knocking you forward trying to steady yourself on his chest. 

The sudden stop of your hips had you whining as Taehyun roughly gripped your hips in his hands stopping your movements. “The first time you cum will be with my cock buried deep inside of you. Not from you grinding on it like a needy little whore, do you hear me?” 

“Taehy-” You began to whine. 

“Do.you.hear.me?” He asked again tougher this time as he snaked his hand up your neck to the nape grabbing a fist full of your hair in his hands yanking your face to be level with his. 

“Yes!” You repeated for the second time tonight. “Want your cock..” 

“Good girl.” Taehyun let go of your hair soothing the spot with his palm. “Let's get these shorts off now, yeah?” You nodded with a hum as you lifted yourself off his lap to give Taehyun easy access to slide your shorts and panties down at the same time. 

“Are you going ok?” He ran his hands up and down your sides soothingly. 

“I am” You reassured him. You bent your face down to meet his lips in a short kiss as you pulled away Taehyun smirked, chasing your lips with his own, causing a giggle to leave you. 

His hand reached down, carefully circling your heat with his fingers. “You're so wet.” He hissed, dipping a finger slightly inside your awaiting core. Your breath hitched in your throat as you watched him toy with your pussy lip and clit delicately. Your legs slightly shook from the touch of him. 

“I think you’re ready.” He nodded more to himself than you. “You think you’re ready baby?” The pet name caught you off guard stunting your ability to answer so instead you nod. 

“I need your words.” He said, more harsh than you expected. 

“I’m ready.”  You confirmed. His hands found your hips once again, lifting you up until the tip of his dick was lined up at your entrance. The knot in your stomach tightened as the reality of what was about to happen set in. You were really about to lose your virginity. Here in a car, in the middle of the night to a boy you had just officially tonight. The thought excited you? It was so purely unlike you that you couldn’t wait to do it. 

Taehyun helped guide you down on his length, the stretch of him burning as you slowly moved down inch by inch on his cock. “Oh.” You squeaked, using Taehyun’s shoulder as leverage. “Oh-” You said again. The one syllable seems like the only word you could even begin to utter. 

“Careful.” Taehyun grit the words out. “That’s it.” 

The feeling of him inside you had tears pricking your eyes as the intensity of the moment took over. 

“Stay still princess” Taehyun’s voice was soft as he gave you instructions on how to take him, talking you through it. You sat still on his lap as his cock was not fully satiated inside of you. The feeling was odd..a good odd. You felt full, entirely consumed by him. The dead of night surrounding you adds onto the ambience. 

“Move whenever you want sweetheart, you're in charge.” The heat of his hands on your bare skin coupled with the heat in the car and the weed lingering in your veins gave you the boost of confidence you needed to lift yourself up and slam yourself back down on his cock. Carefully at first, testing the waters. Taehyun’s grunt of pleasure only adds to the fire growing inside of you. You needed to make him feel good, it was now the most important part of this. 

“Fuck” He grunted as he leaned his head back against the seat heavily lidded eyes looking up at you as you bounced atop him. The pleasure was creeping up on you, the burn now a dull feeling easily forgotten about. “Keep doing that.” 

His praise served as a catalyst for you to keep moving your hips up and down on his cock. Your thighs shaking at the overwhelming pleasure and the workout you were receiving. 

“So good.” You whimpered out, the only sounds around you were the ones of the constant smacking of your ass against his lap and the moans you let slip from your mouth uncontrollably. 

“Good girl.” Taehyun babbled, resetting his arms behind his head, watching you. “That’s a good fucking girl, fucking that cock for the very first time.” 

“Am i doing good?” You chased his praise almost as fast as you chased your impending orgasm, the heat pooling in the bottom of your belly like the fire getting ready to boil over and explode. 

“Yeah baby, you're doing so good. Keep bouncing on my cock. Just like that.” Soft mews left your lips reaching your fingers out to drag down Taehyun’s clothed chest. 

“Can I help you out?” Taehyun pants desperately pawing at your hips. “If it hurts, let me know, I'll stop right away.” 

“Ok.” You whimpered pathetically. You'd allow him to do anything to you right now just as long as you continued to feel as good as you were. His hands gripped your hands tightly in his hands before shooting his hips up with one single snap. 

A gasp of surprise left your lips as he reached angles you didn't even know was possible. 

“Holy-” You breathed out “Fuck, fuck.” 

Taehyun’s hips snapped up drilling his cock into your weeping hole over and over. His balls lewdly slapping the underside of your ass. “I’m close.” He hissed, not letting up on his thrusts. 

“M-me too, I think.” You winced at the mixture of pain and pleasure consuming you. The feeling that bubbled up inside of you waiting to explode like a ticking time bomb. 

“This tight fucking pussy wont ket me go.” Taehyun’s words sent you flying towards your orgasm, becoming a mess of yourself on top of him. He followed suit not longer after pushing his hips inside of you a few more times before stilling himself. 

“Fuck.” He huffed rubbing the sides of your thighs as rested your head against his chest trying to catch your breath. 

“Are you ok?” He asked with a slightly worried tone. 

“So good.” You said raising your head to look at him. “Thank you” 

“For the sex?” He quirked an arrogant brow at you, a laugh bubbling in his chest. 

“Well, yes and the weed, and teaching me how to smoke it and-”

“Ok, ok” He laughed. “No need to thank me so much.” 

“But I do.” You said with sincerity. “You helped me alot tonight.” 

“I can always do it again..” He trailed off with a slightly nervous tone in his voice. 

“Is this a drug dealer's way off asking me out after taking my weed and literal virginity in his car?” You joked, sending him a goofy grin. He shrugged in an attempt at being nonchalant despite his best efforts. 

“Is this the goody two shoes princess saying yes?” His tone was just as goofy and airy as the both of you felt. 

“It is.” You smiled at him. “Yes, a thousand times over.” 

“Eager are we?” Taehyun jokes. You laughed, hitting his chest lightly. “Shut up and fuck me again Taehyun.” 

“Don't have to ask me twice.” 

taglist. @st1llm0nster , @blossommi , @beomiracles, @kkamismom12 , @izzyy-stuff , @biteyoubiteme , @hyukascampfire , @thetxtdevil

[not-xpr-art]

Inside No 9 - A Fanart Tribute ~

(55 digital painting studies based on the 55 episodes of the show!)

I really wanted this series to represent both the drama and humour of the show whilst also paying homage to the amazing aesthetic quality of each episode, so I really hope I achieved that!

(I framed them like this so they'd look like little film cells all joined together btw!)

Also thank you to everyone who suggested screenshots (I'm sorry if I didn't pick yours, it was probably because it would have been too hard for me to draw lol, but I did really appreciate all the help regardless!)

I think I am perpetually doomed to only get really into things when they're about to end or have already ended pfft, so I hope this in some way makes up for me being sorta late to the party!

Doing this series really did make me appreciate so much more about every episode, all the fabulous little details in every shot, you can really see all the effort and love that Reece & Steve (& everyone behind the scenes too) put into it which is just so lovely!!

Anyway I love this show a lot (as you can probably tell lol) and I had SO much fun painting these (even if they did take a long time to finish pfft)! <3

[ijustwannabepartofyoursymphonyy]

What 500,000,000 berries buy you

The wanted poster crinkled in your grip as you studied his face for the hundredth time: Trafalgar D. Water Law. 500,000,000 berries. The "Surgeon of Death" himself, with that infamous mocking smirk.

Including you.

You'd been tracking the Heart Pirates for three weeks, island to island, always one step behind. But this time was different. This time, you had him.

The tavern's dim lights cast long shadows across weathered wooden floors. You nursed your drink, eyes fixed on the door while keeping your presence subtle. Your reputation as a bounty hunter preceded you, but Law didn't know your face. That was your advantage.

The door creaked open, and your heart skipped. That spotted hat was unmistakable.

Law walked in, confident and unafraid. His nodachi rested on his shoulder. The legendary "Room" could split you into pieces before you could blink, but you had planned for that. The seastone cuffs hidden in your boot felt heavier than ever.

He sat at the bar, two seats away. Close enough to strike, far enough to react if things went wrong. Your fingers traced the rim of your glass, mind racing through the dozen ways this could play out.

"You've been following us since Saobady," he said, turning his gaze away from you. His voice was deeper than you'd imagined, with an edge of amusement that made your skin prickle.

Your grip tightened on your glass. "That obvious?"

"Only to someone who was watching for it." He turned then, golden eyes studying you with an intensity that made your breath catch. "Though I must admit, most hunters don't make it this far."

"I'm not most hunters."

His lips curved into that same smirk from the wanted poster. "No, you're not. Which makes me wonder why you haven't made your move yet."

You shifted in your seat. Every second could mean the difference between capturing him and ending up in pieces. "Maybe I'm just enjoying the chase."

"Or maybe," he leaned in, "you're realizing that not every pirate deserves to be caught." You could see the dark circles under his eyes."

"Five hundred million berries buys a lot of justice," you said, but the words felt hollow even as they left your mouth.

Law chuckled, a sound that sent an unexpected shiver down your spine. "Justice? Is that what you tell yourself when you hand people over to the World Government?"

His words hit harder than they should have. Your years of bounty hunting showed you. The world wasn't as black and white as the Marines painted it.

"Room," he whispered, and the blue sphere expanded around you both before you could react. Your hand flew to your weapon, but he was faster.

"Shambles."

In an instant, you were outside the tavern, pressed against the cold stone wall. Law stood before you, one hand planted beside your head, the other still gripping his nodachi.

"Tell me, hunter," he said, his face inches from yours, "what is justice worth to you?"

Your heart raced, but not from fear. The seastone cuffs felt like lead in your boot, forgotten. In that moment, you realized you'd been hunting the wrong thing. Those calculating eyes made it clear.

"That depends," you breathed, "on what you're offering instead."

His smirk widened, and you knew the hunt was over. But maybe, just maybe, something more interesting was beginning.

"Join my crew," he said, not a question but a challenge. "See what justice really looks like from the other side."

In a port town tavern's shadows, with five hundred million berries slipping away, you made a fateful choice. It would change everything.

Sometimes, the best hunts don't end in capture. They end in a different kind of surrender.

[ash-and-starlight]

BOOKS OF 2024

the list nobody asked for. again <3 i think this time around i read less books than the previous year?? but still 😤 we did it boys we read some fine books. reviews under the cut since i love yapping and i cant be fucked to make a goodreads account

Cromorama - Riccardo Falcinelli this book was sooo cool so engaging so interesting, its a look into the history and science of colors but its also so much more rlly one of my favorite nonfictions of all time

The Murderbot Diaries - Martha Wells disclaimer I only read this series up to Rogue Protocol, but I enjoyed it, I rlly liked the characters and the worldbuilding and the short novel format and most of all murderbooottt my best friend murderbot. when im in the mood for scifi again ill read the rest asw I prommyy

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous - Ocean Vuong this is one of those books that as u read it you can already tell it will stay with you forever, dont be fooled by the shortness every single line will Kill You. it will kill you dead.

The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida - Shehan Karunatilaka probably my fav book of the year, it's beautiful it's gripping it's deep it's scathing it's irreverent it has a careful and deeply cultural magical surrealism it has sociopolitical satire it won the booker prize of 2022 and deserved it so much

Fuori le Palle! Privilegi e Trappole della Mascolinità - Victoire Tuaillon ill be hoooneestt I didn't find this uhh as groundbreaking as I was kinda expecting it to be?? but still it was a nice read and the "flipped" perspective to center the myth of """masculinity""" in a feminist text was interesting. also rlly pretty cover

Lavinia - Ursula K. Le Guin Ursula girl u did it again! constantly rising the bar for all of us!! another stunning book that sadly fell victim to the #girlboss tiktokification but DONT LET THAT STOP YOUUU its sooo good. bitches Love pre-hellenistic latin society <333 bitches love even more when the boundaries between story and characters and reality and fiction blur in such a masterful way that Lavinia can have a conversation with Vergil and it doesn't feel not even the littlest bit forced or out of place <333

Exordia - Seth Dickinson Went in for the giant snake alien/human toxic yuri stayed for the weird mystery body horror stuff almost left for the overabundance of USA military stuff that I just can't be bothered to care about. I liked it way less than the masquerade but it Does have all the classical elements that make it a Seth Dickinson book aka fucked up women. Imperialism Critique. the horrors. the trolley problem. being Very Long. etc

Iron Widow - Xiran Jay Zhao wow guys. this book fucking sucked. like I'm speechless. you'd think that with the crazy popular rep it has it would have smth worth salvaging but uhhh- anyway go stream cocoon by corrupter which is iron widow if it was actually good

Fire from Heaven - Mary Renault nothing more special than a cultured fujo and her special golden shiny perfumed blorbo that everyone wants to fuck so bad <333 finally a book that healed my tsoa related trauma, the only thing that could've made it better is if hephaestion discovered brat taming

The Spear Cuts Through Water - Simon Jimenez beautiful and with such a dreamy magical atmosphere once again I LOVEEE interwoven stories, and I feel like some of the writing's style Choices are so original. it starts a bit slow tbh but I found it impossible to put down from the second half of the book til the end

Voyage of the Damned - Frances White well. it was a cherished super pretty shiny gift from a beloved friend so that's why I finished it but uh. uhhMMMMM uhghhh whhhhfhhmmm uhhhhh hmmmmm uhhhhh. yeah. I'm iconic 💅

Bad Gays: a Homosexual History - Ben Miller, Huw Lemmey ill be honest I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did but its really nice!! its a critique and analysis of white male gayness told through the lives of some Notable Controversial Homos, and I liked how it rlly paints a full picture not only of their lives but also of the socio-political landscape that shaped them and the concept of queernes of the time. only lil gripe tho is why there was only One woman and One Japanese guy then-

[eastofthemoon]

Muppet Holiday Baking Show

Time for my annual muppet fic for the holidays. Enjoy!

Title: Muppet Holiday Baking SHow Rating: G Series: The Muppets Summary: Inspired by popular baking shows, the muppets decide to do one of their own. It goes as well as you expect.

Archive of Our Own

--------------------------- “Okay,” Scooter called as he flipped the camera on and held it up. “We’re ready to go!”

“Alright,” Fozzie cheered as he waved to the camera. “Hiya, folks! And welcome to the very first Muppet Baking Show, which will be hosted by yours truly, Fozzie the Bear!.”

“And me, Rowlf the Dog,” Rowlf said before gesturing behind himself. “But before we go see what our contestants are baking, let’s meet our judges.”

“Drumroll, please, Animal!”

A drum suddenly rolled past them and the camera.

Fozzie sighed. “Hey, come on Animal, I’m supposed to be doing the jokes here.”

“Sorry, Foz, but you know he takes things literally,” Floyd called.

“Mmmm,” Animal called. “Literature tasty.”

“Anyway,” Rowlf said as he directed Scooter and the camera to their right. “Here are our judges, the Swedish Chef and Uncle Deadly.”

The Swedish Chef grinned and waved as Uncle Deadly gave a thoughtful nod.

“Thank you, it is a pleasure to be here,” Uncle Deadly said.

“You know, I can understand why the Swedish Chef volunteered to be a judge,” Rowlf said, “but I'm kinda surprised to see you one too, Deadly.”

Uncle Deadly shrugged. “Oh, it’s not that surprising. I’m no master, but I do make a killer stew...also no one else wanted the job and Kermit offered me fifty dollars in recompense.”

“You're getting paid?” Fozzie asked.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Within the baking tent, Fozzie and Rowlf walked over to the first contestant on their list with Scooter following close behind.

“Hey, Kermit,” Fozzie greeted as the frog looked up from his mixing bowl. “Whatcha making for us?”

Kermit looked up a bit startled. “Oh, you’re starting with me?” He cleared his throat. “Well, this is an old family recipe passed down through the generations. It’s a type of a banana cream pie.”

“Ooh,” Fozzie said curiously. “I do hope it’s a-peeling then!” He laughed at his own joke as Kermit groaned.

Rowlf seemed unfazed as he looked into Kermit’s bowl. “Anything else going in there besides banana?”

Kermit perked up. “Oh, a special family ingredient.”

“Is it oranges?” Fozzie asked hopefully. “I got a good orange joke I’ve been wanting to use, and all our musical numbers have to rhyme.”

“Uh, no,” Kermit replied. “Flies.”

Dead silence followed.

“Flies?” Fozzie said slowly.

“Yup,” said Kermit as he dipped a spoon into the batter. “It’s my great aunt Eda’s sweet fly pie. Want a taste?”

Fozzie gave a nervous chuckle. “Oh, uh, normally, I would love to, but I had a big lunch so I don’t-”

“Sure!” Rowlf exclaimed as he took the spoon, put it in his mouth and swallowing the batter without hesitation.

He licked his lips. “Pretty good, although it might need a bit more sugar.”

Kermit nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Great aunt Eda was always a sweetie, and I was worried about overdoing it.”

Fozzie couldn’t speak as Scooter zoomed the camera on him and his dropped jaw.

“How?” he asked Rowlf.

Rowlf shrugged. “What? I’m a dog. We don’t care where we get our protein.”

Fozzie raised a finger to speak, but seemed to realize he really didn't want to question this further.

-----------------------------------------

After the fly-tasting, Fozzie and Rowlf decided it was time to split up for a bit and thus Rowlf found himself at Piggy’s station.

“Hiya, Piggy how's it - woah! How are you done already?”

Piggy brushed her hair over her shoulder as she struck a pose for the camera. “Oh, when you became an expert baker like moi, it is a trifling thing to whip up the finest of delights in a jiffy!”

“Ah, sure,” Rowlf said as he looked over the very detailed and finely painted cookies that were clearly depicting Piggy’s own face. “What icing did you use?”

“Royal icing of course!” Piggy held up one of the cookies. “I only use the finest of ingredients! I’m certain once our dear judges taste these they’ll-”

“You ordered these from a bakery didn’t you?” Rowlf said flatly.

Piggy gasped in shock. “How dare you?!” She gripped the cookie as if it were a weapon, eyeing Rowlf as a potential target for confectionary wrath. “You accuse moi of trying to cheat-”

“Uh, Piggy,” Scooter spoke up, “you still have the takeout box at your station and it has the price tag on it.”

His camera zoomed in on the box that read ‘Liza’s bakery’ on it.

Piggy chewed her bottom lip and looked up at the both of them.

“Pay you both twenty bucks to keep your mouths shut.”

---------------------------------------------------------------

Fozzie could feel a migraine starting. He was starting to regret not taking his mom’s advice on keeping some ibuprofen on hand.

“Why,” he muttered, “why are you two here?”

Statler handed his wooden spoon to Waldorf. “Well, we wanted to cook and we figure either we risk getting burned by the stove at home-”

“Or we can come here and burn you,” Waldorf finished causing both old men to chuckle. "Dohohohoho!"

Fozzie gave a deep tired sigh. It was fine. He just had to get this over with.

“Okay, what are you two cooking up?” he asked slowly.

“Sourdough bread,” Statler replied.

Fozzie looked up hopefully. Maybe this could be a civil conversation?

“Oh? That sounds tasty.”

“It should,” Waldorf replied. “We’ve found the perfect ingredient to give it plenty of sourness.”

“Oh? What's that?”

“One of your jokes,” the old men said in unison. “Ohohohohohoh.”

Fozzie shook his head and left the table muttering under his breath. “Why do I even try...”

Scooter, however, stayed behind and focused the camera on the two of them. “Okay, seriously, what are you two making?”

“An apple pie,” stated Statler.

Waldorf froze. “I thought we were making a meat pie.”

Statler paused. “Oh...I was wondering why you were chopping those onions. So it wasn't for fake tears?”

Both men slowly looked into the now very questionable mixing bowl.

“No one tell the bear,” they said in unison.

----------------------------------------------

“Hey, Gonzo,” Rowlf called as he approached. “Don’t mean to criticize, but is this really the best time to be looking at your phone? You've only got so much time to bake.”

“No need to worry, Rowlf,” Gonzo said as he put down his phone. “I was merely double checking my recipe for the perfect cake.”

“Oh?” Rowlf asked now very curious. “What’s the perfect recipe?”

Gonzo reached under his station and brought out his ingredients. “A cup of sugar, 2 cups of flour.”

Rowlf nodded. “Yeah, okay.” It didn’t seem anything special so far, but he wasn’t an expect baker, maybe the proportions would-

“Half a cup of baking soda.”

“Say what?”

A loud thud was heard as Gonzo placed a giant jug on his station. “A gallon of vanilla extract.”

Rowlf covered his hand over his mouth as he mulled over what was in front of him.

“Where exactly did you get this recipe?” he asked.

“The most reliable place for all kinds of information,” Gonzo said. “Tumblr.”

“You, uh, really sure you should trust that?”

Gonzo blinked puzzled. “Why? Do you think people would lie on the internet?”

Rowlf raised and lowered his hand. Nope, he didn’t think he had enough time today to explain that answer.

----------------------------------------------

Fozzie had been a bit concerned when he heard that Bunsen and Beaker were also competing. However, he didn’t see anything explosive looking so far, so he carefully approached their station.

“Hey, you two ready to RISE to the occasion. Hahaha,” he greeted as his ears wiggled.

“Indeed we are,” Bunsen said as Beaker was taking a loaf of bread out of the oven. “We at Muppet Labs believe we have concocted the optimal variant of jalapeño bread.”

“Meep!” Beaker said as he removed his oven mitts.

“Jalapeño bread, huh?” Fozzied asked. “Did you need something to spice things up? Huh, huh?”

“Not quite,” Bunsen as he seemed unfazed by the pun. “I don’t care much for sweets and jalapeño is one of Beaker’s favorites.”

“Meep meep!” replied Beaker.

“Speaking of which Beaker,” Bunsen said as he cut into the bread for a small piece. “We need to see if the chemical balance has enhanced the pepper's natural spiciness as hypothesized. Would you do a taste test?”

“Meep, meep,” said Beaker as he popped the piece of bread into his mouth.

He chewed, but then became still. Then suddenly his face turned red and literal flames shot out of his ears.

“MEEP!” he cried out as he dashed to the fridge in the tent. He knocked over Rizzo as he opened the fridge and chugged down a full carton of milk. A low sizzle could be heard as the flames faded to smoke.

Beaker took a long deep sigh of relief.

“Ah,” Fozzie said as he approached. “I guess that bread was too hot to handle, huh?”

Beaker shook his head as he gave a thumbs up.

“Beakie really likes things spicy,” Bunsen explained with a grin.

From a short distance away, Scooter turned his camera around toward Uncle Deadly and the Swedish Chef who both looked very dismayed.

“I'm nut trying zeet,” said the Swedish Chef. “Nu vey.”

“I do concur,” Uncle Deadly stated. “Perhaps I should give one of my enemies a ring...”

---------------------------------------------

“Alright, judging time,” Scooter shouted as he aimed the camera at both Fozzie and Rowlf. “Think everyone is ready for this?”

“Well, I don’t want to sugarcoat it, but I think they’re on a roll!” Fozzie cheered.

“And it looks like Rizzo is up first,” Rowlf stated as he pointed.

Scooter moved the camera so the little rat was in the frame as he carried a giant covered plate over his head.

“All right judges,” he said with a grunt as he placed it in front of the Swedish Chef and Uncle Deadly. “Feast your eyes on this!” He put his hand on the lid. “My Uncle Remy’s famous triple chocolate fudge brownies!”

He lifted the lid.

The judges stared at the plate, then at each other and then again at the plate.

“Zee-a plete-a is impty,” the Swedish Chef said.

“Yes,” Uncle Deadly said as he pointed. “Like the kingdom of Ozymandias, nothing here remains, save chocolate brownie crumbs.”

Rizzo shrugged. “What? I had to taste test it, didn’t I?”

“I’m amazed there even are crumbs left,” Rowlf replied.

--------------------------------------

Uncle Deadly took a nibble on his fork and gave a thoughtful nod. “I will say, Pepe, while your cake is a bit messy it does have a nice coffee flavor, and the nuts elevate the texture.”

The king prawn chuckled proudly. “Hey, it’s only natural. Baking runs in the family, okay? And-”

“No, no, no,” yelled the Swedish Chef and he shook his head. “Der iceenen is too roonynyen und yoo deedn't pooten een enoofen soogar. Elsoo der caken is soo goomgoomee, yoo cooden be cooled keeng oov der peeraten -”

“Okay, okay,” Pepe cried with a growl. “Why don’t you just stab my heart while you’re at it!”

“Yeesh,” Fozzie muttered to Rowl. “Third time in a row, did you ever imagine that Uncle Deadly would be the nice judge? This feels like my last comedy routine with those hecklers.”

“I would,” Rowlf replied with a sigh. “You weren’t at the last pot luck.”

-------------------------------------------

Uncle Deadly barely looked at the cake before staring straight into Gonzo’s face. “I refuse to eat this.”

“Seem heeren,” declared the Swedish Chef. “I radeneer eet Kermeet's pie.”

“Oh, come on, guys,” Gonzo said as he gestured to his very flat looking cake. “I used all natural ingridents.”

“Yes, and I can tell you from personal experience that many poisons are natural,” Uncle Deadly said. “This cake looks so gummy it seems closer to rubber.”

“I doont dinkendink ve cannen cooten dees,” the Swedish Chef said as he poked at the cake.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Gonzo said as he got out the knife, swinging it in the air above his cake. “Look you can just chop right through it - arrgh!”

The knife came down, and abruptly bounced back up. Gonzo rebounded with it, tearing through the tent and into the air. Scooter did his best to get the tiny dot that was now Gonzo caught on camera before he started to plummet in the distance. A loud thud was heard outside the tent.

“Oh, my gosh,” Fozzie said as everyone went to look out the tent “Do you think he’s okay?”

Suddenly, the melody of The Rainbow Connection started to play.

“Sorry, that's my phone,” Kermit said as he quickly answered. “Kermit the Frog here. You're sure? You’re where? Right, uh, I'll send Beauregard to pick you up.”

“Was that Gonzo?” Rizzo asked.

“Yeah, he says he’s okay,” Kermit shook his head. “He said he landed in the strategic banana reserve.”

“Why do we have that?” Miss Piggy asked.

Fozzie opened his mouth.

“Fozzie, if you say ‘because it’s a-peeling’ I will shove Kermit’s pie in your face.”

Fozzie shut his mouth.

Scooter swung his camera back to face into the tent where Uncle Deadly and the Swedish Chef were still examining Gonzo’s cake.

“I would suggest throwing it out,” Uncle Deadly said, “but I’m afraid it will bounce back for vengeance.”

-----------------------------------

“Alright, alright, everyone step back,” Bobo said as the fire fighters continued to douse the flames. “Everything’s under control.”

Scooter directed the camera back to the burning tent.

“At least the flames aren’t as high now,” he said before spinning the camera back to the muppets.

“I swear, if any of my hair got scorched, the tent won’t be the only thing on fire,” Miss Piggy muttered as she checked her compact mirror.

“In hindsight,” Uncle Deadly stated, “we should have predicted this would be the outcome when we introduced the technical challenge.”

“Yeah,” Fozzie said, “things got really heated up.”

Several groans were heard.

Scooter pointed the camera at Kermit. “So, is this the end of the contest?”

“Yeah, I don’t think we can use any of this,” said Kermit. “Stop filming, Scooter.”

Scooter turned the camera to himself.

“Happy Holidays!” he said as he cut the recording.

[hephaestiions]

day 21 of @hprecfest — a fic rated M | previous recs

author rec! more importantly: tacky rec! evocative, poignant & mature (heh), @tackytigerfic's works are charmed slices of aching life. tacky has a gift for making a meal out of the mundane: their style is imbued with the hush of a glade, something quiet that burrows under your skin and expands there. writing about magic lends itself to the excitement of outlandish predicaments— fuck or die marriage bonds, werewolves, time travel— but i love how tacky takes these improbabilities as opportunities to explore the vulnerable and common humanity that fuels love, friendship, desire, grief. i'd take a chance on tacky's spin on every ship, every trope & every circumstance, purely because i'm convinced they'd take as good care of me as a reader as they do their brilliant, complicated, messy characters.

i chose tacky's M-rated works because i think they best demonstrate how narrative pleasure can, and often does, lie outside the graphic. for an action-oriented, fast-paced reader like me, fics that hold my attention through careful tension & hard-earned payoff are especially enthralling. everything tacky writes, regardless of rating, is glorious & an instant recommendation, but when i think of especially fascinating work with a rating that doesn't usually hold space in my preferences, it's these:

between the power lines (M, 3.2k)

For Harry Potter, all roads eventually lead to Draco Malfoy.

an elaboration & attestation to my personal maxim: to fall in or out of love with someone, take a trip with them. glory be that these two do, glory be that it's the former. this fic stretches and softens with every word, like resin in the sun.

the long fall (M, 3.6k)

It's supposed to be a simple house renovation, and maybe it's just the paint fumes, but Harry is feeling dizzy around Draco Malfoy. And what's the real meaning of family, anyway?

vignettes from a life & love that glow hotter with every change. every word exchanged carries the weight of so much history, care & consideration. the dynamic is sweet & achy, a take on new parenthood that leans entirely into the uncertainty & joy of changing realities.

last offices (M, 6.7k) (mcd)

It didn't seem fair that Malfoy was dead, and Harry was supposed to just keep on living without him.

i reread everything before reccing, but i couldn't bring myself to reread this one because of the sharp, acute devastation of it. pain, regret, grief, dialled up to the extreme and done shatteringly well. the non-linearity of this fic is especially cruel; the heartbreak is never allowed to settle. 100% recommended!

our little life (M, 7.2k)

Sometimes Harry dreams. Only they're not really dreams at all, and Malfoy is always in them. It's time travel, but not as we know it, and Harry just needs a good night's sleep.

entire lives woven into snippets of togetherness, the call of something distant yet inevitable. harry dreams of universes with draco, which is to say, harry dreams of universes where he's loved. also includes the absolutely stellar line: Harry wondered if there was any possible universe in which Malfoy wasn’t an absolute dick about his dad.

take the moon (M, 15k)

Harry Potter has always wanted a family of his own, and when a deadly blood curse forces him into a marriage bond with his best friend Draco Malfoy, it looks like he might just have found one. This isn't the story of the marriage. This is the story of two hurt and damaged men who learned how hard they could work for the sake of love.

two men who don't quite know how to allow what they want fully into their lives, a slow crunch of yearning, the even heat of a dynamic that holds itself away from the brink, brilliantly satisfying when they give into the fall.

in conclusion: a stellar author with a flair for the understated whose works call to be savoured. as always, if you love them (it's tacky, who doesn't?), let me know!

[yall-batman-fanfic]

Trouble | Batfam x Batmom x Batsis

Synopsis: Vivian and Bruce get a call from Valerie's teacher and they are in it for a shock to know what their daughter and her big brothers’ did.

Vivian has been called by the homeroom teachers of Dick, Jason, Tim, and Damian numerous times when they were still in school. Well, Damian is still in school and there are times when she would still get the call from them too for whenever he is a “smartass” (their words, not her, and she didn't appreciate the term too but they too claim that was what his classmates would call him). It was normal to be called for the antics they do and the words they use in school, they are exposed to many things at a young age with their duties as Robin. 

But when Valerie started school, while she did expect to get a call from her daughter's homeroom teacher once in a while, she didn't expect it to be something so serious that she would find her husband parking the same time she was at the school parking lot.

“You got the call too?” Vivian asked him.

“Yeah. Is it really that bad that we're both needed?” Bruce went to her side so they can head inside together. 

Vivian gave him an incredulous look, “What can a five-year-old do? This is preschool?”

“What did you do when you were five that got you in trouble?” 

Vivian shrugged. “I don’t know – I didn't stick around that much anyway, but I do remember telling my pre-school teacher to ‘fuck off’ and raised the middle finger at them too. And I remember biting my teacher's hand until it bled.”

“Any reason?”

“I was seven then, the school wouldn't admit it, but that teacher of mine was a creepy-pedo and he tried to touch me. My mom taught me a thing or two to spot them and when he got  a little handsy I bit it so hard the nurses said he needed stitches.”

“I don't think that's the case with Val, it better not be,” Bruce growled at the last part.

“If one of her teachers even touch her in a way they're not, I swear, they rather want Batman's justice than the Phoenix's.”

Bruce knew that to be true. In interrogations, Superman and Batman are called the good cop and the bad cop – the carrot and the stick. But with tougher cases, he prefers to bring in Vivian; they were bad cop and bad cop. The stick and the crowbar. And both scenarios he was the stick.

Arriving at Valerie's homeroom, they found their daughter sitting at her desk, alone, while drawing on a pad with crayons. After greeting Valerie's teacher, Vivian and Bruce went to their daughter to greet her. Valerie smiled at the sight of them and welcomed the kisses they placed on her cheeks.

“What happened, baby?” Vivian asked.

Valerie pouted and went back to her drawing.

Vivian and Bruce exchanged looks in confusion and worry. 

“Val, what are you drawing?” Bruce asked.

“Nothing,” Valerie muttered and continue to color on her drawing. 

“Mr. Wayne, Mrs. Pryor-Wayne, why don't we head here to talk?” Val's teacher gestured to her table at the very front where two seats were.

Leaving their daughter's side, Vivian and Bruce settled at the seats and asked what happened. Valerie's teacher went straight to the story, how the class was doing their paintings, and then – while the whole thing did start with Dalton Fallbrook putting on her hair and Valerie responded to flipping him over her shoulder, then her saying…

“What?” Bruce said, completely in shock.

“I just have to know, does Valerie usually hear that language at home?” 

Bruce turned to Vivian. His wife glared at him and said, “You know I stopped when Valerie was born!”

“You sometimes slip, Viv.”

“I do not! Besides, I don't use those in one go.”

“No one is pointing fingers, Mrs. Pryor-Wayne –” Valerie's teacher began.

“Tell him that! He's pointing fingers at me!” Vivian pointed her thumb at Bruce. “You know what – Val, baby, can you come over here for a sec?”

“Okay!” Valerie got up and went to her mother's side.

“Your teacher said you said a bad word –”

“Stupid fucking bitch,” Valerie said.

Bruce groaned and ran his hand down his face.

“Yes, yes, baby, no need to say it again. Don't ever say it again,” Vivian told her in a gentle voice. “I just want to know where did you… did you get it from me? From Mom?”

“No,” Valerie fiddled with the hem of her jacket.

“Then who, Val?” Bruce asked.

Oh the names she gave…

It made Bruce and Vivian sigh loudly and call everyone in their group chat to come to the manor.

~*~

“What's with the emergency call?” Dick asked, arriving at the sitting room.

“Yeah, I was at a job,” Jason walked in, and he went straight to where Val was to pick her up and swing her around. “Miss you, baby bird!”

“Jay!” Valerie giggled, but when he stopped she pouted and said: “I got in trouble.”

“Really? What did you do?”

“That is exactly what we're all going to talk about now,” said Vivian, who was standing there with Bruce and Alfred with the very latter holding a jar. A very familiar jar to Jason.

“Hey, isn't that the curse jar we had back then?” He asked Alfred. “I thought that broke.”

Setting down Valerie, the girl ran to where her mother was and sat on the couch between her parents. With everyone gathered – Dick, Jason, Tim, Damian, Duke, Cassandra, Stephanie, and Barbara – Vivian got to the point.

“Bruce and I were called to Val's pre-school earlier because of an incident,” she began.

“Who's the kid who needs a beating?” Jason asked.

“No one… Val already beat him up.”

“What did he do?” Damian crossed his arms over his chest.

Valerie pouted. “He pulled on my hair.”

“That's it,” Damian was about to leave but Dick held him down.

“Like Vivian said, Valerie already handled the situation,” Bruce said.

“How?” Tim asked, very much curious, like the others.

“She flipped him over her shoulder,” Vivian answered. And before they could celebrate, she added, “Then she said a very very bad word which she said she learned from you all.”

“Which is?” Tim asked.

Before Vivian could say, Valerie said: “Stupid fucking bitch!”

Silence came to the room. One that was so fragile that a simple tap would break, and it did break when Dick and Jason laughed so loudly. 

“It is not a laughing matter, Master Dick, Master Jason!” Alfred told them.

“Come on, Alfred, it is a little funny,” Jason shrugged.

Seeing Dick and Jason were laughing because of what she said, Valerie repeated it: “Stupid fucking bitch!”

Dick and Jason laughed again.

“Val, let’s not say that word again,” Duke tried to get her to stop.

“Well, I think this answers the question we were going to ask on who taught her that,” Vivian crossed her arms over her chest.

“Come on! We're not the only ones who say that!” Dick said. “I use ‘Damian’ whenever I'm in deep shit.” And he does, Dick would always say: “You stupid piece of… Damian.” instead of shit.

“Hey!” Damian exclaimed.

“It's not like I taught her how to use it!” Jason said.

They turned to Tim. 

Tim sat up. “I would never! Sure, do I curse whenever the gremlin pisses me off, but that doesn't mean I would sit down and teach her how to use it.”

They turned to Stephanie, she said to all of them: “Hey! The only thing I taught Val is how to do puzzles and riddles!”

Then to Barbara. 

“No,” Barbara simply said.

Then to Damian.

Damian glared at them. “I wouldn't – not to Val.”

“Okay, so no one taught Val how to curse,” Bruce sighed in relief.

“Hey, how come no one questioned Cass and Duke?” Jason said.

“Do you really think they would curse around Val?” Tim raised a brow at him.

They were sure a halo appeared atop the heads of Cassandra and Duke.

“So, that means, she just learned how to use it after hearing us use them,” Vivian groaned. “Right, to fix this we agreed to bring back an old thing we had in the Manor… Jason is familiar with this since it was with him this started.”

“A curse jar?” Damian snorted. “Like that will work. I don't see Todd having the cleanest mouth of us all.”

“You have no idea the innuendo that has, do you?” Stephanie smirked.

“The what?” 

Before Stephanie could explain, Alfred coughed, catching their attention, and pointed to Valerie's direction. There was a child present!

Jason snickered. “Is it still a dollar per curse word?”

“I don't like that tone, wanna make it five per curse word?” Vivian raised a brow at them.

“No!” They all exclaimed.

“Sure about that, Ma? Last time, the both of us were neck-a-neck with our donations to the curse-jar.”

“And that money got us to buy the new television that broke down,” said Alferd. “And some items in our grocery list.”

It was in Jason's time in the manor that Bruce realized he was paying so little for groceries and wondered how much cursing Vivian and Jason do around the manor. So much that it could pay for groceries and a T.V..

“So, any more cursing, we put a dollar here,” Vivian pointed to the jar. “So, before we start, wanna get something out?” She covered Valerie's ears. “Now is the time.”

Damian raised his hand. “Who was the bastard who messed with Val? I'll fuckign kill him.”

“You're not going to kill anyone – besides, he's a kid!” Bruce told Damian.

Jason raised his hand. “Did Val really flipping off the fucker?”

“Yes, she did. And I'm proud of her for it. The little shit deserved it anyway,” Vivian said.

Dick raised his hand. “Can I go now? I need to take a Damian.”

“I hate you, Grayson,” Damian glared at Dick.

Tim raised a hand. “Shit. Fuck. Bitch… that's it, just wanna get that out.”

Vivian sighed. “Anyone else who wants to get it out of their system?” 

No one said they were good.

“Alright, from now on,” Alfred began. “If anyone curses, it will be fined a dollar. It starts now.”

Silence came to the manor.

Valerie got down the couch and went to Damian, “Play?” she asked him.

“Homework first then we play,” Damian told her.

Valerie huffed and agreed to his terms.

When they left, Jason turned to Vivian, “How come she goes to the gremlin to play? The little fucker knows nothing about playing house!”

Alfred and Bruce sighed and held out the jar to him.

Jason grumbled and shoved two dollars.

“That's a dollar too much,” said Bruce.

“Yeah, because I paid for the next one. This is a shitty plan, didn't stop me from calling you—” he dropped another dollar “— you a piece of shit, B.” 

Silence again.

“So,” Tim began. “Does this also apply to patrols?”

An idea popped in Bruce, Vivian, and Alfred's head, and the smirks on their faces made everyone else groan. Annoyed with the new rule. 

[butterfly-lies-chase-them-away]

Bunny - Health Ledger!Joker x Fem!Reader

(Part 4)

Pairing: Joker x Fem!Reader

Joker x Reader with Anxiety

Word Count: 9892

Warnings: Joker, lol

Summary: Poor Y/n let herself go while Joker was locked up, now she's sick and Joker's goons have to look after her

A/N: Took a while to get this one out (shocking) but got it done! a bit on the shorter side of my other fics, but I didn't really have much for this part, it's more of a little fun one

(Laptop was playing up again, so had to post from my phone, will fix later)

Hope you enjoy this part 💚

-

It had been an agonising week without Joker. Normally, this wouldn't have been a cause for concern, disappearing for stretches of time was just something he did. But this time was different. This time, she knew he was in trouble, and the weight of that knowledge pressed down on her like a vice. Her anxiety, already a constant companion, had become an unbearable storm of worry and dread.

The news outlets seized every opportunity to cover the story of Joker being locked up, using every scrap of information. While the police remained tight-lipped, determined to withhold key details, the public had ways of uncovering the truth.

Grainy cell phone footage of Joker in a shitty holding cell circulated online, and rumours spread like wildfire. Everyone seemed to have an opinion, their voices merging into a deafening roar that only added to Y/n’s unease.

Every time she passed a television or scrolled through her phone, there it was, his face plastered across the screen. Headlines blared about his arrest, speculating on his motives, his crimes, and what the authorities planned to do with him. Each broadcast felt like a punch to the gut, a painful reminder that he was out there, caged, while she was here, powerless to do anything about it.

She was surprised to see that his makeup was still intact. Whether the authorities hadn’t bothered to remove it or had tried and failed, it didn’t matter. His face remained as she remembered it, boldly painted and defiant, other than little empty patches here and there. Oddly enough, it brought her a small sense of comfort, a reminder that even in their custody, he was still him.

She couldn’t eat. Couldn’t sleep. Her mind replayed their last moments together over and over, dissecting every detail, searching for some sign, anything, that he had a plan to get out of this. Because he always had a plan…didn’t he?

Y/n paced her small apartment, her nails chewed down to the quick, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. She considered calling someone, Rocco, maybe, but what would she say? Who could she trust? And even if she found someone to talk to, what could they do?

The uncertainty gnawed at her. Joker’s absence wasn’t just a void in her life, it was a ticking time bomb, and she was terrified of what might happen when it finally exploded.

The days dragged on, blurring together as Y/n confined herself to her room. She couldn’t bring herself to do much of anything. Her appetite was nonexistent, and the thought of eating made her stomach churn. The only thing she consumed was water, and even that was more out of necessity than care.

The once-cozy space she called home felt suffocating, the walls seeming to close in on her. Her bed became her constant companion, the blankets pulled around her like armour against the world outside. She hadn’t bothered to tidy up or even open the curtains. The room was dark, lit only by the faint glow of her phone screen.

Her reflection in the mirror told a story of exhaustion, dark circles under her eyes, her skin pale and dull. She felt as though the weight of her worry for Joker had physically anchored her to the bed.

She didn’t want to see anyone. Avoiding her friends, ignoring texts, and letting her phone calls go unanswered, she kept herself isolated. Leaving her room felt pointless when her mind was consumed by thoughts of him.

Her chest tightened every time the news flickered on in her head, imagining the cold, sterile cell he was probably in. It was a mental loop she couldn’t break out of, and it left her drained.

Y/n’s neglect of herself was becoming painfully obvious, the toll on her body undeniable. Her once-vibrant complexion had turned discoloured and lifeless, dark shadows lingering beneath her hollow eyes. Her cheekbones were more pronounced, the lack of proper nourishment leaving her looking gaunt and fragile.

Her energy levels had plummeted. Even simple tasks like standing up or walking across the room left her feeling lightheaded and weak. Her muscles ached from lying in bed for so long, and her legs felt shaky when she did manage to pull herself up.

The dehydration was catching up with her, despite the water she drank. Her lips were cracked, her skin dry and rough to the touch. Her hair hung limp and dull, reflecting the lifelessness she felt inside.

Her immune system stretched thin from stress and lack of sustenance, left her vulnerable to every chill in the air. She must have developed a slight fever that she didn’t have the strength to care about, brushing off the sweat on her brow as just another inconvenience.

Y/n’s body was screaming for help, yet her mind remained fixated on Joker. It was as if she’d become a shadow of herself, physically and mentally drained, all because the one person she cared about most was out of her reach.

Y/n lay sprawled on her bed, her body heavy with exhaustion. Her arms felt like lead, barely able to reach the half-empty water bottle sitting on her bedside table. Her fingers brushed against it weakly, but even the small effort was too much. She let out a soft, defeated sigh, her dry lips barely parting.

Her gaze, blurred and unfocused, was fixed on the ceiling when the creak of her door made her heart skip. She thought it was just another trick of her mind, her exhaustion had caused her to hallucinate sounds before. But this time, shadows fell across the dim room, and she slowly turned her head.

Her vision was too poor to make out details, the figures were just dark blurs against the soft glow of the hallway light. Panic fluttered in her chest. Was she dreaming? Or had her mind finally cracked? She blinked hard, trying to clear her sight, but the figures remained.

Then one of them stepped closer, and a familiar, gravelly voice filled the room. “Boss sent us,” Rocco said simply, his tone gruff yet somehow grounding.

Y/n’s breath hitched. It wasn’t a hallucination. These were real people, they were in her room. She managed to push herself up on trembling arms, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. How had they gotten in? The door was locked...wasn’t it? How fucking shit was this dorm’s security?

Her bleary eyes darted to the second figure, standing just behind Rocco. She didn’t recognise him, this one was new. He stayed silent, his broad frame looming in the doorway, while Rocco stepped closer.

“Damn, kid,” Rocco muttered, his voice softer now as he looked her over. “You look like hell.”

Y/n didn’t respond, her throat dry and her mind too foggy to form words. All she could do was stare at them, trying to process what was happening.

The realization hit her like a jolt. Joker. Was he okay? Did he send them to check on her? Did this mean… he was still out there? Her hands gripped the sheets beneath her tightly, desperate for answers, but too weak to demand them.

Rocco stepped closer, crouching down so his face was level with hers. His sharp features softened slightly as he took in her dishevelled state. “You’re not taking care of yourself,” he muttered, a mix of irritation and concern in his voice. “Boss wouldn’t like this. He sent us here to make sure you’re still kickin’.”

Y/n blinked slowly, her head swimming with questions, but the mention of Joker made her heart clench. Her lips moved, though no sound came out at first. She swallowed hard, wincing at the dryness in her throat before croaking, “Joker...?”

The second man, the one she didn’t recognise, stepped forward now, his arms crossed. His gaze flicked over her like he was assessing her condition. “He’s fine,” the man said curtly. “But he’s got…other things to handle right now.”

Rocco shot the man a look, clearly annoyed by his lack of tact. “What he means,” Rocco said, his tone more measured, “is that the Boss can’t exactly walk through your front door right now. So, he sent us. He wanted us to check in, make sure you’re okay, and…” He hesitated, glancing back at the other man before sighing. “...and make sure you get back on your feet.”

Y/n felt a rush of emotions, relief that Joker was alive, frustration at her own helplessness, and confusion about why these two were standing in her room like they belonged there. “How…how did you get in?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Rocco smirked faintly. “Lock wasn’t much of a challenge,” he said, jerking a thumb at the other man. “Frankie here’s got a knack for getting through doors. Don’t worry, though. We’re not here to cause trouble.”

Frankie, so that was the name of the stranger, gave a curt nod but said nothing. His presence felt imposing, but he didn’t seem hostile.

Y/n tried to sit up straighter, her body protesting with every movement. Her head swam as she forced out another question. “Why…why did he send you?”

Rocco reached over to the bedside table, grabbed her water bottle and handed it to her. “Boss cares about you, kid,” he said, his voice a little softer now. “More than you probably realise. He doesn’t like the idea of you wasting away while he’s out there handling business. Said if you don’t start taking care of yourself, he’ll have to come sort you out himself. And trust me, you don’t want that.”

Y/n took the bottle with shaky hands, her eyes wide as she processed his words. The thought of Joker sending these two to check on her, even while he was dealing with his own problems, made her chest tighten. He cared. In his own chaotic, unpredictable way, he cared.

Rocco stood up, brushing off his knees. “We’re here to help, alright? Whether you like it or not. So, drink up and get moving. Boss wouldn’t want you like this.”

Y/n hesitated, then took a small sip of the water. It was lukewarm and tasted metallic, but it was the first thing she’d managed to drink properly in days. She nodded faintly, her voice still weak but determined. “Okay.”

Rocco’s patience quickly wore thin as he watched Y/n take another feeble sip of water and sink back into the mattress. “Alright, that’s it,” he said firmly, straightening up and rolling his shoulders like he was preparing for a task he didn’t particularly enjoy. “You’re coming with us. Boss’s orders.”

Y/n’s eyes widened, panic flickering in them. “What? I can’t–” she stammered, but before she could finish, Rocco leaned down and grabbed her arm gently but insistently.

“You don’t get a say in this, sweetheart,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Boss wants you outta this bed, and that’s what’s happening.”

The other man, Frankie, sighed and moved to the other side of the bed, his expression unreadable but his stance ready to assist. “She’s not exactly in any condition to walk on her own,” he muttered.

“I can tell,” Rocco replied sharply. “That’s why we’re here. Now, up you go.” He pulled her up to a sitting position with surprising care, though his grip was unyielding. Y/n groaned, the motion making her head spin and her stomach churn.

“I can’t…” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I can’t even stand.”

“Don’t even worry about it,” Rocco said as if it were the simplest solution in the world. “But you’re not staying here, wasting away. Boss ’ll have my head if we leave you like this.”

Y/n tried to protest, but before she could, Frankie slipped an arm under her knees and another around her back, lifting her effortlessly out of the bed. She gasped in surprise, her body trembling from the sudden movement.

“Don’t drop me!” she cried weakly, her hands clutching at his shirt.

Frankie scoffed. “Relax.”

Rocco opened the door, stepping out first to make sure the coast was clear. “Move it, Frankie. Let’s get her to the van.”

Frankie carried her out of the room, his movements steady but brisk. The cool air in the hallway hit her like a slap, and her already fragile state made it hard to keep her eyes open. Her head lolled against Frankie’s shoulder as they made their way outside.

The van was parked at the curb, its engine idling softly. Rocco opened the back door, gesturing for Frankie to set her down. “Easy now,” he said, his tone surprisingly soft.

Frankie carefully eased Y/n into the van’s backseat, her body slumping against the upholstery. Rocco climbed in beside her, positioning her so she wouldn’t slide around during the ride. He reached over to buckle her seatbelt, muttering, “Don’t even think about trying to wiggle out of this. Boss ’ll hear about it.”

Y/n didn’t have the energy to argue. Her head rested against the window, her body aching and weak, but somewhere deep down, a flicker of curiosity sparked through the haze of exhaustion. Where was she being taken?

-

The van rumbled to a stop in a dimly lit alleyway, the oppressive gloom of the Narrows seeping in through the windows. Y/n barely stirred, her frail body sagging against the seatbelt. Rocco turned to glance at her, his expression somewhere between irritation and concern.

“We’re here,” he muttered, unbuckling his seatbelt. Frankie was already out of the van, opening the back door and reaching in to unbuckle Y/n.

“C’mon, girl,” Frankie said, his tone gruff but not unkind. “Boss wouldn’t want you sitting out here all night.”

Y/n blinked slowly, her vision still a blur. She didn’t have the strength to protest as Frankie once again lifted her, cradling her like she weighed nothing. The cold night air nipped at her skin as they exited the van.

The building in front of them was dilapidated, its bricks cracked and stained, with faint graffiti scrawled across the lower walls. The windows glowed faintly from inside, casting eerie shadows onto the narrow street.

“An apartment?” Y/n mumbled weakly, her voice barely audible.

“Temporary safe house,” Rocco said curtly, leading the way to the door. “Boss’s orders.”

Frankie adjusted his hold on her as they climbed a narrow, creaking staircase that felt like it might give way at any moment. Y/n groaned softly, her head lolling against Frankie’s chest. The exhaustion in her body made the journey feel endless, each step rattling through her fragile frame.

On the third floor, Rocco stopped in front of a battered door with peeling paint. He fished out a key, unlocking it with a click before pushing it open. The apartment inside was sparse but clean enough, furnished with the basics, a couch, a small table, a kitchenette, and a bed tucked into the corner of the single room.

Frankie carried Y/n inside, laying her carefully on the couch. She let out a faint sigh of relief as her body sank into the mattress, her muscles aching from the short journey. Rocco lingered near the door, crossing his arms as he surveyed the room.

“Not exactly five-star,” Rocco said, his voice tinged with sarcasm. “But it’ll do.”

“Boss said to keep her here and make sure she eats something,” Frankie said, stepping back and stretching his arms. “She looks like she’s about to keel over.”

“Yeah, well, she’s been like that for days, hasn’t she?” Rocco grumbled. “I’ll have a look. Can’t let her starve.”

As Y/n lay on the couch, barely able to keep her eyes open, a thought began to gnaw at the back of her mind. She hadn’t fully processed it before, but now, with Rocco and Frankie’s casual conversation, it became clear.

They were talking about him, Joker, like he was still calling the shots, like he was still in control, even though he was locked up and under 24/7 security. Her heart skipped a beat, a mixture of confusion and curiosity flooding her veins.

The implications of it all settled in her chest, heavy and unsettling. How were they in contact with him? Was he somehow orchestrating everything from behind bars? Was he pulling the strings while locked away, unable to move?

She tried to sit up, her body protesting the movement as if the world around her was spinning. The dizziness from the exertion made her head throb. She let out a shaky breath, trying to focus as she reached for the water bottle beside her. Her fingers trembled as she unscrewed the cap, the cold liquid soothing her parched throat. But the question remained.

How is he still in control? she thought, her mind racing. She hadn’t heard anything about Joker’s escape, nor did it make sense that he could have any influence from inside a high-security facility. So how? How were his goons able to move so freely?

She glanced over at Frankie and Rocco. They didn’t seem concerned, almost like it was business as usual. Rocco was leaning against the wall, checking his phone, and Frankie was off to the side, inspecting the small kitchenette. Neither of them gave any indication that they were afraid or worried about Joker's imprisonment.

Y/n felt a pit in her stomach. Was he that powerful, even locked up? She didn’t know what to believe anymore. The whole situation felt surreal like being stuck in a bad dream.

“He’s always had a plan,” she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible. "He always has a way."

The weight of the situation settled deeper into her chest as she realized that Joker was always three steps ahead. Even now, even when everything seemed to be falling apart, Joker had found a way to keep his reach, his control, intact.

But how much longer could he stay in control from inside a cell? How much longer before something broke? Before she broke?

She closed her eyes, trying to push the fear away, but it lingered. It always did when it came to him.

Rocco reappeared from the kitchen, holding a paper bag that crinkled loudly as he walked toward her. He tossed it onto the table with a heavy thud, then turned back to the cabinets, muttering something to Frankie under his breath. Frankie came over to the couch and crouched in front of Y/n, his gruff face softening just a bit.

“You need to eat, girl. You’re lookin’ worse than a dead man,” he said, pulling out a plastic-wrapped sandwich and a juice box from the bag.

Y/n blinked at the items as if they were foreign. It had been days since she’d eaten anything substantial, and the idea of food felt distant, almost abstract. Still, Frankie didn’t give her much choice.

“Come on,” he said, his tone firm but not unkind. He unwrapped the sandwich for her and held it out. “A few bites, at least. You’re no good to anyone like this.”

Her stomach churned at the thought, but she nodded weakly. With trembling hands, she took the sandwich from him and managed a small bite. The dry bread felt foreign against her tongue, and the first swallow was like pushing a rock down her throat. But then the second bite came easier, and the third after that.

Rocco turned back around, leaning against the counter with a mug of coffee in his hand. “Gotta admit, didn’t expect you to be this far gone,” he said bluntly.

Frankie shot him a warning glare, but Rocco shrugged. “What? She looks like she’s been through hell.”

“She’s been through enough,” Frankie snapped, his voice lower this time. “Just shut up and let her eat.”

Y/n barely registered the exchange, too focused on the sandwich and the juice box that Frankie had handed her. The sweetness of the juice was a shock to her system, waking her up a little more as it soothed her dry throat.

“Better?” Frankie asked after a moment.

Y/n nodded faintly. “Thanks,” she whispered, her voice hoarse.

“Good,” Rocco said, moving closer to the couch. He placed a bottle of water on the table beside her.

“You’ll need your strength. Don’t know what’s comin’ next, but Boss wouldn’t be happy seeing you like this.” Hearing that sent a pang through her chest. Joker.

Even when he wasn’t there, his shadow loomed large, dictating their actions. And here he was, using that power for her. Joker’s influence reached her even now, in her lowest state, orchestrating everything from behind the scenes. As unsettling as it was, a small part of her, a part she didn’t fully understand, felt comforted by it.

-

Y/n lay curled up on the worn couch, her body trembling despite the cheap oil heater buzzing weakly beside her. The warmth it offered was pitiful, barely taking the edge off the icy chill that had settled into her bones. Her skin felt clammy, her breaths uneven, and her forehead was hot to the touch. She was clearly feverish, and even in her half-conscious state, she could feel how badly her body was struggling to fight off the fatigue.

Frankie paced back and forth, running a hand through his greying hair. “She’s shivering like a damn leaf,” he muttered, glancing nervously at Rocco. “What the hell are we supposed to do? I don’t know nothin’ about takin’ care of a sick person!”

Rocco sat slumped in a chair at the dining table, his arms crossed. “What do I look like, a nurse?” he snapped, his frustration barely contained.

He glanced over at Y/n, her frail form looking smaller than ever under the thin blanket draped over her. He let out a long sigh and stood. “Alright, let’s think. Fever, right? You’re supposed to–uh–what? Cool her down? Or warm her up?”

Frankie rolled his eyes. “Both? Neither? Hell if I know! You think I went to med school?” He rubbed at his face, muttering under his breath, “Boss didn’t say nothin’ about this kind of situation.”

Rocco grumbled and approached the couch, peering down at Y/n like she was some fragile, alien creature.

“She’s shakin’ like crazy,” he said, pulling the blanket tighter around her. “What if we just...I dunno...get more blankets? Or turn the heater up?”

He leaned down and gave the old oil heater a hard smack, but it didn’t do much besides rattle noisily. “Piece of shit,” he muttered.

“More blankets?” Frankie echoed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Yeah, great plan, genius. You wanna bury her in a mountain of old fabric and hope for the best? Real top-tier care there, Dr. Rocco.”

He shook his head and started rummaging through the cabinets, clearly searching for something that might help. “Maybe there’s medicine or some kinda first aid kit around here,” he said, opening drawers with loud thuds.

Rocco scowled but didn’t argue. Instead, he grabbed a glass, filled it with water from the sink, and brought it back to the couch. He crouched down beside Y/n, nudging her shoulder gently.

“Hey, girl,” he said awkwardly, his gruffness giving way to something softer. “You gotta drink some water. Can’t let you keel over on us, alright?”

Y/n groaned faintly, her eyes fluttering open just enough to see Rocco’s concerned face hovering above her. “Can’t...move,” she mumbled, her voice weak and barely audible.

Frankie returned, holding up a bottle of aspirin triumphantly. “Found somethin’! Says it’s for fevers,” he declared.

Then he frowned, looking at the label. “Uh...how much do you give someone? One pill? Two?”

“Well, what does the box say?” Rocco grunted.

“I don’t know, the instructions have been worn off,” Frankie said, squinting at the box.

“Just give her one to start. We don’t need to knock her out cold.” He turned back to Y/n and gently pressed the glass to her lips. “Come on, drink,” he coaxed. “It’s just water.”

With effort, Y/n managed a small sip, though most of the water dribbled down her chin. Frankie handed over the aspirin, and Rocco awkwardly placed it in her mouth, tipping the glass again to help her swallow.

When she finally did, Frankie let out a relieved sigh. “Okay, good. That’s somethin’, at least.”

But the two men were clearly out of their depth, and it showed. They stood by the couch like sentries, unsure of their next move.

Frankie scratched his head, mumbling, “We need someone who actually knows what the hell they’re doin’. This ain’t our thing, man.”

Rocco nodded, his usual bravado replaced with a rare flicker of worry. “Yeah, well, until then, we keep her alive. Boss would kill us if somethin’ happened to her.”

He glanced at Y/n, who had already slipped back into a restless sleep. Her shivering continued, even with their clumsy attempts to help. “We gotta figure this out,” he muttered.

Y/n stirred on the couch, her face scrunched up. Frankie, who had been pacing near the window, noticed immediately and groaned.

“Now what?” he asked, throwing his hands in the air.

Y/n grimaced again, her lips twisting in discomfort. “That aspirin…” she murmured, her voice hoarse. “Tasted...weird. Like...really weird.” She made a faint gagging noise and stuck out her tongue, clearly unhappy with whatever lingering aftertaste it left behind.

Frankie narrowed his eyes and turned to Rocco, who was leaning against the wall. “What the hell does she mean, ‘tasted weird’? You gave her somethin’ bad?”

Rocco straightened up, looking offended. “I didn’t make the damn pills, Frankie! I just gave her what you found!”

Frankie stomped over to the kitchen counter where the small box of aspirin sat. Snatching it up, he squinted at the faded label.

“Oh, for crying out loud,” he muttered. “This thing’s...expired! Look at this! Says it went bad two years ago!” He turned the box toward Rocco, jabbing at the tiny print with his finger.

Rocco groaned, running a hand down his face. “You’ve gotta be kiddin’ me,” he muttered. “Who keeps expired meds in their place? Like, throw it out already!”

“Apparently these guys don’t care about restocking the essentials,” Frankie shot back. He threw the box onto the counter with a loud thud. “And now we probably poisoned her on top of everything else!”

“Relax, Frankie,” Rocco said, though he didn’t sound entirely convinced himself. “What’s the worst expired aspirin can do? Lose some of its kick? She ain’t foamin’ at the mouth or anything, is she?”

Y/n, still curled on the couch, managed a weak glare at the two men. “You guys…are terrible at this,” she mumbled.

Frankie sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, yeah, we get it. We suck at playin’ nursemaids. But cut us some slack, huh? This ain’t exactly what we signed up for when joining Joker’s gang.”

Rocco shook his head, muttering under his breath. “Great. Boss is gonna love hearin’ we gave his girl bad pills. Just perfect.”

Y/n, too tired to engage further, closed her eyes and tried to ignore the bitter taste still lingering in her mouth.

Frankie and Rocco exchanged an exasperated look before Frankie finally grumbled, “Alright, that’s it. No more meds until we double-check this crap. I ain’t takin’ any more chances.”

“Gee, why didn’t I think of that,” Rocco muttered, though the jab lacked its usual bite.

-

Frankie and Rocco stood awkwardly around Y/n, who had drifted back into an uneasy rest on the couch.

Frankie pulled out his phone, scrolling rapidly. “Alright, lemme just Google this fever crap. Can’t be that hard, right?”

Rocco leaned over his shoulder, squinting at the screen. “What’s it say?”

“Uh…” Frankie squinted, reading aloud. “‘Keep them hydrated, plenty of water.’” He gestured at the half-empty glass on the coffee table. “Nailed that one already.”

“Barely,” Rocco muttered, rolling his eyes.

Frankie ignored him and kept reading. “‘Medications to reduce fever.’” He immediately grimaced and shoved his phone in his pocket. “Yeah, no. We ain’t doin’ that shit again.”

“Definitely not,” Rocco agreed, glaring briefly at the expired aspirin box still sitting on the counter.

Frankie pulled his phone back out, tapping on a new link. “Okay, here’s a blog post...‘hot soups help.’ See? We’re getting somewhere!”

Rocco folded his arms, unimpressed. “Hot soup, huh? What’re we supposed to do, whip that up in this dump?”

Frankie snapped his fingers. “Hold up! I saw some canned soup in the cupboard earlier. Gimme a second.”

He shuffled into the kitchen, rummaging through a cabinet, and emerged triumphantly holding a dusty can of chicken noodle soup. “Jackpot!”

Rocco pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing. “Frankie, that thing looks older than the aspirin. You’re not feeding her that.”

“It’s soup! It’s basically immortal,” Frankie argued, waving the can around.

“No,” Rocco said firmly. “You’re not risking Boss’s girl on canned science experiments. Get your ass to the store and buy her some fresh stuff.”

Frankie groaned. “Man, come on! The store’s, like, five blocks away!”

“And?” Rocco crossed his arms, his glare cutting. “Go. And don’t come back with anything cheap.”

Muttering under his breath, Frankie grabbed his coat and stormed toward the door. “This is ridiculous. First a nurse, now a delivery guy. What’s next, a fuckin’ florist?”

Rocco just waved him off, turning back to check on Y/n as Frankie disappeared into the hallway.

Rocco sat down heavily on the chair opposite Y/n, watching her shiver even under the blanket draped over her.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Don’t worry, he’ll be back soon,” he muttered, more to himself than to her.

Y/n stirred slightly, cracking her eyes open. She looked at him, her expression groggy and confused.

“Where’d he go?” she croaked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Rocco leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Frankie’s gone to grab you some real food. Something to help with the fever.”

Y/n gave a weak nod, closing her eyes again. “Thanks…” The room fell silent except for the faint hum of the oil heater struggling to warm the space.

Rocco glanced at it, frowning. “Piece of junk,” he muttered, standing up to adjust the settings. When it didn’t do much, he huffed in frustration.

-

The door creaked open quietly, and Frankie slipped inside, juggling several heavy grocery bags. Y/n was finally asleep on the couch, bundled up in blankets. Rocco, who had been sitting nearby and keeping watch, stood up and stalked over, his brows furrowed at the sight of the bulging bags.

“What the hell is all this shit?” Rocco hissed, gesturing toward the bags as he took a couple to lighten the load.

Frankie scowled, kicking the door shut behind him. “I don’t know, man. I went to grab some canned soup like you said, but some old lady saw me standing there and decided to get involved.”

Rocco raised a brow. “What do you mean, ‘got involved’?”

Frankie set the bags down on the counter with a grunt. “She started giving me a lecture about how canned soup isn’t good enough for someone sick, then walked me around the store grabbing vegetables and spices and crap. Kept saying, ‘Make her a proper soup.’ I don’t even know what the hell that means!”

Rocco stared at him, then at the bags now spilling over with carrots, celery, onions, and random herbs. He pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a long sigh. “You mean to tell me, instead of just heating up a can, we now gotta make soup from scratch?”

Frankie shrugged helplessly. “Apparently. Look, she was scary, okay? You try saying no to someone’s grandma when she’s lecturing you in the middle of the store.”

Rocco jaw hung open, looking at Frankie. “You have a gun..you’re 6 foot fucking something…and some little old lady scared you into making soup..”

“Hey man, I ain’t never gon’ mess with an old lady…besides, she had a heart of gold,” Frankie pouted, looking absolutely ridiculous.

Rocco muttered a string of curses under his breath as he started unpacking the bags. “Great. Just great. Now we’re chefs.”

“Hey, you’re the one who said to get her the good stuff,” Frankie shot back, grabbing a knife and a cutting board. “Guess this is what the good stuff looks like.”

Rocco glared at the pile of ingredients like it had personally offended him. “Fine. Let’s get this over with. But if you screw this up, you’re eating it.”

Together, they fumbled their way through prepping the vegetables, with a hastily Googled recipe on Frankie’s phone that neither of them could agree on.

“This one says dice the carrots, but what the hell is a dice? Like cubes?” Frankie squinted at the screen.

“Cubes? What are we, making toys? Just chop the damn things,” Rocco shot back, already wielding a knife like it was a weapon. He hacked at an onion, the uneven pieces scattering across the cutting board.

Frankie grabbed a stalk of celery, holding it whole above the pot. “Do you think we can just throw these in as is? I mean, they’ll, like…dissolve, right?”

Rocco stared at him in horror and swatted the celery out of his hands. “What the hell are you doing? You can’t just chuck that in like a log! Cut it into pieces!”

“Okay, okay, relax,” Frankie grumbled, fumbling for the knife and hacking at the celery with no regard for uniformity.

Rocco groaned, snatching the knife from him. “That’s not cutting, that’s mangling. You’re lucky she’s too sick to care what this looks like.”

It took twice as long as it should have, with constant interruptions of “Is this small enough?” and “Are you sure that goes in the pot?”

Eventually, they managed to get all the vegetables chopped into vaguely even pieces. By the time they added everything to the pot, they were both sweating and grumbling.

Frankie stirred the mixture triumphantly. “Alright, that wasn’t so bad.”

Rocco glanced over his shoulder at the recipe still open on the phone. His face fell. “You idiot. Did you even read the part where it says this has to simmer for two hours?”

Frankie froze, spoon in hand. “You’re kidding.”

“Nope. Two hours. Minimum.” Rocco threw his hands in the air. “We’re gonna be here all night.”

Frankie groaned, slumping against the counter. “How does anyone have the patience for this? I should’ve just stuck with the canned stuff.”

“Yeah, but now we’re committed,” Rocco grumbled, crossing his arms.

He eyed the bubbling pot, already dreading the wait. Despite their frustrations, neither of them said it out loud, but they both felt a little satisfaction in knowing they’d gone the extra mile. After all, they weren’t doing this for themselves.

-

The soup had finally been left to simmer, and the two men sat at the small table in the corner of the apartment, exhausted from their makeshift cooking adventure. Rocco had his arms crossed, leaning back in the chair, while Frankie tapped his fingers against the table impatiently.

“How long’s it been?” Frankie asked.

“Fifteen minutes.”

“You’re kidding me.”

“Nope.”

Frankie groaned and leaned forward, resting his head on the table. “We should’ve just bought one of those instant soups. Heat it, serve it, done. Why did I listen to some random old lady?”

Rocco shot him a look. “Because you don’t have a spine, Frankie.”

The soft sound of mumbling caught their attention, and they both turned toward the couch. Y/n was stirring, her eyes fluttering open briefly before closing again. She shifted slightly, curling up tighter under the blanket.

“Think she’s gonna wake up?” Frankie whispered.

“Not if we’re lucky,” Rocco replied, though his gaze lingered on her pale face, still marked with exhaustion.

A faint bubbling noise came from the kitchen, and Frankie bolted up. “Crap, is it boiling over?”

They rushed to the pot like a couple of amateur chefs, Frankie grabbing the spoon to stir while Rocco adjusted the heat.

“It’s fine, it’s fine,” Rocco muttered, glaring at the pot as if daring it to betray them.

Frankie stirred a few more times before stepping back, looking genuinely relieved. “Okay, I think we’ve got it under control. Now what?”

“Now we wait. Again,” Rocco said, rubbing his face. He glanced toward the couch. “She’s still out, so at least we don’t have to explain why the kitchen smells like…well…that.”

“Yeah yeah,” Frankie muttered, leaning against the counter.

The hours dragged on as the soup slowly came together. They took turns checking the pot and whispering arguments about whether it needed more salt or if the vegetables were soft enough. It wasn’t exactly gourmet cooking, but by the time the two hours were up, the apartment smelled surprisingly good.

Frankie grabbed a spoon and tasted it, his eyebrows lifting in surprise. “Hey, it’s…not bad. I mean, it’s edible.”

“Edible isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement,” Rocco muttered, but he grabbed a spoon and took a taste as well.

He frowned, then nodded reluctantly. “Alright, it’s decent. Let’s see if she can actually eat it.”

They carefully ladled the soup into a bowl, Rocco holding it steady while Frankie grabbed a spoon. As they approached Y/n, still curled up on the couch, Frankie nudged her shoulder gently.

“Hey, Sleeping Beauty. Wake up, we’ve got something for you.”

Y/n stirred, her tired eyes blinking open. She looked up at them groggily, her voice barely above a whisper. “What…is it?”

“Homemade soup,” Rocco said, setting the bowl on the small table next to her. “Don’t ask how we made it, just eat it.”

Y/n stared at the bowl suspiciously, then looked up at them. “You made this?”

“Yeah, and it took forever, so you better appreciate it,” Frankie grumbled, but there was a hint of pride in his voice.

With their help, she sat up slowly and took the bowl into her hands. The warmth of the soup felt comforting, and as she took a small sip, her eyes widened slightly. “It’s…good.”

Rocco and Frankie exchanged a look, both pretending to shrug it off, but the relief on their faces was unmistakable.

“Damn right, it is,” Frankie said, pulling a chair over to sit nearby. “Now eat up. We’re not going through that again anytime soon.”

Despite her exhaustion, Y/n managed a faint smile as she took another sip. For the first time in what felt like forever, she didn’t feel quite so terrible.

As Y/n slowly worked her way through the bowl of soup, the two men hovered nearby, pretending to busy themselves but clearly watching her every move. Frankie leaned against the counter, tossing a dishrag between his hands, while Rocco pretended to scroll through his phone.

“You don’t have to babysit me,” Y/n muttered, her voice still raspy but carrying a faint note of amusement.

Frankie snorted. “Babysitting implies we actually know what we’re doing. This is more like damage control.”

Rocco smirked but didn’t look up. “Just eat. You’ve looked like a ghost for days, and it’s freaking me out.”

Y/n rolled her eyes but continued eating. The soup wasn’t just warm, it felt like it was slowly pulling her back from the brink. Despite their clumsy efforts, the two had managed to create something that didn’t just fill her stomach but soothed her.

When she finished, she set the bowl down on the table and leaned back against the couch cushions. “Thanks,” she said softly, her eyes fluttering closed.

“Don’t mention it,” Frankie said, quickly grabbing the bowl and heading to the kitchen.

Rocco sat down in the chair across from her, his arms resting on his knees. He studied her for a moment before speaking. “You’ve gotta start taking better care of yourself, you know that, right?”

Y/n cracked an eye open and gave him a weak glare. “Kinda hard when you feel like shit all the time.”

“Yeah, well, feeling like shit isn’t gonna stop the boss from tearing into us if something happens to you,” Rocco muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

The mention of Joker made her heart skip a beat, but she didn’t respond. Instead, she closed her eyes again, letting the warmth of the soup settle over her like a blanket.

Frankie returned from the kitchen, drying his hands on a towel. “Alright, since you’re fed, it’s bedtime. Doctor Google says rest is key or whatever.”

“Doctor Google?” Y/n mumbled, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

“Yeah, and don’t laugh. It’s the only medical degree we’ve got around here,” Frankie shot back, tossing the towel onto the counter.

Rocco stood up, stretching. “He’s right, though. You need to sleep. We’ll be here, so don’t worry about anything, alright?”

Y/n opened her eyes briefly, glancing between the two. Despite their gruff attitudes and questionable bedside manners, she could tell they were genuinely trying to help.

“Alright,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Frankie grabbed an extra blanket from a nearby chair and draped it over her as she curled up on the couch. Rocco turned the heater up a notch, muttering something about the drafty apartment.

As they settled into their makeshift positions, Frankie lounging in the armchair and Rocco leaning against the wall, Y/n let herself drift off, the sound of their quiet banter lulling her to sleep.

For the first time in days, she didn’t feel entirely alone.

-

Rocco had just settled back into the creaky chair, giving Frankie a side-eye as he scrolled through his phone. The apartment felt oddly quiet for once, with Y/n asleep on the couch and the sound of the heater humming in the background.

But the silence was shattered when Rocco's phone rang, cutting through the stillness. He stared at the screen, confused by the number.

"Who the hell..." he muttered, before swiping the screen to answer. "Yeah?"

There was a brief moment of silence, then a familiar voice came through the phone, rough and slightly distorted, as if coming from a distance. "Rocco."

Rocco froze, eyes widening. His grip tightened around the phone. "Boss? Is that you?"

A low grunt came from the other end, the voice now unmistakable. “No, it’s Santa. Give the phone to her.”

Without wasting another second, he pushed himself out of the chair, walking over to Y/n, who was lying on the couch, her breathing slow and steady in deep sleep. He hesitated for a moment, looking at her peaceful face before shaking her gently.

“Hey, wake up. Phone’s for you,” Rocco said, his voice low.

Y/n groaned softly, stirring under the blanket, her eyelids fluttering open but still heavy with sleep.

“Mmhmm?” she mumbled, barely registering what he said, her voice thick with drowsiness.

“Take the phone,” Rocco said, pressing the phone into her hand with a small, apologetic smile.

Y/n’s eyes, still foggy with sleep, took a moment to process his words. But when she heard the familiar voice come through the phone, her heart skipped a beat.

“Hey, Bunny.”

Her eyes shot wide open at the sound of his voice, disbelief and relief flooding through her all at once. "J!" she gasped, sitting up quickly despite the remnants of sleep dragging at her.

“That’s right, Bunny.” Joker’s voice came through low, almost muffled. “Now, listen. I don’t have much time, so don’t say anything that’ll get you in trouble. No names, no details. Just keep it simple.”

“Okay...” Y/n whispered, almost in disbelief that she was hearing him. Her pulse raced in her chest.

“How you holding up? They uh..treating you okay?” Joker’s voice was rough, but there was an unmistakable thread of concern woven in, something that made her heart swell.

Y/n paused for a moment, her thoughts racing. “Yes, they’re keeping me good...I had food, water, and sleep,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady, not wanting to worry him any more than he already might be.

“They feed you?” Joker repeated, his disbelief clear.

“Mhmm.” Y/n nodded even though she knew he couldn’t see her.

"And you lived?" Joker’s voice became incredulous, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“It was really good, actually! I swear!" Y/n chuckled softly, her mood lightening just hearing his voice, even if it was through a phone call. "I don't know what the hell they did, but it was, like...homemade soup or something.”

There was a pause on the other end. “Homemade soup?” Joker’s voice was tinged with amusement. “Jesus Christ, Bunny, what the hell’s going on over there?”

Y/n laughed again, feeling a little lighter as the conversation continued. She couldn’t believe how badly she’d missed him, how much she needed to hear his voice. Even with all the danger and chaos swirling around them, this small moment made everything feel somewhat normal again.

“What have you been doing, Bunny, hmm?” Joker’s voice dropped an accusatory tone, his words sharp yet tinged with concern. “Cause you ain’t been taking care of yourself.”

Y/n winced, guilt bubbling in her chest. “I know…I just haven’t been feeling great,” she muttered, her words barely escaping her lips.

“That’s no excuse to not look after yourself,” Joker snapped, though his voice softened quickly after, as if trying to hide the edge of frustration.

Y/n’s shoulders slumped, the weight of his words sinking in. “I understand…” She paused, looking down at the blanket wrapped around her, picking at the fibers.

“How is everything there?” she asked, wanting to divert the conversation away from her.

“How you’d expect a police station to be like,” Joker replied with a nonchalant chuckle, as if it was just another ordinary day. “No worries, Doll, I’m a frequent flyer here. They’ll ask me questions until they get tired, then send me right back off to Arkham.”

Y/n’s stomach twisted at the mention of Arkham. “What?” Her voice cracked, fear creeping into her chest.

“Don’t worry about it, Bunny,” Joker reassured, his tone light despite the underlying danger of his words. “I’ll be out before that happens.” He let out a chuckle, like it was all just a game, but it did little to ease the knot in Y/n’s stomach.

Her mind raced, trying to grasp the weight of what he was saying, but it didn’t add up. How could he sound so calm about all of this?

“What else is going on?” she asked, forcing her voice to stay steady.

“Well, they keep asking about your car,” Joker said, the amusement slipping into his voice again.

“They just won’t believe me when I tell them the car’s not being used for some heist or whatever, but my dear Bunny’s.” He lingered on the words, a playful hint beneath his serious tone. “They think I’m some kind of Joker.”

Y/n chuckled nervously, though it didn’t fully reach her eyes. “Well, from their point of view, I get it,” she said, rubbing her temple in a half-hearted attempt to ease the headache that had been gnawing at her for days.

In the background of the call, Y/n could hear a voice growling from a distance. "Okay, that's enough phone time for you!"

"Ooh, looks like the coppers want me," Joker's voice rang through the phone, still light-hearted despite the gravity of the situation. "Take care of yourself, Bunny. Get Frankie to go buy you an ice cream, you deserve it."

Y/n’s heart sank a little, knowing the call was ending. “Okay, bye J…” she murmured softly, a twinge of sadness in her voice as she reluctantly let go of the connection.

“Mwah!” Joker’s voice perked up, the sound of a kiss sent through the phone before the line clicked dead.

Y/n stared at the phone in her hand for a moment, her chest heavy. She handed it back to Rocco without saying another word, her gaze wandering over to Frankie, who had been quietly watching her.

“Joker said you have to go get me an ice cream,” she said, almost sheepishly.

Frankie blinked, eyes wide in disbelief. “Come on!” he groaned, throwing his hands up in the air in exasperation. “I’m ain’t your personal ice cream runner, you know that?”

Y/n let out a soft chuckle despite herself, the weight of the situation lightening just a little bit. “He said I deserve it,” she insisted, giving him a small, playful look.

Rocco snorted in the background, clearly trying to hide his own amusement, but Frankie just shook his head, clearly not amused by the sudden ice cream errand he was apparently now obligated to run.

“Fine,” Frankie muttered, clearly out of options, “But only ‘cause boss said so.” He turned towards the door, grabbing his jacket. "Don't expect me to get you anything fancy."

Frankie stormed out of the apartment with a grumble, muttering about how he was too old for this kind of nonsense. Y/n couldn't help but smile a little, even though the sadness still lingered in the pit of her stomach.

Rocco leaned against the counter, arms crossed as he observed her. "You good?" he asked, his tone soft but concerned.

Y/n nodded slowly, though she wasn’t sure how convincing it was. "I will be," she said, her voice quieter than she intended.

"Just…it’s hard, you know? Hearing his voice and then having to hang up." She paused, looking at the door where Frankie had just left. "I just feel…I don’t know. Like I’m just waiting for something to happen."

Rocco gave a nod, his expression unreadable. "I get it. But he’s not gonna let them keep him for long. You know how the Boss is." He seemed to try lighten the mood.

Y/n sighed, leaning back against the couch, wrapping her arms around herself. "I hope you're right," she murmured.

She closed her eyes, trying to push the thoughts of Joker being locked up, of everything that might go wrong, out of her mind.

After a few moments of silence, Rocco sighed and walked over to the window. "You need to rest. Frankie will be back soon, and when he gets back, you can get some real sleep. We’ve got you covered here."

Y/n didn’t argue. The exhaustion was creeping back in, and the warmth of the couch was almost too inviting. "Yeah," she whispered, sinking further into the cushions, "maybe just for a little while."

Wasn’t long till Frankie finally returned, looking both annoyed and tired, two containers of ice cream in his hands.

"Alright, alright," he muttered, placing the tubs on the coffee table with a huff. "Ice cream, just like the Boss ordered."

Y/n blinked, her exhaustion making her movements sluggish as she looked at the ice cream. "Thanks," she said quietly, trying to muster up a smile, though still tired. "I didn’t think you’d actually do it. But…why do you have two?"

“Like hell I’m gonna do all this work without reward,” Frankie said, lounging back while opening his tub of ice cream.

"Alright, you two. Eat your ice cream, then you get back to sleep." Rocco said, pointing at Y/n.

Y/n finally allowed herself a tiny laugh, something genuine this time, as she took a spoonful of the ice cream. It wasn’t much, but for now, it was enough.

-

It had been only a few hours since Y/n had finished the ice cream and drifted into sleep. The apartment was eerily quiet, the kind of silence that settles in before something disruptive happens. Suddenly, the front door burst open with a thunderous crash, slamming against the wall so hard that it rattled the cheap picture frames hanging nearby.

Y/n jolted awake, heart racing as she instinctively sat up on the couch. Disoriented and still half-asleep, she blinked at the doorway, trying to process what was happening.

“What the hell?” she muttered, her voice hoarse from exhaustion and lingering sickness.

Standing in the doorway, framed by the dim hallway light, was the one and only Joker. His grin stretched wide, his green hair slightly disheveled, and his eyes sparkling with chaotic energy. He threw his arms out, as if putting on a grand show for an audience of one.

“Ta-da!” he exclaimed, his voice dripping with that unnerving mix of charm and madness.

Y/n blinked again, certain she was either dreaming or hallucinating. “J?” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of her own heartbeat.

Joker’s grin widened as he sauntered into the apartment. “In…the…flesh, Bunny,” he said, spreading his arms wide before giving a mock bow. “Miss me?”

Rocco and Frankie stumbled out of the kitchen, both looking like they’d seen a ghost. “Boss?!” Rocco exclaimed, his voice cracking. “How the hell did you–”

“Details, details!” Joker interrupted, waving a gloved hand dismissively. “Do I look like a man who lets a little thing like prison keep him down?”

He spun on his heel to face Y/n again, his expression softening just a fraction. “But you, Bunny…you’ve been naughty.”

Y/n stared at him, still trying to wrap her head around his sudden appearance. “How are you here…?” she started, but her words trailed off as he strode over to her, crouching down so they were at eye level.

“Now, now,” Joker said, tilting his head as he studied her sickly face. “We’ll get to that later. First, we need to talk about you. You look like you’ve been run over by a bus, Bunny. Frankie and Rocco been slacking on their uh…babysitting duties?” He shot the two men a glare over his shoulder, making them both stiffen.

“Hey, we’ve been taking care of her!” Frankie protested, gesturing toward the empty ice cream container on the coffee table. “She ate, she rested, we even made soup!”

“Soup.” Joker repeated, raising an eyebrow. “My Bunny eating your soup. Yeah, I heard about that little endeavour.” He turned back to Y/n, his gloved hand brushing a strand of hair from her face. “But still, you’ve got some explaining to do.”

Y/n felt her throat tighten as she looked into his intense gaze. “J, I didn’t think I’d see you again so soon,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Joker leaned in closer, his grin turning devilish. “Bunny, I told you before. I’m gonna come back for you.”

Y/n didn’t have time to process Joker’s words before he stood up, his energy buzzing like static in the room. He clapped his hands together, making both Rocco and Frankie flinch.

“Alright, boys, let’s have a chat,” he said, his tone shifting from playful to commanding. “What’s the state of this little hideout? Security tight? Supplies stocked? Or have you two been playing house while my Bunny’s been rotting away?”

Frankie looked at Rocco, who reluctantly spoke up. “We’ve done everything you asked, boss. She’s been fed, rested, and kept safe. No one’s sniffing around. We’re good.”

“Safe,” Joker repeated, his tone skeptical as he paced the room. “And yet my Bunny looks like she’s one sneeze away from passing out again. Safe doesn’t mean a damn thing if she’s not healthy.” He whipped around to face them, his eyes blazing. “So, what’s the plan, hmm? How are you two fixing this?”

“We’ve been doing what we can!” Frankie interjected. “Soup, meds, ice cream, what else are we supposed to do?”

Joker laughed, the sound sharp and grating. “Oh, Frankie, Frankie, Frankie…You don’t fix her with ice cream and soup. You fix her by making sure she never gets like this in the first place!”

He pointed at Y/n, who was watching the exchange in stunned silence. “You let her get sick, and that’s the problem.”

Y/n finally found her voice. “J, stop,” she said, her tone firm despite the exhaustion weighing her down. “They’ve been taking care of me. It’s not their fault.”

Joker’s gaze snapped back to her, his expression softening slightly. “Defending the little guys, huh, Bunny?” He crouched down again, his gloved hand resting lightly on her knee. “But you’ve gotta take care of yourself too. Can’t have my Bunny falling apart on me.”

“I’m trying,” Y/n said quietly, her cheeks flushing under his intense gaze.

Joker straightened up, his manic grin returning. “Good. Because I didn’t bust out of that hellhole just to find you looking like an inch away from death.”

He turned to Rocco and Frankie. “You two, make yourselves useful. Get this place cleaned up, get some decent food stocked, and find a real doctor. None of this DIY crap.”

“Doctor?” Frankie repeated, wide-eyed. “How are we supposed to–”

Joker silenced him with a glare. “Figure it out. Or do I need to babysit you, too?”

The two men exchanged a nervous glance before scurrying off, muttering plans under their breath.

Joker turned back to Y/n, his expression unreadable. “Now, Bunny, let’s get you feeling better. And then…” His grin widened, full of dangerous promises. “We’ve got work to do.”

The apartment settled into an odd rhythm. Rocco was scrubbing dishes in the kitchen, muttering complaints about how Frankie always left things half-cleaned. Frankie lounged on the couch, flipping through channels, just waiting to jump up if Joker barked an order. Y/n, wrapped in a blanket, sat on a chair by the window, her fever finally subsiding.

Joker was at the table, sketching out something on a crumpled napkin, his gloved fingers moving with quick precision as he muttered half-formed plans to himself.

It felt oddly normal, like a strange little family of sorts. The heater hummed faintly in the corner, its warmth mixing with the faint scent of leftover soup lingering in the air. Every now and then, Joker would glance up at Y/n, his gaze softening before snapping back to his frantic scribbling.

But outside, across the street, perched on the rooftop of a rundown building, someone was watching. The figure was cloaked in shadows, blending seamlessly with the dark sky. Through binoculars, the scene inside the apartment unfolded in perfect clarity.

The faint glow of the heater, the flickering light from the TV, and the exaggerated gestures of Joker as he spoke animatedly to himself, all of it was observed in meticulous silence.

The man adjusted his grip, the faint outline of a gloved hand catching a stray glint of moonlight. A gust of wind ruffled the long edges of their cape, but they remained unmoving, a silent sentinel above the chaos below.

Their focus lingered on Y/n, her eyes closed as she slept on the run down couch. Then it shifted to Joker, who leaned back in his chair, throwing a mocking laugh toward Frankie.

A voice crackled softly in his earpiece, almost inaudible against the city’s distant hum. “Are you going to move in, sir?”

The man’s jaw tightened. No response.

His gaze returned to Joker, whose grin widened as he shoved his napkin sketch across the table for Rocco to examine. The man’s grip on the binoculars tightened, his shadowed silhouette growing even stiller, waiting for the right moment to strike.

-

A/N: Yep, very much on the shorter side, but got through it, lol.

I enjoyed writing this one, it was a little fun on to write for me, just Y/n getting treated by Joker's incompetent goons

Hopefully it will pick up in the next chapter (considering how I ended this one 👀)

Thank you for reading 💚

[thezombieprostitute]

Tech Tuesday: Secret Santa

A/N: Written for @the-slumberparty's December Daze Challenge.

Prompt: secret santa but somehow nobody picked me

A/N2: I hope you don't mind, I'm kinda gonna cheat again because I really like doing the full cast of characters in the same prompt. But I'm going to cheat even further by going with "Each of the Tech Tuesday cast as your Secret Santa".

Bucky Barnes

Bucky is far more observant than people think. You might think he's the type to get you a random gift from the thrift shop but no. He gets you something he knows you'll like. Something that requires thought.

🎁❄️🎁❄️🎁❄️🎁❄️🎁❄️🎁❄️

Curtis Everett

Gift cards are Curtis's go-to for these things. He already knows more about the people in the department than he cares to know. If he's got your name for Secret Santa, you're getting a gift card to a popular place. If he knows anything about you, you're getting a gift card for a place you've mentioned.

🎁❄️🎁❄️🎁❄️🎁❄️🎁❄️🎁❄️

Geralt (of Rivia)

Bemoans the fact that Secret Santa even exists. He only participates because he knows it's important to others. He doesn't bother looking at the price cap because whatever he gets you is going to be something he made himself. Most likely something small you can use as decoration. Curtis still has the kikimora figurine on his desk.

🎁❄️🎁❄️🎁❄️🎁❄️🎁❄️🎁❄️

God (the bounty hunter)

Also hates the fact that this is something that happens. But where Geralt makes his gift, God goes ahead and buys you something he likes. Complete with a gift receipt.

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Jake Jensen

Let's face it, it's Sunshine who's making you whatever gift Jake gets you. But neither you nor Sunshine are gonna complain. Jake's the one everyone wants as their Secret Santa because you'll get some really amazing homemade thing(s).

One year Steve got a few dozen Christmas cookies. He promised himself he'd just eat one or two and share the rest. He'd eaten over half of them by the time he left for home!

🎁❄️🎁❄️🎁❄️🎁❄️🎁❄️🎁❄️

Johnny Storm

Johnny definitely got a last minute big bag of candy for you. And, really, he got it for himself since he knows you keep a bag of that exact candy to bribe him to leave you alone when he gets to talking.

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Jonathan Pine

Honestly, he might be the reason there's a price cap on the gifts. It's not that he'd buy a lot of things for you, rather he'd find one item, that would be an incredibly great gift, and not even look at the cost. It's not that he's rich, per say. He just takes his gift giving a little seriously and wants to put the recipient ahead of the price. Also, do him a favor and help make sure Rose doesn't see how much he spent on her?

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Lloyd Hansen

He ain't doing this bullshit game. It's for small-minded peons who---wait? Maestro wants him to partake? UGH! FINE! But she owes him.

Most likely to gift you something that just takes up space. Like a paperweight that caught his eye.

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Mike

He's getting you swag from his college (that he gets for free). In his defense, he's a college student. In your defense, his family is rich. Really he's about as bad as Johnny.

🎁❄️🎁❄️🎁❄️🎁❄️🎁❄️🎁❄️

Ransom Drysdale

Before Bubbles came along, Ransom was a lot like Curtis in terms of gift giving. You get a gift card to place you maybe like.

After he and Bubbles become friends, though, he asks for her help in getting something. He regrets it soon after because he's inundated with questions about his recipient that he doesn't have answers to. He didn't realize how much thought could go into gift giving. But, with Bubbles' help, you'll get a good gift.

And now Ransom knows how to get Bubbles a good gift.

🎁❄️🎁❄️🎁❄️🎁❄️🎁❄️🎁❄️

Steve Rogers

You're getting something handmade. Probably a small painting of something you like. Not a lot of people know Steve's got skills with physical media and he's happy to surprise them. Syverson still has the portrait of Lily hanging in his office.

🎁❄️🎁❄️🎁❄️🎁❄️🎁❄️🎁❄️

Syverson

Like Bucky, Syverson is a better gift giver than people think. There's a reason he's such a good manager for his department. He knows what his people like, dislike, or need in order to get their work done. It might more on the practical side of things, but it'll be something you actually like and use.

🎁❄️🎁❄️🎁❄️🎁❄️🎁❄️🎁❄️

Walter Marshall

He's very much another "gift cards" kind of guy. The primary difference between him and Curtis is that Walter prefers to get you a card from a local business as opposed to a national/international corporation.

He actually prefers to get Bucky's name because he knows the coffee shop Bucky frequents is nearby and he can grab the gift card on his way into work.

Tagging:

@alicedopey; @changenameno; @darsynia; @delicatebarness; @ellethespaceunicorn; @icefrozendeadlyqueen; @jaqui-has-a-conspiracy-theory; @kingliam2019; @late-to-the-party-81; @lokislady82; @ozwriterchick; @ronearoundblindly; @stellar-solar-flare; @thiquefunlover63

[lying-on-floors]

Yellow Mailboxes

Sniperscout

The sweet spring air flooded Mick's nose as he stepped out of the house. He lit a cigarette and waited for Jeremy and the kids to get into the car to go to the school assembly.

"You sure you ain't coming, Mickey?"

Jeremy asked his boyfriend as he loaded his kids into the car.

"Yeah. Besides, it's parents only and, y'kno--"

Mick trailed off and gestured to himself. Jeremy nodded, showing his understanding. It's not that they were ashamed to be together, it was just dangerous right now.

"Okay, We'll see ya--Tanya!"

Jeremy failed to catch the little girl who jumped out of the car and ran over to Mick to hug him.

"Why aren't ya coming, Mickey?"

Mick threw his cigarette onto the porch next to him and crouched down to be at the girls level.

"Well, sweetheart, it's parents only and I'm not your legal parent. Besides, there's stuff I gotta do around the house while you lil rascals are gone."

He ruffled her hair, which made her giggle.

"Okay. I'll bring you back pamphlets!"

The little girl skipped happily back to her dad, who helped her into the car, fastening her seat belt. He waved to Mick as he opened the driver's side door.

"We'll see ya soon!"

Mick waved back and picked up his cigarette and put it out in the ash tray sitting on the porch railing. Time to get to work.

Mick went to his camper van and opened the back door to get out the paint cans and the corresponding tools. He brought them over to the beaten up mailbox and opened one of the cans. It was a pale yellow, a color Jeremy's fond of. He grabbed the wide paint brush and carefully began painting over the gray mail box. Once he was done he decided he needed to let it dry, so he took a break and cleaned up a bit. Mostly tidying up the yard and living room, making sure all of the kids toys are put away so Jeremy doesn't have to worry about doing that when he gets home. Of course, they're going to have to do it again later, but it would be nice for him to walk into a clean house along with his newly mailbox.

A few hours passed and Mick went into the kitchen to grab the stickers he would use to adorn the Mailbox's side.

Willis

He went back to the mail box to check if it was dry enough. He deduced that it was, so he lit a cigarette and got to work. He was finishing up the last letter when Jeremy's car pulled up. Mick cursed under his breath, but decided it wasn't too big of a deal, since he was done. Mick stood up and shoved the trash into his pockets. He'll deal with it later. The four excited kids ran past him, Tanya being the only one who stopped to hand him the pamphlets she promised him before running off to join her siblings. Jeremy met Mick by the mailbox and beamed.

"What's all this, Mickey?"

The question was rethorical, Mick knew that, but he still answered.

"I painted your, uhm, mailbox."

He awkwardly patted the top of the mailbox, which made Jeremey laugh.

"Aww, Mick, that's so sweet!"

Mick blushed.

"Yeah, well, you mentioned wantin' to paint over it, so, I, uh, wanted to suprise ya."

Mick shoved his hands in his pockets, years of knowing Jeremy never made him any better at romance, but Jeremy didn't seem to mind. He was too busy admiring the soft yellow and the large white lettering.

"It looks really good! I love this color!"

Mick smiled.

"I know. You always talk about how warm and inviting it is. And how it reminds ya of ya mum."

Jeremy looked at Mick, tears forming in his eyes.

"I love you, Mick."

Mick grinned and wrapped his arm around Jeremy, directing him inside. "

"I love ya too, Roo."

[whisper-cats]

How do you create such distinct and recognizable faces for the cats while keeping your style and good anatomy? It's so impressive 😫

I've heard a lot of nice comments about my art style (which I really appreciate - thank you!!) and I assume a lot of newer artists struggle with coming up with their own style This is just about my own personal experience and I'm sure it won't be the case for all if not most - but the style I have now is not something I consciously picked (maybe I've talked of this before already?) but more like a slowly built collection of traits in my art that I've enjoyed or what have felt comfortable or pleasing to me. Like the brush I use, I didn't pick it to have a "distinct style" but because I recognized from other people's art that a textured brush for lineart looks really pleasant, and I've always liked drawing with pencils irl as opposed to painting or other means so I wanted a brush that mimicks that feeling. I used to try to keep a consistent style when it comes to eyes or such when I was a teen but the types of eyes I draw right now are a result of me venturing in different directions based on things I've loved seeing from others and what kind of different feelings or personalities they convey. I think partly what makes my art recognizeable atm is the proportions and shapes in my art - which are also not something I consciously picked to keep, but something I found over time looked cute or cool or pleasing, so I kept drawing things that way.

So don't worry about finding a unique or recognizeable style! It will come to you as long as you have things you really enjoy about creating art (and as long as you allow yourself to experiment with new things here and there)

[tackykachowch]

How it feels to not like timebomb after s2

[nah-id-eat-dungeon-food]

The fighterrrrr (I spent way too long on this dumb piece and I'm not even that big of a fan of jojos)

[novadragoness]

A builder who totally understands where X is coming from, collecting all those shinies for Coco, because she also likes shiny things, and has been secretly leaving pretty rocks on Unsuur's porch for weeks now.