#i saw him when i was out shopping with people today and i simply couldn’t resist him

[uhbasicallyjustmilex]

okay, whoever started the whole thing about alex looking like a rat is fully responsible for the fact i am now the proud owner of a plush jellycat rat named alex 🫠

[peanutbubba]

The Boy is Mine

Law x male!reader, pre-time skip, smut, Sub!Top Reader, Dom!Bottom Law, unestablished relationship to an established one, jealousy, brattiness, possession, praise, riding, overstim, mentions of fingering, oral, not beta read, 3.5k words

Breathtaking, that's what you were, devastatingly easy on the eyes. It’s what pisses Law off so much, even without trying to you demand attention.

And Law hated it when you got it, even in your boiler suit, you pulled it off annoyingly well. The way that women practically threw themselves at you, trying to spend a night with you, it disgusted him.

The hand on his sword clenching tighter, these people needed to learn no meant no. He watched as you tried to get the women away from you, a nervous smile on your face as you kept rejecting them.

His eyes narrowing he raised two of his fingers in a familiar position, “Room. Shambles.”

One second you were surrounded by a bunch of women, the next you were standing right beside Law, the unamused look on his face already telling you something was up.

Surprised at how you disappeared the women look around curiously, eventually one of them pointing you out a few feet away a shriek coming from her. “It’s Trafalgar Law, the pirate rookie!”

At those words Law’s lips turn up in a grin, his half lidded eyes flickering across all the women in the bunch. “So you’ve heard of me?”

His eyes narrow dangerously, a glint of jealousy in his gray eyes. “Good, that means you can listen.”

You let out a yelp as Law catches the back of your boiler suit, pushing you in front of him. “This man here, he’s mine, got it? So leave him alone.”

A crimson tinge blooms on your cheeks, your face mimicking the looks of the women, surprised and confused.

Letting go of you, Law turns around, a disinterested look on his face once more, “Finish up shopping, Y/N, we’ll meet you back on the Polar Tang.”

Straightening up you respond immediately, “Of course, Captain!” Your verbal confirmation being all he needed before he sauntered off, not another word leaving him.

Looking behind him you saw Bepo, realizing what Law meant by ‘we’. Then your face drops, looking around you watching how everyone is instead now scared of you, shopping was going to be a hassle.

When Law met where Bepo was standing, his navigator giggling behind his white paws, a knowing glint in his eyes.

Law let out a sigh, his eyes slipping closed for a moment, heat rushing to encapsulate his face as he pushed his hat further down his head.

“Shut up,” he grumbles, passing Bepo his sword.

Bepo takes the sword and immediately down turns his head, a sorrowful expression on his face, “Sorry, captain.”

Beginning to walk towards the submarine, Law stays silent, listening to the gasps of civilians as he passes through the streets, Bepo following closely behind him.

“You know you should tell him,” Bepo starts, trying once more for the millionth time to convince his captain to confess his feelings to you.

Law simply rolls his eyes, deciding that today he’d play dumb to Bepo’s pestering. “Tell who what?” He questions.

Bepo frowns in turn, his black button nose twitching in annoyance. “Y/N! You can’t keep denying that you like him forever.”

“I don’t like him,” Law says flatly. If it was anyone else they would have been convinced, but considering that Bepo has been with Law longer than anyone else he knew how to read the man.

Bepo shakes his head at the audacity of his captain, “You literally called him yours in front of a whole bunch of people!”

“Well he is, he’s a part of my crew.” He states factually, making eye contact with Bepo.

“Yeah, well we both know that’s not how you meant it.” The polar bear mink bites back, a small frown on his face.

Law matches the frown, his brows furrowing in irritation that he couldn’t hide anything from Bepo. “I’ll tell him…”

At those words Bepo perks up, finally glad that he was starting to talk some sense into Law, “That’s good-“

“…eventually,” Law finishes his sentence off, Bepo’s happy face dropping once more.

Bepo lets out a sigh, no longer bringing the subject up as they reach the Polar Tang, the other crew members welcoming them back.

Giving Law his sword back Bepo walks away to Shachi and Penguin, deciding to give the two a hand with whatever task they were currently struggling at.

Law went to his captain’s quarter, not really wanting to be bothered at the moment with anything other than his own thoughts.

The sound of the door closing behind him immediately has him placing a hand over his chest, feeling how his heart thumps against it, as if it was going to burst out of his chest.

It was pathetic really, how much you affected him. He just wanted to sink into the ocean and never have to face you again, because even seeing you was enough to send his heart into shock, even as much as he tries to deny it.

Sucking in a breath he slowly exhales, trying so desperately to regain his grip on reality, how embarrassing it is to be this much of a mess from just seeing and talking about you.

Letting out a grunt he goes to his desk, perhaps he’d have better luck distracting himself when by doing actual work. A mix of research papers and medical books scattered around his table, both organized and messy at the same time. His fingers thumbing over pages as he compares notes, diseases, and cures.

It isn’t long before night hits, shrouding the Polar Tang in a cloak of stars and purple, not that Law really noticed it, too engrossed within the papers in his hands.

Rasping of knuckles against metal being the only thing that could knock him out of his stupor, hardly looking up from the pages in his hands as he yells, “Come in!”

The handle of the door twisting with a screech before relaxing again as it’s pushed in, revealing you with a tray of dinner resting between your hip and hand. “I brought you dinner, Captain.”

“Is that so?” He responds back, eyes skimming across a page of text, not retaining any of the information as he listens for any other movements or words you’d bless him with.

Feet shuffle over to his desk, each foot step you take having Law’s heart pounding and learching, fingers tighten on the papers as he tries so desperately to keep his composure while you’re so close to him in this enclosed space. The sound of the metal door closing by itself, the feel of paper wrinkling under his hand doing nothing to soothe him.

Brushing some of the papers on Law’s desk to the side you create an opening wide enough for the tray, on it a plate of onigiri and a mug of steaming black coffee resting neatly upon it.

The smell alone of the coffee had Law meagerly looking up, catching how the dark liquid rippled from your prior movements. Your hands release the handles of the tray, maneuvering so you were next to Law’s desk instead.

Your captain’s tired eyes going from the coffee to following you, his brows furrowing in an unspoken question.

Letting out a hum you answer his peeking curiosity, “Everyone is back on the island gathering the last of the supplies, I don’t want to be alone.”

Law doesn’t answer, letting out a sigh as he goes back to the medical page in his hand, his other free hand reaching for the coffee that you made him. Taking the fact that he didn’t kick you out immediately as a good sign you turn around, sitting down and leaning your back on the side of his desk, arms crossed against your chest.

It wasn’t like you were Penguin or Shachi, you wouldn’t purposely or even accidentally cause him trouble, something that Law grew fond of you over, which was also why he allowed you to stay. In a way it was a win win, you got to not feel alone and Law got to bask in your presence.

Taking a sip of his coffee Law almost melts in the chair, how you made a coffee taste so bitter and yet sweet enough to cancel it out he had to figure out, it was perfectly made.

His hand switched between the mug of coffee and the onigiri, eating and drinking as he peacefully studys away, you by his side. He wouldn’t have been surprised if when he died this is what he’d see in heaven, if he’d ever make it there in the first place.

Light snores taking up the silence after what Law can only assume is somewhere close to an hour, his eyes looking over to examine how your head is slumped over, your body completely still from the position you originally got in.

Seeing you sleep also makes him realize his own aching need for rest, the energy the coffee and food gave him already spent.

Pushing his chair out he stands up, stretching his arms up with a small groan falling from his lips, ecstasy reaching its grubby hands on his body since he was finally up and standing after so many hours.

Walking over to you he squats down, observing for a moment how your chest rises and falls, how even in your sleep your beauty maddeningly still clings on to your body. If god had favorites he was sure you were at the top of the list, there was no other excuse in his eyes.

Raising up two of his fingers he planned on just teleporting you to your bunk, before an idea planted itself in his head. Well, can you blame him? How many times is it that your crush is asleep in front of you, clueless as to what you’re doing?

Planting a hand down on the floor to steady his balance he leans forward, shivering slightly at how your breaths brush so lightly against his whiskered chin. Pushing himself to continue his lips meet your forehead, barely there for more than a second, just a small kiss to confess what he truly thought of you, even if you were asleep.

Leaning back away just by a little he doesn’t even realize how your snores stopped, or how your eyebrow twitches ever so slightly, too sidetracked with how heart pounds like drums, and how his other lifted hand shakes.

A tight grip on the scruff of his neck pushing him down, you looking up to meet him in the middle, a teasing smile on your face as you talk with your slight sleep laced voice, “Hi, Captain.”

Law’s face blows up in red as a response, inked hands reaching for your chest and pushing himself away from you, breathing heavily as he gets away from your suffocating presence.

Falling on the floor butt first, hands trying to find purchase anywhere on the metal floors, tilting his head down to hopefully hide some of it behind the brim. Truly he wasn’t sure if it was the fact that you scared him, or the fact that you caught him left him more out of breath.

“Y/N-ya it’s… it’s not what it looks like,” he tries in a small voice, raising his left arm so he can hide the rest of his crimson face behind his sun kissed skin.

Loud boisterous laughter only makes his eyes widen further, his mouth gaping as his heart stutters, the laugh not mocking nor meant in a bad manner, genuine humor seeping out of you.

Even your laugh was hot… God must have favorites.

Standing up you wipe imaginary dust off your boiler suit, smoothing it down under your fingers before walking over to where Law was sitting.

Leaning down and hooking your hands around his waist he was about to yell at you, a clear scowl forming on his face, before he was lifted up from the ground, standing him up straight.

Law’s scowl turning both flustered as well as dumbfounded, since when could you pick him up like he was nothing but a mere feather?!

Goosebumps racking his body at the implications of that, and from the fact that very clearly through his hoodie he could feel your strong grip on his waist, sending an uncharacteristic satisfaction and desire through his mind.

“You know, Law,” an almost purr like noise escaping your mouth, not missing how Law quivers at his name rolling off your tongue, “if you wanted to kiss me so bad you could have asked.”

As you lean forward Law’s left arm shoots out, grasping your lower face and pushing it away from him, “I don’t want to!”

“Idiot, you shouldn’t say stuff like that!” He grumbles, his other hand placing itself on your chest, just now realizing how close the space between you both was.

A chuckle escapes your lips at your captain’s behavior, a mischievous glint in your eye as you release your right hand from the grip on his waist, placing it on Law’s wrist instead to keep it in place.

Lips pressing against the palm tenderly throwing him for a whirlwind, hand tensing then relaxing, releasing his grip on your face. He gapes, your lips making it across his hand, from his roughed up palm to the inked letters in the backs of his fingers, then back again.

Each kiss makes him melt further within your arms, your eyes flickering to his as you place one last kiss at the base of his ring finger, a grin making its way on your features. “Can I kiss you, Captain?”

And Law can simply nod dumbly, too speechless with your attention on him. Your hand going from his wrist to his hand, intertwining your fingers with his, pulling him in.

Warm lips landing on his own so nicely, squeezing his eyes shut as he leans into it, tilting his head slightly as you nip at his lower lip, a soft whimper escaping him.

Parting his lips, your tongue slips in, his fingers tightening in yours as you both fight for dominance, the two of you too stubborn to give in.

Breaking away for air the two of you stare at each other for a moment, enamored by how drool dribbles out the corner of Law’s mouth. Pants and huffs fill the air, and when you go to break it further Law cuts you off, “Shut up.”

You hardly take offense to his words, your easy going nature only making you amused at your Captain’s orders, still following them ever dutifully.

Law lets go of your hand, placing his on your chest and pushing you back until your back near his desk, moving you over to his chair and watching how your knees buckle under the corner of it digging into you.

An ungraceful look about you as you tilt your head up, a look of adoration in your eyes as you admire how your Captain now towers over you.

Your hands go to hold Law's hips but are slapped away by him, an almost evil look to his face, “Don’t touch, just watch.”

Nodding your head you put your hands to your sides, holding on to the arm rests instead, allowing the man to have his fun.

He goes for your clothes first, unclasping the button by your neck, quick fingers making due of the zipper next. You pull your arms out of the sleeves to make his job easier, lifting your hips as he pushes it down with your pants under the suit, only leaving you in a tank top and boxers.

One of his hands reaches for his hat, taking it off and placing it gently on the floor, black locks of unruly hair sticking out in the air now. His other hand goes to the hem of your underwear, hooking a finger under it and lifting before letting go, a wicked grin adorning his face at the sound of the snap against your hips and the jolt of your knee.

Reaching again he actually pulls your underwear down this time, his breath hitching as your length is released into the air. Fingers reaching for your tip, smearing the precum already gathering there, a grunt leaving you as he circles his finger, your dick twitching in interest.

His entire hands wrapping around as he leans in, licking and sucking at your base while he pumps the rest in his hand, eyes flickering up to see how your face contorts in pleasure.

Leaning back up he kisses the tip of your dick wetly, then he opens his mouth, engulfing half of you in his mouth.

The hand previously on your cock reaching down and undoing his own belt and pants, his eyes fluttering closed then opening again, leaving you with enough imagination to already guess what he’s doing under there.

His tongue licks at the underside of your dick, a soft moan leaving him before he lowers himself further, throat closing around you as he chokes slightly. That doesn’t deter him though, slurping obscenly around you as fucks you in his throat, drool messily spilling from the corners on his lips.

The flecks of yellow in his irises now more pronounced as tears brim his eyes, the lust encapsulated in them only making you harder.

Your hands twitch and shake due to how bad you want to go for his hair, but you force them on the arm rests clutching so tightly as Law sucks so sweetly, moans falling from your lips.

Much to your displeasure Law only stays between your legs for another minute before standing, chest rising and falling harshly finally able to catch some proper breaths.

Though you perk up again when you notice how his hands go down on his own body, reaching for the band of his pants and boxers. Slowly he pulls them down to expose more of his skin to you, kicking them away when they hit the floor, his shoes going next.

The plush smooth skin sent you into a craze, so badly did you want to fill it with marks, though you refrained praying you’d be able to another time.

Going over to you Law places his knees beside your hip, trapping you between the chair and him, not that you were complaining.

Hovering over your dick, Law let out a chuckle, one hand grasping at your cock and lining you up with his hole, the other resting on your shoulder. “You ready, Y/N-ya?”

He hardly gives you the chance to respond though, sinking down on you, letting out a groan at Law’s tight heat. No longer being able to resist you place your hand on his hips, not missing how he glares at you, but he doesn’t say anything.

It takes him a minute to adjust to you, his hand coming to wrap around your other shoulder as well, then lifting himself up before dropping back down, both of you moaning softly at the feel.

Law shuts his eyes as his grip on your shoulders tighten, pushing himself up and thrusting down on you at a steady pace, your hips bucking up to meet him halfway.

One of your hands wanders from his hip to his stomach, going to lift the hoodie up but you’re stopped when Law goes down and your hand pushes against his tummy, throwing his head back as a loud guttural moan comes from him.

It felt like his brain was pouring out of his ears, a haze only being left in his mind as he grabs your wrist, forcing you to push down again as he whimpers.

Clenching around your dick when you do push again, fuck you felt so good, this had to be heaven. His eyes find yours again, once gray eyes now almost completely overtaken by yellow, tears well in his eyes, some spilling through his thin lashes.

Leaning down Law catches your lips with his own, a passionately messy mix of tongue and spit, Law’s lips wrapping around your tongue with a moan as he sucks.

Pulling away he presses his forehead to yours, messy babbles of, “So good!” And your name tumbling out of his spit slicked lips.

Getting closer to his climax, Law looks at you, a pleading look in his yellow eyes, “Say my name again. Say you’re mine. Please, please Y/N-ya.”

Your eyes widen at his request, grunting at practically harsh thrust before you comply. “I’m yours. All yours, Law.”

At those words Law lets out a long moan, mouth forming a perfect O as he his eyes roll back, pure ecstasy adorning his face, whispering your name like a prayer.

And it isn’t long before you’re pushed over the edge as well, Law’s hole sucking you in so deliciously as he continues to bounce on you for your own pleasure.

Overstimulation making him whine and shake as he helps you ride out your high, a soft moan leaving him as he feels you filling him up, your hot seed making his slim stomach pudge out a bit.

Putting your hand back on his hip you stop his movements, both of you sucking in air harshly for a second.

Your hands tighten on his hips a grunt escaping you when he begins grinding down on you, a devilish grin on his face. “You can go again, right, Y/N-ya?” He says so sweetly.

—

This was supposed to be posted yesterday but I both got distracted, and ended up writing WAY more details then intended.

Hope you enjoyed still, Pea’s out!

[haykawas]

✩•̩̩͙*˚ TUESDAY – GETO SUGURU.

summary : you have five days to ask your hot tattooed boss out. better make it count.

word count : 3.6K. tags : tattoo shop owner!suguru, modern au, pining, workplace AU, fem!reader, very domestic, fluff (?), satoru being annoying.

MONDAY – TUESDAY

It was still very early in the morning. Just a few cars were driving by, and most of the curtains were still drawn. The only sounds you could hear came from the soft pitter-patter of the rain crashing against the pavement.

You wiped a droplet that had caught on your eyelash, inhaling the fresh air of October.

You loved fall.

Vivid colors were beginning to paint the trees and foliage everywhere, and people had already started decorating their houses for Halloween, setting the mood for the whole city. Another advantage was that almost every morning, you got to warm your cold hands around some hot cocoa.

You grinned as you took a sip of your drink, the warm beverage burning your throat, and you let out a pleased hum of satisfaction at the feeling. Your umbrella shielded you from the rain almost entirely, even though a few drops still managed to reach you. But you didn’t mind that, at all. In fact, it soothed you. So much, that you could feel your eyelids becoming heavy.

You shook your head to wake up from your daze. Today, you actually had some work waiting for you at the shop, and you couldn’t afford to fall behind it, or become distracted. At all. Be it by the soothing sounds of the rain, or by your stupidly handsome boss and coworker.

You pushed the door of the shop open, shaking your umbrella before putting it down to dry. You expected to find the parlor still dark and quiet, but you were surprised by the sight when your eyes caught onto Satoru.

Satoru. Here. Before you.

You had to be dreaming.

It wasn’t that Satoru was a heavy sleeper, no. In fact, he was actually often – always? – up very early, but he absolutely never arrived before you did. Despite being an early riser, he almost came to work late every morning for some reason, and you simply blamed the fact he’d always been peculiar as far as you’d known him. That or maybe he’d gotten involved into some shady operations, but again, it was none of your business.

It must’ve helped that he was the most talented tattoo artist you’d ever met – the best of his generation, you’d often heard people say. And Suguru’s best friend, too. 

As you approached him, you couldn’t suppress the smirk that crept onto your lips, “Gojo Satoru, here already? Thought I was seeing a ghost. Did you get lost on your way to your secret underground lair?”

Satoru laughed, wiggling his brows at you, “You wish I’d tell you, uh?” You couldn’t help but snort.

“Yeah, right, just wanted to know what you were up to. You think because you’re friends with the boss you get to slack off, loser?”

Satoru feigned indignation, one hand hovering over his heart, “I’ll have you know I’m a very busy man!”

“And to what do I owe the please of your company then, Mister busy man?” You said, trying to keep yourself from laughing at his face.

“Does there always have to be a reason?” He lifted a brow, hands on his hips.

“So?”

“Suguru asked me.” He grumbled as your smile grew even bigger. “But I won’t be around all day, just came in earlier to get more work done.”

“Oh?” Your eyes found his, curious, “Any reason why?”

“He needs some help with personal stuff, I think? So I’m dropping by. And since he won’t be coming in to work today, I volunteered to take in his shift. Aren’t I just perfect?”

“He didn’t give you a choice, did he?”

“Nope!”  Your friend exclaimed, and you watched him walk away to prepare the shop for opening.

However, your smile quickly faded and you found yourself lost in thought. Was there a particular reason why Suguru wouldn’t show up at work today? You observed your friend for a moment, a faint smile on your lips as you saw him struggling to set up all the work equipment for the day, wondering if you would even dare ask him about his best friend’s whereabouts.

Of course, such a question wouldn’t have been abnormal at all if you’d asked literally anyone else. But this was Satoru. The same Satoru that had always teased you relentlessly about your love life since you’d met in college. The very same Satoru who’d caught you, not so long ago, daydreaming while intently looking at his best friend. You remembered it like it was yesterday, the knowing smile he’d made when your eyes had met after you had averted your gaze from Suguru.

And since then, it’d been hell. He just wouldn’t let it go. While he hadn’t addressed the matter directly with you, he’d been dropping constant hints, which you’d vehemently denied.

But this had been your mistake, denying it. Because even if carefree, Satoru was far from stupid, and he must have realized that you’d never gone to such lengths to deny a supposed crush before.

And yet, he’d teased you more than once, and not only with your former college aquaintances, but also with Choso, your coworker – the same Choso you’d always considered like your own brother, the mere thought of the two of you together making you uneasy.

He must have felt your persistent glare on him, because Satoru stopped what he’d been doing and turned to you, hands on his hips.

“Spit it out, I know you’ve been dying to ask.” He said, breaking the silence.

Your eyes widened, and you felt your cheeks burn. Why did he have to be so observant? You sighed, breaking eye contact, unable to withstand his piercing blue gaze. He knew you far too well now, so much that it had become dangerous.

“You know, secrets have a way of gnawing at you and you’ve never been good at hiding things from me! So,” He dragged out, slowly approaching you, “what’s up?”

You rolled your eyes, “You’re making a big deal out of nothing, again. Just thinking about Suguru, he usually, like, never misses a day.” You immediately cursed at yourself for saying it that way, and admitting you were literally thinking about your boss, his best friend.

“Ohhh, so that’s what it was about?” He replied, his eyes twinkling with mischief, but he made absolutely no comment. Well, that was new. And concerning.

He shrugged, “He didn’t tell me much.”

“But if you’re that curious, I’m heading to his place right after my shift. Sooo,” He dragged out, feigning nonchalance, but side-eyeing you at the same time. “You could tag along.”

You blinked at the proposal. You? At Suguru’s house, uninvited? When you could be home relaxing instead of freaking out for intruding on his private space? Yeah, sure, like you would agree. However, before you could voice your refusal, Satoru beat you to it.

“He could use your help.”

Oh. Oh, that fucker knew how to play his cards just right.

“Fine, I’ll go.” And before Satoru could jump on you to choke you with one of his infamous bear hugs – they were more like headlocks, really –, you lifted a finger to add one condition, “But only if I don’t fall behind on my appointments!”

Satoru rolled his eyes, waving you off, “Sure, yeah, whatever you say!”

You now stood in front of Suguru’s apartment, cursing the day you’d decided to befriend the white-haired menace that was your friend.

You considered going back, but the door opened before you had the chance to say a single word, revealing a very disheveled Suguru. Your mouth fell open in surprise, eyes briefly meeting Suguru’s dark orbs before he redirected them towards his friend, who was already whining, making comments about him being some kind of sorcerer, because how could he possibly have known they’d be here?

“You stomp like crazy, man. I’d have to be deaf not to know.” He grumbled. Satoru stuck his tongue out at him, showing no signs of remorse, and Suguru flipped him off.

“Hey, manners! I brought a guest!” He exclaimed, his arms still around your shoulders as he squeezed you against him to make your presence known. 

Suguru immediately redirected his attention toward you, his scowl transforming into a small knowing smile.

“I can see that.” His eyes lingered on you, before he redirected his attention to Satoru, “And to what do I owe the honor?”

His friend groaned in annoyance, “Quit the formalities and just let us in!” He said, immediately pushing Suguru aside to barge into his flat. “Don’t you know letting guests wait outside is rude?”

“You’re not a guest. Who called you in, already?”

“You did! Shoko told me you also wanted me to bring you stuff. And because I’m such an amazing friend, I’m here! There,” Satoru tossed him the folders he’d brought from work, Suguru catching them effortlessly.

He sighed, figuring out the issue. “I specifically asked Shoko to do it because I knew for a fact you were gonna come here and give me a headache.”

The white-haired man lifted his hands in surrender, “Promise I’ll be on my best behavior!” Before disappearing into his friend’s house.

You silently cursed at your friend for leaving you there alone with his best friend, especially so when you turned your head towards him only to find him already eyeing you up with a slightly amused smirk, enjoying your slight – and very noticeable – discomfort.

“You wanna come in?” He asked as he made space for you. You nodded and stepped into the apartment, brushing against Suguru who still lingered in the doorway.

You observed his place, eyes going over his wooden furniture, and found yourself pleasantly surprised by the warmth it seemed to exude. It was certainly very different from the modern and somewhat cold feel of Satoru’s apartment, which you’d visited several times before.

“You like it?”

“I do, it’s very…warm. And personal.”

He laughed deeply, “I do spend most of my time here, and Satoru’s there very often. It had to be.”

You hummed, smiling at him in understanding.

“So what made you skip work today, boss?” You lift a brow with a teasing smile, finally asking the million-dollar question.

“Ah, please don’t remind me. I keep thinking about the things I’m gonna have to take care of when I get back.” He sighed. “But I’ve been feeling sick since last night, figured I’d stay home like a recluse instead of contaminating you all.”

“Well, until you two showed up.”

“Hey! I had to, Satoru practically dragged me here!” You exclaimed, and he snorted at your apparent distress, not thinking for a second that you’d just lied to his face. Satoru had asked you once, and you’d said yes. He didn’t even have to convince you. 

“I know how he can be, I’m not blaming you!” He chuckled fondly, envisioning perfectly how Satoru must have dragged you here against your will like he’d always done with him.

“But just so you know,” He continued, “you don’t have to go all this way for me because I’m your boss, hm? They’re gonna think I’m taking advantage of you outside your hours.” He teased with a grin, and you had to advert your eyes from the blinding sight that he was.

“It’s not like that, really. You’re a friend of Satoru’s, so you’re not just my boss.” You said without thinking, and Suguru hummed in approval. “Besides, I figured you’d need some help with stuff. And I’m not sure Satoru’s the one for the task. Where the hell did he go?” 

“Help?” He cocked his head, as he thought about it, ignoring your question. He knew where his best friend was, either sleeping or rummaging through his games and making a mess in his bedroom, as usual. It must have looked innocent to some, but the dark-haired man knew his friend had been up to something, for the past few days. And he had to find out what it was.

“Well, now that you’re asking, I was just about to start on dinner before you two barged in. Care to help out?”

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow across Suguru’s cozy kitchen, you found yourself standing beside him, listening to his voice as he gave you advice on how he liked to prep his ingredients. 

“So, what’s on the menu tonight, Chef?” You joked, trying to break the tension that seemed to hang in the air. You two weren’t used to be alone without Satoru as an intermediary, and it couldn’t be more obvious.

Suguru cleared his throat, his voice deeper than usual, slightly hoarse from the sickness. “Hm, was thinking of making my famous stir-fry,” he replied, “can you gather the ingredients?”

“Yes, Chef!” You grinned, and he chuckled at your enthusiasm. He leaned against the counter, a soft smile on his lips as he watched you bustling about, gathering all the utensils you’d need to make dinner. You quickly turned to ask him where he kept the rice, and caught him following your every move, his eyes half-lidded. You heart skipped a beat, and you immediately turned back around, forgetting what you were about to ask him.

He was sick. You had to get it back together.

Shaking your head, you opened the cupboard to grab the salt, but sighed when your eyes found it, perched on the cabinet’s top shelf. You tiptoed, convinced you could retrieve it on your own, but the cabinet was strangely positioned in a rather elevated spot.

“Here.” Suguru’s sweet and deep voice suddenly reached your ears, his warm breath tickling the back of your neck. You could feel his solid body against yours as he stretched to grab what you’d been trying to, and you swore you could feel his abs pressing against your back even through his loose-fitting shirt. His fingers brushed against yours as he took hold of the item.

As soon as he put it down on the counter, you smoothly pushed him away and put distance between the two of you, accusatively pointing at the cupboard.

“What the hell is it so high for anyway? Do you live with giants?” 

He laughed, “Well, in a way. Me and Satoru could be considered giants.”

“Right.” You shook your head, pushing yourself to get back to the task at hand to avoid thinking about what had just happened. Your hands began chopping the vegetables, the rhythmic sound of the knife against the cutting board filling the room. 

The scent of garlic and ginger filled the kitchen, and you smiled as you inhaled the pleasant scent. You couldn’t help but sneak a glance at Suguru, and you wish you hadn’t. He seemed lost in thought, his dark hair was slightly tousled, and his cheeks were slightly flushed, a combination of his illness and the warmth of the kitchen. 

The man sighed as his hair got in the way yet again. He hadn’t found the time to trim it recently, and it had gotten quite long.

He paused for a moment, rinsing his hands before his fingers deftly started to gather his long dark hair. With a practiced grace that was so common with him, he pulled his hair back, securing it in a loose and messy ponytail. He sighed in annoyance as some strands were too short to be kept in place, blowing air to get them out of his eyes. His eyes found yours as he seemed to notice your sudden silence, strands of silky hair framing his face, accentuating the sharp angles of his jaw and elegant curve of his neck.

He gave you a shy smile, surprised you’d caught him in what had strangely felt like such an intimate moment to witness, and averted his eyes to the rice that’d been fizzling in the frying pan. After hard work came comfort, and you both sat down to savor the delicious meal you’d prepared – well, Suguru had done most of it, you’d mainly chopped the vegetables and fetched the ingredients, really –.

Suguru watched you intently as he waited for you to taste his famous dish. His eyes crinkled in amusement and he couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh as you let out an involuntary moan of pleasure at the taste.

“This is fucking incredible, Suguru!” You managed to say between bites, cheeks full, “I can’t believe how good this tastes! Why the hell didn’t I know how good of a cook you were?” You exclaimed.

His lips curled into a proud smile at your praise, “Glad you like it. I wasn’t always that good, you know? I used to burn pasta.”

“Pasta?” You deadpaned, eyes wide. “How come you’re so good, then?”

He grinned, “Had to fend for myself since I was very young. Practice makes perfect, right?”

Oh. Your heart ached as you considered the implications of his words. At the end of the day, you didn’t know that much about him, and the fact he might have had a difficult childhood would have never crossed your mind if he hadn’t made allusions to it. You nodded, not really knowing what to respond, but not really keen on delving deeper into the issue.

You weren’t close, there was no need for him to tell you about his past struggles when you were only sharing a meal.

You proceeded to talk about your respective days, you telling him about the peculiar clients that had come in today, and him intently listening to you for the most part. He’d also told you about the documents Satoru had brought him, which you’d been curious about, and happened to be sketches he’d started and wanted to touch up before tomorrow morning.

You smiled as you watched him talk, nodding slightly whenever he would speak about something that demanded an immediate reaction. You couldn't believe how comfortable you'd gotten with him. Sure, there were still moments where you felt embarrassed, after all, he was a new acquaintance you still hadn't gotten used to. However, he had this talent that was so unbelievably his, the skill to put anyone at ease with just a few words.

He might have looked intimidating to a lot of people, with his fully tattooed arms, many piercings and dark eyes, but this image of him completely crumbled the moment he opened his mouth. He was a smooth talker, luring people in and charming them effortlessly.

And you couldn’t deny it. The fact Suguru wasn’t only a skilled chef, but also a vision of breathtaking allure. And you wondered how someone like this could ever reciprocate the feelings you harbored deep inside.

After the meal, you moved to the living room, settling onto the sofa. The warmth from the kitchen and the contented feeling brought by the dinner you two had just had enveloped you as you continued your conversation. 

As he talked, you couldn’t help but notice a few strands of Suguru’s long hair escaping from his ponytail, falling gracefully across his forehead.

You spoke up, feeling brave, “You know,” he immediately gave you his undivided attention, and you felt slightly shy under his gaze, “If you’re finding your hair bothersome, I could help you with it. Maybe trim it a bit?”

“Oh.” He said, voice tinged with surprise at your question, and at the fact you’d noticed his annoyance. “You’d do that?” 

“Yeah, it’s no big deal.” You approached him on your knees so you could get a good look at him, skimming your fingers through the strands of dark hair framing his face, as you thought about how you could arrange it, “I’m used to your type of hair, shouldn’t be too difficult.”

The man cleared his throat, turning his head to the side to avoid your gaze, “Alright, well, I’ll consider it and let you know then. Thanks.”

You nodded, but then your brows furrowed and you bolted from your seat, “Be right back!”

He saw you leave for the bathroom, lips parted in confusion. When you reappeared with a wet towel and a sheepish smile, he couldn’t stop but let out a snort as he understood what you’d been up to.

“Hey, don’t laugh! I know I’m a guest but you’re still sick.” You rolled your eyes in feigned annoyance, but the amused smile on your lips was betraying you. “Your cheeks are so red, I can’t believe I just noticed.” Then, you proceeded to delicately cover his forehead with the cold towel, making sure you weren’t covering his eyes. You observed his features up close, and you noticed that he was struggling to stay awake, his long lashes fluttering with exhaustion.

 “You should lie down a bit.” 

Suguru was about to protest, but a yawn escaped him, resigning him to accept his fate and lie down for a while. “Just a minute, alright? Then I’ll walk you back home.” You nodded, knowing you had to go home very soon, the fact you'd stayed more than a few minutes at your boss's house already shocking to you.

bonus –

Your eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, you were disoriented. The soft glow of the morning sun was beginning to filter through the curtains, but you weren’t on your bed. And as your senses slowly returned, you realized you were not alone.

Panic welled up inside of you as everything came rushing back to you when you took in the sight of Suguru sleeping beside you, his messy hair out of the ponytail he’d put them in a few hours ago, the string lost somewhere on the ground, while his limbs were sprawled out on the couch. His soft snore was making his chest rise and fall, his shirt rising up to his middle.

You didn’t have time for that. 

You bit your lip, searching for your phone in a hurry, making sure you weren’t making any noise in fear the man would somehow wake up, silently freaking out as the situation dawned on you. 

you where the fuck r u ???

satoru i’m home?? where r u

you .

satoru oh fuck DONT TELL ME oh my god

you  …

you why didnt you wake me up when you went home . wth satoru

satoru oh man that’s rich im telling shoko right now

you do it and i’ll kill you

satoru too late

satoru by the way i actually didn’t wake you up cuz sugu’s an insomniac never does whole nights so thx!<3

AN : I SAID LET THEM COOKKKKK ok back to the topic. god. this was twice as long as the first piece of this series (and i actually kinda struggled with this one? i'll have you know i'm a master at writing angst but fluff isn't really my forte - if you can call this fluff). kinda sweet suguru here cuz he's sick and all (and i couldnt already rush things), but expect him back on his feet and SMUG as hell in the next pieces ;) sooo yeah, hope yall liked it! also, not proofread yet, i'll come around to fix mistakes but it's 1:40 am here and i have class tomorrow so goodnight

[adoresmiles]

His Concealed Obsession.

Chapter two.

Tags : @violetmuses @onlyrealjoy @unicorndelulu @nelo0wesker @liatreads

AN : I hope you guys enjoy chapter two! Please give feedback on how you feel about the book and what you think will happen next!

Kanani

I nodded my head as I listen to my friend tell me about her last two dates that she had been on. From what she was telling me , the outcome of both dates came out terrible due to her overbooking herself on the same night. Which I couldn’t understand on why she would do that when didn’t care for neither of them. I continued to listen as she expressed on how neither dates wasn’t her type and how she had to spend money .

“Well maybe if you asked them questions I’m sure you paying for your dinner wouldn’t have been an issue.”

“The guys I deal with on the regular always pay for my dinner. I just assumed that they were like them and didn’t bother to ask them about themselves.”

“See if they weren’t your type why didn’t you turn them down! That is what I would have done. Turn them down.”

"Don't you ever get tired of turning down men?"

"Nope, not one bit."

"The standards that you have are blocking your blessing of obtaining a man."

"Well I'm sorry okay? Almost every guy that came up to us today was a drug dealer and you know this."

"That's the best type of money around Kanani! It's fast, they get it around the clock and they're available for you twenty four seven."

"That is not my type of ideal partner."

"Who said you had to marry them?!"

"Listen I don't want a drug dealer to be my partner. Just because you want that for yourself does not mean I should have to."

"What about a Cartel leader? You know the guys who calls all the shots. They don't shit besides tell their people what to do ."

"You want to know what I think? I think you watch too many mafia romance films. Which is very concerning to me."

"Oh please , every girl in the whole world has had a fantasy about getting kidnapped by the cartel and falling in love with the leader."

"I'm just going to act like I never heard those words come from your mouth."

I said to my friend as I walked over to a different clothing rack. After lunch , we decided to do a little bit of shopping . Prior to me leaving KP had sent me a text message informing me about how him and 

his colleague's were going to be in my complex.

"This is super cute! I really love this color, the fabric is satin but it's cute though."

"I can see you in it, what size do they have ?"

"All of the sizes they only have an extra small left. Ya ass can't wear nothing that damn small."

"And I've been looking for this exact dress. Maybe if I keep looking around I could possibly find some- hey isn't it weird that the guy over there is the same exact guy who sat behind us at the restaurant ?"

"What guy Kanani ?"

"The guy over there with the all black on. He was sitting outside with us on the patio."

"Oh him? He's cute but he isn't your type. Maybe a good hump every now and then ."

"I'm being serious , he wasn't with anyone at the restaurant and he for damn sure isn't with anyone right now."

"Pretty sure he is with someone , I saw him walk in behind some blonde girl. I'm sure he is with here with someone or he's just window shopping ."

"But he hasn't moved since we been here. He's just standing over there by the shoes looking over at us."

"Well maybe he find of us attractive Kanani."

"You just said at the restaurant he was with some blonde girl ."

"I did not! I said he walked in behind a girl who was blonde . That does not necessarily mean that he is with her. For all we know, he could be one of those guys that be on those dating apps."

"Nah he doesn't give me those vibes."

"Girl men do that all the time now. The last dude that I use to date would go on multiple of dates. He would just simply meet up with them at different location's and they would do whatever she wants."

" You didn't care?"

"Not one bit , why would I worry about it when my ass was out here doing the same exact thing?"

"Alrighty then I was not expecting you to say that."

"Well you should have . I hold back nothing when it comes to tricking. You want a date with me , I'm going to need some money."

"Are you sure Jax and you aren't siblings ?"

"Jaxon use to be a player back in the day. See if he didn't marry Lauren , I would have been not only your best friend but your sister in law too."

I rolled my eyes for what seemed like for the hundredth time today. Ever since my best friend came into my life , she has always had a crush on my eldest brother. Which I found it funny since every girl he introduced to our family , she never cared for. Well every female besides my sister-in-law Lauren.

"You can look like that all you want to Nani. Jax and I had to been together at some point in our afterlife."

"We are in our mid late twenties and the crush you have on my brother still is beyond me."

"Yeah I know , but until I get him I can only continue to be delusional about him."

"That's toxic behavior and I highly recommend you to go back and see your therapist again."

"And I highly encourage you to lower your standards."

"I could never."

"Never say never , because one day you could meet a guy and be in love with him the very next day."

"Only delusional people do that."

"Furthermore why I think you should lower your standards and just become delusional. I mean the guy over th- well he was over there . He could  have been your potential partner."

"How about you potential your way over to checkout."

"No need to be hostile here , just saying a little joke."

"Hello ladies , did you find everything okay while shopping with us today?"

"Yes we did , well actually I would like to place an order for one of the dresses I saw here today."

"I'm guessing the satin dress with the side split?"

"How did you know?"

"Everyone has been calling in for it. Before you two ladies had arrived , we sold out online completely."

"When will you guys be restocking ?"

"No time soon sweetie , there was a guy who was here that purchased the last order that was available."

"You mean the guy who was staring at us while we shopped? "

"I'm surprised that you missed him, he's a sweetheart. Will that be all for you ladies?"

"For me yes, she has a lot to check out. I'm going to go step outside , got to call KP back."

"Hello? Keith what's wrong? .... Slow down. I can't understand whatever you are saying. What are you looking at my location for?! Didn't we all agree on not looking at each other location unless it's an emergency? ...  a shooting where ?"

Before I could get a response from my brother , I heard ear piercing screams and glass breaking.  My body was thrown onto the ground and my head was pressed against a firm chest .  Hot tears poured down my face as I felt my heart pounding harder than before. Screams and sirens echoed through the air as people were running and pushing each other out of the way.

The person tucked my body underneath theirs and rolled us underneath a car. Looking up at the mysterious man, I was met with a tinted visor and a gold chain swinging over my face. Taking in a deep breath , I was hit with a familiar scent that came from him. Tears begin to pour down my face even more as I now realized that I had almost lost my life.

“Shhh it’s okay , you’re okay. I got you beautiful.”

“KANANI!”

"Estas bien hermosa?"

"Yeah.. I'm fine. Thank you."

"No deberías estar aquí. necesitas irte."

"Oh my gosh Kanani! Are you okay? What the fuck happen out here?! Did you get hit?!"

"She's fine, I got to her before any bullet could hit her. Take her home, she's shaken up."

"Who the fuck are you?"

"I'm the guy who just saved your friend life , Take her home and I'm not telling you again."

"Her brother and his team is on the way, we can’t le- wait where the hell are you going ?! Aren’t you going to sit here and wait until he gets here?!”

“I don’t fuck with the police sweetheart, they do nothing for me.”

“Well can she atleast have your name?’”

“Don’t worry about that.”

The sirens grew louder as they got closer to us. I watch as he looked at the direction it was coming from before running off and getting back on his motorcycle. He sped off and didn’t bother to look back at me. Letting out a shaky breath , i carefully pulled myself up and took in the scenery. Shattered glass was everywhere, three deceased bodies and a bunch of police cars and ambulances lined up.

Allowing my eyes to scan through the wreckage in hopes of finding the mysterious man, even though he was long gone. In the midst of my search , something shinned brightly on the ground. Walking over to the item, i immediately realized it was his gold chain that he had left behind. Taking a quick look around , Keith who had appeared out of no where had his back facing me as he spoke to my friend and a few of his colleagues. As if I was collecting my belongings off the ground, i discreetly picked the chain up and placed it in my bag as I made my way back over to the small group.

Translations:

Estas bien hermosa : " Are you okay beautiful ?"

no deberías estar aquí. necesitas irte:  "You shouldn't be here , you need to go."

[shegatsby]

Could I ask for Hannibal lecter with a former patient reader with extreme anxiety and fear of going outside and people? Maybe a house call for this little recluse?

(Would appreciate if they were also FTM but not a requirement)

Thanks!

-B

A/N; Hi B, thanks for the request even though it had been weeks since you sent it to me... oops. I hope you'll like it. Enjoy!

Warnings; Anxiety and panic attack, reader has phobia of going outside.

You were triggered again, you had a specific nightmare last night. In the nightmare you were being chased by your stalker (you had a stalker last year so developed a certain anxiety about going out. Thankfully he is behind bars now.) in the nightmare he was holding a gun and chasing you in the public but no one helped you. Except him.  Doctor Hannibal Lecter. Due to your circumstance you sought professional help. You did a profound research about him and his techniques and you found nothing but good review. You decided to give it a shot and you didn’t regret it at all. You explained your situation to him in detail via email, he replied saying that he was glad to work with such an open minded and communicative young woman.

He urged you to go to his office for the first session but you were unwilling so you suggested to do it online, it was 45 minutes and when you were, put the laptop away… you felt a sudden relief.

The next session he suggested to go to a coffee shop near your home, you liked the idea and agreed.

It was a cold Baltimore weather so you both had gloves, long coats, he couldn’t help but notice how professional you dressed. A black pencil skirt, a dark red blouse, soft make-up, hair let loose yet kept under control and delicate hands holding your coffee mug. You were well mannered and put together. Also, your impression on him was the same as him, both of you had a mutual feeling for each other that day. Normally, Dr. Lecter had 45 minute sessions with his patients just like your first session. However, with you, it was more than 2 hours. The conversation was elite and brilliant that he didn’t want to leave that cozy place, after the session he gave you a lift and planned the next session.

Weeks passed and you started to go to his office, you had an idea about his environment but seeing it for the first time was something else. His office was like a mixture of library and museum, which both of those places were your favorite. When he saw the inquisitive shine in your eyes he let you explore.

You talked about your favorite books and art and culture etc.

You loved talking to him and he loved talking to you. Most of his patients were shallow and stupid but you knew your art and literature. After decades of being surrounded by peasants Hannibal found someone who got excited about small things and had her own brilliant opinions. Your energy was refreshing to say the least.

The nightmare you had made you paranoid, your door was locked, windows shot and curtains closed, you were in your pjs and in 45 minutes you had to be in Dr. Lecter’s office. It was impossible, you sent him an email about bot being able to make it today. Instead of replying by an email he called you directly, ‘’Hello, Dr. Lecter.’’

‘’Hello , Y/N.’’ he started, he had started to address you by your name few weeks ago and asked you to do the same but his demeanor and the way he held himself made you a bit intimidated. ‘’I hope you are well.’’ He continued, ‘’Is there a problem?’’ there was a silence. ‘’Yes, I don’t think I can come today.’’ You simply replied, covering yourself with blankets on your couch, total darkness surrounding you.

‘’Your voice sounds strange.’’ He announced, you didn’t say anything and he let a sigh of distress, He ‘’I’m coming over. Do not move.’’ And he hung up.

He knew your address, something in you kept you at your place or maybe it was his strict tone.

Some time later there was a knock on your door which made you jump from your seat, you grabbed a knife from the kitchen and walked to the door.

‘’Its me.’’ You heard his voice, ‘’You can lower your weapon of choice.’’ He added, how did he know that you were carrying a weapon?

You opened the door to him, he looked at you up and down and let himself in, closed the door and locked it. Seeing such a young and elegant woman being torn apart by her mental state made him feel something… he felt as if he was her savior.

You noticed that the second you saw him you felt safe, like a sense of warmness spreading inside of your chest.

You turned to go to the living room, he followed, this was the first time he saw your house, he was in awe of how clean and organized it was even though it was dark due to the fact that all the curtains were closed.

He sat on a single armchair, placed his leather bag next to his feet, his coat placed on his lap, you took your place among your blankets.

‘’May I ask what has made you… like this?’’ he looked around the room, ‘’I don’t want to talk about it.’’ You said like a little child.

‘’Are you hungry?’’ he asked to change the subject, you realized that you didn’t eat anything since you have woken up. He understood from your deep eyes and stood up.

Soon you heard sounds coming from the kitchen. You decided to get a sneak peek, he wore your red apron and cooking something from the things he found in your fridge. It melt your heart.

Hannibal Lecter wasn’t used to this but when he saw you like that he couldn’t help but be there for you, you were an interesting case for him and he even thought about keeping your mental health not worse but not good either so that he could keep having you in his life but it seemed like you were planning to be in his life for a long time weather as a friend, a patient or someone close..

Thank you. :)

[the-witch-of-one-piece]

Dad Chifuyu Matsuno x Mom Reader: Pet Adoption Day ft. Baji and Kazutora (unedited) TW: Kids and pregnancy WC: 1300+ s/n =sons nameMINORS DNI 18+

Chifuyu was a big supporter of the pet shelters and wanted to help out in any way he could. Donating items even helping out when he could. Ever so often his shop would host pet adoption days to help shelter animals find their forever homes. Today's pet adoption day was a little bit different. Peke J  being mischievous as he is, would leave for a day or two and then come back home. Chifuyu would scold him but it seemed to go out one ear and out the other. Chifuyu decided to follow Peke J when he was leaving the home. He walked into a small alley next to a large trash can where a few cardboard boxes were stacked on one another. He discovered Peke J became a daddy, seeing the small little of newborn kittens that were about a week old. It took a moment for the mommy of the kittens to warm up to him but he gladly welcomed them into his home.  

It would be sometime before you and your husband had a long talk about the kittens.. Knowing that they could bring love into many others home. The next part was to break the news to your son. Explaining it to him as simply as possible. He was a bit upset and knew it would be the best choice, with a new baby on the way it would be a lot to handle with a full house. The kittens would always be a part of your family.

“Momma let me help you!” your 5-year-old son taking the box from your hand. 

“Are you sure you got it? You asked, looking at him taking the box to his dad. “Mmhmm” he walked to his father who was fixing the bows on the kittens. “ Momma was carrying boxes again.” Your son snitched you out. You saw your husband raise his brow at you. “Honey, we already talked about you carrying things.”  

“I know but I’m not handicapped now.” You responded as your fingertips caressing your husband's cheeks. 

Chifuyu saw his little one petting the kitten. He didn't leave the kitten's side. For Chifuyu it was a bittersweet moment for him as each one was getting adopted. Chifuyu and you throughout the day managed to get a few kittens adopted in the morning. Chifuyu needed to grab something from one of the aisles when he arrived at the front and noticed the small calico kitten missing. He thought maybe she got out and was roaming around the shop. You, Kazutora and Baji began looking for the lost kitten. Walking back to the front he noticed another kitten was missing. “Another one is missing.” Chifuyu sighed his fingers running through his hair. 

Baji on the other hand noticed one person missing. “I’m not sure they got out by themselves. The cage is too high for them to climb out.” He raised his brow.  "Baji gots a point there," Kazutora responded.

Chifuyu began counting everyone and Baji was right, one was missing. “Can you guys keep and eye on the other kitten men and _____ need to find s/n.” 

Chifuyu and you walked to the back quietly. You heard a small meow “shhh they will hear you milkshake.” You heard your son speaking quietly. 

“Well, we found the kittens.” Chifuyu spoke as his son froze before standing up quickly. 

“Oh look here they are hehe.” Your son nervously laughing as he scratched the back of his head. 

“S/n…” you sighed your hand on your hip. You had a hint on why he did it.

“We got worried when we couldn’t find them.” Chifuyu spoke looking at his son. 

“I know but…” his son looked down.

“But?” Chifuyu asked 

“I don’t want the rest to be adopted, I want to keep them.” Your son spoke. “They are our family.” 

Both you and Chifuyu could hear the sad tone in his voice. Chifuyu kneeled down at eye level with his son. “Of course they are bud. It’s just the house is gonna be really busy when the new baby comes. The kitten will also be a lot to handle as well. But every single one of the kittens that were adopted we know the people. So we know they will get all the love and attention in their new homes.”

“Couldn’t we put the baby up for adoption and keep the kitten?” Your guy's son asked. “We had them longer” 

Chifuyu closed his eyes for a moment as he composed himself; he didn't want to laugh. “Bud me and your mommy want to keep the baby.” 

“We thought you were gonna be excited to be a big brother?” You asked him.

“My friends tell me that when they have a new baby in the house their moms and dads spend a lot of time with the baby instead of them. I don’t want to forget.... it was great when it was just the three of us..”  You could see your son's eyes begin to welt up. You began to become emotional seeing your son upset. 

Chifuyu embraced his son giving him a hug. He rubbed his back he let a low sigh out he didn’t want him to feel like this. “We won't forget our first baby. You gave us the title mom and dad. We did all our first together.” He wiped his son's tears away “I know we might get busy with the new baby but we always make time for you. Plus when the baby arrives you could tell them everything you know.” Giving his son a gentle smile

“We love you very much s/n. I know the baby is going to love you very much too.” You softly spoke to your son. “I have an idea.” Both Chifuyu and your son looked at you. “I know you and milkshake are close, why don’t we keep her.” 

“Really?!?” Both Chifuyu and your son looked at you.

You chuckled at them both having the same reaction. “Yeah Peke J and Mrs.Peke will be happy too.” You cupped your child’s face kissing his forehead. 

After the chat with your son, the rest of the kittens were adopted by the end of the day. When arriving home your son and milkshake ran to his room to play. Peke J and Mrs. Peke both had when to their favorite place to take a nap. Both you and Chifuyu sat on the couch. It was a long day for everyone but knowing the kittens were happily adopted into loving families it was all worth it. You could see your husband lost in his thoughts. “Honey, are you okay?” you asked, rubbing his shoulder.

“Hmmm? Oh yeah… Just a little nervous, we haven’t had a baby in the house in a long time.” “I know it's a little nerve-racking but if I must say.” cupping his cheeks with your hands “you are the best dad I’ve ever seen. Our son adores you and just hearing your voice the baby goes crazy. We might be sleep deprived for a while but it will be worth it.” giving him a soft kiss. 

The dust of pink hitting his cheeks “how did I get so lucky to meet someone like you?” his green hands rest on your belly he felt the small kicks from his unborn child.

“It all draws back to Peke J having us meet.” you smiled “Also I forgot to mention I need you to defend my honor.”

Chifuyu blinked a few times wondering why he needed to do that. “Uhhhh???” “I know Baji was the one who told s/n to say I look like I ate a watermelon.”

Chifuyu pinched the bridge of his nose letting out a low chuckled “Well I think Baji was referring to you eating the whole watermelon.” Raising your brow “Just wait till this baby is out I’m going after you and him.” you let out a chuckle

Hearing a threat from his pregnant wife he couldn’t take it seriously after her chuckle “Babe I love you.” 

“I love you too but I’m still going after you both.”

Intersted in joining the taglist please fill out form below to get notification of your favorite character when they are being posted! Link here ->taglist

[starsfic]

Long Xiaojiao, Night Guard

Summary: After an argument with her parents, Xiaojiao decides to cut herself off. However, that means moving into a different place, and that's not feasible with her savings. So, Xiaojiao decides to get a job.

Hopefully, this American pizza joint will be nice.

AO3/Ko-Fi

-_-

“I can’t believe you did that.”

“Neither can I,” Long Xiaojiao groaned, fisting a hand in her hair. For once, her phone wasn’t in her pocket. It was upstairs on Xiaotian’s bed, buzzing with so many missed calls and texts with one familiarity. They were all from her family.

Well, former family.

“What even happened?” Xiaotian asked, passing her a bowl of noodles, the smell deliciously fragrant and a balm on her nerves. “You told me a month ago that you guys were doing fine.”

Xiaojiao sighed, picking up the chopsticks. She was glad it was slow today. If Xiaotian wasn’t here, she was pretty sure she would do something stupid. “Well, I went over for breakfast, and we kinda started talking about my summer plans. Well, my dad asked if I was planning to go back to college any time soon and…” She knew that the fact that she had dropped out of college was a sore spot for her parents, but she had hated college. She had gotten all the qualifications to be a mechanic that moment she dropped out, but her parents hadn’t been impressed. “Things went downhill from there.”

“So bad that you decided that you have to move out?”

“I kinda have to,” Xiaojiao loved her swanky apartment, but she had to cut herself off in all ways. “It’s technically under my parents’ names, even if I pay rent. Plus, the landlord’s friends with my dad, which is why I had such low rent.” Thankfully, she had enough savings for the down payment and the first month’s rent for something smaller, a little more worn down, but decent, after some looking. (Did she really need that third monitor?) “Don’t worry about it, I have a few places in mind.”

“I could talk to Red,” Xiaotian offered, his smile bright. “You’re his best friend, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind-”

“Dude, Red’s already got issues dealing with Pigsy flipping his lid over you moving out,” She had not witnessed the announcement, only heard that Pigsy attempted to whack Red with the wok. “I’ll be fine, don’t worry. My only concern is finding a job.” Streamer money alone couldn’t fill up her bank account.

"Oh!" Xiaotian said, smiling brightly. "That'll be easy for you!"

"Yeah!" She was Long Xiaojiao, mechanic qualified, smart, and popular. "How hard will it be?"

-_-

Fuck Qi Xiaotian.

Fuck him and getting all her hopes up.

Of course he had an easy time of it. The moment he was old enough, Pigsy hired him to help out around the noodle shop with great pay, the softie. She should've asked Pigsy; it would've been easier than having the honestly brutal amount of rejection emails pop up in her inbox.

Most places didn't exactly like the idea of people dropping out of college because they were bored. Most places saw her as wasting time waiting for a job position that Daddy and Mommy promised her. Others just weren't looking for anyone anymore and simply hadn't taken down the ads yet. At least those were nice enough to say sorry.

Xiaojiao was honestly prepared to beg Red or Pigsy for a job when another email popped in.

And this one was more than excited to welcome her.

Maybe a little too excited, when Xiaojiao stepped into Freddy Fazbear's Pizza.

From what the owner had explained, they were in the process of moving in, and she could see that with all the boxes everywhere. But the place still looked incredibly worn down for all its newness. None showed that more than the four animatronics standing on the stage.

Long Xiaojiao had done some research, she wasn't that dumb. Apparently, Fazbear Entertainment had started in the United States, and had quickly developed a reputation. Now, they were moving to China, hoping to escape the ghost stories and accusations of murder. Said stories surrounded the four she eyed.

Freddy Fazbear, the bear himself, stood in the middle, holding a microphone. Bonnie the Bunny and Chica the Chicken stood on either side of him like bodyguards. Foxy the Pirate held his hook up as if in the middle of telling a grand tale. All of their eyes were closed and their heads slumped, like they had fallen asleep on their feet.

“But they’re probably just stories,” Xiaojiao sighed. “You guys look like you couldn’t hurt a fly!”

"Oh, hello!" Xiaojiao nearly jumped at the English interrupting her study, turning to reveal a pretty blonde woman hovering next to the stage. She blinked emerald eyes before awkwardly chuckling. "I'm...sorry, hello," she said in shaky Mandarin. "Do you speak English?"

"Yeah, I do," One of the things she was glad her parents had forced her to learn. "Although your Mandarin sounded pretty good."

The woman shook her head. "No, no, I'm still learning. This move was a sudden decision, so I needed to pick it up quickly." She held out a hand, and Xiaojiao shook it. Her grip felt weirdly weak. "I'm Vanessa Shelly, the owner of the restaurant."

"Oh, nice to meet you. I'm Long Xiaojiao, I'm here for the staff position?"

"Yeah, I figured," Vanessa chuckled, the awkwardness slowly easing out of the noise. "Let me give you a tour, and I can give you a laydown of the situation."

The tour wasn't that long. There was one big dining hall- the room Xiaojiao had entered- a slightly smaller arcade and prize room, two small rooms for private birthday parties, two halls that connected in the kitchen, Parts and Services/storage, and the guard office.

"The office is where you'll be spending the most of your first two weeks," Vanessa explained, allowing Xiaojiao to take in the space. It was small, with buttons next to both doorways. A small fan chugged away next to a tablet and computer, cooling down nothing. "My brother is still in Utah, handling business matters there, but once he gets here, he'll be handling the night guard business."

"Okay, that's good to know," She had worried about that part, not wanting to lose too much time with Xiaotian. Two weeks was manageable. But, those buttons looked weird. She nodded, but her mind was on the buttons. "What do these do-?"

"Wait, wait, WAIT-!" Xiaojiao pressed the button, and a door came crashing down. There was a thud outside, probably from Vanessa jumping back to avoid being cut in half. Xiaojiao blinked at the thick metal door before pushing the button. The door slid back up, revealing Vanessa. She was against the wall, her eyes wide.

"Sorry," Xiaojiao said, stepping forward and helping Vanessa from her lean against the wall. "Are you okay?" Her hands were callused and strangely cold, but her emerald eyes were warm.

Vanessa didn't answer for a moment, eyes locked on their hands. Finally, she pulled away, managing another awkward laugh as her fingers dug into her purple work shirt. "I'm fine. Don't worry. Sorry, I should have warned you about the doors."

"Yeah..." Now that she thought about it, those doors seemed more like something from a military base than a pizza place. "Why do you guys have bombproof doors?"

"They were something from the old place," Vanessa explained, stepping back into the office. Her destination turned out to be a worn yellow locker Xiaojiao hadn't noticed. She opened the door and reached inside. "My brother insisted on it, in case the animatronics..." She shut the door, revealing she held a work uniform. "Misbehave." Ah, right, ghost stories. "Anyway, here is your uniform!"

Xiaojiao took it. This at least looked new, with the buttons all shiny and a shiny new name tag sitting on top with her name. The keys were already on a keychain, hanging from the pocket. "Thanks."

"Now, how about I get the gang to say hello before you head out?" Vanessa was already pushing past, her shoulder gently bumping Xiaojiao. "We want you well rested for your shift tomorrow, right?"

Hello?

Xiaojiao followed Vanessa back to the main dining hall, finding her boss standing in front of the animatronics. She clapped her hands together. "Okay, guys, wake up. I got a new friend working with us. Foxy, I think you'll like her."

Those seemed to be the magic words. The first to lift their head was Bonnie, his magenta eyes focusing on Vanessa. Chica was next, the little cupcake on her plate giving a little yawn that Xiaojiao had to fight to not coo over, and then Foxy reared his head back, giving out a maniacal laugh.

And then Freddy... didn't move.

"Freddy?" Vanessa said, cocking her head. Those green eyes were concerned. "Are you okay?"

"Aye, lass, he's just a lil' tired from all the flying," Foxy said, sounding just like a pirate. "Can't say I blame him. Give me a ship any day!"

"Foxy," Chica said. "You know we couldn't have sailed over. Sailing takes too long, and Ness worries a lot." 'Ness''s face turned red, not disputing the claim.

Wow, this was really great AI. The banter and movements as Foxy and Chica argued back and forth, and Bonnie reached over to hold Freddy's shoulder was so life-like. Xiaojiao's fingers itched for her phone to record and stream. Hm, maybe…

"Anyway, this is Long Xiaojiao," Vanessa said, interrupting Bonnie saying something about the perfect cheese for pizza. She gestured to her, and Xiaojiao waved. "She'll be our night guard until Mikey gets here, and she'll be helping me repair and maintain you guys."

Oh, yeah! “I also know a guy,” Xiaojiao said, pulling up her phone. “Who does commissions. He made a logo for his dad’s noodle shop. Maybe he can do some stuff for your marketing?”

Vanessa’s smile went big. “Really?” Xiaojiao turned to reveal Pigsy’s logo and her eyes went wide. “Oh, that looks great.”

“Yeah! You have a pen?” At the request, a pen was pulled out. “Great! Here’s his number, his name is Qi Xiaotian…” She ignored the heat flaring up in her face as she held Vanessa’s name and scrawled Xiaotian’s number across her palm. “Anyway,” she said as she pulled away. “Give him a call. He’ll be more than happy to help.”

“Oh, thanks Xiaojiao!”

“No worries! See you tomorrow!” Xiaojiao headed out, glancing back. Vanessa was smiling at her palm. Chica was petting her cupcake as Foxy and Bonnie talked. And Freddy…

Freddy stared right at her.

-_-

Long Xiaojiao was eager for her first shift, especially after the day she had, but almost drove away when she came one hour before midnight.

In the light of day, the restaurant had just looked worn and tired. In the darkness of night, barely lit by the neon on the next street, it looked menacing. Vanessa had left the dining hall's light on for her, showcasing the four figures on stage. All were slumped over, looking asleep again.

Xiaojiao barely resisted a shiver as she parked her bike and walked up. The clink of the lock opening sounded like a gunshot, and, as she walked in, she swore a cold breeze slid down her back.

No. No. She was being ridiculous. She was Xiaojiao, the White Horse Dragon Girl (dragon family or no dragon family), former wielder of the Samadhi fire, and current wielder of the Long sword (dragon family or no dragon family). She wasn't gonna get spooked like this! 

"Hey guys!" she said for some semblance of noise as she locked the door behind her. "Good to see you guys again!" Nothing came back and Xiaojiao nodded. "Good talk."

Her duties involved checking all the doors to make sure they were locked. Xiaojiao did the lap of the building before settling into her office, which now housed a phone and an old poster. Now, all she had to do was keep an eye on the building and the animatronics until 6 AM.

Her phone beeped, and she pulled it out.

MonkieMAN: CONGRATS ON UR HOME!

Ah, right. Xiaojiao was now the proud owner of a small studio apartment. It was a little smaller than her old place, but she owned it. She still had to unpack and figure out what to keep- goodbye, third monitor- but she was home for now.

You: THANKS! How's moving into your place?

The phone rang. Xiaojiao nearly fell out of her chair at the noise and felt a flash of irritation. Was she really that off her game? She had dealt with scarier things. The phone rang again before something clicked and "Hello? Hello, hello?"

"Hello?"

"Uhh, I wanted to record a message for you... to help you get settled in on your first night. Um, I actually worked in that office before you." Oh, it was a voicemail Vanessa must've forgotten to delete. Xiaojiao shrugged and turned to her phone. "I’m... finishing up my last week now, as a matter of fact, so... I know it can be a bit overwhelming, but I’m here to tell you: there’s nothing to worry about."

"Uh huh, sure."

MonkieMAN: We're doing great! Red wants to remodel the kitchen…

"Uh, you’ll do fine! So... let’s just focus on getting you through your first week. Okay? Uh, let’s see. First, there’s an introductory greeting from the company that I’m supposed to read. Eh, it’s kind of a legal thing, you know."

Huh, wonder why Vanessa didn't give it to her. Xiaojiao shrugged. "Probably out of date or something."

"Um, 'Welcome to Freddy Fazbear's Pizza: a magical place for kids and grown-ups alike, where fantasy and fun come to life. Fazbear Entertainment is not responsible for damage to property or person. Upon discovery of damage or if death has occurred, a missing person’s report will be filed within ninety days or as soon as property and premises have been thoroughly cleaned and bleached and the carpets have been replaced.' " Xiaojiao sat up at that, raising a brow. Hang on. "Blah, blah, blah... Now that might sound bad, I know."

"My dude. Seriously?"

"But there’s really nothing to worry about. Uh, the animatronic characters here do get a bit quirky at night, but do I blame them? No! If I were forced to sing... those same stupid songs for 20 years, and I never got a bath? I’d probably be a bit irritable at night too." Speaking of the animatronics, Xiaojiao grabbed the tablet. It awakened easily, revealing a green 100% bar. On a guess, she pressed the only app. "So remember, these characters hold a special place in the hearts of children, and you need to show them a little respect. Right? Okay. So just be aware:"

She froze.

"The characters do tend to wander a bit. Uhh, they’re left in some kind of "free-roaming mode" at night. Uhh... something about their servos locking up if they get turned off for too long." Oh, that was bullshit. Both the story and the fact that all four of them had turned their heads toward her camera, staring directly at her. "Uhh... they used to be allowed to walk around during the day, too, but then there was the Bite of '87. Yeah... I-It’s amazing that the human body can live without the frontal lobe, you know?"

"Excuse me?!"

Now concerning your safety: the only real risk to you as a night watchman here, if any, is the fact that these characters, uhh, if they happen to see you after hours, probably won’t recognise you as a person. Th-They’ll most likely see you as a metal endoskeleton without its costume on."

"Wait, hang on-"

"Now, since that’s against the rules here at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, they’ll probably try to... forcefully stuff you inside a Freddy Fazbear suit."

"What."

"Um, now that wouldn’t be so bad if the suits themselves weren’t filled with crossbeams, wires, and animatronic devices, especially around the facial area. So you can imagine how having your head forcefully pressed inside one of those could cause a bit of discomfort... and death.

"Just discomfort and death?!"

"Uh, the only parts of you that would likely see the light of day again would be your eyeballs and teeth when they pop out the front of the mask, heh." Xiaojiao felt a whimper come up at the mental image. Not even the Lady Bone Demon had threatened something like that. And it only grew worse when she looked back down. "...Y-Yeah, they don’t tell you these things when you sign up... But hey! First day should be a breeze; I’ll chat with you tomorrow."

Bonnie was gone.

"Uhh, check those cameras, and remember to close the doors only if absolutely necessary. Gotta conserve power. Alright. Goodnight." And the Phone Guy hung up, leaving Xiaojiao gawking at the space where Bonnie should’ve been.

Was this part of her job? Finding Bonnie? She was pretty sure the job description didn't include that and Vanessa hadn't mentioned anything like that. Plus, there was just something about the way that the animatronics stared down the camera that was different from the playfulness that they showed earlier.

It felt... angry. Like, Azure or Macaque levels of anger.

But she also had a missing animatronic.

"Come on, come on... there!" Bonnie was just standing in between the tables, staring at the camera. Xiaojiao raised a brow. He continued to stare. She blinked.

He was moving.

"Crap."

Xiaojiao could hear his footsteps come down the hall- thudding, loud, like the heartbeat in her ears. He was coming and now she understood why Vanessa's brother wanted those doors.

Down went the door.

She couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. There. That should keep him out. Soon enough, she heard footsteps…

Not walk away. Actually, they were coming down the other side.

Xiaojiao glanced down at the tablet and pulled the camera back. Chica was gone. Chica was peering from the doorway. Xiaojiao wasted no time in slamming the door down. For a few minutes, heart pounding, Xiaojiao waited until those heavy footsteps walked away.

They didn't stay away long.

There seemed to be some kind of pattern. Bonnie always came down one side, Chica the other. Bonnie would return to the stage or a broom closet to chill. Chica would head to the kitchen, where she seemed to be unpacking boxes. At least one of them was doing something helpful.

It was a rhythm that was easy to track.

That, Xiaojiao would figure later, was her mistake.

Bonnie was on stage at around 4 AM, talking to Freddy, who never ceased his glare at the camera. Chica was messing around in the kitchen. With that, Xiaojiao allowed herself to relax. Both of them moved slowly. She would have enough time to shut the door-

A clang interrupted her thoughts. At first, she assumed Chica had dropped something. Another clang raised a brow. Another, faster clang made her sit up as it repeated, again and again.

"What in the-"

Foxy sprinted into view, his hook raised and a screech coming out. Xiaojiao screamed back, her entire body going cold with terror.

And, in her state, Xiaojiao could only do one thing.

"SPICY HOT PEPPER BLAST!"

Her sword glowed green, sparking with electricity, and a laser came out. The kickback shoved her out of her chair and against the other door, looking up in time to hear Foxy scream.

"ME ARM!"

That was an issue.

There was a massive burn mark on the wall. There was also one on Foxy's arm, scarring what red fur was left. "FOXY!" Chica called, but Xiaojiao closed the door and the other before the chicken rushed up. She could barely set the tablet down before gripping her knees, taking in deep breaths as she stared at the floor.

Oh, fuck. Fuck, that had been bad. That had been super bad. There was no way Vanessa wouldn't notice.

...did Vanessa know the animatronics would do this?

A different kind of "Oh fuck" came out. If Vanessa knew, she was screwed.

Xiaojiao wasn't sure how long it was before there was a chime. She glanced up as the clock struck six. Quitting time. She took in a deep breath and tried to stand. ‘Stand’ was the keyword. Her legs felt like jelly and she could smell the terror on her. A surge of anger twisted her stomach at the sensations.

“Vanessa better have a good explanation.”

Vanessa was unlocking the front doors by the time Xiaojiao got to the dining hall. Her smile was warm, but Xiaojiao was too angry to consider how pretty it was.

"Hey! How was it? I hope the power didn't die on you. It's weird here, and we're still trying to fix it."

Okay, that was a whole other thing Xiaojiao was not going to get into. She crossed her arms, studying her boss. "You didn't tell me the animatronics moved during the night."

Vanessa raised a brow. "Oh, sorry. I thought I told you. They had this weird thing with free roam that I'm trying to fix, but they mostly move around at night and try to do tasks that need doing."

"You didn't say that they would try to k-"

"Hey, Vanessa," She nearly jumped out of her skin. She hadn't even noticed Freddy move over. His voice was almost fatherly, but his gaze on her was cold. "I think I might need some help setting up tools in Parts and Services. Mind helping me."

"Uh, sure," Vanessa glanced back as Freddy guided her down the hallway. "Thanks again, Xiaojiao! See you tonight!"

Xiaojiao blinked, feeling some of the anger slide off. Well, that answered one question. However, she couldn't help but follow the duo. Sure, she was a bit upset with Vanessa, but she couldn't just leave her alone. Thankfully, there was no screaming as she crept up to the Parts and Services door.

"Come on, you promised me you would handle this better."

"I know, I know...but did you really have to hire that girl? I don't like her."

"Freddy, you don't like anyone. And Xiaojiao's been great for what position she's in, and nobody else helping her. I know that she can do great things here once Mikey comes, I can feel it. Just...give her a chance, okay?'

Xiaojiao cocked her head, showing the scene. Freddy's arm was extended with the top part off, revealing the endo underneath. Vanessa was fiddling with it, her gaze distant and distracted. Freddy stared at her with what almost seemed like fatherly affection.

"Okay, I promise."

Liar.

Xiaojiao turned and walked away, gaze hard. Now, she needed to move and be ready.

She needed to repair a few things.

-_-

The next night, the phone rang again at midnight. Xiaojiao let the message about the animatronics play until it reached the part about them being more active as the night continued. She could already see that, with Foxy tensing up, getting ready to sprint right off the stage.

She slammed the door close. She bit back a jolt at the banging that started up, but focused on closing the other door. She checked her tablet and smirked at the steady 99%. "And Tang called Pigsy weird for hanging onto that spare generator," she chuckled. Now, she would have enough power to stall until they were all there and for her little show.

Xiaojiao pulled up the camera in the hallway in time to watch Foxy trot back to the stage.

Soon enough, Chica headed down her hallway, waiting. Bonnie, unlike last night, moved third to the opposing door. Foxy made another dash to the door. Each time, she heard their footsteps, heard them paw at the door.

Each time, they walked back, looking more and more confused and annoyed. Finally, Freddy marched off the stage, looking incredibly annoyed. All four of them headed to the left door.

Bang.

Bang!

Bang, bang!

Bang, bang, bang!

BANG BANG BANG BANG-

The power held steady, but it was enough. Xiaojiao pressed the button, the door lifted, there was a shriek-

"I'll tell Vanessa."

All four froze mid strike, staring at her. Xiaojiao barely fought back a smirk. Her gamble had worked. Freddy finally spoke, sounding like he was fighting back the urge to strangle her. "You're bluffing."

Xiaojiao simply reached back and pulled up the video of the past hour. The clanging against the door rang out in the office, as the video perfectly showed what had been going on right outside the office.

"Pretty neat, huh? I noticed that some of the cameras didn't work, so I fixed them. I even fixed the computers." She wasn't gonna mention the bugs she placed everywhere, just to be sure. "I mean, Vanessa did say that you guys moved here for a fresh start and no murder. I wonder how she's gonna feel when you guys don't feel the same?"

Freddy gaped at her. Foxy was the one to speak up, rolling down his sleeve to reveal the burn mark. "Aye, and we'll be the ones to tell Ness that you brought in a weapon."

"I'll just tell Ness that she was scared for her life. Rightly so."

All of them jolted at the male voice. Xiaojiao turned in her chair.

There was a guy in the other doorway, holding a cup of coffee. He wore a dark hoodie and sunglasses, but that couldn't distract from the fact that his skin was purple. Xiaojiao was tempted to poke, but she had more questions. Including…

"How the fuck did you get in here?"

There was a gasp of "Swear jar!" but that was less important.

"I picked the lock." He held out a hand. "I'm Mike, by the way."

She took his hand, still not certain on how to react as she shook it. "Okay. Uh, I'm Xiaojiao-"

"The dangerous lunatic who smuggled in a laser sword and attempted to dismantle the animatronics." He sipped his coffee as Xiaojiao gaped. “Yeah, yeah, I’m willing to tell Ness that the animatronics were trying to get rid of a saboteur.”

...was she being blackmailed? Huh, weird. She was usually the one doing the blackmailing.

"Unless?" She had to ask.

"You both behave and leave me the fuck alone." He took another sip of his coffee. "You don't want to mess with me. I've done some fucked up shit, and Ness is used to that." He looked at her directly, cold lavender eyes boring into her soul. "Don't let Ness figure out what kinda fucked up shit you can do."

Oh. Well, that sealed it.

Before she could do anything, the clock chimed. "Well," Mike said pleasantly. "Ness should be here...about now." Of he trotted down the hallway, leaving Xiaojiao and the animatronics to glance at each other before Xiaojiao followed him down. She could hear the footfalls of the animatronics, but she didn't look back.

"Oh, Mikey! I thought you weren't gonna be here until next week!"

"Yeah, well, stuff concluded faster than expected..."

"Why do you smell like smoke?"

As a beaming Vanessa hugged her brother, Xiaojiao sighed. "I don't like him."

"Neither do we, but he's a good worker, and he's the only blood family Ness has left," Freddy groused.

The two glanced at each other. Now, Xiaojiao nearly had enough with the animatronics. But she had agreed with Mike that she would stay on. So…

"I have some pranking ideas." She held out a hand. "Truce?"

"Ooh!" Foxy cooed, elbowing to hover next to her. "Mind sharing with ole Foxy, lass?"

"I'm gonna pretend this isn't happening," Freddy said, turning and walking away. "Chica, come on. I want plausible deniability." 

Xiaojiao felt her smile grow. Okay, so this wasn’t the best job in the world. But it was stable and, with her family forged in ice and Samadhi fire, she would make it work.

[captainsophiestark]

The Dread Pirate Roberts

Westley x Reader

Masterlist - Join My Taglist!

Written for my Year of Olympians and part of a bigger challenge being run by @yearofcreation2023​ which features a ton of awesome creators and runs all year! Go check it out if you haven’t already!

Also, this fic wasn’t a request, but I’m dedicating it to @auroracalisto​ who is my fellow Princess Bride fangirl searching desperately for fic with me

Fandom: The Princess Bride

Prompt: Poseidon; Sea, Water, Storms

Summary: Prince Humperdinck has set his sights on Y/N to marry, but she can't simply forget the love of her life, Westley, and give that up for a life with the prince. So, she decides to run, taking a boat and setting sail for new horizons like her farm boy did so long ago.

Word Count: 3,192

Category: Angst and fluff

Putting work into an AI program without permission is illegal. You do not have my permission. Do not do it.

I glanced back over my shoulder one last time as I undid the last of the lines holding my boat to the dock. In the dead of night, I couldn't see much, but in the far distance the lights of the capital city of Florin stared back at me. This would likely be the last time I saw this place.

A few weeks ago, I'd been in town to do some shopping for my family, taking a bit of a rare adventure away from our farm. While I'd been walking through the market, a procession had ridden through on horseback. Among the group of young soldiers and officials was none other than Prince Humperdinck, apparently in the city to visit his subjects before going back behind the walls of his massive palace. By some strange stroke of luck, he'd seen me, and apparently decided I was someone he wanted to get to know.

We'd spent the rest of the day walking around the market, surrounded by his guards, talking and taking in the day. At first, I hadn't minded. What other opportunity would I get to speak with a prince, after all? I told him of the troubles I faced in the countryside, and about things I thought might help or fix them. He listened closely, and I thought I might actually be making a difference. He even invited me to return to the capital city and the palace in a few days' time to continue our conversations. Of course I'd said yes, excited that the prince had listened to me and wanted to hear more of what I had to say.

And then, when I arrived at the castle, he proposed to me. To make matters worse, it was clear from the minute I set foot in that place his proposal came out of a place of attraction to me physically, and absolutely nothing else.

I immediately knew I wanted nothing to do with him, especially not in that way. I'd already met the love of my life, and although I'd lost him when he went off to sea and left my family farm, my love for him had never faded. Perhaps, someday, I'd be willing to love someone else, but that day was not today, and no matter what I knew it wouldn't be love for Prince Humperdinck. However, there was no saying no to the Crown Prince. So, to escape the fate of the loveless life I surely faced if I agreed to marry him, I'd decided to leave this land once and for all.

I'd had very little time to make plans or preparations, since my window to escape Humperdinck was incredibly small. I'd managed to pull together some provisions and to secure a small boat, that hopefully I'd be able to sail on my own. I was no expert sailor, but I could get by well enough to leave the country. I'd had no time to tell my family or anyone else I cared about, but eventually, I'd decided that might be for the best. This way, they'd have deniability when people eventually came asking about where I'd gone or why I'd left.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself, then chucked the final tether ashore and away from me. I ran around, adjusting the rigging and sails on my small boat as I drifted out of the harbor. There was a light wind tonight, perfect for helping me make my escape. The gods of the sea were watching out for me, or else my darling Westley, the love I'd lost to the sea, now acting as my guardian angel.

It was fitting, I supposed, that I'd eventually follow him out here. I hoped to find a new place to call home, somewhere no one knew me or my connections to the Prince of Florin, but nothing was guaranteed. This may well be the place I perished, to finally join Westley after he lost his life to the Dread Pirate Roberts.

I sat up all night, manning the lines and making sure my sails were always adjusted to catch the winds. I made good progress, leaving Florin in my wake, and eventually got comfortable enough that I could sleep for short periods of time in between making sure everything went smoothly. I'd actually managed to gather a decent amount of provisions, and I started to feel more hopeful about my prospects on this ship to find a new land.

At least, until a storm hit.

I woke up just after twilight on the third night since I'd left, being almost rocked out of my seat by the waves tossing my boat about. I shook my head, trying to clear it of the remaining sleep fog as the waves continued to grow around me. I swore as I looked to the horizon, only to find darker clouds and bigger waves. I was headed straight into the center of what appeared to be a very big storm.

I ran to the rigging, trying to change course. I wrestled the ship into a sharp right turn, thinking I could run along the edge of the storm until, hopefully, I past it. I'd never be able to outrun it by going back the way I came, and the odds of me finding the eye of the storm before I capsized were fairly low. I had no other way out.

I wrestled the rigging until my arms burned, and then found a way to keep going. Despite my best efforts, however, the storm only got worse around me. I clung to the ship, praying for a miracle or some way out of this, and then suddenly, I was underwater.

A massive wave must've finally managed to swamp my boat. I floated for a moment, letting my natural buoyancy show me which way was up so I didn't accidently swim further from the surface before I at last made my push upwards. I gasped once my head broke the surface, searching frantically for something to help keep me afloat.

I found a piece of my now-smashed ship not too far from me and swam towards it wildly, clinging onto it for dear life once I reached it. I frantically tried to come up with an idea to save myself, but I kept drawing a blank.

I was going to die here, tossed among the waves, resigned to a similar fate as my dear Westley. There was a certain poetry to that, I supposed, even as I fought back tears at the hopeless feeling now welling in my stomach.

Then, out of a break in the waves, I saw the mast of a ship coming closer to me. My heart leapt, and I started shouting and waving, doing my best to catch its attention. It was a far bigger ship than mine had been, meaning it hadn't lost its struggle with the massive waves around us. Maybe I had a hope of making it out of this after all.

That hope immediately died when I caught sight of the flag flying over the mast as the ship got closer to me and the wind changed. They were flying the Jolly Roger.

I stopped waving, debating mentally whether it was better to stay in the water or be caught by pirates, but apparently a decision had been made for me. They'd already seen me, and I could hear shouting and see people pointing to me as the ship came even closer. I braced myself, trying to be as ready as possible for whatever this new challenge brought. I had been the one who'd decided to run, after all, and I knew in my heart I didn't regret that decision one bit, no matter what this new hell might bring me.

Before I knew it, I'd been fished out of the water and hauled on deck. I quickly backed away from the men who'd gotten me on board, and although most of them didn't pay me any attention in the chaos of trying to keep the boat afloat, two followed me as my back came up against the main mast, halting me in my tracks.

The men stared at me as they stalked closer, and every muscle in my body went into fight or flight mode. The man a bit further back from me seemed to be taking cues from the other man, his eyes darting between me and who I assumed must be the leader. The leader, the one closest to me, was dressed in all black with a mask on his face, his ice blue eyes tracking my every movement. My heart stopped dead in my chest. I'd never seen him before, but I'd heard enough legends and stories to know beyond a shadow of a doubt who this man was.

Before me stood the Dread Pirate Roberts.

A fury like none I'd ever felt raged through me, replacing the panic and fear that came before. This man was responsible for the death of my Westley. I glared at him, putting the full force of my hate into the look, then glanced around for a sword or something else to attack him with. I'd most likely die on this ship anyway, so I might as well go out attempting to get some justice for my lost love.

"You! What were you doing out in this storm?" yelled the pirate over the waves. I glared back at him and ignored his question.

He waited a few long moments for my response, then huffed in irritation. He looked around at his crew and the storm still raging on all sides, then back at his first mate.

"Keep us from sinking! I'll be back!" he roared at the man behind him before turning back to me. The man rushed off to fulfill his orders, leaving me more or less alone with Westley's murderer.

Before I could even attempt to make a move for revenge, the pirate surged forward and grabbed me by the arm. His grip was like iron, and although I fought against him, I couldn't break away. He dragged me across the deck of the ship with surprising strength, up the stairs to the ship's wheel where a navigator wrestled against the wind and waves, and then through a door to what I assumed must be his private quarters. He shoved me into a chair as soon as we were through the door, slamming it behind us before turning back to me.

I moved to stand from the chair, but before I could, he had his sword at my throat. I glowered up at him as he spoke again, a deadly calm to his voice.

"Now, I'll ask you again–and I expect an answer this time. What were you doing out in that storm?"

I clenched and unclenched my fists, debating whether it would be worth it to answer or if I should just let him slit my throat. After a moment's hesitation, however, I decided I didn't really want to die if I could avoid it, especially not before I found some way to get even the slightest justice for Westley.

"I was escaping the hell of being married to a man I don't love, a monster second only to yourself," I hissed. The pirate stared back at me for a few moments, seemingly considering my words, then spoke.

"Explain."

I took a deep breath in and let it out slowly, trying to get my temper under some kind of control.

"I caught the eye of Prince Humperdinck," I finally managed. "I had no desire to marry him, but he's not a prince who takes well to the word 'no'. Running was my only option, so I secured a boat and set sail as soon as possible."

"On your own?"

I nodded once, not bothering with a verbal answer.

"And being a princess was such a horrifying fate that you risked death in its stead?"

I sneered. "Being wed to someone I don't love after knowing what true love feels like is a fate worse than death, yes. And thanks to you I will never have my happy ending with my love, for he died at your sword while he was out attempting to gain enough fortunes for us to finally marry."

"...And what was this man's name?"

"Westley," I replied without hesitation. Up until now I'd been staring back at the Dread Pirate in rage, but my tone softened and my focus shifted to the distance as I got lost in memories of my beloved farm boy. "He was good and kind, something you'd know nothing about. He loved me, and despite the simple life we led together, we were happy. We could've lived long, wonderful lives together, but now that will never happen. So threaten me with your sword and whatever else you want. Nothing you say or do will ever match what I've already had to endure."

I faced the pirate again as I delivered the end of my speech, only to find him staring back at me with slightly wide eyes. When I'd finished speaking, he stared at me for a moment longer, before finally dropping his sword to his side. Another beat, and then he'd dropped to his knees before me, staring up at me like I was the sun. I leaned back a bit, confused, until he tore off the black mask covering so much of his face and looked up at me again.

Westley. Somehow, by some miracle, I was staring into the face of Westley, the love of my life.

"I... How... What kind of trick is this?" I demanded, trying to get my head straight. Had I been drugged somehow?

"No trick, my love," he replied, staring at me dreamily. He scooted a bit closer to me, but didn't touch me, instead letting me work through my thoughts.

"Tell me what's going on," I demanded, sounding a bit more desperate than I wanted to.

"As you wish."

He opened his mouth to continue speaking, but I didn't bother listening. That was enough to satisfy any lingering doubts I had. I didn't understand it, but I could also say with complete certainty that this was, in fact, my Westley.

I slid out of my seat, joining him on the floor on my knees. We were face to face, and he smiled softly at me, but I didn't give him a chance to do much more before I pulled him into a deep, passionate kiss.

After a few seconds of shock, he kissed me back, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me tighter to him. I ran my hands through his hair, over his arms, across his shoulders–anywhere I could reach. I'd gone years without Westley, my darling farm boy, the love of my life, and I needed every bit of confirmation I could get that he was here, and this was real.

We stayed like that for long minutes, only pausing our kiss once or twice to come up for air. When we finally broke apart, I laid my head on his shoulder, holding him tight to me as he likewise held onto me, a few tears finally starting to fall.

"Westley..." I breathed, relief flooding through my system as I felt his strong arms around me and heard the steady beat of his heart. "How is this possible?"

"When the Dread Pirate Roberts raided my ship, he didn't kill me," Westley breathed, speaking softly against my ear as he ran his hands up and down my back. "I begged him for my life, and I told him about you. My love, who I needed to return to. I told him I couldn't die because I couldn't leave you.

"He ended up sparing me that day. He kept me prisoner, and told me each day he'd most likely kill me in the morning. Over the course of time, he trained me, and I learned everything to do with being the Dread Pirate Roberts. Eventually, he told me his secret. He was not the Dread Pirate Roberts. He was a man called Ryan, who had inherited the position from someone else who was not the Dread Pirate Roberts. The title carries more weight than anything else, and so the name has been passed down every few years, the previous Dread Pirate Roberts retiring with their fortune after choosing and training their successor. He'd chosen me to be his, and a few days after he told me as much, we docked at a small island port. We hired a completely new crew, and then he left. I've been the Dread Pirate Roberts ever since."

"I... I can hardly believe it."

"Imagine how I felt when I found you bobbing in the water just as I was finally on my way back to you," he chuckled. I huffed a laugh with him, then at last pulled back to look him in the eyes again.

"So... what now? What do we do next?"

"Well, we can't stay on the ship. It's not the best place to start a life together, to say nothing of the questions it would raise that I left you alive."

"Of course."

"And you can't return to Florin or, truly, any country near it, lest the 'prince' find you and throw a wrench into our newfound happiness."

"Agreed."

"Then that really only leaves one option, doesn't it?"

"And what might that be?" I asked, smiling and leaning into Westley as he stared at me, a playful smile tugging at his lips.

"To find a completely new place and start over, of course. I've already picked my successor–I was planning to promote him once I reached the shores of Florin, but now I'll wait until we find our new home."

"My love, I can't think of a plan I'd more like to initiate," I said, beaming happily back at him. He leaned down and kissed me again, then pulled away to stare at me with love in his eyes.

"So, where shall we go?"

"I'd say you know the lands far from Florin's reach far better than I. You choose. But... pick someplace with green fields, and perhaps a gorgeous lake we can swim in on hot days. With land enough for us and any future children to roam and have adventures, and room for a home for us to curl up in on cold winter nights."

"Well, that's not much to ask for," he teased, leaning into me a bit. "Anything else you'd like to add to the list, my love?"

"Yes. I want our new home to be some place we can live happily together, without anything to ever separate us again so long as we both shall live. I want it to be a place where we can be by each other's sides for the rest of time, where we finally get our happy ever after."

He smiled at me warmly, leaning down to place a soft kiss on my lips before pulling back just enough to look me in the eyes.

"As you wish."

[fawnandshadows]

How You Get The Girl

Chapter 20

Masterlist

AO3

Warnings: None

The hot sun was blaring down on Elain’s shoulders as they walked the empty streets of the city. Her fingers twitched at her sides because they longed to connect with Azriel’s, so she ended up wrapping them along the strap of her purse to suppress her impulses. 

Mor was walking in front of her, following security protocol, and Azriel was trailing behind Elain. Their cover was that Azriel came along simply for extra security for her today, not that anyone had asked, but the if of someone asking was a real possibility.  

“Are we almost there?” Elain asked, eagerly. They had been walking for almost twenty minutes now, entering a place of the city that Elain had never seen before. A quieter part that Elain suspected only people who were born and raised here knew about. 

“Yes.” Azriel said from behind her. 

He couldn’t see the smile on her face as she heard his voice. 

“I’m excited.” Elain said, as if she was talking to him face to face. She nervously adjusted her bucket hat on her head. 

“Me too.” Azriel said softly, and Elain fought the urge to look over her shoulder at him, but she didn’t bother to stifle the smile spreading across her face. 

Mor’s tall build came to a stop, the sun making her blonde curls look exceptionally light, and grinned broadly at them as she turned around. Her hands placed on her hips. 

“Do you want to take the lead from here?” Mor asked, looking over Elain’s shoulder to Azriel. 

Even though he didn’t say anything, Elain knew he nodded in response. 

He silently moved behind her, stealthily and confidently clasping their hands as he walked by Elain, tugging her along so that they walked side by side. 

They rounded the corner with Mor taking up the rear, and Elain finally saw a little hole in the wall shop. One that she would have continued to walk by if Azriel wasn’t leading her to it. Despite the green trim that stood out from the brick building, it blended in with its surroundings. 

Azriel pushed the door open and the delicate, silvery sound of a bell alerted the owner to their presence. 

“Hello!” A sweet sounding voice called out, and Elain couldn’t help herself from smiling in response. Maybe it was the way that Azriel still held her hand, or maybe it was the smell of coffee that filled in the air, or maybe it was simply the knowledge of having a second date with Azriel. 

But Elain was still smiling when the shop owner came out of what Elain assumed to be the kitchen. 

Dark, dark hair streaked with silver was piled on top of her head in cascading curls. It was impressive that she had managed to get all of her hair pulled into a bun like that from the sheer quantity of it. And her bright green eyes were alight with openness as she looked at them. 

The owner continued their way, a flour covered black apron tied around her waist, and she reached out to Azriel with open arms. 

Azriel immediately dropped Elain’s hand to embrace her. 

“Ma,” Azriel said fondly, “There’s someone I want you to meet.” 

Elain’s heart thundered in her chest. 

Azriel’s. Mother. 

She nervously ran her palms over the length of her dress. 

Azriel pulled away, looking as happy as Elain had ever seen him, he kept one arm over his mother’s shoulders and used his free hand to gesture to Elain. 

“This is Elain Archeron, my girlfriend.”  Azriel said proudly. 

Elain felt her throat constrict a bit, but she managed to lift her hand up enough to give a small wave. 

“Good Morning, Ma’am.” Elain said, her throat parched. 

“Ma’am?” Azriel’s mom waved her off. “Please call me Paloma.” 

She took a step away from her son and offered Elain a hug. 

Elain willed herself to move forward and accept her offering. 

“It’s lovely to meet you,” Paloma said warmly, gently rubbing Elain’s back. “I’ve heard so much about you?”

“Oh?” Elain jolted a bit, and they both ended up pulling away. Her brows knitted together as she looked at Azriel. “You have?” 

“Not from my son, of course,” Paloma waved her hand in the air dismissively. “The first time I hear from him in three months and he calls me at the crack of dawn to let me know he’ll be stopping by,” She rolled her green eyes affectionately. “But I read about you all the time in the paper, I thought for sure you were going to be married to that Graysen by the end of the year,” Elain’s heart sank like a deflated balloon. “I was so shocked when you two were broken up, and then of course they ran that picture of you and my Azriel in the paper and I knew I was looking at my future daughter-in-law.”

“Ma.” Azriel strained from behind her, and Elain thought she saw a hint of blush dusting his cheek. 

Paloma reached forward and squeezed Elain’s hands with a friendly wink. 

“You’re even more beautiful in person.” Paloma whispered conspiratorially. She pulled back and greeted Mor enthusiastically. 

Elain took a step closer to Azriel, clasping her hands behind her back and tilting her chin up at him. 

“Your mother?” Elain asked silently, mouthing the words. 

Azriel grinned sheepishly at her and placed his hands on her shoulders. 

“Surprise.” Azriel whispered, leaning down 

“You could have prepared me,” Elain whispered, flushing. “I would have made her cookies, or brought flowers for her, or, or, I could have done something for her.”

“Hey,” Azriel said calmly, squeezing her shoulders. “We have plenty of baked goods here, and you walking around the city holding a large bouquet would have drawn more attention than necessary,” Azriel lifted one hand to tilt her hat back. “Elain, just so you know, you don’t have to do anything to get people to like you.”

Elain felt her shoulders slump. 

“I just,” Elain took a deep breath. “I really want her to like me. You’re important to me,” Her voice softened. “And I want your mom to be happy we’re together.” 

“She will,” Azriel said gently. “You’re important to me, and you know how I said I never had a girlfriend? Well, you’re also the first girl I ever introduced my ma to.”

Elain’s heart fluttered. 

“Your mom is nicer than mine.” Elain said, smiling sadly while Paloma and Mor still chatted eagerly behind them. 

“Well, your dad is nicer than mine.”

Elain’s lips downturned at his words even though they were said in jest. She tilted her head and placed a small kiss on the back of his hands, over his scars. 

“I’m happy your dad’s in jail.” Elain said, picking up his other hand and placing it against her lips. 

Azriel opened his mouth to respond, but Paloma’s warm voice cut through the air instead. 

“Now, since I had an early wake up call,” Elain turned, still holding onto Azriel’s hand. Paloma playfully narrowed her eyes at her son. “I was able to prepare a special lunch for all of us, and he told me your favorite, dear,” Paloma said, placing a gentle hand against Elain’s arm as she walked past. “And I set up a special place to eat outside. Az please lock up and then meet me out back in about,” She looked at her wrist without a watch. “Three minutes.” 

tagging: @123moiaussi @fuckmelifesucks @thefangirlofhp @sakurakittypeach @nikethestatue @tswaney17 @impossiblescissorspeachpaper @feyredarlinq @duskwhisperer @nyxreads @rinadragomir @secretpuppyflower @captainbrucebanner @ultadverb @irisesforelain @shedoessoshedoes  @magnolia-blossom87 @sheenabeene @nivem565  @casuallivi @rhysiedarling @elain99-blog @athena-85 @swankii-art-teacher @reverie-tales @jujugirlfrombookstore @shadowflorecita @shy-violet-soul @thisloveseternal

[catonatrain]

lets build some memories today and tomorrow too

momoi & midorima | rated g | word count: 1776 | where momoi and midorima go on a shopping trip together

for @mason-ajar for the 2024 @knbexchange !! prompt: character a and character b pick out outfits for eachother

i was super excited to see that we've been paired up for the exchange !! i haven't been able to write in a long while, but seeing your prompts gave me the inspiration needed to to write about a friendship that is just so important... and so here they are!!

read on ao3!!

Momoi was lying on her bed, mindlessly reading a sports magazine until her phone rang. It was too early in the morning for Aomine to be calling her. Maybe it was Kise? 

“Hello?” She held her phone in between her head and shoulders.

“Momoi.” To her surprise, it was Midorima. “There is something I would like to talk to you about.”

“Midorin!” Momoi practically sang. She immediately sat up, abandoning the magazine. “You rarely call first! What is it? Oh, let me guess! Do you need a lucky item? Or are you having boy troubles?”

“No, I am not having, as you say, ‘boy troubles.’” There was a pause. Momoi figured it was Midorima pushing his glasses up. “I also have acquired my lucky item for the day. I need your assistance. Could you accompany me on a shopping trip?”

Momoi felt her already wide smile go even wider. “Of course, I’ll go with you!” She loved being invited to things– be it eating lunches at Maji Burger or coordinating streetball lessons for the local kids. Usually, she was the one doing the coordinating– which, for the record, wasn’t something she minded! But it was nice having the invitation go the other way every once in a while. Especially from Midorima! 

People may think he was someone who wanted to be uninvolved, but it was not true! When luck permitted, he always came to different events like the team’s after practice ice cream trips. Sometimes he needed just a bit of nudging, nowadays in the form of Takao, but regardless, he didn’t often initiate events with her. She’d noticed that lucky item shopping is usually his excuse to hang out with others, but he already got his lucky item of the day. 

She wondered if anyone else was coming. Takao or Kise maybe? She couldn’t help but ask. “Are we going with anyone else? Takao-kun? Or Ki-chan?”

“No, it would just be the two of us, if that would be alright with you.” There was a pause. “I understand that it may be… unusual for it to be just us, but you were the friend that I deemed would be able to help me best.”

“Aww Midorin, that’s so sweet of you!” She could imagine him blushing at the compliment. “Send me the details over email, and I’ll be there in an hour!”

Momoi saw Midorima standing on the outside of the clothing store. He wore a simple dark blue t-shirt and beige pants. He tightly held onto a giant penguin plush. When his eyes met with Momoi’s, his grip loosened. 

She ran up to him, stopped right before him, and started bouncing on her feet. “So? What’s the occasion? What are we shopping for?”

“I… would like your help in choosing an outfit.” He turned his head to avoid eye contact. Momoi knew what that meant.

“So you were having boy troubles!” After everything that’s happened in the past few months, it’s been getting easier and easier to read Midorima and this was no exception. She will admit, however, that she hadn’t quite figured out who’d captured Midorima’s affection. Most people would say it was Takao who held the title as “The Boy Midorima Likes,” but Momoi had a theory she had been brewing up. It was still a work in progress, but her “Kagami Taiga: The Boy Who Has Captured Everyone’s Heart” thesis had a lot of evidence. Momoi would simply have to take into account both possibilities today.

“That would… that would imply that I am struggling, which I assure you is not the case,” Midorima’s face flushed and his voice was louder than usual. Momoi couldn’t help but laugh.

“But you’re not denying that this is a boy-related problem!” She winked. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about Midorin! I understand completely! Whenever I’m with the person I like, I always want to look my best. I won’t ask who it is, but I’ll give it my all in helping you out!”

“I… appreciate it…” 

“You’ll definitely capture his heart, Midorin!” She began urging him into the clothes store. “Let’s go!”

“I think this outfit will be the one, Midorin!” Momoi held up a green sweater with an argyle pattern. “It’ll go great with your eyes!”

Midorima took the sweater to examine it. 

“Besides the color being the same as my eyes, is there anything else to take note of?”

Momoi giggled. Midorima’s questions reminded her of a time in middle school where Midorima asked about her notes and note taking strategies. He was always serious in his studies, and this was no exception. “You want to pick clothes that fit well and that you’re comfortable wearing! Make sure that colors and patterns don’t clash. Like two very bright colors! It can work, but I’m not too sure if that’s what you want to go with.” 

Throughout her speech, she could see Midorima nodding and paying very close attention to her words. “So for the pants, should I go with one of the darker ones?” 

“Yes! Let me choose…” Momoi looked around, surveying each pair of pants until she found one she thought to be suitable. “I think those black pants should work! Check to see if they fit!”

“Thank you.” He gently placed his giant penguin plush down and grabbed the pair from Momoi. “I truly do appreciate the time you’ve taken out of your day to help me with this.” The tips of his ears were red. She found it quite cute, but chose not to comment.

“Of course, Midorin!” Momoi beamed at him. “I’m honored you asked me to help you out with this! I’ll be cheering you on!”

His blush spread to his face. He managed to mutter a thank you before shuffling off to try on the outfit. She sat down to wait for Midorima. Would this be a one time thing? While it was the first time that it’s been just the two of them, Momoi found that she quite enjoyed the experience. With just the two of them, the energy wasn’t as face paced, which Momoi appreciated. Sometimes, she needed the break from the constant running around of her daily life. And not only that, but Midorima had definitely changed. It was easier to understand him now. 

When Midorima walked out, she saw some people began to sneak glances at her friend. Unfortunately for the interested party, his heart had been taken by someone else. She bounced on over and eye’d her friend at all sorts of angles. Midorima stiffened at the attention, not knowing what to do.

Momoi laughed. “It’s fine Midorin! You look great!” She gave him a thumbs up. 

At that, Midorima sighed, finally letting the tension escape. “That endeavor was just as difficult as I imagined it to be.” He pushed his glasses up. “Thank you Momoi for making this trip much easier. Your knowledge was crucial and your guidance saved me a lot of frustration. Is there any way to repay you?”

Momoi thought about it and couldn’t think of anything she needed at the moment. Just spending time with a friend was already a gift in itself. But she knew that he wouldn’t take that as an answer. She placed a finger on her chin as she thought of her options. 

“I want you to pick an outfit for me!”

“I beg your pardon?” Momoi could see the gears running in Midorima’s head. “Do you not already have suitable clothes?”

“I want to test what you’ve learned! Let’s see if you can make an outfit for me.”

“I’m not sure if–”

“C’mon Midorin! I know you can do it! You’re not one to back away from a challenge are you?” With that, Momoi knew she won. 

“Give me ten minutes.” Midorima rushed towards the center of the score, scanning all around to find an outfit that would look well on her. She couldn’t help but laugh at the fact that his penguin plush was tucked between Midorima’s arms. 

“A brown plaid skirt, a white blouse without any patterns, and a light brown sweater that clashes with neither of these colors.” Midorima used his penguin to hold onto the clothes, as its flippers served the clothes like how there’s a waiter serving food at a restaurant. “Is this a suitable outfit?”

“There’s only one way to find out!” It was her turn to try on something new. She came out with a little twirl, “Well, Midorin? I have my thoughts, but let’s check your sense of fashion. What do you think?”

Midorima wasted no time. “For the skirt and jacket, I was hesitant at first since you chose a sweater that specifically matched the colors of my eyes, but the neutral colors appear to coordinate well. I also ensured that the blouse had no patterns. I do believe that it fits the criteria.”

She saw a slight hint of a smile. Was he proud? She hoped so, as she truly did love the outfit that Midorima chose. “But do you think I look cute? Do you think I can capture the hearts of anyone I set my eyes on?”

“You… you asked me for my thoughts and I believe I answered appropriately. Was I incorrect in this assessment?”

“I’m just messing with you Midorin!” She saw the hint of exasperation on Midorima’s face and so she finally relented. “It’s such a cute outfit! I’m impressed!”

“Hmph.” He turned away and began walking towards the cash register. “In that case, let’s go.”

Momoi followed along happily.

Outside of the store, Midorima said, “Thank you again. I found myself enjoying our time together.” There was a pause as he ruminated on what to say next. “I hope we can do this again. I’ve been told it would be beneficial to be the one to reach out more, so I will try to do just that.”

Momoi felt a tinge of tears begin to form, but she willed them away. To think only a year ago, she was wishing for a time where everyone could smile together again. So much had changed, and she hoped  that it would continue to do so. 

“And thank you Midorin,” She gave her friend a very wide smile. “Let’s definitely do this again. But before you leave, you definitely have to tell me about who you like! Come on! Tell me! Tell me!”

Midorima’s cheeks reddened as he tried to back away, but he realized fairly quickly that this was a battle he would not win. “Fine. But let’s do it somewhere else.”

“Of course, Midorin,” she said as she walked with her friend towards their next destination.

notes:

i couldn't decide if i wanted to have hints of midotaka or hints of midokaga bc i like both ships a lot! i ended up just keeping it vague on both ends, so YOU, the reader, can decide who The Boy Midorima Likes is :)

outfits are based on some merchandise art and official art! midorima's outfit is this:

momoi's outfit is this:

[vaval3ntin]

Prompt : You were sure your girlfriend knew your secret identity, so you were happy to flirt with her both in and out of costume. But today she confessed to cheating on you. With you.

!! All Might X (Gender Neutral) Civilian Reader !!

All might, known to one of the top heroes in all of Japan. With his heroic stature along with his dashing smile he brought countless villains to justice. Before he met you, he never thought of even considering a relationship with anyone. To be fair, he never had time for those kinds of things. So meeting you changed his mind after he bumped into you while he was shopping at the grocery store. He couldn’t help but notice the warm feeling he had when you smiled at him. Of course people have done this many times but yours felt different. You guys started meeting up more than once after that as you just happen to run into each other while he was out on patrol as small might. Everything changed overtime, you made feel less stressed about everything by simply giving a home he could come back to everyday without worrying so much.

After a while you both realized your feelings for each other you decided to wait until he said anything as you were to nervous to even say anything about it, Toshinori confessed first surprisingly. It was actually cheesy, he thought it was best to confess on Valentine’s Day showing up at your doorstep with a bouquet of flowers. During these times he just simply kept his smaller form as he never showed his hero form due to the possibility of danger. Imagine he showed at your home one day with his hero form, villains could see him then target you to get to him. Many villains were infatuated on ending him as he always seemed to be there for whatever crime they were committing at the time. It was a risk he wasn’t willing to take. Seriously, if you got hurt or even worse than that because of him he wouldn’t be able to handle it. The thought was quite painful to him. As many times as he went out he knew he couldn’t really hide it anymore surely you would’ve gotten suspicious by now. He would always come up with bruises on him blaming it on the fact he was just a clumsy guy after all. So flirting with you whenever he saw didn’t seem much of an issue to him. Every time he would you’d go as red as a tomato, he found it amusing. Though, he wasn’t the best at it he just wanted to see you in a good mood.

One day, to his surprise he got a sinking feeling in chest as you told told you needed to talk to him about something. He gave a nod ready to hear the worst but to his surprise you said you had been cheating on him with All Might, the number one.. aka himself. Suddenly, he let out a small chuckle leaving you confused as he finally straight told you that was him. You blushed in embarrassment as well as slight excitement knowing you’re dating the number hero himself. It He had been your favorite growing up, being a fan before he was even at the top of leader board. Knowing him, he would never let this down knowing how adorable you are when you’re like this in his words.

Author’s Note : This might be updated further in the future as I’m always going back to fix things when I write something but I hope you enjoy anyways as this is my first ever fanfic published here!! Anyways, hope you have a wonderful day dear reader. Requests are currently open, nsfw is allowed before anymore asks!

Credits : Headers - cafekitsune //

[whenihaveyouromione]

When I Have You - Chapter 96

Read on Fanfiction.net or ao3.

---

Chapter 96

Ever since he’d started working at the Ministry, Ron realised that he’d rarely left it during the day. Most of his days were spent underground, in an office, walking the corridors or in the lunch room in the hope of catching his wife at the same time. 

But today, he’d escaped aboveground. He had an hour and for a while, he simply wandered Muggle London. Once upon a time ago, he would have felt completely lost and bewildered to be in an environment he was very much not used to. Over the years, though, he’d grown accustomed to how it all worked. He understood money, how appliances functioned, and simply how to converse with Muggles without bringing magic into the conversation. Now, he could walk past a shop and not wonder what a ‘computer’ was, because he knew and could envision it in his head. 

He stopped in a small cafe and ordered food, paying for it with only a moment’s hesitation on how much he needed to give over to the worker. He then smiled at the woman taking his money, thanked her and left with his food. 

It was a fairly simple life, he realised. At least for Ron.

For the second half an hour of his break, he returned to the most familiar part of London — Diagon Alley. There, he was amongst people like him and he was free to carry his wand around and he didn’t receive odd looks when he walked past in robes. 

Here was a place that he’d grown up in, visited with his family to either buy his older siblings’ school supplies and wishing it was him, or going with his mother when everyone else was at school, he and Ginny tagging along and staring into the window of Quality Quidditch Supplies. 

He had the best of both worlds now, and maybe, if things didn’t work out in the wizarding world, he could find a job in the Muggle one. He wondered if Hermione would agree to that.

That was an option, though not one he really wanted. 

He only had about twenty minutes left when he stopped out the front of his brother’s shop. As usual, it was filled with colour and noise and when he peered through the window he saw that it was filled with small children and their parents.

He made a note that he’d have to take Rosie here when she was a bit older and then entered. George was at the back, trying to serve a never-ending line of paying customers, all the while keeping his eye on the others, probably making sure they didn’t run off with anything.

Ron had always admired George’s positivity. Growing up, Fred and George had always been the ones to make others laugh. But right now, he looked flat-out stressed. He seemed to be doing the job of three people.

“Alright there, George?” he asked, coming to the counter.

George barely glanced at him, accepting a handful of Galleons from a woman with two young children bouncing on their toes with their new toys. 

“I’m more busy than I’ve ever been and it’s not even the summer holidays!” George eventually said.

“Where’s Verity?” Ron asked. 

George waved a hand vaguely in the direction of the shelves. “Over there, trying to be in more than one place at the same time. I’m going to miss her when she goes, that’s for sure.”

Ron peered through the crowd, but couldn’t spot the woman that had been in the shop virtually from its opening. He’d only met her a handful of times, talked to her even less, but she did seem on top of everything, and George seemed to really like her and appreciate her working for him.

“What brings you here?” George then said, finally looking at Ron in a lull moment before the next group stepped to the counter. “Aren’t you working?”

“Lunch,” Ron said. “But I do have to be back in a moment. Just thought I’d drop in and say hi. I didn’t realise you’d be so busy.”

George snorted. “Been like this for a while now. That’s four Galleons.” He held out a hand to a boy and girl, both about ten, to take their money. “Hence why I want to open up in Hogsmeade. Relieve some of the pressure.”

“It’s good for business, though, isn’t it?” Ron said. “I mean…”

“If I had the staff to manage it properly.”

“You haven’t found anyone else?” Ron asked. 

“Nobody I trust to run a whole damn shop on their own. I’ve got a few workers in mind to assist, but I really need someone at Hogsmeade to oversee things.”

Ron once again looked around the shop. It had more and more products each time he visited. George was a genius. He couldn’t quite grasp how his brother could continue coming up with ideas and putting them out to have them successfully sold. He was the most successful business in Diagon Alley — no one could deny that. 

“Then, ever since I put out my Homework-Helping-Cheat-Free range, the owl orders for Hogwarts have picked up by eighty percent. I can barely produce them in time. Some students are getting them a whole month after they order it. What’s the point by then? Exams are over.”

“You can only do so much,” Ron reasoned. “You need —”

“Help,” George said. “Yeah.”

Ron fell silent. He only had a few minutes before he had to get back to the Ministry, though seeing how stressed his brother was made him want to stay. Perhaps he could take money from people. He didn’t know much about the products, but he could take money. 

“Listen, mate, I’m really busy, I’d love to chat, but I just can’t.”

“Yeah, sorry,” Ron said. “I’ve got to get back to work anyway.” He paused, thinking for a moment. “Hey, how do you feel about me stopping by at five today? As you close?”

“I don’t have a problem,” George said, “but Hermione might. Isn’t she at home today with a screaming baby?”

“It’ll be quick,” Ron said. “Just… wait around a bit?”

George shrugged. “Alright.”

“Thanks.” Ron left the shop after that and Disapparated from the street, an idea already forming in his head. It wouldn’t be much, or as well-paying as the Aurors, but he supposed it could do for the meantime. Ron was looking for a change, George needed help. It was the perfect answer to the problem he’d been dwelling over for years now. 

He’d help George out in the shop. 

…

The evening was a cool one, the sky above dark and grey, but Ron’s mood felt light. He had sent a memo to Hermione after returning from his lunch to tell her he had to help George with something. She hadn’t sounded too upset, but was very aware that she had been with Rose all day and he’d make this quick.

He couldn’t see why George would deny him the offer. Ron couldn’t promise he’d be the best, but he was help and that was what George was after. Perhaps he could help enough for George to finally open his Hogsmeade shop. 

Despite all the shops being closed, Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes still shone brightly. In that moment, he appreciated the joy George’s work brought to everyone — children and adults alike. He couldn’t wait to bring Rose here and see her face light up when she saw all the bright colours. 

George was restocking the shelves when Ron entered, this time, to a much quieter environment. The customers were gone and now it was just George. He seemed more relaxed.

“Made a killing today, I bet,” Ron said by way of greeting.

George smiled and laughed. “I’m on my way to Gringotts after this to put it all in the vaults.”

“Vaults?” Ron questioned, surprised. Was George making enough money to keep two vaults in the wizarding bank? If that was true, he’d kept that very quiet.

“My one, and the business one. Gotta pay my staff… well… my skeleton staff, that is.” He frowned. 

“That’s what I came to talk to you about, actually,” Ron said. 

That caught George’s attention. He lowered his wand from levitating boxes to the higher shelves and turned to Ron with a raised eyebrow. “What, you’ve come here to offer your services, have you?” Ron could tell he meant it as a joke.

“I have.”

“You — what?”

Ron moved to the back of the room where the counter was. “Is there a place we can talk? Sit?”

George nodded, indicating his office at the back. “Come in. Tell me exactly what’s going through your mind, brother.”

Ron followed George into the office, noticing the boxes of products, tests and piles and piles of plans and drawings scattered throughout it. It was near impossible to move, let alone sit, but George managed to find two chairs beneath the mess. 

Ron sat in an old wooden chair that wasn’t very comfortable, but it’d do. 

“So,” George said, not wasting any time. “Tell me. How are you supposed to help me out when you’re out there fighting all the bad guys all the time?”

“I’ve decided to leave the Aurors.”

George’s eyes widened. He didn’t speak for a few seconds. “Are you serious?” he eventually asked.

Ron nodded. “I’ve decided it’s not for me. The days are long, most spent inside an office rather than being out on the field. And even if they were, I’d much rather come home to Rosie and Hermione in one piece than beat up, or not at all…”

“Wow,” George said, scratching his head. “That’s… that’s huge. The Aurors are like —”

“Not everything it’s talked up to be,” Ron said. “At least not for me. I’ve been wanting to for a while, but it’s been hard. I know we’ll be losing income, and with a baby…”

“Yeah, you have a kid now,” George said thoughtfully. 

“Yeah, and it changes things.”

“So, you want to come and work for me instead?” George said. “The safer option?”

Ron nodded. “Something like that. And, also… I can see you need the help.”

George laughed. “That’s a step down, don’t you think? From an Auror to standing behind a counter taking money from eager children and tired parents, or stocking shelves.”

“It’s what I need right now.”

George thought for a moment. “Does Hermione know about this? I mean, does she know of your plans, or —”

“She knows I plan on leaving. She… gets it. I think. She doesn’t know I’m here talking to you, though. Not about this.”

“And she’ll be okay with you moving from there to… here? I know how she feels about my products…”

“It’s not really her choice,” Ron said shortly, then sobered. “I think she’ll feel better if I have a plan, which I do now. If you’ll have me, I mean.”

“Of course I’ll have you!” George said. “Merlin, I could use any help I can get. Though, it doesn’t solve my issue of staff. Verity said she was out of here the moment I found someone to replace her…”

“At least you’ll be working with your brother?” Ron offered, a sheepish smile forming.

“Huh. Yeah, that’ll —” He paused, something in his expression changing. Ron wondered if the mention of brother had brought back memories of Fred; how, were Fred here, they wouldn’t be in this predicament. But then his mouth broke out into a grin.

“What?” Ron questioned. “What’s so funny?”

“I just had a thought!” George said excitedly. “You know I’m looking for someone to run the shop in Hogsmeade. Well, the shop that doesn’t yet exist. What if that’s you?”

“What?” Ron said, taken aback by this turn. He’d come here offering his services to help his brother, not… not take charge of a whole shop. 

“Well… think about it!” George said. “You know I want someone I can trust, and I can trust you. These days I can, anyway. I mean, you’ve got a wife who keeps you in check, and you’re a dad now, which is a hell of a lot of responsibility. And we’d keep it in the family, too. I run this place, you run the one in Hogsmeade. The boss.” He thought some more, giving Ron the opportunity to speak. 

“I’m not sure I’m out for —”

“I have an even better offer for you!” George cut in as if Ron hadn’t even spoken. He looked at Ron gleefully. “Become part owner with me?”

“What?” Ron’s mouth opened. “No, no, that’s not what I —”

“You’re serious about leaving the Aurors, right?” George continued.

“Yeah, but —”

“I can guarantee that this business is doing well enough that being part owner would not be much of a difference to what you’re earning with the Aurors. Maybe, if we have a good week, it could be even better.”

“George, I’m not sure I —”

“It was built to be run by two,” George said. “Fred and I. It’s hard doing it on my own. It’s exhausting, not to mention that my whole life is based around how well it does. Did you know I haven’t actually had a girlfriend since… well… since forever? And I haven’t even been on a date? I don’t have the time to even think about dating, because all my attention is on keeping this shop up and running.”

“No,” Ron said warily.

“There the rest of you are, living your lives, in long-term relationships, married,  kids… and here I am —”

“Running the most popular business in wizarding England,” Ron interjected. 

George smiled and then shrugged, leaning back in his chair. “True enough. But… it’d be good to have someone to share the responsibility with. You know, deal with some owl orders. Have some fresh ideas, too.” He gestured vaguely to the shop front. “You might not remember this, but way back, you and Harry came in here with a little crawling Teddy and you suggested I put in some things suitable for the real little ones.”

Ron frowned. He didn’t remember that. 

“Well, I took that on board and they’re some of my most popular products outside of the school range. So, you’ve got the ideas, Ron. Maybe bring those ideas to the table. Have them here. Work on them with me. As my partner.”

Ron opened his mouth to protest again, but when he searched for an argument, nothing actually came. Other than him knowing absolutely nothing about how to run a business, this seemed like an even better opportunity than his original plan to offer his assistance. 

It seemed all too surreal, and a little unbelievable that everything seemed to be falling into place. He was walking away from one job and into another that was potentially just as good financially, if not better. 

But, there was one big problem. He wanted to spend more time with Rose and be present more. Taking on something such as this wouldn’t allow for that.

“Mate, I must say, this is a huge thing, and I appreciate it, but, the whole reason for me doing this is to be with my daughter more —”

“You can have her here,” George said. “I mean, when Hermione’s back at work and everything, you can have her here. I see the babies brought in here all the time. The bright colours entertain them and they love it. Besides, she’d be a huge selling factor.”

“So, you want to use my kid as a sales tool?” Ron questioned.

“No, but it can’t hurt. My point is, though, you can have her here and work. And, if you can’t come in, then you can easily do stuff from home.” He pointed up. “I sit up there often. Well, I did, when I had the numbers to be down here. It’s nice at times. Being the boss has its perks.”

Ron shook his head, but not as an answer, more trying to process everything that had happened in the past five minutes. The scariest part was that he was almost considering the offer as a serious opportunity. 

“I can see you’re torn,” George said. “You can think about it. I got a bit excited. But… I’d love to work with my little brother. Plus, I know you wouldn’t let me down.”

Ron wasn’t as confident in that assumption, but he nodded. 

“When you say ‘part owner’,” Ron began slowly, “you mean like…”

“Literally part owner. Half of this would be yours. I’d ask you to buy it off me, but… honestly, you’d just be filling a gap that has been here for seven years. So… just… fill that gap. And, if anything happened to you and me, you’d have something for Rose to inherit, and any future kids you might have. Merlin knows I won’t be having them anytime soon.”

A sinking feeling filled Ron. Was George asking him to replace Fred? Was that the reason? That he needed someone to fill a hole that hadn’t ever been filled since Fred died? He didn’t want to be that person. He didn’t want to be Fred. He couldn’t be Fred.

George seemed to know what he was thinking. “Don’t worry, I’m not asking you to replace him. I just want you to fill the gap — and all the work — he left me with. Besides, I think he’d be happy to know it was you who was taking over.”

“I’m not so sure about that,” Ron said. “Both of you never took me all that seriously…”

“Yeah we did,” George said, grinning. “We greatly admired the way you always got yourself into trouble, doing dangerous things…”

“You never showed it.”

“That’s because teasing you was so much more fun.” George chuckled. “If that’s going to be the deciding factor of your decision, though, then on behalf of Fred and I… I apologise for all the shit we did back in the day. We were young, too. I’d like to think we’ve both matured.”

“Yeah. We have, I guess.”

George took a blank piece of parchment from the desk near him and snatched up a quill. He scribbled something on it and passed it to Ron. “That’s the standard profit we make each week, excluding what I pay for staff and products and things. On an average week, that’s what I take home for myself. Happy to split it fifty-fifty with you because with an extra shop, that means more customers and it might just double. But it’ll go up for sure.”

Ron accepted the slip and read it. He did a quick calculation of half the figure and realised it was only a little less than what he was earning with the Aurors. He looked back at George, eyes wide. “It’s this successful?”

George nodded. “The shop, the owl orders, yeah, it’s doing alright. People need a laugh.” He took the slip back from Ron and smiled. “So, what do you say? Will you be my partner?”

Ron really couldn’t see a reason to say no. If George’s numbers were right, their income would be virtually the same as before, but it would contain the flexibility of being able to have Rose with him. And on days that he couldn’t get to the shop, he could stay at home with her and… work. Perhaps he could do the owl orders and send them all off. It was exactly what he wanted. Needed.

“Erm, yeah, I guess,” Ron said, breaking out into a grin. “Completely unexpected, because I thought I was just offering you some help, but this might just be perfect for what I’m after. You’d have to show me the ropes, though. And teach me how all the products work, because I’m not exactly caught up with that. But… yeah, if you’ll have me.”

George jumped up, whooping. He then clapped Ron on the shoulder. “Welcome aboard, partner. You are officially part of Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes.”

Ron smiled, and then beamed. “Yeah… yeah I am!” Somehow, this felt right. Like he’d made the right decision. 

“How long will it take you to finish up with the Aurors?” George said.

Ron shrugged. “A month or two? I haven’t told anyone but Harry yet.”

“How about we say March?” George said. “I’m going to send an owl tonight accepting the conditions of the Hogsmeade premise. It’ll take a month or two to get all the products over, the signage up, so that works, I think!”

“Yeah, March is good!” Ron said. “Wow…”

“Yes, yes, it’s happening so fast. We’ll find some new employees. Verity will be pleased to be out, and Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes will be more successful than ever!” George clapped Ron on the back again. 

“Now to just tell Hermione the good news!” Ron said, sarcasm etching his voice with the words good news. He knew the last thing she’d want would be to refer to her husband as the part-owner of a joke shop. It was probably much more exciting to tell everyone she was married to an Auror.  

“She’ll be alright,” George said. “Show her the profit I make. She won’t say no after that.” He glanced down at his watch. “It’s getting late, but how about I stop by tomorrow morning? We can go through it with her so she’s on board?”

Ron nodded. “Yeah, that might be for the best. If she hears it from you, she might be —”

“Less inclined to agree,” George said thoughtfully.

“I was going to say more inclined. I know nothing about running a business, but believe it or not, she admires your success, even if she doesn’t like what you sell. How about ten tomorrow? That gives us time to sort Rosie out and whatnot.”

George nodded. “Ten is fine. I’ll break the good news to Verity and then… leave her to run the place and head on over. I can’t wait to see little Rose again.”

Ron smiled. “She’ll be glad to see you, too.”

George clapped his shoulder. “Once again, welcome aboard, mate. I look forward to having you on my team.”

“Thanks,” Ron said. He left the shop and Disapparated home, landing on his doorstep. When he came in, he found Hermione once again in the kitchen with Rose asleep in her bouncer on the table.

Hermione smiled. “Everything with George okay?” she asked as he kissed her.

“Better than okay,” Ron said, grinning. “He’s coming round tomorrow. I’ve solved the problem of what I’m going to do when I leave the Aurors.”

[natureplay]

୨୧Chapter V • Surprise Encounters

୨୧Masterlist

↫Previous Chapter | Next Chapter ↬

Word count: 1.6k

Receiving your paycheck can be one of the best feelings ever, but there is something even better: spending it. Taking out those crisp bills and feeling their crispness between your fingers. It's an incredible sensation. Nothing compares to the satisfaction of knowing that your money is going toward something you need or want.

You are walking around the grocery store, checking off items on your list like some sort of grown-up. It's a strange feeling, considering how you were so used to tagging along with your mother on these trips. But here you are now, all by yourself managing to get everything you need for the week.

You’re walking around the snack aisle, looking at the shelves. A variety of chips and biscuits. Your stomach sends signals to your brain that it’s craving something salty so you grab a large bag of pretzels scanning over it.

Somebody calls your name from behind. When you turn around, you’re met with the familiar face of Eric.

For the past several weeks, he's made it a point to take every opportunity to talk to you. Whether you’re eating lunch with Hunnigan and he just has to join you, sitting at your desk taking a little break or simply passing by in the hallway, he always makes sure to find an excuse to strike up a conversation. Every time he talks with you, you feel his voice blossom and his face warms into a beam of happiness.

You didn’t like that. Well, maybe a little bit. Who doesn’t enjoy getting attention from others? It makes you feel a tad bit more special and wanted. But with Eric was different. Not just because he was borderline annoying with his very obvious interest in you— but also because you don’t date co-workers. You made that mistake already and it ended terribly.

“Hey!” Eric says.

You smile awkwardly and mutter a little hi to him. Eric smiles back, his eyes crinkling at the corners. You didn’t want to be rude and ignore him, though you could do that. Just turn around and leave. Pretend you never saw him.

“How are you doing, kid ?”

‘Kid’. That word immediately brings forth a feeling of resentment within you. It's as if he is superior to you and that you require his guidance to make it through life. You hate the way it makes your skin crawl every time he utters that moniker. You do nothing about it.

“Just doing a bit of grocery shopping. What about you?”

“Same here”

Another thing about Eric is that, yes, he does strike up conversations with you every single chance he gets, but he doesn’t know how to continue them so you’re left standing in an abyss of awkwardness. You’re sure he shares the same feeling.

“Are you excited for tomorrow?”

“I am a little bit nervous but I’m sure we’re going to do great…” You quickly start thinking of any excuse to escape this discomfiting situation.

Eric nods and stares at you.

“Well, I need to hurry. Don’t want to lose the bus. You know how these lines get” You laugh stiffly and start walking away before he can offer to help you by giving you a ride home. Your poor nerves can’t handle that, “See you tomorrow!”

As you’re walking away, you silently say sorry to all the snacks you couldn’t buy today—next time for sure.

You go straight to check-out not wanting to have another encounter with Eric. You told Hunnigan about what he’s been doing. She has the same thoughts as you but she enjoys teasing and making fun of you for it.

The line at check-out is short. Surprisingly, not that many people do their shopping on a random Tuesday evening. Except you and, well, Eric apparently.

You start walking towards the bus station. You're carrying two large and heavy bags in both of your arms. It's definitely giving you a bit of a workout. You can't imagine how sore your hands are going to be.

You didn't buy groceries just for yourself, oh no. The sweet old lady that gave you cookies when you moved on asked very nicely if you could also buy her groceries. You couldn't say no, especially after she said her grandson hasn’t been to visit her in over four months. So, guilt pushed you to help her.

It's not the first time you're helping her. You've helped her with cleaning, grocery shopping, and washing dishes. She always makes sure she gives you a little something in return that is in the form of her baking and cooking. She's been inviting you over for dinner where you both sit on the couch, eat one of her spectacular dishes, and watch the television and yell at the characters when they do something stupid.

The bus arrives in front of the apartment complex and you struggle to carry both of the bags and try to balance yourself.

You get in the elevator—because there is no way you're taking the stairs— and press the button to your floor. You set the bags down to give your poor arms a little break. You used to be a regular at the gym, maybe you should start doing that again. 

The elevator doors open and you're met with the familiar hallway with peeling wallpaper and a questionable taste in tiles.

You enter your apartment first, setting both the bags on a kitchen counter and catch your breath for a little while. You take off your coat and toss it somewhere, not even looking where it lands, just hoping it's on the couch or somewhere nearby.

You take your neighbour's groceries and make the short journey to the door across the hall. You knock twice, taking a moment to wait for a response. While you stand there, you can't help but imagine what Mrs Ledger’s grandson is like. Most likely a loser who doesn’t care about his family.

Mrs Ledger hasn’t shown you pictures of him like any other grandparent would. She said that on the off chance you’re both here at the same time, she wants to embarrass him as much as possible with his naked baby photos.

Your nice neighbour opens the door and greets you with a warm smile.

“Come in, dear,” she says. Her voice is warm and welcoming.

You step into the apartment and you are struck by the familiar scent; it is a combination of nostalgia, reminiscence, and childhood memories that each grandparent has. You can't help but inhale deeply; you remember the days of visiting your own grandparents, and how their homes were warm and inviting. You wander to the small kitchen and set the bag on the counter.

“I hope I didn’t convenience you too much” She starts taking the items out of the bag and setting them down.

“It was no trouble, really”

By this point you know where every time needs to be stored. You grab the two bags of flour and put them away in the pantry.

"Thank you so much, dear, You've been a real help," Mrs Ledger says with warmth in her voice "I spoke to my grandson while you were away. He said he's coming over, to visit" Her eyes light up. So he does remember he has a family.

"That's nice... When is he coming?"

"Just about now, he said he's bringing me dinner" She replied with a wide grin, her cheeks glowing as bright as her spirit.

You nod; You didn’t want to be here when he arrived.

“Do you want to come over for dinner, dear?”

You freeze for a moment. Even if you wanted to, you couldn’t. You needed to get all the sleep you could get. Tomorrow you were going to assist Eric Williams on his mission. You didn’t know how long it was going to take, but you knew it was going to be a long and exhausting day.

“I would really love to, but I have this really important thing tomorrow and I need my mind to be—I’m really sorry,” you say sincerely but gladly at the same time.

“Oh, well, that’s too bad. I don’t know when he’ll come visit again” While she still has the smile on her lips, her voice and eyes betray the poor old lady. You can’t help but pity her. From what you’ve heard, she doesn’t have any other family.

“You never know” You smile and head out the door.

“Thank you again, sugar!”

Leon is sitting in his car, head resting against the steering wheel, feeling completely overwhelmed. He's been feeling down for quite a while now and finds himself unable to shake the deep-seated sadness he feels.

Almost four months since his last visit to his grandmother, the only living family he has left.

Life and work got in his way multiple times. And whenever he had time to spare, he was moping around his house trying to get himself to get up and check on her.

He grabs the dinner he promised his grandmother. He still has the spare key she gave him so going inside was no problem.

He walks up the stairs with his head empty and body on autopilot.

He’s about to open the door to the apartment but somebody else opens it for him.

You.

You are standing at the door, looking up at him with confused eyes. He’s equally as confused. What were you doing here?

“Leon!” your voice sounds so surprised. You look back inside, then at him again. Gears seem to be grinding in your head then you make a sudden connection.

“I was just leaving. Good night, Mrs Ledger!”

You almost bump into him in your hurry. You open the door and slip inside your apartment. The one next to his grandmother’s. How interesting.

୨୧Masterlist

↫Previous Chapter | Next Chapter ↬

[my-makeshift-masquerade]

i need a continuation of the springdad dabble plz!!!!! lets see the kiddos with the new sib!!!!

Ask and ye shall receive. Credit for AU goes to: @skeletoninthemelonland Hope there aren’t any inaccuracies, as I am adding a bit more worldbuilding here, within constraints of what has been revealed.

Warning for possible signs of past traumas with the kiddos because orphans, but it’s mostly gonna be some cavity causing domestic fluff. Sorry. It’s Me, after all.

(Also for some reason the “read more” function is making the last paragraphs of my posts invisible, so no read more for this one. Sorry!!!)

Shopping Trip

It had been a couple days, and William had spent it mainly observing how the new child he adopted was adjusting. Overall, it had been going surprisingly smoothly compared to Evan and Micheal’s first nights with him…

The main thing about Rebecca’s personality he had picked up on was her timidness, which wasn’t uncommon for little rabbits, but hers was something else. She was very observant of everything going on, and hesitant to trust him at first. She only relaxed once she saw how Evan was comfortable around him. The child was about the cub’s age give or take a few months, and could do most of what he could, including climbing and clinging onto him. However, he only really felt safe giving her a sort of halfway piggyback ride due to her size.

It felt like a small victory this morning when she actually stayed relaxed in one of his arms even after waking up. He was hoping she’d be able to be in a more comfortable place today, as he did have to go shopping for her. She couldn’t just keep sharing with Evan, as their clothes weren’t the same size. He had already gotten the cub ready, who was holding onto his back like a tree trunk right now, as he loved to do. His youngest son peeked over his shoulder to check on the other child every once in a while. The smaller rabbit seemed to tense at the sound of the door opening.

“Lizzie! Hurry up!” A young fox called out as he stood next to his father in the doorway, “Cmon! We gotta go!”

“I’m ready!” Elizabeth ran downstairs excitedly, having finally dressed herself, “What are we getting from the store, daddy? Things for Rebecca? Can I pick them out?”

“Well, let’s see what she likes…” The large rabbit answered simply, “You can help with finding choices for her to pick from.”

“Okay!” The girl smiled, “When can my family come over to meet her?!”

“Hm…” William paused, since that was a good question, “Let me think about it. I’m not sure two days is enough time for your new sister to settle in…”

“But I settled in one night!”

“You sure did.” He couldn’t help but chuckle and shake his head, “Everyone is different, though…”

———

When they got to the store in the nearby city, William instantly noticed the smaller rabbit’s body press closer to his. It was overwhelming with all the sounds and lights. He may just have to hold her the whole trip…

“I can hold her if you need me to, dad.” Micheal looked up, “She doesn’t wriggle around like Evan. I can handle it.”

“Can I hold—“

“No, Lizzie. She knows me…” The fox didn’t have the filter to make that not sound hurtful yet, so their father had to step in before things got ugly.

“It’s alright, Elizabeth. Micheal just means he would be more familiar to her right now… She will get used to you over time—“

“But I want her to like me NOW!” The girl whined loud enough for people to turn.

“Well… We just have to be patient. This is all new for her. It’s scary…” He sighed, handing Rebecca to his eldest, “When she’s ready, she will start coming around to you, too… Just like Evan did…”

“Mikey?” A little voice mumbled.

“Hi Becca.” Though he sounded annoyed, the fox’s tail wagged a bit as she reached and touched his snout, “Yeah yeah… My whiskers are so fun…”

“I thought I recognized that voice.”

William looked up from putting his cub in the cart to see a familiar bear, along with a familiar child running up to greet the kids.

“Charlie!” The boy’s tail wagged faster as his friend came over.

“Mikey! Lizzie!” The girl giggled, stopping herself from hugging the fox when she noticed something in his arms, “Huh? Who’s that?”

“Rebecca.”

“Oh…and uh…who is she?”

“Uh…”

“Our new sister!” The other girl blurted proudly, hearing the large bear chuckle.

“When was I going to hear you got kid number four?” Henry asked the other adult playfully as they kept walking.

“Once I figured other things out...” William answered honestly while Evan held the list, “I am still trying to get things all set for her…”

“I understand. Well! It’ll be nice for Evan here to have someone closer to his age to play with!”

“They actually shared a bed at the orphanage before the fire… The two get along really well.”

“Hi, Rebecca!” Charlie smiled at the little rabbit in her friend’s arms, not upset by her shyness, “Aww, she’s cute! She kinda looks like your dad, but…not? Kinda like how Evan looks like my dad, but not!”

“Yeah, it’s weird, right?” Micheal shrugged, before noticing something, “Ah, great… Dad…”

“Yes?”

“She’s upset…”

“I…don’t hear any crying?” Henry raised an eyebrow.

“Oh, she doesn’t cry loudly…” The fox explained, “Ms. Smith said it was something to do with her parents not listening or something? She cries super quietly…”

“Here…” William took her back into his arms, noticing how Elizabeth was on the hunt for items already, “Maybe we should’ve gave it another day… Are you alright, sweetheart?”

She was clinging to his shirt and had her ears pinned back against her head. Her face was hidden in his neck, and the small form was even shaking a little.

“Beccah?” Evan held out his toy in an attempt to cheer her up, but she remained firmly attached to the larger rabbit, unwilling to let go.

“Oh, look!” William took the toy to show her, “How nice! Evan’s sharing his pony with you—! That isn’t helping…? No…? Poor little thing…”

“This doesn’t look like a normal outburst from a cub her age…” Henry sighed, “She seems like she is overstimulated. Evan is like that too, but I’m guessing the ears make the difference for her… She must be hearing everything.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised. She hasn’t stopped picking up on every little noise and change in scenery since I got her…” The older rabbit sighed, bringing a hand to gently press her ears against her head.

“Is she okay?” Charlie tugged on her father’s coat, “Did I do something?”

“No, honey. It’s probably just too noisy for her…” The bear whispered.

“DADDY! I found—“

“Shh!” Micheal put a finger to his muzzle, “Lizzie, Becca’s upset cuz it’s loud in here. Keep it down…”

“Uh oh. Sorry…” The blonde girl started whispering, handing a soft periwinkle blanket to her father, “I found this by the toys… It made me think of Bonbon. Maybe she’ll like it?”

Rebecca sniffed when she felt the blanket be pressed against her father’s arm, and the older rabbit noticed.

“Here…” He covered her with it, smiling and realizing she had relaxed some more, “You like blankets, don’t you…? Your big sister Lizzie found it for you.”

His other daughter squealed, “Yep! I did!”

“Inside voice…”

“Oops… I mean… Yep, I did… Hehehe…”

[bakedbakermom]

Stained

Chapter 3: Smolder // start at the beginning

tagging @today-in-fic @ao3feed-msr

Honestly I am so pleased with this chapter. The dialogue, the characterization, the Vibes. If you read only one chapter of this fic, let it be this one.

smolder verb 1. to burn with little smoke and no flame 2. to exist in a suppressed state --- Conversations with dead people.

Four hours later, the coffee was long gone, and the heavy bags of snacks were reduced to nothing but wrappers and a scattering of crumbs. Xander, predictably, was snoring in the corner, Anya's head in his lap; she kept muttering in her sleep, and each time he would soothe her with a pat on the head, without either waking up. Tara and Willow had moved to the store’s loft, reading aloud to each other in shifts to keep awake.

Buffy had left for patrol shortly after midnight—“Not every vamp is as charming as you, Mulder,” she quipped as she loaded a crossbow into her bag—and Giles had gone home to comb through his library and check in with a few contacts on the other side of the world who would just be waking up. Spike at one point simply stood up and left, his leather jacket flapping behind him like the wings of a giant bat—a move Scully was sure he had practiced—and vanished into the night.

Even Mulder was slumped in his chair, dozing. She had rummaged up a blanket from the training room at the back of the shop, hoping it wasn’t somehow cursed, and tucked it in around him. He barely managed to mumble a “Thank you,” before drifting back to sleep.

Scully had spent so long staring at a scroll in a language she couldn’t even pronounce, let alone read, that the boxy little symbols were starting to make a worrying kind of sense; like a Magic Eye painting, if she let her eyes relax and her focus drift, they almost looked like tiny monsters.

She leaned back, her head swimming with a sudden exhaustion that bordered on delirium. She hadn’t slept more than three consecutive hours since they had landed in this sun-baked hellmouth, spending her days falsifying reports and medical records for Skinner to explain her and Mulder’s continued absence—given their track record, him being grievously injured on the job was a decent cover story—and her nights up to her neck in legends she still could only half-believe. All the coffee and junk food in the world couldn’t save her from the consequences. Her eyes felt gummy in her skull, her nose was clogged with the grime of thousand year-old books, and the room itself seemed to contract and swelter around her. She lurched to her feet, fighting back nausea, and rushed toward the back door.

The night air hit her like a wave and she gulped down its soothing chill again and again until the urge to hyperventilate or vomit had passed. Slowly the darkness receded from the edges of her vision and the bile eased back down her throat. She pressed her fists into the small of her back and arched her spine, releasing several satisfying pops.

“Tasty thing like you shouldn’t be out here alone in the dark.”

Scully whirled around to face the darkness at the mouth of the alley, her gun drawn and aimed toward the source of the voice before she was even conscious of moving. A lean figure hunched against the wall.

“Might get snapped up by something dangerous.”

The figure inched forward into the light from the street lamp. Pale skin, white-blond hair, absurd leather jacket. She sagged with relief, hands shaking as she holstered her weapon. “Spike. You scared the hell out of me. Have you been lurking there all night?”

“Oh no, I’ve been lurking lots of places. A regular lurk-about, that’s me.” He swaggered down the alley and dropped dramatically onto the step in front of her. “Pull up some concrete, pet. I’ve got a few hours before I risk a serious sunburn, and I’ve got a fresh pack of coffin nails.”

He pulled a pack of cigarettes from the inside pocket of his long, black coat and used an unnecessary amount of flourish to light one with a silver Zippo. When he saw her look of vague disgust, he only shrugged. “What? It’s not like they’re gonna kill me.”

She huffed out an exhausted laugh, shaking her head at the sheer absurdity of her life as she sat down beside him. “Are you going to share that or what?”

“Pretty sure you’re not immortal, love.”

“There’s some debate about that, actually, but at this point I’m too exhausted to care.” She held out her hand and he passed her the cigarette, the ember of its tip glowing in the gloom.

“Possible immortality, is it? Funny, your man never mentioned that.”

“You guys talk about me a lot? In between shots of plasma, I mean.”

“Actually, Mulder talked about you pretty much all night. Scully this. Scully that. Scully, Scully, Scully. Do you even have a first name?

She took a deep drag from the cigarette, the smoke curling from her parted lips in delicate spirals. “Dana.”

“Lovely name for a lovely lady,” he said, taking it back.

“And what about you? I can’t imagine your mother looking down at her beautiful, bouncing, peroxide-blond baby boy, and proclaiming you Spike .”

He paused for a beat, considering her, then smiled a charmingly crooked smile and held out one pale hand. “William.”

They shook. The cold, dry flesh of Spike’s hand was almost beginning to feel normal.

“So, William, what exactly did Mulder say about me?”

“Sorry, pet. There’s a code. Like a bro code, but for fangy folk. ‘Dead men tell no tales’ or what have you.”

The dead were walking. A thousand-year-old ex-demon was napping on her boyfriend’s lap in the next room. She had fed her partner from her own veins. And an actual vampire was sitting next to her, quoting Treasure Island . Or possibly the Disneyland ride. Scratch normal , her life was a damned B-movie. An hysterical giggle bubbled up in her throat, and she covered it with a cough as she blew out another puff of smoke.

Spike either didn’t notice her small existential crisis, or else chose to politely ignore it. “I will tell you he feels bloody awful about what he did before he got all resoulified. Man’s only got a handful of bad deeds under his belt, but he’s got guilt for centuries.”

Scully’s memories of that night rattled loudly in the locked box of her mind she had crammed them into. She did not, would not, let them out. “I imagine you understand a little bit about that.”

“Not exactly. Don’t get me wrong, I was evil with a capital E, cutting a bloody swath across the continents for nearly two hundred years. And I enjoyed the hell out of it. Honestly not sure I ever would have stopped on my own, but I didn’t exactly get a choice. I don’t really spend a lot of time beating myself up about it, though.”

Scully arched a brow in curious surprise. “Your soul doesn’t torment you with grief during your every waking moment and drive you to desperate acts of penance?”

He laughed. “Been talking to Giles, have you? Sorry love, I’m not one to wax poetic about souls. Mostly because I haven’t got one.”

Mulder had told her Spike was reformed; the soul part she had just assumed. If he couldn’t feel guilt or remorse, what kept him from ripping out her throat? She froze, cigarette halfway to her lips, wondering if she should scoot away or reach for her gun again.

“Relax, Red. I’m not gonna hurt you. Actually, I can’t. See, a little while back, bunch of your government boys got the brilliant idea to do a little science project involving those of us who go bump in the night. Some got all Frankensteined up into proper bloody monsters; other lucky buggers like yours truly got our eggs cracked open and fancied up with some shiny new hardware.” Despite his clever delivery, his tone was bitter. “I can still rough up anything decently scaly or slimy, but all you soft, tasty humans are a one-way ticket to screaming bloody agony.”

She took a long moment to process that, the cigarette passing back and forth between their hands; when the filter began to burn, he lit another.

“I might know something about what it’s like to be subject to behavior modification via implanted technology at the hands of covert government agencies abducting non-consenting, vulnerable populations for the purpose of experiments involving nonhuman biological materials.”

Spike took a long moment to process that .

“All right,” he said finally, “I’ve decided I like you, so I’ll tell you the truth: souls seem like a whole lot of pain for not a whole lot of gain. I don’t even know that they do all that much; God knows there’s plenty of humans running around out there, souls intact, doing dirty deeds that make my skin crawl, and I know plenty of soulless fiends who are actually pretty decent people. All I know is I don’t need a soul to see how much Mulder is hurting, or how much he cares about you. If the Scoobies fail at this whole ‘cure the vampire’ quest—and I’m sorry if I’m the first one to tell you this, but they probably will, because it’s impossible, and personally I think he’d be an idiot to give up the night life anyway—but when they fail and he realizes he’s got a big lonely eternity without you staring him in the face, I’m a little bit worried he’s gonna go and get himself one hell of a tan.”

“I’m not giving up, and I’m not going to leave him.”

“Yeah, you will. If not on a plane in a few weeks, then in a pine box in a few decades.”

“So what am I supposed to do, just… not die?”

“Yeah! Exactly!”

“I don’t see how I can—”

“It’s easy. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.”

Scully paled, her throat bobbing as she fought down the revulsion suddenly brewing in her stomach. “You can’t mean—”

“Bitey bitey, sucky sucky, souly souly—though I think that last bit should be optional —and then you and our boy ride off into the sunset together. Well moonlight, I suppose, but you get my drift.”

Her mouth opened, closed, opened again, but no words came out.

“Just think it over, Dana,” he said softly, not meeting her eyes. For the first time, something like real vulnerability passed over his face. “Forever is a long time to be lonely.”

He rose, his swaggering mask sliding back into place so quickly she almost doubted it had ever slipped to begin with. He offered his hand to her with an exaggerated bow and pulled her to her feet. “Now come on; I don’t fancy going up in flames today, and I bet Spooky doesn’t either.”

—

Dawn’s rosy fingers were just brushing the horizon when Mulder and Scully arrived back at the motel. She felt the light running over her skin like a living thing, gentle as a lover; he shrank from it as if it would strike him.

“Wanna come in for a night cap?” he asked, smirking, as they reached his door. Scully’s hand flinched involuntarily toward her neck and his eyes grew wide, then sheepish. “Sorry. That’s not what I meant. Um. Good night, Scully.”

The door was halfway closed behind him when her hand shot out to stop it. “I can come in for a minute.”

He moved to the bathroom, and she went to the kitchenette to put away the containers of cows’ and pigs’ blood they had stopped to pick up at the butcher—which, for reasons no one in town would discuss, stayed open all night. Mulder would have enough for a few days, at least, now that he was learning how to make it palatable. She left the little jar of cinnamon on top of the microwave.

Feeling oddly anxious, she began to straighten the bed just to have something to do. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay in Spike’s crypt today?” she called to him. “He has cable; you can watch ‘Passions’ together.”

He poked his head out, toothbrush wedged into the foamy corner of his mouth. “That show has gone entirely downhill since Sheridan got amnesia.”

He vanished again, and Scully heard the sounds of spitting and running water. When he emerged a minute later, bare-chested and in sweatpants, he found her standing awkwardly in the middle of the room, hands at her sides. He slipped past her without touching her and sat on the bed. “Besides, I’d rather sleep in a bed.”

Instead of a coffin . Scully suppressed a shudder.

“Yeah,” she said, forcing a smile as she sat beside him and squeezed his hand. “I get the feeling his place is even less luxurious than this one. Besides: mini fridge, microwave, magic fingers. What more could a guy want?”

She tried to keep her voice light, but Spike’s words were still ringing in her head. Mulder was staring down the barrel of a miserable eternity—drinking slaughterhouse runoff, hiding his days away in the dark, watching cheesy soap operas with only the other dead for company. What if there was no cure? What if, this time, she couldn’t save him? How many times had they sacrificed everything to save each other, thrown themselves in front of bullets and monsters and the unstoppable machine of bureaucracy just to buy enough time to stagger their way to safety?

Maybe their luck had finally run out.

She stood to leave, desperate to find something else to occupy her mind, but his hand closed tenderly around her wrist, carefully avoiding the bruises he—or his monster —had made before. “Stay?”

“Mulder, I’m tired.”

“I know. Just for a little while? It’s… it’s worse when I’m alone.”

She finally looked at him, staring up at her with one of his more pathetic puppy-dog expressions, and something inside her broke. “Yeah. Okay. Just for a little while, until you fall asleep.”

He crawled beneath the covers, leaving room for her to slip in beside him. She curled up with her back facing him, hoping he would drift off quickly. That hope evaporated when she felt him shifting closer to her; his arm slipped around her waist, brushing the bare sliver of skin between the top of her pants and the hem of her shirt, and a current passed through her. She went very still, allowing him to pull her closer until they were spooned together on the little motel bed.

“You’re so warm,” he murmured close to her ear.

She tried to ignore the way her body tingled every place they touched, the way his breath skimmed over her skin, cool and wet like the promise of a storm. She hoped he couldn’t hear the way her heart began to pound beneath her ribs. “So you’ve said.”

“It’s true. I’ve always hated the cold, Scully. When I was a kid, I would turn my whole room into a blanket fort every winter. It drove my mom nuts. I’d swipe every blanket in the house and then refuse to come out for anything but pee breaks.”

Scully could just picture him, eight or ten years old, pillaging the linen closet for quilts and constructing his own personal Alamo filled with comic books and sunflower seeds. Keeping out the cold with all the power of fleece and a child’s unflagging will.

That the same cold now lived inside him, where no blanket or touch could thaw it, was another cruel twist of the knife.

“I’m not giving up, Mulder. Not when we’ve barely gotten started.”

“I won’t let you throw your life away trying to save me, Scully. How much longer are you going to stay here, up to your neck in demonology and monster manuals? How much longer can we convince Skinner I’m sick? He’s going to come looking for me eventually, even if it’s just to see if I’m fit enough for him to kick my ass back to the basement.”

She chuckled, and he smiled briefly into her hair. A moment later, his sigh sent a few red strands fluttering against her face. “I just don’t want you to follow me so far into the dark that you can’t find your way back.”

“It hasn’t even been a week yet. I’ve chased you further into the dark than this and come out just fine. And I intend to drag you out with me, into full, bright sunlight, without you crumbling to dust.”

“And if there is no cure? If I’m stuck like this forever? You still have a chance to have a life, Scully. I won’t let you waste it on me.”

She turned to face him, sadness and anger warring over her features. “Since when do you ‘let’ me do anything? It’s my life, Mulder, and I don’t consider any of this a waste.”

She didn’t want to bring it up, didn’t want to give credence to Spike’s insane idea by voicing it out loud to her partner, but she owed it to him to say something. Though her stomach clenched and she tasted acid in her mouth, she took a breath and said, “Spike thinks—”

His voice was bitter as he cut her off. “I know exactly what Spike thinks. And the answer is no. I wouldn’t do this to you. Not when you still have a choice. Not when you could go back to DC tomorrow, find some hot doctor who doesn’t question every little thing you say, and grow fat and old and happy on a sunny porch somewhere.”

She reached out and cupped his cheek, forcing him to meet her eyes. She had to step carefully here; they had developed a delicate dance together through the years, an unspoken rule to tiptoe around their equally unspoken connection, that thing between them neither could quite acknowledge let alone act upon, but had lately found increasingly hard to ignore. Especially when his face was inches from hers, and his arm still lay heavy across her waist, on that nebulous border where it could so easily slide into risky territory. “And if I decide I don’t want that?”

“There are some… conditions on this soul of mine, Scully. It’s not a done deal. I could lose it.”

“What? How?” And why haven’t you told me before now?

“If there ever comes a moment where I am completely happy, where I don’t feel guilt and torment about who and what I am, it goes away.”

“Don’t be vague, Mulder. Not about this.”

“The last time it happened… was right after the guy slept with the woman he loved.”

A lump welled up in her throat. “Oh.”

“Yeah. We’re not idiots, Scully.” She raised her eyebrow at him and one side of his mouth tugged up in a small smile. “Okay, you’re not an idiot, and I am sometimes only idiot-adjacent. We know what we mean to each other. If you stayed with me…” He flopped onto his back, staring up at the water-stained ceiling; he couldn’t get through this if he was looking into her eyes, but he did reach between them and take her hand. “If you stayed human, and we… then I lose my soul, and there’s a good chance that the last thing you’d ever see is me killing you. And then Buffy puts a stake through my heart. And not that I am in favor of this idea, but if we turned you and we… then we both lose our souls, we’d probably wind up killing a bunch of people, and then Buffy puts a stake through both our hearts.”

He paused for a long moment, breath shaking. “I don’t know if there is a way out of this together. And I want you to know, I’d rather you leave me than stay behind and pay for what I’ve become.”

She grabbed his face again, this time more forcefully, and turned him back toward her. Her voice and her eyes were filled with tears, but also a steely resolve. “There is a way, Mulder. There has to be. We’re going to find it. When have we ever given up on each other?”

His fingers twined around hers where they rested against his cheek. Slowly he pulled them to his mouth, brushing a gentle kiss across her knuckles. Neither spoke—what words could he say to the unstoppable force of her hope, or she to the immovable object of his self-sacrifice? They simply held each other, wishing they could keep out the cold.

A/N: It's incredibly rare for me that something I make turns out as well as I'd hoped, but this chapter is one of those things, and I'm rather proud of it. I so enjoyed writing it, particularly Scully and Spike's conversation. It was one of those unexpected surprises that pops up when characters grab the steering wheel, like I was just along for the ride. I hope they're BFFs now. Believe me there is absolutely a part of me that wants to see Vamp!Mulder and Vamp!Scully as some sort of undead Bonnie and Clyde, leaving a trail of bloody and beautiful devastation in their wake. But that's not this fic lol. Comments laminated etc etc

[depressedhatakekakashi]

This is an exchange fic for @akamikazae for the Beautiful server we’re in together 🥰🥰🥰 I saw an opportunity to have some Kakashi and Sasuke bonding (in their own special way) and jumped at it, but of course I couldn’t miss a chance to include a beautiful OC for Kakashi to love. I hope I did them justice 💜💜💜

Thank you to @lemony-snickers for being a beta reader for this fic 💜💜💜

Pairing: Hatake Kakashi/OFC

Words: 2944

Two hours and twenty-three minutes.

That was how long Kakashi had to pick up groceries, get to Akami’s place, make dinner, and set everything up before she was due to return home. He’d taken every precaution to ensure he wasn’t a second late with his preparations, even forgoing a visit to Rin and Obito so that he could ensure he wasn’t late.

Today was not a day he could be late, but as always Kakashi was faced with the fact that the world hated him and wanted him to fail in everything he did.

Even making a nice dinner for his girlfriend, without hindrance, seemed too much to ask judging by the three-block lineup that led to the grocery store.

“Come on,” leaning a little to his left, he peered down the seemingly endless lineup. “Since when do people line up for the grocery store?”

A new restaurant he could understand, or a brand new spa. There were always lineups into the spas, even the older ones that had been around since the village was founded.

A grocery store, though. There was nothing he could think of that would explain people lining up and waiting for three blocks just to get into a grocery store.

“It’s valentine's day,” He’d sensed Sasuke’s presence nearby, but he hadn’t thought the kid would approach him so it was a little surprising to hear his voice directly beside him. A surprise that must have been evident in his expression, judging by the smug laugh Sasuke gave him. “For a Jonin you’re bad at noticing your surroundings.”

He could argue that fact, but there was no point. Sasuke didn’t know half of the things he did, and if the kid wanted to feel like he’d accomplished something by sneaking up on a Jonin, Kakashi would let him. There was no harm in letting the kid have a moment of triumph.

“Valentine's day?” He repeated, struck suddenly by a horrible realization. “You mean…”

Slapping a hand over his eyes, Sasuke groaned. “What does she see in you?”

A question Kakashi asked himself every day. There was no doubt in his mind that Akami was way out of his league, but every day she chose to be with him.

A small blessing the universe granted him after a lifetime of loss and one that could be snatched away from him at any moment just like everything else he loved had been.

“So,” peering down the line once more, he sifted through his options. Waiting was possible but judging by the time it had taken him to move two feet it would result in a very late dinner. Only one option could get him back to Akami’s in time to cook and set everything up, but he was going to need Sasuke’s help to make it work. “Any chance you’d help a guy out.”

“Doing what?” The kid scuffed.

“No one in this line is going to get mad at a twelve-year-old cutting in line,” if they did everyone else in the lineup would shame them for it. “So if I give you some Ryo you could head to the front of the line and slip in before everyone else.”

An odd sense of familiarity washed over him when Sasuke placed a hand against his hip and glared at him with an intensity that only a stubborn kid could radiate but Kakashi chose to ignore it just as he ignored many things in his life. “You want me to do your shopping for you?”

“It would help me get home quicker,” he explained, cringing at the slight desperation he heard in his voice. “You wouldn’t want me to be late with dinner, would you? How would Akami feel about coming home after a long day of work and having to wait for a nice home-cooked meal?”

Sasuke simply rolled his eyes. “Alright,” he extended a hand towards Kakashi and smirked when money was placed into it. “But only on one condition.”

Kakashi scolded himself for not seeing this. It only made sense that Sasuke would want something in return. When he was a kid he’d done the same thing to Minato-Sensei after being asked to pick up some flowers from the Yamanaka flower shop for Kushina.

“What is it?”

“Teach me a new jutsu.”

Kakashi stared at the kid, processing what he had just heard before narrowing his eyes into a glare. “Aren’t you still in the Acadamy?”

“I am,” Sasuke confirmed with a shrug of his shoulders. “But I’m already ahead of the rest of my class. There’s nothing Iruka-Sensei can teach me.”

That was a lie. While Iruka may have only been a chunin he still had a wealth of knowledge that he didn’t share with his classes. The jutsu was considered too advanced for the academy students and Iruka wasn’t a man who made a habit out of teaching his kids anything outside of the assigned curriculum.

Kakashi knew Sasuke’s plight though. To be a prodigy meant that Sasuke would always feel like he was being held back by the rest of the class. He was unable to advance until he finally graduated and took on the rank of genin.

“One jutsu,” he agreed, holding a single finger for emphasis. “What style?”

Sasuke’s eyes widened for a second, but he swiftly got his emotions under control and returned to his regular unimpressed expression. “I’ve only learned fire jutsu to date.”

“Then we should stick to fire jutsus,” Kakashi decided. It would just earn Sasuke more unnecessary praise if he were to teach him another style before he became a genin. “I can think of a few you might like.”

“One that’s not an Uchiha jutsu, preferably,” the kid insisted, holding out a hand toward Kakashi. Placing the small list of groceries he’d written for himself into Sasuke’s palm, he watched as the kid closed his fingers around it and swiftly as he turned his back to him. “Though, you wouldn’t know those anyways.”

Holding his tongue, Kakashi watched as Sasuke made his way toward the front of the line. It wouldn’t do him any good to correct the kid, and it wasn’t as though he knew about the Sharingan that Obito had gifted him or the fact that he’d learned some of the Uchiha’s fire-style techniques while working alongside Obito and Itachi.

That information wouldn’t do Sasuke any good anyways, so there was no point in providing him with it at this time. Instead, he’d take the time Sasuke was gone to think of just which jutsu he was going to teach the kid.

“One Akami won’t get mad at me over,” he grumbled to himself as he took a step out of line and allowed the person behind him to claim his spot. “But which one?”

There were more than a few he could choose from.

Mission accomplished.

Not even five minutes after he’d left Kakashi’s side, Sasuke returned with a bag in hand and a sour look on his face. “Never ask me to do that again,” he insisted, holding the bag out towards Kakashi. “The place was crowded.”

Unsurprising given the lineup Kakashi had found himself stuck in.

Peering into the bag, he smiled when he saw all of the things he’d asked Sasuke to retrieve plus an intriguing-looking bag of coffee with a snake smack in the center of the bag, A perfect gift for Akami. A little gift he was certain she’d love. After all, If there was one person in all of Konoha who understood Akami better than him, it was Sasuke.

“This is perfect,” not only did he have everything he needed, but he still had over two hours to get himself to Akami’s house and prepare everything. “Thank you.”

He tried his best to smile, a small sign of his appreciation for Sasuke’s help, but judging by the way the kid took a step back and cringed he was willing to guess it hadn’t turned out as warm as he was trying.

“That’s weird,” Sasuke grunted. “You’re weird.”

“Well, you’re stuck with weird,” closing the bag, he gripped it in his left hand and held it off to his side. “Now, would you like me to make enough for three tonight?”

Most days Sasuke would join them for dinner. It was something Kakashi had to get used to at first, but these days he almost felt like they were missing something on the rare night when Sasuke would stay out late training or hide away in his bedroom.

“No,” turning his back to Kakashi, the kid sighed. “I see you two being cuddly enough most days. It’ll be three times worse tonight.”

That wasn’t particularly true considering neither Kakashi nor Akami was the ‘cute cuddly’ type of couple, but he decided not to correct Sasuke this time. A night for just the two of them sounded nice.

“In that case, I’ll meet you after you finish class tomorrow if I don’t have a mission,” that last part he had little to no control over. If Lord Third wanted to send him away on a mission he’d simply have to accept it and chose another day to train with Sasuke. “I think I have the perfect Jutsu picked out for you.”

A chunin-level fire-style jutsu that he was certain Sasuke would have no problem learning. Anyone else would struggle with it, but Sasuke was a prodigy of his generation. There was little doubt in his mind that the kid would be able to learn it easily enough, and if he needed support and guidance Kakashi would be there.

He’d be a terrible teacher if he didn’t at least make sure he learned the jutsu properly.

“Tomorrow then,” Sasuke agreed. “Good luck tonight.”

With that, he was gone. Kakashi could still sense him easily enough, but anyone genin level or lower would think he’d disappeared into thin air. Another example of his skill.

“Tomorrow,” Kakashi spoke to himself, glancing down at the bag that hung from his hand. “For now, I have some food to cook.”

With two minutes left on the clock, Kakashi turned off Akami’s stove and set the pot off to the side to cool. The sweet smell of Mapo tofu filled the kitchen, and the onigiri he’d worked on for just over an hour molding into perfect little triangles sat in the center of the dinner table.

He’d even managed to set up the table so that Akami’s new bag of coffee was sitting in front of her seat waiting to be noticed.

All he had to do now was wait.

The sound of the door sliding open echoed through the air at that moment, alerting him to Akami’s arrival. One minute early, but he wasn’t about to complain. “Kakashi?” her voice called out to him. “Are you here?”

“I am,” he confirmed without hesitation, knowing all too well that any seasoned shinobi would reach for their Kunai if they didn’t hear a familiar voice right away. “How was your day?”

Shoes clattered to the floor and in just a few seconds Akami appeared in the doorway. An exhausted look in her eyes seemed to disappear as soon as she saw the meal waiting for her.

“What is this?” she propped herself up against the side jam and watched him with curious eyes. “You don’t usually cook.”

“I don’t usually have time to cook,” he defended himself. “But today is special. I wanted to surprise you.”

Perhaps he’d read too many of those cheesy romances his friends teased him about. The ones where the man would cook up a brilliant meal to show his lover just how much he cared, with all of their favorite foods and candlelight to add a little bit of romantic flare.

Maybe it was just because he was feeling lonely. The two of them hadn’t been able to spend a lot of time together in the last month because of back-to-back missions Lord Third had been sending him on and now that he had an opportunity to make up for that he was determined to do so.

“A surprise?” a smile tugged at the edges of her lips. “Is this just because? Or did you feel obligated to do something for Valentine's day?”

“A bit of both,” he admitted. “Actually, I’d forgotten all about Valentine's day until a certain overprotective Uchiha reminded me this afternoon.”

Akami rolled her eyes. “Did he call you names again?”

“Not this time. He’s just struggling to understand why you would want to date someone like me.”

“And let me guess,” straightening herself up, she slipped a hand behind her neck and pulled her long black hair forward so that it draped over her shoulder. “You’re wondering that too?”

She’d read him like a genin-level book. With no hesitation and no remorse she’d laid his own insecurities in front of him, and worst of all she did it with a smile. Not just any smile either.

That smile.

The one that shone in her eyes so bright that he was certain he’d be blinded by it and left him feeling weak in the knees.

“Stop that.”

“Stop what?” she asked with a mischievous smirk.

“You know what you’re doing,” stopping directly in front of him, she lifted a hand and gently placed it over his chest. “I made you dinner.”

“You did,” she agreed. “And it smells delicious.”

“So you should stop teasing me.” It was a hopeless cause. He knew it was a hopeless cause but he had to put his foot down or Akami would get bored. She enjoyed a challenge and there were few people in the village willing or capable of giving her that challenge. Partially because of her cunning and sharp personality, and partially because no one really knew how to deal with someone who’d been trained by Danzo as a root operative.

Kakashi knew, though. He’d known Tenzo since they were kids and while he had a vastly different personality from Akami their training was the same. They knew how to toy with people and how to read them.

There was almost nothing that could get past them. Even Kakashi, with all of his genius, was easy for them to read. They may not have been allowed to foster their own emotions but they’d learned well how to read and use the emotions of others against them.

“Hmmm, perhaps I should,” reaching out toward him, she gently laid her hand against his cheek. The warmth of her skin invited him to relax and unwind. “You didn’t need to make me dinner.”

“I wanted to.”

“I don’t celebrate Valentine's day.” she continued to argue, though her voice was too tender to hold any real weight in the words she said.

“Then it’s not Valentine's day,” he fired back, fully willing to play along with her. “Dinner is a treat because you deserve it. The sweets are a gift from me and Sasuke because you’ve worked hard and even the great Akami needs to spoil herself once in a while.”

Her hand dropped from his face and came down to settle over her mouth, just barely covering the smile that now stretched across her lips. “The great Akami?” she repeated, chuckling a little as the words reached her ears. “Were you bitten by one of those romance books of yours? You’re not usually this cheesy.”

“Perhaps,” he shrugged his shoulders and took a step back, waving a hand out towards the dinner table. “You’re not going to dump me because I’m a little cheesy, are you?”

Akami rolled her eyes. “I think I can forgive your cheesiness,” she fired back without hesitation. “As long as you keep making those delicious-smelling meals.”

“Is that all I’m good for?”

“No,” closing the distance between them once more, she laid a hand over his chest. “You’re good for a lot of things, Hatake Kakashi.”

A shiver ran down his spine. “Don’t do that.”

“Don’t do what?”

“Don’t say my full name,” he clarified. “Everyone gets something from their parents, even if they don’t like them, and you…well.”

The smile dropped off her face. “If you say it I’m walking out the door right now and you’re eating dinner alone.”

Kakashi wasn’t an idiot. He could tell that she was serious about her threat and he’d put too much effort into making the perfect dinner to risk her walking away angry. So, he swallowed his words and wrapped both arms around her waist instead.

“Mmmm, good choice,” Akami reached up and poked his nose. “Oh, and there’s just one more thing.”

“The mask?”

“The mask,” she confirmed. “There’s no one here but me to see that handsome face of yours.”

Handsome. The word felt wrong when he heard it, even if it was said with that pretty voice. He refrained from wincing, but there was no doubt in his mind that Akami had seen the pained look in his eyes.

The fact that she didn’t immediately tease him about it was a gift. One he wasn’t about to let go to waste. So, without any further hesitation, he reached up, tucked a finger under the top of his mask, and pulled the cloth down off of his face. Exposing himself to one of the only people in the world to whom he was comfortable showing his face too.

“There it is,” her lips stretched across her face into a brilliant smile, and her hand settled against his cheek once more, the cold feeling of her skin easing the warmth that had built up in his face from wearing his mask all day. “Just as handsome as I remember it.”