#i still feel incredibly lucky at hatching him he's gorgeous

[rara-avis-fr]

croquette!!! my beautiful boy

when the last banescale nest was discovered, croquette was one of the eggs inside that... didn’t hatch. instead, he was bounced around sornieth until he ended up in rara avis, where he was raised by helima, the clan’s nest-tender. he’s now a baker, and works at the clan’s tavern to provide tasty treats!

can someone show me uhh... your own g1 banescales if you have any? tell me about em?

[smaidjor]

On Butterflies and Spring (Emptober Day 2)

Summary:

After the success of their first....alliance meeting (date?), Scott decides to set up another one. This time it involves butterflies, the coming of spring, and a little bit of hope amidst all the death and corruption of empires.

With, of course, a healthy dose of yearning.

(Prompt fill for Emptober Day 2: Bug)

Wordcount: 1493

Warnings: none

After yesterday's angst, I felt the need to spoil you guys with a little fluff. So have a cute flower husbands date :).

Fic below the cut:

Rivendell is pretty in the spring, Jimmy thinks as he crosses the bridge. It’s cold, still, far colder than the swamp, but the sun shining above makes the chill a bit more bearable. A few flowers have started to poke out of the ground, little patches of green grass scattered amongst the last of the winter snow. The breeze makes Jimmy shiver, though it smells fresh, like new life.

Scott meets him at the path, dressed far more casually than usual (though he’s still stunning- is he ever not?). His usual white and gold have mostly been exchanged for a blue-green shade, pants that don’t quite reach the top of his boots, though Jimmy has no idea how his legs aren’t freezing.

“Hello, Codfather.”

"Elvenking,” Jimmy returns, grinning a little.

“Please, we’re allies. Call me Scott.”

“Then you should call me Jimmy.”

Scott laughs. “Alright, Jimmy. So, welcome back to Rivendell- I don’t have something fancy set up today, but I thought I’d show you the greenhouse. There’s something special going on,” he adds, winking at Jimmy.

“Something special? Do I get to know what it is?”

“I won’t tell you just yet,” Scott says. He’s fiddling with the hem of his tunic, uncharacteristically anxious. “I hope it’ll be worth it, though, once you see the greenhouse.”

“Is the greenhouse warmer than here?” Jimmy can’t help asking. He’s shivering already, having most definitely forgotten just how cold Rivendell was. This cloak was fine for spring in the Codlands!

“Aww, poor swamp boy is cold,” Scott teases. “Here, have a warmer cloak.” He unbuckles his cloak swiftly, his movements elegant and efficient, and tosses the cloak around Jimmy’s shoulders.

Jimmy struggles for a moment to clasp it, fingers stiff from the cold, until finally Scott sighs and takes pity on him. Jimmy hardly dares breathe as Scott’s fingers brush up against the skin of his neck; Scott’s hands are somehow warm despite the chill of the day and his lack of gloves, though his touch still makes Jimmy shiver, breath caught in his throat.

He’s almost disappointed when the clasp clicks into place and Scott pulls away. “There you go. The greenhouse is warmer, but I know you’re never prepared for the cold- I hope you’ll put up with it for our little alliance date today.”

Jimmy nods, pulling Scott’s cloak tighter around himself. “I can put up with it.” He’d put up with just about anything if Scott was involved, he doesn’t say.

“Good, you’ll have to if you plan on maintaining this… alliance.” Scott gestures to follow him, and Jimmy does, trotting down the neatly made stone path. The elves are so very elegant in their building style, even when it comes to the paths. Jimmy can see traces of Scott everywhere in the architecture- even the buildings he just helped with are gracefully, beautifully made.

They reach what seems like a glass dome, built high on one of the hills. The inside of it looks lush and green, a stark contrast to the bits of snow still littering the ground outside.

Scott pushes open the door, creating a rush of warm air. “Come on in.”

Jimmy’s happy to, breathing a slight sigh of relief at the warmth within. “This is pretty, dude!”

“Thanks, I built it myself.”

“Did you really?”

“Not all of it,” Scott laughs. “But this is one of the newer buildings in Rivendell- I did the design and a fair bit of construction on it.”

“Whoa,” Jimmy breathes. He’ll never fail to be impressed by Scott, over and over no matter how many times the elf does something incredible.

Scott’s expression is as unreadable as ever, but Jimmy thinks he can see a bit of pride hidden in his small smile. “Glad you like it.”

“Like it? This is incredible!”

“You haven’t even seen what I was planning to show you yet.”

Jimmy’s not sure what could make the greenhouse any more wonderful, but he nods anyways. “Lead the way!”

Scott does, showing him over to a part of the greenhouse where a particular plant takes up much of the space. It’s not all that remarkable- the plant itself is merely a common weed. Jimmy casts a confused glance at Scott, who gestures at the varying cocoons hanging from the plants.

“The butterflies,” Jimmy’s ally- allies, and only that, Jimmy tells himself- explains. “It’s getting close to the time where they’ll be emerging from the cocoons. In fact, we should see at least one or two today, if we’re lucky.”

“Oh!”

“Mhm.” Scott sits right down on the grass, patting a spot next to him. “We might be here a while, so I’d sit.”

Jimmy flops next to him, not taking his eyes off the cocoons. “Do you have a lot of butterflies in Rivendell?”

“Only these few. Not many butterflies can live at such high altitudes, but generations of monarchs have been born in Rivendell. They start out so small, you know?”

“Yeah?”

“Yep. Just tiny clusters of eggs on the milkweed. And then they hatch into little green caterpillars. They’re so fragile at the beginning,” Scott tells him. “You could crush one so easily if you weren’t careful.”

“Like cod eggs,” Jimmy says.

“Like cod eggs. And they grow, and then they weave cocoons around themselves. It takes a long time, especially compared to the lifespan of a butterfly. You have to be patient.”

Jimmy glances down at where Scott’s hand is resting next to his on the grass, close enough to reach out and take if he was just bold enough. “Yeah. Patient.”

“It takes them a while to emerge,” Scott continues. “They take a long time to come out- like me-”

Jimmy snorts, and Scott cuts himself off with a giggle.

“Anyways. But if you wait long enough, if you’re patient, and gentle, what emerges is something beautiful.” Scott’s tone is almost wistful, and somehow, Jimmy has a feeling he’s not talking about the butterflies anymore.

He swallows his nerves and puts his hand over Scott’s. “I bet they’re gorgeous when they’re all grown up.”

Scott turns to look at him, surprise flitting across his face before it’s replaced with something softer, fonder, that Jimmy doesn’t dare put a name to. “You’ll get to see them soon, hopefully.”

“Either way, I’m glad I came to visit.”

“I’m glad you came too,” Scott says softly. It sounds like he means it.

True to Scott’s word, they don’t have to wait much longer before one of the cocoons starts to shake.

Jimmy’s the one who points it out, nudging Scott’s shoulder and pointing to the cocoon. “Scott, look!”

“Here we go,” Scott agrees.

Butterflies aren’t quick to break free of their chrysalises, but Jimmy can’t say he minds that, not when it gives him a convenient excuse to spend more time with Scott. Scott hasn’t let go of his hand; he doesn’t, even when Jimmy squeezes it excitedly as the butterfly starts to emerge.

The monarch sits on the outside of its cocoon for a while, letting its crumpled wings dry off. Finally, it flaps them out fully and takes the leap of faith off its cocoon.

Jimmy’s holding his breath, but the newly reborn butterfly takes to the air as naturally as if it’s been flying all its life. It flits around him and Scott, circling a few times before it lands on Scott’s outstretched hand.

Scott smiles, wider and more purely joyful than Jimmy’s ever seen him. “Look, Jimmy.”

“Oh! You’re like a butterfly whisperer, dude,” Jimmy tells him. He finds himself smiling too; Scott’s joy at the butterfly is so contagious that he just can’t help it. Scott is even more gorgeous when he smiles, too, which definitely doesn’t hurt.

The butterfly flits away, and Scott brings his hand down to clasp Jimmy’s hand between both of his. “Thank you so much for the date, Codfather.”

Back to formal names. Jimmy’s head spins at the contrast between how Scott’s still holding his hand, gentle, intimate, and the formality of the title. “Well, you were the one who invited me! I should be thanking you, really.”

“It’s not like there was a lot of set-up involved,” Scott teases.

“Still. I had a wonderful time.” Hardly believing his own boldness, Jimmy brings one of Scott’s hands up and kisses the back of it like a knight kissing the hand of their noble. “Let’s meet again?”

Scott flushes, and his voice comes out high and a bit strangled. “I’d love to.”

“Send me an owl,” Jimmy says. “Whenever you want, I can make time.”

“Expect a message soon,” Scott replies. It’s not a promise, but it sounds a bit like one and that’s enough for Jimmy.

He leaves in a flurry of goodbyes and blushing, and it’s only once he’s sweating in the warmth of the Cod Empire does he realize that not once, even walking through the snow, did Scott ask for his cloak back.

[ladykissingfish]

Under the Mistletoe with the Akatsuki // Part Six // Hidan

Hidan

“Ah; you fucking lucky bastards! I should charge you all for this; to kiss an elite follower of the mighty Jashin is a privilege you assholes don’t deserve. Except you, Konan. In fact if you want to move the mistletoe to my bedroom then — ow! OW!! Kakuzu let go!! I was only kidding; can none of you take a fucking joke?!”

Konan

She sighs before she goes to him. He’s made a big deal all day about kissing her in particular, although she doesn’t get why. She feels nothing other than friendship for him, and, despite his ramblings, she doesn’t think he feels anything stronger either. Nevertheless, it’s her turn. She steps up to him and he reaches out and takes her small hands, giving them a surprisingly gentle squeeze. “You ready for this, gorgeous?” But something about that, about the word “gorgeous”, sets off the normally calm Konan. She yanks her hands out of his and plants them on her hips. “Gorgeous, beautiful, sexy — that’s literally all you ever say to me. I’m more than a pair of tits; I have a fucking brain in this head!” Hidan blinks, startled. “That’s - the first time I ever heard ya curse, Konan.” He grabs her hands again. He speaks in a soft voice and apologizes, and tells her that he has nothing but respect for her. “I only wanna kiss you so bad ‘cuz you’re beautiful INSIDE and out, and you bring lots of light to my shitty darkness.” She blushes and thanks him, and he takes the opportunity to lean in and kiss her lips. Just a soft touch, but both of them are smiling afterwards.

Deidara

Both of them are hesitant to do this, to say the least. Hidan won’t ever admit this, but he’s held a small physical attraction to Deidara since the day they met. Very small, and *purely* physical, but still. He doesn’t like thinking about it, because to do so would be him admitting to himself that his own sexuality isn’t as black and white as he’d thought it to be. He tells himself that if he likes Deidara at all, it’s simply because the guy looks ridiculously similar to a woman. Deidara doesn’t wish to kiss Hidan because, although HE will never admit to it, Hidan scares him. The man’s proven immortality throws a wrench into Deidara’s long-held ideals of what life (and art) are ultimately about: beauty made greater by virtue of being fleeting. But Hidan being able to live forever — could it be that Deidara’s partner Sasori has been right this whole time? That art really is eternal? Still, everyone is watching, so the two shake off their feelings, and Deidara approaches him. “Keep your tongue in your mouth, okay?” “Same goes for you, blondie.” Hidan gives himself very quick peck to the lips, but both men are blushing quite hard regardless. And even as brief as that was — Hidan makes note to ask Deidara what kind of shampoo he used later, because he smelled absolutely incredible.

Kisame

After the last kiss between them, when it was Kisame’s turn, Hidan is hesitant to get close to this guy again. But Kisame is grinning, and appears to be in a good mood. “Ah, come now, Hidan; surely we can let bygones be bygones?” Hidan starts to curse at him, but catches himself just in time: after all, his mouth was what got him into trouble last time. So he merely nods and stands still, while Kisame approaches him. “Are you afraid, Hidan?” “Ah? Why would I be —“ “I can smell the fear coming from you.” Hidan folds his arms in front of his chest and demands to know who wouldn’t be afraid at the thought of possible dismemberment. Kisame just laughs and promises he’ll behave himself. He leans in, locks eyes with Hidan, and flashes his teeth — before giving Hidan a closed-mouth kiss on the forehead. Hidan let’s out a shaky sigh of relief, and Kisame walks away, laughing.

Itachi

Like Deidara, Hidan has a bit of a grudge against the raven-haired Uchiha. He’s fallen victim before to the power of Itachi’s sharingan, and the calm, quiet way that Itachi reacts to Hidan’s jabs and wheedles always serve to irritate. But even so — Hidan has to admit that the guy isn’t all THAT bad (certainly not the hell-spawn that Deidara makes him out to be, anyway). There was a time once when Hidan caught a cold, and Itachi braved going into his room to bring him a cup of sinus-clearing tea. Itachi steps up to him and nods, and Hidan leans forward and kisses him on the cheek. An oddly sweet gesture, and one that Itachi seems to like, as he actually smiles before he leaves. Hidan watches him go, thinking (and not for the first time) that having a talent like the sharingan is completely wasted in someone who isn’t immortal. Maybe he should talk to him later about joining the Jashinist movement ...

Pein (Nagato)

If the Akatsuki is a family, and everybody (save Konan) are Pein’s children, then Hidan is undoubtedly the problem child of the group. The loudest, the most foul-mouthed, definitely the most violent ... but still. When Hidan could find an ounce of maturity, and focus, he was one of the best members of the team. And Nagato finds his regenerative abilities to be amazing, and, if there was ever the time and opportunity for it, would love to study Hidan in-depth. Pein approaches him and Hidan bows his head, an act of respect he gives to the Leader ... and ONLY the Leader. Pein delivers a light kiss to the forehead and walks away. He can hear Hidan mumbling behind him about “those damn piercings could kill somebody” but chooses to ignore it.

Zetsu

Oh, God. Hidan smells like human blood most of the time (thanks to his many gory sacrifices), and Zetsu is attracted to this scent like a bee is to a flower. He’d hang around this guy all day if he could, if not for the smell then to act as clean-up for the bits and pieces of his victims that he leaves behind. But Hidan doesn’t quite care for the plant man, to say the least. He didn’t sign up for the Akatsuki to be made to work alongside non-human freaks of nature. When Zetsu walks up to Hidan, the gray-haired jashin lover is nervous, to say the least. Zetsu puts his hand on Hidan’s face, leans in, and kisses his nose. It should only take a second, but Zetsu lingers over the spot for an abnormal amount of time ... and Hidan realizes it’s because he’s sniffing him, like an animal. “Okay, freak; get the hell away from me!” But Zetsu doesn’t move, in fact tightening his grip on Hidan’s face. Hidan is surprised; Zetsu is quite a bit stronger than he’d realized. His surprise turns to fear when the expression in Zetsu’s eyes shifts, and Hidan hears a very noticeable stomach-growl come from him. Hidan is seconds away from fight or flight (he hasn’t quite decided yet) when Tobi comes into the room, seemingly breaking the trance Zetsu had been in. Hidan breathes out a sigh of relief as zetsu keaves, giving silent thanks to the moron in the mask.

Tobi

After “scaring” Zetsu away, Tobi gleefully announces that its his turn with Hidan. “Ohh boy, Hidan-san! You and Tobi are gonna have fun!” Hidan is actually quite eager for this; not so much for the kiss itself, but for his chance to see this freak up close and unmasked. Tobi looks behind him; nobody else is around. He turns back to Hidan and slides his mash halfway off his face, revealing his pale skin, dark, long-lashed eyes, and full lips, pursed into a grin. Getting closer, Hidan can detect faded, jagged lines extending from the right side of his forehead to the bottom of his mouth. Still, even with them — “Fucking hot”, Hidan mutters, the words slipping out before he can stop them. Tobi grins and cups Hidan’s face, staring into his eyes. “So are you,” he murmurs, and is it Hidan’s imagination or is his voice ... different, somehow? Well, no time to think about it; suddenly Tobi’s (unbelievably soft) lips are on his own, and for the first time since this encounter started, Hidan feels a feather-touch of unease. The way Tobi’s kissing him ... this isn’t how an idiot kisses. What in the name of Jashin — and then just as quickly as it began, it ends. Tobi slides his mask back into place, and skips off to the kitchen. Hidan has to take a few moments to collect himself, and in the way-back of his mind is a small voice urging him to warn Deidara to watch himself around Tobi. About what? Hidan doesn’t know the specifics. All he knows is those two are alone a LOT for missions, and if Tobi really is more than he seems, then — But then again, why should he care what happens with the blonde jerk, anyway?

Sasori

Another person that annoys Hidan. He was in the Akatsuki for almost an entire year before he’d realized that the ugly body that he was in, wasn’t even his own. His surprise when he witnessed a hatch open and a childlike-looking redhead step out was unprecedented. Learning that he was in his 30’s meant that Hidan should have shown him the proper respect, but Hidan just couldn’t take orders from somebody with the face of a young boy. Sasori seems to know this, and therefore avoids interactions with him as much as possible. Now, however, contact is unavoidable. “Can you even reach my face, shorty?” Sasori tilts his head and seems to really be considering Hidan’s question. Suddenly, without warning, Sasori’s wooden arm detaches itself from Sasori’s body, and hits Hidan full-force in the center of his stomach. Hidan curses and doubles over, and while he’s bent Sasori takes the opportunity to go to Hidan and kiss his forehead. “I can reach you just fine, brat,” he murmurs, before leaving. Hidan has a quick recovery time to all forms of pain, and he’s quickly back on his feet, staring after Sasori with anger — and a tiny bit of admiration.

Kakuzu

“Hey old fucker; you’ve been waiting all day to get a taste of this, eh?” Kakuzu just rolls his eyes at Hidan’s comment. He’s not sure what he did, either in this life or another one, to be partnered with a creature as odious as Hidan. Normally with people that Kakuzu finds no value in, he kills, plain and simple. But Hidan is neither plain nor simple; no matter what Kakuzu hits him with, he keeps getting back up, just as loud and irritating as ever. But ... even someone as gruff as Kakuzu has to admit that Hidan isn’t all that bad. It’s actually a bit lovely, to have found another person (besides Sasori, who has made it clear that when everyone else expires, his complete solitude is something he’s looking forward to) to be with to share the blessing (and curse) of immortality. He walks up to Hidan and grabs him by the forearms, forcing him into stillness. “What the hell, old man?! Let go of me before —“ but Kakuzu interrupts him by inclining his neck and kissing his lips. Hidan’s mouth is soft, and he has a taste to him, something akin to cinnamon or pumpkin. Kakuzu let’s go of him and starts to walk away, when suddenly Hidan reaches out grabs him, pulling him into another kiss. Kakuzu is surprised, but he makes no attempt to break Hidan’s hold on him because ... this is nice. This feels good, this feels natural. Almost like — and then a sudden explosion makes them both jump; Tobi comes running past them, with Deidara (and his bombs) on his heels. “Get back here you little shit!!” Kakuzu sighs, and this time when he turns to go, Hidan doesn’t stop him. But Kakuzu can feels Hidan’s eyes on him, following him all the way to his room.

[goindownshipping]

Inappropriate use of Stark tech? 😏

Smile for the Camera

Pairing: Tony Stark/Peter Parker (Starker, Starkercest)

Rating: Explicit (E) Rating due to brother/brother smut

Notes: Thank you @the-mad-starker for the suggestion for my first fill! This fills the “Inappropriate use of Stark tech” for @starkercestevent 😊

Warnings: NSFW, brother/brother smut, Tony and Peter are both of age and consenting.

Word count: 2k

Summary:

Tony quickly busied himself with repositioning the robots, as if that would solve Peter’s confusion. DUM-E was stationed at the right corner of the foot of the bed while U was on the left side of the bed. When he was done, Tony turned around and gestured to the new setup. After a moment, all the pieces clicked into place in Peter’s brain. Tony knew he’d figured it out when Peter’s entire face flushed pink all the way up to the tips of his ears.

Or, Tony enlists the help of DUM-E and U to film him and Peter in bed. 

“Petey! I have a surprise for you!” Tony called as he entered their apartment. 

“Just a sec, Tones!”

Tony could hear Peter’s voice coming from their bedroom, clearly preoccupied with something. He dropped his backpack at the front door and headed for the kitchen, his eyes immediately drawn to the plate of snacks on the counter. He had a mouthful of cheese and crackers when Peter finally came down the hall from their room, his hair clearly damp from a recent shower.

“You couldn’t have waited for me, gorgeous?” Tony smirked.

“If you’re lucky, maybe I’ll need a second shower this evening,” Peter winked.

Tony snorted and made grabby hands for his boyfriend who just rolled his eyes and let himself be pulled in for a hug. 

“How was your day, babe?” Tony asked against the soft skin of Peter’s neck.

“It was busy, but good. I finally made some progress on that formula with MJ. It would be nice to get that done before the weekend. Oh, mom and dad are coming this weekend, they wanted me to tell you.”

“Nooo,” Tony whined. “I had a surprise planned for this weekend.”

Peter craned his head back to take a look at Tony’s face. He pressed a quick kiss to his lips where they were pursed in a pout. “You’re cute when you pout, which is quite often.”

Tony didn’t budge, he just kept his lips pursed, inviting Peter to continue kissing him. Peter just laughed, knowing exactly what his brother was playing at. But Peter would never turn down an opportunity to shower Tony in kisses, and this was no exception. He leaned back in to press featherlight kisses all over Tony’s face, peppering his lips everywhere before finally capturing his lips again. 

“You’re trying to distract me,” Tony mumbled.

“Is it working?” Peter pulled back with a knowing grin on his face.

“You know it, honey. Come help me get a couple things out of the car - I guess you’re getting your surprise early.”

Peter beamed, always eager for one of Tony’s surprises. Tony just shook his head with a smile, unable to contain his fondness for his brother and love, which was only part of the reason he was dreading a visit from their parents. But he still had time before their sudden arrival.

In the driveway, Tony opened the hatch of his SUV to reveal two familiar robots. Peter looked at Tony with confusion.

“Why’d you bring DUM-E and U home from the lab, Tones? I thought you needed them for your senior design exhibit?”

“One of the many perks of them being my robots. I can use them for whatever I want,” Tony said with a glint in his eye. “Now help me roll these inside.”

With that, Peter followed Tony back into their apartment. He took an immediate right turn once he was inside, assuming they’d be leaving the robots in their shared office and lab space. To his surprise, Tony made his way to their bedroom with his robot in tow.

“Tony? Do you want both of these back there?”

“Yep, bring U on down to join Butterfingers, here!”

Peter wheeled the robot down the hall and parked it next to DUM-E in their bedroom. He stared at Tony, awaiting an explanation for the robots that were apparently taking up residence in their room. Tony stayed silent, just watching Peter with a mischievously crooked smile.

“Am I missing something?” Peter asked.

“You know what I originally designed these guys for, right?”

“To record and keep track of your inventions at home.”

“Yep,” Tony said with an emphatically popped “p”.

“I’m still not sure why they’re here,” Peter gestured to their spacious bedroom.

Tony quickly busied himself with repositioning the robots, as if that would solve Peter’s confusion. DUM-E was stationed at the right corner of the foot of the bed while U was on the left side of the bed. When he was done, Tony turned around and gestured to the new setup.

After a moment, all the pieces clicked into place in Peter’s brain. Tony knew he’d figured it out when Peter’s entire face flushed pink all the way up to the tips of his ears.

“You still interested in that, Pete?” Tony asked quietly, stepping close to his flustered lover.

“I uh - yeah… I am,” Peter stammered.

Tony crowded into his space, walking Peter backward until he was pressed against the wall. Tony braced his forearms against the wall, his mouth coming to rest against Peter’s ear, hot breath coming out in pants against him.

“Yeah?” Tony husked. “You still wanna watch yourself get fucked by your big brother, Petey? Wanna see what I see every night baby?”

Peter could only nod, his brain couldn’t form any sounds besides the needy whimpers he was letting out without realizing it. Tony pressed a wet kiss to Peter’s neck and trailed his lips up to Peter’s ear.

“God Pete, you are so fucking hot. Can’t wait to watch us, baby,” he whispered.

“Tony,” Peter moaned.

Tony took a slight step back, creating just enough distance to lay his eyes on Peter.

“Good surprise?”

“The best.” Peter took a deep breath, trying to regain a bit of composure. He finally managed to open his eyes, he wasn’t sure when they’d closed and felt himself melt at the sight of Tony’s smile.

“Love you so much, Tones.”

“I love you too, Petey. Now, what’s for dinner?”

Peter just laughed and shook his head as he moved toward the kitchen, knowing Tony’s appetite was not something to be messed with. 

A few days later found Peter and Tony frantically cleaning their apartment on a gloomy Friday night. Howard and Maria would be arriving the following morning and their home was certainly not up to the family standard of cleanliness. Not to mention, it was incredibly obvious that “Peter’s bedroom” hadn’t been touched since the last time their family visited a few months prior. 

Peter and Tony had come to accept their mutual attraction in the 9th and 11th grades, respectively, but there were very few people in their lives that knew the real extent of their relationship. Two people to be exact, and that did not include their parents. When Peter decided to attend the same university as Tony, their parents were thrilled. They allowed Peter to live with Tony in an off-campus apartment even as a freshman when Peter practically begged them to let him live with his older brother. 

He claimed it had everything to do with social anxiety and his nervousness around living with so many new people in the dorms. They obviously didn’t know the real reason the boys wanted to live together. Now, halfway through their sophomore and senior years, Peter and Tony lived an incredibly domestic life together. They learned even more about each other and fell more in love while experiencing so much life together. They wouldn’t trade any of it for the world.

However, Howard and Maria visiting always threw a wrench in things. Tony was busy decluttering the living room and organizing the kitchen while Peter stashed his belongings back in the extra bedroom. He hated it, but he knew there was no way they could spin it if their parents found all of his stuff in Tony’s room.

“You almost done, Tones? I just finished my last bit,” Peter called. As he stepped back into their bedroom he laid eyes on DUM-E and U and realized they’d need to be moved as well. “Actually, Tony can you come help me move these robots to the office?”

Peter heard Tony’s footsteps coming down the hall and he grabbed U to pass off to Tony.

“Nope, we’re using those tonight, Pete.”

 Peter choked on his breath. “Tonight?”

“Mhm, tonight, honey. You done with everything else?” Tony asked quietly.

“Y-yeah, I think I got everything,” Peter nodded, his eyes flitting between the robots and Tony.

Tony stepped into Peter’s space and wrapped him into a tight embrace. “Relax, honey. We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. I know nights like this can be hard,” Tony trailed off. He knew how much they both hated the prospect of hiding themselves from their parents and he needed to be strong for Peter.

Peter shook his head, “No, I want to, babe.”

“You sure?” Tony pulled back to hold Peter’s gaze, making sure his younger brother wasn’t lying to him.

“I’m sure, Tony. I’ll tell you if that changes, promise.”

Tony pressed a kiss to Peter’s forehead. “I love you. Now you get comfy on the bed and I’ll get these going,” he whispered.

“I love you too,” Peter murmured dreamily before taking a step away.

What felt like hours later, Peter was laid out in bed, completely boneless and out of control of the sounds coming from him. Tony had taken his sweet time taking him apart bit by bit, making sure they really put on a show for the cameras. Peter tried not to pay attention to the robots and cameras hovering next to the bed, but it turned him on even more to look straight into the camera, knowing he and Tony would be watching this back. 

“Oh god, Pete, so good baby,” Tony moaned. His thrusts were slow and deep in an effort to drag out their pleasure just a bit longer. He was propped up on his elbows above Peter, his eyes trained on his boyfriend’s blissed out face.

Peter’s stomach was covered in evidence of two (maybe three, he’d lost count) orgasms and he could feel himself getting closer to the edge of another. He groaned at the hot coil building in his stomach, his cock getting harder with every punch to his prostate.

“Tony, babe, so close.”

“Yeah, baby, you gonna come for me again? Gonna come on my cock?”

The words went straight to Peter’s dick, and he could feel his orgasm building, the pleasure just on the precipice of exploding. He just needed-

“Come for me Peter, come for your big brother,” Tony groaned in Peter’s ear.

“Oh fuck! Tony!” Icy hot pleasure ran through his veins, his climax overtaking any and all awareness he had left. His cocked jumped and dribbled out the last bit of come he had left, but the waves of pleasure were tinged with pain as his orgasm ran him dry.

Tony groaned at the way Peter’s hole clenched even tighter around him. “Fuck baby, that’s so good. Fuck, I’m gonna come, Pete!”

Tony pulled out of Peter’s hole, desperate to see his own come mix with the mess Peter had already made on his stomach. His orgasm ripped through him after hours of holding off and focusing on Peter’s pleasure.

“Mmm yes, Tony. Want it all over me,” Peter slurred, noticing Tony’s plan.

“Oh god, yes baby, all over you.”

With that, Peter felt Tony’s warmth explode across his abdomen, some spurting up his chest and even streaking up to his chin. He stuck out his tongue, trying to get a taste of it, but pouted when he couldn’t quite reach it.

“Damn, Pete, you’re a vision,” Tony mumbled as he ran his fingers through the come on Peter’s chin and brought it up to Peter’s open lips. It was obscene the way Peter sucked on Tony’s fingers, his eyes fixed on him, knowing exactly what he looked like.

“Good boy,” Tony murmured, before pulling away to grab a warm cloth to clean them up. 

Peter whined at the loss, but quickly quieted down when Tony returned. Peter leaned into the touch, relishing the gentleness between them. Tony pressed kisses over every inch of Peter he could reach as he ran the cloth across his chest and stomach, then down between his thighs to make sure he wouldn’t be uncomfortable sleeping.

“Get comfy my love. I’m just gonna move these guys back to the office,” Tony whispered.

“Mkay,” Peter replied, already half asleep.

Tony just chuckled fondly as he managed to grab both robots and their cameras. Once they were situated in the office, he pulled up his network.

“J, download files to my private server.”

“Right away, sir.”

As Tony made his way back to their room, he stuck his head in the spare bedroom and frowned at all of Peter’s belongings. They looked so out of place by themselves; Tony much preferred to see them intermingled with his own. He shook his head knowing there was nothing to be done, it would gratefully just be a few days this time, then they’d be back to normal.

He climbed in bed and Peter immediately clung to him like a koala. Tony smiled down at the boy and wrapped him in a tight hug, content to just hold his boy as he slept.

“Thank you, Tones,” Peter whispered.

“Nu-uh, thank you, honey. That was amazing.”

Peter tilted his chin up to look at Tony. “I love you lots, babe.”

“I love you back, Petey. Now get some sleep, my love.”

Peter nodded and drifted off to sleep. Tony wasn’t far behind him, for once not worrying about the following day, just thinking about the man in his arms. And the obscene footage currently downloading down the hall. But that was a thought for another day.

[sophfandoms53]

History Repeats Itself AU

It all started on that one Christmas Eve. At age 17, when a strange duck dressed all in purple appeared at McDuck manor. She claimed to Webby that she was a distant relative and said her name was Violet. Webby, of course, having a complete encyclopedia of the McDuck tree didn’t really buy it, but didn’t question it.

“So.. where’s Dewey?”

“I don’t know. Probably outside somewhere.”

“Why aren’t you with him? Aren’t you guys like.. together?”

“Yeah we are.. I’m just.. I just wanted some time to myself today.”

“On Christmas Eve? That’s boring! C’mon, lets go find Dewey!”

That was ‘Violets’ main goal. To find the blue duckling. Webby followed the young ones enthusiasm and they went on their quest to find him and when they did, he does his Dewey thing.

“Haha! Caught ya gorgeous!”

“Dewey! I’m not in the mood for one of your games right now!”

“....Dewey..?”

There he was. In the flesh. Not that he’d recognize her at his age. His main concern was getting Webby out of this funk.

“Would you do me a favour and get us down.”

“No.”

“Excuse me?”

“I said no. Not until you tell me what’s wrong.”

“Nothing’s wrong!”

“You’re such a bad liar Webby! I know somethings bothering you.”

“How could you possibly know that!? I haven’t been with you all day!”

“That’s how he knows somethings wrong! You two have been together for over a year now! And even before that, you guys are best friends, of course Dewey’s gonna know when somethings bothering the girl he loves. That’s why he set this all up. He just wanted to spend Christmas Eve with his girlfriend but you were too caught up in your own brooding to notice he was trying to help you- and I have to apologize to my family when I get home.”

“You set all this up.. for us?”

“Well yeah.. this is kind of our spot anyways.”

“Awh, Dewey Im so sorry.. I’ve just been so busy with something I don’t have, that I forgot the great guy I do have.”

“It’s alright, I’ve been there too, Angel.”

Seeing them both happy and in love brought a smile to ‘Violets’ face. This wasn’t something she saw often, and it made her slip up.

“That was some quick problem solving back there Violet. Your parents are lucky to have a such bright daughter.”

She then jumped into his arms hugging him tightly, she’d never had this chance before.

“Um.. okay.. this is happening now.”

“Sorry it’s just, I’ve never been able to spend Christmas with both my- cousins on my great aunt nephews brother side- yes, that was it.”

Dewey and Webby exchanged a look.

“You’re name’s not really Violet, is it?”

“Uhhhhhhh..”

It didn’t take long for Dewey to connect the dots. The girl’s determination to find him and wanting to spend Christmas with both him and Webby, he figured it out. But he knew that meant something else. He couldn’t worry about that now though, who knows when it happens? Before he and Webby sent her off, she left Dewey with this small bit of information.

“Dad-... Dewey!”

“Yeah?”

“It’s Skye.”

“What?”

“My name is Skye.”

Skye thought she could handle it on her own, with the help of her cousin Troy too, but she was wrong. Hiding it wasn’t right. Even with her good intentions.

The look of betrayal and distraught on both her twin brother and younger brother’s faces made her heart snap. She didn’t realize what she was doing until it was too late.

“Skye! What is up with you?!”

“Why are you being so strange! In case you haven’t notice this isn’t exactly the best time!”

She clenched the jacket and bag close to her.

“Because it belongs to Dad!”

“WHAT?!”

Chase, her twin, was furious.

“How do you know this belongs to Dad?!”

“Uh.. I’ve kind of been.. doing some research on him by myself.. only a little bit. I just looked him up in the Archives and when we made that stop to Ithaquack I spoke to the goddess Selene and god Storkules- aaaand this isn’t making my case better.”

“How could you not tell us about this!?”

“I was trying to protect you both in case Dad did something bad!”

“Yeah Okay! Or you just kept to yourself because you’re insecure about your place in this family! Typical Skye! He’s our father!”

“No! It’s not like that Chase! What happened was I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you guys to get hurt, then with all this new information and holes in the story I couldn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to hurt me! I’m sorry okay!”

“You’re only sorry because you got caught!”

While her twin called her out on her actions, her little brother stayed quiet, steadying his breath as he held his father’s jacket close. It was his dad’s. His father’s. The man he never met. Their father was around for the first two years of Skye and Chase’s life. Danny on the other hand, never knew his father, and having this piece of clothing in his arms, made him feel several things.

“Danny... are you okay?”

“You kept a secret about Dad... nothing about that is okay.”

Desperation. Ambition. Impulsion.

It was the last bit of information she needed. It was now or never. The truth about Dewey Duck.

Her eye was on the prize and nothing and nobody was going to hold her back. Not even her families cries.

Her cousin, Troy, who was with her since the start of the investigation pleaded to her first.

“This is insane Skye! Get back here! I know you want to learn about your dad but this isn’t the answer you’re looking for!”

Danny was next.

“I get it Skye! I want to know what happened to Dad too but you can’t risk all of us just find out what happened to someone we lost!”

Her Uncle Huey grabbed the walkie talkie, holding his son, Troy, close and pleaded to his niece.

“Skye sweetheart please, you have to get back here! I was in a similar situation to this a few decades ago! If your father was here he’d be telling you the same thing I am now! You need to get back here!”

Her twin, Chase, spoke out last.

“Skye, I miss Dad too, and I want to know where he is. But think about this. Mom and the others had to deal with losing him when it happened, and they pulled through together! Don’t you see? Our family is incredible! We’re enough! Let this go!”

Gritting her teeth as anger boiled her blood, she chucked the walkie talkie away.

Let this go?

No.

That wasn’t an option. Not when she was this close. And without knowing the truth about her dad, it would never be enough.

Louie looked on at his niece and watched as she slowly turned into Dewey when he was desperately seeking an answer about Della.

“She really is her father..”

The plane hit a snag and caused the duo to fall onto their bodies. Louie almost falling off the edge, and Skye crashing into the propeller. She looked up and saw the last piece. It was right there. She stood up and reached for it.

Louie pulled up close behind her. Begging and pleading.

“Skye please! I.. okay! I can’t protect you as much as I thought! Okay I said it! How can I get you to come back with me!”

Skye looked at her uncle, her hand crushing the paper, and her glare instense. She opened the paper up and her eyes scanned it. They widened as they looked over the image conveyed in front of them, a glimmer of sadness, tears forming in her eyes but she refused to let them fall.

“You want me to come back?”

“Yes! What can I do?!”

Skye held the paper up and into her uncle’s view as she yelled.

“Tell me what happened to my dad!”

Webby knows her babies are hurting. She’s been there. Losing Dewey was the hardest thing she ever went through. But her children are what kept her at bay. She needed to stay strong for them.

It’s what Dewey would’ve wanted.

When everything happened, Webby cut off ties with everyone and took her kids. She watched on her own as Danny hatched, and helped when he learned to walk and talk. Skye and Chase, despite both being two, helped as much as they could.

They all grew up with little or no memories of their father and it hurt Webby everyday to wake up with no one next to her. This wasn’t suppose to happen.

He promised her he wouldn’t make the mistake his mother did.

He swore he’d be there to see his children grow up.

But he lied.

Possibly.

Webby didn’t know. She had a constant clashing in her chest. Her husband made her have all these mixed emotions. She was angry and furious but she was also hurt and sad. She knows Dewey. She knows he loves her. He would never abandon her like this. There was more to the story, she knew that. But she didn’t know what.

She thought keeping her children away from the McDuck family would make them not want to be apart of adventures but silly her. They have her and Dewey’s DNA in them. Adventure is in their blood and core. Nothing was gonna stop these three rascals.

Letting them see their Uncle Louie, Uncle Huey and Aunt Shelly brought a new happiness to their lives, and she knew that.

But she never told them about their father. She wanted to but.. she was afraid telling them about him meant she’s accepted he’s truly gone. And she didn’t want to accept that. A small part of her believes he’s still out there. Somewhere. And that’s because of her kids. The lights of her life. The reason she looks forward to the mornings. All of them inhabit something from their father. And she took note of that every single day.

When she saw how distraught the truth made them, she had to tell them the rest.

“I get it you’re all upset. We were too. We all miss Dewey very much. But you three need to understand your Uncle Louie didn’t just give up on him. Louie tried everything to get him back. But if he tried anything else,he’d be broke and lost.”

“Broke and lost?”

“He really did try to get Dad back..”

“Well whatever Uncle Louie tried, it doesn’t matter, Aunt Shelly. We’re sticking with our true family. Right mom?”

“...No.”

“W-What?”

“Your Aunt Shelly is right. Louie did everything in his power to find your father. And to no avail. I don’t know exactly what he tried but that’s his brother. He wouldn’t leave him behind.. I walked away from this family before and that was a big mistake. The McDuck’s are always stronger when they’re together. I just.. I forgot that for a moment. But not again. We all need to stick together. Come here my babies.”

Tears welled up in her eyes, as they did in her two sons, who jumped into her arms and she held them tightly, allowing them to sob and let their tears out.

She looked up at her daughter, tears in her eyes.

Skye tried her best to keep her composure but she felt herself slowing falling apart.

“Skye, sweetie, I understand. You’re hurt. You’re sad, scared, and confused. Your father meant more to me than anything. I know what this is like. And it’s okay for you to be upset. Let yourself cry.”

She sniffed and looked down at her boys.

“If your father was here right now, he’d be incredibly proud of the three of you. Awh Danny, if he saw how your hair is when it’s zooshed back, he’d call you his mini him! And Chase, you were his little buddy, champ and warrior! The things you had him chasing you around for! And Skye, you were his baby girl and little princess. I never saw him have so much fun while teaching you how to walk. He was protective of you even when you were in your egg. I guess he knew the beautiful duckling you’d become. You three meant the world to him, and I know he’d give up his life if it meant you’d three are happy.”

Her daughter looked up, tears falling down her cheeks and ran into her mothers arms. She felt her brothers embrace her and the four of them all cried.

They all loved each other. And they all loved him. They knew if he was still out there, he’d be proud.

“We’ll stay strong for him.”

8 years.

He has spent 8 years alone on that orange rock, Mars that is.

Now being on another planet would usually sound like an exhilarating opportunity for Dewey but not when it meant he’d miss so many milestones and life on Earth.

When he first crashed, it was the week his son was suppose to hatch and he missed it.

Dewey did have his hands full at the time, as he had to deal with his right leg being crushed and unable to get it out. He looked around and had no other options.

Hey, Scrooge and Donald did say he reminding them of Della.

With his right leg now amputated, which he did so with the help of Della’s book, and Oxy-Chew on his side, still only Black Licorice flavoured, thanks Gyro.

Dewey has one goal. Get back home.

He missed his son’s hatching, he missed Danny’s first words and steps. He missed Skye and Chase’s birthdays and Danny’s too.

He missed anniversaries with Webby.

Man did he miss his wife.

Other than his kids, she was the only one in his thought.

“What was I thinking!? I just left Webby! And with three kids to raise! On her own! Ugh.. some husband and father I turned out to be..”

Was what he said on his first transmission.

Everyday he looked at their family portrait. Which was him holding Skye in his arms, Webby holding Chase in hers, and each of them placing one hand on Danny’s egg whom was placed in the middle of them.

His children and his wife, they were his motivation. He had to remind himself of that. He needed to get back to them. He needed to get back to her.

Each transmission Dewey tried his best to remain postive but it became harder as each year went on. Things became bleaker and he began to doubt that there was a way for him to get home.

During the 8th year on Mars, Dewey broke down. Collapsing on his knees, the tears he very rarely let fall, were pouring out like waterfalls as he sobbed into his own arms.

“I’ve tried everything! And nothing!”

He felt hopeless. He was stuck. Nothing he tried worked. And he didn’t know what else to do. He looked down at his wedding ring and choked back his tears. He couldn’t even begin to imagine the kind of state Webby’s in. 8 years of raising their kids on her own.. he felt terrible. He wants to be there for her but because of his own stupidity he’s stuck here.

A static sound caught Dewey’s attention. He looked over his shoulder and saw the tv he’d been working on the past few months. He walked over and placed his goggles on, connecting the wires and adjusting the satellite. He saw the picture appearing and heard the sound.

It was a live new casting.

“And all the magic in our town has gone away as Lena and Aurora De Spell have returned to normal and been reunited with Duckburgs saviors! Louie Duck and his family!”

Dewey’s eyes scanned the screen. He saw his younger brother in his green suit, smirking at the camera with his arm wrapped around Lena’s waist whom was in a dark purple gown and her hair had a light pink stripe in it. On the left side of the screen he saw Huey in a red shirt and white vest, with Troy whom was in a similar outfit as his father standing in front of him, and next to Huey he saw Shelly with a short low ponytail, a light blue sweater over her turquoise shirt with a blue skirt. Then on the right side of the screen he saw,

“Webby...”

She looked just a beautiful as ever even with the slight tired look in her eyes. He couldn’t help the small smile that reached his beak at the sight of his wife.

That smile slowly turned to a gape as he looked down at the three small figures standing in front of Webby.

Pink, Purple and Blue.

They were cheering and smiling at the camera. They all looked so familiar.

Dewey slowly placed his hand on the television and it hit him.

He gasped while lifting his goggles up and backed up to get a clear view of the trio.

“...Kids?”

-

They say history repeats itself because we don’t learn from the past.

But what if we do?

And we just make those decisions again hoping for a different outcome?

Or to make sure certain events happen?

History will always find its way to repeat itself.

And it hit the McDuck family in the hardest way possible.

[communionnimrod]

So like a lot of fun plot ideas, this came about through convos w @gooberfeesh.  This particular one came to us as we were laughing over how crazy fast Hermann types, mix with how skilled a programmer he is how OKAY YEAH he probably did some hacking in his day lets be real.

This also feels appropriate to finish and post with SDCC coming up, lmao (yay con exclusives).  Please enjoy Newt begging Hermann to hack a website for him!   <3 

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

Convention exclusives sucked.  Newt hated them.  Or, well, he wanted to hate them, but damnit, he LOVED them.  He was not ashamed to admit that when he lived over in America he had done some ridiculous things and spent a stupid amount of money to get some sort of con-exclusive toy or comic.  He was a collector, he lived for this kind of shit.  

Obtaining exclusive stuff was more difficult when you were on a completely different continent than the convention, though.  Even more so when you didn’t have the ability to hop on a plane and fuck off for a few days to go get it.  Newt didn’t think the PPDC would appreciate him disappearing from the Shatterdome and temporarily abandoning his work for (what they would dismissively consider) a toy.

Even IF said “toy” was a limited edition Trespasser and Knifehead statue bundle, intricately sculpted, both of them standing at 17 inches tall and basically perfect.  Newt might have drooled on his keyboard when he saw their prototype reveal.

He definitely cried a little when he saw the news that an insanely limited amount of them were going to be released to buy online.

The only problem was that it really was an insanely limited amount - a whopping 200 would be available for online purchase.  Newt knew from experience how stressful and unpredictable this kind of thing was.  They were likely to go quick, super quick, with high chances of the website crashing or checkout carts freezing.  If Newt wasn’t able to get one bought, he’d be devastated.  He had to hatch a plan, use his big and awesome brain to figure out a way to guarantee he wouldn’t lose this challenge.  They were bound to be options.

The morning they were to become available, Newt was up unnecessarily early.  It was a lot like how he used to be on Christmas Day - bouncing into the living room at 5am while his father was still sound asleep and his uncle wouldn’t be over for hours still.  He was too excited to keep sleeping.  Too nervous.  But!  He tried keeping his nerves at bay the best he could, because he had a PLAN.

An hour before the website was supposed to update, Newt eyed his lab partner carefully, watching him clack away at his computer.  Then, grinning, he wheeled his chair across the lab, sitting backwards in it with his arms draped across the back, only stopping when he slid and bumped into Hermann’s chair.  The man sighed.

“Can I help you, Newton?” he asked, glancing over at Newt, peering at him over the rim of his old man glasses.  Newt loved when he did this, loved the way it showed off his gorgeous, long eyelashes. Buuuuut he needed to focus.  He could dwell on his practically out of control, inappropriate secret crush on the other man later.

“Yes, actually, you sure can,” he grinned, leaning forward and resting his chin on the back of his chair.  “My awesome lab partner, intellectual colleague, all around good guy.”

Hermann regarded him, his dark eyes slowly slanting with each new compliment that came spilling out of Newt’s mouth.  It was a suspicious gaze, one Newt was no stranger to, but he kept grinning anyway.

“What do you want?” Hermann asked, his voice flat.

“Amazing that you should ask, dear Herms!” Newt exclaimed dramatically.  He could hear Hermann growl and open his mouth, no doubt to protest the nickname he despised so much, but Newt didn’t give him the breathing room to start that old argument.  “I was gonna see if you could do me the coolest, most awesome favor in the world and put your out-of-this-world hacker skills to the test for me.”

Hermann stared at him.  Newt leaned forward and rested his chin on his arm, waiting.  Hermann continued to stare.  Newt started bouncing his leg.

“I am not going to hack anything for you,” Hermann finally said.  

“Come oooooon,” Newt groaned.  “Please??”

“Whatever prank you want to pull, I’ll have no part of it.  Absolutely not.”  Hermann turned back towards his monitor.

“Oh!  No, dude, no prank!” Newt started to explain, straightening and nudging the other man’s chair until he looked over again.  “I don’t want you to hack someone.  I just … maybe want you to slightly hack into a website for me so I can buy something before it officially releases?”

Hermann’s eyebrows lifted in disbelief.  Disbelief turned to annoyance, which turned to exasperation, before going flat again.  It was quite the facial journey, really.  One that Newt would totally have appreciated if they weren't on a time crunch.  His leg kept bouncing.

“Absolutely not.”

“Hermaaaaaaaaann-”

“What in the world is so crucial that you would have me do something like this??”

“UGH here, I’ll show you.

Pushing closer and turning in his chair, Newt commandeered Hermann’s computer, ignoring the protest from his lab partner and the way he pushed at his shoulder, trying to get him out of his personal space.  Intent on convincing Hermann to help him, Newt pulled up a web browser and went to the site in question, navigating through until he found the page for the bundle.  Then, beaming, he turned back towards Hermann.

“That.”

“.... kaiju toys,” Hermann mumbled, staring.  “Of course it’s kaiju toys.  Dear lord.”

“Kaiju statues, and yes,” Newt corrected.  “Look at them!  The attention to detail is incredible, it’s the closest a company has ever gotten to accurately replicating their bone structure and skin tone.  And there’s only gonna be, like, 200 of them available.  It’s super limited.  And I super need it.  It’s not like I’m trying to steal one, dude, I’m gonna pay for it, I just … want to be able to pay for it before the plebeians and resellers of the world also have the ability to buy it.”

There was silence for a few moments.  Newt glanced at the clock on Hermann’s computer nervously.  He bounced his leg some more.  Hermann took off his glasses to pinch the bridge of his nose and sighed, before putting them back on.

“I cannot believe you’re asking me to do something like this for you,” Hermann grumbled, shaking his head as he took his keyboard back into his possession.  He started typing, eyes on the screen, and Newt slowly started to grin, the previous anxiousness fading from his expression.  “Thinking that I should take my valuable time away from my breach prediction model to use PPDC-issued computer equipment, on a PPDC server - provided and funded by the United Nations - to illegally hack into a toy selling website so that you can purchase kaiju toys.”

Newt watched in amazement as Hermann worked, his slender fingers flying across the keyboards so fast it was almost inhuman.  How the man didn’t make a million typos, he would never understand.  He couldn’t keep the awe off his face, and for a moment he wondered how lovestruck he looked.  Thankfully Hermann was WAY preoccupied and Newt had time to compose himself.  That was a topic that didn’t need to see the light of day.

“I could have my credentials revoked,” Hermann continued, still huffing over the whole ordeal.  “Were I to get caught.”

“Yeah but you never get caught,” Newt sighed dreamily, watching the website coding on the screen, the back door that Hermann was slipping them in through to open up the cart just moments before the item went live.

“Indeed, which is lucky for us both I suppose,” Hermann replied, snorting.  Then, after a moment, he pushed his chair back, sliding away from his desk slightly.  “Here.  Make your purchase quickly, so I can close this.”

Newt was beaming as he slid in, plugging in the proper information and buying the combo.  Done and done.  It went through without a hitch, and moments later his phone was chiming with his email confirmation.  Oh my god, he’d gotten it.  He was gonna get those beautiful babies.  Unable to contain himself, he let out a whoop of joy as he moved back, letting Hermann come back in to close everything off and remove all trace that they were there.  Newt didn’t miss the soft, amused smile the man had on his face.  It made his heart skip.

Once he was done, Hermann removed his glasses again and turned to face Newt, arching an eyebrow.

“I believe this earns a week without you making some sarcastic remark about my wardrobe,” he said expectantly.

“Sure, no prob,” Newt agreed without even thinking about it.  Rolling in, he snatched Hermann’s hands, lifting them and blowing on the tips of his fingers.

“What are you-” Hermann practically screeched, moving to yank his hands back, his cheeks going slightly pink.

“Fastest guns in the Ol’ West,” Newt smirked.

“... Excuse me?” Hermann asked, his face still flush, clearly missing the reference.  Newt was too happy to care.

“Nothing, man,” he said, standing up and clapping a hand on Hermann’s shoulder.  “Thank you Hermann, seriously.  I owe you one.  Like, more than clothing comments.  I’ll buy you dinner the next free night we have, ‘kay?”

“Um … a-alright,” Hermann agreed softly, nodding.

“So, back to work!” Newt exclaimed, clapping and turning to walk off towards his side of the room.  He didn’t miss the way Hermann huffed again behind him.

“You could at least take your damn chair back with you…”

[pocket-anon]

The Long Way Home (6/10)

The reception for this story continues to be so generous, and I can't thank you guys enough. I spent so many months anxious about whether anyone would like this fic, whether there would still be an audience for it, whether it would be worth the hundreds thousands of hours I've spent laboring over it/thinking about it/tweaking and re-tweaking it - but you all have been incredibly sweet and supportive, and I'm so grateful to you all for cheering me on. Hope you enjoy this week's installment!

As always, thanks to my beta, @captainstudmuffin, and to @lifeinahole27, @clockadile, and @ladyciaramiggles for their additional feedback.  Additional thanks to my wonderful CSBB artists, @waiting-for-autumn and @giraffes-ride-swordfishes for providing some gorgeous artwork to accompany this fic!  Links to their illustrations of certain scenes (*) will be in the text - go show them some love!

Find it on AO3.  Nautical term glossary here.

Missed a chapter?  Get caught up here.

Summary:  After an unnaturally long life fraught with personal tragedy, Killian Jones has become known throughout the realms as the infamous Captain Hook, an opportunistic ne’er-do-well and one of the most formidable pirates to ride the waves.  When he crosses paths with a mysterious young woman with no memory of who she is or how she arrived there, he recognizes the chance to claim a monetary reward that will constitute his biggest score yet.  But a journey across the world to get her home leads to a series of adventures that reveal that her value lies in far more than gold and jewels.  A Captain Swan Anastasia AU - sort of.  (Captain Swan Enchanted Forest AU.  Romance, Adventure, & Eventual Smut.  Rated E.)

Warning: Brief but graphic depictions of violence, peripheral character death, and smut.

Alec is back on his feet in several days, though he continues to be hobbled by his injury and he’s restricted to light duties like mending sails and cleaning weapons.  Swan begins to keep him company under the guise of having him teach her these skills, and when every sail is repaired and every gun, canon, sword, and dagger aboard polished to a shine, she goads him into spending another morning teaching her how to tie different kinds of sailor’s knots.

The youngest member of the crew takes her attention in stride.  “If you spend any more time with me, ma’am,” he jokes on their fourth morning together, “Cap’n’s bound to get jealous.”

Swan hums, the side of her mouth quirking.  “The Captain is a grown man who can afford not to be the center of a woman’s attention all the time,” she replies airily, picking her latest knot out of her piece of practice rope.  “Heaven knows he’s probably had enough women fawning over him to last a lifetime.”

Alec chortles and agrees with a bob of his shiny, bald head.  “Even so – and not that it’s any o’ my business, milady,” he says quietly, darting a glance up at the ship’s wheel where Hook is talking with the helmsman, “when I see a man look at a lady the way Cap’n does you, it’s generally safer t’ keep my distance.”

“Hmph.”  Swan wills her cheeks not to warm and tries to ignore the way her heartbeat quickens at the implication.  “If the Captain looks at me differently, it’s because he thinks our friendship is a good investment,” she points out.  The knot finally comes undone, and she twirls the rope triumphantly in her hands.  “And if he has expectations with regard to how I spend my time, he hasn’t told me.”

“Pretty sure he knows better than that, ma’am.”

She huffs and flashes Alec a grin, her eyes laughing. “Well, at least all his time around women has taught him a thing or two.”  She stands and offers him a hand.  “It’s almost lunchtime.  Do you have other duties, or can I walk you to the mess?”

He waves her off and grabs the wooden staff he’s been using for support.  “I think I can do it.”  He plants the staff on deck and pauses for a deep breath before he hoists himself up with a strained grunt.  Swan gasps when he suddenly hisses and teeters, an agonized sound escaping him as he crashes to the boards.

“Alec?” she yelps. She whirls toward the stern deck. “Hook?  Help!”

The Captain’s head whips around at her call, and he all but flies down the ladder, reaching them as quickly as any of the other men.  He gently nudges her to the side and kneels next to his fallen crewman.  “What is it, lad?  The leg?”

Alec groans and nods, rolling over on to his back with pain creasing his forehead.  “It’s been worse since last night,” he confesses.

Hook works quickly to untie the wide bandages encircling his thigh and carefully peels back the edges of the split in the Alec’s trouser leg, which is stiff with dried blood from the original injury.  His lips form a thin line as he peers at the exposed skin.  The flesh near the edges of the laceration is tinged a beefy red and so swollen it resembles the skin of an orange.  “This doesn’t look well,” he mutters.  He glances up at the other men standing by.  “Get him below and cut the trouser leg off,” he orders, gesturing at the soiled fabric.  “Find him a clean bandage, and no further duties until he’s healed.”  He stands up and allows Martin and Smee through so they can bear Alec up on his good leg and help him away.

Swan appears at his side, anxious.  “Will he be alright?” she asks softly.

Hook sighs, suddenly looking very world-weary.  “I don’t know,” he admits once Alec is out of earshot.  “I’ve seen the same happen to many a sailor.  We’ll watch it closely.  If it gets much worse, he may have to choose between losing the leg or losing his life.”

The color leaves her face, and he turns and wordlessly takes her hand, settling it in the crook of his left elbow as he escorts her toward the hatch leading to his quarters.  He’s silent for a few paces. “You’re worried about him.”

“Of course I am,” she replies with a puzzled frown.  “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“No, it’s just…”  He scratches the back of his head with his brace, his eyes on his toes.  “I’m still surprised that you’ve come to care about a band of pirates, I suppose.”  His brows lift.  “Unless there’s something special about Alec?”

For some reason, the question sets Swan brimming with impatience, and she rolls her eyes, in no mood for his teasing.  “Really?” she demands.  When his only answer is an enigmatic shrug, she huffs.  “Alec’s tall and he can swing a sword, but he’s still barely more than a boy, Hook.”  She pulls a face.  “An actual boy, not a one hundred fifty year-old in a boy’s body; I know you brought him on after Neverland.”  She sighs, forehead lined with concern.  “He’s a kid, and he’s hurt and scared and… and I just thought he could use a little company these last few days.”

Hook nods slowly, his expression turning touched and a little sad as he brings his hand up to cover hers.  “You’re right,” he murmurs apologetically.  “You’ve shown him a great kindness.  We aren’t used to such things, but he needs all of it he can get now.  There’s a good chance this week does not end well for him, one way or another.”

Swan swallows the enormous lump that rises in her throat.  “Maybe he’d let me read to him,” she offers in a small voice.  It feels like so little – like nothing – but it’s all she can think of.

Hook flashes her a muted smile.  “I’m sure he’d appreciate that, love.  Few sailors are lucky enough to have a good-hearted woman to help look after them in times like this.  Your presence is a gift to this crew.”  His fingers tighten affectionately over hers, and his eyes fall back to the deck, his tone growing somewhat despondent.  “I think you’ll be sorely missed.”

She blinks rapidly at his sentiment, her mouth forming a watery little smile, and as they descend below deck to have lunch, her heart feels heavy, weighed down by the cloud of Alec’s predicament and churning with mixed feelings.  She chuffs silently.  Leave it to Killian Jones to surprise her again.  He may have tried to tease her about her relationship with Alec, but contrary to his crewman’s suggestion, he doesn’t seem jealous – not really.  She should be glad for that, impressed by that.  Instead she feels more than a tiny prick of disappointment.  And more than a little vexed at how she feels.

Lunch is quiet, the mood solemn, and though she catches Hook’s eyes on her from time to time, the pair of them remain largely lost in their own thoughts.  Swan finishes quickly and hops up to select a book for Alec. “What do you think he’d like?” she muses, walking her fingers across the titles.

“Captain?”

Their heads turn toward the muffled call and the sound of rapidly encroaching footsteps in the passageway outside.  A hand knocks fervently on the door.

Hook finishes his last bite and brushes a stray crumb from the corner of his mouth.  “What is it, Smee?” he answers.

The knob turns, and Smee pops in.  “A ship, sir,” he reports.  “Packet, by the looks of it.”

Hook frowns. “Slavers?”

“Probably.”

“Slavers?”  Swan’s voice draws their attention.

Hook turns toward her, his countenance darkened.  “Aye. This close to the Foundering Islands, a ship like that is almost certainly carrying fresh prisoners of war to the slave markets east of here.”  He glances back at his first mate.  “Maintain course and speed, Smee.  I’ll come up shortly.”

Smee gives a hasty nod and scuttles away.

The door closes behind him, and a sigh passes Hook’s lips.  He rises and reaches for his sword belt.

Swan watches him put it on. “Are you going to engage them?”  

To her confusion, he shakes his head as he does up the buckle.  “Not likely.  Every choice to engage is a calculated risk, love.  We’re a man down now, and there isn’t much to be gained from attacking a ship like this.  Slavers can be a nasty lot, and we’re not in the business of capturing or selling slaves.” He reaches for his coat with a scowl. “It’s a disgusting practice.”

Her brow creases in thought. “What if… what if you took the ship but set the slaves free?”  She meets his confounded look with an earnest stare.  "You could help them."

Hook blinks, conflicting emotions writing themselves all over his face.  “Swan…”

“No, think about it.  You became a pirate to escape service to a ruthless king,” she argues, her voice growing bolder.  “Why should all those people stay condemned to life under a master if the Jolly can save them?”

He flexes his jaw with indignation.  “I’m not in the business of risking my crew in order to play hero.”

“What if the crew thought it was worth the risk?”  

Hook's countenance hardens, and he looks away, his gaze dropping to the floor as he turns to leave. He strides away without another word, and she watches the door shut behind him with sad eyes, frustration dragging her stomach down to the depths and leaving her unsure whether to appreciate or regret this acute reminder that, regardless of whatever misguided feelings she may harbor for the Captain, she may have put her faith in his good heart too soon.

 *             *             *

 His boots fall heavy on the deck as Hook stalks across the boards to join Smee at the wheel, his chest still aching from the disappointment on Emma’s face.  

“Steady at your ten o’clock, sir,” Smee informs him briskly, nodding toward the northwest horizon.  

Hook squints at the telltale rig configuration of the smaller vessel, his lips pressed into a grim line as he pulls out his spyglass and examines the ship more closely.

“I assume we’re leaving them alone?”

He licks his lips and stows his glass, his eyes landing upon the angry scratches that zigzag across the worn surface of the black sideboard next to the ship’s wheel.

It’s not too late to start over.  I can change, Bae.  For you.

You say that.  I know you’ll never change, because all you care about is yourself.

The last conversation he had with Baelfire in Neverland years ago leaps into his mind – the last time he hoped for a happy ending for himself and someone he cared for.  The last time that someone had looked on him with hope fading from their eyes.  

Hook stares intently at what remains of the ‘P’ and ‘S’ he once carved to orient the lad to the sides of the ship – letters obliterated in a fit of rage – and he swallows thickly. Regret slams down on him like a tidal wave as he remembers how he chose self-preservation over courage and anger over contrition, betraying Bae to the Lost Boys the moment he and the lad had had a falling out.  Coward.  His hand curls into a fist.  

He won’t lose his chance with Emma.  Not like this.

“Call all hands on deck,” he says quietly.

Smee turns.  “Sir?”

Hook fixes the other ship with a determined glare.  “All hands,” he repeats flatly.  “I need to address the crew.”

Though clearly perplexed by the demand, Smee knows better than to ask questions.  He closes his open mouth and hurries away, and five minutes later the men are assembled around the main-mast, murmuring amongst themselves at this unexpected summoning.

Hook stands above them on the stern deck, his hand resting on the rail near the ship’s bell.

“I’ve called you here,” he calls, “with an opportunity.”  His voice rings out across the Jolly, and every set of eyes is upon him. “To port lies what is most likely a ship belonging to slavers, men who put a price on flesh and trade other people as if they were chattel.  It’s been our custom to let slavers alone because I refuse to make a profit off of cargo that shouldn’t be cargo and because we don’t raise swords for anything other than profit or revenge.”

Sounds of agreement ripple through the crew.

“But I am proposing a change,” he continues.  “I claimed this ship and turned pirate to free myself from the service of a king who used loyal men like me as puppets.  He betrayed my trust, and my brother died because of his treachery. We,” he says, gritting his teeth, his eyes flitting over the faces of those assembled, “are men of honor.  We live by a code.  We go where we please and take what we like and answer to no one but each other.”  Cheers ring out, and he yanks his cutlass from the scabbard and swings it toward the other ship, his voice rising.  “And I say it is a foul thing for us to claim to value freedom but turn a blind eye to cruel men who make a living depriving others of it!” he bellows.  His heart rams against his ribs.  “I know there is risk and little profit to be had,” he admits, “but we are the most able crew to sail the seas, and for the sake of our decency and our self-respect as pirates, I say we take those bloody slavers down! Will you stand with me?”

Roars of approval fill his ears, fists jutting into the air in solidarity, and the voices of his men form an enthusiastic chorus as they chant, “Captain Hook!  Captain Hook!”

Hook hears movement and a gratified hum behind him and turns to see Emma standing nearby, her ponytail flapping over one shoulder like a victory banner on the breeze.  She leans against the sideboard, her face bright, her cheeks rosy, and her small smile brighter than the sun.  Hope fills him anew when she gives him a little nod, and he nods back.  Perhaps there’s something more valuable than gold or jewels or even revenge worth fighting for now, he thinks.

He allows her to remain on deck as they shift course to intercept the other ship, and Swan watches with sober fascination as they hoist the colors and fire the customary warning shot. As expected, the slavers refuse to surrender.

“Leave them alive, if you can,” Hook barks on the Jolly’s approach.  “I want to send a message.”  

He turns back to Emma. “I know how you feel about being asked to stay below, love,” he acknowledges gently, “but perhaps you’ll oblige me this time?”

He considers it a small miracle when she concedes without protest.  Emma turns toward the hatch to his quarters, pausing to lay her hand on his shoulder and gaze up at him with anxious eyes.  “Be careful?”

He gives her a soft smirk and risks reaching forward to cup her face, his thumb drifting softly across her skin.  “You try not to worry, and I'll try not to need a daring rescue today. Alright?”  His heart leaps at the way she blushes, a chuckle playing on her lips as she heads down below.

The crew of the slave ship numbers about fifteen, and though they put up a fight, this particular group proves no match for the men of the Jolly Roger, even with the latter utilizing non-deadly force.  Within twenty minutes, the slavers find themselves trounced, bound, and forced to huddle in the center of the main deck, their expressions a mixture of anger, resentment, and fear as they eye the pirates that form a tight circle around them.  

“Which one of you is in charge?” Hook demands, striding forward.  Glances dart toward a heavy-set scoundrel with a barrel chest and a bald head whose skin is bronzed and leathery from the sun.  Hook tips his chin at him.  “You.”

The man raises his dark, beady eyes.

“You know who I am?” He sees the slaver glance at his hook, and he smiles coldly.  “You do. Excellent.  So you know how lucky you and your men are to still be alive.” His face hints at a snarl.  “You are being given quarter this once in order to deliver a message to your fellows in the slave trade.”  Hook lifts his head and raises his voice.  “Personal freedom is not a commodity to be bought and sold, and as pirates, we can be indifferent no more,” he announces.  “You are no longer safe from our interference.  We will demand surrender from any slave ship we come across, and we will encourage our brethren to do the same.”  He draws his sword on them, his voice taking on a deadly timbre.  “You are relieved of this ship and everything and everyone aboard.  Get to your boats and go before I decide to stop being generous.”

Most of the slavers climb to their feet and shuffle off under the escort of his men, but their leader lags behind and glowers at Hook.  “So you steal property and yet suppose yourself the better man,” he sneers.

Hook launches forward, his blade slicing through the air and biting the flesh just below the other man’s jaw.  “People,” he hisses, rotating the sword edge with excruciating slowness until it just barely draws blood, “are not property. And I’m a better man now than when I allowed you to continue this bloody business unfettered.”  He hooks a large loop of keys off the man’s belt and plants a boot in his stomach, watching with grave satisfaction as the slaver wheels across the deck and crashes into the gunwhale with a tortured grunt.  The man crumbles to his knees, and Hook snorts. “Get him out of my sight.”

He finds his way below, and his stomach churns increasingly as he draws closer to the hold, the air growing uncomfortably warm and thick with the stench of unwashed bodies and human foulness.  He finds Martin and Roberts waiting for him at the hatch with revulsion in their eyes.

“Are there many?” he asks quietly.

Martin nods, his expression grim.  “Aye, Captain.  See for yourself.”  He steps aside, and the open hatch comes into view.  

The heat and smells are immediately magnified, hitting him in the face like a sordid cloud as Hook kneels and peers down into the dimly lit space, and it takes everything he has not to retch.  He looks away for a second, face clenched in a grimace, before steeling himself and turning back to examine the hold.  The terrified eyes of men, women, and even some older children stare back up at him. The light of a few hanging lanterns casts shadows across their faces, and he can see that they’re packed shoulder-to-shoulder like livestock, the close and distant clinking of their chains confirming for him that the entire hold is full with bodies.

His gaze locks onto a boy, aged perhaps eleven or twelve, with shaggy dark hair.  The lad’s pale, round face is smudged with tears and filth and set with wide, timid eyes, and something in Hook’s chest wrenches as his own time as slave to a series of hardened captains – six years of childhood that was several lifetimes ago – suddenly feels as though it’s not so far away.  Fury flares in his blood.  “Get them out,” he growls, managing to hide the quaver in his voice as he tosses Martin the ring of keys, “and see if any of them knows how to sail this vessel home.”

He hurries back above deck, pausing under the guise of visually inspecting the sails in order to catch a few deep lungfuls of the ocean air and allow his pulse to stop hammering.  His ears pick up the steady squeaking of pulleys as his men lower the boats full of slavers astern, and there’s a pair of splashes when they finally hit the water. Good riddance.  

Hook hustles to the aft rail to watch the slavers depart.  Pistols emerge, and a handful of his men train their weapons on the boats to keep the other crew in line as they go.  His eyes dart over to the Jolly and to the hatch leading to his quarters, and the thought of Emma holed up safely below while the slavers row in the opposite direction brings a relieved sigh to his lips as he looks to Thomas and Smee standing guard on the Jolly’s deck and gives them a grateful nod.  

The sound of dozens of footfalls causes him to turn around, and satisfaction curves his mouth at the sight of the first of the former slaves climbing up and out into the sunlight. Many cringe and duck behind their hands as they adjust to the brightness, but there is excited chatter amongst them, and though he can see plenty of arms and legs adorned with red marks, the irons that caused them have been abandoned below.

All told, over fifty people emerge from the hold, followed by Roberts and Martin, who appear as happy as any of them to be out of the bowels of the ship.  

Hook approaches. “That’s everyone?”

Martin swipes his sleeve over his damp brow, looking weary.  “Yessir.”

“Can they sail?”

He bobs his head. “Aye.  I counted a dozen of them who identified as seafarers.  They think they can manage.”

“Provisions?”  Hook turns to Roberts.

The quartermaster hums the affirmative.  “Stores’re fine.  They’ll do alright, I think.  They estimate their homeland’s less than a week from here.”  He scratches at the base of his neck.  “Shall we investigate the crew quarters, Captain?”

Hook smirks half-heartedly. “Of course, Old Man.  What kind of pirate do you take me for?”

It’s not a huge haul, and much of what they find by way of clothing and linens they leave for the former slaves, but they do locate a fairly generous purse in the main cabin and some useful supplies worth scavenging – weapons and ammunition, extra lantern oil and wicks intended for the slavers’ return trip from market, parchment and writing supplies, pipe tobacco, and a few bottles of quality spirits. The Captain hums with approval as he finishes counting the money with Roberts and seals the coins back into the satchel.

“Not a bad day’s work, eh, sir?” Roberts asks, accepting the purse for safe-keeping until it can be divided amongst the crew.

“No.”  Hook leads him back up the ladder, savoring the swirl of wind that greets him when they emerge on deck.  He takes in the scene before them.  Some of the former slaves inspect the rigging while explaining the structure of the ship to the less experienced sailors, others haul buckets of water from the sea in order to wash, and children weave in and out of the crowd like a school of fish as they chase each other across the deck.  Their youthful laughter fills the air, and Hook cranes his head to watch the lad he saw before scramble by with his mates, all traces of fear gone from his small face.  Where once the deck of this ship was dour, it’s now filled with life, with hope, and this, this is their doing.  Correction, he thinks.  This is Emma’s doing through them.  This is the work of an angel.  “No,” he says, his chest swelling with a peace he hasn’t known in a long time. “Not a bad day’s work at all.”

 *             *             *

 The taking of the slave ship is a much quieter affair than their run-in with the pirate hunters had been, and Swan has the benefit of company to distract her now as she waits below deck.  She knocks on the open door of the crew quarters and pokes her head in.  “Alec?”

Faced away from her in his berth, the young man cranes his neck, arching a bit off his pillow to meet her eye.  “Milady?”

She steps across the threshold, cradling a book in her arms.  “Mind if I wait here with you?” she asks, coming in to stand in front of a bench across from him.  “I could use a distraction.”

He smiles appreciatively and nods, gesturing for her to have a seat.  “Me too.”

She settles down, pulling her legs up under her in order to sit cross-legged.  “How do you feel?” she asks, studying him.  As Hook had ordered, the fabric of his trousers has been completely cut away to expose his leg, and a clean bandage is wrapped around his wound.

Alec makes a noncommittal noise.  “The pain’s not bad when I don’t stand.”  He looks up at her, his face guilty.  “I’m sorry if I frightened you earlier, ma’am.”

She shakes her head. “It’s alright.  I’m sorry I didn’t notice you weren’t feeling well today.”

“Nah.  S’nothing,” he says, attempting to sound cavalier.  He glances at her book.  “What’s that?”

Swan holds it up for him. “Legends of the Deep.  I’ve been working my way through the Captain’s collection.  Do you know it?”

Now it’s Alec who shakes his head.  “Never been very good at readin’, t’ be honest.”

“Perhaps I could read it aloud?”

He brightens.  “I’d be much obliged, ma’am.”

Swan grins and pulls the book open to the first page.  She clears her throat and wets her lips.  “It is said that the sea is an enchanting place, full of beauty and mysteries beyond the comprehension of mortal men…”

She’s a dozen pages in when the sound of Alec’s snoring causes her to look up.  A muted smile plays on her mouth, and she sighs, softly swinging the cover shut.  Her eyes fall to his leg, and worry wrinkles her forehead once more as she rises and slips out of the cabin, pulling the door softly closed behind her.  

Standing in the corridor, she glances briefly in the direction of the Captain’s quarters, gnawing at her lip before she decides to climb the ladder to the hatch instead, her heart pounding as she eases it open just a few inches so she can peek outside.

Her ears strain for clues as to what’s going on, and she grows excited several moments later when a familiar pair of boots passes a few feet from her nose.  “Thomas!  Thomas!” she hisses.

The boots turn to face her, and Thomas kneels, his amused expression coming into view as he cants his head sideways to meet her eye.  “Milady?”

Heat creeps up from her neck, and she suddenly feels a little silly.  “Is everything going alright?”

He chuckles.  “Very well, ma’am.  The slavers are being loaded into boats as we speak.  We’ll see that they leave without any trouble,” he assures her, patting the gun tucked into his belt.  “Cap’n’s gone below to see to the slaves, I think.”

Swan exhales, a relieved smile coming over her face.  “That’s good.”

“Aye.”  He nods with a grin.  “Sit tight, ma’am.  It might take ‘em a bit to get sorted, but I imagine we’ll have everyone back aboard soon enough.”

She beams and retreats, feeling much more content as she descends the ladder.  They’re safe.  He did it.  Pride in the Captain brings a private smile to her lips, and her heart flutters.  She gives a relieved huff.  Perhaps she wasn’t so far off in her read of him as she feared.  

She elects to continue reading in his quarters where the light is better, hunching over his table with the book open in front of her.  Within minutes, however, her own eyelids grow heavy and her head begins to loll with the weight of sleep.

 *             *             *

 “Swan?”  Hook eyes her still form and murmurs her name, wearing a soft expression as he moves around his table to stand beside her.  He pauses a moment to study the serenity on her face and the gentle rise and fall of her shoulders with each breath.  Her long lashes are dusky against her cheeks, her exquisite features blissfully free of emotion, and she rests on the table, her head cradled on one folded arm while the fingers of her other hand grace the cover of an open, overturned book.  A wavy lock of her hair lies haphazardly draped over her eyes, and she’s so achingly beautiful that his chest hurts.  

He has no clue what he’s done to deserve time with this woman, but he was guilty of understatement when he called her a gift to his crew.  Her presence has infused the Jolly with a new sense of life and excitement and given the men a fresh collective purpose in keeping her safe and delivering her home.  He’s watched them over the past several weeks – noticed them smiling more freely and singing more heartily.  He’s seen them beam proudly every time they make the Princess laugh.  He might be completely besotted, but it’s clear they’re all a little in love with her, and the prospect of leaving her behind in Misthaven makes him so melancholy that he’s wished more than once for an excuse to prolong their journey with an unplanned stop in port or a detour to a less direct course.  He feels a pang of guilt about it now that Alec’s condition actually makes a stop in a port to find a surgeon a real necessity.

A small voice inside tells him not to wake her, but it’s as though his hand has a mind of its own when he reaches forward and delicately brushes her hair out of her face.  The graze of his fingertips over her forehead causes Emma to stir.  She sucks in a deep breath and wrinkles her brow, and he pulls his hand away just before she opens her eyes and looks up at him.

Her face lights up, and she sits up hastily, looking a bit embarrassed to have fallen asleep. “You’re back.”

He relaxes and nods. “Aye.  Some of the men are still on the other ship conferring with the people about how they plan to sail her home, but I wanted to come check on you.”

Emma eyes him proudly. “You did it then.  You set them free.”

His cheeks warm. “Yes, well, someone convinced me it was the right thing to do,” he reminds her, glancing at the toes of his boots with an uncharacteristically humble grin.

“And here they say Captain Hook doesn’t care about anyone but himself,” she teases.

He looks back up at her, considering her statement with a pained smile.  “Maybe I just needed reminding that I could,” he says at last.

The admission hangs between them for a moment, and his heart somehow feels both heavier and lighter for having made it.  Emma’s expression sobers as she studies the emotions flitting across his face with that soul-searching stare of hers, and, though he can’t identify all of the feelings jumbled up inside him, he realizes that, for the first time, he’s not as afraid of what she might see.

Thanks for reading!  Ready for the next chapter?  Click here!

[kathydsalters31]

Should Your Pet Travel With You?

If you’re like me, you desire your pet to travel with you everywhere. That isn’t constantly a good concept– for you or your fuzzy buddy. So just how do you make a decision when to take your puppy or cat along? And also when is it better to leave them behind? To decide, you’ll need to ask a couple of key inquiries.

Deciding Whether Your Pet Should Travel With You

As a responsible animal owner, there are a few things to take into consideration when making a decision whether your animal should opt for you. Addressing these concerns will certainly assist you choose if the circumstance will certainly be risk-free and enjoyable for you and your pet.

1. Are pet dogs permitted?

The very first question to ask is whether animals are enabled where you’re going. There’s nothing even more bothersome than learning I can not bring my pet, Honey, someplace for no sensible reason. For instance, the outside pedestrian shopping center in our previous town of Ithaca, New York does not allow dogs. Ever before. Outside shopping malls all over the country enable dogs, so why Ithaca demands restricting dogs makes no sense!

It’s the law.

Not only could we obtain a ticket for taking Honey with us, we would certainly establish a poor instance. As well as we absolutely don’t intend to do anything that would certainly make it more likely pets will continue or obtain to be prohibited from a location.

Comedy clubs are certainly not pet pleasant. If Honey was in the room, no comic in the globe could hold a group. Sometimes there are excellent reasons canines aren’t allowed– also if they’re not right away obvious. As an example, the state park officials at Cape May Point Lighthouse only started outlawing canines after they were discovered to be pestering nesting birds. Cape May is situated on a major flyway where birds feast on horseshoe crabs as well as hatch their young. While it’s unsatisfactory that we’re not allowed to bring Honey to one of our preferred beaches, it’s worth discovering one more location to play it to shield the birds.

And pet policies can change, so it’s constantly a good suggestion to inspect a website or call’s internet site make certain family pets are still permitted prior to you go. We had been going to Cape May Point Beach for years with our pet dogs prior to they established the restriction.

2. Is it secure?

I love participating in large, outdoor events like concerts and events, but a couple of I’ve been to were just not safe for my canine. Honey is specifically the ideal elevation to take a person out at the knees. In a large crowd where the average individual won’t observe her, it’s not secure for Honey to be there.

I’ve seen people walking tiny canines on-leash in crushing groups and it was all I can do to limit myself from scooping them up before someone tipped on them!

When the temperatures can be unsafe, I’ve additionally seen family pets waiting alone in cars and trucks for their individuals on days. If it’s too hot or cool outside, as well as you’ll require to leave your pet dog while you run a duty, it’s probably better to leave him residence.

LEARNT MORE ⇒ Is It Illegal To Leave Your Pet Alone In The Car?

3. Will my family pet appreciate it?

Honey is unwinded as well as comfy around other pet dogs as well as in groups, so she’s flawlessly pleased going most locations with us. Not all pet dogs are.

Animal traveling indicates understanding your animal and valuing her constraints, even when you desire things were different. If accompanying will create your pet dog discomfort, dullness, concern, or stress and anxiety, she might be happier at home.

< img class="wp-image-30719" src=" https://ksk132dvocz3814ql108etk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Georgetown-storefronts-.jpg "alt="Honey the golden retriever checks out the storefront mural in Georgetown, South Carolina|GoPetFriendly.com "width="700"elevation=

“467 “srcset=” https://ksk132dvocz3814ql108etk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Georgetown-storefronts-.jpg 700w, https://ksk132dvocz3814ql108etk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Georgetown-storefronts–300×200.jpg 300w”sizes =”( max-width: 700px)100vw, 700px “> You’ll discover canine water bowls in front of lots of shops in charming Georgetown, South Carolina. It triggers Honey to ask yourself if she’s additionally invited inside. 4. Can my animal act suitably? When we educated Honey to “go to bed”on sign, eating at family pet friendly dining establishments ended up being a lot easier. While it’s not necessary for her to lie down the whole time we’re eating, it is the very best and most safe habits when a web server approaches the table with delicious-smelling food. And when we stand up to leave, absolutely nothing makes me better than to listen to other restaurants murmuring, “Oh, there’s a dog. I really did not also recognize she existed!”

FOUND OUT MORE ⇒ 5 Commands Every Traveling Dog Should Know

Eating early indicated we even had time to take a couple of fast pictures. If your dog gets incredibly aroused by food scents, possibly he should

await you at home. Or take into consideration packing an outing, where you’re the just one influenced if

he decides to take something off the table. 5. Will bringing our pet dog cause disturbed to others? It is difficult to believe, not everybody likes family pets. Some individuals have allergies. Others hesitate of dogs. So we attempt to maintain the comfort of others in mind when making a decision whether to bring Honey along.

That implies eating at pet friendly dining establishments at off hrs, making it easier for web servers to fit us and provide other restaurants some room. We additionally maintain Honey on a leash around others, also when she’s enabled off-leash. Occasionally you might merely require to ask if including your pet dog in the travel plans is alright.

6. Can we transform strategies if things don’t work out?

Simply in case she disliked it when we took Honey for her first kayak trip with a group of close friends we developed a back-up plan before we left. Packing a patio chair, something to read, and a few of Honey’s favorite toys ensured we could delight ourselves on the coastline if required.

When you decide your pet needs to take a trip with you, it’s constantly valuable to have a Plan B. If things do not go as you intended, you can restore what’s left of your outing.

< img course ="wp-image-30715"src= "https://ksk132dvocz3814ql108etk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Pam-and-Honey-at-the-beach-600×1050.jpg"alt= "Honey the gold retriever and Pam delay on the coastline

at Fort Matanzas.”width =” 650 “elevation =”1138”> We’re constantly prepared when plans alter. While waiting on

other half Mike to run a duty, I had my publication and Honey had her stick. 7. Will I be able to concentrate on my pet? My first responsibility is to Honey.

If she’s tired or awkward, it’s my duty to deal with her. At the coastline, that suggests changing the umbrella to offer her shade, seeing to it she has plenty of water, and taking a dip in the water to cool her down. If the activity I’ve selected means I’m too busy to take treatment of her, Honey is probably much better off remaining home on the watercraft.

And also talking the boat … when you’re on vacation or living a nomadic lifestyle like we are, there is one more inquiries you need to ask on your own when determining to take your animal with you …

8. Will my animal be risk-free if I leave her behind?

I only had to consider if taking Honey with me was an excellent idea when we lived in a residence. She would definitely be secure and also comfy resting on the bed in the house if we needed to leave her behind.

Since we’re full time nomads residing on a sailing boat, I likewise have to ask myself whether it’s secure to leave her on the boat without us.

When your house is a ventilated cockpit on a boat in a gorgeous anchorage, remaining there does not feel so negative.

Specifically if you have a close friend. Our watercraft does not have air conditioning, which implies it can get really hot in the summer season. When the temperatures soar, leaving Honey behind is not an option. If we require to do grocery store buying or washing and we can not bring Honey along, we either full our tasks before it gets hot, or among us stays behind to see to it Honey is fine. If neither of those choices job, Honey comes along and one of us waits in the color while the

other rushes to get the things we need. A hot buying day implies Honey waits outside with Mike under a tree while Pamela shops as promptly as she can. What To Do When Taking Your Pet Is Not An Option In some cases, despite how tough you attempt to accommodate your animal, you just can not

bring her with you. In those circumstances, we’ve found an animal caretaker to be the most effective choice. Honey reaches stay safe in her familiar setting. As well as there are pet sitters that will pertain to your recreational vehicle, boat, or hotel room if you’re gone out to some tourist attraction that does not allow pets.

Travel with pets is a joy, and it will certainly take you locations you would never have actually uncovered by yourself. Ask the concern: “Should my family pet traveling with me?” And after that work out the answers to the concerns above up until the verdict is a precise and pleased YES! You’ll have a great time discovering all type of wonderful areas together.

Taking a walking excursion of the attractive College of Charleston university was enjoyable for everyone. Honey

also made a new feline close friend.

source

http://www.luckydogsolutions.com/should-your-pet-travel-with-you/

from Lucky Dog Solutions https://luckydogsolutions.blogspot.com/2020/07/should-your-pet-travel-with-you.html

[barryswamsleyaz]

Should Your Pet Travel With You?

If you’re like me, you desire your pet to travel with you everywhere. That isn’t constantly a good concept– for you or your fuzzy buddy. So just how do you make a decision when to take your puppy or cat along? And also when is it better to leave them behind? To decide, you’ll need to ask a couple of key inquiries.

Deciding Whether Your Pet Should Travel With You

As a responsible animal owner, there are a few things to take into consideration when making a decision whether your animal should opt for you. Addressing these concerns will certainly assist you choose if the circumstance will certainly be risk-free and enjoyable for you and your pet.

1. Are pet dogs permitted?

The very first question to ask is whether animals are enabled where you’re going. There’s nothing even more bothersome than learning I can not bring my pet, Honey, someplace for no sensible reason. For instance, the outside pedestrian shopping center in our previous town of Ithaca, New York does not allow dogs. Ever before. Outside shopping malls all over the country enable dogs, so why Ithaca demands restricting dogs makes no sense!

It’s the law.

Not only could we obtain a ticket for taking Honey with us, we would certainly establish a poor instance. As well as we absolutely don’t intend to do anything that would certainly make it more likely pets will continue or obtain to be prohibited from a location.

Comedy clubs are certainly not pet pleasant. If Honey was in the room, no comic in the globe could hold a group. Sometimes there are excellent reasons canines aren’t allowed– also if they’re not right away obvious. As an example, the state park officials at Cape May Point Lighthouse only started outlawing canines after they were discovered to be pestering nesting birds. Cape May is situated on a major flyway where birds feast on horseshoe crabs as well as hatch their young. While it’s unsatisfactory that we’re not allowed to bring Honey to one of our preferred beaches, it’s worth discovering one more location to play it to shield the birds.

And pet policies can change, so it’s constantly a good suggestion to inspect a website or call’s internet site make certain family pets are still permitted prior to you go. We had been going to Cape May Point Beach for years with our pet dogs prior to they established the restriction.

2. Is it secure?

I love participating in large, outdoor events like concerts and events, but a couple of I’ve been to were just not safe for my canine. Honey is specifically the ideal elevation to take a person out at the knees. In a large crowd where the average individual won’t observe her, it’s not secure for Honey to be there.

I’ve seen people walking tiny canines on-leash in crushing groups and it was all I can do to limit myself from scooping them up before someone tipped on them!

When the temperatures can be unsafe, I’ve additionally seen family pets waiting alone in cars and trucks for their individuals on days. If it’s too hot or cool outside, as well as you’ll require to leave your pet dog while you run a duty, it’s probably better to leave him residence.

LEARNT MORE ⇒ Is It Illegal To Leave Your Pet Alone In The Car?

3. Will my family pet appreciate it?

Honey is unwinded as well as comfy around other pet dogs as well as in groups, so she’s flawlessly pleased going most locations with us. Not all pet dogs are.

Animal traveling indicates understanding your animal and valuing her constraints, even when you desire things were different. If accompanying will create your pet dog discomfort, dullness, concern, or stress and anxiety, she might be happier at home.

< img class=“wp-image-30719” src=“ https://ksk132dvocz3814ql108etk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Georgetown-storefronts-.jpg "alt="Honey the golden retriever checks out the storefront mural in Georgetown, South Carolina|GoPetFriendly.com "width="700"elevation=

“467 “srcset=” https://ksk132dvocz3814ql108etk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Georgetown-storefronts-.jpg 700w, https://ksk132dvocz3814ql108etk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Georgetown-storefronts–300×200.jpg 300w”sizes =”( max-width: 700px)100vw, 700px “> You’ll discover canine water bowls in front of lots of shops in charming Georgetown, South Carolina. It triggers Honey to ask yourself if she’s additionally invited inside. 4. Can my animal act suitably? When we educated Honey to “go to bed”on sign, eating at family pet friendly dining establishments ended up being a lot easier. While it’s not necessary for her to lie down the whole time we’re eating, it is the very best and most safe habits when a web server approaches the table with delicious-smelling food. And when we stand up to leave, absolutely nothing makes me better than to listen to other restaurants murmuring, “Oh, there’s a dog. I really did not also recognize she existed!”

FOUND OUT MORE ⇒ 5 Commands Every Traveling Dog Should Know

Eating early indicated we even had time to take a couple of fast pictures. If your dog gets incredibly aroused by food scents, possibly he should

await you at home. Or take into consideration packing an outing, where you’re the just one influenced if

he decides to take something off the table. 5. Will bringing our pet dog cause disturbed to others? It is difficult to believe, not everybody likes family pets. Some individuals have allergies. Others hesitate of dogs. So we attempt to maintain the comfort of others in mind when making a decision whether to bring Honey along.

That implies eating at pet friendly dining establishments at off hrs, making it easier for web servers to fit us and provide other restaurants some room. We additionally maintain Honey on a leash around others, also when she’s enabled off-leash. Occasionally you might merely require to ask if including your pet dog in the travel plans is alright.

6. Can we transform strategies if things don’t work out?

Simply in case she disliked it when we took Honey for her first kayak trip with a group of close friends we developed a back-up plan before we left. Packing a patio chair, something to read, and a few of Honey’s favorite toys ensured we could delight ourselves on the coastline if required.

When you decide your pet needs to take a trip with you, it’s constantly valuable to have a Plan B. If things do not go as you intended, you can restore what’s left of your outing.

< img course ="wp-image-30715"src= "https://ksk132dvocz3814ql108etk1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Pam-and-Honey-at-the-beach-600×1050.jpg"alt= "Honey the gold retriever and Pam delay on the coastline

at Fort Matanzas.”width =” 650 “elevation =”1138”> We’re constantly prepared when plans alter. While waiting on

other half Mike to run a duty, I had my publication and Honey had her stick. 7. Will I be able to concentrate on my pet? My first responsibility is to Honey.

If she’s tired or awkward, it’s my duty to deal with her. At the coastline, that suggests changing the umbrella to offer her shade, seeing to it she has plenty of water, and taking a dip in the water to cool her down. If the activity I’ve selected means I’m too busy to take treatment of her, Honey is probably much better off remaining home on the watercraft.

And also talking the boat … when you’re on vacation or living a nomadic lifestyle like we are, there is one more inquiries you need to ask on your own when determining to take your animal with you …

8. Will my animal be risk-free if I leave her behind?

I only had to consider if taking Honey with me was an excellent idea when we lived in a residence. She would definitely be secure and also comfy resting on the bed in the house if we needed to leave her behind.

Since we’re full time nomads residing on a sailing boat, I likewise have to ask myself whether it’s secure to leave her on the boat without us.

When your house is a ventilated cockpit on a boat in a gorgeous anchorage, remaining there does not feel so negative.

Specifically if you have a close friend. Our watercraft does not have air conditioning, which implies it can get really hot in the summer season. When the temperatures soar, leaving Honey behind is not an option. If we require to do grocery store buying or washing and we can not bring Honey along, we either full our tasks before it gets hot, or among us stays behind to see to it Honey is fine. If neither of those choices job, Honey comes along and one of us waits in the color while the

other rushes to get the things we need. A hot buying day implies Honey waits outside with Mike under a tree while Pamela shops as promptly as she can. What To Do When Taking Your Pet Is Not An Option In some cases, despite how tough you attempt to accommodate your animal, you just can not

bring her with you. In those circumstances, we’ve found an animal caretaker to be the most effective choice. Honey reaches stay safe in her familiar setting. As well as there are pet sitters that will pertain to your recreational vehicle, boat, or hotel room if you’re gone out to some tourist attraction that does not allow pets.

Travel with pets is a joy, and it will certainly take you locations you would never have actually uncovered by yourself. Ask the concern: “Should my family pet traveling with me?” And after that work out the answers to the concerns above up until the verdict is a precise and pleased YES! You’ll have a great time discovering all type of wonderful areas together.

Taking a walking excursion of the attractive College of Charleston university was enjoyable for everyone. Honey

also made a new feline close friend.

from Lucky Dog Solutions http://www.luckydogsolutions.com/should-your-pet-travel-with-you/

from Lucky Dog Solutions https://luckydogsolutions.tumblr.com/post/623880116355891200

[semperama]

1, 10, 23, 36, 55?

1. Tell us about your WIP!

God, WHICH ONE?? Umm, I’m up to 20k words on my o-fic, which is exciting. In the scene I just wrote, the baby’s father confesses to the main character that he never wanted kids and he doesn’t like the idea of his life being disrupted, so that’s fun. I’ve also fallen in love with the main character’s sister (I have such a thing for brother-sister relationships in fiction, so no surprises there). My main worry right now is that I feel like my prose is really flat, but I’m trying not to focus on that too much. I can always spice things up in editing, hopefully. I posted a snippet below but like...it’s really hard to choose snippets from because everything just feels too bland when taken out of context. D: 

10. Pick an author (or writing friend) to co-write a book with

Ahhhh, the idea of co-writing with some professionally published author is actually just terrifying to me, because I know I’d feel incredibly inferior and like I’d just drag them down, haha. I can’t imagine working with one of my heroes. But in some distant future date where I magically have more self-esteem, it’d be amazing to work with someone like Stephen King, who could hopefully teach me his ways when it comes to plot and pacing. xD 

As far as writer friends go, I’d co-write with any of y’all! I’ve had a lot of fun with collaborations in the past, and while I’m always worried my ego will get in the way, somehow that really hasn’t been the case at all. If anything, working on something with a friend helps me worry less, I think. 

23. Most anticipated upcoming books?

Oh man. None?? I’m honestly so bad about making time to read, so I’m still catching up on books that came out years ago. D: Every year one of my resolutions is to read more, and every year I fail, omg. 

36. Post a snippet

Gah I just spent forever trying to find a snippet from my o-fic that’s at all interesting annnddd I failed, but please accept these two measly paragraphs anyway--and disregard how very not-edited they are.

Nathan looks up the address online and finds that it’s only about fifteen minutes away from his place, but he leaves half an hour early anyway. Better to get there with time to spare than to be late. The drive takes him up into the hills on the edge of town, where the houses are large and spaced far apart and set back from the road for privacy. This is where the doctors and lawyers and entrepreneurs live—the ones with enough spare cash lying around to hire a live-in nanny, Nathan supposes. He can’t help but imagine what it would be like to live in one of these mansions, probably as part of a whole team of staff, a maid and a butler and a gardener. Even servants’ quarters in a house like that would probably be better than his too-small studio apartment with its finicky water heater. He shouldn’t be counting his chickens before they hatch, but this is the first time he’s had even a glimmer of hope, and he can’t help but indulge it.

The hope gives way to nervousness when he finds the house number he’s looking for and turns up the long drive. He passes through the gate, which stands open in wait for him, and continues until the he sees the sprawling contemporary home tucked back among the trees, its massive windows gleaming in the afternoon sun. It’s the kind of house you’d see in a magazine and marvel at how gorgeous it is, only to realize you can’t picture anyone actually living inside it. Accents of cherry wood and earth-toned brick fail to bring any warmth to the facade, and the landscaping is so pristine it looks fake. As Nathan pulls around the circular drive in front of the house and brings the car to a stop, a chill snakes its way up his spine. Is this the kind of house people get murdered in? Should he have given the address to his sister, just in case?

55. How do you manage your time/make time for writing? (do you set aside time to write every day or do you only write when you have a lot of free time?)

I’m actually very lucky in that time is the thing I technically have no shortage of....but I don’t think that has been a good thing for me, really. When I was working, I was more likely to think “okay, I have half an hour right now, I can write a few hundred words,” whereas now, I tend to look at how I have the whole day stretching out ahead of me and then I just put things off and put things off. Unfortunately every time I try to make myself stick to a certain schedule, it lasts maybe like a week before I abandon it. I’m SO BAD at structure, haha. Rather than setting a certain amount of time to write, I have an informal goal of writing 1000 words a day on o-fic, but I’d say I hit that only maybe 30% of the time. (Although I do have plenty of days where I write 2000 or 3000 words, so it kind of evens out.) I really want to get to the point where I’m more consistent in my daily output, but I’m still experimenting with ways to make that happen, and I haven’t found the magic solution yet. D: