#i think she sits crisscross and he sits in the gap while eating

[solargeist]

I love when you draw watcher mom holding baby Grian, it’s so cute!!!! Also question does aether just subconsciously pick up and hold Grian without any thought, like does she just walk past him and scoop him up into her arms without asking or does she always ask him if he wants to be carried?

ehhehe its very fun to draw, hes so tiny, i remember Gohan when i draw him so it makes me happy <3

But yes ! At first, Aether asks to pick him up, since hes a random little kid, but after taking care of him for a bit (literally a few hours) she does just start grabbing him without thinking abt it, sometimes you Have to pick them up suddenly, could be in danger !

But in other situations, like any kid, if they don't want to be picked up or held, they'll go limp or wiggle, push and argue, so you gotta just put them down !

otherrrr times he does feel comfortable sitting on her

[professorrw]

All I Want, Remus Lupin Fanfiction

Chapter Three

Warnings: eventual smut, death, violence, swearing, age gap, slight angst, major spoilers for Deathly Hallows

AN: Comment if you’d like to be tagged in future parts! If you enjoyed this, please like, comment, and reblog!

When you woke up the next morning it was still dark out. You didn't want to wake up Ginny so you carefully gathered your belongings and left the room. Going downstairs you saw Lupin sitting at the kitchen table. He lazily greeted you as you sat down and continued to drink what you assumed was coffee.

Mrs. Weasley handed you a plate of eggs and bacon. You could tell she didn't get much sleep from the rings under her eyes. You ate your food silently and Remus continued to sip out of his mug and watch you.

Once you had finished eating Remus sat his cup down, "Well I guess we'll be off then." You nodded your head. Mrs. Weasley hugged you one last time. "You two be careful now," she ordered. "We will Mrs. Weasley, I promise," you reassured her. You picked up your suitcase and headed towards the front door, Lupin trailing behind you.

Once you had gone a few steps past the door Lupin held out his hand. You took it, shuddering slightly. You noticed how warm his palms were and how long his fingers were too. He squeezed your hand and smiled encouragingly. With a CRACK, you were gone. You opened your eyes to see that you were standing in front of a small but winsome home. You followed Remus inside and put your luggage next to the door. It was indeed cozy, there was a conjoined living room and kitchen with one door leading off it.

"It is not much but we will be safe. I will sleep on the couch and you can sleep in the bed if you'd like. The bedroom is through there," he pointed at the door on the right wall, "and the bathroom connects to the bedroom." You turned from the door to him, "I like it. It reminds me of you."

"Small and shabby?" he chuckled. You felt heat rising to your face, "No! No. It's cute and... warm." Lupin's eyebrows raised, "Oh. Well... thank you." You nodded, looking at the floor. "You're welcome," you murmured. You both stood there, rocking on the balls of your feet. You picked up your suitcase and went to the bedroom, "I'm going to take a bath if you don't mind."

"Of course, go ahead," he coughed. You walked over to the other room and set your things down on the bed. You didn't have much with you so you pulled out a sweater and jeans and headed to the bathroom. Inside there was a bathtub and a single sink.

You were looking around for soap when there was a knock on the bathroom door. "Here I meant to give you this. To wash with," Lupin said. He held out his hands which held two bottles. You took them and said thank you. You quickly bathed and put on your clothes, heading back to the bedroom to unpack. The only possessions you had with you were your wand, three sets of clothes, one of which you had on, your toothbrush, toothpaste, wizard chess, and the chocolate Mrs. Weasley had given you the previous night. You pulled out the container and brought it to the living room.

You noticed Lupin had also unpacked, leaving a stack of books laying on a table and some folded clothes set on the chair next to the couch. "Do you want some?" you asked, holding out the container. "Yes. Here," he patted a spot on the couch next to him, "We can share." You smiled and sat down, putting the dish between you. After a few bites you looked over to the stack on the table, "What books did you bring?"

"Muggle books. I picked these up a while ago. They're quite intriguing actually," he whispered. You laughed at the thought of him bringing along a pile of Muggle books in his suitcase. Lupin seemed like he read serious books about magic and potions. Obviously you were wrong in assuming that. "What?" he asked, looking slightly offended. "You're quite intriguing Remus," you giggled. He leaned back and seemed to consider you for a moment, "In a good way I hope?" You nodded and continued to giggle.

He smiled, and you noticed the wrinkles on the corners of his eyes as he did so. You always felt comfortable around Remus, he was making you feel better even though he didn't know it. You had been trying not to acknowledge the fact that your parents were dead and everyone around you respected that. You felt alone, even though you were surrounded by people. And little by little you were starting to feel like everything would be okay.

You noticed Lupin's eyes trailing all over your face, taking you all in. His eyes met yours once more and you smirked. He coughed and looked back at his books, picking one up. "You see, this one is about vampires. I found that it isn't very accurate but it's interesting to know what Muggles think." He flipped through the pages, not really paying them any attention.

He had fully turned towards you at this point and his knee rested against yours. He didn't seem to notice and if he did he must not have minded. You kept your knee right where it was and continued to look at Remus. He closed the book and set it down on the top of his pile.

"I put a few protective charms around the house so no one should see it or be able to hear anything," he remarked. "That was a good idea," you said, eyes drifting all around the room. You both sat there looking around, not knowing what to say next. You were going to be alone together for who knows how long. That thought made you smile, knowing that you would be spending a lot of time with Remus.

You remembered what you had brought along with you and piped up, "I have wizards chess! Would you like to play?"

"Oh yes, I love wizards chess. Although I'm not very good," he chuckled.

"That's alright I'm not good at it either," you said as you went to your room. You picked up your board and baggie full of pieces and returned to the living room/kitchen. You noticed that Remus had taken off his traveling cloak and was wearing a grey wool sweater. You sat in the same spot you were before, turning sideways and crisscrossing your legs. Remus did the same, although his legs took up much more space than yours.

You put the board between you and handed Remus his pieces while putting yours in their rightful places. You played for about twenty minutes before Lupin had beat you. He looked up through his hair and smiled, "I win." You sighed in defeat, "It seems that you have." You turned your body forwards and leaned your head against the back of the couch. You looked over at Lupin and noticed him looking at you. "What is it?" you asked.

He shook his head, "Nothing. Just reveling in my victory." He laughed and got up. He walked to the kitchen and started shuffling through the cabinets. He pulled out different things and began to put them together. You stayed on the couch watching him. He glanced up at you and continued to work. After a minute he brought over two plates, handing one to you. He had made you both sandwiches. You thanked him and began to eat.

He finished before you and said, "There aren't many things to cook with here. I'll have to go and buy some things from a store around here." You nodded in agreement and finished your food. "Where is the nearest store? How close are we to anyone else?" you questioned.

"Well we're about fifteen miles away from another house and nearly twenty away from a store," Remus answered. You realized how completely isolated you and Remus were from anyone else. The likeliness of anyone finding you were slim to none. You let out a small breath and moved your head in acknowledgement.

Remus stood, taking your plate and moving it to the kitchen. He came back and sat down. You saw his eyelids droop slightly. "Are you tired?" you inquired. "Well, yes a little. But I'll be fine," he told you. "If you're sure," you said doubtfully. You picked up your chess things and returned them to your room. You closed your suitcase and slid it under the bed. You sat down for a moment, really taking in the room. The bed was soft with fluffy pillows, the walls were lined with bookshelves on one wall, and there was a desk on the wall opposite that one.

You sat on the bed for a couple minutes before deciding to return to Remus. When you walked in you saw that he was asleep, sitting up on the couch. You didn't want to wake him so you returned to your room and took a cover off the bed. Quietly going back to the living room you stood next to Remus and draped the blanket over him. You heard him breath in suddenly and you froze. He started breathing normally again and you tiptoed back to your bed. You laid down and quickly fell asleep not realizing how drained you were.

Taglist: @bellamy1998 @sxsalvatore @ottjord​ ​

[talesfromlissom]

Can I please request hanzo taking a male reader on a date and flirting with the reader during the date and ending the date with a make out session at the reader's or hanzo's house. Thank you so much!!!

So basicaly BARK ABR GROWL DSOIJFDSAFUSJUFD GROWL BARK BARK GORLW AOFJSIJFOSAFPOA!!!!!! 

Anyways, I am here to spread Civilian! Hanzo propaganda because yeah,,, You can see the rest of the headcanons here. Hanzo does act a bit differently in this AU, mainly because he’s actually getting help in this AU rather than in canon (which I headcanon that he isn’t on medication or seeing a therapist), so he does act rather ooc. 

!WARNING! There are mentions of CPTSD. If you are sensitive to these topics please proceed with caution. If you happen to be someone with CPTSD  and I do not write this topic accurately, please feel free to dm me if you feel comfortable! 

The moment you stepped into the apartment, you were hit with a wave of smells. Specifically ranging from different florals to freshly baked bread, and perhaps that was spaghetti? Hm. 

You weren’t sure if Hanzo could cook, he never mentioned it whenever you bought flowers from him. Or other plants. 

You never told him the real reason why you bought plants and florals from him all the time. It was sad, but you were also mourning people that were members of the technically, still illegal overwatch. 

Every Time somebody in Overwatch died, specifically someone you were close to, you bought flowers for them. You never bought flowers from anyone else. 

You were snapped from your thoughts when you felt a cold snout shove itself into your open hand, as it seemed that you had begun to get lost in your thoughts. 

You recognized the sky blue collar on the giant husky, as well as the small bell next to the dog tag. Tomo. 

You raised your eyebrow at the bell, however, but again, your thoughts were interrupted by a head headbutting itself into your waist. The dark navy blue collar belonged to Kenji. 

Normally, your heart would’ve begun to pump and you probably would’ve panicked, being as dogs had an extra sensitivity and aggression to werewolves, but Kenji and Tomo were the sweetest and practically the only dogs you’ve ever met that weren’t like that. 

You hear something clatter in the kitchen, as well as a ring of Japanese, and you know for a fact that those were curse words, you mentally thank Duolingo for helping you further your otaku phase back in high school. 

Your shoes come off first, as the clatter of them seems to alert Hanzo, and you see him pop his head into the room. He’s holding a dirty ladle in his hand, and an orange apron, it seems to be covered in flour, as well as other sections of his body. 

He’s wearing shoes, which is strange because you know for a fact that he has a clear disdain for that sort of conduct, says that it tracks all the dirt, and possibly ‘bad omens’ into the house.

You can see that his shirt sleeves have been rolled up just above his elbows, and his thick-rimmed glasses have tilted to the side a bit. His hair is still in a bun like it usually is, but it's so messy at this point that you think he forgot you were coming over.

He quickly darts back behind the wall.

“I-I didn’t expect you here so early!” He says. 

You raise an eyebrow yet again. “Uh, you said 5 o’clock didn’t you?”

“Well...yes.” He says as you hear rustling behind the wall. “But, the last time we did this you arrived half an hour late.”

“I got caught in traffic,” you respond, waiting for him to gesture for you into the kitchen. “I..uh..bought wine.” 

He appears in the doorway again, this time you can see that he’s clearly dressed up, with his black khakis, dress shoes, and white button-up, wait a minute. You don’t think he’s noticed the flour that stains his pants...in handprints. 

You stifle back a chuckle, but a small snort escapes from you, he raises an eyebrow, and looks down at himself, lets out a small noise of shock almost, and rushes down the hall. 

You watch him run into his room, and you see the door shut. 

“Uh...you alright?”

“Just peachy!” He calls out, as you hear yet another string of curse words in Japanese fall from his mouth. 

You step towards the door and knock quietly. “Uh...can I come in?”

“No.” 

You don’t say anything but you sit next to the wall, sliding down, and leaning your head up to the wall. 

“You...want me to help you make dinner for tonight?”

You don’t get a response from him at first, but the door swings open, and now he’s wearing a pair of light brown khakis. 

He looks down at you, his hair is tied neatly now, and his glasses are missing. He sits in the doorway. 

“I...I’m sorry, I..” A pause. “You can..leave if you want.”

“Hanzo-”

“I...I have nothing prepared, I tried to make bread but I fell asleep and left it in the oven for too long…” He mutters. “the...I tried to make steak but Kenji and Tomo got into it and ate it...so I figured I’d make spaghetti instead and...I even messed that up.” 

You turn towards him, sitting crisscrossed and placing your hands in your lap. 

“I...we could order something out.”

He shakes his head, quickly.

“Alright...what else do you have to eat? I could help you make it.” 

He thinks for a moment, before he gets up from the floor, grabs your hand, pulls you to your feet, and brings you into the kitchen. The kitchen is an absolute mess, and you feel his hand tighten. 

“Hey, don’t worry. We’ll clean it from top to bottom, and then we can start, alright?” You say softly, as his hand seems to relax. 

“Okay.” He mutters. 

                                                      _____

By the time it hits seven-thirty, you're already making a mess of the kitchen again. It was easy to clean it, but harder to keep it clean.

You tried to crack a joke about how Hanzo practically collects canned food but quickly stops in the middle as he seems fixated on a small spot on the counter. You take the rag from his hand softly, placing it on the shelf next to the fridge. 

“I think the kitchen is clean.” You say, and he simply nods in response. 

“So, what do you feel like eating?” You ask, looking through the cans. 

He shrugs in response, as you take a can out, scans it, and place it on the counter, he seems to mimic your actions. 

“Hm, you have canned peaches.” You say. “We could make pancakes.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Peach pancakes..?” He asks.

“What, no-no. You warm up the peaches and put them on top of the pancakes,” You reply. “My dad used to do it for me all the time when I was a kid.” 

“Hm.” 

You hear the steps of paws filling the air as Kenji and Tomo make their way into the kitchen. 

Hanzo turns to the clock.

“Damn, I...forgot to take Kenji and Tomo out.” 

Hanzo pauses.

“Uhm...perhaps you’d like to...come with me.” He asks.

“Sure...what about dinner.”

“We could...eat something out.” He says. 

You smile softly at him. “If you’re comfortable with that, sure.” 

He simply nods again, making his way down the hall, as you place the cans back into the cabinet. 

                                                    _____

The night isn’t cold, but it isn’t too hot either, and Hanzo seems to be enjoying himself so far.

Kenji’s leash is in his hands right now, as Kenji tends to be much more calmer. Tomo on the other hand, who’s proving to be difficult to handle, is the opposite. 

You've almost been pulled to the ground again, as Tomo runs after a squirrel that runs up a tree. You shake your head, and Hanzo comes to your side, you feel his breath on the back of your neck. 

You turn to him, smiling. 

“She really likes squirrels huh?” You muster out as Tomo stops pulling when Hanzo barks at her in Japanese. 

Tomo returns to your side, her tail is still wagging, despite Hanzo’s glare, (which you swear can cut through paper) when you feel your stomach growl. 

“Hm, I don’t know about you but I’m starving.” You say, turning to him. 

Hanzo gestures to the park across the street, it's buzzing with people.

“Perhaps there’s something there?”

And in all honesty, you thought he’d choose anywhere to eat but the park. 

“Are you sure?” You ask.

He nods. “I will be fine.” 

“Alright, let’s go then.”

Making your way towards the park, Hanzo closes the space between you two, the soft orange lights fill your vision. 

“A Halloween festival, huh?” You ask. “Do you celebrate Halloween?”

“No.” He replies. “I’ve never had anybody to celebrate with...my...parents...never favored it.”

You quickly change the subject. 

“So, what do you want to eat?” 

He shrugs in response, the gap between you two becoming small. “I’m not entirely sure, any suggestions?”

You scan the crowd and feel Hanzo’s hand briskly touch yours. 

“Well, we could go to the candy apple stand, there’s a hotdog stand, hm, they have hot chocolate and coffee over there.” 

“A hot dog sounds nice.” He mutters.

“Hot dogs then.”

You notice his hesitation to go forward, as it seems the crowd has become bigger near the food stands. This time, his hand grabs your own. 

“Do you want to try and find a way around…?” 

He shakes his head. 

“I’ll..be alright.” 

You nod your head, however, his hand doesn’t leave yours, and you notice how he takes his time intertwining your fingers together, it’s rather funny as well, and you can’t bite back a smile, because the longer you hold hands, the brighter his face seems to go. 

You finally get into the line for hotdogs, as Kenji and Tomo sniff the ground for scraps of food. Hanzo shakes his head, leaning his head on your arm. 

He sighs deeply, and when your turn to order pops up, you order for him. 

Now, you’re waiting beside the hotdog stand, putting mustard and ketchup on the hotdogs, while Kenji not so subtly tries to take a bite of Hanzo’s hotdog. 

He takes the hotdog out of the paper plate it's on and tosses the plate into the garbage can.

“Plain hotdog, eh?” You ask.

He grins. 

“I like it plain.” He replies, as it seems he’s gained some of his usual demeanor back, as he takes a bite of the hotdog. 

“So, you wanna head home?”

He stares.

“Home?”

“Yeah.”

“My home or your home?”

“Either is fine.” You ask. “My place is a few blocks from here, but...I think the park is sort of a midway point-”

“Your home.” He says. “If...if that’s alright.” 

“Yeah, that’s fine. You could stay over if you want too.” 

He blinks. “Why?”

“Hanzo, it's 8 o’clock, I can’t just let you walk home by yourself in the middle of the night,” You say. “Especially because of Talon.” 

Hanzo scoffs.

“The last time Talon tried to attack me, I put them all in the hospital,” He pauses. “The only weapon I used was a wooden spoon.” 

You shake your head. “I still get worried about you.”

“You worry about me?”

“Of course I do. Every day, Han.” You reply. “It's not every day that somebody within my line of work becomes friends with a civilian.” 

You realize your outside of the park.

“So, where-”

“I still wish to go to your house.”

“You mean the one I haven’t been in for months?” 

“Why not?”

“I haven’t been in it for months.” You say. “It's probably a disaster.” 

“That’s alright.” He says, as his hand drifts down to grab yours again. 

Once you're out of the park and heading towards your place.

“Why do you keep holding my hand?” You ask. 

He makes a motion to pull away, but surprisingly, he doesn’t. The chill of the night air fills your lungs with an almost nostalgic feeling. 

“Didn’t you save me from the talon swarm a couple of blocks from here?” You ask, breaking the silence.

“Hm?” He turns to his surroundings but then looks back at you. “Yes...that alleyway just across the street?” 

You nod. “Yep, that’s the one.”

You grin, as the sign for you to walk, turns white and you make your way across the street. 

However, instead of turning down the street, you rush into the alleyway. 

You smile. “Oh yeah, this is definitely the one.” 

Hanzo’s grip tightens. “Shouldn’t…(Y/N)..” 

You turn to him this time. “Yes?” 

“You...I love you.” 

You blink.

“Uh, what.”

“I..love you…?” 

“o-oh...Han-”

“It's alright if you don’t feel the same way...I just hope this doesn’t-”

“Hanzo, please don’t say that,” You chuckle. “God, you have no idea how much I’ve wanted to hear you say that.” 

Hanzo stares. 

“You have?”

“Uh yeah...why do you think I asked if you wanted to have dinner at your place?” 

“That...that was-”

“Yes Hanzo, that was me, asking you out on a date.”

“Bah! I should’ve known!” 

“Ah well, I’m not exactly the best at that sort of thing,” You chuckle, scratching the back of your neck. “Sorry.” 

“There’s nothing to apologize for.” He chuckles as Kenji and Tomo wag their tails rather eagerly. 

He leans against the wall. 

“Do you think I should’ve bought flowers?” You ask. 

He shakes his head. “No, I’d rather hear you say it, than...anything else really.” 

“Say what…” You smile. “I love you?”

He looks at the ground, his gaze softening, and a small smile forming on his lip. “Yes.” 

You nuzzle his neck and wrap an arm under his waist. “I love you, Hanzo. I love you so goddamn much, nothing can stop me from loving you.” 

“I-I didn’t mean such-!” He pauses. “We’re in public-!” 

“So? It’s almost ten, most people are driving home or at the festival, Han,” You whisper into his ear. “And besides, it isn’t illegal to do this.”

“It’s frowned upon to make out in a public area.”

“Are you trying to imply something?” 

“No.”

“Mmhm?” 

Your eyes fall onto his own. 

“Do you wanna make out?”

He blinks, seeming to short circuit for a second, before turning away from you, and it takes you a second to realize that he’s pouting. 

Your fingers rest gently under his chin. 

“I love you.” You whisper, kissing his cheek. “Really. I’d do anything for you.”

He’s still silent, but his eyes do fall onto yours again. His fingers intertwined themselves in your hair, as you place more kisses on his face, and a few long ones onto his lips. 

Next thing you knew it, Hanzo rushes forward, practically slamming you two together, and you swore at that point that just the heat of it could bring back summer all over again, his tongue was in your mouth now, and your face heated up almost immediately. 

Both of your hands fell onto his hips, and your eyes clamped shut, the feeling of the wind not even registering on your skin anymore, just Hanzo and you, making out in an alleyway. 

When he pulls away his breath his hot, his eyes are half-lidded, and you almost whine when he pulls away to brush his coat off. 

“W-well then...I’d...we’d…” 

“You still want to come to my house?” 

He stares. 

“Yes, I would actually.” 

This time, you take his hand as you two exit the alleyway. 

                                 ──•~❉+❉~•──

Rules

Overwatch Masterlist 

Ninjago Masterlist

The Arcana Masterlist (WIP)

Ask Box (Requests are open!)

[timexistsnow]

my baby (oh my pup)

Chapter 7: remembering (the good)

Techno takes care of Tasha's nail wound and tells her a story.

It was late, Techno could imagine without opening his eyes. The moon was high in the sky, maybe full, maybe close. If it were either, the snow would be glowing and the wind would be howling and sweeping the snow around like glitter.

Perhaps, Techno chuckled into his arms, he was in a poetic mood. A literary mood. Or, just maybe, the fact that he had been tossing ideas around in his head for the past couple of hours about the next part of his story would allude to his apparent mood.

It felt wrong to leave the story he had written for Tasha at only one part, unfinished and abandoned. Techno didn’t do things halfway. He did, on the other hand, not feel like moving from Tasha’s side and out into the cold and lonely expanse that was across the room to get his notebook.

So he’d have to remember all of this for later when he was ready to move. His memory was pretty good.

Right now, though, Techno kept his eyes softly closed. His back would be sore in the morning, all of the hunching he was doing almost made him want to move- almost.

Tasha had remained burrowed in the blankets, small on the mattress meant for one- or two. She deserved her rest, from getting stabbed to throwing up all in one afternoon. When tomorrow came, they’d have to work on her condition: clean her, rebandage her wound, and figure out the potion… situation. The hole in Tasha’s hand wasn’t gapping or anything, but it would still be a comfort to get some assistance from a potion.

Techno tossed that aside for the time being and drifted back to his writing.

The beast- Techno was unsure if he liked that metaphor or not- would need motivation for kidnapping the piglet-

Tasha stirred, a grumbled slipping through her lips. Techno lifted his head enough to peer at her over his forearm. She was tucked in to the bottom of her snout, just a pale rosy face in a blue bed. Now, however, the face was screwed up, milky eyes glowing in the moonlight through bleary blinks.

Techno brushed a hand over her forehead, fuzz catching on his calluses, “Go back to sleep, get some rest.” He hummed a melody he had heard Wilbur once sing, and Tasha’s eyes closed. He sighed, cutting himself off.

When the breath left his snout, Tasha jolted, face catching the moonlight. “Not. Want. To.” She studied Techno for a moment, “Should… Not?”

It was an obvious question, but Techno didn’t get why it was asked, “Who told you that, kiddo?”

The studious look again, “You,” Tasha whispered.

Techno drew back and tilted his head. Had he? No, “Well, if I did say something, I’m sure I didn’t mean it like that. I want you to get better as fast as you can.”

Tasha’s mouth opened in an oh, “Back. To. Fun?”

“Exactly.”

With the confusion dissipated, Tasha dropped herself back into the nest of wool, the arm she used to prop herself up snaking back out of the covers. Techno took it, and settled back down onto his forearm.

Or, until Tasha slithered her hand away and tossed and turned, making discomfort noises after each switch. Techno sluggishly raised his head again, squared his shoulders, and gruffed out: “Kiddo, sleep.”

She flopped to her side, facing Techno, “Take. To. Long.”

Techno embraced the darkness and grabbed his notebook from where it was leaning against the wall. He padded not too gently to his library chair, gathered up his ink, and once back to his seat on the floor, dipped his quill in the ink. “If you don’t sleep… then just sit quietly or something,” Techno did not have the social energy to talk baby to her.

Sit quietly she did, crisscross and hovering above the book, watching him scratch away at the paper, ink blotting and splashing when he jumped to a different line to annotate his writing. It was deep in the night, the beast, just as the piglet had hoped, was slumbering-

“What…” Tasha broke the silence, gesturing at… everything. Ah, she couldn’t read. Maybe it was time to fix that.

“This is the written form of English. It’s- It’s a little complicated, but I can show you the basics.” Techno flipped to a new page, but Tasha squealed and turned it back, running her finger along the first sentence. “That’s for the story I wrote for you.”

“Again… Make? Copy?” She struggled to find meaningful words. Techno frowned, as good at English she was, the language would still have to be taught.

“Do you mean rewrite, like write the same thing again?” he tried.

“Why. Rewrite? Not. Good?”

Firstly, “No, I’m writing the next part.” And after a pause and thought, “I suppose I could always make it better, but… with this I don’t need to, you know? It doesn’t matter that much.”

Tasha hummed at that, stared at what was a line or scribbles for her, and murmured, “Make. Me. Better.” She brushed her three fingers across the bandages on her left hand.

Taking her hand in his, Techno smoothed the bandages she had rustled and said back oh so softly, “Of course, anything for you.” He stilled, entranced by her stubby fingers and her wrapped palm.

Without slipping her hand out of his, Tasha crawled over the book and slid down into his lap. Techno smiled, yeah, anything for her.

A pup in his lap and an idea in his mind, Techno picked back up where he had left off, handwriting nearly illegible with how the page was sliding around. But Techno did nothing to fix it, his hand occupied with Tasha’s.

The night passed, the moon falling and the sun rising. Techno only knew this once he unstuck his face to the page, drool sliding down his cheek.

He had fallen asleep on the book, Tasha still curled up and a heater in his lap.

His hand was sweaty after letting go of hers, and he carried her to the dining room. Techno gnawed at his lip, wondering if it was a good idea for her to be so close to him with her mild fever. It wasn’t quite to a temperature of concern, so Techno, with Tasha pressing her snout into his chest, figured she’d be fine.

The creak of the chest didn’t awaken Tasha, but the smell of gold did. She snorted and twisted around to grabby hand at the carrots. Down in the Pig Throne she was lowered, two carrots slid across the table to her frantic hand. “Relax, kiddo,” he chuckled, observing as the piglin in her cronched down on one carrot and admired the other. “We really need to harvest the potatoes before you eat everything in the pantry.”

Speaking of the potatoes, there were nails hidden in the snow, waiting like a bear trap. It was inevitable that someone would hurt themselves. Or hurt themselves more, Techno thought, taking Tasha’s hand from across the table and unwrapping it.

The wound hadn't quite scabbed over yet, he sighed. Throwing up the last potion must have nullified any of its effects, only stopping the bleeding instead of sealing the wound.

“Bad?” Tasha asked, wiping her mouth off with the back of her hand.

“No,” Techno shrugged, “Just not preferable, I guess.” He left her hand unwrapped at the table and dug through his potion chests. Instant Health was… a bad idea, but there were other, while less preferable, options. Regeneration was slower, but: “I think we’ve got a solution, kiddo.”

She was apprehensive, eyeing the bottle with obvious distrust. When Techno reassured her it wasn’t the nasty potion, her hand was dunked. A second of contemplation, “Not. Nasty,” Tasha decided. The dunking continued and Techno took Tasha’s hand in his.

It was slow and a little nauseating to watch, but the puncture was scabbing over, her skin starting to weave itself back together. The healing was nowhere near done, of course, but that didn’t stop Techno from leaning over the table and ruffling Tasha’s fur.

New gauze was wrapped and Tasha was looking… not great, still a little pale, but not crying or dying, so that was an improvement.

The nails had to be gathered up, though, so outside time it was. They got dressed and Tasha banished herself to the ever-burning fire pit, watching from afar.

As Techno picked his way through the snow, nails started to poke their way through the crunchy snow. One made its way known by being under Techno’s foot, but his tough hoof stopped another incident from occurring.

Thinking back to the early morning, Techno mused, “What’s got you so interested in writing, Tasha?”

“You… Make. Up. Story.” It was a statement, but Techno could tell she wanted to say more. He took a guess:

“Thinking about writing your own? Being an author?” He joked. Turning back around after picking out another nail, he watched Tasha glare into the fire, hands groping at the warmth.

“Maybe…” gears clearly turning, but she trailed off, switching subjects, “What. About. Not. Made. Up?”

Techno shook his head, “Boring, too personal, and I don’t think you’d exactly find it… amusing or entertaining.”

Tasha blinked at the voice, picking the conversation back up. “Techno. Boring?” she gasped comically.

Snorting, Techno scoffed, “What! Never, everyone else is just lame.”

“Who. Everyone?”

Techno hummed absently shrugging and continuing to pick up nails. When the last one was found- at least as far as Techno could tell, he put a torch down just in case- he meandered to Tasha and the fire, snow turning to slush turning to grass. Tasha repeated the question, then hesitated, whispering “Bad?”

Flopping himself down to the grass next to Tasha, their backs to the house, Techno groped for an answer, “No- They are- were just-” he breathed in and tried again, “Yes and no, Tasha. My time with them was… mixed… good and bad and worse.”

“Tell. Good.”

Huh. That was… a solution, perhaps. And Tasha was rather convincing, but it’s not like he had any good stories to tell-

“Please.”

In and out, Techno breathed, and picked out a moment that he cherished? missed? regretted because of later situations that unfolded? Either way: “This guy- called himself a Big Man- who I used to… work for- well, no really, but he hired me- was kinda, no, really stupid. And annoying to the ends of the world, Tasha, believe me. So one day, he and this other guy named Wilbur- uhh, he’s dead now. Not by my fault!,” Techno rushed, gauging Tasha’s reaction as captivated but not accusing, “get in a fight, something silly, I was sure.

“It goes on for a while- all unimportant, don’t worry the comedy is coming soon- and the idiot, in his rage, builds himself a tiny room and decorates it with the blocks he stole from Wil.”

Techno leaning in close to Tasha like he was conspiring. Tasha oinked in glee. “The blocks, though, they were pistons and red stone blocks, smooshed him right to the floor.” He used his hands to mimic the arm coming down and pressing his hand flap into the grass, Tasha gasping. “He wasn’t harmed, physically at least, but he was stuck! Right in a trap of his own making! And he couldn’t get out!

“There was this other kid, an absolute gremlin, named Tubbo, you might’ve liked him.” Tasha nodded, mouthing the name. “Tubbo was the sweetest and best friends with the Big Man himself. Instead of helping him out though, he tried to drown him! Right in front of us: put down a water bucket and cackled, ‘Now he can’t breathe!’” He did his best impression of the absolute masterpiece that Tubbo said. Tasha giggled, holding a hand over her mouth to contain her snorts.

Techno wheezed alongside her at the memory, he could still hear Tommy’s astonished screeches.

Through snorts, Tasha asked, “Meet. Them?”

Techno tossed the idea around for only a second, “Probably never, if I can help it. Like I said: good and bad and worse.”

The mood sombered.

Tasha mumbled, “Take. Techno? From. Me?”

“No, Tasha,” Techno sputtered, “They couldn’t take me from you. I’m not in their good graces anymore, so they wouldn’t even try to talk to me.” They were really not in his good graces. And Tommy was exiled, as far as Techno knew, so he might not even be heard from again.

When Tasha stayed mute, Techno stuck out his pinky. Tasha lit up at that whispering, “Promise?”

“That’s what the pinky means. You can’t break those.”

They linked fingers and Techno pulled Tasha in for a hug. She sniffled into his shirt, white ruffles brushing the top of her head.

Techno used one of his hands to snuggle her closer. The other reached to left for a snowball and dumped it ceremoniously onto Tasha’s head. She squealed but ended it with a smile, reaching for her own snowball. Her injured hand stayed tucked against her coat, slowing her down, but she made up for it by scrambling away from another one of Techno’s snowballs.

Her small stature was an advantage, the warrior in him grumbled, but Techno had fought foes of all sizes. Grabbing a handful of snow, Techno didn’t pack this one, instead throwing it like sand. When it made Tasha stumble and drop her snowball, Techno let out his war cry and lightly pelted her with snowballs. “That’s the tactic that won me my crown!” he ended his volley with a cackle.

From the pile of loose snow, Tasha squealed “Pig! In! Crown!” with an audible smile.

“I’m the best pig in a crown there is!”

Tasha brushed herself off and glared up at him, “Only. One?”

Techno scooped her up and slung her over his shoulder in response. A little fist banged at his back and hoofs got dangerously close to his snout. The oinking ruined whatever fight she was trying to pull, Techno smiled.

As Techno carried her back inside, her endless energy left, replaced by a floppy noodle of a pup. It was a perfect time to get a bath in.

Techno helped maneuver her so she was sitting on his shoulders, using his head as a support for her wobbly body. With his hands free, Techno warmed up water over the fire and brought the buckets up the ladder. It was tedious, but Tasha on his shoulders kept his mind occupied and entertained.

“Don’t fall asleep on me, it’ll be quite the tumble,” he warned. He set a bucket down to poke at her leg, jolting her to awareness.

Tasha yawned and leaned over his crown to get a look at his face, “Catch. Me.”

“Fair point,” but he continued to poke her leg whenever she wavered in her grasp of him.

Soon the bath was full enough for Tasha to bathe in. Techno helped her out of her pants and sweater, new but not the one Tasha had been knitting, that one still sitting unfinished on a shelf. He set her in the water and let her play with the bubbles.

“What do you find so interesting about the bubbles?”

Tasha popped one with a soft clap and showed a hand full to Techno, “Water. But. Float.”

Sighing, Techno nodded, “Yup, they definitely do that.”

“Nether. Bubbled. But. Hot.” she screwed up her face, “Burned.” Her arm was shoved into Techno’s personal space, and Techno lurched back in surprise-

Her arm was littered with burns. Techno ran a delicate finger along the expanse of the burns, ones from years to months old marring her otherwise smooth pink skin. Techno had always figured she would have old wounds and scars, but this was the first time he had really been shown them, the first time he had really looked. “Tasha-”

“No! Me… Silly. Made. Mistake,” she pulled her arm back and clapped more bubbles, “Have. Worse.”

Techno hesitated, she was just a pup, a child, a baby, but, “You’ll just have to stay away from burning things from now on.”

��Fire?”

“Oh,” Techno stuttered, “apart from that one. But my point still stands! No lava.”

Tasha nodded and blew bubbles into Techno’s face, he held in a sneeze at the tickling and grabbed the sponge. The water would grow cold soon.

Scolding himself for being negligent, Techno scrubbed away at the blood that stained Tasha’s skin. He should have bathed her earlier. An infection could have seeped into Tasha and Techno almost gave it the chance.

The scrubbing ceased once the dirt and blood had been scrubbed into grimy suds, the water now just barely turning a translucent brown.

Out came Tasha from the bath and a towel wrapped around her before the frigid air could hit. The bathroom was the furthest away from the central hearth in the kitchen, and Techno was beginning to regret his design of the cabin.

Techno would have to wash the clothes soon, he realized once Tasha was dressed in his last sleep shirt and shorts. He would also have to finish the growing project of sewing clothes for both of them. Techno’s batch hadn't even been started, he sighed at himself.

Tucking Tasha into the bed even though it was only mid-afternoon, Techno worried for a moment. Were pups her age supposed to have naps?

Or, more importantly, what was Tasha’s age?

The question was asked and Tasha blinked at him, “What. Year?” There weren’t seasons in the Nether, he grasped. No years. No ages. Just pups and adults. That ended his quest for knowledge just as suddenly as it had started.

Oh well.

Techno kissed her to sleep and drew the curtain closed. Tasha patted his face before he had the chance to draw away to the library, and Techno ruffled her fluff.

Oink-snores soon filled the room alongside the scratch of quill on notebook paper. Techno had a story to get through.

[notanorangepeel]

people are beautiful: a very long pt. 1 (about college students)

One of my friends makes her music playlists based off of every individual name of her friends, and then when she runs out of friends, based off all her favorite book and movie characters and idols. In low caps and ends each with a little period, like “ anna. ” She looks you in the eyes intensely and has ten thousand facial expressions with hand motions to match. She listens to heavy cycles of NCT next to twenty one pilots and the randomest guitar hits. She only sees the personalities of people she knows in the snyopses of books at Barnes and Nobles, eats frozen yogurt while worrying about drama while sitting crisscrossed in public, pulls a shower of compliments from a never-ending well of aggressive care and concern, and doubles over making the xD face when she laughs. She’s probably broken the volume knob on the radio in her car and is scarily very chill with abandoning the GPS on interstate highways.

Another girl smiles softly and talks in the highest, cutest voice and it sounds exhausting to be THAT sugary sweet all the time, but she is the literal personification of a mix between Fluttershy and PinkiePie, and she gifted me with one of those kawaii brand baby lamb lamps from Daiso the Japanese store for Christmas when I barely knew her, and it feels like she stepped out of the softest anime. She has at least fifty stuffed animals piled on her college dorm bed, and one of those sad-eyed kitten posters, and reads advanced theology and social justice pamphlets. She’s the pro-life club street activism officer. She’s also in pre-med and wants to be an obstetrician, so she pulls who knows how many all-nighters cramming information into her sweet sweet brain. Her dad’s retired but not done working yet and lives in Africa. She’s visiting him this summer and promised to send pictures of giraffes.

Another girl has THE frizziest hair, is the definition of short and filled with silent rage, could kill a man with her heels and I wouldn’t doubt it if I heard that she had. She’s been known to type FUCK in all caps 50 pt font on her laptop’s PowerPoint while suffering through hard lectures. She has the sharpest wings and most unbelievable makeup skills ever known to womankind and wears dresses with steep slits up the side. Every girl was on her waitlist for winter prom style prep. but she has a laugh like small wind chimes and her soul blossoms like a sunflower in front of her three closest friends, and she takes them out to get cheeseburgers at 3 in the morning if they feel like it. She confides jokes quietly and makes the best chemistry study guides.

There’s a “super senior” dude who is one of High Heel Terror Girl’s best friends. Since she approves of him, it’s fine, although while he doesn’t smell fishy, there’s still something hard to grasp about him, like a slippery eel. He hangs out in the freshman girls’ dorm lounge past 2 AM, and at first everybody thinks he’s a creep because he’s the only male in there past 2 AM, but turns out he just has a hard-to-read personality and his study group is always in there and he’s too suave for his own good. He responds immediately to tumblr humor and is too direct with his observances. I still can’t read him all the way, and I don’t think anyone can yet and it’s very likely no one will be able to. He’s kinda small sized and we thought he was gay for a bit, but he just likes hair gel. Actually, no, given this description, I think he might actually be gay. But if he is then it’s a far back in the shady shadows of the closet gay. He’s a Pandora’s box and we all kind of leave it that way, and he likes it that way. Maybe I should be scared. But he platonically brought my best friend flowers on her birthday because he knows she likes to braid them into her hair and he’s so fast to offer his help to anyone who needs it, he just lets people use him, walk all over him really, with a one-sided smile the whole time, and he’s known across campus as that “there in an emergency” guy. He wears suits on the nice days and will be off, wild in the workforce, come this fall.

Another girl is so absorbed in her love for logic and words and story and debate that you can see it in her walk and the creases in her dirty red hair. She watches buzzfeed unsolved and has origami hanging in staggered patterns above her desk and a Toothless statue crammed between empty bottles and toothpaste stains, and she has very niche knowledge about drinking no-no’s and dating know-how from her older sisters and the ordering of the soul according to Aquinas vs Plato from herself. She’s quick to throw fists at the first sight of injustice and shifts her weight eagerly when she’s sitting on her small feet on the couch and immediately has a solution or plan for everything. She’s always working on a new OC or binging a new Webtoon or practicing for DND. She has a bit of an instep and likes old sci-fi movies and classic rom coms and is, oh my Lord, the BEST baker ever. Stress seems nonexistent to her. Every Thursday night she makes croissants or cinnamon rolls or twists or giant cookies and leaves them on the kitchen counter for the taking. How she salvages orange rinds and entire cartons of eggs from the cafeteria is a mystery.

She’s dating an equally kind of short guy who has an endearingly cheesy smile like Midoriya’s from My Hero Academy, and who adores emo music played on the old jangly piano in the lobby. He’s part of the martial arts and fencing clubs and has been known to jump tabletop to tabletop in mock duels with his girlfriend. He’s the reason for the first time I watched Monty python and he handmakes his birthday gifts and blushes when he gives them to the chosen person and is a regular contributor to the conglomerate friend group chat. His mophead is often swiveling around searching for and keeping tabs of his friends who are 94% of them mischief makers.

Then there’s this girl down the hall who is taller than the green giant himself and has a shoe size that matches her massive love for concert-going. She took a gap year to teach children in Guatemala and rocks her spot on the pro volleyball team even though she’s only played for a few short years. It’s not her passion, but she cares about the members and likes the exercise. She cracks up over stupid economic projects, her laughter piercing through the dorm walls at random times, and upon me showing her them, thinks the sarcastic summaries on YouTube are a godsend. She sits quietly when she’s a guest and says she distracts herself from stress by “listening to other people vent instead.” She is the friend who corrales all the different friends into one, massive, Last Supper-esque convention meeting of friend tables. She somehow is “one of the guys” but also very definitely “one of the girls” and comes back at 12 AM exhilarated from a campus-wide capture the flag.

So @ my sorry self: don’t tell your depressed head that you don’t want to go back to college again. That you feel alone. People are around you and are beautiful, even if it seems they’re that way only in hindsight.

[aloha-cowgirl]

Chapter 2: New Orleans

Enjoy Chapter 2 of my still nameless Destiel fic! 😉 @narraukoiel

Read it on AO3  or on Tumblr: Chapter 1

Chapter 2: New Orleans

From the elevated highway that led into New Orleans, Dean could see the hundreds of gravestones and mausoleums that lined the city’s cemeteries. Most were faded, chipped and cracked white concrete tombs of various sizes with crosses and bronze plaques, while others were smooth granite, flanked by ornate statues of angels and vases with colorful flowers. The cemeteries reflected the city itself, a mixture of very old architecture dotted with sleek new buildings in the gaps between. A large hospital lay abandoned to one side of the highway while a brand-new hospital bustled at the other side.

Dean cast a glance to Cas who seemed as absorbed in the view of the city as Dean had been. The hunter allowed himself a brief smile as he turned onto the ramp that would lead them down into the old city. Sam and Eileen had already made hotel arrangements for Dean and Cas, prepaying for a week-long stay. Dean didn’t really feel the need for a full week, but down time was a part of the new hunting regime and, as Sam had repeated time and time again, a little recovery time was never a bad thing and sticking around for a few extra days to follow up ensured the job was done completely.

The Impala pulled into the parking lot of the Riverhouse Inn, a neat brick building that looked like it may have once been a warehouse or factory of some sort. The industrial interior was nicer than the motels that the hunters usually frequented, and Dean decided that Eileen must have been in charge of the accommodations this time. While Sam always focused on practicality, Eileen usually factored in a little comfort as well, and Dean was quite grateful for that as he and Cas collected their keycards from the front desk.

“Nice!” Dean approved, exiting the glass elevator that had carried them to the third floor. Framed vinyl records hung in the spaces between the doors in the brick walls. The hallway was clearly old, with wooden floors that creaked just a little as they made their way to room 310. The room was simple, but clean and comfortable – a definite upgrade from the moth-eaten blankets at the last place they’d stayed. Two beds sat side by side against a brick wall to the left of the room with matching blue comforters and fluffy white pillows. To the right of the room was an alcove with a small kitchenette and a sleek glass-topped table. In the back of the room were two plush blue armchairs. The wall was lined with large paneled glass windows, partially covered with heavy curtains.

Cas stood at the window, taking in the scenery. Just past the hotel’s manicured courtyard walls, there were a few rows of steel tracks for the street car trolleys. Beyond the tracks was a large concrete wall that separated the city from the edge of the Mississippi River. The area behind the wall was paved with red bricks. Black wrought iron benches were spaced evenly between raised flower beds and landscaped gardens with colorful modern sculptures, and in the river itself Dean could see a large paddlewheel boat being docked.

“This city is beautiful,” Cas said, finally tearing those blue eyes away from the window to look at Dean. “I’m glad we’ll have some extra time here.”

“Yeah, well there’s gonna be good food too. I know you don’t always eat, but, dude, you’re gonna indulge in some world-class molecules with me while we’re here.”

Cas let out a laugh. Dean always considered Cas’s laughter a victory. He didn’t laugh enough, Dean though, and the hunter prided himself on making it happen.

“Matter o’fact,” Dean continued, “let’s go find some of those molecules now. I’m hungry.”

Soon the two were strolling along the Riverwalk. It was getting later in the evening and the small crowds had already dwindled down to a few pedestrians and patrons of the restaurants and bars set back along the concrete wall, facing the expansive riverfront. Dean led Cas toward a small restaurant where they were seated at a tall table in a fenced outdoor dining area lit by dim strands of bulbs that crisscrossed over their heads.

“Can I getcha started?,” the waitress asked, not bothering to hide the way her eyes drifted over both men with a flirty smile. She was a cute brunette, wearing her tank top and jeans well, however Dean paid little attention to her as he ordered for himself and Cas. He was on a mission, not to be distracted from his goal of sampling everything the restaurant had to offer with Cas. When the food was delivered to the table, Dean grinned excitedly.

“C’mon, man, dig in!’ He said, pushing a bowl of gumbo in front of the angel, watching again for his reaction as he had done on the hood of the Impala. At Dean’s enthusiasm, Cas could only smile into those green eyes and do as he was told, hoping not to disappoint since tastes were usually lost on him.

But this was not one of those times. Castiel’s eyes closed indulgently with his first bite. He could taste the rice. He could taste the chicken and sausage. He could taste the seasonings. He could taste it all, and it was amazing.

“Good, yeah?” Dean asked through a mouthful of food. “ See? Even molecules are better in New Orleans.”

Castiel shook his head slightly with surprise. “Dean, it’s amazing. I can— I can taste it.”

Dean stopped with a forkful of crawfish etouffee halfway to his own mouth to stare at Cas, absorbing the angel’s confusion and furrowing his brow. “Wait. Like, taste it-taste it? Like, not just molecules?”

Cas nodded, plucking a few fried shrimp from one of the many plates on the table. He looked up at Dean with a sigh, acknowledging that this was not good news. “I’m not sure why. I do realize I’m quite hungry, though. We should eat and we can call Sam when we get back to the hotel to see if he’s heard word of anything unusual. I have some suspicions, but there isn’t much that can be done about them at the moment.”

Concern for the angel nested in Dean’s chest. Cas hadn’t been able to truly taste food since he was human. The two continued to eat until they’d cleared all the plates on the table. When the plates had been cleared, they discussed the details of tomorrow’s hunt at the old Beauregard Courthouse. It was currently being used as a public library which was an obstacle in its own right. There had been reports of several ghost sightings and some possible poltergeist activity, and the building had a long history of violence, dating back over 100 years. When they finally began their walk back to the hotel, Castiel grabbed Dean’s hand to catch his attention.

“Thank you, Dean.”

They stopped near the barrier at the water’s edge, Dean taking in Castiel’s somewhat anxious expression. The angel seemed different, but Dean couldn’t put his finger on why. Cas’s eyes darted around nervously, as though he were pulling the words out of himself before he could talk himself out of it.

“Thank you— thank you for letting me hunt with you. These weeks have been… been the best weeks of my existence. It’s just… I mean—”

Dean nodded and reached out to squeeze the angel’s arm, signaling his understanding and allowing Cas to fall silent, and perhaps allowing his hand to linger for a moment too long. He could sense Cas’s struggle to give words to the thoughts, but Dean didn’t need to hear them. He already knew exactly what Cas meant, because he felt the same way. The pair had an undeniable chemistry that Dean affiliated to their “profound bond.” They moved fluidly around one another, each adapting naturally to reciprocate the other. Dean had definitely enjoyed their time together over the last six weeks, fighting vampires and ghouls, taking the time to stare at the stars, experiencing the world together, or just sitting in silence as they traveled down the highway.

“Yeah, Cas. I know what you mean. It’s been nice, y’know? We make a good team. It’s— I dunno. It’s easy with you. With us, I guess. I know you’ve got my back. And I’ll always have yours, too, ‘kay? Promise.”

Cas nodded and flashed a quick smile, satisfied that Dean understood. They took their time walking back along the river toward their hotel, their hands brushing between them as they walked in silence.

**

When the pair finally made it back to the hotel, Dean set up his laptop to call Sam and Eileen. He sat the laptop on the glass-topped table and pulled two chairs in front of the screen. Soon after, he and Cas sat facing Sam and Eileen in a video call.

“Hi, Dean. Hi, Cas.” Eileen signed as she spoke, more out of habit than necessity. Dean had learned some basic sign language, but couldn’t quite hold an entire conversation yet. Cas, of course, could sign fluently.

“Good evening, Eileen. Sam. How are things going?” Cas signed as he spoke and Dean lamely waved a greeting, distracted by the way Cas’s hands moved as he signed his words.

“Business as usual,” Sam said, not missing the way Dean was currently gazing at the angel. “How, uh… how about there? Checked out the courthouse yet?”

“Not yet, Sammy, we just got here,” Dean responded with a hint of annoyance, returning his eyes to the screen. “Dropped our bags, grabbed some dinner, and called you guys.” He hesitated a moment before continuing more seriously. “Sammy, is there anything happening out there with the angels right now? Cas— Cas has been feeling a little…”

“Hungry,” Cas finished for him with a grimace and a shrug. His voice dropped a bit as he continued, signing again as he spoke. “And actually, a little tired now, I think. I’m afraid my grace isn’t at full strength. I knew it had been replenishing slower, but it seems to be actively fading now. I should have noticed sooner.”

Dean scanned the downtrodden look on the angel’s face, realizing now what he hadn’t been able to place earlier. Emotion. Stoic-as-a-statue Cas was feeling more emotions that he was used to. That explains their conversation after dinner. Dean decided to put a pin in that to think about later.

“We haven’t heard much about angels lately. Didn’t you say there weren’t many left, Cas?” Sam asked.

Cas nodded sadly. “Yes, our numbers have been greatly depleted. Only a few remain in Heaven. What I’m feeling could be an effect of that.”

“I’ll ask around,” Sam offered. “I’ll call Garth and see if he’s heard anything. He’s got some connections he can tap into for information.”

“Thanks, Sammy. Send us what you got on the courthouse. We’re gonna head there in the morning.”

Dean reached up and closed the lid of the laptop, eyes on Cas again, studying his face amd the slight slump of his shoulders. “You okay, Cas?”

“Mm. I’ll be fine. I think I just need to rest.”

Dean squeezed Cas’s shoulder as he stood to collect a pair of grey sweatpants from his duffel and head into the bathroom to shower.

As Dean showered, Cas shed his coat and suit jacket, toed off his shoes, and sat against the headboard of his bed. He turned on the television and flipped through the few channels available, not paying much attention to anything on. This was how Dean found him as he emerged from the bathroom.

Without a word, Dean gently took the remote control from Cas’s hand, walked around the bed and sat beside the angel. “Talk to me, Cas. What can we do?”

The corner of Cas’s mouth twitched up for a moment, followed by a sigh and a slight shake of his head.

“I’m not sure there’s anything.”

Dean considered this for a moment, then decided that he needed to take baby steps. He turned the TV off, then stood to gather his laptop and an extra pillow from his bed and dropped them on the foot of Cas’s bed. Cas watched with slightly narrowed eyes as the hunter diligently moved around the room, now pulling a pair of dark red sweatpants and a black t-shirt out of his bag and tossing them to Cas. He turned off the light before falling back onto Cas’s bed.

“Go change into those, then we’re gonna lay here and watch a movie, and not think about the angels or Heaven or ghosts or anything. Not tonight, anyway.” He tucked the extra pillow behind his head, slid the laptop into his lap and clicked his way into Netflix.

Cas stood beside the bed and loosened his tie, slipping it off over his head and looping it over the bedpost. Dean had to hold his breath to push out the thoughts that blazed through his mind about that tie. Adding to Dean’s surprise, Cas pulled his belt free and proceeded to take his pants off there rather than moving into the bathroom to change. Dean fixed his eyes on the screen, attempting to focus on choosing a movie for the two to watch, but in reality he was scowling as his body betrayed him beneath the laptop at the sight of Cas undressing and the thought of that fucking tie looped over the bedpost.

Cas slipped into the borrowed sweatpants and carefully unbuttoned his shirt, lay it neatly along with his slacks on one of the plush armchairs by the window. The glow of the laptop was enough that when Dean dared another glance, he saw the tanned skin and firm muscles that Cas had been hiding under that suit and trench coat. The hunter silently decided that the angel wore far too many clothes. Cas slipped the t-shirt over his head as he maneuvered back onto the bed beside Dean.

Taking a deep breath, Dean settled more comfortably on the bed, as the opening credits to Guardians of the Galaxy flashed on-screen. They watched in comfortable silence, interrupted only by Cas’s occasional question or comment. Dean was happy to answer, knowing that the angel’s mind wasn’t dwelling on all the questions that were still winding through Dean’s own mind. Halfway through the movie, they had managed to move close enough that the laptop was perched on one leg of each man. Ultimately, the weight of the evening lay heavily on both, and they fell asleep side by side, leaning against one another for the second night in a row.

[nerdcentral]

The Silent Treatment

Summary: The reader is an introvert, but is comfortable around Gabriel so he doesn't know. One day after the reader is tires of his never-ending come backs she decides to mess with him by giving him the silent treatment, but he doesn't think that she can keep it up for long.

Warnings: normal Dean swearing

"Y/n, Look Out!" Called one of the boys, you turned around to see a vampire with his fangs out about to take a bite out of your shoulder, but before he can you swing your arm around and take his head clean off.

Dean comes running up, "Are you alright?" Same only a few steps behind. You smile at the concerned look on their faces, "I'm fine," you shifted uneasily under their intense gazes, "no need to worry about me Winchester."

Being the extremely introverted person you were made you uncomfortable when Sam and Dean shouted how much they cared about you, of course they were like brothers to you and you three had known each other for years, but you still never got used to the feeling. You immediately decided to take the conversation away from yourself, "We all done here?"

You looked around the warehouse, ten beheaded vampires lay dead on the floor, "Yeah, you just fanned the last two." Dean answered as he took one last survey of the area.

You let out a sigh of relief, "Good, the let's get out of here."

"Agreed." Sam and Dean said in unison. You all head out to the impala and drove away while the bodies burnt to a crisp.

You settled into the backseat getting ready to give in to the exhaustion, when the sound of wings filled the impala and a body materialized next to you. Dean slammed on the brakes as you jumped away from the unidentified angel dangerously close to you.

You looked up to see that it had been Gabriel, an old friend of yours, and now a tolerable ally of the brothers.

"Damn it Gab! You almost gave me a heart attack!"

His laughter filled the air as you tried to regulate your breath, "Sorry, I was just coming to see what the Fang Gang was up to today."

"Well obviously you know we just cleared out a small vamp nest if you're calling us the Fang Gang." Dean huffed from the front seat as he began to drive again.

"Is that what you were doing? I had no idea." He held a hand up to his chest in a mock-surprised voice then laughed again.

You rolled your eyes and settle back into the seat, only this time you sat closer to the window, aka fathest from Gabriel's side of the car. He looked at you as you sat with your head resting back on the seat with your eyes closed and your arms folded across your chest.

"You look like that cat that almost got eaten by the canary." You opened your right eyes to see a knowing smirk splayed across his lips, "And you look like you're asking for a punch in the face."

"Oh come one Y/n, don't be like that. What's almost eating you anyway?" The smirk never leaving his lips. You began to wonder how his cheeks weren't hurting, but you only glared at him not being able to form a descent comeback. You closed your eyes again and settled back into the seat again, "Shove a sock in it." He only laughed and disappeared again.

You could never speak that forcefully to Sam or Dean, but Gabriel was different. You were completely comfortable around him, for some reason he was the only one who could make you feel that way. With him you let yourself be the person you envisioned yourself to be, and that both scared and liberated you in a whole new way.

But you getting tired of his never ending comebacks, he was too quick witted, and it drove you crazy. However you were beginning to form a plan. You had always encouraged him by trying to come up with clever responses, so you decided that you were going to try a new tactic. Not saying a single word. That was sure to have new results.

As the three of you pulled into the bunker you smiled and awaited for Gab's next unexpected visit.

The next day, after you slept in, showered, and had a good sized brunch, he popped in. You were sitting in he library reading a book of lore and he was now sitting in the chair next to you. He stayed invisible for a second to admire the way you were sitting. Your legs were pulled on to the chair, so you were sitting in a distorted crisscross with your right knee pointing straight up and your left knee laid out across the bottom of the chair. His eyes watched intently as you twirled your hair with one hand and held the book up with the other, and your lips together in concentration. He took in the sparkle in your eyes as a result of the close lamp.

Finally he took in a content breath and made himself visible. He expected you to at least jump, but you simply turned the page.

You could see Gabriel's eyebrows pull together, but you did nothing in response. To your surprise, and his, it was Dean that jumped from across the table. He ran a hand over his mouth then shook his head in annoyance. Gabriel chuckled then turned to you.

"Gook book?" You simply looked up at him, smiled, then turned your attention back to the book.

"What's the matter Y/n, vampire got your tongue?" He asked with a smirk, but you only shook your head without looking up.

"Are you mad at me or something?" He asked with a little more worry in his voice. You looked at him with kind eyes and shook your head again, then returned to your book. Gabriel threw a confused look at Dean who only shrugged.

Then it hit him, he smiled, "Oh two can play this game." You raised an eyebrow at him and gave him and 'oh really?' look. "You better believe sweetheart, I can stay quiet way longer than you can." He stated with his trademark smirk, but it lessened when Dean burst out laughing. "Come on man, no one can stay as quiet as Y/n, especially not you."

You failed to contain a smile as he went on, "Y/n could sneak up on a wendigo at her normal noise level. You have no chance at winning this one man." Gabriel shrugged, beginning his silence, then winked at you. You looked back at your book still unable to contain your smile.

Two hours later you put the book down and walked to the kitchen without saying a word, leaving a very bored Gabriel along with Sam and Dean. As soon as you were out of sight he sat up and looked at the brothers, "Are you sure there's nothing wrong with Y/n? She's never this quiet."

Sam furrowed his eyebrows, "what are you talking about? Y/n's always this quiet, it's hard to even get her to say anything sometimes."

"Yeah I wasn't kidding, that girl could sneak up on anything."

Gabriel shot them confused glances, "She's never that quiet with me, she's always laughing or cracking jokes around me."

"Then you must be the only one." Sam replied as he opened a new link on his laptop.

Gabriel looked down the hall you disappeared down wondering why he had never seen this side of you.

Another two hours of silence went by, Sam left on a supply run and Dean had decided to go to the local bar. Meaning you and Gab were completely alone and he was starting to go insane.

It wasn't the silence, and it wasn't the fact that he habnt talked, it was that he hadn't heard your voice. He loved the way your voice sounded. He loved the sound of your laugh, especially when you laughed at his stupid comebacks. He couldn't take not hearing your voice for another second.

"Ok that's is! You win, I give up!" He said as he dramatically threw his hands into the air, "you have officially beaten me."

Yo smile triumphantly, but you didn't want to give in just yet. You even did a silent happy dance, but you didn't utter a word of self-praise or taunting.

"Yeah that right, you win. Now can you please talk to me again?" He almost begged, his voice dripping with seriousness. You stopped in your tracks, it wasn't often you heard him use that tone, so you knew something was up. But you were unsure of what to say, so you said nothing, only that seemed to worsen the situation.

"Laugh at me, tell me to shove another sock in it, even tell me I'm an idiot, but please say something. Anything." There was a desperation in his eyes as he inched closer to you that you'd never seen before, so you were so struck by his words that you had none of your own. So he went on.

"Y/n please! I need to hear your laugh, I need to know that your not mad at me. I need to hear your voice again. I can't go any longer without it." He was rambling and you knew it, but you didn't dare stop him. "I can't take it anymore. I need you to talk to me. I love you!"

Time stopped. You'd loved him for so long, but you never in a million years would've imagined that he felt the same way. You closed the gap between you can pressed your lips to his. It was sweet and passionate, it was filled with the words you couldn't say. He wrapped his arms around you, drawing you in closer so he could deepen the kiss, your arms wrapped around his neck.

You pulled back and look at into his honey collared eyes, "I love you too." We're the only words that you could call forth, but they were enough. They were more than enough. He pulled you into another kiss, and you poured all the love and emotions you could into the kiss. What was to be the first of many to come.

[umbrahighpriestofgiratina]

Heroes After All Chapter 5

And here's Chapter 5! Do note this chapter is... kind of dark, and deals with subjects like vomiting, eye mutilation, and general blood and death. Chapter 5: Don't Fear The Reaper

Aaron waited for the ball. And waited, and waited. The other kids and their Pokemon seemed intent to keep it away from him, the "freak" kids, and their Pokemon, but he certainly tried to get it. Finally, it sailed his way, and he reached, stretched, grabbed - And it sailed down the mountain, bouncing down a gentle slope until it was out of sight amid the trees. Aaron started. Then looked at the other kids, who were staring at him. One piped up. "You go get it!" Aaron looked to the other "freak" kids and their Pokemon, who shrugged or did the Pokemon equivalent. Aaron groaned and started making his way down. The bushes and shrubs seemed to claw at his face. He heard wild bird Pokemon squawk and fly away at his approach. Finally he found the ball and reached down for it. It was then he noticed the ball had landed next to the disfigured corpses of an Aura Guardian and his Sawsbuck. The corpses had suffered various forms of abuse - fire, crushing, acid - and seemed relatively fresh. A Murkrow was in the process of plucking an eye from the Aura Guardian's skull and promptly swallowed it before eyeing Aaron warily. Aaron stared in horror before vomiting the contents of his lunch earlier that day, forming a puddle next to the bodies, and after regaining his bearings slightly grabbing the ball and racing back to the monastery. As soon as he got back he haphazardly tossed the ball back to the other children - much to their confusion- before going to find Polly. Polly was reading on a bench in the monastery when Aaron found her. "Kid, what's up?" she said. "Why are you out of breath?" "Dead Aura Guardian... In the woods... His Pokemon too..." Polly's look grew grave. "Show me." Aaron took Polly out to the woods, down the slope and through the trees, until they reached the dead bodies. Polly looked at them in shock. "Dale... No..." She looked around. "No sign of Melissa but we'd have to search... Kid? You're going back to the monastery." Aaron nodded and headed back once again, but the image of Dale and his Sawsbuck's dead bodies were thoroughly burnt into his mind. --------------- Polly now had two other Aura Guardians gathered with her around the corpses with their Pokemon: Vince, a Dark Obscuric, with his Honchkrow Henry, and Ryan, leader of the Genesis Mountain Aura Guardians, with his Swampert. Polly's Metagross was there too, analytically scanning the bodies. Henry tried to peck at Dale's Sawsbuck's remains when Vince gave him a stern look and he backed off with a disappointed coo. "Did Aaron see any sign of who did this?" said Ryan. "Not at all," said Polly. "Kid just stumbled upon them playing ball." "Can you track them, Ryan, Metagross?" said Vince. "I would," said Ryan, "But someone's been good about covering their tracks." ~It's likely they teleported out somehow,~ said Metagross. "And Melissa and her Luxray are missing too..." said Polly. ~No sign of them either,~ said Metagross. Ryan's Swampert shifted uneasily. "Shit," said Vince. "This isn't good. At all. Someone's after us and we don't know who." "We need to fortify our defenses in case whoever did this strikes again," said Ryan. And we're going to have to investigate this event as much as we can." He turned to Polly and Vince. "We three will head the investigation team. I will ask Nightjar for help as well." "I'll ask Carol and Hannah then," said Polly. Vince groaned. "Hannah? Really?" Polly frowned. "She's perfectly qualified for this," said Polly. "Plus she's our friend." "You and Carol's friend, maybe," said Vince. "She's too bubbly and picks on me and gets on my nerves." "Be mature, Vince," said Ryan. "I trust Polly's judgement and so should you." "Alright, fine," said Vince. Henry snickered. So did Ryan's Swampert. Even Metagross joined in. Vince gave them all harsh looks. It was then, however, that Metagross turned to the others. ~There is one thing I sensed I should note.~ "What is it?" said Polly. ~One of the murderers had powers like your own.~ --------- Aaron had spent all day thinking about the bodies and being pestered by the other about the interruption of the ball game and subsequent involvement of Polly and further subsequent security lockdown of the monastery for several hours. He wanted to sleep. He ignored the noises made by his bunkmates as he climbed into bed. Was he gonna be okay? His mother said Dialga would always protect him, and he believed that with all his heart. But his father had believed the same thing and... and... He tried to push the memories out of his mind and as always they came back stronger and stronger until exhaustion claimed him. --------- Aaron woke up in a place that was definitely not his room. He looked around to find himself in a red cavern of sorts, with black veins crisscrossing it. He immediately froze when he saw what was perched at the end of the cavern. There before him, with massive wings, crooked talons, and sharp beak, was her. The dread Yveltal, death and destruction goddess of Kalos. ~Well,~ she said. ~Isn't this a wonderful first meeting?~ She can talk like Metagross does? thought Aaron. Probably because she's a goddess... ~You are correct,~ said Yveltal. Aaron gulped. "I-I guess you can hear me no matter what..." ~Also correct!~ "What are you here for?" ~To warn you my dear...~ She leaned in close - uncomfortably close - and gave a beaky grin. ~You know full well your first encounter with death wasn't with the corpses in the woods. And those will be far from your last encounters either.~ "I... I..." ~You have a long road ahead of you, Aaron. Just remember - Death is inescapable. Even if it doesn't find you... You'll just find it.~ She suddenly lunged, talons bared. Aaron screamed and tried to shield himself with his arms. ----- He woke up in a cold sweat, not bolting upright but panting, feeling paralyzed. Eventually the numbness wore off and he sat up, staring off into space, before collapsing again and waiting for dawn to come. ----------- The next morning, Aaron was sitting by himself, exhausted, despite the insistence rom the other members of his group to join them. "Are you sure you don't wanna have breakfast?" said Callie. "We know you like grits," said Eve. "I'm... Fine," said Aaron. "Whatever then," said Louis. "Let's just go," said Atta. The four left, their Pokemon looking back and chittering amongst themselves with concern. Aaron just kind of stared after until he heard a telepathic voice in his head. ~You okay kid?~ Aaron jumped before realizing that the voice was not Yveltal's but that of Polly's Metagross next to him. ~Polly wanted me to check up on you after yesterday and, well, I always feel sorry for you humans easily.~ "Er yes, I'm totally, absolutely... Not okay. I had a nightmare last night." ~After seeing what you did I don't blame you. That said you probably should eat. Not eating's hell on the anxiety, I should know after knowing Polly all her life.~ He paused. ~Don't tell her I said that.~ Despite himself Aaron managed a snicker. "I won't!" ~Good. Now come on, let's go eat with your friends. I can definitely convince them to give you food if they say you're late.~ Aaron smiled. "Thanks." He followed Metagross out. --------- The small purple creature watched the small biped and large quadruped head off from their hiding place. It couldn't understand the words of the creatures of this dimension, though was starting to pick up a few. What they did know was that the place the two were going had food. Stealthily, the purple creature floated after them. It floated through a gap in a window and looked around a small room. Suddenly, a noise. The purple creature hid as a biped entered the room, looked around, picked something up, and left. In its wake the creature noticed it had dislodged a small, green and red sphere from a nearby box. They inspected it, then tasted it. It was edible, success. The purple creature nibbled happily on their newfound prize. --------------- A number of Lucario were gathered around Ginji. "What's the plan, birdbrain?" said one. "We're going to corner the thing in its den," said Ginji, "and I'll be at the center holding it off while we all take it down." "What if it goes after us?" said another Lucario. "With those fire attacks we're toast! Literally!" "My job is to make sure that doesn't happen," said Ginji. "Now come on." The group stalked off into the forest, Ginji keeping his sharp eyes peeled while the Lucario had their Aura feelers flared. Eventually, the group reached what appeared to be a den. They stood stock still and silent while Ginji scanned it. "Okay," he said, whispering. "We're going to quietly go in there and-" "Look out!" shouted a Lucario. Ginji looked over just in time to see the Charizard ram into him from the side rather than from the entrance to the den. The Charizard attempted to bite down on Ginji with a Crunch and managed to injure his shoulder, but not before Ginji could sock him in the jaw with an Aura-infused punch. The Charizard was further annoyed by being pelted with Aura Spheres from the assorted Lucario, before flying upward and launching a Heat Wave, which caused the Lucario to quickly fall back. Ginji wasn't so phased and hurled a rock at the Charizard, hitting him badly and causing him to swoop out of view. "Yeah, that's right, run away, you overgrown reptil- urk!" A wicked sharp blade of air left a massive, bleeding gash across Ginji's chest. As he fell over, bleeding out, the Charizard lunged at the Lucario group, as they attempted to dart out of the way. One took advantage of the chaos to hurl another rock at the Charizard's wing with a sickening crack, causing him to roar in pain and trample off for real this time. The Lucario then turned to the badly bleeding Ginji. "Oh no... What the hell do we do?" "Do we just... Leave him?" "Father Alpha would be furious... We bring him back. See if he can be saved..." They picked up the still-bleeding Ginji and hauled him, dripping with blood the whole way, back to the pack. Riolu and his mother noticed their return and gasped in horror. "G-Ginji!" "Dad!" They rushed over to his side, Ginji looking at them weakly. "Honey... Son... it'll be alright..." Tears fell down Lucario's mother's face. "Ginji, no..." "D-Dad?" said Riolu. "Are you..." Ginji placed a talon on Riolu's paw. "Son... You're gonna do big things beyond this pack... I just know it.... Do... Me... Proud..." "D-dad..." Ginji said no more. He fell limp. ---------------- It had been a few days since Ginji's death. Riolu's mother was sitting away from the pack, staring off into space. Eventually she felt an Aura behind her, felt a forepaw touch hers. She looked to see it was her son. "Mom?" he said. "Yes, sweetie?" "Now... Now that dad's gone I worry I don't belong in the pack anymore. That I'm not safe..." "What? No, of course you're-" The words got caught in her throat. "I... I want to find someplace else. Anyplace else. And I want you to come with me." "I... I can't." "Why not?" "Grandfather Alpha... I can't leave him..." "The pack doesn't love me. You do." "I do. And... I think if you want to do this you are strong enough to go on your own." "But... I can't leave you..." Riolu's mother nodded. "I'll be OK. The pack will re-accept me before long. Your father was right. You can do better." "I..." There was a pause. Then Riolu embraced his mother, careful to avoid her chest spike. She embraced him back. "Take care... It's a dangerous world out there, but you're smart, and brave, and I know you'll find safe haven eventually." "I know you're right Mom." Riolu stared at her a while longer. Then turned and broke off into a run. ***

[lubdubsworld]

Sleepwalking to You , It’s out of my control ( Jhope )

Chapter 11

The sound of waves. Water crashing into rocks. The distinctive sound of waves hitting breakwaters.

i could hear it, vaguely but persistently. It was an odd sound. Familiar in a way that made my skin crawl. I felt the nagging sensation of disquiet, like there was something underneath my skin, crawling it's way out and after a minute's struggle, I let my eyes open.

The ceiling was wood. Paneled and polished with a pretty, ornate ceiling fan on it, the blades ivory white and the frame painted metallic gold. again a jolt of memory, except , on it's wake came a feeling of trepidation and worry. unease bordering on panic.

The bungalow in Jeju Do.

The one where Hoseok and i had spent three months cooped up. For one horrible moment , I felt like I was back in that time. That I'd fallen into some warped wormhole, transported myself back in time to when Hoseok did not really like me all that much.

Agony .

I whimpered as debilitating pain shot up my back, crippling my torso till I fell back against the pillows. Each breath felt heavy, like I was underwater and sinking fast. Clutching the sheets in a desperate gap, I tried to concentrate on taking nice , deep breaths.

My wrists burned as they brushed the fabric of the bed .

Ropes, circling my hands, over and over in crisscross patterns, tying my wrists together behind me , my arms bent in a way that arms weren't really meant to bend and the hot heavy breath of a monster , on my neck...whispers, "You know what's hot? The fact that you can say no... but you aren't ... because you're a slut ... you enjoy this don't you... you enjoy me doing this to you..."

It was like being doused with ice cold water, shockingly uncomfortable and terrifying. I gripped the sheets harder. I bought my arm up, teeth digging into my forearm, the physical pain only marginally helping me tamp down the images that were burning their way into my mind.

I tried to calm the voices that were warring inside my head, like a million little devils with fists clenched, pounding on the inside of my skull.  listen to us, listen to us as we help you re-live the most awful thing to ever happen to you...don't you want to remember how he felt whispering all those filthy things into your ear...

"Jiah?"

The voice startled me, but it silenced the other voices.

Hoseok.

"Baby... are you awake?"

Gentle finger threaded through my hair, pressing into my scalp and I turned alowly, finally focusing on the man next to my bed.

"Hobi..." I whispered, not sure if he was real. . He was staring at me with red-rimmed eyes, lips swollen like he'd bitten on them for a long time.

"I'm here, baby girl. You're okay..."

"Hurts..." I choked out and his fingers tightened on my hand , his eyes filling with tangible anguish.

"I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry I let this happen, fuck babe, i would die for you... Don't you know that? i would give my very existence to keep you safe, why would you go to that monster... sweetheart, why?" He rasped out, lifting my hand up and sothering it with kisses.

Why indeed?

"I don't know..." I said helplessly. Honestly. " It seemed like the right thing to do, at the time..." I laughed out, without mirth, the movement jarring my insides.

"I love you. I love you more than i love anything else in the world and I want you to always remember that ..." His voice cracked. " In fact, it doesn't matter even matter if you forget because i'm going to say it everyday, drill it into your head and-"

"Hobi..." I gripped his hand.

He stopped, staring at me.

"What is it, babe?"

"Do you think I'm disgusting? " I swallowed and he went very pale.

"What... babe... why would you?"

"I feel that way. I feel like i want to peel my skin off..." I shuddered. " Like I want to rip my insides out..."

He leaned down then, gently pressing both palms on either side of my face.

"I think you're the bravest, most beautiful woman i've ever met. I think that if it wasn't for you, I would have killed myself a week after I got into that accident." He swallowed. " Baby , you're my only saving grace. My angel , sent from heaven. How could i ever think you're anything but perfect?"

I bit my lips, tears stinging as I thought of all the times I willingly let Hansol touch me .

"I'm not." I felt my voice crack on the words.

He made a noise of impatience before pressing his lips to my forehead. I gripped the front of his shimple button down, his skin impossible warm through the soft cotton. I wanted to curl into him forever. I felt so incredibly cold.

"Jiah.." He hesitated. " Do you want to get up? Yoongi and joon-ah want to see you too." He said softly.

"No.." i panicked immediately, the thought of being stared at with concern and pity , way low on my list of things I needed to experience right now.

"Shush.. okay...okay... Don't worry. We can stay here..." He looked around a bit. " I bought dinner earlier. It's probably still warm. Or do you want to-?"

"Can you climb in? I'm really cold..." I whispered. He froze , looking uneasy.

"Are you sure...?" He looked geuninely worried.

"Don't you want to?"

"I... Okay. "

He spooned me from behind, taking care to keep his hands off. Swallowing, I grabbed his arm and pulled it over my waist, relaxing when the heat of his body wrapped around mine. My eyes already felt a little heavy.

I felt warm lips on the back of my neck.

"You can sleep... if you want..." He whispered. i nodded blankly.

"Don't leave me." The words were out, torn out of my conscience before i could help myself.

"Never." He whispered back.

"How is she?" Yoongi said softly, dropping a little more sugar into his coffee.

"She's sleeping. " Hobi sounded very tired himself.

"Good, did you tell her about Tae?"

"Not yet hyung. She's still hurting. I'd ratehr wait."

"Okay... I understand." Yoongi hesitated before exchanging a few more meaningless exchanges. When he hung up , he felt his fingers tremble.

"So, she's okay?" Jung Kook said from the couch on his recording studio.

"She's fine."

"Great , hyung! Your baby girl is fine then? “ He’s teasing, but Yoongi still feels a pang, “ Can we  finally  focus on the track without you spacing out, then?"

Yoongi gave him a dry smile.

"Brat. "

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"How are you feeling?" Taehyung said calmly and it took Hoseok a second to realize the question is addressed to him. He paused and tried to answer honestly. They were standing on the terrace, both of them.

"Angry. Helpless. Guilty." He whispered, gripping the railing and watching the small patch of lawn , a storey below the terrace, on which Jiah lay sprawled, her head cradled on Yoongi's lap. He stared at the way Yoongi held her, like she was the most precious thing in the entire world, his beautiful piano fingers threading through her hair as he sang some old forgotten melody, his voice low raspy and slightly off key.

But Jiah must have liked it. She was asleep, her breath moving in an out in gentle wisps, her chest rising and falling evenly. Yoongi had been sitting in that position for well over an hour now and his gaze was fixed out into the setting sun on the horizon, lighting the gentle waves on the ocean. Namjoon was also asleep on one of the deck chairs, his hat covering his face. Seokjin was messing with a barbecue grill on the deck, occasionally correcting Yoongi's lyric and earning himself glares.

Hoseok wasn't down there because he knew that his presence made Jiah go stiff with ... something. Apparently, he wasn't what she needed at the moment. Yoongi was.

And that just made him feel...

" Jealous."  He finished, turning a vacant smile to Taehyung, who chuckled.

"It's nothing personal. If anything, you should be happy. It's obvious she has very strong feelings for you. it makes it difficult for her to relax. And for now, she needs to relax. She's still physically recovering." Taehyung said gently.

Hobi gripped the railing harder.

"Tae, couldn't you just... i just want to know what he did to her. I've been trying to talk to Seokjin and Yoongi but they won't tell me..." He begged, his heart hurting.

"Hobi... That's not going to help anyone... You don't have to ..."

"I fucking do...okay... i need to know... i just... I need to know. " He whispered.

"And you will. Someday. When she tells it to you herself. It's jiah's choice, Hobi. You need to understand and respect that..."

"I know.. i know Tae... it's just that I..." He stopped, not sure what to say.

"i understand. Sometimes, you feel like the darkness in your head is eating at you. Try not to think about that night, Hobi. You need to be strong for her, now.. okay?"

I dipped my feet into the lukewarm waters of the pool , watching the light refract my feet till it looked like they weren't a part of me anymore. I stared at the image for a while and then sighed.

"Why are we here?" I said finally and Taehyung hummed.

"No particular reason. Seokjin said you should be walking around a bit. It's been three weeks already after all. Are you still hurting?"

I considered that question for a second.

"No. Not that much."

Because pain was temporary. The bruises were fading. The rope marks on my wrist had dulled to little discolorations. But it was the phantom touches that refused to end. I woke up at odd hours of the night, choking on air, certain that I was being pushed down into the bed by someone...

"Have you changed your mind about going to the cops?"

I hesitated.

"No. He's dead. What difference does it make.." I said , pulling my legs out. My toenails were painted a pale pink. Hoseok had spent a good hour, lightly coating each enamel surface with the gravest concentration. I remembered staring at the top of his head, wondering what was going on inside. How did he feel about this... any of this...

"Okay. what about Hobi? Do you want to tell him what happened?"

"No. " The word got torn out of me in a panic. " Never... i can't just..."

"Shh... Hey... relax. You don't have to tell him. You don't have to do anything you don't want to, okay."

"Really?" I whispered. " I've spent my entire life doing exactly what i don't want to do... " I turned away.

"It's different now. There's nothing wrong in asking for help. Sometimes, asking for help can be the bravest, strongest thing anyone can do. I'm proud of you for that. You told Hobi to stay. You told him you needed him and that makes you a very strong woman." He said softly.

"I'm tired." I said, my mind feeling oddly clogged, the way it always did when I thought about Hobi.

"But you're going to have to let him in, Jiah. Not all at once. But gradually. It's an option. " Taehyung said gently.

I sighed.

"I want to stay here. Forever. Like this. I don't ever want to go back to my life." I choked out.

"Are you sure? " Tae said gently.

"I'm sure... i just... I don't want to go back to Ilsan. Or Seoul. Or anywhere else. I like this place. I like... the ocean." I said blankly, staring out into the waves.

"Have you told Hobi that?"

I shook my head.

"He doesn't belong here. He hated this place when he got hurt. He'll want to leave.  " I said, stomach turning over at the possibility of Hobi leaving.

"If he wants to leave, he would have left a long time ago, Jiah. He's here . After seven years , he's still here and it has nothing to do with the place. It has everything to do with you. He's not going to leave you because he's here for  you. " Taehyung said softly, reaching out and tapping my knee.

Footsteps on the deck made me look up.

"Hey sweetheart. It's getting a bit chilly out here. I brought you a shawl..." Hobi said, holding out the soft baby blue wool .

I watched as he stepped closer, and lightly draped it over my shoulders before kissing my forehead.

"You guys should enjoy the sunset. I'll go see what Yoongi hyung's up to.." Taehyung said briskly, standing up and giving me a smile before leaving. I waved lightly, while Hobi slowly sat down next to me, dipping his feet into the water next to mine.

"Remember the first time we watched the sunset? I had that gig in Pohang and you were on break so we drove down with Yoongi to the beach?" Hobi said softly.

I smiled at the memory.

"They paid you less than what it took to rent the car." I grimaced. Hobi chuckled.

"We had to eat cabbage soup for a week to save for rent." He shook his head , amused.

"I used to miss that, sometimes. Us. After we divorced " I swallowed. " Sometimes, I didn't even need money or a solid meal. I used to need just... you. But then I wasn't sure if you wanted me.." I managed a weak laugh.

"I'm here now. I'm not going anywhere. I ... I missed you too, baby. There were days when I couldn't even move and I wanted nothing more than to crawl back to you. But I didn't want to yet another burden for you to bear , i mean... I just... I wanted to get better.  " He said softly.

I sighed.

"I'm not blaming you for it. I just... I wish we could redo it..."

"Redo it?"

"There are things i want to forget. Things I want to change. Things i want to... tell you. But... I just... I don't know . It's like the moment's gone , you know? Like I had a chance to do this right and I missed it. Like we've already passed the end and now we're just chasing something that isn't there.." I wrapped the shawl around myself, a bit tighter.

"Let's redo it..." He said suddenly.

"What?"

"Any moment you want. Let's redo it. I'm here. You're here. Why shouldn't we redo it??" He stood up suddenly, scaring me.

"Hobi..."

"Get up..."

"what..."

"Come on... up..." He held a hand out and i stood up slowly, stumbling a little.

"Let me start. Remember the night I told you about the apartment."

I blinked.

"The night before the accident?"

"Yeah..." He swallowed. " i want to redo that."

"Hobi..."

"Jiah... i got an apartment. Closer to the city. You won't have to commute so long."

I swallowed.

"That's... That's so nice of you.." i said lamely, feeling silly.

"i got my choreography approved, too."

"Hobi, I can't..."

"But mostly... I broke up with Hyeri."

I froze.

"What?"

"I broke up with her. I didn't want to lie to her or myself, anymore. You see, there's a girl. She's so strong and so brave and she's so patient with me. She cooks like a dream and I know she cares foir me. When i see her hurting..." He swallowed. " i feel like a part of me is dying. i want to give her the world. i want to give her everything she's ever wanted. Three years ago, I made my vows to her and I've been a shitty husband since then but I want to change. I want to be the man she needs. I want to be... her man."

I felt my lips wobble.

"And tomorrow... i'm going to take her to a restaurant. I'm going to tell her that I love her. That I want us to start a new life together. Make love. Make babies. " He laughed through the tears and I tossed my arms around his shoulders, gripping tight as I sobbed into his shoulders.

"I'm so sorry..." I felt my body shaking against. " I'm so sorry about everything."

"I love you. More than anything else in the world." He whispered.

"I love you too." I shut my eyes, gripping him tighter as i stared out into the sunset.

"Do you feel better?"

I laughed.

"You're so silly.. i can't believe... " I shook my head, pulling away to see that his face was soaked with tears as well.

"We'll redo it all." He said firmly. " every memory you want to change. We'll change it. I'll help you... We can get through this.. together. You and me... okay, baby?"

"Okay." I hugged him again, shutting my eyes as the tears fell. " Okay."

( AUTHOR’S NOTE : I think I knew when i started this story that these two would be the most tragic couple, i ever write. there’s something about Hobi’s bright smile that speaks volumes to me. I can tell that he’s seen a lot of genuine heartbreak in his life. If you notice, it shines in his eyes.

The story is coming to an end. Some of you may realize where it’s going. I’m sorry for the tears.  )