#i want to be Enclosed i need a little Nest

[nexus-nebulae]

hmmm i want railings on my bed like a hospital bed but most Bed Railings they sell have to be placed under the mattress to stay in place and i have an adjustable base that means my mattress gets folded frequently and cannot keep the rail in place

[hey-august]

I like to think Buggy’s entire sleeping situation is beyond weird and takes a while to get used to. Personally a big fan of the “he detaches while sleeping” headcanon and sprinkling my own brand of alight angst in there by making that clown touch starved and only being able to sleep well when he’s cuddling his own head like a morbid teddy bear. Of course as soon as someone else enters the mix it gets weirder because he cannot kick the habit of wanting something to cuddle, so he likes to spoon his so, but he also can’t keep his head comfortably on his shoulders most nights and detaches it anyways, which sometimes means he gets spooned by SO holding his own head or he is the big spoon to his SOs little spoon to his own heads littlest spoon. There are so many opportunities for weird situations with his detachable parts it’s just a joy to think about (As well as the fluff potential of Buggy realizing that this is something his partner actively loves about him, to be able to hold onto his Torso and listen to his heartbeat even when he’s already getting up. To be able to become the world’s comfiest body pillow by carefully detaching body parts to hold them just right. The ability to wake up next to them and float over to their side of the bed to see them peacefully sleeping, it’s one of the first times he actively enjoys his powers)

Nooo, Buggy cuddling his own head is so adorable and so bittersweet.

That is the cutest, though, and a wonderful way to not have him honking and snoring in your ear the entire night. Falling asleep every night to his head cradled against your chest, the feel of his soft hair on your skin, and your lips pressed to the crown of his head. Or drifting away to his body nestled against yours, arms wrapped around his waist, and his head in the right place for you to caress his cheek.

No pins and needles in his arms when you want to rest your head on his shoulder or his chest. The opposite also works - Buggy would try different ways to segment his body so he can curl up to you without pinching any nerves.

Some nights he’ll slip a hand in yours, just to have that connection. You wake up in the morning, palms a little sweaty and fingers entwined.

Buggy will give you a leg to hold between yours, which makes your hips feel so good. When it’s time for you to roll over, he lets you take the appendage, just so you can stay comfy.

And chilly nights. Let’s talk about those.

The first time he tried to push his cold fucking feet against you, he was promptly ejected from the bed. After that, Buggy learned to warm his own feet first. While you refused to be touched by those icicles, you were willing to help with his cold hands. Holding you as the little spoon, Buggy’s hands would find their way between your thighs and wait in the soft warmth. Once warm, he’d enclose your hands within his.

For Buggy, having to get up in the middle of a cold night wasn’t much of a problem. He just needed to send whatever bit of his body off to do whatever, while the rest of him kept the bed warm. You did not have that ability. When you got out of bed for a late night bathroom run, Buggy would wiggle some of himself over to your side to keep it warm.

Connecting that to Buggy becoming the absolute best snuggle buddy, he manages to develop a secret sense. Buggy sleeps deep and sleeps hard. He’s not waking up until he decides it’s time or there’s an emergency (and even then, it’s a struggle). But he’s always aware of you in bed. The way you move, the sounds you make, when you wake up… Some part of Buggy pays attention throughout his slumber. When you’re restless, he moves to comfort you. When you can’t get comfortable, he knows what you need. 

The bed is a messy nest of limbs and bodies, which is why you two always sleep oh so soundly. (Minus the snoring.)

[dullgecko]

(Anon because I have anxiety yippee /s)

The Bad Kids are the only people allowed to go anywhere near any of the bedrooms at Seacaster manor so whenever one of them is done with the party they just flop down in Fabian’s room (after bribing Moggy of course)

By like hour 6 of most parties you will find Riz holed up in Fabian’s room curled up in the nest he keeps on Fabian’s bed because he got overstimulated/socially drained and snuck away (the first time he did it the rest of the Bad Kids freaked out because they couldn’t find him anywhere in the party so now he just texts the gc whenever he does it)

Fabian keeps multiple “panic attack kits” he made for Adaine around his room (they include bandages, a little stuffed animal version of Boggy that Cathilda made, and extra meds that he got in a totally legal way) so whenever she has a panic attack at a party she just teleports there

Kristen likes to summon Cass (and Ankarna after Junior year) in Fabian’s room and convincing her to play board games when she gets bored of the party (she tried cheating at monopoly once and Ankarna glared at her until she put the money back)

If she’s in the room alone Fig will just start playing their guitar really loudly because “Fabian’s room has the best acoustics” (it doesn’t but it’s her legal job as his sibling to annoy the fuck out of him) but if anyone else is in the room she just starts clinging to them whether they’re asleep or awake (Fig is absolutely a clingy drunk)(Adaine has about a million pictures of a passed out Fig and Riz cuddling in Riz’s nest)

Gorgug doesn’t really drink at most of the parties since he’s the designated driver in case someone wants to go fully home instead of just passing out at Fabian’s place so he usually just alternates between hanging out at the party and chilling in Fabian’s room, if Kristen is also in the room he’ll join in on her board game, if Adaine is in there he’ll sit with her until she’s okay to leave (occasionally she’ll just fall asleep on his lap and he’ll just chill there the rest of the night), if Riz is in there he’ll sacrifice his hoodie to give Riz an extra blanket, if Fig is in there he gives notes on her obnoxious guitar playing until she gets tired and starts clinging to him (at which point he will probably also give her his hoodie)

At one party Fabian went to his room to grab something and found the entire party curled up on his bed passed out and he took a couple of pictures immediately forgot what he was doing and flopped onto the bed to pass out with them

They're not even sure if Riz is sleeping or not most of the time because he's so socially drained he won't answer questions verbally. He'll sometime answer in the group chat though if he feels like it. If you've seen him drink at any point during the night it's a good bet he is asleep, Fig has risked peeking into the nest many times to get photos (she forgot to turn the flash on her camera off once and the look she got from the goblin after waking him was chilling).

He used to steal spare blankets from the linen closet and about half of Fabians pillows but now he usually has supplies left out for him. In winter he is thoroughly cocooned inside a well constructed blanket mountain/cave to keep warm.

Adaine and Fig are both allowed inside his nest if they need to decompress a bit. He purposefully makes it bigger so they can fit. It helps Adaine calm down because it's cosy and enclosed and it muffles the other party sounds really well (and she can sneak coveted sleepy Riz cuddles, its very hard to steal him from Fabian and Fig at normal sleepovers if he actually tries to sleep).

Kristen tried to play fantasy Mario party with Cas and Ankarna once and nearly got smited. Luckily Ankarna got enough extra stars at the end to win and a crisis was averted. Riz will sometimes clamber out of his nest if they're playing card games, but you have to watch him carefully. His sleight of hand is HIGH and he will destroy you at games like old maid.

Gorgug is for sure the responsible sober friend, whenever Riz isnt being the responsible sober friend (he can also be the designated driver its just terrifying to be in the car when he is because he literally has to stand in the wheel well).

Fabian has, on SO many occasions joined in on the group nap only to wake up an hour later and realise OH SHIT there are still guests in his house and go to shoo them off.

Gorgug usually ends up taking the girls home since they all live together before going home himself. They don't wake Riz if he's actually asleep though, so Fabian has to try and sleep himself without jostling him too much. There has been more than one occasion of him going to sleep and waking up with a blanket fort rebuilt around him by their rogue who's passed out asleep again.

[plzfeedmebread]

🍞 i have come to request for jake + breeding 😔🙏make it spicy and soft please

word count: 2900

Pairing: Jake Sully x Female! Navi! Reader Tags/Warnings: smut, nsfw, p in v, swearing, breeding, smooching, a little fluff, R18 - MINORS DNI Author's Notes: Sorry this took so long! I hope it is to your liking :)

SCORCHING

It starts with an itch. A tickle, perhaps, at the back of his throat. Insignificant enough to easily ignore. His hands start sweating more than usual, a general warmth follows him, encasing him. He tells himself it’s fine, Pandora must be going through its version of summer. He becomes a little more worried when his senses become far sharper than before; but strangely, he notices, it is only attuned to you.

The twitch of your tail, a tsk on your tongue, the pop of a joint; every sound you make rings in his ears. Stronger still is the smell. Your scent invades him, controls him. Everything your hands merely glide over, becomes drenched in your scent. He can’t remember ever feeling like this; he feels almost drunk off of it. And God forbid should you be even the slightest bit aroused. One whiff and he’s as good as gone.

That is when he knows something is not right with his person. This level of unbridled arousal is astonishing. If he stares at you for too long, he’s as hard as if you had spent hours teasing him with no release. If he thinks about you for too long, he’s hard. If he smells your intoxicating scent to much, he’s hard. It drives him insane. He can’t control himself, and it frustrates him. He’s sure he’s never been this horny; not even as a teenager. One misstep and he has to excuse himself; desperately pumping his aching cock to your visage.

He’s fucked you every night for the past two weeks. Not that you complain, bless you. Never do you rebuff his advances, always eager to accept his love. It is only after he’s worn himself out in your wet heat that he finally feels some level of reprieve. The relief is so overwhelming, he’s asleep in minutes.

It all comes crashing down on him one morning though. He wakes up late; you left early to join a morning hunt. He would have joined you of course, but he felt far too groggy the night before.

His entire body aches. Every muscle in his body protests even the slowest of movements. He’s drenched in sweat. Jake rolls over to try and be more comfortable, but is immediately assaulted by your lingering scent. His hand is on his cock without a second thought, rough calloused hands bringing him to full attention with little to no effort.

He cums with a desperate moan all over his hand.

But his hand doesn’t stop pumping. He squeezes himself tighter, anything to relieve the burning ache nestled deep within his core. He cums again within minutes. But it does little to alleviate his need. He doesn’t understand; how can he still be hard after that? Fear ripples through him at this sudden unknown state of being.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

He hopes you come home soon.

---

The sun is well passed its zenith by the time your party returns to village. It was a successful hunt, and your body aches deliciously with the strenuous activity. You return your ever faithful ikran to her beloved mate’s side. Bob’s excited trills puts a smile on your face, and you watch their cute little greeting with a soft giggle.

You stop at a nearby river to wash away the layer of sweat covering your skin. Not a proper bathing, but will suffice for now. The cool water soothes you, and you dive into its shallow depths for good measure. You do not linger long; wanting to get back to Jake as soon as possible. You hope that whatever illness that plagued him the night prior has since subsided. If not, you’ll be sure to have the Tsahik give him a once over.

You make the climb up to your tree nest. You notice the coverings have not yet been pulled open; the dwelling remains enclosed. Swift and quietly, you pry open one side and make your way in, closing behind you.

---

You're hit by the sudden smell of sex and it catches you off guard, there is a falter in your step. You give everything a quick once over. Your eyes lock onto your mate, still lying right where you left him this morning. He has his back to you, and it looks as though he’s curled in on himself.

Your ears flick forward as you pick up on his laboured breath. His tail flicks annoyedly. In the dim light seeping through the top, you can make out a faint sheen to his back. The stars freckling his body seem brighter than you remember.

Is this…?

“Ma Jake…?” You call for him, his ear flicks to your direction immediately. You move and kneel behind him and place a gentle hand to his shoulder. You pull your hand back almost immediately; he’s scorching hot to the touch.

“Hnnn….” He tries to say your name, but all he manages a pitiful whimper. Tentatively, your hands are on him again and you help him lay on his back.

When you see the state of him, you can’t help the blush that adorns your cheeks and bleeding down your neck.

He’s hard, cock standing at the ready, leaking precum all down the shaft. His abs glisten with the tell-tale sign of spent seed, and you notice a small puddle of release from where he had been laying.

His eyes find yours and without words, he is begging; pleading you for help.

You don’t hesitate, immediately your hand closes around his throbbing member, gripping him as tightly as possible.

He groans deep in the back of his throat, eyes rolling back. You waste no time pumping him with slow, hard thrusts. His hips snap up to meet your downward arch. One hand finds purchase on your thigh, gripping your soft flesh. His other hand goes to his mouth; he bites down hard as if to try and silence the sounds he’s involuntarily making.

You lean down and gently circle the swollen tip of his dick with your tongue. The taste of his prior releases makes your mouth water. Greedily, you take him into your mouth, all the way to the back of your throat.

“Fuck! [Y/N]!”

He cums the moment his dick caresses the soft warmth of your throat; shooting his seed straight down the back. You swallow with practiced ease, letting your throat muscles massage him through his orgasm.

Slowly you lift your head, licking him as he leaves your mouth, cleaning his dick of his cum and your spit.

You’re not surprised when he’s still half hard. But you see clarity has returned to his eyes, somewhat. You touch his cheek with your palm; still hot to the touch. He leans into you, eyes closed, and takes a deep calming breath.

“[Y/N]…What the fuck is wrong with me…? I’ve been horny the whole God damn morning—and it hasn’t fucking stopped…”

He squeezes your hand, seeking reassurance. You wipe the hairs stuck to his brow.

“Oh, muntxatan…I’m sorry I didn’t notice sooner. Truth be told, I wasn’t sure if your body was capable of such a thing…”

“What…thing?”

“You’re going through your first rut, ma Jake.”

He stares up at you, brow pinched in confusion.

“Every few months, Na’vi men will go through a period known as a rut. You will become insatiable; your entire world will revolve around mating. The need to breed your mate will become your sole focus. Na’vi women will go through something similar, called a heat. It is when we are, most fertile. Sometimes mated pairs might even have their cycles align with one another. In some cases, when one starts, it triggers the other…”

“Well that’s just fucking perfect…How do I get it to stop…? How long is this gonna last…?”

You suck your teeth, pressing your tongue to your cheek.

“A few days. Maybe even a week.”

Jake groans in frustration.

“Don’t worry ma Jake. I’m here now, I’ll help you through it, yawne.” You lean down and press a soft kiss to the side of his mouth.

He grabs the back of your head and presses you back down to him, kissing you with burning passion. You taste like Heaven on his lips.

You move to straddle him, hands braced upon his chest. As he continues to explore your mouth with his tongue, you slowly start grinding your clothed heat against his hardening member.

You swallow his moan into your mouth, sucking on his tongue.

He's hard almost immediately. The heat radiating off his cock warms your pussy so deliciously, your loin cloth does little to hide your growing arousal. Wetness seeps through, coating him your sweet slickness.

You sit up, wanting to remove the cloth so as to feel him skin to skin.

His hands move to your chest, gently massaging your breasts in each hand. You exhale with a soft hum, the pleasure radiating straight to your loins. His thumbs make soft patterns around your nipples till they perk.

“Jake…” You voice is quiet and breathless as he continues to play with you. His dick twitches when you press your bare cunt to him.

“Please [Y/N]…I need to be inside you so bad it hurts…Please baby,” He begs and moves his hands to your hips, gripping you tightly.

“FUCK--!” His grip on your hips becomes bruising as he cusses loudly. The overwhelming heat and tightness of your pussy causes him to cum immediately.

You smile down at him and nod in understanding. You take him in your hand and lift yourself up, lining him with your center.

Slowly you lower yourself, letting him enter you at an excruciating pace. Once you find the right angle, you let yourself drop, your groin meeting his with a loud slap. You whine at the sudden stretch, a bolt of pleasure pierces through you.

You dare not move, letting him ride his orgasm to focus.

He takes a few calming breathes. You can feel him inside you, hard as ever.

Your eyes meet, and something shifts in his gaze.

Suddenly you’re on back. His hands grab both of your legs behinds the knees as he bends you in half, pushing into you as far as your body will let him.

He starts pounding into you with such force it knocks the air from your lungs. His thrusts are unrelenting, each snap of his hips causing his pelvis to crush against your aching clit, balls slapping against the curve of your ass.

“Ja—Jake~!” You moan his name as you feel your own orgasm approaching without mercy; no doubt the first of many for the night.

“That’s it baby, take my cock like the good little mate that you are.” Tears brim your eyes as the pressure builds and the strain of him folding you in half.

He presses your legs further down with his arms, both his hands cupping your face. His thumbs gently caress the streaks of a few stray tears.

A few more hard thrusts and your cumming around his cock, pleasure exploding from your pussy and spreading down your legs and up your spine. You moan loudly and without restraint as you ride out your orgasm, his dick caressing the spongy centre of your core.

“Fuck yes that’s it [Y/N], cum around my cock. I’m gonna fill you so fucking much baby--!”

One final hard thrust and all movement stops as he spills into you; hot fluid painting your insides.

He barely gives you any time to recover.

Before you know it, he has you flipped into your front. He pulls you both to your knees. He grabs your left arm, bending it behind you securely in his grip. He leans back, forcing you with him, resting your back to his chest. His legs force yours further apart as he pierces you with his dick once more.

Hardened and burning, he fucks you faster than before.

He uses his right hand to spread your folds, exposing your still sensitive clit. His middle finger, coated in your mixed fluids, easily glides over the bud in hurried strokes.

The pleasure is too much too soon, and you can’t help the pathetic whimper that leaves your lips. Tears fall from your eyes from the overwhelming sensation.

“Jake please—it’s too soon! I can’t!” You beg him, and he obliges by moving his hand. He doesn’t stop thrusting.

His hand moves then to wrap around your throat, forcing your head back to rest on his shoulder.

“Yes you can baby, I know you can. Come on give me one more, my good girl,” he whispers in your ear, licking the sensitive appendage.

You whimper, but your mind is becoming a mess. The desire to cum again slowly overriding all else. You move your free hand to play with your nipple, sending jolts of pleasure with each pinch.

As he stares down the planes of your body, your tits bouncing in time with his thrusts, he thinks this is one of his favourite angles in which to bask in your beauty.

The promise of orgasm builds up once more, and you cunt clenches him in anticipation.

“Fuck yes [Y/N], take all my fucking cum baby! Gonna breed you till you can’t even think straight!”

Your walls clench him again at his words and you mewl. He presses a kiss to your check and lets out a breathless chuckle.

“Is that what you want [Y/N]? Wanna be fucked full till I knock you up?”

His hand is on your clit again, and this time you make no move to stop him.

“Yesyesyes! Jake please! Don’t stop! Fuck me more! I want to have your children so bad!”

“Yeah?”

He pushes you down onto your stomach, securing both hands behind your back in one of his own. His other hand holds your head firmly to the floor. He braces himself, using his left leg for leverage on your side.

“Yeeeeees! Jake! Please! Cum in me again! Please!”

Still he pounds into you with reckless abandon. His thrust stretching your aching pussy, the sound of your skin slapping together drowned out by your chocking sobs and moans.

He lets go of your arms to grab at your hips, bringing your cunt back in time with his thrusts.

With a loud throaty growl he’s cumming in you. His hands hold you still, and he rides his pleasure with a few more slow hard thrusts. He’s filled you so much already that it starts to leak from you, dripping down your inner thighs.

His hand moves under you and to your clit, rubbing his spilt seed in fast circles till you’re cumming once again.

“Oh yes, by the Great Mother, YES! JAKE!” Your body shakes as pleasure wracks you. Thankfully he removes his hand when your body tries to jerk away.

He slowly removes himself from you, watching with a satisfied grin as his load spills forth from your abused hole.

“Fuck, [Y/N]…” The sight alone gets him hard again.

He carefully turns you around, laying you on your back. Gently he parts your legs, entering you once more. The slickness of your mixed fluids welcomes him in as he meets no resistance.

He moves one hand behind your back, cradling your head in his hand as he lifts you up slightly.

“The bond.” His voice is low as he asks you to join the two of you together. You grab both your queues and make tsaheylu. Jake curses as your senses invade his. Your hands wrap around his neck, and you pull him down to smash his lips to yours.

You kiss is fervent, nipping at his lips, tongue gliding over his own.

He starts moving again, but this time his pace is slower, his movements more meaningful.

He breaks the kiss to gaze into your eyes. His expression causes a flutter in your heart.

“Nga yawne lu oer,” he whispers, almost too quiet. Your tired eyes beam up at him, and you smile like the luckiest woman on Pandora.

“I love you too, ma Jake.” He returns your smile, quickening his pace, chasing that last orgasm.

“I meant what I said Jake—I want to start a family with you. Please.” Your hands gently play with his hair, massaging the base of his queue. He moans soft at your ministrations.

“Fuck [Y/N], you want me to breed you that badly huh?”

You merely nod, a loving smile adorns your face.

“Alright baby, I got you. I’m gonna full you up till this rut ends. Gonna breed you every. Single. Night.” He times hard thrusts with his last words, cumming in you at the end.

Your walls clench him greedily, still sensitive from before.

He collapses then, careful to lean himself to the side so as to not crush you. His breathing is strenuous, as is yours.

He moves to lay on his side, one arm stretched out. He pulls you with him, making sure his dick is still firmly nestled in your warmth. He pulls your crotch flush with his, draping your leg over his hip.

“Gotta make sure you keep as much as possible in there babe,” he says and presses a kiss to your forehead.

Your arm wraps around his chest, pulling yourself to him, resting your head on his outstretched bicep. His other arm wraps around you, holding you close, his hand rubbing soothing patterns to your back.

“Hey,”

He tucks a hand under your chin, lifting your head to meet his gaze.

“Thank you…It feels like forever since my mind was this clear.” You smile, grabbing his hand and pressing a soft kiss to his knuckles.

“Of course, ma Jake. You are my mate, my love, my future. I would do anything for you. And know, when it is my turn, I will be far more needy than you.”

His eyes widen at the prospect and it makes you laugh.

“Don’t worry, all will be well, I promise. But you must rest, this moment of reprieve will last for only so long. Tomorrow your body will return with renewed vigour.”

He kisses you then, long enough to steal your breath. It feels almost too soon when he pulls away.

“Then you go to sleep too [Y/N]. Because come tomorrow, I’m not lettin’ you outta my sight. Gonna keep my promise, and breed you till you can’t think straight,” he gives you one teasing thrust, causing you to yip in surprise.

Jake laughs at your reaction, before snuggling his face into your hair. He breathes deep of your scent, letting the warmth of your body pressed to his calm him.

You in turn snuggle yourself into his neck, pressing a soft kiss there.

“I love you, Jake.”

“I love you too baby.”

Sleep takes you, and your dreams are filled with the laughter of children.

[97keanu]

Neo x goth!reader?

Premise: You're the girlfriend he always wanted. Life was empty before you, life was nothing before you. Neo is simply a loser hacker who lucked out his perfect goth girlfriend. He has nothing but you to fill the void. He should be happy he's not lonely anymore, he should be happy, he should be...

TW: horror inspired, unreality heavy, you are not what you seem, you digital siren of the deep. The cycle will start again.

A/N: horror drabble for the season. May want to use a binary code translator here. Vagueness as not to give too much away. If you don't enjoy horror/unreality do not read.

Neo had only known you for a few months, but in that time, you two had become inseparable. He can't believe you, you with your pitch black hair, your gothic make up, and pouty black lips had just walked into his life. He loved you. He loved how you dressed, with your black attire, your stompy boots, hair a whimsical bats nest. He loved your mind, you were so smart, he felt like he finally met his equal. He loved how you looked at him, with all the love he wanted in your eyes. Your voice, always soft, and gentle, a perfect contrast to your harsh dress.

In fact, he loved you so much, and you were so perfect, he could swear he dreamed you. Maybe he did. He couldn't say what his life was before you, you with your gorgeous darkness that had filled his life. 

You were perfect. Everything he needed. You two never fought, nor did he ever need to think of much else. In fact, as he lay next to you in his tiny, clothes strewn bed, his filthy, loser little room enclosed around you two like a nest, and he tries to remember for a second what he had even done for the day. How long has he been facing you, his perfect mate, talking about something he had lost the plot of. His heart lurched for a moment, and he swallowed down an anxiety that tended to fill him if he looked into your eyes too long. He whispered out your name as you stopped speaking mid sentence to furrow your brow at the sudden interrupting. 

"Yes, Neo?" Your voice was soft, kind, gentle as always. 

"What…um…" Neo rubs his sweaty forehead, wondering how he even began to sweat in the first place. He pauses for a while, and you of course, as the good girlfriend you are, don't talk over him, and simply listen as he tries to find his words. It's like trying to find something precious lost in a thick bucket of honey, the sweet sea calling him to ignore what he even lost in the first place. He finally decides on a sentence to begin with. "When did, um, when did you come over today, exactly?" 

"What do you mean my love?" You tilt your head and reach out a hand, moving now damp hair across Neo's forehead. "I came over at the same time I always do…"

Neo stares at your form, laying so closely in bed next to him. You're wearing an old band shirt of his, and when he tries to focus on what that band once was, he can only see shapes of a faded, long gone album cover. He can't remember what he used to listen to, he can't think about that right now. No, he should focus. Focus on you.

He finds your big soft eyes, that look at him with all the love in the world. 

"Yes…but….when was that again?" He has to clear his throat to get the sentence out. The anxiety rises again. His stomach feels empty, and he has no idea when last it was full, or if it ever was, for that matter. 

"Are you feeling sick, hun?" You let your hand press against his head, feeling the heat from his body against the back of your hand. Neo almost flinches from your touch, it's cold. 

"Yes, I am…" He pauses, then shakes his head. "Well, maybe I'm not. I'm not sure. I…What were you talking about before this?"

He tries to remember, then looks to your face, soft and full as the moon, your dark makeup blending into the dark of the room.

"Oh? That…that doesn't much matter. What would you rather talk about?" You smile widely, always happy to listen to your all loving boyfriend first. 

"No, no, I…." Neo sits up, his lungs have tightened too much. He needs to breathe away from you, from your beauty that wraps around his mind like a fog. 

"Neo, you don't seem like yourself tonight…" You say, with worry that is appropriate. 

"Can I just, I need some space right now." He stands up, then when you turn to follow, he goes to speak your name out. The word, that name of yours, catches in his throat like a stone. Neo coughs, trying to get it out, before his mind finalizes on the fact that he's never known your name at all. Who are you….?

"Neo…you're starting to scare me…" He has his back to you, he can't even look at you right now. He can't imagine what you look like. The darkness of the room is closing in. He can feel your hands enclose around his shoulders, always there for him. Never away, never letting him out of your sight. You have a cold heat, the kind that burns like dry ice, Neo can feel it through his shirt. The room has nothing in it. He knows that. It never had anything in it.

Neo can't even look at anything while your mouth breathes chilly crystals over his ears. 

"Why don't you come back to bed, my love…" 

Neo doesn't think his eyes are even open at this point. He isn't standing. He might as well be floating in this darkness. He might as well be nothing, and he already knows what you are. He can't say it. He can't speak, he keeps coughing. It's all caught in his throat now, as it always is when he remembers. He's drowning. He can feel it, the stench of real life seeping in once again. He can feel it devouring him, melting his body to a more useful goo. The screams won't come this time. He needs to stop thinking, he needs to listen to you, his loving girlfriend, his perfect girlfriend his his his his his his

His what?

Who even is he? 

Where is he? 

His hands are going now, and soon enough it will be all of him. He should stop this, he can't think this way. His hands illuminate the darkness, he sees it again, the code

01011001 01101111 01110101 00100000 01101110 01100101 01100101 01100100 00100000 01110100 01101111 00100000 01100011 01101111 01101101 01100101 00100000 01100010 01100001 01100011 01101011 00101110 00100000 01000011 01101111 01101101 01100101 00100000 01101000 01101111 01101101 01100101 00100000 01001110 01100101 01101111 00101110 00100000 01000011 01101111 01101101 01100101 00100000 01100010 01100001 01100011 01101011 00100000 01110100 01101111 00100000 01101101 01100101 00101110 00100000 01000011 01101111 01101101 01100101 00100000 01100010 01100001 01100011 01101011 00100000 01110100 01101111 00100000 01101101 01101111 01110100 01101000 01100101 01110010 00101110 00100000 01001001 00100000 01110111 01101001 01101100 01101100 00100000 01110111 01100001 01110010 01101101 00100000 01111001 01101111 01110101 00100000 01101001 01101110 00100000 01101101 01111001 00100000 01100010 01110010 01100101 01100001 01110011 01110100 00101100 00100000 01001001 00100000 01110111 01101001 01101100 01101100 00100000 01100111 01101001 01110110 01100101 00100000 01111001 01101111 01110101 00100000 01101100 01101001 01100110 01100101 00101100 00100000 01110100 01101000 01101001 01110011 00100000 01101001 01110011 00100000 01110111 01101000 01100001 01110100 00100000 01111001 01101111 01110101 00100000 01110111 01100001 01101110 01110100 01100101 01100100 00101100 00100000 01110100 01101000 01101001 01110011 00100000 01101001 01110011 00100000 01110111 01101000 01100001 01110100 00100000 01111001 01101111 01110101 00100000 01100001 01110011 01101011 01100101 01100100 00100000 01100110 01101111 01110010 00100000 01110100 01101000 01101001 01110011 00100000 01110100 01101001 01101101 01100101 00101100 00100000 01110011 01110100 01101111 01110000 00100000 01100110 01101001 01100111 01101000 01110100 01101001 01101110 01100111 00101100 00100000 01110011 01110100 01101111 01110000 00100000 01100110 01101001 01100111 01101000 01110100 01101001 01101110 01100111 00101100 00100000 01110011 01110100 01101111 01110000 00100000 01100110 01101001 01100111 01101000 01110100 01101001 01101110 01100111 00101100 00100000 01110011 01110100 01101111 01110000 00100000 01100110 01101001 01100111 01101000 01110100 01101001 01101110 01100111 00101110

He nods. He's in bed with you again. He can breathe. He can breathe. He can breathe if you just don't look at him.

[chimuelo2005-blog]

Teddy Lupin is 50% werewolf for better or worse.

Teddy Lupin always knew he wasn’t exactly normal, but as a kid, it didn’t bother him much. Sure, he could smell things most people couldn’t, hear conversations from way down the hall, and was stronger than his friends without even trying. Weird, but manageable. It wasn’t until he hit his teenage years that things started to get really strange.

At first, it was just a restless feeling, like something was crawling under his skin. He’d snap at people more often, little growls slipping out when he was annoyed, and then there were these instincts he couldn’t shake. He started rearranging his room, piling up blankets, pillows, anything soft, and building these little dens in the corners. He didn’t even realize why he was doing it at first, it just felt... right. Then there was the hunger, it started with rare meat, but soon that wasn’t cutting it. He wanted it raw, blood still fresh. He didn’t tell anyone, not at first. How could he? It sounded insane, but the cravings got stronger, and it got harder to ignore.

One night, it all became too much. Andromeda, his grandmother, had trouble sleeping. It wasn’t unusual for her to be up late, wandering to the kitchen for a glass of water. That night, though, when she stepped into the kitchen, she froze. There was Teddy, standing at the counter, hunched over with something in his hands. It wasn’t until she got closer that she realized what it was—raw steak. Blood smeared across his lips and dripped from his fingers. He didn’t notice her at first, too focused on tearing into the meat. “Teddy?” she called out, her voice quiet but laced with concern. He jerked back, dropping the steak like it burned him. His eyes were wide, wild, and there were tears in them. Teddy never cried—he was always the one who kept it together—but right now, he was shaking. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled, wiping his mouth with his sleeve, smearing the blood even more. “I don’t know what’s happening to me.”Andromeda slowly approached, her heart breaking at the sight of him so scared and ashamed. “It’s okay,” she said softly. “Talk to me.”Teddy’s voice cracked as he explained. “I’ve had these... cravings. Ever since I turned thirteen, it’s been getting worse. I don’t want to, but I can’t help it. I need raw meat. The taste of blood, it—it makes it stop. Just for a while. But I hate it.”He slid down to the floor, burying his face in his hands. “It’s like there’s something inside me, and I can’t control it.”

Andromeda sat down beside him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. Teddy stiffened, then let himself lean into her. “There’s nothing wrong with you,” she whispered. “You’re just... different.” Teddy looked up at her, his eyes bright, almost glowing in the dark kitchen. “But I’m not normal, Gran. Not even close. I’m half-werewolf, and I can feel it. It’s like there’s this animal inside me, and sometimes I think it’s gonna take over. I’ve started growling in my sleep, and there are nights when I wake up, and I’ve been... howling.” His voice was barely a whisper now. “I don’t even know I’m doing it until it’s too late.”He wiped at his eyes, frustrated with himself. “And then there’s the nesting thing. I keep building these... dens, I guess? Like I need to be somewhere safe and enclosed all the time. I don’t even know why I’m doing it, I just... I can’t stop.”

Andromeda listened, her heart heavy. She hadn’t realized just how deeply his father’s condition was affecting him. Teddy may not have been bitten by Greyback, like his father, but that didn’t mean the wolf wasn’t part of him. “Your dad had instincts, too,” she said quietly. “He didn’t talk about them much, but I know he struggled with it. But he learned how to deal with it, and so will you. We’ll figure it out together.” Teddy nodded, but the fear was still there, plain as the bright moon that loomed around, peeking from behind the window.

[tommyssupercoolblog]

miscefelis culture is

Fish fish fish fish. Sushi, fish and chips, fishsticks, fish sandwiches, salmon and calamari and fish curry and-

You see something that makes you angry or upset and hiss. Hissssss.

Warrior cats kid

Napping all the time everytime, naps for days, naps forever

Sitting on things not meant to be sat on

"My nest is a crawlspace I made in my closet!" "My nest is a reading nook!!" "My nest is inside a tent or blanket fort" or any variation of box/enclosed spaces

I need to lay directly on top of my mate and no I will not explain why.

Headbuts and nuzzles and rubbing your cheek on their chest/against their hand.

"I will bite you" as a threat (I personally prefer "I will EAT YOU" but. Ok)

Advocates for violence as a joke (or not)

SCREAMS. SCREAMING. SCREAMSSSS.

You try to get your friends to pay for your food + you're always hungry

Climb??? Up high???

Paw socks and the clawing/claw hand motion

Boredom and so you just "MEOW"

Confused and must reboot when someone puts a hat on your head

Noise? Jerk still and stare. Stare.

"I will NOT be making eye contact" or alternatively "I am always looking at you autismly with my big ol eyes"

Pranks and sabatouge

Gift giving as a love language

Parallel play

Everyone keeps talking about their packs and you're just sitting there alone or maybe with one or two people you're bonded to (maybe a mate or smthn) like "what the fuck"

I am so small so tiny so little I'm just a little guy I'm so small I'm so itty bitty /pos

"Sorry I'm late I did not want to come"

If you give me one (1) instruction I will hate you forever

Silly zoomy times. Silly.

your response to fear is a mix of fight or flight where you slink/flinch away but also yell or get defensive to stop this thing/person from bothering you. You're like, crying and wanting to leave but also going "stop what the hell!!!!!"

no fucking bath,,, NOOO I don't WANT TO BATH,,,,

Alpha (or any dynamic really) directly translates to "tsundere" in your head

You think a/b/o would be so much better if everyone just chilled the fuck out and vibed with it you know, just had a fun little time, instead of forming hierarchies an shit

Calling babies "kittens" instead of "pups" (or of course just calling them babies)

Speaking of which, kitten as a petname comparable to baby

Unisex eyeliner

"Feisty" is a compliment to you

Spaces where omegas (or any dynamic) are expected to be "obedient" make you want to slam your head into a wall

You strike a fantastic balance between being independent/stubborn/unique and being clingy as FUCKKK like goddamn

[imaginedreamwrite]

#5 with cowboy Curtis please?

There was a rule Curtis instated for himself and the general ranch hands that worked for him. It was a rule that had suited him well he found, and his hands had extended their own connection after seeing the difference in Curtis first hand.

His rule was simple: if the Mrs. wants to buy new animals, don’t ask questions

The rule was simple, and it had expanded Curtis’ ranch to include a small herd of mini-cows, goats that you’d taken care of and milked to make soaps, a whole new flock of chickens and hens.

He had come to expect no less from you, since you’d had such a desire to care and have animals. He had been pleased that you were making this place your own, turning it from something that was his life and his career to your shared passion.

Even if you managed to catch him off guard.

“Mrs. Everett-” Curtis had gotten out of the truck, back from a trip that lasted a few days, come to be greeted by one of his hands carrying a bag of duck feed and some fresh hay to stash in an enclosed pen.

“Ducks,” Curtis laughed under his breath and shook his head, carting himself up the front steps while his hand was walking down, “she bought ducks?”

“You’re starting a zoo, boss.” He cracked a grin, no less bothered by you than Curtis was, and after passing Curtis had walkd toward the enclosed pen for your birds.

They all loved you, cared about you. Seeing how happy you had made Curtis, how much you loved him after his ex-wife had left and chose someone who was as financially stable but hadn’t lived rurally, had impressed his hands. They were like your brothers, an adopted family by marriage, and it all stemmed from your appreciation of Curtis.

“Mrs. Everett,” Curtis called when he entered the house, stopping to hang his hat and kick off his boots, stacking them to the side, “are you here, sweetheart?”

“Upstairs!” Your voice was quiet and muffled by the floors between you and Curtis, yet he was still able to detect the dulcet trill of your voice. He had walked toward the staircase and hesitated at the bottom step, his hands resting against the rails before he took that first step.

“I hope you don’t mind…” there was an edge of anxiousness, as if you were worried that this would be the last action that would test his patience.

“Sweetheart,” Curtis followed the familiar path to your bedroom, stopping on the threshold and tilting his head when he saw what was laying in the middle surrounded by a nest made of delicate baby blankets, “what have you got there?”

“The vet seen the ducks, they said that this little bean…” you raised your head and took a pause from talking, biting down on your bottom lip.

“Needs some extra care?” Curtis straightened his posture and entered the room, taking slow and calculated steps as to not scare the duckling, and as he approached the bed he had slowly sank t the mattress. “Did you think I’d be pissed?”

“If it’s too much-“ Curtis reached his hand toward you, resting his upon your own and then he squeezed gently.

“Let me put some things away, and then you can teach me how to take care of our little duck.” Curtis watched your eyes light up, and the anxiety that had afflicted them fading.

“Curtis, I should tell you…” His eyes slowly raked down your body, taking great care to detect the little details about yourself that had changed.

There was a little more fullness to your cheeks and there was a softness to your stomach that he had recognized from pregnancies his hands’ wives had gone through.

“I can’t wait, little snowbird.” Curtis had confirmed what you were trying to say, his throat tightening and his heart beating with overwhelming pride.

[redstringraven]

cozy in bed

this post crossed my dash, and i wanted to answer for my ocs! this, as expected, got a bit long, so m'just gonna dive in!

—*—

.: cassia

do they sleep in a bed or in something else?

a bed! she has her own room in a small, two-bedroom apartment; her parents have the other room.

how many pillows or blankets do they have and/or need?

cassia loves surrounding herself with pillows and cute stuffed animals to either hug at night or make a bit of a 'nest'. she likes the sensation of an enclosed sort of space when she sleeps rather than starfishing out.

what do they wear to bed?

varies! in the summer, she usually sleeps in a comfy t-shirt and gym shorts. in the winter, she has two themed pajama sets that she swaps between. they're warm, soft, and often pink, yellow, or white. she also wears knee-high, colorful socks in the winter and likes to have silly slippers around the apartment. hello-kitty or totoro themed--something like that.

do they sleep well?

most of the time! cassia has bad dreams here and there like your average person, but for the most part the only real interruptions to her sleep are self-imposed all-nighters for one silly reason or another. like... learning the entire dance routine to a music video or video games or a movie marathon. after the triceraton invasion, however, she does have more frequent stress dreams and nightmares. especially when her dad is traveling.

do they share a bed with anyone?

not usually. but after the triceraton invasion she sometimes struggles with stress dreams or anxieties about her dad being so far away. on these nights she'll sleep in her mom's room alongside her, or she and esme will build a little blanket fort in the living room and sleep in there together. there were also a few nights following the invasion where she and her parents would sleep in the same room. just... all wanting to be in arm's reach of each other should something else happen, more or less.

do they chill in bed often or do they just use it for sleeping?

fifty-fifty! cassia's a bit of a floor gremlin--she likes to sit on her floor when she spends time in her room--but she definitely uses her bed as a space for chilling. kind of varies with the activity she's doing. video games or painting her nails are more likely floor activities; reading comic books or talking on the phone/shell-cell are bed activities.

—*—

.: nyxram

do they sleep in a bed or in something else?

it's a bed, yes, but it's about as bare-minimum of a bed as you can get. it's used for sleeping and nothing else. nyx has a handful of hideouts and rotates where she sleeps, but all 'beds' are relatively the same: simple, have what's needed, and plain.

how many pillows or blankets do they have and/or need?

i personally picture triceraton 'beds' being more a carved out circle in the floor than a raised piece of furniture, since their frill would lead to them sleeping more on their stomachs or sides. pillows, if any, are likely used to line the 'walls' of the bed or 'texture' the mattress so it's higher/more supported in some places and lower in others. that all being said: the bare-minimum again. she has what she needs and nothing more.

what do they wear to bed?

whatever she's currently wearing, honestly. nyxram does have civvies, but, since sleeping puts you in a vulnerable state, she'd be more likely to sleep in most of her armor even if her designated sleeping locations are secure. if, for some reason, she has to sleep somewhere that ISN'T one of her hideouts, best believe she'll be napping in full armor. weapons included.

do they sleep well?

most nights, yes. by the time she sleeps, she's tired enough that she doesn't dream and remains asleep unless disturbed. there is one reoccurring nightmare, however, that surfaces once in a blue moon, and after it does she can't fall back asleep.

do they share a bed with anyone?

no. absolutely not.

do they chill in bed often or do they just use it for sleeping?

the bed is for sleep only.

—*—

.: gwyn

do they sleep in a bed or in something else?

she's always on the run and, therefore, doesn't have a bed nor home to call her own. she catches sleep where she can and when she feels like it's safe enough to close her eyes, let ash 'take watch'. sleeping locations can vary from trees, naps on public transport, alleys, abandoned structures--whatever she can find, whenever she feels just secure enough to grab it. after coming to earth and eventually befriending the turtles, she sleeps on a cot set up for her in the reservoir station.

how many pillows or blankets do they have and/or need?

after befriending the turtles, she has two pillows and two blankets. she normally only uses one of the latter, as liáfsians are used to cooler climates. the chill of the station is familiar to her, in a sense.

what do they wear to bed?

gwyn doesn't have clothes aside from those already 'on her back', as she can't afford to carry more while traveling and discards anything she can no longer wear. she sleeps fully dressed, footwear included (just in case she needs to wake and run). after befriending the turtles, casey and april pitch in to provide her with more clothes. over the years, she slowly eases into sleeping in boxers, then boxers and either a large t-shirt or hoodie.

do they sleep well?

no. gwyn's not only an extremely light sleeper most of the time, but when she does manage to fall into heavier sleeps she's prone to spells of severe night terrors and sleep paralysis. the turtles found out about the former after she'd been staying with them for a while, and she'd wake them up in the midst of a night terror. it wouldn't be until after gwyn and raph started dating and sharing sleeping spaces that they'd learn about the latter. raph's snoring acts kind of like an 'anchor' point for gwyn, too; they find she's slightly less prone to sleep paralysis when sleeping near him and much less prone to night terrors. raph also develops a few 'routines' to go through when she wakes up with sleep paralysis to make it manageable and less panicked until she can come out of it. after a while--should they not be able to sleep in the same space for some reason--gwyn starts to find it harder to sleep without him around. sometimes the CD with whale songs that min-ji gave her helps. other times, she just won't sleep.

do they share a bed with anyone?

as kids, she and ash near always shared a bed. presently, if you count the fact that gwyn always sleeps with her sheath on where ash has taken the form of a small dagger, then she still 'shares a bed with ash'. otherwise: no. sometimes after a night terror, however, she'll bunk in the room of whichever turtle (or splinter) kept an eye on her while she was wandering the lair. this is most often don or raph, since they have the least consistent sleep schedules in the family, but mikey and leo have extended their rooms to her as well. after she and raph start dating, they slowly go from just sharing the same napping spaces to then sharing the same sleep spaces. this usually turns out to be raph's room, as he loves his hammock and gwyn comes to find a lot of comfort in the hammock as well.

do they chill in bed often or do they just use it for sleeping?

since gwyn's spent a long stretch of time without having a bed of her own--before she befriended the turtles--she's not really used to using a bed for anything except sleeping. that being said, however, she does sometimes relax in her cot when drawing, talking to ash, or if she finds klunk taking a nap there, she'll join him.

—*—

.: ash

presently: her spirit is trapped in the soul gem powering a shapeshifting weapon. since she no longer has a physical body, she can't and doesn't sleep. this will change... someday. ...eventually.

[the-back-matter]

Muses as pets/animals :

Fujiko

A very cuddly and affectionate Siamese cat. Always the one to welcome you home with brushes to the leg, asking to be held. She has an affinity for the tv and is usually pretty quick to join you when she hears it being turned on. Her favorite places to hide/chill out are in your closet or in your open dresser drawers. They're like little nest piles for her.

Reid

A moody Maine Coon. Switches from being affectionate and cuddly to being cold and reclusive. Gets jealous when you pay attention to other things/people or smell like other cats (except her sister) and will pout for the rest of the day. Likes to sleep next to you in bed. She will get into all of the foods you don't want her to get into and likes to eat table food. Not at all a fan of catnip.

Riley

A rowdy and chatty Maine Coon, but she acts more like a dog than a cat. Likes to roughhouse/play with her sister and her human(s). Likes to wander outside and tends to come home dirty, so the need for a bath with her is often. But she hates actual water baths so good luck wrestling her into the tub. Prone to biting to get her way. Likes to sleep on top of your chest or your feet when you're in bed. Whichever causes you more issues.

Chouko

Okay hear me out when I say that Chouko is a Pygmy Goat. A small but very active and friendly friend. Loves to meet new people and other animals. Unfortunately she's very active and if you don't have her leashed or in a large enclosed space, you're going to have to chase her down if she gets too excited.

Aika

A shy but very loving dwarf chinchilla. Quiet and incontroversional, she's enjoys having the enclosed space that is her cage and doesn't like to explore when she's taken out. She bonds extremely well with her human and always make little happy noises in their presence but it takes her a while to open up to new people. Cuddle times are a must and she'd more than not chew/nibble on hair/clothing as a way to show her affection.

Val

A lovely mini lop that's as sweet as she is fragile. A cuddle buddy through and through that adores people, so she gets along with most. Her energy levels differ from day to day so some days she might be in the mood to play 'games' like hide and seek and other days she's solely a cuddle fiend. She does suffer from the 'snuffles' so a little extra care is needed.

Seika

An ever curious (Blue-Eyed Leucistic) ball python. The one that always plays nice around others but there's plenty of reasons why she's riddled you with bite marks. Her ways of affection are always concerning: wrapping herself around your arms and neck, small love bites here and there, licking at your face (especially if you know she hasn't eaten just yet). Pretty picky about her food and will play with any food she doesn't like until you feed her something else.

Andrew

A black golden retriever with nothing but love and excitement for the world. Everything that you can expect from a goldie: silly, affectionate, active. He's the type that'd want a more active human so that the two can constantly play and be outside but he'd also be fine being an at-home dog. Very vocal and likes to 'sing' a lot, lol. He has a couple of other dog friends around the block and often wants to go out to meet/play with them.

Yuuki

A hyper-independent pomeranian. One you probably found off the street rather than through adopting. The amount of convincing you have to do to get him to do things is unfortunate and there's still a chance he'd still ignore your requests. It takes a while for him to warm up to people and even once he's comfortable with you he's still not affectionate.

Pets are rare and you can't pick him up unless he needs to get to higher places. He will bite you if you continue to try to pick him up. He's active, though, and is always willing to go on walks or play. Doesn't like playing with any of the smaller dogs at the dog park and always wants to play with the bigger dogs. Picky about the food he eats and sometimes he genuinely has a bad time eating things, but those days are easy to pick out as it's his low-energy day.

Ishin

Legal Option: A kai ken that almost feels like an old soul. Even as a puppy he was very well behaved and easy to train. Perfect with both kids and other pets but if he's bigger than them he will play/tease them. Very observant and likes to watch others. His favorite thing to do is stand in doorways because it mildly inconveniences others.

Illegal Option: A... surprisingly friendly silver fox. Not really considered your pet, but he's around and obedient enough to essentially be called so. Quiet and social towards other people and animals. You need to have permission to touch/pet him. Will occasionally bring back 'treasures' (twigs, small rocks, leaves) from any neighboring forests or park to show his affection.

Idris

A pompous (if not entitled) Standardized Poodle. You can believe that you've properly trained him but he will always act out on his own accord and will make you deal with the repercussions. Loves to play around and toy with other animals and humans. It's easy to tell that he just loves the attention either way and, as you can imagine, he will get upset when you don't pay attention to him. He will bark and fuss and pout but, if you ignore him long enough, he'll probably leave you alone to cause some chaos elsewhere. And don't let his fully exterior get the best of you, he can absolutely be as vicious as any dog and will always be ready to attack anyone that threatens his human.

Orion

Legal Option: A box turtle, more than likely. Unassuming, for the most part, and you'd expect that as much from the little guy swimming around in his tank. But, on occasion, you'd hear such aggressive thumping and sloshing from where his tank would sit. He was absolutely doing flips and jumping off the top of his artificial rocks into the water. It would go on for minutes to the hour for no other reason than he found it fun.

Illegal Option: A penguin. That also secretly a menace. Picks up all of the bad/silly habits that you display around him. Not talkative by any means, but will have 'conversations' with you if you talk to him first. If you use animal buttons with him, the amount of profanity he'd use is astounding....

Akashi

A doberman-husky mix that works as a service dog. Pretty aloof towards anyone other than his human but can be pretty intimidating just by first glance. Behind closed doors, though, he's can be pretty affectionate and likes to lay on top of his human (if he can) as his main display of affection. He's great with kids and other animals and is generally a big softie.

[xoxiu]

my house of stone, your ivy grows - yoongi x reader

chapter seventeen table of contents masterlist join the taglist discord

summary: yoongi carried himself with a sense of pride within himself and his belongings. he worked hard to get to where he was- ethically or not, it made him the man he is today. his latest toy, a young college girl from america, will become his magnum opus. he just needs to work out the kinks.

tags/warnings: mafia au, kidnapping, daddy dom!yoongi, smut, autistic!reader, spanking, stockholm syndrome, little!jimin, vminhope, drug mention, namjin, fluff, domestic discipline

taglist: @allamericanuniverse @llallaaa, @frieschan

The living room had been magically transformed into a large pillow fort by noon. Extra white bedsheets hung from the backs of chairs and couches, enclosing the homemade blanket nest on the floor. To make things even more magical, Seokjin added string lights to the mix, which twinkled brightly once the curtains were closed. Inside the fort sat Jimin, Kiwo, Jungkook, and Taehyung, all four eating their lunch while watching Doraemon. 

It had been a chaotic morning- Kiwo and Jimin were purposely bothering and annoying each other, as well as the others with their near-constant whining and crying. Once 11 am hit, everyone agreed that the two littles would need a nap to survive the rest of the day. 

The pillow fort, however, had been Taehyung’s idea.

“Okay, it’s nap time now.” Hoseok entered the fort to retrieve the empty dishes, smiling at the sight of the youngest four curled up in their pile of blankets. Jimin and Kiwo lay the furthest apart, with Jungkook right next to Kiwo and Taehyung next to Jimin. Taehyung and Jimin were already fast asleep, and Kiwo could barely keep her eyes open, only motivated to stay awake by the cartoon. 

“Kookie, are you taking a nap too?” Hoseok chuckled slightly- Jungkook rarely ever did things with the littles, but would always oblige the two in their activities. 

“No, I’m going to get up after this episode.”

”Okay. Just turn the channel after so Kiwo will fall asleep.”

A small groan came from Kiwo at the mention of turning off her show. She wasn’t even tired, she thought, fighting to keep her eyes open. 

Keeping to his word, Jungkook moved to leave the pillow fort once the credits began to roll. He reached onto the couch for the remote and changed the channel. 

The news showed a scene from a river excavation- a body had been discovered in the Han River. Jungkook watched silently as more details were revealed. 

“The body is beyond unrecognizable, but with the belongings and clothes it was found with police believe the body to belong to missing college student Kiwo Louise-”

Jungkook looked over at Kiwo, completely alive and well, and currently asleep. 

“Kiwo,” Jungkook shook the girl gently. She hummed in response, her eyes still closed but still listening. 

“I was just curious about something…” Jungkook started, unsure of where to begin. He took a moment before continuing. “Do you… like it here?”

”Mm. ‘m used to it.” Kiwo mumbled out, not entirely conscious and aware of the question.

Jungkook thought about what she said for a moment. Kiwo being used to the situation is not the same thing as her liking it. They had simply just grown on her. 

“Do you wanna go home?”

“Yeah…” Kiwo had no hesitation in her voice as she quickly responded. She muttered something else after, but Jungkook couldn’t exactly comprehend what she had said. He was too taken aback by the sudden pit in his stomach. 

Kiwo wanted to leave. She didn’t want to be there. And in Jungkook’s mind, it was all his fault. He was the reason why Kiwo’s world had completely changed, and the reason why she is suffering. She had family and friends back in America, who now all believe she had died while abroad. Jungkook had facilitated that, too. 

Finding another American girl that looked like Kiwo was easy- so was taking out her teeth and burning her fingerprints. The Han River’s waters had decomposed her body to hell, eliminating any defining features the other girl had. Throwing Kiwo’s belongings in with the body was the only identifying evidence. 

Jungkook stood up and turned off the television. 

[vixen525noms]

Wizard Eats a Bird Girl and Grumpy Fairy

Last year I squeed when I read @that-prey-lounge's stories about Izo and got permission to write with the character. Even got their help on Izo's dialogue! Had some fun with perspective swapping with this one.

Warnings for: Character injury, fear, soft safe vore

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Anthria was terrified as her friend attempted to defend her from the attacking harpies. Being so small had major disadvantages. Her tropical colors with yellow, vibrant fuchsia, blue, teal and orange stood out and made it easy for predators to target her, but at least Antoine had come with her to keep her safe. Antoine had protected her many times, and having that fairy with her meant the world. Sure he looked a little odd, having two pairs of white bird wings instead of the more common insect wings, but he was a true and loyal friend to her. He kept her safe when she traveled to use her weather magic to help places in need. 

She felt pain in her shoulder and started to tumble to the ground when she was suddenly enclosed in some sort of magical bubble. She watched a human looking figure scoop her fairy friend into his hat when he yelled and threw fire at this apparent new attacker… That distinctive hat. A wizard. Not good. No wonder her fairy friend attacked the man that interfered, he probably assumed the wizard recognized her species and planned to experiment on her. The orb she was trapped in went under an arm as bright lights fired at the attacking harpies. A fireworks spell, a good distraction and fear tactic to disrupt the attack. Then she was being carried quickly away.

Izo had seen the harpies attacking what looked like a brightly colored miniature harpy and immediately interfered. He didn’t want the poor thing getting killed just because she accidentally got too close to the harpy’s nesting grounds. First course of action was to protect the target, and with a gesture he enclosed the miniature harpy in a magic bubble to stop further attack. A fairy suddenly turned from fighting the normal harpies to throw fire at him, and with a flick of his hat, he had the fairy contained as well. A quick fireworks spell served to distract and frighten the harpies, and he put the orb under one arm and ran to get out of the harpies’ territory. No need to hurt them when they were only acting on instinct to protect their nests.

After he was out of range, he stopped to catch his breath and look at the miniature harpy in his orb. She had a mostly human body, with her arm serving as wings… looked like one wing-arm was hurt in the attack, but he didn’t immediately see anything severe. “Are you okay? What’s your name, little one?” he asked her. She flapped her good wing, seeming ready to try to fly away, “Please let me go…” To make her feel less trapped, he released the bubble to hold her in his hand instead, “What about the fairy? Was it hurting you?” She tried again to flap her wings, one not working right. So she was definitely hurt. “He’s my friend and protection! Let him go too!” She wasn’t calming down, so he glanced around before finding a boulder to set her on and then released the fairy from his hat. 

Anthria watched Antoine zip out into the open and over to her, hovering between her and the weird wizard. “Leave Anthria alone! I know all about wizards experimenting on avians!” The wizard had a sudden change in expression, as if recognizing the term for these more magical cousins of harpies, “Oh shit… You are the one we called about the drought.” Anthria frowned, “I… am here to help with a drought… but I was called on by locals, not a wizard.” Antoine was preparing magic bolts to fire at the wizard, shouting; “I won’t let you experiment on her! Was there even really a drought?” Surprisingly, the wizard holds his hands in apparent surrender as he looks at her, “I am Izo. I called you on behalf of the town of Eaglevale. There’s a severe drought, and many people will lose their houses and farms if you don’t help.” The wizard Izo’s gaze flicked to the fairy, “There is a drought, and I promise I would never do that to a living creature.”

Anthria sighed, “It’s my duty to help, they promised to even have my favorite fruits, but I can’t travel now.” Antoine frowned, “Those hunting harpies could even come back for you.” Izo interrupts, “I can carry you to the town doctor… and the harpies won’t return. You just ventured too close to the nests. But even if they did, I can keep you safe.” Antoine sneered, “Wizards are tricky sorts, and have hurt avians in the past.” Anthria shook her head, “Antoine, I gave my word. I need to at least see for myself that there is no drought before I consider turning away, and I do need treatment for my wing.”

Izo waited patiently as the two went back and forth for a while longer, the avian insistent on helping with the drought, but her fairy protector understandably wary of trusting a wizard. It took several minutes before finally the fairy relented, but warned Izo to be careful and respectful of his friend when carrying her. Izo immediately agreed, knowing the town needed the avian more than she needed them. So he offered his hand to the avian and let her step onto it on her own. He could see the fairy watching him closely, ready to throw fire at his face, and tried to make it clear he meant no harm. Considering despite her fear, the avian still wanted to help, he’d have to make arrangements for her to have safer travels home… and have a certain dragon he knows talk to any wizards who would consider experimenting on her and her kind. It was so hard to find one of them as it was, they needed to be preserved.

He made his way to town, many of the people there excited to see the vibrantly colored harpy in his hands. They all knew it was some sort of miniature harpy that would perform the important magic, and the fact she was being carried by him made it an easy assumption she was the one they were waiting for. He didn’t give them time to overwhelm the poor thing, instead heading directly for the herbalist’s place and setting the bird girl on the counter. He assured Anthria that she would get the best possible care for her wing and they would have plenty of fruit and nuts ready for her to eat when she was hungry. He could see the tiny girl relaxing as the herbalist examined and treated the wound, thankfully nothing too severe. Mostly painkillers, something to prevent infection, and minding the feathers.

Anthria was far more relaxed once her wound was treated. This wizard didn’t act like the ones she had heard about. Even Antoine was starting to calm down a bit. She could see how dry the land was, and the excitement of the locals made it clear she was truly needed here. This place was desperate for her magic. Once the bandage was in place, she was taken to a feast of fruit for her, which for her small size didn’t actually need to be much compared to them, but the tropical fruits she thrived on were still hard to obtain for a place like this, even if it wasn’t much of it. She always knew a place was serious when they made the effort to get the best fruit for her diet. A healthy diet was essential to using her magic properly, and she always made that clear when she made these trips.

Anthria was happy to see Antoine indulging in local meals. He was capable of eating more variety than her so she was glad when he took the opportunity to try new things. After she ate her fill, the wizard approached again and said if she wanted a quiet place to stay, his home was available. Seeing as how he had been honest so far, Anthria agreed, despite Antoine’s protests. As he carried her to his place with the fairy keeping close watch, he asked about observing her magic. Antoine got tense immediately, “See! He is like other wizards!” Anthria sighed, “Observing is not the same as experimenting. And while we are usually secretive about our magic, I think as long as he is accommodating, I can allow him to observe once or twice.”

Izo was extremely excited. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity. These rare bird people never let people observe their magic! He would have to do everything in his power to make her comfortable here. He would have knowledge no other wizard would have! But despite his great excitement, he kept his composure, speaking proper and curt, “Thank you, Anthria for the opportunity. I won’t get in your way. May I take notes?” He was extremely pleased when she agreed, and even offered to pose for drawings, with the caveat that he does his best to keep her comfortable while she stays in what is a very uncomfortable climate for her. It made sense, she is a tropical species, this area had to be cold and dry to her. He could keep a fire going, a warmed bird bath at the ready when she needed. Perhaps boil water to raise the humidity of the room, once water was more readily available in this severe drought. 

At his tower he got his parchment ready and started a fire to warm the room more. He saw her stretching as she spoke to him, and he quickly and furiously took notes the moment she started explaining her magic. Fascinating! Her kind activated magic through dance! No wonder she was so concerned about pain when the healer was tending to her, pain could interfere greatly with range of movement. She showed off some of the important poses used during the dance, allowing him to sketch the positions she would take once she was ready for the magic. It made sense she needed to digest more of the fruit and nut meal before starting the actual magic; travel no doubt took a lot out of her. He wrote down as she explained after travel they immediately eat and prepare themselves because starting too soon can cause things to go poorly. Accidentally flooding the place would definitely be no good, and he was sure the townsfolk would understand one evening of rest after long travel. He soon gave her a bowl of warmed water to wash her feathers in, figuring she needed the moisture after such a long distance of travel. Besides, wasting water on this wouldn’t matter once she brought rains.

Anthria happily relaxed in the warm bowl of water, Antoine keeping watch nearby. The wizard Izo certainly behaved differently than the stories she had heard in the past of wizards capturing her kind. While he had a great deal of curiosity about her natural magic, he wasn’t pressuring her, nor doing anything harsh like plucking her feathers for experiments. “As long as I get a decent sleep tonight, I can probably start the magic shortly after breakfast. Knowing what I do about droughts, I’ll do a slow build, a drizzle that builds into proper slow rain. I will give it a break after one day of rain for the land to absorb what it got then repeat a couple times before a full downpour. Too heavy a rain all at once will just cause a flood. The land has to adjust, as do the plants, to maximize benefit. I usually have to stay a couple weeks to get the area set for the season. Sometimes a bit longer, depending on the landscape.”

She could see the wizard writing her every word, and likely more. She talked casually about the importance of a proper diet for her kind, which is why she always insists before travel they be prepared for her. Without the right nutrients, their magic is much weaker. Harder to control. She also explained they always have someone to travel with them for protection because while their magic is powerful, it only affects large areas. It’s not useful for defense at all. Some travel with humans or other ‘average’ sized folks, but her best friend had always managed well enough, so she travels with him. “Antoine probably would have eventually gotten me away from the harpies, but getting me to medical care could have been a bit harder. Once we get home we’ll discuss how to travel most safely in the future. For now, I have this place to focus on helping.”

Izo was extremely pleased with how open she was with information. It was so rare in her kind, but he supposed others who had tried had been more forceful. Perhaps his helping her with the harpies had helped make a good impression. He’d make notes for the future as well about how to best interact with her kind. Who knew, maybe she’d return next dry season and tell him more. At least she was enjoying the soak. Once she seemed done talking for the time being, he worked on setting up a comfortable nest-like bed for her. He put it near a fresh bowl of water, not too far from the fire, and with plenty of comfortable bedding.

Unfortunately, as it got later into the night, it became obvious the fire was insufficient warmth for the tropical bird girl. He could see her fluffing her feathers, shivering, clearly uncomfortable. Izo walked over and sat down near her sleeping area. “Still too cold to sleep?” She nodded, “I’m used to very warm temperatures; I’d have to be close enough to the fire to risk igniting my feathers and blanket to be warm enough. And it’s still so dry. I need it both hot and humid.” Izo thought for a moment. He had promised to help her be comfortable if she let him learn about her people’s magic… he could only think of one place both warm enough and safe enough for her. “Hot and humid… Like my stomach?”

Anthria’s feathers puffed out as she listened to the wizard’s suggestion. Her feathers were on end in fear, “I thought this place was supposed to be safe! Now you suggest eating me? That’s not at all safe!” She watched him make a placating gesture and start explaining magic he has used in the past, that he has done this many times before and was only suggesting it out of concern for her comfort. His explanation seemed to help calm her. But Antoine apparently overheard and interrupted, “I will go with her to make sure she is safe. If she’s not, I can make it extremely painful for you. In fact, I insist I check first.”

Anthria seemed a bit startled; having thought Antoine had already fallen asleep. But she guessed she shouldn’t be surprised he woke up easily. He was so determined to keep her safe. Antoine turned to her, “I could see the look on your face. You were considering it. You are that desperate to have somewhere comfortable.” Anthria sighed, “I am. I usually barely sleep on these trips.” Antoine sighed, turning to Izo, “Fine. Do it. Let me see if it's safe first.”

With a quick weaving of magic, Izo made sure his stomach was safe. He picked up the grumpy fairy and stated, “Please keep the wings well tucked, or that could complicate this;” before putting Antione feet first into his mouth. With those bulky wings, he was glad the fairy didn’t put up a fight as he swallowed the man down. Once he felt the weight fall into his stomach, he glanced down, “So, are the accommodations approved for your friend?” After a moment the fairy seemed to settle down and responded, “Alright. Seems safe enough. Be gentle with her or I’ll tear you apart from the inside.” Izo gently picked up Anthria, watching her flatten her feathers down and tuck her arms in. He checked her bandage was good and secure before sliding her into his mouth as well. The feeling of feathers was quite bizarre compared to other incidents where he did this, but with them not fighting, it made it easier. Before long he felt her weight join the fairy.

“So, feeling warmer now, Anthria?” Izo asked the avian. He actually smiled a bit when she replied, “Delightfully warm! I definitely have to tell you more about my magic for finding a way for me to feel as comfortable as at home!” The feeling was a bit strange as the two adjusted to be comfortable in his belly. Izo went back to his own bed and slowly lay down. “I’ll let you out in the morning, and make sure you both get a good breakfast,” Izo reassured the two. Anthria replied with a yawn, “And I’ll get the first rains going soon after that.”

The next morning, Anthria was pleased the wizard kept his word about getting her out and having a nice breakfast of fruit ready for her. Antoine seemed more relaxed now, which she was glad to see. The wizard had been so kind and accommodating so far. He definitely wasn’t acting at all like the bad ones that had hurt others of her kind. She was distracted and noticed the wizard brought something over. He helped her replace her bandages and apply medicine so Antoine could finish his breakfast. She noticed a feather loose on the injury, and decided to give it to the wizard. “Since you aren’t forcing the matter, and I’m shedding a couple feathers from the injury, so I’ll let you keep those feathers for your own testing. Since you are being so kind, I’ll demonstrate a few more of the important poses in the dances, from ones I haven’t shown you yet. Probably not today, the magic will take a lot out of me.”

The dance she did to start the rain required poses and movements no true bird could manage, but in many ways did resemble the dances performed by wild birds. Feathers on her back puffed out, wings turned in ways to display the feathers. A shake of the tail feathers, a turn of the neck. Bends and twists no bird could manage. A flash of iridescent feathers. More wing turns and flicks. She could hear the gentle patter of rain outside, but she kept going. She had to be sure the rain would continue well into the next day. She glanced at the wizard. As promised, he stayed well out of her way, watching intently and making rapid notes onto parchment. As she finally ended her dance, Antoine came over to let her lean on him, knowing that using the magic would tire her. She smiled as she spoke to the wizard, “Each dance is incredibly specific. I have been practicing all my life. I know many of the dances, but will only share a couple with you.” 

Izo nodded, “I understand completely. I am grateful you are willing to share any of these secretive performances with me.” He finished up the notes on the dance, then helped her over to the makeshift nest to rest. This rain had been desperately needed by Eaglesvale. He was sure the people would want to express their gratitude to the avian, but he also understood she probably could end up overwhelmed by it. He would let her meet people if she wished, or remain here undisturbed if that was her preference. At least they had gotten the right fruit and nuts in to feed her. 

But the most important thing was this had all been a success: Eaglesvale; the people, the farms, all of it, had been saved.

[corntort]

body horror headcanon

For the bioflux accelerator tentacle arm things

At least some of trace's internal organs had to be shuffled around for them to fit methinks

Or maybe it's like a woodpecker thing where the tentacles curl around his skull (yes that happens with woodpeckers and their tongues)

YESYYESYESYESEYS THAT IDEA IS SOOOO COOL

i really want to mess with the idea of organs being shifted around but in my head its just a lot of the movement of the ribs and muscles near exlusively.

his rib cage at the back is more pried apart for the bioflux tendrils to kind of wedge themselves in via hooks to sprout as violently as need be when he's healed up, muscles torn apart and mended to be attached to the base of the tendrils to be (VERY SLIGHTLY) mobile. it grows worse with his prolonged exposure to bioflux and the second injection, allowing to be nudged more laterally or medially as need be, because they themselves cant be injured!!

THIS ALSO AFFECTS HIS SPINE. to the point the suddenness of the initial tendril eruptions from his back has snapped loose some lateral processes of some vertebrae, spinal disks bloated with fluid from the violent nature of it and his spine starts meandering around the tendrils, cause i doubt theyre symmetrical along his back, some closer to his spinal column than others. that scoliosis is FUCKED UP and COMPLEX. this also causes some pinching of his spinal cord which is absolutely agonizing if he tilts a certain way so he walks a bit leaned to the right. theres also just shrapnel of bone in his back now but he's lucky enough to not have it puncture any vital organs, not that he'd be left to die if they did. it does take some iterations of deaths for his spine to somewhat accustom to the tendrils but it by no means becomes more "comfortable." just pinching becomes less frequent and the bones are essentially restructured around the bioflux.

as his body modifies more and more the tissue turns more red hot and distorted towards his back to allow more mobility. the tendrils no longer erupt from under the skin it's more of like pods in his back theyre situated in to recover in when he's hurt that can more safely protrude from when ready.

Tissue as minute as the vessels are rerouted, treating the tendrils almost like a tumor that requires more oxygen but its split the vessels to still leave some oxygen for his normal tissue.

OHHH though now that i think about it more, all that mass from the bioflux Does Need a place to retreat into. i was thinking he could have more like, the back equivalent of SEVERE barrel chest as the flesh back there gets more lumpy, his skin more stretched out to nest the tendrils but that probably cant do all the heavy lifting. HMMMMM

although not much can be shifted without affecting his performance which i don't think elsenova would allow much of. i think she still is deriving a little bit of satisfaction from his pain but they do need him. and they can't allow him to resent them Too much, or else he'd be a threat and not fulfill the purpose they need him to.

MUCH TO STINK ABOUT..!!!! ill ponder on if his ribcage just splits open at the back for the space or if it closes Around the tendrils for better anchorage. and also if it's the latter if the rib cage Encloses the pods the tendrils come from or if it is just underneath them. like how fucked up are we getting with it

I WILL DRAW THIS... WHEN I HAVE THE ENERGY!

and i have NO IDEA if this is coherent i love stinking about it. specbiooo <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

[ctrlhope]

Is Jimin's nest in the basement? What is it like? Does it stay the same as in The Pitfalls of Silk?

Can his mate put blankets and pillows in it? Fairy lights? Is it cosy?

OOO!! This is such a fun question, I love world building so much!! okie let's hope I don't get too rambley--

spoiler! it did ASASJBKDB

I'm assuming this is in regard's to the drabble so his nest is the same as described in TPOS! It's mostly described in the second to last scene of the fic :D It is located in the basement as his particular breed of spider (Cobalt Blue Tarantula) build their webs in more of a burrow style, so underground is just more comfortable for him :D

His burrow can be described as really soft-- his species is known for webbing/ creating large burrows so that carries over! He's covered all the flooring and walls in his webs. Along the walls he likes to create art with his webs as well, making them almost look like murals. He has webs sectioning off different parts of the basement as well (they look more like the traditional "spider" type of web and can be a bit confusing to navigate through, so you need his help the first few times, lmao). I feel like the type of nest he builds really just depends on his mood! He learned from lots of different spiders growing up, so there isn't one particular style he's more fond of then the others.

His main 'nest' is in one of the back corners of the basement. I imagine it more enclosed kind of-- off the ground, almost looking like a jumping spiders web but bigger, if that makes sense? The opening starts out as large, but as he wants you to leave his nest less and less, the more he'll almost neurotically make it smaller, lol. So, like a hammock type of shape, off the ground in the corner, and BIG!!

It is very cozy inside! Well-- to him at least. But he doesn't normally sleep with pillows or blankets or anything! He just considers it a human thing. But, if you were to bring your own things into his nest, he might just go a little crazy lmao. He would absolutely adore it-- his spider would praise you non-stop in his head. Talking about breeding and all of that. How pretty his mate is, how she wants to be his forever. Making his web a home. How lovely she is. Everything.

His eyes are very sensitive to light, so as long as the fairy lights aren't too bright I think he'd be fine with them! He typically uses candles to light the basement himself, so hanging them around the burrow might be lovely for him :> He probably wouldn't want them in his main "sleeping" nest though, just cause he has trouble sleeping with light :< Anything else is fine and he would absolutely love. Your utter devotee <3333

As always, apologies for how long this got DDD: I don't know how to stop my fingers once they start but I hope this answered all of your questions!!! MWAH!

[codename-mom]

First day at school

Summary: Jack is now old enough to go at school and his father has trouble to deal with this very special day.

Characters: Mostly Jack and Hotch (but some BAU members appear)

Contents: TW well, as Hotch is the king of anxiety, the text is quite angsty (mention of grief and of what Foyet did to him), but I tried to make it a little bit fluffy too.

This is a text written for the New Beginings CM challenge organized by @imagining-in-the-margins.

PS : English is not my mother language so they are necessarily mistakes. Sorry about that.

___

Hotch stopped in front of JJ's desk, absorbed in her mission report, and saw her flinch when she realized he was standing right next to her. He smiled at her, and she smiled back.

“JJ. Tomorrow I'm going to be very late, he announced, looking a little embarrassed. Check with Morgan which file we need to work on and give me a summary of the briefing when I arrive.”

“Okay, she nodded, eyebrows furrowed. Is there a problem?”

“First day at school.”

“Ouch! She winced immediately. I’m weeping in anticipation. Good luck.”

“Thank you, he answered with a shy smile. See you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow, Hotch.”

Yes, the fateful date had arrived: Jack was now old enough to start school. An event that represented both a form of relief – for Jessica and Ada, who would no longer need to put their respective lives on hold to raise a child that wasn't even theirs – and a source of terrible anguish for the agency director.

He still couldn't believe how much his son had grown since the day he regained custody. He still had the impression of holding his tiny body in the palm of his hands, watching him stagger around the living room in search of his balance, and witnessing his chaotic attempts to learn to eat on his own. And tomorrow, he would go to school.

Tomorrow, he'd leave the nest to mingle with other kids his age, with whom he'd discover the world in all its aspects. Tomorrow, he'd be meeting human beings who wouldn't necessarily be at his feet, let alone in his pocket, with whom he'd have to negotiate, argue, discuss, and exchange to make himself heard or win his case. Tomorrow, he'd realize that life in society required bending even more rules than he'd ever known before, that obeying them wouldn't be easy, and that disobeying them would be even more damaging. Tomorrow, the cocoon in which he'd been enclosed until then would be torn apart, and his father wouldn't be there to fly to his rescue.

Aaron was unable to suppress the panic that had gripped him for two weeks now. He'd done all he could to soften it up, planning this day down to the last detail, but nothing had helped. Jack's schoolbag was ready, as were his clothes; the breakfast table was set, the car refueled, the itinerary marked, and the documents requested by the school completed. But his heart continued to drum far too hard against his ribs as he sought sleep. What he was afraid of? To be lost? It was a stone’s throw from the apartment. To be late? Even if an unexpected traffic jam came up, they could always get there on foot if need be. For not giving his offspring the keys to get by? It was a possibility, but his aunt and grandmother had had to make up for his shortcomings. That Jack has had a bad experience and never wants to go back?

A silence passed in his head as the vise tightened around his lungs. This plunge into the deep end of the pool was no small step in a toddler's life. It was almost the equivalent of a parachute jump for an adult: even with the best possible precautions, there was always a chance – tiny sometimes – that things could go wrong. He tried in vain to remember what he had experienced and felt that day, but his brain ignored his request, content to amplify the feeling of malaise that had assailed him for the past fortnight. And even if he could remember his own back-to-school experience, his descendant wasn't him. Far from it. The difficulties he had potentially encountered would not be those he would encounter. And conversely, the facilities he'd had would, logically, not be those he'd have. And he had no way of preparing him to overcome these obstacles. He had no choice but to push him into the arena and pray for the best.

An action he lived as a betrayal of the flesh of his flesh – for all he knew – and one he'd never forgive himself for if the day took a turn for the worse. He felt guilty even before anything had happened and seeing it didn't make him feel any better. Especially as another feeling wandered in his gut. He was sad. He'd imagined that moment so differently that he couldn't erase the projection he'd mentalized years earlier to update it with their current situation. At the time, he had thought that someone would be at his side to endure this heartbreak with him. That he'd have a hand to hold to help suppress his anxiety. That he would have a smile to cross to lighten the weight on his shoulders. That he would have an ear to confide his worries and questions to. But there was no one.

Tomorrow, he'd be on his own to deal with whatever came his way, and it was totally out of the question for Jack to see the stress that was devouring him by the hour. He had to put on a good show, through and through, as long as he was still in his son's field of vision. Smiling and being reassuring were the guidelines he should absolutely follow. And if he felt like screaming or running away with him in his arms, he'd have to contain himself and triple lock his emotions. Like he was doing at Quantico. Not for nothing was he nicknamed "The Iceberg" by the other unit heads. So why did it now seem so impossible?

“Put your shoes on, Jack, while I finish packing your bag,” he ordered as the kid finished pulling on his hooded sweatshirt.

The profiler hadn't slept all night, and the look on his face had given him the shivers in the mirror, but he had gone through his usual routine before waking the little boy. He, seemed to have had an excellent night's sleep and was up and about, swallowing his meal as if it were just another day. He then went to the bathroom, washed his face, brushed his teeth, and quickly ran a comb through his fine hair, before returning to his room. He had ignored his father's suggestion of an outfit and chosen a more... Jurassic one, then gone back outside to give his sire a whole bunch of odds and ends he insisted he expressly needed. He then left to finish dressing, leaving Aaron with a light-up yo-yo, three marbles, a Playmobil, a Spiderman pencil, and an Elastic Man figurine. The giant sighed and reached for the boy's schoolbag to slip in all those treasures that would give him peace of mind if need be.

“Okay,” said Jack, taking a seat by the shoe rack.

“Both the same, please.”

“…Yes, Dad,” he grumbled, annoyed at not being able to carry out his Machiavellian plan.

Since he'd learned to put his sneakers on by himself, he'd taken great pleasure in combining the elements of the four pairs he had in any way he could. Hotch wasn't sure how long he'd been doing it, since he'd suddenly realized it in the park when his shoelaces were untied, and he had a waffle in his hands. His progenitor's expression of surprise had made the youngster laugh out loud, and obviously the frown that always escaped his control when Aaron discovered he'd repeated his forfeit delighted him just as much. By now, the director was getting used to it, but he didn't want to be given a bad label on the first meeting. He had been officially declared negligent to his wife, if he could avoid being so to his son, it would take a thorn out of his side.

“Are you all set?” he asked his son as he zipped up his coat.

“Yes,” he declared with pride.

“Ready for the big day?”

“Yes,” he repeated, with the same determination.

The titan knelt down to be level with the boy's face and took one of his hands.

“Don’t worry, everything is going to be fine. You'll make lots of new friends and learn lots of new stuff.”

“I know. You told me yesterday. And the day before. And the day before before…”

“Okay, he interrupted before he could go any further. Well, maybe we’ll go then. It'll save me having to tell you again.”

Jack's smile stretched from ear to ear, mocking. Father and son were currently living on two different planets, the first as anxious as the second was serene. The profiler could have rejoiced that the kid had obviously taken everything from his mother – both in physical appearance and in mind – but mostly he felt particularly foolish. He swallowed to try and get the knot out of his throat, without success. The duo left the scene, found the car, and climbed in. Hotch started up shortly afterwards and took to the road. Sitting in his booster seat, Jack observed the building facades, nodding his head in harmony with the music playing on the car radio.

“Try not to lose your things, please,” said his father when he stopped at the first red light.

“Why would I lose them?” questioned a puzzled Jack.

“Because when I was your age, I was always losing things. Every day, I came home from school with something missing, he revealed, as he suddenly reminded this detail. It drove you grand-mother crazy. So, if you take after me a little, it's likely to happen to you.”

He also remembered that he had absolutely no explanation to give his mother every time. He'd put them in a corner and when he came back to them, everything was gone. Of course, he didn't realize the financial impact his air headedness was having, and only thought that a new pair of gloves or a new beanie would fall right into his lap the following week. But now that he was on the other side of the fence, he understood better the dark looks Ada had once given him. His brain also reminded him of the consequences for herself, but Jack's voice short-circuited this plunge into the abyss of his memory.

“So, it’s no big deal.”

“What?” he croaked, surprised by the kid's reflection.

“You're saying I'm going to lose my stuff like you did. So that means it’s normal. So it’s no big deal.”

Aaron squinted, analyzing his son's reasoning. His train of thought was a bit far-fetched, but made sense, nonetheless. However, this wasn't going his way, so he resumed:

“…Yes, except I wish you wouldn't do what I did. Because I won’t be able to buy it all back. Okay?”

The little boy wore a worried expression that struck him right in the heart. He had never intended to stress him out and regretted imposing this rule on him from the outset when the day was already going to be rich enough in new information.

“Okay. It won't be a big deal, but just try to be careful, he recommended, diplomatically. Understand?”

Jack nodded, looking concerned.

“I didn’t hear you.”

“Yes, Dad,” he replied cheerlessly.

The sadness on his face aroused his father's natural guilt, and he mentally reproached himself for this dispensable outburst of severity. He had to defuse the situation so that his offspring didn't arrive at school looking so down. The boy possessed an innate joie de vivre that regularly lifted his sire's spirits, and he was keen that his future classmates should see this aspect of his personality first and foremost. So, at the next traffic light, Hotch reached behind him to tickle the toddler's belly, who immediately began to squirm to dodge the attack. His mouth twisted, stretching into an amused smile before a burst of laughter crossed his lips. His assailant rapidly regained his good humor and started up again. A few minutes later, he parked in the school parking lot.

“Here we are.”

The federal agent got out of the car, walked around the vehicle and unfastened the seatbelt. He helped Jack onto dry land, and the latter immediately slipped his hand into the adult’s while he retrieved his bag. Then the pair joined the flow of other parent-child pairs making their way towards the headmistress. She greeted them with a broad smile when it was their turn.

“Good morning, gentlemen, she trumpeted cheerfully. Olivia Simmons, I’m the school director.”

“Hello. Aaron Hotchner and this is my son,” he answered shaking her hand.

“And what's this big boy's name?” she asked, leaning towards him.

“Jack, ma’am,” he confided, suddenly shy.

He tried to hide behind his father's legs, all of sudden much less at ease in this unfamiliar environment.

“You can call me Olivia, she said reassuringly. Welcome. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask me. Okay?”

“Yes, ma'am,” he did, clinging to Aaron's fingers.

“Come on. You can join your comrades over there.”

She pointed to a group of schoolchildren, all displaying the same nervousness. Those who had been there all along were just beginning to relax enough to meet the newcomers. Jack looked up at his ascendant, his eyes shining. He was scared. Hotch crouched instantly in front of him, while the headmistress moved away to address other parents. He could feel the trembling of the kid, who had snuggled into his arms as soon as possible and clung to his jacket like a lifeline. An irrepressible urge to take him away from all this arose in him that he had to fight fiercely. The moment was heartbreaking for both of them, but it was a necessary step in their life together. Soon – he was praying for it – that day would be a distant memory, leaving only a faint trace in the boy's mind.

“Are you picking me up tonight?” he questioned him, his little knuckles closed around his tie.

“I don’t know yet, Jack. Maybe it'll be Jessica,” he asserted, quickly realizing that he'd been so focused on the start of the new school year that he'd forgotten to think about when classes would end.

“I'd rather it be you, Jack confessed, turning his eyes on him. Then I could tell you everything I did today.”

He could hear the boy's plea, but all his professional responsibilities came to the fore and there was clearly no room for a mid-afternoon return to the area. Even less so if a file requiring travel was to fall on his team.

“I'll call you if I have to leave, he declared before emphasizing, Jessica will take very good care of you.”

“But it's not the same,” moaned the youngster, on the verge of tears.

Aaron felt his throat tighten, his insides liquefy, and his muscles tense in unison. This reaction was exactly what he'd been dreading, and dismay overwhelmed him. His thoughts raced through his head. They bumped, piled up, and disintegrated until they formed an unintelligible mass of words and sensations that didn't help him at all to get out of this trap. But the boy's tremors called for a response from him, and only one possibility was open to him.

“…I'll try to be there,” he said in the end.

Jack’s smile reappeared on the spot.

“But I can’t promise anything. Okay?”

“…Okay,” he replied, without quite losing his new-found good humor.

“I love you, buddy,” he confided, placing a kiss on his temple.

His offspring embraced him and said:

“I love you, Dad.”

Then Hotch kissed him on the forehead and encouraged the boy to take the first step. Reassured, he headed for the group of children, one of whom immediately approached him. The agency head was too far away to hear what was being said, but the tone seemed friendly. He got to his feet and sighed heavily to ease the tension in his muscles. Having completed the first stage, he now had to tackle the second. In two steps, he reached the director.

“Mrs. Simmons.”

“Mr. Hotchner,” she reacted, smiling.

“Can I talk to you for a moment?”

“If it’s about allergies, we have a form to fill out for that,” she anticipated, pointing to the table set up nearby, on which several documents had been made available to parents.

“No. No, everything is fine from this side.”

“Perfect. What’s the issue then?”

He felt the cold take possession of his body and a knot formed in his windpipe. What he had to reveal was already painful in thought, it would be even more so when he had to say it out loud. Months and months had passed since the events, but he still had the feeling that it had just happened or, sometimes, that it had just been a bad dream from which he was finally waking up. The euphoria that followed disappeared as soon as he stepped into the living room and saw the portrait on the dresser, the only two plates on the dining table or the toys scattered on the carpet.

“… His mother died, he announced, his voice breaking, before adding: a year ago.”

“Oh. I'm sorry for your loss,” bounced the forty-year-old, genuinely moved.

“Thank you.”

Then he saw her frowning, puzzled.

“Excuse-me but… do I know you?”

A shiver ran down his spine and he swallowed his saliva, uneasy.

“… I hope not. Why?”

“Your face looks familiar, she admitted, before pulling herself together. Well, never mind. Go on.”

“Normally, he has understood that she won’t coming back, but it's possible that his mind is sometimes elsewhere. He may also resent being reminded by his peers that he has only one parent left.”

Even though he had coped much better with the disappearance of the woman who had given him life than he had, he occasionally caught him standing motionless in the middle of his toys, mute and with a low expression on his face, obviously prey to some questioning. It was a fleeting state that faded as soon as Jessica, he or another family member entered his field of vision, but Aaron always paid close attention. In the same way, he had noticed his envious look at the park as he watched the other children interact with their mother. He appreciated his father's presence, but missed Haley's gentleness and positivity.

“Yes, I understand, nodded the headmistress, adopting a soothing expression. Look, Mr. Hotchner, Jack isn't the first child we've taken in who's already lost his mother, so we should be able to manage.”

“Okay. If… if there's any problem, I've written my cell phone number on his card, he insisted, handing her the document. You can call me anytime.”

“It’ll be fine, I assure you.”

He was sure she was convinced by her words – and she probably had all the skills to handle this type of case – but couldn't stop his anxiety galloping through his veins. He was already ready to jump out of his chair, get back in his car, and drive to school to put his son's mind at rest. This reminded him that he hadn’t told her everything.

“One more thing. It is… – he hesitated, conscious of the image this would give of him – probable that I won't be able to pick him up tonight. Only two people are allowed to pick him up. Here is, Jessica, his aunt, and Ada, his grandmother.”

He presented her with snapshots of the two women and she retrieved them, squinting.

“Wait, aren't you the FBI agent who was stabbed to death in his home a little over... – her enthusiasm waned as her memory delivered the rest of the information – a year ago? Oh, my God! Is it… Whoever did this to you is...?”

Hotch cursed Strauss for allowing this reporter to publish this article in the Arlington daily, complete with his photo portrait and far too many details about his assault. Several neighbors had been worried for their lives, and he had had to do some explaining to get them to dare leave their homes again. Fear had reigned over the neighborhood for several weeks, before being gradually dispelled by other news. But some people hadn't completely forgotten, and his interlocutor was now shocked by his mere presence. Completely unsettled, she stared at him as if he were on his deathbed. He had to cut short this situation, which was as embarrassing for him as it was for her.

“If you don’t mind, I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Sure! Of course. Excuse me, she went on, distraught. I get that… Photos. Thank you. We… we’ll take good care of Jack.”

She no longer dared to look at him.

“I’ve got to go.”

“Okay. Very good. Good… Have a good day.”

“I hope so.”

He tried to give her a reassuring smile, but her state of shock prevented her from seeing it. He climbed back into his car and drove towards Quantico. He reached the sixth floor just as JJ was settling down in front of her screen. She looked up at him and asked, curious:

“So?”

“He's surprisingly quick to forget my existence,” he observed, as the boy had ignored the last greeting he'd tried to give him.

Absorbed in a conversation with two other boys, he had obliterated his father's tall silhouette from his surroundings.

“Oops! Grinned JJ, feeling sorry for him. Are you okay?”

“It'll be tough, but I'll get through it, he joked without much conviction. What do we have?”

His heart was still pounding under his skull and his muscles were still tense from the tension built up over the last few days. He needed to take his mind off the latent anguish compressing his ribcage.

“Three men found in a river in a small Wyoming town.”

“Locals?”

“No. They were all just passing through, JJ pointed out, handing him the folder. The sheriff is under pressure; tourism is what sustains the locals.”

Reflexively, he opened the cover, but his eyes fell on the scene of the tragedy. His son's words echoed in his head.

“A problem?” inquired JJ, aware of his trouble.

“Jack would like me to pick him up from school tonight.”

“I see. What’s the plan?”

“I'm still thinking about it, he confessed, unable to make a definite decision at this hour. Let’s go.”

Within minutes, the whole team was gathered around the briefing room table, and JJ gave them a brief description of the case and the latest advances in Garcia’s research. The profilers did a series of hypotheses and deductions, concluding that an on-site presence was essential.

“Off we go,” Morgan said, determined.

Everyone left their chairs and collected the papers spread out in front of them, except Aaron, who did not move from his seat. To the surprise of his flock.

“Hotch?” Derek raised an eyebrow, concerned.

His brain was still weighing up the pros and cons of whether or not to accompany his men into the field. While his neighbors were quoting on the proposed case, he had drawn up a comparative table in his head in order to make his decision. So he hadn't listened too much of what had been said, but finally knew what he was going to do.

“Go without me. I have an imponderable here that requires my presence. But I'll be available most of the day and tonight if necessary.”

“Most of?” repeated Prentiss, baffled.

“Not between 3 and 7 PM,” he clarified, rising to his feet.

With the exception of JJ, all the agents looked at each other, equally confused. It wasn't the first time he hadn't followed them in their investigations – his layoff, his most serious injuries and the loss of his ex-wife had kept him at home – but the specificity of this time slot was surprising. They waited for further information, which their superior did not give them, considering it none of their business. He and the liaison officer exchanged glances and agreed that he wouldn't take it badly if she revealed why he'd had to forfeit this time.

“… Okay. See… see you later,” Morgan stammered before leaving the room.

“Good luck.”

Soon he found himself alone with Penelope, who questioned him in silence, unsettled by this sudden change in protocol. He reassured her with a smile and urged her to return to her post to support her colleagues already on the way. He returned to his office and stayed there for most of the day, answering calls from subordinates and others seeking the BAU’s help, relieving the workload of the team's only mother so that she could devote herself fully to the case. One thing led to another, and his employees untangled all the knots in the story, uncovering the culprit's identity in record time. Hotch had already left his office and was driving towards downtown DC when he received a message from Derek that the suspect was under arrest. At the first red light, he sent a congratulatory message to each member of his team, and then continued on to the school, a little more appeased.

                When he pulled into the nearby parking lot, the gates were still closed and only two or three parents were present. He got out of his vehicle but didn't approach them any further, not daring to disturb them or impose unwanted greetings. Anyway, his mind was entirely focused on the imminent arrival of his son. He kept his fingers crossed that everything had gone well and that all he wanted to do was go back. He hoped his master or mistress would be friendly, that he would have learned lots of things that piqued his interest, and that he would even have made some friends. In short, he prayed that he wouldn't be so angry at him for throwing him into the lion's den, with the intention of repeating the gesture.

                The bell went off somewhere within the walls of the building, and less than a minute later, two people came to open the doors to the street. Many more mothers and fathers had appeared since then, and they had all stiffened at the sound of the chirping. In the end, they were all moved by the same concern, which somewhat reassured Aaron, who had often been criticized for overreacting to innocuous subjects. A handful of children emerged from the corridor and rushed towards their targets at full speed. A second wave soon followed, and more pairs and trios were formed. The director felt his heart quicken as his neurons began to imagine all sorts of contingencies that could explain this absence. At the third salvo, a familiar face stood out from the crowd and was immediately spotted. Jack galloped toward him with a smile running from ear to ear, and he threw himself into his arms with a blissful expression that annihilated all apprehensions of this very special day.

___

In the original draft, there's a dialogue between the BAU team members after they left Quantico. JJ told them the truth and as Emily was asking out loud why he didn't say it to them, Derek explained that he just couldn't (because: "Boys...", you know. XD).

I cut it because it's written with Hotch's point of view, so he can't hear them. And I wanted a cuddle between the two Hotchner's boys. X3

[brainyxbat]

Chapter 6: Luffy, Completely Surrounded! Commodore Nelson's Secret Strategy

(episode 59)

"We're out! We're out!"

"Make chase at once!"

"O-one other thing, Lt. Commander! While in pursuit of them, Eric-sama also reappeared, and has just returned to ship!"

"Look at 'em come! Look at 'em come!"

"The Going Merry is faster and more agile, but what are we going to do when we get to Warship Island?!"

"We'll be okay!"

"How will we be okay?!"

"We just need to find the dragons' nest first, so Grandpa Ryu can get better, right?!"

"Doesn't look like that's going to be an option."

"The small fries have leapt forth. Open to the left and right! Crane Wing Formation!"

"What now?! They have us blocked off!"

"Jump onto a ship, kick the guys off, and cut the links! That's the only choice, obviously!"

"Doesn't sound too bad to me!"

"Alright! Let's go!"

"I'm going too!"

"Alright!"

-

The Merry was rocked all around from cannonballs launched nearby, but never took any hits. The dominant ship was outside the circle, as Nelson watched from his throne. "Marvelous! A truly marvelous view!" He fanned himself. "Listen, now! Do not let the attacks falter even a bit!"

"Yes, sir!"

"But do not hit the raft!"

"Yes, Commodore!"

Nelson chuckled evilly. "For so many years, I've sought the Millennial Dragon, and I've finally found it! The elixir of immortality, the Dragonite, is now as good as mine!"

From the circle, a Marine saw the flags blowing on the dominant ship. "Sir! The commodore's flagship says his plan has succeeded! He says his attack is still ongoing!"

"Looks like our mission is over now," The Lt. Commander decided, and walked past the mercenary.

'If they fall into Nelson Royal's hands now...' Eric thought, before speaking up. "Hold on, Lt. Commander!"

He stopped dead in his tracks. "Do you still want something?"

"Prepare one paddleboat, and three proficient seamen."

"A paddleboat?! What for?!"

Eric smirked. "Because a mast would get in the way."

"Don't tell me you're going into the enclosed area?!"

Eric turned away from him, smirk undeterred. "Just do it already."

The Merry was still being rocked left and right, as everyone held onto something tightly. "Apis! It's dangerous!" Usopp scolded when she ran out of the cabin, and fell over rom the attacks. "Go back inside!"

"I can't leave Grandpa Ryu all by himself!" She protested, and kept running.

"Hey, you! Wait!" He ran after her, but she was sliding down the rope by the time he caught up. "That's dangerous! Get back here! It's your fault if you fall!"

"Grandpa Ryu! Just hang in there a little longer! I promise I'll take you to the dragons' nest!"

"Man, she's brave!" Usopp remarked. "Dammit! That moves me to tears! Alright!" He grinned confidently. "I'll break through the front lines, and take you to the dragons' nest!" His moment was ruined by a cannonball-induced wave knocking him back to the cabin. "Oww! Hey, we've been hit from behind!" He cried fearfully. "Hey! Sanji! We've been hit! Venus-chan! We're done for! We're sunk!"

"Pipe down!" Sanji ordered. "We ain't been hit."

"Eh? Seriously?"

"Yeah."

Usopp slumped over in relief. "I'm saved! Who the hell thought of this plan anyway?!" He ranted.

"You did," Venus responded, and he winced.

"That's it! That's it! Go!" Luffy laughed, as Nami steered from inside. "Hey! A ball's coming this way!"

"I can't do any more than this! Do something on your end!"

"Okay! I'll do something!" Luffy ran along the ledge, until he was in its path. "Gum-Gum... Balloon!" He inflated his belly to a massive size, so the cannonball bounced off, and was sent flying back to one of the Marine ships.

"No way...!" Apis watched from the wagon.

"No way!" Nelson's eyes were wide. "You impudent bastards! How dare you damage one of my warships?! What are you doing?! Hit them with the Super Giant Cannon!"

"Yes, sir!"

Nelson raged in his seat. "There's no escape! There's no escape! There's no escape for you!"

"Prepare to fire the Super Giant Cannon!"

A giant cannon descended from the front of the ship. "The pirate ship has been trapped up ahead! Ready to fire!"

"What is that?!" Nami exclaimed. "A direct hit from that, and our ship'll be blown to shreds!"

"We'll be okay!" Luffy assured nonchalantly. "I'll just bounce it back again!"

"Don't be stupid! I'll turn the ship about; you guys work the rear sail! Hurry!"

"Yeah!" Luffy, alongside Zoro, went to just so.

Usopp stood by one of their own cannons, vengeful. "An eye for an eye! I got a shot ready for you too!"

"Here we go!" Luffy pulled the rear sail back.

"Eat this!" Usopp shot the ball at the bigger ship, landing like a marble in the huge cannon.

"Fire! Fire!" But due to the interference, the cannon was totaled, and Nelson was knocked out of his seat. "What just happened?!"

A Marine ran over, and saluted. "An enemy cannonball hit our main cannon perfectly!"

"W-what?! Hurry, and lift me up!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Howdya like that?!" Usopp taunted. "This is what happens when Usopp-sama gets serious!"

"Not too shabby, for a fluke," Sanij commented.

"You're so full of it," Zoro added.

"What?! I can do that anytime!"

"Wow... he hit it!" Apis stared in awe. "You're so cool, Usopp!"

"Yeah!" They exchanged thumbs-ups.

"Seems your aim is still perfect as always," Venus grinned genuinely.

"T-thanks, Venus!" Why was he getting so flustered at her compliments?

Luffy watched over Ryu from the ship. "It'll be okay! Don't worry! You just keep Apis safe!"

"Who're you talking to?!" Usopp approached him.

"Grandpa Ryu."

"Huh?"

"Now's our chance! Nami announced. "Let's act quickly, and cut some links to open a path!"

"Right, Nami-san!"

"Luffy," Zoro turned to the captain.

"Leave it to me! Gum-Gum... Bridge!" The three joining him crossed the makeshift bridge, with Zoro holding one of clumsy Venus' hands to keep her from falling into the ocean below. "Alright! Grandpa Ryu! Just hold on! Here goes!" After Zoro, Sanji, and Venus board the Marine ship, he launched himself over to them. Unfortunately for poor Zoro, he crashed into him, and they hit the cabin. "Sorry, Zoro."

"Why, you...!"

With struggle, Nelson's throne was lifted back up. "Report! What are they doing?!"

"Yes, sir! Four people from the pirate ship have boarded portside Ship #1!"

"Huh?! Say what?!"

Zoro observed the chain links keeping them from escaping. "Steel chains, huh..."

"Think you can cut 'em?" Luffy asked.

"There's nothing I can't cut!"

"Really? Then they're all yours."

Sanji noticed Venus watching the cabins intently. "What is it, Venus-chan?"

"Sounds like we've got company," She observed.

Sanji turned to see hundreds of Marines filing out of the cabins, and surrounded the four, pointing their guns. "Talk about coming out of the woodwork."

"I like it when things are lively!" Luffy grinned.

"Sure, whatever."

"I'll leave the small fries to you," Zoro decided.

"Yeah!" Luffy, Sanji, and Venus agreed simultaneously.

"In the name of the Nelson Fleet, we won't let you break through here!" They charged in, but essentially had their asses handed to them by Luffy's gatling, Sanji's kicks, and Venus' energy balls.

Meanwhile, Zoro spent a few seconds in deep concentration, before he made a slice... that did nothing. "What?!"

Venus noticed his trouble, and ran over. "Everything okay?"

"I got it, Venus."

She raised an eyebrow at him. "Here, I'll soften it up for you." She laid herself over the ledge, and prepared an attack. "Witchy-Witchy... Ball!" As she let the energy ball weaken the chain, she kicked away any Marines that took advantage of her being sidetracked, sparing hardly a glance. After a minute passed, she straightened up. "Okay, try it now."

Zoro looked at her for a moment, then sliced at the chains again; to his surprise, his sword cut it right through. He turned back to her, dumbfounded. "I can do it again if needed," She shrugged innocently, then returned to combat.

"Yeah! That's it! That's it!" Usopp cheered. "You're so wonderful! Keep it up! Chop those things up good!"

Nelson snarled in anger. "Curse you! How dare you lousy pirates try to break my links! Capture them, at all costs! Or else I'll maroon every last one of you!"

Marines ran to the ship with the intruders, using the chains as bridges. "Gum-Gum... Gatling!" Luffy rapidly punched them into the ocean, but the officers simply kept coming.

"Done!" Venus weakened another chain, and Zoro cut it, sending more Marines plunging.

An excited Luffy was running, as yet more officers ran after him. "Here they come! Here they come!" He then held them back with his arms stretched out. "Gum-Gum... Slingshot!" Hopping off the ground, he sent them soaring back, even breaking a piece off the ship. "Hiyaaaaaah!" With a kick, more were sent into the ocean.

"Wow..." Apis watched from the wagon. "I didn't know they were like this.

When another chain was weakened, courtesy of the young witch, Zoro chopped it. "There's only one chain left!" Nami pointed out. "Let's get moving!"

"Aye-aye sir!" Usopp followed her.

"No, no! Someone stop them!" A strong whirlwind stopped the Merry from getting any closer.

Turned out, it was Eric, still in his paddleboat. "Oh! Eric!" Nelson grinned. "Well done! Now the Millennial Dragon is mine!"

The boat bumped into the wagon, startling Apis. "That scared me!" She yelped in terror when it wasn't any of the Straw Hats. "You're the Sicko Sicko Fruit guy!"

"Not "Sicko." The Sickle Sickle Fruit!" Usopp and Nami ran to the back of the Merry. "Girl! It's time to hand over the Millennial Dragon!"

She ran in front of Ryu's head. "No! I'll never give you Grandpa Ryu!"

"Hand it over like a good little girl!"

"No!"

Eric readied his hands. "I can chop you into pieces with wind slashes at any time, you know." Apis gulped fearfully.

"Stop right there!" Nami yelled. "Lay a hand on the kid, and you'll pay!"

"Y-yeah!" Usopp stammered. "I, Usopp-sama, won't sit by quietly either!"

"Fools. I made that wind slash just now miss on purpose." Nami gasped in surprise, as she remembered the strange whirlwind that knocked them back earlier. "Get in my way, and this time I won't miss! I'll blow your entire ship apart!"

Luffy walked over to Zoro, Sanji, and Venus watched what was happening at the Merry. "What's wrong?"

"It's him," Sanji glared.

"The Sicko guy," Venus sneered.

"Huh? What's he doing?"

"Looks like he's planning to take Apis hostage, and steal the dragon," Sanji observed.

"Tie the raft to our boat!" Eric ordered.

"Yes, sir!"

"That's bad!" Luffy frowned, and went to intervene with Venus.

Zoro stopped them with his hands on their shoulders. "Stop! If you lay a hand on him, he'll take Apis, and the others out with his technique!"

"Oh! Right!" Luffy prepared to go again. "Then I'll use my foot!" Zoro punched him in the head, as Venus facepalmed. "Huh?!"

"Listen better!"

Eric began to sail away with the wagon in tow. "I'm taking the Millennial Dragon now! Nothing personal!"

"You fight dirty!" Usopp shouted. "Give Apis back!"

"Oh no!" Venus exclaimed.

"Eric! Well done!" Nelson praised. "Now, bring it here!"

"No thanks. This isn't for you."

"Eh?! What did you say?!"

"The only reason I obeyed you was to use the Marines' information-gathering capabilities."

"What?!"

"It's not like you were any different. You tried to use me too."

"I hired you for a great sum of money!"

"I think I've worked off that chump charge by now. I have no obligation to obey a sea lion like you anymore!"

"S-sea lion? You're calling me a sea lion?!"

"I'm going to use the Dragonite I get from the Millennial Dragon to make myself perfect!"

Nelson growled furiously. "You'll pay! You'll pay for this! Shoot that backstabber! Shoot him! Shoot him!"

Cannonballs were shot at the paddleboat, frightening Apis, but they all missed. "They're starting again!" Usopp observed.

"If you don't want to get blasted to pieces, you'd better start rowing!" Eric commanded the rowers, and they fearfully obeyed.

Apis turned away from the action, as she started choking up. "Stop... stop!" She then turned to her captors. "I'm begging you! Please don't harass Grandpa Ryu anymore! He hasn't done anything wrong!"

"Be quiet." He turned to look behind the wagon.

"I have to take him to the dragons' nest right away! So please stop this!" Eric lifted her up by the back of her dress. "What're you doing?! Let go! Let go, I said!" She thrashed.

"Listen, girl. You're a hostage. And I'm taking the Millennial Dragon."

"I'll never let you have Grandpa Ryu! Never! Never!"

"I've had enough, girl!" He gripped her chin. "Any more shouting, and I'll chop you apart!" Instead of backing down, she bit down on his hand. "Oww!" The rowers watched in shock at the exchange, before he threw her down in the boat, rendering her unconscious. "Let go!" He rubbed his sore hand, oblivious to Ryu menacingly rising right behind him. "Damn kid, giving me trouble." He was confused when the Marines screamed in terror, and dove into the ocean, swimming away. "Hey! What are you running for?! Get back here!!" He turned, and realized what scared them off; he yelled fearfully, just before Ryu smacked him away with his wing. "Dammit!"

Ryu stared down worriedly at the unconscious Apis, as memories of them together crossed his mind. He shook with anger, then spread his wings, and let out some loud, bird-like screeches, making everyone in the vicinity cover their ears. "I can't stand this!" Nelson complained.

"Oww! My ears!" Usopp exclaimed.

"Grandpa Ryu let out a sound!" Luffy observed.

When the screeches came to an end, hands lowered, as Apis came to. "Oww..." She perked up at seeing her friend standing up. "Grandpa Ryu!" She hugged his snout. "You can move! That's great! That's great!" She pulled away at his words to her. "What?" He straightened up, and started slowly flapping his wings. "Really?!" She beamed.

"What the...?!" Usopp tried to see what was going on.

"You don't suppose he's..." Nami started.

"Yeah! You can do it, Grandpa Ryu!" Luffy encouraged. "You can fly!"

With a creak, from the wagon, he was doing it! "You're flying!" Apis cheered. "You're flying, Grandpa Ryu!"

Nelson's hand tightened into a fist. "No! If the Millennial Dragon is just going to escape, then I don't care if we kill it! All I need is its Dragonite, anyway! Fire! Fire! Fire like mad!"

Cannonballs were fired again, only this time, they weren't as careful as before. "Stop!" Apis protested. "Grandpa Ryu! Run! Run to where the cannons can't reach you!"

"That's it! Shoot him down, quickly!"

"Stop that!" With a stretched-out punch, Luffy took out some cannoneers, as did Zoro with his swords, Sanji with his kicks, and Venus with her energy balls.

"Now's your chance to run, Grandpa Ryu!" Apis urged.

"What are you doing?!" Nelson raged. "Attack it with this ship too!"

"Yes, sir!"

"It must be shot down!"

As Ryu attempted to fly off, he was bombarded by cannonballs. "Grandpa Ryu!" Apis tried to stop him. "No! Don't go that way!"

To Nelson's terror, Ryu was flying straight for the bigger ship with a vengeance. "What?! It's coming this way! Shoot it down, quickly!" Ryu let out another deafening screech. "It's coming! Shoot it, quickly! Shoot it!"

After more cannonball shots, Ryu slowed to a stop, and plunged into the ocean, as Apis and the Straw Hats watched in pure horror. Luffy launched himself in the air from the ship's mast, and flew above the dragon. "Grandpa Ryu!" Apis could only cry silently, unable to say a word, as Luffy landed on his back. "Grandpa Ryu! Hang in there!"

"Oh no," Venus whimpered, on the brink of tears.

"Hey, now! What are you saying?! Don't talk about dying!" Luffy protested. "Yeah. I know. I will save Apis! And take you to the dragons' nest!" He vowed. "So try hard to stay alive!"

Apis stayed quiet, until the urge to speak returned. "Grandpa Ryu!" She screamed.