#i will be honest i did in fact waste the entire fucking day and i do not feel good about it

[bravevolunteer]

i was doing so well getting through my drafts the other week what HAPPENED

[pinkmelodie]

Hopeless Romantic! König <3

Summary: Hopeless Romantic König who meets you at a park and finds love at first sight to be true. You two enjoy a cute date until he takes you home and gives you one last treat ;)

Words: 2342

Warnings: 18+, overstim, König eats F!Reader out, fingering, fluff to smut, praise, cute romance, squirting, certified munch König !!

He feels like an idiot standing there in the scenic park, awkwardly holding a bouquet of fresh pink roses. He’d picked them out specially for her, and took the time to sprinkle glitter onto the beautiful petals, but it was all for nothing. All his effort went to waste as the poor guy got stood up.

Wallowing in his own shame, he barely noticed someone yelling in the distance until it got closer. He finally snapped out of his trance to see a dog running straight at him. He bent down and stopped the panting golden retriever, caught off guard but smiling and petting it.

“Rover! Oh thank gosh…” He thought it might be the angels themselves speaking when he heard that voice, but he looked up to see nothing but a beautiful woman with a relieved expression. Looking at her closely, he figured perhaps he was looking at an angel.

“Thank you for stopping him, he just runs straight off whenever I let him off leash.” You apologized breathlessly.

König smiled, and found himself forgetting the failed date entirely as he got lost in your eyes. “It’s not a problem, he’s quite adorable.” He responded, and he noticed your eyes widen the tiniest bit at his unfamiliar accent.

“C’mere Rovey,” You cooed, and König’s heart pounded in his chest. The dog trotted straight into your arms and sat still while you hooked the leash back onto his collar. Gosh, what König would give for your sweet voice to be directed onto him like that. 

König stood up and you followed suit after making sure your pooch’s collar was secure, and he didn’t miss the way your jaw dropped when you noticed his towering height. Seriously, what are they feeding this man??

You blushed and suddenly felt shy in the presence of this not only polite but incredibly tall man. He was handsome too, with alluring blue eyes that stared at you with such intensity you had to look away. 

Only then did you notice the fallen bouquet.

“Oh! Is this yours? I’m so sorry, did Rover knock it out of your hands-“ you apologized profusely and picked the shimmering bouquet up, handing it back to him. He didn’t give a flying fuck about the fact it fell on the ground tho, he didn’t even notice since he’d been so focused on staring at you.

He shook his head and didn’t bother taking it out of your hands. “No no, no worries. I uhm…I don’t even need it anymore anyways, my date didn’t show up.” He admited with a sigh.

He regretted telling you the moment your expression turned upset. “That’s horrible, I’m sorry.” You muttered sadly, and he felt the desperate need to make you smile again.  “Well this is beautifully made, too bad I couldn’t have been your date.” You joked, trying to lighten the mood but being completely honest.

He stared down at you and blushed as well, “You don’t mean that.” He denied.

“but I do! I would give anything for someone to put this much effort into something just for me.” You admitted, smiling up at him and giggling until you noticed his expression seemed serious.

“Anyone who hasn’t already is a mad man.” He said with a genuine smile, and took the bouquet out of your hands only to offer it back to you. “Little—Rover, was it?—seems to want to explore the park. So, why don’t we all go for a stroll Ja? Rover, me, and…..” He trailed off, so you told him your name.

“And you are?”

“König.” He announced, his addicting accent shining through when he said it.

“Well König…..I don’t see why not.” You accepted his offer and the flowers with a gentle smile that he found himself wanting to see for the rest of his life.

His awful day just got a whole lot better. 

You both spent the day walking around the lovely park, with you having to take twice as many steps just to catch up, which only proved to make him cackle. You admired the ponds and threw sticks for Rover, trusting that König and his long legs could catch up to the hound if he ran too far. He told you about how Austrians typically love to walk everywhere, and you followed up with about a hundred questions about his home country. You even got ice cream, which gave König all types of thoughts when he watched you wipe off the dripping white cream from your lips. He assumed you didn’t notice his stare and flushed cheeks, but you definitely did. Not so much of a gentleman now, hm?

Finally, when it was dark and the park became quiet you both decided to head home. When exchanging numbers you mentioned how you had to walk back to your house since you walked here with your pup earlier in the day for exercise, and König was not having any of that.

“Nein, it’s much too dangerous at night.” he shook his head, leaving no room for argument. “I will give you and your golden a ride home, it’s not a problem.” 

“Really König, it’s okay. I don’t want Rovers hair getting all over your seats.” You whined.

“And I don’t want you getting kidnapped off the side of the street Maus, which sounds worse to you?” He asked, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow.

You tried to argue but came up with nothing and sighed in defeat. “Fine, I’ll let you be annoyingly nice….” You pouted, and he laughed while opening the door for Rover to jump in the back—probably a sign you need a more protective dog if he didn’t even hesitate going in somewhere unfamiliar—and the passenger door for you. 

You gave him directions like his own little passenger princess, looking tiny in the truck that must’ve been specially made to fit someone as giant as him. You dreaded the moment when he pulled into your driveway meaning you two had to part. You’d only met him a few hours ago, yet it felt like you’ve known him for years.

“Have a good night, liebling.” He got out to help you let Rover out and walk you to your door, but before he could turn around to head back to his truck you stopped him. “Actually, would you like to come in?” You offered, setting down the flowers on your counter and smiling suggestively.

He turned beet red like he did at the ice cream stand, but nodded quickly. You giggled and grabbed his hand to drag him inside, pressing your lips together as soon as the front door was closed and Rover was sleeping further away in the middle of the kitchen floor. (Don’t get nasty infront of your pets guys!! They can get scarred for life too ok 😣)

“Jump.” He ordered, and you did as he said and leaped into the air. He caught you with ease, hands grabbing onto the back of your thighs and squeezing the soft flesh. 

He stumbled around for a moment, overly  caught up in your make out session but eventually finding your bedroom. He dropped you flat on your back on the bed, kissing at your neck and seeing which spots got the biggest reactions out of you to start sucking hickeys into.

You moaned and writhed, begging him to do something, and like the gentleman he is, he decided to help you out and tugged down your bottoms, rubbing circles onto your clit through your panties. 

He grabbed your ankles and tugged you to the edge of the bed, spreading your legs wide for him to fit his broad shoulders between. He bit and sucked deep purple marks into your sensitive thighs, watching them writhe in his grasp. 

“König- fuck, please!” You begged, tho you weren’t even completely sure what you were begging for.

“What is it Maus? Tell me what you need.” He asked while pressing kisses up your thigh, leaving love-bites dangerously close to where you needed his mouth most.

“Want…..want your mouth on me. Or your fingers or- ngh! Anything please König- please!” You cried out, already begging pathetically for his touch.

With a devilish smirk he finally tugged down your panties. You clenched around nothing at the cold air and the look of admiration in his eyes as he stared down your cunt. 

“Such a pretty pussy….” he mumbled, “all this just for me sweetheart?” He asked, gathering your slick on his fingers. 

You turned your neck and buried your face in your pillow in embarrassment but he just reached up to grab your chin and turned you to look at him. “Eyes on me.” 

Finally satisfied with your pretty eyes gazing down at him, König delved into your cunt, gripping your thighs and shoving you impossibly closer like he wanted to devour you whole.

Your moans and choked out whines served as fuel for him while he ate you out like a man starved, his big hooked nose bumping into your clit making you shake and arch your back off the soft sheets.  

He dives his tongue into your entrance to fully taste you, and the satisfied hum he releases vibrates in your core and leaves you a leaking, panting mess as he licks you up like your the last bit of water on the Sahara ground.

 He licks a stripe up your pussy until he gets to your clit and starts sucking on it. He’s shameless to the sloppy wet sounds he’s making while he rolls the engorged bud on his tongue and prods a thick finger at your hole. You squirm at how big just the one is—about the size of at least two of yours, maybe more—but you welcome it in with a loud moan of his name. You were already dangerously close by the time he had his mouth on you, but the feeling of just one of his thick fingers slamming into you while he starts to tease another in has you crying out to the stars and cumming all over his hand. 

“That’s it schatz….just like that, mein gott you look so gorgeous when you’re cumming, Ich möchte für immer zwischen deinen Schenkeln bleiben.” He praised you, still pumping his two fingers into your clenching cunt to ride out your high for as long as possible. 

He pulls his fingers out and licks them clean, leaning down to lick up any of your arousal that spilled onto your thighs. When you finally opened your eyes you noticed him staring at you darkly, and the expression made heat pool in your gut.

“W-what?” You asked, half nervous-half turned on. You went to close your legs but he gripped your marked up thighs and laid your legs over his shoulders to have even better access to your soaked cunny.

“Oh we’re not even close to done prinzessin.” He announced with a smirk before sinking three fingers straight back into your pussy, fully intent on making you squirt for him.

You gasped and nearly choked on your words, “wha-y hah-“ you moaned and twitched in overstimulation until he slowed. 

“Tell me to stop.” It was a question; not an order.

Tears leaked down your flushed cheeks but you gasped out; “keep going” and he smiled, the whole bottom half of his face dripping. He wasted no time diving straight back in, inhaling your scent. “Mit Vergnügen, mein bedürftiges kleines Häschen.” He mumbled into your clit, not even bothering to speak English anymore as he knew your fucked out brain could barely comprehend anything. Four of his large digits split you open, grinding and prodding farther into you than you could ever reach on your own. Without much time he found that sensitive bundle of nerves, and you didn’t fail to let him know when you cried out and scratched at your sheets, chanting his name like a mantra.

“König- ah- KönigKönigKönigKönigpleasefuck- pleasepleaseKönig plea- hah . .!..” You moaned, fisting the sheets desperately.

He relentlessly abused that spot, slamming his fingers into you over and over and teasing your folds with the other hand. He messily sucked on your clit, circling it with his tongue like a lollipop, using every part of himself for your pleasure.

“Come on my gorgeous liebling, mein diamant, mein perfekter Schatz, come for me. Squirt all over my fingers.” He begged, voice whiny and muffled into your pussy while he continued his relentless assault on your puffy cunt. 

“Kö….gonna- fuck m’gonna-“ You managed to stutter out  the warning between moans.

“Go on hase, let go. I’ve got you, go ahead.” He encouraged, ravishing your sweet cunny until you were squirting all over his face with a choked out scream, whole body trembling. You were stuck between running away from the burning pleasure and shoving yourself closer, but luckily you didn’t have to decide as he had you pinned down, groaning into your pussy.

Your vision went blank for a few moments, but you came back when you felt him still lapping lazily at your folds until you were whining and shoving him away. He pouted but stood up to fall onto the bed beside you, pulling your spent body into him and engulfing you like you were a teddy bear.

You giggled and pressed a kiss onto his glistening lips, tasting yourself on them. “Not to sound like a jerk or anything, but I’m glad you got stood up.” You joked.

“Mm, I agree. That was the best, most unplanned date I’ve ever been on.” He bantered back with a cheeky grin. 

You rolled your eyes, but then smiled sincerely. “Yeah, it was. I’m really glad I met you Kö.”

His pupils dilated adorably, like a kid seeing a candy store for the first time. “Me too, schatz.”

The two of you drifted off into a peaceful sleep, but not before you muttered, 

“By the way, that other girl is missing out. You eat pussy like a champ.” 

“You could call me a certified munch.” He bounced back, and your jaw dropped.

. . . Translations:

౨ৎ Ja = Yes, Nein = No

♡ Maus = Mouse 

౨ৎ Liebling = Darling

♡ Schatz = Treasure

౨ৎ Mein gott = My gosh

♡ Ich möchte für immer zwischen deinen Schenkeln bleiben = I want to stay between your thighs forever (goals 😋)

౨ৎ Prinzessin = Princess 

♡ Mit Vergnügen, mein bedürftiges kleines Häschen = With pleasure, bunny

౨ৎ Mein diamant = My diamond

♡ Mein perfekter schatz = My perfect treasure 

౨ৎ Hase = Bunny 

Quick tip: Depending on what device you use, If you highlight the text there should be an option to quickly translate! It’s a lot easier than having to go to Google/Safari/etc to search it up :))

Thank you so much for reading !! It’s 3:00 in the morning rn so I apologize if it’s not very well written :C :C

This is just a sweet little thing to prepare you guys for the FILTHY blurb coming soon 😇😇 get ready!!

[messylustt]

Heyy!! I Hope you’re doing well and have/had a great day🥰

I wanted to request a ghostface ethan x reader smut oneshot and to be honest I don’t really have a exact idea but I just love the way you write and portrait ethan and I also think you are one of the only ones that also write him as a Dom :)

Maybe you could throw in some degrading and choking or some public sex if ur comfortable with that ofc!

Here’s kind of a „idea“ but you don’t have to use it if you don’t want to:

Reader and Ethan are in the same friend group ofc but they really hate each other (Ethan is ghostface) and idk maybe when the ghostface attacks begin (scream 6) one time where reader is walking home or something she gets a call from ghostface (Ethan) and first he’s like trying to scare her but reader isn’t that intimidated since she survived before (scream 5) and she’s also a bad ass and then gf (Ethan) randomly starts flirting with her/ dirty talking and the reader kinda goes with it since she has a bit of a thing for gf and then when she’s in a ally gf pops up and it comes to smut somehow and just before reader is about to cum, Ethan reveals himself?

(Oh and I would still love to see the bickering and fighting with Ethan and reader before the gf smut? If that’s okay with you)

I am so sorry, that got so long omg- 💀

THANK YOU ALREADY IN ADVANCE!!🫶🏻

nothing's too long babe! love this plot. meanish banter is MWAH

behind the mask — ethan landry + reader ( scream ) : you don’t realise that ghostface is your enemy ethan until you’ve gone too far.

contents : slight choking, fingering, semi public sexual stuff (in an alleyway), enemies to kinda enemies who want to fuck, dub con, finger sucking. wc 2.7k

"Which brings us to our suspect list," Mindy spoke, as the entire group sat at a campus off to the side and away from prying ears.

Ethan mockingly coughs, before muttering your name. You shoot him glare. "I'm sorry, who here has survived a Ghostface attack, that's right, not you." You bite at Ethan, adjusting yourself on the bench.

Ethan rolls his eyes. "And you survived pathetically." He mutters.

"Excuse me?" You snap your head back to Ethans direction. You'd never liked this boy, almost too "innocent", and always playing the victim.

"The only pathetic one here is you, Ethan." You hated each other. You could never pinpoint why, just the fact that you did. And everyone knew it. Your smile would always drop when he walked in, your tone turning sour. And Ethan's comments became harsher the moment you said anything.

Chad was surprised by how heated Ethan's anger for you was. He'd never seen the boy say such mean things with such confidence, its like he was a different person when you were around.

"Alright, you two can bicker later." Mindy quickly chimed in, continuing on with her suspect list. She faced Ethan who still had a scowl on his face. "Ethan, the shy, dorky guy, whose so shy and dorky that no one would ever suspect him."

You scoff. "You left out sad and alone." You comment, making Ethan shoot you glare to which you mockingly smiled.

You turn your attention to Mindy. "Don't waste your time on him. He doesn't have the guts to be Ghostface."

Ethan was offended, more than by any other comment you'd thrown at him. Didn't have the guts? He internally scoffs. Maybe he should cut out yours to replace his supposed faulty ones.

As Mindy went to speak on Quinn's sexual habits, tagging her as a suspect, you could feel Ethan's eyes burning holes into the back of your head. You turn to him, narrowing your eyes, before muttering 'what?'

He narrows his own, dragging his gaze along your face. He leans closer to whisper. "You look like you came out of hell."

"Mm, and I'd love to send you there." You hissed back, staying quiet so as not to ruin Mindy's ranting. She can get quite mean when you interrupted her passions.

"You could try." Ethan says, as you turn your head to fully face him. Your faces were close, scowls very present.

"I would try and succeed, Ethan. We both know I'd win."

Ethan scoffs in your face. "You seem awfully confident."

"Again who here has survived a Ghostface attack?" You ask tilting your head. "I can promise it means I have a streak for winning, and I happen to be rather competitive." You lean even closer, whispering in his ear. "You don't stand chance, sweetheart." You mock out the pet name, noticing the way his body tenses. Most likely out of anger.

You lean back putting your full attention on Mindy.

;;

The streets were decently busy with costumed poeple, laughing and joking. You felt your phone buzz in your pocket. Bringing it out you didn't bother checking the number assuming it was someone from your friend group checking you got home. "I'm fine, just walking—"

"To your apartment, I know." But the voice isn't one of the twins or the sisters.

"I'm sorry, I thought this was someone else." You say, skeptically. You gaze around, trying to see if anyone looked suspicious with a phone. Then when he spoke again, you finally realised and recognised the voice.

"You won't find me." A deep chuckle follows. Ghostface. You immediantly straighten, feeling the familiar shivers wracking your spine.

You clench your jaw. "I don't have time for this."

"Oh, no, you have plenty of time." Ghostface replies. "Because all you're going to do, is walk home, take out another tub of icecream and stare at men you can never have on the screen."

You open and close your mouth, feeling partly offended and the other part nervous. How would he know that? "Why'd you call?" You steer the conversation elsewhere, but Ghostface doesn't seem to want to, continuing on.

"You'd be wearing those little shorts that cover nothing, with that top that shows just how cold you usually are." You pause, swiftly trying to spot him on the street.

"You don't know that."

"Don't I?" You clench your teeth, because you did wear shorts for bed, and yes, they may be on the looser side, but it's not like you went out that late. You stayed home alone. Or so, you had thought.

"You're a creep."

"You sound surprised." Ghostface replies. "You shouldn't be. Though I guess there isn't too much going on in the pretty head of yours."

A snarl edges your lips. "You think you're so high and mighty, being a copycat to murderers who lost." You remind him.

"It's called carrying on the legacy." He quickly remarks, making you scoff. You had quickened your steps across the streets, deciding it best to get inside your apartment and behind a locked door.

"That "legacy" as you call it, sucks." You say, hearing a chuckle in repsonse.

"Does it? Because if I remember correctly, you always felt a shiver run down your spine when you heard my voice." He pauses, his smile practically seeable. "And not in a terrible way at all."

You gulp. "Now you're just making up shit."

"Really?" Ghostface probes. "So you don't feel all hot right now? A small rush from speaking to me, one that makes you excited. You don't feel that?"

Your mouth has dried, as you try to cool your body down, noticing how it—especially your core—heated up as the conversation continued. "Well, I'm sorry to say. But you're wrong. Very wrong."

"Do you want me to find out?" Ghostface asks, making you stop your steps, swiftly glancing around, your chest starting to heave quicker. "Because I'm afraid, I don't believe you, sweetheart."

"Is this some new tactic. Get me vulnerable in a...different way."

"You think me flirting with you is a tactic? Poor girl."

You scoff. "That wasn't flirting."

"Was I too subtle?" He asks, his tone showing his enjoyment.

You grind your teeth, having to stop, as a large group of what appears to be Halloween market-goers blocking the path. "Excuse me." You try, pushing past people, but they don't budge making you scowl at them.

"Are you stuck?" You can hear Ghostface say on the other line. "Do you need help?"

"Hang the fucking phone up. And stop acting like some scary villain, when you're really just some third grader doing prank calls." You hiss, trying again to push past the loud crowd.

Ghostface chuckles, as you end up getting pushed aside against a stall, making you curse. "You seem to have a lot of incorrect assumptions." He begins. 'I'm getting quite offended here."

"Oh, I'm so sorry." You sarcastically say, trying again to weave through the growing crowd.

"You're rather mean actually." He mockingly pouts out.

"And you kill people. Are we done?" You ask, getting exasperated by the phone call and the rude people.

"Not even close." And then you hear the beep of an 'end of call', making you bring the phone away. But before you can do anything more, a hand grabs your arm yanking you through the crowd. You gasp as bodies collide with your fast moving one.

You can't see a thing before you're pushed up against a cold wall, finally away from the crowd, but now in a dark alleyway. You finally see the white mask of Ghostface as he cages you against the wall.

Your chest is heaving as your breathing stutters out, everything having happened extremely fast. Ghostface tilts his head as you hear a dark chuckle breaking through the modulator. "You are stupidly confident."

Words get caught in your throat as you try to swallow something down. "Aw, cat caught your tongue?" He coos, his gloved hand dragging across your neck, making your entire body stiffen. Everyone knew that if you got a call from Ghostface you were marked to die. And here he was, probably preparing to gut you.

You quickly shut your eyes, seeming the only thing you can control at the moment, because you weren't dumb enough to think you could bypass him and run. There's a moment where you just hear Ghostface's heavy breathing, as the distant sound of the halloween market goes on behind you both.

Then you feel the rough material of his glove slowly dragging across your bottom lip. You swiftly open your eyes shocked. You can feel your pulse beating everywhere—everywhere. You can't tell what Ghostface is thinking or where he's looking because of his stupid mask. You tried to see through the thin material made for the eyes but it's too dark to pinpoint anyone's eyes.

"So stupid." He quietly says, almost to himself as his finger drags across the in between of your lips, getting your spit on his finger. You don't know what to do. You don't know what's going on. Why isn't the knife inside you?

Then his hand leads down to grip your neck, beginning to tighten, as your hands quickly fly up to grab his wrist. His other hand is placed by your hip, keeping you trapped. "You're always so arrogant." He says, tightening a fraction. Your throat feels small as your breaths grow shorter.

You dig your nails into his arm and wrist trying to pull him off you. But he doesn't budge, his other hand now grabbing at your waist. "But also so dirty." He husks out, as he pulls your hips to press against his, making a choked gasp escape you. He finally loosens his hold on your throat, just enough so that air can get in much easier.

"What would your friends think, knowing you have a thing for a killer in a mask? The killer in a mask." He sneers, his hand at your waist travelling dangerously low, now reaching your inner thigh.

"What—" But you cut yourself off as Ghostface pulls your legs apart, lifting one to rest on his hip. Your eyes widen upon feeling how hard he is against your shameful, throbbing pussy. His hand drops down to feel your wetness through your panties, your skirt having bunched up by your hips at the compromising postion.

Your mouth is open in shock. Ethan behind the mask stares at you, as he feels just how turned on you really are. His chest is heaving, as his bulge begs for attention. Why was he grabbing you like this? He hated you. He had wanted to scare, if he ended up particually mad possibly kill you, hurt you maybe. But certainly not touch you.

But as he had begun to realise your very secret crush on Ghostface he used it to his advantage. But in the process of thinking what a slut you are, he began to think on how you could be a slut for him. Begging for him to touch you as pathetic whimpers and moans escaped you. How pathetic you'd look all for him.

His grip around your neck tightened before loosening, moving up to your open mouth as he stuck two fingers in, wanting to feel your mouth wrapping around them, wanting to see your spit on his glove. "Suck them."

Your eyes stayed wide, as you stared at the now very intimidating Ghostface. You slowly closed your mouth around his fingers as your tongue began to circle the tangy tasting farbic. "That's it..." He breathes as he began to thrust them in and out of your mouth, your spit now coating your lips as you sucked. "Look at you, such a slut for a mystery guy with a knife."

Behind the mask, his eyes had hooded, his cock now aching at the visual. You were powerless against him, and that rush made him, bypass your panties, reaching to drag his gloved finger right up your slit, spreading your wetness around. Your hips jolted into him as he rubs over your clit, a sound that seemed close to a whine coming out muffled through his working fingers.

As Ethan watched you suck his fingers, while he rubbed your aching pussy he felt this need to kiss you, lick up all the saliva that had drippled onto your bottom lip. But he couldn't take his mask of yet. He wanted you to know who was giving you so much pleasure when you were at your peak, begging for him. Ethan felt undeniably smug at the thought of you cumming onto his fingers. The boy you hated.

He then—as compensation for his waiting—thrusted a finger inside you without warning. "God—that was so easy. You're just that wet for me, that your little hole was so eager to let me in." His breath through the mask is by your ear as you shuddered. He pulled his now dripping fingers out of your mouth, spreading your spit across your bottom lip as your dazed gaze makes him move his hand to your neck, loving how small it felt in his grasp.

He grinned behind the mask as he added a second finger, pumping in and out of you. Your hands were gripping at his cloak, your mind a haze of pleasure, as you had begun to grind into his hand. "Fuck, your such a little slut, letting me finger you in an alleyway. Someone could find you, you know?"

A whimper escaped you as he curled his fingers inside you. "Such a naughty girl being so dirty for Ghostface."

"Shit—" You breathed harshly, as his thrusts quickened.

You could feel your stomach contgracting with your impending orgasm, and Ethan could tell by how hard you clenched around his fingers. He stopped inside you, making a pathetic whine leave your lips, your orgasm so so close.

"P-please." You say, breathless, as you try to thrust your hips into his fingers wanting friction. But Ethan just pushed you harder against the wall, keeping you still. He then brought his hand to his mask, finally thrusting his fingers into you again as you moan.

He pulled off his mask, not being able to wait before kissing you. You gasp through the kiss not having expected him to take of his mask, or feel his lips at all. Your eyes had immediantly shut as he sucked on your bottom lip, his tongue esploring your mouth eagerly.

And as he finally drew back, breath heavy, you met his gaze. You gasped with a mix of suprise, and pleasure. His fingers having quickened inside you. "What—" You choke, as Ethan grins, his curls a mess, as he stays pressed to your shaking body. "E-ethan?'

"Hi, y/n." He grins as your mouth opens in pleasure as you stutter out incoherently. "Shh," Ethan chuckles, curling his fingers inside you. "I didn't know you were such a slut." He says, as the sound of your arousel fills the otherwise distant noises.

"Actually that's a lie," He begins. "I knew how much of a slut you really were, having a thing for Ghostface..." He thrusts harder into you, your stomach tightening.

"Oh god— Ethan—" Pleasure crashes over you as your head hits back against the hard wall, your body shaking as your orgasm courses through you.

"Mm." Ethan hums as he slows inside you, continuing to watch as your face contorts in pleasure, all because of him. "I thought you hated me."

"I did. I do." You quickly say, as your body feels extremely heavy, your mind trying to wrap around the truth that was revealed.

Ethan shakes his head, leaning towards your ear, licking your earlobe. "Then why moan my name?"

"I—" You didn't know what to say. Because you had. And you had felt very far from hatred when you saw his familiar brown curls come into view.

Ethan felt powerful with how stuck you were. Physically and mentally. His breath tickled your now wet ear, his kitten licks having continued. "Do you wanna show me just how much of a crush you have on Ghostface, or do you wanna try and prove how much you hate me?"

You met his gaze and knew you were fucked. Physically and mentally.

A better way to put it would be entirely.

© messylustt.tumblr please don’t steal, copy or translate my work onto other platforms.

[reader-wandering18]

Darkness (Part 1)

First of all, this is not a story as such. These are just parts of the Solo Leveling Manhwa story x A character from the LOTM world. For those who don't know The Lord of Mysteries is a horror, fantasy and mystery novel that has more than 1400 chapters.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

If you have time or nothing to do, give it a look.

To be honest, this is just a fanfic so I won't go into detail to explain the entire universe of the Lord of Mysteries (just necessary) since this is simply intended to entertain as well as get this idea out of my head. (possibly also has spoilers

For so long I'm thinking about doing this so it will have several parts (maybe 5 yet, I don't know) but keep in mind that I will be skipping most of the Solo Leveling story.

This story also begins two days before the events of the orcs at Jinwo's sister's school (Jin-Ah)

Enjoy it 💋

(English is not my original language)

Jinwo didn't know where you came from.

You were strangely quiet, so much so that not even S-rank hunters noticed your presence. Only Jinwo, though most of the time it was like you did it with the intention of being seen only by him.

You were also fucking strong and a complete mystery.

He remembers the day you both met for the first time. While he was clearing a high-class dungeon, you appeared in a corner as if nothing

Of course this surprised him when he saw you and that he hadn't sensed your presence.

The system couldn't tag you.

His army immediately came out of his shadow and surrounded you, but the strange thing was that all the shadows seemed anxious like... scared, though Beru behaved like a rabid dog, much more than what Jinwo saw when he faced Cha. Hae In.

Despite all that hostility, you were calm, as if simply the echo of being surrounded by numerous dead shadows wasn't something you should worry about.

You were extremely tall, you seemed to be about 177 cm, your clothes were from the modern era, a black collared shirt, tight jeans, black boots, like a leather jacket.

Your black hair was loose, which showed its long (it reached the height of your knee) your skin was white like the moon but your eyes... Your eyes were what made him nervous.

He hadn't trembled like this since he was an E rank

You had a pair of deep black eyes without any emotions.

Jinwo thought he was seeing the emptiness of the universe.

— I'm not here to hurt you.

Once your voice rang out throughout the dungeons, Jinwo strangely felt calm, your voice was a lullaby that lulled his entire body.

Both daggers he held so tightly began to weaken.

— My lord!

Beru's scream brought him back to reality and he held both daggers again with such force that you could hear the pressure of the leather.

¿What had you done?

He had no answer for that question at that moment

— Not bad — you commented when you saw the willpower of that child.

At that moment Beru wasted no time and lunged at you and... everything went dark.

When Jinwo woke up, notice he was in the hospital

What had happened?

He tried to remember but something prevented him. Even his shadows were affected by what seemed to be amnesia.

— Son, Jinwo — next to him came his mother with a worried look.

Jinwo asked him how he had gotten to the hospital. His mother told her that he had been completely exhausted after encountering a dungeon boss and had fainted shortly after finishing it.

The dungeon was about to close but a kind foreign lady had gotten him out in time.

Hearing that, Jinwo's face was simply unreadable.

He never got tired in a boss fight. Less so in a B-class dungeon.

He immediately stood up and asked his mother where she had found the woman who had brought him.

Seeing Jinwo's rush to find out about your whereabouts, his mother thought he wanted to go thank her for helping him. In fact, she wanted to do that too since the girl left with a couple of men in suits.

He remembered that person with a slicked back hairstyle, orange hair, and dark glasses.

—She's in the hunter association.

[ironstrange1991]

Movie Night

Paring: Defender!Strange x Fem!Reader

Synopsis: Stephen's work on a Friday night leaves you upset, but choosing the right movie can change everything and save the night.

Word Count: 3,1k

Warnings: Small argument and provocation. SMUT: Fingering, umprotected p in v sex, creampie.

A/N: It took me two months to finish this fic and this shows how hard authors block had hit me, but I'm happy to finally have something to post. Hope you guys like it and have a nice reading :)

Movie nights are sacred to you and Stephen knows this very well, yet there he was locked in the meeting room with the Defenders ironing out the final details for the next mission. You shouldn't be mad about the situation because this time Stephen wouldn't participate, on the contrary, he would take the next few days to slow down and spend some time with you. So, it was acceptable for him to waste a few minutes of your Friday night since you’ll have a lot of time to spend together, but it wasn't any less annoying and tonight you didn't want to be understanding. Not at all.

When he finally left the meeting room, you were sitting crisscrossed on the couch, TV control in hand, choosing something to watch alone. You didn't bother to say hi or good night to his friends and they didn't even dare say anything to you because they knew you were mad.

As if that wasn't enough, Stephen still stood for ten minutes talking by the door until finally the Defenders left and he returned to the living room.

"You might as well invite them to live here with you." You snorted. Irritation appearing in the way you distilled each word. "I mean, since they're here all the fucking time and you're always willing to devote all your damn time to them, it would be so much easier and more practical if they didn't even have to leave, wouldn't it?"

Stephen didn't respond, he knew better than to talk back to you when you were angry.

Instead, he walked up behind the couch and wrapped his arms around your shoulders and buried his face in the crook of your neck, inhaling deeply and placing a small kiss on your skin. You felt your entire body tingling with the sensation, but you didn't show any reaction.

"I'm going to take a shower, do you want to come with me?" He asked in your ear, completely ignoring your attempt to start a fight and making a point of rubbing his beard on your neck in an attempt to disarm you.

"In case you haven't noticed, I've already taken a shower, Stephen. I've also had dinner, alone by the way, but you could have called your friends to accompany you. You missed a great opportunity."

He sighed, clearly frustrated, but walked away without saying anything. You knew you were being childish, you knew very well that Stephen did as much as he could to spend more time with you, but sometimes you wanted to ignore everything you knew and focus on the fact that he spent more time with his friends than with you.

You took a long time to choose what to watch and when Stephen came back you were lying on the couch, covered by a fluffy blanket. The night was particularly cold even with the heater on. The first few minutes of the film you had finally chosen were playing on the TV.

"Did you really start without me?" He complained, patting your leg so you would give him a seat.

To be honest, you didn't think he would come down to watch the movie with you after the way you spoke to him, but Defender hated arguments and would do anything to make sure you didn't get into arguments. However, you didn't want to give in.

"Don't make me start, Stephen." You said moving forward and giving him space to lie down behind you. Even though he knew you were angry, he made a point of placing his arm so you could rest your head and wrapped the other around your waist, pulling you as close to him as possible. He was always so comfortably warm and the delicious smell of his conditioner managed to soften you - just a little - so you explained.

"The movie just started, you didn't miss anything."

He hummed giving you a small kiss on the shoulder "What is it about?"

You shrugged "It's a thriller. It's called Killing me softly. I chose it by the name actually."

"Um" He said snuggling and cupping your hand with his, intertwining his fingers with yours. "I'm not going anywhere in the morning, okay? I'll be all yours."

You sighed but didn't respond, choosing to pay attention to the scenes in front of you that were quickly becoming interesting. Really interesting.

The protagonist had met a stranger on the street - of course the stranger was sexy and mysterious - and had the brilliant idea of ​​going to his house and the scene quickly escalated into a sex scene like those that you would be embarrassed to death if you were watching with your parents, but as you were watching with your husband, the situation was very different.

You've never been one to watch porn, contrary to what should happen, the explicit sex and the constant fake moaning on screen used to be a turn off for you, but the subtlety of sex scenes in Hollywood films used to work much better and you already could feel your body reacting to the images in front of you and the fact that you were cuddling with your man who happened to be so warm and smelling so good and that was definitely sexier than the actor in the movie didn't help much.

The scene ended and then another began and soon after another, and you were surprised by your husband's baritone voice in your ear.

"I think I like this movie." He said, pressing a very obvious erection against your ass and you felt your face blush, but you didn't have time to react because he started to place kisses on your neck, brushing his beard against your skin and his hand let go of yours to sneak inside your blouse and feel your breasts while he pressed his hard on against you again.

By now you weren't exactly paying attention to the movie in front of you, your body was responding to him in all the right ways and the next thing you knew you were pressing your thighs together.

"I thought you were mad at me, but then you chose this movie..." He rasped and bit your earlobe and you felt your entire body tremble.

"I'm mad at you and I didn't know it was this kind of movie." You explained yourself.

He gave you several kisses on your neck and then licked your ear, biting it again and started to grind his erection on your ass without any shame.

"Hm, I guess I'll need to do something to change that then." He pinched your nipple lightly and then lowered his hand into your pajama shorts, caressing your pussy covered in the fabric of your panties, which at that point was completely wet.

An involuntary moan escaped your lips and you gave in to the desire growing quickly inside you, bucking up your hips against his hand for his delight.

"You're so wet baby, is this because of the movie or because of me?"

You bit your lip when his hand reached inside your panties and his trembling fingers circled your clit.

"It's you." You responded amidst groans.

A succession of dialogue scenes that you weren't paying the slightest attention to gave way to another sex scene and your hand searched for Stephen, reaching inside his sweatpants and delighting in the fact that he wasn't wearing underwear. You grabbed his cock and started pumping it up and down slowly which made him moan right in your ear and your whole body tingled.

The moans coming from the TV got louder and Stephen increased the pace of his fingers on your clit and whispered in your ear.

"Do you like the way he does it?" He asked referring to the character in the film.

"Y-yes."

"Do you want me to fuck you like that?"

You moaned loudly when he finally entered you with his fingers, but you needed so much more than his fingers.

"Yes, please." You finally responded.

"Will this make up for the hours I spent in meetings with my friends?" He teased. "You can't be mad at me anymore."

 You nodded in agreement and closed your eyes, indulging in the pleasure his fingers provided going in and out of you.

Stephen sat down and you turned around, laying on your back, your legs hanging open for him to do whatever he wanted with you.

He took his hands to the waistband of your pajama shorts and panties and pulled them off quickly and discarded them on the floor. He had a smug little smile on his lips that wasn't very common for him, but you were too caught up in the pursuit of your pleasure to care.

He stood up for a second and took off his pants and t-shirt, completely undressing for you and knelt between your legs, touching you again, rubbing your clit in circles with two trembling fingers while pumping his delicious hard cock with his other hand.

"You're so beautiful" You murmured between moans as you grabbed your tits, pinching your own nipples and delighting in the pleasure that his fingers gave you. "It's so unfair"

Stephen chuckled collecting your slick with his fingers and spreading it on his cock which by now was rock hard and pulsing in his hand, he gave a couple of jerks and rubbed his tip on your slit teasing you.

"Baby... please don't tease. N-need you."

"Yeah? But you were so mad at me a few minutes ago. What changed?"

He placed the tip at your entrance, but didn't force it in and held your hips down when you threatened to lift them up.

"Come on baby, tell me."

You bit your bottom lip holding back a moan and admitted "I was only mad because I was jealous. Because you weren't paying attention to me."

He sighed heavily, forcing his cock and letting it stretch you slowly and allowing himself a moan of his own.

"And that's why you were so mean? Saying those things to me. Do you think I deserve to be treated like that?"

You knew very well that he was playing games with you, but you didn't care, you needed him inside you, you would say anything, do anything he wanted you to do.

"I'm sorry, baby, please, need you. I am so fucking horny. Please fuck me... punish me."

That completely disarmed him and you could feel his cock throbbing just from your words and you knew he liked the idea. "I was mean to you and you don't deserve it. You're such a good husband."

Stephen entered you with a hard thrust making you squirm with the delicious stretch. That man was so fucking big.

He held both of your knees to keep your legs spread wide for him and began to move slowly at first, keeping his eyes fixed on where the two of you joined together. "So fucking beautiful." He moaned and you closed your eyes, enjoying the sensation. "Pussy looks so fucking beautiful taking my cock. Promise me you won't get mad at me again because of work. You know I do everything I can to be with you. I love you so much, baby."

You moaned loudly, feeling him go even deeper when he leaned forward laying on top of you, holding his weight with just his forearms. You cupped his face with both hands.

"I promise. I love you so much, Stephen..." You kissed him hard and kept kissing him while begging. "Need you by my side... all the time, need you so much... oh god please... fuck me, punish me, do whatever the fuck you want to me... I just want it so badly."

Stephen rested his hands on the arm of the sofa and began to thrust hard, each thrust harder and faster than the next. You wrapped your arms around him and your nails dug deep into the flesh of his back as you locked your legs around his hips, letting yourself be dominated by him. Your hands went down to his ass, pulling him against you, wanting him to enter you completely. Somehow you knew it would never be enough, you would always want more of him.

Stephen searched for your lips and kissed you again, this time harder, his breathing quickly becoming ragged and you could feel him pulsing inside you.

"Oh my god Stephen... feels so good baby, cock fucking me so good."

He moaned, lowering his lips to your neck and giving small kisses and bites there, his breathing and baritone voice making your whole body tingle.

"And you're taking me so fucking good. You always take it so good. I know you love my cock, tell me how much you love it."

"So much... so so much" You almost purred the words as you tightened your arms around him. "Love you... so much"

He kissed you and you could see him trying hard not to cum yet. He stopped and tapped your thigh for you to unlock your legs around him and pulled out asking gently.

"Turn around baby. Get on your hands and knees for me."

You smiled, quickly obeying him and positioning yourself on all fours for him. Defender didn't usually take control like that, but oh you loved it when he did. In fact, you doubted there was anything your husband could do that you didn't love.

You felt his hands squeezing your waist and positioning your ass the way he wantedyou’re your surprise he kissed one of your cheeks and lightly patted the other. "And you wonder why I love you so much, baby... How could I not love such a sweet, perfect little thing like you?"

You moaned softly at just the words and felt the tip of his cock rubbing against your folds. Teasing you. He positioned it at your entrance and forced it slowly, but not enough to penetrate you the way you needed and you whimpered.

"Tell me what you want, baby. Tell me how much you need me."

"More than anything. I need you more than anything. That's why I was so mad, because I wanted you to pay attention to me."

He entered you with a single strong, deep thrust and he moaned loudly.

"Now I'm all your, baby. Enjoy it. I know you love my cock, take it. It's yours."

You moaned when he started thrusting hard and fast. You were definitely not used to Stephen fucking you like that, but you loved the intensity, the way his body forced itself against you, how little by little he lost himself in his own pleasure, placing more and more of the weight of his body on you. You loved being in control, but it was undeniable that being dominated by him was extremely satisfying.

He used one of his hands to hold your shoulder, putting more force into his thrusts, his moans became increasingly louder and more obscene and you loved the sound of them, you loved having Stephen like that.

"Fuck baby, tell me your close, I can't hold back much longer..."

You could feel his cock throbbing inside you and the knot deep in your belly threatening to break.

"Yes, Stephen, please. I am so close. Fuck me harder. Make me cum."

As if possible, Stephen increased the strength of his thrusts, you were both panting and it didn't take long for the two of you to reach the limit together.

Stephen tightened his grip on your shoulder and waist and forced himself against you, emptying himself. "That's it baby. That's what you wanted so much, right? Take it."

He groaned, totally lost in his own release and your legs shook with the intensity of the thrusts and your insides exploded in an orgasm so strong that your entire body began to shake.

Stephen pulled out and allowed you to turn around and flop onto the couch completely undone. He conjured a cloth and gently cleaned you in silence and then cleaned himself as best he could and disappeared with the dirty cloth and got up to put on his pants. He sat back down and you ran to snuggle into his lap. He wrapped the blanket around your naked body and then stared at the TV for a minute and let out a soft chuckle.

"The movie is over." He said "I can't say whether I liked it or not because frankly I didn't pay attention to it for a second."

You chuckled wrapping your arms around his waist and snuggling further into the warmth of his chest.

"I chose this movie on purpose." You confessed. "I thought I could make you feel like it and say no, but I'm not strong enough."

He took his hand to your hair and began to gently caress it. "I'm sorry for irritating you. I know how patient you are with my work and for you to be so angry with me I must have crossed a line."

You didn't respond, but a heavy sigh escaped your nostrils and he took it as confirmation of his words.

"We'll have some time for both of us now and I promise I'll try to slow down a little."

You lifted your head to look at him. There was a look of genuine concern on his face and you could leave him like that, but again, you weren't that strong.

"I'm not mad at you anymore, Steph."

He raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. "No?"

"I should be because you really crossed the line today, but it's hard to stay mad at you when you're the best husband in the world."

A smile played on his lips upon hearing that. "That's always wonderful to hear, you know?"

You caressed his face lightly "It's true. I really don't think there is a better man than you in this world. Even though sometimes you make me angry."

He let out a small laugh "Good to know."

You thought for a moment before making a second confession.

"I liked the way you made love to me tonight." Your face felt completely hot as soon as the words left your mouth.

He caressed her cheeks "And how was that?"

"You know...hard."

He nodded "I always make love hard to you, baby."

"Not like that. It was harder tonight. I liked it. I like it when you take control."

He nuzzled his face into the crook of your neck "I like it too. I keep it well hidden, but there is a part of me that is extremely controlling, baby."

You smirked, "It's not that hidden."

You smiled, watching him use magic to turn off the TV and standing up, keeping you in his lap. Your legs automatically wrapped around his hips. He opened a portal to your shared bedroom.

"Let's go to bed." He said placing a kiss on your forehead.

Reblog please! Leave a comment if you liked it. Interact! I will love to read all of your comments and opinions. It inspires me to keep writing!

DEFENDER STRANGE MASTERLIST

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[rolandtowen]

what's up nerds, new fanfiction for yall!

I went on hiatus for three years and came back with Cherik brain rot. Read it on ao3 or under the cut. Chapter two will be up shortly.

It started innocently enough. A chess game, two glasses of scotch, what could go wrong?

The topic of conversation this night was the hypotheticals of their powers.

“Do you think you could control the iron in a person’s blood?” Charles moved one of his knights forward.

Erik hummed noncommittally, moving a pawn forward one space. “I think it’s possible. I haven’t truly had the opportunity to try it.”

“But, could you sense people by their blood perhaps? Not manipulate it, but recognize it the way I recognize minds?”

Erik smirked. “That seems like something I could try without a certain someone getting mad at me.”

Charles put up his hands in mock surrender. “Not saying I want you to mess with people’s veins, but it’d be good to know in case we run into anyone else with your mutation.”

Erik knocked a rook off the board with one of his bishops. “I’ve always wondered, do people have to be alive for you to get into their minds? Hank was telling me the other day that scientists think there can be electrical activity in the brain for a few minutes after death.”

Charles scoffed. “I don’t really make a habit of trying to commune with the dead, darling.” He moved his queen. “Check.”

“Well, what if you could tell those scientists for sure? Connect with someone before they die, and see what all that activity afterwards is about?” Erik moved his king.

Charles stiffened. “I find that highly unethical.” Charles slid his rook to protect his own king.

Erik glanced up at him, gauging his emotions as he moved his last knight. “Just speaking hypotheticals, liebling. Check, by the way.”

Charles made a wasteful move with another pawn, clearly uncomfortable with Erik’s line of thought. “I wouldn’t advise any telepath to stay connected with someone during their death. I did it only once, and never again.”

“What do you mean?” Erik thought that perhaps Charles had reached out to Raven before she died, perhaps to give her some comfort.

Charles’ eyes grew hard. “When you killed Shaw.”

Erik’s hand froze in the middle of moving his rook. Charles saw his confusion immediately.

“What, did you think I was able to keep him frozen and not be connected to him telepathically?”

Erik began to feel a sinking feeling in his gut. “I guess, I thought—I thought you let go when I..”

“When you started driving a coin through his head?” Charles forcefully moved his queen forward. “Had I done that, he could have killed you.”

“So you tied yourself to a dying man?!”

“It’s not my fault you were killing him! Fucking slowly, might I add.”

What?

“You felt him die? Why didn’t you tell me?” The chess game was forgotten.

“When would I have had the time? You shot me and left with my sister.”

Charles regretted his words instantly as Erik lowered his eyes. “To be honest, Erik, I wasn’t entirely sure what happened. It took me weeks to come to terms with the fact that I felt Shaw die. No other telepath has felt another’s death, at least to my knowledge.”

Erik was quiet for a long moment, before speaking in a whisper. “Show it to me.”

“What? No!” Charles sputtered. Erik still wasn’t meeting his eye, so Charles grabbed his chin and forced him to look at him. “Erik, I am not about to force the worst pain I’ve ever felt into your mind.”

“You aren’t forcing me,” Erik countered. “I’m asking you to show me.”

“Why? So you can make some demented penance? This is new level of masochism, even for you.” Erik’s jaw clenched, but his eyes betrayed his emotion. Charles softened his grip on Erik’s chin, scraping a thumb over his cheek. It was wet. “My love, I’ve already forgiven you, for all of it.” He wanted to run his fingers through Erik’s hair, talk him down from this ledge, and forget this whole conversation.

Erik caught Charles’ hand, holding onto it like an anchor. “How am I supposed to forgive myself, Charles? When I never even knew what I did?” Erik brought Charles’ fingers up to his temple. “Show me. You carry so much of my pain, let me carry some of yours for once.”

Charles’ hand was shaking, but Erik sent a mental message, inviting him in, begging—

Please.

Charles’ answer was agony.

***

Immediately, Erik was flooded with voices.

“Now, Charles!”

“Are you okay?”

“Moira, be quiet—I can only control this man for so long.”

Erik was in Charles’ head, in his memory, yet at the same time he was in his own head, as well as Shaw’s. He could see his past self, picking up his helmet.  

“Sorry, Charles.” His own voice, haunting him.

“Erik, please—be the better man—Erik, there will be no turning back!” And just like that, the connection between them was severed as his past self donned his helmet. This was where Erik’s own memory had previously ended their conversation, but now Erik could hear every word that Charles had screamed at him, willing him not kill Shaw.

He felt Charles’ fear when his past self revealed the coin. It was like the floor dropped out from underneath Charles. Chills ran down his spine. He wanted to run, to fight, but Charles knew that if he let go, Erik could die.

For the first time, Erik could also hear Shaw. For a man who presented himself as so superior, his final thoughts were frantic and pleading.

Xavier, please, unfreeze me. Please, I can help you. I have resources, anything you want—you can have it. Please don’t let me die like this—

But overriding Shaw’s babbling was Charles, still focused on Erik, still pleading with him, despite their severed connection.

“No, please, Erik, no.” Charles’ voice was quavering but his power remained strong. Erik could see through Shaw’s eyes as the coin approached, could feel Shaw screaming, but most of all could feel Charles begging to be heard by him. “Please, Erik.”

Erik finally understood the fear. It wasn’t that Charles was so afraid of Erik killing Shaw—Charles was afraid the Erik was going to kill him.

Charles thought he was about to die, but held onto Shaw anyway.

As the coin drew nearer and nearer to Shaw, Erik could hear Charles whimper one last “please”. And then the pain started. Charles could only scream, but even in his agony, Erik could still hear him mentally calling out for him.

Erik, Erik, please, it hurts. Erik could feel Shaw’s skin splitting and his skull cracking, could feel the shards of bone impaling nerves and skin. When Erik killed Shaw, it felt like no time at all passed between the moment the coin entered his head and passed out the other side, but to Charles—this was an eternity. Erik could pinpoint the exact time Shaw’s screams finally cut out, but Shaw was still feeling, which meant Charles was too. After what felt like years, Charles’ connection to Shaw cut out, and Charles’ mind went black.

[ohisms]

↪     𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑫𝑬𝑽𝑰𝑳 𝑰𝑵 𝑴𝑬 .    (   a  series  of  sentence  starters  from  the  2022  supermassive  game  “ the devil in me ” .  adjust  phrasing  as  necessary .  spoilers  &  mature  themes  are  present .  ) 

i bet you can see a hundred miles from the top .

you mean you’re not weary of me after an entire day of marriage ?

are we the only ones here ?

that’s no way to run a business .

that’s my [ name ] ,  always finding that silver lining .

my attention was needed elsewhere .

i promise from here on out ,  it will be nothing but silver linings .

today is a very special day for us .

i’m starting to think i’ve gone  &  married a thrill seeker .

are we looking for excitement ?

see what happens when you chase a thrill ?

if you’ll excuse me ,  i have work to return to .

i’m sure we’ll see each other again soon .

this feels like some sort of treacherous plot .

close your eyes ,  &  face the mirror .

aren’t you clever  &  romantic ?

don’t fight it  ...  it’ll only hurt more if you do .

you’re only prolonging the inevitable .

what have you done ?!

you’re wasting your last chance to tell him that you love him .

it’s so good to have company .  for a long time ,  i was on my own .

i can barely recall a time when i was not here .

what good are stories without someone to experience them ?

art can elicit all sorts of reactions .

you’re responsible for what happens .  you’re culpable .

i can’t interfere ,  that’s very much against the rules .

it’s tough being honest when it means everyone just thinks you’re a bitch .

i’m sick of being on my own .

it’s a fucking mess ,  to be honest with you .

i think we’ve heard quite enough .

i was born with the devil in me .

i could not help the fact that i was a murderer any more than a poet can help the inspiration to sing .

just being dead ain’t enough to stop me from killing again .

actually ,  it’s what i can do for you .

do you know where we’re going ,  exactly ?

it was 100% your fault .  you fly by the seat of your ass .

was this part of the plan ?  did you know about this ?

i figured we needed all the help we could get .

downtime ?  why would you want to do that ?

i’ve got a lot going on at the moment ,  [ name ] .

you got any family you can go bother ?

‘ married to the job ’ ...  how’s that marriage working out ?

we agreed to let that drop for the weekend .

sorry for giving you a hard time .

christ ,  what the hell is that ?

it’s gonna be okay ,  it’s all gonna be okay .

i’ll explain everything later .

are you sure ?  ‘cos you don’t seem sure .

i’m charming ,  &  you can hotwire your way past security .

hey ,  can i ask you something  &  get a straight answer ?

shh ,  get down !

this is ridiculous ,  there’s nothing out here .

i heard you were looking for a new place .

if i wanted to go on nature hikes ,  i wouldn’t have moved to the city .

you can do it .  eyes forward ,  don’t look down .

you always knew how to get me through the shit ,  didn’t you ?

maybe this won’t be a waste of a weekend .

i told you this was a good plan ,  didn’t i ?

you’ve been out  &  about all day ,  &  i have to sit here worrying .  gone all day ,  &  not a word from you !

i don’t think we’re the only ones here .

this is my don’t be scared song ,  sing it  &  i won’t be scared long !

scream if you need me for anything .

something about this place makes me wanna use the buddy system .

you talk in your sleep   ...   not sure if i ever told you that .

you’re cute when you’re worked up .

cute ?   ...  you think i’m cute ?

i try to pretend like it isn’t a thing ,  you know .

if my cheeks are red ,  it’s from this wine .

sorry .  didn’t mean to make you feel weird .

i’m fucking with you ,  i’ve been wanting to kiss you for months .

sorry ,  did i interrupt something ?

i can’t find my room  &  i need a fucking cigarette .

i’m not stressed ,  okay ?  do i look fucking stressed ?

this place is massive ,  surely there’s a pack of cigarettes here .

stick with me ,  [ name ] ,  i’m going places .

[ name ] ,  there’s something important you have to understand .

no ,  come on ,  you piece of shit  ...  don’t do this to me !

i’m supposed to buy  “ nothing ”  is eating up at you ?

i still think your priorities are fucked .

what about taking a huge risk  &  just DO something ?

are you trying to butter me up ?

we don’t need to rehash stuff ,  let’s just work .

you’re only asking me ‘cos your arms are too short for a good selfie angle .

maybe we should just add this topic to our  “ discussion no - fly zone ”  list .

shit ,  that scared the fuck out of me .

at some point ,  you have to give up the ghost .

you’ve been doing your research ,  haven’t you ?

are you taking a survey or trying to learn something ?

would it kill you to be direct ?

you want to know what inspired me ?  as if i wasn’t the original ?

you look amazing ,  as usual .

i heard enough ,  thank you ,  i know what betrayal sounds like .

i’m not blind ,  i know what i saw .

this could work to our advantage .

am i the only one that’s getting really freaked out by this place ?

can you stop trying to make this worse ?

don’t come crying to me if you end up dead .

choices ,   [ name ] ,  make better choices .

this is your own damn fault .

it’s all about the honey trap .

you bring me some smokes ?  like i asked ?

that’s what i remember most .  those screams .

you’ll never really know how it feels to watch the fire burn out of somebody .

thanks for that stuff you said at dinner .  it was nice to hear .

we’re all on the same side ,  sometimes we forget .

get me out of here !  i can’t see a thing !

count your breaths .  one,  two,  three,  in  ...

how very rude ,  not to stay for dinner .

i can only observe ,  &  it can be  ...  frustrating to watch .

in some ways ,  i envy you .

something is very not right here .

i’ve been waiting on you for ages to actually make a decision about something ,  anything ,   &  now this is when you suddenly choose to take a stand ?

your delusions make for such great plans .

would it kill you to think positively just once ?

it’s not even the worst idea i’ve had this evening .

don’t go patting yourself on the back ,  i still think your priorities are fucked .

i can care about more than one thing at a time .

working this job has made me really understand what a sociopath is .

you always assume the worst .

help me !   please  --  please ,  i’ll do anything !

maybe you’re right ,  but you don’t need to be an asshole about it .

i guess i was holding out for things to change with us .

i have never once shied away from telling you where my priorities were .

i have to live with it every day  &  now someone knows .

someone WANTED me to find this .

you have to get the fuck out ANY way you can .  just get the FUCK OUT !

are you losing your shit ?  ‘cos i don’t need that right now .

maybe we just focus on one thing at a time .

[ name ]  ...  i found a way out ,  maybe .

i don’t know what i was expecting .

what the fuck is this ?

[ name ] ,  what are you doing ?  just stay back .

no way this is happening .

it’s gotta be fake  ...  a prop ,  or from  ...  an animal or something .

it can be difficult working with someone you’ve been involved with .

i think we can bust through this thing .

i’ve had enough of this shit ,  what the hell is going on ?

the walls are moving again .

i’m not a fuckin’ lab rat here for your amusement !

don’t look at me like that .  you know i’m right .  you get it .

you got to do something that matters .

think of the most profound thing you’ve ever done .

i see the gleam in your eye ,  [ name ] .  you can’t fool me .

there  ...  there you are .  i see you now .

bare hands can feel good ,  huh ?  but the blade makes for such a prettier picture .

how far down does it go ?

there’s blood everywhere ,  &  ...  &  a body .

one of us is going to have to be bait .

you could use that as a weapon if need be .

what an excruciating way to go .

people can surprise you sometimes .

as always ,  i’ll be watching very closely .

hurry the fuck up !

it’s a forest ,  it could be anything .

can you not freak me out even more than i already am ?

i wasn’t expecting you .

you’re a selfish monster  ...  always have been .

predictable little shit ,  i know you .

[ name ] !  i thought i lost you .

all good things must come to an end .

can you find your own way out ?

i have no doubt we’ll meet again in the future .

[ravenzeppeli]

🩸A Lesson to Never Be Forgotten |Yandere Formaggio x Reader Dark Lemon|

Warning: strong/violent language, physical abuse, extreme threats, drugging, humiliation/degrading, verbal abuse, emotional abuse, blood, violence, gunplay, abuse, noncon (nonconsentual) MA.

You snuck back into your shared apartment with Formaggio as quietly as you possibly could, gently closing the door behind you. You locked the door, the click of the lock causing you to jump. Fuck - that was too loud. Any sudden movement and your husband would hear you. You couldn't make any sudden -

"Hello Y/N," Formaggio's deep voice filled your ears, sounding low and meanicing as you heard his footsteps slowly creep towards you. Tap, tap, tap. "Wow, I am extremely proud of you. To pull off such a brilliant stunt without me catching on. How long?" Tap, tap, tap - his footsteps were growing louder.

You went to speak but froze when you suddenly heard the familiar rattle that you knew oh so well. Oh fuck.. he found them, you hid them so well. How did he find them? You placed your hand on the doorknob, going to turn it but freezing once you felt the pill bottle hit the back of your head. It caused a light sharp pain, causing you to freeze up once more, knowing how easy it would be for him to catch you.

As soon as you married him he showed you his true colors, your once normal life suddenly being completely taken over by him. As you tried to escape him he easily found you, confessing that his waste management job was actually a completely different profession, confessing that he was a hitman in the mafia. He had been for years - as a matter of fact he was ranked up fairly highly, so highly that he could easily get away with killing you.

He taunted you that day, making fun of you and tearing you down; he would always be able to track you down and find you, and he made it clear to you that night how extreme he would get to teach you a lesson. Since then, you've gotten weaker, more fearful.. the pills were a way for you to have freedom and not deal with his random outbursts of anger at night. You've been.. doing this for six months, constantly breaking into your local drug store with your stand to keep him stabilized. Carefully, you hid the pill bottle in a place he never went in the laundry room, hidden under a loose tile by the dryer. How did he find them?

You heard his gun click, causing instant fear to race throughout your entire body. Tap, tap, tap. Suddenly, you felt the cold barrel press to the back of your head, him forcing your forehead to press up against the wooden door. "Did you not fucking hear me, bitch?" He questioned, this time anger in his tone, all smoothness erased. "Lie to me and I'll blow your brains all over this door. You better be honest."

"Six months," you whispered, the gun instantly leaving your head after you said that, instead being replaced by his hand as he grabbed a fistful of your hair, suddenly dragging you back. "I'm sorry! I.. I don't know what I was thinking!"

A dry laugh escaped his lips as he dragged you through the hallway, you shrugging to stay to your feet as he finally drug you into your shared bedroom with him. With ease, he picked you up and slammed you on the bed, your body roughly hitting the mattress, bouncing back up to collide with his body. He leaned over you, his body stiff and still as you collided with him, his hand wrapping around your throat, squeezing.

"You cheating cunt," he snapped at you, spitting in your face. A whimper escaped your lips as his spit coated your face, tears filling your eyes as he squeezed harder, your face heating up. "You're drugging me to fuck another man. I'm going to fucking destroy you, I told you not to cheat."

You quickly tried shaking your head, unable to move it. "W-what? Cheat?" You questioned, genuinely shocked of being accused of something so insane. Why would you cheat on him? You didn't want another man in your life. You wanted no man in your life. If Formaggio died at work, and you hoped and prayed he would die every single day, you would take all his money and move to Alaska. You would live alone, only caring for yourself and maybe a cat or dog, but never would you seek out another man.

"Huh," he muttered, loosening his grip on your neck slightly. "Then why? Why the fuck have you been drugging me for six months? And why did I catch you sneaking back into the house?" His voice seemed to slightly lighten up.

"I wanted a break from you, and when you're drugged, you're weak until you fall asleep. It was easier then being around you and dealing with your abuse," you told him, causing him to let go of your neck. "I leave the house at night to take walks since I'm never allowed out of the house."

He shook his head, raising his hand and roughly smacking it across your face. "You not cheating.. it just saved you your arms and legs. I know a doctor. He was going to surgically remove them. I'm so glad I trained you well enough not to lie to me, and even if you do, I can tell." He let another dry laugh escape his lips, slapping you again before he grabbed your shirt with both hands, ripping it off of you. "Still, you could have killed me. You wanted to kill me."

You shook your head, cheek throbbing from where he slapped you. As you opened your mouth to speak, his fist instantly crashed into your cheek, a loud pop filling your ears as you felt your jaw cracked. You felt your face wet, wet with your blood as your jaw throbbed.

"Stupid fucking cunt," he sneered as he got off of you, snatching the shoes off of your feet as he violently ripped off your jeans and underwear, almost dragging you off of the bed as he tugged the tight blue jeans off. "Fucking drugging me? How stupid are you, brainless cunt, spread your legs open before I shove the barrel of my gun down your throat!" He snapped suddenly, taking his gun out from the back of his jeans, pointing it at you.

Quickly, you spread your legs, trying to control your sudden uncontrollable shaking throughout your entire body. You wanted to be anywhere, but here, instant regret filling your body for what you've done. The foolish decision to have a few months of privacy might have just cost you your entire life.

"You belong to me, you're my fucking slut. You're mine to kill," he spoke, his voice suddenly dropping to a dark mutter. He stepped closer, the gun suddenly pressing against your clit. "Looks like you've gotten too comfortable. That's really sad.. I really wanted to keep you. You really were a good slut for the time being."

You were afraid to speak, afraid of him punching you in the face again, but you had to attempt to speak. You swallowed the blood that rested in the back of your throat as the gun slide down your clit, lining up with your entrance. "I'll never do it again, I'm really sorry," you choked out, flinching when he raised his hand at you, causing a laugh to escape his lips. "Please don't... please."

He tilted his head to the side slightly, green eyes filled with nothing but pure evil; you saw the devil in his eyes, possessing him to be one of the sickest human beings alive. You hated him, a pained cry escaping your lips as you felt the gun press into your hole, forcing itself in without any lube, the metal scraping against your insides as your pain cry turned into a sob, your legs trembling as you struggled to hold them up.

"You really thought you could play me like that? God, you're such a dumb cunt," he taunted, slowly pumping the gun in and out of you. "This is all you're good for.. you're only good for being a slut." He laughed, a little manically as he picked up the pace, thrusting the gun Iim and out of you with force. "You're so fucking dead."

Tears filled your eyes, pouring down your cheeks as you felt yourself growing wet, a mixture of your wetness and blood. "P-please don't kill me, Formaggio," you sobbed, your voice shaky.

"P-please don't kill me, Formaggio," he mimicked, laughing louder as he grabbed your bra, lifting it up to reveal your breasts. "Rub your fucking clit bitch!" He yelled suddenly, his free hand roughly smacking your breast.

You let go of your leg, keeping them in the air, despite how much it hurt to keep your legs in such an uncomfortable position. Your hand dropped to your clit, rubbing slightly as your sobs grew louder.

"Nah," Formaggio snapped, smacking your right breast as hard as he could, leaving a red handprint behind. "Rub as fast as you can, or I'm pulling the trigger now!" You felt his boner in his pants, rubbing up against your thigh. You felt a wetness on your thigh, more sobs escaping your mouth when you realize that your pain had made him cum in his pants. Just by your suffering.. he was enjoying it.

You began to rub your clit with two fingers as fast as you could, your sobs uncontrollable as the gun continued to pump in and out of you. Your entire body felt a raw, cramping pain. It was agonizing, and you just wanted it to be over. You wanted to beg but you knew that begging only got him off. It was so hard not to beg for him to stop; you just wanted him to fucking stop.

"I had my fun with you," he said suddenly, his face going completely dark. "It's time to dispose of the fucking trash once and for all."

After he said that, he pulled the trigger, causing your eyes to close, your entire body violently shaking as you felt yourself piss all over the gun, fear, and pain taking over your body. But wait.. you weren't dead, and he was laughing at you again, his laugh taunting as he pulled the gun out of you, tossing it to the side.

"It wasn't loaded you dumb cunt. That's a brand new gun I bought, shits never been loaded," Formaggio told you, shaking his head as he shook his hand, droplets of your piss coating your still shaking thighs. "You fucking baby. You pissed all over the gun? Ha! Dumb cunt!"

You dropped your legs, immediately curling into a ball, hiding your face from him. The sobs were uncontrollable, your body still not being able to stop shaking from the pain and utter humiliation that you just went through.

"I bet you'll never cross me again, huh cunt?" He questioned, grabbing you, pulling you into his lap. "You're never leaving the house again. You're mine." He wrapped his arms around you, reaching a hand down to touch your pussy.

You cried softly, burying your head in his chest as his fingers examined your swollen and throbbing area. You felt yourself being lifted into the air, his arms securing around your body as he began carrying you bridal style out of the bedroom.

"I'm going to clean you up and put you to bed. I wouldn't want my pretty little wife getting an infection and dying," he said, voice suddenly filling with a sick kindness. "I love you, Y/N. I love you so much, and that is why I hurt you." He led you into the bathroom, turning the lights on as he sat you down on the toilet, placing a kiss on your lips. "Do you love me?"

You nodded your head weakly as you leaned back on the cool porcelain toilet, the bitter coolness causing a whine to escape your lips. "I.. love you, Formaggio."

He smiled, "I'm glad to see you behaving again. That makes me really happy." He turned away from you, leaning down as he turned the bathtub water on. "Don't forget.. if you ever cross me again, the gun will be fully loaded next time."

[aq2003]

it is literally canon that Martha stayed with Ten even though she knew he didn’t love her back. she stayed because she was in love with him. you can think whatever you want in fan spaces, but staying with him for love is exactly what she did. Ten was an ass to Martha in so many ways during this season, I think he coped with being the object of her desire (and even bragged about it to Donna).

sorry i'm putting my foot down here. anon we are watching different shows because in the very first episode ten is uncomfortable and shuts her down the minute he catches that martha has an interest in him. he (as stated by david tennant) spends nearly the entire season unaware of her crush. "i don't think he's [aware of her feelings for him]. i don't think he'd do that otherwise. i think he gets aware as the season rumbles on" — but even then, he still has that line in sound of drums where he goes "it's like when you fancy someone and they don't know you exist" to her. you could interpret this in either one of two ways, either he's trying his hardest to ignore her crush and is acting like it doesn't exist, or he honest to god still does not know. and when we're talking about a character that has a famously long history of being not involved in romance or being unaware of standard romantic conventions, the fact that he isn't aware of how she feels (however long that may be, but we know it extends over a majority of their time together) makes much more sense than... i dont even know. going out of your way to make someone fall in love with you but the moment you think she's in love with you you go "what the fuck! don't do that! back off!". like??!? and as someone who has been the object of an unrequited crush from one of my close friends before, it's difficult to look back on this person without thinking about it or feeling guilty over it. this is exactly what the scene with ten and donna reads like to me; they're talking about the relationship ten and martha had and he brings it up bc it's been directly on his mind (he's fucking tactless about it but being tactless is like one of his primary personality traits!). it's one of the reasons she left him! it's the reason why he rejects donna initially before finding out she wasn't interested in him! i'm not trying to say that their relationship was healthy or that s3 ten did nothing wrong or whatever but god will you all kill him for the crimes he actually committed

as for martha, i feel like you're misunderstanding the point i was making about her and i already got into arguments in two separate posts over it so i'll just leave it at "if you think her crush is her only personality trait and the only reason she chooses to stay with ten is /thinking he'll eventually fall in love with her back/ then please get well soon". look at shakespeare code when after ten compares her to rose and says he'll take her back home she sarcastically goes "great!" or at the beginning of gridlock when she goes "ever heard of the word 'rebound'?" (i could write another long post about this line but that's not the point rn) - she isn't having a good time! she knows ten isn't treating her very well! but the reason she doesn't want it to be "just one trip" isn't bc she's romantically pursuing him (which is the point i specifically took issue with) or even bc of her crush, it's bc she knows ten is grieving—he lost his home planet, his people, his kind-of-girlfriend and just needs someone with him and SHE KNOWS THAT! BETTER THAN HE DOES! look at family of blood: she's asked why she's his companion and she answers "because he's lonely". she KNOWS he needs her and as a character established from day 1 to be someone learning to save people for a living i don't think it's a massive stretch to say that she's not 100% in it for herself. if you take the show at face value, it's saying that martha is straight up wasting the years of her life and isn't getting nearly as much out of her friendship with ten the way he is with her. this extends to multiple areas of their relationship. and forgive me if i'm being too fucking bold but "thinking whatever you want in fan spaces" is a mentality you treat shipping with, not "analyzing the character writing of a writer first and foremost known and praised for his character writing"

[ninjamelissajulien]

Rewatching Crystalized after a long time- here are my thoughts.

The first third isn’t bad (season 1), honestly it’s still funny

Fugidove you weirdo (affectionate)

I still hate the mayor/the new ninja/ronin

Pythor you bitch (derogatory)

Nya my beloved, how they wasted your potential

Skylor my beloved, how they wasted your potential

Pixal my beloved, how they wasted your potential

Mechanic you motherfucker

HARUMI MY BELOVED CHILD YOUVE RETURNED TO ME

I hate how they changed the overlords voice, rebooted was the best version

I think the overlord intercepted harumi’s soul while it was on its way to the departed realm. Overlord can never truly die, so he’s stuck in an ethereal void. That’s why no one else was around

Harumi, my beloved scrimbly, your body was literally crushed and probably impaled by rebar and concrete

Oni temple still ugly as shit

“Fall of the monastery” is homophobic because my favorite girls got the shit kicked out of them and I’m gay so it’s homophobic

Also Pythor is misogynistic like bro Nya saved your ass from wohira

Also mechanic is misogynistic

Fantastic fights tho

MINI PIXES

I love the minipix 7 saved her mama first 🥹

We did not need the fakeout death for Nya

I love the samurai x mech and Nya’s Sam x outfit

I think they took off the overeffect on pixals voice in Darkness within - that just gave Crystalized extra bonus points in my book

Lloyd dangling sideways is so stupid but funny

Ok but like that wasn’t the last time you fought, technically that was the SECOND to last time shitlord, Zane killed you last time lmao

The coming 👀 of the king

But they didn’t lose??? They killed you???

Golden master was better tbh

Ah, the ugliest fortress in the entire series

Uglyass motherfucker

Harumi my scrimbly

Harumi really be like I hate you but maybe we could be friends but also no I despise you but maybe???

ACAB

Harumis such a brat- I love her so much

GARMADON RETURNS

Garmadon is the funniest motherfucker

The fact that they didn’t get to fully acknowledge Harumi and Garmadon is a missed opportunity

Christofern is an innocent victim

Mechanic motherfucker I want you to die

I forgot about Zane’s head trauma reverting him to the ice emperor. Such a missed opportunity

MISAKO MY BELOVED!!!!!

T*mmy fuck off

Pixal being a badass like usual. Queen!!!!

They put her effect back over her voice

JESUS CHRIST ZANE

ronin redeeming himself 🫡

Pythor you annoying bitch

SKYLOR YOU ARE A QUEEN I’d let you punch me any day

When skylor put her hand on Cole’s head, his scar was glowing

Skylor god I love you

Kai you got trauma we need to discuss

RACER 7 aka BLAZY H. SPEED!!!!!

I would burn everything for Pixal

Jennifer you say the word and I would kill for you

THE PIXANE SPIN

“You brought me back.”

Pixal has the coolest mechs because she deserves it

Garmadon sprint past, screeching, with a barrel is my favorite

“Uh oh? What does uh oh mean?” A callback to season 13 💙

“Pet plant” Lloyd that’s your brother have some respect

I’m gonna be honest- I forgot the overlord was the literal threat this season 😭😭😭

Why do the dragonites have tits????

I literally still can’t believe they have to “jump up kick back whip around and spin”

And the reveal was when the paper was “fold” ed you motherfuckers

Why did the coolest form of the overlord come TWO EPISODES AT THE END

Coles crew showed up

VANIA MY BELOVED SCRIMBLY

MINIPIX

MAYA EDNA BENTHO LOU (💔)

SALLY YOU QUEER QUEEN

Dragon form is literally so dope tho

I’m still not a fan of the “plot twist” with the overlord x devourer

Anyways KICK HIS ASS HARUMI GO BABY GIRL GO

Mechanic shut the fuck up honestly

OKINO

Cole mocking Vangelis is so fucking funny

It hurts to see Lou honesty knowing he’ll never speak again

ADAM

VANIA MY BELOVED

Is it me or is Kai really handsome in his dragon form

Cole and Vania’s hug 🥹

PIXANE SPIN 2.0

Oni Lloyd my beloved

ROTSM 2: Electric Boogaloo

I like to think that it is the ninjas spirits that protected Lloyd and defeated the overlord, not a golden power

Inner Steel is a good song shut up

Overall honestly not a bad season, has some hiccups and missed opportunities but not as bad as I think it’s judged

[powderblueblood]

ohhhh 18, 9, and 2 for your Steve and Eddie (any verse you'd like

interrogate me about my characters

you are FEEEDING MEEEEE i'm sorry this took me like a couple of days my brain had to power back up after the weekend

2. THEIR EMOTIONAL/MORAL WEAK SPOTS

hellfire & ice/sequel!eddie starts off as your garden variety drug dealer and progressively adds a couple more tools in his criminal belt as the years go on and honestly? doesn't really see that much of a boohoo about it. yes, it's what the world expects from all munsons, yes, it's bad bad work for bad bad men but eddie can't see himself working a straight job. ever. he's not equipped for it. and, he's made peace with the fact that he'll never be a rockstar (jk no the fuck he has not he's so bitter) so he's all, might as well make the wasted years i have on this stupid earth a little more interesting. he's got a little bit of a robin hood complex going on once we meet him in his late 20s.

clear cut!steve is also a criminal albeit the smoother kind, and kind of works off a similar thing of i've never been good at anything else, so this might as well be my career. except for steve, it's banking on how far he can get with that tireless, bottomless, all-consuming harrington charm. working in insurance, or whatever the fuck his father did, never quite scratched the itch of bold faced robbery that... well, robbery did. it's funny, though. steve's never had the aspirations towards grandeur that his fellow thieves have had, because he knows what it's like to grow up in a cushy rich household. steve's just doing it for the thrill of fooling everybody. and he is, by the way. fooling everybody. even you. remember that.

9. HUMILIATING MEMORIES

hellfire and ice!eddie, like.... do you mean his entire life up to this point and actually, beyond. he once got so unbelievably fucking stoned that he thought calling a phone sex line was a good idea but then once the sexy operator lady picked up, he got so freaked out that he could only talk in fozzie bear voice and he couldn't drop the bit for 20 minutes. fun conversation with wayne about that phone bill. he's also written so much bad poetry, so many embarrassing near-self insert stories (one of us, one of us) where he romances many a comely elfin lady. he once slipped one of these stories into chess club captain martha peterson's locker in freshman year as, like, an effort at wooing her but then he got pulled into the fucking guidance counselor's office because she said he was stalking him.

old hollywood!steve... again. regrets. humiliations. he has a few. one could be punching bela lugosi out after a stage production of dracula because he thought he was a real vampire (drunk). another could be punching out an extra on the set of the merry widow in 1925 because he was sniffing around mae murray, who steve was also sniffing around at the time (jilted). steve was replaced by 'that rodent-voiced bastard john gilbert' and the extra he clocked? none other than clark gable. among other embarrassments; not securing a finalized divorce from his first wife before he married his second (drunk), the time he fully pissed his pants when buster keaton played a prank on him during a seance (stoned), getting caught wailing for a second chance outside joan crawford's room at the garden of alla hotel (that woman was inside having lesbian sex).

18. THINGS THEY'LL NEVER ADMIT

old hollywood!eddie knows his entire career is based on fluke, but he's too embarrassed to nurture his real talent, which is writing. to be honest, he does stunts because he kind of has a death wish. not being able to express himself was killing him, but he was always too full of piss and vinegar and cowardice to kill himself. but now people see him, or what the studios have made of him, and it's glorious and horrifying and naked and fake and full of possibility that he's too scared to touch.

hellfire & ice/burning up & burning out!steve (moreso sequel relevant, but) has always thought lacy was a fucking weirdo honestly and blames lacy for nancy pulling away from him during his senior year, not like nancy becoming a person was a factor or anything... until they're older and steve and lacy grow increasingly fond of each other. he wishes he took the job that his dad laid out for him on a silver platter sometimes and married someone stable, like tina or whoever. steve's increasingly more anxious socially as he ages, knowing that most people see him as some kind of joke, but he has to put on the face and be the guy, whatever that means to him in 1994. he's terrified that he's built his life around constructs that are flimsy; being independent from his family, following a path when he's not sure of himself as a person, desperately trying to make the thing with nancy work when she's there because he's familiar and he's there because he's afraid.

[m4gg0ts-inmy-g0r3]

man idk what to do

tw, sh sewer slide and all the other stuff

I've only gotten worse, like I wanna end my shit soon. I was talking to my boyfriend last night and he told me that if i started smoking cigarettes or became an alcoholic he would leave me. I only ever smoke cigarettes as an alternative to cvtting if it gets really bad. smoking causes this sting in the back of your throat, but even that doesn't hit like it used to. Regardless, cigarettes haven't actually ever done anything for me aside from hurt a little when I wanna hurt a little.

And as for drinking, one night a few days ago i was horribly depressed and drank the rest of a wine bottle i had and got stonned, it felt great like i wasn't worried anymore. I thought hey maybe I can do this instead of killing myself. But no my boyfriend said he would leave me if i did that and if he left me it doesn't matter how drunk I get I'm Ending My Shit.

I tried telling him if i go back to therapy and I'm honest to the therapist I'll probably get sent to a ward. Bc if I'm feeling like this i don't think it matters if I've made an attempt yet. Pairing feelings like this with the fact that i self harm pretty atrociously is a one way ticket to the looney bin. But he told me he didn't think it would be a good idea because we wouldn't be able to talk for a while and that would be bad for both of us, and he's right too.

I feel like I'm running out of options. It's like my only choice I have is to end my life. I make everyone miserable anyway. People tell me that I make them happy and my life is important but I feel like the air I breath is being wasted on a dumb piece of shit who hurts everyone he loves, who freeloads off his parents, who locks himself out of his car bc he got drunk the second he parked his car in the driveway at 3 in the morning, who hates the body he lives in so much he'd rather die than live another day in a body that isn't his, who can't even do his job right! AND I WORK FAST FOOD!! I mean how stupid do I have to be to fuck up something like god damn fast food it's designed to be idiot proof but noo I'm fucking brain dead. Not to mention I can't tell my boyfriend how suicidal I truly am I can never lay that burden on anther human being. No one will ever talk me off the ledge, that is my burden to bare and mine alone. And I can't go to a psych ward I've heard those places are so horrible that I'll only get worse. There is no getting better for sick people like me. You kill yourself or you live your entire life wishing you had. And so far I wished I'd have had access to sharper tools when I tried at 15. I had the right idea but the dullest straight edge on the planet.

i just wanna get drunk and cvt myself, whats the point of anything

[turtlemagnum]

there's this online recreation of the sans fight that i played religiously back in middle school before i even owned a device capable of running undertale, still up. i got good enough at it that under normal circumstances, i can usually do it first try. a bit of a banging my head against a brick wall thing, but damn did it eventually break. honestly i think doing that before ever actually playing undertale was a bit like goku training in 100x gravity, except instead of landing on namek to fight frieza he went and fought raditz again and just absolutely wrecked his shit. at least, until i got to undyne, still not great at her. god i love her. adhd, getting distracted, i had a goddamn point i was trying to make. so, notice that i said "under normal circumstances" as a caveat. what i would consider not normal circumstances would be, say, playing with fucked up arrow keys. such as, the ones that seem to be on every goddamn modern laptop where up and down are both collectively taking up the same amount of real estate as a single normal key, because apparently right shift needs that extra fucking space. like seriously who the fuck even uses right shift, top 10 useless keys right there, right next to caps lock and most of the function keys. guess i've just gotta suck it up until i can afford to get an actual gamer laptop and not a budget office clunker that i got for the admittedly nice CPU

honestly like, i think my ideal laptop would be halfway between the Ultra Gucci Gamer shit and what i have now. give me like, 16 gigs of RAM, a decent CPU for emulation, a low end but modern and power efficient discrete GPU, and a big fuckin SSD. no RGB shit, just a power waste, though i do like having backlit keys at times i think the more efficient way to go about it would just paint em with something glow in the dark. is glowstick fluid toxic to get your hands on? i remember hearing about a guy who died because he injected that shit at a rave, but i don't know how much of that is This Shit Is Poison vs Dont Put Things That Arent Blood In Your Blood Sacks You Moron, y'know. for some reason radium popped into my head, but after thinking about it for more than an instant i'm like 85% sure that shit's what done killed marie curie, and now i can't help but imagine that's something elon musk would tell his engineers to do. "yeah. just a, uh, gamer key-board. with, radium paint on the lettering. saves power, good for the planet." what was i saying

anyways yeah like. the only other specs i can think of would be just having as many ports as possible, 1080p screen @ 60hz, y'know the bare minimum in Current Year. i will say that my current laptop has given me problems with screens i've never had on a computer before, there have been times where i see something i know for a fact is a different, more saturated color on other screens and having it be barely different from the background. also? i want that motherfucker bulky god dammit, i'm tired of everything being thin and light and having absolute dogshit battery life. i miss when i could charge my gameboy once a week and have it entertain me the entire goddamn time, y'know. i'm lucky if i get half a day of consistent use out of a laptop or my switch without charging it, y'know. to be honest, you should be able to murder someone with your technology. i could kill a man with a gamecube or the PC my dad left me as a kid, if i tried to bash a man's skull open with my laptop the laptop would take more damage than the skull. like don't get me wrong, it'd fucking hurt, but i'm not sure there's any singular component in this thing less than 95% cheap polymer by volume. a goddamn disgrace, lemme tells ya. back in ancient rome we had the technology to build bridges strong enough to still be used today, there are guns from the world wars that you can shoot to this day, you're tellin me you can't make a laptop sturdier than a saltine cracker? well, i'm pretty sure they're mostly designed by crackers, so i guess i can't blame em too hard for their inadequacies. such is lief i suppose (sic)

[incarnateirony]

Me: HOW DID I ONLY GET AN 85 ON THIS TEST

Oh. It's not 85%. It's 85 points. of 85 points.

Without getting too specific, everyone at the center is getting retrained and tested, because one department in particular ranked problematically low for government standards, so we all get to suffer or something. My department in particular is the highest ranked, and me and only a few other people got 85/85. It's considered top 5% in the country lmao

Can everybody grok WHY it's so funny to me that I've got schizoid delusionals justifying psychosis with their invisible friends up my ass going "NUH UH" when I point out they're acting batshit?

Like what do I do for a living kiddos.

There are approximately 8,045 people in the country that do my job. Of them, only 402~ know what I know as well as I know it, whether they have phds or not, and even less, about a quarter of those (100~), have the actual success rates live that I have. And these witches gonna sit here screaming like tumblr can relativize it. Yeah, sure, you could meet over 120,000 people and not run into someone more qualified but you're just gonna piss around on tumblr pretending you aren't acting apeshit.

No, you legit all need therapy and medication. New medication atop your other medications. Medication changes. And, if that doesn't help, major behavioral therapy and possible inpatient treatment if you've proven unable to control yourselves while out on the streets.

There are 100 people in the country qualified as me to say, you act like people that will shortly be in my inbox having a mental breakdown, I hear your stories and behaviors all day from people about to jump off a building. And a surprising lot of you are probably going to be there within a decade of your life if you don't address your internal issues that make you behave this way, because eventually, your fiction and fantasy bubbles WILL pop. There's just one inconsolable and irredeemable bitch that's first on the list. But you can't live in fandom, roleplay and personal headcanons your entire life. You can hide there for a little while, but not your whole life. And you sure as shit can't build an honest relationship or marriage out of it. Hence the problem someone's having facing the full force, not just slices of concessions to pieces of, reality.

Like no, no half, no compromise, no partially able to have a cult to me, no Au headcanon where I'm not me, no AU where their delusions were ever real, we're not doing this, because it makes them end up here every fucking time, because they're lost without chasing my light and seething at the fact that I have it and they don't, because they objectively refuse self inspection, self control, or personal accountability. They don't even have another direction. Their only direction the last three years ended up in funny octopus jibberish plagiarism and cocaine bears, and a failed suit that wasted everybody's time. There is no universe where stalking me for 3 years to every end of the earth is balanced or sane behavior. None. Zip, zilch, no matter how you spin the paper or who you reblog to justify it. You're just batshit girls.

[fancifulflora]

ATOC ROs at a Theme Park: Modern!AU Headcanons

I just came back from Universal since I was celebrating my baby cousin's birthday and my legs hurt and I hurt and I regret not having shoes that aren't heeled. So while I nurse my wounds I'm going to slap down some headcanons about the LIs at a theme park since it popped into my head mid-wait for a ride

Azad/Ashti

Enjoys people-watching a little too much while waiting in line. They might look a little distant and in thought, but don't let those hazel eyes fool you- they're judging the unfortunate beach bottle blonde Karen cut on one of the others in the line.

Will ignore most of the side vendors and booths for the most part, until they pass by the carnival-style games where you can earn your selection of over-priced, mass-produced plushies you could probably order online.

That's when A backs it the fuck up and makes it their mission to win.

I mean.

They want to win one for you, of course. That's why they're doing it. It has nothing to do with the self-satisfied smirk on the vendor's face when some teenagers walked away with a measly consolation prize.

And it has nothing to do with the fact that they dared to boast that it was unbeatable. No, no no no. Nothing as silly as that.

After a few failed tries, curses, and a small snack break, you end up with the biggest prize in your arms, resting on top of a tiny mountain of small keychains and prizes that A won while trying to beat the damned game. But hey, at least you have something to remember the day by? Well, a lot of somethings but you get the idea.

When the heat starts getting to the two of you, A is the most likely to go get one of those water bottles that mists you while a fan blasts a cool breeze into your face- without you needing to ask too.

If there's a cool water ride or, even better, one of the crazy ones that flip you upside down and drag you so close to the water's surface but not quite. A's going. Period.

They will have their hands in the air the entire time and enjoy the adrenaline rush and laugh internally at everyone looking like a wet rat by the time the ride's over.

And if there's a water park???

To be honest, A might try a few cool water rides in a water park but have you seen the pools? They might enjoy swimming and the water more than your average joe but they aren't a fool.

Would be a little more than curious to try out one of those artificial wave machines though, probably faring well on their own board.

Dara/Delal

They come prepared with a complete battle plan. The tickets are expensive and so to make the most of their time there's a perfect route for everyone to take that will let the group hit all the best rides before they have to leave or simply loose the will to continue on

Too bad everything goes out the window the moment they get through the gates and everyone starts splitting into their own groups

Still, is dedicated to not letting their work go to waste and will trek on anyways. One second, you see them on one side of the park, but the next time you get off a ride D is now on the exact opposite side of the damn place, halfway through the line already. How did they even make that much distance so fast? And how are they already that far up the line? Isn't that ride supposed to be popular?

The world may never know

If the two of you are together though, then you'll know that D has one of those sites on their phone that keeps you updated on the amount of traffic on each attraction and has already committed the map to vague memory. No need to shuffle awkwardly to the side of the path in a sea of people and "Sorry!"s and "Excuse me!"s as you fumble through your bags to find some flimsy piece of paper.

With D around, your trip is made much less socially awkward. And with their large size, it makes it easier to carve through the swarms of tourists and regular parkgoers. After all, no one wants to be flattened by someone so large with that serious look in their eyes, all part ways for the two of you, if just by a little bit.

Will scrunch their nose at most of the cheesy lines on the t-shirts and hats but will most likely cave by the end of the day and at least get one thing to remind them of their little outing. Avoids all eye contact when they leave a gift shop with a cap on that says "I had an un-bee-lievable time!" with a cartoon bee winking at you as if they too were enjoying the embarrassment.

Though slightly flustered at first, would probably wear a matching outfit or a couples t-shirt with you for the day. It's cute, okay?! And if done tastefully, isn't nearly as bad as it sounds.

Will probably wind down and relax by going on slow rides, the kind that takes you on a tour throughout the park just so they can see the sights and rest their legs from all that standing and walking around.

But the moment they get off the break's over and D's already on the move, only slowing down fully if you show signs of getting tired yourself.

If it wasn't going to catch the stares of everyone within a 20 feet radius, D would most certainly be down for carting you around in their arms when you get tired. If you ask them too they won't hesitate, though it might make them a little more than embarrassed to do so.

Rozerîn/Rêzan

Why are they even here? Couldn't you all have chosen something more relaxing? It's hot. Too hot. There are so many people. Sweaty people. People who need a bar or two of deodorant or some sense of personal space knocked into them. R is the unfortunate one that's dragged along for the day but still finds a way to enjoy it themselves

Admires the way all the employees stay in character as they put on shows throughout the park. The costumes are wonderfully designed, the atmosphere, even when it changes just when you round the corner, is rather immersive if you linger.

Wouldn't want to go on any crazy rides that throw you haphazardly around. However, they would enjoy those cool 3D rides with a simple storyline and cute effects like a fog machine or a water mister.

Finds the fact that all the rides drop you off at an appropriately themed gift shop the second after the ride's over to be distasteful.

Then, they see the cutest animal plush in the world and forgets all about that for a second. You might want to stop them before they have the mind to get you one too because these plushies are gonna quickly become your new faux children. And whoops, they have names now too. How did that happen?

Will don the biggest sunhat you've ever seen and dramatic sunglasses for the day and no, they aren't taking it off. Would be willing to replace the big shades they have if you buy them a replacement. No matter how silly it looks, it's still a gift from you after all.

If there's some kind of petting zoo available they're already b-lining for it. You can certainly join as well... if you catch up with them. But unless there are other cool sights to see this may be where they spend a great many hours of the day.

I'll give it a solid 6/10 chance that R ends up babysitting everyone else's stuff while they go on rides. Bumping it to a 9/10 if X is allowed to go crazy with their purchases. I mean, someone's gonna have to watch all your stuff and it's not like they're all too interested in whatever the "Shark Tornado" that you're all going on is.

With enough convincing and maybe a little smile from you they're willing to go on one or two of the more intense rides, although the caveat is that they're gonna be riding next to you no matter what.

If the ride's especially scary they'd hold and squeeze your hand tight before moving to the safety rails before they cut off circulation or something.

And afterward, with the wind having blown through their long hair and their face flushed from the pumping of adrenaline and blood in their heart, R manages to come out still looking pretty.

A messy pretty, but pretty nonetheless.

Xelara/Xelef

Buys a ridiculous amount of souvenirs. Like. A silly amount.

Will start off at a gift store absentmindedly looking through the selections and then they see something Heval would like. Oh shoot, you would love this. They just have to get it! Damn, they should probably get this too while they're at it. Ohhhh, now D would hate this... which is the perfect reason why they need to buy it for them.

Will shrug off any attempts to get them to stop with a small "it's a special occasion!", as if that argument really holds when they're trying to buy a snow globe in mid-July.

Honestly, the mental image of X clad from head to toe in theme park merchandise is more than amusing, until you realize that they're going to rope you into the same thing.

Would die waiting in line, so they make it a point to buy into the dumb fast pass system and will reserve the right to still complain a little if the line wait is too long.

I could see it being really cute being in line with X though, due to how physically affectionate they are. They wouldn't go over the line with PDA if it made you uncomfortable, but would most likely burn the time away with their arms wrapped around you, their chin resting on your head if you're short enough or against your shoulder. Might sneak a lil smooch in there if there aren't too many people in line.

Feel free to give them a little shove when the sun rises too high and everything gets too overwhelmingly hot though, X is practically a furnace so they understand even if they pout a little.

Same as D in the sense that they enjoy the more extreme rides more, but instead of putting their hands in the air and taking it in like a normal person they make it their mission to scout out the exact timing in which the ride takes your photo and comes in prepared

They'll do the usual, raise their arms up, screaming much louder than those around them, but by the time the ride is up and everyone's disheveled and their legs are all wobbly X is practically bouncing on their feet.

Heading down to the gift shop you can see why, with everyone looking like a mess they're the only photogenic one in these "candid" photos. It's even better if you aren't nearly as graceful on rollercoasters, X determined to collect all the images of the two of you on every ride you go on with claims of finding the contrast "endearing". And if you do happen to look pretty put together despite the hellish twists and turns of the ride, X makes it their mission to get the two of you to do poses for the camera on the rest of the rides. Collecting the images and then lining them up by the end of the trip in a makeshift photobooth reel of the day.

BONUS

Kulîlk Teyran

Will not eat the entire day prior in preparation for the big outing. But don't worry too much about her, she's already planning to make up for it in spades when she gets the chance.

She's super excited the moment that the trip is even brought up, never having really gotten the chance to go out much before. And to spend one of those outings at a theme park? With friends? With you?? What more could she want?

Does research in her own way. Mainly by looking through social media of other people going to the same park and studying their reviews and pictures. Will go to YouTube for videos of people eating through the menus there or taking POV footage of rides so she can mentally prepare herself and plan accordingly. Oh? The turkey legs are overrated? Well she won't bother with trying that then...

However, it's due to her excitement that she can't sleep by the end of the day. And when she can't sleep she begins to be anxious about missing the set time you guys meet up and being late. And when she thinks about being late she gets physically ill with anxiety and the fear of irritating her friends and you. And since she's anxious now, she can't sleep.

The cycle continues and before she knows it she barely gets 3 hours of sleep and her alarm is already ringing while she stares wide-eyed at the ceiling. Great. Lovely. What a start to the big trip to the theme park.

Still shows up before anyone else does, the most bitter cup of coffee in hand and her stomach dying. Only brightens up when she sees you or the rest approaching.

Finds the most endearing thing about theme parks to be the cute way they style and theme their food. Whether it's a cupcake with a little unicorn horn on it or a burger with the character stamped across the top of the bun Kulîlk is taking photos and sampling anything that doesn't seem too sweet.

Will offer to share what she eats with you as well, though it's partially so that she has more room to eat other things.

If you're eager to ride the attractions then she will be as well! Although you might have to help her walk a little after an especially fast and loopy one.

Not going to lie, she's the most likely to get sick after an especially intense attraction. Anxiety, a full stomach, caffeine, none of it is especially helpful to the poor woman dying on the park bench.

Will probably buy some souvenirs, but in this case, has her phone out comparing the prices online with what she sees in the stores. So unless it's an item that you get to customize or has a big show about it, Kulîlk will wait till after you all leave the park in order to order you whatever you want.

Could cave with a light breeze or kiss though, so go nuts lol.

Is the annoying one with a camera, wanting to take pictures of everything that seems cool and will ask for group photos on occasion. She prefers the more candid shots anyhow.

[2nd2ndalto]

A Little Broken, Little New

Why did he agree to help? Right at this moment, he can’t think of any reason other than the fact that over the last months, it’s somehow become more and more difficult for him to deny Will anything, whether it’s ill-advised canoe trips in the pouring rain, or Star Wars marathons or (apparently) work that he’s completely unequipped to do. And that’s because, well.

In which Will needs Nico's help, Nico needs Percy's help, Percy ships it, and everyone lives happily ever after.

Please be gentle, I haven't written anything in years and I'm flying without a beta. Title is from North by Sleeping at Last.

Nico is jolted out of sleep by a pounding on the door of the Hades cabin. He groans, rubbing his eyes, tries to focus on the numbers on his alarm clock.

“Dude,” a voice comes through the door, “you’re missing breakfast! Remember what I said about getting some meat on those bones!” There’s immediately a lot of laughter and some scuffling. Nico’s not sure whether the laughter is about “meat” or “bone” or something else entirely, but the familiar voices bring a smile to his face. Normally it would be Will’s voice at his door, chewing him out for missing breakfast, but the clamour outside today is an awfully good alternative.

Nico stumbles barefoot to the door, squinting at the bright sunlight as both Percy and Jason crowd into his cabin.

Jason smiles warmly, Percy slaps Nico on both shoulders. “Daylight’s wasting, di Angelo. Why aren’t you dressed yet?”

“Jesus. Fucking Romans,” Nico mumbles, but he’s grinning. He’d felt a bit set adrift when both boys had left to attend university in New Rome back at the end of August. They hadn’t made it back over Christmas break, but now it’s the end of March and they’re back for two weeks - Annabeth and Piper too. Those visitors coupled with the fact that Chiron’s away at some centaur family gathering all week have made camp feel a bit like a days-long party.

“Just let me uh - I just need to get washed up.” Nico fumbles in his dresser for fresh clothes and heads to the bathroom. The scalding water of the shower does an even better job returning him to consciousness than the boisterous demigod wake-up call, and Nico’s feeling much more human by the time he exits the bathroom, teeth and face scrubbed, hair damp. He glances at his alarm clock. “Fuck, it’s later than I thought.”

Jason’s browsing through the books on Nico’s shelf, but he turns at Nico’s words. “Yeah, we thought you’d be at the Apollo table with the others this morning, but no one had seen you yet. So we came to find you.”

Nico frowns. “Was Will there?”

Percy shrugs. “Nope, no Will. Just a bunch of those new Apollo kids. Gods, some of them are so tiny.”

That’s… strange. It’s a little odd that Will hadn’t been at breakfast. He’s usually up by now. And he’s usually come to fetch Nico by now as well.

Percy, apparently having lost all his inclination to rush Nico to breakfast, is looking thoroughly at ease in Nico’s unmade bed. As Nico watches, he yanks the blanket over himself and wiggles his shoulders into the mattress. He reaches for a deck of Mythomagic cards Nico had left on the nightstand.

Nico raises an eyebrow at him.

“What? Your bed is really comfortable.”

Nico shakes his head, turning to look for clean socks. It warms his heart though, if he’s being honest. Things had been briefly awkward, after he’d admitted his past crush on Percy. But it hadn’t taken long at all before they were happily working and training together, exchanging jabs and barbs as easily as Percy does with Jason. It’s one of the best things about Nico having stayed at camp since their fight with Gaea.

“Ready?” Jason asks. “I’m starving, and I need to get some protein in me if I’m going to beat this idiot later.” He approaches Nico’s bed, kicking the frame and jostling Percy.

Percy’s face lights up. “Oh, now you’re asking for it, bro,” he threatens, jumping up and stalking towards Jason. Jason laughs, giving him a light push and they continue to shove, bump and trash talk each other out the door of the Hades cabin and across the green to the dining pavilion. Gods, Nico has missed these dorks.

“Um, Nico?” One of the Hermes campers hurries up to him, and she’s holding her arm like it hurts. “Have you seen Will today?”

Nico blinks. He has time to say, “sorry, not yet,” before Percy snags him in a headlock and he’s pulled along towards breakfast.

It happens again once he, Percy and Jason are settled at the Poseidon table with Annabeth and Piper. “Hey di Angelo! Where’s Solace?” This time it’s a couple of the Hephaestus boys.

Nico shrugs. “No idea. Haven’t seen him.” He turns to the others, nonplussed “Why does everyone keep asking me where Will is?”

He thinks he sees Piper and Annabeth exchange a knowing look, but maybe he’s just imagining things. Percy shrugs. “Dunno. Guess camp’s pretty short on healers right now.”

“Yeah,” Nico agrees, reaching for more pancakes. No, not the blue ones. “It’s been stupid.”

Breakfast is leisurely and pleasant, Percy and Jason teasing and bantering, the girls exchanging occasional exasperated glances in between discussing their own plans for the day. Nico glances out across the green, towards the woods. He’s struck, as he often has been lately, by how different this place feels than it did before. Before Gaea, before his decision to stay. It feels safe now. Or as safe as anywhere can be, for demigods. It feels like somewhere he belongs. Nico stabs at his pancakes irritably. It’s probably their fault he’s feeling so sentimental.

“You sure you want these two around for another eight days?” Annabeth asks him, probably having assumed it was the boys’ never-ending ribbing causing Nico to get a bit violent with his breakfast.

He grins. “Yeah, I think I can handle it.”

Finally, it’s time to get on to the more pressing matters of training, and the group clears their dishes and makes their way out of the dining pavilion. Piper and Annabeth are heading to the armory, Jason and Percy to the arena. “You coming, di Angelo?” Percy turns to Nico, walking backwards as Nico lingers behind, glancing towards the Apollo cabin.

“Um… yeah, in a minute. I’m just gonna see if I can find Will.”

“For sure, man. Come find us after. Bring Solace.”

Nico turns back towards the cabins, starting to feel a little apprehensive. He’d been keeping an eye out for Will while they were at breakfast, scanning for his familiar mop of blonde hair as they’d made their way to and from the dining pavilion. It’s probably fine though, right? Will’s been super busy with infirmary duties lately. That’s most likely where he is. Nico jogs up the steps of the Apollo cabin first. It’s on the way, after all.

The door opens just as he’s about to knock, a much shorter mop of blonde hair coming into view.

“Maggie - hey.” There are so many new campers lately, Nico’s really started wondering where all these gods are finding the time. He’s also impressed that he can remember most of their names.

“Nico!” She looks pleased to see him. “Is Will with you?” She glances over his shoulder.

“No,” Nico frowns. “I thought maybe he was here.”

Maggie shakes her head, pulling the door shut behind her. “If you see him, tell him we need him for archery later.”

Okay, so this is a bit weird. It’s early for Will to be in the infirmary, but not completely unprecedented. Nico makes a beeline for the Big House. He’s been feeling just a bit more anxious every time someone asks him where Will is, as if Nico was supposed to be keeping track of him and has somehow misplaced him. __

“Hey, Solace? Will!”

The infirmary is dark and quiet, and this is not what Nico had been expecting. His stomach twists unpleasantly. He’d been sure he’d find Will here - positive he’d walk in the door to the sound of pop radio and Will’s tuneless-but-heartfelt singing. He hadn’t really let himself worry until now, but the sound of his own footsteps echoing through the empty infirmary wing suddenly has his anxiety ratcheting.

“Will?” Nico hurries down the hall, heart in his throat.

“Nico?”

“Will! What the fuck.” Relief floods through him at the sound of Will’s voice, and now he can see a light on in the storeroom at the end of the hallway. “Solace, you scared the - oh gods Will, are you okay?” Nico steps into the storeroom to the sight of Will lying on his back next to a pile of boxes. He immediately drops to his knees next to the boy’s blonde head.

“Hi,” Will says weakly. He raises two fingers and then winces, dropping his hand back to the floor.

“What the fuck Will, what happened?” Nico grabs the other boy’s shoulder, glances over his body, spread out on the dusty floor. There’s no blood, at least.

“I put my back out,” Will groans.

“You what?”

“I put my back out.”

“Your back - Solace, you’re sixteen. Isn’t that something that happens to old people?”

“Watch who you’re calling old, grandpa,” Will says weakly.

Nico resists the urge to smack Will in the arm. He looks like he’s hurting enough already. “Zeus almighty, I thought you were dead. How - how did you put your back out?”

“I was moving those stupid boxes -” Will tilts his head to the left to demonstrate.

“I said I’d help you with those!”

“Yeah I know, but I just wanted to get it done,” Will says dejectedly.

Will looks tired, his face pale in the harsh fluorescent light. His hair is mussed, and Nico’s fingers nearly twitch forward to brush it out of his face. He sits on his hands instead. “How long have you been here?”

“What time is it now? I came in here around eight last night.”

Nico frowns. “It’s quarter to ten. Tuesday morning. You were lying on the floor all night?”

“Yeah, I guess. I’m an idiot.”

“You are,” Nico agrees. It’s almost funny now, now that his heart rate is returning to normal. As the adrenaline fades, he suddenly finds he wouldn’t mind a nap on the storeroom floor himself. He flops down next to Will, scrubbing his hands over his face. “You scared the shit out of me. No one knew where you were.”

“Sorry,” Will reaches for his hand, wincing.

“No, no, stop moving.” Nico covers Will’s hand with his own and Will closes his eyes, a faint smile on his face. “I knew you’d find me. My hero.”

Nico snorts, staring at the storeroom ceiling. Will’s hand is cold. Lying on the cement floor probably isn’t helping matters.

“So you’re… okay then? Like, overall?” he asks hesitantly. It’s worrying that the other boy is having trouble moving, but Will doesn’t seem anxious, which is surprisingly effective at putting Nico’s mind at ease, as he’s discovered over the last year and a half.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine in a day or two.” Will tries unsuccessfully to blow his hair off his forehead. “It’s happened before. I just need to hold still.”

“Here on the floor?”

“Well, I was hoping to make it to a cot, but every time I try - “ Will attempts to roll towards Nico and squeaks in pain.

“No no no no no. No moving,” Nico interjects hurriedly, pushing the other boy back down. This time he does shove Will’s hair out of his face, quick and to the point, as if a small portion of his brain hadn't been fixated on the matter for the last five minutes. “Just let me think. Um. Do you have, like, one of those boards?”

“Like a stretcher?”

“No, wait,” Nico shakes his head sharply. “Now I'm the idiot.” He jumps up. “Wait here,” he tells Will unnecessarily.

He’s back in the hallway, and yes, there’s a small room with two freshly-made cots just a few steps away. Nico quickly pulls away the blanket and top sheet from one of them, dumping the heap of bedding onto a chair. The next moment he’s back in the storeroom. He flicks off the fluorescent lights.

“Romantic,” Will observes from his spot on the floor.

Nico immediately feels a flush creeping up his cheeks. “You’re a nerd.” He lies down at Will’s side again, as close as he can without jostling the other boy. “Hold tight.” He grabs Will’s hand. “Three, two, one -”

- And they’re lying side by side in the narrow cot. Nico’s quite pleased with himself. It was a tricky target.

“Good aim,” Will comments, grinning.

“Thanks.”

“No Cheez Whiz this time.”

Nico kicks him gently. “Maybe later, if you play your cards right.”

Will squeezes Nico’s hand, and Nico’s stomach does a little flip-flop. Because they’re lying in a bed together. Holding hands. In the empty infirmary.

“Um,” Nico says. He drops Will’s hand and extracts himself. “Not a lot of room on these cots.”

“They’re not really meant for two,” Will says. Does he sound… disappointed?

Nico shakes his head. No. Focus. He retrieves the bedding he’d discarded earlier and drapes it over Will as neatly as he can, tucking the blanket close to Will’s body.

Will sighs blissfully. “Ohhh, that’s so much better.” He shivers.

“Who’d have thought that a bed would be more comfortable than the concrete floor,” Nico says dryly. He drags his hands through his hair. Now what?

“Hey, you have that blanket warmer, right?” He remembers Will bringing him warmed blankets the first time he’d stayed in the infirmary. They were heavenly. His memories of the weeks after the war with Gaea are tinged with grief and loss, yes, but whenever Nico thinks back to that time he also remembers an unexpected sense of comfort. The hot, slightly synthetic smell of warmed blankets and the saccharine flavour of unicorn draught. Blue, blue eyes, and careful, freckled hands.

“Oh that would be amazing,” Will says. “You’re a genius. It’s down the hall, second door on the right.” He gestures with his chin.

Moments later Nico’s tucking two warmed blankets around Will. Will moans softly, closing his eyes.

“There. Now. What else do I do to you?”

Will’s eyes flutter open and he grins, wiggling his eyebrows. “What do you wanna do to me?”

“William.” Nico covers his eyes with his hands.

“Sorry, sorry,” Will says. “Um… ambrosia, I guess?”

“Will that help? What did you do last time this happened? Can’t someone heal you?”

Will wrinkles his nose. “There’s not really anyone capable. But it’s fine, I’ll be better soon. I think I had a prescription for a muscle relaxant last time? It definitely helped. But we don’t have anything like that here.”

“How would we get a prescription? How does that even work? Do demigods go to regular mortal doctors?” Nico suddenly realizes he knows next to nothing about demigod medical care.

“I can write prescriptions, if it’s really necessary,” Will says tentatively. “Obviously I have to be super careful about it, since I’m not actually a doctor. And usually Chiron has to approve it. But then someone would have to go find a pharmacy…”

“Well, I can do that,” Nico points out. “I can shadow-travel into Manhattan and be back here in half an hour. It’s not a problem.”

“You’d do that for me?”

“Of course, you moron. Just tell me what to do.” __

Ten minutes later, Nico’s standing in front of a CVS on Fifth Avenue. It’s always a little disconcerting, travelling from camp straight into the middle of the city, rivers of traffic and people rushing by, buildings towering above. It’s chillier here, too. He should have grabbed a jacket.

Nico squints at the slip of paper Will’s given him. Will claims the Mist will take care of the details.

Sure enough, the pharmacist barely glances at the paper, tells Nico she’ll have it ready for him in fifteen minutes.

With some time to kill, Nico paces the aisles of the store. He somehow ends up gazing at a seemingly endless wall of chocolate and candy. He doesn’t remember spending much time in stores as a small child, but he thinks things were different, seventy-odd years ago. He finds the innumerable choices a bit baffling. He tries to remember what he bought the last time he was here.

A woman approaches holding a small blonde girl’s hand, and Nico automatically shifts to give them room to pass. The kid’s got a messy blonde ponytail and a neon green bandaid on the bridge of her nose. A tiara is perched crookedly on her head. “I like your skeletons!” she chirps at Nico, pointing to his chest. He glances down at his shirt. It’s the one Will got him for Christmas. Two skeletons, one holding the other’s spine and saying “I’ve got your back.” It’s stupid, but Will thinks it’s hilarious.

“Thanks,” he smiles. “I like your tiara.”

The girl beams and her mother shoots Nico an apologetic smile. “Come on sweetie,” she tells the girl. The child swings around on her mother’s arm to wave at Nico as she’s pulled towards the cash registers, and Nico waves back. He turns back to the wall of chocolate. Right, Snickers. That was Will’s favourite. Nico grabs two. __

Back on the street outside the pharmacy, Nico debates trying to shadow-travel to the floor directly under Will’s cot, but on further consideration decides he’ll save that prank for a day when Will’s better able to defend himself. He lands in the empty infirmary waiting room instead.

He’s feeling oddly content. Light. It’s been great for morale, having Percy and Jason back, and it’s kind of nice, being able to look after Will. Nico’s been so grateful for Will’s friendship over the last eighteen months, and it feels good being able to return the favour in some way. He also finds he’s unreasonably pleased about the little girl who approached him at the drugstore. He’s become accustomed to people avoiding him, averting their eyes when they see him in their path. Maybe he’s getting soft. Maybe he doesn’t mind. ___

Half an hour later, Will’s settled with his meds, a huge tumbler of ice water and yet another warmed blanket. Nico restrains himself from pointing out that the extra blanket might not have been necessary were it not for all the ice. Regardless, Will’s looking more comfortable, despite the dark circles under his eyes.

“Maybe you should try to nap now?” Nico suggests. “You kind of look like shit. No offense.”

Will nods tiredly. “Yeah, I didn’t exactly sleep last night.”

Nico rises from the chair he’s been perched on. “I’ll stick around though. You know, in case you need anything.”

“Um… well there is this one thing.” Will says nervously.

“What?”

“I really hate to ask.”

“Will.” Nico sits back down. “What? Spit it out.” He thinks it’s best not to mention the fact that he can’t think of anything he wouldn't do for the boy lying in front of him.

Will sighs. “Okay. You know how campers are always coming to find me at random times during the day whenever anyone needs any kind of healing?”

Nico nods. It’s annoying. Will’s constantly getting pulled away from archery practice, sword fighting, even mealtimes. The camp is seriously short of healers at the moment, but the injuries just keep coming. It’s hard seeing Will tired and overworked. Nico tries to help with what he can, but he’s no healer.

“Well, Chiron and I came up with the idea of having clinic hours. So a couple of afternoons a week, the infirmary would be open for campers with minor medical problems. You know, to try to discourage people from coming to find me at all hours of the day and night. Especially now when we’re so understaffed.”

“Makes sense,” Nico agrees.

“And the first day for that was supposed to be… today.”

“Oh…”

Will plows onward. “And Kayla and Austin were supposed to be here too, but we forgot Kayla was away this week, and then Austin had a family emergency, so that just leaves me.”

“Oh.”

“And,” Will says tentatively, “you?”

“Me?” Nico asks incredulously. He can feel his eyebrows travelling up his forehead.

“You could totally do it,” Will assures him quickly. “You can treat most minor injuries, and you know how things work around here. It would mostly just be handing out ambrosia and nectar - and I’d be right here to help if there was anything more complicated. I would ask some of the newbie Apollo campers, but to be honest they’re not much help yet.”

Nico blinks.

“I wouldn’t even ask,” Will continues apologetically, “it’s just that it’s honestly really wearing on me, getting called on at all hours… and I hate to cancel the first day we’ve planned… I really want this to work out.”

“No, no, of course. Of course I can help.” Nico hears himself saying, simultaneously wondering exactly who put those words in his mouth. ___

Out on the front porch of the Big House, Nico lowers himself to the top step. There’s an hour before he’s supposed to open the infirmary, and they’ve agreed Will should spend that time trying to get some rest.

It seemed easy enough to agree to help Will a moment ago, but now Nico can feel his anxiety escalating. What does he know about healing people? What are campers going to say when he announces the son of Hades is going to be their healer today?

“Hey! Di Angelo!”

Nico glances up to see Percy jogging towards him from the direction of the arena. He looks sweaty and pleased. “You missed an awesome throwdown. I beat Jason six-three. Man, I missed training here.” He collapses on the step beside Nico.

“You do much training at Camp Jupiter?” Nico asks, grateful for the distraction.

Percy wrinkles his nose. “Yeah, but it’s not the same. Everything’s so organized there,” he says with distaste. Plus I’m in class most of the time.” Percy shakes his hair out of his face like a wet dog. “Hey, did you find Will?”

“Yeah…”

Nico updates Percy on the morning’s events, all the way up until five minutes ago when for some inexplicable reason Nico agreed to provide medical care that he’s in no way qualified to provide.

As he listens to Nico, Percy’s face transforms to an expression that Nico thinks is probably similar to his own. He looks terrified.

“Dude, what were you thinking? Why would you agree to help him with this? You’re not a healer. No offense, but you’re like… kind of the opposite.”

Nico blinks. He knows this. Why did he agree to help? Right at this moment, he can’t think of any reason other than the fact that over the last months, it’s somehow become more and more difficult for him to deny Will anything, whether it’s ill-advised canoe trips in the pouring rain, or Star Wars marathons or (apparently) work that he’s completely unequipped to do. And that’s because, well.

Nico’s eyes shoot to his feet. He can feel himself reddening. “Um. I don’t know, I just. He asked, and I -”

“Ohhhh.” Percy’s eyes go wide again, but this time with what looks like dawning comprehension, and he scoots back on the step so he can see Nico better. “Oh, wait, wait! You and Dr. Solace? Really?” A grin begins to bloom on his face.

“No.” Nico hisses emphatically, quickly glancing around to make sure no one else is in earshot. “We’re not.. I mean… we’re not… together.”

“Yet,” Percy says, unexpectedly shrewd. “Oh man, Nico. Okay dude, I get it. I am absolutely your wingman in this… infirmary situation.”

If it’s possible, Nico thinks he blushes even harder. He can easily raise skeletons from the earth. He wonders how difficult it would be to sink into it instead. Instead, he grabs the collar of his t-shirt and pulls it over his face.

“Hey man, don’t even worry about it.” Percy punches him lightly on the shoulder. “You should have seen all the stupid shit I did for Annabeth before we started dating. We got this.”

“Really, you’ll help?” Nico lowers his shirt just enough to meet Percy’s eyes. Percy, who for some reason looks confident. Elated, even.

“Absolutely.”

"Thank you. Thank you. But Percy, please don't… say anything. To anyone." Nico begs.

Percy mimes zipping his lips. "Your secret is safe with me," he says solemnly. ___

The afternoon goes about as well as can be expected. Several campers come in for help with minor injuries, and both Nico and Percy are capable of treating those without too much mishap. A few campers look horrified when they’re informed of the current staffing situation, and quickly retreat out the door, assuring Nico and Percy they’ll come back when Will is feeling better. To Nico’s surprise, no one seems particularly bothered that a son of Hades is attempting to heal people - or at least, no more bothered than they are by a son of Poseidon. But the afternoon is so busy Nico doesn’t have time to give it much thought.

Will’s on call for anything out of the ordinary, and both Percy and Nico are in and out of his room several times for advice. An hour in, Will seems to be enjoying himself more than Nico thinks is strictly reasonable.

“You know, maybe I should always run the clinic from bed, under a pile of heated blankets,” he grins, after advising Nico on the appropriate nectar dose for migraine. Nico snatches a pillow from the other cot and throws it at him.

Nico and Percy are just starting to feel confident in their ability to handle whatever comes through the door when a girl from the Aphrodite cabin edges into the waiting room, looking anxious.

"Um. Hi. Is Kayla here?" she asks hesitantly.

"Sorry, she's gone for spring break," Nico informs her.

"Will?"

Nico shakes his head. He repeats the script he's been using all afternoon. Will's on call, but not well enough to see patients. Nico and Percy are doing their best to help. Nico’s sure the girl is going to turn and leave, but she just sighs, looking dejected, and Nico ushers her into an exam room. He's barely had a chance to sit down before she blurts out, "I think I might be pregnant."

"Oh," Nico squeaks. He clears his throat. "Oh." He does his best to school his face into a neutral expression, but he's not sure how successful he is. "Um. Actually, just give me one moment. I forgot something." He rockets out of his chair, carefully closing the exam room door behind him.

Percy jumps up from his seat in the waiting room as Nico enters. "What's wrong, man? You look like you just saw a ghost."

"She thinks she’s pregnant," he hisses at Percy.

"Oh gods." Percy blanches.

What follows is a heated, whispered discussion ("you talk to her" - "no you do it" - "I don't know anything about being pregnant, I'm gay" - "well isn’t that convenient"), but in the end it's Percy who, after a brief discussion with Will, enters the exam room to talk to Meridith, shooting daggers at Nico as he closes the door behind him.

There's a small office off the waiting room, and Nico removes himself to the desk inside, determined not to make eye contact with Meridith when she exits, or possibly ever again. After about fifteen minutes, he hears the girl thanking Percy, and then the door to the infirmary closing as she leaves.

Nico peeks around the doorway to make sure she's really gone. Percy's sitting on one of the waiting room chairs, his head in his hands.

"So... how did it go?" Nico asks tentatively, taking a seat across from him.

Percy clears his throat. "Um. The thing she did," he lifts his head to look at Nico, "you can't get pregnant by doing that... thing."

"Oh." Nico says, dumbfounded.

“Yeah,” Percy chuckles weakly. “I’m no expert, but even I knew that.” He takes a deep breath. “Anyway. I gave her some pamphlets. About... you know. Safe sex. She’s going to come back to see Kayla or Will next week to talk about… not getting pregnant.”

“Jesus,” says Nico.

“Yeah. Anyway. I’m gonna go debrief Will.” Percy presses his hands into his thighs and pushes himself up.

He takes a few steps and then turns back to Nico. “Hey,” he says slowly, and now there’s a glint of mischief in his eyes. “While I’m in there, I could like, talk you up to him. You know, mention how strong and handsome you are?"

"Absolutely not," Nico says, glaring hard enough that the other boy almost drops his gaze. Percy recovers at the last moment, his expression softening.

"But dude, come on. How could he not like you?"

Nico laughs, giving Percy a pointed look.

"Well, I'm straight." Percy points out.

Nico rolls his eyes.

"Now, if I was not straight…" Percy begins thoughtfully.

Nico drops his head into his hands. "Jackson, I cannot express to you how deeply I do not want to have this conversation." ___

Percy’s back from Will’s room in a few minutes, looking a little more collected.

“Will says we’re doing a good job. He sounded surprised.”

Nico laughs.

Percy flops back into a chair in the waiting room where he has a clear view out the front door. "You know, I never really thought about it before, but Will is kind of cute," he says quietly.

"Jackson, I swear to god."

"Broad shoulders, that fluffy hair," Percy gestures with his hands in demonstration, waving them around his head. "He has really kind eyes."

"I can't even tell if you're joking now," Nico mumbles from behind his hands.

Percy drops his voice further. "He said you shadow-travelled into Manhattan to pick up medicine for him."

"Yeah, so?"

"And you brought him back a chocolate bar. And a Coke." Percy looks at him pointedly.

Nico pulls his shirt back over his face. "I hate you. I hate both of you."

Percy snickers. There’s a long silence. Then -

“I shadow-travelled him into bed,” Nico mumbles.

“You what?”

Nico lifts his head to look at Percy, who looks absolutely ecstatic. “I shadow-travelled him into his bed. The hospital bed. He was on the storeroom floor and he couldn’t move. I lay beside him and shadow-travelled us into the cot together.”

“Oh. My. God. Can I please tell Annabeth?” Percy’s eyes are shining.

Nico laughs. He’s completely mortified, but it actually feels good to share this with someone. He’s been keeping his feelings for Will close to his chest for so long. “I mean, I guess? Would she tell anyone else, though?”

Percy shakes his head immediately. “Definitely not. She’s like a vault. She kept my birthday present a secret for six months. And believe me, I was relentless.”

“Fine.” Nico sits back, leaning his head against the wall behind him. He closes his eyes. This infirmary gig is exhausting.

“Nico?” It’s Will’s voice, calling from down the hallway. Nico immediately sits up, meeting Percy’s eyes. Percy winks at him.

“Yeah?” Nico calls back, starting down the hall. “You need more warm blankets? Maybe someone to feed you peeled grapes?”

Will doesn’t answer until Nico enters his room. The boy in the bed looks a bit nervous, actually.

“Hey, what’s up? Is your back hurting more?” Nico tries to push down the little bubble of anxiety in his chest. What if there’s something worse wrong?

“I um,” Will clears his throat. “I need to pee.”

“Oh.” Nico blinks at him, feeling somewhat like a deer in headlights.

“But don’t worry, I think I have a plan.”

“Okay?”

Will laughs awkwardly. “I feel a little better. I think if you could just help me to sit up and then shadow-travel me onto the toilet? Like, just sitting on the toilet. Fully dressed and everything. I’m pretty sure I can manage the rest.”

Nico takes a deep breath. “Yeah. Yeah we can do that.”

The sitting up part is more complicated than Nico expects, but Will walks him through it, telling him where to sit, which arm to put where, like some kind of complicated medical dance. After a moment Will is seated upright on the edge of the bed, Nico’s arm firmly around his waist. Will looks thrilled.

“It’s a whole new world,” he announces, surveying the room.

Nico snorts.

Will tilts his head to lean it against Nico’s. “You’re so strong.”

Nico frowns. “Did Percy tell you to say that?”

“Huh?”

“Never mind.” Nico allows himself the smallest incline of his head towards Will’s, just enough that Will’s hair brushes his cheek. "Hey, where did you even learn to do that?"

"Do what?"

"Like, help people sit up and stuff?" Nico frowns. "I guess I didn't know you did all that in here. I thought it was mostly stab wounds and monster bites. Reattaching people's limbs and whatnot."

Will laughs. He has his arm around Nico's shoulders. It's kind of nice. Warm. Even if this is strictly for medical purposes. There's a citrusy-smelling shampoo that Will uses, and the scent of it always makes Nico feel calmer.

"My great grandma lived with us for a couple of years before she died. My mom took care of her. I helped a lot.”

“That’s really nice.” Nico loves hearing about Will’s various and assorted relatives, but it always hits him with a jolt of melancholy as well. He has so few himself.

“So… bathroom?” Will reminds him.

“Right, right.” Nico shakes his head. “Okay, how about if I…” He carefully moves from sitting beside Will to holding his shoulders, standing in front of him. “There!” Nico says, pleased. “Ready?” __

The bathroom voyage is a success. Will insists on walking on the way back, taking stiff little steps and leaning heavily on Nico. Percy hovers behind them offering suggestions and encouragement, then quickly makes himself scarce once they’re sitting on the bed again, shooting Nico a pointed look behind Will’s back. Nico sticks out his tongue.

It’s a little easier helping Will lie back down again. “You’re the best,” he sighs happily as Nico gets him tucked back in.

Nico huffs. “Yeah, lucky for you.”

Will continues to gaze at him fondly, and Nico can feel his face heating up. “Anyway, It’s no big deal.” He shrugs. “You’d do the same for me. You have done the same for me.”

“Yeah, but you’re looking after all my patients, too.” Will watches Nico for a long moment before his face breaks into a grin. “Just let me know if you ever want me to look after your skeletons for you.”

Nico rolls his eyes. “Last I checked, my skeletons were pretty self-sufficient.” ___

Nico sits back down in the waiting room, feeling buoyed after just having successfully treated two minor burns and a broken toe when Percy emerges from one of the exam rooms, white-faced and wide-eyed. A girl from the Demeter cabin follows behind. “Thanks so much Percy!” she chirps. That feels loads better!”

Percy watches the infirmary door close behind her as if in a daze.

“What did you do?” Nico asks, wondering if he really wants to know.

Percy blinks. “Apparently my abilities extend to draining middle ear fluid.”

Nico gapes. “How…”

Percy lowers himself shakily to a chair in the waiting room. “Will showed me a diagram, and I just… it was crazy, man.”

“Maybe you should change your major to otolaryngology,” Nico grins.

“What the fuck, where did you even learn language like that?”

Nico tips his head towards the back of the infirmary, rolling his eyes. “Where do you think?”

“Jesus. No, absolutely not. I’m gonna stick with larger bodies of water from now on. Do you know how much fluid is inside your head? That was way too close to the brain for my liking.” Percy grasps his head with both hands, as if trying to keep all its fluids inside. __

Thankfully, the stream of injured campers tapers off near the end of the afternoon, Percy and Nico having collapsed onto cots in the triage area at the front of the infirmary.

“Fuck me, that was exhausting,” Percy says weakly. “Give me monsters any day of the week. I have a whole new level of respect for those Apollo kids.”

Nico groans in agreement. “I know. Pretty sure I prefer the undead. My head is throbbing.”

Percy turns towards Nico, grinning impishly. “Maybe you need a doctor.”

“Fuck off,” Nico laughs.

Percy cackles. He pushes himself up. “I better get going. Annabeth’ll be wondering what happened to me. You staying here?”

“Um… yeah, I guess so. I can’t really leave Will alone. I’ll walk you out, though.” Nico heaves himself off the cot and follows Percy out the front door of the Big House. The sky over the strawberry field is streaked with pink. Nico can see a group of campers leaving the climbing walls. He selfishly hopes they’ll keep their injuries to themselves.

Percy pauses on the front step and turns. “Hey. You remember what I said about doing stupid things for love, before Annabeth and I got together?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Well. I guess falling into Tartarus was one of those things.” Percy’s expression is a bit guarded now. Nico’s rarely heard him mention Tartarus. He can understand why, better than pretty much anyone.

“Well.” Nico shrugs. “It might have been stupid, but I don’t think either of you would have survived alone, so…”

“True, true.” Percy glances down at his feet. “What I wanted to say was - when I told you to meet us on the other side?” He pauses, swallows. “I never had any doubt that you could do it, man. I’m glad it was you.”

Nico’s not sure what to say. Percy sounds a little choked up, and it seems to be contagious.

“Hey. Yeah. Of course.” He reaches out to awkwardly pat Percy on the arm.

Percy gives a hearty sniff. “Man, I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Being back at camp, it’s just… making me all nostalgic. I keep feeling all my feelings.”

Nico nods. He can relate, today.

“Anyway,” Percy scrubs at his eyes, gives Nico the kind of half-grin that would have swept Nico’s feet out from under him just a couple of years ago. “If you can find the Doors of Death, you can work it out with blondie.”

Nico gives a short laugh. “That’s a bit of a leap, don’t you think?"

“Maybe, but look at you,” Percy slaps Nico’s shoulder. “You did great today. You’re amazing. And smart. And adorable.” He pinches Nico’s cheek.

“Fuck off,” Nico groans, swatting Percy’s hand away.

“Whatever, it’s true,” Percy presses on. “And if it doesn’t work out with Will, there’ll be someone else who’s, you know. Deserving of your love.”

Nico nods slowly. What a weird day. He definitely never expected to be having this particular discussion, with Percy of all people. “Thanks.” His voice sounds rougher than he’d meant it to. He clears his throat.

“Hug it out?” Percy raises his eyebrows, and his arms.

Nico sighs. “Fine.”

Percy wraps him in a brief, bone-crushing hug. He smells like sea breeze and the cleaner the Apollo kids use to scrub down the infirmary. He pats Nico on the shoulder as they part. “See you later, hey?”

Nico nods. “Thanks, man. I couldn’t have done this without you.” He gestures back to the Big House.

“What are friends for?” ____

It’s a relief to finally lock the infirmary doors, and Nico silently prays to both his father and to Will’s that things stay quiet for the rest of the night. When he goes to check on Will, the other boy is sleeping. Nico flops down on the cot next to the window and falls into blessed unconsciousness almost immediately. He’s in the middle of a dream wherein a tiara-wearing zombie is offering him warm blankets when he’s awoken to the sensation of something pelting him in the head.

“What the fuck?” he mutters, rolling over.

Will is grinning at him in the dark. “Wake up, sleepyhead! I’m hungry.”

Nico pushes himself into a sitting position. “What time is it?” He looks down at himself. “Why are there cotton swabs all over me?”

“I was trying to wake you up. It was all I could reach.”

Will aims another cotton swab at Nico. It bounces off his shoulder. Nico scowls.

“You were trying to wake me up. Because you were hungry.”

“Exactly!”

“Okay. Um. What are we eating? What time is it?” Nico asks again. It’s dark outside the window now, and he’s feeling completely disoriented. He swings his legs over the side of his cot, scattering cotton swabs on the floor.

Will squints at the clock on the wall. “I think it’s around eight? There are sandwiches in the fridge in the Big House kitchen. It’s probably too late to grab food from the dining pavilion.”

Nico makes a face. “I don’t think I feel like cold sandwiches. You?”

Will shrugs. “I’m famished. I think I could eat anything.” Then his face lights up. “Oh! Or Taco Bell?”

Nico laughs. “You want me to go back into Manhattan?”

Will gives him a winning smile, fluttering his eyelashes. Nico shakes his head and steps into the shadows. He’s so fucked. ___

Three hours later the boys have finished their tacos and several rounds of Uno, Will propped up on a mountain of pillows, Nico cross-legged at the end of the bed.

Will lets out a jaw-cracking yawn. “Oof. I’m wiped.” He rubs his eyes.

“Yeah, must be exhausting lounging in bed all day, ordering everyone else around.”

Will reaches out to give Nico a half-hearted shove.

“You’re feeling better, though?” Nico asks tentatively. Will seems better. He still can’t move much without a lot of moaning and groaning, but he’s acting more like himself, which is heartening.

Will shifts his body experimentally. “Yeah, I think so? I’m more mobile, but honestly I’m getting pretty sore again. I should probably take another dose of those meds.”

Nico reaches for the prescription bottle on the bedside table, passing it to Will. Will shakes two tablets into his hand and then pauses, looking a little unsure.

“What?” Nico prompts.

“Um. Well, it’s nothing, really. Just - I only took a half-dose this morning. Because, you know. I knew I’d have to help with the clinic and I didn’t want to be half-conscious.”

“Okay?”

“I’m gonna take the full dose now. From what I remember from last time, it’ll probably just make me really sleepy. But I just wanted to warn you, um. In case I say something I regret later.”

Nico raises his eyebrows, fighting a smile. “What’re you gonna say, Solace?”

“Just - I don’t know. The meds might make me say something stupid,” Will finishes nervously, twisting the sheet between his fingers.

“How will I be able to tell?” Nico asks, deadpan.

Will pouts. “You’re the worst. As soon as I’m back on my feet, I’m going to kick your ass.”

“Good, then you can bring me tacos while I’m recovering from my ass-kicking.” ___

Ten minutes later, Will is medicated and tucked back in. Nico’s made sure he has everything he might need within reach. He does a quick sweep of the infirmary, turning off lights and shoving chairs back into place. A quick glance out the window tells him camp is quiet. There are four lamp posts on the central green, and they cast a warm, yellow light across the space between the cabins. There���s a comforting glow from the lava wall in the distance. Nico’s struck once again at how the scene just makes him feel good. Calm. It’s like home, or at least close enough.

He makes his way back down the hallway, turning off the rest of the lights as he goes.

Will glances up when Nico enters his room. “You’re staying, right?”

“Yeah, of course. What if you have a 3 a.m. craving for Taco Bell?” Nico snatches up a cotton swab from the foot of Will’s bed and tosses it at him. Will flips him off. Yup, he’s definitely acting more like himself.

Nico glances over to the other cot. It probably makes the most sense to stay here in Will’s room. There’s really no reason not to, after all. He turns off the lights, toes off his shoes and climbs into bed. The worry and exhaustion of the day hit him the moment he’s horizontal, and he closes his eyes, snuggling down into the cot. It’s not quite as comfortable as the expensive orthopedic mattress Will helped him pick out when Nico was redecorating the Hades cabin (“it’s an investment in your spine, Nico!”), but he’s absolutely slept in worse places. His thoughts have just begun to pleasantly drift and scatter when Will’s voice jerks him back to consciousness.

“You’re too far away,” Will complains, sounding a bit groggy.

“‘M right here,” Nico sleepily props himself on an elbow, waving at Will. The beds are maybe four feet apart at most.

Will pouts. “It’s too far. What if I need something in the middle of the night?”

Nico frowns suspiciously. “Why, did you run out of cotton swabs?” They stare each other down for a long moment before Nico groans in defeat. “Fine.” He rolls out from under his warm blanket, shivering at the change in temperature. He manages to drag his metal cot a couple of feet closer to Will’s, the feet of the bed screeching on the linoleum. He glances at the other boy, raising his eyebrows.

Will regards him impassively. “Closer.”

Another foot.

Will’s fighting a smile now. “Closer.”

Nico laughs, shaking his head. This boy is ridiculous, and the simple fact of his existence compels Nico to do the most ridiculous things. Nico should mind far more than he does. He gives his cot one last shove, bumping it up against Will’s so the beds are side by side. “Better?”

Will shrugs, grinning. “It’ll do.”

Nico climbs gratefully back under the covers, pulling them up to his chin. Will’s next to him lying on his side. So very close. As if that weren’t distracting enough, it's only a moment before Nico feels Will’s warm hand slip under the blanket seeking his, and he allows their fingers to thread together. Nico feels the familiar, not-unpleasant swoop in his stomach. He inhales deeply, lets the breath out slowly.

“You have the best hands,” Will sighs after a long moment.

“Whoa there, Solace. Sounds like you’re moving into the category of things you might regret saying later,” Nico laughs nervously.

“No.”

“No?”

“No, that was something else.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah. I just really like your hands.”

“Um. Thanks.”

There’s a long silence, and Nico wonders if Will might have fallen asleep.

Then finally - “do you like holding my hand too?” Will asks timidly.

“Wasn’t that medication supposed to make you sleepy?” Nico asks nervously.

“Yeah, I thought it would. But it’s just making me really dopey and emotional,” Will sighs. “Sorry. Maybe you’re not supposed to mix muscle relaxants and ambrosia.”

“That’s okay. I’ll be sure to tease you mercilessly once you recover.”

Will giggles.

There’s another long silence, broken only by the clanking of the radiator.

“I - I do like holding your hand, though,” Nico whispers, his heart nearly beating out of his chest. He’s half-hoping Will’s actually fallen asleep this time.

“I know. I mean, I was pretty sure. But it’s nice to hear you say it.” Nico can hear the smile in Will’s voice. He takes a deep breath in and tries to count to five as he exhales. He feels lightheaded, like he can’t get enough air to his lungs, and he briefly wonders what will happen to Will if Nico dies of anxiety, right now.

The hand-holding is... pretty new. In fact, this is the eighth time he's held Will's hand. Not that Nico's been counting. The feeling still sends sparks through Nico’s body; Will's warm fingers wrapped around his, his grip firm and sure. It seems somehow incredibly intimate, despite the fact that, ridiculously, this is the first time they’ve acknowledged what's happening.

The first time, a month prior, Nico had grabbed Will’s hand without really registering what later felt like the enormity of the gesture. They'd been in a busy shopping centre trying to make their way towards the exit, where Jules-Albert was waiting to chauffeur them back to camp. The crowds of shoppers were such that Nico had already lost sight of Will twice, and he reached for the other boy's hand automatically, pulling him towards the doors. The eagerness of Will's answering grip had surprised Nico, made him catch his breath. Will had kept a firm hold on his hand all the way back to the car, though it wasn't strictly necessary, and Nico could swear that Jules-Albert winked at him when he got out to open Nico's door.

Nico glances towards the window, trying hard to focus on something other than the warmth of Will’s hand in his and the resultant butterflies in his stomach. Tries not to think of the whole universe of other possible touches that might, maybe, possibly extend from this one. It’s really dark tonight. If he cranes his neck, he can see the light from Hestia’s hearth reflecting on the columns of the dining pavilion. On the infirmary ceiling, someone’s stuck glow-in-the-dark stars.

“Did you do the constellations?” Nico asks, pointing to the ceiling with his free hand.

“Hmm? Oh, no. Travis and Connor were helping when we painted in here last summer. They put up the stickers.”

“It’s kind of nice,” Nico comments.

“Yeah. I had the same ones in my room when I was a kid.”

Nico wonders, not for the first time, what kid-Will had been like. Probably just as sunny and stubborn. Adorable and infuriating in equal measure. He’s reminded of the little girl in the pharmacy this morning, all blonde hair and bright eyes, and he feels a surge of affection for the boy lying next to him.

“I think that’s Orion,” Will points to a spot directly over Nico’s head. “And that’s Gemini.”

“I can never remember,” Nico admits. “They all look the same to me.”

“We should go out star-gazing sometime! I can teach you!” Will exclaims.

“Sure, we could do that,” Nico smiles. His gaze drifts over to Orion again. “Hey Will?”

“Yeah?”

“What’s that… under Orion? It looks like a dick.”

“What? Where?”

“Oh gods, it is a dick. Under Orion’s belt. It’s Orion’s dick.”

Will gasps. “Fucking hell, I’m going to murder the Stolls. This is a medical facility!”

The dick is funny, but Will’s indignant tone is even funnier, and now Nico doesn’t think he can stop laughing. He snorts, and that gets Will going too, and soon they can barely catch their breath.

“No, no,” gasps Will, “we have to stop laughing, it’s making my back hurt even worse. I feel like my ribs are going to explode.”

“No exploding ribs,” Nico giggles. “I don’t know how to treat exploding ribs.” He rolls towards Will, untangling their fingers so he can rest his hand on Will’s ribcage instead. He can feel Will’s body shake with suppressed laughter. Will is warm, his camp shirt worn and soft. They’re close enough for Nico to feel Will’s breath on his face. It makes Nico feel dizzy and light and maybe a little brave. Or maybe that’s just the dark. After a moment, their laughter slows to the occasional giggle.

“Oww,” Will moans.

Nico immediately removes his hand.

“No, no, the hand stays,” Will complains. “It was helping my back.”

“It was not.”

“It was! I’m a medical professional,” Will insists, schooling his face into a serious expression.

“You’re a medical moron,” Nico says. But he returns his hand to Will’s side. Will beams and Nico rolls his eyes.

“I’m a medical marvel,” Will mumbles and then starts giggling again.

“You’re drunk,” Nico laughs.

“Maybe,” Will considers.

Then: “Look, though,” Will says quietly, sounding distinctly less silly. And he reaches towards Nico, laying his hand on Nico’s side. “It’s nice, right?” Will’s hand rests warmly, fits perfectly, between Nico’s rib cage and his hipbone.

They gaze at each other for a long moment in the dark. “Yeah. It’s nice,” Nico finally whispers. Will smiles softly and closes his eyes, his thumb stroking against Nico’s side once, twice. After a few minutes, Will’s breathing evens out, deepens. Nico lies awake for a long time, memorizing the soft touch of Will’s exhalations on his cheek, the warm weight of Will’s hand on his side. ___

Will wakes slowly, feeling warm and cozy all over. He’s cocooned in blankets up to his ears. It’s a moment before he remembers where he is, recalls the events of the day before. He stretches carefully. Still sore, but loads better than yesterday. With a bit more effort than it would normally require, he manages to roll himself over, smiling when he sees Nico still lying in the bed next to him. The other boy is awake already, staring at the ceiling and looking pensive, hands behind his head.

“Hey,” Will reaches out and pokes him.

“Hey,” Nico immediately rolls towards him, looking alert, concerned. “You okay? How are you feeling?”

“Much better,” Will assures him. The relief on Nico’s face is obvious, and Will feels a familiar rush of tenderness for the other boy. “You did awesome yesterday, by the way.”

Nico waves a hand dismissively, but Will presses on, “no, I mean it. With the clinic, with me, everything. I’m proud of you.”

Nico gives him a half-smile, looking a little abashed. “It did feel like it went pretty well, actually. I mean, I can handle you,” he pokes Will gently, “but the clinic… to be honest, I was pretty nervous about that.”

Will waits, listening. Managing Nico can be a little like bird-watching, or trying to make friends with a feral cat. It’s best to be patient and not make any sudden moves.

The dark-haired boy frowns, eyes back on the ceiling. Will restrains himself from taking Nico’s hand again in the ensuing silence. Ever since that particular door was nudged ajar, he finds himself inconveniently wanting to reach for Nico’s hand constantly, any time they’re near each other. When they’re eating meals, or walking back to their cabins at the end of the day. When, three nights ago they’d been standing in the woods together during Capture the Flag, Nico ranting and waving his arms about some perceived injustice of the game. Holding hands occasionally should be enough - more than enough, right? Considering even that had taken so many months to evolve. But somehow, stupidly, it’s only made Will want more. He wants to wrap himself around the other boy, smooth the little crease that forms between his eyebrows when he frowns, bury his face in his dark, messy hair. Not to mention a whole host of other compelling touches that Will tries not to dwell too deeply on. He’s trying his best, always wary of anything that might make Nico retreat back into himself, but gods it’s hard.

“No one was… scared of me,” Nico blurts out awkwardly, diverting Will from his thoughts.

“Huh? Why would anyone be scared of you?”

“I don’t know. For a long time, everyone was. Or it felt that way. But like, people were happy to see me yesterday.” Nico looks incredulous. “Harley and his friend talked my ear off for half an hour. People kept asking me how I was doing… and they seemed genuinely interested. I mean, some campers didn’t trust my healing skills, but they didn’t want to see Percy either. One of the new little Aphrodite kids tried to paint my nails.”

Will’s eyes flick towards Nico’s hands. Nico shakes his head. “I told her I didn’t have time.” Will laughs. “But she might come back today, actually,” Nico says resignedly. “She seemed really disappointed. Anyway. I used to feel like everyone was intimidated by me. Maybe I’m losing my edge,” Nico half-laughs.

“Maybe your edge was all in your head,” Will suggests, grinning.

“It wasn’t! People feared me, Solace. When I was at the pharmacy yesterday?” he glances at Will, who’s now watching him with fond exasperation. “This adorable little child came right up to me to tell me she liked my shirt. A child,” he finishes, extending his fingers in a disbelieving gesture. Will’s eyes flicker down to Nico’s shirt. It’s the one Will got him for Christmas last year, and he always feels a pleasant warmth in his chest when he sees Nico wearing it.

“I blame you,” Nico continues, sounding stubborn.

“Me?” Will’s voice comes out higher than he’d planned, and Nico fights a smile.

“Yeah. I was perfectly edgy! I had perfected my edge. Then you came along and…” Nico waves his hands vaguely in the air, suddenly seeming to realize his train of thought has taken him somewhere he hadn’t intended.

Will knows he should probably leave it, move on to other, safer topics before Nico withdraws. Topics like coffee, or the shower he needs almost as desperately as the coffee.

“Drama queen,” Will teases instead. “What is it that you think I did? To make you lose this edge you speak of.”

Nico shoots a furtive glance at Will. “You… Well. You made me talk to people.” He has his arms crossed over his chest, making a valiant attempt to glower at the ceiling. The pink in his cheeks gives him away, though.

Will snorts. “That is objectively untrue. Besides, people like talking to you. You just needed to stick around long enough to do it.”

Nico shrugs, and he’s close enough that Will can hear his shoulders rustle against the sheets. He’s inches away. It would be so easy to reach out and lay a hand on his shoulder. To trace the now-faint werewolf scars on his bicep where they trail below the sleeve of his t-shirt.

“You made me want to stick around,” Nico whispers finally.

The words send a shock through Will’s body and he freezes, afraid that if he moves a single muscle, Nico will be out of the bed and into the shadows faster than blinking.

Nico swallows and then opens his mouth to speak again, apparently not having quite exhausted all his nerve. “M-maybe it wasn’t just you - that - who made me want to stick around.” His voice is rough with emotion. “But you helped. A lot. So-”

But Will is already in motion, because honestly he can’t stand it anymore, and if he was waiting for an opening, surely this is it. What he intends to do is to rise up on his elbow, cup Nico’s cheek with his free hand and gods, just kiss him already. The result, unfortunately, is that Will half-rises, leans towards the other boy and is then sabotaged by a particularly nasty crick in his neck. When his hand flies up reflexively to soothe the pain, he manages, essentially, to backhand Nico across the face.

“Oh shit, oh fuck, I’m so sorry-” Will gasps, reaching forward again in apology as Nico grabs his nose and Will is forced back once more by the resulting pain in his neck.

“What the fuck, Solace?” Nico squeaks, his eyes watering. “I’m pouring my heart out here and - did you seriously just slap me?”

Will is absolutely mortified, but somehow the shocked look on Nico’s face combined with Will’s own nerves and the intensity of the last few moments send him into an unfortunate fit of giggles. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” he gasps, trying to catch his breath. “Are you okay? I didn’t mean to hit you - gods -”

Nico looks unconvinced. He touches his nose gingerly, pulling his hand back to check for blood.

“Here -” Will reaches forward again, now from a slightly different angle, trying to control his laughter. “Give me your nose.”

Nico looks deeply distrustful, but leans forward enough that Will can lay his fingers gently against the bridge of Nico’s nose. It’s not broken, just bruised, and Will closes his eyes, concentrates. Nico gives a sharp little gasp as the warmth flows from Will’s fingers into Nico’s skin.

“Better?” Will asks timidly.

Nico nods. He huffs a small laugh.

“I’m really sorry,” Will says one last time. “I swear I wasn’t trying to hit you.”

“What were you trying to do?”

“I-” and now that the impetus of the moment has faded, Will is suddenly feeling much less bold and he wonders if he should just tuck those feelings away again. But no -

“I was trying to kiss you,” he whispers, his eyes darting back and forth between Nico’s for any sign that he’s thinking of fleeing.

Nico’s eyes go wide. “Oh.”

“Oh,” Will agrees. “Um.. can I -” he begins to lean forward again, but Nico holds a hand up to stop him, and Will’s heart sinks.

“No,” Nico says, but now he’s smiling. “Just - please just stay where you are,” and he leans forward instead, one hand rising to rest gently on Will’s shoulder. Their noses brush and Nico hesitates. But he’s smiling even wider now, and Will feels like his whole chest is expanding, filling with brightness. Then Nico leans in just a fraction more, pressing his lips carefully to Will’s, and oh.

It’s soft and hesitant, but so, so perfect, the gentle pressure of Nico’s mouth and his breath, warm against Will’s cheek. Nico’s thumb strokes against his shoulder and Will feels that he might actually burst with relief and happiness. Nico pulls back just enough to press his forehead against Will’s.

“Okay?” Will breathes.

“Yeah.”

Nico leans back in again, dropping quick, soft kisses on Will’s cheeks, his nose, his forehead. Will’s eyes flutter closed and he takes in a deep, unsteady breath. Nico brushes another kiss to Will’s lips, his mouth lingering. Will presses up, his hand rising to cup Nico’s neck and pull him closer and gods, it’s everything, everything. They part again, but just enough to lie side by side, their noses nearly touching. They breathe.

“Wow,” Will whispers.

“Yeah,” Nico laughs softly.

“That was… um.” Nico swallows. “That was worth sticking around for,” he whispers.

Will grins. “You are a big softie now. Maybe you were right about your edge.”

“Eh,” Nico shrugs dismissively. “I wasn’t using it anyway.” ___

It’s not the last time Will puts his back out. Bodies are fallible, and time isn’t always friendly. But the memories are, and as much as Will dreads the telltale twinge in his lower back that tells him he’s about to be immobilized for the foreseeable future, it also always brings back fond memories of this time, the time it happened when he was sixteen. When everything changed. ___

Now, at 32 - a whole lifetime later, Will thinks: at least he’s at home, at least there hadn’t been any important plans to cancel. He’s reclined in his favourite chair, enveloped in blankets, his four-year-old daughter tucked under his arm.

Nico steps into the living room looking a little frazzled. “Okay, I think I’ve got this damn carrier figured out -”

“Bad word alert!” Nora pipes up from Will’s side. Will presses his lips together to keep from laughing, and Nico has the decency to look ashamed.

“Sorry, Nora,” he allows, reaching behind himself to fasten the infant and the infant carrier more securely to his body. “I haven’t used this… silly baby sling since you were a baby.” He taps her nose.

“I was never a baby,” she says dismissively.

“Oh no?”

Will grins at his husband over their daughter’s head. “You know you don’t have to take the baby,” he tells Nico one more time. “You won’t be gone long, you can just put him in the crib. It’s fine if he cries a little.”

Nico gives Will a mock-horrified stare, covering the baby’s ears. “It absolutely is not.”

Will laughs.

“Besides,” Nico shrugs. “This is us now, right?” He waves his hands around, his gesture encompassing the kids, their little house in New Rome, toys scattered over the floor and the couch, dishes waiting in the sink. “I can handle it. It’s just a few blocks. Emmett and I will be back with your prescription in a flash. Right Emmett?” He leans to press his lips to the baby’s head, lingering there to take a deep inhale. Will smiles.

“New baby smell,” Nico shrugs, looking only a little sheepish. “Nora, you’ll fetch things for Dad if he needs anything while I’m gone, right?”

“I know Papa.” The dark-haired little girl rolls her eyes, reminding Will so forcibly of Nico that his breath catches in his chest.

“She already brought me a stuffed flamingo and three fruit snacks,” he informs Nico, nodding at the table next to him.

Nico smiles, leaning in for a goodbye kiss. Will tilts his head up to oblige.

“Hey -" Will reaches for Nico’s arm before he can leave, and Nico turns. “I was thinking tacos for dinner?”

Nico’s smile lights up his whole face, and Will imagines the memories flooding Nico’s mind the same way they do his own - tacos and Uno games. First kisses and fingers linked under warm blankets. Nico leans in to kiss Will again, once, twice, then a third time, his tongue darting out to taste Will’s lips, hand gentle on the back of Will’s head.

“GROSS,” Nora announces loudly.

Nico pulls away, still smiling, takes a deep, unsteady breath. “That sounds great,” he says.