#i will update you guys on the progress tomorrow

[rpfisfine]

https://youtu.be/VTww7HDnBpE?si=3FCl4pZlRMQXNUNG

More Alex content for you 😁

omg..........Omg.....

[leviiackrman]

Thought I would update:

[blockofhoney]

episode 1 COMPLETE. thank fuck

[onelittlespiral]

Hey dude, I'm just a lil bro looking for a big bro to take care of me in all sorts of ways but all I'm stuck with is my lousy nerd of a roommate. Could you help me out?

FML: Fraternize

My roommate was… chill all things considered. I don’t know, he was just the random guy that I got stuck with when all my bros decided to move into the house and I needed someone to take the lease with. Scruffy, for sure. A bit out of shape. He said he used to play soccer in high school. Cute, but that was about it. Nowadays he was just getting his degree in English. Just a guy. But I didn’t want just another guy.

I tried to be friends with the guy, but he always just blew me and my boys off. He would just say he was too busy studying or playing some video game to come out to the gym with us or hang at the frat. I finally decided I was fed up. I needed my roommate to be more than a rando in my house. I needed a bro. And the fraternity had some resources to make that happen.

They usually keep this kinda stuff for pledges who start stepping out of line, but my buddy slipped me the files that they show to help guys get in line. I don’t remember if I ever saw them myself… what ever. It was a series of videos that promised to turn any guy into a bro in no time flat. So, one night, I put the tapes on when my roommate was home:

“Hey man, I’ve gotta watch these for class, mind if I slip them on?”

“No problem, I’ll just hang out in my bedroom.”

“Actually, it may be something you would like. You should stay. Here, you chill here and I’ll listen while I cook. I’ll make enough to split.”

I turned the first tape on and went to cook up some chicken and rice. In the other room, I heard the video beginning. It wasn’t long before I started hearing my roommate responding to the commands:

You are loyal to your bros.

“I am loyal to my bros.”

When you are around them you feel relaxed.

“When I am around them I feel relaxed”

The gym feels like your second home.

“The gym feels like my second home.”

The frat is life. You are made to be loyal to the frat.

“I am made to be loyal to the frat.”

They kept pushing him in the background while I finished cooking some food. When I walked back into the room, static filled the screen as my roommate stared into space, drool dripping from his mouth. I turned of the TV and he seemed to come to his senses.

“Hey, sup bro? Got the fuel?”

Already he was much better, “Yeah man, chicken and rice.”

“Hell yeah, gotta get a good workout in before getting my homework done.”

We ate quickly and started getting ready for the gym.

“Hey, bro, you think they are still taking new pledges? I’ve been meaning to apply to your frat!”

I was shocked at how quick the progress had been, “Yeah man. I’ll hook you up with my peeps tomorrow.”

“Sweet, let me finish getting ready and we can go.”

Dang those videos were quick. Even the way he carried himself was so different. This is the bro I needed.

The week went on and we kept working out. I hooked my roommate up with the pledge master and he quickly started falling in with the bros. We worked out, partied, did almost everything together now. I gave the rest of the tapes back to my guy who gave them to me. He said he needed them for a few guys who had gotten a little hands-y with some girls at the last party. I was fine to get them back, I didn’t think there would be any more issues with my roommate.

The year flew by until it was time for spring break. I had opted to be my roommate’s big and done all the usual hazing and shit with him. Had to keep him on his A game, I wasn’t going to go east on him. The spring break frat trip was a rite of passage for the incoming pledges. As much as I wanted to go, I had plans to visit California with my partner. We were having a great time, chilling at the beach, shopping through souvenir stores, and hiking parks. But I made sure to get updates about how my roommate was enjoying his week. It was from one of these progress reports that I got word from the pledge master:

Hey, bro. Just letting you know. Your little bro was making some girls uncomfortable at the bar. Can’t have that causing issues for the frat.

Shit man. I’m sorry. Lemme talk to him.

Nah dude, it’s good. We have a protocol for these kinds things. Just letting you know so you aren’t surprised. We’ll make sure he won’t bother any girls again.

Thanks dude. Lemme know if you need anything.

Nah bruh, relax. Enjoy your vacay.

Well as long as they have shit handled. I went back to my vacation and forgot about the whole situation. I would give him crap for it when I got back. The rest of our trip was great. I didn’t hear anything more from my bros so I assumed it all went according to plan. I was eager to get back to my roommate and prep him for full brotherhood when I got back. It wasn’t till I walked into the apartment I knew something was awry:

“Sup, bro, welcome back.”

A deep voice echoed from the balcony. He stepped inside and was greeted by a stranger. His arms were as thick as a football, his legs as thick as tree trunks. The smell of sweat, sex, and stale beer followed him into the room. He had a fresh tattoo on his arm with the number 86 boldly displayed. The stranger walked with swagger up to me, like he owned the place. As he approached, his musk only grew more intense. It wasn’t until I noticed the glasses it all clicked into place:

“Bro… is that you?!?”

“Bruh, who else would it be?”

My roommate stood proudly in front of me. He had been going to the gym steadily but no amount of protein powder could explain the progress he had made in a week. He was also easily 3 inches taller. And the smell. I don’t know how to describe it but he smelled… virile. Like just being around him was starting to get me excited. He certainly had never been like this before.

“Looking good, right? Like the new tat? Year of our chapter’s founding, 1986. After all, I am made to be loyal to the frat.”

That line made it all click together. The tapes. They said they would handle the situation, I didn’t know they would use the tapes.

”Speaking of which, dude. I can’t believe you flaked on the frat and went on a trip with your partner. You’ve got to be loyal to your bros.”

His scent, his words, my mind was swimming in a way it hadn’t in a long time. He stepped towards me, grabbing my head. I was pulled into his pit. I tried to pull back but a hand on the back of my head held me firmly in place. I felt so aroused and so scared as I was forced to huff the scent of pure frat bro. I was… fading. I couldn’t… resist… my… my… bruhhhhh.

“I think that you should sit through the next set with me bro.”

My mind was blank as he told me to sit down on the couch. Of course, I would do anything for my frat bro. He put on a video and sat behind me.

“They said we could watch this one together.”

The video whirled to life as my roommate held me in place in his lap. A flash of color and a brief intro played. It explained that it was the last in a series of videos for brothers who were trouble makers in the frat. This last one was the most extreme. I felt a wave of guilt, knowing I had betrayed my brothers and the chapter. I wasn’t sure what I did but I knew it must be bad. My behavior had to change.

You will conform to the standard set by the frat, whatever it takes. You will be entirely dedicated to the brotherhood.

“I will be entirely dedicated to the brotherhood,” we both repeated, in unison.

Good. Since you have proven you can’t be trusted with making good decisions, your brothers have decided to make those for you. You will become the ultimate frat bro.

“I will become the ultimate frat bro.”

Let’s start on the outside. A brother works out daily, at least. Strong muscles make for a strong foundation.

As I repeated the words, they became my reality. I had certainly never been a scrawny guy before, but this was something else. My muscles convulsed all at once, then seemed to shred and burst. My muscles ached as pecs, biceps, abs all were pulled out of my body. I sweat under the effort as legs bloated and toned, bloated and toned. My back stretched out and shoulders mounded on muscle.

Good bro. Now, a brother should be cocky, with a cock to match. All the other fraternities should know how superior we are.

‘Shiiit, no other frat could even come close. We threw the best parties, had the hottest girls and… fuck the hottest guys. With a bod like this, just about no body could resist.’ As those thoughts echoed in my head, there was a sharp pain in my balls as they started to swell. My cock snaked down my shorts, throbbing with newfound power and size. A moan escaped my mouth as my cock swelled thick as a beer can. Anyone would beg for a cock like this.

A frat bro with a cock like that just needs to fuck. Your libido keeps your mind so full that you hardly have time to pass your business classes.

My swollen balls began to churn as my cock came to life. As my mind was thrust into a deep sexual haze, any aspirations I had on my pre-law track were pushed out, draining right to my balls and slowly leaking out my cock. At the same time, I felt my roommate begin to shift behind me. I felt his cock press against the small of my back, throbbing as it was thrust into overdrive. He began slowly humping against my back, and I leaned back against that massive cock. I wanted to help my bro however I could. He wrapped his arms around me and slowly started jacking me off. My mind was in pure bliss as I was kicked into overdrive. His arms felt so warm and strong, and he was pushing all my buttons till I was thrusting into his hands.

The frat is a part of you. You live, breath, and sweat the frat. Everyone who meets you will know exactly what you’re about and submit to you, an alpha bro. You put the reek in Greek.

My mind processed for a second until the smell hit me from behind and I understood. My hormones shifted as sweat poured out. It was hard work being a fraternity brother, and everyone would know that. I worked overtime as the smell of straight frat filled my nostrils. The apartment changed in response, filled with leftover beers, used tank tops, and soaked underwear. Anyone who entered would fall into an immediate haze, the smell of bros clouding their mind. My mind was… so… slow. Just… needed… FUCK.

You will keep it simple, keep it stupid.

“I will keep it simple, keep it stupid.”

My head felt like it was filled with fluff. No thoughts, just instinct.

You will listen to your pledge master, follow all he says.

“I will listen to my pledge master, follow all he says.”

It was so much easier to just trust my bros. Whatever they said went.

You will live for and serve your bros, live for and serve the frat.

“I will live for and serve my bros and the frat.”

I would do anything for my bros. Gotta keep ‘em happy.

The frat is life.

“The frat is life.”

My roommate’s cock was still rock hard behind me. His grip was edging me as moaned for release. I could dedicate my life to men like him.

Thank you for your cooperation. There will be no further issues. Now cum.

And I did. Ropes shot across the floor as all the changes were set in stone. I was just another frat dude, struggling through Business classes and fucking through the night.

And with that the video ended. It took a sec for me to regain my senses. I slowly refocused my eyes and… fuck bruh my head is pounding. Musta partied too hard last night. Shit, I was drooling all over myself, lol. I mean, I’m hot but not that hot. And fuck, I made a mess. Bro, what happened? It’s already late, I’ve got to get ready to go out tonight.

I was going to throw on a polo and some shorts when my roommate put a hand on my shoulder. This man must’ve got a double dose of whatever I got. Bro, he was on another fucking level. He pulled me in tight, cupped my ass in his hands, held my chin, and slid his tongue in my mouth. All at once, my world shifted as the fraternity’s motto rang in my head, I will be entirely dedicated to the brotherhood. An aching in my balls told me that I wasn’t going to make it out tonight. I had my frat bro… no, my big bro right here. And he will take care of his little bro. He pulled down his sweatpants and a thick rod popped out from the waistband. He gently guided me to his cock, the true source of his musk. Our scents mingled as my thoughts were consumed by sex. The salty taste of pre coated my tongue as the tip slid down the back of my throat. My mind faded as the smell of the frat filled my nostrils. I was lost in bliss as my bro started pumping, pumping down my throat. Gone was the nerdy roommate I had:

There was nothing left but frat bro.

[vendetta-if]

Chapter 7 + Ash Hangout Public Update is now live! 🎉

The Chapter 7 and Ash Hangout update is finally here 🔥😁 I'm sorry for the slight delay, I had something urgent to attend to today and I just got home and I just basically went straight to my computer to upload this update.

Finally, we are starting to get into the ROs' first hangout sessions. Of course, to start us off, we'll have Ash's hangout session 😁This update adds around 31K of new words, bringing the total word count so far to around 356,701K words!

Anyway, this update also brings quite a lot of changes in the coding, especially for the skip chapter function, so I'm going to strongly suggest you guys play with clean save, either from the beginning or using the skip chapter function.

I have recently added another skip-chapter checkpoint, which is Chapter 3 in addition to the already existing one on Chapter 6. There is also now an autosave function at the beginning of every chapter starting on Chapter 2, so you'll be able to replay any chapter you're currently reading and try out different options in that chapter.

Anyway, enough of the technicalities.

Here's what you can expect in this update:

The set up to the ROs'  first hangout sessions

Ash's first hangout session

Go down the memory lane and see snippets of MC's most cherished memories.

Some more Viktor 😔

A mix of angst, wholesome, and even potential fluff 🤭

🔥🧡😉

Ash/Rin poly route is not yet ready for this hangout and it's still work-in-progress 🙏

New stuff added to previous chapters:

Added autosave/reload function for Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, and Chapter 5.

Added another skip-chapter point to Chapter 3, in addition to the already existing Chapter 6.

Also, little news that I'm going to make a post of tomorrow, I'm about to open both the Side Story and Spicy Side Story ideas and suggestions for this month on both Patreon and Ko-Fi, so if you're interested in supporting me while also getting some exclusive stuff, please do consider checking out my pages and subscribing 💖

I hope you guys enjoy the update! Oh, and also, feel free to send asks about the new update, but I'll probably hold off on answering them until a few days have passed to make sure a lot of readers already have the chance to check out the update and not accidentally spoil them 😊

[DEMO] | [PATREON] | [KO-FI] | [DISCORD] | [COG FORUM]

[idfkuhhname]

Big Boots to Fill (WIP)

Minor update! I got the gun belt and bottom of the shirt done, as well as adding some texture in the hat and holster.

I had more done, but the progress didn’t save and I lost it. That’s a tomorrow problem.

By the way, thank you guys so much for 120 notes! That’s insane!

[comfymoth]

i know i don’t usually sadpost on main, this blog is my silly little play place and i hate to kill the vibe, but. i dunno. i’m just having a really tough few days.

it’s difficult to go into detail, mostly because the way it happened was so complicated and confusing, but last night my mother rejected me for being trans. pretty harshly. i wasn’t even coming out, i officially came out for the first time in middle school, this wasn’t news, but she pretended it was, and went back on every single previous conversation and bit of progress.

i already wasn’t in a great place. it’s been a really difficult year for my mental health, and i’m struggling a lot with my senior year of college. obviously the election was a gut punch. so i just feel like i’ve been kicked while i’m down.

i’m not even totally sure why i’m posting this. i guess it just feels better to air it. i’m having such a hard time processing it, it’s like i just have to keep repeating it out loud. sorry for that.

i don’t know. i’ll try to get back to goofing around soon. i like having fun with you guys and i don’t want to just wallow in how bad this feels, so hopefully we can get back to sillier posts tomorrow, but. yeah. i guess if anyone’s been wondering how i’m doing, that’s just my update

[waynes-multiverse]

Lover – Part 2

Series Summary: Free from his past, Ben’s trying to move on and find a little drop of happiness in this new world. But when he finally holds everything he ever wanted in his hands, it threatens to slip through the cracks, and he has to fight one final time with everything he’s got to keep it.

🫡 Catch up here! Sequel to Rehab & Video Games.

Pairing: Soldier Boy/Ben x female!Reader

Warnings: 18+ due to language & mature themes, established relationship, Soldier Boy x wife!reader, human!Soldier Boy, angst with a side of hurt/comfort, sickness & generally gross descriptions thereof (the Gen V virus says hello 👋 – with minor adjustments), tw: mentions of euthanasia & suicide, sprinkles of fluff between

Word Count: 4.5k

A/N: Don't read too much into the whole virus situation, guys. I promise this is a full fix-it, and that annoying little bug is just how we're gonna do that 😜 Come tomorrow, all's well because we all know the V stands for... I do this joke every year, don't I? Never mind! Happy reading! 💕

Main Masterlist || Series Masterlist || Tag List

Part 2: Lovesick

Ben’s worried. Y/N keeps saying she’s fine.

They stroll through the supermarket. Benny pushes the cart in front of them, racing down the aisles.

She woke up this morning around eleven o’clock after a thirteen-hour sleep. He’d held a small mirror under her nose several times at night to assure himself she was still breathing. She never woke up. She’d looked so peaceful it had almost been creepy.

She also sweat through her sheets and jittered like a leaf in the wind. He tried to hold her when she was freezing and gave her distance when she was ablaze. In those breaks, he scoured the Internet for answers and tried to keep his frustrations over it quiet with little grunts and a deeply creased brow.

The hard lines on his face are still there, though. They never left.

Ben isn’t entirely clueless, however. Sure, he’s spent some four decades locked away, then came back for a short period of time to a world he can barely understand, only to be put to sleep and experimented on some more for a couple of years. People don’t really expect him to follow the news at this point, and they’re not wrong in their assumption – he rarely ever gives a shit.

But he remembers how she’d given him an update of the world’s dire state when he’d first gotten to the clinic. She’d mentioned a virus – one designed to kill any supes. The plan was to wipe everyone out. Biological warfare, they’d called it. It hadn’t come as a surprise to Ben. He’d seen this all before. Hell, he’d even helped with some of those things back in his glory days.

The virus had been one more reason, one more need for the cure. It had been the perfect deal: If you can’t kill ‘em, cure ‘em. But once that infectious little vial was opened, well, it had been hard to put the genie back inside.

The cure acted as both a vaccine and a remedy against the virus. Soon, the pesky little thing was pushed back but was never quite eradicated. It had eventually slowed its progression but never became any less deadly.

Now, instead of quick and painless, there was agonizing and torturous.

But Y/N can’t take the cure. He might as well kill her this second out of mercy.

When she woke up from her beauty sleep this morning, she admittedly looked better. She said she felt better. Ben still didn’t believe her. She barely touched her food, picked at her breakfast, and ended up only eating the leftover crusts of their son’s toast. He watched her from his periphery as he nursed his coffee in the kitchen, stoically worrying more.

Y/N coughs once more next to him as they pass the frozen food aisle. Ben eyes her cautiously. She’s done it all morning. He doesn’t know what to do, doesn’t know how to help her or how to stop it. Not even the blue vial could help him fix it. He doesn’t even know if it’s real yet. Is it normal? Is he overreacting?

She coughs again. He shakes his head and bites his tongue.

“You okay?” he checks gruffly, his voice thick with tension and concern, but he already expects her answer.

“I told you not to worry. I’m alright,” she says, her throat dry and her voice coarse. Her words are meant to soothe her husband. She can see the worry shimmering in his juniper eyes. She’s lucky he’s not a supe anymore, or he would’ve gone nuclear a while ago.

And admittedly, she knows she might be in denial. If true, it seems like a cruel trick the universe is playing on her. Giving her all she’s ever wanted and take it away immediately after? It definitely feels like a cosmic joke all the Gods are laughing about.

But deep down, she knows it’s true. She knows she’s screwed, but she doesn’t know how to tell Ben. He’ll lose his shit. She knows he’s not built for this.

She coughs again into a used tissue, which she has stored in her pocket since last night. Her tongue tastes something metallic – copper and iron. And when her eyes land on the white cloth, they notice spots of a deep, scarlet red.

She stops walking then and swallows thickly, her hands trembling as her eyes transfix on the blood. Ben halts as well when he realizes she’s not moving. He sees the panic in her face, sees she’s a lot paler now than the night before. Her skin looks clammy, her eyes red, weary, and dazed as if she had just taken a hard hit from one of his blunts.

“What’s wrong?” Ben asks and steps closer. He cocks his head at her, the creases of his brow now harsh lines. She seems out of it, confused. She doesn’t even seem to understand his question, let alone be capable of answering.

Her mouth opens, but instead of words, she only inhales shakily like it’s the last breath she’ll ever take. Ben barely reaches her fast enough when her eyes roll back into her head till there’s only shining white and her knees begin to buckle.

Ben pulls the knitted wool blanket up to her shoulders and gently kisses her temple. It’s been two hours since she’s fainted in the supermarket, and she’s still burning up.

He caught her just in time before her head hit the linoleum. He shooed away a group of concerned strangers that had gathered around them, assuring them that his wife was fine and just experiencing a minor dizzy spell. He sold it with a humorous eye roll and chuckled the word “women” before grabbing the kid and carrying her quickly out of the store and into the car. If she hadn’t been out cold, he’s certain he would’ve heard several objections to that comment.

Ben knows he can’t take her to a hospital, however. No one knows she’s a supe, and these days, they don’t receive the best treatment – too many bridges burnt after Homelander’s reign of terror. People have become angry, fearful, and distrustful.

Again, he feels a little responsible. He’s sure Soldier Boy had laid some groundwork for that, too.

Softly, the door to their bedroom clicks shut, her phone in his hand as he searches her contacts. His shoulders tense as he reaches the one he needs. His jaw tightens as he holds it to his ear and waits for an answer.

“Hey, I figured you’d call. Already fed up with the wrinkly dick and coming back?” Victoria Neuman’s voice sounds through the speaker, causing Ben’s hair to stand up on its ends.

Chalk on fucking board, he thinks and bites the anger back. He hates talking to that bitch, hates being nice, and hates asking for favors. But he swallows the acrimony down for the sake of his wife.

“It’s me,” Ben grits and feels his jaw beginning to ache. Why the fuck does everything hurt all the time? It’s something he figures he’ll never get used to – every time his back cracks and creaks in the mornings.

“You have exactly five seconds to tell me she’s not locked up in your basement before I make a few calls and let hellfire rain down on you, you decrepit piece of antiquity,” she bites her threat, but Ben can hear the concern in her voice, although he doesn’t give it too much weight. She’s probably faking it like her orgasms.

“Look, I wouldn’t fucking call if it wasn’t serious, you cunt,” Ben snaps and squeezes his eyes shut, rubbing the surge of fury and impatience out of his temples.

His admission causes a beat of silence on the other end. “What’s going on?” Neuman then finally asks and swallows down her own snarky remarks.

Ben licks his chapped lips before pushing the words out. “She’s-… she’s sick.”

There’s another long pause. “She can’t be sick. She’s a supe.”

“I fucking know that.”

“Shit.”

“Yeah…”

They both sigh (and both hate that they have something in common).

“I-… I have the cure,” Ben says and bites down on his tongue immediately after. He doesn’t want to show her all his cards.

“You can’t give it to her. It’s going to kill her,” Victoria reminds him firmly.

“The fucking virus is gonna kill her too, right?” Ben’s eyes drop to the floorboards that hold the solution to all his problems underneath.

“Yeah, it is,” Victoria admits. “What are her symptoms? You sure she’s not just pregnant?”

“I fucking hope not.” There’s a sentence he never expected to say. But– “I haven’t fucking cum inside of her for months.”

“Charming,” Neuman retorts on the other end.

“Wait, do you fucking know something? Did she cheat on me?” The grip around the phone in his hand tightens. Was that why she forgave him so fast and said she believed him?

“Unfortunately, no,” Victoria replies with obvious disappointment. Ben refrains from releasing the sigh of relief he feels. “Believe me, I’ve tried to get her cockdrunk on someone else…”

If Ben still had super-strength, he would’ve crushed the goddamn phone in his hand. Instead of exploding, he closes his eyes and takes a deep fucking breath, though. Ten… nine… eight… Where’s your happy place?

“Why the fuck are you calling me? What do you want?” Victoria’s voice snaps him out of his fatal fantasies of tearing her limbs off one by one.

“What d’you got in your labs? You gotta have a new cure, a new sample, fucking something,” Ben says but doesn’t even know what he’s asking. He’s grasping at straws, hoping to stumble upon an answer.

“If they’d found something, I would’ve already given it to her,” Neuman says.

“You fucking sure about that?” Ben doesn’t believe a drop of what she’s telling him.

“Yes,” Victoria still insists. “Look, before you give it to her, I’ll ask around, make a few calls, okay? See if there’s any possibilities to stop this.”

Ben’s hands tremble, his jaw quivers as he desperately tries to steady himself. “Thank you, fucking hurry,” he forces out in a murmur and immediately hangs up.

Y/N stretches with a grumbling sigh as his hand gently caresses her head. He presses his lips to her burning temple, her weary eyes fluttering open.

“Hey, my love,” Ben says, his deep voice soft as if he’s singing her a lullaby. “How are you feeling?”

She yawns and fights back the sleep in her eyes. “Still tired.”

“You’ve been sleeping for five hours,” he tells her and watches as she curls into the couch cushions with a coughing fit. He lowers down to the carpeted floor, stroking her back till she strenuously takes a breath again. “I think we need to talk about it now.”

Slowly, she meets his gaze, and he sees the fear shimmering in her eyes behind a thin veil of tears. She knows what this is, what her body is fighting, and Ben wonders how long she’s known without saying anything. He guesses she knew right from the start. Sometimes, he forgets he likes to pretend she isn’t really smarter than him.

But then, the fear morphs to determination. She nods, swallowing. “The gun’s in the safe in the closet.”

“I know where the fuck it is,” Ben grits, his brow densely creasing with a mix of confusion and angry suspicion. “What exactly do you think I’m gonna fucking do with it?”

“Shoot me.”

Her eyes are steady and firm, his voice is sterner.

“No.”

The word booms through the living room, threatening to quake the earth and shake books off their shelves.

“Ben–“

“You fucking listen to me, I’m not fucking killing you. End of discussion,” he snaps furiously. She’s not sure she’s ever seen him this angry before – not even when she said they should consider a divorce. Although, this seems to be a different kind of anger – one that cuts deeper.

“Sid shot Nancy,” she says quietly, hoping it appeals to him in some dark, ironic twist.

“She was stabbed, and they could never fucking pin it on him,” Ben shuts her argument down. “Ain’t fucking happening. I’m sorry, but you’re not gonna be the last person on my kill list, love.”

She forces a wry but weak smile. “It’d be a mercy killing. Euthanasia.”

“I’m familiar with the fucking concept,” Ben huffs tiredly. His hand then dives into the pocket of his sweats and pulls out a small vial that holds yellow liquid.

Her lips part in shock as her eyes fix on the familiar cure in his grasp. “How long have you–“

“Stole it from that black site while you and that Neuman cunt were busy yapping about policies,” Ben explains. “I also took something blue. Figured I could use it at some point.”

“Still wanna be Soldier Boy, huh?” Her voice sounds almost bitter, mocking. A small part of her has always hoped she’d be enough for him someday. That he didn’t need the fame, the money, and the fake heroics. That he’d love himself enough to not rely on a façade.

“No,” he replies to her surprise and watches her straighten a bit on the couch. “I’d fucking do it for you.”

“I don’t want that,” she tells him firmly, hoping he still remembers her words even when she’s gone.

“I know that. Why the fuck do you think I haven’t done it yet?” Ben says with a raised brow and as much patience as he can find within himself. Chats like these aren’t his strong suit.

“So, this is your idea?” She cocks an eyebrow at the vial in his hand, her look pointed. “You don’t wanna kill me quickly, but you’d rather watch me die in fucking slow-motion?”

“It’s better than nothing,” Ben argues, the lines on his freckled face hardening again. Why does she have to be so fucking stubborn all the time?

Ironically, she thought the same thing about her husband.

“For who? You?! You can’t be that fucking selfish,” she spits and rises from the couch with a shaking head.

“Funny. I was just about to say the same fucking thing to you,” he returns with the same fire.

She thunders into the bedroom and slams the door shut before he hears her rummaging through the closet. Annoyed, he rolls his eyes once the first expletives bleed through.

“Where’s the fucking gun?” she snaps as soon as the door flies open again.

“Already hid it somewhere you won’t fucking find it,” he answers slyly and purses his lips as she storms past him into the kitchen.

She lets out a deep sigh of frustration when she finds both the knife block and drawers empty. “Seriously? Did you fucking baby-proof the house while I was asleep?!”

“Well, if you’re behaving like a fucking baby…” he retorts and patiently follows her frantic steps. “You also won’t find fucking scissors and pills, either.”

“Ironic coming from you,” she scoffs, opening and shutting cabinet doors in the desperate search for something strong enough to put her out of her goddamn misery.

“Yeah, how do you think I knew which shit to hide, huh?” he asks rhetorically and takes a careful step closer, cornering her between counters and appliances. “Would you stop that now and fucking talk to me?”

“You don’t wanna talk to me,” she retorts. “You just wanna fucking pump me full of poison, so you get to feel fucking good about yourself again.”

“You think that’s it? I’m fucking jealous?” He arches a brow and crosses his muscular arms over his broad chest, his offense hiding behind amusement.

“Aren’t you?” she bites back.

“Is that you or the fucking V talking, huh?” Ben has never said it out loud before, but he hated how that blue shit changed her. Sure, it only amplified certain parts of her that he supposes have always been there, but it made her less caring, more arrogant, too.

“It’s me, you asshole,” she snarls.

The look on her face breaks his heart into a million pieces. He almost doesn’t recognize her anymore, and he knows reaching any sense of clarity or humanity within her is impossible at this point.

“You sure about that?”

She doesn’t reply, just shakes her head at him and opens the fridge. Her shoulders still for a second, and Ben knows at that moment she’s found something and is thinking of a plan to outfox him.

His gaze swerves to the full beer bottle that has found its way into her hand. She’s quick when she breaks it forcefully against the countertop, the golden-brown liquid splashing onto the floor. But Ben’s faster and bruisingly clutches her wrist, spinning her to face him. Tears sting her eyes as she fights against his hold. Ben knows she’s not using her full strength on him, though, and is almost curious as to why.

He’s not sure Soldier Boy would’ve shown the same hesitant restraint, even if it had been her.

“What the fuck are you doing? Let me fucking go,” she grits through her teeth.

Ben only shakes his head, his gaze on her stern as he tightens his grip around her wrist.

“You want me to fucking melt you into a puddle?” she threatens.

“Fucking do it,” he challenges her defiantly without a blink of a single eye. “If you wanna do this, you’re gonna have to step over my fucking body first, ‘cause there’s no way I’m letting this hand go unless you drop that fucking bottle. What’s it gonna be?”

Her nostrils flare in sync with the heavy rising and falling of her chest, her glare deadly. Slowly and mutinously, she opens each finger till the bottle crashes to the floor and shatters into sharp daggers at their feet. As soon as his grasp on her loosens, she breaks down and falls into his arms, sobbing against his chest.

He feels a flood of relief rush through his body. Thank fucking God, because he’s totally been bluffing.

He wraps his arms tighter around her, holds her closer, and nuzzles his face into her hair. “I know. It’s okay, sweetheart…”

“I’m fucking scared, Ben,” she cries, and he swallows the thick lump in his throat and forces his own tears back into his skull.

“I know, I know…” He cradles her head, resting his chin on her crown. “You know, admittedly, I’m-… I’m a little scared, too.”

She peels from his chest and meets his forest green eyes, amusement dancing on her lips. “Well, I’m glad you’re not a cold-hearted psychopath.”

Ben curls his lips, cheeks reddening. This is what he gets for opening up. “It’s my job as your husband to take care of you. Be a strong front.”

She rolls her eyes back dramatically and groans into his shirt. “You know, it doesn’t make you less of a man for feeling things.” She teasingly grins up at him. “In fact, I think only guys with the biggest dicks can pull it off.”

His lips tug at a smile. “I know what you’re doing.”

She locks her arms around his neck and pulls herself to his height for a scorching kiss. And Ben can’t fight the feeling this is meant to be their last one.

“Don’t get weird when I’m gone, okay?” she tells him then, and it feels like the beginning of a list of last wishes. “No reverting back to full asshole. No blue shit.”

“Christ, you’re not fucking dying,” Ben replies, his deep voice calm but firm.

“Ben, denial will only make it worse,” she says, her heart cracking at the forlorn look on his face. “You can’t fix this. There’s nothing you can do. It’s okay.”

Ben shakes his head wordlessly, and she knows the conversation is about to be over. There really isn’t more she can do, either.

“C’mon, let’s get you back to bed. You need some rest,” Ben says and already scoops her into his arms before she can respond.

Y/N’s head rests on his broad and bare chest as he holds her tightly in his arms. The skin-to-skin contact seems to soothe her, which is good because he plans to never let her go. If he just keeps her here right next to him, she’ll be fine. She won’t leave him.

She’s talked some when she wasn’t out like a light, but Ben could tell her mind was getting hazy. She talked about her parents and her childhood, something she rarely ever does.

They had never really talked a lot about their respective pasts altogether. They’d covered the basics, but what actually happened didn’t matter as much. They knew they’d both done things they weren’t proud of. But the point of their relationship had always been a clean slate – a fresh start.

She had barely gotten that. She stupidly sacrificed it all for him, and he still wishes she would’ve never done that. He was supposed to die that day with Homelander. It had been his time.

Not hers.

She snores softly in his arms. Her heartbeat is faint, her breathing shallow. An hour ago, it used to be labored, each breath a struggle. She’s so hot he’s afraid she’ll melt in his embrace. He knows she doesn’t have long anymore. He’s running out of time.

Carefully, he stretches his arm to reach for the glistening yellow vial on the nightstand. He pops the lid open and stabs the syringe through the top, drawing it to the brim.

There’s a flicker of hesitation in his green eyes. What if he makes it worse? More painful? What if he kills her?

Victoria’s words ring in his ears. There’s a chance the virus accepts the cure. A loophole, if you will. The cure’s deadly for two-timers, but if they were also infected with the virus, the cure could piggyback on that. One in eighty rats had survived the ordeal before they stopped the trials. Ben didn’t understand the rest of the scientific mumbo-jumbo, but he knows those aren’t great odds.

Still, it’s something.

Ben doesn’t have the luxury to be picky about solutions, though. What he thought were minutes turn to seconds once her breathing stops entirely.

He rolls up the sleeves of the oversized shirt she’s wearing, one of his, and looks for a good angle on her forearm, just below the elbow. He’s not a doctor, he has no idea what the fuck he’s doing or where it should go best, but that one time he did heroin in the 80s, he’d put it exactly there, and it had been fine.

“I’m sorry, my love,” he mumbles into her hair and presses a kiss to the top of her head.

One rough prick through her steeled skin, and the needle is in. He empties the liquid in one swift motion before discarding the used syringe back on the nightstand. He cautiously slides out from underneath her then and ensures she’s lying comfortably on the mattress. He doesn’t want to leave her side, but he knows her powers might short-circuit soon.

Ben remembers the stories from other supes at the rehab clinic – the agonizing pain, the feeling of puking your organs out before the rest follows. Flickers of his own process trickle into his mind. He can’t remember most of it, but he remembers how they’d locked him up in a nuclear-proof prison at some point during the procedure.

For now, he prefers not die by a rain of acid if he gets to pick.

His hand gently caresses her head. He’s not even sure she’s still alive. She might not, and he may have been too late. All for nothing.

“Come on, baby,” he whispers and takes her hand in his. It feels cold and lifeless, but he still tries. He’s not ready to let go yet. He’s not sure he’ll ever be. “I know you can beat this shit like everything else. We’re this fucking close. Just a little more…”

And then, there’s a flicker of something – a weak tap of a finger against his palm. There’s movement behind her eyelids and a twitch of her brows.

“Sweetheart?”

There’s a groan, her hands gripping a fistful of bedsheets as she coils into the mattress, muscles contorting. He gently rubs her back, trying to help her as the pain tears through her.

“Hey, hey, you’re good. You’re alright,” he soothes and feels the guilt bubbling in his stomach. He hates that he did this to her, but he did it for love. The knowledge barely makes it better, however.

“Oh, fuck, Ben!”

She usually screams those exact words for different reasons, and Ben notes the soft tones of annoyance and anger that are lacing her voice.

“Did you give me the fucking cure?!”

Ben draws his lips into tight line and nods. Admittedly, she might not have fully consented to the procedure. But he prefers her furious with him for the rest of her life over dead. Besides, he’s her husband – shouldn’t the decision be his? Like pulling the plug? That’s a thing, right?

“Motherfucking–“

She bites down on her tongue and swallows her curses with some blood as another surge of pain takes control of her body. Her fingernails claw at her forearms as if she’s trying to scratch it out of her system. If Ben could compare it to anything, he’d probably go with a demon exorcism.

“You selfish fucking prick! You can’t even let me die in peace?!” she grits through her teeth, fighting another surge. She feels the nausea too, like a parasite trying to flee its host through her throat.

“Look, I’m fucking sorry, but I had to take the shot, alright?!”

Y/N groans in loud exhaustion, and Ben’s not entirely sure if it’s because of the pain or a little bit because of him, too.

“Ben, you need to fucking leave,” she presses through her lips, her stern gaze finding his.

He can tell by her look that she’s not saying it out of anger. She’s not saying it because she doesn’t want him to stay and never see him again. She says it because she’s trying to save his life.

Again. The fourth time.

Her name falls from his lips, but she shakes her head as she stumbles out of bed and pushes past him towards the bathroom.

“Leave,” she tells him with more urgency. “Close the door. Go now.”

Ben stills with a hand on the doorknob and looks at her. He can’t leave her like this, can he?

“I’ll be fine. I promise. Please go,” she says as if she can read his mind, steadying herself against the cool wall. She can feel it everywhere, trying to escape her body.

His breaths are ragged, his heart is hammering against his ribs. “I fucking love you,” he says through the sting of tears in his eyes. He says it like it’s the last time he gets to say it while she can still hear him.

She sends him a weak smile and mouths, ‘I love you, too.’

And all there’s left then for him to do is staring at a closed bedroom door. And waiting. Fucking waiting…

Part 3: Lovestruck

Ah yes the waiting game 😂🫶 Are you excited for the finale aka the happy end tomorrow? After this, they truly deserve it haha

🩵 Tag List

☕️ Ko-Fi

💭 Talk Dirty to Me

TAGS:

Forevers: @alwaystiredandconfused @lyarr24 @supernotnatural2005 @deans-spinster-witch @blackcherrywhiskey

@deansbbyx @foxyjwls007 @ladysparkles78 @roseblue373 @zepskies

@agalliasi @yvonneeeee @hobby27 @iamsapphine @globetrotter28

@mxltifxnd0m @lacilou @feyresqueen @suckitands33 @onlyangel-444

@syrma-sensei @perpetualabsurdity @deans-baby-momma @yoobusgoobus @jessjad

@hunter-or-the-hunted @k-slla @just-levyy @mrsjenniferwinchester @illicithallways

@muhahaha303 @ultimatecin73 @nancymcl @leigh70 @brightlilith

@nesnejwritings @samslvrgirl @xx-spooky-little-vampire-xx @fromcaintodean @barewithme02

@thebiggerbear @star-yawnznn @thej2report @misatxox @spnaquakindgdom

@americanvenom13 @lamentationsofalonelypotato

Soldier Boy: @deans-baby-momma @snowayumi

Rehab Series: @nancymcl @sparkydonugh

[hivemuthur]

schedule + update + poll (help me)

today (GMT+1): Nothing's New Ch.3. + a request to soften the blow tomorrow: What Was That? Ch. 13 and of course requests in the meantime :v But besides that here's a little update of what I'm doing:

Saturnine Night is in drafting of the chapter's outline and gathering lore/materials stage - a Dark Ages AU of Viktor and Jayce as alchemists (pairing: ViktorxJaycexReader -> ViktorxJayce)

Strange Harmonies - for now, just an idea with general vibe, Modern AU, where Jayce and Viktor are rival musicians (Jayvik)

Praise You (working title) - I'm outlining characters for that, bec there will be many, a tattoo parlor AU, where Viktor is your new boss, so obviously issues (it's a silly little thing that hopefully will be funny, pairing: ViktorxReader)

Heathen - Modern AU, priest!ViktorxReader, do I have to say more? :')

Other than this, I have a bunch of lovely requests, and maintain that two of them will be turned into mini-series (3-4 chapters). These are regency era Bridgerton AU with arranged marriage (ViktorxReader) and Academic Rivals (ViktorxReader).

So, here's a poll for you to vote on which two multi-chapter projects I'm taking up first, as I'm closing down on writing the last chapter of What Was That? and Nothing's New. I like to have two works in progress simultaneously, bec I'm deranged. I'm leaving it active for 3 days and thank you for all the support guys, I still can't :')

[wardingshout]

Since I didn't draw anything for like half of 2024 I did an updated colour wheel instead! featuring only the newest of stuff I could find that fit.

I have also compiled a dump of many thoughts I want out of my head, like a little text post dump I guess. the tldr I guess I will just make "thank you".

Putting the most important thing first here which is. Every single time I catch myself thinking "no I need to draw smth other than alttp" a couple of very specific tags and messages pop into my head and I get so fired up to draw more alttp !!! the power I feel from that!!!!!

IIIIII feel like there used to be a way to do linebreaks but I can't remember how so my new text bit divider is random crap I can find lying around in my files

Ok here goes me being dramatic about something that only matters to me but feels so very important to get out for the sake of others too. I guess the gist of it is that tumblr is a rly important place to me and I'm so endlessly grateful for people always being so nice. at the end of the day I don't think I really care about much else in life than drawing and getting to share it with others makes it a much less lonely experience for me. I mostly just for myself, but I'm so grateful for the extra joy associated with posting it online too.

I feel a bit bad I can never seem to give back the kind of nice energy you guys give me. despite how much joy this place brings me, I'm just a naturally anxious person and I often chicken out of doing things myself. I'm so endlessly happy that people still bear with me or at least stick around to look at my art.

thanks to people's kindness I often find myself breaking out of the anxiety and getting a lot closer to initiating stuff myself, but I always get run over by some kind of irl issue instead, usually mental, but recently also physical health. I had so much fun on here this summer especially and I was so certain that this was the time I would make it last only for irl stuff to yet again show up and knock me out completely. every time that happens I feel like I have to rebuild whatever social bravery I had aquired from the beginning again and at this rate I won't ever get anywhere.

after weeks of very few work days, I feel like I'm finally rebuilding the courage to post and the concentration to manage drawing at all. it's not a lot of progress but I can feel it growing. from tomorrow it's back to full time work with no other breaks in sight and I'm scared my groove will be cut short already... I like my job but I've acknowledged I just can't thrive with full time work. I can bear it fine though, but it doesn't leave energy for much else in life.

I think the point here is. I know it's just social media but I've had so many good experiences on here and they're really precious to me. I hope one day I can be well enough to be that kind of influence for others too. my activity with art and presence online has become surprisingly reflective of how well or bad I'm doing irl, so I never I never want to give up on become a more present person.

the most important thing is art though, so finding the courage to get back to posting even if it's all I do, makes me happy too. thank you so much to everyone else who posts are too. I'm endlessly excited about all the cool things I get to experience and see online, thank you!

it is absolutely absurd how many drafts I have of just very frustrated moments where literally all I type is "if I have to be sick one more time I will lose my absolute mind holy shit" and having just been sick again? really feeling that !!!! it's also like. frustrating to feel you're making progress mentally and then you constantly get knocked into bed by phsyical health instead like come on I'm finally learning how to get Out of that place... and then every time you get sick, routunes have to be rebuild all over after, it suuuuucks....

I finally got a PC which has been absolutely life saving, However. I am still drawing on tegaki only... I'm so excited I can get back to bigger works on csp but I've gotten so used to seeing only my tegaki stuff, I'm scared of how much I'll suddenly hate my art when I see it differently again... hating your own art is probably a feeling that will never disappear but even so. I think I'm at a pretty content place right now and I'm worried about shaking it up. I can't let something like that knock me down when I'm only finally getting back to drawing regularly again... I already copied over the palette for some comfort so hopefully I can find a brush that feels similar too! at least I'm super excited about getting to pick some more colours !

and a very belated tag game thing !! I completely lost the original post by now but it was from @lele5429 and I've had it in my drafts this whole time, so better late than never to fill it out!

Last song: Alt Hvad Jeg Vil by Von Quar

Fav colours: warm yellows or light oranges!

Last book: switching between Assassin's Quest and Our Wives Under The Sea!

Last movie: The Princess Bride I think?? it was long ago so I feel like I'm forgetting something else though...

Last tv show: my roomie and I binged Twin Peaks season 3 as well as most of True Detective over christmas break we went Ham

Sweet/spicy/savoury: sweet !!

Relationship status: not interested

Last thing I googled: "nosferatu rats"... I see.....

Current obsession: alttp auish shenanigans... this one has not changed since I first drafted my response to this... on one hand I feel like I'm just filling out the gaps between games, but on the other it's getting very close to full au stuff... I always wanted to draw comics but had no ideas and for the first time in my life I'm drowning in ideas and fully held back by fear and skills haha

Looking forward to: actually surprisingly nothing at all? I'm looking forward to whatever good times I can create for myself I guess. the last few things I was looking forward to didn't go so well, so maybe it's nice to have nothing but the most normal and boring daily life ahead haha

[ordinorultor-if]

Progress Updates Starting!

So in an effort to force myself back into work, starting tomorrow, I will be doing progress updates daily at 10pm Central Standard Time! I figure if I don’t make progress then I can’t post and if I can’t post then you guys have caret blanche to shame me.

Like so.

I generally will be updating you guys using scenes/pages written and passages coded rather than words added, because Idk if I’ll be able to remember to check how much I’ve added each time lol. Every now and again I’ll also post a fun fact or random rambling alongside the updates.

Alright that’s all I’m very tired so I’m going to play PlayStation for a little bit before going to bed

[heartsforjh]

✦ ─ Quinn Hughes Social AU ─ ✦

hi guys! i’m very excited to announce my first-ever series: a Quinn Hughes x Fem!Reader social media AU! the first part will be dropping tomorrow morning at the latest—so stay tuned!

here’s a few key things to note:

𝜗𝜚 reader is a famous actress

𝜗𝜚 reader is from Vancouver

𝜗𝜚 the pictures of reader are going to be blonde » (i know, i know—but i had to pick a hair color for story purposes, that being said you don’t need to be blonde to picture yourself as the character! i’m keeping physical descriptions of her vague unless absolutely necessary.)

𝜗𝜚 the Canucks are one of the top teams in this au » (this has almost nothing to do with the plot, but it’s my series, and i’m treating myself after experiencing the horrors. sooo… go canucks go!

you can 1000% ask me questions about the AU or even send in headcanons! i’d love to hear them!

P.S. your requests are still in progress, i promise! i’m almost done with most of them so keep an eye out for those!

i’m so excited to share this with you all! you can follow this post or the tag “kays social quinn au 🌿” to stay updated if you’d like! have a great day!

[redflagshipwriter]

I have had this account for ALMOST ONE MONTH and to celebrate I am valiantly aiming to post an update on every single story in progress tomorrow, Wednesday the 28th. If I can't get to it all, what would you wanna see most?

[rynana22]

I know all of you guys are waiting on the update so here it is:

I weighed in at 143.? Lbs.

I’m devastated. I’ve ate like a pig lately. Tomorrow starts a new.

Progress is progress. At least I’ve somewhat maintained. I’ve always hit a plateau of 155 so I think I’m doing that with 140. It takes FOREVER for me to stay there and push past that and get lower.

More restrictions, more self discipline. Any measpo someone can send me?

[arcanistsanctum]

What Now?

So guys I think the blog has caught up! You will start seeing less of my posts from now on in tumblr. You'll only see posts again either for the next patch releases or the remainder of illustrations and graphics I can scrounge from their websites. I did yet not post several of them, and I thought it's fine to send them later while we wait for patches to drop. Don't worry if I missed something, you can inbox the blog or I post tomorrow while I recheck if I missed any from the category of media I've already archived.

Perhaps I'll also start cleaning backgrounds! But don't request yet. I am still contemplating on if I can fit it into my schedule. Because I plan to also make progress with the blogsite pages, and giving you guys story reaction content because I have a feeling a lot of you want to know. I'd also like to show you my thoughts for anything about Reverse:1999. Besides, we really need to talk more about this game and why it's so good.

Aight, until the next #asks or #updates, my fellow timekeepers! Mwah!

[allthesmutl0vers]

Managing Mischief: Weasley Twins x F! Reader (Part Five)

TW: Mentions of ED, lots of fluff 💖Use of Y/N (I know, I know. I'm trying to break the habit)

Paring: Fred Weasley x F!Reader x George Weasley

Requests Open 🫡

Chapter Five

Y/n

The next couple of days seemed to fly by. I got letters from my dad updating me on his and my mom’s progress, probably to keep me from visiting out of worry. My mom isn’t awake yet, but the healers are giving her everything they can to heal her. Everyone has been keeping me busy. Yesterday, we all had a family lake day. We spent all day swimming, which is great for all of the calories I’ve had to consume to keep people from finding out about my eating disorder, but I think Fred and George have started to catch on, even though they haven’t said anything. 

But today, I’m excited because I finally get to see my Mum and Dad. I practically leap out of bed, getting dressed in a pair of ripped skinny jeans and a cropped band t-shirt. I jump on Ginny’s bed, waking up her and Hermione. 

“What the bloody Hell, y/n?!” Ginny groans and smashes her face into the pillow. Hermione rolls her eyes and dozes back off, so I fall on top of them, giving them both a start. 

“Merlin’s beard!” Hermione shrieks as she sits up, making me laugh. 

“Oh, fuck off, y/n,” Ginny groans tiredly as she hits me with a pillow. “What’s up your ass so early?”

I laugh and toss Ginny’s pillow aside. “Today is the day I get to visit my Mum and Dad, Ginny!” I say excitedly. But this time, instead of rolling over to fall back asleep, they jump up excitedly, too. 

“Merlin! Is that today?!” Ginny asks excitedly as she jumps out of bed, knocking me back and making me laugh. 

“Oo! That means tomorrow we go back to school!” Hermione shrieks and claps excitedly. 

I laugh and roll my eyes. “Only you would be excited to go back to school, Hermione.” We talk excitedly and laugh as they get dressed and put on their shoes. 

Ginny’s door swings open, revealing a very tired-looking Ron and Harry in the doorway. “Oi, what’s with all of the damn ruckus?” Ron says, annoyed. 

“Yeah, seriously, guys, it's seven in the morning,” Harry adds with an eye roll. 

Hermione giggles and kisses Ron on the cheek, which seems to perk him up a bit. “Today is the day that y/n can see her parents,” she explains. 

“Yeah, so we’re excited. You guys should be, too,” Ginny says, kissing Harry and crossing her arms. 

“Blimey, sorry mate, I forgot,” Ron says, rubbing his eyes. 

“Shit, well, we’re happy for you, y/n,” Harry says as they both come into the room and give me a big hug. 

I laugh and hug them back. “It’s alright. I suppose I can forgive two of my best mates,” I laugh. 

“Hope nobody is trying to steal our girl,” Fred jokes from the doorway with George as Harry and Ron pull away and roll their eyes. 

“Yeah, hug your own girlfriends, you numpties,” George adds with a smirk. 

“Down, boys,” I tease them with a smile, which they return with a wink as they step into Ginny’s room. 

Hermione laughs and leans back on Ron’s chest. “We’re all just excited because y/n gets to see her parents today,” she explains. 

I run up and jump into Fred’s arms, and he catches me with his hands under my thighs as my arms drape around his neck. I give him a deep kiss, making him hum into my lips. “Well, good morning to you too, little one,” he says softly. 

George clears his throat and smirks at me when I look at him. “Forget me already, did you?” He teases. I giggle as Fred places me back on my feet and George swoops me into my arms bridal style and kisses me deeply. “Mm, that’s more like it,” he says against my lips with a soft chuckle. 

“Okay, okay! Don’t shag in my room, please!” Ginny groans, making me and the twins chuckle. 

“Wouldn’t dream of it, little sister,” Fred remarks as George places me back down on my feet between him and Fred, and they each wrap an arm around my waist.  

“Yeah, no need for a room with one bed when ours has two,” George says with a wink. I gasp and slap them both on the arm, feeling myself start to blush. 

“Ugh, too much information,” Ron groans. 

“Oh my God,” Harry laughs, wrapping an arm around Ginny’s shoulders as she and Hermione try not to laugh. 

We all walk downstairs together, laughing and talking about nothing in particular, excited to see my Mum and Dad. They’ve never really talked to my Mum or Dad, really only in passing at a birthday party or when we’re getting on the train for school. They’ve always been so busy with patients at the hospital by our house. My parents are world renowned doctors, my Mum in Cardio, and my Dad in Oncology. 

“Morning, everyone,” Molly greets us with a smile as we all pile around the table. 

“Good morning,” we all respond as we fill our coffee mugs. 

The door opens, and Arthur comes in with a smile. “Good morning!” He says cheerfully as he kisses Molly, sets down his briefcase, and takes a seat. We all tell him good morning as he pours his cup of coffee and turns to me as Molly begins to put food on the table. “Well, everyone seems to be wide awake,” he chuckles. “Are you excited to see your parents today, y/n?” 

I nod and smile. “So excited. I feel like it’s been forever.”

“No kidding. Woke up the whole house with their giggling this morning, these three,” Harry jokes, pointing to me, Ginny, and Hermione. 

“Yeah, and I was having a really good dream, too,” Ron says, nudging Hermione and making her blush. 

“Well, she has every right to be excited,” Molly smiles as she sits down next to Arthur. “Now, dig in. We’re heading out shortly after breakfast.” 

Everyone starts making their plates and I’m biting my lip, silently counting all of the calories and trying to find a way to at the least amount. George leans in close to my ear, talking so only he and Fred can hear. “Eat something, love.”

I shake my head and smile. “I’m alright, I’m not hungry,” I lie, but my stomach, being the traitorous bitch she is, betray me and growls. 

“Seems like you are, darling. Just eat a little something,” Fred says on my other side. They’ve made little comments, nothing mean, that I should eat a little more or offer me an extra sweet from their stash. I know they’re catching on, but I’m scared to get ‘better’ and gain all of the weight back. 

George places a hand lovingly on the small of my back. “Just try a little, baby. How about a few pieces of fruit and some eggs?” He offers. His gesture is sweet, and he’s not trying to shove it down my throat, so I agree with a simple nod. “That’s our girl,” he smiles and places a few strawberries and some scrambled eggs on a plate for me. 

I take a breath and take a bite out of a strawberry, and Ron starts to speak to me. “Oi, y/n, how come you don’t eat much?” He asks. It’s an innocent question, but it still makes me tense up. 

“I’m just nervous to see my parents, is all,” I answer him. I hate lying, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. 

“Yeah, but you’ve hardly eaten the entire time you’ve been here,” he continues. “Sometimes, you don’t eat meals at all,” I clench my jaw. Merlin, shut UP, Ron. Hermione elbows him, but he doesn’t get the hint. “Oi, I’m just curious. You’re not, like, starving yourself, are you?” 

My legs start to shake with nerves under the table as I scramble for an answer. Fred and George each place a hand lovingly on my knees. “Shut it down, mate,” George warns him.

“Yeah, leave her be. She’s had a rough go at it lately. And frankly, it’s none of your damn business,” Fred snaps. 

“That’s enough, Ronald,” Molly scolds him. “Despite the foul language, Fred is right. What a woman eats is none of your concern.”

Harry nudges Ron’s side. “Yeah, mate. It’s not like you’re one to talk about eating habits,” Harry jokes, trying to diffuse the tension. Ron just rolls his eyes and digs into his massive plate. I wish I could eat without concern like that. 

I eat the berries and eggs on my plate as everyone talks about different things around the table, nobody paying me any mind. I set down my fork at the table and sigh softly. “Good job, love,” Fred praises me with a smile and a kiss on my cheek. I smile softly, trying to ignore the guilt I’m feeling as I wrap my arms around my stomach. 

George kisses the top of my head. “Very well done, indeed, darling,” George praises me next. 

“Thank you, guys. It means a lot,” I say sincerely. 

“Anytime,” they say in sync.

*****

St. Mungo’s is so different from any hospital I’ve ever been to. The biggest difference is that it doesn’t have that weird hospital smell. Instead, it smells like flowers and brewing herbs. No doubt from the potion makers they have on site. Molly and Arthur go to the front desk to get directions, and we all stand back together. I tried to convince everyone that they didn’t all have to come, but being the friends they are, they insisted. 

“Nervous, baby?” George asks with a hand around my waist as I stand between him and Fred. I nod slightly, and he and Fred move to stand in front of me. 

“Don’t be nervous, little one,” Fred says softly, using the nickname I love so much with a smile as he tips my chin up to look at them. “Your Dad said in his last letter that everything is going good. There’s no reason to worry.” 

“All that’s left is for your Mum to wake up, and I’m sure she will any day now,” George adds, kissing the tip of my nose. 

I smile softly and chuckle. “Hopefully, she doesn’t have a heart attack when she finds out I’m with the two of you,” I joke with a smile, feeling a little better. They always know just how to make me feel better, even when I don’t want to. 

The three of us chuckle as they pull me into their chests, hugging me and smooshing me between them, but I don’t mind. It’s my safe space. When Molly and Arthur come back, they tell us that my parents are on the next floor, on ‘Creature Induced Injuries.’ Makes sense, given that I don’t think of the man who almost killed my parents as anything else but a monster. 

We climb the stairs together, and when we get to my parent's room, Molly stops and turns to me. “Now, you go in first, dearie. And if you two are up for visitors, the rest of us can come in and join you. But no rush,” she smiles. 

 I nod and smile as I let go of Fred and Georges’ hands. “We’ll be right out here, darling,” George says with a smile. 

“Whenever you’re ready,” Fred adds with a smile as well. 

I open the door and see my dad seated by my mom’s bedside. He looks completely healed, no bruises, not even a scratch on him. I smile as I walk up to him. “Hi, Daddy,” I greet him, wanting to run into his arms. 

My dad smiles and looks up. “Hey there, honeybee. Come on in,” he waves me over and stands. “No need to worry. Your old man is all healed up.”

I run into his arms and hug him tightly as he lifts me and sets me back down on my feet. “How’s Mum?” I ask him. “Any news?” 

Dad strokes my head and smiles sadly. “They don’t know why she hasn’t woken up yet. The brain bleed is healed. But the doctors here tell me all we’re waiting on is for her to wake up on her own. You know your mother can’t be rushed,” he jokes light-heartedly. 

I nod and lean over my Mum, hugging her as she lies unconscious. “But she will wake up, right?” I ask. 

Dad smiles and nods. “Yes, honeybee. It’s just a waiting game on when.”

I look through the window at Fred and George peaking through the window like puppies waiting to be let inside. I giggle softly, and my dad notices and shakes his head with a laugh. “I suppose we should let them in, huh?” He jokes. 

I shrug and smile. “Probably, everyone was just as excited as I am to come today,” my dad smiles and waves for them to come in at Molly as she peaks through the window, too. 

Everyone piles into the room, and Arthur greets my dad. “Phil! It’s so nice to see you up and walking, mate. How do you feel?” He asks as he shakes my dad's hand. 

My dad smiles and shes his hand. “Like a brand new engine. Thank you, Arthur, for having us moved.”

Arthur swats his hand and laughs. “As I said, anything for family, Phil.” 

The twins and our friends move to stand by me as Molly hugs my dad. “So glad to see you’re feeling better. How is Sheila?” 

My dad smiles and hugs her back. “All better, thanks to you guys,” my dad says, and Molly and Arthur beam. “Just waiting for her to wake up. But you know to never rush a woman,” my dad jokes to Arthur, who laughs heartily. 

“Good man,” Arthur and Molly laugh and begin to talk with my dad amongst themselves. 

Fred and George move to my sides, careful to keep their hands to themselves in front of my father. My friends move closer to me, too, congratulating me on my Dad’s recovery. And after a few minutes, my Dad walks over to us with Molly and Arthur behind him. “Hello, boys,” he greets Fred and George. “Thank you both so much for taking care of my little honeybee,” he smiles. 

“Our pleasure, sir,” George says, shaking his hand. 

“Absolutely, sir,” Fred says with a smile, shaking his hand next. 

My dad laughs and waves his hand. “Please, boys, call me Phil,” he says before looking at my friends. “Thank you all for looking out for her. She is very lucky to have friends like all of you,” he beams. They all respond with a smile and some variation of ‘no problem.’ His eyes land on Hermione and Harry, and he speaks to them. “Forgive an old man,” he chuckles. “But remind me of your names again?” He asks kindly. 

Hermione steps up first and smiles, shaking his hand. “Granger, sir. Hermione Granger.” 

My dad smiles and nods. “That’s right, I remember. All the same, it is a pleasure to meet you, Hermione. And please, call me Phil,” he smiles and turns to Harry, reaching out his hand. 

“I’m Harry, Harry Potter,” Harry introduces himself and shakes my dad’s hand. 

“Of course, it’s nice to see you again, Harry,” my dad says kindly. I don’t miss the wave of relief that washes over Harry that my dad isn’t drooling over meeting ‘the boy who lived,’ my dad knows the story, but he also knows how much Harry hates people bringing it up. “Ron, Ginny, nice to see you two again.”

“Good to see you too, Phil,” Ron smiles. 

“Nice to see you back with the land of the living,” Ginny jokes, making my dad and everyone else laugh. 

“Good to be back,” my dad responds and turns to all of us but looks at me. “So, I have some exciting news!” He says cheerfully. “The doctors here have agreed to let me stay here with your Mum until she wakes up. Since muggles can’t enter without a wand,” my dad chuckles. “But they are allowing me to leave tomorrow, and Arthur offered to get me to the platform to see you off on the train and come back afterward.” 

“Really?!” I ask excitedly and hug him tight. “That’s amazing, Dad!” 

“Yes, it’s very kind of him, indeed. Your mother would have my neck if I didn’t get a picture of you and your friends by the train for that scrapbook of hers,” my dad chuckles. 

I release my dad and hug Arthur next. “Thank you so much, Arthur.”

He hugs me back and pulls back. “Of course, y/n. But it was really Molly’s idea,” he chuckles with a smile. 

I smile and Hug Molly next. “Thank you,” I say in her neck.

Molly pats my back and pulls back with a smile. “Of course, dearie. We were going to tell you at breakfast, but I thought it best to come from your Dad. I’ll escort you all through the floo network, and we’ll meet them there.”

We all talk for a few hours, and Fred and George tell him all about quidditch and invite him to one of the games since Harry, Ron, and Ginny play on the team, too. My dad tells them he’d love to come and watch and hopes that it falls on ‘parent’s day,’ his favorite day of the year, Mum’s too. They love walking around the castle, and especially the feast. After lunch, it’s time to head back to the burrow and pack for the train tomorrow. We say our goodbyes before we head out. 

*****

It’s mayhem at the burrow as everyone is packing their trunks and bags. Me, Harry, and Hermione had already packed before we came, so instead, we helped everyone else until Molly calls us down for dinner.

We take our seats at the table, and Molly puts a pot of beef stew, rolls, and rhubarb and pumpkin pies down in the center of the table. Her send-off feast every year. Everyone digs in, and I allow myself a roll and two smaller scoops of stew. Ron looks at me like he wants to say something, but when Fred and George stare at him, he seems to think better of it. 

About halfway through dinner, an owl lands on the kitchen windowsill, and I recognize it as Bucky, Blaise’s owl with a letter in his beak. I stand up and take the letter from him, giving him a few owl treats before he flies off again. 

“Who’s it from, dear?” Molly asks as I sit back down between Fred and George. 

“Blaise,” I answer and open the letter, reading it aloud. 

“Dear, y/n,

I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch. I got ahold of Draco, and he said he sent you a letter. Did you receive it?  He explained to me what he wrote, and I wanted you to know that I’m sorry. Believe me, I reamed him for it. You deserve better than a letter.

I can’t believe that he and Pansy would betray you like that. He told me nothing happened between them, but… Pansy confided in me, and she told me that they had slept together just before school ended last year. I know that it’s an awful thing to hear, but I couldn’t keep it from you. Believe me, I’m very angry with both of them. Nobody deserves that, especially one of my best mates. 

However, Draco and Pansy have been my friends since the day we were born, and our families are closely knit. And as pissed at them as I may be, I can’t cut them off completely. They’re Slytherins, my family. I’m sure you can understand, given your close friendship with the Weasleys, Harry, Hermione, and everyone else in your house. 

I understand If you can’t, or don’t want, to be friends with me anymore, given what happened. But I do hope that one day, we can all put this behind us and be friends again. I’ll give you some space to think about it, and you can come to me when you’re ready. 

Draco asked about you in his last letter to me. I know he feels awful about hurting you, and he doesn’t expect a reply, but he do wishes you’d write. I told him that I hadn’t talked to you yet and that if he wanted to hear from you, he should reach out himself, but it was probably best not to. 

Also, I meant to ask you at the party, but I forgot. This is awkward, but is there something going on with you, Fred, and George? I know you guys are best friends, but I saw you guys sitting and talking against the tree, and you looked…closer than normal. I won’t pry or judge you if there is. But I just think that it is unfair to be so angry with Draco and Pansy for fooling around behind your back if you’re doing it behind his, too. Just something to think about.

Again, I hope one day we can put all of this behind us. I hope you’re doing okay, and give my regards to everyone. See you around the halls, maybe. 

Sincerely,

Blaise Zambini”

“What a snake,” Fred says, shaking his head after a few moments. 

“How can he accuse you of going behind Malfoy’s back, then turn around and defend him for the same thing?” George asks angrily. 

“He did say he was pissed,” Hermione says softly. 

“More like he said a load of crap,” Ginny says, shaking her head. “Forget them, y/n.”

“If he loves them so much, he should just leave, too. Let the snakes live together,” Harry adds.

“Such a load of crap. That’s that ‘pure-blood’ family bullshit,” Ron rolls his eyes. “Pathetic.” 

“Alright, that’s enough,” Arthur says firmly, without raising his voice. 

Molly looks over at me, noticing I haven’t spoken yet. “Y/n, dearie, are you alright?” She asks calmly. 

I look down at the letter in my hands and sigh. “I had a feeling that something might have happened. But reading it…” I shake my head. “How could you do that to someone you claimed to love?” I ask without looking up as my stomach winds itself in knots.

Molly sighs. “Honey, people don’t do that to those they love. I know it’s hard to hear, but it just goes to show who he is.” 

I stand up from the table. “Excuse me, please. I need a minute.” 

“Y/n,” Fred and George reach for me and say my name at the same time as I walk to the back door. 

“Leave her be. You heard her. She needs a minute,” Arthur tells them as I step outside and close the door behind me. 

I sit on the steps of the porch, not knowing exactly how to feel. We’re already broken up, but I’ve never been cheated on before. Draco was my first boyfriend. Even though I started dating him in order to get over Fred and George, I truly cared deeply for him. I loved him, and I thought he loved me, even after I got his letter. But I guess the joke is on me. 

I sit on the porch for a long time, watching the sunset. I think of every time that they were alone together, wondering if there were more times that even Blaise didn’t know about. More than either of them were willing to admit. The back door creaks open, and Fred and George sit down next to me. George hands me a cup of tea, and Fred drapes a throw blanket over my shoulders. Neither of them speaks. They just sit with me until I’m ready to talk. 

 “I can’t help but wonder why he didn’t just end it before they slept together,” I say softly, looking out at the sunset. 

I feel them both let out a heavy sigh. “He probably didn’t know how to say it to your face like a real man would. Except the difference is that a real man would never cheat in the first place,” Fred answers me softly. 

“Instead, he hid. He pushed you away, probably hoping you would end things first so he could feel guilt-free,” George adds. 

I let a couple of tears fall from my eyes, which are quickly wiped away by their sleeves. “I’m sorry that I’m crying. I don’t have feelings for him anymore. I just feel so betrayed.” 

“Shh,” Fred shushes me soothingly as they lay their heads on my shoulders. “We know, love. Just know that neither of us will ever hurt you like that, or ever.” 

“Don’t apologize for crying, darling. You’re hurt, it’s understandable. What that git did is unforgivable. And I agree with Fred. We will never do that to you,” George says, kissing the side of my head softly. 

I nod, thanking Merlin for sending me these two, who always know just what to say and who I know I can trust inexplicably. “I know you guys wouldn’t. I trust you two with my life and my heart,” I sigh. “But I don’t think I’m ready to talk to Blaise yet. I know it’s not his fault, but I just need a break from all Slytherins.”

“Of course, darling. We understand,” George says softly. 

“Would you like us to write him for you? Let him know you’re not ready yet?” Fred offers. 

I nod and look up at him. “If it’s not too much to ask, yeah. That would help a lot.”

They move to squat in front of me, taking my hands in theirs. “Nothing you could ask would ever be too much. Do you understand me?” George says. 

“There is nothing on this Earth that we wouldn’t do for you, little one,” Fred says, kissing the back of my hand as George wipes away the last of my tears, and I nod. 

“Use your words, baby,” George instructs me. 

I take a deep, shuddering breath and look at them both. “I understand, thank you. I don’t know what I did to deserve you guys.” 

They smile and stand up, pulling me with them and hugging me between them, my safe space. “Always,” George says softly, kissing the top of my head. 

“We don’t know what we did to deserve you either, little one. But whatever it was, we’re thankful for it every day,” Fred says, tipping my head up to look at them, and they each kiss me softly on my lips. 

We walk back inside, and everyone has already gone to bed except for Molly and Arthur, who are sitting in the living room when we walk in. Molly stands up and walks over to me, giving me a big hug. “Feeling better, dear?” She asks softly. 

I nod as she pulls back and smiles. “Loads, these two always know how to make me feel better.” 

“Yeah, they may be trouble makers but they always know how to make someone smile,” Arthur jokes as he hugs me too. 

“Hey, we’re good for other stuff, too,” Fred says defensively. 

“Yes, yes, we know,” Molly chuckles. “Now, off to bed, you three. We have to be up early in the morning to meet Phil.” 

“We just have a quick letter to write, and then we’re going to bed,” George tells her. 

Molly points a finger at both of them. “Well, make it quick. I don’t want to have to drag you two out of bed. I’ll set the ghoul on you instead.” 

We say goodnight and the twins walk me upstairs to Ginny’s room like they do every night. “Goodnight, little one,” Fred says, pulling me to his chest and kissing me. “Sleep tight.”

“Goodnight, Freddie. You too,” I say against his lips before George steals me away and hugs me tightly. 

“Goodnight, baby. Sweet dreams,” he tells me after he kisses me. 

“Good night, Georgie. Sweet dreams,” I say softly as I pull back and watch them walk up the stairs to their room before I walk into Ginny’s, where she and Hermione are, apparently still awake. 

“You good?” Ginny asks as I close the door. 

I nod and smile at her. “All better now.” 

“Oo, I bet you are,” Hermione giggles with a wink. 

I roll my eyes and sit on Ginny’s bed. “Not like that, ‘Mione.” 

“Have you guys… you know… yet?” Hermione asks with a smirk. 

Ginny scoffs and hits her with a pillow. “Ew, I don’t want to know.” 

I shake my head. “No, not yet.”

“Have you had sex before?” Ginny asks curiously. 

I nod. “Yeah. With one person who shall never be named again.”

“Let’s call him ‘he who shall not be named,’” Hermione suggests with a giggle. 

Ginny’s face twists with disgust. “Ugh, no. That name reminds me of that dark wizard our parents fought.”

I giggle and think for a moment. “How about ‘shitty dick’?” I suggest with a smirk. 

Hermione and Ginny gasp. “No. Fucking. Way,” Hermione giggles. 

I nod and smirk. “No wonder he’s such a dick. He doesn’t know how to use his!” Ginny laughs, and we all laugh loudly with her. 

We’re laughing so hard we don’t hear footsteps coming up the stairs until Molly barges in. “Girls! Bed, Now! Whatever is so funny, I’m sure, can wait until morning. I don’t want you three up all hours of the night.” We all apologize and Molly shakes her head before closing the door again, and we all look at each other and snicker quietly, deciding to all sleep in Ginny’s bed tonight.

Part Six