#it doesn't help that it's also raining and he's bleeding out

[violetrainbow412-blog]

Examination [B. F.]

Bob Floyd x doctor!reader

wc: 1.7k

summary: Bob suffers a concussion and Nat insists he get checked out. He doesn't seem convinced until he meets the doctor who will examine him.

You were reviewing files and filling out some medical certification forms when someone knocked on your door. You didn't remember having a checkup appointment scheduled at that time, so a frown accompanied you as you walked to the doorknob. You had hoped it was just a colleague who needed help.

“Lieutenants?”

“Good morning, doctor,” the woman murmured cordially.

On her green jumpsuit was an embroidered patch that read Natasha Trace, below her callsign and a shield. She was firmly holding the arm of one of her crewmates, a bespectacled man you remembered from previous medical exams. You checked his name by looking at the left side of his chest.

“My partner suffered a concussion while we were flying,” she continued, “Do you think you could check him out?”

“Of course. Come this way.”

“I’m fine,” the boy complained. However, his actions contradicted him as he held the side of his head with his palm open. “It was nothing.”

“She has to check you out anyway. It could be something bad.”

Her tone of voice was firm, and you assumed this wasn't just an argument that had surfaced. You vaguely remembered the two of them being a team on the plane, so you understood her insistence to some extent.

You put on the lab coat over your black clothes, hung the stethoscope around your neck, and grabbed some tools you'd need for the evaluation. Calmly, you asked the woman to guide him to the examination table so he could sit there, and you instructed him to remove his glasses. You also offered her a chair if she wanted to rest during the procedure.

“Okay, let’s get started, shall we?” you announced, positioning yourself between his legs without being intrusive. “What’s your name?”

“You don’t know?”

“I need to know if you know,” you smiled, at the apparent disappointment that had seeped into his voice.

“Robert Floyd. They call me Bob.”

“Fine, Bob,” you murmured.

His name hung between you for a second before your gloved hands found his head. You carefully moved his hair to the side, feeling for any unevenness hidden beneath his skin.

“Do you know what day of the week it is today?”

"Thursday"

“Good, we’re doing well,” you flattered him, with a smile. “Who’s the president?”

“Biden?”

"You're sure?"

“Yes. Sure,” he nodded, feeling quite confident with the answer.

“And where do you feel the blow? Here?”

You gently pressed the right side of his head. He reacted with only a grimace that didn't quite turn into a gesture of pain.

“Here it is. There’s no blood, just a bump,” you informed him. “But I need to check you to rule out internal bleeding. Sometimes the wound doesn’t find a way out, but it’s there.”

The man nodded slightly every time you spoke to him, and although he seemed somewhat lethargic, you wouldn't have classified it as alarmingly disoriented. You took a medical penlight from your lab coat pocket and explained that you were going to check his pupil reflexes for any abnormalities—if any—based on how his eyes reacted to light.

You lifted his face with your fingertips on his chin. He didn't resist. On the contrary, he let himself be guided, as if that brief hold anchored him to something.

“Look this way. Now look at the light… good. Reactive pupils. Does the light bother you?”

“A little. About normal.”

You hummed a nod, focused on catching any change in his reaction. He, there under your touch, seemed mesmerized by your movements.

“Can you tell me what color your eyes are, Bob?”

“Blues”

“They’re very pretty,” you exclaimed without thinking. To try to fix it, you asked, “Blue like the color of the sky?”

“I would say more like the sea,” he replied. “Dark… when it’s about to rain.”

The comparison took you by surprise. There was something in his voice that wasn't meant to shock. He said it like someone describing something he knew very well.

You turned off the flashlight without taking your eyes off him. You gently released him from your touch.

"Now I'm going to move my finger. I need you to follow it with your eyes, without moving your head. If it hurts, let me know."

Bob obeyed. His pupils moved precisely. There were no signs of anisocoria or loss of focus.

“Good job. Now I want you to touch the tip of your nose with your index finger and then mine. Three times.”

He smiled faintly. It wasn't blatant. It was slight, involuntary, as if the command was too intimate for him not to notice. His fingers performed the exercise, though on the third repetition, his index finger touched your nose more slowly than before. You said nothing. But you registered everything.

"Do you feel any ringing in your ears? Dizziness?"

“I feel a little dizzy,” he exclaimed, though you saw a hint of doubt as the words left his mouth. “But I don’t think it’s the blow. It’s just… you’re so close.”

The phrase wasn't a play or a joke. It was honest, loaded with something he didn't try to hide. You stared at him without moving, measuring the fine line between side effect and real impulse.

You carefully began an examination of his neck to rule out cervical injury, and as you felt around and asked him if it hurt, he said only a little. Again, nothing out of the question.

“Your shampoo smells nice,” he whispered suddenly. “It smells like lavender, but with something else… rosemary?”

You laughed nervously, trying to ignore the fact that he'd leaned a little closer to your body to capture the scent. The fact that his body emanated such warmth at the proximity didn't help you stay calm either.

“You are so perceptive. Give me your arm.”

You walked over to the cuff and began taking his blood pressure. He remained silent as you inflated and released the air. After a minute, the number appeared on the screen: elevated, but not critical.

“Your blood pressure is a little high.”

“I’m in a small room, you’re right in front of me, and you just told me my eyes are pretty,” he justified himself. “Is it that surprising?”

You let out a short laugh, barely audible.

“Are you always this flirtatious?” you asked, feigning seriousness. “Or is this a symptom I should be recording?”

“Don’t worry, Doctor,” chimed in the pilot, who had remained silent until now. “Bob is usually charming, though he doesn’t show it much. It’s probably just the concussion.”

“It might still be worth checking it out,” he insisted. “You know, just in case it gets worse.”

“Would we classify this as overconfidence or the disappearance of shyness?” you decided to joke.

There was a warmth spreading through your chest, even though you knew it wasn't ethical or appropriate to get so flustered with a patient. Hoping to salvage what little professionalism remained, you spoke before he could respond:

“Let me take your heart rate.”

Next, you placed the stethoscope against his chest and the ear tips in their place. You registered the heartbeat. It was firm. A little rapid, not pathological, but not normal either.

You had to lean a little closer to hear properly. You heard him suck in his breath.

“Breathe normally”

“I try,” he exhaled honestly. His breath tickled your cheek, and his voice was so low you could barely hear him. “It’s hard with such a beautiful doctor.”

“I can call another medic if that makes you feel more comfortable,” you whispered. By that point, you'd already given up, so you didn't even try to hide your smile.

“No. Stay, I like you.”

You took a deep breath, trying to regain your composure as he looked at you with that mix of genuine interest and something harder to name. With a firm voice, you resumed your clinical approach.

“Okay, Bob. Everything indicates you're fine, but you need complete rest. No flying or sudden maneuvers at least until tomorrow. I want you to take it easy for the rest of the day. Nothing that involves force, pressure changes, or adrenaline.”

He looked at you intently, as if memorizing your words was as important as following them.

“If you get a headache, you can take some paracetamol—500 milligrams, no more than once every six hours," you added, writing it on his file sheet. “But if the pain gets worse, or if you notice blurred vision, nausea, drowsiness… you come right away. Okay?”

“Okay,” he repeated softly.

“You’ll be fine in a few hours, I promise,” you continued filling out his medical report, under his watchful eye. When you finished, you took something else out of your pocket and offered it to him: “Do you want a lollipop?”

Bob blinked, and the smile that spread across his face was like a warm breeze.

“Can you still give it to me even though I’m an adult now?”

“To my lovely, well-behaved patients, yes,” you replied, your expression coming out sweeter than you thought.

He took it, letting his fingers brush against yours casually but deliberately. Phoenix watched the exchange with a mocking smile.

“What if…?” he began, lacking the confidence he’d spoken with earlier. “What if I feel weird later? Could you stop by my room? Just to make sure everything’s okay?”

It took you by surprise, not because of the content of the question, but because of the way he said it: without pressure, without pretense. Just with disarming honesty.

"I could do it in about two or three hours, okay? That way you'll have more peace of mind."

Bob smiled victoriously and nodded happily. Phoenix stood up to approach him, forcing you to move away to give them space.

“Come on, Casanova. You’re going straight to sleep.”

“Fineee” Bob replied reluctantly, as he walked toward her with the paddle between his fingers.

Before leaving, he turned around one last time.

“Thank you, doctor.”

"It’s nothing. Just rest up and take care of yourself" you said, unable to hide the smile tugging at your lips.

She thanked you too and then they both left.

You tried to continue with your duties. You put on the new gloves, updated the file, checked the next name on the list.

But the heat in your cheeks didn't go away. Nor did the sudden awareness of how conscious you were of every step you took. You'd seen dozens of patients that week, and yet, Bob Floyd had just become a tiny anomaly in your pulse that would be hard to ignore during the day.

taglist <3: @littlemsbumblebee @qardasngan

[yuansie]

(1) even when there was rain, sunshine came

pairing. caleb x fem! childhood friend! non mc! reader (x childhood bsf! zayne)

synopsis. caleb planted a seed in your heart when you were both young, nurturing it without meaning to until it sprouted and blossomed. it shouldn't have grown this much, not when you knew you could never have him.

genres/aus. angst, fluff, f2l, unrequited love, childhood f2l

warnings. slight ooc caleb (i have not read homecoming or wtv that chapter is called BC BLUESTACKS DOES NOT WANT ME TO FINISH LONG AWAITED REVELRY OR WTV THAT CHAPTER IS CALLED IM STUCK ON CH12...), NOT canon compliant oops (no higher being placing a curse on zayne, no experimentation done on mc and caleb bc josephine is a good person this time BYEEEE), reader has neglectful parent(s) in the beginning kind of, mentions/descriptions of crying, mc is female (she doesn't have a name in here either). if there's anything i'm missing, please let me know!

rating. sfw but make it lowk very angsty but fluffy ish at the same time.

wc. 8.2 k

a/n. live love laugh angst (but with a happy ending) and live love laugh not proof reading and SORRY FOR NOT UPLOADING THIS EARLIERRR uni sucks booty fr !! also, i've come to the decision that i will just make this into a mini series, having about 5-10 chapters maximum !! the ideas keep coming, and i'd like to take a different approach to this prompt/world i've build for this nonmc! reader in an actual caleb series much like my rafayel one! also decided to make it into a mini series bc i cant keep writing and expanding on this and leave yall hanging for longer IOEOIFJAWEOI

YOU’RE EIGHT YEARS OLD WHEN YOU MEET CALEB. it was in the last days of summer, right before the leaves began turning red and yellow and orange. you remember your dad telling you that an older lady moved into the house across from yours, that there two kids living with her: a girl younger than you and a boy your age though a couple months older. he said something about the girl having a special condition but the words went through your ear and out the other because you didn’t care about them; you knew you wouldn’t talk to them anyways.

then, your dad left to go to work and you were all alone.

you were always alone, and you felt that loneliness every second, acutely aware at how it bleeds into your soul and makes you so, so sad. it’s what makes you head to the park two houses down the street and sit at the big, oak tree there. your favorite thing to do is climb it and sit on one of the bigger branches around its middle, feeling as if you could reach the sky and escape these heavy feelings. you blame your dad for making you like this: for making you think that the heavens can help you escape your heavy feelings. he told you once, on a night where he was in charge of tucking you in while your mom worked late at the hospital, that he loves the sky and how it makes him feel like all of his worries are nothing but a speck of dust. he made you think that one day, you could reach the sky and feel what he felt. if you reached out enough, you would be free.

but today you had no energy to do that.

as soon as you reached the oak tree, you sat down and rested your back against the trunk. your eyes watered instantaneously, cold tears dripping down your cheek and to the tip of your chin as you tucked your knees into your chest, your arms holding them in place so they could keep your weeping heart warm. you were so lost in your overflowing sorrow that you didn’t notice a boy running to the tree, not even when he stood three steps away from you.

“why are you crying?”

you snapped your head upwards.

the boy looked surprised, his purple eyes as large as the moon as he stared at you. his back was to the sun, covering him in a golden glow. he didn't say anything as he knelt down, his brows furrowed.

you hiccuped and looked away, angrily staring at your house from where you sat. “go away, stranger.” you see the older boy that lives next door when you avert your gaze from your home. it’s zayne—you recall your mom telling you that you used to have playdates together when you were younger. obviously, you don’t anymore. you don't even speak to one another—perhaps, he thinks being friends with a girl two years younger than him is not worth his time.

you don’t blame him for thinking that; after all, your own parents probably think the same.

before your mind spirals into the inky void that tells you bad things, the boy speaks up. “my name is caleb! now i’m not a stranger, right?” you glance at him from the corner of your eye. caleb grins at you, his smile as bright as the sun. it’s too blinding, you decide, and drop your gaze to the ground. “i guess not…” you mumble.

“so that means we’re friends!” caleb laughs when you quickly look at him again, surprise evident in your features. “now you can tell me why you’re sad!”

you wrack through your brain to come up with an excuse and end up stuttering out, “b-but you don’t know my name!”

“you’re y/n, right?” he laughs again when your jaw drops in comical way, gasping for air in between his next words. “ha! g-gran… talked t-to your… parents!” caleb wheezes, tears in his eyes. “y-your parents told us about you!” once he calms down, caleb lets out a sigh as he sits next to you, nudging your shoulder. “c’mon, you can tell me why you’re so sad now.”

you look back at your house, frowning at how lonely it looked. “i… i don’t think my parents love me.”

“what?”

“i mean,” you rest your head on your knees, your voice now muffled. “they’re never home and they never spend time with me.”

your dad is often away, being the colonel and all, which means he’s gone for months at a time. it wasn’t always like that, but things changed when that forsaken tunnel appeared above the city. your dad was one of the first to answer the call, to fly in the sky to protect the world from wanderers. so it isn’t his fault and neither is it your mom’s that they’re never there. she’s a doctor, a colleague of your next door neighbor's parents.

it is not your fault they are both needed by more people and by more important matters.

caleb’s about to say something when a girl calls out his name, running until she stands in front of you two. you don’t pay attention to her, and instead keep your eyes focused on your house. you wish your parents were home more, that they’d spend more time with you. the girl ends up leaving after she speaks to caleb, who watches her go with a careful eye.

“sorry about that,” he says, scratching his cheek. “gran sent her to tell me it’s time for lunch, but don’t worry! i’ll stay here with you until your parents are back!”

you blink at him, feeling your eyes start to burn. “you’ll stay?”

“mhm!” he smiles, and this time you actually don’t turn away. caleb laughs softly, leaning forwards to wipe away at the tears that fall from your wide eyes. “why are you crying again?”

you didn’t even notice that you had stopped in the first place. “i-i don’t know.” you do know.

it's the first time someone ever stayed with you in a long time.

caleb, surprisingly, calmed you down in a matter of seconds. he stayed with you until the sun began to set, when the blue sky became tinted by orange and pink. he made time go by fast, making you smile and laugh until your cheeks and stomach hurt. and he was surprisingly attentive, noticing immediately the way you perked up when you saw your mom’s car drive down the road and stop in front of your home.

“you ready to go now?” caleb stood up and stuck his hand out, waiting for you to grab it.

“your hand is warm,” you mumble, gripping tightly onto his hand as you lead the way back to your house.

he giggles and nudges your shoulder. “my hand is warm?”

“mhm.” it’s very warm, akin to the blankets you wrap yourself with during the cold days of winter.

and just like that you were at your front door, shyly waving goodbye before going inside. the doorbell rang shortly afterwards, yet before you could open the door, your mom had already done so. you left and headed up the stairs and into your room, telling yourself you’ll eat something after your mom retires for the night.

but that never happens.

because the strangest thing happened afterwards: your mom came up to your room and talked to you, apologizing for making you feel lonely and abandoned.

you know it was caleb’s doing: why else would your mom be like this?

without meaning to, caleb planted a seed in your heart that day.

when you’re ten, you realize that you’ve changed the slightest bit. you’re a little more outspoken, a little more confident in yourself; and your world that was once monochrome is now full of color, full of warmth and life.

you have memories where you’re laughing until your stomach hurts, where you’re learning to love apple and bake apple pies to perfection, where you’re learning to do cartwheels with the little girl while his laughter echoes in the air. it’s all thanks to caleb—he reached out to you, deciding to integrate you into his world. you’re forever thankful that he decided to talk to you two years ago, thankful that he spoke to your parents about your feelings because otherwise you would be stuck in the dark.

caleb has brought light and warmth into your life, and now you are never cold and lonely. he even sticks to you like glue at school, never leaving you alone for a second in the classroom because somehow you always manage to be in the same class as him. sometimes you grow tired of having to keep up with the energetic boy, sometimes the fatigue wearing your bones down and rendering you useless. caleb seems to know when that happens, or maybe he doesn’t. what matters is that he seems to time his golden smile; it is a smile so radiant that it melts away what weighs you down.

and always being with him has made you adopt some of his habits, his attentiveness being the one that shines through the most. it’s what makes you notice your next door neighbor. days of careful glances makes you learn that he’s always reading on the porch of his house or he’ll do the same inside by the window, that he’s never with any other kids his age and that he’s never at the park.

maybe you should talk to him and—

“y/n~” caleb nudges your shoulder. you jerk in surprise and wobble on the tree branch you both sit on, gripping tightly onto the wood while you lean forwards from your lack of balance. the boy yelps and takes a firm hold of your arm, stabilizing you. “you scared me!”

you huff, glaring at him. “you scared me! i could've fallen just now, dimwit.”

he pouts, “but that's your fault! you weren't listening to me.”

“yes i was!”

“oh yeah?” caleb raises an eyebrow. “then what was i saying?” he snickers when you don't reply, gently nudging your shoulders this time because he learns from his mistakes, you know! “see? i was right. you keep staring over there.” he gestures in the general direction of where you keep staring. his finger touches the green leaves of the tree, the tips fading into a yellow color.

autumn is coming. not yet, but it will be there in due time.

you decide to tease him a little. “pft, you’re pointing at the leaves.”

his lips curl into a frown. “you know what i—”

“caleb!”

the eight year old girl comes running up to the tree, huffing as she points up at your best friend. “i-it’s time for dinner!” she tilts her head over at you, beaming. “gran said you can come, sis!”

caleb looks at you, “you coming?”

you smile at the girl before shaking your head, moving towards the tree trunk. “i need to do something,” you grunt, shimmying down whereas he just jumps off the branch and lands with a thud. the girls gasps and you gape at him with wide eyes once your feet hit the ground, “are you okay?”

“a-okay!” he grins, standing up proudly as if he didn’t just scare the living daylight out of you. caleb flexes a boney arm, “i’m strong, after all!”

“yeah, okay hercules.” you chortle, rolling your eyes. “i’ll see you around.”

you watch as he and she wave goodbye at you, caleb hooking their arms together as they disappear into their house afterwards. you notice that there's a tightness in your chest when you see them hold hands or hook their arms together—it happens sometimes, not always. like right now: your chest tightens a little, feeling heavy. you chalk it up to wanting to do that with caleb one day and go your merry way.

your mom is startled when she opens the front door just as you reach out for the doorknob. she holds a container with cake inside. “goodness,” she chuckles, leaning down to press a kiss against your cheek. “you scared me.”

“are you going next door again?” you move to the side so your mom can walk out.

she hums, “i am! i left some—”

“can i come this time?” you usually don't go to the dinners your mom has with zayne’s family every friday, always heading to hers and caleb’s house instead despite your mom’s best efforts in convincing you to join her. you always had an inkling that she wanted you to spend time with the older boy next door.

your mom beams at you so wide that you’re taken aback as she drags you to the li’s front door. did it really mean that much to her that you want to join this time? well, you’re on a mission to get close to zayne so that he can have friends too.

speaking of the devil, the door opens immediately after your mom presses the doorbell, revealing the older boy. his eyes widen the slightest bit when he sees you, though he quickly regains composure, his features relaxing. with a small smile, he greets your mom. “hello, mrs l/n.” he directs his gaze at you next, “hi y/n.”

you blink in surprise. “…hi zayne.” you didn’t expect him to remember you because you don't particularly remember much about him.

he steps aside just as his mom appears from behind, momentary shock melting into a warm smile. “y/n! i’m so happy to see you! will she be joining us?” her eyes flit up to your mom, who nods excitedly.

you’re ushered inside and into a seat not even a second after being welcomed in. “we always have a plate and cutlery out in case you stop by,” mrs li says. a lump forms in your throat and it’s hard to swallow. you feel awful, knowing that every time you chose to stay with caleb, the li family had hope that you’d stop by and eat with them.

still, you somehow manage to smile at the older lady. “i’ll make sure to come with my mom from now on.”

“really?”

you nod. “of course,” holding out your pinkie, mrs li laughs and hooks her own with yours. “i promise.”

mrs li heads into the kitchen with your mom, leaving you and zayne alone at the dining table. he sits in the chair next to you and you fidget in your seat, not sure how to break the stifling silence. what would caleb do in this moment? he’d probably say something stupid or just go ahead and ask to be friends… that’s something only he could do easily, but for you? that’s a challenge.

“you look worried.” zayne says, looking at you from the corner of his eye.

you frown and play with your fingers, “was it that noticeable?”

zayne hums as the two moms come back with pots of food while chatting about your dad. “you aren't doing a good job at being subtle.”

his comment makes you huff through your nose, the corners of your lips curling upwards. caleb says that to you all the time, claiming that you make it is easy for him to read you.

“smiling suits you.”

you stop breathing and stare at the boy with raven hair, slowly blinking while the moms plate the food and continue talking. zayne glances at you again and then looks at his plate, eyebrows furrowed as he picks up a fork and pokes at the carrots, nudging them into a corner. “did i say something wrong?” he mumbles.

he didn't say anything wrong… it’s just that no one has said that to you. not even after your change, even if it was a small one.

not even caleb.

you shake your head, “no.” coughing, your eyes shift to his hands, seeing how he stabs the last carrot on his plate and places it in the corner along with the rest. “you… you still don’t like carrots?” you vaguely recall a memory from when you were about five: you and zayne were eating a plate of oranges when he suddenly spat it out and a chewed piece of carrot was then laying on the table. his mom had cut small pieces of carrot inside his bowl alone with the oranges, trying to trick him into eating them.

zayne’s hazel eyes widen. “you remember?”

with a snort, you answer, “you spit out the carrots every time your mom tried tricking you into eating them. that’s pretty hard to forget, if you’re asking me.”

his ears flush the lightest shade of pink, making you giggle as your fingers wrap around his plate, rotating it. with your other hand, you grab your fork and take his carrots.

“…thank you.”

“i should be thanking you,” you hum, “i love carrots.”

whereas you and caleb are polar opposites and only have a thing in common, you and zayne are not. you’re so alike: reserved and quiet, both sticking to what you deem is the vicinity of your personal bubble. it was easy to befriend him again; by the end of what remained of summer, you had introduced him to caleb and her. it did take a month and a half of convincing, of relentless pleading that convinced zayne to follow you to the park where she and caleb were playing as usual.

caleb and zayne didn't get along well right off the bat, and they always argued. it took you aback in the beginning, not used to seeing caleb argue so… pettishly with someone. much less with zayne. zayne baffles you every time he mutters under his breath about how caleb is ‘so annoying’ because all he does is talk about dinosaurs or is ‘a child’ during friday dinners at his house. well, he is a child, so he’s not wrong there. but with that logic, he should also be calling you a child and yet he doesn’t.

zayne does, however, get along well with her.

you see it in zayne’s attentiveness to the young girl, you see it in the way his voice softens when he speaks to her, and you see it in the way he hangs onto her every word as if it were something sacred.

you also see it in the way his ears sometimes turn the lightest shade of pink when he speaks to her.

when you think about it, they’re both alike in that way.

the sun is in the sky, bright and warm like the boy next to you.

“he’s trying to steal her from me,” grumbles caleb. he swings his legs back and forth while the two of you sit on a tree branch, zayne and the girl sitting underneath on the other side of the tree. she’s teaching him how to braid a crown of flowers, and you can see the small curl of his lips. he’s smiling a shy sort of smile only reserved for her.

“he can’t steal her from you because she isn’t an object.” you tear your eyes away from them and focus on the brooding boy beside you, taking note of how he pinches his brows together and pouts, mumbling something under his breath. while the branches and its leaves provide good shade from the sweltering heat, there is still sunlight that peeks through gaps, and golden specks manage to coat caleb’s figure. “that means you can’t have her either, cal.”

your words have him turning to you quickly, his eyes wide. “i can’t have her?”

“of course not!” your silent admiration of seconds ago dissipates as you scoff, flicking his forehead. he yelps as you continue, “she’s a person! you can’t have people; that’s weird.”

“but that monster is stealing my best friend!”

you frown, blinking once. “zayne isn’t a monster.” but caleb sure seems like one at the moment, you think. a monster of green envy.

“yes he is!”

“zayne is not a monster.” you repeat, irritation beginning to bubble in your chest because caleb wouldn't be saying such things if he didn't have this weird rivalry going on with zayne. “don’t say that about him.”

“why are you defending him anyways?” caleb narrows his eyes at you. “you’re supposed to be my friend—”

friend. best friend. you realize he hasn't ever really called you his best friend because she’s his best friend while you think he's yours. if he doesn't think that of you, then you can’t think that of him… right?

you both whip your heads to the ground, clambering down the tree as zayne calls out both yours and caleb’s name. if his voice hadn’t betrayed the frantic feeling swirling in it, maybe you wouldn’t have this overwhelming sense of dread. when you both round the tree trunk, you see that his face is pale, and he’s holding onto her. she’s trembling, her face paler than zayne’s as if all the color had been drained from her features, and she’s heaving and trembling uncontrollably. the sight makes your stomach drop to the ground as caleb dashes forwards, dropping to his knees while yelling about getting granny josephine to them. you honestly don't remember running to their house, asking josephine to help the little girl—it’s all a blur. all you can remember is how the two boys finally had something in common other than their care for the younger girl: their expression.

they were both horrified.

and you wonder if you looked like them.

your eleventh autumn was just like any other, but this time it was different because of him.

you decided to stay the night after having dinner at zayne’s so he could help you study for your science test on monday. caleb would have been the one helping you, being in the same classes and all, but he was helping her study. while you do love and care about her, you care more about your grades because surely the tests in middle school are harder than the ones in elementary, right?

you’ve been inside zayne’s room before. more often than not, after dinner, you’d end up in there with him while talking about everything and nothing. sometimes you’d both be quiet, content with just being next to each other while reading a book on his bed, and sometimes you both would talk about current hobbies and interests.

“where will you sleep?” zayne’s voice comes from near his bed while you head towards his desk.

“in your bed, duh.” your eyes skim over the surface, chuckling at how tidy it is… until your eyes fall on a haphazardly hidden pieces of paper underneath zayne’s stack of notebooks. weird, you think. zayne likes keeping notebooks, books, and papers separate from each other.

“why would you sleep in bed with me?” he asks.

“we used to sleep in the same bed when we were children.” which is true: your moms have a photo book with evidence in it from your younger days together. “i don’t see why we can’t if we’re still children.”

you hear him huff through his nose. he’s probably pinching it right now. “you’re eleven and i’m thirteen. you’re a child and i’m a teenager.”

“didn’t you say that teenagers are fourteen-year-olds and up the other day?” your fingers wrap around one of the notebook’s spine, carefully lifting it and whatver notebooks are on top and pull the pieces of papers out.

your eyes scan the contents of one of the pages, highlighted words aiding in your understanding of what it is that you’re reading. medical school… majors… he’s looking at colleges.

“well, yes.”

you turn around and hide the papers behind you. “so that means we can share the same bed, right?”

zayne sighs, shaking his head while his lips curl upwards just the slightest bit. “you win this round, miss know-it-all.”

you grin at him and bring the papers out. “you sure i’m a know-it-all?”

the older boy stares at the papers you wave in the air, staying silent as if trying to find the words to explain something to you. you raise your eyebrows. “staying silent makes you look like you were hiding something from me.”

“well… i am. was, i was.” zayne corrects himself and sits down at the edge of his bed, patting the space next to him. you take a seat and eye him. “i’ve been trying to tell you this past summer that… well…” he sighs. “i skipped grades.”

“oh—” you gasp, eyes widening to the size of saucers. “so this means…”

majors.

medical school.

he’s grad—

he exhales slowly. “i’m graduating from high school this year.”

you feel the world go still. you hear your breathing. you feel cold. suddenly, you feel deep and heavy dread wash over you.

after this year, zayne will leave.

your best friend is leaving you.

“why are you crying?” zayne panics, clumsily wiping the tears you didn’t know were falling down your cheeks. the pad of his thumb is a little rough against your skin, but his touch is soft. he’s trying to be gentle, and it makes you feel more gloomy.

“i don’t know,” you mumble, hiccupping as you look down at your hands, watching the tears he doesn’t manage to wipe away fall onto them. “it’s just…” do you tell him? that you don’t want him to leave you alone? sure, caleb is a great friend but you’ve come to realize, since the incident last summer, that she will always be his top priority and—

majors. medical school… her.

“you’re doing this for her, aren’t you?” your voice is quiet.

you love her, you do. she’s like a little sister, and you obviously care for her like they do. but they care more, they love her more. you don’t quite understand the intensity of their love for her. and despite their burning ardor in wanting to be there for her and how it always ends up making you invisible, you can’t bring yourself to ever hate her. she’s innocent, just living her life while the two boys flock to her. she didn’t ask for their attention or love, it’s just that she’s so easy to love.

“…don’t tell her.” zayne’s hands fall from your cheeks and grab onto your hands. his touch is cold, unlike caleb, but it doesn’t make you flinch away from him. you let him take your hands into his, holding them carefully. “please.”

you huff through your nose. “if that’s what you want,” you answer. “it isn’t my place to tell them, anyways.”

it’s quiet, peaceful almost if you weren’t so caught up in the sinking feeling your chest. your heart just sinks and continues to sink in black ink, growing heavy. zayne’s voice timidly calls out your name. “you’re still crying. there’s more to it, isn’t there?”

“i don’t want you to leave.” because if he leaves, you’re afraid that you’ll have to admit the ugly truth you know, deep down, about caleb. it’s a truth that is so clear to everyone, a truth that you see every single time they’re in their own world. a world that pushes you and zayne out like the waves when they leave shore and retreat back into the ocean.

the older buy chuckles, and you look at him through your wet lashes, noting how his hazel eyes flicker with quiet care in them. “i’m not leaving yet.”

“keyword being yet,” you mumble, gripping onto his hands now. “…i’m being dramatic, aren’t i?”

zayne opens his mouth to say something, but you cut him off. “i should be happy that you’re doing something so cool. i mean, skipping basically all of high school and graduating super early? that’s so cool… and i’m here crying like a baby over it.”

“but your reaction is reasonable,” zayne says. “i’d be upset, too, if my best friend told me all of sudden they’d be leaving at the end of the school year.”

best friend. not just friend.

“i’m your best friend?”

“naturally.” zayne responds quickly. “you know me better than anyone, just as i know you better than anyone.”

just like that, your tears stop falling and the sun peeks out from the cloudy sky inside you.

the rest of the night goes smoothly: zayne helped you study for your science test, which you both found boring after an hour because all of the questions were easy, and you spent the rest of your time talking with him. you wanted to know of his plans, what he’s thinking, about what he wants to do after graduating. you both fell asleep in the midst of your conversation, though you wake up at three in the morning because you felt weird. your own body was telling you that you forgot to do your night routine. so when you wake up, all blurry-eyed and dazed, the first thing you can see is your sleeping best friend. after a couple of blinks, your vision clears up and you’re aware that you’re close to him. in fact, you’re close enough to see and count his dark eyelashes. you pout, no way he has prettier eyelashes than i do. the thought goes away as quickly as it had formed in your mind, replaced by the icky realization that you fell asleep without brushing your teeth. so you sit up, gently waking zayne so he could do the same. when he stirs awake and stares at you with squinting eyes, he knows what you mean when all you do is wordlessly point at your mouth despite the sleepy haze of his mind. and just like that, you both silently head to the bathroom and brush your teeth next to each other, quickly going back to his bed and falling asleep once more.

when morning came, you both find yourselves staring at his mom with confusion as she giggles and repeatedly asks how you both slept during breakfast. you think she must have seen something while you both slept, though you decide to let your suspicions go when you bid the li family goodbye and head next door to your house.

mom will probably tell me about it later tonight, you think just as you shove your house keys into the lock. you push the door open and kick your shoes off your feet, sliding them to the side and slipping into your slippers when you step inside. you hear someone running down the street, and right when you’re about to close the door, you hear your name being called out.

“i didn’t see you at all yesterday!” caleb runs up to you, a bright grin plastered on his lips. with his back to the sun, he looks as if he's bathed in gold. “pips missed you, you know? what were you up to that—what’s that?”

you blink once and suddenly he’s in your bubble, burning fingers gingerly touching your eye. you close it on instinct, and he runs his thumb over your eyelid. you can see yourself reflected in his eyes from this close. his warmth seeps into your skin, and you have the urge to lean into his touch. your heart lurches and skips a beat, feeling excited and calm at the same time.

“what’s what?” you cough, taking a step back.

he frowns, his thumb now under your bottom lashes. “your eyes are red and puffy. are you sick or something? you feel oddly hot.”

oh, that’s right. you cried yesterday, and you feel as if your heart is ready to jump out of your chest and into his arms where it wishes it could be.

“i’m fine. it’s just that i watched a sad movie after dinner with zayne,” you sigh, gently pushing his fingers away from your eyes. zayne’s words echo in your head, a quiet reminder that you can't tell caleb because he’d tell her right afterwards.

caleb huffs through his nose, his lips curling into an amused smile. he shakes his head once, his purple irises reflecting the warmth he radiates. “you do cry a lot while watching movies, don’t you?” he leans back and tilts his head at you. “alright.”

you furrow your eyebrows. “alright… what?”

“even though you’re clearly hiding something from me, i believe you.” caleb pinches your cheek, the amusement in his lips softening. “i’ll see you later?”

“yeah…” you say, dazed, but shake your head quickly. “wait, what are we doing?”

caleb laughs, the hand pinching your cheek now covering his mouth, “don’t tell me you forgot that we’re supposed to study for the science test on monday?”

“about that…” you look away from him. “zayne helped me study for it last night.”

his silence has you taking a quick glance at him. caleb seems shocked and his eyebrow twitches, though it disappears and is replaced by something you can’t quite describe. a forced smile of sorts? “he helped you study?” he asks. “then what’s your verdict? will the test be easy or hard?”

you scratch your cheek, thinking. “well… even though he helped me study for a bit, i say the test is going to be very easy.”

“guess that means i won’t study.” caleb shrugs and ruffles your hair, a real smile on his lips now. “talk to you later, short stuff.”

“i am not that short, cal!” ever since he’s grown an exact inch taller than you, he acts like you're a midget now.

you watch as he waves goodbye, walking backwards for a couple steps with a laugh before twisting around and heading down the street. he’s probably heading to the small dessert shop nearby to pick up some of her favorite doughnuts—it’s what he does every saturday morning.

your twelfth autumn marks your first one without zayne.

he left at the end of summer, right as the tips of the green-yellow leaves on your favorite tree began turning a slight orange, barely noticeable. his disappearance had gone unnoticed until yesterday, half way into the fall quarter and midway into october. you’re in the middle of reading a book, one of your dad’s that he let you borrow, on his bed laying on your stomach while caleb helps her do her homework at his desk. he has a singular picture on it that he puts down whenever you're over, but you never ask why he does that.

“where is zayne?” she wondered aloud, tapping her pencil against her chin. “i haven’t seen him around lately.”

“huh,” caleb clicks his tongue in thought. “now that you mention it, neither have i.”

both their eyes land on you, though you don’t bother looking up. with practiced ease, you reply. “i haven’t seen him around.”

“but you go to his house every friday? and he’s your best friend? surely you know something.” she leans forwards in her chair, trying to get a better look at you.

“i go every friday because i made a promise to his mom,” you retort, finally looking up. with a shrug, you continue, “his mom hasn’t said anything about his whereabouts, so i’m just as clueless as you bunch.”

the girl drops it, a smile now on her lips. “your dad is coming home soon, right?”

you blink in surprise. “you remember?” you mentioned it in passing, it was when she and you were watching caleb during basketball tryouts. you told her that your dad would be coming back soon from the fleet, how you were excited to finally see him after so long.

caleb huffs a laugh through his nose, “of course she remembers, short stuff.”

you grimace, rolling onto your side and reach out to grab something in your vicinity, which happens to be a pen on his bedside, and fling it towards him. “you are literally just a couple inches taller than me, cal.” he’s actually a whole head taller than you now, and caleb's growing into his features. his cheeks have started losing their softness, his eyes a little sharper now. he has a natural, boyish charm, something that makes everyone notice him at school.

he loudly laughs, the pen stopping right in front of him before he swats it away. it lands with a clatter against the floor, somewhere in his room. with a huff, you lay on your back. “better work on that aim, short stuff~” he sings, getting up from his desk and heading over to his bed. you look up at him, your lips pursed as he pinches your cheek, purple eyes warm with mirth. his hair falls over his eyes, making its color look deeper. “how else are you going to get into the aerospace academy with me?”

you raise your brows, “you're acting as if you're already in.”

“well—”

the girl hums. “so you both want to leave me.”

just like that, caleb is back at her side and you’re all alone. “i would never leave you, pips.”

“pinkie promise?”

you watch from the corner of your eye how he wears a soft smile as they wrap their pinkies, his touch lingering.

you aren't stupid; in fact, you pride yourself in being so smart and attentive. so, you know that the tightness in your chest is because of caleb, because of the feelings you harbor for him. you aren't stupid, so you already know that caleb can never be yours, that he can never feel that way for you.

because he is hers.

with a sigh, you close your eyes and will yourself to calm your aching heart. you should be used to the ache that settles in your chest when this happens, but here you are.

later that day, right as the sun begins to set, you bid her and granny josephine goodbye. the taste of her apple pie from dinner lingers in your mouth.

“you don’t have to walk me home, cal.” you say, chuckling as you bump shoulders with him. instead of walking across the street, you walk down the sidewalk.

he hums, following you, “just let me be a good friend, short stuff.”

“you just love rubbing it in, don’t you?” you grumble, stepping into the park. your feet take you to the tree until you’re in front of it. you look behind you, raising an eyebrow at caleb. “i’ll stay here for a few minutes, so you can leave if you want.”

“i’ll stay.” at his confirmation, he moves past you, a faint scent of apples lingering in the air along with the sweet, woody smell from the oak tree as he scales up the trunk with ease. “your turn!”

“yeah, yeah.” you huff, rolling your eyes as you climb the tree and make it to the branch caleb chose to sit at. you breathe in and out slowly.

“the tunnel makes the sky look ugly.”

you snort, slightly baffled at the sudden proclamation from the boy. “where did that come from?”

“what?” caleb shrugs with a laugh, shoulders shaking slightly. “it does make it look ugly. like, really ugly.”

your quiet giggles get louder, and you throw your head back. “that is the first time i have ever heard anyone say that.” you wheeze, your laughter so strong you wobble on the branch. caleb wraps an arm around you to keep you from falling, his touch making you still instantly.

“you need to be careful,” he says. “one of these days you’re going to end up falling and i’ll fall with you.”

“if i ever fall, it’ll be because of you.” you cough and attempt to shimmy away from him, though his grip slightly tightens, preventing you from getting away.

the brunette absentmindedly taps on your arm with a finger. “i’d never let you fall… you know that.”

he’s saying that because you're his friend, and he is fiercely protective of those he cares about: the people in his inner circle. you are a part of it, you know that, and yet your heart cannot help but to stupidly flutter at the illusion of a hidden meaning behind his words.

“…it’s getting late.” which is true—the oranges and pinks of the sunset are now bleeding into a purple hue. “i should get going now.” you don't wait for him to say anything; you just climb down the trees as quickly and possible and book it to your home.

caleb is not far behind you.

stepping on the first step of your house’s porch, you stop and turn around. you’re eye to eye with caleb.

caleb wears a boyish grin on his lips, something that makes your stomach flip. “i have something for you.”

“oh? and what would that be?” the corners of your lips turn upwards.

“how about you close your eyes?” you shut your eyes, hearing intently to the boy shuffling. you feel a warmth brush against your cheek, trailing over to the back your neck. “give me a second.”

you hold your breath. caleb’s fingers work nimbly, and something cold hangs around your neck. there’s silence for a beat; he’s still close enough for you to hear his breathing until he leans away. “open your eyes.”

they flutter open at his command, and flitter down to see a necklace. there is a cloud with a wispy appearance right at the bottom, and small translucent beads hang from it in white and blue. the chain around your neck is decorated with solid white and blue beads.

“do you like it?” caleb scratches his neck, eyes carefully watching your reaction.

your voice comes out quiet, shy. “i do.”

you hear the smile in his voice. “i’ve been trying to give it to you since your birthday.”

“what?” looking up from the necklace, you blink at him repeatedly. “but my birthday—”

“i know.” he laughs softly, shaking his head. “i’ve had it since last year, and… i just didn’t know how to give it to you. i thought now would be a good time.”

i thought now would be a good time.

his words echo in your mind, and you take a deep breath. you also have something you want to give him: it’s sitting in the drawer of your desk, in a small box. “do you… do you want to come inside?”

you’ve never invited anyone inside your house, inside the walls that is your safe space. zayne is the only one who has stepped foot inside, who has made it up the stairs and into your room on more than one occasion. caleb used to bug you about that when you two first met, into the early months of your friendship. he thought it was weird that you were always over at his home while he had never gone inside yours. his complaints stopped when you introduced zayne to them—probably because he didn’t want to be around him despite the desire he had to discover what lays hidden in your home. you like to think that he finally decided to wait until you were ready to show him what’s inside.

caleb’s eyes are wide with surprise. “you want me to go inside?”

“i also have something for you.”

despite the poor lighting of the porch lamp, caleb is still akin to gold. he smiles and you turn around to unlock the front door, your heart thumping loudly in your chest. when you open the door and hold it open for him, caleb is all too quick to walk inside, following you up the stairs into your room after you shut the door. his eyes scan the inside of your room as soon as you turn on the lights, shuffling over to your desk as he stands by the doorframe. the color of your walls are a light blue, strings attached to the ceiling with paper clouds hanging at the end. he realizes there’s glow-in-the-dark stickers on the ceiling after squinting. there’s a book shelf in the corner of your room, right besides your desk. the top shelf has a few trinkets: a small airplane, a blimp, a cap.

he assumes it's your dad’s cap, the one that goes with his uniform.

the second shelf has a couple of books, a stuffed animal in the form of a snowman, and a picture: the last one you took with your parents. last summer, you and your family took a trip to verona. in the picture, your dad has you hoisted onto his shoulders, an arm on your legs to keep you steady while the other is wrapped around your mom. everyone wears a smile, yet yours is the brightest one out of the three. caleb’s chest swells with pride, knowing he did the right thing all those years ago when he found you crying at the big oak tree.

the third shelf has a picture, one where it’s you and him. he remembers when, where and who took the picture. it was on your last day of school, your fifth grade promotion ceremony, and your mom took it. again, your smile is the brightest one. though, upon further inspection, he realizes your picture is different from the one he has on his desk. you’ve decorated it with small stickers, ones of golden and purple swirls that sit on the frame.

then there’s more books. another picture frame—is that zayne? you and zayne as children… oh, well you look at that? another picture frame of you and zayne. a recent picture, it seems, decorated in the same manner as his. he’s not sure when or where or who took this picture—

“think fast!”

caleb blinks and the flying box stills in front of him, floating in the air before it can hit his chest. “uh… why?”

“gotta be on your toes if you want to be in the aerospace academy with me.”

he laughs. “look at you, already acting as if you’re in.”

you shrug. “you do the same.”

“touché.” his eyes look down at the box. with a hum, he grabs and opens it, blinking once. inside sits a necklace, one with a small, silver sun on it with a purple gem in the middle. “…a sun?”

“you remind me of the sun.” you mumble. “you’re warm like it, too.”

caleb beams so wide his cheeks start to hurt, and there's faint blush on his cheeks that spreads to the tips of his ears. “i’m like the sun?”

“mhm.”

“funny… because i got you a cloud because sometimes you’re calm and happy, sometimes you’re gray and gloomy, and there are times when you’re like a storm.”

you stare at him, wide-eyed, and he continues. “tell me when you feel like there’s a storm in you.” he gets closer to you so that he can tap on the necklace that hangs around your neck. “so i can shine the sun on you... i will never hurt you with my warmth.”

it’s a silent promise that he’ll be there for you.

“and if you do?”

“then you can hit me!”

his fingers twitch, his foot taking a step forwards. but there’s a knock on your door before it’s pushed open. both you and caleb watch, confused.

your mom has a night shift and wouldn’t be back until morning.

caleb doesn't see a thing before you’re already leaping forwards into the arms of a man in a black uniform, his cap falling onto the ground. he recognizes the man as the one that holds you on his shoulders in the picture on your bookshelf.

your dad, the colonel of the farspace fleet.

caleb smiles to himself, his hold on the tiny box in his hands slightly tightening. he will be there for you, whenever you're sad or happy or mad.

he will be there.

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[goooofy-goooober1121]

TWST Boys as Roommates

Partially inspired by irl events :P

Ask Box is Open!!

Read my most recent TWST work here!

Heartslabyul

Riddle Rosehearts

The Controlling One

Makes a schedule for chores and a list of house rules, but in a "I need to micromanage you" way

You could be set to clean the bathroom at 3:30 and he'd pop into your room at 3:30:01 and go "HELLO???? CLEANING DUTIES!!!!"

VERY strict study schedule so don't make a single noise or else he'll get mad at you. Don't even breathe in his direction

Trey Clover

The Kitchen Fiend

Takes up the kitchen all the time because he's constantly making sweets/baked goods

You get free samples out of it but you also end up not having space to make your own meals because he's busy using the appliances :(

Cater Diamond

The Talker

Now there's nothing wrong with chatty people but when I say The Talker i mean THE TALKER.

Will try to hold a conversation with you as you're trying to fall asleep in the middle of the night

It's a perfect night. There's soft thunder outside and the rain patters against your window. Your sheets are fresh out the washing machine and you took a very relaxing, soothing shower. Your pillow is cool beneath your head, and you're excited to finally go to bed after a long day. You're snuggled up contentedly, on the verge of sleep. That's when you hear it. "Hey you know I never really liked strawberries because--" -Cater Diamond, walking into your room at 1 AM.

Deuce Spade

The Overzealous Studier

takes his books and like twelve notebooks to the living room to study

You come home and the space is covered entirely in loose paper, mechanical pencils long abandoned and strewn randomly across the room. In the center of it all is Deuce Spade. He's crying. He's in the middle of Calculus. How will he ever make his mom proud if he doesn't get a 105% on this next exam?

The living room is off limits for the next few hours. You are banished to the shadow realm (your room)

Ace Trappola

The Noisy One

Blasts his music at the most inappropriate times

Studying for the BAR? Reviewing for the MCAT? Trying to read or make sure you don't fail your next quiz? Ace's music bleeds through the walls relentlessly.

Sings LOUDLY in the shower

Talks super loud on the phone with his friends

Invest in noise-cancelling headphones

Savanaclaw

Leona Kingscholar

The Sloth

Will put off chores unless asked to do them

But he'll get them done in his own time if that makes sense

The type of guy to see you doing the dishes and wordlessly hand you his dirty plate instead of cleaning it himself

You could ask him to drive you to the ER and he would reply "erm just use Uber???" like its ur fault you're ill

more respectful if ur a girl tho (he got that Sunset Savanna Feminism)

Naps anywhere and everywhere

Ruggie Bucchi

The "Sharing is Caring" Believer

Will ask if you can share your snacks

If you say yes he will take like 75% of them

Promises to replace them tho (and does)

What's yours is his and in return what's his is yours

Keeps track of everything you take tho

Bro probably has a sign out sheet

Jack Howl

The Gym Bro

Your cabinets are 80% protein powder

So much meat in your fridge bro

Gets very passionate about televised sports... sometimes a lil too much

Will yell at the TV

Goes all out for local sports events, like if you're in uni he's wearing school colors and decorating the dorm/apartment on game days

Octavinelle

Azul Ashengrotto

The Businessman

Sees this as entirely transactional

Will hold things over your head. Don't you ever let him help you with chores because he will use those instances to guilt you into doing things for him

Definitely tries to start "Azul Bucks" for household tasks

Runs a black market of study materials and test answers out of your dorm/apartment

Jade Leech

The Plant Parent

Loves collecting any and all plants. Your dorm/apartment ends up looking like a plant nursery

But he definitely is more inclined towards non traditional plants

Has a venus flytrap named Audrey and cares for her as if he birthed her

Probably has movie nights with her (it's Little Shop of Horrors EVERY. TIME.)

Definitely has some mushroom terrariums

Fan of carnivorous plants... you have to beg him to not get any of the stinky ones

Floyd Leech

The Flip-Flopper

He does whatever he wants whenever he feels like it

He can be super sweet to you one day and grumpy the next

Sometimes he lays across the couch all happy (his long ass legs take up all the space)

Sometimes he doesn't come out of his room and you wonder if he's still alive

Prone to boredom so be prepared for him to hunt you down or come bother you even when it's inconvenient

Scarabia

Kalim Al-Asim

The Rich Boy

Invites friends over but forgets to ask if it's ok with you

Comes home late from parties sometimes

Also throws parties without thinking about what you may be okay with :(

Forgets that not everyone is rich?

When you break your phone he says "oh well you can just buy a new one" like you can walk into the lobby downstairs and get one for $3.99 at the vending machine

When you explain to him that you cant he looks at you with those big old eyes and earnestly offers to buy you one

Will get you one even if you say no

Almost burns down the building trying to make pasta (he burned the water)

Please teach him to cook

If you want a nice apartment, room with him you'll get a flatscreen TV 4K Ultra HD and surround sound

I love him can you tell

Jamil Viper

The Responsible One

Honestly one of the best roomies on this list

He's a pretty mature guy and used to cohabitation (grew up with a sister, had to look after Kalim as a kid)

But he doesn't talk much, kinda just does his part and goes

Good roommate but not if you're looking to be friends with your roommate if that makes sense

9/10 roommate material for sure

Pomefiore

Vil Schoenheit

The Beauty Queen

Remodels the decor entirely to his liking

12 step night routine

He's a good roomie because he keeps his things clean but will for sure get on you if you're a messy person

Face masks and manicures are a weekly occurrence between you both

Judgy tho. Don't let him come into the kitchen while you're cooking he'll be like "do you KNOW how many (calories/sugar/carbs/fat) is in that???" and start listing off better/more balanced ingredients

Just let me eat my ramen Vil

Hosts a photoshoot in the dorm/apartment at least once

Rook Hunt

The Cryptid

Sometimes you're not even sure he's there?

Like you interact with him but he can be so erratic/eccentric that you wonder if the building has black mold and is making you hallucinate his presence

Learns your schedule for sure

Expect to run into him outside the dorm/apartment at least twice a day

Might have watched you sleep to learn your sleep patterns? Lock your door

Stalker (affectionately)

Epel Felmier

The Manly One

Does home workouts with Jack

You have to force him to Febreeze the living room afterwards

Following in Jack's footsteps, slowly invading your cabinets with protein powder

Brings you apples and apple sweets/pastries whenever he comes home from visiting his family

Likes to have his own Wrestlemania marathons

Ignihyde

Idia Shroud

The Gamer

Are we surprised?

Celebrates like he won the lottery when he pulls his next Genshin character

You can hear it through the walls

Messy room but he doesn't let it spread to shared spaces

You get a LOT of Doordash orders for him

Rarely leaves his room and when he does he's terrified of running into you

Get this guy some Lexapro

Ortho Shroud

The Kid

Like sorry not sorry but this is a whole child

Forces you to watch Bluey with him

It's like babysitting more than anything

Watches all three Sonic movies multiple times a month

Where are ur parents

Diasomnia

Malleus Draconia

The Old Man

It's like living with a senile senior citizen

Does not know how to use the microwave, you have to teach him

Squints at the TV remote and pokes at the buttons with a single finger

If you show him something on your phone he does the Mom Look (Holds the phone away from his face, squints)

Speaking of phones

It's like the only keys on his keyboard are 👍, O, and K.

Signs his name on text messages.

"Hey Malleus can you do the dishes tonight?"

"👍 - M.D."

Lilia Vanrouge

The Nocturnal One

Super active at night so again, invest in noise cancelling headphones

Banned from the kitchen

Pokes into your room at 3 AM asking mundane questions

Likes to play pranks on you

Keep an eye on him

Sebek Zigvolt

The Dramatic One

Will fall to his knees and apologize as if he committed murder if he realizes that he forgot to do a chore

"I must protect the peace of our dormitory!!!" he says before storming out to yell at the loud neighbors (it's past quiet hours)

He's a good roommate

Just a little passionate

Silver Vanrouge

The Oversleeper

Has like 80 alarms set and somehow wakes up to 0 of them

Will burst out of his room and speedrun getting ready about ten minutes before class begins

Naps a LOT

You've had to check his pulse to make sure he is actually sleeping and not dead multiple times

But he's a chill guy overall

[justagalwhowrites]

Nobody's Soldier

As a FEDRA officer, you really shouldn't be friends with Tommy Miller. But as you both struggle to survive in the QZ, that doesn't seem to make a difference.

Pairing: Tommy Miller x Female FEDRA Officer Reader

Warnings: SMUT! Unprotected P in V sex, breeding kink if you squint, oral sex (f receiving), mention of just all the shit that goes with surviving in a QZ, No use of Y/N, 18+ only, Minors DNI

Length: 6k

A/N: I kept thinking about this idea after hearing Hozier's latest so... I wrote it. I hope you like it!

Main Masterlist

It was well past curfew when you got to Tommy Miller’s apartment but that didn’t matter. At least, not for you. FEDRA officers didn’t have to worry about things like curfew. 

You pounded on the door, thankful for the sound of rain and thunder covering the noise, fist meeting the wood again and again until he opened it. 

“Well hi there GI Jane,” he said, looking damn near cocky as he leaned against the doorframe. “What can I do for FEDRA’s finest this evening?” 

“Fuck off, Miller,” you snapped, pushing past him and into his dingy apartment, pulling off your wet hat and dropping it on the beat up table just inside the door before you started pacing. It didn’t take long to cross the combined living room and kitchen, hands in fists at your sides. 

“Somethin’ on your mind there?” Tommy teased, closing the door and watching you pace. You glared at him, at the smug expression on his stupidly handsome face. But the look slipped, his chocolate brown eyes softening, his hands going into his pockets. “Sorry, not tryin’ to make fun if there’s something actually going on. Talk to me, honey.” 

You walked the length of the room one more time, eyes darting toward Tommy as you did before stopping near the table, arms crossed over your chest, trying to decide if you could do this. If you could really do this. 

It felt like you could. If you believed this feeling you got whenever you were anywhere near him, you would do just about anything for him. 

You’d known Tommy and his older brother, Joel, for years now. It hadn’t been on purpose, of course. No one in your position would seek out a connection with the Miller brothers on purpose. But you’d been patrolling the night you met them, when they were coming back from a run and you found them, scrambling below the fence, Joel with blood dripping from his leg. 

“Fuck,” Tess, their smuggling partner said, putting her hands up when your flashlight beam fell on them. 

You’d expected Tess and Tommy to take off, to leave the man who was bleeding and limping for you to contend with and save themselves. But they didn’t. Tess stood her ground, her chin defiant and held high, and Tommy stepped between you and his brother, his hands up, too. 

“Know you’re just doin’ your job,” he said. “We don’t want to cause any trouble. We got plenty of pills that you can have if you just forget this ever happened.” 

You frowned, looking between him and Tess. 

“I don’t want your fucking pills…”

“Cards, then,” Tess said, cutting you off. “We can also get you cigarettes, liquor…” 

You rolled your eyes and Tommy seemed to realize then that bribing you wasn’t going to get them far. He’d always seen you clearly, even from that first meeting he saw you.

“We’re just tryin’ to make a living,” he said quietly. “Life’s hard here. You know that. C’mon, GI Jane. Can’t you just… let us go?” 

You looked at him for a moment. You hated this part of the job, the one where you were supposed to turn in people who were just trying to survive the end of the world. It’s not like they were raping or murdering or even, from what you could see, running some sort of gang. Turning them in wouldn’t help anyone. And there was something about the man in front of you, something about the softness in his brown eyes and the kindness in his face. 

“Keep your hands up,” you said, lowering your gun and taking out your scanner. You checked each of them. Unauthorized exit but no sign of infection. You didn’t give a shit about the unauthorized exit part. You sighed and put the scanner away. 

“You’re cutting it awful fucking close on curfew,” you said, grabbing a note pad and writing a pass to get the elder Miller in at the clinic without too many questions. You handed it to Tommy. “Get him to a doctor and try to get off the streets before someone fucking arrests you.” 

He smiled, taking the note, looking you up and down as he did. 

“Thanks,” he said. “Appreciate it.” 

It was your first run in with the three of them but not your last. It wasn’t always sneaking out or back in. Sometimes, it was some brawl that your unit got called in to break up. Others, it was them in unauthorized areas. Once, it was because they were in lock up when you came by to drop off actual dangerous people. Every time, it pissed you off. Every time, you knew Tommy was better than this. He was oddly optimistic for a person who’d survived the end of the world, something about him giving you hope for this dying species. Every time you saw him in some compromising position, you worried it would be the last time, that he’d get himself killed doing something reckless and stupid when you weren’t there to bail him out. 

Eventually, you got sick of them cutting it too close for comfort and showed up at Tommy and Joel’s door, much like you had tonight, knocking until Tommy answered. 

“Hey,” he frowned when he saw you. “What…” 

You shoved a piece of paper with your work schedule into his hands. 

“Don’t try to come and go from the QZ outside of these times,” you snapped. “I can’t fucking cover for you if I’m not there to do it and they’re going to crack down eventually and I don’t want to see you in lock up for the rest of your life. Got it?” 

He looked down, reading the paper, a slow smile spreading across his face before looking back at you. 

“You’re worried about me,” he smirked. 

“Don’t read into it,” you rolled your eyes, turning to go. But he caught your wrist, stopping you. You frowned, looking down at his fingers around your arm before looking back at him. “What?” 

“Thank you,” he said, those damn eyes of his all soft and earnest. “You’re probably saving my life and my brother’s life, too.”

“I know,” you said quietly. “Try not to blow it, OK?” 

His eyes drifted to your lips for a moment before finding yours again. 

“OK.” 

There started to be more formal lines of communication then, the two of you meeting in secret a few times a month to exchange information. Eventually, it became more than that. There were the intimate touches - your hand on his bicep or his on the small of your back. Tommy started to bring you little gifts, things he thought you’d enjoy from the outside - books, CDs, a set of colored pencils, a bottle of wine. 

“I dunno if we should keep doing this,” he said one day, quietly, as the two of you stood in an alcove in part of the QZ that FEDRA had largely given up on. You always ditched your uniform before going to meet him. That day, it was late July and the heat oppressive, leaving you in a tank top with a loose skirt so you wouldn’t sweat to death. 

“If you mean you should stop risking your life for ration cards, we’re in agreement,” you said wryly. 

He glared at you. 

“I mean,” he said. “I’m worried I’m gonna get you into trouble.” 

“Tommy…” 

“Don’t act like I’m crazy for thinkin’ it,” he cut you off. “They catch you colluding with me? They’ll kill you.” 

“Please,” you waved him off. “Guards buy from smugglers all the time, it’s not like…” 

“I’m not just smuggling anymore,” he said. “I’m tryin’… I’m tryin’ to do the right thing for the QZ. For…” his voice trailed off, looking you up and down before casting his eyes to the ground. “For everyone. I get caught, they find out you’re involved? They’ll kill you.” 

You frowned, everything taking a moment to click. 

“You’re a fucking Firefly.” You didn’t ask it. You didn’t need to. But the look on his face when he raised his eyes to yours told you that you were right. “Goddammit, Miller! What the fuck are you thinking? You know they don’t have a shot in hell at doing anything worthwhile! FEDRA is a fact of life at this point, just like cordyceps, just like the shit rations, just like the sun fucking rising and the seasons changing! You’re just going to get yourself killed and for what? For some fantasy world that’s impossible? You can’t just do that! Your life is worth so much more than that, you’re worth so much more than that I’m not going to just let you…” 

He cut you off with a kiss, backing you into the wall behind you but catching your head with his large hand before it smacked into the brick. You kissed him back, your arms going around his neck, pulling him close and tight as his tongue dipped into your mouth. Your fingers tangled in his hair as he devoured you and his hand ran down your body to your ass, your thigh, fingers sinking into the thick of your leg to hitch you up and over his hip as he ground himself against your already aching center. You groaned into his mouth at the feel of him, hard against your sex and you rolled your hips against him, finally giving into the heat of want that had been rising for him for the years you’d known him. 

“Fuck,” he breathed, pulling back from you enough to speak but keeping his forehead pressed against yours, his eyes searching your own. “Can I…” 

“Do whatever you want,” you panted, desperate to kiss him again. “I don’t care, I just want you, I…” 

He didn’t give you a chance to finish, kissing you again, pressing you harder against that brick wall before reaching between the two of you to free his cock and shove your panties to the side and then he was in you, the thick heft of him forcing your walls apart sharp and hard, stretching you open and easing the ache inside. 

Tommy moaned and stilled when fully sheathed in you, panting into your mouth as your body adjusted to the size of him. 

“Goddamn you feel good,” he said, pressing himself deep, making your breath hitch. “Fuck, so fucking good.” 

He kissed you again before fucking into you hard, fast, urgent. It was heady, intense, but you knew it had to go quick, you were exposed here, just one idiot turning down the wrong alley and you’d be discovered. 

That, though, just seemed to add to the thrill. The leg that he’d tugged over his hip tightened around him and he grunted as he thrust into you again and again and you rocked your hips against him, working your clit against his pubic bone, trying to take him as deep as possible with every forceful stroke. 

Your orgasm built fast, your cunt growing tighter and tighter around him until it became too much and you burst with it, all the heat inside you shooting out from your core and into the rest of you as your pussy pulsed around him. You cried out with it, not caring that you were exposed and in the QZ and that you were a FEDRA officer and he was a Firefly. All you cared about was him, how he was filling you, how he was making you feel more like yourself than you had since the world had ended more than a decade earlier. 

“Fuck, gonna come,” he managed, fucking you through your orgasm, his motions becoming harsher, more clumsy as his own climax drew closer. “Gonna fill you up so good, honey, fuck!” 

You didn’t have a chance to respond before you felt his orgasm take him, his cock shoved deep, the heavy throbs of his pleasure spilling into you hot and thick. You went limp in his arms as you took it, back against the brick, his head against your shoulder as he panted for breath and his orgasm started to ease. 

You stayed like that for a minute, his cock starting to soften inside you, the thud of your heart heavy in your ears. 

“Fuck,” he said again, not filled with passion but loaded with realization. He straightened, still a little breathless, and looked at you, cupping your cheek gently and still buried inside you. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have…” 

“It’s OK,” you said quickly, still a little breathless yourself. “My period is due any day now, it’s fine…” 

He nodded, still looking at you for a moment before slowly, gently, pulling himself from your body. He tucked himself away and adjusted your panties before making sure both of your feet were back on the ground and stepping back from you. 

“We shouldn’t do that again,” he said quietly, still watching you. “We… we shouldn’t see each other at all. Not now that I’m…” 

“A terrorist?” You asked, brows raised, remembering why you’d been mad at him just a few minutes earlier. 

“Fightin’ FEDRA,” he said. “I can’t… I can’t let you go down with me for this, honey. I can’t.” 

“And I’m, what, supposed to let you face this shit alone?” You asked. “I’m supposed to sit back and watch you get yourself killed?” 

He sighed and shook his head, picking his pack up from the ground before going to respond but you didn’t let him. 

“I’ll deal with the risk,” you snapped. “And we can keep our distance from each other but Tommy? I’m not letting you just get yourself killed. I’d appreciate if we worked together on that.” 

He looked at the ground and nodded slowly before meeting your eyes again. 

“Gotta promise me one thing,” he said. 

“What.” 

“Promise that if I tell you to get out or to stay away? You do it,” he said. You went to argue but he cut you off. “I mean it, honey. I’m not letting you get hurt for me. I can’t do that. I won’t.” 

You ground your teeth. 

“Fine,” you said eventually. 

He nodded again. 

“Good,” he said, turning to leave but stopping before he did. “Oh, I uh… I almost forgot…” 

He went into his pack and pulled out a small bundle of wildflowers, their cut stems wrapped in wet paper to keep them alive. 

“Saw these outside,” he said, holding them out. An offering. “Thought of you.” 

You took them, delicately tracing the soft petals. It was hard to believe there was something like this that still existed in the world, that it was still able to grow in the destruction you knew lay just outside the walls of the QZ. His hand found your elbow, holding you gently before pressing his lips to your cheek. 

“Take care of yourself, honey,” he said softly. 

You took a deep breath, still looking at the flowers, trying to keep the pinch of tears at the back of your throat from your voice. 

“You, too,” you said, looking up. But he was gone and you walked home with his come leaking from between your thighs and his flowers in your hands, hoping it wasn’t the last time you’d ever see him. 

It was a few months before you saw him again, when he sought you out because he knew that what he was doing was risky and he wanted to see if there was a way to do it under FEDRA’s nose. You helped him as best you could, both of you straining to keep an emotional and physical distance that felt almost panful now that you’d had a taste of what could be possible. But it worked, and the two of you figured out a new, tenuous structure to your relationship after that. You did your best to avoid what you both knew was right in front of you, what you both knew was impossible as long as you were a tool of the state and Tommy was fighting against it. But you couldn’t avoid him, seeking him out as often as you seemed to find a reason to, Tommy doing the same, always finding little reasons to touch each other, stand a little too close together, pass a cup of whiskey back and forth so it was almost like your lips were touching through the glass. 

Six months ago, though, Tommy had sought you out much like you had found him tonight, pulling you into an empty building as you walked home from a shift on guard, a job that was feeling worse and worse as the years wore on. 

His hand had clamped over your mouth to keep you from crying out when he grabbed you, pulling you back into his body. 

“Just me, GI Jane,” he said before you had a chance to really fight him. “You’re safe.” 

You jerked away from him all the same, peering out through a clouded window onto the dark street outside. You didn’t see anyone else. 

“Jesus, Miller, you trying to get yourself killed?” You snapped, adjusting your shirt from where it had gotten twisted against his body. 

“Sorry,” he said. “But I needed to talk to you.”

“And it couldn’t wait until our next meeting?” You asked, brows raised.

“Don’t know that I’ll still be here then,” he said and you froze, not even breathing. “The Fireflies… they’re sending me west.” 

“What?” You said quietly, watching him. 

“There’s a lab out that way,” he said. “They’re developing a cure, they want me to go help protect it.” 

“What? No,” you shook your head, heart racing. “No, you can’t, it’s too dangerous, it’s…” 

“S’why they need me to go, honey,” he said gently. “I’m pretty good at what I do, as it happens. They want my help out that way and, well… if I can be even a small part of fixin’ all this? I want to do it.” 

“Tommy…” 

“Come with me,” he said. You laughed but he shook his head. “I’m serious. Come.” 

“You want me, a FEDRA officer, to pick up and move across the country to be a Firefly,” you said, incredulous. “Sure, because they won’t just shoot me on sight when I show up at Boston HQ…” 

“I’ll vouch for you,” he said. “Come with me.” 

You sighed. 

“Tommy…” 

“It’s gotta be better than here,” he said. “Think about it, about what there could be for us out there. A place where we don’t gotta spend our days burning the dead or puttin’ people at gunpoint for breaking bullshit rules and…” 

“You really think there’s better than here out there?” You asked. “Look around, Tommy! The world ended, what, 15 years ago? And all that’s happened is more and more people get infected. More and more packs of raiders fighting to control shit. The closest thing we have to safety and the closest thing we have to a guarantee of making it to tomorrow is fucking FEDRA! You think I like this? That I like patrolling and arresting people and controlling shit like this? No! Of course I don’t! But I hear what it’s like out there and, what’s worse, I hear what it’s like in other QZs! There are executions and starvation and…” 

“You think we’re not headin’ that way here, too?” He demanded. “It’s not gonna get any better! Shit’s gonna get just as bad here and it won’t be long and I’m telling you… just come with me. I’ll take care of you, just… don’t ask me to leave you here. Please.” 

“Tommy…” 

“Please,” he said again, his voice cracking. “I can’t, I can’t just leave you here. I couldn’t do it, honey, I…” 

You cut him off before he said what you were afraid he was going to say. 

“I can’t watch you get yourself killed,” you said. “Don’t ask me to.” 

He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“I’ll put off leaving as long as I can,” he said eventually. “But I’m telling you, we need to get out of here. We can’t stay here, not forever, not like this.” 

He walked you home, both of you keeping an eye out for anyone who might spot you together and make it a problem but it was quiet. When you got to your building, he looked around quickly and pulled you to him, holding your face and tilting you just so before kissing you, his lips soft, his skin warm. It was the first time you’d kissed since that day in the alley, a day that was years behind you but always so close in your mind.

“Tommy,” you breathed when he pulled back from you, his eyes searching yours. 

“I’m not leaving you here,” he said. “And if shit looks bad? Come find me. I’ll help you.” 

You watched him closely. 

“You, too,” you said and you felt his eyes on you until you were safely inside you apartment, your door locked behind you. 

His eyes were watching you like that now, all soft and open and concerned. 

“C’mon, honey,” he said again, coaxing. “You can talk to me.”

“I had to work an execution today,” you said, your voice cracking. “There were six people, Tommy. Six. All they did was break curfew a few too many times, because apparently that’s punishable by death now, and I had to stand there and make sure that no one stopped it and I can’t do this, I can’t support this, I…” 

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly, coming over and pulling you into his arms. He held you close, tucking your face into his shoulder and neck and you could smell the warm, comforting scent of him. Tommy had always been like that, like sunshine and fresh cut grass and wild flowers, like springtime made corporeal. “I’m so sorry, honey.” 

“This isn’t what I signed up for,” you said, choking up a little as you did. “When I joined, it was because it was this or doing who knows what to survive and they said this could help people. I wanted to help people, I didn’t want to kill them.” 

“I know,” he said, his voice velvet soft. “M’sorry.” 

You let him hold you for a while, soaking up the closeness with him that you knew you’d missed but hadn’t fully realized how much. Eventually, his hand stopped running the gentle path up and down your spine and came to cradle back of your head as he pulled back from you ever so slightly, his eyes searching yours. 

“I can’t keep being their soldier,” you whispered. “I can’t do it.” 

“You gonna let me help you, honey?” He asked gently. “Gonna let me get us out of here?” 

Your throat got tight, more tears tugging at you but you nodded, your eyes drifting to his mouth, to the soft plush of his lips below his mustache, your heart beating fast in the cage of your chest. You looked back to his eyes and saw your own feelings reflected in him, the want and care almost burning in his gaze. 

You kissed him then. You couldn’t seem to stop yourself, even if it wasn’t smart, even if you had so much more to figure out. He kissed you back, gentle at first but turning fierce and hungry quickly. But when you started tugging at his clothes, he stopped you, his large hands closing over your smaller ones to hold you still. You pulled back from him and frowned, concerned, but he didn’t give you a chance to ask. 

“We only did this once before and we didn’t get to do it right,” he said, his voice husky and his drawl thick. “Not makin’ that mistake again. Wanna take my time with you.” 

You just nodded and let him lead you to his bedroom. 

In another circumstance, you’d want to take a moment to appreciate that. The fact that you were here, with him, in his space with his things. You’d want to take a moment and see what he chose to surround himself with, to take in this part of him, too. But you weren’t able to focus enough on anything but Tommy enough to do that now and he didn’t give you much opportunity to. His mouth was on yours again quickly, unbuttoning your dark blue uniform shirt, pushing it down your shoulders and letting it fall to the floor. You looked down when it did, the fabric a pool on the ground, the patch with your last name embroidered on it all but glaring at you. Tommy gently took your chin and turned your head to face him. 

“Never have to put that on again,” he said quietly. “You’re not theirs. You’re mine.” 

You just nodded and kissed him again, undressing him as he finished undressing you in return. Soon, he was bare against you and you felt him in a way you never had before, the last time so hurried you didn’t even get the pleasure of his skin. But you did now as he walked you slowly, gently back toward the bed and lowered you onto the mattress. You watched him with wide eyes, taking the chance to actually see and appreciate him like this and he stroked his cock as he watched you in return. He tilted your chin toward him and kissed you before reaching down and spreading your legs, making your breath hitch. He knelt between your open thighs, trailing wet, lingering kisses down your chest and stomach as he did. 

“Gonna do this right,” he said, licking his fingers before gently, almost reverently, opening your sex to him. He groaned at the sight before lightly circling your clit with his thumb. “Gonna take real good care of you.” 

He leaned forward and kissed the top of your slit, wetly mouthing at your swollen clit. You moaned and that just made him more eager, licking and teasing at you as a finger circled your entrance before pushing slowly, firmly inside. He ate at you like that, licking and sucking and savoring and enjoying as he worked you with his thick finger and you couldn’t help but fall back on your elbows, back arching as he did. 

Your orgasm was building fast, everything in you going molten and hot, drawing tight and low inside yourself, everything he was doing putting you just on the edge of your climax but not quite close enough to reach it. 

“Fuck, Tommy,” you groaned, grinding your hips against his face, wanton and wild, your pussy not quite full enough to come. “Fuck, please, I…” 

“You need more?” He asked, pulling his mouth away from your slit and replacing his roving tongue with his thumb on your clit as his index finger continued to work you from the inside. “You need more than this to come?” 

You nodded frantically and he pulled his hand from you, making you groan. But he pushed you further up the bed, keeping your legs open and kneeling between them, his fingers finding your dripping heat again quickly. 

“Don’t want you goin’ without,” he said, panting and hungry, two fingers inside you now. “My girl needs more, I’ll give her more, give her everything.” 

He hooked his fingers inside into the soft, spongy parts of you that made you gasp and your body tense, just on the edge of your orgasm, teetering at the edge. At the last second, he took his hand back again but, before you had a chance to protest, his cock was filling you deep and hard, making your back arch as his thumb found your clit again, working you in firm circles as your body stretched to take him. 

“That what you needed?” He asked, grinding himself deep inside. “That little pussy all nice and full of me now?” 

“Fuck!” You cried out, your orgasm all but slamming into you, your muscles throbbing so hard it almost hurt, your cunt straining to hold his thick length inside as you came around him. 

“Goddamn,” Tommy groaned, his cock buried in you to the hilt, pulling back ever so slightly before thrusting back in so hard it was like he was trying to disappear into you. “That’s it honey, you come for me, you make a mess of this fucking cock.” 

He didn’t wait for your orgasm to fully ease before he started fucking you, really fucking you. His hands found the soft flesh of your inner thighs, spreading you open as far as he could, his fingers sinking into you there as his length found every part of you inside. Every movement stretched you, more than anyone else you’d ever taken before, but you wanted it so bad it wasn’t painful, just overwhelming in the best way. You wanted your body to shift to take him, to shape itself to hold him the way you so desperately needed to. He was inside you, over you, the smell of him on his sheets - all warm and wild - around you. You wanted to take him into yourself and have him take you, to bind yourself to him in a way that was fierce and inextricable. 

Your body wanted it, too, your slick dripping down your thighs and his, your cunt growing tighter and tighter around him, this orgasm taking hold faster and stronger than your first. 

His hands ran over your thighs toward your center, his thumbs stroking your lips, finding your clit and toying with you for a moment before taking your hips and adjusting you so that your sensitive nub was pressed against him, making you groan. His hands ran up your sides, over your stomach and waist, cupping your breasts before he folded himself over you, his bare skin pressing against yours as he kissed you. You whimpered at the feel of him, so soft but firm, warm silk drawn tight over the muscular structure of him. He took your mouth the way he took your pussy, firm and desperate and commanding, his tongue twisting with yours like he was trying to occupy every part of you he could reach and driving your pussy even tighter. 

“Not gonna last long, you grippin’ me like that,” he panted, his pace not slowing as he kept fucking into you. “S’it OK if I come inside you? Fuck, honey, I need to come inside you.” 

“I’m not…” you closed your eyes, having a hard time focusing, a moan pulled from you as his cock hit just the right place inside you. “Fuck… I’m not on anything, you might…” 

That just seemed to make him fuck you harder, his body pressing yours deeper into the mattress. When you opened your eyes again, you found him looking back at you, gaze hungry and open and, in that moment, you didn’t care what happened next. Like the apocalypse didn’t exist, like you hadn’t spent the last decade and a half living through hell, like it was just you and Tommy and wherever this led, it led and it would be OK because you’d be together. 

“Come inside me,” you whispered, eyes on his, your body moving to meet his on every aching stroke. “Fuck, please, please come inside me.” 

He kissed you again, the tangle of your tongues and teeth wet and messy, your legs coming up to bracket his hips as he drove himself into you harder and faster and you arched into him. Your orgasm was so close you were buzzing with it, not able to hear anything but his heavy breaths and your own blood in your ears, but you wanted to come with him, wanted to fall apart to the feeling of him leaving part of himself behind in you. 

Then, he thrust deep and hard, holding himself there against that soft and tender part of you and you felt the heavy pulse of him inside as he moaned into your mouth. The throb of his come spilling against the most intimate part of you setting off your own orgasm, your pussy fluttering over him, pulling every ounce of his come from his body into your own until both of you went limp, his heady weight enveloping you. He buried his face in your neck, his breath hot on your skin as the two of you panted for breath and your hands trembled as they drifted over his back, trailing up and down his spine. 

Tommy pressed his lips into your shoulder, your throat, your jaw, his nose nuzzling into your cheek as he pulled himself from your body before he left for a minute, returning with a damp washcloth. He climbed between your legs and groaned, his thumb tracing your slit. 

“I’m leakin’ out of you,” he said, his voice low and gruff. “Goddamn, love seeing you full of me.” 

He pushed his come back into your still slightly gaping hole and you moaned. 

“Sorry this ain’t warm,” he said before pressing the washcloth to your skin and cleaning you gently. “Water heater died about two years back.” 

You laughed a little. 

“Can’t remember the last time I had a hot shower,” you said as he dropped the washcloth somewhere to the side of the bed and lay beside you, propping himself up on his elbow to look down at you as he trailed his long, thick fingers gently over your stomach. “God I miss those.” 

He smiled, a little sadly. 

“Lot I miss about before,” he said. “S’why I’m trying to hard to get that back.” 

You watched him in the dim glow through the window of the streetlights outside. He was so beautiful, something soft and hopeful about him, something so lovely and wonderfully human that you weren’t sure existed in many people anymore. 

“Do you think they can?” You asked quietly. 

He shrugged. 

“I’m not smart enough to say,” he said. “But… I do know that if I don’t try? I can’t live with myself. I need to do everything I can to try to fix this because if I don’t, why am I here? If it’s not to make shit better for…” he took a deep breath, his eyes running over your body as he did. “For you… then what the hell am I doin’?” 

“Do you think the Fireflies will let me come with you?” You asked quietly. “Or how long it’ll be before we can leave if they do?” 

“They’ll let you,” he said. “Already talked to Marlene, told her all you did to keep me alive over the years. Plus, with your knowledge of how FEDRA works from the inside? You can keep helping us, even if you’re not still on the inside. And… I told her I wasn’t goin’ if you couldn’t go, too.” 

You shoved him lightly and he laughed, leaning down to kiss the tip of your nose. 

“We can leave in a few days,” he said. “We got a group headin’ that way at the end of the week that we can travel with. You can just lie low here until we do.” 

“You were leaving that soon?” You asked, heart cracking open a little at just how close you’d come to losing him without even realizing it. 

“No,” he shrugged. You frowned, confused, and he sighed. “I told you, they want me out there, I could have gone with whatever group I wanted but I wasn’t about to leave without you. I’ve just been waitin’ for my girl.” 

You smiled in spite of yourself. 

“Your girl, huh?” You teased. 

“My girl,” he smiled. “And me and my girl are gonna go save the world.” 

You moved closer to him, to that warmth he seemed to radiate that touched every part of you, kissing his bare chest as you did. 

“Yeah,” you said, that warmth taking root in your chest and blossoming into something like hope. “We are.” 

[epicbuddieficrecs]

Weekly Recap | February 10th-16th 2025

Hope you all had a good Valentine's/Pal-entine's Day! Here we got something like 70cm of snow in four days, which is as much snow as we usually get in the whole month of February 😂

Trying a new formatting, let me know what you think!

Complete

Kiss Me Once Cause You Know I Had A Long Nightby I_still_dont_understand_13 / @dangerpronebuddie (Prompt collection | 36/? | 23K | Teen): 100 kiss prompts.

37. A kiss on the cheek turns into a kiss on the lips

Will You Be My Valentine? by dylaesthetics (Valentine's Day | 1,7K | Mature):

Buck sends all of his contacts an innocent message asking them to be his (platonic) Valentine.

a glint of you in everything by Daisies_and_Briars/ @cal-daisies-and-briars (Post-S8B, Magical Realism, Getting Together | 3K | Teen):

A year into living in El Paso, Eddie begins to see glimpses of Buck's life when he looks in the mirror.

Buck Naked and Afraid by paleredheadinascifi (Canon Divergent, Sleepwalking | 6K | Teen):

Buck sleeps naked. Buck also sleep-walks. Buck sleep-walks naked out of his apartment and locks himself out. Fate cackles. Enter Eddie Diaz.

best laid plans by coldbam/ @coldbam (Established Buddie, Marriage Proposal | 7K | Mature):

Buck drops the binder onto the kitchen table with an impressive thud. The front is labeled TAX STUFF, 2011-2018 in simple block letters. “You came over to do…secret taxes? In the middle of October?” “Oh, no, that’s—that’s a misdirect. I keep it hidden but just in case anyone’s snooping. Eddie hates doing taxes, and Christopher would think it’s boring adult stuff.” He opens the binder and flips past the first 3 pages which are actual old tax slips to keep up the hoax. He turns it around to show Maddie the page he was looking for: Proposal Ideas * Buck proposes. For real this time. (Part 2 of proposal series)

u/fuckley's Reddit post history. by dylaesthetics (Social Media fic, Getting Together, S2-S8 | 8K | Mature):

r/Relationships u/fuckley • 4 yr. ago 🔞 NSFW HOW DO I STOP HAVING MORNING WOOD WHILE SHARING A BED WITH MY BEST FRIEND??? [URGENT] I don’t know which sub to use for this, but I need immediate help. OR the emotional rollercoaster of Buck’s Reddit posts throughout the history of knowing Eddie.

🔥faded from the winter by Daisies_and_Briars/ @cal-daisies-and-briars (Canon Divergence, Amputee Buck, Post-Shooting | 10K | Teen):

Eddie struggles to bounce back after the shooting. Buck starts leaving him with his service dog, Cranberry. (Part 4 of 🔥Buck & Cranberry)

Red Sky at Night by Daisies_and_Briars/ @cal-daisies-and-briars (Established Buddie, Future fic | 10K | Teen):

Buck and Eddie's stress levels are put to the test when a series of inconveniences precede Christopher's prom night, and their subsequent wedding.

you cut out a piece of me, now I bleed internally (left here without you) by smilingbuckley/ @smilingbuckley (Post-S8E8: Wannabes, Depressed Buck | 11K | Mature):

And Buck is left standing there. In the rain. He stares at where Eddie’s truck used to be, now gone and out of sight. And he stays there for God knows how long, waiting, because maybe Eddie turns back. Maybe Eddie changes his mind and turns around. And he’ll jump out of his truck and laugh at Buck about how he could never leave his home here. How he could never leave Buck. And maybe he’ll pull Buck in one of those dramatic, movie-worthy kisses in the rain. And Christopher decides to come back and they live happily ever after. But this isn’t a fairytale or romcom. This is real life. And Eddie is gone. And he’s not coming back. And Buck… Buck is alone once again. (Or: After Eddie moves to El Paso, Buck copes. Except he doesn't.)

🔥 slaughterhouse by kithmet/ @kithmet (Post-S8E8: Wannabes, Kleptomania, Freak4Freak | 21K | Explicit):

Buck keeps him everywhere. He’s smuggling him into every inch left vacant, because like this, he doesn’t lose him, won’t lose him. Like this, he gets to keep Eddie forever, even if it’s just the pieces and the memories attached. The reminder of him will haunt him and this apartment like a ghost. Because Buck can’t trap him in his apartment and force him to stay, he’d never ask that, couldn’t ask that, but he’s going to damn well do his best to salvage it in some form. He’s kidnapping Eddie’s shadow, no matter how much it hurts, and there’s no choice about it. Or: Buck has resolved to be the greatest friend ever. He’s handling this move so well. And not at all being abnormal about Eddie’s house. Or Eddie’s belongings. Or, well. Eddie.

WIP

🔥 Gentle On My Mind by Daisies_and_Briars/ @cal-daisies-and-briars (Canon Divergent, Shannon Lives, Buck/Eddie/Shannon | 15/? | 91K | Explicit):

In which Shannon lives, tells a lie, and sends hers, Eddie's, and Buck's lives down a very different path.

[nooneelsecomesclose17]

Just a little idea that came to me...I'm taking all medical knowledge from google so if anything is wrong, take it up with them.

It also goes against the grain to have John be this successful at punching him, but what the muses want, they get.

*****

Aaron barely heard his phone over the cacophony in the pub. He went out the back of the pub to answer, thankfully he'd not had much to drink so far so he was with it enough to listen.

"Is that Aaron Dingle."

"Who's this."

"I'm a nurse at Hotten General. I have you down as a emergency contact for a Robert Sugden." That stopped him in his tracks. He knew Robert had changed all his paperwork when they'd got married but he'd assumed that when he'd sent the divorce papers he would've changed it back again.

"What's he done?"

"Mr Sugden was brought in suffering from internal bleeding and is currently in surgery...would you be able to come in to be with him?"

"Um..." He shouldn't, he was going on honeymoon for christ's sake, but at the same time, just like on the bridge, he couldn't just ignore him. "Yeah. I'll be about an hour."

"He should be out of surgery by the time you arrive. Thank you Mr Dingle."

He sinks onto one of the benches as he slips his phone back into his pocket. He has no idea how he's going to explain this to John, not least to his mum, but Robert's hurt and when has he ever been able to stay away from him when he's hurt.

He doesn't go back into the pub, just runs down the village to fetch his car. He'll text everyone when he gets there, at least that way he'll delay the inevitable earache he's in for.

*****

A&E is heaving when he arrives and it's ages before he gets to the front of the queue, his phone burning a hole in his pocket. He wants to wait until he knows more before letting anyone know where he is but surely they've noticed his absence by now. He knows what they'll all think and they're partly right after all.

"Can I help?"

"Robert Sugden, I got a call." Thankfully he's directed to a ward quickly enough and then to his room.

He frowns when he sees PC Swirling outside the room. "What are you doing here?"

"Well I should've guessed you'd be turning up. Tell your husband when he wakes up that missing your probation meeting isn't the wisest decision in the world. And that he's lucky I'm not billing him for the mess in my car."

"What?"

"I'd barely even picked him up and he's throwing up blood in the back of my car. Made a right mess. Oh don't look so worried lad, he'll be right as rain in no time that one."

"Yeah, thanks." He really doesn't want to have a conversation with him so he pushes open the door to Robert's room and there he is. He looks pale against the white sheets.

"What are you doing here?" He hadn't even noticed he was awake.

"They called me. I'm still your next of kin apparently. What have you done to yourself?"

"Oh this was your husband's work I think you'll find." He groans as he tries to sit up and Aaron tries to help before sitting back down, ignoring the jibe at John. "He can punch I'll give him that."

"John did this?"

"Well no one else has punched me today! A few might've wanted to but he was the only one who got lucky enough." He doesn't want to believe it but then he remembers Robert being doubled over while he'd been concentrating on calming John down. "Anyway why did you come?"

"I told you, I'm still your next of kin."

"That only tells me how you know, not why you're here. Not three hours ago you rejected me and now you're by my bedside and if I'm right missing your wedding reception."

"I can go if you want."

"Did I say that? I'm just confused."

"Just because I chose him doesn't mean I don't still care about you. Now I know you're ok, I'll call Vic and she can come and be with you." He gets up, already searching for her number, ignoring the mountain of missed calls and texts he's received.

"Wait...Does he make you happy?" Aaron doesn't answer because yes he does, at least happpier than he's been in six years but if he tells Robert that it'll just hurt him and he'll end up admitting that no one has made him as happy as Robert and he doubts they ever will.

"I married him."

"You're avoiding the question. I only ask because he hasn't exactly made the best first impression on me. I mean, I know I can be difficult to like but putting me in hospital and dobbing me in to the police is a bit much."

"You what?"

"Oh he didn't tell you that, what a surprise. Your hero of a husband, and by the way the medals were a nice touch, was that bothered by me that he decided to get me out of the way one way or another."

"You're being ridiculous. How would he even know you'd missed your meeting?"

"Lucky guess? I don't know, but I could tell from Swirling's face. Maybe it'll all come out when they question him about this." He waves his hand at the equipment all around him. "Assault on your wedding day, nice."

"Why are you being like this?"

"I'm in hospital and when I'm lucky enough to leave here I'm going straight back to prison. What do you mean why am I being like this?"

"You interrupted our wedding! Did you expect him, or me for that matter, to welcome you with open arms?"

"Maybe not, but I didn't expect to end up on the operating table."

"Are you sure it was the punch? I mean did something happen in prison..." He can't miss the flinch but Robert schools his face quickly enough. "I'm not defending him, I just..."

His phone goes off again and he sighs, he'll have to answer or they'll end up calling the police and reporting him missing or something equally dramatic.

"What?"

"Aaron, love, where are you?" At least it's his mum and not John. He's not sure what he'd say to him right now. He's not sure what he's most angry about, him hitting Robert or reporting him. Either way he's not sure he could keep his temper.

"Um...I had to nip out."

"Where?" She knows, he can tell. Not the details but she knows it's to do with Robert. He glances at Robert and he's got that knowing smirk on his face, he knows her too well just like Aaron. "I knew it..."

"It's not like that. He's in hospital."

"Then call his sister! He's not your problem anymore!"

"He is when John's the one who put him here! I'll be back soon." He hangs up before she can say another word. "Don't say a word."

"I wouldn't. Nice to know she hasn't changed though." He stops smiling. "Is that the only reason you're still here?"

"What?"

"Because he did this? You worried I'll report him?"

"Well won't you? Be ideal for you, get him away from me."

"Knowing my luck he'd end up being my cell mate. No Aaron, it's my word against his because I can't see you, your mum or Vic backing me up. Maybe I deserved it."

"No. No you didn't. Look Rob..." He trails off because what can he say. The only thing Robert wants to here is that Aaron wants him back and he can't say that. He's just married John.

"It's ok. You gave me your answer didn't you. You should go, get back to your party before your mum calls out the navy or something. I'll tell them to change my emergency contact. I won't bother your anymore."

"It wasn't a bother." He doesn't want to leave. He knows he should, but he really doesn't know if he can.

"Yeah but I'm not your problem anymore. You should go."

"Are you...are you coming back to the village when you're out?"

"I don't know. Probably, got nowhere else to go really. Don't worry I won't cause trouble, for you anyway." He smiles, the little lopsided smile of his that always had Aaron slightly weak kneed. "I'm ok, promise."

"Yeah. Ok. I'll see you around then."

"Bye Aaron."

*****

Well that didn't quite turn out how I expected but hope you like it.

[wangxianficfinder]

Fic Finder

Aug 29th

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1. hello! i’ve been looking for a fic that involves an OC (i think?) that acts as a beard for nie huaisang. it was wangxian centric but that’s the main detail i remember. thank you!

FOUND? 🧡 Stunted, Starving Juvenility by TomatenMark (E, 859k, WangXian, WIP, Fix-it of sorts, Talisman master WWX, Not JFM Friendly, Study Arc, Getting together, Fluff and Angst, Engagement) has NHS getting himself engaged to a female OC that he has no romantic interest in (& vice versa - she's a lesbian) because she has useful skills

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2. hi! Do you recall a fic where wwx was like an omega courtesan in a school who was bought by lxc for lwj. Mianmian was also there with him too for a bit. I remember a scene where lwj got mad at wwx for wanting to wash him. They fall in love eventually. If you could find this fic I'd be grateful! 🙏

FOUND! Rattling our cages by danegen (E, 69k, wangxian, A/B/O, but like polite, Slow Burn, Pining while fucking, so much hair combing, WWX has a vagina, POV WWX, no yin iron or wars or plot really, Canon Era, spiders–see the notes, Spanish Translation Available)

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3. Hello! Thank you for all the work that you all do <3

I've been trying to look for a fic for some time now. I think it had wangxian pretty much adopting a little girl. Like the girl is an orphan and just keeps clinging to wx and being super sticky and I think there was a plot in her backstory dealing with resentment. Wwx knew abt it but lwj did not figure it out until later i think. This girl just accompanied them on some nighthunt or smth. The story has the Lan take in orphans due to reasons(tm) and the girl was one of them.

FOUND! the low sky, raining over by chibilwj (thelogicoftaste) (M, 37k, WangXian, Post-Canon, Established Relationship, Kid Fic)

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4. Hi. I have a fic to find. In this fic, instead of Yanli dying at Nightless City, Lan Zhan gets critically injured and it sends Wei Wuxian into a spiral. Lan Xichen is very angry at him and will not let him anywhere near his body.

Thank you for your help.

FOUND? If I Could Go Back in Time by Runningbarefoot (M, 122k, WangXian, NieLan, Canon Divergence, Role Reversal, Somebody Lives/Not Everyone Dies, Pining, Angst with a Happy Ending, Grief/Mourning, YL WWX, Eventual Happy Ending, The Twin Jade Brotherhood, Hurt/Comfort, Character Study, Twin Prides of Yúnmèng Dynamics, Slow Burn)

FOUND? 🔒❤️ kick at the darkness ‘til it bleeds daylight by AlfAlfAlfAlfAlf, tardigradeschool (T, 75k, WangXian, Hurt/Comfort, Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Eventual Happy Ending, Getting Together, Burial Mounds Settlement Days, Inspired by The Parent Trap (1998), Kid Fic, teen shenanigans, two a-yuans, Fluff and Angst)

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5. hi this is for fic finder!! i’m looking for a fic where wangxian leave the cultivation world for a while with lan sizhui and only come back accidentally. i’m pretty sure everyone else thinks they’re dead and they might have been residing with baoshan sanren in her mountain. thank you!

FOUND? If It's Too Hard To Forgive by Machevalli (M, 94k, WIP, WangXian, XuanLi, Somebody Lives/Not Everyone Dies, Fluff and Angst, Bittersweet Ending, Yunmeng Jiang Sect Bashing, WWX Leaves the Yunmeng Jiang Sect, Top LWJ/Bottom WWX, Mpreg)

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6. Hello! I'm looking for a WangXian fic, they were both dragon shapeshifters, but they met each other in their dragon forms. They both assumed that the other was a regular dragon and both made the decision to commit to the relationship and live out their lives as dragons from now on. I think only when JYL visited and WWX turned human for her, LWJ realized that he was a shifter too. It might have been a twitter thread fic. Thank you so much for your help!!

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7. Looking for an arranged marriage au for wangxian. Yiling laozu wwx, he and lz don't know each other and lz is initially worried cause of wwx reputation. Wwx does the marriage, but doesn't immediately trust lz cause he could be a spy/sent to hurt wwx etc. Specifically there was a scene where people came and attacked wwx's household, I think wwx was away. Everyone hid in the cellars only to realize a-yuan was missing. Lz goes after him and saves a-yuan from being harmed but gets badly hurt.

This leads wwx to realize he can trust lz. Wwx may have taken lz's sword away before the attack cause of a misunderstanding and lz fought to protect everyone any way. And I think another scene lz comes out in his night clothes and yells at a group of cultivators who had come to rescue lz cause they thought something happened to him and lz is like why r yall breaking into my house in the middle of the night and the cultivators (lxc might have been with them) were like this is awkward.

but mebbe I just made it up/misremembered or accidentally combined things?

FOUND? 💖🔒 love, in fire and blood by cicer (E, 360k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, YLLZ WWX, Arranged Marriage, political scheming, Gratuitous Domesticity, Mutual Pining, EXTREME SLOWBURN, the inherent eroticism of the forehead ribbon, The Mortifying Ordeal of Being Known, neither wwx nor lwj want to be Perceived, but sorry kids! it’s gonna happen!, rated E but the the NSFW stuff doesn’t begin until chapter 19!, bottom LWJ in chapter 20 and 27, Mojo’s post)

FOUND? Caught Between Sun and Shadows by Alliandra (E, 71k, wangxian, LXC & LWJ, grapshic depictions of violence, sunshot campaign, arranged marriage, YLLZ WWX, pining, battle husbands, versatile wangxian, falling in love, resentacles, sex pollen, fuck or die, golden core reveal, politics, hurt/comfort) also sounds like

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8. Fic finder? I'm suspecting it has been deleted but I need to try. It's a fanfic where wwx attempts s*ic*de (suicide) and jc finds him in the bathroom. He calls 911, he's hospitalized and all of that. Please help me 🥲🥲

FOUND! 总有一天; a place to hide (can’t find one near) by yiqie (E, 76k, WangXian, Modern AU, Pianist, Getting Together, Mental Health Issues, Suicide Attempt, Suicidal Thoughts, Depression, Hospitals, Overdosing, Eventual Happy Ending, Hurt/Comfort, Additional Warnings In Author’s Note)

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9. a modern AU where LWJ and WWX reconnected at a party when Su She was hitting in LWJ, takes place in grad school and WWX doesn’t know they were dating until the end when they visit LWJ’s uncle’s cottage

thank you so much for your help!! @anonionsodelicious

FOUND? without your new eyes by anaphoricae (E, 66k, WangXian, Modern, Didn’t Know They Were Dating, Sexuality Discovery, Self-Discovery, Literal Sleeping Together, (there is so much sleeping in this fic), mentions of WWX/others and LWJ/others, Drunk LWJ, Teacher LWJ, WWX is a… throws dart… computer scientist, No Angst, Jealous WWX, Flirty WWX, Eventual Smut, Bottom LWJ, Fluff, Non-Sexual Intimacy, WWX’s Love Language is Physical Touch, Guess what: even more non-sexual sleeping together, the plot of the fic is just… co-sleeping, call it the Nap Fic ™, Podfic Available, WWX isn’t so much 'oblivious’ as he is wilfully blocking some feelings subconsciously, WWX 'idk how I feel’ to 'I’m gonna marry him’ pipeline)

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10. Hi im looking for a specific fic. The fic was on ao3 and was a modern au where Wei Ying realizes he might be a bit gay and kisses lan zhan but then freaks out, and they get a bit awkward. He then goes on to forums to see what others might think of his situation, he tries watching gay porn etc. and finds that he's dreaming of lan zhan. He ends up being jumped by homophobes goes on a drinking binge for the next few days as a result and hears that lan zhan has been staying in his room and hasn't been doing well, wei ying thinks it's because he kissed him but later finds out he sent lan zhan a homophobic message when drunk. Any help would be appreciated!!! @livesformitski

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11. Hello! I was hoping you can help me track this fic down!

In the fic Lan Zhan finds out about Wei Yings golden core and he schemes to get it back with Wen Qing no matter what. I think it was a dark lan Zhan fic?

~*~

12. For FF, I am once again asking for wlw wangxian fics. There’s a specific one I can’t seem to find, wherein Lwj and wwx are roommates, and wwx is planning on moving out to mm’s bc she constantly hears lwj hooking up in her room, but there’s an issue at the new place or something so she keeps putting off moving out until eventually she’s convinced to stay when they get together

I’ve tried digging through tags but it’s giving me issues, I would appreciate you forever if you find it🙏🙏🙏

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13. Hi I'm looking for this wangxian fic but can't find it anywhere, I don't remember a lot but all I remember is lan wangji getting his lashes punishment and wei wuxian (who is alive) turning up getting angry and destroying all the clans. Yanli (also alive) - and I think zixuan- was like ' well what do you all expect, you've all brought this on yourselves'

Sorry I can't remember much else,

Thank you ☺️ @haseenaay99

FOUND? An arrow to the heart by IsilmeLasgalen (T, 47k, WangXian, SongXiao, XuanLi, ZhuiYi, LQY/NMJ, XiSang, A-qing/OYZZ, BSSR/LY, WangXian Get a Happy Ending, YLLZ WWX, WWX Lives, BAMF JYL, Protective WWX, Good Parents LWJ and WWX, Married WangXian Have Children, JGS "falls" down the stairs, Bad Parents JFM and YZY, Implied/Referenced Rape/Non-con, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, JYL Lives, JZX Lives, Protective WN, Implied/Referenced Abuse, POV Multiple, Post-Sunshot Campaign, Cultivation Sect Politics)

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14. I'm looking for a Modern AU crack-fic-ish from Jiang Cheng's POV (I think?) where Wei Ying seems obliviously in a relationship, and later married, to Lan Zhan. It's also implied that maybe they're just trolling Jiang Cheng. @hiperfyxation

FOUND? Six in one hand by deliciousblizzardshark (T, 2k, WangXian, Modern: No Powers, Crack Treated Seriously, Compulsory Heterosexuality, POV JC)

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15. Hi i need help looking for a fic. I don’t remember much but it was a sort of time travel fic where wei wuxian goes back in time. I think there was a scene during the sun shot campaign where wangxian confess? I remember lan wangji being jealous of his future/ alternate self who is wwx’s husband

I’m so sorry I don’t remember more but please help me find this fic 🥹

FOUND! 🔒 if you can’t beat them, recruit them by moeblobmegane (T, 228k, Wangxian, NHS & WWX, WWX & WQ, Time Travel Fix-It, Conspiracy, Spies & Secret Agents, Team as Family, Found Family, Burial Mounds, Temporary Character Death, Canon-Typical Violence, Pining, Morally Ambiguous Character, Rumors, Politics, Developing Friendships, Good Uncle LQR, Demonic Cultivation, YilingWei Sect) i think its - chapter 26

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16. Hi, this is for a fic finder. I’m looking for a fic where WWX is a Wen. When Lans were attacked, LWJ, LSJ and LJY were taken to Qishan but were taken under WWX’s wings and they were taken care of. It was lan sect bashing and LQR bashing. LWJ did not return to Lans. I just remember that towards the end of the fic, there was a scene where WWX asked his spies from each sect to come out and MXY came out from Jiang, XY came out from Nie and MY was from Jin. I thought I’ve bookmarked it but could find it. I also have checked Wen WWX compilations and War Prize LWZ compilations. Did not find in either list. I’d appreciate if anyone know the name! Thank you!

FOUND? To the Heavens and the Earth by IsilmeLasgalen (E, 77k, WangXian, WWX is a Wēn, POV LWJ, Good Parent LWJ, Marriage of Convenience, Accidental Marriage, Implied Mpreg, Time Travel, Canon Divergence, WWX Isn't Adopted by the Jiāngs, CSSR and WCZ Live BAMF WWX, BAMF LWJ, Cultivation Sect Politics, Bottom LWJ, Top WWX, POV NHS, Protective LJY, Good Person WRH, Protective LXC, Immortal LWJ and WWX, POV LXC, Mpreg, WangXian in Love, Soft WangXian, WangXian Get a Happy Ending, POV JZX, Emperor WWX, Emperor LWJ, Past WWX/Other(s), Everybody Lives, Fluff, Angst, Smut, LWJ is LJY's Parent)

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17. Hi! I'm trying to find a fic where lej continuously aaja to play cleansing fir wwc but he keeps reusing cuz resentful energy is the only thing holding his body together but the eventually agrees and then almost dies but wen qung is there and then the course reveal happens and it angsty and wwc thinks lans wouldn't have cared if he told them cheating him if resentment could possibly kill him, thanku!

FOUND? 🧡 decay by antebunny (G, 15k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Angst, Misunderstandings, Miscommunication, Fix-It, Angst with a Happy Ending, the fluffiest ending, Hurt/Comfort)

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18. Hello, this is a fic finder ask:

I’m not sure of the entire plot the the fic but I remember Meng Yao getting caught and being slapped by SiSi in front of the other sect leaders because of what he tried to do knowing his mom’s upbringing. He tries to play it off but he gets imprisoned in a Lanling Tower and isn’t allowed to use anything with strings because of what he did to Nie Mingjue.

FOUND? 💖🔒 love, in fire and blood by cicer (E, 360k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, YLLZ WWX, Arranged Marriage, political scheming, Gratuitous Domesticity, Mutual Pining, EXTREME SLOWBURN, the inherent eroticism of the forehead ribbon, The Mortifying Ordeal of Being Known, neither wwx nor lwj want to be Perceived, but sorry kids! it’s gonna happen!, rated E but the the NSFW stuff doesn’t begin until chapter 19!, bottom LWJ in chapter 20 and 27, Mojo’s post) I think #18 is - chapter 30. But its only has the slapping part

~*~

19. hi, I have a finder fic ask, well two actually:

A. jin guangshan tries to assault yanli but he is stopped but there’s a plot twist because yanli knew it would happen because jin guangshan has a special garden when he does that to people and she is maybe a time traveler so she sets him up to be caught

B. WWX has died and there’s a celebration happening and there’s this special guest that will be there, possibly called The Painter, and when they get there the guest actually sings the story of how the different sects are hypocrites and the guest curses all of them except Lan Wangji and when the guest goes to leave, they lift up their veil and reveal themselves to be baoshan sanren.

~*~

20. Hi!!! I hope you're doing well. Please help me find this fic. It's a modern setting one, where I think WWX is sending LWJ suggestive pictures and videos of himself, and LWJ just doesn't know who it is. I think WWX is some kind of IT or something. I came across this fic on Twitter/X in a promotional of the AO3 fic, but I can't find it anymore. I forgot the parts of the fic but I know there's pictures and chat logs inserted in the fic. Please help me and thank you so much!!!

FOUND? might be this thread (unrolled because I don't have twitter)

also on ao3 its called + xx xxx xxx xxxx by 3neetee (E, 12k, WangXian, Modern, Shameless Smut, PWP, Dom/sub, Stalker WWX, Manipulative LWJ, Anal Sex, Anal Fingering, Masturbation, Rimming, Spanking, Spit Kink, Under-negotiated Kink, Identity Porn, Explicit/NSFW Pictures, Twitter threadfic, Semi-Public Sex, freak4freak wangxian)

~*~

[itsgirlcraft]

TW gore/veins, bloodshot eye

...so guess who just made a Rainbow Pickaxe™ minecraft texture/pixel art ahaha-

This is. Specifically the Steve Labs version- yes that one-off video with Assistant Steve and everything-

And yup this is ALSO for my TWA AU lol, but I got an idea for a mod too 😅

Uhhh @its-indigos @dracl-dragon

I think yall would be interested?

Explanation under the cut :3

So like- au first-

In TWA, there's 3 rainbow pickaxes: TSS, RQ, and Steve Labs here. Currently, I'm imagining RQ to be bedazzled with jewels and is very shiny and sturdy. TSS is probably (mostly) like that one drawing I posted, but a bit more...idk, element-based? Fire n water and all that.

And then there's this one. I imagine he has a fleshy texture. You can feel his heartbeat in the handle, his anxious breathing. Sure, the other two have faces, but this...is different. Tbh, this texture is just gory bc I didn't feel like adding the limbs directly. But I imagine he has at least 1 semi-functional hand, maybe both. That's why he can drag himself around as a dropped item.

I'm not quiteeee sure how I wanna design that part, like where his mouth, other eye, ears maybe, etc, go. I'd base it off of the configuration of his body in the crafting grid (head middle-left, torso center, legs middle-right), but that doesn't quite...work well?? Idk what to do with his legs.

Yeah and so. Eventually the main TWA gang find the Steve Lab, which is like. Immediately after the video ends, so Rainbow has just escaped and is trying to get away from the lab. And the group run into him nearby, which accidentally alerts Labs!Assistant/Sabre to Rainbow's location. The unexpected company ofc makes them curious, and while the gang try to convince Rainbow to trust them, the Labs duo come over and just barely see Rain before he hides behind the group's legs.

As for the mod idea- ahahaa it's uhhh interesting? There's three variants of the pickaxe, this one is the first. You can either a, find him just in a chest/out in the wild, b, craft him yourself, or c, steal it like. From another player or maybe the lab itself. Form 1 is just called the Rainbow Pickaxe, and its little like..tag thing? Says "you can feel his heartbeat. It's very fast.." When you first mine/hit something, the tag becomes "It appears to be bleeding. Its eye is pleading in silence."

If you find him, his relationship with you is more neutral, and if you craft him, it's already negative. The more you use him, the more he bleeds, and the worse it all just..is. Sometimes you can hear crying if he's in a chest, whether or not you use him. He's probably got decent enchantments and/or abilities, so you'd *like* to use him. If you drop him, he starts running away. If you manage to catch him, the tag becomes "Why couldn't you give me freedom?"

Form 2 happens if you gather the necessary materials to transform him back, it's also possible if you simply summon him and don't turn him into a pickaxe at all. It's probably, like, decently midgame, maybe redstone-infused diamonds, idk. But whatever it is, it takes effort to achieve. If you crafted him originally, he's gonna attack and run away. You won't get to have a good relationship for a long time, maybe never. If you found him, and especially if you didn't/barely used him, he'll have a good relationship with you. If you used him a lot, you'll have a more neutral relationship.

In this form, he becomes a Steve again. Since he's not exactly well-versed in ✨️life✨️, he doesn't have a good grip on his powers, if any. He has pickaxe-shaped horns and wings/tail. If you have a good enough relationship, which requires further development once you turn him back, he'll give/trade you the "pure pickaxe." This is the diamond pickaxe with his energy partially infused, and it provides many good things for you, such as being a dynamic light, weapon, and tool, all in one. It has the tag, "he trusts you to wield his vessel once again."

In the positive relationship, he can help ofc with mining, but he prefers aboveground resource gathering, despite being better at underground exploration. He can glow, as well as use said pure pickaxe before he gives it to you. If you've talked to him, either through the chat or thru paper/books, he'll slowly start speaking to you, starting with a "Thank you" when you turn him back.

In the negative relationship, he escapes and leaves you behind, actively avoiding you. He doesn't attack much - he's more like a frightened animal. Same with the neutral relationship. In the neutral one, you can gain his trust, it's just a bit harder since he's now a person. Providing him with resources can help.

The third form happens if you decide to kill him at this point: the "haunted rainbow pickaxe." Which can only be obtained if you go thru this whole process, and is on a similar power/utility level to the pure pickaxe. It's similar in mechanics to the first form, but more intense. Sometimes it will cry out in pain. The tag on this one ranges from "his heart beats no longer. Only cries of pain are left behind." to "my wails of betrayal haunt your mind. I trusted you. Why?" to "no turning back now." Mostly depending on how much you use him.

He can't be turned back. One key difference between pure and haunted is that this has no light, and has a special attack which sometimes damages you/gives you negative effects. The haunted texture is a more gruesome form of the og variant, while the pure texture basically just removes the gore. There's still an eye on it, though. Sometimes the haunted form will grow a mouth on its handle and bite you.

[theunholybastard]

Hi! This is my first time sending a request for anything 😅 but I was wondering if you could maybe write about the era 5 ghouls/ghoulettes comforting the reader while they're on their period? Basically, it's just comfort/fluff. My favorite is Phantom and I feel like he'd be such a sweetheart 🥹

Hi, lovely! 👋 I'd be honored to take your first request! I didn't know how exactly you wanted me to write it, so I just went with some little headcanon blurbs. Lmk if you want me to rewrite a drabble/full length fic of any specific character/s and I'll get to that when I have the time. <3 Enjoy!

Era 5 Ghouls/Ghoulettes Period Comfort Headcanons

(CW - Brief mentions of period sex/blood kink for Swiss and Sodo/Dewdrop)

Phantom:

He's a little confused, but he's got the spirit.

His knowledge on the human body, especially the female anatomy, is limited, so he's not entirely sure how to help you. He is however, a great listener, and is always willing to do whatever you ask of him to make you feel better, no hesitation.

Building off of him being a great listener, he's also more than down to just listen to you complain. Whatever you choose to talk about, period-related or not, he is sat, intently listening to every word.

He's a very curious ghoul - he wants to hear about your feelings, he wants to know what's making you feel the way you feel, and how to make it better.

Food is his love-language. Always ready to pick up whatever food you're craving at the moment, at any time. Wake him up at 2 A.M and say you want ice cream? He's immediately out the door to get ice cream. (and picking up some cookie dough for himself, too.)

Three words: Food, Movies, Cuddles. Snacking with you, bodies intertwined, while watching your favorite movies, is his own personal Heaven. (ok maybe Heaven isn't the right word but ykwim)

He's a messy eater, so make sure not to let him eat in your bed. Other than that, you're in good hands.

Rain:

If you like physical affection, you're in luck, because Rain is the unofficial King of Cuddles™️

Babies you, but not in the belittling way.

Yes, he knows you can get out of bed and do things yourself, but why would you so much as lift a finger when you have him to pamper you?

Sings to you and plays guitar for you

If you're ever feeling self-conscious during this time, he will do anything and everything in his power to make you feel beautiful

Compliments you any chance he can get, brushes your hair for you, has skincare nights with you (loves floral-scented face masks and those cucumber eye masks)

He makes sure you are very well taken care of

Mountain:

Also babies you, but unlike Rain, it does feel a little belittling. He means well, though.

Freaks out over you just getting out of bed to use the bathroom. Insists he carries you because you're "too weak and fragile to do anything in this state."

You're pretty much bedridden for a week, sorry.

Prepares healthy meals for you, loves hearing you compliment his cooking.

Insists that nature is the best medicine. Opens the windows to get you some fresh air. Will gladly go on walks with you if you manage to convince him you're fine and perfectly capable of movement.

Picks you fresh flowers

Plays with your hair to help you fall asleep

Sodo/Dewdrop:

Also doesn't really know how to help you.

Just kinda treats you like normal, unless youre having pains

Offers you painkillers, but if you'd rather not take medicine, he'll rub your stomach, your back, whatever area is bothering you.

Lucky for you, he's got the body temp of a furnace. He's your own personal heating pad.

Also suggests orgasms help reduce cramping. Doesn't push it, but he makes sure you know he doesn't mind parting the red sea

Swiss:

Oh Lord. This man. Is so horny.

Obviously he doesn't press if sex isn't something you're interested in during this time. He'll find other ways to comfort you. Though sex is his favorite way to do it.

LOVES giving massages. He'll lay down one of those hydrophobic blankets so you can free bleed while he gives you a full-body massage he might get hard

Very touchy. Cannot keep his hands off you. Constant cuddling.

Builds you a little nest of pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, anything soft and comforting to you that he can find. You basically live in a blanket fort for like a week.

You can talk to him about anything period-related. Don't bother sparing the gruesome details, TMI does not exist with him. Nothing you could say would shock him.

Cirrus:

Princess treatment, 24/7.

Fawns over you when you're having cramps, not leaving your side until you feel better.

Tells you silly stories or gossip to distract you from your cramps. Anything to get a smile out of you. Shes the ultimate yapper gf (except for maybe Aurora)

Self care nights! Bubble baths, painting each others nails, doing each others makeup, braiding each others hair (or you could just braid hers if your hair is too short)

Whispers words of affirmation in your ear as you sleep in hopes it will make you subconsciously feel better

Cumulus:

Tells you she will personally fight God for giving you a period. Mainly just to make you laugh. But she would if she could.

If Rain is the Cuddle King, then consider her the Cuddle Queen™️

So soft. So comfy. You are in for some GODLY naps.

Cooks for you and insists on feeding you herself (she's been tempted to go "here comes the airplaaane!" but she doesn't want to risk pissing you off)

Cleans up your space for you so a dirty environment doesn't cause you additional stress. Will scold you like a disappointed mother if you try to take over the work.

Sings you to sleep

Makes sure you have a comfy place to relax and a nice full belly at all times

Aurora:

Shes really not as helpful as she thinks she is, but she tries.

Shes a very energetic ghoulette, so if your idea of comfort during this time is doing as little physical activity as possible, she's gonna be a bit out of her element.

Offers to go on a run together, swearing it's the best distraction for if you have cramps.

But if you'd rather stay in bed, she will oblige. She does love cuddles. Shes very touchy.

She uses your period as an excuse to buy a shit load of candy. She ends up getting a stomach ache because she ate most of it and now you have to comfort her. At least she's cute though

Gets excited if your cycles are synced up because that means you two can free-bleed together

Brings home little trinkets for you like a crow

-

[forsaken-headcanons]

So recently I've been fixating on Jason (Slasher from Block Tales to be specific, but he's a Jason variant, so Jason too) AND I'M STARVING FOR CONTENT AND I'M EATING UP ALL HEADCANONS AND FIC'S I SEE!!!

So I made a few myself!!! Keep in mind that I have no idea about Friday 13th movie or Survive in Area 51 game. So I'm sorry in advance if this is not accurate to character. (Also it is like a continuation of my Killers Found Family)

From what I know Jason drowned (as a kid?). So now he's TERRIBLY terrified of water. If it rains, he's not going outside. If some of the killers drinks water he keeps his distance, but is still in the room because he doesn't want them to drown/choke.

If I remember correctly, Area 51 is like a lab or military base. They wanted to know how Jason became immune to pain/kinda immortal so they experimented on him. Because of it he's scared of medical equipment and untrusting to doctors and medical buildings.

During his stay in Area 51, he forgot how to read and write. C00lkidd with the help of Mafioso (C00lkidd begged him to assist) decided to teach him again so the communication will be easier if he knows how to write.

At first was really untrusting to other killers, but with time he slowly opened up to them and created close bonds.

^ Speaking of close bonds. Jason is cautious when it comes to getting attached. He doesn't want to lose another close person (like he lost his mom)

He eats alone in his room, making sure he hung outside the door a "DO NOT ENTER" written on a paper (someone else wrote it for him). That's the only time he slightly moves away his mask.

Correct me if I'm wrong (I read it somewhere) but Jason was bullied as a kid because of a deformality on his face? If so there's definitely an emotional baggage from that. That's the reason why he doesn't take off his mask. He's worried that the killers might dislike him when they learn how he looks.

WARNING, MENTION OF IGNORING INJURIES/SELF INFLICTED INJURIES

Jason hardly feels pain. So he has no idea that he injured himself (or someone injured him) until someone else points it out. And even then he tends to ignore it, because he can't feel it, it doesn't bother him. What he fails to realise that the bleeding out still has impact on his body. Other killers (except C00lkidd, he always calls someone else to do it) have to force Jason to sit down and take care of his injuries. (1x1x1x1 does it 'reluctantly', because he 'doesn't care' -> Lies, he cares but doesn't know it yet/doesn't understand)

I think it's everything for now. Hope you enjoyed the hc's and I didn't miss characterized Jason. (That's the worst feeling, knowing I made character ooc)

~ Purple Anon OUT!

I don't know much more about non-Forsaken/non-BlockTales Jason than you do, so this seems pretty accurate to me. Don't worry, Purple Anon!!! Poor guy afraid of the slightest drop of water...

[crusty-chronicles]

hi!! i hope you're doing well!! i was hoping if you could write an (platonic) airhead headcanon for gon from hxh?? you dont have to if youre not comfortable w writing it!

i really enjoy reading your works and i hope you have a lovely day!!!

Ah yes, another chaotic crack fic coming up.

BONUS AIRHEADED S/O HEADCANNONS: Gon (HxH)

For starters, there is not a single thought to be had between the two of you

Heads empty with static

You tripped and fell?

He's stumbling on your body and toppling over.

Gon got stung by a bee?

You're fighting the entire hive, only to end up having the worst allergic reaction of your life.

You wanna play in the rain without a jacket?

The both of you end up with colds the next day.

Gon can't do math and you can't read or write, so it balances out.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Poor Killua is the one who has to put up with both of you

"No Y/n. Eating a glow stick will not make you radioactive and shiny." "No Gon. You can't bake a cookie in one minute just because you set the oven to 1500 degrees."

His two best friends are complete idiots and he can't do anything about it.

But on the bright side, you and Gon are endless entertainment.

You most likely met during the Hunter's Exam.

He and Killua were surprised to see another kid taking the exam, especially one that was keeping up just as well

Leading Gon to ask his famous icebreaker question.

"Why do you wanna become a hunter?"

And immediately your face scrunched up in confusion.

"A what? I thought we were all playing a game."

"But you had to fill out an application." Killua pointed out, very suspicious of your answer.

"Really? Cuz I just snuck in."

Both boys leave it at that because #1, a new friend. And #2 you've got to be really skilled to make it this far.

Also keeps you far away from Hisoka

Like he legit fears for your life and will not let you fight him.

He's seen that clown up close and personal and doesn't want you to get hurt or, knowing hisoka, worse.

"Hisoka gave me a lollipop and told me to meet him outside."

"SPIT THAT OUT RIGHT NOW!"

Now while Gon's ditzy, he's nowhere near as clueless as you.

You're lactose intolerant?

Then why are you downing cheese sticks like you're never gonna eat again?

I'm sorry? You're allergic to shellfish?????

WHY ARE STILL EATING GNAWING ON A CRAB LEG!?!? STOP YOUR FACE IS TURNING RED!!!!

Please stop jumping into lakes to catch fish. 🥺 

You're gonna get sick and Gon wants to show you how to fish 

There is no babying

You ARE the babies.

Buuuut, Gon will mother hen you after every fight because you're ten times as reckless as him.

You got stabbed once during a fight, and instead of moving back, you pushed yourself further into the blade just to punch your attacker.

Which resulted in a huge lecture from Killua while Gon tried to stop the bleeding.

"If I see a light, should I go towards it?"

"NO!"

Tbh Gon really doesn't have any nicknames for his friends. At most he'll just introduce you as one of his best friends.

He doesn't have it in him to be mean spirited towards you like a certain assassin. 

Has a habit of encouraging your bad ideas instead of shutting them down.

Make no mistake, he knows they're awful ideas, but you're trying.

And Aunt Mito says it's the effort that counts.

Speaking of Mito 👀👀👀

She adores you

Surprisingly, you're very helpful in the kitchen.

Just not around knives, which she realized after you sliced through the cutting board.

She also likes how responsible you make Gon.

He's more observant and careful when you're around.

To put it simply, he loves you and Killua with his whole heart.

Two of the most important people he'd do just about anything for.

MASTERLIST

[spoopieere]

A collection of my Asa Emory headcanons [PART 1]: Shit he does to his body and his stupid bodily quirks <3

I need y'all to see the version of Asa in my mind :3

RULE OF THUMB: Asa is autistic. I do not take criticisms on this.

Asa bites his lips a lot, peeling off the skin of his bottom lip, either by biting or picking with his hand in general. He does so because he is either bored, anxious, or stimming. It goes to a point where his lip would bleed, and scars, which causes little black spots to form on his bottom lip. --

His teeth is slightly crooked. A bit yellow too. But his dental hygiene is on point, he flosses everyday, and does everything he can to avoid having to go to the dentist. Because the idea of some stranger digging around in his mouth makes him anxious. I think he was afraid of going to the dentist as a child and it persisted until adulthood, which is why he didn't get braces for his crooked teeth. But I think he also applies that fear by inficting it on his victims instead, because even HE thinks it's scary. --

His eyes look like that due to a birth defect. He was blind for the first few years of his life, which made his hearing develop way more than the average person. Even after the surgery, his vision is still affected and he has to wear aiding eye-contacts to see properly, or else everything would just be blurry to him. Sometimes trade the contacts for prescription glasses. --

Asa smokes, sure, but he doesn't do it often. He'd mostly have one or two cigs during long periods of working/planning. You won't catch him smoking anywhere else that isn't the hotel, his home, or behind the university at night. --

Asa doesn't like being seen/watched while he's eating. Asa has a weird relationship with eating i guess. He hates eating in the presence of people who he doesn't trust. He thinks the sight of his chewing makes him look clumsy, or "not up the image he made for himself" infront of the people who looks up to him (or afraid of him). --

Which is why bro fucking eats his lunch in his car during lunchbreaks at the university. God forbid you dare find him while he's chewing on his food, he might just put you in the collection for that reason alone. --

Stims very quietly, usually goes unnoticed. He'll stim by flicking his tongue inside his mouth, or does light tapping with his hand under the table, wriggling his toes also works. When he gets happy and needs to stim, he'd just stare into the distance with a fuckass smile on his face, before walking around aimlessly. He'd try to make sense of the walking by sitting down, and try to do something, but would end up getting up to walk around again. Rinse and repeat until the excitement fades. --

Hates sudden and/or prolonging loud noises. --

Asa loves the rain, but absolutely hates the sound of it. If it gets too loud, he's putting on ear muffs. But due this hatred, it makes it very hard for him to drive home during rainstorms bc the sound of rain is amplified in his car. So usually he'd choose between waiting for the rain to calm down; Ask someone to drive him home so he can have his earmuffs on during the ride; If it's at the university, he'd just sleep in his office. (Asa has a stash of his stuff in his office at the univeristy, just in case he has to stay there overnight) --

Absolutely has a 2nd job or does some shady shit at the side. Because I refuse to believe he has the money to afford all that gear, resources, materials and drugs for his Collection, with a Uni Prof's salary. (His pest control business might be a front for money laundering lmao /j) --

At night, while it rains, Asa would brew Jasmine tea before bed to help him sleep. --

Light sleeper. Will literally wakes up to anything that sounds out-of-place. He also sleeps straight like a log, hands on stomach and all. God forbid he has a stuffy nose or else he'll snore for the neighbors to hear. --

He eats primarily simple, easy and and quick-to-make food due to his... busy schedule *cough*. This also includes frozen dinners, takeouts and left-overs. But he tries to cook at home whenever he can. --

Asa only visit a specific restaurant for a specific dish, he will not order anything else, nor would he go to any other restaurant for that dish. He can taste it whenever the recipe for the dish changes, to which he will evaluate and decide whether he should stick to the same restaurant for that dish anymore. --

He judges a restaurant based on their mashed potatoes. I will not elaborate. --

Asa likes mushroom cream soup :3 --

Fav flavour of ice-cream is pistachio :3 --

It is also mentioned in an interview ( I can't fucking find it yet ) that Asa is a coffee snob, so I won't be surprised if he wakes up at 5AM just to make his morning coffee to perfection. --

His hands aren't as smooth as one like to think. They feel a bit sandy and rough. Stiff. You need to slightly squeeze in order to feel the squishiness of his flesh. This is primarily due to his exposure to chemicals, and all the disinfectant damaged some of his skin. --

Sleeper build. He may look stocky and a bit blurby, but he got good muscles under all that fat hehe. All that hauling and carrying and running and killing and torturing people leaves him exercised enough lol --

Nature, history, science,... documentaries are his go-tos, he'd even listen to some podcasts or audiobooks about them as he works on other projects. Currently subscribed to AntsCanada on Youtube. --

His guilty pleasure is watching shitty reality TV shows and judging the contestants' skills. --

Hypochondriac. He especially does not want to die from a random stroke. --

Hygiene must be on point. He shaves regularly, but his bush does get kinda crazy. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE STOP HIM FROM ERASING HIS HAPPY TRAIL PLEA- --

Asa dresses like his father. He doesn't want to admit it, nor does he realize it, but he dresses like his father. Denims, jeans, trousers and old dress shirts... His style hasn't changed much over the years. Because it is the "appropriate" style for men like him to wear, apparently. One of the few clothing items he ever strays away from that dress-code is his signature turtleneck. He has like 6 of them in the same color. --

His daily life is a constant carousel of tasks he NEEDS to get done. They don't have to be on time, they just need to be done. Or else he'd get very upset. One can say that his life is motivated by tasks. Once he ran out of tasks to do, he'd just make up one to distract himself. Even resting, is a task. Because he knows if he doesn't choose a time to rest, his body will do it for him. One can even say that Asa is dependent on these tasks to keep going, or do things "on time". For example: He wakes up at 5AM on the weekends, because there are plants that NEEDS HIM to water them. And because of these plants, he is able to wake up at 5AM on the weekends. --

Gets hurt more than he'd like to admit. But most of the time it's just small injuries or cuts, or him bumping into something. Nothing too dangerous. He knows how to keep himself safe from the maze he built at the hotel and avoid all the neccessary attacks from his victims, and that's enough. --

His favourite weekend activity is catching, pinning new INSECT specimens, and visiting the local museum- which he had already visited hundreds of times, and can recite most of the descriptions word for word. --

He gets jealous of the families outside his window sometimes. Whenever he sees them, he'd just draw the curtains close. --

He lives in the same house his family was murdered in. (Buying a house??? in this economy???) He just renovated the first floor, the 2nd floor is almost untouched. He sleeps in his parents' old bedroom. His sibling's bedroom got turned into storage. His childhood bedroom is behind a bookshelf. The layout is the same, but he moved the kitchen and livingroom to a different area. He can still recall where he saw his mother's and sibling's body laid. He put storage boxes and crates over those spots.

That's all i can remember for now lmaooo, might come back from time to time to update it :333 -More parts abt other aspects of Asa coming... soon >:) PART 2!

[twig-tea]

Love in the Big City TV Series Episodes 7 & 8: Different Flavours of Hope

Like almost everyone else has said, writing about this last part was so difficult. Partially there's so much that was going on, partially I'm afraid to not do this amazing series justice, and partially I'm just not ready to let go. Thanks one last time to @lurkingshan and @bengiyo for putting together the discussion questions and roundup.

I thought it was interesting that this section of the series added Eun Su's proposal fiasco, Yeong's father making an appearance, and the details of Q/Habibi having a wife and child to the material from the book. All of these additions are related to marriages in which the people involved are not happy, whether because they don't fit together and are getting married to stay together (Eun Su), they have another family hidden away (Yeong's father), or they are gay and feel as though they have to cheat in order to get fulfillment (Q). With these examples of all the ways in which marriage can go wrong, ending the series with the main character and all (or most) of his friends single feels much less bleak.

@lurkingshan wrote about how the addition of Eun Su's storyline helped underscore the importance of being authentically ourselves in our relationships, and I was left with the sense at the end of the series that Yeong was ready to show up more as himself than he has at any earlier point in his life.

In the book, the ending hit me harder. Young and Habibi miss the fireworks, and Young wanders into a courtyard of a stranger and cries in the rain; and then we get the flashback to the lantern scene as the final moment. I ended the book thinking Young had started finally feeling his feelings, the first step in being able to move on. I didn't really think he would ever be with Gyu-Ho again, but that he could still find love again and that this time he might be better equipped to keep it, if he kept on that path. But the moment that we're left with, he is still very much in that first stage of processing, and it hurts.

In the series, we get Yeong with the T-aras watching the fireworks, then the lantern scene bleeding back into Yeong and the T-aras, with Yeong's voiceover ruminating about love. Moving from a scene of love and hopelessness to a different kind of love (queer friendship) and hopefulness was a powerful visual end to the series. I think it's significant that he didn't miss the fireworks in this version. We were moved quickly in the series from the despair to the hope, which overall means it was a slightly easier watching experience but I took longer to process my emotions around the ending than I did reading the book.

Speaking of the lantern scene, I go back and forth on the change from "Gyu-Ho" to "love" in the "my only wish" line. On the one hand, Gyu-Ho as Young's only wish was powerful to me because in a way it was selfless; you could read his wish for Gyu-Ho to be not about keeping Gyu-Ho for himself, but for Gyu-Ho to be happy, which is why he makes him go to Shanghai alone. Or, you could read that as self-sabotaging because Young makes sure that he doesn't get to keep the only thing he wished for. On the other hand, in the series, Yeong sees Gyu-Ho and 'love' as interchangable, which is pretty powerful. And his wish being for 'love' means there's more than one way to fulfill it, which fits with the more hopeful tone of the series overall. In the end, I'm glad we have both versions.

The series also felt more hopeful that Gyu-Ho might return. Yeong moving out of Mi Ae's apartment was significant from a moving on perspective, but we still know Gyu-Ho will be returning to Seoul soon (thanks to the bartender) and they must still have each other's numbers and social media accounts. There is definitely more room left open in the series for a second chance. i keep thinking about how Yeong ruminated on the thought that Gyu-Ho never felt like he had a place to make his own, and when he had the chance, Yeong moved into a blank slate and brought as little as he could.

Picking up from that thought about discarding as much as he could, in the series, moreso than in the book, the mattress(es) are a powerful visual metaphor. Gyu-Ho moves his mattress in next to Yeong's, so even when they are living together they aren't quite one, but rather awkwardly sharing space in (as @bengiyo put it, an apartment that was too small). After Gyu-Ho has left for Shanghai, Yeong tosses his mattress, and we see the stain on the sheets that Yeong has been unable to wash out on his own bed--he's still in the mire of his post-breakup depression a year later. His father (who as we recall had a secret family and, once Yeong's mother left him, was absent from Yeong's life) shows up to try to garner favour once Yeong starts winning awards and gives him a mattress, which Yeong unwraps with a one-night stand from the apps, and which turns out to be carcinogenic. He lugs the mattress downstairs and leaves it on the side of the road. Finally, when he moves out, we see him leave his other mattress in the same spot, and move into his new bare condo without any of that old, stained, toxic, ill-fitting baggage.

Lastly, I'm going to call out a visual metaphor that was also in the book but worked so brilliantly in the series: The ceiling fan as a metaphor for Kylie hanging over their heads as Gyu-Ho and Yeong had sex in that cheap hostel without condoms was incredibly powerful. The way the camera was above the fan, so that our visuals were blurred, and we could feel the anxiety hover over what was otherwise a sweet scene? stunning. And it was interesting how the series connected that back to Q/Habibi with his temporary blindness. There's something in there about fear making us blind and not living life to the fullest, but I've already gone on too long and haven't quite figured that thread out yet so I'll stop there.

I was so grateful the novel translation exists, and now I'm even more grateful this adaptation exists. It is so rare for an adaptation to capture so much of what was beloved in the original while adding its own nuances that make it work in the different format. The actors, directors, crew, everyone clearly worked hard on this series, and it came out beautifully. So many tiny details make the visual and audio tapestry of the series so rich, I will definitely be rewatching to find things I missed. It's not a light story, but for so many of us this is closer to our own lives, and sometimes as lonely as a series like this is, it makes me feel less alone to see some of my experiences played out on screen. I cried so hard watching this series, and I am so thankful for the experience.

And thank you to everyone here on tumblr in the litbc book club for making this watching experience that much more powerful and interesting! I have had a fantastic time.

[pjohoo-reclists]

PJO/HoO & DC Batman Crossover Fic Recs

Request: A rec list featuring PJO/HoO and DC (Batman) Crossovers with no Percy/Annabeth, if possible. For @captainquake42. Enjoy!

See this rec list for Percy & Bruce | Batman fics.

Skin has gotten thicker but it burns the same by X_Artemis_X

T | 1.0k | Complete

Percy Jackson, Jason Todd

Hurt no Comfort, Nightmares, Blood and Injury

It felt like everything was moving in slow motion. The knife sinking and twisting in flesh. The blood seeping out and on his hands. The knife coming out. If his brain hadn't been consumed by some kind of fog, Percy is sure he'd have heard the man's scream as he fell to his knees. - When Percy, tired and hazy, is pulled into an alley, he reacts on noting but pure instinct. Unfortunately for him and his attacker, his instincts are to kill or risk the possibility of death. Whumptober Day 7 The Way You Shake and Shiver |Shaking Hands|

No one seems to notice when you're down (Unless you are bleeding) by X_Artemis_X

T | 1.1k | Complete

Percy Jackson & Tim Drake

Blood and Injury, Stab Wound, Budding Friendship

There’s movement and words, but Percy can’t make out any of it. He’s lost too much blood, his bandages too loose to actually do anything. His vision goes black, and everything around him disappears as he collapses on the floor. - Two times Percy's injured and needs help. Two times a vigilante helps him, only one of which he is conscious for. Whumptober Day 11 "911, what's your emergency?" Sloppy Bandages | Self-Done First Aid | Makeshift Splint

I Guess There's Gotta be a Break in the Monotony (But Jesus When it Rains it Pours) by X_Artemis_X

T | 1.2k | Complete

Percy Jackson & Sally Jackson

Hurt no Comfort, Gotham's Vigilantes, Homelessness

He would do it if he had no other choice, if it was him or them, but he doesn't think he could handle killing someone. Not to mention that doing so would also put him in the radar of the local vigilantes. Being noticed by the vigilantes would probably mean being put in the foster system. And that. That’s about the last thing he wants. — After losing his mom, Percy doesn’t have anywhere else to turn to but the cold streets of New Jersey. He’s determined to handle homelessness just as well as Percy’s handled every other mythological quest, and he's doing good. At least, that's what he tells himself.

Weak Link by X_Artemis_X

T | 1.8k | Complete

Percy Jackson & Cassandra Cain, Percy Jackson & Grover Underwood, Chiron & Grover Underwood

Percy Jackson needs a hug, Mental Link, Panic Attacks

And then, through the haze of panic and breathlessness, something breaks through. A wave of alarm-worry-concern washes through him, and the feelings are distinctly not his. Grover. - When Grover feels Percy's distress through the link, he does the only thing he can- he sends comfort.

Dry and Drowning by X_Artemis_X

T | 2.0k | Complete

Percy Jackson & Tim Drake

Drowning, Near Death Experiences

Slowly, the world started to come back into focus. He was soaking wet and freezing cold, his whole body shaking. His hands were clutching at dirt from where he was on his hands and knees, down on the ground. There was a hand on his back, rubbing soothing circles. Tim froze. His breaths were still hard and wheezing, but every other muscle was tense and ready for action, despite the exhaustion dragging at his limbs. The hand was too small to be either Bruce or Dick. - One night, Percy is sitting on a bridge's rail and enjoying the view. Unfortunately, his peace and quiet is interrupted when Gotham's very own Robin falls into the river. Whumptober Day 18 Let's Break the Ice Treading Water | "Take my coat."

Little Miracles by Solemini (SoleminiSanction)

T | 2.3k | Completed

Bruce Wayne/Athena, Bruce Wayne & His Kids, Bat Family

AU Demigods, Kid Fic, Bruce Wayne is a Good Parent

When Bruce Wayne startles awake to find Athena, Goddess of Wisdom, at the foot of his bed, he is not as surprised as he probably should be. Or, in which Bruce is Mount Olympus's #1 DILF. A Percy Jackson/Half blood/Demigod AU.

Oh my Gods by siren_of_the_ocean

G | 2.6k | Completed

Tim Drake & Thalia Grace, Tim Drake & Bruce Wayne

BAMF Tim Drake, Tim Drake is a Demigod, BAMF Thaila Grace

Tim Drake is a demigod in the Battle of Manhattan. He sends Thalia to inform the Justice league about well...Everything. And Kon is concerned.

Cassandra, what do you see? by X_Artemis_X

T | 2.7k | Complete

Percy Jackson & Cassandra Cain

POV Alternating, Confused Percy Jackson, Timeline what timeline

Kind. She hasn’t heard it a lot, but she still knows what it means. A foreign concept, strange and confusing, but still very much real. She thinks of the ways she saw Percy be kind, and she wants. She only wishes she had the words to explain it. - Cassandra sees a boy, obviously trained, and she follows him. Percy meets a girl, obviously trained, and is as confused as he is wary. Though the wariness starts to fade. The confusion does not.

The Damned Prince of Gotham by DragonflyxParodies

T | 4.2k+ | Last Updated June 2, 2023

Jason Todd & Thanatos, Jason Todd & Hazel Levesque, Jason Todd & Nico di Angelo

Jason Todd is a demigod, Camp Jupiter, Camp Half Blood

the red hood is the son of justice and death and rebirth, and that means something.

the gray and beamless atmosphere by adaimperium

T | 12k | Complete

Percy Jackson & Annabeth Chase, Damian Wayne and Annabeth Chase, Alfred Pennyworth & Annabeth Chase

Annabeth Chase is a Wayne, Angst and Feels, Annabeth Chase has Abandonment Issues

Annabeth leaves home two days after Jason’s death with nothing but his old go-bag and a hammer liberated from the shed. She comes back for two months after six years and leaves without a goodbye. The Wayne Family isn’t quite sure what to do with their prodigal and war-weary daughter.

the ship of theseus by zipadeea

T | 15k | Complete

Percy Jackson/Annabeth Chase, Percy Jackson & Sally Jackson, Jason Todd & Bruce Wayne

Family Feels, Major Character Death, Emotional Hurt/Comfort

“What do you think of the Waynes?” Percy had asked Annabeth the week before. “Seems like they’re in Gotham’s headlines all the time, and not always for great reasons. You think they’re involved with the mob or something?” “The opposite, actually,” Annabeth had replied, a wry smile on her face. “What’s the opposite of the mob?” “In Gotham? What do you think?” Percy’s eyes had widened. “No. No way. Bruce Wayne is such a goof, there’s no way--,” “Wouldn’t that be the best cover, though?” *** Poseidon once told Percy he was his favorite son. But he's not the only one.

Hugs by KlyssaCarrie

G | 18k | Complete

Annabeth Chase & Damian Wayne, Annabeth Chase & Chiron, Chiron & Damian Wayne

Damian Wayne needs a hug, Camp Half Blood, Powerful Percy Jackson

hug (/hʌɡ/) plural noun: hugs 'an act of holding someone tightly in one's arms, typically to express affection.'

Rising Tides by MinervaOfRome (MistressOfDestruction), MistressOfDestruction

Not Rated | 29k+ | Last Updated April 27, 2023

Percy Jackson & Jason Todd, Dick Grayson & Jason Todd

Percy Jackson Needs a Hug, Jason Todd is Good With Kids, Percy Jackson is a Little Shit

The tides were rising. Jason Todd could feel them when he walked the streets, green acid sloshing at his ankles. It wasn’t really there, he knew. The green was a figment of his imagination, a physical manifestation of his perception of the fear around him. The poison waves had risen since Batman split his throat in two. The tides were rising, faster by the day. What if they swallowed Gotham? Jason couldn't let that happen. The tides were rising. Percy Jackson stood by the docks; he'd watched nine bodies drop into the dark waters. Each one made the steadily rising water go up just a little more. He wasn't supposed to be in this city. It didn't matter that he'd indirectly killed Gabe, but there was no regret in his thoughts on the matter. Gabe had beaten his mother to death. The tides were rising, faster by the hour. Was there someone sitting by the water? Percy couldn't let them drown.

Gotham's Legacy by Speechless_since_1998

T | 42k+ | Last Updated April 25, 2024

Dick Grayson & Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson & Jason Todd, Tim Drake & Jason Todd

Rick Riordan Demigod Universe | Riordanverse, Alternate Universe - Percy Jackson Fusion, Kid fic

“I don't know how to take care of myself. Let alone a child." "Children." Bruce looked away from the water to look at Athena, surprised. She smirked, “Do you think it will be just one? More will come. Abandoned children. Children who don't know which way is theirs. You will be their guide. You will be father of heroes, Bruce." Bruce never wanted to deal with the gods, whatever pantheon they belonged to. Gotham had enough problems without adding rancorous gods and mythological monsters into the mix. But the gods won't leave him alone, and he finds himself the parent of the most powerful demigod of this generation, while the Triumvirate sinks its roots in Gotham to conquer the world.

[thunder-opossum]

Oh, here's a thought for you:

I know someone had the idea of Sizzle's sis surviving, I think you agreed her name would be Raincloud (?), and I wanna build onto it too.

Arti is still violent, but now she has the power of teamwork. Raincloud learns to be aggressive as well. Arti treats her daughter like an actual slugcat and not just a helpless pup. Raincloud adores her mother's affection, but is also blind to her abuse. Arti is still an abusive parent, but less so to Rain (she shouts and scolds a lot but has yet to hit her). Why does this matter?

Because after Raincloud learns Sizzle is alive, she doesn't tell Artificer just yet.

Arti instead finds Sizzle and Kelp and excitedly calls Raincloud over. Raincloud doesn't say anything about finding him before, and Sizzle is more accepting of Arti because Rain is there too.

Flash forwards to about Chimney, Sizzle has gotten used to bearing the brunt of both his mother and sister's anger (she was taught it was right to do such). At least he has Kelp.

And then *that* happened. This time, Arti framed it a little better by tossing Raincloud into danger too, so it seemed like Kelp died saving Rain. Arti informed Rain of this plan and she accepted, but she very nearly died because of it. (First moment she thinks mom might not be so good for suggesting this)

When the trio reach Pebbles, he tells Sizzle and Raincloud the exact aftermath of the toll incident for both of them (Sizz being pulled out by garbage worms and adopted, Rain being knocked out and eventually recovered by Arti). Then he also tells Sizzle about Kelp, to which Raincloud nonchalantly replies about how she knew Arti was responsible, and Sizzle is upset and runs away from her.

Cut to Metropolis, and they're in the shelter where Sizzle normally does his epic escape. He escapes, leaving the other two to fume.

Right before the toll the scav chieftain is behind, Sizzle hears a scream and turns around to see Rain running up. He tries to tell her to stop because the scags will attack, but then asks the scavs to not attack instead.

Rain runs right past Sizzle and towards the chieftain, and then he sees Arti approaching fast, so he runs too.

The Chieftain is warned, and Arti enters, the fight almost breaks out, and Sizzle grabs the spear because he knows what he needs to do.

Before he can do it, though, Raincloud takes an explosive spear and backstabs Arti. Dead.

Sizzle rushes to make sure his sister is okay, and then he sees that she is very much not. She's bloody, wounded, and shaky. There's a severe wound still bleeding profusely, and being sent into a wall by an explosion did not help.

Raincloud quickly explains that she had told Arti she'd found him far sooner (in a screaming fit while they tried to get out), and Arti snapped and attacked Rain, almost killing her. She escaped, but also knew she was most likely going to die. She didn't want Sizzle to live with the guilt of killing Arti, so she did it.

And then she dies, too.

Leaving one shocked and depressed Sizzle trying to process what just happened.

-Angel

Wowzers. That's pretty damn harsh 😭.

Raincloud helping in the scheme to kill Kelp is so big brained and sad ahhhhh.

Also hell yeah, Artificer deserves an explosive spear death.

This is a good idea for the au! @kaceyunderfell made og Raincloud.

[mythals-whore]

Writing Challenge Weekend 04/07

yes I know it's Monday there is no time limit on Writing Challenge Weekend, I do what I want! And, in fact, I have taken three of these prompts and added them to various documents. This is just the one I finished first.

Thank you as always to @thedissonantverses for running these! You are a rare gem(:

Character A shows up bleeding/injured at Character B's door at three in the morning because they didn't know where else to go. Extra fun if C and D are there to witness.

notes: it is midnight and not 3am, but we all forgive me. Also, I don't know why it's Christmas Winter Solstice. I needed the inns to be full. Leave me alone.

They're still looking for her. Eyes on the rooftops, she can feel them. Cyri wraps her coat tighter around herself, using the the movement to covertly press her palm into the wound at her side. She slips out of the alley and into the crowd. She slows when she turns the corner, hissing as she forces herself to straighten. Between the rain and the late evening shadows, it'll be much more difficult to tell her apart from the rest.

Cyri's been stabbed enough—though she does usually pride herself on the ability to avoid a blace—to knows the wound will prove fatal if she can't find a healer. Soon. She's already feeling lightheaded—but she can make it. She's going to make it.

The safehouse isn't far, and Cassius may not be a healer, but with all the Shadows passing through his house, he'll know enough to patch her up. Maker, if he has a needle, thread and enough bindings, she can do it herself. She just has to make it off the street.

But she spies the chipped red paint of the door and knows it's no longer an option.

The door is ever so slightly crooked, as though it'd been knocked in and set clumsily back on it's hinges. Cyri spares it less than a glance as she passes on.

She hopes Cassius got out in time. Knows that he didn't. He would have sent word.

Another name to add to her ledger.

Which is assuming she'll ever get the chance.

But she glances up through the haze. The evergreen garlands wrapped around lampposts and minature magelights tell her all she needs to know about the vacancies in the local inns and taverns.

Winter Solstice.

The Solstice was the reason they'd arranged the raid for tonight. Even the venatori don't expect an attack during the holiday. and it was Cyri's idea for the attack to coincide with the locals' pilgrimage to the chantry on the hill. Easier to disappear into a crowd.

Only now is she realizing the flaws in this plan.

The bells start tolling, calling the last of the straglers to midnight mass.

And Cyri knows she has only one option. Her only path to life is through the cathedral at the top of the hill. If she can even make it. The next toll of the bell resounds through her entire body.

With ehr eyes on the warm glow through the mise, she stumbles, catching herself on the man next to her. He gives ehr a startled glance, but steadies her with a kind smile. She tries to offer him one in return. Doesn't know if she succeeds.

If the man notices the blood she leaves on his sleeve, he says nothing.

She presses the heel of her hand harder against the wound in her side. She just needs to staunch the bleeding a little longer. She slips into the chapel alongside the other rain-soaked parishioners, vision blurring.

The pews are near-filled.

How could they not be when the Divine himself is presiding?

He'd been paraded into the city two days ago now. Carried through the streets accompannied by songs and candlelight. He has quarters here—at every cathedral in every major city. The east wing, so he can rise with the sun. though that's not particularly helpful as she slinks off to the right.

She gets more than one odd look, but no one tries hard to stop her. She makes it up to the second level, knowing that at this point she's just hoping to stumble across him in the corridor.

Her vision spots, she feels herself stumble but she no longer feels the ground beneath her feet. She catches herself against something. Sometjing else shatters to the floor. Cyri blinks hard, coming to to the sight of her blood smeared on white marble, shattered clay on the floor.

"Maker's breath,"

The Chantry sister doesn't even move toward her.

"Sister Annalise—"

Green robes that make his eyes bluer somehow. There's surprise, followed quickly by alarm.

"I didn't have anywhere else to go," Cyri rasps, as close to an apology as she'll manage.

"Get her into my quarters."

There's just the smallest bloom of relief in her gut as she sinks to the floor.

"But—"

"Now," Ashur replies, the quiet word somehow commanding more authority than any she'd ever heard from a superior officer.

Moments later there are hands—one set steadying and familiar, and the other small and uncertain. It takes a great deal of effort to open her eyes, and she immediately regrets it. Cyri sways into him, the floor spins beneath her feet. Her eyes slide shut again, decidedly. She's able to stumble in the direction they guide her. The stairs are the worst part, Ashur is all but carrying her.

They set her on something soft. There's an order to lay back, a gentle hand on her shoulderblade.

"You're okay." he murmurs, and she almost believes it.

"The service—"

"Keep them singing a while longer," he orders in that same quiet authority. Cyri is barely conscious now, but she hears the click of the door. Then a hand covers hers, fingers gently pulling at her wrist. A sharp sigh, followed by a prickling warmth. "Cyri—" a hand on her face, jostling her ever-so-gently, "I need you conscious a moment longer, all right?"

Her eyes are opened to bare slits, but she manages a dip of her chin. she can fight it a moment longer.

"Anywhere else?" he presses. Cyri can't make sense of this question, and he seems to garner that from the way she turns her hand in his grasp, squeezing once. Ashur squeezes right back, fingers pressing into the pulse at her wrist. "Are you hurt anywhere else?"

She manages a sound something like "Mmph," that she means to be no. Bruises, maybe, but nothing fatal. Cyri lets her eyes slide closed again. It's too exhausting to keep them open.

His weight is absent from the bedside. There's the tinkling of glass, a scrape of wood on stone. A cork being pulled, and then something cool against her lips.

Another quiet command that she follows without question. It's cool in her mouth but spreads warmth through her chest and stomach.

His hand moves from her hand to her jaw, fingers pressing to the pulse point just below. She's just barely conscious of the faint echoes of a chorus vibrating through the stone walls.

Cyri's fingers fumble and then find his wrist, "You…go." her eyes drag open again. Apprehension in his face. Ashur never did have good sense. In the absence to the pain, she's able to offer what she's sure is a very weak, lopsided smile, "I'll be here when you get back." she mumbles.

She suspects she won't be going anywhere until morning at the soonest.

Ashur hesitates. She can't keep her eyes open. Just needs sleep.

"I'll set wards before I go," he says at last. "Open the door for no one."

As if she needs to be told that—she doubts she'll be conscious to open the door for anyone anytime soon.

He hesitates before pulling away, and if she had the energy for snark she'd tell him that he can hardly stay here all night. There's a rustling of cloth and then a few short, sharp lines of ancient Tevene.

When the door closes with a dull thunk, Cyri finally drifts off to the layered chorus of praises echoing through stone.