#it's like!! yeah he fights!!!! yeah he's excellent at it!!!

[kineticallyanywhere]

@nicoforlifetrue‘s Rotten Relfections fic has carved out a space in my brain and just lives there now.

[pics-that-make-you-goku]

Having those thoughts again!

[despairforme]

     ❝ Sometimes - ❞ or literally all the time - ❝ Ya just gotta square up motherfucker! ❞

[kalims]

‎˃ ᵕ ˂ . . "I hate accidents except when we went from friends to this."

paper rings,

premise. there's nothing more memorable with a paper ring and a promise.

characters. all dorms.

includes. gn!reader

cw. topic of marriage.

note. you know those ring pops? yeah, those but paper rings.. I am listening to taylor swift right now so basically mc is proposing

heartslabyul

in a very flabbergasted way he's less than proud to admit. riddle isn't able to do anything other than stare dumbly at the item you're offering so casually, awfully aware of the steaming warmth on his cheeks and frantic beating of his heart. his throat feels awfully empty from the way he can't even say a thing from how shocked he was. there's practically steam flushing out of his ears when he looks away and scolds you for being way too early. (maybe he's implying that it might be better for a later occasion.)

trey hasn't exactly pondered on the topic of marriage a lot. why would he? he's living a pretty good life. surrounded by his close circle, being able to excel and enjoy the thing he loves, having a decent academic standing. what more could he wish for? apparently marriage. just the notion had him whipping up deserts in his head, specifically for a wedding and he's suprised at how serious he's being at it. even his parents are getting a shock from how he insists to do the wedding cake commissions himself for some 'practice' he says.

receiving the shock of the year certainly doesn't come by a lot but cater supposes he can't exactly avoid the thing forever. consider this the most shocking he's ever gotten because you'd know from his frozen face and the smile that dropped into an open gape. right after he breaks into this goofy grin before giggling somehow ominously. you should expect cater to basically advertise your proposal, posting it all around social media with barely container excitement. you'd think he'd throw it away after he's done taking pictures but he's hidden it deeply in his closet.

ace trapolla ponders on whether he should just slap your hand away like when he'd probably do but for once he's silent. staring at the ring with such intensity that you took the initiative to joke about his out of character face. so, ace huffs and playfully rolls his eyes at you. to be honest, his usual self would definitely push your hand away because he thinks it's a joke and it's funny but the thing is. it's not. oddly enough, it's somehow serious to him and he literally hates it! stop making it serious to him he's gonna contradict himself after making disgusted faces to couples.

he had never felt such honor before. sure, deuce is pretty flustered. face tinted in pink but he's feeling like he just recieved a medal right now.. so proud would be a better word to describe his feelings. deuce just watches you slip the ring into his finger after he had nodded slowly. you don't know if you should be concerned or laugh at the way he never took his eyes off it. speaking of his eyes, they could be comically quiet sparkles in it from how amazed and proud he seemed.

savanaclaw

compared to leona, ace's stares is like a cat to a well.. lion. leona just stares at you pointedly, glancing at the ring once and you swear something strange flashed in his eyes for a moment. you aren't given the time to venture too deeply into it as leona had already retreated back to his previous position and seemingly going back to sleep. you just shrug and decide to leave him to it. leona's ears twitch, picking up a rustle of paper in the grass. right behind him then your retreating footsteps. he just lays there, staring at nothing then turning to his back. the ring is over there. and he's currently fighting his inner self whether or not he'll test if you got his finger size right.

ruggie doesn't skip a beat and immediately leans in closer without warning, only to take a real good look at the ring you've made. he whistles and makes a cheeky comment about its just how he liked it. actually, it's true. as much as ruggie liked shiny things this is the little things he prefers and he lowkey just fell in love a little more. so, if you don't mind at all! he'll take the ring to keep to himself. since you did make it for him there shouldn't be any problem. don't worry, if you guys do actually end up getting married there's a chance he'll do it with paper rings. strange as it is.

his face holds a contortion of seriousness and 'seriously?' don't get him wrong. jack is quite stupefied by your gesture, don't you know that rings are often associated with the topic of marriage? you're literally proposing to him and you're doing it so casually?! oh please. in all seriousness actually he'd actually like that but he fears he might accidentally tear the whole thing into shred by accident. it's funny on how such a big, muscular man could treat something like paper so fragile. done like a true tsudere he turns pink, furrows his brows and loud away.

octavinelle

with the growing silence that azul thought of as awkward, he quickly clears his throat in hopes of clearing the.. atmosphere. if it weren't to the wake up call he snapped into, he definitely would've dropped the cup he was holding by his faltered grip. he puts on a smile that was more wobbly than he preferred but he can't really comment on it since it was currently his best. anyhow, he flicks his gaze down the ring and gestures for you to place the ring in his palm. he won't accept it, atleast not now but he will. when he would be able to provide for the two of you for a better life. until then he'd keep it in his safe when he's ready.

there's nothing more in-character for jade than a wide, kind of ominous grin. it's like he's teasing you non-verbally just from his face expressions itself. raising a brow and nudging you, with that grin still present on his face. jade says something about you being too impatient for marriage but he'll gladly adjust to your,,, preference. should he call you his fiance now? yes, the whole time he's been teasing you. not at all phased by your bold proposal. if not, he seems a little too pleased about it.

fully intent on glomping you. floyd wastes no time lurching forward and basically glomping you with a flurry of giggles, looking like he's high on cloud 9. 75% of the time he was just full of giggles as he continuesly stays clingy to you for the past time, and the rest muttering about getting married. don't be suprised if the whole school knew at this point because he kept saying "shrimpy and I are getting married. hehe." a lot and he doesn't even know how loud he actually is being.

scarabia

being the sunshine he is everyone would expect kalim to be the happiest. and he is, you can tell from the brightest perk up he does and the bright, happy grin-smile he does right after. he looks like he can barely contain the happiness from bursting out. unlike any other of the guys, kalim probably thinks of this as a serious thing and doesn't think it's a joke at all. he doesn't even hesitate with accepting the ring and promises he'll make you one himself too. why would he buy you a different, expensive one when you gave him something so priceless?

jamil can't help the furrow on his brows. he probably looks disgruntled and bothered by you right now but it's quite the opposite. him, you're giving him paper rings? to him? it's not that he hates the notion, he thinks it's secretly cute but why him? there's probably a thousand other people wanting to receive one from you but yet you're here offering him a fragment on your love and you already stole his heart. he guesses no amount of ordinary can make you ignore him. it feels like a crushing responsibility to be the one chosen by you but he doesn't feel pressured at all.

pomefiore

in hindsight vil should be offended by your audacity to give him a paper ring out of all things! most people would probably sell their souls to purchase one imbedded with the most expensive kinds of crystals and gems. but he can't help but feel.. he isn't sure, pleasantly suprised? you never fail to dazzle him even if your ring isn't sparkly to compare to him but he does remember his dad speaking about how not everything should be all about the price. sometimes, it's the thought that matters and if your thought was to marry him he'd gladly do.

besides everyone else. rook is the most appreciative by your gesture, he doesn't have a problem practically singing how much enchanted you've made him by this alone. go on prefect, shall you do a play? he'd absolutely rejoice if you went along with him, going on your knees to recreate a real proposal and he'd say it was the most magnifique performance he's proud to ever taken apart of! by morning and day everyone notices how much more joyous he's been, sparing the ring made of paper in his finger that he wears literally every day. but they don't wonder too much, strange and rook in the same sentence fits quite well.

between the entirety of pomefiore, epel certainly has the least graceful reaction, with the loud scream, mind boggled eyes and all. if not for the etiquette lessons rook had drilled into his memories, epel would have taken you for the shoulders and started shaking you frantically, wriggling your brain cells into oblivion. but he just resorted by sparing you his mercy and just keeping his hand curled into a fist by his chest. epel is torn between 'what do you mean by this?!' and a firm 'I do'.

ignihyde

my boy idia's reaction is the most predictable and prominent. when I say predictable, most of the time he's just on the verge of a breakdown at unexceptable things and prominent by the increasingly passionate flame that his now pink (previously blue) has. I mean when is it not pink when mc is involved really? idia is of course, having a crisis because WTF?! that was literally so cute that he's gonna have a cardiac arrest. someone please sedate him... consider idia a fan of paper craft because you started receiving a bunch of origami stuff, ranging from paper flowers to cranes. even ortho is suprised at the sudden motivation to pick up a hobby.

when you told ortho to wait when you forgot something he definitely didn't expect you to come back with a bunch of flowers made out of paper for him! the boy is singing praises for you as he clutches the batch happily. almost like he's cradling a child. you bet ortho is gonna make some sort of artificial liquid to drown the flowers into so that the paper doesn't get worn out or crumpled. he will certainly keep it safe for years!

diasomnia

akin to childish joy. malleus hums pleasantly. he doesn't think that this is a fake or anything at all, though he was sure that he'd be the one to propose first.. oh well, it's a nice thing. you never fail to suprise him child of man. he stares at you with a smile playing upon his lips and crinkled eyes, almost like he is in a trance. do you think he'll tell you that he quite literally just fantasized your future in front of you. (💀) goodluck cause man's obsessed and he's definitely not letting you take anything back. it's final. (no take backs 😡 <- like that)

giggles but atleast it's more mischievous and less ominous than jade's. lilia likes to see what kind of look you'd have on your face if he reacts differently. he's kicking his feet up, giggling and shi'. he acts like he just got serenaded by a high school crush, and you are technically his high school crush. might tease you into fluster instead but it all depends on his mood. it's pretty hard to fluster him you know and before you can do it it'll be the end of the world. (promises you that he'll be the househusband if you do get married and doesn't pay mind to your sweatdropping and horrified look.)

screeching like it's the end of the world. sebek probably woke up the world next to this one from how much bullshit he just started spouting, loudly if i may add. bullshit because everyone knows whatever he's spouting isn't even true and he's just saying it to convince himself.. sebek what do you mean the idea is preposterous? didn't you have a crisis last night because you couldn't sleep with a certain somebody in mind? silver is literally exposing him and sebek is calling him a traitor. he's never gonna vent to silver ever again, period.

to be honest maybe silver actually has the most normal reaction. he's just; oh wow, that's beautiful thanks. then goes back to sleep but this time he's been blessed with a dream of a future with you. he just doesn't spare an over the top reaction and prefers to cherish what he has now. which is what he's currently doing, he loves you and he doesn't want to wish for anything more until you're fully ready.. we love a respectful, consentual man. of course he keeps the ring but so that it won't get in the way of his work

[wynnyfryd]

Eddie’s casually leaning against the rails on the edge of the dance floor, savoring his second whiskey on the rocks and scanning the crowd for fresh meat when suddenly there’s a face he’s never seen before taking up his entire field of view.

The guy sways drunkenly into his space, grabbing the lapels of his vest for balance, and before Eddie can even get the ‘what the fuck?’ out of his mouth, pretty brown eyes are blinking up at him and the guy is slurring, “Hey. Hey, um. You’re really cute, do you wanna kiss?”

And Eddie laughs softly, blinks back at him, lazy and syrupy and shrugs, “Yeah, okay, cutie.”

The kiss is like, surprisingly fucking excellent coming from a guy who seems two sips of beer away from stumbling headfirst into a toilet. Eddie sighs into his mouth as their tongues touch, and it’s messy and wet and he tastes like rum and coconut and maraschino cherries.

Drunken Cutie pulls back after a moment, licks his lips with his eyes still closed, a sated little smile lighting up his face. Then he pats Eddie’s chest and hums and says, “That was… mmmm, really great, thank you.”

And then he’s gone.

He’s just…

Like, okay. It’s not like Eddie expected the guy to come back up to him that night and ask him out or give him his number or anything (he’d pinched Eddie’s cheek like a doting grandmother after he finished shoving his tongue down Eddie’s throat, so. Ya know. Hardly seemed capable of conversation), but he does expect to at least see him again. Run into him in the crowd the next weekend or something.

And nothing.

Zip. Nada.

Eddie’s starting to wonder if the good whiskey he sprang for that night made him conjure some blond twink hallucination as a panacea for his pathetic gay dry spell. Whoever Blondie is, he’s a fucking ghost. A sexy, sexy ghost, and Jesus, how is Eddie down this bad for a boy who may or may not exist?

Three weeks later, Eddie spots that swoop of caramel candy hair and goes marching across the bar like he’s about to pick a fight, grabs the poor, startled guy by the wrist and drags him out to the smoker’s patio without so much as a hello, and yeah, he’s like, maybe being a bit of a psycho right now, but whatever. He hasn’t been able to stop thinking about those gorgeous eyelashes or that stupid pink pretty mouth for almost a month now and he still doesn’t even know the guy’s name.

“Alright, what the fuck?” Eddie demands as he whirls around and frowns with his arms folded over his chest.

“Me ‘what the fuck?’ What the fuck yourself!” the guy shouts, hands gesturing all over the place before landing on his cocked hips in a sassy little mom pose that screams explain yourself.

“Do you seriously not remember making out with me last time you were here? And then, like, vanishing into thin air?”

And Blondie goes adorably red at that statement for a moment before he clears his throat and collects himself. “Gonna be honest with you, babe, I don’t even remember seeing you last time I was here. I was pretty wasted that night.”

He pauses, eyes raking down Eddie’s face, his chest, his thighs, all the way to his heavy black boots and back up. “Having said that…”

He licks his lips, catches the bottom one between his teeth as he grins. Leers. Looks like he wants to eat Eddie alive. “Hmm. Yeah, I’m— I’m not mad about it,” and he takes a step forward, getting into Eddie’s space, just like before only sober and sure-footed this time around, and he practically purrs when he sweeps a lock of Eddie’s hair behind his ear and asks, “Think I could get a do-over?”

Jesus Christ.

Eddie’s not that easy, is he? Is he?

He totally is.

[hangmanssunnies]

Double Tap

House We Share: Double Tap, Sfumato, Good Comes In 3

Summary: You were hesitant when your friends told you about their other friend who needed a roommate. Living with a man, let alone a Naval aviator, isn't your ideal living situation. However, you are desperate to get out of your current house. So, you will have to suck it up and make a deal with Jake "Hangman" Seresin. Now you just wish he would stop doing things that make you fall in love with him.

Pairings: Jake "Hangman Seresin x Fem! Civilian! Reader, minor Javy "Coyote" Machado x OC

Word count: 19k

AO3 LINK

Warnings: Abuse (Implied and mentioned), confrontation with Abuser, Child abuse (mentioned), Slow burn, Implied calorie counting, routines and compulsions, Jigsaw puzzles, taxes, Neurodivergent coded! Hangman, Fiscally responsible!Hangman, Protective!Hangman. Please let me know if I missed any for this part, I know it is a long one.

Authors Note: This got so completely out of hand. It started as one scene and then grew a mind of its own. Part two is written, just not edited, I'm planning on having that done later this week. Hangman Coyote BFF supremacy.  I apologize for writing the most hyper-specific!Jake you have probably ever read. 85% of his personality is just things I find attractive in men.

Thank you so much if you take a chance to read this work. I hope you enjoy it. My inbox is always open if you want to let me know your thoughts. Reblogs with your thoughts, opinions, and tags are gold to me. I love reading through them.

You had been at your friend Marlee's house for almost an hour before she couldn't stop herself from confronting you. She had at least let you get settled and offered you a drink while pretending to be distracted by the lasagna she was making. She had spun towards you expectantly when it was in the oven, having reached her limit on waiting. 

"What happened?" Marlee asks. 

"It's nothing." You respond. 

"It is something. I don't want to reread your texts back to you, babes."

"Marls," you sigh, briefly closing your eyes, trying to fight the exhaustion you feel. 

"You can't live there anymore. We need to get you out."

"Yeah, let me just move and find a place to live. It's not that easy, Marlee." 

She sighs heavily. "I know, babes, but at least stay here with Javy and me. If he touches you like that again."

"It was just a one-time thing," you quickly cut her off. But, from the pitying look in her eyes, she knows it hasn't been just this one time. 

"If something happened."

"Nothing is going to happen." Marlee was too bright and too good of a friend. She knew something had already happened, and she knew things had been happening. Her frown and eyebrow raise say it all. 

"I can't just crash here," you say. 

"You are always, always welcome."

"You are," a voice pops up, and you both look over to the couch. You thought Marlee's husband, Javy, was thoroughly invested in the game he was playing on his Xbox, but it turns out he had an ear on your conversation. 

It wasn't something that bothered you. You loved Javy, he had been an excellent partner to Marlee, and you considered him a friend. He was fun and easygoing, something you hadn't expected from a Navy man. You also weren't bothered because everyone knew they were the type of couple that told each other absolutely everything. So, Javy would have found out one way or another.

"I know that. Thanks, you two." You tell them, trying to get them off your back. 

"Marlee is right. We can't have anything happening to you."

"Nothing is going to happen to me, Javy," you say, now trying to reassure them and stop this unnecessary worrying. 

"You know. I have a friend who has actually been looking for a roommate." Javy says. 

"You do?" you ask, surprised you hadn't heard about this sooner. 

"Yeah, I mean, he can be a lot. But he is a good guy and a great roommate."

"Who ?" Marlee cuts in. 

"Jake."

"Hangman?"

"Yeah, Hangman." The two of them stare at each other, and you can see that they are having one of those conversations of glances and small expressions you weren't entirely privy to understanding. 

Marlee then shrugs, nodding, and looks back at you, "It would be a nice safe place." 

"I mean, it's an option and would be a nicer place to stay than anything else you'll find. Plus, someone who is not a total stranger as a roommate." Javy tells you. He pulls off his headset and makes his way to the kitchen. He sets his hand on your shoulder and gives you a kind smile. 

"I'm not sure about living with a man."

"If you don't want to live with Jake or you aren't interested, we will find somewhere else. Or you stay here with us, but you can't stay there anymore." The seriousness behind Javy's smile isn't lost on you. So you start to slowly nod. 

"I guess I could at least chat with your friend if y'all think it's a decent option." 

"Yeah, for sure," Javy said with a grin. "I'll ask him about it, then maybe y'all can meet this weekend. We are still having a big bonfire on the beach. I'm sure he will be there."

"Oh, I wasn't planning on going to the bonfire." You start to say, which makes both Javy and Marlee frown.

"Why aren't you coming to the bonfire?"

You tried to think of a valid excuse beyond that being in open public spaces was terrifying to you right now. An excuse past the fact that you knew your bruises wouldn't be gone by Saturday. 

"I've just been stressed about finding a place to live, you know." You gave them both a weak smile, but neither of your friends seemed appeased. 

"Well, now you have a reason to come," Marlee says. 

"Yeah, exactly, and I'll talk to Jake." Javy presses a kiss to your forehead and then a lingering one to Marlee's lips. He returns to the couch, but not before looking at you seriously. "You know if you ever need anything, you call us?"

"Sir, yes sir," you tell him with a laugh, making Marlee giggle too. 

Even with Javy's reassurances, you are unsure about this whole idea. However, whoever this friend Jake is, you know he had to be better than your current living situation. After dinner, Marlee and Javy both reiterate their feelings on the whole issue before you leave their house. You did your best to wave them off and tell them you would see them in a few days.  

When Saturday rolls around, you head to the pin Marlee sent you for the bonfire. You are thankful it is a cooler day and will only be colder once the sun sets. It allows you to not look so out of place in your conservative clothes, ensuring all your bruises are covered. 

You arrive purposefully late and park far from the beach. By the time you make it to the group of people, you have sufficiently hyped yourself up to interact with the others. You decide to ease yourself into the party. You walk around the different coolers, opening them and investigating the available drink options. 

You are in the middle of shuffling through one when you hear a voice behind you.

"Anything specific I can help you find, sweetheart?" You turn around and are met with one of the most attractive men you have ever met. He is tall, with dirty blonde hair and a pair of sunglasses perched on his nose. 

"I'm just browsing," You tell the man with a shrug, proud of yourself for being able to put together a sentence. 

"I think I know what would be perfect for you, sweetheart.

"Oh really?"

"Yeah," He says, flashing you a grin. His smile makes something in your stomach swoop a tiny bit. 

"And, what would that be?" you say, raising an eyebrow. 

"Me, of course."

You can't help the shocked laugh that falls out of your throat. Which just makes his handsome smile widen. 

"I was thinking something a bit stronger, actually."

"I know I look like a tall glass of water but let me tell you, I won't disappoint you."  

"Well, looks certainly can be deceptive."

"That's true. Are you really as sweet as you look?" 

Before you can answer, you hear Javy's voice to your right. "Oh good, you two already met." 

You turn your head to see Javy jogging over. He stops next to you with a smile on his face. You process his words and feel your stomach drop. The incredibly handsome man you were trying to flirt with was Javy's friend. Javy's friend he thought you could live with. 

"There haven't been any formal introductions," you say. 

"Jake Seresin," he says. He sticks out his hand, waiting for you to shake it. You take his hand, give it a firm shake, and share your name. He repeated it softly, giving your hand an extra squeeze before letting go. 

"Javy said you are looking to move," Jake says casually. Your voice seems stuck in your throat. You examine Jake's handsome face again and know you can't do this.

"Yeah, she is. Soon, too." Javy says after you haven't said anything leaving an awkward pause. 

"I have lots of space."

"Oh well, you know." You say, trying to figure out what to say by saying nothing at all. Jake nods along with you, but his eyebrows pull close together while his eyes narrow. 

"Plus, Jake is really clean," Javy adds. 

"That is good to know. Maybe Jake and I can talk about it later?" You say, giving both of them a smile. You turn back to the coolers and grab the first drink you see. 

"Yeah, we can talk about it later. Javy owes me a spike ball game anyways," Jake says. He flashes you another smile while grabbing a High Noon out of the cooler, gesturing for Javy to do the same. You leave them to find Marlee and chat with some other people at the party. 

You are considering how to best say goodbye and leave the party while sitting next to the fire later. You stare into the flames hoping they might provide you answers. 

"You would actually be doing me a huge favor by moving in, "Jake says to you casually. You are startled by his sudden presence, and you look over at him, quirking an eyebrow in response.

"Oh really?" 

"Yeah. I haven't had a roommate for a while, and I would prefer someone who isn't in the military. I don't want to bring work and ranks home. You know?"

"Oh yeah, sure, that makes sense," you say, following his line of logic. 

"Also, rent these days is," Jake doesn't finish the sentence, instead just whistling quietly.

"Yeah, rent is expensive," you laugh. You find it much easier to talk to Jake if you don't have to look directly out at him. 

"You don't have to let me know right now, but I don't have any issues with it."

"We haven't talked about it much," you tell him, surprised he had decided so quickly.

"There is this saying that beggars can't be choosers."

"I would want a roommate contract. Is that okay?"

"Yeah, that would be fine by me, Sugar."

"Okay, cool, but we should think about it."

"Tonight is a party, and we are supposed to be having fun. Not doing business. So, why don't you text me, and we will hash out the details this week. Plus you can see the place, which you would probably want. Maybe you could move in next weekend if we can work it all out?"

Part of you thought you shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth, so you decided to text Jake throughout the week to hash out the details. And the next thing you know, Javy, Marlee, and Jake are helping you move your stuff. 

Living with Jake wasn't as hard as you worried it would be. In fact, it was much easier than you were anticipating. Jake led his life with strict regiment and routine. It was something that stretched beyond that he was in the military. 

Jake would wake up in the mornings and go on a run before coming home, making breakfast, showering, and going to work. Then he would come home, change and go to the gym, come home, shower again because he needed to, and then eat dinner. Every night if you were home while he was cooking, Jake would always offer you some. That leads you to find out he is a phenomenal chef. 

Then Jake would read in the large armchair in the living room and half-watch whatever you put on the TV to watch yourself. He only requested to use the TV when one of his sports teams was playing or on Wednesday nights, where he would spend an hour and a half playing Animal Crossing with his niece while they facetime. 

You had told Jake that the TV was his, and he didn't have to ask you to use it. Jake just laughed and shrugged before telling you he wasn't the biggest TV guy. Jake had been telling the truth when he said that. You realized that Jake was more interested in his books. If he wasn't reading a book, he sat silently with one of his sudoku puzzles and country music playing on vinyl. Then Jake would go to bed after whatever chores he deemed he should do. 

It was a strictly followed pattern, only differing on Fridays when he would sometimes go out to a bar with the guys or sometimes Saturdays. However, even on the weekends, he would follow the schedule closely. Regardless if he had gone to the bar, he would still wake up outrageously early in the morning, work out, do chores, and then go to the gym again. Sometimes Jake would venture out of the house to see his friends, but more often than not, he was reading or in the workshop in the garage with some project. 

Marlee had not prepared you for how amazingly hot Jake was. When you moved in, he had been very polite, if a bit curt. Never venturing to flirt with you again like when you first met. As the weeks living with Jake passed, though, he definitely warmed up to you. But still never pushed the roommate line between you. 

You worked hard to push your attraction for Jake to the side or shove it into a safe in the back of your mind. That was a challenging task to accomplish because, just like Javy said, Jake was very clean. It wasn't that he was a clean freak per se, but he was definitely an orderly and well-kept person. Everything in the house had a place it belonged. 

Jake always did his dishes and tidied up after himself in your common areas. He also never leaves any of his laundry waiting around. You had watched in a mix of awe and horror the first time he pulled out clothes from the dryer within five minutes of the machine going off. Then Jake started folding, halfway through the laundry, stoping to pull out an iron and ironing board. 

The sight was all so attractive that you had to excuse yourself upstairs. That was something that you often had to do. Anytime you felt heat build in you towards your roommate, you would quickly excuse yourself. You knew giving into your attraction for Jake in any shape or form would not lead anywhere good. You needed a place to live, and this place you had with Jake was way too good to risk anything. 

Given his career choice, it was not entirely surprising how regimented Jake is. However, what did surprise you was when he started to incorporate you into his routines in small ways. Jake would automatically set out an extra plate for you when cooking, and picks up snacks you like from the store. One day you come home and find a second shoe rack by the door just for you. On the days you had to be up for work, you would find that Jake had already put your morning drink together for you when he returned from the gym and was making his own breakfast. You like the steady rhythm and consistency that living with Hangman provides you. It's seamless and easy to fall into step with him. 

You had been living with Jake for a few months, and things were going really well, almost too well you sometimes felt like it was too good to be true. Your nightmares weren't as frequent. You get full nights sleep and feel comfortable here with Jake. The only times you don't feel content are the times that you think about how hot Jake is. Or when Jake does something that makes it hard not to try and smash your lips against his in a heated, passionate kiss. 

Then one day, you get home from work, and worry suddenly sweeps over you as you glance at your phone and realize what time it is. The house is completely dark and quiet. Jake should have been home several hours ago and on his way to the gym already. In fact, right about now was when he should have been getting home from the gym.  

You resist the urge to call Jake and check that he is okay. You know that action would be overstepping the roommate boundaries that exist clearly between you. You tell yourself it's silly to worry all because he wasn't following the schedule you made up for him in your head. It's not like Jake had ever written down his routine and given it to you. Maybe today was a special anniversary, or maybe he had after-work plans you didn't know about. 

Your worry is eased about twenty minutes later when you hear Jake's truck pull into the driveway, followed by the garage door rumbling open. You find yourself easing further into the couch, some of the tension you weren't wholly conscious of easing out of your body.  

Jake comes in, and you cut your eyes over to see him still in his flight suit. He doesn't say anything to you as he unlaces and kicks off his shoes. He passes you while walking to the stairs and manages a short but gruff hello. Then, without another word, he is gone. You stare after his back in shock. Something is definitely not right with Jake. 

He left his shoes sprawled on the ground by the door. It was not a sight you had ever seen in the house, not even the times Jake had stumbled home drunk and giggly. Jake always pulled off his boots, neatly tucking the laces in and then setting them up on his small shoe rack by the door. 

You get up from the couch and walk over to fix his shoes, tucking in the laces. You tell yourself it is so no one will trip over them, not for any other reason. Then you hear Jake's shower turn on, and the water runs much longer than the twenty-minute showers you are used to him taking. It all feels so odd and out of place. You decide to make some pasta for dinner, convinced Jake is planning on not eating at all with how far he is off his schedule. 

You are just finishing dinner when the water in his bathroom finally shuts off. Then fifteen more minutes later, Jake comes downstairs in a pair of plaid pajama pants and a thread-bare Annapolis shirt. He appears to be looking around downstairs, almost a bit dazed and lost. 

"I made dinner. How about you have some?" You call out to him from the kitchen. Jake follows your voice to the kitchen and looks at the food you have made and dishes up. Hesitantly he sits down at the table. 

"If you don't mind."

"Of course not. I know this may shock you since you normally cook, but I can do it too." 

"I've never thought that you couldn't cook." Jake quickly responds. 

"I know, Jake. I'm just teasing you. Now eat up." 

Jake follows orders and takes a bite of the pasta, letting out a small groan. "So good," he mumbles before taking another bite. 

"Do you want the macros?" You ask him conversationally after eating in silence for a few minutes. 

"Oh. No, thank you. I appreciate you making something and sharing. No need for you to put in extra work. I will be fine not tracking my macros for one meal," Jake says. 

"Okay," you say and give him the kindest smile you can think of. You don't want to push him on why he isn't okay. However, you can't stop yourself from sliding the piece of paper you wrote the macros on across the table to him anyways. 

Jake stares at the note card for a long moment and then looks up at you. It's not a look you have ever seen on your roommate's face before. You aren't entirely sure how to decipher the way his green sea-glass eyes are gleaming back at you. He folds the paper once before putting it in his pocket. 

Jake clears his throat, and the edges of his lips quirk up. "Thank you."

"Of course, anytime, Jake," you say back. He puts away his plate a few minutes later after finishing his food. Then packs up the leftovers into some tupperware. 

"I'm going to bed," Jake tells you. Jake doesn't even stop to grab the current book he is in the middle of from where it is placed next to his chair in the living room. 

The moment Jake disappears up the stairs, you are frowning again, considering his behavior. It bugged you, something clearly was off, but you weren't in the position to ask him what it was. As you start to settle down for the evening, you notice that Jake had put it in the laundry basket next to the washer that morning. Seeing that you knew he originally had every intention of starting it before going to the gym that night something that never happened.

You briefly considered that maybe it isn't normal how you have memorized his routine, but also maybe that was just part of living with Jake. You didn't even think before you were throwing his laundry in the washer for him. You stay up to put the clothes in the dryer. Then you find yourself folding items and hanging some of them, not confident that you could iron them correctly. About halfway through the chore, you stop realizing just what you are doing but finish it out, imagining the look on Jake's face when he sees his laundry done. You are in too deep to back out at this point. 

🏡🧩🏡

You knew it wasn't the best idea that morning when you had left to go pick up some of your remaining stuff and random mail from where you used to live. However, you didn't expect it to go as badly as it had. You were still shaking from the interaction you had when you got home. Every moment of the interaction repeats over and over in your head. You hazardously throw your keys into your little key bowl, not caring to notice Jake's there as well. 

You were still trying to take calming breaths and push away the tears streaming down your face. Standing at the entrance to the living room frozen, you aren't sure if you are actually at home or back there with him. 

You startle and jump, letting out a small shriek, hearing a sound in the kitchen. You turn slowly, shocked to see Jake staring at you dressed in his NWUs instead of his flight suit. You are equally surprised by the sight of him home in the middle of the day, in a uniform you rarely see him wear. 

The adrenaline of being scared forces your brain into letting go of the nerves and panic you had barely been keeping in check. Tears spring freely from your eyes as you take gasping breaths. J ake sets down the knife he is holding and takes long strides across the room to quickly reach your side. His hands hover near you but don't actually touch. 

"What's wrong?" Jake asks in a deep voice. 

You just shake your head at him, unable to respond, instead focusing on getting air into your lungs. 

"Can I touch you?" Jake asks then, and that does seem okay, so you jerkily nod your head yes. 

First, his hands settle lightly on your shoulders. Once it seems like you are okay and comfortable with that. Jake goes a step further and wraps his arms around you, pulling you flush against his chest. You press your face into the material of his shirt. Your hands come up to bunch it slightly on his chest as you find purchase to clutch him closer. 

He makes gentle shushing noises but otherwise doesn't say anything while holding you. He is so warm, and his arms feel strong around you. Jake's hold on you doesn't waiver once while you cry. Only relaxing slightly when your sniffles and crying start to level out and you let go of his shirt. 

You take one more deep breath of him. Jake smells of a pleasant mix of his body wash, y'all's fabric softener, and his cologne. Letting the calming effect of the smell flood your system before letting go of your hold on him completely, only then does Jake let his arms slip away. 

Pulling away from the hug, you shyly look to see Jake's face. You find that he is already looking at you. For one of the first times since you met him, you don't like how Jake's face looks. There is a soft and sad demeanor that you see in his eyes. His eyebrows crease and his lips are pressed into a flat line. You feel embarrassment and shame flood you. The way that you just broke down and cried on your roommate, fully processing in your muddled tired head. 

"You're home," you eventually say, trying to break the ice and put a brave face back on. 

"Yeah, I'm not flying today. So, I had the time to come home for lunch."

"Sorry to interrupt." You say, looking down to examine your feet. 

"You didn't interrupt anything," Jake reassures you. He goes back to the kitchen, and you watch as he continues to cut ingredients for his salad.

"Do you want me to make you anything?" He asks.

"No, thank you. "You say not feeling even a little hungry. 

"Do you want to talk about it?" Jake asks next. 

"No, thank you," you say again and settle at the kitchen island to watch Jake cut the veggies and toss them in a big bowl. 

"Okay," he says. You like that Jake doesn't push you for things. He respects the boundaries you set and doesn't even try to toe up against them. 

"Am I allowed to know why you aren't flying today? I thought someone had broken in. Plus, I hardly recognize you out of a flight suit."

"You don't like these?" Jake asks, looking at the Navy camo print he is wearing as if this uniform suddenly offended him. 

"I didn't say that," you tell him, giving a small laugh. Obviously, Jake could make anything look good, even things that shouldn't. 

"Can't fly every day." He says with a shrug. "Also, I'm going through some maintenance stuff and checks with my sailors." 

You hum, but otherwise, don't comment watching Jake wash the knife and cutting board he had been using then. Then, after he drys them and puts them away, he turns back to you. 

"There isn't anything to be embarrassed about," he tries to venture lightly. 

"You don't come home and cry on me," you say, frowning. 

"You sure about that one?" He asks, shoving a mouthful of salad into his mouth. 

"Pretty sure that I would remember such an occasion." 

Jake just hums. One of those sounds that makes you feel like he doesn't actually agree. A few bites of his food later, he sets his bowl down. His green gaze is trialed on you, but then he glances at his watch, huffing in annoyance. 

There is a slight caving feeling inside you. You feel bad. How much of Jake's lunch have you taken up? You had never actually seen him come home for lunch before, so he must not get a long time. 

"I do all the time. Maybe just a bit less of the wet physical crying." Jake tells you, putting a container lid on his bowl.

"You could," you utter to him, a little embarrassed. 

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, wouldn't bother me if you ever needed to. You know. I'm here for you."

"Thank you, Darlin," Jake says. Then glances at his watch again. "I got ten minutes before I have to go. What would you like to do?"

"I'm fine," you tell him. "You should use that time to eat." 

"I'll munch while I'm doing some paperwork later."

That was a lie. You knew that Jake would never eat around paperwork. However, it was the kind of lie that settles warmly. It was one of those lies born with good intentions and made to be soothing. You could never be upset that he is even trying to comfort you at his own expense. 

"I don't want to talk about it, Jake." You reiterate again.  

"I know, and you don't have to. I won't ask again. However, if you ever decide that you do. I'm here for you too. Always." 

"Thank you, Jake. You're a really good roommate."

"I hope you can consider me a friend too?" 

"Of course, we are friends too," you reassure him. Jake's lips quirk upwards, his dimples flashing upon hearing that. 

"Now, I can't go back to work without seeing at least one smile." 

"That's a pretty tall order." 

"Well, they don't call me the best for nothing."

"Do they really call you the best or is that something you just tell people?" You ask him, mostly joking. Jake pretends to take offense, pressing his hand dramatically to his chest. 

"Ma'am, you wound me," Jake says, pouting. 

"I don't know. I think it is a pretty legitimate question." 

"I am the best." 

"And how do they determine that exactly? Who the best is." 

"Well, there are a lot of ways. Many different factors to consider." 

"Oh really?" 

"Yup. Also sorts of stuff, but they get us all together once a year, and we have a competition." 

"What kind of competition?"

"Only the elite members of the Navy participate. We all take turns sliding." 

"Sliding?" 

"Yup," Jake confirms, sounding one hundred percent serious. "We set up a huge slip and slide on the carrier runway. You only get three tries, and then we add them for scoring. I may have ripped off all the skin on my chest last year, but it was worth it to win." 

You can't help but let out a laugh. You picture Hangman competitively sliding down a yellow tarp that doesn't have enough water on it. It's such a silly concept you aren't sure where he came up with it. 

"Ahh there she is," Jake says with a broad smile. 

"I never would have thought that was a skill the Navy values." 

"Yes, Ma'am. It's actually the second part of the Naval academy mission," Jake tells you, still maintaining a serious tone despite his smile. Then Jake stands up straight to his full height in parade rest. 

"To develop Midshipmen morally, mentally and physically and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, honor and loyalty in order to graduate leaders who are dedicated to a career of naval service and have potential for future development in mind and character to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government." Jake repeats dutifully and then adds. "In addition to putting these ideals to the test by hosting the world's most competitive slip and slide competition. Weirdly, people don't talk about that second part much." 

You only laugh harder, shaking your head at him. "Yeah, an absolute mystery. I can't believe that isn't common knowledge." 

Jake chuckles along with you. Then you two are interrupted by a timer going off from Jake's phone. He sighs and silents it. 

"I'm sorry. I've got to go, sugar. Are you going to be okay?" 

"Yeah. I promise I'm okay. Thank you, Jake." 

He bites his lip and nods at you going to put in his shoes and lace them back up. "Are you going to be home later?" 

"Yeah, I'll be home." 

"We could do something if you're feeling up for it. Or I can pick up takeout." 

"That's sweet, Jake, but you really don't have to." 

"I want to," he says with a shrug. Then checks his reflection in the mirror, making sure he is presentable to go back to work. After that, he turns back to you. 

"I'll think about it." You tell him before playfully shoving him out the door so he isn't late. You try not to melt when Jake gives you another hug. You catch his hand just before he is too out of reach.  

"Thank you, Jake. For making me smile."

"It's the prettiest thing I've seen all day," Jake says, squeezing your hand with his own. His words muddle your brain a little bit. You don't get to say anything else before he heads off to his truck, waving at you one more time and driving off. 

You also pretend you aren't screaming on the inside when Jake comes home from work that night with your favorite food and ice cream. The night feels easy and warm, sitting and eating with Jake. The events of that morning can't cross your mind while Jake tells you all about some of the weird contraband he found in the junior sailors' barracks that day. He is no less than spellbinding. 

🏡🧩🏡

Jake is sitting at the kitchen table when you get home from work. He is surrounded by neatly organized papers spread all along the table in various piles. Jake is wearing a button-down, tie, and slacks that make you do a triple-take on him.

"Welcome home," he says, glancing up from his laptop that is open in front of him. That's when you see he also has a pair of glasses on. 

"Thank you," you say, slowly making your way to the kitchen but still looking at him. 

"What are you working on there?" You ask. 

"Oh, I'm doing my taxes," Jake says while giving you one of his winning smiles. 

"Taxes?"

"Yes, Ma'am"

"I guess that makes sense," you say while looking around the kitchen for a snack. 

After a few minutes of silence, you decide to ask another question. "Do you have a date later?" 

You knew Jake dated. A man who looks like that has to date. However, you had yet to see him ever bring someone home, which felt odd considering everything about Jake, and the persona he liked to put on as Hangman.  

"No. What makes you ask that?" Jake asks you. 

"Oh. I don't know. You're dressed like you are going on a date."

"No, I'm not," he says, looking down at himself. 

You laugh at him and shrug. "If you say so."

"I would never wear this on a date," Jake mutters, clearly offended. 

"Well, then, why are you wearing it?"

"I'm doing taxes," he says again. 

"Yeah, we have covered that. What does that have to do with your clothes?"

"I'm dressed like an accountant," Jake tells you. You can't hold back your giggles at his phrasing and bring a hand up to your mouth to try and stifle them before giving up entirely. 

"What? What's so funny?" 

"Two things," you say, holding up two fingers, finally biting back your giggles. 

"One, the fact that you got dressed up to do your taxes. The second is that being an accountant is a euphemism for being a sex worker." Jake chuckles at your explanation but shrugs. 

"Well, Mrs. Celeste said I should always dress for the day. It helps you present your best self. If you dress the part, it helps you act that part." Jake says that like a well memorized and treasured quote. A saying he clearly remembered with much fondness.  

"And today is my tax day, so I am dressing like a tax professional. I will have you know. Since I started doing them myself, I have never had one problem with my taxes."

You couldn't help but chuckle more at his explanation and give him a fond smile. Sometimes the way Jake was so perfectly built and attuned for the military was endearing. Of course, a career Naval man would think a uniform was essential for each different activity. 

"So, are the glasses part of your tax uniform too?"  

He made a show of pushing the said glasses further up his nose. "Yes, Ma'am. They also are blue light blocking, which helps prevent migraines."

You nod along to his explanation. You finish putting together your snack and lean against the kitchen counter while munching on it. "Who is Mrs. Celeste? A teacher?"

Jake's lips flatten slightly before the expression relaxes just as quickly. "No, Mrs. Celeste is my Babula." 

"Your Grandmother?" You guess. 

"Yeah, sorry. My grandma, but she was strictly Mrs. Celeste growing up, only Babula occasionally." 

"I don't think I've met someone who calls their grandparent by their first name."

"Well, not really her first name. You have to be respectful and throw the Miss in there with it. She is a very particular lady."

"Is it a southern thing?"

"Yeah, maybe," he says with a small laugh. The edges of his lips quirk up, and you have to look away from Jake to distract yourself. It is easy to fall into the trap of how beautiful he is, with the sparkle he can get in his eyes. Or how even the smallest of his smiles makes you want to grin back. 

"So, how are the taxes?" 

"Oh, it's good. I'm almost finished up."

"Awesome, congrats Jake."

"Have you done yours?" He asks you. 

You shake your head and roll your eyes at the idea. "No, I definitely haven't."

"But you got your W2s in the mail last week."

"Jake, are you snooping through my mail?"

He raises both his hands up in defense. "No, I'm not! W2s just have a very particular look." 

"I'm just kidding. I know you wouldn't snoop through my mail. Yeah, I got them, but I've been busy. I guess I should make a Tax Masters appointment or something."

That crease in between Jake's eyebrows appears, the one that haunts you, that you pretend you don't obsess over. Followed by a small frown.

"Tax Master?" He asks, clearly appalled. You shrug back at him, not entirely seeing the issue. 

"I could do them for you," Jake says, then quickly adds on. "I mean, I can help you do them. If you have the time. I'm already dressed for it, and I won't charge you or anything."

"Oh no, Jake, that is so sweet, but I can't ask you to do that."

"No, really, I wouldn't mind. I think it would be fun. Plus, then you will have it done, and you won't have to worry about it." 

"Really, thank you so much, but it's fine." 

Jake's frown deepens at your answer, and he seems almost genuinely upset at your denial of his help. The warm feeling in your chest likes to flip over and grow a little bit more each time he is too sweet in moments like these. 

"You know Javy warned me that you were an asshole when I was going to move in. However, you have not once lived up to that. You could stand to be less nice to me, Jake." You tell him. You mean it to come off as almost flirty and a bit of a joke. However, it doesn't seem to land with him that way. 

The change that comes over Jake isn't something entirely tangible. It is almost like a shift in the air around him rather than anything physical. The way Jake looks at you just feels heavier and more charged. The confidence he always exudes seems to double with how he sits up just the smallest bit straighter but then leans back against his chair casually. 

"Go get your W2s." He tells you in a perfectly level tone, but it has a demanding edge. 

"Jake," you start to say and roll your eyes at him. 

"Nope," Jake says, popping the p. His voice takes on a lower candace, leaving no room for arguments. "I'm not giving you a choice. We are going to do your taxes." 

"No, we aren't doing my taxes." 

"Yes, I am. I can't be caught not living up to my reputation. So, I'm not going to be nice and accept that you don't want to. This is one of the few situations I won't take no for an answer." 

"It was just a joke." 

"No, it wasn't," Jake says, giving you a small shrug. You can't tell if he is actually hurt by how he is acting, but you suspect some part of him was twinged at his best friend's description. 

"It really was, Jake. Javy adores and trusts you. I'm sure he never would have suggested me moving in with you if he actually thought you were an asshole." 

"I know I'm an asshole. It's fine, sugar, don't worry. I'm not going to tattle on you telling me that to Coyote."

"You aren't an ass, though. That was my whole point."

Jake just shook his head at your answer. "I am one, and I don't want that to be a surprise when you inevitably witness it." 

You aren't sure how to respond to that, so you are relieved when Jake changes the topic. "Now, get your tax stuff, so it doesn't take us all night."

"Okay," you sigh, giving in to defeat. Jake gives you a mega-watt smile, and looks back at his computer screen. 

As you are walking up the stairs, you hear him yell across the house. "Dress like your best accountant self!"

"I won't be doing that," you yell back. 

"Please! It's important." Jake yells back.

When you are in your room getting all your stuff and paperwork pilled together. You find yourself opening your closet and pulling out an outfit that you could imagine wearing if you were an accountant.

You also spend several minutes too long wondering what would happen if you went back downstairs in the most provocative lingerie you own. After all, Jake didn't specify which type of accountant to dress up as. You wondered if it would be tempting to Jake. Could you provoke him into falling into lust with you? Tempt him enough that he took you on the dining room table on top of all the Tax paperwork? Jake has expressed attraction to women before, so there must be at least some part of him that is at least a little attracted to you. 

You smash down your thirsty thoughts and try to screw your head back on straight before it can drift too much off on track. When you get back downstairs, Jake is still at the table. You dump all your stuff on an empty spot there. 

Jake looks up from his computer and smiles at you, quirking an eyebrow. Then, Jake speaks to you teasingly, "And here I thought you might dress up as the other type of accountant you were telling me about." 

Your brain has no choice but to start short-circuiting, and you open and close your mouth twice. Jake starts shuffling through your paperwork, looking at what you have brought him. 

"I ordered us some pizza too," he says before you get out a proper response or say anything teasing back to him. 

"Yum. I'm excited," you tell him sliding into a seat and opening up your own laptop. 

He stops his shuffling and examination of the papers to level you with a serious look. "Thank you for indulging me, by the way." 

"Anything for you, Jake," you tell him and mean it. Unfortunately, the way you feel about your roommate is rapidly spiraling out of the tight control you tried to keep it in. 

"I like when we do fun things like this together," Jake says to you, grinning. 

"Me too," you tell him. Then add, "Only you would find taxes fun, though, Hangman."

"I am about to show you just how fun taxes can be and how you can get a great return," Jake says, taking your words in stride. 

Jake does your taxes almost entirely by himself, only asking occasional questions. He also then organizes all of your paperwork in an extra accordion binder he has. The taxes aren't fun, but spending time with Jake is.  

"Thank you," you say to Jake daring to press a soft, affectionate kiss to his cheek. You linger for a moment, the prickle of his end-of-day stubble ticking your lips, but you don't mind it.  When you pull back to gauge his reaction, Jake looks almost pained and upset. You worry for a moment that even just a cheek kiss could make him react this way. You briefly thank god you didn't actually try to seduce him earlier. 

"Always, anytime." He finally says. However, Jake is now glaring down at his keyboard and not looking at you. 

"I hope it wasn't too much trouble," you venture, confused by this mood shift. 

"Sugar?"

"Yes, Jake?" 

"I don't think you should pay so much rent." 

"What?"

"Listen," he runs a hand through his hair, pushing it all out of sorts. "I just don't think it's fair for you to pay so much."

"Of course, it's fair. I live here," you explain. 

"Yeah, but no. I get BAH, and I don't have any student loans from school. Plus, the Navy pays me plenty as an officer. I was paying for this place all alone before you moved in anyways."

"I'm not going to pay less rent because you saw my financials and feel bad." You tell Jake quietly, trying not to actively become upset. 

"Please don't be so stubborn," he pleads with you. 

You cross your arms over your chest, "Take your own advice."

"I'm the one being stubborn?" 

"Yes! You are. You are the most stubborn man I have ever met."

Jake's frown deepens, and that sad look in his eyes at your words starts to break through to you. Then he responds, "I'm sorry. I guess I'll try and work on that." 

Jake starts meticulously putting things away into different folders. He moves through each of his piles on the table and doesn't spare you a second glance. It leaves a crushing feeling in your chest. 

"I'm sorry for snapping at you." 

"There is no need to apologize. I'm the one who is sorry." Jake says, shrugging off your apology. 

"No, you don't need to apologize. I understand why you said what you did. I know you were trying to be sweet." You start to say but are cut off. 

"I wasn't trying to be sweet."

"Oh my god. Okay, fine, trying to be nice, then," you say, rolling your eyes. 

Jake sets down the folder he is currently holding, and it thumps a little bit on the table. The force and loud sound make you flinch. 

"I'm not sweet, nice, good, or kind. Okay? I'm not any of those things. I call things how I see them. I look at facts, figures, and numbers. Then I run calculations and act accordingly."

"And how is it mathematically possible that me paying less rent possibly works out for you, Jake? You will be losing money." As he shakes his head, he huffs at your words a little bit like they are funny. 

"You could do a lot and make a lot of gains if you paid less rent, and I don't mind picking up the extra amount. You might be one of the few people I haven't hated living with. I don't want you figuring out you need to live somewhere cheaper and moving out on me. So, I'm not being nice. I'm being a selfish asshole." Jake clenches his fists hard, and you see his knuckles start to turn paler. With a deep breath, he relaxes and shrugs. Loosening the tight coil of his muscles, Jake gives you a curt tight lipped smile with a nod. "I'm just a selfish asshole, okay?"

"Please stop. Don't say that."

"Why not? It's true," he says, rolling those beautiful eyes at you. 

"It's not true. Also, I would prefer if you don't use the word selfish around me, please." You say in a surprisingly steady voice. You don't really want to get triggered right now, and you could only hope that you wouldn't have to explain triggers to Jake. It takes him one moment to think and another to process before he says anything. 

"Oh fuck. I'm so sorry. I won't use it again." Jake promises, no questions asked. His words blow up a balloon in your diaphragm, making it feel like your breath is about to catch. Then he adds on, "If there are any other words…" He looks around and grabs a loose pen and one of his notebooks. Jake slides them across the table to you. "Write them down. Maybe? If you can." 

The warmth Jake inspires in your chest is unparalleled and drowns out anything you can think of aside from how endearing he can be and how fond you are of him. Jake doesn't take the lack of response from you well.  

"I'm sorry," he apologizes again. You spring from where you had been sitting, walking slowly and deliberately toward him. You make sure to give him plenty of time to protest and say something. 

Jake looks steadily back at you. However, he looks like he is preparing himself to be slapped or punished, holding perfectly still. Instead, though, you wrap Jake in a tight hug. He is stiff as a board beneath you. After a long moment, as you consider pulling away, Jake relaxes and wraps his arms around you. They are wrapped loosely at first but then tighten in small intervals until Jake is practically clinging to you. 

"You are so good," you whisper to him, a little dazed. You are almost stunned by how desperately Jake tries to pretend otherwise. 

"Don't say that," Jake whispers in a broken voice, hugging you a bit tighter. 

"Too good." You left the words for me unsaid, but you felt them. 

"I'm really not."

"It's okay if you don't see it. I see it for you. I'll make sure everyone else sees, too," you tell Jake curling your hands into a fist in his shirt. 

He doesn't say anything but keeps holding you tightly. You don't know how long the two of you stay embraced like that until Jake finally eases his grip on you, and you reluctantly pull away from him as well. 

He presses a lingering kiss to your forehead. "Please stop paying so much in rent," he requests again. 

"That will not be happening, Hangman."

"So stubborn." He sighs. Jake kisses your forehead again. He leaves his lips lingering, and you start to count the breaths memorizing how warm his lips are. Three breaths later, he is pulling away. Jake grabs his laptop and a stack of folders heading upstairs without another word to you. 

You stare after him for a while, trying to parse out the mystery Jake presents, and coming up a bit short, just like you always did. He is one of the most outwardly confident men you have ever met. Yet, other times, Jake is the first person to make a self-deprecating comment about himself. You swallow down how much you desire more from him, wishing for more, knowing you can't and shouldn't have it.  

🏡🧩🏡

You and Jake were lounging on the couch. He was scrolling on his phone, avoiding going to the gym, half-heartedly trying to convince you to go with him. You were also scrolling your phone while deflecting Jake’s offers. 

That was when your doorbell rang, followed by heavy knocking. You and Jake both look up at each other. He raises his eyebrows, and you just shrug, having no idea who could be at the door. Jake looks back to his phone, clearly ready to ignore it, when the doorbell rings twice more, and the pounding on the door gets louder. Jake sighs and gets up, walking across the house towards the noise. 

��Hold your horses out there!” Jake yells towards the door before opening it. 

You wait for a moment, trying to hear who it is, curious about who would be so rude and what they needed. However, you don’t hear anything from where you are on the couch. So you stand and follow Jake into the entry hallway. 

“Sir, I am going to have to ask you to leave.” You hear Jake say. He is standing at his full height in the door frame. 

“What the fuck did you just say to me?” You hear from on the other side of the door. 

Nervousness shoots through your whole body hearing that voice. Anxiety immediately pops up, and your stomach drops. You know that voice. You have heard it a thousand times before. Why was he here? How was he here? 

“I asked you to leave, Sir.”

“Just tell that little bitch that —”

Jake steps further forward onto the front porch. “Now, we don’t speak about ladies like that where I am from. And I’m going to ask that you act accordingly while at my home, Sir.” Jake cuts him off with that well mannered southern military niceness. 

“I don’t give a fuck where you are from.”

You flinch at his tone of voice, feeling bile rise up in your throat. You lean against the wall slapping your hand over your mouth, trying to prevent yourself from throwing up. 

“I asked you politely to leave. I won’t ask again. I can call you a taxi or an uber. But don’t you dare take one more step on my front porch.” Jake says in a deep tone. You are hit with the sudden, horrifying realization that he is going to hurt Jake, and that is something you just won’t let happen. 

You are trying to go through possibilities in your head. Anyway, this could shake out; it would be bad for Jake. Jake would either get hurt and get in trouble, or he would kick ass and gets in worse trouble. This would end badly; either way, Jake is going to get in trouble, and it would be your fault. You would be responsible because you caused this situation. Jake was going to pay the consequences all because he was trying to protect you. You were roommates, so Jake must think he has some obligation to protect you. 

You feel swamped in stress knowing how easily Jake can escalate a situation and provoke someone; sometimes, all it takes for him is one well-placed smile. That stress is finally what unfreezes you, and you stumble towards the front door. 

Jake’s large, broad form still mostly hides your view of the other side, but you cautiously approach and set your hand gently on the back of his shoulder. You feel how tense Jake’s muscles are under your hand and can see it in the line of the back of his neck. 

“Sugar, I’m not going to tell you what to do,” Jake says in a deep voice. He doesn’t budge an inch or look back toward you. “But I would like to suggest that you go back inside. I have this handled.” 

You want to cry. You want to cry for so many reasons: cry because you are in this situation, that you have to deal with this again, that you feel so small. However, you mostly want to cry because Jake “Hangman” Seresin is such a good man. It’s startling sometimes, not because it’s really unexpected, but rather that it is so completely and bluntly genuine. 

Having Jake here defending you, trying to protect you from the person who has probably scared you most in your life, it feels so silly to pretend like you don’t have feelings for him, to pretend that you aren’t more in love with him than you ought to be.

The realization doesn’t really feel shocking; it is closer to acceptance. A given truth that is part of your life now. An empowering truth that swells in your bones like a swift tide, filling up the spaces that have been empty for so long. 

You love Jake more than you are scared. The warmth of affection towards him is so hot it burns out the freezing ice in your veins and the numbness in your fingers. You love him, and you will be damned if you let Jake be hurt, touched, tainted, or affected by this man who has hurt you. It seems cliché that loving someone like this is enough for you to finally break through the barrier of fear you have lived your whole life in. However, now it just feels so simple. 

Your heart is beating hard. The adrenaline is pumping through you so strongly that you can hear it echoing in your ears. Your hand slides up Jake’s back to his bicep, and you give him a gentle push. Jake shifts with the movement. He slides to the right so you can finally fully see the front porch. However, he doesn’t move enough that you are fully exposed. Jake’s body is still partially concealing you from view. 

Then you hear your name, and your attention snaps away from its hyper-focus on Jake. You turn it forward and brace yourself. You drift your eyes to the ground, landing on the feet of your visitor, staying there for a minute before meeting his burning eyes. 

“Hello, Dad.” 

“Ah, so she is here,” your father says, throwing his hands up and glaring at Jake. You can smell the booze on him from the doorway. It makes your stomach turn. You resist the urge to wretch, squeezing your hand, which is still on Jake’s bicep. He flexes, and his bicep digs into his shirt as your nails also dig in. You don’t like those angry, hateful eyes on your Jake. Jake doesn’t budge an inch or react to your nails on his skin.

“What are you doing here, Dad?” You ask him. Your hold on Jake acting like an anchor point for you. 

“You don’t bother to answer my texts or anyone else’s calls and texts. Just because you moved out doesn’t mean you get to be a selfish bitch” your dad spits out. 

“I’ve been pretty busy,” you defend yourself in a small voice.  

“Oh, I bet you have been so busy. What are you doing these days?” He growls at you. “You know it doesn’t really count as moving out if you are spreading your legs to pay for it.” 

You flinch, your hand falling from Jake’s arm and balling into a tight fist at your side. You hate how easily he can make you feel small, even when you are angry. 

“Watch your mouth,” Jake hisses, rejoining the conversation. You glance at him, and Hangman is shaking with contained rage. You know this is not a good situation; anytime, someone could blow up. 

“You should go inside, Hangman,” you tell him gently. 

“Absolutely not,” Jake responds instantly. 

“So you are playing the part of a pathetic little whore wife for this pretty boy.” Your dad says, cutting in. 

You grit your teeth as he continues on. “Come on. I thought you gave up pussies after our talk when you were in high school.” 

With the reminder of just what he is referring to, You are overcome with anger, and you finally can’t take it anymore. You recognize his words for what they are, a direct bait at Jake and undercutting you. It makes you so angry you start shaking. Tears burst from your eyes, trying to let off some steam bubbling inside you. It boils up, so you can’t take it anymore, and you whisper, “Shut up.” 

“What?” Your dad asks, clearly shocked. You take a step forward fueled by your anger. 

“Shut the fuck up.” You pronounce each word slowly. Then continue on, “I’m tired of this. You don’t get to be mean to me and still expect a relationship with me. You don’t get to hit me, yell at me, and abuse me just to show up at my house on your bullshit. And you sure as fuck don’t get to say anything about Jake.” You suck in a rapid breath, the words fueling the fire in you. Your angerburning brighter with every word. 

“You made me think that kind, decent men didn’t exist, Dad, but Jake is good. He isn’t a pretty boy. He is smart, sweet, strong, and kind. I will not hear you say one more thing about him. Ever.” You punctuate the sentence with a jab of your index finger at him. He looks like he might be cowed, and before you can even finish a prayer that he will be done, the fire in his eyes lits again. 

“You could have at least found someone who stands up for you. A real man.” Your dad isn’t even looking at you when he says it. Instead, he is staring at Jake. 

“That’s a rather rude thing to say about an active duty Naval Officer,” you hiss. Your dad takes a step back, his eyebrows raising, reexamining Jake. He shifts his weight between his feet nervously. 

“You aren’t welcome at our home. So leave and crawl back into the bottle you drank before coming here. Don’t come back, Dad. I don’t want to see you.” 

You try to force your body to relax, but the adrenaline is still pumping hard in your veins. So, you start to walk backward back into the house. Jake still hasn’t taken his eyes off your dad, and he makes no move to come with you back into the house. 

“Jake?” You ask. 

“Just give me a minute, sweetheart. I need to have a talk with your old man here and make sure that he makes it home.”

“I don’t want him near you.” 

Your dad still looks blown away by this turn of events. Like he is scrambling to put words together. He keeps looking back and forth between you and Jake. 

Jake breathes out heavily through his nose. He turns his head enough to glance at you. Whatever he sees on your face must break his resolve. Jake clenches his jaw, and you watch the muscle flex once, then twice. After that, he rolls his shoulders, and it’s like Hangman is physically able to just shrug the tension of the situation off. 

“Get home safe, Sir. I suggest doing so soon. MAs are known to drive down our street.” Jake says it in a light, easygoing tone, border lining on cheery. Then, plastering that practiced, perfect smile on his face, Jake nods his head toward your dad and comes back into the house. 

Jake closes the door but doesn’t move, staring out the frosted window on the front door. His body is tense again, standing rigidly at his full height. You are still shaking from anger. You slump against Jake’s back, letting your body weight shift into his. One of his arms bends backward a bit awkwardly, sitting on your waist. His large palm is burning hot. You can feel it through the fabric of your clothes. Then Jake’s fingers flex to give you a small squeeze of reassurance. 

When Jake finally does move, it is just to turn away from the door and wrap you tightly in his arms. You enjoy the warmth of his strong embrace, feeling exhausted as the adrenaline starts to fade. Jake is still shaking, though. 

“He’s gone,” Jake says into the crown of your head. You let a little sigh escape you, feeling a bit more of the tension release. 

“Good,” you manage to tell him. 

“I wanted to defend you. I wanted to slam his face so hard into the porch that he wouldn’t ever be able to open his mouth again. Wanted to tell him how you are—”

“I’m glad you didn’t,” you cut Jake off before he can continue. You don’t want to know what he thinks about you right now. You can’t handle whatever words could spill out of his mouth next. 

“I’ll make sure he never comes back here,” Jake says, his voice dropping, and you feel the rage contained in him, the subtle shake and heat coming from how tense he is. 

“I don’t want him near you. If something happened to you because of him….” you trail off. Your hands wander the expanse of Jake’s back in an almost soothing motion. However, you don’t know who it is soothing more, you or him. “I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.”

He takes a deep breath and then releases it in a heavy sigh. “What if you just give me his full name and social security number? You wouldn’t have to know about anything else.”

“Jake,” you whisper in a tone that is almost reminiscent of amusement. 

Jake sighs again. He draws back from your hug and cups your face. He swipes his thumb across your cheekbone, wiping away the tears that have been lingering. 

“You are the kindest, most compassionate person I have ever met,” Jake whispers. Considering how he is looking at you with a glimmer in his eyes, it’s clear the emotions of the situation are still running rampant. That look, paired with how he is holding you, makes you think Jake might be about to kiss you.  

“No, No. Stop.” You don’t know if you are trying to ask him not to kiss you or to stop talking. Either way, you feel like you might explode if this interaction isn’t over soon. 

“Yes,” Jake says. “Let me, please.” 

His thumb is still tracing along your cheek, and you can’t help yourself from leaning a tiny bit into his palm. An action that momentarily freezes his thumb before it picks up steadily again. Not hearing an explicit no from you again, Jake continues on. 

“That man has no say over you. Who you are is so stunning. You never deserved to be treated the way you were. I am so sorry you ever had to go through that. I am so sorry he showed up here. You don’t owe him a single second of your time or attention. You are valuable. You are amazing. He is trying to make you small because he sees how good you are.” 

A shudder racks through your body, hearing Jake’s words, and fresh tears start to fall unprompted from your eyes. As soon as they do, though, Jake pushes them away. “I am so proud of you for getting away from him. You are so strong and brave. It makes me awed. I’m so glad that you moved in here. You are…” Jake doesn’t finish the sentence, he seems to lose his train of thought. His mouth parts a little bit, and his eyes flash down to glance at your lips. 

Jake is going to kiss you, and it might possibly be the worst thing that could happen. If he kisses you right now because of your dad, you know you might break into a million different pieces. You don’t want Jake to kiss you for any reason but pure desire and affection. You don’t want him to kiss you in comfort, or pity, or convenience, or as an outlet. You don’t want him to kiss you just because emotions are running high from the incident that just happened. Most of all, you don’t want Jake to kiss you and not mean it. You don’t want him to kiss you without the intention of kissing you again. 

So, even though you are desperate to feel his lips, and memorize their shape, how they feel against yours. Desperate to discover what he tastes like, curl your fingers in his hair and take comfort in the form of his body. You know you can’t, it has the power to break you, and you already feel so broken and exhausted. 

You cover the hand Jake has on your face with your own and pull it away. However, you don’t immediately let go holding his large palm. Hangman takes your hint and steps backward, giving you a little space so that he is pressed against the door again. You decide to thread your fingers with his. Jake’s skin is still almost hot to the touch in your hand.

“Thank you, Jake,” You finally say, meeting his piercing green eyes again. You squeeze the hand you are holding. He gives you a tight nod and then tips his head upwards, so he is looking at the ceiling. Jake rests his head against the door as well and closes his eyes. 

You observe him for a moment, then you go to release the hand you are holding. Jake stops you, though, his hand tightening as yours loosens, and you try to pull away. You give a little tug, and he tightens his fingers even more. Jake’s head is still tipped, and you hear him sucking in a deep breath before blowing it out.

 “Please don’t let go,” he begs you. Jake’s eyes flash open again, and he is looking down his nose at you. “I just, I need you.”

You inhale sharply at his phrasing, and he sighs heavily. “I might do something terrible if you let go of me. If you don’t need me here, there won’t be anything to stop me.” 

“You’re not going to do anything terrible,” You say, retangling your fingers with his. Jake’s hand flexes in yours, and he takes another big breath. 

“I’ll make sure he loses our address and forgets it too. Make sure he doesn’t remember anything at all anymore. I’ll—”

“You’ll stay right here, Jake.”

He lifts his head so it isn’t tilted against the door anymore and stares down at you. He looks like he is holding on to every word you are saying to keep his sanity. His skin is flushed from anger, and his palm shakes slightly in yours. You were in awe he was able to hold back this reaction so long, remaining calm and collected throughout the entire encounter. 

“You will stay here with me, Jake. I need you.” 

“Yeah?” He asks shakily. 

“Yeah. Need your help, Jake.”

There is a low rumble in his chest, almost resembling the hum it was probably supposed to be. You step closer to Jake, once again closing the gap between you.

“Tell me what you need.” It comes out as a demand, and he seems to realize that when he adds on a small quick “Please.”

You look at him then, trying to read his face and those eyes that haunt your dreams. You examine the creases and lines his face makes with the severe angry look he has plastered on. You take the time to observe how his hair is hazardously falling out of place for how many times he has run his hand through it. You don’t really find any of the answers you are looking for. You just find Jake. And Jake is an oh-so-wondrous thing to find. 

You step closer to him and tug the hold he has on your hand again. His nose scrunches for a moment, and his frown tightens. His eyes lift upwards towards the ceiling again as his jaw clenches; he lets go of your hand. Jake’s hand falls heavily back until it hits the door making a smacking sound. You flinch at the sound but take another step forward, crowding Jake against the door. You lift your hand up to trace over his neck and then settle on his face, encouraging him to adjust his gaze back to you. He follows direction and leans into your hold, just like you leaned into his earlier. 

“Need you to stay with me,” you start slowly, encouraged as Jake nods his head in a small jerk. 

“I need you to leave the front door.” 

He considers your words for a moment, then shakes his head. “I don’t think I can do that. I’m sorry, sugar. I need to protect you.” 

“There is no one in the world I feel safer with than you, Jake.” He squeezes his eyes tightly closed at those words and pulls in a ragged breath. “So, you can’t leave me alone here.”

He nods again but still has his eyes closed. “Ain’t leaving. You need me.”

“Yes, I do.”

“Can I hold you?” Jake asks, then once again remembers his manners throwing out another small, please. 

“Yes, please,” you whisper. Jake doesn’t waste a moment before wrapping an arm around your waist and pulling you snuggly against him. The change of angle causes your hand to slip from his face, so you wrap it around his neck instead, your fingers drifting against the short hairs there. You go to wrap your other arm around his waist but instead awkwardly hit the front door. You hiss out a small breath at the momentary pain. 

Jake responds to the sound. He starts walking forward, making you walk backward. Walking while he is wrapped around you proves to be difficult, and you stumble a little. That seems to be all Jake needs; he wraps his arms under your ass and lifts you. 

You are terrified at the concept that Jake is going to try to carry you, and you open your mouth to protest. However, with only one small grunt that honestly sounded more like pure sex with how low and husky it is, Jake is carrying you down the hallway. You wrap your arm around his neck more securely, adding a second one for more leverage. 

Jake doesn’t stop to set you on the couch like you had expected. Instead, he continues up the stairs and right into his room. He sets you on his bed gently, and you unwrap your arms from his neck, letting him pull away. Jake goes back to the door of his room, closes it, and clicks the lock into place. You raise an eyebrow at his action.

"That’s rather presumptuous, Hangman.” 

“What?” He looks at you confused before he looks back at his door. “Oh no, I’m sorry. I wasn’t, I’m not.”

You shush him motioning towards yourself to try and get him to come closer again. “I know.” 

Jake comes back to your side. Now that you have been given the temporary clearance to freely touch him, you cannot stop yourself. Jake sits next to you on the bed, and you are scooting closer so that your thighs are flush side by side. Jake throws an arm across your shoulder, pulling you even closer to him. 

“Do you need to talk about it?” He asks you softly. You let a hollow dry laugh at his question, your laughter starts to devolve until it’s nearly hysteric giggling. Jake takes it in stride, holding you close and his thumb drawing small soothing back-and-forth shapes. After you are almost breathless and heaving, you finally start to recover. 

“I don’t want to talk about it, but I definitely need to. Not with you, though, Jake.”

“Why not me?”

“Because it’s the kind of fucked you talk to a therapist about.”

“I’m a great listener.”

“I know you are, but this isn’t your baggage to pack around and deal with, Jake.”

“Baggage? Sugar, that’s why we have the attic. If that isn’t enough space, or you fill it up. I’ll build a shed in the backyard.”

“What if that’s not enough room?”

“Then we have the garage. We’ll just park in the driveway.”

“You would give up your shop?” You ask, thinking of Jake’s favorite place in the house. 

“Yup,” Jake says without hesitating. “And after that, well, I’ve never been too fond of the extra guest room anyway.” 

“If that’s all not enough?”

“Then we’ll move. Or we go through it until we find some we can let go of.” Jake says, his free hand crossing his body to settle warmly on your knee. 

“It’s not physical baggage.”

“I know it’s not.” 

The feeling of affection you feel for him grows even more. Every time you think that there is no way possible you can fall further in love with him, Jake turns around and proves you wrong. He does some kind, funny, sweet, unexpected thing that makes you fall a little harder. 

You lift your head and look at him. Jake’s eyes meet your own, the severe stormy look in them a little less present. He is a bit more at ease, no longer shaking with anger. You let your eyes fall to his lips. You briefly think you love him so much it might be worth the risk to shift forward and kiss him. That maybe it wouldn’t lead to disaster like you’ve convinced yourself it would.

“What’s your favorite comfort movie?” Jake asks, breaking you from your trance. You shift a bit further away from him but not far before giving him an answer. 

The two of you watch your favorite comfort movie. You are cuddled into Jake’s side the whole time. The two of you had shifted back into the bed, cuddled close while watching the wall-mounted TV in Jake’s room. Exhaustion hits you like a wall as the adrenaline leaves your system, accompanied by the heat radiating off of Jake, the way everything smells like him, and his Tempurpedic bed; you relax more than you have in a long time. 

As you start to drift asleep against Jake’s chest, his heartbeat has a steady, soothing rhythm under your ear. You think out of all the times you have dreamed of falling asleep with Jake in his bed, none of those fantasies come even close to how good it actually feels. None of your dreams prepared you for how safe you would feel.

Your dreams also didn’t prepare you for sneaking back to your room at three in the morning when you woke up. Or pretending the next day that nothing had happened. After all, nothing had happened except some tense moments and Jake getting a glimpse of your past. You don’t say anything, and he doesn’t, either. You catch him watching you closer than he would typically for the next few days. 

More time starts to pass, and you are thankful that nothing was risked or changed between you and Jake or has affected you as roommates. There are only the slightest moments when both of you are much more casual about physical affection. Hugging Jake was now a commonplace part of your day, and you occasionally catch yourself daydreaming about what it felt like to fall asleep in his bed. 

🏡🧩🏡

You had started to pick up what the signs were when Jake wasn't okay, and something was bothering him pretty early into moving in. He had some pretty obvious tells. However, something had been really really bothering him for a while now. He didn't say anything to you, but he didn't have to; Jake's mannerisms gave him away. Jake wasn't following his routine and had started obsessively cleaning.

The other night, he knocked on your door, bursting open seconds after you told Jake he could come in. Then Hangman had all but begged you to let him deep clean your room. When you told Jake no, he gave you a look like you just insulted his Babula and stalked out of the room. Half an hour later, he was back in your doorway, asking the same question phrased slightly differently. You had finally given in after his second time double-checking. However, you insisted that you helped and supervised his cleaning. Once you agreed, Jake had done his happy dance. It was so cute it managed to cover the embarrassment that was crawling in you at letting someone else, let alone the man you loved your roommate, clean your room. 

The next day Hangman decided to reorganize all the bookshelves. First by color, then by genre, and even one time by the number of pages. His last reorganization was to put them all back to by author's last name. This was only after Jake talked to you for over an hour about the pros and cons of the Dewey decimal system in modern library science. 

After the books, you come home, and there is a puzzle on the table. A 2500-piece puzzle of the painting Meeting On The Turret Stairs. Jake works on it constantly. Only stopping to go to work and the gym. For three days, he doesn't read and doesn't do his sudoku. Jake doesn't sit with you in the living room at night. Instead, he just works on his puzzle, blowing past his typical bedtime every night. Then he stops going to the gym, and a day after that, he cancels his weekly call with his niece. That's when you know without a shadow of a doubt that whatever is bothering Jake must be significant. 

Finally, you can't bite your tongue or try to keep your nose out of his business anymore. The concern you feel is too much to handle. You had gotten up at 3 am for some water, and Jake was still puzzling at the table. 

"How's it going, Sport?"

"No, I'm Hangman," Jake answers in a quiet voice. 

"What?" you ask him, confused. 

"Not my callsign," Jake mumbles to you. You squint and try to piece together what he means in your still half-asleep brain. 

"You know someone named Sport?"

Jake just shrugs his shoulders, engrossed in his task. "There are worse callsigns to have." 

"Like Hangman?" You tease him. Jake finally looks up at you when you say that. Jake's eyes are bloodshot, and he has a hurt look. The small frown, paired with his glassy tired eyes, makes you feel like you just kicked a puppy. 

"Hangman is cool," Jake protests. 

"Hangman is very cool," you tell him placatingly, holding up your hands in surrender. 

 "You don't actually think it's cool," Jake whispers, his tired eyes falling back to his puzzle. Jake sounds so sad about it that your feet are moving before your brain, and you are sliding next to him on the bench for the long side of the table.

"Hangman is cool," You say and then nudge him affectionately with your shoulder. "You are cool." 

His lips quirk upwards from his frown before falling again. “Well, I am the Hangman.” 

"How is the puzzle going?"

"Fine, good. I like puzzling."

"You have done other puzzles?" You ask. 

"Yeah, I have a whole box full."

You hum at his words, tiredly wiping your eyes. "You should have been Puzzleman." 

Jake's eyes flash over to yours, slightly worried. "Do not ever say that around Coyote." 

"Hangman, It's three AM." He looks surprised to hear the time, and you watch him turn his wrist to confirm the time on his watch.

"Go to bed," You add softly. 

"I like when you call me Jake." 

"Then why do you listen better when I call you Hangman?" 

"Hmm, maybe because that's the name I hear most often. Maybe because it's easy to be Hangman."

"Is it hard to be Jake?" You ask him gently. 

Jake is quiet for a long moment after your question. Before answering, he sets the piece he had been holding back in its color pile. All he gives you is a whispered, "Sometimes."

You aren't sure what to say, so instead, you put a hand on his shoulder and squeeze it. "It's time for bed, Jake. It'll be here in the morning." 

Jake nods his head, listening to you. You get the water you initially came downstairs for and wait until Jake starts up the stairs. Following behind him, you make sure he goes into his room. You aren't really eased about the situation when he shuts the door. However, you are glad he will at least get some sleep. 

Before you go back to bed, you shoot your group chat with Marlee and Javy a text. 

Have you ever seen Jake do a puzzle?

You wake up to texts from Javy and Marlee, both asking all kinds of questions like: what you meant? What kind of puzzle? With how many pieces? And, how long has Jake been working on it?  

From the questions alone, you gather that your worries are correct and Jake puzzling is not a good thing. Getting out of bed, you make yourself presentable enough to venture out of your room and downstairs. 

In the mid-morning light, you are once again greeted with the sight of Jake hunched over his puzzle. A steaming cup of tea sitting next to him, and Chris LeDoux playing from the record player. 

"Good morning," you say. 

"Morning, sugar," Jake says back. You are glad to get a response, but the worry is still gnawing at you. You start putting together your own morning drink, and your eyes keep drifting back to him. 

"Jake, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm good." He says, not looking away from the puzzle piece he is currently studying. 

You stop leaning against the counter, taking your drink with you and walk over to his side. Jake is completing this puzzle concerningly fast; you notice examining his progress this morning alone. He keeps staring at the piece in his hand, unblinking even as you approach. You watch him for a few more moments before deciding it's time for you to intervene. 

"Do you want to talk about it?" You pose cautiously. His eyebrows crease, and he still doesn't look away from the puzzle. 

"About the puzzle?" he asks you in a hopeful tone. 

"No, Jake. About what's bothering you." 

He finally does spare you a glance, and you don't like how dull his green sea glass eyes are. The normally vibrant, mischievous glint isn't present, and they are slightly bloodshot and red, even after you forced him to get some sleep. 

"It's fine. I'm fine. Just work stuff. I've got to finish this puzzle." He tells you, then looks away. 

You frown at Jake's answer. Puzzles are supposed to be fun, and you don't think this is actually a healthy, cathartic activity for Jake anymore. You almost preferred his book reorganization or when he went to every door and oiled the hinges, the top and bottom hinges twice but the middle ones only once. When you asked why not the middle one twice? Jake had told you something about middle children that had made you laugh. 

While Jake normally released stress through organization, order, and control. The frenzy and energy he has with this puzzle is different. This wasn't like the month after you moved in, and he decided to rearrange his shop in the garage. Jake had reorganized his tools, labeling where they all went. After that, he made you a booklet of where everything in the garage was located, just in case you wanted to use something. Jake was very genuine about it, too. As if he really believed you were about to start borrowing his screwdrivers, saws, wrenches, lathe, and various other tools. 

Your frown deepens, and you pull out your phone, shooting a text to your group chat with Marlee and Javy. Answering some of their questions from the morning and shooting back a request of your own. 

After texting with them for a few minutes, you set your phone down on the table, taking the spot next to Jake. He gives you another short look but doesn't say anything. You take a moment to look at the piece he has been staring at for over five minutes at this point. 

Taking it gently from his grasp, you examine it yourself. A moment later, you place the puzzle piece into the correct spot. Jake ghosts over the piece you just placed and taps it twice as your hand retreats. 

"You got to tap it into place," he tells you softly. Then Jake is back digging through his piles, looking for the next piece. 

You help Jake with his puzzle for a little bit, pleasantly surprised at the textured surface of the pieces, enjoying how tactile they are. You know this must be a very expensive and nice puzzle. Any time you place a piece, you make sure to tap it twice for Jake. Each time you do, Jake gives a small nod of approval. The one time you forget, his fingers quickly find the piece again and tap it twice with a small annoyed huff. You don't try and coax Jake into a conversation again, simply enjoying just being with him. 

Y'all's work is broken a while later by the doorbell ringing. The sound startles Jake, and he jumps in his seat and his head snapping towards the door. You place a hand on his shoulder again to try and ease the sudden tension.

 "It's okay," you tell him quietly, giving his shoulder a slight squeeze. "I'll go get it."

"No, I can get it," Jake says, starting to stand up. You know he doesn't like you to answer the front door anymore. He hasn't ever since your dad showed up unannounced. Jake has never explicitly told you he doesn't want you to answer the door. However, you have picked up on it because he has not let you answer the door once since the incident. One time Jake had even sprinted across the house to beat you to the door. 

"Don't worry. I know who it is," you say. Jake gives you a concerned look but then nods a little bit. His eyes trail after you as you make your way to the entry hall. 

You open the door to Javy's tall form and are immediately wrapped in a tight warm hug. You lean into his embrace, enjoying the comfort for a moment. 

"Is it really bad?" Javy asks you in a low voice when you pull away from his hug. 

You shrug but then follow it up with a nod. "Yeah. I mean, I don't know. Maybe not? But it's the worst I have ever seen." 

Javy gives you another reassuring squeeze before he saunters into the house towards the living area. Jake's eyes are trained on the hallway, clearly waiting for you to come back. However, when he sees Javy, he blanches, dropping his eyes back to the puzzle. Jake's shoulders hunching tight almost up to his ears. 

"Hey, Hangman," Javy hums. 

"Machado," Jake says gruffly, fiddling with a piece. 

Javy shocks you by not immediately going over to Jake. Instead, he meanders over to your TV. He shocks you even more by opening a drawer in the entertainment center and pulling out an Xbox. Javy starts hooking up the console, and you shift your eyes to Jake again. 

He is still sitting there digging through his puzzle pieces. You aren't sure what to do. If you should leave the two of them alone, join Javy in the living room, or go back to the table with Jake. So instead, you end up in a weird middle ground lingering in the hallway. Finally, when Javy has everything set up, and the Xbox booted on, he goes over to Jake. Coyote sets his hands down so hard on Jake's shoulders that it jostles the blond a bit. 

"Wow, buddy, this is a nice puzzle," Javy says casually. 

Jake just hums in response, placing a puzzle piece and tapping it twice. Only answering once he picks up another piece. "It's a watercolor by Frederic William Burton. He painted it in — "

"It's time for a break, Hangman," Coyote says, cutting him off mid-sentence. 

"Naw, you see this section," Jake gestures generally towards the entire surface area of the puzzle. "It's almost done."

"Nope, it's break time," Javy repeats more firmly. 

Jake's shoulders hang, and it looks like it takes him physical effort to stand up from the table. Jake's joints and back audibly pop from the action, and he raises his hands above his head to fully stretch. 

You try to root yourself in concern, not thinking of the flash of skin you saw where Jake's shirt rode up a bit. Jake blinks a few times, and when he finishes stretching, he turns to fully look at Javy. 

"How long are you staying?" Jake asks, daring to glance back down at the puzzle. Javy snaps his fingers in front of Jake's face twice and then points aggressively toward the couch. 

"As long as I want to," Javy responds with an upbeat tone and a wide grin. He gives a light shove, and Jake shuffles over to the couch. Jake looks at you as he walks, and you can tell that he feels betrayed. 

"I'll leave you to it," you say, ready to retreat into your room. 

Jake looks away from you then, and you don't like the flash of embarrassment on his face as he does. It's been odd seeing Jake so completely out of his element and uncomfortable in his skin the last few days. Embarrassed wasn't a look that fits well on Jake. It made you want to rush in and remedy the situation. 

"You don't gotta go," Jake calls to you.

"Javy came over to hang out with you, Jake." You say plainly. You want to give them space to talk and hang out. 

"Yeah, bro, feeling the love," Javy says jokingly. It earns him a sharp jab to his side from Jake. The action just makes Javy laugh, though. "Don't worry so much, Hang. Marlee is coming by later with dinner, and then all four of us will kick back, but right now, it's me, you, and the Master Chief." 

"You'll hang out with us later, though? Or are you doing something tonight?" Jake asks, ignoring Javy.  

"There is nothing I would rather do tonight than hang out with you," you tell him. Jake's eyes snap up from where they had drifted to the left, lowered just enough not to meet yours. The burning bright color in them is startling after the dull, distant look he has supported the last few days. You can't stop the words you say next, needing to try and back peddle. It takes a long beat before you say, "and Marls and Javy. I don't know if you've ever had Marlee's green chile enchiladas, but they are to die for." 

"They are so good," Jake agrees enthusiastically and looks down at the controller he is holding for the first time. Javy then shoots you a smile with a thumbs up, and you are reassured enough that you head upstairs and into your room. 

You hear Javy's voice behind you, "You know Marlee only cooks for two reasons." 

You close your door before hearing Jake's answer and resist the urge to eavesdrop. A few hours later, you hear loud yelling and laughter from the living room. Then get a text from Marlee to send the boys to help her get the food out of her car. 

The rest of the night is mostly light, and Jake almost passes for his normal self. He jokes with Coyote, eats two helpings of Marlee's enchiladas, and with you... well, with you, he is hot and cold. One moment Jake will be flirting with you in a heavy bravado, then the next, he falls into a quiet, contemplative silence. Javy has to herd Jake away from his puzzle three separate times. It gets easier to draw Jake back in every time; the last time only took a question directed toward Jake to draw him back to you guys. 

It is a good night, and everyone seems happy at the end. Jake hugs Javy and Marlee goodbye and leaves you to walk your friends out. You let out a small sigh of relief, seeing Jake walk up the stairs and not back to the dining room table. 

You talk with the couple for a few more minutes on the front porch, then hug them goodbye. You are thankful for them, to have such good friends who are willing to be a support system, for you, for Jake, and for their other friends too. It warms your heart, and it feels a lot like family. 

Jake's puzzling is less frenzied after that night, and he starts to reign back in. He has full conversations with you again and goes to the gym after work as well. He follows Javy's rules that had been texted to you both and doesn't puzzle by alone again.

 For the next week or so, Javy and Marlee end up in your living room in the evenings. Keeping Jake from becoming too obsessed, you also notice that he won't let Javy or Marlee touch his puzzle pieces. But when Jake does work on the puzzle, and you are home, he always invites you to join him. 

Jake makes an effort to converse with you while working too. The conversations you two get into range from academic to childhood memories, favorites — books, movies, foods, bands, animals— funny stories, and anything else that would pop in your heads. Of course, each puzzle piece must still be double tapped into place, and you are meticulous about following that rule. 

Puzzling in the evenings with Jake surprisingly becomes one of your favorite times of the day. Sometimes you would even just sit there at the table with Jake, scrolling on your phone while he works on the puzzle. 

Hangman's presence is a comforting steady grounding force, so much so that you can only hope you provide half of that for him. You knew you were roommates, and Jake may not carry the same romantic feelings you do. However, you couldn't deny the plain platonic affection that poured from him, so much you sometimes think M aybe . Maybe he does feel more. 

When you enter the kitchen, you see the puzzle is finished. You go to examine it and realize two pieces are missing. You feel a bit of worry creeping up in you, not sure how Jake will react to having lost pieces and being unable to complete the puzzle. 

You start to look around, checking every chair and bench to make sure a piece hasn't fallen. You shine a light under the couch in case they slipped under there. Then you are flipping up the edge of the rug in the living room and trying to think of any other feasible place the pieces could have disappeared. 

"What are you doing?" you hear, and you snap your head to see Jake standing on the other side of the couch, looking at you bemused. 

"Sorry, I was just looking for your missing pieces," you say, straightening up and fixing the rug. 

Jake quirks an eyebrow then he follows your gaze to the table where his puzzle is. Jake's mouth drops open, lips barely parted, and a soft "Oh." falls out like he didn't even make the sound intentionally. 

"No luck so far, though. I'm sorry. I'm sure they will turn up. Only so many places they could have gone," You say, making sure to project an upbeat, positive tone and attitude. 

Jake looks between you and the puzzle twice before suddenly you are graced with the rarest of Jake Seresin's smiles. It is one you have only seen a handful of times. It's different than his smirk and his confident panty dropping smile. It's not the smile that he gets when he laughs, and his eyes crinkle around the edges or the mouth wide open smile. It's not his practiced perfect smile he uses for pictures. 

No, this smile is closed-mouthed, those pearly whites hidden from view. It's a quirk of his lips like Jake is trying to hold it back from showing it on his face but he isn't entirely successful. His bottom lip is tucked a little bit between his teeth as if he is physically trying to bite back the expression, none of which prevents Jake's dimples from popping up. 

It's a smile that always leaves you a little stunned, and this is no exception. Not that there are many things about Jake that don't leave you feeling that way. This smile, paired with the soft look in his eyes, makes you want to melt into the floor. 

"I have the pieces," Jake tells you then. It takes you a few moments to process his words. 

"Oh, you do?"

"Yeah, I do," he says and pulls out a ziplock baggie from his pocket with the two pieces in it. 

"That's great!"

"They weren't lost. I was saving them, actually."

"Saving them for what?"

"For you. Well, for us."

You don't think you are able to hide your surprise at his words. "For us?"

"Yeah. You know, so we can finish this puzzle together. We worked on it together. So, we should finish it together. Few things match the feeling of putting the final piece of a puzzle into place."

God, you want to kiss him. You want to grab his face and smash your lips against his. You want to taste him and thread your fingers in his short dirty blonde hair. The little fantasy starting to form in your brain is cut off by Jake walking over to the table. 

You follow him there, and Jake sets the last two pieces on the table, letting you pick which one you want. Once you make your selection, Jake grabs the other one. 

"Okay, on three," he tells you with a grin. At his countdown, you both place the pieces of the puzzle. Automatically you double tap your piece into place. Jake was right; it is an extremely satisfying feeling finishing the puzzle and seeing it whole for the first time. 

Your gaze drifts over the puzzle, and you look up to see Jake staring at you instead of the finished piece. After a moment, you realize what is wrong. Your hand reaches across and gently nudges Jake's to the side. Then you tap Jake's piece twice, realizing that for the very first time, he seemed to have missed that compulsion of his. However, you knew it would bother Jake when he realized he had forgotten, so you make sure to complete the ritual. 

Jake's gaze snaps down to the piece you had tapped for him. Then his knuckles purposely brush against the back of your hand, sending shivers up your arm.

"Thank you," spills from both of your mouths at the same time, which makes you laugh.  

"Jinx," Jakes says in a rushed voice, making you laugh harder. That odd tension in the air between you two disappears. 

You walk into the kitchen and grab a white claw from the fridge, bringing it back for Jake, handing it to him. Jake is a strict enforcer of the jinx soda pop rule. The two of you look at the puzzle for a few more minutes. Taking in the stunning painting, the yearning and sadness of it never fails to impact you. 

While the two of you had been working on the puzzle, Jake had told you many different facts about The Meeting On The Turret Stairs. How it was a watercolor painting by Frederic William Burton, the poem it was based on, the era it was painted in, and its place in Irish art. 

When you asked Jake more, he surprised you by knowing hyper-specific details and answers off the top of his head. Intrigued, you learned how he had double majored at Annapolis in Aerospace Engineering and History. However, because Jake was golden boy Midshipman Seresin, he had gotten away with his final history thesis being art focused. Hangman more than understood how to be charming when he needed to be. 

"What now?" You ask him. 

"What do you mean?" Jake asks, confused. 

"What do we do with the puzzle?" you ask. It sounds much better than what you wanted to say. What now between the two of you? What were you going to do to keep spending time together? 

"We take it apart." Jake shrugs. 

"No," you gasp, horrified thinking of all the time you had put into the puzzle just to undo it and throw it back in the box.

"What else would we do?" Jake asks you. You think for a moment before smiling at your own idea. 

"Let's Mod Podge it, and then we can hang it up. We have some pretty bare walls in the house, and it is a stunning piece of art," you suggest. 

Jake doesn't even take a moment to think it over before saying, "I love that idea." 

So, you two are driving to the craft store to get cardboard and Mod Podge. A week later, the puzzle has been cemented and hung on the wall in between your and Jake's rooms upstairs. After the puzzle is finished, Jake is back into his sudoku and his various other reading books. He still lingers near you in the evenings, waiting longer than he used to before retreating to his room for bed. 

One night almost a month after you two had finished the puzzle, Jake brings the subject up again. You two are lounging on the couch, he had just gotten home from watching the Army-Navy game at a bar with some of his friends, and he is definitely a little bit tipsy. 

"I am going to build us a puzzle table," is the first thing he had loudly declared, walking in the door. 

You were instantly worried about why Jake might want to start a new puzzle. "Is everything okay?"

Jake doesn't seem to hear you, though, as he continues on. "A really nice one that opens and closes with velvet or something so we don't have to worry about losing pieces, and maybe I can even make it an adjustable height?" He is talking to himself more than to you. 

You watch as he grabs a notepad and pencil out of a drawer. Then he slumps on the couch. Before you know what's happening or can stop it, Jake has his head on your lap and is sketching design ideas, potential measurements, and materials. 

"How are you doing?" you ask him again, staring down at his face, unable to contain your enamored smile. Jake just nods his head and keeps sketching while mumbling. 

You run a hand through his soft hair tentatively. It is a bit longer than usual right now, almost out of regulation. He will need to get a haircut this week, but the strands are so soft, and you can't help but enjoy that there is a bit more there to run your fingers through. His eyes instantly close, and he hums contently at your touch. 

"Hangman?" you ask him almost teasingly, halting your movements.

"Yes, sugar?" 

"Are you okay?" 

He blinks his eyes open and looks at you. Their gleaming sea glass green color is a little glazed over and so very soft. His mirth is open and obvious to you. "I'm so great. Navy won." 

"That's great. Go Navy." A wide grin splits his face wide, and Jake's eyes actually crinkle closed, hiding their unique color from you again. 

"That's right, Honey. Ooh ahh!" Jake responds automatically, making you both laugh, and maybe you had been drinking a little bit of wine before he came home; perhaps you were warm from that, or maybe Jake was the most beautiful man you had ever seen. Your eyes lock with his, and your hands pull out of his hair. You let one drift trace his face helping him relax the furrow in his eyebrows. 

"Why do you want to start a new puzzle?" You ask. 

"No new puzzle. A new table." He corrects you. Jake taps his pencil on the notepad pointedly. 

"For a new puzzle?"

"You liked doing a puzzle with me, right? Well, after the first bit, you liked it?"

"I loved it." The words slip out of your mouth before you can amend the sentiment to come off less forward.

"Me too,"Jake says and trails off for a moment. Then he continues asking, "So you would be open to doing another one with me? Just for fun this time, not my mental health." Jake doesn't say the last sentence with any bit of shame or embarrassment, which you admire. However, the vulnerability is obvious and glaring. 

"Yeah," you confirm, once again having to run your fingers over his brow to relax his face. 

"Perfect. I'm building the table, then. You can pick the puzzle this time." 

You can't help but let your hands slip back into Jake's hair, and he returns to sketching on his notepad. It was a moment of quiet peace you knew you didn't ever want to let go of. 

"Javy said that you don't like to do puzzles with other people, and that's what helps you pull out of the pit." 

Jake's eyes don't leave his notepad, and he turns the page. You watch Jake start to scrawl the pros of a dovetail joint versus a dowel joint before he starts to draw it out as well. You almost don't think he will say anything back by the time he finally does. 

"You aren't other people," Jake tells you, as he starts drawing in shading, which is completely unnecessary for anything beyond aesthetic. He bends the lines from a basic blueprint to a detailed drawing of a realistic table joint. It was distracting watching the engineer in him flow into the unexpected artist. 

The idea that you ever had thought his talent for art and engineering were such radically different things was a bit funny. Now that you see him dance between the lines back and forth so elegantly that you understand it wasn't two competing sides of Jake. It was just him. It was how he worked and operated. 

It was how he was Hangman and also Jake. It was how he could fill out sudoku then go to bed at 9 pm and how he could shoot pool until closing with the squad. It was how he was a cowboy and a pilot. It was how you wanted to cry a little bit, knowing he enjoyed you there, knowing you weren't like other people. 

And you are struck with the thought that you don't ever want Jake to do a puzzle with anyone but you. You never want to see him sitting alone at three am with bloodshot eyes putting pieces into place again. And you don't even want to consider him explaining animatedly why he believes a piece goes in one color pile and not the one it was originally sorted to anyone but you. 

You want to be selfish with Jake. You want to have him, and you want to keep him close, never letting go. Surely you could convince Jake to be yours. It was a selfish act that could be forgiven if you promised to cherish him. After all, there were worse things in the world than loving someone, so entirely the fact they might not love you to the same degree didn't hurt so much.  

Jake flips to the next page in the notepad and starts to sketch out the living room. As he works, the living room table starts to look significantly different than your current one. 

"Oh. It's for the living room?" You ask him.

At first, he just hums in response, but when he finishes rounding out a line, Jake lifts his pencil from the paper. It pauses there, poised and frozen, as he asks, "Do you want the dining table instead?" 

"No." As you continue, the pencil falls back to the page, "It just wasn't what I was originally thinking."

"I could do a dining room table too. They could even be made of the same wood." Jake says. His green eyes broke from the page to glance up at your face for the first time in a while. He searches your face trying to gauge your reaction to his suggestion. 

"Two puzzle tables?"

"Think of all the possibilities. We could do two puzzles at once." Jake gasps. You kind of hate the excited timbre that Jake's voice picks up at the idea, but you actually mostly love it. 

"Just one puzzle at a time, please." You say, giving his hair a teasing gentle tug, ignoring the sharp inhale of his breath that immediately follows. You refuse to give away the unexpected thrill sent straight through your body that settles at your core. You have to consciously make sure your words do not fall out rushed, "I think it would be nice to have out here, comfier." 

"I thought the exact same thing."

"Oh really?" You ask, amused. 

"Yes, Ma'am. I've got two words for you, puzzle naps." 

You huff a small laugh at him and bite your lower lip. He flips back to his first page of notes, where he had a small list of wood. He adds cherry to his list after oak. 

"Juniper is really pretty," you suggest. He immediately starts to write down your suggestion with a little heart next to it. When Jake starts to shade in the heart, you feel like the one in your chest might actually burst out. Something very similar to butterflies was fluttering around in you, but it is much less nervous and rather born of pure fondness. 

"Sounds beautiful. I'm sure it's perfect," Jake tells you. 

"Let's pick one together, though. It should be our choice."  

"No," Jake says, drawing an elegant oval around juniper. Then he goes back and strikes a straight line through the other options. "No one else has ever remembered to double tap."

Jake spends a few more minutes detailing the design before his eyes start to get sleepy, and his pencil marks become light and halting. It doesn't take much from you to encourage him to go to bed, just a whispered suggestion. 

He stumbles up from the couch and places a kiss on your forehead. Jake puts his notebook on the counter in the kitchen. After that, Jake circles back to press a second lingering kiss to your forehead. You watch him go all the way around the house to double check the locks, the front door, the garage, and the back door. Finally, after sending you two finger guns, Jake drags himself up the stairs, humming Anchors Aweigh. 

"Until we meet once more, here's wishing you a happy voyage home!" You loudly hear him sing. You listen to Jake as he hums his fight song while randomly peppering in other lyrics. When you finally hear him close his door, your mind makes a decision on the war it's been having. 

You are going to do whatever it takes for Jake Seresin to agree to be yours. Potential consequences be damned; Jake is worth the risk.

[watchmegetobsessed]

AVENGE YOU

A/N: yeah, so i could not control myself and just had to write a steve fic after binge watching vol1 in one day so... here we are!

PAIRING: Steve Harrington x girlfriend!reader

WORD COUNT: 1k

WARNING: season 4 spoiler!!!

SUMMARY: When Steve is pulled into the Upside Down through watergate, you do not hesitate before jumping after him.

MASTERLIST | SUPPORT ME!

“Where we at, Wheeler?” Robin asks and you jump at her voice, eyes still glued to where you saw Steve dive in what feels like forever ago.

“Closing in on a minute,” Nancy answers. Fifty-one seconds, to be exact, because you’ve been counting it.

Longest minute of your life. In your head you’re cursing Steve out for being so damn heroic and diving down into Lovers’ lake to check the possible gate. He shouldn’t have gone alone and now you regret letting him.

The moments pass by, the surface of the water remains still as there’s still no sign of your boyfriend. What if something is down there? What if Vecna got him? Or a Demogorgon? You can’t know for sure what’s down there and he just decided to dive as if there was no danger.

The boat keeps rocking gently, neither of you speaks as you pass one minute and he hasn’t returned. He might be an excellent swimmer, but that’s worth nothing against the monsters of the Upside Down.

You’re just about to start undressing and go after him when he suddenly appears, scaring the living hell out of all of you in the boat.

“I found it!”

“You found it?” Nancy asks in disbelief.

“Are you alright?” you ask at the same time, only wanting to know your boyfriend is fine.

“I found it, yeah,” he nods, grabbing the edge of the boat before turning to you. “And I’m okay, don’t worry.”

Nodding you let out a breath you’ve been holding for a while as you watch him hold onto the edge, seemingly untouched by any monster.

“Dustin, you’re a goddamn Einstein,” Robin talks into the radio to let the kids on land know what’s happening. “Steve found the gate!”

“It’s pretty wild,” Steve starts. You can barely focus on what he’s saying, you just want him out of the water, safe and sound before anything could happen to him. “It’s more a snack-size gate, than a mama gate, but still, it’s pretty damn big.”

Just as he finishes talking, he gets pulled down into the water suddenly, shocking all four of you in the boat. He comes back up a moment later, a confused look on his face about what just happened, his eyes find yours in the dark and then he gets pulled down again. This time he is not coming back.

“Steve! Steve!” you all scream after him, and you’re already taking your jacket off, ready to jump after him.

“What the hell was that, man?!” Eddie shouts.

“Nancy, what happened?” Robin asks, but Nancy is already watching you get ready to jump.

“Y/N, what are you doing?” she asks with wide eyes.

“What does it look like? I’m going to help him,” you say without hesitation before jumping into the water and starting to swim towards the red, throbbing gate on the bottom.

Whatever pulled Steve down is faster than your swimming abilities, you only catch him getting pulled over the gate before he disappears in the other world. Mustering up all your energy you swim as fast as you can, straight to the gate and as you reach it, you don’t even think twice before pushing yourself through it.

Lovers’ lake is completely dry on the other side, where water should be there’s only a sea of vines and as you fight your way completely through the gate you make sure not to touch any of them, knowing they are one entity with Vecna.

Moments later Nancy, Robin and at last Eddie joins you on the other side. A bit farther away you spot Steve, fighting with some weird, bat-like creatures and he is definitely losing. As you start running you see him thrown to the ground, the tail of one of the bats holding him by his neck, strangling him while the others attack him.

“No! Steve!” you scream and grab a paddle from an abandoned boat on your way. He is struggling so badly, the creatures are biting and tearing him apart and you already know you’ll fucking destroy them all for hurting him.

When you finally reach him, you start hitting and kicking them all, wherever you can reach, Nancy, Robin and Eddie joining you as well, fighting the bats like you do this for a living. From the corner of your eyes you see Steve getting up from the ground, gaining control back as he starts throwing the one that’s been strangling him to the ground over and over again as you smack another one in the head so hard it flies to the other direction lifelessly.

Steve finishes off the last one by tearing it apart, blood dripping from his mouth and you throw your weapon to the side as you run up to him in an instant.

“Steve!” you cry out, throwing your arms around him, pulling him against you, his arms circling around your waist as well.

“I’m alright, baby. I’m alright.”

“You almost fucking died!” you sob and if he wasn’t injured you’d definitely smack him in the chest, like you always do when he does something stupid and he just shrugs it off. He’s trying to play it off, but he wouldn’t have survived if you didn’t come after him.

“But I didn’t, because you saved me,” he chuckles, completely out of breath as he pulls back and takes your face in his hands. “My brave girl came after me, huh?”

“I couldn’t just let you die, told you, only I get to murder you,” you try to joke, but tears are still spilling from your eyes, the initial shock and fear setting in now, you didn’t have the time to realize what was truly happening in the middle of everything.

“Of course,” he chuckles. “Vecna’s got nothing on you,” he grins before kissing your forehead.

“Let me see, what did they do to you, how are you?” you ask and take a look at his wounds.

“Well, they took about a pound of flesh,” he breathes out, examining the bites on his abdomen. “But other than that, never been better.”

“It’s personal now, I have to avenge you, babe,” you mumble, disapprovingly staring at what those damn bats did to your boyfriend.

“I bet Vecna is shaking in his pants right now,” he chuckles and taking your hand in his he laces his fingers together with yours.

Thank you for reading, please like and reblog if you enjoyed and buy me a coffee if you want to support me!

[avatar-anna]

hii so i wanted to know if you could do a frat boy harry who’s a hockey player and reader who’s a figure skater. and it’s like enemies to lovers type of thing like rivals.

idk how to feel about this one...but here you go!

Part 2

You positioned your arms in the correct position, taking some deep breaths before the music began. The opening chords sounded—a lilting, breathy harp—and when you were ready, you bent down gracefully, and started the routine you'd been perfecting for months.

Your skates glided across the ice, your body letting the music move you through each trick. Nothing else existed for the next two and a half minutes. Drowning out every single distraction was the only way to achieve perfection, in your mind.

The music finally stopped as you skated back to the center to land in your final position. Your breathing was heavy, but you tried your hardest not to let it show. The routine needed to appear effortless, and panting like you'd just run a marathon would give the opposite effect.

There was light applause from some of the other girls you skated with after you left the center of the rink, but otherwise it was still fairly quiet. That is, until Harry showed up.

“Oh, come on, Princess, you can do better than that!”

“Suck my dick, Harry!”

“I’d rather suck on something else, love, you know that. But only if you let me.”

You rolled your eyes, but didn’t look over at him once, knowing that would only give him more satisfaction.

Harry Styles was the captain of your school’s hockey team. He was the best goalie in the state, had an excellent record, had his pick of any NHL team from coast to coast, could even be selected for the Olympic team next year. He was one of the most popular guys at your school, students and professors alike wrapped around his finger, but to you he was just a cocky, arrogant son of a bitch.

You skated at the same university, but instead of holding a stick and getting into fights and shoving opponents against plexiglass, you performed. Your competitions weren't so barbaric. You were a figure skater, an excellent one at that. Not that anyone at your school really cared. If it wasn’t aired on the a big sports network, it wasn't worth talking about. It didn't matter that you were a world class figure skater, or that you were mastering tricks that only the best skaters in the world merely considered putting in their routines. It didn't matter that you'd won competition after competition. You weren’t praised for your flawless technique or your effortless grace the way that Harry was praised for blocking an impossible shot. Statistically speaking, you technically had a better record than Harry did as far as victories went, but as history has shown, boys always got more recognition.

It didn’t bother you that Harry and his teammates were more popular than you, that wasn’t your issue. The problem was that it went straight to their heads. They lorded their talent over everyone like they were God’s gift to humankind. It drove you insane, and the fact that you all practiced and trained at the same rink made it that much worse.

You skated back to the center of the rink again, more laser focused than ever now that you knew Harry was watching. The only good thing that came out of his assholish ways was that it drove you to work ten times harder. When the music started, you could feel his eyes watching your every move, but you let it fuel you. You didn't just achieve perfection, you were perfection. And where you might have bobbled a landing last go around, this time you stuck it without a hitch.

“Yeah! That’s my girl!” Harry whistled, the sound of his hands clapping bouncing off the pretty much empty rink.

At that, you turned and glared at him, only to see him smiling and wiggling his eyebrows at you. Everything about him irritated you to the highest degree, from the self-satisfied smirk to the way his dark curly hair fanned out beneath his backward baseball cap, the one that rarely left his head unless he was wearing his goalie helmet. The most annoying thing about him was how cute he was. If he wasn’t such a dick you actually might be interested.

Before you could reply with a snide remark, your coach walked over to where Harry was pressed up against the rim of the rink. “Stop distracting my skaters, Styles!”

“Sorry, Coach,” Harry called, but he didn’t look apologetic in the slightest. Winking at you, he walked off, taking his hat off for a moment to run a hand through his hair before putting it back on again.

Shaking Harry off, you finished the rest of your training in peace. It went pretty quick, which was why Harry was there in the first place. Once you and your friends got out of your skates and changed into regular clothes in the locker room, you were all on your way to the parking lot.

“I swear he’s into you or something,” Kate, one of your best friend said when she saw Harry waiting by your car, a couple of his friends/teammates with him.

“As he should, but it’s never gonna happen,” you said.

Kate nudged you. “Why? I mean he’s annoying as fuck, but he’s the hottest guy at our school. And I’ve heard he’s, like, you know, good in bed.”

“Ugh, not you too, Kate,” you groaned, though you weren’t all that surprised she was playing devil’s advocate. She went to the dark side a few months ago when one of the other boys on the hockey team asked her to to some fraternity dance and had been together ever since. “And for the record, no one our age is actually ‘good.’ According to my sister, it takes years of practice.”

“If you’re worried I don’t have any experience, you shouldn't. I have plenty of it, Princess.”

You rolled your eyes. “Your hand doesn’t count as experience, Harry,” you said, walking past him and his friends to put your things in the trunk of your car.

His friends all laughed and pushed him around, but you ignored all of it, waiting for them all to leave. From your vantage point, you saw Kate walk over to Harry and her boyfriend Zayn. She went over and gave him a hug, but you stayed where you were, not looking Harry in the eye.

“There’s a party tonight,” Zayn said to you and Kate. “You guys should come.”

Before you could say no, Kate spoke first. “Yeah, we’ll definitely be there.” After telling you that she’d be at your house to pick you up later, she and Zayn walked off, leaving you and Harry alone.

“I’m assuming you’re sticking around because you need a ride?” you asked, slowly inching forward.

Harry nodded, reaching his hand out to you. You took it reluctantly, letting him pull you closer. Once you were close enough, though, you couldn’t help yourself. You surged forward and kissed him, pressing your body against his. Harry was more than receptive, letting you take his baseball cap off and run your hands through his hair. His kiss set you on fire, and you hated how much you loved it.

“You have to stop doing that,” you said once Harry’s lips attached to your neck. You almost couldn’t get the words out because he knew exactly which spots made your breath hitch, but you managed.

“I thought we were supposed to be keeping up appearances,” he panted, speaking the words into your skin. “You’re the one who doesn’t want anyone to know we’re dating.”

“We’re not dating.” Your response was immediate. You expected Harry to stop his attack on your neck, but he didn’t. In fact, you felt him grin against you.

“Sure, whatever you say.”

Screwing around with Harry was not something you expected. He was cocky and got on your nerves constantly. But he flirted with you just as often, and one day it just got to you. You dragged him into a closet at a party, and you’d been secretly doing whatever you were doing ever since.

“No one finds out, got it?” you whispered, unbuttoning his shirt.

“Whatever you want, Princess. We done talking now?”

So you were a thing. Friends with benefits. But not really friends because outside of closed doors Harry still pissed you off to no end. Rivals with benefits? No, that didn't have the same ring to it.

It didn't really matter, though. Even giving that much thought to the situation at hand was too much.

Harry slid into the passenger seat of your car after throwing his gear in the trunk. Giving him a ride wasn't something you foresaw after that first night you spent with him, but he didn't own a car and didn't live with his friends, and after he mentioned nearly getting jumped at a bus station, you offered to drive him home. Harry was a thorn in your side, but you weren't heartless.

His hand settled comfortably on your knee as you pulled out of the parking lot, his thumb moving back and forth along the soft material of your sweatpants.

“Don’t,” you warned.

“Don’t what?” Harry asked, though you didn't even have to look over to know he was smirking at you.

“Last time you tried something in the car we almost crashed”

“That’s because your eyes were closed. I'm completely innocent,” Harry reasoned.

“You had your fingers—”

“Now, now, Princess. Stay calm before you nearly kill us again.”

You groaned in sheer annoyance. At Harry's childishness, at yourself for letting his immaturity get to you. He knew just how to push your buttons, and you absolutely despised him for it.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

“Stay with me tonight.”

“I already told Kate—”

“Tell her you’re sick,” Harry interrupted, kissing your bare shoulder. “You didn’t even want to go in the first place. Just stay here.”

You wouldn't lie, staying in Harry's bed sounded much more appealing than holding a plastic cup of stale beer and shouting over music to be heard. Parties were never really your thing, but it was something to do on the weekends, so you went. But now Harry was presenting another option, though it was one that wandered beyond the boundaries of your arrangement.

“Don’t you think people might get the wrong idea if both of us don't show up?” you asked. You felt like you needed a reason to say no, and this was the best one you could come up with.

“Everyone thinks we hate each other,” Harry replied. His voice was raspy and slow, the way it got when he was tired. You weren't sure when you started to recognize little details like that, but now you did. “Come on. My roommate is gone for the weekend. We'd have the whole place to ourselves.”

“We’d probably kill each other,” you mused, though the idea did spark something in you.

“Maybe.”

His voice was muffled as his lips dragged across your skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake. One hand moved your hair to the side so he had better access to the spot just below your ear while the other traced lazy circles on your hip. You were tired, utterly spent really, but the sensation of Harry’s skin and the occasional nip of his teeth was hard to ignore. You leaned into his touch almost involuntarily, humming as his hands continued to dip and stroke apply pressure in the places he knew were your most sensitive.

“What were you gonna do at that party anyway?” he said. “Pretend to have a good time? Talk to guys who think they have a chance with you when they don't?”

“Who says they don't?” you asked, though it was mostly to egg Harry on. You didn't miss the glares pointed in your direction whenever you talked to other guys at parties. There weren't any kind of rules that the two of you abided by, but both of you were well aware of the fact that you weren't seeing anyone else. And Harry would always let you know how he felt about you flirting with other guys when he finally got you alone.

You'd hoped that your remark would set Harry's jealousy aflame and make him remind you how wrong you actually were. It was the kind of cat and mouse game you played often, but instead of responding the way he normally did, Harry did the oddest thing. He let go of you completely.

“Fine then. Go and have fun at your party.”

You were inexplicably cold as Harry's arms released their hold on you and he shuffled towards the edge of the bed so he wasn't touching you.

Totally and utterly surprised, you laid still, unsure of what was going on. Finally, you said, “Really?”

Harry shrugged as he pulled a book from his nightstand and opened it up, completely nonplussed. “If you think that anyone at that stupid party is going to measure up to me, then by all means,” he said, gesturing towards the bedroom door with his book.

Without another word, he went back to reading, leaving you virtually alone with your thoughts.

Something stirred in you. Guilt didn't feel like the right word, but you felt...kind of bad for making Harry feel that way, and even worse now that he wasn't paying attention to you. It was ludicrous, seeing as he drove you insane and you hated him, but at the moment, all you wanted to do was crawl over to him and have his attention again. At the very least to have him finish what he'd started.

So, perhaps against your better judgement, you did.

“I’m sorry,” you said, squishing your cheek against his shoulder and spreading your hand across his torso.

By now you didn't even have to look at him to know which tattoos you were tracing, so you kept your eyes on his face as your fingers traveled from the butterfly on his stomach down to the fern leaves on his hips. Up, down, lower, grazing until you got a reaction from him.

“You’re gonna have to do a lot better than that,” he mumbled. His eyes were still on his book, but he had yet to turn a page, so you knew progress was being made.

You added kisses to the mix. All across his chest you kissed him, sucking a hickey right where his heart was. You could feel Harry's heart beat faster, but he still wouldn't look at you, which made your brows furrow with mild annoyance.

“Hmm. Now we're getting somewhere,” he said, a satisfied grin on his face, when your hand finally stopped teasing and got to work.

Still, it took another couple minutes of you practically groveling for him to finally look at you. His chest was flushed, but his face still remained as calm as ever. He'd hardly reacted at all to what you were doing, which made you want to please him that much more.

Pouting at him, you took the book out of his hands and chucked it across his bedroom, then placed one of his hands on you.

With one brow raised, Harry looked down at you. “You ready to behave?”

The logical part of your brain was saying this was madness. You hated how smug he was acting, how sure of himself he was. You were stroking his ego, and he was eating it up, something you never thought you would do voluntarily. But you wanted to, and you hated how much you loved it, loved having to work for it.

You nodded, leaning towards him. He would most likely never let you live this moment down, and you would have to exact some kind of revenge on him in the future, but all of that was far from your mind. The only thing you cared about was Harry's lips meeting your own as he pushed you back against the mattress, finally ready to give you both what you wanted.

[calltomuster]

Disabilities exist in Star Wars. Period.

This post is dedicated to certain specific people who say they are not be able to reconcile service animals in Star Wars, especially Jedi, since the Force and technology exist. These people seemingly have never seen Star Wars, where disabilities not only exist but feature prominently in many cases — yes, even in Jedi. So let us prove them definitively wrong here.

From the very beginning, disabilities have existed in Star Wars. In fact, one could argue a feature of a disability is one of the most iconic things about Star Wars. Even people who aren't Star Wars fans, or who haven't seen the movies at all, know the sound of Darth Vader's breathing. Darth Vader -- Anakin Skywalker -- is unable to breathe on his own and needs to be constantly hooked up to a life-support system simply to stay alive. This in itself is an answer to the argument that the Force compensates for everything. Perhaps you might want to say it is the Force that lets him stay alive beyond what would kill someone else, but still it cannot take the place of functional lungs, or grow back missing limbs, etc. Anakin Skywalker is one of the most powerful Force-sensitives to have ever lived, and yet he can still be disabled and need assistance. (Also, because sometimes I see people making the argument that because of all the pain that Anakin is in, he should be forgiven for his actions, let me say this: Anakin Skywalker can be disabled and still be villainous and make choices that hurt untold billions of people. Being disabled does not absolve you of your bad decisions. Disabled people are people too, and all people make choices and that is what determines the kind of person they are. But that's another post.)

Another example of the Force not compensating for everything is Yoda. We see Yoda using mobility aids multiple times throughout the OT and the PT, from a cane to a hoverchair. He is known as one of the wisest and most powerful Jedi ever, and yet he still uses mobility aids. "Yeah, well," you say, "he still fights with his lightsaber and does all those flips, so that doesn't count." This is the same stupid argument that people make against ambulatory wheelchair users. Needing to use a mobility aid does not mean you need to use it all the time. Total paralysis is not the only thing that makes people need to use wheelchairs or similar mobility aids. Often, people are technically capable of walking or moving around or even fighting and doing backflips in Yoda’s case, but the amount of pain and decreased function that such actions would cause are not worth it except for short amounts of time or in dire circumstances. This does not make them less disabled, or mean that they are faking it. 

“Must be a Jedi thing,” you say. What about Chirrut Îmwe or Kanan Jarrus, who are both blind (or become so). The Force does not give them their sight back (aside from a certain final scene in Rebels). “It’s only for Force-sensitives, then,” you try next. Try looking at Saw Gerrera, who needs oxygen assistance and wears a pressurized suit over his body. Or how about 99, a disabled clone who helps in brothers and is commended as “a true soldier” upon his death? The clones are excellent examples, for that matter. Wolffe is missing an eye, Gregor has a traumatic brain injury, Echo uses extensive cybernetics to function, among many others. 

Maybe still you want to argue that sure, someone might have a limb chopped off or whatever, but technology has come so far in Star Wars that they're not really disabled. Hear me now when I say: having accommodations that help you function in everyday life does not erase a disability. Go back and read that a few times if you need to, because it’s important. 

Now, to be clear, I’m not at all saying Star Wars always has amazing disability representation. I know that’s not the case in many, many regards, and I will link below references that discuss it in more detail. But to say that something like a service animal does not belong in Star Wars is, frankly, extremely idiotic and ableist and ignores the long history of disability in the GFFA. Disabled people have always existed in Star Wars and other sci-fi/fantasy media and they always will. 

Further reading and other perspectives:

Disability in Star Wars

Blind Warriors, Supercrips, and Techno-Marvels: Challenging Depictions of Disability in Star Wars

How Star Wars: The Bad Batch delivers the disability representation the franchise needed

Twisted and Evil: Ableism in Star Wars

This post was written largely in response to a comment left on a fic in the Service Animal Boga AU, so if you would like to read fics about disabled Obi-Wan with a service animal, please consider supporting us there. :)

[hargr0vefield]

my boyfriend billy hargrove headcanons ☼

alarmingly protective

tries to keep you in check with bad behavior as much as possible, doesn’t want you turning into him

like if you’re upset one day and cussing up a storm he’ll tell you to stop and probably say something like “that’s not good for you,”

doesn’t like exhaling his smoke around you because of second hand smoke, around anyone else he wouldn’t care but, you? big no no

unless you ask him to blow smoke into your face or mouth, then of course he’ll do that

dacryphilia, enough said

not really good with heart to heart conversations,

they mainly only arise when he’s super vulnerable like after a fight with his dad

you’re constantly fixing up his cuts and bruises, whatever they may be from this time around

let’s you wear his leather coats only deep enough into the relationship to where he knows he can trust you

when cuddling, holds you indescribably close, longing to make up for the lack of it he never got as a child

earlier in the relationship tho, you two stayed to your opposite sides of the bed,

until one night after a brutal fight with his dad, he climbed through your window and let you fix him up. that night as you lay down, he pulled you into his chest for the first time, and you knew some barriers had finally been broken.

climbing. through. your. window. all the time.

he won’t let you tell anyone but he has a secret love for video games and on off days, he’ll bribe keith so you guys can have the arcade all to yourselves

sometimes will have shutdown periods to where you think he’s ignoring you but in truth, he’s gone off the grid from everyone and will most likely not be back for a couple of days

he’ll be back tho, and you’re the first person he comes to, explaining it wasn’t your fault and never will be and that he just needed his time.

always smells incredible

actually very clean and keeps excellent hygiene

bad jealousy issues. will usually act out at the smallest detail. you’ll calm him down, tell him you’re his and only his, and he’s usually back to normal in a good few minutes.

territorial. leaves hickeys in very visible places, insists on driving you home from school almost every day, throws his arm around you whenever he can sense someone lurking +etc

car sex. all the time. any messes tho and you’re cleaning.

late night drives frequently

spoiling you but being very discreet about it. something like “you said you needed new perfume so,” *tosses you a new expensive perfume, carelessly*

when in fights, he usually takes a drive to calm himself down. he fears he’ll turn into something worse if kept in close proximity when angry with you although you both know he’d never hurt you

when sleeping over either at his place or yours, and he has trouble falling asleep, he’ll light a cigarette in the middle of the night, in bed, and attempt to soothe himself that way by just smoking one

can be mean but that’s to be expected, you’ve grown to take it. although if he ever goes too far, and he notices, he won’t apologize but do something indirectly like a hand to your thigh or a “you ok?”

avid coffee drinker but again, won’t let you tell anyone because that’s “lame” and “for old people”

when in his lifeguard era, sneaks you into the pool after hours just so you can both night swim in peace and maybe skinny dip

was actually the first to say i love you, one night whilst you were applying rubbing alcohol to a cut on his lip,

“this is gonna sting,” *dabs* *silence* “y/n,” “yeah?” “i love you”

has only cried in front of you once, again after you had finished fixing him up and cleaning up some cuts, he began to cry, hard, so you just pulled him into your chest as he sobbed. neither of you have talked about it since.

gets off on you crying, dacryphilia as aforementioned, but usually only when it’s over something petty. if it’s serious, he knows to switch on the best listening front he can and try to shove those other feelings down.

likes his fair share of alcohol but refuses to let you consume too much

the one time you did, he had to prop you up on his shoulder just to get you home. once home, he laid you down on your bed and stood, kind of clueless as to how to take care of someone in this condition

bonus: on good days, he’ll let you bring max with you as you go out and run errands

[marlynnofmany]

We’re All Weird Here

“Bones are body horror,” the tentacle alien told me. “Not that I would volunteer such information, mind you, but you did ask.”

“I did,” I agreed, lifting another crate. “That’s really funny, honestly. What about them is disturbing?”

Mur twisted his blue-black tentacles in a way that looked anxious. “Just the idea of something rigid, inside your flesh,” he said with a wiggly shudder. “No matter how you move, it won’t move with you. Like your own body is fighting back.” He wrapped his tentacles around a crate. “I’ve had nightmares about stiffness like that.”

“Wow,” I said as I set my crate on top of the others. “I’m sorry to hear that? All I can tell you is that bones aren’t an enemy to us; they’re something dependable and strong that hold us up and make everything possible.”

Mur shoved his crate into place. “I suppose you’d need a positive relationship with your own disturbing parts,” he said with a twitch of his hind tentacles that was probably the equivalent of shaking his head. Since a Strongarm’s pointy squid-head was the majority of their body, they didn’t seem to go in for human-style nods.

“Well sure, same as you,” I said, checking the hovercart for more crates. “You know most humans find tentacles creepy, right?”

“I have heard,” he said with a smug little smile.

No nods, but yes smiles. With a mouth in the right place, even. I was privately glad that he had a mouth on the front of his head, instead of hidden among his tentacles like an Earth cephalopod. I was debating whether to tell him that when a crewmate of an entirely different body type walked in on clicking feet.

I pointed at him. “What about exoskeletons?” I asked Mur.

Zhee stopped beside the cart. “What about exoskeletons?” he demanded. He struck a pose out of an intergalactic fashion show, letting the ship’s lights play on his vivid purple carapace while he snapped his pincher arms. “Are you squishies jealous?”

“Sure, let’s go with that,” Mur told him before turning to me. “Exoskeletons are different from bones. They’re like an exo-suit: a protective case for the natural softness.”

Zhee held the pose. “A glorious one.”

“Yes, Zhee. You’re very pretty.” Mur sounded more than a little patronizing, but Zhee didn’t seem to mind.

“That is the proper amount of respect,” the bug alien said. He relaxed to grasp the cart handles with his pinchers, and towed it out of the room. “I will return with more freeze-dried foodstuffs. Make sure you tie those crates down.”

“Yeah, we’ve got it,” Mur told him. “Make sure you get the right ones; two of the three shipments look similar.”

“This is obvious to one with such excellent color vision as myself.”

Mur made the little popping noises that pass for laughter, and turned toward the adjustable netting. He threw one end to me.

We spent the next few minutes fastening things down to industry standards, which still seemed a little excessive. I’d never seen the ship’s antigravity fail yet, but I supposed meteor impacts were possible. Some of those buggers were much faster than I’d ever expected before I got into space.

“We’re going to need a replacement for this one,” Mur said, fingering a hole in one net. (Does it count as “fingering” if he used a tentacle-tip? “Tentacling” just doesn’t sound right.) He set it aside near the door.

“Do we have enough for now?” I asked.

“Yeah, probably,” he said. “We just can’t forget on the next restocking trip. Hey Paint!” he called after someone who’d just passed the doorway.

“Paint,” she said, replying with her own name where I would have said “Yes?” or “What?” Her full name was Painted Sunset, but since that sounded way too much like the captain’s name, Piercing Sunlight, she just stuck to Paint. She poked her snout of mottled orange scales around the doorframe, all polite curiosity.

“Can you put another net on the shopping list?” Mur asked.

“Big or small?”

“Big please.”

“Got it. One question for you.”

“What’s that?” Mur asked.

Paint spun to stick her tail out into the doorway. She had something taped to it — a stapler? Whatever it was, it clacked like a tiny crocodile when she moved. “Have you seen any tasty fish around here?” she said in a growly voice. “Rawr!”

With a long-suffering sigh, Mur told her, “No, but there are probably some in the kitchen.”

“Thanks!” Paint spun again and stuck her head out. “Was it scary? I think it needs eyes to be really scary.”

Mur sighed.

“That was good!” I said. “Eyes would be better. Hey, do you have access to googly eyes out here? The little sticky ones?”

“No, what are those?” Paint asked, walking into the room. “They sound fun.”

“They are!” I told her. “I used to like putting two on my hand and making a little face, like this.” I demonstrated, wrapping a forefinger around my thumb and moving both together like a talking mouth. “‘Hello! I don’t have teef.’”

Paint thought this was the best thing ever, and despite Mur’s eye-rolling maturity, he couldn’t take his eyes off the display.

“That is unsettlingly convincing,” he admitted. “Even without eyes. If I saw that sneak around a corner and start talking to me, I’d believe we had a stowaway of a species I’d never seen before.” He pointed three tentacles at my face. “Do NOT do that as a prank, or I’ll throw your shoes out the airlock. I know you treasure those.”

“It’s not that I treasure them,” I said. “The floor is just cold without them, and I could step on something sharp.”

“Yeah, so? That’s life,” the squidlike alien said. “You don’t see me wearing an exo-suit about the ship just because the floor is cold.”

“Hey, do that hand thing one more time,” Paint said. “I think I’ve almost got it.” Her scaly orange fingers were too short to manage the same effect, but she was trying.

“More crates,” announced Zhee from the hallway. “Make some emptiness.”

The three of us moved aside for him to direct the hovercart into place. Paint gushed about the hand thing.

“It looks so convincing! I can’t do it right. Show him!”

I did, feeling a bit silly in front of his unblinking, massive eyes. His antennae held still, making his expression hard to read. “‘Hello,’” I said. “‘I’m a mouth.’”

“That’s not a mouth,” he declared.

Before I could say yeah, that’s the point, he stepped back from the cart. With a flourish, he tucked his head low against his shoulders and bent his pincher arms into a terrifying facsimile of a gaping jaw, lined with teeth.

Paint squeaked. Mur slapped a tentacle against the floor.

“Wow,” I said. “Yeah, googly eyes have nothing on that.”

Mur pointed at him. “I see you also have a potential prank that you should not pull.”

At the same time, Paint exclaimed, “You have to show Sunlight!”

Mur gave her a look. “Do not terrify the captain.”

“No no, she’ll love it.”

“I’m pretty sure she’s busy.”

Paint rubbed her chin as Zhee resumed a normal posture. “It wouldn’t take long, but yeah, she’s busy. Dinnertime? Oh, and you have to show off your thing too!” she said, pointing at me.

Mur started to naysay, but I said, “Oh, like a talent show?”

“I have all of the talent,” Zhee announced.

Paint was delighted. Mur waved his tentacles about and went back to work, while Zhee launched into a story of the time he scared off a predator with the “false jaws” trick.

“Come on, let’s tell everybody else about the talent show!” Paint said. “This’ll be great!” She waved for Zhee to follow her, and he went, still talking.

Mur grumbled. “Dinner is going to be interesting. I hope it doesn’t put anyone off their food.”

“I’ll try not to do anything bone-related,” I said.

“I appreciate the restraint.”

After a moment of handling crates, I asked, “Did you know our blood is made inside our bones?”

“Oh, that is so much worse! I may just get sick ahead of time.”

~~~

More fun and games with backstory for the book. Not as much action this time, but some very important conversation.

[thedailybullshit]

RDR2 Incorrect Quotes pt. 32

Tilly, standing in front of a mirror: Just tell your dad the truth.

Tilly: You’re gay.

~Later~

Tilly: Hey, dad?

Dutch: What’s up? Do you need something?

Tilly: You’re gay.

Dutch: Arthur, can you please tell Hosea I hate him? We’re in the middle of a fight and I don’t want to talk to him.

Arthur: You’re literally sitting in his lap.

Dutch: Yeah, what’s your point?

Dutch: If John and I were both drowning, who would you save?

Hosea: I don’t know, both of you?

Dutch: No, if you could only save one of us.

Hosea: Well, then I would probably save John because he can’t swim that well, and I happen to know you’re an excellent swimmer.

Dutch: Suppose I was holding an anchor? Who would you save then?

Hosea: Well, why don’t you let go of the anchor?

Dutch: It’s a family heirloom.

Hosea: I’m leaving.

Hosea, referring to all the kids they’ve adopted: How many are there?!?

Dutch: Thirty-six! Counted them myself.

Hosea: THIRTY-SIX?!??!?!

John: *bursts out of the tent* IT’S MISSING!

Abigail, turned away: What’s missing?

John: Th-the thing!

Abigail: *turns around to reveal Jack in her arms* What thing?

John: *relaxes* Oh! You have it.

Abigail: Wh - YOU MEANT OUR CHILD?!?!

John: Hey Dutch, would you overthrow the U.S. government for $3.47 and two sugar cubes?

Dutch: Bold of you to assume I wouldn’t do it for fun.

Young Arthur: I think I’m gay because I like guys, but I like girls too, so I must be straight.

Hosea, a bisexual: What I’m about to say next is gonna blow your mind -

Sean: When I was born, God said, “Too pure, much perfection.”

Lenny: Wrong. When you were born the devil said, “OoOooHh cOmpETiTioN.”

Javier: I am made of sarcasm and pansexuality.

Dutch: *lying awake in his bedroll* Hey are you asleep yet?

Hosea: Yes.

Dutch: Oh okay, I won’t bother you then.

~2 Hours Later~

Dutch: Wait a fucking second -

[pretty-little-howtown]

Untitled Percy Jackson Headcanon

Percy x ChildofApollo!reader 

Genre: Fluff + Angst

Warnings: gn reader, slightly implied bi reader there’s one statement 

Word Count: 16,950

You��d been at the camp a year longer than Percy, and as a result, you never really interacted with him

Honestly, you were a bit exhausted constantly hearing about him. 

When Percy made it to camp he was all people could talk about, ‘this new kid battled a Minotaur and survived’ oh wow how special of him. We’ve all battled monsters to get here too, he wasn’t that special. Go on a quest and survive, then we can talk

(You refused to admit to anyone that it was kind of impressive he survived a Minotaur)

Needless to say, when he was revealed to be the son of Poseidon you doubled down on your opinion

Now, beating a Minotaur seemed less impressive. Whenever anyone brought it up you just said ‘He’s the son of one of the big three, of course, he was able to beat it’

Will would always tease you because for some reason he believed everything you said was a cover. He believed that in reality, you found him really impressive and more than a bit attractive. You’d always retort, saying he’s mistaking you for Annabeth

Percy, on the other hand, paid a lot of attention to you from the get-go. Not that he was arrogant or anything, but he found it a little strange that you were able to dismiss him so easily when he suddenly made the top of everyone's radar for any reason under the sun

As a result, he found out tiny little things about you. You would produce small orbs of light as decoration for the camp sing-along, or use the same orbs to light the broken bed light of one of your siblings.

He noticed you and Will were quite close, closer than you were with your other siblings, and you’d often help him out in the infirmary before he could even ask as if you’d pre-empted it

He found out you go on a lot of quests and bring back the newest CDs and records for you and your siblings to enjoy. 

After some serious digging, he found out that before Asher got his loom, you’d be the only one who let him braid your hair to practice his foresight 

He made sure to keep you in his memory

You spent most of your time training with others in the Apollo cabin, but fighting skills were the one thing you lacked 

You’d spent most of your last year at camp neglecting swordsmanship in favour of archery. It paid off you were the top archer, and no one could beat you

Deciding it should be this year's training focus, you gathered the courage to ask Clarisse for help

Everyone thought you were insane, you thought you were insane 

The first few months were gruelling, it was like being in the military. She would harshly punish you for small mistakes

But, as a result, you gained better swordsmanship skills as well as becoming friends with Clarisse which came as a surprise to a lot of people 

Okay, friends might be a strong word, but she respected you more than anyone

However, it did lead you to be directly asked by Clarisse to go on the quest to retrieve the golden fleece. The official statement from Clarisse was because you were excellent at interpreting the Oracle’s prophecies, and having you give up-to-date interpretations as she went would be useful. 

There were more obvious choices if that was the real reason she took you , but you decided against arguing

Needless to say, you're surprised to see Percy with his brother and Annabeth show up on the quest

You may have been surprised, but you weren't furious. You had to hold Clarisse back from ripping all their heads off.  

Furthermore, you did your best to reason with her once you calmed her down. ‘Clarisse, please be a little more reasonable, they can help out with the ship. Yeah, it’s all well and good we’ve got an undead crew, but who’s to say we couldn't use a little more hands-on-deck.’

She agreed to let them stay and help with great reluctance 

You could tell all three of them hated being at Clarisse’s beck and call, so you tried to help as much as possible 

You stopped to stare out into the vast sea watching the setting sun when Percy leaned on the rails next to you also staring at the sea

You muttered a hi before awkwardly staring back at the sun, as the last beams of the sun ebb away you see the CSS Birmingham on the brink of collapse 

Percy had managed to pick up on how you froze and came up next to you gently holding your waist, ‘is everything okay?’

You looked at him with a strained smile, ‘yeah I’m fine, sorry for worrying you. I thought I saw something, but it’s probably nothing’

Percy let go of your waist still sceptical, but he assumed it was best not to press besides you’ve been on more of these quests than he has, if you said there’s nothing to worry about then that’s that

As he walked away, presumably to Annabeth, you took a deep breath willing the heat in your cheeks to go away before following him from a respectable distance 

When you arrived, everyone was in a panic running around trying to save the ship 

Tyson is trying to fix the engine whose temperature is flying out of control and for a split second you freeze again seeing the same image you saw minutes ago in real-time 

Before you have time to react, the ship blows, and you lose consciousness

Once you regain consciousness and find Tyson and Clarisse heal them both as best you can

Clarisse complained how none of her wounds were healed: ‘what kind of Apollo kid are you?’

Despite this Tyson still smiled brightly and thanked you

Healing was not your forte 

The three of you make your way to Polyphemus' island to retrieve the fleece

The journey is spent defending Tyson from Clarisse’s constant insults and retorts until you lose a temper you didn’t know you even had, yelling, ‘Quite frankly, if Tyson hadn’t been there to try and fix the engine both us and the ship would be blown to smithereens. You always think you can do everything alone, but honestly, a little teamwork wouldn’t hurt you, Clarisse.”

Clarisse shocked didn’t say a word to either you or Tyson the rest of the way

After a trying ordeal, Percy Annabeth and Tyson sent you and Clarisse back to camp half-blood to complete your quest 

You took the time to hammer home a lesson about teamwork and how it doesn’t cost much to be kind, much to Clarisse’s chagrin

You worry the whole time Percy isn’t back

You along with everyone else receive his message about Luke poisoning Thalia’s tree, and you feel the vail lift. It seems Luke was never anyone's friend 

Despite the news of Luke, a party is still thrown after Thalia is healed and no longer a tree 

You see Annabeth rush over to Thalia and you take your chance walking over to Percy 

‘I never got the chance to thank you,’

‘For what?’ Percy stood a little perplexed 

You release a small amused sigh, ‘for helping us. We wouldn’t have done it without you, so thank you, Percy.’ 

There’s a beat of silence and Percy speaks 

‘So I’ve survived two quests now, are you impressed yet?’ 

Your eyes went wide, and you asked about how he knew what you’d been saying, to which he replied he’s been keeping a close eye on you.

‘That’s slightly creepy,’ you laugh, ‘but yes, you impressed me. You’ve far surpassed my expectations Percy Jackson’ 

The two of you smiled and carried on talking well into the night

The more you talked with him, the more you started to like him 

You certainly underestimated how unique he was at least in terms of his personality, you found him charming 

You couldn’t keep your eyes off him and were beyond sad to have to part with him 

You sneaked back into the Apollo cabin hoping you wouldn’t wake anyone up, least of all Will 

But lo and behold he was waiting for you with a wicked smirk ready to comment on the moment he’d witnessed through the window 

‘Don’t say a thing.’ You passed him and went straight to bed and Will followed 

When you were about to tuck yourself in and go to sleep, Will whispers in your ear ‘I knew you liked him’ with the biggest grin 

The whole cabin was woken up by a particularly loud bang and an even louder yell

The next 6 months were split between your usual duties, training and Percy

You had no idea how you would approach him because you didn’t like him, you just wanted to get to know him better.

‘For the purposes of being friends’: a statement you had to repeat to Will often 

Thankfully for you, Percy had already set out a plan to talk to you

Annabeth was sick of him ranting and regrettably made him a comprehensive ‘Guide to making friends with your crush’. He furiously denied he liked you in any such way 

Step one: Ask you to train with him 

You of course jumped at the opportunity to interact with him

The training was intertwined with flirty banter and frustration. You couldn’t beat Percy, or Percy couldn’t beat you. 

It started out just sword training, and you also taught him how to use a bow. He wasn’t very good at it 

One time you tried training with your powers trying to beat the other that way 

The both of you went a little overboard: Percy drenched everyone in the training area, and you blinded a good portion by accident, but the two of you made a pretty rainbow, so was it really all bad?

You and Percy would hang out together a lot, but when you weren’t together you would always seek each other out 

Percy noticed that you’d watch the sunrise by the lake nearly every morning

You noticed Percy would often take a swim in the lake at sunset

Anytime the whole camp was together you’d always somehow end up next to Percy and on the rare occasion you weren’t, there would be googly eyes lots of googly eyes

Everyone in your cabin picked up on it EVERYONE

Will was the worst offender, ‘I knew you liked him, all that talk about him not being the least bit impressive was just a cover-up. I knew it from the very start!’

You noticed how Percy would go out of his way to help his friends out and how he always did his best to lift them up 

You saw he had a fun teasing friendship with Annabeth, very similar to your relationship with Will

The 6 months go by quickly and in no time you get sent on your next quest

You go with the gang to retrieve two more demigods, Nico and Bianca. 

You rush over to Percy as soon as you and the others catch up with him

He was injured, and you stayed with him as everyone else fought off Dr Thorn

He just stares at you for a really long time, and you think the poison really must be getting to him 

‘Your eyes are so bright’ he whispers, and you barely hear him, but shush him saying he needs to conserve his energy and that you need full concentration to stop the poison from spreading as fast at the very least 

‘They’re so pretty,’ he continued and heat shot up to your face, ‘I never really noticed how pretty they are and when the sunlight hits them at the right angle they look like the sun’

You scolded him with your heart beating faster the more he talked

You erected a protective dome around the two of you when you saw silver arrows rushing through the air

You weren’t sure if the arrows were friendly until another barrage split the manticore’s thorns in half

You stared in awe until you heard Percy choke and realised you’d lost your concentration

While you shift your focus back to Percy, he sees Annabeth fall from the cliff, it crushes him to see someone so dear to him possibly fall to her doom.

Thalia introduces the hunters of Artemis as well as the goddess herself

She immediately recognizes you as her brother's child and scolds you for your lack of healing abilities

Despite her disappointment, she provides the medicine necessary to remove the poison from Percy 

You have a small conversation with the hunters alongside Bianca

You had to admit you were more than impressed, there was so much you could learn from them, you were enchanted by their skill and Bianca seemed to be reacting in the same way

Soon Artemis emerged from her tent, Percy following, and announced the hunters were to stay in camp half-blood while she went to slay a beast that could defeat the Olympic gods

Behind her, you hear the voice you only ever imagined you would hear

The man had a bright, familiar aura around him that comforted you

Your eyes went wide as you realised who was standing in front of you

Your father was actually genuinely in front of you, you couldn’t speak, only continue staring stunned

No matter what he tried, you remind motionless cursing yourself that this was your father’s first impression of you

Still shocked, you managed a confused and shaky hello. Apollo just smiled. It wasn’t a condescending ‘you're really weird smile,’ it was a popper fatherly ‘it’s going to be ok’ smile.

He gave all of you the sun chariot so that you could get back to camp

You got on and waved Apollo goodbye as Thalia took the reins. 

However, she forgot that it flies. Her extended freak-out led to you taking over mid-air as the poor girl curled herself up in a ball. 

While getting ready for capture the flag, you sense Percy’s low mood

He confesses that he’s worried about Annabeth and Mr D refused to let him try to rescue her

You did your best to reassure him that Annabeth will survive, and he’ll see her safe and sound very soon

You walked Percy over to the armoury, still reassuring him

Both of you got your armour on, and you picked up your trusty bow, admiring its curves

Percy uncapped riptide inspecting it while subtly glancing in your direction, you were enchanted as well as enchanting

He watched you slowly run your fingers along the bow top to bottom, then you gently grasped it slowly and delicately stretching the sting and slipping yourself in between

You abruptly turned around to face Percy, and he hurriedly looked away from you, awkwardly clearing his throat

For the entire game of capture the flag, a tense face-off between the hunters and the rest of camp

Michael, fed up with Percy and Thalia’s bickering, split the Apollo cabin into three defensive fronts with the strongest archers being the last line of defence 

As one of the camp’s best archers, you were stationed high up in the trees looking down ready to snipe, anyone, you needed to out

You knocked your arrow alongside your siblings, ready for the hunters to come through 

You held your position, hyper focused on the ground you expected the hunters to walk through 

Suddenly, your vision morphed, and you saw the image of Zoe holding up camp’s flag after taking out the distracted Thalia and Percy

You quickly told everyone to stay put and expect the unexpected and ran back to where Thalia and Percy were still bickering 

“Stop it !” you yelled at the two of them, “Your bickering isn’t helping anyone, Michael already set up the Apollo cabin as a perimeter and the Ares kids are on the front lines as usual. Sort yourselves out!” 

Percy gulped, eyes wide, but reluctantly allowed Thalia to take control 

But it was far too late, the Ares cabin put up a good fight but the hunter’s wiped them out 

You heard arrows whoosh through the air, you all stood in wait hoping most of the hunters would be knocked down by the arrows and various other cabins scattered about 

No such luck, only a small portion were knocked out by the time they reached the third layer of defence

You waited to hear the distinct sound of piercing arrows, but you heard nothing and Zoe with a small but deadly number of hunters behind her hurtled into view

You knocked your arrow aiming straight for Zoe, she skilfully jumped out of the way continuing to run towards you 

Thalia and Percy had occupied themselves with the other huntresses while you charged at Zoe

You took out a small dagger you’d strapped to your thigh and charged 

Once close enough, you dropped to the ground, skid along it cutting her calf 

Still skidding, you dropped your dagger, replacing it with your bow and knocked two arrows firing them simultaneously at Zoe

You hopped that was enough of a distraction for her to turn around and fight you, buying your team some time 

She turned around, facing you directly, and picked up her bow

You saw the tip gleam as she released it, you shot to the side out of the way of the arrow that buried itself in the ground 

She knocked the next arrow, releasing it in your direction

You let out a hiss as the arrow skimmed your shoulder, leaving a deep dash in its wake 

You gritted your teeth and knocked two arrows, waiting for Zoe to fire 

When she did, you ran up a tree, using it as a springboard to get you to higher ground 

You let the two arrows loose midair both hit their target Zoe’s thigh and upper arm 

You landed on the ground ready to fire more arrows, but it was too late 

Zoe was proudly holding the flag in her hand, smiling triumphantly 

You hadn’t noticed that with each arrow she fired, she was inching closer and closer to the flag 

Your hits were futile as by the time they happened the flag was close enough to Zoe she could easily reach it

You felt a strange mix of admiration for Zoe and loathing for yourself, how could you let something like this happen?

A loud sound snapped you out of your thoughts; turning towards it you saw Thalia and Percy arguing once again 

This time about whose fault it was they lost 

You watched as they humiliated themselves further in front of the hunters of Artemis

Taking a deep breath, you walked over and got in between them once again 

“For crying out loud,” you whispered. “If you want someone to blame, blame me. Zoe was right in front of me and I let her get away, now can you put this argument to bed? We look more pathetic than we did before.” You sighed exasperated 

Percy barely registered your words, what really got him to stop was seeing the injury on your shoulder

He reached out gently, touching the side of the cut 

His heart leapt into his throat when you winced, “that looks awful, are you gonna be ok?” He asked 

“Course nothing I can’t heal,” you grinned, but Percy looked at you in disbelief. “Ok fine, I was just gonna ask Will to do it.” 

Despite your reassurances all Percy could do was focus on that the wound as a result he walked you all the way to the infirmary and straight to Will, personally

He refused to leave until he heard Will say it’s not that serious

It all seemed to be a chain reaction because the whole ordeal ended in Will teasing you even more 

“I see Mr. Jackson taking personal care of you, he must like you a lot”

You replied, “He does not like me. Not in the way you’re suggesting, at least,”

“But you like him in that way, don’t you?” Will knew the answer, he just wanted to make you say it 

 “Perhaps.” Will jumped up and down whilst yelling that he knew all along. “Could you be any louder?” you yelled at your brother, “There’s definitely something there, but I’m still trying to figure it out.”

Will nodded and said he would respect your thought process, but he wouldn’t refrain from teasing you about it from time to time

“I always thought you’d end up with a woman,” he remarked. 

You laughed and replied, “me too.”

The conversation ended and Will focused on healing the wound

As he  bandaged it, Zoe walked in demanding to see you 

When she got to your cot, she talked about how she just got a prophecy from the Oracle to rescue Annabeth and that you impressed her so much she wants you to join her on the quest. “I would be honoured to fight alongside you.”

You nodded furiously, it was an offer you couldn’t refuse

Zoe smiled and informed you they would be leaving at first light tomorrow 

You walked back to your cabin and stepped inside only to find Percy bouncing his leg up and down sat on your bed

You greeted him and asked if everything was ok 

He told you about how it’s unfair that he doesn’t get to go, how of course the reason he wants to go is to help save Annabeth

“Percy, I would love to sneak you into my bag, but I don’t think there’s enough space”

You did your best to try reasoning with him. You told him how his worry for Annabeth might make him act without care for his own life, “and I care about you too much to let you rush into danger without thinking.”

You finished by promising him that you will bring Annabeth back safe 

He still didn’t like being left out and argued he would be fine, but as soon as you looked at him incredulously he stopped talking 

 “I care about you too, so you better come back and it better be without any wounds.” He said, pointing to the bandage 

“No fatal wounds,” you replied, and he nodded his head

You hugged him tightly and walked him out of the cabin door, smiling 

At the crack of dawn, you picked up your bag and rushed out the door 

You had to weave through your siblings, but you made it on time 

Zoe informed you Thalia and Bianca (I’m sorry I had to replace Grover) you would have to go without Phoebe

When everyone set off to leave, Zoe stayed behind with you, offering you to join the hunters

You thought back to the conversation with your Will and told her you need time to think, so for now you have to decline

At the Smithsonian, you saw Percy run towards the group, and you mimicked everyone’s expression

Out of breath, he told everyone what he’d overheard. Everything seemed to confirm dreams he had about Annabeth replacing Atlas and how Luke’s skeletons were now targeting him 

Zoe’s face was red and her brows furrowed 

Before she could yell at him, you stepped in between the two 

You calmed her down by making her look at the silver lining of the situation, Percy gained some valuable information even if he did it without consulting anyone 

Before she could argue back, you all heard a loud roar 

The battle with the Nemean Lion was arduous as nothing could pierce it’s fur 

You and Percy shared a look as Percy came with an idea, having no clue what he was planning you nocked an arrow in your bow and held it ready 

Percy fed the lion astronaut food and in its disgust it held its mouth open for you to shoot an arrow into its mouth, finally feeling the beast 

You gave Percy the lion’s pelt. He of course argued that you should have it

“Nah, it’s not really my colour,” the both of you laughed at your statement. “Seriously though, take it. You figured out how to beat it, it’s yours.”

In return, Percy thanked you for covering for him, “I didn’t really say it then, but thank you for saving me from Clarisse’s wrath and now again from Zoe’s.”

Zoe joined you and Percy. She questioned how Percy managed to find them despite her covering their tracks

Without thinking, Percy said she must have done a terrible job because the group left a massive bread crumb trail for him to follow 

You looked down at the floor, heaved a sigh and Percy stopped talking, realising why it was so easy for him to follow the group 

You defended yourself, saying you thought Percy might be the fifth member of the quest. It bugged you how the Oracle’s prophecy would be so inaccurate 

Zoe accepted your judgement, saying she should have expected an Apollo kid to be able to interpret the prophecy so easily. “There’s still room to join us, you know. Of course, you would have to leave your boyfriend.” 

Your heart rate picked up and your jaw dropped. You quickly shook yourself from the shock, “Nope! He’s not my boyfriend!”

“Even better, the offer still stands.”

Percy looked at you in shock. He couldn’t quite believe you were actually considering leaving him. 

For a split second, he imagined what it would be like to date you. He snapped himself out of it remembering that you two weren’t dating even if he in his imagination the idea was nice

When you finally lost the skeleton men tailing Percy, you shared a fire with a homeless man

No one took much notice of him, but there was something familiar in his eyes

They seemed to look at you with love, but also scrutiny to some extent. Despite his drab clothing, his skin seemed to glow

You stared at the man for a good while before Percy dragged you away

You were peacefully sat on the train next to Zoe when Percy came over with the same homeless man from earlier 

The man soon revealed himself to be your father

You smiled, remarking you knew there was something familiar about him to which Apollo replied “Nothing can escape you can it. You’ve grown up very smart, y/n.” 

You stood in shock while Percy covered for you in the form of distracting him with the directions to where they need to go 

With enthusiasm, he leads all of you there

On the way, he pulls you aside and tells you Pan should be somewhere close to where you’re headed and to call on him whenever you needed his help

He gave you a small wooden flute to call him when needed

“How do you know? I thought he was Hermes kid” you questioned your father 

“Oh, we never found out who his father is. We both keep tabs on him just in case,” he smiled

Before he left, he told you to heed the prophecy because it is absolute, and can’t be changed. “Trying to will only lead to more sadness.”

It doesn’t take long for the skeleton warriors following Percy to find your group again 

They fired bullets at Percy, which you snipe out of the air, freeing Percy to strike one down

You go to high five him, but before you can it reforms

You all do a double take but continue fighting 

Bianca seemed to be the only one who could defeat them, but there’s only one of her and too many of them 

You think back to the flute and ask Percy to cover you while you play it. The Erymanthian Boar defeated the skeletons and took you all  right in the middle of the Junkyard of the God’s

You were surprised to see Ares and Aphrodite there, until you remembered who you were talking about and who mostly uses the Junkyard  

Suddenly you were very uncomfortable

Aphrodite looks between you and Percy “my my, looks like I don’t need to add any spice to your love life. I almost feel sorry for you. It’s going to be a long, uncertain ride for the both of you before you reach the end. You feel something for both the Athena girl and the child of Apollo over there, don’t you?” She teases, pointing over to you talking to Ares. “However, you like one a lot more than the other, it’s going to take you a painfully long time to figure it out.” 

Percy frowns, his heart beating fast, he asks, “which one do I like more? Who do I end up with?”

“I can’t tell you that otherwise it won’t come true,” she teases again giving his nose a small boop 

Percy started at you red-faced as you rejoined the group 

You asked him if he was ok, and he rubbed the back of his head and gave you a sheepish grin 

Your heart skipped several beats and your palms were sweaty 

It was an image you never wanted to forget 

Aphrodite gently rested her head on your shoulder and seductively whispered in your ear, “I can’t tell you how this ends if you want.”

You gulped, tempted but shook your head 

Aphrodite picked her head up from your shoulder and walked around to face you, running her hand along your arm 

She looked you up and down, “Do you know what? I respect that.” 

You looked around the junkyard as a form of distraction from the intense stare you were receiving from Aphrodite 

A glimmer grabbed your attention, you walked closer and took out an electric guitar shaped like your Father’s lyre

You took it thinking of Michael, who would absolutely love it 

Zoe then called out, reminding you that it’s in a junkyard, so it’s most likely broken beyond repair 

You put it back with a sigh 

In the same breath, Bianca takes an action figure that then awakens a defective Talos

At that moment, your vision morphs, and you see Bianca go inside the Talos’ foot defeating it

While everyone was trying to stop it in its tracks, you try to figure out what this means

As soon as you figure it out, Bianca is climbing into the giant’s foot, you yell out, but it’s too late she drives the Talos into electrical wires disabling it but also sacrificing herself in the process

You whisper with tears in your eyes, “The second part of the prophecy has been fulfilled.”

After convincing a group of naiads to take you to the Hoover Dam, Percy starters reciting facts and jokes about it with Thalia joining in while you and Zoe started in awe as they explained it’s one of Annabeth’s favourites

They must be really close, you thought. It was sweet, but  your heart sank slightly knowing you’ll never have that close of a relationship 

You shook the thoughts out of your head and focused on the quest 

All the time Percy was separated from the group you were worried, it’s exactly what you were worried about in the first place

Percy joins back at the worst possible moment, you were prepared to chew him out about running off on his own when you realised you were stuck on the Hoover Dam

Instead, you took to giving him as massive hug, asking him not to run off a second time 

Meanwhile, Thalia was praying to her father in the corner, who then sent a metal angel to rescue the group and carry you off to San Francisco

Another problem comes in the form of Dr. Thorn manipulating Thalia into using Ophiotaurus' power 

You and Zoe tried everything to stop her, but in the end it was Percy who was able to stop her and also take care of Ophiotaurus, sending him far away. He did, however, have to sacrifice the lion’s pelt to his father in order to do it

The next nail in the coffin of your possible relationship with Percy came in the form of him meeting Annabeth’s parents

They got along so well that Dr. Chase, which you had to admit was incredibly impressive, gave the group his car. 

All Percy was doing was being himself, there was no way her parents were going to let a golden boy like that go

Zoe then came up behind you and whispered, “the offer is always open.” You gave her an exasperated look, and she smiled slyly and moved on

Much to your dismay, the misery continued. Before you coil say anything, Thalia called the driver's seat and Zoe called the passenger seat next to her, leaving you with Percy in the back 

You looked out of the window, trying to avoid any sort of conversation with Percy as you processed your feelings 

It was like the universe was sending you every sign that you shouldn’t even think about anything more than a friendship with Percy, but your heart was pulling you elsewhere 

You turned around to face him with a sigh

Without missing a single beat, Percy asked you if you were ok

You brushed it off saying you were just tired but with your answer ensued another awkward silence 

One, only Percy seemed brave enough to break. “What was Zoe whispering to you earlier?”

“Asking me to join the hunters, again,” you told Percy exasperated 

“Are you going to?” he asked in a gentle, almost hesitant tone. He was preparing himself for the worst

“I still don’t know. I know I have every reason to join, and it really seems like the universe is telling me to, but my heart wants to stay.”

Percy was somewhat relieved to hear your response. It gave him time to try to change your mind

“If you want my opinion. I think you should stay. You’d be leaving so many people behind. So many people that care about you. I think they would be upset to see you leave,” Percy paused, “I know I would.”

You looked at each other. His eyes were pleading as he gave you a tight lipped smile. It was like a movement of understanding had passed through the two, for you. You finally made your decision. Percy’s word were all it took

Before you could reply, however, a lightning bolt struck the car.

Thalia of course blew up in a fit of rage at her godly father 

You tried to argue that it might have been an accident, but Thalia was adamant it was her father 

The rest of the climb had to be done on foot 

When you got to the top of the hill, you were met with the formidable sight of Ladon 

You try to get past him, but he notices you and his protective instincts kick in he starts attacking all of you as you try to defend yourselves 

You fire your bow several times at the dragon, but it does virtually nothing in the grand scheme of things 

In the end it clawed your back, leaving bleeding gashes behind, and it managed to poison Zoe

At that point, you called everyone over to you and erected a protective dome of light 

The dragon got closer and reached one of it’s heads towards the dome, but soon after it was lying on the ground passed out 

You didn’t waste any time and ran to a safer place away from the dragon

When in safety, before continuing, you had to take care of the wound on your back 

Percy watched you as you rub your hand together, he asks what you're doing and all you reply with is “generating heat”

Soon he sees you placing your glowing hands behind your back directly above your wound 

He then heard a painful scream escape your mouth, and he realised you were cauterising your own wound

You fell forward and Percy caught you in his arms, you weakly smiled up at him and asked him how he was coping 

Percy was truly impressed, after all the pain you’d been through your first instinct was to ask how he was

He replied, “I’m the one who should be asking you that.”

“I'll be fine, it’s nothing I haven’t done before. Although, the wound is a lot bigger than I’m used to.  Could you pass me some ambrosia?” you asked, your voice shaking slightly 

He passed it to you, still holding you in his arms and helping you drink it 

You took your last gulp and started to get up out of Percy’s arms. He protested and told you to rest some more

You shook your head and made your way over to Zoe, told her that you wouldn’t be able to heal her completely, but you could slow down the poison

She nodded her head, and you used your healing abilities to slow the poison

You suddenly have a vision of you and Percy holding up the sky as a battle rages around you

You hurriedly ask Percy to repeat what happened in his dreams, then you ask Zoe to repeat the prophecy 

With your vision as the linking puzzle piece, everything was falling into place

Percy smiled, your contracting face was insanely cute 

You finally stood with a triumphant grin that Percy returned, making you feel even more confident

You looked Percy in the eye when you told him they all need to take Atlas’ place just temporarily, you trailed off and your face dropped 

You turned to Zoe with a sombre expression and said “it’s been an honour fighting alongside you, and it will be until  your dying breath,”

Zoe smiled widely, “does that mean you accept?” 

You shook your head, now Zoe’s face dropped. Tears pricked your eyes as you choked out, “the last line of the prophecy.” 

She took a deep breath, let go of your hand and nodded understanding what was to come

“I understand, the prophecy is absolute. If I am to die but the hands of my father, so be it. Let's go.”

You made your way to the palace, you and Percy looked at each other and ran to take Artemis’ place who was now free to fight 

You looked forward to finding Mount Othrys slowly rebuilding itself, spelling possible doom for Mount Olympus 

Your heart broke when you heard Zoe’s scream, assuming the final part of the prophecy was fulfilled 

Suddenly, you were blown backwards and end up with Percy on top of you

You let out a shaky breath, your heart picked up its pace yet again, and you asked what happened 

Percy explained that Artemis had pushed Atlas back under the sky 

“You were right about the prophecy. You’re amazing.” He grinned at you and your heart melted 

“Thanks, but I think you can get off me now.” You told him 

Percy scrambled to get off you, awkwardly clearing his throat

You watch as Thalia battles Luke, pushing him into a chasm and Percy runs over to free Annabeth from the bindings 

Artemis gives Zoe a place among the stars and then turns to you 

She asked you what your ultimate decision in terms of joining the hunters was

You told her what you told Zoe 

She sighed, “a shame. Despite this, you have earned this.” She handed you a moonstone necklace 

“Use this to call on the hunters in a time of need. However, it is only for a single use. Chose wisely,” Artemis remarked before she left 

Percy provides transport to mount Olympus, and you can’t help but smile the whole time at the sensation of riding a Pegasus 

The meeting of the Gods was tense from the start as they were debating the great prophecy trying to figure out who the child was 

Thalia then pledges herself to the hunters to everyone’s surprise, effectively eliminating her as the child of the prophecy 

That left only Percy, Ares, and Athena both suggest the Gods kill him preventing the prophecy from happening 

Artemis spoke up on his behalf, stating that Percy is a hero and if they kill him they are no better than the Titans 

It’s put to a vote and Artemis’ words convince many of the Gods to spare Percy

Apollo then invites the group to a party among the Gods, who were you to refuse 

At some point, you're persuaded to perform for everyone

You get up on stage and give the performance of your life before returning to camp 

Percy goes to Nico to tell him about Bianca’s death and Nico blames him completely 

You take a deep breath, step up and put the blame on yourself 

“I saw what was going to happen in a vision, but I chose to do nothing. I knew the prophecy was absolute.” 

Nico enraged threw the figurine at you splitting the earth in half before walking away 

You and Percy both look at each other wide eyed 

His father is Hades, you thought 

“A child of the eldest Gods,” you whispered to Percy

The break from camp was one of the best

You and Will travelled to visit each other’s parents, so you spent the whole time with each other 

Your mothers got along spectacularly well and took a shine to each of you 

You returned to camp a few days earlier than Percy and in the meantime started teaching some new Apollo kids archery 

Percy walked through camp after his unfortunate accident with Mrs O’Leary as well as the meeting with the council and Grover 

He sees you and several other Apollo kids performing “Stacey’s Mom”

You sang the chorus as some Apollo kids clapped while others accompanied you with various instruments 

You must have amassed quite the crowd, as the whole camp seemed to applaud when you finished 

You spotted Percy on the outskirts of the crowd and ran straight towards him, wrapping him up in a massive hug 

You had a short catch-up where Percy told you about meeting Rachel and his fight with two Empousai before running off to tidy his cabin for inspection 

You let a small sigh out, going to check if your cabin was clean 

During the games next morning, you see Percy and Annabeth disappear between the rocks

You tell Will and Clarisse overhears, telling you that was the entrance to the Labyrinth and how Chiron believes Luke might use it as a springboard for invasion 

Once the games finish, you go back to your cabin worried about what that might mean 

All of a sudden you hear a faint knocking on the door to your cabin, no one else seems to notice, so you go towards the door and open it 

Annabeth is standing in the doorway and asks you to go on a quest into the labyrinth with her 

Shocked, you ask her why, and she explains Clarisse had personally recommended you

She wanted you to come with her on her quest, but you’d already been snatched up by Zoe. “Clarisse’s words not mine,” she clarifies 

When you, Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and Tyson enter the labyrinth, you’re all confused. The walls keep shifting, and it seems like there’s no clear way forward

You end up leading the group through it, mostly guessing and hoping for just a bit of divine intervention

Sadly, you get your wish

You end up in a small Roman-Style room with the minor god Janus, who offers you a key 

Annabeth takes it after scolding you, “this is where guessing leads you.”

However, he keeps a hold of Annabeth forcing her to make a choice

Fortunately, Hera appears. You all look mildly shocked, and she just looks at you and says, “you wanted divine intervention, so here I am. What do you wish for?”

You blurted out the first thing that came to your mind, “it would be great to have some sort of map.”

She looked at you incredulously and scoffed, “I can’t give you something you already have,” and disappeared

You left the room and found yourself in America's most notorious prison 

Inside you find an hundred handed one being held captive by Kampê

You managed to free him, although Tyson did most of the work 

Despite his sympathy for your plight he still refused to join, and you had no choice but to leave him behind 

After Percy’s deal with Geryon goes awry, he tells the group how he managed to pierce all three of his hearts and defeat him with a single arrow

While everyone applauded him, you knew something wasn’t quite right 

Unless Percy was doing some side training with someone else, he was not skilled enough to shoot like that 

You brushed it off, saying he must have improved a lot since the last time you trained 

Eurytion makes good on his deal and frees everyone 

While everyone was getting ready, you overheard Percy trying to convince Nico not to resurrect his sister 

You walk over, filled with terror and a little anger, “I hope you're not thinking of bringing back the dead?” 

He glared at you, hell fire raging in his eyes 

You tell Nico the price you pay for bringing someone back from the dead isn’t worth it

He yelled back and the fire grew hotter

“And why should I listen to you? If you actually did something, I wouldn’t be doing this, would I? It’s not like you would know what it’s like, you’ve got your annoying brother!”

You held back the tears in your eyes as he ripped his gaze away from you 

Summoning his sister's ghost ready to resurrect her 

When she comes into view, his eyes soften and begin reflecting your own 

She greets him cheerfully but as soon as he mentions bringing her back she shakes her head, “You have to move on Nico, I’m the one who let Percy know of your plan. I was hoping he’d be able to stop you”

Nico’s lips were parted and a look of disbelief crossed his face, “if Y/N had done something you wouldn’t be dead, that’s why I’m bringing you back!”

You winced at his words, but Bianca gave you a sympathetic look and continued, “you can’t blame Y/N for that. The prophecy was absolute, there was nothing that could be done.” Before he tried arguing back, she told him of their fatal flaw as Hades’ kids: holding grudges

He said his last goodbyes and though significantly less angry, he still refused to come with you 

It was good of Eurytion to allow him to stay for a short period of time 

He gives you a further favour in the form of a spider automaton that leads you all to Hephestus’ forge 

You all swiftly get back on the road

You held back your tears as best as you could, but the dam burst 

You sobbed silently behind the rest of the group

Percy heard a faint sniff and came up behind you, asking why you were crying 

Your younger brother died when getting to camp half-blood, and you thought it would be like Orpheus, you get to the underworld and all you have to do is walk about with him without looking. But it was far from that, Hades price was soul for a soul and seeing as you didn’t know that, the soul he demanded was yours. You were prepared to give your life for him, your brother's spirit didn’t agree, he defied Hades in protecting you and was obliterated, no Asphodel Fields, no Elysian, not even Tartarus. You barely got out alive, and you’ve got the scars to prove it.

Percy envelops you in a massive hug, and you cry a little but pick yourself up relatively quickly

Annabeth joins, and it gets a little awkward, she doesn’t really know how to approach the subject

In the end, she admits that she heard the whole conversation, and she’s really sorry you had to go through that 

Still sniffling slightly, you thank her

Percy’s heart sings, you were becoming friends with his friends, and it’s all he could ask for 

Grover looks back and says he senses Pan, so Tyson goes with him, leaving you with Percy and Annabeth 

You carefully stepped into Hephestus’ forge 

Your jaw dropped when you saw Telekhines slaving away clanging metal and building something 

Annabeth puts her finger to her lips, and you follow her lead around the forge 

When you look behind you, Percy was far down the corridor you made eye contact with him

Eyes wide, you jerked your head towards Annabeth 

He shook his head, pointing at something 

You glanced at Annabeth, then walked over to him. He pointed at a large metallic head being placed on a large metallic torso 

“You don’t think-?” you whispered. Percy just shrugged his shoulders 

You carried on watching, they were adding legs to it when one of them saw you 

You grabbed Percy’s sleeve to run away, but by that point the creature got reinforcements and started running after you 

Annabeth looked back at the now ensuing chaos and was furious, but ran to help nonetheless 

Percy and Annabeth were slashing left and right with their swords as you fired your arrows 

Percy then yelled for the two of you to leave and warn Hephaestus 

You tried to call Annabeth away, be she wouldn’t go 

Instead, she got closer to Percy and placed her lips on his 

You stared, heart slowly breaking 

You saw Annabeth kissing Percy

They were hiding behind a rock when Annabeth grabbed him by the collar and brought him up to her lips 

Percy’s eyes went wide in shock before settling down and closing, he seemed to enjoy the whole experience 

Your heart broke 

There was no way Percy liked you back, not now that he knows he’s got Annabeth 

The more you through about it, the more it was obvious your subtle attempts at letting Percy know you liked him were probably just annoying to him 

The last thing you hear before fleeing with Annabeth was the sound of rushing water 

The journey back is done in silence with the occasional sniff from Annabeth 

Every time you sigh and try to comfort her

Once out of the Labyrinth she starts sobbing, she slumps against one of the entrance rocks 

“Annabeth-“ you sigh 

“No!” she says abruptly, “I don’t want to hear anything from you. You caused this. You got caught and now Percy is dead!” 

“You don’t know that,” you breathe out. 

“Yes I do!” she continues to yell, “I bet you knew it was going to happen and did nothing, just like with Bianca! Why didn’t you do anything?” 

You took a deep breath trying to control your ire, “I didn’t, actually. That’s not how it works. I can’t just summon the future, and he’s not dead.” 

Annabeth stared at you with a mixture of disbelief and fury

“Prophecies might seem random and vague, but they always make sense,” now confusion was added to her mix of emotions.

You racked your brain for a good metaphor, “it’s like a poem. It might take you on a little detour, a separate journey within the poem sometimes, but it’s to throw you off to confuse you. Prophecies are, by and large, in chronological order. Losing a loved one was last on the list.” You carried on going through the parts of the prophecy that were and were not fulfilled

She looks you up and down her face contorted in disgust as she scoffs, “absurd” and storms off 

You stayed in your cabin processing everything

The first couple of days were tense but fine, you were sure Percy was going to come back any day now 

The subsequent ones were substantially harder 

You spent a lot of your time writing really sad poetry, listening to really sad music, playing really sad music etcetera

You avoided Annabeth like the plague, and you weren’t obvious about it 

The only people you saw were your cabin mates, mostly Will, and Clarisse because you knew she wouldn’t ask why you were upset 

You spent a large amount of time in the infirmary with Will, helping him out 

You got more practice in properly bandaging wounds as well as strengthening his hymns at times 

As the days went on you started to doubt yourself and the guilt had set in

Soon, all your siblings knew why you were upset and what happened between Percy and Annabeth 

When you finally left your self-imposed isolation, it was for Percy’s funeral

During the whole service, Annabeth was glaring at you 

You stood next to Will with your head down, refusing to look at anyone

He rubbed your back and pulled you into a side hug  

As his shroud burned, he emerged in front of everyone 

Your first instinct was to run towards him and wrap him in a hug, but you stopped yourself as soon as Annabeth ran up to him

Will just continued to hug you as you watched the exchange with a heavy heart 

Annabeth made a huge scene, and you rolled your eyes

As you set off back to the cabin, Percy called your name, and you turned around  

You took a very deep breath in before talking to him, trying to make everything seem normal

When you faced him, Percy noticed you were still frowning and asked you if you were ok 

You brushed it off as just being worried about him, but he didn’t quite buy that

Something else was happening inside that head of yours that you refused to tell him about 

He also found it weird that you hadn’t given him a bone crushing hug yet, instead you had your arms wrapped around you, your hands clutching at your arms as if you were holding yourself back 

Thus, he took the initiative and almost threw himself on to you, hiding his face in your neck

You stumbled backwards and as you hugged him back he whispered “I missed you”

He untangled himself from you and told you he got a hint from Hephestus, and he knew how to navigate the labyrinth

Percy then asked you to come along and find Rachel

You tried to convince him that you were better off staying, but he insisted

He said if Annabeth was the problem, he could make her apologise

You looked at him confused, worried that he’d figured out it was about her kissing him. He clarified it’s because she yelled at you

“Right, yes because Annabeth yelled at me”

Before you could protest, he took you by the hand and walked off with you

You looked back at Will, and he looked back with a sympathetic expression

When you finally got Rachel you were a little relived, at least you wouldn’t be the only person third wheeling the Annabeth and Percy love show

She leads you effortlessly through the labyrinth, with Annabeth right next to her

Percy was glued to your side, it was almost like the Gods had made him stick to you to run salt in the wound

Percy on the other hand refused to leave you alone until he saw a marked improvement in your mood

He was alive, so you could stop worrying, he even got Annabeth to apologize which was like picking blood from a stone, but you still seemed miserable and because he couldn’t figure out the reason he settled on trying to cheer you up

He cracked jokes which you gave a small smile, he persevered the whole journey

In the end he settled on just being near you, he hopped it would comfort you as much as it comforts him

As you walked along the path, you felt something brush against your hand, you glanced down and noticed every so often Percy’s hand would brush against yours almost like it was seeking you out

Despite the events of the past couple days you decided to keep this moment for yourself, a small spark of hope in the dim darkness that maybe, just maybe Percy did like you

Before long, the four of you were captured by Luke’s forces and Percy was forced to fight one of his brothers

The fight against Ethan is short, Percy beats him easily but refuses to kill him, infuriating Antaeus

With trickery and wit he manages to defeat him and you all escape after he calls Mrs O’Leary

Ethan, however, disappears as soon as you're far away from the arena, you express a sense of foreboding to the group

You quickly reach Daedalus’ workshop and camp’s new swordsman trainer was in fact Daedalus, the downside bing he refused to join camp as he had already made his bed with Luke

As the empousa that disguised itself as Nico’s helpful ghost appears, Daedalus orders you all to flee, but luckily Rachel is able o get everyone back into the labyrinth

When you do, Percy finds a tunnel, but when he tells you to wait you shake your head and say you’re going with him

“There’s no way I’m letting you go in there alone”

You walk down the tunnel and arrive at a golden sarcophagus containing Kronos in Luke’s body

You think back to the prophecy almost immediately, and when Ethan pledges his allegiance to Kronos you're certain you're nearing the end of your journey 

Rachel storms in just in the nick of time when Kronos spots you she throws a hairbrush at him and for a moment it seemed like Luke was himself again

This small distraction allowed Nico to summon a wall of black stone, giving everyone time to escape

After Annabeth and Percy’s argument, you finally set off to find Grover and Tyson 

During the whole journey, Percy was next to you once again, and he got super close like hugging close 

He’d initiate touch more often, either his hand would brush against yours or he’d gently guide you by the waist in front of him

He’d joke around and be more flirty, and it made your heart hammer, but your brain confused, maybe he was just doing all this as your friend ? 

Something didn’t feel quite right about that, but it had to be, there’s no way he liked you, him and Annabeth kissed they're basically a thing now right ? Right 

You finally got to the Carsbald Caverns, where you saw Tyson watching over an unconscious Grover 

When Grover wakes, you enter the final resting place of Pan. He convinces a reluctant Grover to pass on that he has passed away 

He dissolves, leaving a piece of him with everyone, and you make your way back to camp 

When you get back, camp is deep in preparations for Kronos’ army, you rush to your cabin mates asking Michael what he needed you to do 

You took the camp’s best archers with you and stationed them on important vantage points around camp as per orders 

You perched yourself on the highest point, watching over a large portion of camp 

Your focus was sharp as you shot any monster in your field of vision 

But it seemed like every monster you shot down 10 appeared in its place 

You were exhausted, and you didn’t notice one climbing up towards you  

It started clawing at your leg tipping you off balance, you only just managed to hold onto a ledge and safely bring yourself to the ground 

In the rush to get down, you lost your bow and had no choice but to use your sword

You prayed to the gods that your training was enough

You stood in front of the creature with the hit of your sword squarely in the middle of your body waiting for it to strike 

You managed to block the first couple blows but as it started attacking faster you found yourself only blocking some 

The creature struck your left shoulder then going for your leg which you managed to block it tried again and managed to scrape you 

The fight carried on with blood dripping down your leg and arm, but you were ale to cut the beast’s head off, felling it for good 

You readied yourself for another attack but found there was none 

You limped your way towards the crowd of people consisting of your fellow campers, you were so close but your leg gave out at the last minute, and you toppled to the ground 

Percy ran up to you and helped you up, getting you to the infirmary where you were bandaged up ready for dinner 

Soon you found out Grover had used Pan’s gift to him and driven the creatures away as well as about Daedalus’ sacrifice 

At dinner Will made doubly sure you were ok and that you hadn’t tried cauterising your wounds again; you reassured him that you did no such thing, certainly not after his hissy fit 

The rest of the table laughed, for now camp was at peace 

Once you gave your offerings, Chiron came up behind you and in a gentle voice asked you to go up to the attic 

You nodded and headed straight up weaving thought the various furniture and cobwebs, trying not to get caught or stumble 

Suddenly, you heard a voice boom through the silence:

“You will return to the seat of a brother's power, whose prized weapon a thief did dishonour, the man was burned by his misdeeds, the weapon has been lost to the trees, the bow of light shall find its owner, else once again it shall destroy its holder,” 

You left that attic thinking about the Oracle’s vague words before reporting back to Chiron

Your quest had been issued 

On your way back to your cabin, Nico came up beside you 

You stopped walking expecting the worst but what he said surprised you 

“I’m sorry I was a brat. I know Bianca’s death wasn’t your fault and I overreacted. She was my sister, and she died, I didn’t know what to do, I’m sorry.”

You smiled and thanked him for the apology, “if anyone understands, it me.”

Your parting for the summer was bitter-sweet, you weren’t going home this summer not properly

You had a week to spend with your mum, but then you were given a quest that if you succeeded at might turn the tide and help beat Luke 

When you and Percy said goodbye, he left you with a small ring with a sun engraved into it and a chaste kiss on the forehead 

Will saw everything and teased you about your reaction, and you retort with ‘shut up Will, I saw your reaction when Nico touched your hand’ and the subject quickly ceased to be discussed 

You and your mum had a really close bond, so spending the week with her was so refreshing 

Sadly because of that she also knew you like the back of her hand and forced you to tell her all about Percy but you also dobbed Will in about Nico. She kept that in the memory banks to tease him with when he came to visit

You cooked food for her every evening for the week when she came home from work, and you’d made sure to clean up the house a little while also enjoying some TV 

You told your mum about the quest you were sent on but not so much as to put her in danger 

She of course was super worried, but she always would be

On the last night she bid you goodbye, and you set off into the night hoping to find Apollo’s bow (now watch me make up a bunch of fake mythology just for a fanfiction)

Legend has it Apollo’s childhood bow was stolen from him but when the thief tried using it Apollo felt it and used the bow to burn his skin. The thief dropped it somewhere in the wilderness, and Apollo was never able to recover it. He placed a curse on it, only allowing one chosen child of Apollo to use it. 

Camp found out about it because there had been reports that one of Luke’s lackies had tried using it and, just as the thief's, his skin burned. 

Your job was to do nothing but retrieve it for safekeeping at camp

You stayed in the modern city of Delphi, researching more about the ancient seat of your godly father’s power 

You discovered that the bow was stolen from your father’s temple right from under the Oracle of Delphi’s nose 

The only thing you had left to do was to think like the thief

You got onto the site with a group of tourists and ‘got lost’ in the temple of Apollo. From there you ran in the first direction you could think of, and you ended up in a dense forest just behind the amphitheatre 

You thought you’d felt a strange tingle and believed that maybe because you were an Apollo kid you might be able to sense it 

You stood in the middle of a forest with your eyes closed looking like an idiot while nothing happened for a good 5 minutes before you gave up 

You kept searching the forest until you noticed the light seemed to change as if it was purposefully trying to guide someone away from something

You traced the beams of light back to their source, stepping into a clearing with a gleaming golden bow situated on the ground 

Immediately as you picked it up you felt its weight, you could barely lift it and would need some serious strength training to use it 

You felt a strong push to use it, as if it was telling you to shoot an arrow from it 

You stared at it and without thinking lifted it up in front of you, grasping the string 

You quickly shook yourself of the haze as you remembered the consequences of using it when not chosen by Apollo

Divine wrath induced blisters weren’t exactly something that can be healed 

You walked out of the cleaning, thinking about how you were going to transport the bow back to camp

You looked down and realised it had transformed itself into a long, rounded gold necklace charm (think Amenedeil’s necklace from Lucifer) that you added to the chain already around your neck 

After sending an Iris message back to camp you sat down reading more about the bow and it’s properties

You wanted to find out why Luke wanted it so badly 

Looking through old texts, you concluded that being able to shoot arrows from miles away still wasn’t its most impressive power. The bow was capable of shooting flaming arrows as well as its standard ones

You could easily imagine how an exploding arrow could completely turn the tide 

The bow could also heal whoever uses it at extremely fast speeds but if you weren’t strong enough to use it you would explode 

it’s last significant powers were that of teleportation and shapeshifting, which you assumed it did automatically as it shifted into the charm that is now on your necklace 

When you got back to camp, the bow shifted its appearance once more into its true form with a golden flash of light 

You and the rest of the Apollo cabin were given responsibility for the bow’s safety

Everyone agreed it should stay as the charm on your necklace to prevent anyone from being tempted to use it and be subsequently turned into ashes

So many of your siblings wanted to try to shoot it; you had to scare them off with warnings that ranged from your hand will rip off as soon as you try to lift it, to, if you try to use it you will explode 

From the day you got back, you had strange dreams about using the bow 

In one of your most vivid dreams, you stood in the clearing where you found the bow. You gently lifted it off the ground, admiring it’s fit in your hand. You lift it with ease, positioning yourself at a 90-degree angle to where you wanted to shoot. Retrieving a golden arrow from the quiver, you took a deep breath in and released it when you breathed out, only to have the arrow disappear into the sky with no way of knowing where it landed

You went straight to Asher with the dreams, seeing if he might be able to decipher them, but he dismissed the dreams as you probably wanting to use it really badly 

You didn’t want to argue

You woke up, after another dream of using the bow's several abilities, you noticed a small golden envelope on your night stand. 

You broke the seal and began reading: it was a poem about you and the bow, encouraging you to try it from the only person whose poems could be this bad. Apollo.

You went into the forest, to a similar clearing you found the bow in, and prayed to your father, hoping he would answer. Truthfully you didn’t expect him to, that letter could have easily been a prank by the Stoll brothers

To your surprise, he actually appeared, saying that he’s already broken one rule by contacting one of his children he might as well break another

He explained how, over years of being lost, the bow had developed a consciousness of its own in a way. He no longer picked who used it, the bow picked for itself 

Despite your concerns about not being able to match the strength needed to actually utilise the bow, he encouraged you to use it with a ‘if you were not able to wield it the bow would not have chosen you.’ He placed a hand on your shoulder, ‘I think it has finally found a worthy owner.’’

He told you that once you mastered the bow, a bond would be formed, and you would command the bow much like he did in days past

You parted ways with your father and headed back to camp 

Percy noticed you heading out of the woods, and any thoughts about fulfilling a prophecy rushed out of his head 

He ran towards you, enveloping you in a tight hug that you wanted to reject until you realised it was Percy 

After the hug ended, he scolded you for not answering any of his iris messages. You explained to him that you were on a quest to retrieve Apollo’s bow and that you were encouraged to use it, but Apollo himself

‘Well, Perce, you’re just in time to watch me do something incredibly stupid.’

‘Since when was I ‘Perce’, ‘Oh, sorry Percy. I wasn’t thinking.’ ‘No! No, I like it.’

Percy strongly disagreed with your plan, but understood you could never have any surety if you didn’t try 

You tried lightening the situation with a joke and Percy didn’t appreciate the idea of you being blown to bits that the joke suggested

You stood in the same clearing you met your father in with Percy

As you lifted the bow into the air, it felt a lot lighter than the first time you touched it. 

The bow seemed to effortlessly mould into your hand as you gently gripped the handle

You noticed a quiver of celestial bronze arrows appeared on your back.

You nocked the arrow and as you pulled the string back the arrow turned to light 

Percy noticed that in your hands not just the arrow, but the bow, seemed to be made of light. The bright string gently kissed your lips and nose 

You took a deep breath in, summoning the courage and strength to actually wield the legendary bow and aiming for the sky

You let out a slow breath; you let the fingers gripping the bowstring to relax and free, the arrow which leapt into the sky

You stood frozen to the spot, watching the arrow travel further waiting for and explosion or burning to rack your body, but you were fine

Percy’s heart leapt just as far as the arrow when he saw you were unharmed 

He ran up to you once more, gripping your waist and spinning you around in a circle 

Before you had time to process what was happening, Percy placed you on the ground and pressed a quick kiss to your lips

Your lips tasted of mango lip balm, and he wanted more, but he knew he couldn’t  

You just stared at him dazed, Percy kissed you. PERCY KISSED YOU 

Alarm bells were going off: what did it all mean? Did he like you as well? No, that would be ridiculous

‘Sorry, I um…’ Percy stammered. ‘I got swept up in the moment,’

‘Of course, makes sense it was a very emotionally charged life, or death situation makes sense.’ your heart dropped hearing his words, but you didn’t have time to focus on them, Chiron needed to be notified. The chosen Apollo kid was in camp half-blood!

You and Percy ran up to the big house and told Chiron and Mr. D, they were both elated (well Mr. D let out more of an approved grunt than anything else) 

You took both of them out to the archery grounds and shifted the charm back into a bow. The quiver appeared like magic behind your back once again.

Nocking the arrow and pulling the string back, you closed your eyes imagining an arrow of fire flying towards the target and setting it on fire 

Everyone gathered around you as they saw the arrow turn to fire

You released the string, and it hit bullseye, setting the whole target on fire 

You let loose a second arrow, this one exploding the target before it could be burnt up completely 

There was one more thing you wanted to try that would probably freak everyone out, but you were on fire and too curious not to try it 

You popped your head through the gap between the bowstring and the belly with the upper limb over your left shoulder 

You look out a small dagger and cut your palm 

Everyone gasped, Percy was about to run to you to yell at you for what you were doing before he realised that the cut was healing by itself

The bow transformed back into a charm on your necklace and everyone applauded and lifted you up above them 

You beamed while crowd-surfing, relieved and more than proud in your abilities 

You don’t even have time to properly catch up with Percy as you're swept off to the war council and Percy and Annabeth go to the Oracle 

When they come back having heard the prophecy the war council is in shambles and Clarisse storms out yelling about the Ares cabin refusing to fight

You had no idea anything could discourage and Ares kid from fighting 

Annabeth recited the prophecy, everyone was in agreement that it was about Percy, but something didn’t seem quite right to you

You kept quiet, not knowing what was so off 

Later you saw Percy walking to the training grounds, and you caught up with him, asking him what happened 

He gave you the rundown of the situation with Annabeth and Grover, and he just wanted to sit with Mrs O’Leary and forget about everything 

The two of you started searching for her when you spotted her scampering away into the forest 

You both ran into the forest after her, finding Nico and the council of elders discussing grover with Juniper defending him 

Afterwards, Nico has a conversation with you and Percy about gaining the same advantage as Luke in battle he seemed very pushy about it towards Percy and very reluctant to have you come with them 

This made you more determined to tag along 

In the end, Percy relented, and you all travelled to Luke’s mum’s house 

The entire trip was weird

Upon entering Ms Castellan’s house, she greeted both Nico and Percy as Luke, assuming you’re Luke’s partner

She talks openly about everything to do with Luke’s life. How he ran away to protect his mother and how he needed his mum’s blessing to become a host for Kronos

When you tried to leave, she seemed possessed before returning to normal 

You dismissed the occurrence but couldn’t ignore the fact the goddess of the home stood outside the house 

She provides lunch and gives a slightly ominous statement. No matter what side she takes you can not forget her, she is the goddess of the home

Then she takes you to Percy’s mum and his stepdad Paul has a small freak-out finally believing Sally about the supernatural 

Sally keeps giving Percy a look that you can’t quite place after you introduce yourself 

Sally then takes him into another room,  looking at you very sweetly in contrast to Percy who was trying his best not to make eye contact with you 

When everyone was out of earshot, Percy’s mum started relentlessly teasing him about his crush 

‘They’re very pretty, aren’t they? And a child of Apollo, well it certainly makes sense they quite literally glow. My Percy you have chosen well!’

You on the other hand had a small conversation with Paul, finding out he worked at the school Percy went to 

The two of you had a lovely conversation about Shakespeare that mainly focused on his sonnets, but occasionally you’d discuss one or two plays  

You were in the middle of a conversation about how Iago is presented in Othello and how much of a genius villain he really is when Percy and his mum walked back in 

Paul joked that you might need to give Percy some English lessons

With introductions over and jokes out the window, Sally reluctantly gives Percy her blessing to bathe in the River Styx

This time you were the one to take Nico and Percy to Central Park, testing out another one of the bows powers 

There Percy felt Grover, who altered them to the death of Pan as well as Morpheus’ appearance worrying you all 

Grover opens the passage to the underworld, and you trek down to the river

While on the   Nico changes the course from the river to Hades place betraying Percy who fights Nico when he finds out, but the furies disarm him and take everyone to Hades throne room

Hades reveals the truth about Nico’s past, and you just look at him resentful, ‘I hope it was worth it, Nico. I hope you’re happy’

Truthfully, Hades didn’t know what to do with you, he hadn’t planned for an extra person in the deal with his son 

He recognized you instantly, the only other child of Apollo that dared venture into his realm and twice at that 

For your tenacity, he rewarded you by giving you a head start before he sent the furies to rip you apart 

You immediately ran for where you assumed the river Styx must be from myths and the limited time you spent in the underworld

It was the most logical choice given that if Percy had escaped, that’s probably where he’d be heading 

You grasped your father's bow, sending a tirade of fire arrows raining down on the furies, enough to confuse them and slow them down 

You made it to the river with only a minimal amount of scrapes that had easily healed themselves 

You saw Percy with another figure by the bank of the river, and you drew another arrow ready to shoot the traitor

Percy was quick to stop you, explaining Nico had no idea of his father’s plan and helped bust Percy out of jail

You and Nico waited anxiously on the banks of the river for Percy to resurface, surely it can’t take this long 

‘Look, I’m sorry, that’s why I didn’t want you to come. I didn’t want you to get involved. I know for a fact Percy would have maimed me if something had happened to you.’

You were still angry at him but accepted that his words were coming from the heart. You sighed and replied, ‘look, I get it, but chasing the past will only end in more hurt. Besides, as his kid, you should know that his deals are always naff.’

Nico just looks at you confused, and you told him the story of your brother and suddenly your previous warning made sense

While in the river Percy had two voices pulling him in two different directions, yours and Annabeth’s 

Only one however would lead him out of the river 

He reached towards your voice and suddenly he was back in camp

He was swimming in the lake with you looking down on him from the bank 

He started to swim away but you held him by the hem of his shirt smiling 

“Come on Percy, you can’t stay in there forever” 

You pulled him out keeping your hand on the small of his back 

He was overwhelmingly happy with your presence next to him 

Still holding the small of his back you leaned in 

Percy suddenly rises from the water with a gasp, you help him out, all while insisting on how he managed to anchor himself and if he’s truly alright 

He ignores your main question, opting to answer with ‘I promise I’m fine,’ blushing profusely

Despite being attacked by Hades and his worker bees, with Percy’s new strength, he rips through them with ease.

Percy tells Nico to try and convince his father to fight for the right side, and you leave the underworld with him

You listen as Percy explains his plan to save Olympus, just smiling at him. 

You bite your lip and say, ‘you know we still have a traitor in our midst, right?’, ‘yeah but I’m working on a plan for that’, you look at him almost breathless, the boy doesn’t cease to amaze you 

‘What’s that look for?’ the look you give him leaves him breathless. It’s like you're admiring him, but not as a leader or a friend, but something else entirely 

‘Nothing,’ you bite the inside of your cheek to quell your smile as much as you can, ‘let's get to the Empire State.’ 

The atmosphere is tense, especially as Percy almost collapses after Hestia shows him a vision of Luke

Hermes brings a message from Athena warning to keep an eye on the rivers. However, he also brings with him admonishment towards Annabeth for not preventing Luke from hosting Kronos 

Percy is about to give Hermes a piece of his mind, but you stop him, stepping forward instead, ‘Quite frankly sir, your son is not Annabeth’s responsibility and furthermore Annabeth is in no way in charge of other people’s actions. Your son’s stupid decisions are not on her!’ you took a deep breath before continuing, ‘But neither are they on you. Luke, for better or for worse, has made his choice. All we can hope now is that it’s not too late to turn him to the side of good and if that fails stop him from destroying the world.’

Everyone including Hermes was speechless

Hermes gulped, nodded his head and left 

It was Percy’s turn to stare at you with awe. You argued with a god and won, not just that but the god that created your father's beloved lute

There isn’t a single thing Percy didn’t love about you 

Now it was your turn to blush 

The tender moment is interrupted by Michael yelling your name and informing everyone that Manhattan has been put to sleep. The invasion has begun 

Percy splits everyone off in all directions like the true leader he is

He looks at you ready to send you off to your cabin mates, but you interrupt, ‘Don’t even try it, I’m staying with you,’ He knew better than to argue with you, plus it made him feel a lot more confident 

In the end, you Percy and Annabeth go and help your fellow Apollo campers and manage to get Kronos to retreat, giving the campers time to regroup

You saw Michael Yew still on the bridge when Percy collapsed it and got your cabin mates to search for him

You settle in for the night but find it really hard to sleep despite the fact you provided small night lights for yourself and all the other Apollo kids 

You thought you’d talk to Percy, but he was asleep, not peacefully, but you figured some sleep is better than none

You walked to the makeshift infirmary where Will was changing a campers bandages while they were asleep

‘Can’t sleep?’ he asked. ‘Clearly,’ you replied. After a couple beats of silence, you spoke again, ‘you should get some rest. I’ll take over for a bit.’

He looked at you incredulously, ‘What? You are literally the worst healer we have.’ You choked, ‘yeah, but I can change bandages!’

‘Can you?’ Will asked and you both burst out laughing. He handed you a gauze and told you to place it over the wound before he helped you wrap the bandages round the camper's leg.

‘Yeah look at that shoddy work, definitely not leaving you here unsupervised,’ you chuckled at his remark. ‘Besides, the chosen one needs more rest than the medic.’ 

You gave him a gentle shove, laughing slightly.

‘So,’ he pipes up again. ‘You and Percy, any developments?’ 

You smiled gently, looking at the ground. Lately things have been pretty good, but you still can’t get the thought that he likes Annabeth more than you. I mean who wouldn’t, she's smart; she’s got beautiful princess curls she actually knows what she's doing fighting with a sword. Plus, she’s a hell of a lot more helpful in this mess of a war. You kinda feel like you're just tagging along, more of an onlooker than an active part.

‘I think the lack of sleep is getting to you Y/N’ Will laughs, and you laugh with him. He never fails to reassure you and make you feel better. 

The world might be falling apart, but at least you’ve still got Will. Not to mention all your friends and your other brothers and sisters.

When Thalia woke Percy up to speak to Prometheus, he had a small panic because he couldn’t see you sound asleep in the cot next to his, but before he was able to worriedly search for you Thalia drags him to the meeting 

Even though you're not next to him, he feels you encouraging him, telling him not to give up. 

He walks back with Pandora’s box, telling himself over and over that they’re not giving up. Your voice in the back of his mind telling him there’s always hope 

When he sees you sound asleep in your cot, he can finally relax a little and falls asleep again 

When Percy wakes up, he simply grabs you by the wrist and takes you to Central Park with a few other demigods 

You and the other demigods fight Hyperion’s monsters, while Percy battles the titan on his own

You take out the monsters with ease. You might not have Percy’s strength, but your bow had served you well 

Its healing properties essentially keep you from being injured, the only thing you had to deal with was the pain that accompanied your wounds. Sadly, it would often stay a little longer than the wound itself.

You quickly got to higher ground and flipped off a statue spinning in the air as you released three arrows at the same time, all exploding on impact, finishing off the rest of Hyperion’s monsters.

You got Grover and the rest on standby as you went over to help Percy#

He got behind Hyperion and fired an exploding arrow, making him turn around. 

‘Come on! How have you not crushed us yet? We’re bugs compared to you, and somehow we're still better. You’re Hyperion! Is that the best you can do?’

You taught him long enough for Percy to create a hurricane, dousing his fiery aura to allow Grover and the others to seal him inside a maple tree.

Sadly, there’s not much time to celebrate as the Caledonian Sow starts wreaking havoc.

Sadly, you make the unfortunate mistake of the flying pig, it attacks you first

Thankfully you're saved by Percy on blackjack and while he’s trying to escape the Sow as you’re shooting it down

In the end, Percy calls some automatons to destroy it, and they finish off the Sow. 

You both fly back to the empire state and to your dismay see that the campers have been significantly pushed back by Kronos’ forces

Just in the nick of the Party, Ponies save the day.

Percy comes with you to see will and try and heal some more of the wounded

Will mutters about not needing two terrible healers, but you ignore him telling Percy to give nectar to the wounded as she cleans their wounds ready to be expertly dressed by Will and the other healers.

Percy does as he’s told, all the while looking at you as cleaned everyone’s wounds 

He thought about all that you did today, it was amazing to see you in your element. There was no doubt you were one of camp’s strongest 

‘What’s that look for?’ you teased him, repeating his own words

Percy just laughed and replied, ‘nothing, just looking at you’

You started to giggle and he giggled along with you 

‘There’s something  we need to talk about’ you said 

‘Oh no, that serious tone is never good.’ you gave him a withering smile 

You went for a ripping off the plaster approach, “I don’t think the prophecy is about you. Not fully at least. I don’t think it would be that much of a stretch to assume the battle is for Luke’s soul?”

Percy on the inside was relieved that it might not be about him, but he still can’t take the possibility off the table 

However, something still nagged at him. He replied, “that makes no sense.”

You told him about the vision after you woke up. You saw Percy hand Luke a knife and he looked like he was debating what to to with it

“Maybe the decision is whether or not he sacrifices himself. Think about it, he's the only one who knows where his weak spot is and if he dies our big bad goes with him.”

Percy sighs, he wants to believe you but he can’t, “that still leaves the elderly gods part. He just doesn’t fit the bill.”

Your whole body tensed, “I’m not saying I’m correct but just consider it please.”

Percy replied without thinking, “I can’t! It’s such a big stretch and I can’t take that risk. Honestly, you’ve been so spot on before, it’s a wonder you're not now.”

You started at Percy. Anger was crossing through your veins. You sighed sharply running your young along your teeth, “leave, just go. We can finish this later.i think we both need to cool down. Maybe next time you won’t be so rude.”

Later, Percy rushes back to the hotel everyone used as base and ran straight towards you, embracing you in a hug

You were surprised considering yesterday, but you allowed him to carry on 

With unadulterated joy, he said that the prophecy wasn’t about him

You asked how he knew, and he told you the whole story about how Rachel flew in on a helicopter, but it failed and Annabeth had to get into the cockpit and safely land it 

‘I see, You’ll believe Rachel when she tells you, but not me. Good to know.’ you started walking away, but Percy grabbed your wrist 

He apologised, admitting there was no excuse for his behaviour. He did believe you deep down, but on the surface he felt hurt that another thing was out of his control. At least when it was him, he could do something about it. 

You forgive him and tell him that he’s doing his best. He’s doing so well he’s literally been dubbed the leader of the entire camp, an achievement in itself

In a moment of silence, your eyes met. It was almost like your breathing was in sync. You looked at his locks, tracing each small hair down to his face. His beautiful sea green irises reflected what looked like admiration but also relief 

Before you could analyse them further they were ripped away from your gaze, fixing themselves instead of a large sound. 

Clarisse seemed to be leading the Ares cabin 

You get a sinking feeling in your stomach, Clarisse is stubborn as a mule and there’s no way she’s changed her mind

Everyone else around you cheers and ‘Clarisse’ charges into battle tearing thought the enemy lines until she’s met with a drakon that strikes her down

You all rush over to her ready to carry her off to the infirmary when another Clarisse appears, one you all recognize as the real one.

She takes control of her cabin and leads it to victory, beating the drakon single-handedly, earning her father's blessing

Selina fessed up to being the spy and how she was threatened by Luke making his case for redemption thinner 

Soon you Percy Grover and Annabeth make your way to Olympus to set up more defences, accompanying Grover to the gardens

While Percy was convening with his father in what could be described as the stupidest plan ever, your own father came up to you

He told you how brave you and your siblings were. He also spoke of your ingenuity with his bow and declared you it’s owner 

After he said this, he took your right forearm into his hand

With a slight burning pain, just before the crease appeared a small, pale yellow half sun surrounded by arrows 

You thanked him with a huge grin, constantly glancing at your new mark

“There’s no need to thank me, you have proven yourself worthy of welding the Golden Bow. May your aim always be true”

You quickly hurried to rejoin Percy, who was recovering from nearly being obliterated by his father for sitting in his throne, and both share your good news

Your celebrations are cut short, however, when Thalia announces Kronos’ army is at Olympus’ door

You, Percy Thalia, Annabeth and Grover are all separated from the rest of camp and Hades undead army, fighting Kronos’ vanguard alone

You quickly shot an exploding arrow at the vanguard, effectively cutting Kronos’ forced in half 

You and Percy exchanged a grin before joining back into the fray back to back. 

You covered Percy and the others with a barrage of arrows as you all followed Kronos, trying to prevent any further destruction of Olympus  

Thalia is crushed under Hera’s statue but urges all of you to keep moving

Ethan gets into the way of your group and as you're about to shoot an arrow at him, Percy stops you 

By some miracle, he convinced Ethan to help Olympus instead of Kronos 

Sadly, he soon killed for his betrayal by the titan 

After Kronos angrily wipes the vision of Typhon being beaten, Annabeth tries to reach out to Luke one more time in hopes of him regaining his senses 

She succeeds somewhat, but Luke struggles to keep control 

Percy had intended to kill Luke himself, but your warnings about the prophecy not being about him repeat inside his head on a loop 

Finally, it all clicks in place. IT’s about Luke 

He gives Luke Annabeth’s blade and Luke choses to save Olympus by sacrificing himself 

When the Gods return, everyone is given a reward: Annabeth is made Olympus’ architect and your father of course requests more statues of himself; Grover is given the final seat on the Council of Cloven Elders and all the fallen would be awarded Elysium

You were glad Michael would have peace 

You stood back, content all of your friends efforts were rewarded, however, your father wouldn’t waste an opportunity to praise you in front of all the Gods

He beamed as he spoke of the Golden Bow finning a worthy owner after centuries and the mark on your forearm begin to glow indicating to the Gods you were the owner in question 

You were bestowed with a golden Laurel wreath and declared the slayer of beasts

Of course, this was all an elaborate excuse for your father to shower you with gifts, most of which were poems about every fight of yours he witnessed 

However, the most significant gift was Apollo’s blessing, allowing you far greater power over light including the ability to turn invisible and “just for fun” the ability to play all instruments 

He went off on one, how normally your eyes would turn brown if they weren’t already and the hair would turn blonde with orange stripes in it, but he quite liked your eyes and hair

“They remind me of your mother”

So instead you got golden highlights accompanying your new powers

Finally, it was Percy’s time to shine. You were excited for him, wondering what kind of reward he’d get for all his bravery 

What you didn’t expect was immortality, you stood staring at him wide-eyed

You wanted to be happy for him, but secretly hoped he wouldn’t take it 

 Then you wouldn’t be able to tell him about your feelings for him 

He probably wouldn’t be allowed outside Olympus, you’re not stupid, you’ve seen the Hercules Disney film 

Percy was shocked to say the least, he never thought he’d do something so spectacular as to earn immortality

For a split second he was tempted to take it, but he looked back at your sad face and realised, there’s no way he could 

Instead, he makes a list of demands, that if anyone but the God’s chosen hero were to make they would be smote 

But thanks to those demands, Percy made the camp a better place

For one, Nico would finally have his own cabin, along with the kids of the minor gods 

When everyone got back to camp, your siblings planned a swift celebration 

The music was pumping, and you felt each and every note

It was euphoric, every beat every note pumped through your veins like never before 

You grabbed a spare guitar ready to give the blessing a test drive

Everyone looked at you shocked as you felt the melody ripple pleasantly through your body

Everyone cheered nonetheless when you placed the guitar back down again

You joined the crown once again dancing your heart out before your arm was grabbed, and you were pulled out 

Percy was leading you away from the crowd and grumbled when he heard whooping front the direction he dragged you away from

He kept going until you got to the lake, the setting sun reflecting peacefully off its waters 

Percy took both your hands in his and looked you in the eye summoning his courage

‘I really like you,’ it was out in the wind and all you could do was stare flabbergasted 

Your heart was leaping for joy but your brain was holding it back because it didn’t make sense 

“I thought, but you… you and Annabeth… in the labyrinth, you- you kissed’ 

Percy wasn’t expecting that to coke out of your mouth, sure he was prepared for rejection but somehow this was worse 

‘I-yeah I guess we did I kinda forgot about that,’ 

You stood there still shocked as he continued trying to figure out what everything meant

‘I forgot because I kinda figured everything out while in the River Styx. I- wow never thought I’d have to say this, I honestly thought I’d take this to the grave, it’s a little embarrassing. You were what grounded me to this world, I could feel you pulling my shirt at the small of my back and holding me there until we nearly kissed. At that moment I was no longer confused, I knew it was you I wanted.’

‘So that’s why you avoided my question’ Percy nodded shyly 

You bit your lip thinking, processing all the information 

You moved closer to Percy parting your lips slightly and grasping the small of his back 

You gently put pressure on it 

Percy gasped smirking you asked ‘and that’s where your weak spot is isn’t it?’ 

He hastily nodded blush dusting is cheeks as you brought your lips closer to his 

‘While we’re confessing things, that week where I was shut in; I wasn’t sick. I was upset about you and Annabeth and wanted to avoid you. The angry states you got from my siblings were because they knew I liked you’

‘Oh’ it was all starting to make sense now that the dots were out together for him. 

You stayed like that until the last rays of sun fell over the horizon 

‘Hey water boy ,’ you smiled at Percy’s dumbfounded face. ‘Are you gonna kiss me or not?’ 

He did not have to be told twice 

He slammed his lips down in yours 

You reviled in the feeling of his lips on yours finally getting to feel what you’ve longed for

You felt warm sparks fly out of you and as you parted with Percy you looked around finding your bodies surrounded by small yellow sparks 

‘That’s new,’ you smiled, thanking the Gods and mostly your dad for helping set the mood.

Extras

A/N: Oh my goodness, this was way too long. It was 37 pages of a Google doc, and I probably should have split it into parts. Also, I am the queen of putting the keep reading in awkward places (Hi future me, the keep reading was deleted because it turns out that’s was ate the text I had to re paste)

Edit (03/07/22): I didn’t realise I forgot to copy a whole chunk of the story from the word doc. It’s now fixed between the Empousa (sp?lol) and Percy’s “I missed you” was where the gap was

Edit (05/06/23): I was made aware by an anonymous user that I used she/her pronouns in the section with Percy’s mum. This has now been rectified. As a result I did remove the line about a wedding. I was unsure of how to reword it in a gender neutral way so opted to remove it entirely. I also noticed while making this change I used ‘girlfriend’ instead of partner in the section where they visit Luke’s mum. The same user notified me of an issue with the hunters of Artemis section. I was unaware of what they meant. I looked through any instance i mentioned the hunters or Zoe and removed “You told him Zoe was probably more comfortable taking girls, considering she’s one of Artemis,’’ hunters.” Again I was unsure of how to word this in a gender neutral way so opted to remove it. I have replied to the full ask and is under #untitled Percy Jackson headcannon for anyone who wishes to read my initial response. I believe that’s all the mistakes rectified. If not please tell me and I will fix them

[anisespice]

“ dumb love ” || hq!

synopsis: the usual stoic and unbothered being absolutely lovestruck for their s/o.

pairing: various x gn!reader [ iwa, sakusa, kags ]

warnings: sfw, mature language, my attempt at writing something cute lol 

notes: so this idea struck me in the middle of the night while i was listening to music, and sean kingston’s “dumb love” came on and IMMEDIATELY i was like “hells yeah” -  figured i’d throw something together, so this isn’t really proofread either ALSKDJAJS but hope u enjoy! 

iwaizumi ッ

When it came down to it, Iwaizumi had excellent control over his emotions. Spending years dealing with the shittiest, pretty boy known to man to then later on have to wrangle up various grown men for intense training, and make sure they’re actually doing the shit right, Iwa would confidently say he had the nerves of steel. 

Until you skipped your happy ass into his life.

Now, anytime you even crossed his mind, this man wouldn’t be able to hold back a goofy-ass grin. There was just something about you that drove him absolutely insane, got him feeling like a dopey fool that can’t even look you in the eye, even when you got on his last nerve sometimes. You gazed at him as if he’d created mountains and moved rivers with his bare hands, or literally like he’s the only person in your world.

But, hey, no shame innit. He be looking at you the same way. No matter how embarrassed he’d get when caught slippin’.

“Iwa-chan~! Quit ogling [______] already, you haven’t blinked for a whole minute!”

“Fuck off, Shittykawa.”

sakusa ッ

He barely tolerated people as a whole. Sure, he’d gotten better compared to his high school days, but there was still a little pushback that lingered in the outside hitter. He didn’t like to mingle, never favored gatherings that had too many people, nor did he like meaningless small talk. So imagine his absolute dread when he felt someone tap him on the shoulder while in line at a coffee shop.

He stiffened instantly; touch from strangers still something he was getting used to. At least he wore a jacket to shield him from the actual contact. But, that’s not all he was worried about. You tapped him again, this time with a little more urgency. Sakusa exhaled heavily—It was too damn early for this. He turned thinking that you were just a fan or something, already prepared to give a rehearsed response that his publicists drilled into his head for moments like this. Because, y’know, this was about to be just another boring, pointless-

“Hey, so who d’you think would win in a fight: a bear with no arms and legs, or a blind tiger with no teeth?”                      WHAT.

He thinks back to that at least once a day, very fond of the memory. Even six months later of dating, he can’t believe how things turned out this way. Sakusa didn’t know what possessed him to not just ignore you, but he was glad he entertained your unique approach at conversation. It was...refreshing? Intriguing? At least, that’s how he justified it to his gobsmacked teammates when they found out you were, in fact, real. 

“The question didn’t even make sense, yet you had me thinking about it all day. It caught me off guard. Rarely do people do that, so...good job, I guess.” 

“All I heard was that you thought about me all day ♡.”

kageyama ッ

One time, you held onto his pinky instead of grabbing his whole hand during an outing together and he hadn’t gotten over it since. Early on in the relationship, although he tried his best, Kageyama wasn’t that affectionate and appreciated how you never pushed him beyond his conform level. He was nervous when it came to skin-ship, tiptoeing his way around it by simply keeping people at arm’s length, or using soft violence as a love language, like hard pats on the back and being tossed around like a ball (poor hinata lol).

It took a lot of courage for that man to eventually start giving you the affection he felt you deserved, and you cherished those moments deeply. However, nine times out of ten you’d be the one initiating it, still rendering him completely flustered since he was getting accustomed to being mushy with someone he loved dearly. So when you subconsciously latched onto the setter in the most smallest, most precious way possible…homie wanted to gift you the sun. (poor hinata pt. 2)

“Tobi, baby, you good? Why’s your face so red-”

“It’s j-just hot out here, ignore it.”

© 2022-2023 anisespice ッ all rights reserved. likes, comments & reblogs much appreciated!

[hannya-writes]

Nicholas Brown & PDA

He doesn't mind PDA, he just won't be starting it.

He'll accept your kisses, but please don't try to kiss him on the lips. He knows he's weak for your kisses.

While hugging (at home preferably) he hides his face in your neck or chest and relaxes, feeling you breathe or the vibration of your heartbeat. 

So, yeah. He likes to cuddle.

He'll definitely kiss your skin depending on where he is hiding his face. 

He's the kind of man who would let you be the big spoon if you ask to but then somehow he becomes a bigger spoon.

He usually doesn't hold your hand, you'll have to take his and he's probably going to ask you why are you taking his hand… in sign language, so he is going to let go of your hand, once you tell him why he'll probably offer you his hand.

If you take his hand in public he can react in two ways depending the situation: if he is in a place where there are enemy's he'll make you held to his clothes, because he needs his hands to be free if the situations requires to fight

if on the other hand, he is in a safe space he is going to squeeze your hand a bit as a way to demonstrate love and let go.

About kisses… Nicolas feels a bit awkward about them. It's because he has the idea that since he can't speak he will be bad at kissing.

You'll have to teach him how to kiss, Worrick is confused as fuck when he sees you explaining to Nico in sign language that no, speaking has nothing to do with kissing.

Worrick smiles proudly when he bargains in Nico's room and finds you in bed together. You are over Nico, kissing him.

"Go away" Nico orders him out loud and Worrick laughed as he walked away.

He's actually an excellent kisser. From the sweet, to the passionate and lustful kisses.

He loves the feeling of your skin, so he'll like to trace figures with his fingers, feel all of you with every part of his body.

He likes to smell your hair, right before you shower, because it's when it smells less like shampoo and more like you. 

He doesn't like hugs when you are out in the open, he feels trapped and open for anyone to attack him

He would prefer you to keep your touchy touchy loving hands away from him while on the street because he gets nervous that anyone would see and put you in danger.

He has zero modesty when the "public" is just Worrick or Alex, this man can kiss you, caress you and even fuck you in front of those two because they already know the nature of your relationship with him.

So stop him if the kisses star to get steamy.

[autisticlancemcclain]

For the last six months, Lance has been acting strange. It sounds like a long time, and maybe something Hunk should have brought up earlier, but he wasn’t sure enough to bring it up for a while — he’s sure now, though. Lance used to send Hunk fifty memes a night for Hunk to scroll through in the mornings, now it’s a rare day he gets even one. He used to get regular calls and facetimes from Lance about every little inconvenience Lance experienced, but now he’s lucky to hear Lance’s voice once a week. And he’s almost never available to hang out anymore.

“What I’m hearing is that you are getting a break, and what I’m not understanding is why you’re complaining about it,” Pidge says.

Hunk glances away from the dirt road he’s squinting at (country driving is hard, especially as the sun starts to set, why couldn’t Lance stay in the city like the rest of them), to roll his eyes at her.

“Oh, don’t give me that. You miss him too. It’s like he’s been replaced by a pod person!”

Hunk doesn’t know if it’s the conspiracy theory tease or if it’s because Pidge misses Lance more than he thought, but she deflates rather quickly.

“Yeah, yeah, okay. It’s a little strange that we haven’t heard much from him. But,” she bites her lip, looking away from her phone for once, “are we sure he’s not just grieving? I mean, he’s become a bit of a hermit ever since his Abuela left him her cabin in the woods. His tree-hugging ass never wants to leave. And I imagine he misses her, too. Is he maybe just trying to grieve in peace?”

“That’s a valid point,” Hunk concedes, “but I don’t think that’s it. Abuela died a year ago. He still misses her, shit, but if anything he’s even more clingy when he’s upset. And he just started pulling away a few months ago, so I don’t think it’s the death. It’s weird. He’s never been like this.”

“I mean, Lance is just kind of a weirdo,” Pidge says, because she and Lance have this weird relationship where they refuse to admit they love each other even though Hunk has seen both of them mope for days after a fight or argument. (But whatever works for them Hunk supposes.) “You’re right though, I guess. He hasn’t sent me a picture of an angry possum with the caption ‘this is u’ in a while, which is kind of concerning.”

“…Is that a regular occurrence?”

Hunk breaks concentration from the road again, looking at her strangely. She barely notices, attention back on her phone as she waves her hand dismissively.

“Oh, yeah. He sends a mocking picture whenever he sees a particularly gremlin-esque animal, I seen him one whenever I see a rat.”

“Pidge, you live in Queens. You see a rat twelve times a day.”

Pidge sniggers. “Yeah, and it’s funny every time. He gets all pissy.”

Hunk just sighs, shaking his head fondly. He will never understand their relationship.

———

Hunk has visited Lance at his new home a handful of times since he inherited it. He always, always has the porch light on (he says it’s in case someone were to get lost in the woods at night, they’d be able to see the light and come to him. Hunk has tried to explain to him dozens of times that that is an excellent way to get serial murdered, but damn Lance’s bleeding heart because Hunk’s worry does nothing).

There’s no porch light on now.

“Maybe he finally just started listening to you?” Pidge suggests.

Hunk levels her with a flat stare. “We have been friends for over fifteen years, Pidge. When, even once in that time, has Lance listened to a damn word I said about safety?”

Pidge shrugs. “Who knows! Maybe his newfound hermit lifestyle has made him wise.”

“Right,” Hunk says, snorting. He takes another moment to stare suspiciously at the dark house, and then sighs in defeat.

“I guess we should go in, huh?”

“I did not drive six hours through rural New York to turn the fuck around, Hunk. We are staying with Lance for the weekend if we have to break in through the goddamn window, and I mean that.”

Hunk doesn’t doubt it — Pidge hates long car rides, and only agreed to come up here in the first place because she misses Lance way more than she’ll ever admit, now that he’s not a two minute walk away.

“Desperate to spend some time with him?” Hunk teases, walking up to the door.

“Piss off,” Pidge snaps, but there’s not nearly enough heat in her voice for Hunk to take her seriously. (Hunk has heard her when she’s truly mad, threatening random cat-callers in the street. It is a terrifying thing to witness, which makes Hunk glad he’s on her side.)

She reaches forward to knock on the door — another proof that she very much does miss Lance, being the first to knock, which makes Hunk smirk — and then steps back next to Hunk to wait.

They stand there for two whole minutes.

“Is he maybe asleep?” Hunk asks, but dismisses it just as quickly as Pidge does.

“That loser never sleeps before, like, 3 in the morning.”

“Maybe the ambiance of the woods has made it easier for him to sleep,” Hunk says, just to be contrary.

Pidge snorts, knocking one more time and then moving shit around on the porch.

“The hell are you doing?” Hunk asks as she lifts the dorky little wicker chair Hunk knows Lance made himself in his basket weaving phase.

Mostly ignoring him, she flips the chair completely over and starts inspecting the legs.

“If I can just… ha!”

She sets the chair down, and triumphantly holds up a key.

“Lance is the most predictable bitch in these lands,” she brags, which Hunk thinks is rich coming from the girl who has lost every board game against Lance she has every played.

He tells her as much. She scowls.

“He cheats,” she insists, which is probably true, but she also cheats and still loses, so.

Hunk decides to drop it, because he likes his kneecaps exactly how they are, thanks, and Pidge has a violence problem.

“Hello? Dork ass?” Pidge calls as they walk in, which is as much of a greeting as any.

The entrance hallway is dark, as is most of the visible rooms. The only light comes from some faintly twinkling fairy lights Lance has strung up around various walls.

“Whose boots are those?” Pidge asks, staring at something right next to the front door.

Hunk peeks over her shoulder, squinting to try and make them out. It’s hard to see well in the low light, but there’s a pair of big, clunky combat boots next to Lance’s dorky retro sneakers.

“Maybe he’s got a friend over?”

“His car is the only one in the driveway,” Pidge points out, which is true.

Hunk shrugs. “Maybe he picked them up.”

Pidge huffs, still suspicious, and starts poking around the living room and kitchen instead of looking for Lance.

Well. Hunk is doing that too, so he can’t really judge. (It’s been so long since he’s had real Lance drama, okay? Sue him if he’s curious.)

“There is healthy food in the fridge,” Pidge says, in the same tone of voice someone might say ‘there’s a nuclear bomb in my toothbrush.’

Hunk blinks. He rubs his ears, he must have misheard her.

“Oh my God, there’s meat!”

Now he’s definitely misheard her, because Lance has been vegetarian since he was four and found out the pollo the feathered little animal was the same pollo in his happy meal.

Hunk scrambles over to where Pidge is starting incredulously at the open fridge, and his own jaw drops when he sees it: a gigantic steak, chilling on the second shelf, waiting to be cooked.

“Maybe he really has been replaced by a pod person,” Pidge breathes.

She’s started to sound nervous, for all her joking.

“Let’s go find him,” Hunk says, and he can’t hide the urgency in his voice. They both rush down the hallway, wordlessly agreeing to be as silent as possible. They pause before Lance’s bedroom door, exchanging a determined look. Pidge nods, and Hunk carefully turns the doorknob, soundlessly pushing the door open.

It’s dark. The only light comes from the moonlight pouring through the open window, and the small shark-shaped nightlight on the desk. Despite the brightness of the moon, the only thing really visible are shadows and figures.

The lump on the bed, wrapped in the covers, is far too big to be Lance.

Hunk hears Pidge’s sharp intake of breath, and is strangely reminded of the tale of Little Red Riding Hood. They’re both silent for a moment, tense as live wires, and then the large lump in the bed lets out what Hunk can only describe as a muted growl.

Pidge whimpers. The smallest of sounds. Barely a peep. But before Hunk has the chance to throw his hand over her mouth, the lump in the bed shoots straight up, and then both of them are screaming as glowing yellow eyes narrow and shining, razor-sharp teeth are bared in a snarl.

Hunk squeezes his eyes shut as the monster in Lance’s bed flicks his hand and a blade shines in the moonlight, extended at both of them as the monster is out of the bed in an instant.

“I am too young to die,” Hunk sobs over Pidge’s incessant screaming. He wonders if the monster ate Lance quickly, or if his own death is about to be slow.

It all makes sense now.

“Hunk? Pidge?”

Well, that doesn’t make sense.

Hunk opens his eyes just as the lights flip on, and sees Lance — he’s alive! — scramble out of bed and in front of the monster.

Right fucking in front of the monster. Zero space between them.

God, where is Lance’s brain?!

“Keith! Chill out. Put the luxite blade away. It’s fine, okay? They’re not a threat. No threat here. That’s it, babe. Take a deep breath. Put the fangs away, there you go.”

Hunk stares in shocked silence.

He thinks his jaw might be brushing the wooden floorboards.

“Pidge, stop screaming,” Lance says irritably, turning around to face the two of them. “You’re freaking everybody out.”

Pidge, predictably, does not stop screaming.

“No! I was just threatened by a real-life monster! A monster, Lance, what the fuck!”

“He has a name and it’s Keith,” Lance snaps. “And no shit you were threatened, you broke into our house.”

“And you’re fucking naked! Both of you!” Pidge continues — somehow more shrill — as if Lance had not spoken.

That wipes the fury right off Lance’s face.

“Out!” he yells, frantically yanking a blanket off the bed and throwing it over him and — and the monster that he knows on a first-name basis, apparently. “Get out! Right now!”

“I’m not leaving you with that!” Hunk argues, finally finding his voice.

He means it. Lance is bad at looking out for himself, and that thing is very obviously bloodthirsty.

“Get out of my room right fucking now, or the most bloodthirsty thing in the room is about to be me!”

Hunk’s not sure if it’s because Lance sounds deadly serious or because the terror of the whole situation is starting to fade into something like shock, but without another word, he turns away and walks out of the room. Pidge follows, closing the door behind her. The walk over to the living room, sitting gingerly on the couch.

Moments later, Lance stumbles out of the room in a robe, the monster following closely behind him.

“Stop looking at him like that,” Lance snaps, which Hunk thinks is unfair.

“Explain immediately,” Hunk says instead of voicing that particular thought.

“I’ll make some tea,” the monster says quietly, pressing a kiss to Lance’s cheek.

Hunk startles.

Well.

The monster can speak English, apparently.

Lance sighs, looking gratefully at the monster and squeezing its hand.

“Thanks, babe.”

And apparently Lance is — sleeping with the monster?

“That is the least surprising thing about this whole thing,” Pidge mutters, which is an astute observation based on Lance’s track record.

(Venom is not a good enough movie to watch 47 times. No one does that without Gay Reasons.)

Lance sits heavily on the loveseat, staring at them warily. “Why are you here?”

“Hi, Lance,” Hunk says sarcastically. “We’ve hardly talked to you in half a year, and it’s basically been radio silence from your end. Yes, I’m doing well, thanks for asking. I did miss you, too.”

Lance glares at him for a moment, but then he slumps forward.

“I know. I’m sorry. I’ve been…busy.”

Pidge, who has recovered remarkably quickly, snickers. She looks pointedly at Lance’s collarbones, which are littered with bruises and bites. He flushes immediately, pulling his robe tighter around himself and hugging a pillow to his chest for good measure.

“I can see that,” Pidge teases. “And from what I saw from Mister Tall Purple and Furry, which is unfortunately burned into my brain for all eternity, I imagine sitting in a car for six hours to come see us would be…difficult.”

Despite himself, Hunk laughs. It helps that Lance looks more flustered and annoyed than angry, now.

“Fuck off,” he says, shoving his face into the pillow. “God, you people are horrible.”

Suddenly a new voice filters through the room, a gruff chuckle making Pidge and Hunk sit up straight, looking at each other nervously. Hunk almost forgot his terror.

“Why are you laughing, you douchebag?” Lance says, begrudgingly accepting the offered mug. The monster says nothing, only smiling fondly — well, Hunk is having trouble looking at the fangs peeking out of that smile and thinking fond, but it certainly doesn’t look malicious — and sets two more cups on the coffee table, and then takes his seat next to Lance.

Like, right next to Lance. Any closer and he’ll be sitting on Lance, and he’s thrown his arm over the back of the loveseat for good measure.

“I’m Keith,” the monster says when Lance fails to explain himself. “I’m not from here.”

That is a gross oversimplification.

“Try again,” Hunk says flatly, and he wasn’t trying to be funny, but the monster — Keith — laughs anyway.

“I’m sorry for threatening you,” he offers. “I was shot out of the sky by the government a while back, so I’m a little paranoid.”

Pidge looks intrigued. “Tell me every single detail about that story and you’re forgiven.”

Hunk scoffs. “Speak for yourself.” But he reaches forward and grabs the mug Keith placed in front of him as a show of trust, anyway, because Lance has lifted his face from the pillow of shame to glare at him and Hunk always feels like shit when Lance is mad at him.

Keith looks hesitantly at Lance. “Is it…?”

“They’re safe,” Lance says with a sigh. He reaches for one of Keith’s hands and starts fiddling with it — a nervous stim.

Now Hunk really starts to feel guilty.

“Okay,” Keith says, only a little reluctantly. It certainly says something that he’s so willing to trust them just because Lance said he could, even though twenty minutes ago he looked ready to stick a sword in their heads. “Uh, I was born on a planet called Daibazaal, about three hundred million light years from here. Earth is well known among the Intergalactic Union as a danger planet populated by gigantic, monstrous lizards.” He grins wryly. “Obviously, that information is pretty outdated.”

“Why’d you come here, then?” Pidge asks, eyes bright in excitement. If she leans forward anymore she’ll fall right off the couch. Nerd.

“My father is human,” Keith says nonchalantly, as if that’s not the most insane thing to have ever been spoken in this timeline. “He was a Texan physicist. He was messing around with things he shouldn’t have been messing in and accidentally wormholed himself across the galaxy, and decided he liked it there, so he stayed. He never told anyone about Earth because he figured if anyone tried to come here it would be mayhem —”

Hunk inclines his head, thinking of his own (possibly) over-the-top reaction. “Fair.”

“—but I grew up hearing stories about it here, so I wanted to come see for myself. It took me a few years because y’all don’t have transporters anywhere near, but I got here eventually.”

Hunk glances at his best friend, who has yet to stop playing with Keith’s fingers and won’t look at them. “I promise I am not being a dick,” he starts, which in hindsight could have been phrased better based on Lance’s scowl, “but why are you here? Like, Lance’s house specifically? And why hasn’t he told us about you?”

Luckily Lance laughs, looking a little more at ease. “He’s here because his father only told him about the Earth he knew decades ago. He was shot out of the sky the second he appeared on government scanners. He crash landed in one of the forests around here, and eventually made it to my door one night because he saw my porch light on and figured hostile shelter was better than no shelter. Luckily, I am not hostile shelter.”

The irony is not lost on Hunk.

“And did you jump his bones the second you saw the claws, or did you wait a week?” Pidge asks, grinning evilly.

Lance goes red again.

“He was injured!” Lance says hotly. “My first thought was to help him!”

“So it’s a Florence Nightingale situation,” Hunk says, smiling just as sharply.

Lance sees the tease for the apology it is.

“You’re a jerk,” he says, pouting. “Nobody in this household loves me.”

“I do,” Keith says, as if it’s the easiest thing in the world to say.

Lance softens like a goddamn block of spilled ice cream on pavement during a summer heatwave. Holy shit. It’s so saccharine it’s honestly a little gross (not really).

“As much as I have decided to be happy for you, Lance, if you two start making out I am going to throw things at you.”

Lance rolls his eyes, but settles for a quick, chaste kiss.

“Alright, you prude. I assume you two broke into my house with the intention to stay for the weekend?”

“Yep!” Pidge says, completely ignoring the dig. “And you are no sooner making me drive the six fucking hours back to the city than fly to the moon, so point me in the direction of the nearest bed. I’ll make fun of you more in the morning.”

“You mean the late afternoon, you lazy dog,” Lance teases, but gets up anyway. He presses another kiss to Keith’s lips as he gets up. “I’ll meet you in a few, okay?”

“Alright,” Keith says, and then he says something else in a language Hunk doesn’t understand that makes Lance all moon-eyed before heading back to Lance’s — to their bedroom.

“I’ll get you guys some fresh sheets and whatever,” Lance says, waving them over. “And then none of you are to bother me until I leave. If you walk in on us again and get scarred for life that will not be my problem.”

Pidge and Hunk look at each other before looking away in disgust.

“Understood,” they say immediately.

Lance grins.

———

part two