#it's like that one thing about how the kids were eleven/twelve when they met the executives

[sophieswundergarten]

Who wants to talk about Jackson and Jillson?

Because they are just so strange and awesome. In the books we don't get to see much of their relationship, but I love how unique it is in the show!!

They way they are so in-sync! And how they trade off finishing each other's sentences, to the point where when they do have a disagreement it throws off the whole scene. They support each other pretty much unconditionally, which is fantastic! (They honestly might have the most stable relationship of the whole show, because the only time I can think of them fighting is that one short bit in season two where they tell Curtain about the sleepers)

The way they love each other is so cool, especially when you consider the backstory of them being kidnapped and latching onto each other because they were taken to the Institute at the same time. They'll be right behind the other no matter what, but they're also not afraid to be honest. There are a few times that we see Jillson speaking her mind in a way that doesn't necessarily agree with Jackson, but he takes it in stride and they work it out.

And even though it's incredibly sweet, you can see how lost they are without one another. The fear in Jackson's eyes when Curtain tells him to become his own person and learn who he is, and who does he turn to? Jillson, even though she's as confused and scared as he is. The two of them literally don't know who they are without Curtain, and so they return to the only safety they know: each other.

[pathologicalreid]

heyyyy how ruu

english is not my first language so i hope you can understand this u.u

this idea has been consuming my brain for days, sooo basically i was thinking about bau fem reader and reid doing undercover work (idk) and when they see the unsub, reader's first thought is to kiss reid so the unsub can't recognize them (and he wouldnt waste time in 2 ppl kissing???), then when reader sees the unsub going towards the exit even though she doesnt want to she breaks the kiss and everything is awkward but in a cute way??? yea idk if this makes sense feel free to change anything or to not do it at all :]

in plain sight | S.R.

your quick thinking (in an attempt to protect him) leads to a thankful spencer

who? spencer reid x fem!reader category: fluff content warnings: reader is explicitly referred to as a woman. general cm violence. making out (for the plot). haphazardly proofread. word count: 1.19k a/n: no worries anon, i understood this perfectly! thank you so much for requesting!

Your firearm was digging into your hip as you leaned up against the wall of the bar. You were on high alert as you looked around the building, scanning the faces of people who walked by.

“L/N, Reid, anything?” Hotch called into the radios. The team was across the street in a surveillance van.

Quickly, your eyes met Spencer’s, “No sign of the suspect.” Silently, you hoped that Hotch would pull you from the bar and let you go back to the hotel for the night, but you knew that wasn’t the way your unit chief played the game.

You were more or less trapped inside a college bar, your shoes were sticking to the old wooden floor, and because you and Spencer were the youngest members of the team, you were voluntold to go undercover.

Reid had never looked more out of place, but he was twelve when he started college, so you supposed he had never really been in a dive bar like this one before. “Hey,” you said softly, “Are you alright?” You knew he had a thing about germs, and if you were bothered by the sticky floors, you couldn’t imagine how he was feeling.

“I’m sure this comes as a surprise, but this,” he gestured to the partying college kids around you, “isn’t really my scene.”

A small laugh bubbled up from your throat, “Oh, no. I never would’ve guessed,” you played along with his sarcasm. “I’m afraid my shoes are going to come off when I try to walk,” you admitted.

He smiled slightly, “I’m trying not to think about it.”

Tentatively, you moved a little closer to him so you wouldn’t have to shout over the music. “I thought the UnSub hunted around ten?” You questioned. All of the bodies were usually found at midnight with lividity just barely beginning to show, meaning the victims were picked at ten, killed by eleven, and found at midnight.

They were calling him the Countdown Killer because he kept on such a tight schedule. “He should be,” Spencer answered, glancing down at the watch on his wrist.

You looked around the bar, the both of you had your backs to a wall, so you weren’t exposed on that side.

“Remember, if you spot him, do not engage,” Hotch ordered through your radios. You and Reid were simply there to find him, the rest of the team would handle the chase. “He’s likely been watching the news, so he may recognize your faces – don’t let him.”

While you weren’t entirely sure how you were supposed to hide your face from the suspect without seeming suspicious, you confirmed the plan with Hotch anyway.

 A gleam of blonde caught your eye, narrowing your eyes, you focused on the figure. “Spencer,” you swatted at his hand, “two o’clock.”

Discreetly, Spencer’s gaze flickered over in the direction you had suggested. “Turn around,” Spencer said, “Don’t let him see your face.”

You turned around so that you were facing Spencer, looking away from the suspect. “What about your face?” You asked, surely the both of you staring at the brick wall would seem suspicious.

“He’s killing women. I don’t want him to notice you,” he responded, momentarily looking past you and at the suspect.

Surprised, you furrowed your brows at Reid’s statement, by having you face him, he was trying to protect you. You turned your face into your shoulder, “Suspect is in the bar,” you whispered into your mic.

There was recognition from the rest of the team before it went quiet again. “He’s approaching us,” Spencer said, faint alarm springing onto his features. He wasn’t talking into the radio; he was letting you know.

Spencer might’ve been outside of the victimology, but you couldn’t bear it if anything happened to him if the suspect recognized him.

Instinctively, you leaned up on your tiptoes and pressed your lips against his. You were kissing Spencer.

At first, he was surprised, but his hands quickly found a home on your waist as he kissed you back. Your lips worked gently on his as he eased his mouth open, deepening the kiss. Abruptly, Spencer dragged you closer to him by the waist. The sudden movement caused your eyes to flutter open.

In your periphery, you could see the dangerous blonde walking away. He must’ve walked right past you, and Spencer had pulled you away from him. You let your eyes fall shut again.

You reached up to sling your arms over his shoulders as he experimentally slipped his tongue into your mouth. Your heart raced as you were fully making out with Spencer in the college bar.

Reluctantly, you separated yourself from Spencer, “Is he gone?” You whispered, peering up at him through your eyelashes.

Spencer nodded, swallowing thickly. His cheeks were tinted pink, and you were sure you were flushed as well.

You pressed your mic button, not taking your eyes off Spencer’s, “Suspect’s exiting out the rear door,” you notified the team. Suddenly, your job was done, and you became conscious of Spencer’s hands where they still remained on your waist.

Hotch asked you to report to the van, and you took Spencer’s hand and led him out of the bar. The cool night air calmed your rushing blood. “Thank you for that,” he said from behind you as you halted to look for passing cars.

You spun on your heel to look at him, “Did you just thank me for kissing you?”

“I thanked you for distracting the suspect, so he didn’t recognize me,” Spencer corrected, squeezing your hand.

Instinctively, you dropped his hand, “Right, me and my quick thinking.” There was not a single clear thought in your head. You started crossing the street as Spencer called your name, obviously confused.

You yanked your earbud out while the rest of the team was rambling on about the takedown over the comms. “What just happened?” Spencer asked.

“We made out in a bar, and you thanked me for it,” you answered stiffly, leaning your back against the white van. “So, you’re welcome,” you said. Really, you didn’t know what you wanted from him, and you knew that Reid’s experience with women was limited at best.

Surprisingly, Spencer rested a hand on either side of your head and leaned intoxicatingly close to you, “Did you want me to say something else to you?”

You looked up at him, you weren’t sure you had ever noticed the green flecks in his eyes, “I had a few ideas, yes.”

“Here was my other option,” he told you, dropping his head so that your lips met once again. You gasped into his mouth in surprise. Hesitantly, you placed one hand on the side of his neck and the other in his hair. He used both of his hands to cup your face, kissing you with less urgency than you had in the bar as if you had all of the time in the world.

The both of you jumped when the passenger side door to the van swung open and Emily poked her head out, “You know we can see you in the side mirrors, right?”

[makethatelevenrings]

Angel by the Wings // Thirty-Seven

If you saw me update 36 instead of this chapter, no u didn't. Huge thanks to the sweet nonny who pointed out and did it in such a polite way alskjdlfkasjdf I love you!!!

Chapter Warnings: reader worries about the baby as per usual but all is well

Series Masterlist (Mobile Masterlist)

He was late.

You shifted your weight from foot to foot and checked your phone again. Nothing. Your appointment didn’t start for another twenty minutes, but you liked to get there early in case you needed to update any paperwork. Bradley had promised he would be there and Jake…

You had no idea. You hadn’t heard from him in days. You didn’t even know if he got your note.

Pushing a breath out of your lungs, you squinted against the glare of the sun and looked for the familiar Bronco in the parking lot. Nothing.

Your stomach turned with what you hoped was nerves and you settled a hand over the small swell of your bump. Eleven, almost twelve weeks. Fuck, things were moving quickly.

“It’s sunny. You should be inside.”

Your head raised at the familiar voice and you met the blue eyed gaze of Jake Seresin. He was still in his olive green flight suit and he removed his baseball cap when you turned to face him. Your heart seized for a moment and it was like you forgot how handsome he was.

“I’m fine.” You raised your huge reusable water bottle. “Not like I can avoid the sun in San Diego.”

He stopped just a few feet from you, his eyes never leaving yours. You swallowed past the lump in your throat.

“I’m sorry,” he said. The two words made your heart lurch and you bit your lip. Before you could say anything, he continued. “I’m sorry for being the biggest piece of shit.” A startled laugh escaped you and a small smile flickered across his lips.

“I’m sorry for what I said.”

Jake stepped closer, one of his hands hovering just above your bicep. You nodded and he let his palm settle against your skin. Sparks erupted at his touch and you let your eyes slide shut.

“You left me,” you whispered. “You left us.”

“I know. I wish I hadn’t.” He sighed and leaned forward, pressing his forehead against yours. “I’ve got some screws loose up here, darlin’.” He tapped his temple. “But I’m gonna get some help to figure out what I need to make sure I can be a good man for you three.”

Your hand fisted in the collar of his suit. “You are a good man, Jake. You’re the only one who can’t see that.”

He chuckled and then laid a kiss in between your brows. You sank into his touch and felt moisture build on your lashes. His hand slid from your arm to cradle the back of your neck. “I’m going to therapy, once every two weeks. My mom encouraged it. She wants to meet you properly.”

“Jake, I didn’t mean what I said. I-”

“Hey, hey, hey.” He laid a kiss to your left eyelid and then the right. “It’s in the past. I want this. I want you and Roo and god, I want this baby. I want it so bad.”

“And you won’t leave again? Because I won’t let my kid grow up with that threat over their head. That’s not fair to me and not fair to them. So either you stay or you make your mind up now and leave.”

He shook his head. “I’m all in. Diaper changes, blowouts, tantrums. From Roo and the baby. I want it all. I want this family.”

You inhaled a stuttered breath. “I won’t survive if you leave again.”

Guilt nearly drowned him as he remembered Rooster’s words about your mother and he curled his body around yours, protecting and hiding you from the world. He settled his cap to rest on the back of his head and then cradled your face so he could draw your lips against his. You let all the worries and fears that plagued your mind fall silent as he slid his tongue against yours and easily took control. That was something that always drew you to Jake from that very first kiss. In fact, their ability to make you feel so incredibly safe was probably the main reason you gravitated towards your men.

“I’m not leaving, darlin’. If you want me, you’ll have me, in any way you want.

“Sorry to interrupt, but we need to get inside.”

You pulled back from Jake as heat rushed to your cheeks and sent a half-hearted glare at Bradley. He was also in his flight suit and you were suddenly hot all over for a different reason. The brunet leaned down to steal a quick kiss from you and he hummed in pleasure at the lingering taste of Jake mingled with you.

“I’m sorry,” Jake told Bradley. 

“Do it again and I’ll kick your ass. And then I’ll let Nat and Sofia after you.”

Jake paled slightly but didn’t argue. Instead, he settled one hand on your waist and extended his other arm for Bradley. The brunet glanced at you and you nodded in reassurance. He sidled up against Jake and you watched with rapt attention as they kissed, soft and sweet, a startling contrast to their imposing figures.

“You’re right, by the way,” Bradley said once they pulled away. Jake settled his lips against the crown of your hair and inhaled you deeply, as if he could commit the smell of your shampoo to memory. He hummed in confirmation that he heard Bradley and the brunet slid his hand around the back of Jake’s neck and gave him a quick squeeze.

“I was looking at houses. Mav helped me. A house for the four of us. A nursery for the baby, an office you and I can share, and a front porch so Angel can sit out there in the mornings. I think I found the perfect place, but then…”

Jake inhaled sharply at the realization and he shut his eyes, his hand fisting in the rough Nomex material of Bradley’s flight suit. Bradley merely kissed his temple and then swatted you both on the hip.

“No, seriously, we’re going to be late.”

The nerves lurched back into your stomach and rose into your throat. You gripped the closest hand to you as the elevator crept up to your OB’s office. You really didn’t give a shit about the gender, but every visit worried you that something was wrong or you were doing something wrong or-

A hand settled on the back of your neck and you glanced up at Jake. His blue eyes were lined with exhaustion and he seemed older than he should be, but his face was softer than the night of the fight. You didn’t know how they did it, but both boys had some keen ability to read what you were thinking.

“If it’s a boy, Javy is going to beg us to name it after him,” he said. You snorted at the thought and shook your head. Names hadn’t even crossed your mind at this point. Your focus was locked into taking one step at a time and breathing deeply until the nurse called you back. Rooster squeezed his hand on your hip when the three of you stood and you held out your hand. He took it in his own and offered you an easy grin.

“Alright, we’re at fourteen weeks,” Dr. Greenberg announced when she entered the exam room. You were already lying on the table, your shirt pulled up and ultrasound tech searching for the little blob on the screen. As if on cue, the second she entered brought the now-familiar whoosh of the baby’s heartbeat into the room. You relaxed finally, your muscles easing from the tight pull you had them locked in, and Jake settled his hand on your head. His thumb drew circles against your temple and you smiled up at him in thanks.

“Your labs are looking good, you’re looking good. Baby is looking excellent. You’re into the second trimester, so how are you feeling? Nausea gone?”

“Yeah, it’s been nice not puking my guts up. Now I’m hungry all the time. I had to go up a cup in bra size,” you explained. “Still fit into my shorts though so that’s nice.”

Dr. Greenberg chuckled and moved to stand by the tech, her eyes studying the screen. Her smile grew and she glanced at the three of you out of the corner of her eye.

“You want to find out the gender today, correct? Baby is in the perfect position to tell,” she said. You lit up and nodded.

“There’s a few bets going,” Bradley added. “All of it’s going to the college fund, but I know some folks are going to be sore losers.”

“Well, you can tell them that it’s a-”

Jake marveled at the way your bump had grown in just the short time since he had seen you. It no longer looked like it could be just some bloating, but was forming into a defined curve. He hadn’t really looked earlier, being so focused on just talking to you and then on the screen in the exam room, but now he took in the sight of you. 

Bradley showed you around the craftsman he had found. You had lit up at the sight of the long porch and swing couch and it just kept getting better. The house had been updated, but touches of its original history still remained in stained glass windows and pocket sliding doors. The living room bled into the kitchen and Jake paused at the island, gazing into the adjoining room that Bradley explained would be a great office space for the three of you to share. He turned to look at the breakfast nook tucked against the kitchen that led to a back porch with a sizable backyard. Jake could picture it now; he would make dinner as Bradley chased your child around the backyard, laughter filling the air. You would come home from work, stomach rounded with another child and he didn’t give a shit whose it was. He could taste the joy. He wanted this.

“Coming?” Bradley waited at the bottom of the steps for Jake to join them. They climbed up to the second floor and looked at the main bedroom and bathroom before moving onto the two smaller rooms. You stepped into the sunlit room and spun around to take in the full space.

“It’s perfect,” you breathed. A light had returned to your eyes and Bradley felt settled for the first time in a long time. Jake ran his hand along the wall and grinned.

“Grey and green are good for the paint?” He pointed to the far corner. “Crib there, rocking chair. What theme did you say you wanted again?”

“Animals.” Your hand came down to rest on your bump. “I think it’d be cute.”

Bradley leaned against the doorframe and watched his lovers plan out the nursery. It was a good thing he already told the realtor they would take it. He knew the second he pulled the Bronco into the driveway and saw the look on your faces.

“What do you think?” he finally asked.

“I love it, bear. Seriously. But I’m surprised it hasn’t sold yet.”

He pushed away from the wall to join you two, one hand sliding to rest in Jake’s back pocket and the other tugging you close. “Mav is a friend of the realtor. He’s been doing me a favor by keeping it off the market for a bit. Do you want it?”

You hesitated, your eyes darting to Jake’s. The blond touched your cheek and smiled. “Yeah, darlin’, we want it.”

“Are you sure?” Everything was moving so fast that sometimes you could hardly believe it was real.

“Yeah,” Bradley assured you. “We’d do anything for our girls.”

[alwaysonf1]

are they flirting?

Pairing: Charles LeClerc x Hamilton!OC

Genre: Slice of Life; Fluff

Word Count: 2.4k

Warning: Mild Language.

Rating: PG-13

Author's Note: And this my loves, is the end of 'A Week.' Forever is within reach.

Charles’ every thought is filled with things regarding the way Iman dances. The schedule meant that there were two games that would happen while they were filming. Everyone was given the choice to go or not to go, but all of them jumped at the chance to experience the energy of the first night.

And despite how even now Charles wants to deny it, he’s more than just fascinated by this part of college life that he never would have gotten to experience. No, most of his interest lies with the girl with the bright smile dancing along to the band’s rendition of New Edition’s “Can You Stand the Rain.” Every move is made with a fluidness and grace that most only attribute to ballet.

As it winds down, and the girls take their seats he finds himself wishing for a repeat of the same performance. Maybe then he could look at all of them and not just stare at Iman the entire time.

Movement to his left draws his attention and breaks him out of embarrassing himself if Iman caught him looking at her for so long. He sees Lewis embracing someone and he assumes it’s a friend of Iman’s mom, but when they pull away, he’s met with the smiley face of Logan Sargeant.

The young Williams’ driver is chatting it up with Lewis as if they’re best friends. All while Charles can’t remember a time, he’s ever seen them interact. He’s not even sure he’s ever seen them look at each other.

It’s confusing and as if sensing his gaze, they both turn to look at him. Lewis wears a smirk and Logan’s smile is just as bright as when Charles first looked their way.

“Hey, Charles.”

“Hello.”

The silence following that greeting is loud, even in a loud stadium. As seconds tick by Logan’s expression morphs into confusion and then Charles watches as he looks to Lewis and the lightbulb clicks on.

“Oh! Sorry for crashing. I had some time to fly out here and I like to visit Iman when I can. Lewis said it would be fine for me to come since this is the last day of filming.”

That answers so little, but it does give Charles an opening.

“You know her?” he asks.

The smile returns. “Yeah, we’ve known each other since we were kids. Met at some of the competitions here.”

His explanation makes sense. Iman seems to have been somewhat involved with her brother and mother’s line of work all her life, even if it was in a more covert way. That meant she probably crossed paths with many drivers, even him, without any of them knowing who she was or her relation to Lewis. But Logan seems to know.

“Hold on. Have you always known about her? Them?”

Lewis laughs and Logan joins in. The other drivers walk over, their attention drawn away from the game that restarted. Most seem as confused as Charles was, but they greet the American driver warmly, nonetheless.

“He didn’t know until they were like eleven or twelve. They were already friends and she wanted me to meet him. We trusted him to keep the secret and he hasn’t let it slip even a little bit. In fact, he was on my side about not doing this at first, but hey, you know how siblings are, they get their way.”

“Really? You both lost against her?” Alex asks, amused.

“I rarely win against her. She knows how to divide and conquer, so she made some good points and so I helped her convince Lewis.”

“Giving yourself a lot of credit there with that help, huh Sargeant?” Lewis jokes.

Logan nudges him and laughs. “She’s the one who tells it like that. We both know I was there to just nod.”

This comradery is shocking. Charles feels like he’s in an alternate universe as he sees them talk and laugh together. He turns to look at his teammate and sees the confusion he knows is on his face too. Somehow, he’d managed to just accept that Logan of all people has known, but this dynamic change between the drivers is the real stunner.

It takes a bit, but he zones back into the conversation between the two.

“Like that time, she called my dad an ass and some things I’m just not comfortable repeating,” Logan says.

“Is he still scared of her?”

“Yup. He said something dumb, that’s on him.”

That subject is one Charles is interested in, but a throat clear draws his attention to Daniel.

“Any particular reason you didn’t want to?” Daniel asks.

“She’s my baby sister, I always want to protect her from how things can get. Ya know?”

A chorus of agreement sounds because everyone gets it.

Charles definitely knows. What he often deals with in the industry and with the media was the same, but also different from what Lewis got hit with. Sometimes he wanted to keep his family far away from the spotlight, but he left the choices in their hands and did what he could to limit some of the stuff that people would write and say about them for clicks.

The arena erupts in cheers, forcing the groups’ attention on the field. Southern’s team is leading by far and they’ve made another touchdown. The joy of the players can be seen by the way they celebrate in the end zone and Charles is reminded of how much he likes the camaraderie in sports. It’s there, but not as strong in motorsport. An expected outcome when even your teammate is a rival for a win.

For the rest of the game, they’re focused on the football part of it. It’s a good game and though the team is running away with the win it has its tense and exciting moments. When it ends, they allow everyone else to make their way out, post celebration, and then head to the tunnel that Iman told them to meet her. She’s already there near the exit with her bag and changed into her outfit for dinner. The green dress she’s wearing compliments her brown skin and fits her perfectly.

As they reach the last few feet Logan moves to take the lead. He jogs to her, and Iman drops her bag to hug him tight. There’s an uncomfortable churn in Charles’ stomach.

“Hey, Lo. Didn’t know you were coming,” Iman says.

“I had time and Lewis said it would be fine. Plus, it’s your last season. Have to see my big sister perform as much as I can.”

Logan removes himself from the hug and puts some distance between them as he says it. From the way Iman’s eyes narrow Charles can tell it’s a wise decision.

“It’s less than a year difference, you dork.”

“Still a difference.”

“Wait, how old are you?” Lance asks.

“Uh…”

“She’s twenty-three,” Lewis says.

Daniel coughs. “Twenty-three?” 

“You don’t remember your age?” Charles asks.

Iman gasps and lightly slaps his arm, which makes him laugh. “It’s a fresh twenty-three. And there are too many numbers in my head to keep track. And to answer the question I know is there, I took a little over a year for a gap. It involved working as a mechanic and traveling. If I wasn’t in GA or deep within the Mercedes or Williams areas, you would have run into me at almost every grand prix.”

A weird feeling fills Charles. He doesn’t like that they could have met sooner and didn’t. He gets why, but for some reason he wishes he’d gotten the chance. Though if he's honest the reason isn’t that mysterious to him, he’s just pushing it out of his head. He can’t linger on it for too long or he’ll do something stupid.

“But enough about that. We need to leave now to get to the restaurant on time. All questions can be asked there.”

And with that she picks up the bag - which is then taken by Logan - and they all follow her out to the cars. She gets into the one Logan is driving. Lewis does as well and without question Charles follows them. He’s been attached at the hip to the Hamilton siblings all week, so he finds no reason not to be now. 

And he ignores the smirk on Carlos and Daniel’s faces as they watch him go.

Once inside Logan pulls off while Iman puts the address into the GPS. Then she turns up the volume to a song and both of them basically scream the lyrics as if they’re the only two there. Charles looks to Lewis who is amused and looks at them in adoration. He finds himself smiling and humming along to the song, but let’s them have their moment.

Minutes into the drive, and a few songs later, Charles’ eyes shift to the rear view mirror just as Iman looks into it. She sees him and winks, all while continuing what has turned into screeching.

The dumb smile on his face can’t be helped.

###

Laughter fills the restaurant, the three tables they’re using all having various different conversations but all in a happy, upbeat mood. Things were a little awkward when everyone arrived, no one knew where to sit and were clearly uncertain with how the tables should mix. Iman had to take control and get them to sit anywhere, even if that meant it was between two drivers. 

Iman found herself in between Logan and Charles, with Lewis right across from her. All three were carrying the conversation while she ate off her and Logan’s plates, her mind mostly consumed with eating as much as the oddly delicious asparagus while refusing to order more. 

Before she knew it both of theirs was gone and a pout formed on her lips. One that she’s hyper aware of to the point that she shakes her head a little and pulls it together. Reminding herself that she’s being silly.

Her stomach doesn’t get the memo though. It does a weird swirl, and it makes her wonder if she should order more of it. She shakes her head and tunes back into the conversation, focusing on the way Logan wheezes as he laughs at something that Lewis said. Something that Iman knows wasn’t that funny, but that the two of them clearly think lists her brother as king of comedy. 

It's almost a reflex as she turns to meet Charles' gaze and give him an eye roll about their theatrics. He’s wearing a bright smile and laughing softly, but with the way he looks at her Iman knows that laughter is largely because the two men are ridiculous.

Having that sort of connection makes her feel sane and pushes a laugh of her own out. But it causes an itch in her throat and before it can get any further, she reaches for her drink. Just as it reaches her lips her eyes notice her plate is no longer in front of her and instead it’s one that looks like it once held what Charles ordered.

Iman’s eyes move back to the man, and he’s immersed in the conversation with a producer and Lance. She stares at him for a while, lips parting to speak and then his head turns toward her. Charles winks at her, motions toward the plate, and then rejoins his conversation.

A soft grin forms on her lips and she grabs her fork, digging into what she promises herself will be the last of her new found addiction for the night. Mid chew she looks up and meets Logan’s gaze and he has a smirk on his face. His eyes twinkle with amusement and a knowing look that she hates to see on him. It’s the signal that he’s either going to say something she won’t like that he knows something that she doesn’t or something she doesn’t want to address.

Quickly she swallows the vegetable and glares at him.

“Shut it.”

“I wasn’t going to say anything.”

“Liar.”

His hand moves to his chest, and he fails an expression of faux hurt. “I would never.”

Yet again Iman finds herself rolling her eyes, but when she stops her attention is on her brother who wears a similar expression to Logan’s from moments ago.

“I’m sick of your shit.”

Lewis gapes. “Mine?”

“Both of yours.”

“Hey. I didn’t do anything.”

“That’s mean!”

Exasperated is not a fitting enough word for how she feels in the moment about their antics. Despite her ignoring certain signs and feelings herself she’s smart enough to not ignore them noticing all of that. And the fact that they want to comment and encourage it. No one ever tells the cons to having the world’s biggest cheerleaders by your side.

“Either of you open your mouths to say anything that’s running through those brains of yours when you speak again, and I’ll pop you.”

Both lean a bit away from her at that and a smile forms because she knows they won’t push it. At least not for the night. There’s no universe where she’s delusional enough to think that the subject is dropped forever. 

Lewis breaks the ice first, asking her questions about the rest of her season and making a joke that he’s going to be spend more time on the plane this season than he has all the others. From there it’s jokes and catching up with each other. Those close to them join in here and there, some even bring their chair to their part of the table to talk. At some point Charles joins back into the mix and he speaks like he’s been in on all the jokes as long as they have. And he ensures that her water is always topped off and slips her a piece of the cake she swore she wants none of.

By the time the night is over it’s like a peaceful high. They all head back to the hotel, Lewis got her a room for the night, and it’s both hard and easy for her to drift off at ease. In the morning they met for breakfast as their last meeting before everyone, except Logan, were headed to the airport. There were hugs all around and Charles is the last to embrace her, both of them lingering longer than the norm.

She and Logan wave to them until the vans are out of sight. With them officially gone Iman sighs and turns to head back into the hotel. Logan is giving her a look, his brow raised a little as he grins like the cheshire cat.

“Shut up.”

“Nope.”

She walks away and he keeps up with her quick pace and as the elevator doors close, he has a million and one questions and opinions on a situation he got to experience for less than twenty-four hours. 

[jqmalikhsgib]

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varietymagazine “fame just got to my head,” styles starts. “it was all my fault. im the reason my family was almost broken.” click the link in our bio to learn more about harry styles life, music, and more!

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Harry Styles: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly! 

When we hear the name Harry Styles, most of us scream our lungs out. The ex One Direction member holds our hearts in his hands without batting an eyelash.

Harry Styles was born in Worcestershire, England February First to Anne Twist and Des Styles making Gemma Styles an older sister. Harry would describe his childhood like any other.

“I was just a normal kid, playing football in my backyard,” he states. “I’d make fun of my sister while she called me a butthead before we’d go and watch something on the telly.”

Styles opens up about being a child from divorce. “My mom and dad had problems. They’d fight here and there and Gem and I would just hold each other in one of our rooms. My parents finally decided enough was enough and separated. I was ten years old, somewhat heartbroken but ultimately relieved.”

When Harry was eleven he met the most loveliest woman he’d ever seen. She’d just moved from America with her dad and five older brothers. The moment Harry saw her, he just knew!

“I couldn’t keep my eyes off of yn. She was breathtaking. I had to get to know her!”

Harry and Yn relationship begins when they were only twelve years old. From that moment they were each others first love. Harry states he’s never felt love like the one he’s had with YN.

Harry opens up about his personal life with his wife and his kids. Including the moment they became teen parents.

“We were young and dumb. The only thing we were thinking about was each other. When she called me crying, telling me she’s pregnant, we were just about to hit fourteen. We’d just started high school and we were scared shitless. I ended up getting a job at the local bakery and our parents helped us as much as they could. When our son was born we never felt so much pride and joy. We created this tiny little human out of love. Nothing has ever made either of us feel more proud.” Styles goes on to say.

Harry then talks about his dream of being a singer. He opens up about how silly he thought it was, but how his mom, sister, and wife talked him into auditioning for the X-factor.

“If it weren’t for my family, I would have never went to that audition! My mom and sister always encouraged me to live my dream. In my head it was a given. ‘Of course they’ll say this, im their son and brother.’ I thought to myself. But YN wasn’t either, I guess it was different when I heard it from her.”

Styles smiles as he discussed how he use to sing their son [Corbin Styles] to sleep. “He’d have this huge smile on his face. Every single time he’d close his eyes, he’d fight his sleep just so he could hear me sing. That’s really when I knew, I gotta audition!”

In that moment, Harry’s life changed forever! He was apart of the biggest boyband in the world, One Direction. Being put into a group with four other boys [Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Zayn Malik] Harry talks about his relationship with each band member.

“Being put into a group with four different boys was difficult, sure! Of course it was exciting and love there in the beginning. We’re just five boys who had the same dream. But we’re also five boys with five different personalities, five different voices, five different views of the world, five different love stories. We bumped heads a lot, especially towards the end,” Styles states. “I think after four years of constant tour, no breaks, arguments, screaming, and barely seeing our families, we were all kinda done. At this moment I was married to YN, she was pregnant with payton, so I wanted to be there for her and both of our kids more. Louis was about to have his own baby, Liam was dealing with his own battles, Niall had family troubles, and Zayn had left the band. We were all kinda worn out. It was time we ventured out on our own and see where life would take us. In a way, it made our relationship better. Niall, Louis, and Liam are all uncles to my children. Zayn was my best friend in the band, he was named god-dad.”

We asked Harry about his first album, how it came about. “It was simple really! I’ve been writing my own music for a long time. I went to Jamaica with my wife and kids and it was lovely. I put together my own band, figured out which songs I wanted out there, and once it was ready, we set a date and even prepared for tour.” Harry smiles at the memory. Though it never reached his face.

This is when we asked him about his second album. Fine Line had been release two years after his self titled album, Harry Styles. Hearing it makes your heart break.

Harry talks about his relationship with wife. He opens up about his arrogance, ignorance, and his affair[s].

“I’m not gonna sugar coat it, I was a shit husband for a long time,” Harry tells us. “The moment we made it big, I’d get this big head and think, ‘fuck im the shit!’ so many women wanted me and would do anything to have me. I was weak and stupid. They all knew I was married with kids, I never hid that from my fans or obviously the women id sleep with.” Harry takes a deep breath. “YN and I would constantly argue. She’d cry herself to sleep at night when I didn’t come home or back to our hotel room when the boys and I were on tour. I remember when she packed her bag and left me.”

Harry wipes his tears before he continues. “It was around the last few legs of tour. I’d been sorta seeing at least two women regularly. [for privacy reasons harry didn’t mention names] She wrote me a note, stating she couldn’t do this anymore. She told me I either needed to get my shit together or she’d divorce me and get full custody. In this moment I knew, I needed to find myself again. Once tour was over, I flew to Japan, took a few friends, began the process of writing fine line, and went to therapy. I was gonna do everything in my power to get my family back together. from there, YN, me, and the kids would work on our new dynamic. I was slowly getting my family back.” Harry states.

Harry opens up about how a lot of the fans blamed YN during the time they’d been split up.

“I wanna clear this up, YN had nothing to do with our split. A lot of people assumed she’d been the one cheating or using me. She was always faithful and couldn’t care less if I had millions or pennies. She loved me for me. Fame just got to my head,” Styles starts. “It was my fault. I’m the reason my family was almost broken.”

YN has been known to be vocal to people who constantly hate on her. Harry opens up about the relationship she has with his fanbase.

“I think if you can’t respect your favorite artist relationship, you’re not a real fan. Truth is, YN is my wife. I almost lost her years ago, I’m not gonna lose her over something so petty. She’s the mother of my children and my wife. People should respect that!” Styles states. He continues to talk about her social media comments and post.

“She can do whatever she wants! I don’t control her, nor does my team! YN has always been very open when it comes to our marriage. She’s not gonna sensor herself simply because others can’t get the hint. That’s one of the many things I love about her!” Styles finished.

During our interview, Harry opens up about his next album before he leaves.

“The next albums gonna be filled with more love than anything. I think this one will be filled with dancing, smiles, and laughter. I’m really excited to share it with the world.” Harry states before he politely shakes our hands and walks over to his family.

[imagines--galore]

||The Thread of Fate|| Part Thirty

Summary: Soulmate AU. They say the Thread of Fate connects you to your one true love. It may tangle. It may stretch. But it will never break. Wrapped around your little finger it tightens when it feels your soulmate is close and loosens when they are far. And becomes visible with the colors of your soulmate’s Nation when you finally fall in love with them.

Pairing: Zuko x OroraOC (ATLA)

Rating || Genres || Warnings: T+ Romance. Adventure.

Previous Chapters - Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six, Part Seven, Part Eight, Part Nine, Part Ten, Part Eleven, Part Twelve, Part Thirteen, Part Fourteen, Part Fifteen, Part Sixteen, Part Seventeen, Part Eighteen, Part Nineteen, Part Twenty, Part Twenty-One, Part Twenty-Two, Twenty-Three, Twenty Four, Twenty-Five, Twenty-Six, Twenty-Seven, Twenty-Eight, Twenty-Nine,

A/N: A filler chapter, but I guess we all deserve one after all the emotions and turmoil and heavy stuff. And the next couple of chapters are also gonna be filler so.....yup! Hope you enjoy!

Zuko stared in amazement.

"So, you're telling me that you made your sword from a rock that came from space." The surprise and awe was evident in his voice as he lifted Sokka's sword at eye-level and inspected the blade. Sokka, who was sitting beside the Prince gave a proud grin.

"Yup! Toph even made an arm-band out of the leftover piece." The girl in question pulled off the only piece of jewelry she would probably ever wear and held it up, only to change it shape as she bended it to show her control over the space rock. "That's pretty amazing." Zuko commented, to which Toph gave a small shrug of nonchalance, a slightly smug grin on her lips.

There was no denying the pride in her voice as she added. "That's nothing compared to my invented metalbending." How exactly a thirteen year old had been able to do that, was still a mystery to him, but Zuko wasn't about to question Toph's age. None of them were of age to become Masters and yet everyone fighting beside Aang seemed to be powerful in their own right.

Aang was a Master Airbender and Waterbender. Not to mention his Earthbending skills weren't as abysmal as she had thought, according to Toph, and he was shaping up to be a pretty good Firebender too.

Katara was a Master Waterbender, and she was accomplished when it came to Healing Abilities. Not to mention Toph had told him how she had made her own water while in jail.

Toph was a Master Earthbender, while also having created Metalbending and mastering that as well. Zuko suspected it was a good thing he never had to face off against her in a battle.

Sokka was a good strategist and given that he had helped invent the War Balloon and other War Machines they'd used during the Invasion, Zuko had made the assumption that despite his rather clumsy nature, he was a formidable warrior.

Orora was a Master when it came to Healing Abilities, and, according to Aang, she was nearing the Master level as a Waterbender. She had really come a long way since he had met her.

And then there was him. A Master Firebender, with an expertise in sword-dueling from Piandao himself.

Guess it wasn't a surprise that he actually felt as if he were equal to all of them on every level. Something he had never felt before. With his peers or really anyone his own age, he had always been Advanced, so he hadn't been able to find a connection with them. With people older then him, other then his Uncle, they'd thought him to be too immature to give him the time of day. Plus most of them were just old gasbags who were more concerned about keeping their positions rather then let someone younger take their place.

For once, Zuko felt like he belonged with these people. Kids his own age.

And it felt nice.

Suddenly Toph sat up straight from where she had been sitting in a slouch and grinned. "Well look who's finally up!"

Though before the Earthbender had even begun to talk, Zuko knew who it was.

Since he had felt his string tug.

Sure enough, Orora was walking towards them, stretching her arms over her head as she did. "Morning." She managed to speak, despite the yawn that accompanied it. "You do realize that its nearly afternoon right?" Sokka asked the older girl who made her way towards the water pots they kept for washing up. "I mean I love to sleep in as much as the next guy, but this is a bit excessive for you isn't it?"

Glancing up from where she had been splashing some of the water on her face, Orora gave him a deadpanned look. "That's because no one else has a room mate who snores like a platypus bear." She shot back, glaring at Toph as she did. The younger girl grinned. "Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning."

Orora simply rolled her eyes as she sat down between Sokka and Toph, which put Zuko sitting across from her, completing the little circle.

Glancing at the sky, the Waterbender sighed. "Guess I'll just have to wait till lunch to get something to eat." She muttered under her breath, reaching up to run a hand through her hair, which she had left unbound for the time being. Or rather because she'd left the strips she tied her hair with in the fountain room and hadn't been back to retrieve them.

She barely had any time to pout when a bowl of rice appeared in her line of vision. Orora blinked, staring at the hand holding it out for her.

"I saved some for you." Zuko stated, clearing his throat as he did. "Aang and Katara went off to practice Waterbending and Sokka and I were in charge of cleaning up so I figured I'd save the leftover for you." Why he felt the need to explain himself further was beyond him.

The gesture was enough for old memories to reawaken. All those times she had been the one to save food for him, and cover it so it would stay warm for him.

Reaching out, she took the bowl, cradling it between her palms as she looked up at him and gave a small smile. "Thanks." Sokka, who had pretended to go back to polishing his sword, glanced between the both of them out of the corner of his eyes. Meanwhile, Toph picked up on something that she had held back for so long, but wasn't about to because she knew it would cause chaos and embarrassment for both Orora and Zuko.

And she lived for it.

"Woah!" She exclaimed softly, grinning from ear to ear.

Zuko glanced at her, frowning slightly. "What?"

"Relax guys! It was just a bowl of rice, not a proposal. Your heartbeats are going crazy."

The result was instantaneous. Zuko went red in the face, his mouth opening and closing as if he wanted to say something but couldn't find the words for it. Sokka choked on his own laughter, fell backwards, regained his breath, before resuming laughing. Orora pursed her lips, her cheeks pink, as she glared at her friend.

"I can feel you glaring at me right now Ice Princess." Toph commented, not at all bothered by the heat she could feel behind the look Orora was giving her despite being unable to see. Smiling smugly, the blind girl raised her cup of water to her lips to take a drink.

Only to find it frozen solid.

"Hey!" She protested, glaring in Orora's direction who simply smirked before taking a bite of her rice. Having regained a little bit of his composure, Sokka managed to sit up straight once more, though he put his space sword back in it's sheath. "So............, did the two of you manage to talk things out?" He asked, glancing between the still red-faced and slightly annoying looking Fire Nation Prince and a Waterbender who was calmly eating her breakfast.

Obviously neither of them knew the two of them, along with Aang and Katara had been spying on them last night. Before the either of the concerned person could make a comment, Toph spoke up. "Course they did. Firebug's been chirpy all morning hasn't he? Must mean something good came out of yesterday."

All three of them paused.

"Firebug?" Zuko echoed, to which Toph nodded, looking way too proud of herself. "Don't worry. That won't be your only nickname. I also have Angry Guy and Prince Pouty." The last nickname had Orora clapping a hand over her mouth to muffle the snort of laughter that escaped her. Zuko threw an annoyed glare in her direction to which she shrugged. "Well not like you haven't been called that before."

Her words only prompted him to pout, which resulted in Orora and Sokka bursting out into loud laughter.

                                           ————————–

When she had woken up earlier that morning, Orora had expected things to still be tense between her and Zuko. Not wanting to deal with what was to come, and simply bask in the knowledge that she and Zuko were, for once, in agreement when it came to what they were for one another, she'd closed her eyes, and went back to sleep.

The next time she woke, the girl had forced herself to get out of bed. And yes, when she had stepped out of her room she had been nervous, unable to determine how things would be between her and Zuko.

Would they still be at odds and be awkward around one another, or would things be just as they had been in Ba Sing Se?

She found herself praying to the Spirits it was the latter.

And Zuko's simple act of saving her some breakfast and giving it to her, was enough to shatter a few of the residual reservations she had about her decision, while also making her see that perhaps, sometimes, prayers were duly answered.

Once she'd finished her breakfast, she dragged Sokka off to retrieve whatever she had left in the fountain room yesterday.

In reality, she had needed some advice.

Just one last bit of doubt before she could truly move on.

Sokka, sensing her hesitation, saved her by being the first one to speak. "So, are things alright between you two now?" He asked, peering at her face to make sure he saw any emotion that passed over her features.

Though he shouldn't have worried about her hiding anything from him, because quite honestly, Orora was sick and tired of hiding her true feelings. She had been forced to do it her entire life, and the past few months, the two times she had tried to keep her emotions in, she had, for lack of a better word, exploded.

And she was done.

"We talked." She revealed. "And he was ready to leave if his being here was too much for me." As they stepped into the fountain room, she spied her bag and walked over to retrieve it. "Sokka?" She called, clutching the pieces of blue she used to tie her hair back. "When did you decided that it was time for you to move on and put aside your grief for Yue?"

Turning, the girl watched as his expression grew somber and he pursed his lips, thinking over his answer. "I didn't." He finally revealed. "When we ran into Suki outside of Ba Sing Se, there was a point where she revealed she was my soulmate, but I didn't."

He sighed. "I thought I would be dishonoring Yue's memory by getting together with Suki." Sokka paused, allowing his memory of the girl to wash over him, before he smiled softly, Suki's face coming to his mind. "But then I realized that its not what she would've wanted. She would've wanted me to be happy." His smile widened. "So I told Suki she was my soulmate too."

Having walked over to stand in front of him, Orora gripped the strap of her bag. "But, didn't you feel any guilt or anything when you finally let go of your feelings for Yue?" She asked, wanting nothing more then to understand what he had gone through to move forward and carry on with his life.

The Warrior nodded. "I did, but Yue's sacrifice also made me realize that life is too short, and we shouldn't let things out of our control stop us from living our lives."

She blinked, his words settling within her and resonating more then anything. Sokka's advice were the very basis of her reasoning to let go of all that had happened between her and Zuko and move forward. And it did surprise her that Sokka had chosen to do the same because, she didn't think it would be easy to let go of all those feelings.

As he watched her expression change from uncertainty to realization, Sokka smiled, crossing his arms over his chest. "Seems for once I said something that didn't result in an ice mask." He joked, to which Orora smiled at him. "Don't get too confident about that. We still have the rest of the day." At his expression, she laughed.

"Thanks Sokka." He grinned, reaching out to wrap an arm around her shoulders as they began to walk back to where their friends were. "No problem. All I ask is that I don't have to walk in on you making goo-goo eyes at each other, or smooching. No smooching in front of me either, gives me the Ick."

He would've continued, if Orora hadn't allowed her wrist to snap and an ice mask to slap over his mouth, effectively shutting him up.

                                           ————————–

"Are you sure you should be doing this here?" Teo asked in a slightly nervous tone as he watched Toph crack her knuckles. The Earthbender scoffed. "Please this place has been standing a hundred years. A little bending match isn't gonna cause any harm."

Since Toph felt she hadn't appropriately kicked anyone's butt in the last few days she had offered a friendly bending match. And Sokka, being an ultimate Earth Rumble fan, his words, had volunteered Haru to face off against Toph.

And since the voices of reason, Katara and Aang, weren't around to stop them, and Orora had agreed because she had wanted a break from Toph's teasing, no one else had been opposed to the idea of a little entertainment.

Haru had quickly bended a large circular shape in the floor. The one to even step on the line would loose. It was a fairly large circle so enough for the two Earth benders to fight it out.

"And the person who uses any material from outside the circle looses." Orora called out from where she sat next to an excited Sokka. He looked almost as if he would vibrate out of his seat. She really didn't understand what was so exciting about two people fighting. Once both Earthbenders were within the ring, Sokka stood up.

"And begin!"

The best was two out of three.

As soon as Toph landed the first win, Sokka leapt to his feet, waving his arms in the air as he screamed and hollered. "Woohoo! Go Toph!" His sudden jump in the air included a knee in the face for Zuko who sat beside him, and a smack in the face to Orora as he waved his arms. She'd been sitting beside him, though on top of a rock giving her some elevation, and grumbled as she rubbed her aching nose.

"Calm down Sokka." She said, as Haru stepped into the ring once more. "Its just a bending battle."

The words seemed to act as a catalyst of some sort, since Sokka, The Duke and Teo, who were now just as immersed as Sokka was, turned to her with a look of utter aghast and shock. "Just a battle?!" Sokka shrieked as The Duke added. "This is the coolest thing I've ever seen. And I've seen a lot of things." He stated his eyes never wavering from Toph's strong figure.

Alright so she couldn't fault The Duke for being fascinating. It did involve his soulmate after all. But Teo as well? He looked ready to jump out of his wheelchair as he waved his arms in the air.

As the second round of Earth Rumble began, Orora dropped her chin in the palm of her hand as she rested the elbow atop her thigh. "Its just two people throwing around rocks for the fun of it." Glancing at Zuko where he sat in front of her, she nudged him gently with her knee. "I don't see you going ga-ga like these three. Not to your liking then?" She asked, as Zuko glanced briefly at the three shouting spectators.

He shrugged. "I mean its interesting, but I kinda agree. Its just two people throwing rocks at one another." At that moment Haru delivered a particularly brutal attack that even Toph had a little difficulty in maneuvering. But she was able to at the last moment.

Though to save herself, she had to send a rather sizable boulder in the direction of the spectators.

"Look out!"

It was only their instincts that saved Orora, Sokka and Zuko from getting crushed.

The three of them jumped out of the way, leaving the boulder to smash into the place where, mere moments ago, they had been sitting. Orora, a little winded from throwing herself to the floor, raised her head to shout at Toph. "Watch where you aim those things!"

And by 'Watch' she of course meant watch with her feet.

Having landed on his feet instead of his face, Zuko stood, holding a hand out to help her up. Grumbling under her breath, Orora stood, brushing the dust from the front of her shirt as she did. "You okay?" He asked, the concern evident in his tone, even as she glared darkly at Toph. "I'm fine." She growled, blowing a strand of hair from her face.

Sokka wasn't even deterred, already on his feet and shouting at Toph to end the match amid Teo and The Duke's words of encouragement.

It would seem Toph had no desire to prolong the match any longer. A few minute later, Haru was over the line and on the ground. "Yeah! Go Blind Bandit!" At Zuko's look of confusion Orora quickly explained. "That was her name when she competed in actual Earth Rumbles."

"Anyone else up for a challenge." Toph called out, basking in the afterglow of her victories. She raised an arm, pointing to where Orora and Zuko were standing. "Since you both are the only other Benders around, I think it should be one of you."

Zuko shook his head. "Its not safe to use firebending in a tight space. I might accidentally burn someone." Orora looked at Zuko in surprise. "Wait....did you just...." She trailed off as Zuko turned his head to glance back at her.

Orora remembered a Zuko who would never have backed down from a challenge. Who would never have given up the chance to fight against someone.

A tender smile pulled at her lips as she reached up to playfully ruffle his hair. "You really have changed haven't you?" She laughed at his attempt to push her hand away, but he was smiling as well, because yes, he had changed. And he liked himself this way. Not because Orora liked him, but because for once he wasn't at war with himself about anything.

"Well since Firebug is out. Orora! Get your butt in here!" Toph called, sounding more then a little impatient. The Waterbender shook her head. "I'm not about to fight just for the sake of entertainment Toph." She said, to which Sokka made a strange sound of horror, as if he were unable to comprehend someone wouldn't want to fight for the fun of it.

But Toph, not wanting to stop just yet grinned. "I'll make you a bet. You fight against me, and if you win I don't tease you and Zuko for three days."

Zuko blinked, frowning as he glanced at Orora who looked as if she were actually considering the deal. Which she wouldn't take, he figured, she would rather-

"Deal!"

He stared at her, a little surprised. And he wasn't the only one. Though judging by the smile that pulled at her lips, she had something up her sleeve.

"But if I win, you will do what I've been asking you since we came to the Temple." Zuko smiled, shaking his head. He should've known his Soulmate would have an ulterior motive.

Toph scowled at Orora, and for a moment the Waterbender thought she wouldn't accept the deal. But then the blind girl nodded.

Orora smirked.

                                           ————————–

While Sokka and Haru quickly moved the two pots of water on either side of the circle so that Orora could draw from them anytime during the battle, the Waterbender quickly readied herself.

Which included quickly picking up sections of her hair from either side of her temples and pulling out the hair comb Zuko had returned to her. A little too busy gathering any spare piece of hair behind her head so it wouldn't get in her face, she missed the way Zuko's expression softened at the sight of the comb as it nestled in her dark brown hair once more.

Exactly where it belonged.

A stray piece of hair did land just above her right eye, but she wasn't bothered by it. The rest of her hair she allowed to hang free, thick dark brown locks settling in unruly waves just behind her shoulders. From her bag she pulled out her gloves, pulling them on as she stepped into the circle. If she was going to use all of her body to dodge Toph's attacks, she had no desire to cut her skin and get hurt necessarily.

For a moment everything and everyone stood still, watching with bated breath.

Toph made the first move, creating a row of sharp rocks protruding from the floor and towards Orora.

Inhaling deeply, Orora dropped into a stance, her arms creating twin elegant circles, pulling the water from both the pots and allowing it to create a whirlpool around her, elevating her into the air.

"Showing your hand early in the battle. A little over-confident there Ice Princess?" Toph called as soon as she sensed what had happened. Orora grinned. "Just want to end this quickly so I can get what I want." She called back.

Throwing her arm out, the girl shot a tendril of water towards the blind girl. Sensing the attack as it flew through the air, Toph quickly brought up a shield of earth. The water dissipated, dropping to the ground where the earth sucked it in.

Knowing she would tire herself out if she continued the whirlpool, Orora quickly dropped the intensity. And not a minute later several sharp rock projectiles flew through the air, right where her head had been a moment ago. Getting into her battle mindset was easy as she created a short yet wide circular pillar of ice and stood atop it.

The leftover water from the whirlpool was sent in a small yet strong tidal wave towards her opponent. Who avoided it by creating a ball of earth around her. "You're holding back Princess." Toph called once she had dropped her earth shield. "That's because I don't want any stray attack to hurt anyone else." Orora called back, gesturing to their spectators who had only escaped Toph's previous attack of sharp earth projectile because Haru had been there to deflect it.

Toph waved her hand. "They can take care of themselves." So saying, she attacked Orora head-on with a large boulder aimed straight towards her. Without even flinching the girl shot a bubble of water towards it, big enough to encompass and freeze it in midair. Throwing her leg out, Orora pushed a disc of pure thin ice to fly through the air, slicing the boulder in half before it had even dropped to the floor. But the disc didn't stop there. It flew through the air, landing just beside Toph who barely flinched.

Instead she created several steps, one higher then the next, as she climbed up in the air. Orora knew the next attack would be from the air, and the instant she skated away from her perch, Toph's earth clad figure came crashing down, sending her trunk of ice showering in each and every direction.

Orora pivoted on her feet, her arms thrown out as she caught each and every last fragment of the ice and instead directed it towards Toph. Though it did little damage as Toph simply created a pyramid of earth around her to defend herself from being pierced. One face of the pyramid flew through the air, sliding across the earthy terrain and would've nearly slammed into Orora if she hadn't somersaulted out of the way. She'd barely landed on her feet when her arms were coated with water. Hardly standing up from the crouch she had landed in, the Waterbender threw her arms out to try and catch Toph by the arms.

Of course that plan worked out as well as could be expected given that Toph felt the water coming halfway and counteracted it by kicking her foot out and sending Orora to the ground where the earth lurched under her feet. Getting the wind knocked out of her wasn't exactly a new thing, but then the idea that formed in her head next was certainly she'd never thought of before.

"Alright Toph." She grumbled, barely standing up from where she lay. "You wanna be like that then." Her hand shot out, sending a wave of water towards the Earthbender.

Freezing her feet in place.

"What the?!! Orora!" Toph called, not having expected her friend to play dirty like that. Rising to her feet, Orora grinned. "What're you gonna do now that you can't see?" She goaded, her blue eyes landed on the half broken boulder that was still laying there, each half covered in ice.

"Lets see you dodge this!" So saying she sent both boulders flying, the ice allowing her to control them both. What she hadn't calculated was the fact that Toph could sense the earthen halves of the rocks and while one was knocked out of the way with a swipe of her arm, landing harmlessly on the ground, the other wasn't as lucky.

The force behind Toph's bending was enough to send the ice covered boulder flying through the air, and landing with a resounding crash..............right where the rooms they had all been sleeping in were located.

Every eye turned towards the location in horror, minus Toph.

The boulder had taken out two pillars as it went, before crashing through, first Katara's room, going through Sokka and Aang's room, before landing halfway between Toph and Orora's and Teo and The Duke's.

"Katara is gonna kill us."

                                           ————————–

Suffice to say, it wasn't a pleasant conversation explaining to Aang and Katara what had happened. Toph and Haru had tried to clean things up a bit, but obviously they couldn't recreate the architecture the way it had been before.

With the rooms destroyed, and the remaining one's on the verge of collapse, it was decided that all of them would sleep in the courtyard outside instead.

Which meant cleaning up the debris from their impromptu battles, against each other as well as Combustion Man.

"Why did I agree to this?" Orora grumbled as she allowed a small stream of water to sweep away most of the dust and grime that had accumulated on the floor over the years. Toph, Haru and Aang were busy clearing away the bigger rocks and boulders. Katara was supervising Sokka, The Duke and Teo as the moved everything from the rooms to the courtyard. Zuko was stuck with preparing the everything for their lunch, which Orora would be cooking later. Of course this meant cutting a lot of vegetables.

A task he still hated.

Glancing up from where he had chopped the last of the carrots, Zuko shrugged. "You tell me. Normally you don't get goaded into taking bets." Orora huffed, as she sent another small wave of water to collect the dirt. "Yeah well this was one chance I could get Toph to do something shes been putting off for days. She may be a sneak, but she will always honor her bets." Washing away the last of the dirt, she smirked. "Kind of reminds me of you."

He rolled his eyes at her, trying not to show just how happy he was that she spoke to him so.........normally.

"You've gotten really good." He complimented. "And you managed to bend with your feet too, so I guess you figured that out." Trying hard not to sound too proud, Orora grinned. "It took me awhile to perfect, but I finally got the hang of it." She said, making a small circle on the floor with the tip of her shoe. The both of them watch as a small stream of water snaked across the floor and in a circle of ice, following the movement of her foot.

Though she wasn't able to keep her balance on one foot for long. She tilted to the side with a gasp, and would've fallen if Zuko hadn't reached out to grasp her arm and caught her. "Though maybe you should take some balancing lessons from Aang." The Prince suggested with a teasing glint in his warm golden eyes. Orora playfully smacked his chest.

He didn't let go of her arm, while her hand didn't lift from his chest where she had hit him moments ago. Everything around her seemed to fade away as she met his gaze, unburdened. Then again, the moment wasn't so dissimilar from what Zuko was feeling at the moment. Though while Orora felt a rush of contentment in the comfort of the moment, Zuko felt relief.

Relief that now when she looked at him, it wasn't with rage, sadness and uncertainty. But with silent surety.

"Thank you." He said, his fingers gently gripping her forearm. The girl frowned lightly. "What for?" She asked, her head tilting to the side.

He smiled.

"For giving me another chance." He revealed, his hand sliding down to where her hand was, only to link their fingers together.

The fingers that had the string tied to it.

The string that glowed with the respective colors of the other's Nation since last night.

Seeing the blush rise to her cheeks never ceased to make him smile, and that moment was no exception.

Was it strange that only yesterday it hadn't seemed like there was any hope for them, and yet now, standing there, looking at her, Zuko couldn't help but thank every Spirit, known and unknown, that he had his Soulmate back.

They still had a long way to go, still had to work out on some things.

But being civil to one another and actually speaking, being friends again, was one step closer to what they both wanted in the end.

"Why is the floor not clean yet?!"

The sudden exclamation broke the moment, and caused Orora to let out a gasp of surprise. She pivoted on her feet, smacking Zuko in the face as her hair flew behind her as she turned to smile sheepishly at a glowering Katara.

"Sorry. Sorry. I'm on it!"

                                           ————————–

"So who exactly won?"

Sokka asked once Katara had stopped chewing them all out and had assigned chores to everyone. Which included Orora and Toph making lunch. They'd only just sat down to eat, with Katara glaring at her brother over her bowl of food. Everyone glanced at the two girls who sat next to one another. Orora glanced at Toph who just shrugged. "We'll just call it even." She stated. "For now."

"But what about the bet?" Haru asked, leaning forward, eager to know the results. Aang, who had been more then a little miffed about being unable to watch the matches, intervened. "Well since no one won, I guess it means you'll both have to uphold your end of the bargain."

Orora grinned, while Toph let out a sigh. Turning her sightless gaze towards the older girl, Toph nearly shuddered at the way Orora's heart was beating with excitement.

"There's no getting out of it, is there?"

"Nope."

"Oh boy."

                                           ————————–

Tag List - @wavesofchaos​ @violet-potter​ @rennysketch​ @emma-andrea1 @lovesammikinzz @fuzzyfestcat @msrawog @notsaelty @lust-for-pan @aces-tattooartist @jinxxangel13 @lotr-got @bitterspoons @realrintaro @gatorgirl151 @inutheangel @heartfully10 @lucaaahhh @juniper-july19 @anuttellaa @gfksz @bussyvussy @punksnotdeadbutiam @ablofftoneverland-blog-blog @slut-for-menn @vyliie @army-moa75 @juwhls @aqlodun @lovelybaka @glowyruby @niktwazny303

[catmaraudersfan]

Ran across this cute animatic on YouTube called "the babysitter's an alien" and listening to the full song of "the babysitter's a vampire" by Fred and came up with the most adorable idea ever:

When Dib was six and Gaz was five, they had a babysitter for a week. (Membrane was inventing the hover screen thing so he could be at work and watch his kids) Zim had crash-landed (got this idea from the animatic "Tiny Alien" where Zim crashes to Earth when Dib was a child) and decided to see what this species' Smeets are like and accepted the babysitting job. (Zim at this time is eleven or twelve in Human years. 💖 I headcanon that when they met when Dib was ten, {by the way, I was shocked to learn that. 😮 I thought they met when Dib was twelve!} ZIM was fifteen.) Long story short, Zim was amused that this young Smeet feared him so much and fascinated by how observant he was. So, as a treat on his last day on this planet, he briefly slipped off his disguise, making sure no one but the Dib-Smeet was watching, and bowed playfully. The results were amusing and adorable. The Smeet started freaking out and yelling to his Parental Unit that the alien just took off his disguise! After Zim was a few blocks away, he hacked into the house's cameras. The Smeet was excitedly explaining about how "the babysitter's an ALIEN" and how amazing his real look was. The younger Smeet, Gaz, asked that she "thought you were scared of him". Dib responded "YEAH, but he was SO COOL too!!". Needless to say, Zim was a little bit charmed by the young Smeet. Years later, when Dib finds out who the "scary, cool, and mysterious alien babysitter" had been he was mortified. Zim was torn between feeling charmed, even all these years later, that the Dib-creature remembered him and teasing the dookie out of his Human ...... Zim did both.

[siriuslydimwitted]

A/N: It was pretty boring for me, but uh anyway, this is a part of @/rcwenaclaw’s 1.5k writing challenge, it’s Soulmate AU

Warning(s): bold Harry || Bad English || (tell me if I missed something)

Reader’s gender is unidentified (gender-neutral)

Written in 2nd Person POV

Word Count: 1.5k

`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`

Eleven years old Harry doesn’t believe in soulmates, Living in a cruel world pushed him to where soulmates are rubbish

Yet, seeing the number zero composed on his wrist, he appeared to get confounded. The day he turned ten, his wrist burn like somebody was cutting deep through it, when he fluttered his eyes open he saw a number zero on his bleeding wrist

He attempted to see whether his uncle and aunt have one, he even looked at his cousin’s wrist yet he didn’t see anything

Rescued by Hagrid and finding that he is a wizard at eleven years old, he let out a soothed sigh the second he arrived at the train station

The only problem is, he had no clue about where is the platform 9 ¾ until he saw a group of red-heads with a similar cart he’s pushing

He needed to asked where is the platform yet his eyes were met with shining eyes of yours

You’re not quite the same as the redheads he got a sight of, the first time when he ventured inside the train station. You’re not like one of them, however, a ginger freckled young girl is holding your hands

After arriving at Hogwarts, Harry was so astounded by the atmosphere and he didn’t see that the zero on his wrist went to a straight line

Frankly, soulmates for him is rubbish so he doesn’t attempt to look at his skinny wrist to check on the off chance that he had met his

First-year at Hogwarts was chaotic for Harry, an eleven years old battling the dark lord appears to be abnormal however he did it. Nothing is typical with regards to the Chosen One

Second-year was somewhat unexpected when he met another friend, a house-elf. However, he doesn’t actually think if he’s actually a friend

Twelve years of age Harry at the Burrow saw Ron’s wrist and the number he got composed on his wrist is fifteen, it got him inquisitive, and took a look at his

The moment he took a gander at his wrist, you and Ginny race down to the kitchen, Harry saw his wrist’s number shifted to number two

He swears he saw you arrived first, but he is not sure if it’s you or Ginny. You sat beside Ron as Harry’s emerald eyes is still looking at Ginny’s brown ones

Since you and your parents move to Ottery St. Catchpole, you have been close to Ginny. Her parents and yours are saying that the two of you were practically twins

Sharing that both of you catch an interest to the scar-head boy, the two of you promise to each other the no hard feelings if one of them got chose by Harry

You agreed, thinking that he is the one you’re looking for. As a kid, you saw your parents loved each other so much, you really wanted to meet your soulmate as soon as possible. Seeing how love around your parents is strong.

The smile painted all over your face when you saw your one moved to two, however, you don’t have the foggiest idea when did that thing occur

Your and Ginny’s first year at Hogwarts is not what you wanted, Ginny’s attention turned to a diary. Instead of hanging out, she was busy writing and scribbling things on the diary

But the good thing is you can see your number increase when you got to Hogwarts

Excited to meet your soulmate, every minute you’re looking at your wrist every time you passed on someone

Thirteen years old Harry forgot about the soulmate thing, he just focused on his adventure every year and doesn’t have time for that ‘rubbish’

Though, he’s always taking a glance at his wrist every time he passed Ginny. You and Ginny were attached to the hip, which makes it hard for Harry to identify who is his soulmate. Not that he cares

“You think Ginny’s my soulmate?” Harry and Hermione traveled time and hiding behind the large rock when Harry blurted out

“no time for that, Harry” annoyance painted on Hermione’s face, eyebrows knitted whilst she’s focusing

You can admit it, it’s not crushing, right? You don’t have a crush on the Chosen One, you love him. You tried to stop the feelings because you believe in yourself that Harry is not the one for you, he’s not the reason why the number on your hands is shifting

“do you know who your soulmate is?” out of the blue, you spoke to Ginny

“Yeah!” Ginny said, dust pink is showing on her cheeks and her eyes were lit up, she’s also fidgeting her hands on the hem of her knitted jumper “but I don’t want to tell him” She pointed lazily at Dean Thomas who was talking at Seamus animatedly

“How did you know?” You asked Ginny, furrowing. After seconds, she spoke

“It’s an accident, actually, I was looking at my wrist in the middle of the hallway then it shifted, he’s the only one in there with me,” Ginny explained avoiding your gaze

You just nodded accordingly, If Ginny’s soulmate is Dean Thomas then who is Harry Potter’s soulmate?

Fourteen years old Harry got a little bit interested in his soulmate since he heard that there will be a Yule Ball coming. As Harry grew older, he’s become more and more interested in the number carved on his wrist

Sometimes, he’s asking himself what is love, but with every glance at his arm he’s taking, he’s answering his own question. Maybe love is a mystery, A mystery wherein you need a patient to taste the lifetime happiness

The scar-head boy is catching a bit of feeling for you, but he knows it’s forbidden. He knows he must love his soulmate

It wasn’t really hard to fall in love with you, It’s actually hard to stop his feelings for you while thinking that someday he will watch you marry your soulmate. That’s not him

You ended up taking George to the Yule Ball, but his eyes lingered on someone else, so do you

There are only a few people who believe in fifteen years old Harry, you’re one of them. You join Dumbledore’s Army because you wanted to fight back

Harry still believe that one of you and Ginny is his soulmate, but watching Ginny being close with Dean Thomas, he’s doubting that she is his soulmate

Until he saw her kissing Dean, but his wrist doesn’t move the count. Now he’s sure that you (maybe) is his soulmate

You were the only one who comforts him at the moment Sirius Black died, he wasn’t even sure that you’re his soulmate (even if it’s obvious), but he was sure that he is in love with you

five years of waiting, your soulmate is nowhere to find, looking at your wrist it’s nearing one-hundred

Sixteen years old Harry is now eager to find his soulmate, his theory is leading him to you, but his heart is stopping him from believing

Being poor in Potions, you decided to assist Professor Slughorn. You were there in all his classes, monitoring students if they’re doing well

“Ahh, Harry my boy I’m beginning to worry,” you heard the name of the person that can stop your world at the sight of him

Finally, you look at your wrist as you watch the number shifted to ninety-nine. Is it Ron? or Harry?

hidden from your knowledge, Harry was looking at his wrist too “my soulmate’s here, mate” he whispered to Ron

“where?” Ron whispered back looking around as Harry shrugged his shoulder absentmindedly

Harry got a plan to make sure that it was you, his real soulmate. Writing on a piece of paper and send it to you via someone else’s owl telling you to meet him at the Quidditch Pitch

You hesitate at first but you decided to come. Harry was looking at his wrist the whole time, sitting on one of the benches

The number slowly shifted to a hundredth “hey!” he heard you, he lifted his face to face you

His eyes were looking at the windows of your soul “h-hi” he stuttered

“you’re waiting for someone?” you asked him sitting beside him, putting your hands on the top of your lap as he nodded lazily

“you,” He said softly, his eyes were happy but his face is hiding it “you’re my-“

“-soulmate, yeah!” you cut him off but you got astonished when you felt a hand cupping your jaw, your lips are touching his soft ones. Your eyes were wide open but you slowly closed them when his lips begin to move softly begging you to reciprocate

You obliged, moving your lips. Is this the lifetime happiness Harry was yearning for? Definitely!

He felt something flipped inside his stomach while your hands are traveling around his messy black hair

You pull away from each other smiling “I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time” you said panting still holding the back of his neck softly

“so… do you want to go to Hogsmeade with me?” He asked holding both of your cheeks as you nodded and your forehead is still resting on his

BONUS:

You didn’t know that someone is watching you and Harry from afar

“I told you!” said Ron as Ginny handed a galleon to him

“shut up, will you!”

[imeternallylove]

Secret - S.Holmes; part seven

Pairing: Sherlock Holmes x Reader

Genre: purely angst, upcoming age and some smut

Warning: none

Word: 2.8k

main mastetlist  | request & ask | prompts | theme song

Chapters index

prologue | part one | part two | part three | part four | part five | part six | part seven | part eight | part night | part ten | part eleven | part twelve | part thirteen | epilogue

Sherlock stared blankly at the words 'Y/N Harris and Zoe Harris' printed out on the report in front of him, seeing the black shapes but failing to focus properly to read. His mind was still reeling from what he'd learned, attempting to absorb and make sense of it all. So he had a daughter: a kid he hadn't even known about for five years.

How could he not notice it? How could you have lied to him and kept such a critical facts hidden from him? You were meant to be his best friend, but did he truly know you when you held the most significant part of your life secreted from him?

If Zoe hadn’t had a seizure today, would he ever have found out that he had a daughter?

His heart clenched in pain at the thought of little Zoe… His daughter. He was a father now. At least he was in title – he hadn’t done anything to deserve being a father. And just when he’d had his first chance, he ran in the opposite direction like a coward. Would he have done the same thing if you had told him you were pregnant all those years ago?

“Sent Susan’s skull back to Bart’s yet?” His flat mate asked, pulling him back to reality and yours with his daughter’s files is what he was supposed to be paying attention to.

As he looked around the flat, he noticed John staring at him with an expectant expression on his face as he set down the grocery bags and returned Sherlock's credit card into the wallet over the stove. "I'm sorry, what were you saying?" The detective stuttered, nervously licking his lips.

“Susan’s skull,” the shorter explained, frowning at Sherlock for a second along with the rest of the flat before carrying on. “I met Molly and the grocery store and she asking for that skull. Maybe tomorrow you go drop her toy there?”

Sherlock just nodded, dropping his gaze to the papers in front of him.

No matter what he did, he couldn’t get the image of you and Zoe out of his head. He didn’t know what to do. Too much was spinning around in his head and he didn’t know what the best thing was.

Should he try and be a father to Zoe? 

Would you want him to?

Would you let him in?

Would Zoe even want him?

A sharp nudge in his ribs brought him back from this thoughts, the kitchen-lab filtering through his vision again. “Are you ok?” John murmured quietly in his ear, a worried expression on his face as he stood against the counter.

He looked at his friend and felt the pressure of his life weighing heavy on his shoulders. He wasn’t ok. He was a lot of things 一confused, angry, hurt, lost 一but definitely not ok. “I need some air,” he gasped breathlessly, feeling like the walls were closing in and suffocating. Without another word, he pushed his chair back and jumped to his feet, grabbing his coat and scarf, stumbling down the stair's then throwing the doors open and sprinting down the street.

All he could think about was that he needed to escape.

He shoved a door open and fell into the cab that just passed him, collapsing into the backseat with his head resting on the cool window. Tried to calm himself down. In the end, he squeezed his eyes while his palm on his mouth, didn’t care that the driver looks back from driver’s mirror …and then he just cried, crying in silence as he could.

“What am I going to do?”

You were distracting Zoe with a game on your phone when doctor Jonathan pretended to knock on the cubicle and pulled the curtain back a little to step inside. He was carrying a brown folder in his arms that you assumed were the results from the number of tests your daughter had been put through and there was a smile on his lips. Did that mean he had good news?

“I’ve got the results back from the MRI scan and the blood work we had done,” he started, opening up the folder so he could rally off some numbers and levels that didn’t make much sense to you. “We think the seizure was caused by an infection,” he announced, looking up from the folder and pushing up his black framed glasses.

You frowned, flickering your gaze from the doctor to your daughter, who had earphones in to block of the hospital noise. “It’s not epilepsy?” You questioned. The first thing that you ran through your head when you heard of Zoe’s seizure, was epilepsy. 

The doctor nodded slowly. “The MRI scan showed no signs of epilepsy whereas the blood tests seem to suggest an infection,” he explained in a calm voice that oddly soothed you. “We’re going to start Zoe on antibiotics and move her up to the children's ward so she can be observed overnight. If the antibiotics start to work and the fever she’s developed reduces, we can think about letting her go tomorrow.”

“And there’s no lasting damage?” you asked, looking back at Zoe and pushing the hair back off her face while she carried on quietly playing the game on your phone. “She’ll be ok?”

“She should be back to dancing around her bedroom in no time,” he laughed, bowing his head before placing the folder with the file at the bottom of Zoe’s bed and closing the curtain behind him.

Leaning back in your chair, you ran a shaky hand through your hair and sighed in relief. Zoe was going to be ok. The heavy weight on your shoulders began to lift and you suddenly found it a little easier to breathe. All the anxiety that had built up like a knot in your stomach started to unravel. The worst was over … at least in terms of Zoe’s health scare.

“What did Mr Doctor say?” Zoe asked quietly, making you look up from your lap. Her face betrayed how tired she was, her usually sparkly eyes dull and drooping low. But you knew she was trying to be brave and hide how terrible she felt, because she was being stupid and trying not to worry you.

You moved closer to the bed and folded her tiny hand in your own. “You’re going to be fine,” you told her with a big smile. “He said they are going to move you to the children's ward and give you some medicine. If you feel better tomorrow, they might let you go home.”

“So we’re having a sleepover at the hospital?” She smiled up at you, but it soon turned into a yawn.

Taking your phone away from her, you plumped up the pillow behind her head and tucked her hair behind her ears. “Yeah we are,” you reassured her, kissing her brow softly. “Why don’t you have a little nap before they move us?”

She tried to resist but after a couple of minutes of soft head strokes, your daughter was out like a light.

With your daughter taken care of, your mind ultimately fell to the other important person in your life. You never meant for that to be how Sherlock found out he was a father. Then again, you hadn’t ever allowed yourself to think about Sherlock finding out. You never expected him to walk back into your life like this, to worm his way back into your heart like he never left. And now he knew, he was gone and you couldn’t help but feel crushed by his absence.

You wanted a chance to explain everything to him so he could understand why you did what you did. It wasn’t that you were proud of your decision but you did what you thought was best at the time: for you, for Sherlock and for your unborn child.

Your phone suddenly beeped alive with a message and your heart soared at the possibility of it being from Sherlock. Since he ran out, you’d tried calling and texting him but everything had been ignored. Quickly you swiped your phone unlocked and opened up your messages, only to find a text from Elle’s mother instead. Your heart swiftly sunk again, throbbing with a dull ache of pain you were getting used to.

Apparently Elle had a card from the whole class and really wanted to see Zoe and make sure she was ok. Holding the tiny tears pf disappointment in the corners of your eyes, you sent a quick message back, inviting them to the hospital in an hour or so once you were settled in the ward. You knew Zoe would love to see Elle, and you didn’t want her to be alone while you went home to gather some things for your hospital stay.

After sending the message to Elle’s mother, you tried calling Sherlock again. So much was up in the air and you just wanted to hear his voice. But all you got was his answerphone …and that’s when the first tear fell.

Sherlock had been sitting on the bench outside the hospital since midnight, deciding whether or not to go inside. He has a pair of cigarettes in his hand, a habit that he brings it along when he needs to think, but he hasn't used them yet.

He wanted to see Zoe and find out how she was doing, but he didn't want to see you. The anguish of your betrayal was still fresh in his heart, and he needed time to gather his thoughts or he'd say something he'd eventually regret. He didn't want to add to the commotion. 

So Sherlock snatched his coat and hopped out of the bench, his scarlet face hidden from view as he hurried into the hospital reception. He said Zoe's name to the receptionist behind her desk and begged her to tell him where she his daughter in the hospital.

"I really apologise, sir. We can only give that information to family members," she replied, with a disappointed smile.

Sherlock clenched his fists and took a big breath. "I am her father. She had previously been hospitalised after having a seizure at school. Please, I need to see her," he pleaded, his lips pinched together.

Squinting at something on the screen, the receptionist began typing on her computer. "Can you tell me her date of birth?" She persisted in her probe. 

The date of his daughter's birthday was now irrevocably ingrained in his thoughts.  Even if he made an effort he couldn't forget it. "September 21st, 2006," he said hastily, trying to relax by loosening his grip and hiding his hands in his pockets.

"They've moved her to the the kid's ward for observations," informed the receptionist. "Take the elevator to the second floor and then follow the blue signs," she responded, smiling.

Sherlock rushed to the lift, impatiently waiting for it to come and then again for it to move up. When it did, and the doors on the second floor opened, he jogged down the corridor, following the blue signs as instructed. He was suddenly outside, gazing in through the window of the door, after being buzzed into the hospital and asking a nurse for Zoe's room.

The room was barely lit by a small nightlight in the corner, but Sherlock could see Zoe well, curled up in a little ball on her side, her head resting on a teddybear. Her hand was connected to an IV line, which was slowly releasing fluids into her body. She appeared tiny and fragile, almost swallowed up by such a large bed. Sherlock couldn't believe she was his daughter.

But when he looked closely, he could see it, the little portions of her that were practically identical to him. Her eyes have a beautiful contour. Her lovely lips' delicate curvature. Her brown hair was splattered across her brow. She had all of your greatest characteristics as well: the same small button for a nose, the same round face, the same small ears that you used to carefully tuck hair behind.

Sherlock instantly realised that he had produced this little child, and that it was also his responsibility; otherwise, he should never call himself a father. 

His attention shifted away from Zoe and rested on you, sleeping sweetly in the recliner positioned as close to Zoe's bedside as possible, your hand extending on top of her blankets to securely clasp her tiny hand. He tried to figure out why you would lie to him and keep such a lovely girl from him, but it only made his heart suffer more.

Sherlock moves his hand over your head, trying to fondle your head with his like he has done for many years before. He holds his breath, hesitates, and his spread-out fingers tighten into a firmly fist. Yet, he loses control in the end, gently tugging your hair away from your face, realising you're fatigued expressly even if you were sleeping just there.

He despised the fact that you'd lied to him, for whatever reason. You are the liar. Sherlock was no longer enraged. He was just hurt, you always pushed him back downward. That's why he believed that just because you had kisses, laying on his embraces, eye contact in the class, or when your cheeks were red when he pulled you sitting on his laps, even had sexual conduct with him, it’s doesn’t mean you have felt the same way he did.

However, Zoe was not born without your blessing. It happened twice when you two were engulfed in ardent lust, and both unprotected. Sherlock is sorely sure that you are still remembered the nights of incredible sex between him and you.

He grabs Zoe's hand and watches her for another seizure, his lips delicately pressing on her back palm, which is so small in compared to his. Sherlock Holmes, he typically has a solemn and dry face whenever he goes out or whatever, but the teardrops on his under eyelids reminding him that he was weak from all, these droplets making his vision hazy and hazier.

Sighing, it was the middle of the night. He had to go to Molly's lab in a few of hours and needed at least a few minutes of sleep to get through the day. It hurt him to leave when he had only just arrived, but it had been a hard day and seeing you and Zoe fast asleep made him terribly jealous.

“I’ll be back,” he whispered quietly, peeling himself away from the door reluctantly.

You were startled to wake up in a hospital room, until everything that happened of yesterday before rushed back to you. The day had begun routinely enough, with Zoe being dropped off at school, all the pressure at work, and then lunch with Sherlock. Then you got the call about Zoe's seizure, and everything seemed to fall apart from there. Zoe was in the hospital on antibiotics, and Sherlock had discovered your secret and was ignoring you.

You couldn't seem to concentrate on him. Zoe was your first priority, and she was moving right in front of you.

"Morning, little one," you said softly, scooting closer to stroke her hair away from her face and cup her warm cheeks. You kept waking up during the night to make sure she was still alive and breathing. "How are you feeling?"

Her lovely eyes widened, and the glitter in them returned slightly. "Hungry," she muttered sleepily, clutching Mr Snuggles and kissing him good morning.

"Yep, you're definitely feeling better," you replied, lifting her up and kissing the top of her head. Your back ached from the uncomfortable positions after sleeping fitfully in an armchair all night. "Shall we go to the café for breakfast?" You asked, raising your arms up over your head in an attempt to realign your spine.

Zoe soon sat up, a smile on her face. “Yes! Please, mummy!" She flung aside her blankets and climbed out of bed slowly, being mindful of the IV anchoring her to a bag of medicines. 

"Do you need any help, little one?" You volunteered, already walking around the bed to give help. 

“Mummyyyyy! I can pee pee by my myself!" She exclaimed as she pushed the IV into the bathroom. "I have been doing it since I was two!" She stuck her tongue out and slammed the door behind her, making you giggle. No lie, she made you feels so much better right now. 

While you waited, you checked your phone for calls and emails, surprised and a little afraid to find a message from Sherlock. Nerves hammered hard in your chest. You were terrified to read what he had to say. Would he be upset? Was it a message saying he didn't want to see you again?

You gulped hard and pursed your lips in a tight line, swiping the message open with bated breath. Whatever words were written on his letter were going to transform your and Zoe's lives, and the thought of that terrified the crap out of you. But you needed to confront the lies you told, so you looked down at your phone, your heart missing a beat.

‘I want to meet Zoe ㅡ SH’

[evita-shelby]

Finn’s mums and dads

Or the 5 times Finn called Eva mom and the one time he called Tommy dad

Gif by @outerbanksxpeakyblinders

“Bye, mum.” Finn said as he rushed out the door after getting his packed lunch from Eva.

She knew Finn had a crush on her, but somehow him thinking her as a mother figure made her apprehensive.

Should she tell Polly about it, or Ada?

No, it would be awkward enough as it is. How do you say ‘Finn called me mom and I am not concerned because now I feel old and responsible, but because I don’t know if that is okay with you, his real family’ without dredging up things that are difficult to speak of already.

Martha Shelby had gotten the baby blues and her idiot husband, the arrest of both Arthurs and not having the money to give Thomas a chance to use his potential in university had driven her to step into the canal.

Or that was what Polly had confided in her, and something Ada doesn’t know she knows.

Yeah, that seems sensible.

Keep your mouth shut and carry on, Evita, the witch tells herself as she goes back to her chores.

“Come here, kid.” Eva crouched a little to get a good look on the blood on Finn’s lip. “Does anything else hurt?”

A fight in class, one boy had called him names and called Ada a slut and Finn responded to those words with his fists.

Polly didn’t know yet, but she would be livid. Not at Finn, but at the boy and his mother who was already on Polly Gray’s black books.

“No. I’m fine, mum.” He said, still sniffling from being blamed for all of it.

“Finn calls me mum all the time, Ada too, he thinks the world of you. I hope you aren’t put off by it, Eva.” The older witch said as Finn played with colored pencils on the dining table.

This time Eva can’t keep quiet, especially when she tells Polly about Finn’s altercation in school.

“No, not at all. I just wasn’t sure if you were comfortable with that, Pol.” The witch said relieved. Some don’t like that; some utterly hate the idea of anyone thinking of other people being seen as a mother figure.

“Are you comfortable with that? With the idea of being a honorary Shelby?”

“I don’t think it is healthy that he calls your mother.” Grace expressed her opinion quite boldly after Finn called her mum as he thanked her for the ice cream she had bought him.

Finn had never seen a museum, and Eva had taken observing the Irish broad like a scientist observing bacteria in a petri dish.

She came here often, met up with a man Eva didn’t know and today, Finn tagged along.

“Mrs. Gray is fine with it, as is Ada Shelby.” Eva said coolly.

Grace was jealous of her friendship with the Shelbys. Apparently, she wasn’t quite sure her boy toy’s no at Uncle Jack’s proposition weeks ago was a real and firm no.

The witch feels guilty for using him as an accessory, but the kid also got to see the museum that Ada expressed a desire to work for until a background check revealed she was a Shelby, a communist and engaged to a Jewish man.

But Eva doesn’t give a shit her subject of interest is jealous of her, that is of no consequence to the retired spy.

What she does give a shit about is a lying rat telling her not to show love to a child.

So she pricks her with her next words.

“Besides, if I do end up becoming Mrs. Thomas Shelby, it will be easier for him to adjust to my presence.”

“Mum!” Finn runs to her, and Eva is relieved when the Billy Boy trying to show off being Kimber’s driver buys into the lie.

In the next second Eva stops being Miss and turns to Mrs even though she would have been eleven or twelve had she been Finn’s mother.

“Oi, you sweet talking my sister-in-law?” Esme lies with ease and a scowl that sells it even to John who is with her.

The driver stutters an apology and returns to the vehicle as the three Shelbys and Eva walk down the street to her grandmother’s house.

Finn comes over every chance he gets, more especially now that he has asked her to help him catch up to the other boys in school.

“That’s Tommy Shelby’s wife you’re speaking to.” John said making it worse.

He's planning to surprise Polly with an acrostic poem written and recited by him on her birthday.

A surprise Thomas knows about because the boy pilfered one of his books on poetry.

Well worn and well loved, and the last thing the witch had expected to know about the gangster she has only spoken to once.

“Your brother won’t think it funny, John.” Eva warned as the newly married widower jokingly called her his long-suffering sister-in-law.

“Let him and blondie fight over it, least we could do to him after what he did to Ada and Freddie.” Esme laughed.

“Happy Mother’s Day.” Finn stands there on her doorstep, with his hair combed and neat, in his Sunday’s best and holding a small but rather adorable bouquet of sunflowers.

“He’s giving all of the women he considers mother figures flowers,” Thomas explains as he stands there at her doorstep and the witch finds herself replaying that strange little fantasy where they are something more than friends.

But she wants him, loves him in the way she loved Antonia.

“They’re beautiful, Finn. I and honored that you consider me one of your mums.” Eva thanked him genuinely and the boy turned beet red and stammered a ‘you’re welcome’.

“There’s a poem too, Tommy helped me write it.” Finn said and Eva’s immediately drawn back to the man she cannot want.

“And who’s the lucky lady getting those?” Eva asked seeing the forget-me-nots Tommy was holding.

And it is because of that that she must refuse his offers of courtship at every turn.

“We saved the best for last; these are for our mother.” There is a pained undertone to his voice, a sweet sadness that is becoming on him.

“Tell her I said hello, then.” She said and sent them on their way.

“I love you, dad.” Finn mumbles in his sleep and clings to Tommy who doesn’t bother hiding the heartbreak those words cause him.

Eva is no stranger to him and the things he hides beneath the surface, and yet this makes him feel as if he’s somehow bare to the bone before her.

This was just supposed to be a drive to the countryside where they’d pick a pony for Finn, just Tommy, Finn and Eva.

It had been a beautiful fantasy, him with a woman he loves on his arm, quietly pretending Finn is theirs doing something any family does.

He should be used to it, Finn liked to make up for the lack of a father by calling those he finds worthy of the title by it.

And then it comes careening down when Finn says those four words after falling asleep on the picnic blanket.

Tommy, Arthur and John were his primary fathers, then Jeremiah, Charlie and Curly and now, Freddie fucking Thorne.

But it had stopped when they had come back and never with something as strong as an ‘I love you.

“I love you too, Finn.”

[harrison-abbott]

She hadn’t been dreaming in weeks and when she woke up today it’d been no different. It was as if dreams went somewhere else for periods, and when they returned they were all back to their cryptic mayhem again – but why they vanished without a goodbye for these holidays was even more cryptic.

The sky was white outside and September showed its colours in the trees. She got up and changed into her jeans, and headed down to the shop.

On the way she saw her mother from the far end of the road. With her poignant white hair, and it was odd how her parent was a very old person these days – but she still walked with a briskness. She spoke to her mother for a little bit. Then carried on to the shop.

The store was especially busy and she often thought there was a certain craziness about supermarkets when they thrashed with people – rather like in airports, minus the excitement. She wondered how the supermarket workers could always stay calm, when you had screaming children and impatient customers waiting in long queues to be served.

She bought some fruit and a tub of humous and she went home again. The high school kids had just been released on their lunch break. They milled down the road with their depressed black uniforms. One of the groups was a group of boys, with one girl with them who had red hair – and they probably all fancied her, but, in an innocent way because they were only eleven or twelve. And she seemed to be liking the attention.

En route home she met this middle aged woman who had this big dog with malicious white slobber around his chops and he was pretty intimidating … but he didn’t do anything.

When she got back home she thought she’d get into this new book she’d recently borrowed from the library. It was about the man who was accused of assassinating a famous politician. Probably the most famous assassination of all time. But nobody knows whether he actually killed the politician and it remains a mystery to this day – as it’s not able to be proven.

She reckoned it was obvious that there far more people involved in the killing than this one man and that was a fact that could be proven. It just wasn’t provable whether he was involved in the murder or not.

History, to her, seemed to have a fictitious element – in that there were some things that you could hardly believe ever happened. And she found a strong curiosity in such historical events, despite it being perverse in these atrocities that weren’t fiction.

And, with this case, maybe it was able to be proven. There must be somebody somewhere who was still keeping it a secret; or paperwork that pointed to who the real killers were.

Or maybe it would be lost forever in secrecy. Who knew.

As she read, the suburb was quiet outside save for the occasional affrontery of the September breeze.

[zannolin]

loving the stranger things posting as someone going through a sudden random stranger things phase lol. i have a question: what makes byler an interesting dynamic for you? i'm not a big shipper person personally but i like to hear people's thoughts!

it's so funny i got here because i was suffering from cares too much disease about the karate kid and i needed something to distract me and then um. it did more than distract.

sidenote: coming back to say this got??? so long. so i'm sorry lol. i'm a chronic rambler.

i'll be honest i never actually shipped byler seriously until literally 2 months ago today. i sort of went "haha what if...?" back in 2022 mostly because my friend was into it and i really love mike as a character. oh mike wheeler the character that you are...i've loved him since 2016 lol and i loved him and will as a dynamic since i saw s2. i was so sold on their friendship, and then s3 and s4 were brutal for me to watch as someone who has grown apart from a lot of friends because of similar circumstances (moving, mostly, but also some relationships, and the inherent tragedy of growing up, and the fact that having a shitty family and being 15 can do a lot of damage to your relationships if you're not careful, etc) so like basically i then got More into them because i am obsessed with friendship estrangement plots. and i like both their characters. ("like" is such an understatement even in 2022 i was unhinged about michael wheeler)

frankly they're interesting to me as a ship for all the same reasons as they're interesting to me as a friendship: devotion, knowing someone better than you know yourself, the fear of loss, the fear of change, how easy vs how hard it is to grow up with someone, estrangement, feeling like you're a bad person and self-sabotaging, etc. the funny thing is i didn't even think will was gay or that there WAS (one-sided, anyway) byler until the literal van scene in s4 because i have that little faith in netflix lol, not to mention i used to be a mileven shipper. and then s3 happened which killed my interest in that and then s4 beat the dead horse from here to california. i realized for one thing mike being queer is really interesting to me and opens a lot of room for fun angles on his canonical character with comphet and internalized homophobia, etc, and it works very well with established canon. to me.

i'm honestlyyyy kind of surprised i got into it at all because besides the fact that i'm not a big shipper anymore, i'm RARELY a childhood friends to lovers fan because 1) it's often boring to me, i'm like but why do we need something Other than friendship?? (aro alert) and 2) i personally do not enjoy romance where it's like. you end up with the person you dated in high school? like it's jsut a me thing but i go aaaaaa when it's idk 12 year olds being like "i'm in love" no you're not you're twelve. i literally have DMs of me to my sister watching s4 where i was like michael why are you saying you loved eleven the day you met her, you were twelve and spent the entire season fucking obsessed with finding your best friend and kept dropping her the second she wasn't useful for that, like i love you but you were— what. (regardless of whether or not that bullshit turns out to be, you know, Actually canonically bullshit. that was my reaction lol). um i'm rambling sorry. anyway. they just happened to hit really good beats for me where it could go either way for me (platonic or romantic) and i wouldn't mind and i'm happy with both. but apparently my brain is like What If Romance when it comes to fic for them and i'm being a bit self-indulgent. i want will byers to have nice things and i want mike to not be stuck in the world's worst written relationship ever (to me).

actually the tl;dr is basically everything i like about mike as a character has to do with his plots concerning will, and everything i don't like about what they've been doing with him lately has to do with his relationship with el, so via potentially unintentional gay symbolism, the power of friendship estrangement plots + my love of friendship breakup/makeup scenarios, and my fascination with writing queer loneliness and mutual pining, AND that "good luck, babe" edit, i ended up here.

also finn wolfhard keeps making the most ridiculously intensely tender expressions during byler scenes and i'm a simple creature i see a man with big wet brown eyes and i go oh well mayyybe....

[paloma-ascends-into-hellfire]

on beauty standards and internalized racism

my great grandmother- my bisabuela- was beautiful, according to everyone. i have no pictures of her. i don’t even know her name. but i do know that she was my abuela’s dad’s mistress, and had a bunch of kids out of wedlock. and the most important thing: her eyes were blue.

in el salvador in the 50s, blue eyes were the epitome of beauty. they still are, actually. growing up, people would say to my mother, “it’s a shame you didn’t have blue eyes like your grandma. she was so beautiful.” my mom’s self esteem, unsurprisingly, took a hit.

i don’t remember the first time i heard this story, or the first time i realized that my family did not meet the beauty standards. i do remember being four and begging my tía to straighten my hair. i remember being five and creating a character named alison who had pale skin, dark, straight hair, and piercing blue eyes. i remember being six and colouring myself with “skin colour”- crayola’s apricot. i remember being seven when i stopped speaking spanish because i didn’t want to be seen as weird. i remember being seven and praying to god that i would wake up with light skin and straight hair, preferably red. i remember being eight and girls floofing my ponytail and playing with my hair, giggling, “it’s so soft!”. i remember being nine, and when i told my blonde friend i wished i looked like her, she replied “no offence, but i’m glad i don’t look like you.” i remember being ten and learning for the first time about what el salvador’s history was truly like. i remember being eleven and being told i was aggressive and too loud and opinionated by my teacher. i remember being twelve and begging my parents to let me straighten my hair. i remember being thirteen and, when the boys played smash or pass, hearing sounds of disgust when my name was mentioned. i remember being fourteen and wishing my hair would stay straight when i straighten it, wondering idly what my life would be like if i was white.

i have had one brown teacher, my eighth grade math teacher. she had a strong tamil accent and dark skin, and loopy handwriting reminiscent of tamil. she was the victim of many cruel jokes and imitations of her accent, and when she began to cry because she missed her daughter in another province, she was met with mockery. even my friends complained that they couldn’t understand her, that she was too strict. but how else was she supposed to handle these white boys who were bigger, stronger, more respected than her?

that is not the teacher i remember. i remember how she gave me a piece of chocolate when i was feeling faint from not eating. i remember how she gently corrected me when i added instead of multiplying: “careless mistakes. read your work over.”

so even though i grew up in the progressive 2010s, i grew up in a rural, mostly white town. no one i knew looked like me, spoke spanish, or really cared about my culture. i grew up believing i was ugly because my hair was curly and my skin was darker than almost everyone i knew (i’m not even that dark). so i disappeared, tried to be like them. even though i don’t remember the exact moment i realized i was not the beauty standard, but the words that still sting are, “i’m glad i don’t look like you” and the jeers from boys playing smash or pass.

at seven, i refused to wear pants. when i wore dresses - which was often - i was called a snobby city girl. when i didn’t, i was mistaken for a boy. i was met with several crude “you’re such a girly girl” insults. but at that age, i would have rather been called a girly girl than a boy.

i watched my friends shift from their pink phases to their anything but pink ones. i watched my idea of femininity come crashing down. and then i turned thirteen.

i realized that maybe i wasn’t a girl. i began to use she/they pronouns and discovered the term demigirl. but something still felt wrong.

one day, i saw a post about how black and brown women aren’t considered feminine. my mind was blown and i started to wonder if i thought that. i wondered if i was actually a demigirl or if my sense of what it was to be a girl has been fucked up by my town and society. i still don’t know.

this is why representation is so important. i have a myriad of issues thanks to this rigorous belief that brown women, and therefore me, are not pretty. this is not recent. just look back at my bisabuela. my brown eyed mother, my indian math teacher, and me - we were, are, and will continue to be victims of this shadow of white supremacy, most likely for as long as we live.

i can’t change this single handedly with a tumblr rant. but the first step is realizing how much the small things add up, how many of our thoughts are influenced by this.

thank you for reading if you’ve read this far.

[ithaquasbbg]

I need to make a masterlist just for this so I don’t have like 40 stories labeled “Ithaqua” on my main one so ignore this lol

“Ithaugust” 2023 master list

For some reason tumblr won’t let me color misspelled words? So I just have to deal with this lol.

Week one: Sun & moon ; Angst//Tragedy

Day one: “Once a hero, now a Villain”

Pairing: Morningstar! Ithaqua x (now dead) reader.

A character study on who Helel used to be, and who the love of his life once saw him to be.

Day two: “Karmas not on your side”

Pairing : none

A character study of Ithaqua and Nathaniel, and the guilt Ithaqua feels about not only the loss of his mother, but the death of his twin.

Day three: “Wherefore art thou thyself?”

Pairing : Ithaqua x reader

A hurt/comfort fic about Ithaqua and his feelings on his appearance, along with his mental struggles in general.

Day four: “Before I kill you, I’ll treat you with sincerity.”

Pairing: Ithaqua x reader

In which Ithaqua tries to treat himself well as to not worry you, despite knowing he has no intents on staying much longer.

Day five: “Drifting apart like clouds”

Pairing: Morningstar! Ithaqua x reader

The reader and Ithaqua are childhood friends who became lovers in their late teen years shortly before his exile.. when he returns, things are different.

Day six: “You forgot, But I remember”

Pairing : Morningstar! Ithaqua x reader, The captive! Nathaniel x reader

When the reader hits their head really hard and forgets about the love of their life so they cheat on him with his imprisoned twin brother (I cannot interfere, it’s a canon event)

Day seven: “Imitate the past, but never return”

Pairing: Ithaqua x reader

You and Ithaqua met as children and had spent the winters each year skating together under the moonlight. But without the sun shining, the moon can no longer be seen.

Week two: Fairytale dreams // Fluff & crack

Day eight : “A spoonful of sugar”

Pairing: Ithaqua x reader, Nathaniel x reader, first meet, so no kissing or anything

You just moved into an apartment next to a new cafe and go to check it out, meeting two identical twins who both seem interested in you.

Day nine: “Room service”

Pairing : Maid! Ithaqua x reader

After losing a bet to you, Ithaqua is forced to wear a maid dress against his will, and he’s not happy about it.

Day ten: “My side”

Pairing: Modern au! Ithaqua x reader

Your roommate, Ithaqua has some weird habits when it comes to organizing your dorm, though when it comes down to it, is willing to let you break the rules just once.

Day eleven: “Koi no yokan”

Pairing: Modern au! Ithaqua x reader

You and Ithaqua are online friends who have never seen each other in person, when you decide to come meet Ithaqua, he fears he may fall for you when he sees you.

Day twelve : “When we were kids”

Pairing : childhood friends, Ithaqua and reader. Reader had a crush, but never said anything

The reader looks back on how they had met their best friend, and the memories they shared… before their perception was forever changed.

Day thirteen: Ithalva and ithagrace Headcanons

Pairing: Ithaqua x Alva, Ithaqua x Grace

Prompt was “dynamic with another character”- so I did some ship brain rot I’ve been having!

Day fourteen: Moonlight - Morningstar x reader

Pairing: Morningstar! Ithaqua x reader

After embarrassing himself in front of a ballroom of people, Helel has to pretend to be interested in you, despite both of you not liking each other in the slightest.

Week 3 - What if??

Day fifteen: Love me again

Pairing: pre-manor Ithaqua x reader

The reader and Ithaqua are in love, though when an event turns Ithaqua’s life upside down, what will happen to the love the two of you share?

Day sixteen: Happy birthday, brother.

Pairing : PLATONIC Itha and Nathaniel (they’re brothers this is not romantic ew)

Ithaqua had always taken getting to celebrate his birthday with the people he loves for granted, not knowing he had a twin who had never been allowed to celebrate.

Day seventeen: A broken man

Pairing: post manor! Ithaqua x reader

After coming home from the manor and given the thing he had wanted the most, you and his mothers sanity restored, Ithaqua is quite different, and you know it.

Day eighteen: Hero

Pairing: Morningstar! Ithaqua x reader

Everybody had always viewed Helel as a villain except for you, much to his brothers dismay.

Day nineteen: Soft spot

Pairing : survivor! Ithaqua x reader

Ithaqua comes back from a match injured, much to your dismay.

Day twenty: You’re not a monster

Pairing: Ithaqua x reader

After being tortured by Nathaniel, Ithaqua’s mother can only see him as a monster, and he desperately needs your help.

Day twenty one: Mine!

Pairing : Ithaqua x fairy! Reader, Nathaniel x fairy! Reader

Mother had always told her sons about fairies, what happens when they meet one?

Weeks 3 & 4 - Song fics

Day twenty two: Executioner

Pairing: Morningstar! Ithaqua x reader

Helel loves you, and what better way to show love than to cut you open?

Based on: The red means I love you

Day Twenty three: Watching over you

Pairing: modern! Ithaqua x reader

You haven’t spoken to Ithaqua since your breakup, but after finding him in need of comfort one day, you manage to mend your relationship

Based on : Beach bonfire.

Day twenty four: I missed you, brother

Pairing: none

Ithaqua hates his brother with his being, Nathaniel wants to disappear, and mother is overcome with guilt for leaving one of her sons with their father. (MODERN AU)

Based on: Mushrooms - Mili

Day twenty five: in the stars

Pairing : none

After the death of his mother, Ithaqua writes one last note to her.

Original song : In the stars - Benson Boone

Day twenty six: Won’t you stay, my darling?

Pairing: Morningstar! Ithaqua x reader

Ithaqua longs for you more than anything, willing to let his guard down, just for you to be with him.

Loosely based on: “Curses” by the cane wives

Day twenty seven: Regain control

Pairing : Nebu/Nathaniel Norwell x reader

After years of imprisonment and a near death experience at the hands of his brother, the former king gets the chance to live again with your help

Loosely based on: “King” by Lauren Aquilina

Day twenty six : Please

Pairing: Ithaqua x reader

He loved you dearly, but you betrayed him, you hurt him more than anything else and now all he can do is reflect on the past.

Based on (only loosely): “Racing into the night” - Yoasobi

Day Twenty seven : Generations

Pairing : (PLATONIC) Ithaqua and child reader

You’re the child of Ithaqua, and one night before bed he tells you a story that makes him think of his mother, and how much she would have loved you

Completely forgot the song it was inspired by oops

Day twenty eight : Love like you

Pairing : Ithaqua x reader

You wish you could see yourself as perfect as Ithaqua sees you, little do you know, he’s willing to wait until you learn to love yourself

Inspired by : Love like you - Steven universe

Day twenty nine : One last smile

Pairing : Ithaqua x reader

The reader is Ill and on their death bed, forcing Ithaqua to look back at all the time you had spent together

…

I think that is the last fic :) this was fun to write and really made me think more about how I interpreted Ithaqua as a character!

[brokenhardies]

some fun luna and the doctor facts!

when luna first met five (the visitation) she fainted in front of them due to it being her first time being shunted around the timeline

she quickly realises that this means that eleven knew she was going to pass out and didnt say anything... which means every incarnation from five onwards knows that she passed out in front of them

she's most worried about meeting six, he's going to have the most creative flowery insults for her about that

speaking of five - luna had a crush on them when she was a kid due to thinking that they were a woman

when she found out that they weren't a woman (thanks to the 'sexual awakening' scene from black orchid) she was a bit embarrassed

instead of the six & peri comment she accidentally drops this when under the truth field in time of the doctor meaning that eleven, twelve and thirteen all know this (so do fourteen & fifteen but im waiting to write those two later down the track lol)

all of the doctors know that luna is a lesbian. she hasnt come out to any of them. maybe she's made it obvious? she doesn't know

she does get to meet sappho with the first doctor and he kind of went "...oh that explains a lot"

speaking of one - luna gets along best with susan, vicki and dodo. they all try to get into trouble together

luna always ends up stealing the doctor's clothes - she's walked around in the original four scarf (not the second one because someone ripped it up), as well as seven's sweater vest, eight's original coat and nine's leather jacket

luna isn't sure if the reason eight, war and nine all wear leather jackets is because of her or because of ace. or because of none of those things

the doctor has met the seeker and insulted it. several times. they dont tell luna that theyve done that 'cause they dont want to put luna in danger, but they will call the seeker "a pathetic egocentric moron with delusions of grandeur and hypocricy"

yes thats a six insult - he definetly called the seeker that

luna frequently wonders if the doctor is aware that their life is a tv show because of how little they care about the fourth wall

she also wonders who plays certain roles that the doctor's actors have played if they look exactly like those characters, or if those shows just... dont exist

which is a shame bc she loves good omens... then she finds the book in the tardis library and immediately loses her goddamn mind

theres a thick of it joke i can make here but my brain is blanking on it

[maytheoddshq]

Bramble Berrybush (she/her). Tribute. District Eleven. Twenty-five. Ella Purnell.

Bramble doesn’t remember much from before she met Joe. She’d been eleven or twelve, just on the cusp of her first Reaping, moving from farm to farm across Eleven with the other migrant workers. The orchards and the berry farms needed more hands during the peak season, and Bramble needed the money to feed herself on more than stolen produce. It wasn’t a bad life, but it was hard work. She felt perpetually sticky from the sweet fruit and the sun, stuck, like she was waiting for something to happen, for herself to ferment and become. 

  Joseph Appleseed ran the trucking company that ran between farms, bringing produce to the shipment yard to be delivered to the Capitol by train. At the time, he was riding the routes himself. The operation was still pretty small. So one day, Joe stopped. They packed the truck. He climbed back into the driver’s seat. And Bramble was sitting on the passenger side: young, and mischievous, and stubborn. She wanted to come along. 

  Joe lived alone. He never married, never had kids that weren’t metal, four-wheeled, and rusted. And for a while, he wasn’t sure what to do with the feisty girl who’d demanded to do more. She couldn’t drive. Not legally. So he made her a navigator. Taught her how to read a map. Bramble hated it, but it was better than being out in the sun, so she stuck it out. Besides, she liked Joe. He took her in, and for years, it was just them. He was kind. They had fun. When she was fifteen, he started letting her drive the truck. From the moment Bramble saddled up behind the wheel, she knew this was where she belonged. For a brief bit of time, everything was perfect. She had a family, a purpose, a home.

  And then Nettle came and fucked it up.

  She showed up one day in the back of a berry truck, begging for a job, and Joe, thinking he was really doing something, paired them together. They were the same age. They were similar, he said. Bramble looked at Nettle Gooseberry and thought that he was crazy. Nettle navigated, and Bramble drove. And for months, that’s all they did – in silence. Bramble didn’t want a friend. She didn’t want to be watched or helped. She didn’t need it. So she thought about quitting, bailing on Joe out of anger. Or maybe icing Nettle out, bullying her into giving up. 

  But Nettle persisted, and Bramble softened. She was like that, really. Like the berries she used to pick. Hard and sour, until she softened, decaying sweetness staining everything. 

  Maybe it was inevitable, with them sharing both a truck and a room. But the silence turned to music, turned to singing, turned to endless miles of joy. Once Nettle was cleared to cover the driving when Bramble got tired, they got better assignments. They were driving across Eleven, not just local farms. The world got a little bigger, a little brighter. And because Bramble was growing too soft, a little mushy, she let Nettle in on a secret, one she shared with Joe: Bramble was a smuggler. Notes, information, support for the rebellion that was brewing on the perimeter of their home. When it was clear that Nettle wouldn’t snitch on her friend, she was let in on it too. Their truck had a hollowed out bed, one perfect for a bigger load. Now that both drivers knew, it turned from pocket-sized things to bigger horizons. Drugs, mostly. Luckily, Nettle had grown a rapport with the peacekeepers that their routes frequented, greased by the fact that she was making enough money to occasionally buy ingredients for moonshine. So Bramble drove. Nettle navigated the roads and the Peacekeepers. And Joe was always waiting for them on the other side. It was a good life. 

  And then Vox took hold, claiming a sector colloquially known as Free Eleven, and that was perhaps the best thing to happen to them. The drugs turned to weapons. The weapons turned to people. Kids, sometimes, nearing the reaping age, needing to be hidden and shuttled away. But the Vox used codenames, so they took some of their own. Joe took on Barnabus. The girls chose Cherry. They were connected, the same stem. Why would they need to differentiate their beings? They shifted their routes, listening eagerly to Vox Machina between checkpoints. Delphi and Pascal were their oracles. Their guiding lights in the darkness that enveloped Eleven now, thanks to the Capitol shutdown. They’d dream under the stars of more than Free Eleven: a Free Panem for all. What would it look like? What would they do? But that was silly. They’d be together in every lifetime, just discovering new roads.

  After The 133rd Games, Barney told them to expect a special load. Maybe kids? Bramble suggested. But she’d been wrong. In the back of their truck, buried beneath burlap sacks and bushels of berries, were a hoard of victors and rebels. Delphi, and Pascal, and Meta Morphic, and more. No one else could be trusted with them, Barney said. Only his daughters. The girls held hands as they drove. That summer was the best they’d ever had. The most exciting -- full of meaning and progress and insight. The T0MMYV0X became regulars (divas, Bramble called them), needing to go in and out. They were expected back at the Tower still, or they had loved ones elsewhere. It didn’t matter, really, the why of it all. The girls were happy to do it. Happy to know they were coming back. 

  Until one day, they didn’t. Vox Machina reported that Meta Morphic had been caught. The transmissions faltered, went silent in odd increments. They were clearing out – the victors. Bramble held her breath at those checkpoints as they crossed the borders to drop them off. They’d need to regroup, figure out what was next, how best to help now that their friends – friends? – had been caught. They were both twenty-five, about to age out of Reaping. They were going to have a chance, now. They were going to have time. 

  Bramble got called first. And shortly after, because they never did anything without each other and because life wasn’t cruel enough, an already-crying Nettle got called too. They were tributes. Both of them. One last drive down a dead-end road.

Token: Rear-view mirror charm from the berry truck

+ feisty, clever, brave, compassionate, committed

- hot-headed, possessive, crass, stubborn

PENNED BY: LENA