#keep in mind i haven’t finished wat yet

[feptacks]

LOVE WINS!

[badapricot]

Lovely Writer: Count 23, 24 & 25

These are the chapter summaries for chapters 23, 24, & 25 of Lovely Writer which should encapsulate episode 10. Keep in mind that they often cut scenes, change minor details, or move things around.

Count 23

It’s a holiday and Gene is still staying at Nubsib’s condo. He’s writing on the couch when Nubsib comes to sit beside him, only wearing a towel. He massages Gene’s hand while he talks.

He’s dripping wet but he’s on the phone so Gene doesn’t disturb him. He just gets up and starts drying his hair.

Nubsib says that Gene is being nice today. Gene says he’s nice everyday and Nubsib asks him to dry his hair everyday then. Gene says that Nubsib’s not crippled.

Nubsib tells Gene that it was Tum on the phone, telling him about a photoshoot with a summer concept.

Gene goes to return to his writing and TV binging but then he realizes Nubsib’s been with him all weekend even though it’s a holiday and Gene hasn’t done anything interesting.

He asks Nubsib if he’s bored and pushes him to go out with his friends. Nubsib says he’s not bored as long as he’s with Gene.

They end up kissing and Nubsib bites Gene’s lip. Gene tells him not to.

They make out with Gene laid out on the couch and Gene asks him if they’re going to do it. Nubsib asks if that means Gene is saying he can do him...but the doorbell starts ringing.

Nubsib says he’ll save it for tonight then. Gene tells him to go get dressed and goes to check whose at the door.

He freaks out when he sees that it’s Auntie Orn—Nubsib’s mother. He yells for Nubsib and tells him that his Mom is outside. Nubsib tells Gene to let her in and sit with her in the living room and Gene says she hasn’t let her in yet.

Gene says he’ll hide in the bedroom or the closet.

Nubsib asks Gene why he’s leaving his mother waiting and then assures him that it’s fine. If Gene tells his mother that he lives next door then she won’t suspect anything romantic between them.

Gene lets Auntie Orn in and lies saying that he’s just visiting for the day, and that he lives next door. She says she’s happy that they’re so close.

She asks Gene why Nubsib didn’t let her in and Nubsib appears, saying that he was in the shower.

Gene goes to the kitchen to give them some privacy but eavesdrop on Auntie Orn asking Nubsib about his new condo.

Gene is happy to hear Auntie Orn say, “Still attached to Gene like you were back then, you haven’t changed at all.”

Auntie Orn asks them both to come back and stay at home for a night. Gene tries to make up some excuses, but they end up agreeing.

Nubsib interrupts Gene while he’s packing and tells him not to worry too much.

When Gene goes home he finds out that his parents are gone until Monday morning for the holiday, and Jap isn’t home either.

Nubsib comes by from his house and when he finds out Gene is alone, he says that Gene should stay at theirs until his parents come home. Gene agrees.

Nubsib shows Gene the rooms and then asks if he wants to sleep with him. Knowing what he’s thinking, Gene turns him down.

Two hours later, Uncle Wat and Neung arrive.

Uncle Wat finds out that Gene and Nubsib are neighbours and tells Gene to punish Nubsib if he’s bad, like back then. Gene says that Nubsib is too big and strong for that now.

Nubsib gives Gene a shrimp and asks if he needs help deshelling it. Gene says he’s fine and stops him from helping.

Uncle Wat asks if Gene has a girlfriend. Neung says, “Gene already has a partner, Dad. If you want to recommend girls you should recommend them to your son.”

Auntie Orn and Uncle Wat start asking Gene if his partner is beautiful and if his parents knows.

Gene is freaking out but Nubsib makes eye contact with him and calms him down. Gene manages to say, “I haven’t told them.”

Nubsib gives Gene a deshelled shrimp and says, “For you, Gene.”

Auntie Orn yells Nubsib’s full name suddenly, and startles Gene.

Auntie Orn scolds Nubsib at the table and tells him that he should call Gene “P’Gene”. She won’t have anyone think she doesn’t raise her children with manners.

Gene is affronted because Nubsib was just helping him, and he knows how much Nubsib hates calling him that.

Gene is about to tell her that it’s fine but Nubsib says, “Yes, P’Gene” in a soft voice. It’s the first time Gene has heard him seriously call him “P’Gene” as an adult and it feels off. 

Count 24

After dinner, Gene has showered and is lying in the guest room.

Nubsib comes to Gene’s door and tells him to come sleep with him. Gene turns him down because it feels bad to sneak around with Nubsib in his parent’s house. Nubsib says he’ll go back in the morning and no one will know. Gene still turns him down.

Nubsib says, “Fine, then can I ask you to get a drink as friends?”

They go down the kitchen and Nubsib warms them up cups of tofu soup.

Gene asks Nubsib when his semester is finished and Nubsib says he’ll be finished with school in a week. Nubsib asks if that means Gene is inviting him on a trip after, and says he’ll invite himself if Gene doesn’t.

They go back upstairs and Gene holds onto Nubsib because it’s so dark that he can’t see.

Nubsib held my hand back. I didn’t mind the silence around us.

“Are you sleepy?”

“I’m sleepy, so I’ll probably sleep later.”

“Then let me stay with you for a little while,” he said. When he opened the door, he entered with a blank expression.

I turned to look at him but couldn’t see anything. I figured everyone was already asleep and was too lazy to say anything, so I lay back down into bed.

Nubsib stretched his arms before going under the quilt.

“I’m sleepy so hurry up and go to sleep. Oh! Come wake me up tomorrow when you leave the house.”

“No, you don’t have to force yourself to wake up.”

“It’s okay, I think I’m going to buy some snacks. If I don’t wake up, shake me vigorously.”

“I’ll give you a strong kiss.”

“Shake me.”

“It’ll be a kiss.”

“Never mind, I’ll set an alarm.”

“So stingy,” he replied in a low voice.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

“...”

I frowned, hearing a sudden knock at the door. It went straight into my ear and disturbed me so much I had to squeeze the person next to me.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

There was a voice. This time, the tall figure next to me moved. The weight around my waist disappeared. My eyelids stayed closed, and the drowsiness remained.

“Sib...go open the door for me,” I said, in a low voice.

“Wait.”

“Hurry up,” I mumbled, because I wanted to sleep longer. I felt cool when the warmth beside me disappeared but he wrapped it back around me.

I almost fell asleep but the voices seeped in. I was pulled back by the sentences, “I stayed up all night” and “I didn’t go back to my room.” I slowly opened my eyes. The first thing I saw were brown curtains that covered the bright sunlight from the sliding glass windows. I squinted and turned my eyes to the door of the room...

My eyes widened.

I jumped up immediately. “Uncle...Uncle Wat.”

At that moment, I felt cold.

Across from Nubsib was Uncle Wat in a suit. His face and eyes were calm but they moved back and forth between me and his son.

“Get yourself dressed, go downstairs, and we’ll talk.”

“...”

The sound of the door closing rang in my ears. Uncle Wat walked downstairs. But I still looked at the door, not knowing what to do with myself.

I felt a warm hand touch my cheek and Nubsib’s familiar handsome face leaned down to my height.

Looking into each other's eyes, I felt my pounding heart begin to calm a bit.

"I...you...not. How did Uncle Wat know? ” I could hardly compose myself.

Even if he didn’t scold or speak directly about it, I knew Uncle Wat knew. His face was still, which was even more depressing and more terrifying than an angry rebuke.

"He might have known since last night."

"...last night."

Nubsib was sleeping here last night.

I didn’t have a reason for not sending Nubsib back to his room. Because usually we talked all the time and I asked Nubsib questions for fun. About his studies abroad and his colleagues. We were both careless.

"It's okay. Gene, you know that my father is reasonable. "

"I don't know, I..."

“It's okay,” Nubsib repeated the same words. His palms lightly rubbed my cheeks. They moved to my forehead, my hair, and finally, he moved to hug me for a while, and slowly used both arms around my waist and raised myself to stand on the floor. "Go wash your face and brush your teeth. We’ll talk for a moment, then it will be over.”

"..."

"I will always be with you. Don’t worry.”

Uncle Wat asks how long they’ve been together and they both say two weeks. He then asks if they’re both gay and both of them say no. He asks how this could have happened then and Nubsib tells him about how he loved Gene as a kid. 

He also tells him that his Dad was always asking why he was single. Uncle Wat asks if that means Nubsib has loved Gene for that long and Nubsib says yes.

Nubsib is so calm and collected, Gene is envious. Uncle Wat asks Gene how they got together. Gene tells him about how Tum is a friend of his from college and he didn’t know who Nubsib was.

Uncle Wat asks why they didn’t tell them or Gene’s family and Gene says he was scared of what they’d think.

Uncle Wat admits that he cares a lot about the reputation of the family but he isn’t mad. Him and Auntie Orn suspected after seeing how they acted during dinner. He saw how Nubsib took care of Gene and how he moved Gene’s room next to his. 

They have a family business and a lot of that relies on the sons. A son is the eye of the family, and Nubsib being with a man could affect business. But he knows that he’s going to be gone one day and Nubsib (and Neung) will be the heads of their own families. So what they choose to do is their own responsibility. He just wants them to tell Gene’s parents.

Uncle Wat tells Nubsib that if Uncle Teep isn’t okay with it then it’s not okay, and Nubsib says that they have vacant land in Pattanakarn, right? If Uncle Teep doesn’t approve then Nubsib will go get the deed for that land (and him and Gene will live there).

Uncle Wat says, “...behaviour like this. Who are you?” and Auntie Orn laughs.

After the discussion is over, Gene is very relieved. He thanks Nubsib but tells him that he wants to tell his own parents himself.

Count 25

Gene’s parents come home and he tells his father, with Nubsib by his side.

His Dad asks if he’s gay and Gene says no, he just likes Nubsib. His Dad says there’s no difference, and Nubsib says there is, because Gene wouldn’t date another man. He’d only date Nubsib.

Uncle Teep (Gene’s Dad) tells Gene to go upstairs. He yells at him when he doesn’t move, and Gene is startled because he’s never seen his Dad so mad. Nubsib nods at Gene and tells him it’s okay to go upstairs.

Gene goes upstairs and leaves Nubsib and his Dad to talk.

He texts Nubsib while he’s talking to his Dad and Nubsib doesn’t reply.

Later at night, he tries to talk to his Dad in his office and his Dad says he understands Gene, but he’s not ready to talk.

He goes downstairs and see his Mom. He tells her that he knows his Dad has reasons and he’s not opposed to listening to them, but how can his Dad understand him if he doesn’t talk to him?

Auntie Run (Gene’s Mom) tells Gene to calm down and makes him tea.

He asks her if she’s mad that he’s dating Nubsib and she says no. She’s always let Gene do what he wants, chose his major, chose his career etc and it all worked out. She trusts Gene’s choices.

Gene crawls into his mother’s arms.

In the morning, Gene and Nubsib text. Nubsib tells Gene that him and his father talked but Gene shouldn’t worry. Because Nubsib won’t give Gene back to Uncle Teep. Gene is reassured by this.

Later that night, Gene calls him and Nubsib says that he misses him. Nubsib urges Gene to eat but he’s hiding in his room because he’s scared to see his father.

Uncle Teep knocks on the door and asks Gene if he’s really not going to eat because he doesn’t want to see him.

Gene hides his phone because he doesn’t know if his Dad will be mad that he’s talking to Nubsib.

His Dad pulls up a chair and pets Gene’s hair. He asks what he thinks and Gene says, “I think I like Sib.”

“The story of two people—love is not enough. People have many lovers in their life that in the end don’t survive. Because it’s not just love, there are other things. The career of Nubsib, the eyes of others, criticism of a same-sex relationship.”

“...”

“I told you, that’s what I think will happen if you keep dating. So why not break up?”

“...”

“I’m not worried about Nubsib. For him, love is enough. He’s smart, and he can handle everything. But are you strong enough to handle that?”

“...”

This...is what my father thought?

Gene is shocked because he agrees with a lot of what his father is saying. He’s being logical, Gene just never thought about how hard it would be to be gay and in a relationship with Nubsib as a celebrity.

His Dad tells Gene that he’s his son and he understands him better than anyone. That’s why he worried about these things and wanted them to break up.

Gene apologizes to his father for jumping to the worst conclusion.

Gene tells his Dad that it might be hard, but he wants to date Nubsib and he knows if he breaks up with him he’ll regret it.

His Dad tells him that Nubsib also said he wouldn’t break up with him and pets his hair. He says Gene is so spoiled at his age, to have his father and Nubsib petting his hair like this.

He leaves and Gene yells THANK YOU out the door.

Gene picks up his phone with Nubsib still on the line and is surprised when Nubsib tells him to come outside.

Gene goes outside and Nubsib is outside his gate. He immediately hugs him.

Gene asks why he’s here and Nubsib says he wanted to hug Gene because he heard the conversation on the phone, and Gene made him really happy.

Nubsib says he wants to kiss Gene, but he won’t at his parents house. He’ll wait until Gene returns to Bangkok.

Nubsib comes inside and Gene warms them up some food.

"Will you come back tomorrow?"

"I think I'll stay a night or two. I still want to be with my parents. You go back first and stop coming back and forth. This place is far away. "

"I'll just go back with Khun Jean then, that's good."

"...spoiled.”

"Uncle Teep didn’t say anything, right?"

"Well, you heard him on the phone."

"…"

Nubsib smiled as I looked at the handsome face. I scooped another mouthful of rice into my mouth when he didn’t say anything, and chose to speak first.

"What were you going to do if my Dad didn’t approve?”

“Uncle Teep is a reasonable person. I already knew that he’d approve.”

"No, I mean assuming that he really didn’t want to approve, what deeds were you planning to exchange with my father?"

After talking to Uncle Wat, I knew that Nubsib had land. I knew he’d do anything to get the approval of my father.

But Nubsib shook his head and smiled. “None.”

"Huh?"

"If I brought something to exchange for you, doesn’t that mean I think Uncle Teep would trade his son?

"…"

"I have the same mentality as your father.”

"…"

"You’re much more valuable than that.”

[juminly]

Nights Like These

Summary: A nice cozy movie night with timeskip! Iwaizumi Hajime.  Tags: Mostly Fluff & Smut towards the end. Warning: Smut starts after the “♥♥♥” and includes fingering and cockwarming.

–♥– 

Hajime knew that you loved mac and cheese. He had enough skills to be able to be able to whip up something nice and yummy for you after you've had such a long day and especially since you haven’t had an actual “date” in so long. Living on his own in the US for a few years did have its perks and this was one of them: he was a grown ass man who knew his way well enough in the kitchen to be able to cook for you. Sighing loudly, dark orbs stared for a few seconds at the smart watch strapped to his wrist then back at the pot in front of him. He was looking forward to seeing you more than anything. Being the athletic trainer of the national Japanese team was no ordinary feat and it took up a lot of his time and energy. But, that didn't mean that it would take up the time that you deserved, the time that you both needed. Being always so hyper-focused on his own work, his thoughts tended to drift off quite often to you, just thinking about the last few phone calls you had, the last few texts you sent him and the things you've done in your last few dates. He missed the way you sighed when he played with your hair... God, he loved playing with your hair, twirling your curls in his fingers. It wasn't even the agreed time for your date but he was anxious to see you. He wouldn't admit it to you though, not even to himself. The loud and strong thrumming of his heart in his chest was a big reminder of how much he loved you. He was smitten. No, ever worse! or better? He couldn't even think straight anymore, he was whipped for you and... Ring! Ring! Ring! Three rings. That's your own way of letting him know that it was you and he just absolutely loved it when you did that. If it were anyone else at the door, he wouldn't have been rushing towards it the way he had and flung it open just to see your face.

"Princess." The corner of his lips just curled up out of their own volition, didn't even ask for permission but they didn't even have to. You were here and he wouldn't have it any other way. Why was he acting and feeling like such a schoolboy? He didn't even care. What he cared about was why you were still not throwing your arms around him. "Come here, you." Leaning forward, he took your hand in his and pulled you in for a hug, squeezing his arms tightly around your waist, supporting your weight as you literally balanced yourself on the tip of your toes to wrap your arms around his neck and hug him back. He nuzzled your neck only for a brief moment, leaving a gentle kiss there and before you murmured in a wondering tone. "Cheesy?" He couldn't help but stiffen for a brief moment. Did you figure out what he had prepared for you? Or even worse, Hajime would be completely mortified if you thought he was cheesy or corny at any point and you didn't like it. Not that he was a man of many words but he always made sure that any word coming out of his mouth meant something. At least when it came to you. He didn't give two fucks when it came to the guys, they could all whimper and cry for all he cared. Nobody meant more to him than you. The click of your tongue snapped him out of his racing thoughts and that giggle... that same glorious and marvellous sound that made him turn his head the first time you met, that time when your eyes locked and he knew that he had to talk to you, even if one of the players on the team had to be used as a wingman just to be able to get a word in with you. "Babe-" You laughed softly. "What's going on in that head of yours? Are you daydreaming about me when I'm in your arms?" With a long sigh, you mumbled and seemed a bit disgruntled, which obviously made the furrow between Hajime's eyebrows even deeper. "If that's the case, then I can just leave. Is daydreaming about me better than real me?" He knew you were joking but how dare you use that pouty tone on him?

"I won't answer your first question. You'll have to wait and see for yourself. But-" Pressing his hand on the small of your back, his other hand inched down to grip you by the waist as his lips hovered against your own, his breath fanning over your lips, tickling them lightly just as a tingling sensation arose in both your chests. "Do you really think I would call you over if I didn't want you right where you are right now?" Closing the distance between you, he loses himself in the little taste of sweetness he could get from a chaste gentle kiss of your lips. It was hard for him to even contain himself or exercise any form of control when he's around you. "Right here in my arms." He murmurs softly before going back in for another kiss, a little bit deeper, a tiny bit more passionate as he molds your lips together, sucking on your bottom one before breaking away once again. Gazing down on you as you both try to catch your breath from the small loving exchange, Hajime stared down at your cheeks that were now painted with the most adorable blush, his heart swelling with giddiness that he was the one responsible for such a reaction from you. "Come on, we're watching The Princess Bride tonight and I better not hear any objections from you." He smiled as he saw yet another giggle from you, even as you rolled your eyes and told him that you've already seen it a thousand times before and you didn't even know why he wanted to watch it with you. Silencing you with a small peck, his usual frown was still on that handsome face of his but his gaze was soft and endearing. "I want to know more about the things that you love so you'll have to humour me for tonight, baby girl."

Kissing your cheek, his hand finds yours and he guides you to the living room, pulling you away from the kitchen since he knew that was the destination you had in mind. You always wanted to give him a hand when it came to literally anything but when it came to your dates or your time together, Hajime wanted to show that he wanted to do things for you. It was simply his love language. A language that was created since he met you. "Thanks for coming over. I know it was last minute but the guys' practice match got postponed so I decided to cut them some slack." - he chuckled before meeting your eyes that were now crinkling with laughter - "Not that I don't plan on kicking their ass later anyway. Gotta make sure they are in top shape and remember who's the one making the rules." Once he ensured that you were seated, he threw you a glance of warning over his shoulder as he walked out to the kitchen. "You better sit tight princess while I go get the food. I'll be right back." He winked at you and chuckled at the way you squirmed slightly and busied yourself with the remote control as he prepared your dinner for you. Hajime had his own way of showing his love and spoiling you. The man wanted to make sure that he followed through. Making you feel special, trying to show but a sliver of how he truly felt about you. Sighing loudly and after ensuring that the pasta was thoroughly cooked, he meticulously dumped it in a bowl, big enough to fit 6 servings of mac and cheese and brought two plates along with him to the living room.

As "The Princess Bride" began playing, you both dug into your food and being the humble fellow that he was, Hajime didn't dare comment on the food but he did find it quite... acceptable, to say the least. On the other hand, the look on your face when you saw what he had cooked for you was worth all the effort. He didn't use the basic Kraft Dinner mac and cheese, even though it was basically your favourite. However, he just wanted to do just a little bit extra for you, add his own touch : a four cheese mac and cheese with the finest pasta from a local Italian shop that he always ate at and even took you to a few times. The first few bites etched an expression of pure bliss on your face and that drew a shit eating grin on his face, one that you didn't even get the chance to see as you were too busy filling in your plate with a second serving. While you munched on your food and whispered about your favourite scenes from time to time, Hajime tried his best to keep his attention on the movie but you were much more entertaining that it was while you recited almost every single line that resounded from the TV. He wished he could turn it off and just watch you act out the movie and tell him about everything you love about it, he wouldn't have minded that at all.

He chuckled under his breath at the look of amazement on your face when you both managed to finish and lick clean all the contents of the pot. He just let you believe that you ate more than him - just for shits and giggles - when he was also devouring whatever he could from the food (about 4.5 servings - the man works out A LOT, okay? Don't judge-). Nobody could blame him, it was fucking delicious and he was proud that you loved something that he made with his own two hands. Taking a short clean-up/bathroom break, Hajime cozied up on the couch, checking all the stupid emojis and texts he received from the Olympic team. How did they even know that he was on a date with you? The texts and emojis on the group chat ranged from: "Ya betta get it on tonight, Iwa-chan~ Ya frown too much cause ya don't get laid enough!" - Atsumu, the wannabe Shittykawa. "WAT R U GOING TO BE DOING ON UR DATE? WILL IT BE FUN? MAYBE I CAN COME!? I LUV UR GF" - Hinata, the sweet sunshine boy bordering on annoying but too pure to be so, Hajime had to admit that he had a soft spot for him and the rowdy wing spiker who followed up with a text of his own. "WE'RE COMING OVER IN 1H TO HANG OUT WITH U! WE MISS HER SO MUCH!", Bokuto's follow-up did nothing but make the trainer's blood boil with imminent rage. If those two dimwits dared to even ring the bell of his condo, Japan can say goodbye to their favourite chaotic duo.

Putting in an Airpod in his left ear, Hajime began recording the most graphically violent threat he could muster on the group chat and stuttering mid-way through the voice note. Yes, Hajime Iwaizumi stuttered out of surprise and YOU were the only one who could catch this man off-guard as you walked back into the living room wearing nothing but one of his T-shirts. He barely managed a quick "I gotta go", clicked send without looking at the screen, blinked and gawked at you with a baffled frown.  "What happened to your clothes?" "Well~ Things did get a little messy in the kitchen and while I...-" You cleared your throat and bit your bottom lip, definitely not trying to turn him on. Sarcasm alert. "-kinda made things worse so I borrowed one of your T-shirts. I hope you don't mind." He simply shook his head, mumbling a husky "It's fine, what's mine is yours" and patted the seat next to him. His frown only grew deeper when you walked closer to him but made no sign of actually sitting down. Looking up at you, he could see the bright flush spreading across your cheeks when you pointed to his lap. "Is that seat taken?"

His eyebrow perked up in amusement along with a mirthful smirk, your bottom lip remaining a prisoner between your teeth. "Be my guest. Who am I to refuse a request from my princess." He chuckled as he grabbed your hand, pulling you into his lap and you squirmed in embarrassment, the feeling of your well-defined butt rubbing against him, those supple cheeks that his crotch was getting well acquainted with. The accidental groan that escaped his lips was a definite warning to stop what you were doing or continue at your own risk.

"If you keep wiggling your ass on me like that, you're gonna have to own up to your actions, sweetheart." His rough baritone was telling of the growing desire he had for you. He hadn't seen you in so long and he was starved for your touch, as if the soft brush of his calloused fingers on your thighs was no indication to his underlying intentions. He knew how sensitive you were and he was not above taking advantage of that fact, the slight shiver that ran over your body only urged on him, wanting to coax even more of these delicious reactions from you. 

♥♥♥ "Iwa-" Before you could even finish calling his name, his lips were on yours, nipping at your bottom one and sucking deeply before licking his way into your mouth, tasting the freshness of mint from his mouthwash as he entangled his tongue with your own, groaning loudly into your mouth. Breaking only for a moment, he demanded your attention as his fingers began to meander up your inner thighs, wasting no time to slide his index and middle over your panties, a clear wet spot forming and drenching the fabric slowly..

"If this is what you've wanted all along, you should've just said so, you naughty princess." Pushing your panties aside with his other hand, he deftly parted your folds and circled his fingers over your entrance, gathering up your slickness before lathering over your slit, barely grazing your swelling clit that desperately needed his attention. Seeing how you held your breath and stiffened in his embrace made him only want to do even more to you. This is not the type of quality time he had in mind but he was definitely not going to object to it. "Baby girl..." He crooned huskily as one of his hands rubbed up and down one of your thighs, making sure that your legs remained parted so that he could finger you good enough, prep you for what he had in mind. Before capturing your lips once again, he licked the seams of your lips, demanding that your eyes meet his own as he murmured against you. "You call me by my name, baby. You're royalty to me, after all." He smiled softly as you responded in kind, calling out his name and pulling him in a deep kiss, your hips slowly beginning to rut against his fingers that had yet to turn things up a notch. "Hajime..." You whimpered shakily against his lips, his warm breath fanning over your wet lips as his thumb rolled over your sensitive bud, moving clockwise and counter-clockwise, fast and slow with just the right amount of pressure to leave you with fighting to catch your breath. With two fingers right at your entrance, he watches you with avid interest, humming in satisfaction every time a moan escapes your lips, his own hips grinding involuntarily against your behind as his own erection begins to harden under your squirming figure.

"Hajime, I want you inside me... Please, stop teasing me!" You squeal while your nails dug into his shoulders, gripping those thick muscles tightly, while his own body tensed, betraying the composure that he desperately tried to maintain. His large biceps flexing as he squeezes his arms around you even tighter, trying to cease the negligible movement of your body that is driving him insane.

"Shush, baby. I'll treat you good. Just relax." Finally plunging in his fingers inside you, he swallows your moans with a searing kiss while you cried out into his mouth, his thick digits thrusting in and out of you and curling into you, your inner walls clamping down on them and sucking him in. With every roll of your hips, he met you with a thrust of his own, his fingers knuckle-deep, reaching that sweet stop that has you keening, so damn close to falling apart.

Your lips parted with a loud wet noise, his chest heaving with bated breath, his state reflecting your own but it didn't change the fact that you were feeling even needier when he cruelly removed his fingers from your core. Your frustrated whine didn't elicit any reaction from him but, contrary to his exterior, he could feel his body bursting with heat and it became unbearable. He exhaled loudly, patting your thigh and growling in your ear. "Get up and take your clothes off, baby girl. I'm not getting inside you until you do."

Hurriedly taking off his shirt in one smooth go and just in time to watch you reach for the hem of the oversized shirt, pulling it up in a rush, exposing more and more of your smooth skin. Fuck... he wanted to mark you all up but the twitching of his cock straining against his pants urged him to do so later. There were more pressing matters to attend to and right now, he just wanted to drink you all in. Licking his lips with a desire only you could sate, the darkness of his unquenchable thirst swimming in his orbs almost too much to handle, yet you still kept your gazes locked as you unclipped your bra, letting it fall to the floor while he fumbled with his belt, unzipping his pants and freeing his aching length with a loud hiss. The way you squeezed your legs together didn't go unnoticed and he knew that he left you hanging. "Come here, baby." As you inched closer to him, Hajime placed one large hand on either side of your hips, guiding you before him as you placed one knee on the couch and then another to straddle him, giving him a glimpse of your dripping core that was so ready for the taking while you wrapped your arms around his neck. He could feel the adrenaline rushing through his veins as he latched on to the crook of your neck, sucking on your soft skin deeply while sweet moans tumbled so easily from your quivering lips. "I've had enough, Hajime. I promise... Just please... I want you inside me." You pleaded as his warm hands settled on your butt, fondling your soft cheeks while he angled you right on top of his cock, groaning against your neck. "You're so perfect. I fucking missed you so much." With his fingertips digging into your soft flesh, he eases you onto his cock, sheathing himself fully inside you as you sink onto him, both of you moaning in harmony as your cunt clamped down on every single inch of him that you could take.

For a few moments, both of you remained silent, your forehead pressed against his bare shoulders and his own lying on the crown of your head. The silence of the room was filled with your heavy breathing as you allowed the fullness of your bodies, the fullness of your hearts washed over you and enveloped you completely. Neither of you wanted to move or even dared to, even though your instincts screamed to grind against one another and chase the release that you both wanted. But it wasn't what you really needed. This moment, the intimacy, this... love. "W-what about the movie?" You breathed out shakily against his arm, giggling softly while you began nibbling on the hardness of his bicep. He knew that you weren't even mildly concerned with the movie which made him chuckle out a deep laugh that rumbled in his chest. You... You never failed to those stupid butterflies flutter in his stomach with your cute little acts of possession.

He wore your love bites with pride and didn't mind that they were in a place that was even more visible than his neck. He licked a long strip on the column of your throat, decorating it with nips of his own, marks of his love and yearning for you while his hands sought your breasts, kneading them with tenderness. Even if words betrayed him most of the time, he trusted his actions to speak for him. "There's nothing better than watching you, princess."

–♥– 

Please feel free to leave comments/feedback!💜  Masterlist

Tagging @shhhlikeme @hqissodelicate @cleverlittlevixen (I hope you enjoy your movie night with your boo :*) 💜 

[mrs-dr-reid]

Logan’s WIPs

Howdy!!! In order to keep myself somewhat accountable, I’m gonna make a list of all the fics I have in the works to see what you guys want first! Because tbh my motivation has been SHOT recently, and knowing what y’all wanna see might give me the shove to start working on them ☺️☺️☺️.

(Btw, I will edit this thing whenever I get new ideas/post the WIPs currently listed, so this list will be changing at least somewhat frequently)

New Beginnings

Pairing: Matthew Gray Gubler x Reader

Summary: The Reader gets set up on a blind date after being newly single for 8 months, and it goes better than she anticipated (based on the song Begin Again by Taylor Swift)

Just a cheesy, fluffy little piece that I’ve been dying to get out of my brain.

Home

Pairing: MGG x Fem!Reader

Summary: Matthew comes home from a long three months of filming for Criminal Minds, and the reader is glad he’s home.

This boy came to me in a dream, but I have yet to write it all down. So I might do that soon.

All I Need Is You

Pairing: Evan Buckley x Fem!Reader

Summary: Buck tries to make his first date with the Reader as special as possible, but one attempt goes wrong after another, and Reader has to reassure him.

This boy also came to me in a dream, I’ve been wanting to finish this for so long, and I meant to post it on Valentine’s Day, but I never did (obviously).

You’re An Idiot

Pairing: Evan Buckley x Fem OC (Lydia McCormick)

Summary: Lydia tears Buck a new one in the aftermath of Eddie’s accident, and it leads the both of them to question their priorities.

Whoaaaa, my second ever thing involving one of my OCs on here (Holiday Romance isn’t published yet, so I don’t count that)! If enough people like it, I might do more OC stuff (because I have a LOT that I can do stuff for).

Nice Sweater

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Fem!Reader

Summary: Inspired by these prompts: “You look really cute in that sweater” and “Wanna, like– I mean, if you’re not busy… We could get lunch? Or even just coffee if you don’t have a lot of time?”.

Basically a friends to lovers soft boi, but I loved these prompts so much that I had to at least get a semblance of an idea for them.

The BAU on Broadway (Wicked)

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Fem!OC

Summary: The BAU never really made it to the FBI, but they did end up making it on the Great White Way. Adri Carmichael is fresh off her third PhD and her second BA when she gets her big break as a certain magical lady who knows it isn’t easy being green. But when her leading man ends up being another young genius doctor, she’s not sure she’ll ever dance through life the same way

I put this series on hold until I had finished Criminal Minds so I could include all the other characters rather than just the Core 7 everybody always writes about. But (predictably) I never picked it up again. The singular chapter I got out before I put it on ice is linked on my landing page if you wanna check it out.

Holiday Romance

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Fem!OC

Summary: Jessica Lewis is a nurse at the Seattle Children’s Hospital, and she hasn’t been home for Christmas in almost five years. But when an invitation to her favorite cousin’s New Years wedding finally brings her back to Colorado for the holidays, she has to face the fact that her secret long-harbored affections for an old friend from high school haven’t really gone away

This series has been on ice since I first got Tumblr because I had started it on Wattpad, but then there was a whole data mining issue over there, I had to delete my account, and I forgot to save the 7 chapters I got out before I nuked my account. So now I’m hoping to rework it and make it less stupid than it was back then (because I was like 15 when I wrote it)

Betting on the Right Horse

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Fem!Reader

Summary: Spencer and the Reader are forced to work together after being named the co-owners of their late adoptive father/uncle Jason Gideon’s horse ranch in Colorado, and they hate every minute of it

Basically I’ve been watching too much Heartland with my mom, and my brain came up with this brainrot of an idea, so now I gotta write the thing. It’s a series too

Here For You

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Fem!Reader

Summary: Coming home after being imprisoned and forgetting who he is was tough for Spencer, but thankfully the Reader was there to remind him

To sum it up, the writers discord I’m in peer pressured me into writing smut, so that’s what this is

Not Gonna Stop

Pairing: Sam Winchester x Fem!Reader

Summary: Reader notices that Sam is in one of his “I’m a worthless dummy” headspaces, so she showers him in compliments.

This also came to me in a dream, which means I might need to become a SPN writer now.

Nobody Puts Baby In A Corner

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Fem!Reader

Summary: Reader is tired of Bucky never understanding her pop culture references, so she sits him down for an EPIC movie and tv marathon to make sure her jokes never go over his head ever again.

This is for a challenge on @belladonnabarnes’ page, and I still gotta get started on it 😅😅😅

What Have We Here?

Pairing: Loki x Fem!Reader

Summary: Reader is a friend of Thor’s, and when he invites her to visit Asgard, she runs into his brother and is rightfully cautious of the trickster.

Just a random idea that popped into my brain last night.

Sleepover

Pairing: Loki x Fem!Reader

Summary: Reader is APPALLED to learn that Loki has never had a sleepover, so she makes it her mission to change that.

Inspired by a post that popped up on my tl that I couldn’t NOT write about.

Safe

Pairing: Mark Watney x Fem!Reader

Summary: Mark wakes up from a nightmare about his time on Mars, and the reader comforts him

Basically, The Martian is one of my comfort movies, I watched it for like the 22nd time the other day, and this popped into my brain. Nuff said.

Who’s That Girl?

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Fem!Reader, allusions to past Nick Miller x Fem!Reader

Summary: The Loft Crew comes to visit the Reader in Quantico for Thanksgiving, (and as the trend goes with the Loft Crew and that particular holiday), chaos ensues

Basically my moot Nati inspired me to write a New Girl x Criminal Minds crossover fic, and I couldn’t resist the temptation.

“Just A Summer Thing”

Pairing: Steve Harrington x Fem!Reader

Summary: There’s only one week left of summer, and the Reader has one last chance to make Steve realize that she wants more than just a summer fling

Just a slightly angsty Steve Harrington fic loosely based on “august” and “betty” by Taylor Swift because ya girl has ZERO self control.

Weird But F*ckin’ Beautiful

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Fem!Reader

Summary: Eddie and Reader are best friends. But one late night they both come to the startling realization that they’ve always wanted to be more than that

A really fluffy Eddie fix VERY loosely based on “Snow On The Beach” by Taylor Swift because Midnights is my entire personality for the next month

Going Batty

Pairing: Bat!Eddie Munson x Fem!OC (Kim Anderson)

Summary: Eddie turns into his bat form when he’s feeling antisocial, but he’s also clingy, so now all of Hawkins thinks that Kim adopted an injured bat and named him Sonnie

Just a really fluffy Eddie fic that came to me in a dream last night because I frickin LOVE Bat!Eddie stuff

Those Meddling Kids (And Teachers)

Pairing: Teacher!Steve Harrington x Teacher!Carrie Brown (OC)

Summary: Mr. Harrington and Ms. Brown clearly like each other, but they seem to be the only people at Hawkins Middle School that are completely oblivious to it, so Mr. Munson, Ms. Anderson, Ms. Buckley, Ms. Wheeler, and Mr. Byers conspire with their students to get them together

Basically I’m a sucker for a teacher AU, and I saw a doodle on my dash of Steve with glasses, which in turn triggered this brain rot

Love is Blind

Pairing: Matt Murdock x Fem!Reader

Summary: Matt and the Reader are planning their wedding, and they accidentally forgot to mention to their wedding planner that Matt is blind to hilarious results.

Basically, my moot @leossmoonn roped me into her Daredevil Bullshit (which I ain’t mad about), and this idea popped into my brain after I beta-read a fic for her.

The Luckiest

Pairing: MCU!Peter Parker x Fem!Reader

Summary: Dr. Strange worked his magic, so Peter was able to keep the one person he had left from forgetting him

I needed comfort after NWH, so I came up with this. Kinda based on the Ben Folds song of the same name, but also not really at all

The Boy Who Lived & His Brightest Witch

Pairing: Harry Potter x Fem!OC

Summary: Elaina Granger recounts her time at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as well as the road that lead her to falling in love with The Chosen One himself, Harry Potter

This was my first ever OC thing that is unfortunately in need of a full overhaul because I lost all of the stuff I’d written for it, which might be a good thing because I was in middle school when I wrote it 😬😬😬

The Sexy Brit Frat House

Pairing: Andrew Garfield x Fem!Reader, Platonic SBFH x Fem!Reader

Summary: The reader and Andrew have been going out for a while, but now she has to meet his roommates, and suddenly she's in an entire house full of sexy aspiring British actors.

This entire idea was spawned from a conversation I had in a TikTok comment section, and I had to write it.

=================================

Welp, I think that’s all of them! Let me know what you wanna see first!

Tagging some writer moots and a few writers that I always yell support at in their inboxes/comment sections to signal boost this: @homoose, @libraryofloveletters, @reidsnose, @belladonnabarnes, @themetaphorgirl, @meganskane, @borntobewondering, @scarletred79, @goldentournesol, @reidemandweep, @romqnticizer, @there-must-be-a-lock, @spilledkauffie

[lizzielikeborden]

Monroe (1)

Summary: Takes place after the third season (just because I need to work with completely uncharted territory and do not wanna deal with the Sparrow Academy or any of season 2′s craziness). So the Umbrella Academy comes back home again, this time dear old Reginald Hargreeves is dead and all seems well and normal. To make sure the timeline is correct the boys are going through Reginald’s office where he kept all of his important business. That is where Klaus finds something particular...

Authors Note: No one requested this, I just wanted to get creative and I have been thinking on this and really wanna do it PLEASE COMMENT IF YOU WANT ON THE TAGLIST!

Taglist: @little-boats-on-a-lake​

When they say it only takes one time they mean that. In no way shape or form were you a heavy drinker or drug user. But it was your birthday, and your friends wanted to take you out on a fun night. Of course they couldn’t pick a regular little bar, they decided on some crazy rave spot that was technically illegal. 

“Come on it’ll be a great time, you’ve barely even been to a bar. This is gonna be a once in a lifetime experience.” Y/F/N1 chased you around your little apartment as you refused to get ready. 

“Oh it’ll be once in a lifetime alright, she will never go back.” Y/F/N2 commented as she walked into the room putting bracelets up her arm.

“Yknow we are trying to convince her to go, not convince her to never hang out with us again.” Y/F/N1 smacked Y/F/N2 on the arm lightly. 

“Wait, I like her point. Lets make a deal. If I go tonight promise me I will never have to any crazy shit ever again.” You turned to face them both with a light smile and one eyebrow slightly raised. 

They turned to look at each other and then back at you. Clearly they would do anything to get you out of the house and out to their little rave because they both agreed to the deal. Not really knowing how to get ready the girls dragged you into your bedroom. The two of them dug through all your drawers that were full of random clothes that were not fit for the occasion. 

“You are not giving us much to work with.” Y/F/N1 stated as she began going through the closet. 

“Wait I’ve found something we can use.” She took a small black sparkly bra out of your underwear drawer. 

“Excuse me but that is not clothes that is a bra. I cannot just go outside with a bra on.” You told Y/F/N1 as she held it up to your chest. She was laughing at you for what you had said. 

“We can stop by my place and a mesh top to put over it.” Y/F/N2 spoke up as she held some little black shorts in her hand. 

Before you could ever protest what was going on you were being dragged out the door. You stumbled around quickly, neither girl was allowing you to slow down or think. They knew that you’d change your mind or simply get out of going. You got in the passenger side of the car and buckled your seatbelt. You could barely shut the door and get it together before Y/F/N2 hit the gas. You were driving so fast with a lead foot that you were almost positive the car was going to get pulled over. You wished it would’ve because the closer you got to having to wear a bra and shorts in crowded public the place the more anxiety bubbled in your stomach. The car parked in a made up parking place considering how outside the lines it was. 

“I’ll be right back.” Y/F/N2 ran out and locked the car. She was quickly in and out. When she stepped back in the car from getting the mesh top she threw it at you. 

“NO. No wat am I wearing this.” You looked at the mesh shirt, it wasn’t even really mesh. It was just see-through, you could clearly see the fact that your bra was going to be seen vibrantly. 

“Oh cmon, one night and never again. We have a deal.” Y/F/N1 patted you on the shoulder from the back seat of the car. She was topless and changing in the car. 

You took in a deep breath realizing that your options to change were in a dirty restroom or the front of a moving vehicle. So, you changed into the incredibly revealing outfit and your friends began to hype you up. When you pulled up to wherever this odd location was and saw some of the most creative looking people. Y/F/N2 changed outside the car without a care in the world. You knew your friends were wild but this wild. No way. Y/F/N1 grabbed your hand noticing the deer in the headlights look you had plastered on your face. She and Y/F/N2 led you to the door and you walked down the dirty stairs with walls covered in graffiti. 

“Here we are.” Y/F/N2 screamed as she opened the door. The music that blasted through the room was incredibly loud. Smoke, blinding lights, and more loud noises completely filled the room. You realized that you could barely even see anyone, so no one would notice you or what you were wearing. Your nerves let go a bit, but still not much. Your friends got drinks and brought them over, the three of you were drinking a lot. You did it for nerves, they did it for fun. Eventually all three of you were drunk, separated and drunk. You of course were stumbling around, not as used to being drunk as the other two girls. And you tripped around and fell into a complete stranger. A beautiful stranger that you would not remember, and you spent the remainder of the time with him until your friends were ready to go. You remember having lovely conversations and dancing together a bit. You also remember the way he was and how wild yet caring he was.  Anything other than that was a complete mystery...

“So you really think we did it this time?” Luther spoke up holding a box full of books in his hands. They were from his fathers office that he, Diego, and Klaus were searching through while the others ran around making sure everywhere else was normal.

“So far everything seems normal, but we haven’t seen enough or done much else. Then again we’re the morons apparently so we wouldn’t know even if we did look.” Diego threw an empty bag across the room, moving around some of the belongings that were from his fathers childhood.

“Oh dear old dad is still just as boring dead as he was alive.” Klaus sat with his legs and feet propped up on the desk as he looked through a box of fly papers that took him forever to get the small lock off of. 

“You can say that again.” Diego agreed with his brother as he too continued to go through small chests and boxes that had been left around the room.

The three boys continued to through papers, files, boxes, bags, and other weird little contraptions. All boring, mostly of friends he had, deals he had made, knick-knacks from being alive so long, projects he never got to finish, diaries of so many different genres, and receipts for literally everything. That was until Klaus came across a file with his name printed on it in bold. 

“Hey look dad was keeping tabs on you.” Luther stood behind him and read the date on the file, seeing it wasn’t from his childhood and was from his adulthood. 

“Probably just some rehab file he kept to hate me and call me a disappointment for.” Klaus opened it and saw his picture, it was a stapled multi piece of information. The longer he read on the more he noticed it had nothing to do with drugs. It was simply just his DNA and medical things along those lines. Then he turned the page, and his eyes popped out of his head. He read the word “Monroe” and right next to it were multiple pictures of a little girl. Not a very old one at that, all of these were baby pictures. Nervously he read on more and more, he flipped back and forth between the two pages seeing that their were multiple, hell more than multiple similarities. It took a few more minutes but he finally realized that was his kid...

[sharktoothedboys]

One Of The Guys - Chapter 2

So here is the next part of the on going Kirishima story i am working on, hope you guys love it!! 

=================================================

It had been a few hours since you were punched in the guy by the news that Kiri had bought a date to the event, your event, and didn’t even have the decency to tell you. Not that he had to in any way but still, you would have liked a heads up. 

You had your best pretend smile on your face while inside you were screaming   “I don’t wanna be here anymore!” You had become surrounded by Politicians, no idea how it had happened either, maybe you should stop drinking? Nah! They had roped you in to a chat about cleaning up the city, even though crime rates were at an all time low thanks to you and Shotos agency. Their dirty hands kept creeping up to rest on your waist or small of your back as the conversation continued, Something Kiri would normally be on like a shot and put a stop to. But tonight he was no where to be seen. how rude of him! 

You smiled at the thought, then mentally sobbed a little at the fact he hadn’t so much as looked at you all night, never mind spoken a word to you all evening. You’re only comfort was somewhere at the bottom of a glass, and you had yet to find it. So the drinks kept being poured, you were on your.... who cares?, the bourbon was good, vanilla tones calmed your anger as you necked yet another nest double. Holding up your empty glass, “Please excuse me gentle men, i seem to running on empty.” They all gave a laugh as you excused yourself form the conversation and made your way to the bar to refill your warm smoky liquid. 

You made your way to the bar, seeing your father and twin brother having a conversation on the stools at the end you decided to join them, holding up your glass to the bar tender as you did so, he rushed to replenish your drink and quickly returned with a full glass for you before you even sat down in between the two men, noting how small you looked perched between them and making a mental note to hit the gym a little more. 

“Haven’t you had enough of those tonight?” Your father said with a knowing smirk on his lips. A smile even, one you had only just recently become accustomed to. 

“Not nearly enough, dad” You replied with a finger gun and a wink, probably an indication you had in fact had enough to drink. Regardless you raised your glass to the two men and then to your lips, “To us” you say quietly looking to Shoto who raised his glass in silence in return to your toast. 

Your brother of course knew of your not so little secret crush on the red hero, of course he did, you rarely hid anything from each other, and he had quickly realized why you were slamming back double bourbons like they were going out of fashion. He had seen the woman practically attached to Kirishimas hip earlier on in the night and had been keeping an eye on you ever since, knowing you were probably not going to take it well, it may have been 12 years since your crush had began, but it had never faltered and he knew that, he also knew that you were not emotionally equipped to deal with this kind of situation. He watched as you necked another double, your cheeks a flaming red, a hiccup leaving your lungs as you smacked the glass onto the bar, he indicated to the barman, no more, then he called over a surprisingly sober Mina to help him get you upstairs. 

“Thank you Mina.” He quietly said as they guided you towards the elevators.

“No worries Sho,” She replied, still using his high school nickname that made him smile at her, “ I am deadpan sober, so I am here to help.” 

“Why are you sober? I haven’t seen you with one drink all night.” He asked, “Its a special night, I imagined seeing you dancing on tables with a jelly shot.”

“Normally I would be, but think about it Sho, why wouldn’t a women, actively trying to get pregnant, not be drinking?” She smirked at him and it clicked in his mind. 

His eyes widened and a small smile tugged at his lips as she out her finger to her mouth, a silent agreement between old friends that he would keep quiet.

“I’ll get her to bed if you wanna go and finish up your evening, one of you should be present at least.” She told him as she managed to get you to stagger in to the elevator that had just arrived, “Please tell Bakugo where I have gone, you know what he is like.” 

Shoto watched as you leaned against the cool glass of the wall, shoes in hand, “Goodnight Sho.” You said, a little slurred as the doors closed, he raised his hand in a goodbye gesture. He was Mad at the red headed boy, but he didn’t understand why, as far as he knew, Kirishima knew nothing of his sisters feelings and was unknowingly hurting her, but he was still mad at him for hurting her. But what could he do? really? 

You and Mina made it to your apartment and managed to stagged in to your bedroom, where Mina managed to get you sat on the end of the bed, where you just tried to lay yourself down in your gown. 

“Oh no no!” Mina said dragging you back to sitting up. “Come on, at least take off the dress.”

You sat at the end of the bed and whined like a child being told to eat the vegetables, you raised your arms, a silent plea for Mina to remove your dress for you as you didn’t have the capacity to do it yourself. She gave a small giggle as she looked at your puppy dog eyes and carefully unzipped and removed your dress for you and replaced with an absolutely huge crimson riot t-shirt that was folded on your pillows, assuming it was sleep wear but quickly realizing it was one of Kirishima’s fan boy shirts he always let you borrow, that you almost never returned. You tucked your arms in to the shirt and managed to unhook your bra yourself and let it fall to the ground and off your body as you stood to also remove your underwear, the shirt being long enough to cover your dignity. 

That’s when Mina saw the glint in your eyes, The threat of tears ready to spill over your eyeline and down your now very pink cheeks. Her heart broke for you, she knew how emotionally stunted you could be, along with the shyness that ran in your bloodline, she mentally slapped Kirishima for never noticing your feelings and making you suffer all these years. Her only wish right now was that you had gained the courage to tell him, but you never could and it pained her to see you this way. 

“Y/N...” She began, Placing a reassuring hand on your shoulder. 

“It smells like him.” You choked out, your breath racking your lungs and making it difficult for you to speak.

“Lets get you to bed.” She softly spoke, knowing the amount of drink in your body wasn’t helping and you needed sleep. Her heart really went out to you, when would you get your happy ending? She got you into bed and tucked in the sheets around you, oh how she wished you could have just told him all the wat back in 1A, but maybe that’s just not how things were meant to be? Its not like you had never had a boyfriend, but things never seemed to click, mainly because they were either afraid or insecure of the sheer amount of power your quirk held, or that fact that they were not Eijiro Kirishima. Mina sighed as she watched you fall asleep, a peaceful look finally overtaking your heartbroken features. Happy you were in a deep sleep, she left to go to Bakugos apartment and get some rest herself, leaving you a glass of water and a note to call her when you woke up. 

The next morning. 

You woke up, a little worse for wear to say the least. Your eyes slightly stuck together from un removed make up, your head surprisingly wasn’t to bad, but your mouth was dryer than the Sahara, you needed water. Luckily you found what mina had left you, downed the water and decided to call her once you had freshened up a little. 

You headed to the bathroom, you washed your face, brushed your teeth, sorted out your hair and felt much better. You noticed you were in His shirt and a wave of sadness washed over you as you remembered the woman, Kimiko. You shook off the sadness and made your way back to your bedroom to get ready for the day, luckily you were not on patrol today. 

As you exited the bathroom a flash of red caught your eye as Kiri was just leaving his room,  A Smile automatically began to pull at your lips until you saw he was closely followed out by her, both of them smiling widely, her hands on his bare chest, “I could break her hands with the blink of an eye.” You thought to yourself as you seethed from the bath room door. Trying to not let the anger get to you, thanks for anger issues dad! 

“Oh!! Good morning Y/N!” Kiri said happily giving you a beaming smile that you found very had to stay mad at, he waved cutely from the end of the corridor, adorable. Luckily your room was closest to the bathroom so you wouldn’t actually have to walk past them. Thank god. 

“Morning.” You replied, a little grumpier than you intended. 

“Woah!! You ok? A little hungover?” He laughed as he pulled Kimiko into his side. Not noticing the stank look she was giving you. 

You laughed dryly in response, running  ahnad through your freshly brushed locks.

“Something like that.” 

“What are you wearing?” Kimiko almost demanded as she put her hand on the hip that wasn’t surgically attached to Kirishima. 

You looked down at yourself and back at her with a confused look on your face. 

“Erm... a t-shirt.” you replied, sarcastically of course. 

“Is that my Kiri’s shirt?” She asked, the question loaded with Malice, You weren’t taking it. 

“No, I always wear a 5XL,” You retorted. “Of course its his shirt, I always sleep in his shirts.”

“Well, I think that’s really disrespectful, considering he has a girlfriend now.”

Girlfriend? You think you physically feel your heart stop.

Kirishima watched with a bewildered look on his face, as you looked over to him, he looked away and kept his eyes from looking at you. 

‘Thanks for defending me’ You thought to yourself. You stared her down a little, deciding what to do next. 

“Fine.” You said bitterly, angry that Kirishima had done absolutely nothing to make her not talk to you like dirt. “Here, you can have this one back now!” 

Then without missing a beat, and knowing full well you had nothing on underneath, you removed the giant shirt from your body and threw it down on to the floor in front of them. 

Stood there in all your glory, you smirked at her and then looked to Kirishima. 

“Its not manly to stare, Kirishima.” 

You then side stepped in to your room and slammed the door behind you. 

That’s when what you had just done hit you, your heart was racing, you had never done anything so bold in your life! Kiri just saw you Naked, and not in th way you had wanted him to all these years. You internally screamed as you heard muffled yelling from his room and a door slam, your body temperature rose and you suddenly felt a little sick. 

You needed to call Mina. Now. 

================================================

I loved writing this chapter! So i hope you guys love it to!! Let me know by dropping a like pleaseeeeeeeee. Much love!

[iconsumeheadcanons]

hello, for the WIP game.... "fanfic in my google docs? its more likely than you :/" and "theater food" :)

bro...bro..BRO you are getting large chucks of these bc im not sure if these will be finished/posted anytime soon..<3 ive gotten a lot of love today thank u so muchhh asldkfjaslkdfj i hope u enjoy!! here is all of ‘theater food’ and half of the first one

fanfic in my google docs? its more likely than you think :/

May 30th - 16:33 - Afterschool

Ren was still in the middle of hastily reading Futaba’s texts from hours ago when he opened the door to his family home and found his mother pacing in the genkan.

“...Mom, wha-?”

“I got a call from your school,” she says instead of hello. Ren freezes. Mona shifts in his bag. There’s silence for a second too long, but his mother quickly catches his tense posture and readjusts her approach. There haven’t been any arguments in a week and she doesn’t want to make this a new one.

“The counselor said you were fighting with a first-year,” she starts in a more inviting tone, but she tenses when she sees how quickly Ren’s cautious neutral face shifts into a frown.

“I-I just want to know what happened,” she says.

Ren releases an angry huff instead of turning around and leaving because he recognizes that his mother isn’t trying to jump to conclusions--that she trying to hear his side--but he still has hours worth of bad emotions at the forefront of his mind, so he kicks off his sneakers without undoing the laces and haphazardly drops them on the shoe rack before he allows himself to say anything.

Of course, because he is an angry idiot, his first response is: “There was no fight. It was just an argument,” and he snaps his mouth closed because that is exactly what a delinquent guilty of starting a fight would say and Makoto would be so disappointed in him right now. Morgana delivers her phantom message with a disapproving really, Joker?

His mother guiltily shifts her hands, one eyebrow twitching at Morgana’s muffled meow.

“I just used the words of the counselor,” she amends, gesturing for Ren to enter the family room. 

When they enter, she sits at one side of the rickety couch and pats the other seat. She smiles with some invitation, a dash of hesitance, and a sprinkle of uncertainty as if she has no clue how to speak to her teenage son. She looks at him sort of like he’s a child, but at least she doesn’t seem afraid of him like she was before Golden Week.

Ren joins her at the couch, releases Morgana on to the space between them so he doesn’t have to think about the distance, and conjures up how he can best explain the events of the morning in the least incriminating way (shouldn’t have to, he thinks, didn’t do nothing wrong in the first place) but his mother recognizes his thinking face before he can start.

“W-whatever you say, I’ll believe you, sweetie,” she encourages honestly. He can tell she means it because she tucks her hands in between her knees and tilts her legs in the picture perfect display of humble motherliness to hide how her legs would bounce otherwise. He turns to face her a bit, legs spread out and back slouched in a show of teenage indifference, despite his nervous right leg and the rhythmic flickers of light that bounce off of his phone case as he deftly spins his smartphone in his left hand.

“You mean that?” he can’t help but ask, belying his blase posture.

His mother nods with lips pursed, proving to her son that she has no intention of speaking over him. Emboldened yet reluctant, Ren begins the recount of his day at school.

theater food

    Ren slides into his seat while Hamuko and Ryuji chatter away about beef bowl places. Their enthusiastic discussion about cheap, fast, good food is not helping Ren’s patience or hunger. Usually Ren’s been in charge of the food prep because he’s the only one who knows how to make something all of the Thieves plus Hamuko will eat, but when they left Kamoshitty City today, Theodore pleasantly requested if he could make a recipe he’s been working on, which Hamuko had endorsed immediately.

    Ren agreed because Theodore is really hot and the thought of him buzzing around the kitchen is appealing enough, but around 40 minutes later, Ren is very hungry and is cursing his inability to disagree with tall hot people. To distract himself, he tries to brainstorm ways to free Haru and Makoto from Kamoshit-man’s unproportionately buff grasp, but his brain keeps snapping back to his teammates’ loud discussions and Theodore in a heart apron and himself in a cute pinafore sharing a festival smoothie--the romantic ones with the heart shaped straw--under the setting sun. He doesn’t even like smoothies.

    From the other corner of the weird theater lunch tables Futaba sends him a blank look that implies that she can hear his raging gay thoughts. Ren sticks his tongue out at her, and to Futaba’s left, Nagi raises a thin eyebrow and points at herself as though she thought he was talking to her. Embarrassed but never one to lose, Ren sticks out his tongue again at her paired with a flirtatious wink. At the head of the table beside Ren, Akechi makes a face. Futaba gags. Unaffected, Nagi returns her attention to Yusuke’s analysis of Hamuko’s preferred color palette for her hypothetical thief costume.

    Ren’s phone buzzes in his pocket, and he fishes it out, wondering how someone managed to text him while he’s in a magical dimension theater metaphor place. He quickly gives up that train thought when he sees Futaba’s SNS username. A quick glance up shows that she’s pointedly staring at her phone, so he swipes open the message.

wat did theo say he was making?

i hungr

idk

worried u wont like it?

duh

if hes anything like those tsuntsun twins he’ll probably poison it

...i didnt think of that

prolly not though. i mean hamuko trusts him

ur only saying that cuz hes a pretty boy 

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

for real though he wouldnt

The twins would without a doupt

*akechi voice* haha it was merely a jest!

DSKLFASLDKFSD STOP HES RIGHT

HES RIHGT NEXT TO ME ASSHOEL

    “Food’s ready!” Theodore announces over Ren and Futaba’s unsubtle snickers. Somehow, Theodore has acquired two shining serving platters.

    “Theo, you’re the best!” Hamuko says, standing up immediately to help him serve because she (and Haru) is the sweetest person in the universe.

    “Thanks,” Ren tacks on because he’s ‘in charge’ and he’s supposed to ‘set good examples’. He does not, however, stand up to help because he is lazy.

    The rest of the group is already chorusing thank yous and crowding around the food like hungry animals. Makoto is not around to tell them that they’re acting like children. Akechi is patiently waiting for everyone to get out of the way before he serves himself, which is probably a smarter idea than Ren who’s walking around the table so he can insert himself between Ann and Ryuji, the most destructive eaters of their current group. Yusuke, another main offender however justified, already has a bowl full of what appears to be noodles, veggies, and chicken covered in a savory sauce.

[frangipanidownunder]

Objects in the Mirror: fic

This is for my anon who asked: ‘what happens when Scully sees Mulder kissing someone else during their “separation”. This is set pre-season 10.

Willowy. That’s the first word that pops into Scully’s head. The second thought is that at least the woman isn’t a brunette too. Type, much, Mulder? The third thought is that it’s none of her business what Mulder does these days. None. At all. Unless it’s a health issue, he’s an adult. He’s not her…The mental conversation doesn’t supply a word so her brain leaps to the fourth thought, which is how the fuck could he do that? She stops short of adding ‘to her’, so she pulls herself back to the third thought, repeating like a mantra as she strides out, eyes to the sidewalk, desperate to unsee what she saw.

But now there’s a burning itch in her gut, the kind that used to see her pumping more rounds out at the firing range or sending local law enforcement officers running for cover with her machine-gun observations of their sub-par work. Pity she can’t blow her anger/disappointment/betrayal/jealousy off like that anymore; she’s no longer FBI.

Pity she can’t blow off being Scully.

She takes her writhing anger/disappointment/betrayal/jealousy into the café over the road and orders a large latte and a white chocolate and raspberry muffin. She knows she’ll regret it almost immediately and spend a week denying herself any other treats but she needs the sugar hit. Mulder’s still talking to Willow-Blonde, so while Scully’s waiting, she teases ‘Louis’ the barista with a slow smile, holding the seam of her wallet against her cheek, hugging her waist with the other arm and slowly twisting her torso side to side so that her hair falls over her face, then swings back off it again.

It’s a pointless mating dance. It’s reactive. She’s aware of that, but tries not to fall further down the Mulder-profiling-her rabbit hole. The slow-combustion of what she recognises as a misguided sense of dispossession is still taking place in her veins. She hates herself for this weakness but here she is swaying for a bearded barista. Louis blinks her way, finishing the latte art on her order with a flourish. For him, this ritual is part of his training. Keep the customers happy. Especially the older, professional women. They’re the ones who’ll return to the same café time and again, spending their disposable income on cakes and romantic hopes. She’d fuck him though. He’s pretty enough. She wonders what the male equivalent of willowy is. And then tells her mind to shut the fuck up.

Outside, where people are actually living with purpose, instead of imagining petty sex-revenge scenarios, the street is busy. Through the thrum, she spots Mulder again. His outline, his figure, is imprinted indelibly in her mind’s eye. She believes she could find him anywhere, in a ballgame crowd, in the darkened corner of a jazz club behind drifting dry ice, through the misty rain at the end of the yard, arm raised against the twisted apple tree, raging at the brutal sky above him. There was a time when she so desperately wanted him to return home from her imposed exile that she saw him everywhere: in the parking lot, at the line in the bank, across the street pushing someone else’s baby in a stroller.

“Latte for Day-nah,” Louis sings, and as he hands over the cup his fingers brush hers. They’re thin, girlish, two knuckles decorated with calligraphy tattoos. She doesn’t hold his eye, just whips the coffee and cake bag from his hand and heads outside.

The woman has gone but Mulder’s still there, brown paper cup in hand, sunglasses (those ugly sports ones he got from eBay because they were called SpookMeister, what? they’re so me, Scully) across that familiar, broad nose, hair an inch past unkempt and stubble on his chin that hides that fat bottom lip just a little too much. She dips her face to her own cup and watches a moment longer before a car pulls up and he climbs in.

He calls her later. She doesn’t answer the first time, lets the cell buzz and slide over the table top while his name flashes at her. When she does pick up, she feigns breathlessness and gets the desired response.

“Did I catch you at a bad time, Scully?” There’s disappointment laced through his words.

“No, it’s fine. Just doing a workout.” She wheezes out a cough for extra measure.

“Keeping fit for all those kids, huh? You’re a good doctor, Scully. Always going above and beyond for that place. I hope they know how deep your affections lie. Is there some kind of Olympic Games for paediatricians? The Doctors Games?”

It’s hard not to bite back, but they’ve played this game for so long their dysfunction is beat-perfect. “Keeping fit for one’s own personal health and wellbeing is a key component in living a fulfilling life, Mulder.” If only she could convince herself as easily as the words flow.

There’s a shuffle, a few clicks and bumps. He’s changing channels. “I wanted to let you know that I’ve found a new therapist. One that seems to really get me, you know?”

His tone seems genuine and she softens. “That’s good, Mulder.” Despite their issues, she’s only ever wanted him to be well. “I do want to know these things. As your physician…”

“Not that I didn’t like the other one you recommended, but,” he takes in a sharp breath as if to punctuate his point, “we’d run our course.”

She sinks into the chair, letting her head flop back on the rest. One step forward, two steps back. “How often do you see him?”

“You’re letting your unconscious bias show, Scully. Her.”

The small word stings like a needle. She refrains from asking him if she has blonde hair and legs like a foal.

“Fortnightly. We’re still at the heady getting to know you stage.” There’s a small silence where she imagines he’s assessing if he’s done enough damage yet. “She’s young enough to understand Instagram but mature enough to get Prince.”

She laughs gently. The tension diffuses again and she feels a rush of emotion. She can’t help herself. He drags her down then lifts her up with a simple switch of tone. “I saw you today. In town.”

“I do go out in the wild without my Ghillie suit sometimes, Scully. Why didn’t you say hello? I don’t bite.”

Not literally, she thinks. Well, not for a long time. She crosses her legs at the unexpected surge of arousal but the image of him kissing another woman creeps behind her eyes again. “It felt…” If he were here with her, in the same room, he’d lean in to her, tilt his head, quirk his lips, draw the truth from her. But there’s a distance more than miles between them and she can’t say the words. “I was running late.”

“That’s unlike you, Dr Punctual. Is everything okay?”

The way he switches from teasing to caring leaves her off-balance. She waits for the world to right itself.

“Can you schedule me in for an appointment, Scully? There’s something I’d like to talk to you about. Not medical. Are you free on the weekend?”

Tightness in her chest makes her breathing hitch. She adjusts the phone in her grip, gives herself time to respond. She’s faced mutants and monsters, her own mortality and his death, the loss of her children. Surely, his confession shouldn’t be elevated to those ranks. Yet her hands tremble and nausea roils in her stomach. Her brain rocks. It’s stupid, dumb to feel like this. She left him. She turned her back one last time and got herself away before the darkness swallowed her whole. The guilt that followed stripped her bare like a never-ending winter but recently she’s begun to feel the warmth of the sun on her skin again.

“Sure. I’ll come over,” she asserts. That way she can simply leave again. Walk the same walk.

“No, let me take you to dinner,” he says, unexpectedly. “That Thai place you like.”

Her sigh is sharp enough to graze her throat. He can’t be that insensitive as to invite her to eat at the same place they celebrated getting the keys to the house or her news about the job at Our Lady of Sorrows.

“Or the Ethiopian restaurant. You loved their shiro wat.”

“We could order pizza and stay home.” Home. She says it without thinking.

He chuckled. “Like the old days?”

“Something like that,” she says, knowing it will be anything but.

In the end, they agreed on a lunch at the vegetarian café and she orders an omelette she knows she won’t eat. He tucks into his feta and pumpkin quiche with salad and tells her he’s trying to eat cleaner. She doesn’t ask what’s brought on the change.

“What was it you wanted to tell me, Mulder? If it’s just to prove you’re finally paying attention to your diet, you’ve demonstrated it adequately. I believe you.” Her fingers clasp around a napkin and she twists it to a sharp point.

His expression is the same one he used for the victims of the most bizarre kind of crimes. She feels panic welling in her throat and crushes the napkin into a tight ball.

“I wanted to tell you that I met someone. I figured I owed you an explanation. Not an explanation, I mean I haven’t done anything wrong…fuck, this is hard,” he rubs the back of his neck. “Jeez. I feel like a teenager. I…I just didn’t want you to find out from someone else.” He pauses and she nods her head at him, encouraging him to finish, not only because he’s clearly still got stuff to get off her chest, but also because she just wants it over. “Not that anyone else knows because I don’t have friends…so, anyway. I…” The noise he makes is a sad laugh. For her or for him? “That’s, that’s my news.”

His fingers have crept across the table and they’re drumming on the surface, disturbing the small jug containing packets of sugar so that it chinks in time with his beat. He adds a low “sorry.”

If she takes a deep breath, what signal will that send? If she speaks too quickly, would that show a callous disinterest? She tries to smile but her lips refuse to co-operate. She’s never been good at hiding negative emotions, despite her tendency to stoicism. “How did you meet her?”

“Online,” he says. “Where else does someone who spends days at a time in his den meet other humans?”

He’s blushing and it’s charming and she hates it. “Is it serious?” The words are dry on her tongue.

He looks away and she tries to interpret the clench of his jaw. A beat. It softens and his mouth changes from grimace to lop-sided grin. “What does it mean if she left a copy of Why Men Don’t Listen and Women Can’t Read Maps on the coffee table?”

“Well,” she starts, trying to hold his eye despite a rush of conflicting emotions churning through her. “I would jump in the car and take it back to her, but I’m not sure how to get to her place.”

There’s a moment of shocked silence, then his head tips back and he laughs. She sips her tea and enjoys the sound. It always pleases her so profoundly to make him laugh. Not many people could claim to draw out true joy from Fox Mulder.

When he’s collected himself, he rubs his chin. “She took me out last week for coffee, took me out to tell me it was over. At least she did that, I suppose. She…she told me I was too insular. Can you believe that, Scully?” He plays for light. “According to her expert opinion of my psyche, that, I might add, she gleaned from two coffee dates and a meal at some over-priced French place where a dessert the size of a pin cost $50, I was still stuck in the past. With you.” He lowers his eyes and she rolls her lips together to stop herself from adding ‘and your demons and truths’. His shoulders move as he chuckles. “She didn’t really leave me that book, Scully. She didn’t come to the house.”

She’s stupidly relieved to hear that.

“It seemed wrong, somehow,” he says. “And it got me thinking, after her Dear John speech, that maybe this is what we’re…I’m destined for. A kind of relationship limbo. Prevented from going forward because I’m still snagged on a Scully branch. Do you think she’s right? If you…if you met someone, Scully, do you think you could give your whole self to that person?” He blinks slowly. “Or will there always be a small part of you left here?” He pats his chest with the side of his fist.

Her own heart speeds up. She’s had a few dates, a few flings. She hadn’t told him because he wasn’t in the headspace to process her attempts at moving on. And she can see now they were just ‘attempts’. There was an emptiness to the experience. And there’s a grain of truth to his question. It’s exposed just how indelibly tied they are because of their past.

She doesn’t answer him and he plays with the lollo rosso on his plate. “I like the weight of you in here.” He looks down to his heart. “It keeps me balanced.” A waiter retrieves their plates and Mulder watches her for the entire time he’s cleaning the table.

Her chest constricts, burns with such intensity that she’s certain her face is aflame. His fingers meet hers, mid-table, and she lets him squeeze them, such tenderness, such affection, so far removed from the angry, impotent man she’d left.

“Have we fucked each other up entirely, Scully?”

“Is that how she put it, your mystery woman?”

He grins. “I told her I liked being fucked up. It’s the only life I’ve ever known. That’s when she threw in the towel.”

“I don’t blame her,” she says, rubbing his knuckles. “Imagine meeting Spooky Mulder all grown up. At least back in the day your paranoia was justified. Government conspiracies and all.”

“If Dr Dana Scully had met me now, she wouldn’t have lasted one date with Ole Spook, would she?”

She lowers her head as she giggles. “You showed me many things, Mulder. Opened my eyes to wonders and closed them to the black and white life I’d known. I’m a better person because of you. I wouldn’t change a day.”

“You told me that once before.”

“And I still mean it.”

Outside, the day is cooling, sun leaching away behind thickening cloud. They walk in amiable silence down the street. There’s a bookshop she loves and he nods as she lingers at the door. Inside, the comforting smell of words on pages wafts over her and she browses the dark-shadowed shelves.

Mulder emerges with an armful of books from Squatchin’ for Novices to Meals for One. She swallows at the sight of that one. She’s picked up a mystery thriller, and couple of romances that he side-eyes. She bats him over the arm with one. Then she spies the main prize. She picks out two copies. A his and her pair. The teller scans them through and she hands one to Mulder.

He’s still laughing as they walk to their cars. He puts the other books on the passenger seat of his car and clasps his copy of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck to his chest.

“Shit is fucked,” she says, reading from the blurb.

“And we just have to live with it.” He drops a kiss on her head and smiles a full-wattage beam. “You’re still a good date, Scully.”

“You too,” she says. “And I’m glad you told me about…your…”

“Tiffany. That was her name.”

She can’t help the sharp burst of laughter that comes out. “I’m sorry,” she says. “That…was unexpected.”

He snugs a hand in his jeans pocket. “I know. It should have been a warning.”

“Well, unfortunate name aside, it’s good that you’re getting out there.”

“Out there. Where the truth is? I don’t think I’ll be doing it again in a hurry.”

She pulls a sympathetic face, reaches out to touch his arm. “I don’t want to be your snag, Mulder. I thought I was setting you free.”

“We’ll never be free of each other, Scully. And I don’t want to be free in that sense, not if it means never having days like this. I…miss you.” He bounces his toe off the ground and the lump in her throat wedges itself firm.

“I’d better be going,” she whispers. Turns to leave.

“Maybe we can make this a weekly thing,” he says after her. “Just two fuck-ups having lunch, you know?”

She stops, turns back around, smiling through her tears. “Maybe.” And she watches him in the rear-view mirror. Objects in the mirror may appear closer than they are, she thinks as she drives away, and sometimes, they actually are.

[strongsassysexysloane]

Fumigation leads to Intoxication. Part 2

As promised... . . . . . . . . . 

No, please don't come in.

.   .   . 

"Sorry.. Gibbs said Y/n would be here and I just wanted to speak to her before I leave." Roni opens the door half way, holding onto the handle. Your head snaps up at the sound of her voice, your neck was seriously going to hurt tomorrow after all this snapping.

"Come in." You look at Jack who is putting on a smile for the intruder but she's an easy read for you now. After looking at her (so much) you can see her ticks. She's throwing daggers at Roni and you hold in a snicker, watching as she tries to blink normally but there's a slight twitch to her stare.

"Please don't come any further, Roni." You grimace at the sound of your nickname for her coming across your lips, the memories vivid in your mind and the pain of the last time you said it. "Give me a second and I'll meet you in the hall." You reach for your shoes but Veronica doesn't leave, you are half tempted to throw you shoe at her or curse at Jack for getting you in the habit of taking your shoes off in her office.

"Sorry I didn't mean to interrupt anything." You can't help the scoff that comes out and see Jack raise an eyebrow at you, her eyes shining at your clear discomfort and need for Veronica to leave her office. She wanted to have her fun and see what Veronica was like, which would probably reflect on you later.

"Shut up." You spit out through your clenched jaw. she  give you her wicked smirk as she turns back to Roni. Standing up, she walks over and extends her hand to Veronica who takes it as as invitation to walk further into the room. You can't take your eyes away, the shoe in your hand forgotten as you ex and your current crush exchange pleasantries, eyeing each other up and down.

"I'm Jack Sloane, Forensic Psychologist." Jack sternly shakes her hand and drops it immediately. Straightening her shoulders she watches as Veronica does just the same but Jack had the upper hand. It was her office and her space.

The shoes you picked out this morning are giving you grief or maybe its the tension that has risen to one thousand in the past ten seconds. Jack's beyond jealous and you can't help the feeling, the twist in your gut and the ache between your legs that grows. Roni looks over Jack's shoulder, because of course Veronica is slightly taller than Jack, which doesn't affect Jack at all. Although you swear she leans up on her tip toes ever so slightly. Veronica looks at you but you're flustered with your shoes so she turns back to Jack.

"Psychologist huh? Y/n tell you all about my dark secrets already?" She smirks, she's trying to be cocky because she clearly saw something between you both and now she feels threatened or some ridiculous emotion. She did the same thing back when you were going out whenever someone showed any interest in you, she got all cocky and smug but usually that lead to mind blowing sex so you never complained. Now it was just pathetic.

"Nothing about you, Veronica. We have more important things to talk about." Jack bit back and you knew, knew because you knew her so well, that Jack instantly regretted biting at Veronica's bait. You knew that feeling oh too well. "She came in to talk about the case, not that that concerns you."

"That how you two ended up siting on the couch all friendly." The power move to cross her arms did nothing for Jack. Jack scoffed, she honestly couldn't believe this woman. Her professional brain was going nuts and her emotions were definitely starting to take over.

It was like watching a caged fighting match with words and with that image in your head you quickly fiddled your last buckle into place.

"We-" Jack breathed in threw her nose and pushed a slow breath out but you jumped up, shoes back on and thankful before one of them slapped the other. But more likely Jack would punch Veronica if you didn't get between them.

"We are done here. Thanks Jack. I'll be back once Veronica leaves." You rub your thumb over her shoulder as you pass her. She gives you a sincere smile, catching your hand as it drops away from her shoulder to give you a comforting squeeze before glaring back at Veronica. You follow Roni out of the room but turn to Jack quickly before shutting the door. "Jealousy looks hot on you, Jay." You whisper and you laugh as she shrinks into her chair, running her hand down her face. Yep, Roni had that affect on people. You'll reevaluate your words when your brain isnt busy getting Veronica as far away from Jack as possible.

You make it half way down the hall before Veronica speaks. "Look I don-"

"Yeah you don't have any right in the way you just spoke with Jay and how you acted in the bullpen. You are on this case to help us with whatever you know about Miss Parker and other than that we don't need to talk. You can go through Bishop or McGee." You open the door to the promenade and walk out, this time Veronica following you, you can hear the clap of her stiletto's following close behind you.

There's a huff before she starts her inevitable rant on your use of names. "So it's Jay with Ms. Sloane but it's last names with the rest of your colleagues?" She's got that fire in her eyes again and that sass in her talk but you aren't rising to the bait. You only like that kind of sass from one woman now.

"I call anyone whatever I want but you, it's Special Agent Jacqueline Sloane to you." You breath slowly, looking her dead in the eyes. "Roni, we are done. Done as the day i got mud all over your Gucci handbag. You didn't want anything more than a good time, we had a good time and it's over. Stop powering around here. We have a dead woman's murder to solve, your colleagues murder, remember? Or did you voluntarily just come here to annoy me when you saw my name on the case? Think you could think about anyone else other than yourself for a change?" You can see she's stunned. You take the oppotunity and walk around her, down the stairs, finding the comfort of your desk. Everyone's eyes are on you and you sit down at your desk, you going straight back into case mode. Ignoring their looks you get back to work.  

You see Veronica talk quietly to Gibbs before saying her goodbyes to the rest of the team everyone glad to see the back of her and then there's silence once she leaves. The weight finally lifting from your shoulders. Jack comes down a few minutes later, perfect timing but you knew it wasn't a coincidence. She informs the team of a few suspects connected to the victim that she found.

"We sure it wasn't Veronica? She certainly seems like-" Torries shuts up when he meets the glares from Jack, Gibbs and you. "Or not." He sinks into his chair, and pouts when Ellie laughs at him.  

"As i was saying.." Jack rattles off the profiles of the suspects. You watch her stand confidently and speak without a drop of hesitation. So sure of herself and it's such a turn on. You shake your head and look at your computer. You needed to get a grip on your hor-mones. McGee and Nick leave after Jack's update to get Harry Nutter, Jack's number one suspect. It takes them a few hours and you have him in custody and Gibbs goes a round in interrogation with him. After an hour of long glares and hardly any talking McGee informs you all that his alibi checks out and you are all back at square one. Kasie or Jimmy haven't gotten any half decent leads. It's just hit 1800 and you are all in need of a decent meal and rest.

"Go home, sleep. We'll pick this up tomorrow." Gibbs grunts and you all follow his command. Happy to get a reprieve instead of working into the early hours of the morning. Your quick exit had nothing to do with the woman who was currently in your apartment doing god knows what.

The lights are on when you walk up the stairs to your apartment. A smell you don't recognise coming through your door. You twist the handle and are presented with Jack in short shorts, NCIS slouch sweater hanging off one shoulder and her hair tied up in a messy bun. You smile and quietly close the door behind you, she hasn't heard you yet. She's got music playing and she's dancing in front of your stove while stirring whatever is in the pot. The sight makes your whole body happy and a twinge between your legs is back.

You are about to get out your phone when she spots you and a red hot blush crawls up her cheeks. "Oh my god. I'm so sorry. I just got cooking and I love singing when I'm cooking and-" As she's rambling and getting redder and redder in the face, you are walking closer and closer to her. That's when your eyes fall down to her feet, they're covered in fluffy blue socks, really finishing off her outfit perfectly. She's adorable. Your eyes slowly rake up her toned calves, muscular thighs and your eyes snap up to hers as you just realised she's stopped talking.

"No need to be sorry, Jack. It smells great. What are you cooking?" You clear your throat, trying to kill the blush thats now painfully covering your cheeks. She's looking at you curiously, you're under scrutiny and after today you just want to relax and not have to think about anything but you have to keep your guard up at home now too.  

"Mac and cheese, my mums recipe." She takes a sip of wine and your eyes narrow at her glass. "Oh sorry, I bought two bottles on the way home. Thought you might need a glass after today. Plus having to put up with me for another two nights." She rushes the last bit out, you can tell she's nervous.

"Not gonna kick you out Jack. Although if you don't pour me a glass of wine while I have a shower you might be closer to the door." You return her smile and she spins around to find another wine glass.

"It'll be ready for you when you return from your shower, sweetheart." The name just rolled off her tongue and she locked eyes with yours as you were passing the kitchen on the way to your room. You smirk and continue walking.

Your shower was needed. It washes away all the dirt you know was left by Veronica and you roll your shoulders back, enjoying the sting of hot water hitting your face and cascading down your body. You want to stay under the water for hours but you hear the clinks of dinner being dished up. You dry off and wrap a towel around yourself before exiting the bathroom.

"Dinner is rea-" Jack stops in the hallway, her eyes dropping down your body and you shiver under her piercing eyes. "Sorry." She bites her bottom lip and hops back into the kitchen, you saw the pink colouring her cheeks and it makes you smile.

You walk into your bedroom, grabbing a pair of lilac coloured leggings and black singlet, slipping into them, you thread your fingers through your hair and look in your small bedroom mirror. You looked cute, maybe, hopefully and you exit, hoping to find Jack dancing around your kitchen again but she was tucked up on the couch sipping her wine glass. The sight of her so comfy and at home in your apartment almost made you feel at home, if your heart wasn't beating out of your chest. She had two bowls of dinner on the coffee table, yours accompanied with a full wine glass and a blanket across her lap.

"Join me." She patted the spot beside her and you happily did as she directed. "Here. You have to have the full experience. Mum did this for me whenever I had a rough day." She shifted the blanket so it rested across your lap and handed you your bowl of mac and cheese.

"You mothering me, Jack?" You tease and Jack straightens up before relaxing seeing your teasing smile.

"Very funny. No I'm not. I'm being a caring and great guest." She takes her bowl and joins you in dinner.

You can't get over how delicious this mac and cheese is. The recipe was surely guarded with her life but you knew eventually Jack would let up. The news is on in the background but neither of you are paying attention to it. Then another smell meets your nose, you look at Jack and she's looking at you. At that moment your oven beeps.

"Right on queue." She jumps up, taking her wine glass with her, she downs the last of her wine before reaching the kitchen.

"What is all this for?" You manage to say in between mouthfuls of mac n cheese. You couldn't put this stuff down, mainly because it was delicious and you hadn't eat in over five hours.

Jack takes out the tray from your oven. The smell assaults your senses again and your eyes light up. "Did you make me mac and cheese and brownies?! You really didn't have to, Jack." You shake your head but take another mouthful of the pasta anyway. Jack laughs and places the tray on your stove.

"You're putting up with me for possibly four nights. This is the least I could do." She flutters her eye lashing and smiles, walking back to you and settling down on the couch, bringing the mac and cheese back to her lips. "Crap." She puts a mouthful of macaroni in her mouth before running back into the kitchen.

"Forgot your wine?" You laugh as you watch her refill her glass, way past the high tide mark.

You settle into comfortable silence as you both eat and drink wine. Enjoying the silence, enjoying Jack being beside you, the wine making you feel light headed and blissful. The days antics washed away until your alarm reminds you of everything at work tomorrow. It isn't long before your wine evaporates from your glass and you groan in disgust which only makes that sweet sound of Jack's laughter fill the room.

"You're cute." She grins, maybe the wine had gone to her head too as her brows furrow for a second and then it's gone.

"Me? You're the one in those shorter than legal shorts and.." You trail off, you eyes following where your words left off and you meet Jack's eyes. She's smiling at you with a cheeky glint in her eye. "I need more wine." You swallow hard and quickly escape to your kitchen. "Want a refill, Jay?" You want to slap yourself with the use of her nickname.

"I'm good, thanks." You jump, her voice is only a whisper, but it's right behind you and not at the safe distance you just put between yourself and Jack.

"Jack I-" You turn to explain, what? You have no idea but she's closes the distance between you, her lips are on yours and you are frozen. Your brain doesn't catch up in time before Jack pulls away. Hey eyes avoiding you completely.

"Sorry I thought-" She's frazzled, you curse your brain for being so slow and its only now that you’ve caught up. Your fingers find the material of her sweater at her waist and tug her to you. She stumbles from the sudden jolt, stumbles into you, her hand coming up cupping your cheek, your eyes meet hers. "Thought I miss read the-" She searching, searching for what both of you want.

"My brain short circuited." You breath, Jack laughs more like giggles and you smile. Your eyes flick down to her lips and back up. It's clear now what you want.

"When I-" She closes the gap between you, holding you in place with her other hand coming up to the back of your neck, drawing you in closer when she pushes you back into the counter. The kiss is slow, both of you exploring, feeling and enjoying the way you fit so well together. Her curves, fitting perfectly in yours, her lips moving in sync with yours, everything is just too right.  

You breath, your breath mixing with Jack's as she rests her forehead against yours. "Yeah.." Is all you can manage to say.

"Mine too." She smiles and you kiss her because now you can but neither of you can stop smiling, the kiss turns into short little pecks broken up by your smiles and giggles.

"So cooking for me was a ploy to get me all hot for you?" You wrap your arms around Jacks waist, causing her lower half to rest more into yours, the heat between your legs growing with the sudden pressure and movement. Jack's leg slipping in between yours, the friction making your mind melt.

"Was testing a theory." She shrugged, her hands playing with the hair at the back of your neck.

"Was it does wearing short shorts and dancing in my kitchen turn me on? Then your conclusion is definitely yes." You manage to speak while her fingers gently play with your hair. The sensation makes your eyes close involuntarily.

"Enjoying this." You can hear the sass in her voice, the words uttered as a clear statement which only causes you to snort.

"A little." You yelp with the not so gentle massage turns into a tug, she pulls your hair which causes your eyes to snap open, her ultimate goal. "Hey, who's the house guest?" Her fingers soothe the spot she pulled, her smirk still clear across her gorgeous face, victory in her eyes only matched equally with desire.  

She gently tugs you forward although you meet her half way, the kiss she tries to dominate. Her tongue swiping across your bottom lip and you moan into giving her access, she dominates any attempt that you try to take control. Her nips and sucks only make your mind turn further to mush but luckily your body has other plans. You push her backwards and it must take her by surprise as her back hits the opposite counter and she laughs into the kiss.

"Hey." She kisses down your cheek, jaw, neck. "What was that for?"

"Was aiming for my bedroom." You moan as she sucks the spot below your ear.

"You missed." Her tongue swirling, soothing over the mark she just made.

"Was a bit distracted." Your brain has come back together somewhat and you thread your fingers through Jack's hair as she's enjoying herself to your neck. You pull her gently and then a bit more forcefully and she follows your guide so you can look at her. "That wasn't a no?"

"God no." She moans, crushing her lips into yours

The rest of the night is a blur of clothes getting thrown across the apartment, laughs and fits of giggles as you stumble to your bedroom and moans and pleas before the night catches up with you both, the brownies forgotten for now. Your heart is still hammering against your chest and you can feel Jack's doing the same under your touch. Your fingers happily exploring and teasing across her skin.

"Are you trying to tickle me?" Jack murmurs, the sex still evident in her voice.

"Just a result of my touch against your skin but I can-" Jack shrieks as you squeeze her side, a place you found earlier when you were exploring everything Jack Sloane, that and the back of her knees were a sensitive spot too.

"S-stop" She struggles to push you away but you're still half collapsed on top of her, making it impossible for her to get away but you give in to her pleas. Knowing it would only come back twice as bad when she gets the chance. "Little shit."

You laugh and place a kiss to her collarbone and another to the base of her neck. "Takes one to know one."

"Wow. How mature of you." Her hand resting across your back that's been gliding up and down your spine of rht past few minutes now tries to tickle your side but thankfully you're back in full control and try your hardest to hold your breath, not giving in to her tickles or need to laugh. "Not fair." She pouts. The years of training yourself self control when being tickled has finally paid off.

You let out a breath as she gives up her assault. "What was that about maturity?" You laugh, nestling into her neck, leaving open mouthed kisses against her skin.

"Mmm, you're lucky ’m half sleepy and half sated otherwise I would've won that fight." You hear her yawn and drop a kiss to her neck again as she stretches and moves to get more comfortable.

"Comfortable? Wait only half?" You look at Jack trying to make a frown but you can't help but smile as Jack laughs and leans in leaving a kiss on your cheek. It's meant to settle you, comfort you but you're still waiting for her verbal answer.

"20-80 and yes. Very." She whispers into your ear and snuggles further to make her point.

"You cooked so you didn't have to sleep on the pullout again." There's accusation in your voice but it's dulled by the laughter in your eyes and the smirk on your lips.

"Hey it worked, didn't it?" She says it so smoothly that you are half concerned but her smirk cracks through and you shove her shoulder in response.

You move to get up but Jack tightens her hold around your waist, making you tumble back down into her side which makes you laugh and your heart pang knowing she doesn't want you to leave. "I'm going to the bathroom. Is that ok?" Your mouth brushing over hers, teasing her with the thought or intention of a kiss but it never happens. Her arms loosens at your waist, her bottom lips jutting out in a poor attempt at a pout.

"Don't be too long." Jack brushes her nose against yours and pecks your lips, satisfied that she caught you before you had a chance to doge her mouth. She deepens the kiss and releases you.

You moan as she pulls away and hop up to go to the bathroom like you said.

You spend the next few hours talking about nothing and everything. Jack telling you stories about her past and you sharing yours. It's sweet and emotional and you both can't stop touching each other, fingers tracing, grazing across skin. It isn't until the early hours of the morning that sleep finally takes you both. Both snuggling and curled up in each other.

If it wasn't for the blaring noise of your phone alarm going off you would've loved waking up in Jack's arms, her legs tangled in yours and her moans vibrating across your skin.

"No." Jack groans, trying her best to roll over but she ends up pressing her face into the crook of your neck trying to hide from the world.

You reach out and switch off the alarm, your hands coming back to Jack's skin like a magnet. You trace her scars, her body shivering under your touch. She rolls onto her stomach beside you and you see it as a clear invitation to explore. You watch her reaction as your fingers move along her scars, her face half hidden in your pillows but she manages to smile up at you, it's a tired, sad and only Jack could manage to show so much emotion with half of her face.

"It's ok." She breathes, seeing the hesitation and question in your eyes.

"You're gorgeous." You whisper and lean down and place your lips onto one of her scars. You smile when her body shivers again, a soft whimper coming from her lips, you see her hand gripping the pillow under her head tightly. Your lips trace where your fingers had just been, making sure to kiss every single scar. You feel her shudder and you lean over to see a tear running down her cheek.

"I'm sorry, I didn-"

It's so quick, so sudden, she springs up, her lips capturing yours in a wet, open mouthed, emotional crushing kiss. She cups your face between her hands and pulls back. "No ones ever-" She chokes up and a sob escapes her lips, her head dips and she leans her forehead against your chin attempting to regain control of her tears, emotions.  

"You're gorgeous Jacqueline Sloane." You cup her cheek, bringing her face back to yours and brush your nose against hers in attempt to get that smile she only shows you. She nods in response and neither of you move. You drop small, feather sfot kisses to her cheeks, hair, nose, forehead and it's a success. Her lips curve into a beautiful smile.

It's moments, minutes before you pull apart, the nagging feeling of work growing stronger.

"Please stay tonight." It's a whisper, a plea.

"I kinda still have to..." She smirks, the sass is back, but she kisses you on the lips before you can bite back. "But even if I didn't, I would."

You reply with a peck to her lips before hopping out of bed. You both get ready in a few minutes, you let Jack use the bathroom first while you get coffee and the brownies ready.

"We are having brownies for breakfast?" She laughs, wraping her arms around your front, kissing the back of your neck.

"That ok?" You place a big slice on one plate and grab two forks.

"Perfect." She lets got and sits down at the counter with you, sharing the brownie and enjoying the coffee. It's such a sweet, domestic moment and you don't want it to end. "We can do this again tomorrow morning." Her fingers reach out and trace your cheek and cup under your chin, lifting your head. Your eyes lock with hers.

"That easy to read, huh?" You smile, glancing at her lips before leaning in and kissing her. The sweet taste of brownie and coffee are intoxicating mixed with the taste of her.

Her fingers tangle in your hair which only deepens the kiss. You both break apart, gasping for air. "Only because I was thinking the same thing." The brownie is quickly devoured between kisses and sips of coffee.

"We need to go." But your eyes say the opposite and Jack just grins, her eyes sparkling. That's when you know everything is going to be fine because looking into those whiskey, soft eyes is home now.

"Think we can keep this just between us for now? Not that I dont want to scream your name to the world, just think we would be too distracted at work." You watch the emotions cross her face, the uncertainty, her nerves, the blush sweetly covering her cheeks. You lean in and kiss her cheek, lingering a second longer to make your point.

"I'll make you scream my name tonight instead then." You wink, hopping down from the breakfast stool and leaving a shocked Sloane in your kitchen.

"I'm going to be the one distracted at work now." She groans, following you out the door. You throw your head back and laugh, locking the door behind Jack.

"Funny, you've been intoxicating me at work for months." This was going to be fun. . . . . . . . .

FIN. I know, sad right? Luckily I have a few other ideas floating around. What did y’all think???? Your comments always make my day/night/week!! 

[missjosie27]

Year 3 Part 9- Duel with Barnaby

Hey guys!

I enjoyed writing this one immensely because I feel like JC has butchered or reduced Barnaby down to an intelligence even lower than that of Patrick Star or Forest Gump. I feel there's a lot more depth to him even if he's not the brightest bulb on the porch. And though I give a lot of attention to Merula, he deserves a greater amount of coverage and nuance as well

So for those of you who like Barnaby, this one's for you. Enjoy!

How to approach a potentially hostile Slytherin: that was the ultimate question.

For David it presented a unique challenge, one untested until this very moment. For as long as he had attended Hogwarts, Slytherin House was an enemy, an antithesis to everything he believed in and a hindrance to finding the vaults along with his brother. Merula was the primary source for that picture, but it wasn’t only her. As Bill and Hagrid pointed out, many children of Death Eaters still attended the school, the overwhelming majority of them in Slytherin. And the ones that weren’t tended to be odd, reclusive, self obsessed, or alarmingly ambitious. It wasn’t a coincidence.

And yet in order to win over Barnaby to their side, he needed to drop these prejudices, at least for the moment. He still wasn’t sure this was a good idea but Tulip’s ideas, though often eccentric, tended to see things that others often overlooked. He would trust that instinct for now. The real problem was how to approach him.

Despite the huge Slytherin being seemingly more approachable, David was still quite hesitant. After all, they had opposed each other at least twice already and in both instances Barnaby was left either smelling like foul eggs or on the ground covered in snow. One wrong word might backfire immensely. He opted to try and talk to him in a more private setting but that proved to be impossible, as he was almost always with Merula and Ismelda during and after potions neither of which he had a desire to speak with at the moment.

So he tried a new approach, one more befitting of a Gryffindor but with a reasonable amount of tact. During lunch on a Wednesday, quiet by Hogwarts standards, he took the opportunity to walk over to the Slytherin table (with great caution) when Barnaby was alone and not flanked by the two girls. He was well aware of the dirty looks he received from the older students and some looked ready to curse him into oblivion, but he knew they wouldn’t, not with teachers everywhere. Most seemed content to ignore him.

“Barnaby?”

The teen looked up from his massive pile of roast beef and potatoes and gazed upon David with intense curiosity.

“Wat oo yu ooing er?”

“You might want to try swallowing.”

Barnaby did so and repeated the question though it was not hostile.

“What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to talk.”

“Talk about what?”

At this point, some of the Slytherins were looking over and had their wands withdrawn but a silent hand from Barnaby eased that tension.

“About what’s been going on lately. And the vaults.”

Barnaby narrowed his eyes ever so slightly.

“You know I stunk for weeks after that dungbomb. I’ve never taken so many baths in my life.”

“I’m sor-”

“And I mean three times a day. I didn’t know it was possible to bathe that many times. My mom said just once is usually enough.”

David paused at the childlike reasoning of the giant teen in front of him.

“Err...right. Sorry about that.”

Barnaby shrugged as though it had never happened.

“Tulip promised me a box of Peppermint Toads if I talked to you. What do you want?”

Good old, Tulip. She bribed the moron beforehand

“Do you like working for Merula?” he asked him directly.

Barnaby blinked stupidly at the question.

“I don’t work for her. We’re partners.” The statement sounded more like a question, doubt evident in his deep voice.

“Sure that’s why she considers you lesser than a bowl of tripe. But has she ever let you make a decision? Does she ever share her plans with you? Has she ever thanked you for anything?”

Barnaby thought for a second.

“No...no...and I forgot the last thing you said was.”

Resisting the urge to sigh, David continued on with his case.

“You should work with us, Barnaby. Not Merula. And notice how I said ‘with’ not ‘for’. I don’t treat my friends like objects to be cast aside.”

The Slytherin seemed to be taken aback.

“Why do you think I can help?”

“For many reasons, but above everything else you’re powerful and can duel better than most sixth years. I know firsthand how difficult it is to break into a cursed vault. We could use that kind of strength.”

It was quite clear from Barnaby’s reaction that no one had ever bothered to pay him that kind of compliment before or even if they had, it was few and far in between. He took his large fingers, which were covered in silver rings, and began rubbing his chin.

“Uh..you alright?”

“I’m thinking about your words.”

David made a final appeal to get the message across.

“I’m not going to boss you around or call you names like Merula does. I just want your help to find my brother. That’s all.”

Suddenly, a wide smile stretched across Barnaby’s face.

“I like you, Grant.”

“You do?” David asked, surprised it could possibly be this easy.

“Yeah! We should fight.”

Of course it wouldn’t be that easy

“What?” he said in a nonplussed tone.

“I need to prove I’m tough enough to help you and you need to prove you're tough enough to be my new partner,” Barnaby reasoned.

“But I’ve technically already beaten you.”

“That was three on one,” the burly teen shaking his head. “It doesn’t count. Group fighting isn’t the same as one on one.”

He finished eating the last of his lunch, stood up, and clapped a giant hand on David’s shoulder.

“Meet me on the training grounds this Friday after lessons. If you can beat me, I’ll ditch Merula and help you enter the next vault.”

“Why not just do it now?” David asked genuinely.

“Wouldn’t be fair that way,” Barnaby told him. “We both need time to get ready. See you on Friday!”

The third year Gryffindor could only watch as the Slytherin grabbed his bag and began to whistle cheerfully as he exited the Great Hall. It was only when a piece of bread was chucked at him along with an expletive he realized he needed to remove himself from Slytherin territory.

What he didn’t realize was what he had gotten himself into.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

When Rowan and Ben found out what he agreed to with Barnaby, both cautioned against it.

“Dave, no offense, you’re a good dueler, but Barnaby is the best in our year for a reason. It’s not a good idea to go up against him.”

“What if he seriously hurts you or something?” the blond asked nervously.

“Mates, I’ve explained this already. Barnaby isn’t trying to harm me he’s trying to test me. If I beat him one on one he’ll join us and stop hanging around Merula. We’ve got nothing to lose.”

David was looking over his last bit of notes in the Gryffindor common room before meeting Barnaby for their duel. The weather was surprisingly sunny, and the conditions ideal as you would find in late winter.

“But if wins you’ll just end up in the Hospital Wing and we go right back to where we started from,” Rowan pointed out. “And what then? I haven’t finished deciphering the notebook yet.”

“And Merula will just come after you even more,” Ben added.

David put on his jacket and hat while pocketing his wand. Classes were done and he was ready. Barnaby might be twice as large and physically stronger but he couldn’t back down now.

“You guys worry too much,” he told them with a somewhat cocky smile. “If I can handle three Slytherins at a time, then I’m going to be more than fine against one.”

“Just be careful,” his best friend told him. “We don’t know if we can trust Barnaby yet. Keep your guard up.”

David smiled knowing full well Rowan was just looking out for his well being and he appreciated the gesture.

“I will. Now wish me luck and watch me as I win this duel.”

As he exited and pushed past the portrait of the fat lady, Ben couldn’t help but sigh with jealousy.

“He asked for luck but still has full confidence that he’s going to win the duel. I wish I carried myself like that.”

“Don’t envy everything about Dave,” Rowan said wisely as he read his Magical History book. “He’s more complicated than lets on.”

“But...he’s the most competent person I know save for the teachers. He’s taught me so many things.”

“I’m his best friend, Ben. But even I don’t know all that he’s been through.”

The blond appeared puzzled.

“What are you saying? As far as I’m concerned, he’s a hero.”

Rowan shut his book with a soft thud.

“Even heroes have demons.”

Neither boy spoke much after that but each seemed to consider that the leader of their group had a cocky streak that hid something much deeper.

Even if he would never admit doing so.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sure enough, Barnaby was there waiting for him upon his arrival. By now the snow on the ground had begun to melt a little and the grass below them was little more than a muddle cesspool. But neither minded so much as the milder weather provided the perfect chance to duel without the howling wind or hail. David greeted him in a friendly manner to start things off on the right foot.

“You showed up,” the Slytherin said simply.

“Well yeah, it’s a duel after all.”

This seemed to cater to Barnaby’s simple way of looking at things as he smiled once more.

“I like you, Grant. You keep being nice. If you beat me in a duel, I know you’re tough for real.”

“And then you’ll stop working with Merula and help us find the next Cursed Vault?”

“I’ll have to think about it.”

David paused for a second, confused, though he tried to be as patient as he could be. After all, Barnaby probably didn’t remember what he had for breakfast.

“It was your idea, Barnaby…”

“Oh, right. I’ll do my idea then.”

David by now knew enough about the gargantuan teen to be aware that he was not taking the mickey and also the sincerity of his personality. Certainly a different kind of opponent than he had taken on in the past.

They took positions about thirty feet from each other and each withdrew their wands.

“I’ll warn you, David. I’ve never lost a duel,” Barnaby said with a confident grin.

The Gryffindor could only grin back.

“That’s funny, neither have I.”

Without warning, however, Barnaby struck first sending a disarming spell his way, which he managed to avoid. But unlike his other opponents, Barnaby didn’t rest on his laurels. Spell after spell and ‘Expelliarmus’ after ‘Expelliarmus’, the barrage was relentless and it was so quick David barely had time to recover and send anything back.

After the six stunner, he managed to fire off a Knockback jinx but it only threw back the Slytherin back a few yards and he stayed on his feet.

“Son of a…”

He never had time to finish the swear as Barnaby sent a slew of ropes towards him which missed but then caught him with a blasting curse, the impact of which sent him sprawling on the ground.

Not giving up, he leapt back up and fired back.

‘Depulso!’

The spell sailed over Barnaby’s right shoulder and he responded in kind.

‘Convulsio!’

The spell hit his left leg and it began spazzing as though he had a charlie horse. The sensation was incredibly uncomfortable but David gritted his teeth and managed to dodge another one of Barnaby’s spells, ‘Restricta!’

Ignoring the pain, he tried to use a time old tactic: distraction.

‘Fumo!’

Smoke temporarily blocked Barnaby’s view but with a wave of his wand, he cast it aside and sent another stunner before David could follow up a blasting hex.

Okay, this isn’t working

The burly Slytherin hadn’t been lying: he was good and it was also easy to see why he never lost a duel. His spellwork was precise and accurate, but also fast and nearly impossible to sidestep. The incantations combined with flicks of the wrist and a strong stance made Barnaby the toughest opponent he yet faced.

As he was forced to dodge yet another spell, this one blue in color, he flicked his wand forward and managed to hit Barnaby in the stomach with a tickling spell in order to buy time. To his shock, however, the effect did little other than to cause him to clutch his stomach.

“Those kinds of spells won’t work on me,” he called out. “I just so happen to be immune to tickling.”

It was the first thing Barnaby said all the while they were dueling, a refreshing change of pace from Merula, but the irrefutable fact remained. The Slytherin’s relentless battering ram style was unlike anything he faced before and only raw brute strength would take him down, strength that was failing him.

David was forced to bend down onto one knee when Barnaby yelled out ‘Stupefy’ in order to stun him. Clearly he was intent on ending this soon as his left leg had already given out.

No, not yet

Taking aim, the teenage Gryffindor did the only thing he felt was available to him. He knew the incantation and though he never attempted it personally, felt there was nothing left to lose. Either he would succeed or Barnaby would win the duel.

‘Stupefy!’

A powerful blast of red light shot forward and caught Barnaby square in the chest, uplifting him off his feet and onto the ground in a massive heap.

Breathing heavily, David limped over to Barnaby with the last he could give on his bad leg and offered his hand to the utterly dazed and confused opponent.

“Wha…”

“Come on, big guy.”

Once returned to his senses the Slytherin pushed himself back onto his feet and almost took David with him, who could barely stand as it was, causing him to grunt with pain.

“Oh, I’m sorry, David.”

Barnaby cast the counter curse and instantly his leg went back to normal.

“Thanks.”

“Blimey, I thought you had to be mean to hurt someone that badly,” the Slytherin spoke aloud rubbing his shoulder.

“Are you alright?”

“Are you kidding? This is nothing. A few of us Slytherins start every day by doing what we just did. They say it gets you in the right mindset.”

“Mindset for what?” David asked, very curious as to what kind of culture he was dealing with.

“To toughen up and be the best,” came the simple reply.

He elected not to press the issue and instead emphasize his victory respectfully in hopes that Barnaby would finally acquiesce and willingly join his team.

“Well there’s no doubt you’re tough, Barnaby. Will you help me with the cursed vault?”

Barnaby smiled, although he was still in some pain from the duel. They both were.

“You’ve proven you’re strong enough to beat me. You have a deal, David. But on one condition.”

Oh Merlin

“And what would that be?”

“We celebrate with a butterbeer,” he said cherrily.

“But there’s no Hogsmeade visit this weekend.”

“I can never remember when those happen,” Barnaby said, scratching his head. “But luckily, I always keep some on hand.”

He summoned two canteens from his back pocket and handed one to David, which he took with a degree of surprise.

“Cheers!” the Barnaby said, clinking his canteen against his and taking a large sip. “Let’s take a walk around the grounds.”

David obliged and together, the two began to traverse around the perimeter of the school, taking in the light breeze and bright blue sky which was beginning to turn into a reddish, gold. The young teen didn’t know what to expect but he indulged Barnaby all the same, who appeared quite content.

“I love a good butterbeer after a duel. They say it heals all bruises and broken bones.”

“Who says that?” David asked, raising an eyebrow.

Barnaby shrugged.

“I can’t remember. I’m sure someone said it.”

Resisting the urge to openly chuckle, David again marveled at the simplicity that his newfound acquaintance operated under. It was stupidly charming in a way. Given this fact, there was a question lurking in his mind he felt he had to ask him.

“You say I’m nice, but you’re quite friendly yourself. Too friendly to be hanging out with Merula. How did you two end up being friends?”

Barnaby’s face turned frank and even a bit solemn.

“We have a lot in common. Both of our parents were Death Eaters.”

David had to resist choking on his butterbeer.

“Wait...really?” He knew Merula’s parents were locked up in Azkaban but this was new information to him.

“Why are you so surprised? Everyone knows Slytherins have the most interesting childhoods,” Barnaby stated as though it were obvious.

“Interesting is one way of putting it I suppose.”

“Do you mean being the children of Death Eaters? Because you’re not wrong. There’s a lot of us in Slytherin. We have to stick together because no one else will.”

David never considered this aspect before. There was something very raw but also very poignant about what the burly Slytherin was saying.

“I never thought of it that way, but you might be right.”

“That’s why I believe Harry Potter will be a Slytherin. Someone that powerful as a baby has to be in our house!”

“Who knows,” the Gryffindor said with a half shrug. “He could be incredibly brave too. Sounds more like my house.”

“It’s power that helps protect yourself and people you care about. It’s better to be strong than weak.”

David suddenly realized these weren’t only Barnaby’s words.

“Look I can’t believe I’m saying this, but not every Slytherin has to be obsessed with being powerful. You don’t seem that way. So why focus on it all the time?”

“Because it’s what my dad taught me. His words. ‘It’s better to be strong than weak.’ Anything that can make you more powerful can only help in that.”

He sighed as he put his canteen back inside the pants pocket.

“You probably think my family is mad. I don’t blame you.”

“Far from it,” David reassured him and suddenly they stopped in front of the Whomping Willow, a dangerous tree liable to strike anything that came near it.

“They were Death Eaters. To be a Death Eater, everyone says you have to be mad.”

“I can relate to unstable family members. Try me.”

Barnaby considered this for a second, silver rings glistening in the sunlight one of which was inscribed ‘Vires In Virtute’. Far from being a simpleton, this time the Slytherin was considering how to properly explain things.

“My family’s crest follows the creed of strength. We’ve also been pure blood for centuries. For my dad, it was an opportunity and a duty to remain both. He followed the Dark Lord more willingly than others….I saw him once, actually.”

David almost didn’t register that last remark. It was one thing to read about the darkest wizard in many generations but to see him? He almost did a double take.

“You saw You Know Who?”

“He stopped by once as a little kid. At first I was afraid but my parents told me if I could become as strong as the Dark Lord, I could be anything. Mum was nice, but dad always said I was slow. It was the best way for me to be good at something. So I’ve spent my entire life doing so, even after they were both arrested.”

“When did that happen?”

“Shortly after You Know Who died. Didn’t take long for the Aurors to catch up. They were well known for doing a lot of horrible things.”

Following the duel in the foggy snow, David remembered feeling a pang of sympathy for Barnaby when hearing Merula insulting him. That pang was now a large wave.

“Barnaby, mate. There’s more to life than being strong. And those other kids aren’t the only ones to take after. You should do what makes you happy rather than what pleases other people...including your mum and dad.”

He looked up at the willow alongside Barnaby, studying its bare branches and thick, gnarled trunk.

“I know what it’s like to try and live up to an older family member. I’m trying to find him right now. And that’s what I need your help with.”

“Your friends won’t hate me? Or think I’m mad?”

“No. If anything it’s the opposite,” David said truthfully. Even uninformed people thought Barnaby to be stupid but not crazy or cruel. “Besides, if I can ingratiate Tulip into our group I can with anyone.”

“What does ‘en-gradiate’ mean?”

David again had to stifle a chuckle but it was not a demeaning one. On the contrary, he was beginning to enjoy the way Barnaby’s mind worked.

“It means that I want you to join our little group...as a friend.”

He held out his hand in a final gesture of goodwill, which the burly Slytherin took, cementing their new friendship in a masculine bond.

“Thank you.”

It was settled. Somehow or another, David had convinced Barnaby Lee to switch sides, a huge victory no matter which way you sliced it. It was one step closer to solving the ultimate mystery they had yet to solve.

[pandawritespoorly]

With Time: Chapter 12 - Coolest Dad

Author’s Note: Double update, like I said! I'll be back Saturday as usual, though. Reference slide for akuma here! 

Chapter Summary: Ladybug deals with an akuma at Marinette's new school.

First | Previous | Saturday

Marinette woke up much later than normal. She could immediately tell that her fever had gone down some. Her memories of the day before were hazy at best, but she was pretty sure Allan, Claude, Allegra, Felix, and Adrien had come over. Maybe Chat Noir too? 

Her parents had clearly decided to allow her to stay home from school, which was probably for the best. She sat up, drawing the attention of her Kwami.

“Marinette! You’re awake! How are you feeling?” Tikki flitted up to her face.

“Uh, a little tired? But I think that’s just from the cold…”

Tikki handed her a thermometer so she could check her temperature. As they waited for the reading, Tikki crossed her arms and looked at her disapprovingly, “Marinette, you overworked yourself on Saturday. You probably gave yourself a fever. You have to take care of yourself more!”

The thermometer beeped and Marinette looked at it, 37.7 (100℉). Her fever wasn’t as serious now. That and the heaters that seemed to have been set up probably contributed to the fact that she is lucid now.

When did the heaters get set up?

“Speaking of taking care of yourself…” Tikki draws the girls attention back to her, “Chat Noir told me what you said when you got hit.” Her voice is serious.

“W-what did I say…” How much of a disappointment did she end up being?

“A bunch of nonsense, that’s what! Marinette you are a wonderful and talented girl who deserves every opportunity you’ve gotten! How long have you felt like this?”

“L-like what?”

“Oh Marinette. You called yourself useless. You said all your old friends treated you the way you deserve and are right to hate you. That’s not okay Marinette.”

“O-oh.” Marinette had been dedicated the past few weeks to committing those things into her mind as fact. Tikki might as well have been trying to convince her that 2+2=5. Something just doesn’t add up. “But-”

“Marinette. None of that is true. None of it. I think you should talk to someone.”

“But they can’t know about Ladybug…”

“You still need help.”

“It feels wrong to keep something like that from a therapist. They’re supposed to know everything right? I don’t like the feeling of it…”

“Alright. If you don’t feel comfortable with therapy at least speak to your friends. They care about you.”

“I don’t know…”

Their conversation is interrupted when Sabine opens the trapdoor carrying a tray with a small lunch of soup and water - with some cookies because her parents have noticed her sudden hunger for the treat. Tikki hides behind a pillow.

“Hey sweetie, are you awake?”

“Yeah. Uh, what time is it?”

“Time for you to eat lunch. What’s your temperature? You were pretty out of it yesterday. Your friends were really worried about you.”

“37.7 (100℉).” Marinette accepts the tray, setting it safely on a flat surface. She hears a ‘ding’ from below. Her Maman looks over to her desk. 

“Oh, you’ve got messages from your friends! Here!” She handed the phone up as well, “It’s good that your temperature has gone down. Be sure to eat!”

When she’s exited the room, Tikki floats back into view, looking at the phone, she gives Marinette a meaningful look, “You should talk to your friends!”

She floats to sit beside the bowl of soup on the tray. She munches on a cookie and watches the girl.

“Okay…” She opens her phone. There hadn’t been much activity in their group chat because it was a school day. Beneath Claude’s good morning text was another message from the actor. Another appeared just as she opened the chat.

 Kid Mime: hey mari are you up yet

Kid Mime: its fine if ur not but we misssss uuuuuu

 Patisserie Princess: I’m up

 Kid Mime: yayyyyyy!!!!!!!!

Kid Mime: allan sayd to ask wat ur temp is

 Patisserie Princess: 37.7 (100℉)

 Kid Mime: thats better! 

Kid Mime: hey can we facetime? Itll be easier

Kid Mime: neither of us can eat if were typin

 That’s a good point. She’s got nothing against it, but maybe she should warn Tikki.

“Hey Tikki, I’m going to facetime them. Is that alright?” “It’s okay Marinette. I won’t show up on camera and they won’t be able to hear me either!”

Right. She’d forgotten about that. She nods, and starts a call. It doesn’t take long for Claude to pick up. She props her phone up so that she doesn’t have to hold it.

“Yay! Hi Mari! Alright I’m at the table now, so I’m going to prop- oh no you fell over - okay there you are!” 

The camera clears as Claude moves back. She can see Felix and Allan there too, Allegra is probably still in line.

“Hi guys!” She waves at them in view of the camera.

“Hi! How are you feeling?” Allan sounds concerned, which, given what had happened last he’d seen her, made sense.

“Uh, a little better. I’ve got food, and the fever isn’t as bad as yesterday. I’m a little tired but that’s normal.”

Allegra arrives at the table halfway through her talking and waves at her when she notices the girl.

“What do you mean by that? I recall Adrien mentioned something similar yesterday, but did not have a lot of information.” Felix looks up questioningly from his lunch.

“Oh yeah. I meant to tell you guys when it became more relevant, but uh, then I kind of overworked all my stamina away? Heh. Basically, last year I got diagnosed with a ‘yet-to-be-identified’ medical condition’” She scoffs at the air-quoted words, and the others get the distinct feeling that there’s an inside joke that they’re missing, “The general gist of it is that my body tries to go into hibernation? I get hungrier in the fall and once it gets around November I get really tired - the colder and later into winter the worse it is - and forget to eat and stuff.”

The others look a little alarmed at this and she quickly adds on,”I mean, it’s really not that dangerous for me. As long as I have food I uh, generally remember. And the tiredness isn’t really a problem as long as I stay warm. I probably won’t actually hibernate unless I fall into a snowdrift or something-”

Just as she finishes speaking a school bell rings. It’s from Françoise Dupont, and it’s a reminder of the consequences of staying home today. She tenses immediately, thinking of all of her old classmates who are right there. Right across the street and heading out for lunch. They’re probably with Lila and-

“What would happen then?” Allegra’s voice draws her back. She blinks as she jolts out of her thoughts.

“W-what?” Oh, right, the snowdrift thing…”I would uh, probably just fall asleep and stay there. My parents don’t really want me to go outside alone after there’s snow on the ground.”

“Can’t blame ‘em.” Allan jumps in. So far none of them have mentioned her little ‘moment’ after the school bell. “We can keep an eye on ya’. Don’t want you to freeze.” He sounds distressed, probably at the prospect of Marinette freezing to death.

“It’s really not that likely! I’ll just be really sleepy, so I’ll probably fall asleep on at least one of you by the time winter is over - whichever of you is the warmest in the room. Sorry in advance?” She says the last part sheepishly and shrugs apologetically. She hates to think that she’ll be such a bother to them, but there isn’t much she can do. She’ll try her best to avoid it.

“It’s all good! As long as you’re not in any danger, we don’t mind!” Allan speaks again and the rest nod in agreement.

“Mariiiiii! You haven’t been eating!” Claude calls her out as he swallows some of his own food.

She smiles in apology as she brings her tray into her lap. She can see that, as Tikki reminded her, the Kwami doesn’t show up on camera. Her phone dings as she sits back. Squinting at it as she reads, she flips it away. 

“Adrien says he can’t get away, so he won’t be joining us. Uh, do you guys still need his number?” She looks at them questioningly as she starts on her soup.

“Nope!” Claude chirps, “I got it yesterday!” The others give him some odd looks, but she brushes them off. It probably doesn’t matter.

“Yeah, sorry about yesterday. I don’t really remember much. I know you guys came over - I think?”

“Yeah, Adrien thought we should check on you because it was November, and when we got to your place you were pretty out-of-it.”

“You didn’t like we were interrupting your sleep, it took some convincing to get you to actually drink something.”

“Are the heaters set up now? I recall that we did not do so because Allan feared it may cause you to be too hot.”

She nods, though she isn’t entirely sure when that happened. Maybe her parents? Her fevered mind clearly didn’t think it was important enough information to remember.

Their conversation continues as they all eat theirs lunches together. After a little bit she starts to droop. It’s a clear reminder that she isn’t entirely recovered, and that winter is on it’s way.

She doesn’t plan on saying anything because it would be rude to cut off the conversation. Marinette tries her best to seem alert, but the others aren’t fooled.

“‘Nettie, you doin’ okay? You’re looking a little sleepy there.” Allan smiles at her, cocking his head.

She shrugs and any words she was going to say get cut off by a yawn. She blushes.

“We’re going to let you go now. You need some rest.” Allegra flutters her fingers at the camera.

“Rest well my priceless pigtailed pal!” The group waves as the call ends.

Tikki floats up to her,”Marinette, I know you’re tired but you can’t sleep with the tray on your lap.”

“...right” She moves it safely away before she lays down again. It doesn’t take long for her to doze off.

 ---

 Marinette manages to arrive at school the next day at a reasonable time. She gets to their regular spot in the library and lays her head on the table. The only problem with so many heaters in her room is that it makes the outside seem that much colder, especially when she’s still got a (very) slight fever. She isn’t in her heaviest winter gear because she doesn’t want to seem weird and it’s only November anyways, she’ll manage. Her mom gave her a doctor’s note to show all her teachers to remind them of her ‘condition’.

Honestly the most annoying part of it not being that cold is that she feels tired, but she isn’t sleepy to the point where she can actually sleep. She just feels like she didn’t get enough sleep, even though she spent plenty of yesterday resting.

“Oh my good golly gosh, did Marinette beat us to school?” She hears Claude as he approaches the table and forces herself up to look at him.

“Hi guys.” She can’t muster up the energy to add in the appropriate excitement. Maybe they won’t hate her if she’s still friendly. They put up with her through September…

“How are ya’? I wasn’t sure we’d see you today.” Allan sits at his usual spot and the rest follow suit.

“Yeah. I’m basically back to normal. Just tired.”

“It is good that your fever seems to have passed.” Felix says as he gets out his book as usual.

“It is good to have you back!” Claude gives her an excited hug. He glances at Allegra who is finishing her math homework, “Hey, why do you think math books are so sad?”

Marinette is too tired to try and stop him, but Allegra glances up. 

“Don’t you da-”

“Because they have so many problems!” He finishes excitedly, giving no heed to Allegra’s pleading.

Allegra drops her head onto the table and sighs heavily. Felix pats her on the back consolingly.

“Did you hear about that guy who got his left side cut off?”

Marinette sighs. At least when she was feverish she couldn’t remember the puns.

“He’s all right now!”

“Claude.” Allegra pleads, “I can’t do homework in the midst of this.”

“What gender pronouns do you use for chocolate bars? Her/she!”

“Marinette I’m sorry that you had to return to this. There’s no end to his madness.” Allegra has yet to remove her head from the table. Claude’s grin only continues to grow. Allan is smiling as he watches. Felix is focusing intensely on his book.

“Ah, ‘legra. Look on the bright side. At least your music class is your last hour.”

The braided blonde finally sits up and glares at him suspiciously.

“That way you can end your day on a high note!” Claude’s looks at her, the pinnacle of innocence.

“No. Nope. I’m done.” She pushes herself up and packs up quickly. Felix glances at his watch and follows suit, “It’s close enough to first hour. Come on Mari, let’s leave these crazies to their insanity.”

“Let’s.” Marinette pushes herself out of her seat, and waves as they leave the library.

 ---

 Allan and Marinette arrive at the lunch room together and claim the group’s usual table. Felix joins soon after.

“Greetings my great, glorious, and grand group!” Claude and Allegra arrive together, taking their seats.

“Please spare us the puns.”

“We’ll see…”

Marinette is about to say something when something catches her eye. There seems to be a girl in a heated argument with her father. She turns from him and returns to her seat, but that’s not what drew her eye initially. She could have sworn she saw…

There.

A purple butterfly floats near the man’s head. Before she can say anything, it makes contact with his glasses.

Marinette stands immediately, drawing the attention of her group.

“Is everything o-”

“Ineedtogonowbye!” With that rushed excuse she hurries off to be out of sight. As she transforms she hears the screams as people realize what has happened. She sends a text to her partner and heads to the roof to await his arrival. It would be strange for Ladybug to show up so soon, especially when there had never been an attack here before. 

It would also be for the best. Akumas in smaller spaces could be extra difficult, especially when the duo didn’t know anything about their powers. It may be for the best to just wait for Chat Noir.

“Hey Bug!” Speak of the devil, here’s her partner. He seems tenser than usual. Probably because the last time they’d spoke- no, that isn’t for Ladybug, that’s for Marinette. Ladybug doesn’t need to feel.

“Hey Chat, I haven’t seen much of the akuma yet. I figured it would be best to wait for you-”

An explosion shakes the building they’re standing on. They meet each other’s eyes and move to enter the building. When an akuma causes damage they prefer to finish it quickly to lessen any risk of injury.

They arrive in the mostly empty cafeteria to see a hole blown in the wall and a few… interestingly dressed stragglers wandering about. Some have leaked out into the street. The akuma is in another part of the school, they can hear his voice echoing down the halls and follow the sound. Soon enough, they find him.

The man Marinette saw earlier has doubled in height, and has had an extreme outfit change. He’s donned an oversized hoodie covered in various emoji prints. He’s wearing rainbow tie-dye converse shoes that double as pants and seem to be denim. There are rips in various places up the pants but the lace cross over them, tying near his hips. On top of the shoe-pants he’s wearing Shrek crocs, and is wandering around on a gold light-up hoverboard. Around his neck is a glowing set of headphones with lights and animal ears. He’s got airpods in and pizza hat on his head. He’s wearing oversized glowing neon shutter shades that shift between different colors - much like the other light-up pieces of his ensemble. The source of the explosion becomes clear when he makes finger guns at the wall and an emoji shoots out and explodes it easily.

They remain some distance away, and he hasn’t noticed them yet. Ladybug sighs tiredly, she almost wants to cry looking at this mess, “Sometimes I wish Hawkmoth was some sort of fashion designer because these designs are just…they’re honestly almost the worst part of this.”

“My eyes.” Chat stares, “As a teenager, I don’t know if I should appreciate the effort or feel insulted someone thinks that is an accurate summary of my age group.”

The emojis that are being used as projectiles don’t just get rid of walls though. Ladybug and Chat Noir watch as an unfortunate student get hit by a fire emoji and and gains the akuma’s ridiculous sunglasses. He announces he must go hunt for ‘pokey-mans’ and heads off, passing a group of bottle flippers.

A teacher gets hit and gets an even worse makeover. She gains ripped jeans and a black hoodie that says ‘I didn’t choose the dank meme life, the dank meme life chose me’ and has a dabbing hot dog on it. She has the same headphones as the main akuma but is actually wearing them on her ears. There’s a golden light-up fidget spinner in each of her hands, matching the gold light-up heelys on her feet. Some of the affected students notice her and begin following her around.

“We must stop this.” Ladybug nods at her partner’s statement, immediately moving to get the akuma’s attention.

“Ah! Ladybug and Chat Noir my broskis!!!! It’d be very dank of you to hand over those swag miraculouses you’ve got!!!1!”

“Sir-”

“Why so formal??? I’m the Coolest Dad - so lit!!! No need to call me anything but your bestest bro!!1!” he gestures around him, “Look at all these Cool Dudes!!! Aren’t they sooo hip with the kids now?? IKR!!! So great! Look at all these savage Broskis, so happy to have people who understand!!” 

“Oh dear Kwami what is this?”

“Anyways, if it’s all good with you fam, I’m just going to be on my way!!!” a purple butterfly mask appears over his face, “Nah, chill my mothy pal!! These hip teens will get with the program eventually! It’d be very uncool of me to take from them!!! I can get you your Gucci jewels in a moment!!!! For now I’m going to spread this fetch coolness around Paris!!!! #SquadGoals!!!1!!1”

As he rolls away they hear, “Paris will be the fleekest city around!!!”

“Uh, Is that it…?” Chat Noir turns to her.

“Yeah. I think so.” Ladybug hops down to the ground, looking around. There are several ‘Broski’s around, and some ‘Cool Dude’s. She sees a few dabbing and doing Fortnite dances and turns to see if there’s any civilians left in the area.

“Ladybug…?” She turns at the voice, beside her Chat seems to relax.

Allegra stands in the doorway of a classroom, she’s glancing around nervously, but when she can’t see the Coolest Dad she decides to take a few steps toward the heroes. Behind her are Allan, Felix, and Claude. Chat seems to look at the doorway as if waiting for another person. His worry returns.

“Yes? Is everything alright?”

Allegra nods, leading the duo back to the classroom. Inside are several students and staff, hiding from the akuma.

“We helped all of these people to hide, and we were wondering if it’s safe for them to come out now.”

“It is, though the akuma is still around the school, so it would be best to stay close to a hiding spot.” Ladybug assures her. Chat keeps glancing around at those in the room, seemingly checking for something.

“But, actually we had another question. Our friend disappeared just before the attack and we were wondering if you’d seen her.” The worry of the group is clear and Ladybug wonders who they’re talking about. Marinette didn’t see anyone else when she was sitting with them.

Claude speaks up, “Her name is Marinette Dupain-Cheng. I’ve only known her for a few months, but I’ve already fallen deep in platonic love for her!” His usual theatrics do nothing to hide his clear anxiety over- wait.

She’s their friend?!

They considered her their-

Focus.

Chat has stiffened beside her, and she jumps in before he promises to find the ‘damsel in distress’,”I’m sure she is fine. After the cure you can find her.”

“She’s hasn’t been answering her phone. We just don’t know if she’s ever been in an akuma attack before.”

“Oh, she has, though I typically don’t see her much.” She really doesn’t want them to be worried about her alter ego. How can she reassure them? “If I recall correctly, she went on a date with an akuma once so I’m sure she is perfectly capable-”

“She what?!” Allan speaks for the first time.

“Wait you know her?” Allegra sounds surprise. Ladybug doesn’t know how to explain, but Chat helps her out.

“Oh that class…” He has a point. Even if she hadn’t been a student in it, her old class has a concerningly high rate of akumatizitions. The school as a whole really, “My partner is correct. Ma- Ms. Dupain-Cheng is a perfectly capable individual, I’m sure she’s fine She took over City Hall one time, so I trust she’s safe.” He sounds as though he’s trying to convince himself along with the group.

Yelling is heard near the front of the school, “I’m sorry miss, but we have to go now.”

They nod uneasily, and the heroes jump away. At the front of the school the Coolest Dad is shooting emojis at several passer-bys. Alya has arrived, but remains out of sight.

When the akuma notices them, “Sup my dudes!! I have got to ask, have you seen my hip daughter??? I wanted to show her how swank I am!!!!”

“No, uh, we haven’t

“Well let me know if you do!!! I’m like high key worried, and that’s the tea!1!!!”

“Oh I forgot how bad it was…” Chat looks so done already, and this akuma hasn’t even been around an hour.

“I will just have to finesse my search!!!! I feel so uber-not-blessed with her missing!!! I wish she hadn’t yeeted away!!1!!”

As he rolls away, Ladybug is suddenly struck with an idea. She catches up to him, grabbing his attention.

“Uh, actually, TBH, my dude-” The akuma looks to her patiently.

“Oh Bugaboo not you too. Please.”

“-I was thinking that your glasses were just so lit. They’re, uh, so swag my guy, could I maybe get a lit-er look at those, um, dope shades? It’d be very chill of you...”

The man looks delighted, and takes them off and sets them near her. Chat lands nearby, not wanting to leave his partner alone so close to an akuma. 

Up close they’re nearly blinding, and Ladybug avoids looking at the Akuma’s face, fearing what his eyes may look like under the glasses. Turning slightly to her partner, she hisses, “Chat, now!”

He nods, and before the akuma can do anything, he rushes forward touching the shades, “Cataclysm!”

A butterfly is released, and Ladybug wastes no time in purifying it.

“Miraculous Ladybug!” 

As the Ladybugs wash over the city, Ladybug hears a call of “Ladybug! Care for an interview?” The voice says more, but Ladybug can’t hear.

Alya. No no no.

Not here. She’s not supposed to be here.

This is where Marinette came to get away from her.

No no no nononono…

Chat’s ring beeps, bringing her back to reality. The two fist bump quickly, and leave to detransform. Ladybug doesn’t see where Chat goes, solely focusing on getting back to her school. 

To her friends.

She lands in an alley, and after a minute of making sure there is no one around, she speaks, “Tikki, spots off!”

The Kwami groans, landing in her purse to eat a cookie. Marinette spots her group and is about to join them when she sees her. 

It’s not really a surprise, she knew Alya was here, but she didn't know that Alya isn’t alone. She brought her.

She brought Lila.

The pair are talking with her new friends and nonononono. Now they’ll like Lila too. They’ll turn on her too. She’ll be alone again, she’ll have to leave, just as she was adjusting. Oh they’ll hate her, they’ll hate her.

They hate her, they hate her, they hate her nonononononono.

 ---

 Adrien is standing in Chat Noir’s place. He knows he’s not allowed to miss school and should really be on his way back, but he needs to check on Marinette.

It was worrying enough to have Ladybug tell him that there was an akuma here, but then he saw Alya, and she brought Lila.

She probably thinks bringing the heroine’s ‘best friend’ will land her an interview.

If either of them see Marinette here- oh he hates to think what will happen.

Just when things were looking up for her too. If only her new friends knew what happened, this wouldn’t be so bad. He understands why she doesn’t want to tell them, but he wants her to realize that they care about her and won’t be upset at her for what happened.

“...but actually we’re looking for out friend-” He hears Allegra talking as he approaches the front of the school.

“Come on! Just a quick interview! A first-hand account of Ladybug’s first battle here!”

“No, we’d like to find our friend.” 

“What’s her name? I used to work with an international search and rescue group, I could help!” 

Before any of them can answer that question, he hops in, “Alya, Lila! I didn’t think you’d be out of school.”

He can see the confusion of Allegra, Allan, Claude, and Felix. They have no idea what he’s doing over here in the middle of the school day. Lila and Alya on the other hand look delighted. Lila latches onto his arm as usual, he stiffens slightly, but she only continues to hang off of him. Allegra’s eyes narrow.

“Adrien, what are you doing here? I thought you had a photoshoot?”

“It was in the area - got canceled ‘cause of the akuma attack.” He scratches the back of his neck. Lila rests her head on his shoulder.

Out of the corner of his eye he spots Marinette and oh she’s seen Alya and Lila. She looks like she’s having an attack. He can’t do anything without alerting the girls in question, but she is not okay.

“Well, if you’re out of school then you can hang out with us!” Alya seems delighted by this stroke of brilliance, “Nino can skip and we can all go on a double date!”

“Doesn’t that imply that I’m bringing a date?” Adrien knows where this is going.

“She means me, silly!” Lila giggles and runs her hand through his hair.

“Lila, for the last time, we’re not dating-” He tries to pull away, but she’s got an iron grip on his arm.

“Sureee, lover-boy~” Alya winks at him, dragging them away. 

He manages to extract himself and sends a couple texts to the OMMAM chat, before excusing himself and heading back to school. He hopes Marinette will be okay.

 ---

 Allegra is seething beside him, “Did you see how she was clinging to him?! Who does she think she is?! He was so clearly uncomfortable! Ugh that little-” Claude drowns out her angry muttering when his phone dings.

 Adrien: You guys need to check on Marinette.

Adrien: Now.

 He sees that the others have noticed the message. They’re looking at each other in confusion, worry clear. What’s happened?

“Oh dear, look.” Allan is the first to see the girl. Claude turns to where he points, his heart stops when he finally spots her.

The girl is crouched in an alley, her hands digging into her scalp, and breathing erratically. He could see her tears from here. The akuma attack hadn’t been that long, but in the time they’d been separated something had happened. 

They all rushed to her immediately, crouching by her side.

“Marinette, hey, can you hear me?” Allan speaks clearly, gently resting a hand on her shoulder.

To their surprise, she reacts immediately, looking at all of them panicked.

“I’m so sorry!” 

“What?”

“I don’t know what she said, I don’t know what she told you-”

“Marinette, hey-”

“Just- just- just- tell me and I’ll-I’ll-I’ll”

“Just breathe with me okay?”

“Marinette, we don’t know what you mean dear. Everything’s okay.”

“I’ll find sources, I’ll back it up this time, I’ll-I’ll I’ll call Jagged, please believe me-”

“Marinette-”

“Please, oh no no nononono.” She covers her eyes with her hands, finally breaking her frantic eye contact. Curling into herself tighter, “Oh please, not again, not again no no no-”

Her nails are digging into her skin, and Claude worries she’ll draw blood, but she doesn’t even seem to worry. She entirely distracted by whatever has consumed her.

“Marinette!” Allan stresses her name, gently trying to take her hands off her face before she hurts herself too bad. She doesn’t even notice what she’s doing, “Marinette, listen, it’s alright, just breathe okay? Do it with me…” 

Marinette doesn’t seem to notice initially, but eventually her breathing evens out. She looks around at them tearily, wiping at her face. She opens her mouth, but Claude beats her to it.

“Don’t apologize Mari. You were upset, nothing’s wrong with that.”

“But-”

Allegra hugs her gently, “No. No buts. It’s okay to be upset.”

But she’s a hero. A hero who fights akumas. Being upset means failing.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

Talk about it? Then they’d know. She wants to trust that they’ll believe her, but that’s what she did last time. They don’t hate her currently, so she shouldn’t do anything to risk changing that. She shakes her head.

She feels her purse move strangely at her side. It’s subtle enough that she isn’t worried that they noticed, but when she hears a tiny cough she begins worrying for Tikki.

“Could I, uh, have a moment? I need to, um, call someone?” They nod at her and walk a little ways away. She ducks out of sight to check on her Kwami.

She opens her purse to see Tikki curled up in an uncomfortable ball.

“Tikki? Are you okay?”

She coughs, “Sorry, Marinette, I think I’m sick again. The Revealer…” she trails off into a coughing fit.

Right. If there are consequences to Marinette overworking herself for an all-day akuma, then the same can be expected of Tikki.

“I’ll go to Fu’s…”

Tikki nods at her, quieting herself as best she can. Marinette doesn’t want to delay helping the Goddess, so she prepares herself to lie to her friends again. She hates to think what they’d say if they found out just how much she lied to them.

Stepping out of the alley, she approaches them carefully and they turn to her patiently.

“Hey Marinette. How are you doing?” Claude speaks to her attentively.

She holds up her phone, pasting on a sheepish smile, “Uh, I have to go talk with my, um… mentor? If I come back late, can you let the teacher know?”

“There is no need to rush yourself. They have cancelled the remainder of the school day due to the akuma attack. Take your time.”

“O-oh. Okay.”

“We’re going to my place now, so you can come over when you’re done!” Claude holds up his own phone, “I can text you the address again if you need it.”

“No no. I’ve got it saved.”

They say goodbye, walking in their respective directions.

---

Author’s Note: Poor Mari. So, uh, that akuma... I, uh, it's... unique? Reference slides here? Suspension of disbelief means believing a school's wifi would allow for a glitch-free facetime call. It also allows me to tweak the climate of a major city somewhat. Thanks for reading, and constructive criticism is welcomed in the comments below! See you Saturday!

First | Previous | Saturday

[kloxbian]

Watching the Shadows, Fraught with Desire

Sequel to Like a Devil in Disguise, which you can find here

Synopsis: 

“Clarke?”

“Hello, mother,” she spat, watching her face fall even more. “Lovely to see you again.” The sarcasm in her voice was unmistakable.

Abby was stunned. “Clarke, where have you been? They said you weren’t with the hundred.”

“Oh, did they? Did they tell you what the hundred said about me?”

“Is there something they should have said about you?”

Clarke almost laughed aloud. Oh, she was going to have fun with this.

-

Or where the Ark crashes and Clarke goes to greet them

WARNING: This has murder, psychopathic Clarke, Clarke being a bit tyrannical, and a sprinkle of dom/sub (Lexa's a fucking sub you CANNOT change my mind)

Notes: Okay, maybe I do have Secret and Fire to work on, but I wanted to do this. I love this universe and will be adding many more snippets to it. Feel free to send in requests if you have any.

Trig translations:

Otaim Ai Kripa - Always my demon

Houdfou - Greedy

But anyway! I really enjoyed writing this. Wanheda Clarke Griffin is the BEST and I can't stay away from this AU. I feel like even in the show Abby's always held on to her past memories of who Clarke was and still isn't fully accepting of who she's become, and, really, if you found out your daughter was a murderous spirit, you probably wouldn't take it too well.

Not that I'm defending her or anything. I hate Abby.

But I've just realized I haven't delved into Lexa's powers as Heda yet! Lexa is definitely going to be getting her own one of these sometime soon because Heda deserves some love too. Maybe do something about the lore of the different spirits, go more in-depth about Grounder religion and their deities.

On with the show!

-

 It fell in a blaze of fire.

 Clarke watched side by side with her fleim from the safety of TonDC. She’d seen it before, last time amid battle, but it was still an impressive sight. The falling stars that brought with them the greedy devils of the world. She watched Alpha Station barreling toward the ground, disappearing behind the trees. She could imagine the splash of water that would follow, sending waves three times as tall as she to the shore. Mecha station crashed down even closer, the base for what would become Arkadia.

 She imagined what the other delinquents were seeing. They were probably watching with amazement, celebrating that they’d no longer be left without help. She doubted they cared about the adults on the ship, much less the council, but they’d care about the food it would provide, the safety from the elements.

 The safety from her.

 Clarke was well aware that they were terrified of her. They had good reason to be. And it wasn’t like she hated their terror. If they wanted to be scared of her, fine, let them be scared of her. She didn’t care. 

 Or perhaps she did care, just a bit. If only because she’d made an effort to keep them alive and safe. They repaid her with hatred. Hatred for murdering their comrades, all in the name of their safety.

 Okay, so maybe the Wanheda in her had enjoyed slipping the knife into their throats. What of it?

 She was interrupted from her thoughts by the sweet voice of her fleim. “Your people.”

 “Sha.”

 “What will you do about them?”

 Clarke considered. She’d been thinking about it for days now, how she would approach the Skaikru. She’d severed all connections to them a long time ago, after they had scorned her for the spirit that lay smoldering inside her. “What do you think should be done with them?”

 Lexa cocked her head. “Would they be useful to me?”

 “They’d probably cause more trouble than their worth, but whatever is decided, I want to be the ambassador that delivers it.”

 Lexa smirked. “You find pleasure in their fear.”

 Okay, so she did. “They were the ones who sent us to die. I have many vendettas against them.”

 “You may satisfy your monster, then,” Lexa said, leading them both back to her tent. “I’ll discuss with my generals. You may deliver the message tomorrow.”

 Clarke felt Wanheda squirm with glee at the prospect. A wide grin stretched over her face. “I look forward to it.”

 -

 Clarke arrives at the boundary of Arkadia at dusk.

 To her surprise, the people from Alpha station had already made it there, and part of a wall had already been set up. Granted, it had been a few days since they landed, but the efficiency was more than she’d expected. Though considering they’d shot any grounder they’d seen so far, that they’d rushed to mount the wall was no surprise. They expected hostility. It was probably the delinquents who convinced them.

 She’d convinced Lexa to hold off on delivering the message for a few days despite her earlier excitement. What she wanted was a confrontation, and she wouldn’t get it without the right people there. Namely, Alpha Station. 

 According to the scouts, they’d gotten in contact with the delinquents from the dropship, but few had migrated back to Arkadia. The people like Bellamy and Octavia, Raven, Monty, Jasper, anyone who didn’t have people at Arkadia for them, stayed at the dropship. With their people. Their kru. Their devotion was well-placed, but logistically, it wasn’t a sound decision.

 Not like she cared. Let them kill themselves. If it is their own stupidity, why should she feel anything about it?

 Clarke reined in her horse, the same dark, two-headed mare she’d been gifted only a couple weeks ago. She ushered a scout from the trees, handing him the reins. “Keep her for me. I’ll retrieve her when I’ve finished.”

 She ignored the quiet sha, Wanheda and began her walk to the gates.

 Someone shouted, and before long (still twice the time it would take a ranger) all guns were trained on her. Somebody yelled ‘Grounder!’ and a gunshot rang through the air.

 Clarke rolled her eyes, ignoring the sting in her bicep. Whoever the gunner was, they had terrible aim.

 She strode up to the gates with a confidence that had them all hesitating to move. “My name is Clarke Griffin!” She shouted. “Open the gates!”

 Mumbles pass through the crowd, talk of her outfit, her bleeding arm, talk of her. The gates opened and she stepped through, not paying any mind to the curious eyes that push in on all sides. She scanned the crowd, spotting someone pushing through. A couple guesses as to who that was.

 “Clarke!” Her mother burst out of the masses, staring at her in disbelief. “Clarke, oh my god!”

 She rushed to embrace her and Clarke stepped out of the way, holding back a sneer. Abby looked hurt. “Clarke?”

 “Hello, mother,” she spat, watching her face fall even more. “Lovely to see you again.” The sarcasm in her voice was unmistakable.

 Abby was stunned. “Clarke, where have you been? They said you weren’t with the hundred.”

 “Oh, did they? Did they tell you what the hundred said about me?” She was curious as to whether or not the hundred would reveal her secrets.

 Abby looked torn. “Is there something they should have said about you?”

 “Oh, probably. After all, I was the one who negotiated peace with the clans.” At Abby’s stunned look, she guesses that no, she hadn’t been told. “Not that they remember me for that. They can’t see past what I did to get them that peace.”

 Abby stepped forward. “Clarke, listen to me, honey. I know you’ve had to do some bad things to stay alive. We all have. I forgive you. Whatever you’ve done, it can be forgiven. We can be a family again.”

 Clarke let out a barking laugh. “Family? After you murdered my father and sent me to what could be my death? I doubt you even had to think about it before you made the decision. Tell me, Abby - do you really love me?”

 Abby’s face only became more and more agonized. “Of course! I did it for our own good, Clarke. The good of everyone.”

 “I’ll believe that,” Clarke hissed. “But that isn’t what I’m here for. I’m here to talk politics. Where’s the Chancellor?”

 “I am, for now.” Abby tried to take Clarke’s hands but she was denied. “If this is about the hundred being cleared, it’s done. They have nothing to worry about. All criminal records have been erased.”

 “Oh, no, this has nothing to do with the hundred. They don’t want anything to do with me.” She grinned as Abby’s face turned into confusion, mimicking the faces of the crowd around them. She gestured to her clothes, the blue sash that adorned her shoulder. “I’m here as an ambassador. For the Trikru.”

 “The grounders? The people who’ve been attacking our scouts?” Abby shook her head. “You can’t be. They want us dead.”

 Clarke shrugged. “You invaded their territory. You’ve scared off the game, killed their scouts, and why? Because some kids told you that they’re evil?” She laughed harshly. “You’re more naïve than I thought.”

 Abby was about to retort before a man pushed past her, cocking his gun. “You’re one of them,” he growled. “They killed my brother when he went out those gates. We can’t trust you.”

 Abby put a hand on his shoulder. “Morganson, be sensible-”

 Bang!

 Clarke sighed, feeling the blood seeping through her stomach. “Really? Again?” She muttered, listening to the astonished gasps of the people around her. She began to advance toward the shooter, watching as his eyes widened in fear, shooting again out of reflex. The bullet tore through her shoulder, but she barely felt it. She grabbed the gun, wrenching it upwards. “It’s rude to shoot people, don’t you know?”

 She snatched his wrist, eyes glowing hellish blue. “I don’t appreciate getting shot!”

 His eyes rolled into the back of his head and he collapsed onto the ground.

 She turned, watching the people scamper back. “Anyone else?” Her eyes still aflame, illuminating in the twilight, the crowd dispersed. She nodded approvingly. “Good.”

 The expression on her mother’s face was one of absolute horror. She was the only person still within Clarke’s vicinity, but the look on her face was one of terror. She felt Wanheda tripping over herself in her excitement. Clarke waited a moment for Abby to speak, and when she didn’t, she frowned impatiently. “Willing to listen now?”

 She can hear the Skaikru still watching, completely silent, hovering in the shadows as if it will protect them. Whispers of demon, devil flow through them, and Clarke can’t help but feel satisfied with herself. She’d wanted terror, and she had it. She had it all.

 Abby backed away, looking around at her people desperately. “Kaplan? Muir?”

 A man stepped out of the shadows, never taking his eyes off Clarke. “No. Not at all. I’m not going anywhere near her.”

 Abby spun, desperately looking for help.

 No one came.

 Clarke signed in exasperation at the cowardice of these people. “Listen, all of you!” She shouted. “The commander is being generous. She’ll offer you a deal. You have a week to collect your people and head west, towards the land past the plains, or the commander will bring with her an army that will make the decision for you. And I don’t mean force you out. I mean she’ll storm this camp and slaughter anyone who resists. The choice is yours.”

 Clarke ignored the frightened exclamations from behind her and strode out the gates, her lips twerking up into a smirk as the guards scrambled out of her way. Footsteps chased after her and she knew immediately who the only person to follow her was.

 Abby seemed unshaken by her blatant disregard. “Clarke, please!” She cried. “I just want to understand! What’s going on? What’s happened to you? Where’s my baby girl?”

 She froze. Pivoted on her heel and stared Abby down. Stalking closer, her mouth contorted into a snarl. “Your baby girl died a long time ago,” she growled. “You look at me and you see a child. A helpless child who you need to protect. Well, hear this, mother - I’m not your daughter. Not anymore.” She got right up in her face, forcing Abby to step back. Clarke’s eyes began to glow. “Ai laik Wanheda. I am the commander of death and you would do well to treat me as such. I don’t know what sort of pitiful love you feel for me, but I have none of it. You would do well to remember that.”

 Abby was stunned into silence. Her whispers could barely be heard over the silence. “What turned you into this?”

 Clarke snorted. “I’d tell you, but you wouldn’t believe me. It doesn’t matter, though. You saw how easily I killed Morganson. Make no mistake, if it came down to it, I’d kill you without a thought. Though perhaps with you, I’d get the pleasure of hearing your screams.”

 She left Abby standing there and shouted for her horse. The young scout brought out her mare, head bowed, never looking Clarke in the face. She took the reins from the boy, giving him commands to retake his position and mounting her mare.

 Before she left, she looked at her mother one last time. “Perhaps if you’d actually been a loving mother I would hesitate before I kill you.”

 -

 Clarke returns to TonDC after midnight.

 There were no stablehands awake to help her, but a guard took the spot, someone always available to keep Wanheda satisfied. She returned to her tent, pleasantly surprised to find her fleim waiting for her.

 Lexa greeted her with a smile. “I felt your return. How did it go?”

 A grin worked its way onto her face. “Oh, it went wonderfully,” she said as she began to disrobe from all her heavy armor. “You should have seen their faces. Pure terror.”

 “Otaim ai kripa,” Lexa muttered affectionately, stepping in front of Clarke to help her undo the many buckles of her jacket. “Is Wanheda satisfied?”

 “Is she ever?”

 “I suppose that’s why I call you ai kripa. You’re insatiable.”

 Clarke’s eyes began to glow a dark blue. “Oh, I’m insatiable in more ways than that.”

 Lexa tilted her head back, a pleased smile on her face. “I know.”

 “Then why aren’t you fixing it?”

 “Let’s get you out of your clothes first, houdfou,” Lexa said, her words faltering as Clarke pressed an open-mouthed kiss onto her throat, a hand coming around to squeeze the back of her neck. “Then-then we’ll see about mine.”

 Clarke chuckled darkly against her skin. “I can undress later. I want you undressed now.”

 She couldn’t see it, but she could imagine Lexa’s eyes darkening from green to a blood-red, fingertips sparking orange in her excitement. The hand on Lexa’s neck tightened while the other began to unweave the ties that kept her nightdress up.

 Wanheda flooded her mind, ever-demanding, urging her to stake her claim, to show the world that the Heda was hers.

 She bit down on Lexa’s throat, listening to her gasp.

 Lexa was right: Wanheda was insatiable. And they both much preferred it that way.

[zanybohbot]

The Outsiders: Squit's Sh*ttiest Birthday Ever!

The Outsiders: Squit's Sh*ttiest Birthday Ever! (Episode 6)

Published: 11-04-19 - Updated: 11-08-19

It's Squit's 29th birthday and he is planning a dinner party but it clashes with a more popular bash so that his only guests are Pinky, Brain, Wakko, Pesto and Brain's exchange neighbour Patrice. This is the 6th fanfic episode of The Outsiders. Thx. Rated R for Strong Language/Mature Themes/Sexual Language.

Part 1: About Squit's Girlfriend

(The main 5 are at Squit's house with Patrice, a 22 year-old French exchange neighbour. Squit is using his computer.)

Brain: [about the French exchange neighbour] I dunno, he seems a bit weird. He asked me if I've tried the "Sleeping Beauty?"

Wakko: Oh, it's so awesome.

Brain: What, you know it?

Wakko: Yeah, you sit on your arm 'til your hand goes dead. 10-15 minutes is normally enough. And then when you jerk off, it feels like someone else is doing it.

Brain: How do you know these things?

Pinky: Oh, everyone knows the Sleeping Beauty; that's so 1984.

Brain: Is it?

Pinky: Fuck yeah, my cousin's brother invented it. He and his bros used to be called The Dead Hand Gang.

Squit: They had a gang based on masturbation? Oh there's nothing gay about that.

Pinky: Yeah, well he's in the Air Force now, so how gay's that?

Squit: Still quite gay. (Charlotte's online on Skype) Oh, shit, Charlotte's online.

Wakko: You asked her along yet?

Squit: No. I don't know if I should.

Brain: Go on, it'll be great.

Squit: Really, do you think so?

Brain: Yeah, it's cool, just say, "Hi".

Squit: (finished typing) Done it. Oh, wow, she's come straight back. She says, "Hi, whassup". Smiley face.

Pinky: Now, ask her the fuck out!

Squit: No, can't just jump in, not the way things have been with us.

Brain: At least have to charm her a bit first.

Squit: (finished typing) I've written "Just hanging out with Brain and his French exchange". Okay, another smiley face. Can't bring myself to send a smiley back, but I could write "lol" if I absolutely had to.

Pinky: Do that. That'll be dope as hell!

Squit: "LOL! Anyway, it's my birthday. Come for dinner, please?" (silence) That pause isn't good.

Pesto: Calm down, it's only been a second, dummy!

(Another short silence)

(Charlotte's offline)

Squit: (annoyed) Oh, for Christ's sake! She's gone offline rather than answer whether or not she'll come to my birthday?!

Wakko: Maybe the connection dropped?

Squit: Nope, it was back and forward, back and forward. Then a question about dinner and she's gone.

Pinky: Look, she didn't say, "No" did she?

Squit: No. But she did hang up.

Brain: C'mon. I'm sure she'll be there.

Squit: Well, not sure, but y'know.

Anya: (came downstairs) Oh, hello, Brain.

Brain: Hey, An.

Patrice: Bonjour.

Anya: (giggled) Oh, my goodness, you're French.

Brain: This is Patrice, he's my sort of French exchange neighbour. Patrice, this is Squit's sis.

Anya: Hello. Well, I'm just gonna play tennis. Ha, don't know why I mentioned that. Bye.

Brain: See ya.

Squit: Thanks, bye!

Wakko: See ya lata.

Pinky: Peace.

Anya: Au revoir, Patrice.

Patrice: Au revoir. (She leaves the house.) Your sister is very ze sexy.

Squit: Uhhh...what?

Patrice: She has ze sex. (walks away awkwardly)

Pinky: Well, damn! He's a strange one. Fuck me, right?

Wakko: But he's French, they're sometimes weird?

Squit: Oh, god, please don't be racist.

Wakko: How's that racist, I'm just saying that he barely says anything and when he does speak it's always about sex. Just like all French people.

(Squit N/R: The next day was my birthday. Whilst I was making my final preparations, including putting on shit music girls would like, Patrice had been busy too.)

Patrice: I just had a really nice, er tug, thinking about your mother. I think some went on the floor. Sorry. (Shows Squit the liquid on his red sofa.)

Squit: (sarcastically/disgusted) Great, thanks, Patrice. (The door rang) I'll get it. It could be Charlotte. (He opens to see Pinky, Brain, Pesto and Wakko instead of Charlotte)

Pinky: Yo, bender. (Drinking Red Bull)

Squit: (looking unimpressed) Oh.

(Squit N/R: Happy birthday to me. It was 8.30pm on my 29th birthday in July 19th 2006, and my party was in full swing.)

Brain: Where's your plus one anyways, Pinky?

Pinky: Not coming. She got a modelling job, had to fly to Paris. Barmaid by day, supermodel by night.

Squit: (sarcastically) Sounds likely.

Pinky: Where's Little Miss Stuck-up Cock-tease?

Brain: Do you mean Billie?

Pinky: Uhhh...yeah. Duh.

Brain: I don't think Billie will make it.

Pesto: Why not?

Wakko: Is something up?

Brain: No, it's nothing like that. I just sort of didn't invite her in the end.

Pinky: Wow. You really are a pussy, why am I not surprised?!

Brain: Hey, at least I tried!

Squit: (slightly annoyed) So lemme get this straight, there are gonna be no women here then? None at all? I don't know why I bother.

Pinky: Well, I wouldn't say there will be no women.

Pesto: Yeah, not no women!

Squit: (confused) Wait. So there are some women coming?

Wakko: Maybe, maybe not.

(Pinky, Wakko and Pesto are smirking as their mischievous.)

Squit: (still not looking unimpressed) Look, it's very clear from your smirking faces and tone of voice that actually there are some women coming.

Pinky: We got you a special birthday treat.

Squit: Did you?

Wakko: (takes a deep breath) STRIPPER!

Squit: What?!

Wakko: Yup. (laughs)

Squit: Have you really bought a stripper?!

Pinky: Relax, she was only $5 million!

Squit: How have you paid for that?!

Wakko: We haven't yet, we'll just have a whip round when she gets here.

Brain: A whip round?! We don't have $1 million each!

Pinky: Nah, it's...oh...shit, you are absolutely right about dat, my paycheck doesn't come out till tomorrow at noon. Sorry, bruh.

Squit: (sarcastically) Great, so until a $5 million angry lap dancer turns up, we are without female company. Gee, thank you very much for my 29th birthday, I really appreciate it a lot.

Pinky: Okay fine, if ya gonna be savage about it, I will pick some girls up from outside.

Squit: (sarcastically) Oh, please! Pick me up some random girls from the street for me.

Brain: Or, we can go to Buster's party, it's happening right now.

Wakko: Yeah.

Pesto: As a matter of fact, why aren't we there in the first place? It will be much better than this shit joint.

Squit: (sarcastically) Why thank you very much for that remark right there. (grabs a bottle of wine) More wine!?

Pinky: Ohhh...I bet it reeks of ass in there.

Squit: Ohhh...and I bet it's not.

Pinky: Yes, it is.

Squit: No, it's not!

Pinky: Is!

Squit: Not!

Pinky: Is!

Squit: (getting angry) Not!

Pinky: Well, I don't see why NOT! (furious)

Wakko: Guys, please. Calm down.

Squit: Look, I put a lot of effort into this! I made a really nice coq au vin...

Pinky: Cock of WAT?! (laughs)

Pesto: Bruh...your fuckin' high.

Brain: You don't help yourself, do you?

Squit: Oh yeah, I see, 'coq' au vin, very mature! It actually means chicken in wine, doesn't it, Patrice?

Patrice: Quoi?

Squit: Well, it does, and it doesn't mean cock up my ass, or cock on my head, or...

Pesto: ...you got some cock in the back of a van.

Squit: Or that I got some cock in the back of a van! Look, all I wanted was a nice, civilised and sophisticated birthday party. Like we did back in 1993, when we first began out acting career back at Warner Bros. Just something a little different from the usual parties - maybe even the sort of party that girls are impressed by! OK, so there aren't any girls here, but why don't we at least attempt to have a sophisticated conversation? We are in the 20s and were not teenagers anymore. I know it's a tall order, and I'm not expecting sparkling, but let's give it a go, eh, fellas, since it is my FUCKING BIRTHDAY!

[everyone sits in chastened silence for a while. Then...]

Wakko: How much Lego can you stuff up your ass?

Squit: Oh, for Christ's sake!

Wakko: No not now, like when you were younger, how much did you get up there?

Pinky: Your fuckin' high.

Brain: Why were sticking Lego up your rear end?

Wakko: Not much, just rectangular ones. Unless, you wanna come to my house and prove it.

Squit: (stands up) FINE! Fine! Let's go to Buster Bunny's house!

Pesto: FUCK YEAH!

Brain: (whispers to Squit) Are you sure?

Squit: Oh, please. It's the last thing I wanted to do. She's not coming, is she? And a skillful raconteur like Wakko is wasted on just us.

Pinky: Nice one. Now I get a proper three-course meal, hoe, puh and a V!

(They all leave Squit's house.)

Part 2: A Long Journey

(Squit N/R: So we headed into the night, and found Pinky's three courses sitting on a fence.)

Pinky: 'Allo, 'allo. (Points at 3 girls drinking wine on the street) Here they are.

Wakko: Nice.

Brain: I dunno. They look a bit rough. Are they drinking in the street?

Pinky: Dirty. I love it!

Squit: Not quite the sophisticates I had in mind, but at least they're female.

Pesto: I think you should go over, Pinky.

Pinky: Nah, B should.

Brain: What? Why me?

Pinky: Alphabetical. You got that bent look girls go for anyway.

Brain: Fine, if you're gonna be a douche, you go!

Pinky: Sorry for being "a douche"! Look, are ya gonna go or not!?

Pesto: Just go, B, it's freezing out here.

Squit: Come on, Brain. For me? For my birthday? Remember?!

Brain: (sigh) God, fine. (He comes up to the girls) Hi, there.

Girl 1: What ya fuckin' say!?

Brain: Uhhh...hello.

Girl 1: And what?

Brain: Uhhh...I wanted to ask you to a party?

Girl 1: I'm 13.

Brain: (in shock) Oh, sorry. I didn't know.

Girl 2: And I'm 11, you scum.

Brain: Yep, there's been a mistake, so...

Girl 1: Like looking at little girls, do ya?

Girl 2: Like getting 'em to parties where you can touch 'em, do ya?

Brain: No, God, no. Look, I'm going now.

Girl 3: Pedo!

Girl 1: You fuckin' pedo!

Girl 2: Yeah, run, you pedo.

(Patrice strokes his dick right in front of them.)

Brain: What the fuck, Patrice?!

Girl 1: Ewww! I'm gonna get my fuckin' brother on you!

Girl 3: Motherfucka!

(The others run away.)

Girl 1: That's it, run away, pedo boy!

Girl 2: Keep going, pedo! Keep walking, you fuckin' pedo!

Pinky: (sarcastically) Nice one, Brain.

Brain: Me?! It was fucking Patrice who pissed them off in the first place!

Pinky: You tried to scum them up, scumbag!

Brain: (grabs Pinky's snout with anger) I'm not in the mood for this, just warning you!

Pinky: "Ooh, watch out, Uncle Brain might give me a special bop with his stupid pencil!" Look, you're being awkward as fuck! Girls don't love dat shit!

Brain: (let's go of Pinky) Whatever!

Squit: (reads his text) Oh, fuck.

Pesto: What's for pudding, Squit?

Squit: (sarcastically) Oh, I dunno. Just a middle-aged woman demanding $5 million!

(The message from a stripper that says "WHERE'S MY FUCKING MONEY AND WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?!")

Wakko: Oh, shit.

Pinky: What are we gonna do?

Brain: I think we should go.

Squit: (sigh) Yes, fine, I give up. Let's try to get in to Buster Bunny's.

Brain: What about your dinner party?

Squit: Forget it. You can lead a horse to water but can't stop it sticking Lego up its ass.

(Patrice started pissing in the street for no reason.)

Squit: Oh, for Christ's sake, Patrice, don't do that!

Wakko: God, Brain, he's a nightmare! We can't have him scare all the hoes away at the party, let's ditch him.

Brain: I'm looking after him, I can't leave him stranded in a strange country.

Pinky: Well he comes from a strange country!

Squit: Brain, for once, Pinky and Wakko are right. Patrice is weird and boring. Do you really think girls will be impressed when we turn up with that?

(Patrice is still pissing.)

Brain: Okay. Probably not.

Squit: Let's just leg it while his back is turned. It's now or never, B.

Brain: OK, fuck it!

(The others run away from Patrice.)

(Squit N/R: So we ran away. Yep, ran away. Something I hadn't done since John Cook discovered wedgies in 8th grade.)

Wakko: Crap! I've got a stitch wedgie. I need to itch!

Squit: That should be enough.

(Patrice was running from behind.)

Pinky: Fuck! He's behind us!

Wakko: No way!

Squit: Run! He's chasing us!

(Patrice is now next to them still running.)

Wakko: Holy fuck, he doesn't give up easily!

Squit: What does he think is happening?!

Pesto: I think he's caught us up.

Brain: (sarcastically) Yeah, good spot, Pesto.

Patrice: Brain, why we run?

Brain: Uhhh...I don't fuckin' know actually!

Patrice: You don't know?

Brain: Yeah.

Patrice: So we stop?

Brain: Yep, probably. Good idea.

(They stopped running.)

Brain: (sigh) Let's just go to the party.

(They are walking down the street to Buster's house.)

(Squit N/R: So after trying and failing to outrun a boy in Cuban heels, we headed for Buster Bunny's party, which we definitely wouldn't get into.)

Pesto: Who's gonna ask if we can come in, Squit?

Squit: I dunno, why are you asking me?!

Pinky: Outta the way you Kwik Shit Shitters, I'll do it myself!

(BUZZER DOOR OPENS)

Bull Gator: What?

Squit: Hello, Bull Gator. I'm Squit.

Bull Gator: Sorry. You can't come in, there's too many already.

Squit: Look, we'll be no trouble, I promise. I mean, look at us.

Bull Gator: Fine. One of you can come in.

Squit: One, five, there's hardly any difference, perhaps we could negotiate...

Bull Gator: No. (points at Patrice) Him. He can come in. (He lets him in)

Squit: Oh, right, well the thing is, Brain will have to come in, too, he's supposed to be looking after…

(Shuts the door.)

Squit: (sarcastically) Great. So we can add Patrice to the growing list of people more popular than us.

Pesto: DAT'S IT! (As he attacks Squit)

Pinky: (looking through the window) Fucking John's in there! And he's with a girl! He's got his hand on her tit!

Wakko: This is too tragic.

Brain: Holy shit.

Pinky: And Charlotte Big Jugs is in there.

Pesto: (as he finishes beating up Squit, leaving him with a black eye and bruises) Nice! (laughs)

Squit: (pushes Pesto away) Oh, c'mon!

Pinky: Time for Plan B.

Squit: (sarcastically) Oh, right, there's a Plan B, is there?! Plan A was so brilliantly devised I wouldn't have thought we'd need a Plan B! What is it?! Climb over a fuckin' fence?!

(The scene cuts to the Buster Bunny's fence near his backyard.)

Squit: I can't believe we're actually doing this!

Pinky: Don't shit yourself. It's only a fence, it won't bite.

Squit: Yes, Pinky, except I'm not worried about it biting, I'm worried about breaking my neck.

Pinky: Come on, it'll be sick, climbing and shit.

Squit: Will it tho? There must be another way.

Pinky: (looks at the backyard) Ah, it's full of puh. Give us a push, Wak.

(They all climb up the fence and jump into the backyard, except for Squit.)

Squit: Guys, c'mon, get a grip! I'm just not made for climbing, y'know? Maybe one of these panels is loose. (he saw a small gap in the fence) There's a gap here! (he gets into the backyard through the gap but struggles.)

Pinky: Jesus, did you even bother to lose weight at all? Just look ya, maybe that's why you're struggling!

Pesto: Come on, Squit. Just hurry up!

Squit: Huh? (He gets dog shit on his sleeve of his white suit) Oh, for Christ's sake!

Wakko: Why's he always gotta be different?

Pinky: Just hurry the fuck up, tubby, everyone's looking!

(Everyone was looking at them as Bull Gator came along.)

Bull Gator: The hell's going on?

Squit: Oh, hi, Bull. (he got out) As I was saying, it's quite important we look after Patrice.

Bull Gator: And you stepped on dog shit?

Squit: Yes, I have. But ask yourself why? That you've excluded us from this party because of some vague rules about popularity is ridiculous. Although it looks like we climbed a fence and crawled through dog shit, what we've done is challenged your social apartheid.

Bull Gator: You weren't invited 'coz you're not on the list.

Squit: That makes sense too, I suppose.

Buster: (he came to the backyard) The hell's going on? (saw Squit, Pinky, Brain, Pesto and Wakko) Guys! Long time so see!

Pinky: Nice to meet ya, bruh!

Buster: Welcome to my party, make yourselves at home! (looks at Bull Gator, angrily) Dude, why didn't you tell me about this?! (leaves)

Bull Gator: I dunno, they weren't on the list! (looks back at the others) God, if you're that desperate then just ask. But take that suit off before you go inside. (leaves)

Squit: Sweet, nice one!

Brain: He's right about the suit tho, it stinks.

Wakko: Oh, bruh, that is rank. It's all up your sleeve, look.

(Squit takes off his suit which it leads to the others laughing at his black vest he was wearing underneath.)

Wakko: Oh, Christ! (laughs)

Pinky: What the fuck is that?! (laughs)

(Pesto laughs hysterically)

Brain: Oh, my God. (holds in the laugher)

Squit: (annoyed) It was a present from my mom, okay!

Brain: And you've worn it?

Pinky: She been getting gift ideas from Pesto's old man?

Pesto: My dad's not bent!

Wakko: Honestly, that's not a good look.

Squit: Well, we've just gatecrashed a party that Big John was invited to, so none of us are winning the cool prize.

Wakko: But you are losing by a mile.

Squit: Hmph. Not for long. I'm gonna find Charlotte.

Pesto: Upstairs getting fucked, most likely.

Squit: Pesto, I've told you she's not like that! (pause) I'll check upstairs first.

(They went inside the house.)

(Squit N/R: The best thing about your birthday is everyone has to do exactly what you want.)

The Final Part: Worst Birthday Ever!

(Squit N/R: With this in mind, I went to find Charlotte.)

Plucky: (mocking Squit) Nice shirt! (laughs)

Max: (mocking Squit) Yeah, good look, briefcase.

Skippy: (mocking Squit) Someone's stolen your sleeves, boy!

Squit: (embarrassed) Yep, nice one.

Little Beeper: (mocking Squit) Where's the rest of N'Sync?

Squit: Retro, but a good one.

(Meanwhile, Pinky and Brain fight about who's using the bathroom first.)

Pinky: C'mon! Let me go first, you know I'm desperate.

Brain: Ha-ha! Unlucky. (shuts the door)

Pinky: Don't be an ass! Seriously, c'mon, bro, I'm bursting!

(Billie came along.)

Billie: Oh, hi, Pinky, are you waiting?

Pinky: Yeah! I might piss my pants any minute now.

Billie: Oh.

Pinky: Won't be too long tho!

Billie: Oh, right. I didn't know you were friends with Buster.

Pinky: Oh, no! We climbed over a fence.

(Billie looking confused)

Brain: (comes out of the bathroom as Pinky went in) Billie, hi.

Billie: Hi, Brain, how are you?

Brain: Good, you?

Billie: Yeah, pretty awesome.

Pinky: (comes out of the bathroom) Jesus Christ, Brain, what the fuck have you done in there?!

Brain: (confused) Uhhh...

Pinky: Have you been eating cat food again?! Oh, God, you've left skid marks down the bowl too! Nasty-ass!

Brain: (embarrassed) Uhhh...Billie, I didn't. I only went in for a piss.

Pinky: Oh, God, I can taste it.

Brain: (angrily) PINKY!

Billie: (disgusted) Okay, I might go upstairs now. (goes upstairs)

Brain: No, don't. I was only peeing. It was only a pee! I promise I didn't leave skid marks! (looks at Pinky, angrily) You fuckin' asshat! Why did you do that?!

Pinky: Your welcome. (Slams the door)

(Squit N/R: OK, so things weren't going exactly to plan. But if I could just find Charlotte, I was confident it would still be a birthday to remember.)

Squit: (he opens the door to see Charlotte in the bedroom) Oh, hi, Charlotte, there you are.

Charlotte: (shocked) Squit!

(Squit N/R: And I was right.)

Squit: (concerned, seeing Charlotte having sex with somebody) Uhhh...the hell's going on?!

Charlotte: Uhhh...please go away!

Squit: Time out, fella! You're not alone now. (he looks under the covers to see who it is, he noticed that it was Patrice) Oh, Patrice Salut.

Patrice: Salut.

Squit: (shocked) Wait. Are you two...?

Charlotte: (slightly annoyed) Seriously, what are you doing?

Squit: I thought we could do it together, y'know.

Charlotte: Squit, I don't know why you're doing this. And what are you wearing?

Squit: I've got a bottle of champagne at home, and I remembered when we first met we had champagne, as it's my birthday I thought maybe...I'm sorry, is he touching you right now?! (saw Patrice touching Charlotte)

Charlotte: Look, maybe we'll have a drink later.

Squit: (slightly upset) Yeah, later, of course. (he was about to leave)

Charlotte: Oh, Squit? Could you turn the light off?

Patrice: No, leave on.

Charlotte: OK. See ya, Squit.

Squit: See ya. (shuts the door)

(Squit N/R: Great. And I'd rather hoped the singlet was the worst birthday surprise. Meanwhile, my friends were making the most of finally gettin' into a cool party, by standing in a corridor, not talking to anyone, doing jack-shit.)

(Squit goes downstairs to see the others.)

Brain: Did you find Charlotte?

Squit: (upset) Um, yeah. Yeah, I did. Upstairs being fucked by Patrice!

Pesto: HA! Knew it.

Wakko: Ooh, unlucky!

Squit: Can you make him stop, please, Brain? As a birthday present?

Brain: Sorry, but no means no. That's just too weird.

Squit: Yeah, you're probably right. Let's just go home.

(Squit bumps into Newt.)

Squit: Oh, hi, Newt, I'm just going but if you were looking for Charlotte, I think she's upstairs.

Newt: (angrily) Fuck off, you prick!

Squit: (nervous) Thanks. Have a fun night!

(They all leave the party and walked down the street at night.)

(Squit N/R: So, ironically, it was Newt who gave me the best gift this year, a savagely beaten French perverted sicko.)

Brain: Holy shit! What if Newt kills him?

Squit: (annoyed) Good!

Brain: His parents will go satan on Newt's ass tho if Patrice is injured!

Pesto: (laughs evilly) Nice!

Pinky: Well, fuck 'em anyway, you'll never see him again, so what!

Brain: I meant to drop him off back at Paris and I...

Squit: (getting angry) I'm sorry, do you wanna go to France?

Brain: What? No!

Squit: Well then shut the fuck up! What about me, huh?! It's my birthday and I saw Patrice trying to mount Charlotte! The fucking baguette-eating dickhead frog!

Brain: Jesus Christ, dude. That's a bit racist.

Squit: Well he made me racist! He was racist back when he said he hates Irish-Americans, I mean c'mon, what did we do to you!?

Wakko: Did you get to see her boobies tho?

Squit: No, Wakko!

Wakko: (in disbelief) Ahhh...y'suck. Why am I not surprised?

Squit: Oh God, what if my birthdays just get worse and worse from now on?! What'll happen next year?!

Pinky: You get AIDS and die at the age of 30?

Squit: I'd have to have sex for that to happen.

Wakko: Or fuck a monkey?

Squit: Technically, that still counts as sex.

Brain: Or drink from the same cup as Pesto's dad.

Pesto: Fuck you, my dad does not have AIDS!

Pinky: Son, your dad is so AIDS, he's the one who gave it to your siblings!

Pesto: (furious) You take that back!

Pinky: That's what your siblings said to 'em. NARF!

Wakko: C'mon, bro, let's get back to yours. I'll let you beat me at Pro Evo.

Squit: Thanks, I just hope this night couldn't get worse than this.

Girl 1: (from the distance) That's them!

Newt: (from the distance, furious) What did ya say to my fuckin' sister, you fuckin scum!?

Girl 2: (from the distance) Fucking pedos!

(Newt and the girls started chasing them.)

Squit: RUN!

Pinky: Again?

Brain: Oh, shit!

(They started running as Newt and the 3 girls are still chasing them.)

Wakko: Split up, he can't get us all!

Pinky: He's got a fucking cricket bat! See ya around, bitches! (hides behind the car)

Brain: (pushing Pesto away) Pesto, go away!

Pesto: (pushes Brain back) Ayy, coo off!

Squit: This is the tin hat. Worst birthday ever!

(Squit N/R: So my birthday, or dog shit (Bull Gator: And you stepped on dog shit?), singlet, heartbreak day, as I've come to think of it, was over. It's fair to say it hadn't been the best. But I had learnt one important life lesson. If you go around to Wakko's, don't play with his Lego. EVER! (Wakko: How much Lego can you stuff up your ass?/Squit: Oh, for Christ's sake!)

THE END!

I hope you enjoyed the 6th episode of The Outsiders. Thx. See ya lata! Peace! ;)

[oh-theatre]

Sycamore High: Going Steady (Chapter 26)

A/N: Hey hey look I didn't forget about the others! :) Also I know that thats not how adoption works but... here we are. I know i just posted one but I had to post it!!

summary: Emma and Paul have some news :)

words: 3,000 (I did this on purpose, I was so proud :)

warnings: Swearing, kissing, adoption (idk man)

Ao3 Link

“Ok favorite…” Paul pondered for a moment examining the room, Emma's room was bleak but held some items of importance. There were pictures of her and her family scattered on every wall. It was a pretty basic setup, she had a desk by the window, a bed in the middle and a closet. She did, however, have an awesome TV set with many games included. At this point, the pair had exhausted most things and were just searching for anything. He fiddled with his chopsticks, twirling some noodles around them. “Oh! Favorite takeout food!” He exclaimed Emma tilted her head, scrunching her eyebrows before deciding to answer.

“Well…” Now it was her turn to look around. It was a big question, she liked Chinese, obviously. She twirled her own noodles, eating them up before thinking some more. She liked tacos that she and her mom would get on Tuesday. She loved Italian. “Italian,” She said pointing her chopsticks at Paul, he nodded approvingly.

“I would go for sushi, but nice option” He complimented, she laughed nudging him. They sat comfortably atop her bed eating as the TV continued playing the background. Paul, with his mouth full, gestured towards the TV “What mind of ames oo you ave?” He mumbled, Emma raised her eyebrows. He swallowed before trying again. “What kind of games do you have?” She perked up setting down her food. She walked over to a smaller closet under the tv, she opened it to reveal two shelves all lined with games. “Oh absolutely” Paul muttered amazed, he joined her as they perused the games. I like this one.

“What about some classics?” Emma teased holding up her copy of Wii sports. Paul laughed reminiscing about the times he, Ted and Bill would play it. “Oo! Or maybe some ‘Call of Duty’? I mean we probably shouldn't, seeing as video games cause violence”

“She says as she adopts three cats in the sims” Paul commented, she stifled a laugh continuing her game search. Paul does the same his eyes glazed over with excitement at each new game he finds. “Oh yes, South Park? Nice” Paul says dryly “Its Ted's favorite”

“Of course it is” She sighs rolling her eyes “It was either that or he was a ‘My Little Pet Shop’ lover” Emma joked, Paul falls back laughing, he sits up wiping his eyes,

“Don't diss the pet shop Em” He says putting two games back, he pulls another one “No way! Is this is the new ‘Man of Medan’ game?” Paul rushes holding up the game. Emma nods enthused. “Can we play it?” He asks softly, almost pouting.

“Yeah! I haven't played it yet but it looks fun!” She informs. Paul stops, he stares at her.

“Fun? Fun? no … no, Emma, this game is…” He ponders “I actually have no idea it just looks fun” They erupt into laughter, both smiling widely. They plug in the game preparing to play. The game is interesting enough and keeps them both on their feet and alert, probably wasn't the best game to play at night but neither of them cared. They were mostly there for the witty comments Emma made, the absolute confusion Paul displayed and the overall excitement of hanging out together after a long week. The game hit a slow with both of them gaining quite exhausted of the strenuous gameplay and pausing for a break and more food.

“You're not bad Matthews” Emma comments as they clean up their takeout

“Don't flatter me, they are just quick-time events, anyone can do them” Paul remarks as he helps out making their way to the kitchen.

“Falsehood, not everyone can do them, I personally think that QTEs are quite hard but go off” Emma mumbles, Paul chuckles as she ushers him away trying to clean. “Hey, my parents aren't home wanna practice for the musical?” She asks casually. Paul thinks for a moment before shrugging. He had no qualms about this, seemingly beneficial and well… fun.

“Yeah sure, let me go grab my music,” Paul says, Emma nods finishing up the cleaning. She opens her laptop setting up the karaoke as Paul returns briskly holding his binders. She smiles to herself as he seats himself next to her, they begin the track waiting. The song went on smoothly, each person getting into their characters and having too much fun with it. Approaching the last verse Paul had to look at his music having not been great at the final notes.

“And I love you know that I love...you know that I love…” They sang in unison sounding quite nice together Paul looked up to find Emma staring at him. She looked nice, a quiet fury of passion behind her eyes, her hair falling messily on her back. The track continued awaiting Pauls line but he couldn't really speak. Emma tilted her head watching him sweetly, and now he wasn't thinking, He wasn't thinking when he grabbed her face gently pressing their lips together, Emma melted into it kissing back almost instantly. She cupped his own hands that were still placed on her face. She giggled as they pulled away, something Paul could get used to. They stared for a moment both trying to figure out what to say.

“...me too” Paul breathes finishing the song maybe too late. Emma watches as a blush creeps on his face. She laughs lovingly, closing her laptop she turns back to Paul.

“Not bad Matthews, although I don't think we were supposed to kiss” She shrugs, Paul rolls his eyes affectionately “But hey, I could get used to that…” Paul bites his lip as she gets up to put away her computer. He follows her standing quickly, he takes her hand stopping her. “Paul?” She asks cautiously. He puts on his best smolder.

“Emma Perkins” Did his voice get higher? “Would you consider…” Emma would be lying if she said her heart hadn’t skipped a beat as she listened expectantly “Going steady with me?” he asked barely keeping it together. Emma laughed pushing him slightly.

“God you're such a dweeb” She comments lovingly, he nods agreeing. She pauses making herself more formal. “But of course! I'd love to” She says putting on her best accent. He laughs moving closer, he wraps his arms around her hips looking down at her, she follows his lead wrapping her arms around his neck.

“You're short,” He notices, she frowns sighing, throwing her head back. He laughs placing a hand on her chin pulling her close kissing her softly once more. They pull away, he frowns “Nope, still short” She rolls her eyes groaning pushing away from him.

“I take it back,” She mutters already walking away from him, he jumps following her.

“No, take backs!” He shouts as he grabs her carefully smothering with tickles. She can't help but giggle. She slaps his arms away softly turning back to him, smiling.

“The first rule of…” She gestures between then “this, no tickling. Got it?” He nods frantically. She smiles, I like this.

~~~

Sherlock, John, and Lestrade

Paul: Hey Ted! Guess what! No more making fun of me just cause you and Tommy are all smushy

Ted: First of all, please never use the word smushy ever again, second what the fuck are you talking about?

Bill: Hello, I am present

Paul: Hey Bill. And Ted for your information, Emma and I are ...going steady

Ted:...

Ted: Can I block him? Bill, can I block him?

Bill: No you may not, and congratulations Paul.

Paul: Thank you, Bill, at least someone here is not self-centered

Ted: Hey! It's called self-love...not that I have any of that

Bill: Ditto

Paul: Oh? Mood

Bill: Anyway, how did it happen?

And so Paul told them, sparing only a few details hed like to keep to himself. It was exciting and fun to recall to his friends.

Ted: That's cute, and very cliche

Paul: Yes it is, and I have no regrets

Paul: Don't you dare

Ted: No ragrets

Bill: YOLO

Paul: I hate you both so much.

Ted: :)

Bill: :)

Paul: Anyway what's going on in your lives?

Ted: Nothing much

Bill: Besides homework and rehearsal for the play I have no interesting topics for discussion.

Paul: In other words…

Ted: Nothing much. :)

Bill: Yes

Ted: Oh you know what! There is something…

Paul: Oo! What? Is Tommy secretly a furry

Ted: …

Ted: Please for the love of all that is holy Bill let me blOCK HIM

Bill: -bill is offline-

Ted: oH power move

Ted: -ted is offline-

Paul: I am so lonely...I have nobody...all on my own!

Paul: wait Ted wat was your thing

~~~

“WELL HELLO TRAITORS!” Paul shouted as he walked up to his friends by the locker. Both Bill and Ted groaned covering their ears. Paul pushed past them both opening his locker, he shoved some things inside continuing his conversation. “Hey, what's dat” He asks gesturing towards the hot drink in Ted's hand.

“Hot chocolate” he smiles “I'm meeting Tommy, we both have free periods so we’re gonna hang out in the library and study” Paul and Bill smile at the happy look on Teds. They go to continue but Emma interrupts walking up to the group followed by Charlotte.

“Is it good today or bad?” Paul asks leaning in, Emma rolls her eyes nudging him. She eyes the group which has now fallen silent and are now staring at the pair. “Ok, that's not happening, it didn't happen with Tommy and Ted, and it's not happening with me and Emma”

“Emma and I” Bill corrected stuffing his face in his book. Ted stifled a laugh as Paul glared at them

“What didn't happen with Ted and I?” Tommy asked curiously walking up to the group, subtly interlacing his hands with Teds. Ted smiled at him greeting him.

“Thank you” Bill mumbled once more at the correct grammar, Ted giggled.

“Nothing” Paul muttered, Emma sighed watching him “Well the whole gangs here…”

“Astute observation Paul! You really are a genius” Emma commented, her tone bright and fake. Paul pouted much to the group's amusement.

“Hey, we’re dating now you can't make fun of me” He frowned, Emma, smiled coyly, taking his hands.

‘Can and will” She said “Alright we have history so we out,” Emma said dragging away her boyfriend from the group, Paul following with no qualms, the group laugh waving them off.

“They're cute” Tommy commented sweetly. Charlotte nodded agreeing she checked her own watch perking up.

“Gotta go!” She said rushing away after mumbling goodbyes. And then there were three. Bill still had his face in a book only half-paying attention to what was going on. Ted sighed pushing his book down, laying it flat Bill looked up slightly irritated.  

“Can I help you?” He asked curtly, Ted knew it wasn't directed at him.

“Bill, you gotta go to class” Ted reminded, Bill, checked his watch nodding. He, just as the others had done, waved the two goodbye and disappeared into the buzzing hallways.

“And then there were two!” Tommy giggled, Ted smiled squeezing his hand “To the library?” Ted nodded and let Tommy lead him through the halls, into the library, into a secluded corner, with books, beanbags, and a small table. They set their things down and got comfortable.

“For you,” Ted said handing him the hot drink, Tommy smiled taking it enthused.

“Thank you!” Ted nodded grabbing his things from his bag, he wouldn't meet Tommy's eyes “Whatcha workin on?” Tommy asked setting his cup down, grabbing his own things. “I've got some chem to do and then-”

“They want to adopt me” Ted blurted, quietly but urgent. Oh, Tommy thought, and here I was going on about chemistry,

~~~

“Chad” Greg greeted nodding curtly to the man, he turned his voice becoming softer “Henry” Chad sighed stroking his chin, Henry didn't acknowledge the man as he continued grading papers. Chad leaned in whispering just enough for Greg to hear.

“Was it Jreg? I can't remember” He teases, Henry laughs, a full laugh clearly something he's been holding in for days. Greg groaned plopping his things down next to them. “Did we invite him? I don't remember inviting him” Chad comments poking his salad. Henry shook his head thinking.

“I don't either, odd” He turned to face Greg finally “I don't remember inviting you hmm..” Greg watched the two, why was he so adamant about tearing them down?

“Children, actual children” He muttered opening his lunch.

“He says as if he didn't kiss my husband” Chad mumbled, Henry’s eyes went wide, almost bulging trying not to laugh once more. “It's like that show… what's it called? Based on the Archie comics?” Chad snapped trying to remember, Henry, shrugged he only really watched crime tv or medical shows.

“Riverdale?” Greg added helpfully, Chad snickered.

“Of course you would know what its called” Henry muttered, going through another test. Chad nodded approvingly. A beep went off and Henry and Chad checked their phones. “Love” Henry tapped his watch with the end of his pencil

“Ah yes,” Chad said packing his things “I must go” he stood making his way to the door, not before Henry planted a kiss on his cheek. He turned towards Greg “Try not to kiss my husband while you're at it” He added mockingly before promptly leaving, giving Greg no chance at a rebuttal.

“We’ll see about that” Greg muttered a little too loud. Henry eyed him and packed up his things, leaving his own classroom without a word.

~~~

“It's so boring Em” paul groaned as he sat down at their lunch table, Emma chuckled stroking his hair lovingly. ‘History is boring” Ted and Tommy soon joined, eyeing the pair.

“What's up with him?” Ted asked Tommy, nodded agreeing. Charlotte, Bill and an unexpected guest of Sam sat down as well. Emma ignored Sam, turning back to Ted.

“You heard the man, History was boring” She shrugged, Paul sighed sadly leaning on Emma, resting on her shoulder. She patted him “There there” The group laughed collectively moving on. “Hey is everyone called for rehearsal today?” She asked as Paul sat up both opening their lunches. Charlotte quickly grabbed her journal flipping the pages.

“Yes! Everyone is called, we are doing a full run-through of the songs and then we are blocking the opeening” She informed excited, Emma smiled at her. She then finally glared at Sam, returning her soft gaze at Charlotte. Very hot and cold.

“Thanks, Lottie” She popped a chip in her mouth. The group continued on with the polite conversation, everyone doing their own thing. Bill sat on the left side of the table reading his book occasionally looking up and eating or participating. Ted sat to his left, actively engaging in conversation making jokes, and loving insults at people. Tommy sat to his left working on his music, marking it, eating sometimes and chiming in to reel Ted in or to watch the group. Emma and Paul sat at the head of the table, Emma closest to Bill, Paul closest to Charlotte on the right side. Emma led the conversation constantly throwing out ideas and topics, practically eating and talking at the same time. Paul did much of the same but much more quiet. Charlotte rebutted the conversation, always excited to share and talk to the group, eating neatly. Then there was Sam, he didn't fit in. He constantly tried to gain momentum in their conversation but they had all built him up in their heads as this egotistical, annoying human. And he did nothing to prove them wrong, making backhanded compliments, shutting down ideas, insulting them. Ted, Emma, and Paul could handle it they were instigators, but then he would move on to Tommy, Bill or Charlotte and they just didn't understand. Emma wasted no time telling Charlotte as soon as Sam left for the bathroom.

“He's being so mean! Lottie, you know I love you and I said I would...support whatever this is” She tried to hide her disturbed feelings, Charlotte listened. “But he's insulting you, and that's not a relationship!” Charlotte felt her heart pull, Emma was right, but she was always right and for once Charlotte wanted to be right. She loved Emma but this was her thing, she brought Sam into their lives and…

“What do you know about relationships?” Charlotte rebutted, no no! That's not what I wanted, She thought. “You date a guy for one day and suddenly you're the guru? Newsflash Emma-

“I'm sorry” Emma cut in calmly, the boys watched the two feeling themselves grow hot with nerves. “You're right, but I just want you to be ok” She admitted, she shrugged standing up. Paul went to follow but she shook her head. “I'll see you guys later” Charlotte sunk, Sam returned but she didn't stay. She ran after Emma.

~~~

Gucci Gang

Ted: Hey...Emma, Charlotte...is everything… Gucci now?

Paul: Can I block him? Bill, can I block him?

Bill: No you may not, and to put it in...simpler terms is everything alright?

Charlotte: yes, we have some stuff we need to talk about…

Emma: But we’re ok

Tommy: Oh yay!

Ted: you're so cute

Ted:...

Ted; The one...was supposed to stay in here.

Charlotte: Hehe, I will see you guys at rehearsal!

Emma: Ditto, gotta go grab some snacks. Anyone want anything?

Ted: Ill take some bleach

Bill: Ted, no

Tommy: No Ted

Ted: And once again, I am out

Paul: Yeah I gotta talk to my sister, see y'all later

Emma: I'M DATING A COWBOY, MOM I DID IT. Anyway, I'll just grab everyone something

Tommy: Bye!

Bill: It seems it is just us now

Tommy: Well I've got nothing to do till rehearsal, wanna go to the library and play a game of chess?

Bill: That is a satisfactory past time, I would love to.

Ted: You guys are so adorably nerdy

[wheremytwinwatches]

[Where My Twin Watches]: Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood Episode 47

Last time: Winry interrupted Ed’s Sandwich Time, Pride told Al to take a nap, and Bradley got Operation Valkyrie’d. Onwards!

Narrator’s saying how Al was captured by the Goths on Promised Day Eve, and now he’s floating in the Whitespace. Probably not a good sign. A voice (Truth?) tells him to wake up- [Pride]: “It’s too soon for you to die. We aren’t done with you yet. There’s still so much work we have in store for you.” Well. This is going to be a cheerful episode, isn’t it? Episode 47 - “Emissary of Darkness” Way outside of Central there’s a ramshackle village, a bunch of people in rough clothes working the land. Wait why are you asking what the town is called Ed, are you lost? Central is like, clearly visible over the trees. Never mind then, guess this is where Beard’s been hanging out instead of Uncle’s stomping grounds. Sorry dude, but your lunch is getting interrupted by your estranged son and his- I mean, Greedling’s crew. So last time they saw each other it was over Mama Elric’s gravestone while Absentee Anime Father chided Ed for burning down the house. How’s this conversation going to OH SHIT [Beard]: “Edward, I didn’t thi-”

So Beard goes flying from, let’s be honest, a well-deserved punch. I mean we know that he’s on the side of the good guys now, but still. Absentee Anime Father has some explaining to do. Beard’s meeting his son’s new friends ([Lion/Gorilla]: “Ha, no.”), quickly identifies Greedling’s Goth nature and whoosh the Shiny Glasses are back. Eh, this is Beard we’re dealing with after all, guy can’t just give backstory without pulling up his Mysterious Shields. Later that night Beard’s finished storytime, Lion and Gorilla are sitting in shocked silence while Ed struggles with- oooh yeah. He’s spent a large chunk of his life searching for a Philosopher’s Stone to repair his and Al’s bodies, and now learning that he was raised by a “living stone”? Hell, conceived by it. Then Beard offers himself to restore his son’s bodies wat. Oh Leto thank you Ed, the young man’s yelling about how he’s not going to sacrifice innocent souls to fix something that’s their own fault. Beard’s proud to hear his son feels that way. Right, now that everyone’s caught up on the past, what’s going to happen in the future? Apparently there will be a solar eclipse tomorrow that Uncle’s going to “harness for his scheme”. What, is he going to overthrow the Fire Nation? Beard says he needs Ed’s help- [Ed]: “Help you?! Now look here, I’m gonna stop that bearded bastard, but I’m not doing it because you want me to help you! Our best chance at beating this guy is to team up, and that’s the only reason I’m even talking to you right now!” Yeesh. So Ed’s still harboring a lot of ill will towards Beard, storms off after that diatribe as the rest of Greedling’s crew heads off. Except Ed pauses oh yeah Granny asked him to pass on a message, Mama Elric’s final words: [Mama Elric]: “Sorry I couldn’t keep my promise… but I’m dying first.” Argh. And when Ed spins around to keep yelling at Beard, he sees the living Philosopher's Stone staring up at the night sky, crying. Out in the ramshackle village, Ed and the Chimeras are eating while the two men try talking him into giving Beard a chance, maybe ask why he took the Absentee Anime Father route. Ed’s still awfully bitter though, not helped by Greedling jumping into the conversation, pointing out the irony of Ed’s father being his early Quest Item. Ed says there’s more to it than that. Back at the campfire Beard’s thinking about the family picture, when Mama Elric was talking about how someday she’d grow old, that she’d be right there when he left for his Mysterious Mission. But we know how that all turned out. And it has to be said, he’s probably thinking about how he’s one of the most powerful beings in the setting. Maybe he could have healed her illness if he had stayed home? Yes at the cost of using his Philosopher’s Stone blood, but it’s still there. For now, Beard sits talking about how she stayed with him, how he wasn’t there beside- wait. [Beard]: “Tomorrow, ‘Trisha…” DEATH FLAGS WAVE WILDLY Like holy crap, the dude’s sitting by a campfire on his own the night before a big mission, looking at a photo of his dead wife and talking about how he wasn’t around. That’s… wow. Calling it now, Beard’s going to bite it. Taking all bets, I’ll bet Tephi a new book of her choice that Papa Elric will be gone inside of five episodes. The Dramatic String Music is starting up. Ed’s getting red cloth aw buddy why are you going back to your old red cloak? I liked the white outfit, you could have pulled off a good Gandalf.

See, Lion and Greedling agree with me, the Goth of Avarice even calls it flashy. But no, Ed’s all “this may be our final battle”, so he wants to do it in what he considers ‘style’. Fine, just promise no cars this time around. The Greedling Crew’s leaving? What about Beard, the Living Philosopher’s Stone you’re supposed to work with? Ed’s saying that the others can bail if they want ([Greedling]:”Hey now, I’m the boss!”). If they’re after restoring their bodies- [Gorilla]: “These bodies do have their perks. To be honest I really don’t mind staying like this.” [Greedling]: “Hahaha! Yeah, now that’s the spirit!” YES. THANK YOU. So anyway, the Chimeras are all “we’ve got nothing better to do, might as well help save the world” and Greedling’s… not telling Ed why he wants to go back to Central? Eh whatever, after his tiff with Bradley I don’t think he’s going to try and team up with the other Goths again. Wouldn’t put it past him to try and claim the title of Fuhrer in the chaos though. But even if he tries pulling that I think Ling would protest, and he’d have to deal with Roy Mustang (aka the guy who killed Lust) and Armstrong the Great. So yeah, I don’t see that happening. Lion pauses in the road, Ed looks around to see the holdup- Al! Did you get away from… oh no. No glowing red eyes? Walking out a dark, shadowy forest? Seen captured by the Goths and “worked on” by Pride? And yup Ed’s questioning how Al’s here when he was over with Sideburns in the East, and Greedling starts freaking out. Totally-Not-Possessed-Al ever so calmly says he needs to talk with Ed while the Creepy Strings start up, turns towards the forest- Ling yells at Ed to back up. Let me say that again, Ling yells at Ed to get away from the armor. Greed why are you trying to keep Ling from warning Ed? Crap shadows leaking from the armor and SHADOW SPIKES EVERYWHERE, Greedling and the Chimeras just barely dodge before they retract back to the armor, which slowly turns around to face the shocked Crew and then grows way too many eyes. We’ve seen Pride massacre Muggles in the tunnels, hold Riza hostage, chase after Uncle’s counterpart. Now we’ll see him actually fight. Mid-ep pictures of a grumpy Greed and a very unimpressed Grumman. Whaaaa? The Fuhrer’s remains haven’t turned up yet? Why wherever could they HE’S ALIVE DAMNIT. Oh hey General Grumman continues to be competent, he’s personally overseeing the search since he “won’t be able to comfortably sleep at night ‘til I see his corpse with my own eyes”. You go, trope-savvy General. But wait, what about leading the Eastern/Northern forces to Central? Uh. Hmmm. Well. Seems that General Grumman’s conniving extends to his “allies” as well. He just “has” to stay and oversee the search for the Fuhrer, meaning his troops are stuck with him. If Roy and Armstrong the Great make their move now, Bradley’s still-intact leadership (along with Uncle) will capture them. Then Grumman can step in to fill the power gap. [Grumman]: “They’ll take the fall as enemies of the state, while General Grumman will heroically come riding in on a white horse. I’ll let the youngsters dive head-first into danger and do all the dirty work. And then I’ll take my rightful place as leader of this country without any risk.” Holy shit. So Grumman is actually a conniving old schemer who plans to use the good guys to make his own power play. Not quite as bad as Raven, but damnit man I liked you. Thankfully Sideburns suspects Grumman’s motive and is withholding his trust. Back to Greedling’s Crew and Armored!Pride. Greedling confirms that it’s his “oldest brother” piloting the armor now, Pride shows off Al’s sigil. So now Ed has to fight his unconscious brother, and hold his punches so he doesn’t disrupt the sigil. This isn’t going to be easy. But at least he has backup- [Gorilla, hiding behind a tree with Lion]: “Our animal instincts are telling us to stay the hell away from that thing.” [Lion]: “It’d probably be smart for you to run too!” Well, this is the First Goth. It’s not really fair for me to expect them to fight it, even Toad and Boar kept to the sides against Envy. But Ed can still fight, and since he’s a Sacrifice then Pride can’t land any killing blows. Unfortunately Pride knows that, and that people can survive without all of their limbs… Pride’s just standing there as shadow blades strike all around the dodging Ed, who’s talking about keeping the Goth away from the slums. He Earthbends up a wall but Pride just smashes right through it and YIKES thank goodness Ling had his Ultimate Shield or he’d be dead, but Pride just latches on to his limbs and tells Ed to stand down or he’ll hurt Ling and the villagers. But Ed’s smiling? [Ed]: “I think it’s about time I start winning some of these fights for a change!” He transmutes the ground wait there are sparks heading straight toward the village OH! Well, it kinda sucks in the long-term that Ed shorted out their electric grid, but for the short term? No bright lights means… well it would mean no shadows if it wasn’t for the moon and stars. Or not? Apparently the moonlight is so weak that there aren’t any shadows near the forest anymore, all of Pride’s limbs vanish. Ed and Greedling exposit that they can’t see anything in the darkness, but Pride can’t cast without the strong light-source. What’s this about Pride’s shadow? Oh, so he’s controlling the armor by touching the armor’s shadow! Meaning that Pride’s just inside the tree-line, and Al’s armor is free from his influence. Quick, grab it! Oooh, but this means that our heroes are going to have to fight, maybe even kill an apparent child. Yeesh. Anyways, apparently the sky is “completely overcast” so that resolves the moon/star issue nicely. For now, Pride waits- Lion! Haha, looks like their noses are all better after Ed’s chemistry lesson. Holy Leto Lion is just unloading on Pride, the Goth chides him for attacking a child but Lion yells that he knows full well what Pride actually is, along with his animal instincts that are blaring “WRONG WRONG KILL IT BEFORE IT KILLS YOU”. Outside the trees Ed and Gorilla meet up, the chimera says they need to book it. But what about Al? He should be free from Pride’s control now, without shadows to manipulate it should be safe to grab the armor and run. But Gorilla urges caution. Moving along the trees they run into Greedling who’s wondering how they tracked him down LOOK OUT GLUTTONY! So just as Lion’s using his superhuman smell and sight to hunt down Pride, Gluttony’s been used for his enhanced sense of smell to track down Greedling. Who tells Gorilla to start fighting? Dude this is Gluttony, if anything you’re the best equipped to fight him seeing how Ling took the first edition down way back when. Except yeah Greedling doesn’t have the sight or smell to fight in the dark. Fight well, Gorilla! Holy Leto he’s actually fighting well, Gluttony’s getting tossed around- [Gorilla]: “Now for the final blow!” *WHAM* [Ed]: “Why, Mister Gorilla? Weren’t we sticking close to avoid attacking each other?” Ah. Never mind then. Greedling’s thinking over how Gluttony’s got the upper hand in the dark, and they’re all screwed when the lights come back on for Pride. Except ha! Like I said, Ling’s the best counter for Gluttony as he can sense the Goth and beat him once before. Let him CRAP Ling just lost an arm oh right Goth so he could regrow his limb (sorry, souls that got used up for that fix). Wait can Ling access the Ultimate Shield? Let’s come back to that, thankfully doesn’t need it right now as Ling’s fancy Xing martial arts are knocking Gluttony down. Greed even compliments him, impressive. But now Gluttony’s mad, and oh yeah he can do that whole pseudo Gate of Truth thing. Look out for the Eraser Gun! And now Ed’s the one who can’t see the danger, Ling and Gorilla can only talk ominously about “something bad coming”- Flash of someone running by? Beard finally catch up with the group and die heroically? Wait. Wait wait WAIT. Flashes of a speedy figure, metal blades that slice through Gluttony- EASTERN MUSIC STARTING UP OH LETO PLEASE TELL ME FUCK. YES. [Ling]: “I’m glad to see you’re ok. I was wondering when you’d find me, Lan-Fan.” The ninjas are back, baby! With a badass upgrade!

[stella-maria7]

THE UNTAMED FAN FIC: DARKNESS & LIGHT

2: LAN SIZHUI

“Sizhui, are you alright? You look quite pale.” Yichen, my Chinese friend from the same class, asks me when we are walking out of the classroom.

“I am fine. Just lack of sleep I guess.” I answer back.

“Jet-legged?” he asked.

“A little.”

“Or is it because you study too hard? Please, it is just the start of the semester. Don’t take things too seriously, okay?”

I only smile at his comment. The fact is, my lack of sleep isn’t caused by my studying schedule. It causes by my dream. A dream I have been having ever since that night before I leave to America. Every night when I close my eyes, the man’s eyes keeps flashing before my closed eyelids. Those eyes, the piercing silver eyes. I can never shake that picture off. There is something about them that I can’t put my hands on.

“Well, any plan this evening?”

“No, I think I am going back to the dorm.”

“Nonsense. You are going with me then.” He swings his arm to put around my shoulder as if preventing me from running away.

“Why? Are going somewhere?”

“I just make some new friends this morning and they invited me to have dinner with them tonight at the Japanese restaurant not far from here.”

“They invite you, so why do you tag me along? They don’t even know me.” I try shaking his hand off but he is just too strong.

“Friends begins from stranger Sizhui. Besides, you are going to manage a big conglomerate in the future so you should get to know lots of people. It benefits you to start building up connection.”

He has a point. In the future, I am going to have to meet lots of strangers for business purpose. I should really get to know people and familiar with how to make conversation. “Alright then.” I replied and we both hopped on a cap to the restaurant.

We are the first to arrive. Picking a table the corner, we sit down and wait. Half an hour later, a group of young people walked in and turned their head sideways as if they are looking for someone.

“Oy! Over here.” Yichen stands up and waves his hands at the group to which they nod back in return.

Four more people filled up the table quickly. The waiter come and hand them the menu. To give them time to read, he walks back to the kitchen to bring glasses and a jar of water for everyone. When everything is set, he politely asks. “Are you ready to order?”

“Yes, please.” Sizhui smiled at the waiter before looking back down to scroll his eyes at the menu. “Well, I would like this black garlic ramen please.”

The waiter nods in understanding before turning to Yichen.

“I want this spicy ramen. But I want to add one more egg yolk. Oh, and give me this combo set as well.” He turned the menu to the waiter and pointed at the picture. After everyone places the order, the waiter collected the menu and says. “Thanks for your orders. Please wait patiently for food as it will take 10-15 minutes.” With a polite bow, he walks away.

“Okay, everyone. Let me introduce. This is my friend, Sizhui. He’s Chinese, just like me and Steven here. He is pursuing business management degree for he will become the future heir of the well-known Lan conglomerate one day.”

“Yichen…” I tug at his shirt a little to stop him from blabbering too much.

“Oh, the Lan conglomerate which has subsidiaries all across Asia?” the guy with black hair whom I assume to be Steven asks. “Oh, forgive my rudeness. I was just overjoyed to be able to share the table with such an opulent person. My name is Steven.” He reaches out his hand to shake mine and I do the same.

“Nice to meet you.” I reply back.

“Hello. I am Kiro. I am from Japan. Happy to make an acquaintance.” The boy named Kiro stand up to shake my hand and bow. I return the gesture.

“Hi. I am Lina, and this is my boyfriend Ronald. He is a local. You must have it figured since he is somehow standing out amongst us, just as you can see. As for me, I am from Cambodia. Though you may not have heard of the name.” she tries to hide her sad smile. How hard it is to introduce where you are from but no one knows.

“Oh no, of course I have heard of that country. It is a country in between Thailand and Vietnam. It’s well-known for the prestigious Angkor Wat Temple right?”

“Yes.” Her face lightens up immediately. Then she turns to her boyfriend “See Ronald? Finally someone besides you who have heard of my country.” Her boyfriend pats her head and smiles at her.

Thanks to all the books I have read, now I am able to make people happy using that knowledge. I think to myself.

“Sizhui, if you don’t mind what I am asking, the Lan conglomerate just open its first European branch at Italy right?” Kiro asks politely.

I nod my head and explain. “Yes, my adoptive uncle wants to open a branch in Europe but he isn’t sure where. My adoptive parents suggest Milan to which he agrees. So right now, my adoptive father is managing the branch in Italy whereas my adoptive uncle is managing the main branch in China.”

"Your adoptive uncle is Mr. Lan Xichen, the CEO right?"

"That is right."

"He is one of my most well-respected businessman. Talented and gentlemanly."

I smile at those words. Surely, uncle has that kind of aura that draw people in. Contradict to his father's cold demeanor which drives people away.

“Does your uncle have any plan of expanding into other countries?” Kiro continues to ask.

“I am not sure yet. I haven't participated in their business much yet so I have limited knowledge regarding the matter.”

“I see.”

Steven sighs which makes the whole table go silent and look at him. He rubs his temples and says. “This is what happens when business major students meet. Always business talk saying that time is everything. We come here to relax, okay? Can we don’t talk business please?”

“Sorry.” Both Kiro and I apologize at the same time.

“Then, let’s find a new topic to discuss.” Yichen steps in. “But what can it be?”

“Something leisure of course. My computer science class is killing me already. Please don't bring up anything that involves more complications.” Mina says.

“How about something relaxing? Like sports, outdoor activites?” Ronald speaks for the first time.

“That is great Ronald.” Steven flicked his hand. “Since you mentioned outdoor activities, it just comes to me. Let’s go hiking this week.”

“What?” everyone asks in surprise at the sudden invitation.

“You see, we will have a holiday on Monday. So with the weekend plus Monday, we have three days to enjoy ourselves. As we just get to know one another, I suggest having a bon fire and talking our heart out. What do you think?”

“I don’t think it is a bad idea. Will you be available?" Lina asks her boyfriend. He takes out a phone and checks his schedule.

“Yes, I will be available this week.” Ronald replies.

“Perfect. Then, both of us are in.” Lina gives the first result.

“I will be free at the end of this week too, so I don't think there is any harm to join.” Says Kiro.

Yichen raised his arms up to his shoulder's level vertically to mimic one voice in a vote. “I am without a doubt in.” then he turns to me. “Sizhui?”

I nod my head affirmatively. “Yes. Count me in.”

“I just found the perfect place while surfing the internet this afternoon.” He fishes out his cellphone from the pocket. Let me show you the picture. It is called…”

The waiter arrives with the tray of food before Steven can finish his sentence. He places food on the table accordingly. “May I help you with anything else?”

“No, thank you sir.” I response.

“I hope you enjoy your dinner.” He says with a slight bow and leaves to take an order at another table.

“So…” I turns to Steven and asks him to finish what he left unfinished. “What is the name of the place?” He shows his phone screen to me. It has a picture of mountain, valleys and greenery. Enthusiastically, he replies, “Yosemite.”