#kira’s just there like yeah man i guess. can we kiss yet or

[vinnigami]

December 26 2023

situationship with a guy who spent like 2 years neglecting his champion duties to go fish up magikarps

[ignisgalaxia]

Star Trek Captain/First Officer Ships

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I wanna talk about the captain/first officer ships. I think that it’s perfectly normal to ship the captains and first officers to some degree. I mean after all, they’re ideally the relationship that gets the most focus in each show. That being said, I think each pair has their strengths and weaknesses so I will be ranking them accordingly in tiers, from not romantically compatible to practically married.

Low Level Ship Tier

As you can gather, this tier is mostly for the pairs that have the least amount of ship energy. Either they have the bare minimum or their dynamic is just not suited to romance imo.

Carol Freeman & Jack Ransom

I love Lower Decks for many reasons, but these two’s relationship leaves a lot to be desired. Honestly these two feel the most like coworkers. You know, the ones who only put up with each other because they’re on the same team. The biggest reason I feel nothing for them is that I just don’t like Ransom. At all. He’s like a caricature of Riker with all the male stereotypes and none of the charm. Plus Carol is already happily married (at least I assume happily; we should really see them together more), so I don’t really see any appeal to them.

Jean-Luc Picard & William Riker

I think for a while Will saw Jean-Luc as somewhat of a father figure. But based on the scenes they’ve had together in Picard, I think their dynamic has shifted to really close friends. Seeing them talk with each other so casually filled me with such joy. I love them as a team, but I don’t see any romantic potential, especially since they both have amazing women for significant others (and yes I do mean Deanna and Beverly). Also age differences make me uncomfortable sorry.

Michael Burnham & Saru

These two give off sibling energy more than anything. Their relationship has improved significantly over the past four seasons, but man season one was rough. I get why Saru was mad at her, he was grieving Phillipa and Michael did hold some responsibility for her death, but his attitude toward her got really infuriating at times. It was interesting seeing how they rebuilt their relationship into one based on trust and understanding though.

Benjamin Sisko & Kira Nerys

I don't really have much to say about these two since I haven't watched DS9 yet. But I also think they work best as friends. I mean I guess there could be something but I think the whole Bajoran prophet aspect makes things a little weird. Idk I really don't have any opinions on them because I lack knowledge.

Mid Level Ship Tier

This tier has the pairs that have a good amount of romantic potential, but something’s holding them back from being truly top tier. But overall I think they’re pretty good.

Jonathan Archer & T’Pol

I KNOW T’Pol ends up with Tucker (I don’t understand how or why), and her and Archer are very different but hear me out. You know the episode Twilight? Well that was originally written as a Voyager episode for the pair later in this list (and you know where they’re gonna be). So yeah, a romance episode for another pair was rewritten to fit these two. Kinda telling, don’t you think? Other than that not much to say since I haven’t seen Enterprise either.

Christopher Pike & Una Chin-Riley

I like this ship, I really do. But I just haven’t seen enough of them together to truly get on board. From what I have seen though, their dynamic is very cute. Like when he fumbled her name trying to introduce her. Frikkin adorable. And I love the idea of her just lifting him with zero effort since she’s apparently freakishly strong.

Dal R’El & Gwyndala

These two have come a long way in just the span of one season. Dal telling Gwyn to keep her eyes on him at the end of episode ten and his anguish when she accidentally saw Zero through his combadge’s reflection. AND THEN THE FINALE KISSES! Dal’s got some balls for planting one on her in part one, and then in part two their mutual kiss before Gwyn leaves. I LIVE FOR THIS SHIT. I hope these two go somewhere, but the fact that Gwyn isn’t gonna be with the crew next season is making me not get my hopes up too much.

I think it’s also important to note that this is the only pair to have ACTUALLY KISSED and is even remotely canon. And it’s two teenagers. The fuck’s up with that?! (That is also why they are not in the high ship tier because while they’re frikkin adorable and I’m happy they kissed, they’re still minors so I’m not investing every part of me into them if that makes sense)

High Level Ship Tier

This tier is reserved for the pairs that I legitimately think belong together. Like it’s borderline cruel that they’re not a couple. This tier is for two pairs in particular, but there’s always room for more if they prove worthy. I’d also call this the ‘Oh My God Just Kiss Already’ tier.

James T. Kirk & Spock

These two aren’t the fathers of slash fanfic for no reason. Again, still haven’t seen the original series, but having seen several clips, specifically from Amok Time, yeah they’re pretty gay. And considering there’s an entire movie dedicated to Kirk finding and bringing Spock back, it’s giving off soulmate energy.

Kathryn Janeway & Chakotay

And surprising absolutely no one is the couple I would literally sell my soul to see become canon. I mean, do I really need to explain myself? The only reason these two aren’t together is because the writers are cowards. For God’s sake he built her a bathtub! And she dropped everything to go searching for him when he went missing. He is her rock and she is his peace! THEY ARE SOULMATES DAMNIT!

So there’s my list. What about y’all? Do you agree with my ranking or would you put any pairs in a different tier? Let me know, and have a happy Valentine’s Day!

[toorusproblems]

If your still taking requests can I request a death note oneshot nsfw were it’s after Light’s fathers death and the reader doesn’t like Light in fact hates Him but starts to feel sorry for him and later that day decides to visit his apartment to help him deal with his grief and ask if there is anything she can do to help him and light subtly implies that she can help him by sleeping with him and the reader is tempted to but doesn’t want to because she remembers she dislikes him and he has a girlfriend but light eventually persuades her into it ?

Just this once?

pairing: light yagami x f!reader

wc: 1.4k

cw: infidelity (light cheats on misa), dubcon, coercion, reader is L’s little sister, not proofread (lmk if i missed anything!!!)

hi!! sorry this took forever, i took a lil break from writing. i tried my best to stick to the request but idk how well i did lmao but even so, i hope you like it!!!

Your dead-set focus is suddenly ripped from you as the familiar noise of the task force headquarters’ door creaking open pulls your eyes away from the bright computer screen. To your displeasure, the new presence in the room is none other than Light Yagami.

“Oh, Light! I thought we agreed you didn’t have to come in today?” An uncharacteristically soft-spoken Matsuda greets.

“Yeah, but I guess my father’s passing only fueled me to get to the bottom of this even more.” Light states.

Being L’s sister, you’ve inherited the black-haired boy’s suspicion of Light. After all, you were the only person in the world that L trusted with his entire heart and soul. Those countless times you’ve stayed up together throwing theories about the Kira case back and forth, only for you and the night itself to hear.

Though your brother was undeniably a bit smarter than you, you weren’t stupid either. With everything L had theorized about Light’s true identity, it’s hard for you to write off L’s death as a coincidence. The timelines just seemed to line up too perfectly.

Everything on top of the fact that because of your investigation work on the Kira case you were barely even given time to mourn the loss of your precious older brother, a heavy dislike of the brown-haired man festered in you.

Even so, you can’t help but feel sympathetic towards him today. After all, it’s true that you know what it feels like to lose a close family member too.

“Hey, Light,” his name feels sour on your tongue, “if you want I can take the heavy lifting today, don’t stress, alright?”

His eyes meet yours, and you take note that they look even more dead than usual.

“It’s okay, Y/N, no need to worry.”

—

No need to worry.

Well, you did worry. All day in fact.

You hate yourself for feeling so empathetic towards the man who you suspect of being behind the killing of your very own brother.

But here you are now, about to knock on Light’s apartment door with a small bouquet of tulips in your left hand. Nothing special, you told yourself, just something to show that you care at least a little.

As you raise your right knuckles to the wooden surface, the door suddenly swings inward.

“Oh hello, Y/N. Pretty flowers you’ve got there.” Light points at the objects in your grip.

That’s it. That’s another thing that you hate about him. How he always seems to be one step ahead of you in even the smallest things. How it feels like he always knows what you’re thinking. It’s almost like he’s watching you sometimes, for fuck’s sake!

“These are for you, actually.”

“Really?” he fakes a smug expression, making you cringe, “Thank you so much!”

“It’s nothing. Feel better soon.”

You turn to leave, but Light’s hand catches your shoulder.

“Wait. Before you leave, can you come in for a second?”

“Oh uh… sure? Why?”

You receive no response as Light silently motions you onto his couch. A nervous pit grows in the bottom of your stomach.

“So uh… what do you need me for?” You ask apprehensively.

“Just want to talk. It feels like forever since we’ve actually sat down together and had a conversation, you know?”

You let out a sigh of relief you didn’t know you were keeping in. “Yeah, it has been a while.”

Yet another awkward silence passes. The sheer quietness seems very strange to you for a moment until it hits you.

“Hey, where’s Misa? Is she out at a shoot or something?”

“So observant.” Light chuckles, and with the tone he puts on, you’re not sure if he’s being sarcastic or not, “Yes, she’s filming a commercial for Miho Skincare. Or at least that’s what she told me before she ran out the door.”

“Oh, I see.” You bite your lip, unsure of how to continue the conversation, “Do you want me to put the flowers in a vase for you?” You ask, picking up the tulips from the coffee table.

Light moves his hand to your thigh in a smooth motion, catching you very off guard so that you nearly drop the bouquet. You hate the fact that blood rushes to your cheeks.

“No need. But there is something else I want from you, if I’m going to be blunt.” His eyes pierce directly through you. You feel naked under his gaze.

Fuck, as many negative feelings you harbour for the man in front of you, you can’t deny he’s attractive in all sense of the word. You know what he’s asking for. It’s plainly clear even just from the lust blooming in his irises.

And it’s then when you realize how touch-starved you are. You’ve been using every available hour of your life on the Kira case, of course you hadn’t had time for any kind of relationship.

So you don’t stop him from inching closer. One of his hands sliding towards the inside of your thigh while the other pushes a piece of your hair from your face. His captivating eyes flutter shut and you’re about to give into his touch when you remember the girl you had been talking about just a moment earlier.

“Wait. Misa.” You whisper simply.

“She won’t be home for hours. And you want to make me feel better, do you not? I’m just asking for one more thing in addition to those flowers you gave me, hm?” He borderline growls into your ear. You would be lying if you said it didn’t turn you on a little.

Without waiting for an answer, Light crashes his lips onto yours. The kiss is hungry, like he wants to waste no time with you. Admittedly, you still feel a little uneasy about all of this, Misa’s face—sweet as candy—beaming at you in your mind as her boyfriend sucks on your tongue.

You feel around each other’s bodies, unbuttoning anything you feel to rid yourselves of your clothing. It all goes so fast, and before you know it, you’re both in your undergarments. Light’s got you lying beneath him with your knees pressed to your chest. He reaches to pull your grey cotton panties to the side.

Suddenly, the peppy blonde girl inside your head once again appears, and you realize what you’re doing.

“Hang on, Light. I’m not too sure about this anymore…” You weakly tell him, pushing his hands away from your most sensitive area.

“Hm? But you promised you’d help me feel better.” Light throws uncharacteristic puppy eyes your way. He points to the wet patch that had formed on the centre of your panties, “And look, you want it too, right? Just this once? Please?”

It’s true, you had come here to make him happier. So why should you go back on it now? You criticize yourself, wondering how you could ever be so inconsiderate—to a coworker who just lost his father, too!

So you nod your head in coerced approval towards the man on top of you, who then in turn wasted no time pulling his cock out from his boxers.

Without warning, or any prep whatsoever, Light pushes the head of his cock into your cunt. The stretch burns, and you’re left wondering if it’s just because you haven’t gotten laid in quite a while, or if his cock is just that fat.

“Light!” You whine in slight protest, “You’re too big… hurts…”

He only hums in response, pushing himself further into you, “Sorry, little one, this cunt is just so tight, I can’t help myself. Fuck-“

Light starts a rhythm, watching his cock sink in into you over and over again. He notes how each time he pulls out, a sheen of both your slick, and even some blood coats it. Must’ve just been too big for your little cunny, he guesses.

The pain of the stretch slowly turns into pleasure and you relax into Light’s touch. You throw your hands into his surprisingly soft brunette locks as he pounds into your sweet spot.

You wonder if L is watching you right now. He must be so disappointed in his little sister, moaning and creaming so sweetly for the very same man he thought he had taught you to be wary of, the man who made the world a living hell.

[baecvlt]

Chiaki, Kazuichi, and Nagito’s response to kissing their S/O

requested by: my irl bestie, Kira via literal iMessages lol ily b

a/n: im so happy i finally get to do these AH !

Chiaki Nanami

chiaki was very nervous ab it, yet had no major reaction when it happened.

the two of you were playing a racing game when it happened, a game she was obviously better at than you.

it was the last lap on the track. you had began gaining on her, yet she was still beating you. finally, you decided you weren’t about to lose this round. you leaned near her cheek, pecking it. she gasped and was completely distracted, allowing you to win.

when she felt your lips against her cheek, although the kiss was brief, she blushed instantly. you felt the heat from the blood rush radiating before you completely backed up and continued playing. “no fair!”, she whined. she tried to get back on track, but you had already beaten her.

she playfully smacked your arm as you celebrated your win against the ultimate gamer. you were both left smiling as she eventually accepted the results. she then followed by shaking your hand and saying,“good game”. after you thank her, she then she softly asks,“are you gonna kiss me for real now?”. you nod, slowly leaning in.

once you were close enough, she places both hands on the your face, cupping it and pulls you in to kiss you passionately. the kiss lasted for a good sixth of a minute before you both slowly pulled away. she put her hood up, hiding how red she was with her sleeve as well, making you laugh.

Kazuichi Soda

unlike chiaki, there was no hiding his anxiety when it came to kazuichi. the kiss took place on a thursday afternoon.

you were closing up after a long day of working at the shop. you two had been friends for a few years now, having gone to school together, deciding to start an auto shop. you took care of accounting and expenses, kazuichi did the fixing and tinkering. the two of you were extremely close.

he promised to give you a ride home everyday so long as he was alive. anyway, you both got in his car and normally, he would just start the car no questions asked. this time, before he put the key in the ignition, he stopped himself and asked,“Can I say something before we leave?”. You nodded, attentively listening. He sighed and said,“I’m just trying really hard not to get sentimental or anything, but I look at the shop and I see how far not only I, but we, made it. My old man was hard on me, toughening me up, but it never worked. I still don’t know how I managed to get do far, then I look at you and I’m so grateful because I probably wouldn’t be where I am today, doing what I love, without you. Ultimately, what I’m trying to say is I- thank you, S/O”.

You saw how choked up he was, his words getting to you in many ways. It filled you with joy. Before he could start crying, you put his hands on his shoulders and practically jumped up from your seat to kiss him on the lips.

He kissed back after realizing what was happening. Your smile pressed against his lips and as you pulled away, he was out of breath. “Holy shit,” he cussed.

Your face was only slightly flushed, but he had gone redder than cherries. You had wanted to kiss him for a while, thankful you went through with it.

In the spur of the moment, he just blurts out “I think I’m in love with you”. You laughed, getting pulled back in for another amd much longer kiss. His hands were on your face and when he pulled away, they still remained on the sides. With his thumb, he caressed and rubs your cheeks. Without a word, he starts the car and takes you home.

When he got to your apartments to drop you off, you said “bye” and so did he, but before you coulf enter, he stopped you. “Wait!”. You turned around and asked,“Yeah?”. He then bluntly asks,“Are you free Friday night?”. “Tomorrow?,” he nods,“Yeah”. He smiles and before going home he says,“Alright then. I guess its a date... bye, S/O”.

Nagito Komaeda

he would be dumbfounded by the kiss; speechless at first.

This would all take place in a quiet area of your school. The atmosphere was perfect for a kiss, but it wasn’t really planned.

“I’m glad you actually decided to hang out with a chump like me. If not, I’d probably be a lonely, friendless loser”

He always put himself negatively. While at first you may have seen him as how he described, after getting to know him, you realized he’s not all that bad. You always reassured him of it too

“I happen to like chumps like you” saying that made his eyes light like fire.

The urges within him were too much and on impulse, he put his hand under your jaw and faced you toward him, kissing you softly.

You were shocked at first, but slowly eased into it. You put your hands in his hair, causing his lips to part interrupting the kiss. You felt kt appropriate to pull away.

“That was... amazing,” he said, wide eyed,“It was so full of passion; it alwas beautiful”. You blushed and messed with his hair a little more.

All was pure, until he said,“Let’s do it again”. Guess what? You wanted to as well.

[allthefilmsiveseenforfree]

Xanadu

Another day, another 80s musical reviewed for Wes. This time it’s Xanadu, and I confess I am excited. I know less than nothing about this film, only that it’s 1) bad and 2) beloved by the gays. Sign me up, y’all. So did this inspire me to strap on some roller skates and Farrah Fawcett my hair to the beat of some groovin’ tunes? Well...

Not...exactly. It’s an entry in the list of films that I’m glad I’ve seen for their historical impact but probably never need to see again. Like Birth of a Nation but with less virulent racism. The basic plot is this: Sonny (Michael Beck) is an artist painting album covers when he meets a girl one day named Kira (Olivia Newton-John) who turns his world upside down. He also befriends, and eventually goes into business with, a man named Danny McGuire (Gene Kelly) and together they start a club called Xanadu. 

Some thoughts:

There’s an old man with a scarf sitting on a rocky beach playing his clarinet as the sun rises in the sky. What a way to greet the day. Holy shit that old man is Gene Kelly!! How did I not know he was in this? How is Xanadu’s legacy not “Yeah it’s this trippy rollerskating musical that GENE FREAKING KELLY was in”? So I guess the old clarinet man is actually important to the story, because I thought he was just like, a muse alerting us to the tale we were about to watch unfold. 

Ohhh Kenny Ortega is the choreographer, interesting. I’m so ready to see his early artistic vision and how it developed into the level of genius it was at for High School Musical. 

Ok, the first number is this kind of electric neon ballet set to ELO singing “I’m Alive” and it mostly consists of incredibly beautiful women with Farrah hair dancing and twirling in fantastic skirts while Olivia Newton-John is going :O the whole time. It’s no chandelier dropping from the ceiling, but it’s not a bad way to start a musical. 

Hm, well now the women are turning into lasers and running, kind of like The Flash. Maybe I spoke too soon.

These transitions between scenes are absolutely godawful Powerpoint transitions and I’m obsessed with them. It’s like eating a couple buffalo wings in between your entree and dessert. By itself, not bad, but why would you use that as a way to get from one experience to another?

I am really enjoying this kind of ghost number between Gene Kelly and Olivia Newton-John as he’s remembering his heyday. It’s sweet, and it’s not hard to see that Kelly is drawing on his own experiences and memories of his career in the 40s as he’s imagining this dance with his long lost love.

I don’t think anything is less romantic than roller skating in front of an industrial wind tunnel fan, however, so this part with ONJ and Michael Beck (who plays our main character, Sonny) is a big ol snoozefest. You’ll notice I have not mentioned Sonny yet and there’s a reason for that. He’s the movie’s equivalent of a black hole. I’m so uninterested when he’s on screen. He’s beige shag carpeting. He’s a baloney and mayo sandwich. He’s motel art. Every moment he’s onscreen and ONJ or Gene Kelly aren’t is a moment wasted.  

Every scene feels like a new vignette that is only loosely connected to the previous scenes. This showdown between the old jazz big band number and the 80s rock number feels like two extended music videos, one after the other or a dreadful mashup from Glee (and I don’t mean barely passable Glee, I mean the later seasons). 

Dammmmn have you ever had such a good kiss with someone that you turned animated? Me neither. I’m gonna work on that with Wife.

Oh and the animation sequence was produced by Don Bluth. Of course it fucking was. 

Sonny. My man. How can you love Kira when you don’t know anything about her at all? Have you guys even had one conversation? Or is it all rollerskating lasers and wind tunnel fans. I know you can’t hear a word she says over the sound of that fan, my dude.. 

Ah, so she’s one of the nine muses! This scene where she’s trying to convince Sonny is pretty funny actually. ONJ is hands down the most magnetic and interesting part of this movie.

Wait so...Sonny’s big plan is to run at a wall that’s got a painting on it, and he just assumes he can enter that painting like it’s a portal to another dimension? You’re just gonna Wile E. Coyote this motherfucker and hope for the best? This is probably the only interesting thing I can say about Sonny is that he’s dumb as a bag of hammers. 

Ugghhh this song about staying suspended in time is the “Cheer Up Charlie” of this movie, meaning it goes on way too long, grinds the action to a halt, and makes me irrationally furious just thinking about it.

But then here is Gene Kelly, roller skating through a parade of mimes juggling bowling pins, and it makes everything worth the price of admission again. 

“Xanadu” is the most confusing musical number I’ve ever seen. At one point everyone is tigers, then they’re cowboys. There’s a woman spinning in some kind of acrobatic harness by the back of her neck so she’s just spinning in tight circles. I think someone might have been on fire. I’m thinking John Mulaney watched this many times as inspiration for Stefon-endorsed clubs on SNL. 

Did I Cry? Not even close. 

This is a WEIRD one, which I knew going in, but you just don’t really know how weird until it’s happening to you. And this is definitely a movie that happens to you. Performances? Eh, ONJ and Gene Kelly are mainly skating by on pure charisma. But all the rollerskates and lasers in the world won’t make this script make a lick of sense. See it for the novelty, but it’s the movie equivalent of a Twinkie - confusing and not exactly filling, but enjoyable just the same. 

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[kuronanox]

Childhood promises - Hisagi Shuhei

"Shuhei wake up! It's snowing!" (Your Name) says putting on her torn up shoes while running outside. Rukongai in the winter was harsh and they were poor but it didn't mean they weren't happy.

"I'm coming!" He calls out putting on his robe and touching the white floor.

She was playing with the snow and smiling. He shyly watched. "Come on!" She yelled out and grabbed his hand.

"Ahh!" He protested and stood next to her and she smiled.

"Let's make something!"

They made a snowman and laughed as it fell apart from their poor attempt of it.

"I'm hungry (Your Name)." He says clutching his stomach.

With a worried face she walks back into their house and looks at what they had left. "Here eat this."

It was the last of their rice balls they had.

"But you won't be able to have any."

(Your Name) smiles and gives it to Shuhei anyways. "It's okay eat it."

Looking at the rice ball he broke it in half.

"Thanks." She smiles and eats it in one bite.

Shuhei zones out in the office and smiles sadly to himself. He had missed (Your Name) deeply and regret being a weak friend at the time.

He remembered he thought of her as family, they had no one. Although she was 5 years older than him (Your Name) worked hard for them.

Shuhei remember she worked at a small stall in rukongai and she made enough money for them to live enough to survive. Although they starved from time to time they were happy.

Kensei walks in with papers and places them on Shuhei desk. "Need these done by tomorrow."

"Okay Captain."

Kensei stares at Shuhei and walks out the office. He noticed that his Vice Captain had been spacing out recently but he didn't want to push any matters that were unnecessary.

"Are you okay (Your Name)?" Shuhei asks with teary eyes as he watched her wrapped a cut she got from work that day. "I'm okay thanks."

She smiles and sets down some hot soup she warmed up, although there was no rice today.

"What did you do while I was gone?"

"I played out in the fields with some friends."

"Fun, I'm glad you made it back safe."

"Actually... we were almost killed by a hollow."

"What?! Shuhei you could have gotten killed!"

He looks down and starts to cry. "I know, I'm sorry I was so scared. I couldn't do nothing. It was so big and strong. I didn't want to leave you either."

(Your Name) pulls him to an embrace like a mother would and kissed his head. "It's okay you are safe now."

"I met a Captain, and he saved my life. It made me realize that I wanna be a Shinigami when I'm older. I can take care of us and get strong!"

(Your Name) laughs and ruffle his messy hair. "Okay one day, promise me."

"I promise!"

The next morning they were rudely awakened when their door was knocked down and a group of men came in.

Shuhei eyes frighten as (Your Name) became alert and pulled him behind her.

"Your the bitch that sold us the fake metal." One said and grabbed her harshly.

"(Your Name)!" Shuhei yells and runs after her but she stops him.

"Don't come after me!"

He panics and watches as she struggles to get off the grip of the men. They were dragging her somewhere unknown.

"Leave her alone!" Shuhei screams and grabs the stick to hit the men.

Shuhei was sent flying a few feet in the air as they punched him and his nose bleed. He wanted to cry but he was losing (Your Name).

As they dragged her off Shuhei was left with one other dude as he beat Shuhei black and purple.

Lying on the floor (Your Name) was out of sight as he cried and ran to find her.

He screamed and fell to the ground.

Shuhei grips his hand in a fist as he laid in bed looking at the ceiling. He thought about (Your Name) wondering if she ever survived.

Rubbing his eyes he pushed the tears threatening to fall. She had sacrificed everything for them and he couldn't even save her that day.

The next morning Shuhei walked into the publishing office and greeted everyone with a smile. It was a new day and new opportunities waited for him.

"Me and Renji are giving some rookies a tour of Soul Society wanna join me?" Kira asks him as Shuhei had to pass. "Um nah seems kinda boring but good luck though!"

(Your Name) ended up stuck with a group of new comers like her as they toured the place, the blonde dude was kinda bland and gloomy but he showed everyone the important stuff which was the only thing that mattered.

"What squad do you wanna join?" A girl as her as she looked around amazed at the place.

"I'm not sure yet! I guess any that accepts me!"

Passing all the barracks Kira goes into the editing room. "And this is where we publish all the paper work, stories and headlines. The head of editor and chief is Lieutenant of Squad 9."

Shuhei greets everyone and smiles talking about how fun and hard working the publishers are.

(Your Name) looks at him with confusion. He didn't state his name but he looked familiar to her. "My name is Hisagi Shuhei! I can't wait to see what squad everyone joins!"

"What a minute? That's!"

"Okay everyone follow me." Kira boringly says and walks them out as she turns to find Shuhei but he was already gone talking to a few coworkers.

"I guess I'll catch up to him at another time. He's so grown now."

She smiles knowing that he successfully took care of himself. Although the scar and 69 was new.

"(Your Name)?" Shuhei calls out as she washes the rice for them that night.

"Yes?"

"Will you ever leave me for someone else?"

She tilted her head in confusion and laughs. "What do you mean?"

"Like if a guy came and you liked him."

"No silly, we have each other."

"Promise?"

"I promise! Trust me when you get older all the ladies will swoon for you."

"He's so hot!" A few girls giggled to themselves as they continued the tour.

By night time came they entered a dorm place for all new comers. Tomorrow was the day that they picked their squad whether they wanted to be in it or not.

(Your Name) was placed under the 6th squad, which to her seem pretty good because her Captain was a noble and everyone seemed fairly strong. Although she wasn't nearly as good as a seated officer she didn't mind working her way up.

"Abarai Fukutaicho?" She calls out one day as he turns to her. "Um? Do you know where I can talk to Shuhei?"

"Uh?? You mean like the Lieutenant from squad 9? Are y'all close like that?"

"Yes, I'm his childhood friend. We lost contact a long time ago but I just found him."

Renji was bewildered, he didn't know much about Shuhei past but it sounded a lot like him and Rukia so he couldn't reject her.

"Yeah I'll let him know."

Shuhei was in the middle of a rush when Renji walked in. "Yo! Someone was asking for you!"

"Not now! I'm kinda busy." Shuhei states skimming through the papers rangiku messed up on.

"It's (Your Name) she really wants to see you." Renji says as Shuhei drops the papers and looks up shocked. "You mean it?!"

"Yes, like she's in my squad and everything."

"Where?! Where is she!" Shuhei yells with a big smile on his face as he gets up from his desk.

"Woah woah calm down!" She's over at the fields training-" without letting Renji finish his sentence he made a run for it.

Renji smiles and scoffs. He was happy knowing that the reunion was going to be a good one.

Shuhei saw her with her sword training hard as she sweated and concentrated on her spiritual energy. "(Your Name)!" He yells out as she turns to him.

She smiles and ran towards him as they pull each other in a embrace.

"Shuhei! You're so grown now!" She says and he crushes her with his inhuman strength now. "Well you're so tiny!"

They let go as they both couldn't stop smiling. "How?" He says as she sat on the grass as he took a seat next to her.

"Remember when they took me, I managed to escape but we were so far away I couldn't find the way back home."

Shuhei groans and looks down. "If only I was strong back then, I would have saved you."

"It's fine, you were a kid. I don't blame you."

He smiles softly as she touches his face and he starts to blush. "What happen to your face?" She asks with concern.

"Don't worry, just battles and the 69 is something I got from the man that saved my life. He's actually my captain now."

She laughs and lets go. "Well you succeeded, now you can protect me from now on."

2 years later

"Why don't you tell her!" Hinamori pouts at Shuhei trying to push him into the restaurant.

"Be-because it's weird! She was like an older sister to me."

"But you like her right?" Rangiku jumps in unintentionally popping her breast out as Shuhei looks away in awkwardness.

"Better tell her before someone else beats you to it." Kira adds looking into the restaurant spotting (Your Name) dressed in a nice kimono waiting for a certain childhood friend.

"Come on! Renji even asked Kuchiki Taicho to reserve the best restaurant in Seireitei right now!" Hinamori says making Shuhei feel a bit guilty that Renji made the effort to beg his captain.

"Oh fine fine fine! I was going to do it my own pace but since everyone is telling me to."

Shuhei takes a deep breath and enters the restaurant.

"Shuhei!" She calls and waves him over.

"Sorry I'm late, how was your day?"

"It was good! I can't believe you got a place like this for us!"

Shuhei sweats a bit and drinks some water before answering. "Yeah me too."

"Ahh little Shuhei is so handsome now." (Your Name) smiles and push the messy part front of his hair away from his eyes.

He blushes and grabs her hands with his. "You've grown to a fine lady also... but you kept your promise."

"What promise?"

"Remember when we were little, I didn't want you to leave me for another man."

(Your Name) laughs and covers her mouth with her free hand and tighten her grip with his hand.

"Of course, why would I want anyone else?"

"I wouldn't want anyone else but you (Your Name)." Shuhei confesses as she drops her smile.

They had been through so much she could see a life with him and he could see a future with her. A future with laughter and happiness where they no longer starved or lived poor.

"I'm making enough money for us and I'm strong enough to protect you now. That means I'm the man I told you I wanted to be and the man you deserve to have."

She chuckles and set their hands down on the table as she rubs it softly.

"Always, I don't see why we wouldn't work out. The future tied us back together."

Shuhei grins like the child he once use to be and boldly kisses her from across the table.

"I've been waiting for this for years, our first kiss."

"And many to come." (Your Name) adds with a blush.

[lailannajacobs]

Heart to a Gunfight - Epilogue

Pairing: Bucky x fem!reader

Summary: You didn’t want to help Bucky Barnes make it through the party by pretending to be his fake girlfriend, after all, you had just met him. You also didn’t plan on the charade lasting as long as it did. 

Warnings: Mainly fluff

Word Count: 1.7k 

A/N: A massive THANK YOU to everyone who has been following this series! Thank you for commenting, liking, reblogging, basically all your support, it truly means the world to me! Hope you enjoy! 

Heart to a Gunfight | Epilogue

Three months Later

“I don’t know about this, Bucky. I don’t think I can do it,” Your voice shook, doing nothing to hide the fact that you were trying your hardest not to cry, “It’s over.”

You felt like an idiot but leaned into him as he wrapped an arm around you. He rested his head on your shoulder, as the two of you stared at your car.

“I refuse to believe that,” He stated.

You sighed, “Cars this old don’t just die in the middle of the highway if they’re not headed to the scrap yard, Bucky.”

“Listen,” He moved in front of you so that you were looking into his eyes instead of at your car, “You want to know something?”

You nodded, not trusting yourself to speak. Your car had broken down on your way out of the city for a romantic weekend, and after a half hour of tinkering around under the hood, there wasn’t much you could do about it. At least not here. Even though you should have been disappointed by the way your weekend had started, your car was your main focus.

“It’s going to be fine,” He took your chin gently in his hand, guiding your gaze away from your car once again, “Do you know how I know that?”

You shook your head.

“Because I know the best mechanic in the city - no, in the state. And she’s going to be able to fix your car. Trust me.”

“What if she’s not?” You whispered, grabbing onto his bicep to steady yourself, “That car is the reason…I can’t lose…”

You couldn’t finish. You didn’t have to. He nodded, knowing exactly what that car meant to you. Bucky knew that your car was more than just a way to get from point A to B. That car had given you direction and you were terrified to even consider what it would mean if that car was no longer in your life. You loved the direction your life had taken recently. And as superstitious as it sounded, you were afraid that losing your car could somehow mess that up. Your car was your good luck charm and you didn’t want to know what would happen if your luck ran out.

Bucky pulled you into a tight hug, resting his head on yours.  

“Then you’ll be okay,” He whispered, “Because I know that your car is not the reason you know where you’re going. You’re the driver, Speedy. You decide where it goes.”

“I guess,” You muttered, tightening your arms around his waist.

He gave you one more squeeze and pulled away with an encouraging smile, “And anyways, it’s a moot point because I know you’re going to be able to fix it.”

You took in a deep breath, rolled your shoulders back and nodded, “You’re right. It’ll be fine.”

He smirked, “Of course I am.”

You felt yourself begin to smile back, “Idiot.”

“We should probably call AAA though,” He said, pressing a kiss to your lips.

“Right,” You were glad for something to do to take your mind off the possible death of your car, “Where’s my phone?”

He shrugged and you began to pat yourself all over, worry rising up. You checked the car, but it was nowhere to be seen either. Then you remembered.

“Shit. It has to be on the counter at the apartment. I put it down for a sec…” You pinched the bridge of your nose, trying to stave off the headache that was creeping in, “Where’s yours?”

“Dead.”

You looked up at him, surprised.

He lifted up his palms, a sheepish look on his face, “I forgot to charge it and then forgot I couldn’t in your car. I didn’t think it mattered if we had yours.”

You sighed, “I’m sure we can flag someone down. They’ll lend us a phone.”

He nodded.

After a several failed attempts, to your relief, a white Audi began to slow.

“Does that car look familiar to you?” Bucky asked, tilting his head to get a better look.

You looked a little closer but couldn’t find anything spectacular about the car, “No. Why?”

“Oh, shit,” He ran his hand through his hair and you immediately knew you weren’t going to like what was about to happen.

Then you saw the woman sitting in the passenger seat. Of course. Because it couldn’t have been anyone else.  

“Are you guys all right?” Brad shouted, leaning over so he could see you.

Bucky nodded, but didn’t approach the car, “We’re fine. The car a little less so.”

Brad appeared genuinely worried, “Anything we can do to help? You need a ride somewhere?”

���Maybe a scrap yard? Or a dealership?” You heard Kira mutter under breath.

All your feelings from the wedding came rushing back in and you forced yourself to keep your hands loose at your side. You didn’t need her seeing how her words affected you.

If Bucky heard her, he didn’t let on, “A cell phone would be helpful.”

“Take mine,” Brad said, stepping out of the car.

Bucky thanked him and walked around to the side to make the call.

With an annoyed sigh, Kira stepped out too.

“It’s lucky we came by,” Brad said, brows furrowed as if your troubles pained him too.

You had to wonder how Kira had managed to snag a guy as decent as Brad. But staring at him now, you knew you were never going to say anything about what happened at the wedding, no matter how much you wanted to. It wasn’t your place and the two of you didn’t know each other well enough for you to get involved. You only hoped that he would figure her out before they got married.

Bucky handed the cell back, “Thanks a lot, Brad.”

“You need us to wait, man?”

“No thanks,” Bucky shook his hand, “The tow will be here in about fifteen. We’re good.”

“Sure thing.”

You took the opportunity to pull Kira into a hug, pretending to thank her for her kindness.

She tried to pull away, but you held on and whispered into her ear, “I know what you did at the wedding. Karma’s a bitch. Enjoy waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

You let go and shot her a smile.

She returned it with a sneer of her own and you watched as they pulled away. Only when their car was out of sight did you feel yourself deflate.

As if sensing your sudden fatigue, Bucky leaned back against the car and pulled you close. You slid your hands around to the back of his neck and he rested his arms loosely around your waist. He pressed a long, lazy kiss to your lips.

“Hi,” He said when he pulled away.

You smiled, “Hi.”

He looked around and chuckled, “This is exactly the romantic weekend I had planned. You like it?”

“Oh yeah,” You nodded enthusiastically, “This is a great start.”

“This wasn’t part of the plan, but maybe once we get this thing towed, you can teach me a thing or two about cars. If you’re going to have to work this weekend - and I know you won’t just let some other mechanic do it without you - you might as well teach me something. I’ve always wanted a crash course from the sexiest mechanic in the state.”

“You’re such an idiot,” You laughed, feeling yourself loosen up for the first time since your car came to an unwanted stop, “I love you.”

You both froze.

Shit. You’d said that out loud. Judging by the intense look in his eyes, there was no chance that he hadn’t heard. It wasn’t that you didn’t feel it or didn’t want to say it…You’d just wanted to make sure that whatever was between the two of you was one hundred percent real. And it wasn’t like he’d said it yet either.

And now all he was doing was staring at you. What did that mean? Shit. What were you supposed to do now?

You were about to start babbling nervously to cover up your words, but he cupped your face and pulled you close, shutting you up with a strong kiss.

“I love you too, Speedy,” He said when you pulled away, breathless.

You smacked his arm, “Then why’d you wait so long before saying it back? You almost gave me a heart attack!”

“I barely waited two seconds,” He laughed, thumb brushing back and forth along your cheek, “And that was because the terrified look on your face made me wonder if you were going to pass out before I got the chance to say it back.”

“I was not terrified.”

He raised a brow.

“Was not,” You grumbled.

He pressed a quick kiss to your lips, eyes bright, “If I had known this is what needed to happen for you to say it, I would have gotten us stranded earlier. It’s a nice thing to hear, you know.”

You pulled back, “Wait. Is this all about you not wanting to say it first?”

“I have been wanting to say it for a bit now,” He admitted, looking down at his feet, “But I wanted you to say it when you were ready. Not because you felt like you had to say it back to me.”

“Well,” You started, pleased when his eyes found yours once again, "those words were all mine. And Bucky, I love you…Almost as much as I love my car.”

He laughed, hand going to his heart as if he’d been shot, “Ouch. I’ll have you know that one day I’ll beat out that car for first place, but for now, I love you too, Speedy.”

“It’ll be a pretty spectacular feat when that happens,” You replied with a grin.

“I’m not worried,” He said, the lazy smirk on his lips proof.

You lifted onto your toes, “Good thing for you that I like to take for the underdog.”

“Lucky me,” He mourned, lips finding yours.

[one-leaf-grimoire]

Illusion (chapter 5)

Grey Deer Fic chapter 5! Here’s the link to the full story: link.

As you can see, I changed the name bc I wasn’t vibing with the other one.

WARNING: slight implication of *Sex* (but not with Julius, unfortunately...)

As always, I would really love to hear what you think of this chapter!

"Captain, do you have a minute-"

I stop talking as soon as I poke my head into Captain Hervey's office. It's a sizable room, with rich wood paneling and blue wallpaper making it seem cozy. Several stuffed deer heads are hanging above the severe man's desk, where he sits across from his vice captains. Both Malota and Julius turn around to look at me; obviously I'm interrupting a meeting. "A-Ah, sorry, I'll come back later-"

"Nonsense, spit it out. But make it quick." Hervey gestures me closer, and I gulp and enter the room, a paper clutched in my hands. "What's that?"

This is always a little awkward, even though I've given several of these requests to him over the years. But it's his fault for having the "only registered guests only" rule for our base. "Lawrence wants to come visit tomorrow, can I get your approval?"

Hervey lets out a snort of laughter. "Your fiance? He was here pretty recently, wasn't he? Why do you keep inviting him here, just go visit him yourself."

"Ah, well, he insists. I can't really say no to him..."

But you can, sir. I watch as he takes the paper and looks at it carefully, as if he's making up his mind. Meanwhile, I'm praying that he says NO so I have a good reason to avoid seeing Lawrence tomorrow. Malota looks bored and lets a sigh out through her vulture-like nose. Julius stares at the Captain's table silently. Another reason why I wanted to avoid asking in front of other people is because it becomes awkward like this. Neither of our Vice Captains want to hear about my personal life, I'm sure. 

"Very well. But he better be gone by dinner time, I'm not feeding him, even if he is a prince!"

Fuck! I force a smile as he signs the paper, a magical chill moving through the room as he does so. Somehow, Hervey can manipulate the barrier spell he cast around the base to let authorized guests enter after he signs off on it. His ice magic is some of the most powerful I've ever seen, and he's able to upkeep such a potent spell all day and night, subconsciously. He really is amazing, despite his faults, and it's easy to see why he's captain. "Thank you, sir, sorry for interrupting." With that, I turn and shuffle out of the room, feeling a small weight of dread in the pit of my stomach.

Why, though? Why are you dreading this? Lawrence is your Fiance, your future Husband! Shouldn't you be happy to see him?

That's probably what you're thinking, but it couldn't be farther from the truth. I tolerate Lawrence Kira, and that's all. He's 5 years older than me, always acts like he's my superior (which he is, but come on!), and really isn't the most considerate person. He always talks about how great things are expected of him, and how he needs a supportive wife to help him achieve those things and continue the Kira line. "One day." he always tells me. "One day, our children could be the King. Wouldn't you like that?"

No... Not really, actually.

But I can't tell him that. If I show any disrespect, he'll bring the hammer down, on both me and my parents. We're already on thin ice, and this marriage is supposed to save my family. When the engagement was first decided, I was only 5 years old and had no idea what it even meant. As I grew older, I was told how romantic it was going to be. Doesn't every girl want to marry a prince? I was excited to live out what seemed like a fairy tale.

Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. It soon became clear that Lawrence would never actually love me. At least not all of me. Not only that, but like I said, he's older than me, and as we spent more and more time together, he started to force me to grow up a bit faster than I should have. I'm sure you can guess what I mean. 

If I didn't have Alice, I don't know what I would have done. But when I came to her and revealed that I didn't want to marry this prince, she didn't shun me or say I was crazy. She held me, and told me that we were going to get out of this, together. And so, I joined the magic knights, as the first step of my plan. The wedding that was supposed to be when I turned 18 was postponed. Luckily, the Magic Knights are a very esteemed and legitimate career path for both Royalty and nobility, so I was able to get away with it. Lawrence's family even said they were proud that their son would be marrying a magic knight.

Well... it's been 7 years since then. There's no plans for a wedding yet. This engagement can only go on so long before Lawrence decides to break it off. By that time, I'll be able to support my family myself! I don't need a marriage, and I'll finally be free to do what I want.

That's my secret, the secret only Alice and I know. My one hope for tomorrow is that Lawrence will coldly tell me that he can't wait around any longer, and will break it off right then and there.

Of course, it's never that easy.

"Hello, Lawrence."

I stand outside the base to meet him as he transports in with the help of a spatial mage. He brushes himself off before looking up, his grey eyes quickly meeting mine. Unintentionally, I feel a cold chill down my back, something that's always happened when he looks at me like that. "It's been too long, have you really been that busy?" Lawrence asks as he walks over, pulling his cloak a little tighter around himself. The snow has long melted, but its freeze still hangs lightly in the air around us.

"Er, yes, pretty busy." I let him take my hand and pull it up to his lips, not bothering to bend over. A royal shouldn't bow to anyone, after all. His lips are cold on my skin as he kisses the back of my hand, before dropping it immediately. "I actually had a pretty big mission a few days ago, I was able to beat five guys-"

"Yeah, I'm sure. You can tell it to me over lunch." Lawrence dismisses my story kind of quickly before turning to walk towards the base. I wince and hold out a hand to stop him. "Uh-er, we can't eat here!"

"Hmm? Why not?" Lawrence throws a glance over his shoulder.

"Captain Hervey said, uh... we can't spare food right now for outsiders."

"Hmph. Fine. We'll eat in town." Lawrence sighs and turns to walk back to me, grabbing my hand as he does. "Also, what did I tell you about using filler words? Stop saying um and er so much."

"R-right, sorry." I let him pull me along, away from the base.

"Man... are they really in love?" 

Giles leans on the windowsill as the others gather around him, peeping down at me and Lawrence as we walk off out of sight. "Every time he comes, she looks like she'd rather be somewhere else."

"It's true," Alice pipes up, leaning against the wall and not bothering to look. "He's a real piece of work, you know."

"How can that be? He's a prince." Elia crosses her arms. "Who wouldn't want to marry a prince?"

"She just wants to live a normal life, I think. She's not cut out for that royalty stuff anyway."

"Nigel, shut up."

Meanwhile, Lawrence and I reach town and make our way towards my favorite resteraunt there. "There's really no other place to eat?" Lawrence asks, pulling his hood up over his head, his eyes darting around the street.

"It's my favorite! I think you'll like it, too." I squeeze his hand, causing him to smile for a moment. "You're afraid of being recognized."

"Yeah... I have a pretty big fanclub you know!"

... I doubt that...

Our base is located in a forest right outside the limits of the noble realm. We're close enough to town so we can get all of our supplies, but secluded enough that Captain Hervey is able to put up our barrier. It honestly feels like a little sanctuary for the squad, but I still like going in to town to see the usual hustle-and-bustle of civilization.

"You know, this type of place does have a little charm." Lawrence talks to me as he quietly sips his beer. His eyes keep darting around the restaurant, as if he were analyzing everything in sight. He's always been like that, cool and calculated, always scheming or sizing the world up. He's really an intelligent man, someone who can keep a level head in any situation. His magic is very strong, too, and it's interesting that he never joined the Magic Knights. When I asked him why a long time ago, he simply said that it wasn't his style. I have a feeling he'd rather be involved in the government down the line.

"I'm glad you think so. I guess not all Royals are so stuffy," I answer, playfully nudging his foot under the table. Lawrence narrows his eyes at me but can't conceal his smile. Ah! I need to stop being so cute around him, remember?

"I'm not that stuffy, am I? I can have fun... what do you and the squad do for fun, anyway?" Lawrence yawns a little, scratching his chin under his hood.

"Hmm..." I think over the past for a moment. "Well, we have little parties in our base now and then. Oh, also, the Captain lets us go to the beach on our days off! We also like to come to town to go drinking some nights."

"Ah... that sounds like fun. A little crude, but fun." Lawrence nods along with my words. "Maybe I'll take you to the beach sometime, just the two of us."

Just the two of us.

"...yeah, sure."

By the time lunch is done, it's obvious to me that Lawrence isn't about to break up with me or anything. In fact, I've somehow managed to warm him back up to me after more than a month of absence, and now...

"Let's go back to the base."

"Huh? Er- Lawrence, I told you before-"

"Stop saying ER! And I don't want to eat. Is your roommate around?"

"...probably not..."

"Good."

This is my least favorite part of his visits. Lawrence hates showing affection out in public, but as soon as we're alone and away from prying eyes, he basically pounces on me. I can't really do much but hold on as his lips crash into mine hungrily. We were each other's first kisses, but I'm pretty sure he's pretty good at it. The way he moves his lips against mine always makes me dizzy, at least. He pushes me until we're both flat on my twin bed, one of his hands bunching up the sheets next to my head. The biggest drawback of avoiding him for so long is that he gets... needy. 

However, his affection doesn't last long. As soon as he's done, Lawrence simply pulls the covers over me and gets up. I roll over, feeling a bit sore, and watch as he starts to re-dress himself. "You're leaving?"

"Yeah." Lawrence buttons up his shirt, his fingers fumbling slightly. "I assume I'm not allowed to stay for dinner." He sits back down on the bed to start pulling his shoes and socks on. "I'll come back to visit soon, don't avoid me any more, you hear?"

"...yeah. No guarantees, though." I gulp nervously, pulling the covers over myself more as he looks down at me again. "I'm a magic knight, you know! I have a duty-"

"Your duty should be our future," Lawrence cuts me off, his gaze moving away from me again. "...do you really feel like this is where you belong?"

I open my mouth to respond the answer that I always do: Yes, of course. I'm meant to be a magic knight! 

But... I can't say that any more, can I?

Because, for whatever reason, someone on my very own squad wanted me gone.

"Hey... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry."

I didn't even notice the tears trailing down my face until Lawrence reaches out to cup my cheek gently. I look up into his grey eyes, which are filled with warmth, for once. But I still get that chill.

"If something's bothering you... you know where to find me, okay? You're going to be my wife one day, hopefully soon. We can put all this Magic Knights business behind you, but you'll always carry that honor. I'll take care of you, I promise."

... "Alright." I nod slowly, reaching up to hold his hand for a second before he pulls it away. "Write me some letters."

"I will. See you soon!"

Lawrence gives me a small smile and a wave, before quietly leaving me alone in my room once again.

I stay there for a while, curling up under my sheets like a cocoon. For just a couple minutes, I feel safe.

Lawrence really isn't so bad, is he? I mean... at least I know what he wants. My attackers won't show themselves again, not yet, and they won't tell me why they want me gone. Maybe... maybe I should just listen to them, and leave...

No. That's stupid. I squeeze my eyes shut as memories start to flood back.

I can't leave... because then I'll marry Lawrence. I don't want to be near him at all! Slowly, I sit up, letting the sheets fall off my body as the more pleasant chill of the base hits my skin. I'll find out who attacked me, and purge them from this squad! I'm meant to be here, I'm meant to be a magic knight.

Eventually, I get up to get dressed, cleaning myself off before heading to the bathroom. I splash some water on my face before looking up at my reflection. I look tired and a little stressed out... but alive.

"Hello there! Enjoy your day off?"

I'm on my way down to dinner when I run into none other than Julius. I haven't seen him all day, not since yesterday's meeting, but he's heading the same way as me now. "Ah, yeah. I haven't seen my fiance in a while, so it was nice to have lunch with him."

"Your fiance? Oh, right, Prince Lawrence." Julius nods as he falls into step next to me. I glance up at the taller man, not able to read any emotion other than his usual neutrally-happy expression. Even so, his presence puts me at ease, although I doubt anyone would attack me now while everyone is awake in the base. "Is the wedding happening soon?"

"Oh, definitely not. We haven't even started planning it!" I smirk a little. And if I have my way... it won't ever be planned!

"I see... I guess, eventually, you're going to outrank us all."

"Huh?" I look up to see him smiling teasingly down at me. 

"You'll be a princess, right?"

"P-Princess?" My eyes widen as I realize that he's right. Then, I shake my head. "Ah! I don't even want to think about that..."

"Why not?"

"Too much pressure?"

"Ah, well, I think it suits you."

I look back up at him, aghast, just in time to catch his wink. "Hey! Jul- I mean, sir, that's a long way in the future-"

"Julius is fine-" He lets out a warm laugh before gesturing for me to keep up with him. "Come on... a princess can't be late for dinner."

..... AHHHHHH.

I swallow my pride and quickly catch up, pouting a bit to myself. Princess... I can't even imagine becoming royalty. And I don't want to! I'll never be a princess, not if I have anything to say about it.

Slowly, though, I feel my cheeks heat up, and it takes everything I have to keep from glancing back up at Julius's face.

Still...

It didn't sound so bad when he called me that...

[captainkippen]

PLEASE do a tyrus college au, but with angst with a happy ending :))))

Have you ever felt your heart in your throat after learning something you didn't want to know?

Cyrus always thought 'heart in your throat' was just an expression. A fanciful description of hurt and heartbreak. Turns out it was a thing you could really feel. At least, it's how he felt after he saw T.J. kissing Kira.

One second, he had been walking out of the library thinking vaguely about what to have for dinner, if T.J would want to eat out... they could even go see a movie after maybe. The next, he was rounding the corner and stopping dead.

Because there was T.J. And there was Kira. Wrapped around one another, lips pressed together, looking like the perfect winter romance as snow drifted down around them.

Or... it would've been perfect, were it not for the fact that Cyrus and T.J had been dating for three months now. Ever since they met in sociology.

He didn't know what to do. His feet were frozen. It felt like he watched them for decades, even though it was probably more like a few seconds. Then they broke apart, T.J's eyes met his own and Cyrus felt the bile rise up inside him.

He turned on his heel and fled.

"Cyrus! Cyrus, wait!"

His chest felt tight, squeezing him until there was no breath left, and the sensation of being punched in the stomach came over and over again with the mental picture of T.J and Kira entwined. Tears stung at his eyes.

"Cyrus, please!" T.J had finally caught up, grabbing his arm and spinning him around to face him.

"Let me explain-" he started, but Cyrus didn't let him finish.

"What is there to explain? I saw everything I needed to see. It's not like I didn't expect it. You and Kira spend a lot of time together, you know."

It was like somebody else was doing the talking and Cyrus was just watching the whole scene play out from a distance. Who was this angry, hurt young man that stood in his place? And who was this hurtful, cheating boy that stared back at him?

What hurt the most was he really had expected it. Kira and T.J were together all the time. They had so much in common. She made him laugh, she understood sports, she liked going on nights out when Cyrus didn't. They were a perfect match. How could T.J possibly be interested in Cyrus when a girl so obviously meant for him was right there?

He'd been waiting for this for weeks.

T.J's expression of worry twisted slightly, morphing suddenly into contempt. "Seriously? God. It's not what you think! Not that it matters, since you're obviously set on not trusting me-"

"How am I supposed to trust you if you're going around kissing other people?!"

"Ha! Please. You've been weird about me with my friends for months, way before this!"

Friends. 'Friends' plural. No, Cyrus thought. He had just felt weird about Kira. She had so obviously been flirting with T.J every time they were together. Why couldn't T.J see that? How could he not have seen that? She just had her tongue down his throat.

A hot wave of anger surged over Cyrus like none he'd ever felt before.

"Fine," he spat. His voice shook with rage. "Fine! I'm sorry for expressing concern over the fact you just cheated on me! Excuse me for wanting my boyfriend to stay faithful! I'll just grab my things and go, shall I? You can even invite Kira over, how perfect!"

Even as he stormed away, he regretted it. It was not in Cyrus' nature to display so much uninhibited fury. The stunned look on T.J's face as he walked out the door gave him no satisfaction. In fact, a sense of humiliation began to creep in as he slid his hood up in an attempt to ignore the staring students around him. This was so messed up.

How did it all get so messed up?

*

Two days later, Cyrus checked his phone for the millionth time. Nothing. A blank screen aside from Jonah's last text asking if he was okay. Everyone had heard about the fight by now. He wasn't sure he liked the idea of all their friends talking about it. It made his face burn red with embarrassment.

See, once he had calmed down he had had more time to think about it. The more he thought about it, the more rash he realised he'd been. He didn't even give T.J the chance to explain. What if it really hadn't been what he thought? What if T.J had been telling the truth?

What if Cyrus had been so caught up in his own hurt that he'd just made it worse for both of them?

The blank screen just made it worse. No messages, no missed calls, nothing. They were done. Months of falling, falling, falling and finally he had hit the ground, hard.

Everything shattered.

"It's a bit much, isn't it?" A voice said in his ear as his headphone was tugged out. "The moping under a blanket listening to Celine Dion?"

Cyrus yelped and jumped back. Staring up in shock, he found T.J looking back with an almost-smile on his face.

He looked awful. Unshaven, messy hair, in his gym clothes. He liked to go running when he was stressed, Cyrus knew because he'd watched T.J literally run himself ragged before midterms. He wanted to ask if he was okay, tell him he was sorry, cry a little maybe. Instead, what came out was a slightly spiteful, "How did you get in here?"

T.J sighed and perched carefully on the end of the bed, eyes sliding from Cyrus to the picture of the two of them on the desk across the room. Cyrus hadn't yet had the heart to throw it in the trash. He had been working his way up to it.

"Your roommate let me in, told me to fix whatever happened."

Dammit, Marty. He could've given him some warning at least. Cyrus was pretty sure he had a soul stain on his shirt, and he wasn't sure when the last time he had showered was.

"Why are you here?" He asked quietly, trying to soften his tone.

"I just... I wanted to talk to you. About what happened. I wanted to explain, if you'll let me."

Cyrus picked at the blanket beneath him and said nothing. T.J sighed again.

"I know you don't believe me, but it really wasn't what you thought. Kira kissed me, I didn't know she was going to. I didn't want her to. I'm not... I'm not into her like that. And I'm sorry you had to see it happen, I guess I can't really blame you for jumping to conclusions 'cause, fuck, if I saw you kissing someone else I'd probably... I don't know. It would suck. I'm like- I'm pretty sure I'm in love with you. I don't want to kiss anybody else. So I'm sorry, that's all I wanted to say. You don't- if you want me to go, I can go. I just wanted you to know I'm sorry."

They lapsed into silence for a moment. Cyrus mulled it over. There was nothing but sincerity in T.J's voice. He realised suddenly that he had already forgiven him because, in the end, there was nothing really that needed forgiving.

"It's not that I don't trust you... it's. You're so great T.J. You're funny and you know how to talk to people and you're so beautiful. I just don't understand how someone like you could want somebody like me? I guess I get a little insecure sometimes. And when I saw you guys together I just lost it. That's on me, not you. I should have let you explain. I'm sorry."

He was fully prepared for T.J. to brush him off, to roll his eyes and walk out. He wouldn't blame him. It had happened before with his exes. They had all become tired of him eventually. He braced himself for the hurt of it, shoulders up like it could protect his heart.

The blow never came.

Instead, Cyrus felt arms wrapping around him. He pressed his face into T.J's shoulder for a moment, but then a fresh wave of panic welled up inside of him and he tried to pull back.

"No, no! I'm making you feel bad, I swear I'm not doing it on purpose, to make you feel sorry... this really is my fault-"

"Cyrus."

"-I'm not trying to make excuses-"

"Cyrus!"

Cyrus' jaw snapped shut. He looked at T.J with wide eyes, trying to force back the tears he could feel coming. This was it. It was over for sure.

"We've both made mistakes here, okay? It was a miscommunication, and obviously we both have some stuff to deal with it, but that's not... that's not necessarily a bad thing. Every relationship has a little bit of conflict sometimes, right? The important thing is talking to each other so we can work it out. We can do that. It's not the end of the world, okay?"

Cyrus stared at him. "So you're not breaking up with me?"

"Breaking up-" T.J took a sharp breath in and ran a hand through his hair with a short stressed laugh. "No. No, Cyrus, I am not breaking up with you. You realise I was the one- how did this come to you blaming yourself?"

"I overreacted."

"You were hurt. It's understandable, and you've apologised. So... no harm done, right? And I owe you an apology. I should have listened when you told me you were worried about Kira. I thought you were being overdramatic when you said she liked me, but you were right. And when she kissed me I should've pushed her away, but I was so shocked I just stood there like an idiot. I swear I didn't kiss her back, I wouldn't-"

Cyrus held up a hand to silence him. "I know. I know that. I'm- it's okay."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

T.J gave him a watery smile and another squeeze before releasing him. "Okay so how about we go and talk about everything properly over ice cream? Andi says ice cream fixes everything, you know?"

"Sounds good," Cyrus said, wiping his eyes on the back of his sleeve and letting T.J slip an arm around him. He had stayed.

He would always stay.

[teenwolfhot]

Into the unknown scott McCall imagine part 1

" scott .... scott ..... Scott .... SCOTT .... SCOTT ...SCOTT " a voice was pulling McCall back to reality when he felt pain in his shoulder it registered to him that his girlfriend (y/n) looked angery and was turning red while looking at him " hello... aren't you listening i said what are we going to do about the party ?" Scott just blinked " fantastic you weren't listening .... im guessing im talking to a wall better yet I'll get a boyfriend who does ... maybe issac or ... or theo " grabbing gour things scott was about to say something " hey guys " it was liam and mason you rolled your eyes getting up and away from scott and the younger ones

" what's up with (y/l/n) ?" Liam asked scott he zoned out again "uh what ?" mason and liam sighed " you've been distracted lately McCall " Jackson sitting opposite sides to him " hey i ran into (y/n) she seems upset about you " stiles sitting next to scott while lydia and malia was behind " that girl loves to rant especially on you Scott "

" literary what have been on your mind recently that kept you completely occupied with that nonsense?" lydia the strawberry blond asked " its peter " stiles cringed while Jackson gagged " noway McCall its a folklore " kira and malia looked at each other " scott ... scott ?" Jackson sighed " the thing is lydia McCall here got bitten by something while doing a job with me and argent in a small town ... and well he got bitten and well " stiles looked shocked " you said the job was intel on new werewolves not trying to get killed " Jackson laughed "yeah well McCall went pale for a couple of days then .... his eyes changed " stiles eyes squinted " scott what colour are your eyes ?"

Scott turned away but malia shoved his face backed " show us McCall " his eyes didn't turn alpha colours " scott what happened on the job ?" scott didn't say a word " McCall they need to know or else i will " before Jackson could finish theo comea running in " we have company and it ain't werewolves " heavy breathing and slowly sitting down

The door flew opened and three men walked in one muscular in a suit one rugged with a leathet jacket with a smirk on his face , the other his eyes are different and have blood stained dripping down both side of his lips "shit ...shit ...shit " stiles keeps saying while malia was ready with her claws and kira out with her sword

McCall didn't move " LADIES AND GENTLEMEN WOULD YOU PLEASE KINDLY LEAVE THESE PROMISES.... BEFORE IT GETS UGLY " the one in the suit kindly smiled as everyone hurried to leave squirming out of the buliding " so little group of supernatural with a well .... a banshee " the one with the blood came closer to lydia " banshee that can pridict death with a werewolf.. or a turning hybrid werewolf " the man looking at scott " let me introduce ourselves I'm klaus mikaelson I'm the first hybrid werewolf vampire " he sit opposite sides of the gang while " im Elijah mikaelson and this is my younger brother kol mikaelson we're not like my other bother klaus " sitting down beside klaus " we came to negotiate a peace treated on the basis of scott McCall "

---------------------------------

" so do we have a deal McCall?" Stiles and liam sitting during the negotiations while the ladies leave for other issues " scott you can't take this deal ... your walking in blind... we do not know them ... trust me ... we do not deal with this kind especially when we don't know their strengths " stiles whsipering " human whispering to your boy isnt working we have super hearing our power our amplified " drinking a soda then crushing it stiles gulped while liam was trying to control his anger " hey beta you dont need to draw your crawls you know... we know you have anger issues but .... we know all your strengths and weaknesses but we won't use it against you because we know a void person who's ready to kill us all gerard argent ring bell " Elijah fixing his cufflinks " so McCall the deal is set ... argent crossed our path and well he killed half a dozen of people in our town ... plus a few members of my family " klaus eyes turned a different shade

" you got a deal ... mikaelson on one condition (y/l) (l/n) a girl im dating stay out of the agreement no one hurts or use her .... especially in a different situation understand " scott flashing his eyes but Elijah and kol sit back when klaus moves forward " i see you embracing your new powers then McCall " as the three stood up " see you at your house then McCall " as the three walked away " text lydia get intel on each of them ... especially the klaus guy i want to know everything understand " scott brushing passed Isaac and mason towards his bike

" what's the deal then stiles ?" Isaac whispering " a new kind of supernatural just popped up and the deal that scott have with klaus guy a whole new shit ..... plus we have more issues do you know what happened to scott "

Isaac signed " i do but i can't tell you here ... not with the girls here it will only hurt (y/n) in this situation " stiles didn't understand what isaac saying till " hey guys you seen scott ?" As all three of you hear scott engine roared you didn't say a word but gaped " so is the deal done or what ?" Isaac said ignoring you are there " what deal ?" Frowning " are you going to tell me what's up with my boyfriend orbdo i have tk demand like a whiney bitch " starring at isaac and stiles " she's your problem... see you at McCall " brushing pass going towards alison and lydia whos already in the car

You waiting for an answer " look (y/n) scott ... his ..his ..his going through changes ... and .. and you need to back off a little and let him breath ... soooo that's all i have to say cause other than that I've got nothing " running to his jeep while malia and liam are in the back seat leaving you with a jackson whittmore " don't look at me sugar his your boyfriend... all i know i would dump McCall ass and move on " jackson walking away

You were confused and angry that you didn't get the answers you're looking for especially when everyone is ignoring you and well giving you short answers " fine I'll find out myself if j have to " stomping on the floor

----------------

Meanwhile back at beacon hills memorial hospital things are weird bodies being dropped off unexplained death toll " okay ... okay .... okay " frantic sheriff slams his phone down while a deputy parrish " soo what are we going to do now FBI is here especially we got ATF who are they anyways " looking at the people in blue jackets questioning doctors and local people around " this is great I've got ATF and FBI on our backs " slaunting on a chair " sheriff please tell me what's going on ?" Melissa McCall was seeing people all round her question after questions and a swat team outside the hospital

Deputy parrish sighed " we've been getting calls of dead bodies everywhere especially drained of blood considering a sycophant or a maniac with a tendency of draining his or her victims " parrish whispering while melissa went pale " you think this is super...supernatural " even in a lower voice " we aren't sure because its all in shambles and we're figuring it out but for now we have to release a statement to the public immediately "

Right on cue derek hale and chris argent walks through the door with a girl in dereks arms " anyone ...anyone ....anyone ... please help her " melissa hurrided to help " whats her condition?" Checking her eyes and pulse " fetch the bed and get her a room now " as the porter removes the girl from derek the group moves outside the room while the others worked on the girl

" explain hale ?" Sheriff standing ready for questions " we were driving back to beacon hills when a black SUV was smashed by a white Sudan van and multiple officers gun down plus two victims dead on the spot except her ... we found her on a fence wounded and terrified " braeden looked round " she kept mumbling and mumbling we weren't sure what she's saying till argent explained " chris was hiding his gun " she said the word vampire " chris didnt even blink while saying it " ive sedated her before we got here she was frantic and didn't calm down only now she's like this but we didn't see any other wounds "

" anything else you found out there ?" Parrish asked " no ... alot of blood on the pavement and the car looked to be an accidental blow but other than that no suspicion " thats when ATF and FBI agent came popping up " look sheriff we get it ... you're new to this but me and my team are here to stay ... unexplained body count plus a whole lot of missing people so ... expect more from us rather than leaving " the blond woman walked away with her assistant while " ATF agent " are you aware of any gun crimes in beacon hills or illegal selling or gun in the last few months sheriff?" Two men ready to write down anything " not that i know of why ?" The man in the blue jacket sighed " did you know in the last 3 months a couple of your police warehouse were targeted for supply of guns and other units " the man was eyeing argent " im legal to have these especially they are licensed officer " argent wasn't to pleasant with the officer " we will be in touch " handing over a little card

" what the hell was that ?" Chris sighed " i dont see ATF or FBI agents here .... if its the body bag and counting thats okay but illegal drugs and weaponry dealing isnt beacon hills " chris sighing " i need to have a look into what Gerrard is doing maybe he has something to do with it " kissing melissa on the forehead before leaving

Derek looking round " anyone heard from scott ?" melissa shakes her head " thought so "

---------------------------

Evening

" so .... aren't we going to talk about the elephant in the room ..." silence is showing more often " look scott i don't care about the issue you have with (y/n) right now but isaac and theo even liam told you had a deal with three grown up men who .... stiles says know us ... i dont care if you're not ready to talk but we had enough of your pathetic waiting games alright " stiles looking anywhere but at the table

" Jackson knows even derek but we your best friend dont know and you're pushing us away ... we need to if its a threat we can deal but if its your issues than thats find but keeping us in the dark is not okay" kira sounding frustrated " they need to know scott especially alison shes digging on the mikaelson as we speak " isaac grabbing a drink in the fridge

" fine I'll tell you but you might all want to sit down especially you stiles "

( event leading up scott pov

Two weeks ago argent got a intel on this supernatural about werewolves turning into something else more ... powerful

I wanted to check it out so i took the opportunity to call Jackson while he was in london about a group he suggested it was wise to go down to London . So me and derek including isaac went without stiles because i told him to wait here to protect you guys if anything happened he will be there like a heads up . I was calm with it so it wouldn't be a problem ... the plan was we go to london check this intel argent talked about and this group of supernatural . Leading up to the day i had to come up with a excuse to go to london because my mom wouldn't let me go so i had derek come up with an idea that he found something that could help me improve my skills as werewolf in london .

At first my mom had her suspicions but she agreed only and only if i take isaac with me and i agreed the only other person who knows what and where is alison because she was the eyes ans ears of the warehouse

The day before we were about to head to London i had the feeling that something sketchy will happen , i didn't trust this intel that argent had i told isaac he said its fine but yet he too was wary of the information argent got

)

" youre telling me that you guys went to london and something bad happened.... what happened that was so bad that neither one of you can talk other than Jackson " lydia slamming her hands down " I'm getting there "

( continue on

The information of a gang outside of London near Lincolnshire of a warehouse an experiment on supernatural.... werewolves to worked on their strengths and skills . We all thought it was that but it wasnt

So when we landed in London it was the evening isaac and i were already wanting to check the intel but alison told us to wait three days then we check it out . Jackson told us of a small group who being turned into more supernatural and that its beginning to be a threat in england and he was ome of the werewolves helping out .

Jackson told us he doesn't know who runs the place nor where argent got the intel from but when argent and alison went to meet his special firend where he got the intel he was murdered

" hold up ... you're telling us that the person who gave argent intel on this was murdered and you didn't come home after that warning " isaac and scott looked at each other " we wanted to know this information if it will help other werewolves and supernatural " isaac simple said

" fine carry on "

( we were supposed to only be in London for 5 days and my mum was being suspicious and i got tongued tied and told her ... she freaked out but she knew argent was with us so she was calmer . The night before the accident we managed to pull surveillance on the warehouse we saw the same people you saw today the three men

One in a suit the other raging blood addiction the other not so much , we thought their not the threat when one of them klaus i belive said the word I'm immortal invincible because not only I'm i a werewolf im a living breathing vampire

We were shocked at the information but at how old he was 1,000 years old walking and breathing in the daylight especially with fangs and werewolves eyes . Beyond that we didn't know what to do with the information but it lead to me getting something argent didnt tell us of his personal plan .

He busted into the warehouse with armed force guns along with alison we didn't know what to do derek was furious on this and couldn't stay put so he tried to rescue argent and alison but it all break loose

Fighting here there blood was spilling they were invincible we trying staking them sliver bulltes wolfband eveything nothing can penetrate him not a scratch we definitely outnumbered until the guy came from behind and bit me on the left arm his companion laughed " no way to treat unwanted guest klaus " the pain from my arm was excruciating it didnt heal either his eyes were different no glowing nothing

He barely left us alive all he said was i like him lets keep him alive

)

Nobody said a word after scott recanted the story of the night he got bitten lydia was lost for words " how ... how ... how ... how ?" Lydia expression says alot

" so thats why those men were familiar with you scott because he bite you " liam was shocked stiles didn't know what to say " how can you keep this from me how ?"

[holosoftheoldrepublic]

Marriage: Reloaded

(Also available on AO3) 

          Yniuria was the happiest she had been in a long, long time. When she had gone to Ossus to help the Jedi sheltering there, she had not expected to run into Doc again. And despite everything, a small part of her had feared that he had moved on to someone else when the Eternal Empire separated them. To find that he had remained true to her and was still as in love with her as he had been six years ago had gotten her quite emotional.

           She had been sure to reward him quite vigorously after they had returned to Coruscant.

           Curled in his arms after, listening to his rapid heartbeat as it slowly calmed, she felt complete. Being a Jedi, helping others and defending them against the Sith, was all well and good, but one could not live with just duty alone. Or at least, she couldn’t. Having someone to come back to made the pressure easier to deal with. When she was with him, the tension all just melted away.

           Doc bent forward to give her a lazy kiss on the forehead. “I missed that smile,” he murmured, squeezing her gently.

           “Just the smile?” She teased.

           “Your smile, your laugh, the way you feel in my arms, the colour of your eyes, your intensity when you’re facing off against injustice, basically everything, really…”

           Yn laughed and kissed him. “I missed everything, too.”

           “But mostly my rugged good looks, right?” He grinned.

           “Oh, yes, especially that,” she replied seriously, able to keep a straight face for about ten seconds before she started giggling, and Doc couldn’t help but join her in it.

           They lay contented for a while, basking in each other’s company in silence. Life had been so hectic, and with hostilities resuming between the Republic and the Empire, it would continue to be that way, so they cherished the moments of tranquility that they got.

           She realised, lying there, that most of her good memories were tied to Doc. The only other thing that came close was the Jedi Order, but they paled in comparison. While she was still devoted to the Jedi cause, she found herself caring less and less about many of the dogmatic restrictions.

           And she didn’t want to hide what made her happy anymore.

           “Doc?” She said, nudging him.

           “Hmm?” He responded, his eyes closed, possibly half asleep.

           “Let’s get married.”

           Yn watched a ripple of emotions going over his face, settling on confusing as he opened his eyes and gave her a curious look. “You get a bit rattled on Ossus there, beautiful? We’re already married.”

           “By a protocol droid who wiped the ceremony from his databanks,” she said. “And it’s not on any official records which could make things… difficult, legally.”

           He absently stroked her arm, thinking. “So, you want it to be more official?”

           “Yes.”

           “You’re alright with upsetting the Order?”

           “With all the things I’ve done for the Order, I think they can overlook a marriage,” she said. “And if they can’t… well, I’ve decided that some things are more important. I don’t want to hide this anymore.”

           “Considering that we made out in front of several prominent Jedi, I think it’s safe to say our relationship isn’t a secret anymore, beautiful,” he said dryly.

           She stuck her tongue out at him, and he took it as prime opportunity to kiss her deeply.

           The discussion was tabled for a little while.

           “I should propose to you more often,” Yn panted when they were done.

           “How many marriages could we have before it gets too indulgent?” He asked, rolling onto his back with a groan. “I’m out of shape… not as much running around and getting exercise on Ossus, you know…”

           “So, do you want to?” She asked, resting her head on his shoulder. “I’m okay if you don’t. We did go through it once already, after all…”

           “If it makes you happy, I’ll do anything,” he grinned. “Well, not anything but you know what I mean…”

           “When I was little, I sometimes imagined getting married,” she said. “Dressed in a pretty white wedding dress, with my friends and family gathered and lots of good food…”

           “Hmm, the wedding dress has a certain appeal,” he said, a far away look in his eyes as he thought up whatever degenerate scenario he had in mind. “Yeah, that would be nice…”

           “Archiban.”

           “It would be nice to bring everyone together,” he said, tactfully moving on. “A celebration will help keep people’s spirits up, what with the war resuming and all…”

           “Good company and good food?” She said, smiling.

           “And maybe with a marriage announcement, Kira will come out of wherever she’s been hiding to yell at me,” Doc said dryly.

           Yn sighed. “I wish I knew where she and Scourge have been hiding…”

           “Sorry I couldn’t keep an eye on them.”

           “They’re their own people, and you all had your own problems to deal with, after all,” she said. “I’m sure we’ll find them again.”

           He gave her a squeeze, smiling. “So, does this mean I need to break the bank to get you a ring?”

           “A black band with a red stone would be nice…”

           “What, no diamonds?”

           Yn made a face.

           “You can get red diamonds, beautiful.”

           “Yeah but… they’re ugly.”

           Doc snorted, then laughed. “Alright, a red stone that isn’t a diamond.”

           “And a black band.”

           “You ever think about expanding your colour palette a little, Yn?” He asked.

           “No.”

           He was useless from laughing for a minute.

           “I’m going to invite all of your ex-girlfriends to the ceremony,” she muttered. “Every single one. I’ll pay for their transportation personally…”

           “Nooo don’t do that,” he laughed, squeezing her again. “I’ll die...”

           “No less than you deserve,” she grumbled. “Making fun of your wife for the colours she likes…”

           “You still want a white wedding dress, though,” he said dryly, poking her nose. “Why not have a red and black wedding dress?”

           “I want the stereotype!” She said, propping her head up on a hand. “A fancy, flowing white dress and sprays of white flowers covering the marriage hall from floor to ceiling…”

           “But a ring with a red stone and a black band.”

           “Well I’ll be wearing it after the wedding, so it needs to match my aesthetic…”

           “I thought Jedi were supposed to be above that sort of thing.”

           “We’re also supposed to be above romantic attachments,” she said, rolling her eyes, “so unless you want me to dump you maybe don’t bring it up.”

           “Aw, don’t even joke about that,” he said, kissing her cheek. “I just found you, why would I want to lose you so quickly? I might have to handcuff us together…”

           “Well, I’d never have to worry about losing you in combat…”

           “So that’s the ring, the dress, and flowers sorted,” he said, ticking them off on his fingers. “What about food? I’m guessing you want a cake.”

           “I want the biggest cake physically possible,” she said, looking absolutely serious.

           “You planning on giving cake to the whole of Coruscant, beautiful?”

           “I want a big impressive wedding to satisfy my younger self, who fantasised about all the things she couldn’t have to make life a little less dreary,” she grumbled.

           “Tell your younger self that we’re not made of money, please.”

           Yn stuck her tongue out at him again.

           “Hmm, tempting, but unfortunately I’m not up to the task yet,” he grinned, wiggling his eyebrows.

           “You really are a walking hormone,” she giggled. “Aren’t you in your late 30s now?”

           “Shh,” he said, pressing a finger against her lips. “I’m 28 forever, beautiful.”

           “You say that, but I’m pretty sure I see some grey hairs…”

           “You take that back!”

           “Right here, and here, and here…”

           “Weren’t we talking about food for the wedding?” Doc complained. “Why are we talking about my nonexistent grey hairs?”

           She kissed his nose. “Shouldn’t you come up with some ideas? It’s your wedding, too.”

           “I’m not really much of a foodie, love,” he shrugged. “I’ll eat anything put in front of me. Came in handy on Balmorra.”

           “Come on, Doc, you almost got married once before, surely you have some ideas?”

           “If you recall, I ran from that wedding at the speed of light,” he said with a nervous laugh. “I wasn’t really involved in the planning at all… I’d rather not think about how terrible I used to be, if it’s all the same to you…”

           “I’d agree but if you’d married her, we wouldn’t be here now so I can’t help but thank your terrible, younger self.”

           “Thanks,” he said dryly.

           “As for food…” she thought about it. “I’m not sure, most of the foods I like aren’t what you would consider wedding fare.”

           Doc snorted. “It’s your wedding, do whatever you want.”

           “Our wedding,” she said absently. “I do like Selkath food… but I don’t think a lot of people would appreciate a largely fish-based meal…”

           “You could always have things from a bunch of different cultures,” he suggested. “No matter what you do this is gonna be a bit in the public eye, so you could always make it a gesture of unity and togetherness in these dark times.”

           “Why are you pulling politics into our wedding?” Yn complained.

           “You’re a Jedi, everything about you is politics,” he grinned. “Besides, having a whole lot of different food would be fun.”

           “I’ll leave you in charge of catering then,” she said. “You should be involved in some of the planning, after all.”

           “How about music? Can’t be any sort of celebration without music. And decorations, can’t have just flowers… guests… seating arrangements…”

           “For someone who said he wasn’t involved in his own wedding you sure know a lot,” she commented.

           “Hey, I went to a lot of weddings, you know,” he grinned. “Romance in the air, people emboldened with a bit of alcohol… great place to pick up women… Yn, if you roll your eyes any harder, you’re going to break something. Trust me – I’m a doctor!”

           “Is there anyone you want to invite?” She asked.

           “I can think of a few buddies from med school… some people I worked with on Balmorra… lot of people from Ossus…” He said. “I am absolutely not inviting any of my exes.”

           “It’s a shame you haven’t remained good terms with at least one of them,” she sighed. “You should send out apology messages…”

           “I’d be at that for the better part of the decade.”

           “Who will you have as your best man?” She asked, deciding to veer away from subject. “Rusk?”

           “Oh, stars, no,” he grimaced. “I’ll have to think about it.”

           “I would’ve loved to have Kira as my maid of honour,” she sighed wistfully. “I’ll have to ask Sara if she’d be up for it. Did you know that she got married and no one made a fuss about it? How is that fair!”

           “I guess it’s different when you’re a barsent.. bareth… uh…”

           “Barsen’thor.”

           “Yeah that.”

           Yn stretched languidly. “We have time to think about it,” she said. “Time to plan things out, invite people, research things… for now, I think we should get out of bed.”

           “But it’s so comfy,” he complained.

           “Well I’m going to have a shower, and then get breakfast,” she said dryly, slithering out from the covers.

           Doc watched her stand and stretch. “You know, maybe I’ll join you for that shower…”

[do-not-call-me-meathead]

aposiopesis (part five)

My Orphan Black fic on AO3

part 1  part 2  part 3  part 4   part 6  part 7

@agoddamnsupernova

John Patrick Mathieson. Scott grinned when they discovered the real P.T. Westmorland and the fake. Cosima was glad, she was. She could have jumped up and down with glee, but she knew the fight wasn’t nearly over. And she didn’t know if this would send Rachel over the edge and realize that she was still being manipulated by a man pretending to be the founder of Neolution. Cosima could see first hand the reach that John had over people. He was a conman. A good one.

All they could do was send the information over to Sarah and Mrs. S and hope that Rachel would make the right decision. She didn’t know how Sarah could even negotiate with the woman. Rachel was the one to put a knife in Sarah’s leg and took Kira. Cosima couldn't imagine any forgiveness. All they could do now was wait.

And wait they did. They tried to pass the time by teaching Charlotte how to play Castle Panic. But Cosima’s mind was on Sarah and Kira. She needed for them to be okay.  She didn’t know what she would do if they weren’t.

Then there was a call. With shaky, nervous hands, she answered the phone and recognized Sarah’s voice almost right away.

"Cos, somebody wants to talk to you."

Cosima heard a rustle and a little cough.

"Auntie Cos? Mum said you’re home! And that you saved me. Thank you.”

Cosima almost dropped her phone in surprise to hear Kira’s small, almost groggy sounding, voice. She let out a small gasp and gave her friends the thumbs up and a grin. Kira was alive. Kira was alive and Sarah had her back.

“Oh, Kira. It’s so good to hear your voice. Your mom’s just being silly. We all know it was her that saved you. Are you doing okay?”

"Mhmmm. Rachel gave me back to mum. Mum looks tired."

Cosima chuckled. “Your mom barely sleeps, Kira. But we’re all so happy that you’re okay. Scott and Hell Wizard are dancing right now.” After hearing Kira giggle, she added, “I’m being serious. Oh, now Scott’s doing the worm on the floor. We’re all so excited to see you.”

"Mum said you can come to S’ house. We’re all going there. And I wanna meet Charlotte! Mum said you got the cure. Are you feeling better?"

Cosima laughed at Kira’s excitement and questions. She talked so quickly as if she didn’t have time. “Yeah, monkey. I am. Can I talk to your mom for a quick second?”

She heard the same rustle again.

"Oi, Cos. A’right?"

“Yeah, I just--are you sure you want me to come over? I just keep putting my foot in my mouth when I talk to you and--”

"Don’t be a twat. You’re always welcome. We’re pickin’ up a pizza. Bring everyone. Charlotte, Scott, Hell Wizard… it won’t be a long night, but I got thanks to give ‘round."

“Okay, cool. Um, I guess I’ll see you later then.”

In typical Sarah fashion, she hung up and Cosima looked up to find the three people staring at her. Scott had his eyes raised and Hell Wizard was smirking slightly.

“What? Why are you all staring? Sarah invited us all for pizza, are you guys in?”

They all nodded and were about to get up to leave when the door opened and Delphine appeared in the doorway. Delphine. Delphine, who was walking down the stairs to approach them. So much of Cosima’s attention had been on Sarah that Delphine (and their argument) had escaped her mind.

“Hello, Scott. Hell Wizard. Charlotte.” Delphine smiled gently and then turned to the scientist. “Cosima.”

Cosima inhaled deeply and turned to her friends. “I’ll meet you guys in the car. I just need a quick sec.”

The three left without any hesitation. Cosima finally exhaled. On instinct, she wanted to reach out and hold the blonde in front of her. Delphine was quiet like she was trying to read Cosima’s complicated expressions. The scientist didn’t know what to do, what to say, how to act.

“You’re angry with me,” Delphine whispered and slowly closed the space between them. “You think I should have fought them harder. That I should have fought to see you.”

Yes. Cosima let Delphine take a hold of her hands and press her forehead against hers. Cosima enjoyed the familiarity of the touch, the simplicity to it. Neither of them had loved anyone before as much as each other. As deeply as each other. First love. Joint hearts. Cosima just didn’t know if it was enough.

“I have to go,” Cosima whispered, not wanting to deal with the inevitable ‘are we’ or ‘aren’t we’ in their relationship. “Kira’s home. We’re going to see her.”

Delphine nodded. “Felix texted me. Maybe Rachel isn’t as…”

“Psycho?”

The French blonde chuckled. “Yes. Psycho. Maybe she isn’t as psycho as we had presumed.”

Cosima shrugged. “People can be surprising.”

“It’s okay,” Delphine said, changing the subject abruptly as she reached out and cupped the other scientist’s cheek. “You don’t have to… If my love isn’t enough, I understand.”

Cosima bit her lip and hoped that tears in her eyes wouldn’t fall. It was feeling like an ending, which didn’t seem right. She always thought that if she found Delphine again that they’d be together. That they’d have a happy ending. That they’d be making crazy science forever.

But Cosima knew they weren’t a fairytale. They had problems that couldn’t be ignored anymore just because they had all the love and passion in the world. Cosima was sometimes too blunt and too honest and Delphine was sometimes too secretive and too untrustworthy. They sometimes felt like they were on opposing sides even if they were on the same one.

“It’s not your love,” Cosima reassured her and kissed her gently. “We have loved each other so much, Delphine. I have loved you so much. You have no idea.”

Delphine fluttered with laughter. “I think I have some idea.”

“But our timing sucks. Our circumstances suck. If I wasn’t a freaking clone and you weren’t--”

“Your monitor,” Delphine finished with a sigh. “I wish that too, ma chérie. I wish I had never… betrayed you. Lied to you. I just want you to be happy. And if you think I could make you happy, my arms are open. If I am not the person that would make you happy, then we can part.”

It was too much for Cosima to handle at the moment. She was just so torn and confused and there was still Sarah that was in the back of her mind. She wasn’t sure that Sarah was into her (or women for that matter), but she still couldn’t stop thinking about their kiss and the way that Sarah made her feel, even if they weren’t together.

Delphine was giving her an out, but Cosima didn’t know if she necessarily wanted one. Delphine was giving her an in, but she didn’t know if she wanted one. She loved her. That, she was sure of. But she wasn’t sure if that love would last. Or if it was enough. Or if… if it wasn’t just lingering love that was there because she had loved her so much.

“You don’t have to give me your answer now,” Delphine reassured her and kissed her. “I can wait. For you, I can wait.”

Cosima kissed her and promised she would give her an answer soon. They kissed a few more times before they both exited the building and went their own separate directions.

..........

Sarah was cautiously happy. Cosima could see her smile when Kira bombarded the scientist with a hug when she entered the house, but she also saw it fade. Cosima understood. Of course, Kira’s return was worth celebrating, but the war wasn’t over. They had to expect retaliation.

The first thing Cosima did was introduce Kira to Charlotte. They hugged awkwardly but then smiled. Kira offered to share her stuff (clothes and toys) with Charlotte and the clone thanked her appreciatively. Charlotte asked Kira if she liked science and the two of them jumped into a conversation about physics that Cosima had taught Kira. Cosima smiled. She knew they’d get along great.

Cosima embraced Felix and Siobhan too. They thanked her for all her work and help.

“Gosh, I should be thanking you two. The clone club wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for those who aren’t clones and their selflessness.”

Felix smirked. “Sap.”

Siobhan slapped his arm. “Hush. Thank you, Cosima. We’re a family, you know. And everything you have done for Kira and Sarah, let’s call it even.”

Cosima grinned. That sounded good to her.

Felix asked about Delphine and Cosima admitted the truth. She didn’t know what they were or what direction their relationship was heading. He asked if they were ending it. She only shrugged and he patted her shoulder.

“She has gorgeous hair,” Felix stated seriously with a sigh. “But you’re loads better. Might be a bit of bias. But darling, we all just want you to be happy.”

“I know,” Cosima replied with a solemn nod. “So does Delphine.”

She changed the topic of conversation and asked about Alison. Felix revealed that she was home and was trying to get settled a little but would show up later. Cosima missed her greatly and was excited to give her the cure. Though, she and Scott needed to make some more.

Cosima wanted to talk to Sarah, but the punk was almost entirely wrapped up into a conversation with Art. He stood near her almost constantly, as if he was shielding her. Like he was trying to protect her.

“Mum’s happy you’re here,” Kira whispered as she gave Cosima yet another grateful hug.

“Really?” Cosima asked her in more of a questioning tone than she had intended. She didn’t think Sarah looked at her more than twice all night long. “Did she say something?”

Kira shook her head. “I can feel it. She feels calm when you’re around. Lighter.”

Cosima gulped. She hoped that Kira didn’t feel what Cosima had been feeling for her mom recently.

“You should go talk to her. She missed you a lot when you were on the island.”

Cosima couldn’t say no to Kira. She gave the young girl a tight squeeze before heading over to the punk who was leaning on a wall, talking to Art about something.

“There’s nothing you can do right now, Sarah,” She heard Art tell her as she approached them.

“I know but--Cosima.”

Art turned around and forced a smile. “It’s good to have you back, Niehaus. I’ll leave you two to it.”

When Art was out of earshot, Cosima asked, “Is everything alright?”

Sarah sighed and banged her head lightly against the wall. “Somethin’ don’t feel right. I dunno. I’m unsettled, I guess. I’m also not a shindig kinda gal.”

Cosima snorted. “I thought you were quite the party animal.”

Sarah rolled her eyes. “This isn’t a party, geek monkey. How are--”

They were interrupted by the opening of the front door. Alison. Alison with shorter hair, flowing clothes, and purple streaks. It was hard for people not to stare, but surprisingly, it was Sarah who broke the silence and the barrier by walking up to the clone and hugging her.

Alison made an “Oh!” sound and then patted the woman’s back. “It’s good to see you, too, Sarah.”

Sarah pulled away quickly and brushed her fingers through her hair to try to gain back some of her dignity and rough exterior. “Yeah. It’s been a while. Thanks for comin’.”

“Of course, Sarah.” Alison shook her head slightly as if she was annoyed that Sarah thought that she would somehow not decide to come.

Kira ran up to Alison and hugged her. She told the soccer mom that she liked her hair and Alison thanked her.

“You look good, Alison,” Cosima greeted and hugged the woman. “I like the purple. Very hip. Ooh and zen.”

“I also got a tattoo!” Alison yelped and almost pulled down her pants before Sarah slapped her hand.

“We can all compare our tats at a later time, Hendrix. Come in. I know Fee is really--”

“Oh my god.” Felix approached Alison and stared at her. “You’re marvelous.”

Cosima wanted to pay attention to all the catching up and hugs, but she couldn’t get over Sarah’s words. Our tats.

.....

After a few hours and a few beers, people started to leave. Scott and Hell Wizard were first to go (after making sure with Cosima that she didn’t want to go with them). Then Alison who overshared about needing to reconnect with her husband. Charlotte decided to stay and sleep over with Kira before Art had to pick them up tomorrow morning and bring them to his ex. Eventually, Siobhan went to her room and Felix fell asleep on the couch. It was just Cosima and Sarah left, drinking beer and sitting on the floor.

“You can stay, y’know. My bed has enough room. And I probably won’t be sleepin’ anyway.”

Cosima was barely paying attention to Sarah’s words. “Do you think Rachel’s on our side now? Do you think we could work with her?”

Sarah furrowed her eyebrows. “She stabbed me, Cos. I put a pencil in her eye. I don’t think we could ever bury the hatchet and become mates.”

“You shot Helena. Helena killed Amelia and the other clones. And I said nothing about you guys being friends.”

Sarah glared at her. “You’re makin’ me regret offerin’ you a bed.”

Cosima snorted. “Sorry. I just… when I think about the life she’s had, her childhood, I can’t help but have a little sympathy for her. And she’s probably gay.”

Sarah choked on her beer. “What? How the bloody hell do you know that? And why the hell does that matter anyway? ”

“When we first met, one of the first things she asked me was if I was gay. It seemed so foreign to her. Out of all the things she wanted to know about me, it was that. It made me feel sad for her, almost.”

“You might have a point, Cos. But I hope not. I don’t wanna relate to her in any way.”

Cosima didn’t know if it was the alcohol or what, but she felt like Sarah was coming out to her. “What do you mean?”

Sarah shrugged and took another swig. “I dunno. It’s nothin’.”

The scientist frowned. She could see that there was something that the other woman wanted to say but remained silent about it. Like there was a secret lodged inside of her, terrified to leave the darkness.

“You know, I didn’t know I was gay until I was sixteen. For the longest time, I wasn’t interested in anyone. Like, at all. Which was fine because I was focused on school anyway. But one day, I had a new lab partner in chemistry and… it all clicked.”

Sarah looked up at Cosima and tilted her head. “Did you two date?”

Cosima snorted. “Hell no. After weeks of pining, I found out she was already dating this guy. I knew him, he was cool, it made sense. Broke my heart, though. Nah, I didn’t have a girlfriend until college, actually. I’ve always kind of sucked at relationships.”

Sarah raised her beer and said, “You’re preachin’ to the choir. That’s why I don’t do ‘em.”

“What about Cal?”

Anger seemed to roar through Sarah’s body. “He’s not here, is he?”

Cosima frowned, feeling like she overstepped. “I’m sorry.”

Sarah shrugged. “S’no problem. C’mon, Cos. Let’s go to bed.”

She hadn’t let the scientist disagree with her. Cosima silently followed Sarah to her bedroom. It was dark. Pleasantly dark. The two of them just crawled into the sheets and laid down, facing the ceiling.

“I was fourteen when I first had sex,” Sarah confessed after a few minutes of silence. “He was twenty. I don’t really know if it was rape. Coulda been. I was out of it. Dunno if I was hammered or high but… it fucked me up. I was seventeen when I first shagged a girl. She and I were shacked up in an abandoned house. We fucked for warmth.”

Cosima bit her lip. “Sarah, you don’t have to--”

“But this what you wanted, innit? You shared ‘cause you wanted me to. I sleep with both. Sometimes together, sometimes not. Orgies ain’t really my thing, but threesomes and foursomes are fine. Drugs make it better. Relationships make it worse. Shite. This is why I don’t share, Cos. It isn’t… ”  

Cosima watched as tears fell down Sarah’s cheeks. The scientist held her hand and squeezed it. “I’ll listen to whatever you want to say. And if you don’t wanna say anything, that’s cool too. I didn’t mean to push you.”

“Y’didn’t. It’s me. I’m afraid…” Sarah whispered quietly and trailed off.

“Of what?”

“Nothin’. Nevermind. Sorry.”

Cosima shook her head and moved so that she was facing Sarah’s body. “Don’t be. I feel it too.”

Sarah gulped. “What do we do?”

The scientist didn’t have a good answer for her. She didn’t know how she felt, how to solve it, how to make things better. She just knew that there was something there.

“We hope that it feels clearer in the morning.”

Sarah sighed appreciatively. She turned so that she could see Cosima and closed her eyes. Cosima prayed for sleep.

--------

thanks for reading! let me know if you want me to add you to the tags!

[honekitteh]

FIC: Countdown - Chapter 1

Fandom: SWTOR Pairing: Theron Shan/f!Jedi Knight Rating: T (this chapter) Genre:  Angst, H/C, Romance, Canon-Typical Violence, Humor Synopsis: A distress call leads the Jedi Battlemaster to Ziost, but time is running out.  Follows the storyline of The Rise of the Emperor and inserts missing scenes.   Author's Notes: First installment of an actual chaptered fic in this fandom. Hopefully there will be more in the future.   Warnings: Future chapters will raise the rating to M/E.

Crossposted to AO3

How did I get to this point?  That is an excellent question.  One would expect the so-called Hero of Tython to have a far more heroic introduction.  Jump in to save the day.  Say something suave or clever.  Jyana Kai, the “famous” Jedi Battlemaster who was reported to have killed the Sith Emperor would be able to jump into the fray and defeat anything.

Sure, you would think that.

Instead I was standing underneath a domed barrier with SIS Agent Theron Shan, just waiting.  My bruises had bruises; my mental defenses were on high guard.  He didn’t look too much better but calling down Archiban Frodrick “Doc” Kimble, the most humble doctor I’ve ever known, from the orbital station was out of the question.  

He straightened up after ensuring the shield was properly set and looked to me.  “Okay.  We should wait until they’re good and close.”   

I closed my eyes briefly, allowing my senses to reach out to get a good feel for how much time we had.  It wasn’t much.  I moved slightly closer to Theron and said softly, “I wasn’t sure when I’d run into you again.  Not the greatest circumstances, but still.”  I very nearly reached to him but halted myself with a small glance behind me.  It wasn’t my fellow Jedi and closest friend Kira Carsen though that I sensed when I could feel we weren’t alone.

He offered a weak but knowing smile.  “Maybe next time the lives of an entire world won’t be in danger – but, yeah, feeling’s mutual.”  

I felt my heart flip flop a bit at his smile and met his with my own.  Soon though, I could feel them.  His amber eyes shifted from mine to behind me.  Closing my eyes for a brief moment, I took a deep breath, then reopened them to follow his gaze.  Kira had already drawn her dual-saber, its green light reflecting against the metallic floor.

Theron pulled out his data pad and started tapping. “Okay, here comes the puppet brigade.  Fingers crossed…”

It was a fairly sizeable group, Imperials, Republic troops, and even some Jedi.  I silently cursed the Chancellor and added it to the growing list of matters I will add to a report, should I bother to file one.  At this particular moment, the choice words I had planning were significantly less Jedi than they had been the beginning of this entire fiasco.  The horde moved closer and Theron triggered the device.

That Theron even had to modify it to be non-lethal was not lost on me.  As I saw the soldiers all be stunned and fall to the ground, I could not help but wonder what the result would have been had that modification not been made.  The Empire, putting a weapon in one of its capital cities with the capability to kill a vast amount of their own citizens?  If they had one of these in New Adasta, they could have it on Kass City, or in a number of other cities.  But why?  Because of riots?  Gee, I wonder why anyone would riot against a ruling body that had no regard for their lives.

My eyes glanced over to a Republic soldier that had collapsed.  Were we even better?  The Republic should be better than this.  Theron followed my eyes and let the shield dome collapse.  He approached the soldier and knelt.  “This one was closet, took the biggest hit.”  He reached for his neck, checking his pulse as I walked up beside him.  I looked out towards the door and across the landscape of unconscious bodies.  “Still alive,” Theron confirmed, relief in his voice, “We did it!  Let’s just hope we got all of them.”

“Let’s hope,” I murmured, still scanning the surroundings.  Something still felt off.  This moment was far from over, I could feel it.

“We should call Lana now, see if she has a plan for what’s next.”

The bodies began to float in the air.  “I have a better idea,” a booming male imperial voice spoke through a woman sauntering onto the platform.  With a small flick of a hand motion, the bodies crashed back away from her, clearing a path.  Her eyes yellow and wild, she smirked as she drew her lightsaber.

“Master Surro.”  Theron’s entire stance sunk and he moved to stand between me and the unconscious puppet army and the approaching Jedi Master.  “No...”  I lightly reached an arm to his shoulder, trying to pull him back and shift him behind me, but he stood his ground.

“Watching you believe you had a chance; it’s amused me.”   Master Surro raised her hand sluggishly as if it were pulled by string, the Force lifting a dazed Imperial lieutenant into a sitting position. “Now this whole charade is pathetic.”

I shifted my own position, trying to assess the situation and moved in front of Theron.  Not soon enough, as Master Surro summarily executed the dazed man she’d just set up.  The range of emotions in the man beside me went from shock, to horror, to anger.  It took a great deal of my own willpower and Force meditation to not absorb Theron’s pain and have it fuel me and complement the dread that I felt; the very dread I’ve been feeling rising since the moment I’d received his distress holo.

Master Surro’s lips turned in a cruel sneer.  “Now, how do you wish to die?  In combat or on your knees?”

Lana Beniko, Sith Lord and Director of Sith Intelligence, raced from within the building, lightsaber drawn and poised to attack.

“Go away, little Sith.”  Master Surro easily shoved the approaching Sith Lord with a shove.  Theron moved in front of me again and drew his weapon but was immediately lifted in the air.  He gave me a wincing glance before he was unceremoniously thrown against the wall and crashed the ground.  I looked between Lana and Theron and took the last reserves of my energy to take a deep breath. 

Emotion, yet peace. Ignorance, yet knowledge. Passion, yet serenity. Chaos, yet harmony. Death, yet the Force.

Glancing back to Master Surro, I furrowed my brow and drew both my shoto.  The Emperor controlled puppet smirked.  “This has nothing to do with your friends.  This is you and I.”

Igniting my sabers, I leaped into the air.

So how did I get to this point?  I guess I could start from the beginning…

At some point in my early life, I was brought to Hasshimut to take up training to be a Jedi.  I have no recollection of much before this point, no memory of a mother or a father.  The Jedi didn’t see a need to enlighten me and eventually I never truly thought to ask.  Perhaps that was a mistake looking back.

But I digress.  While that may be the beginning of my story, it is not the beginning of this particular story.

Approximately a year or so ago I became more than what was called the Hero of Tython.  I was now the Battlemaster, a reward for helping bring together both Empire and Republic to defeat Revan and to attempt to stop Vitiate from regaining power.  The latter failed however, and a team had been put together to continue trying to find out where he’d gone. 

 “I’ll get the shuttle started,” Kira stated and walked towards the shuttles at the edge of the camp.

Not a second later, I felt another hand brush mine, startling me out of my thoughts and I turned around.  “Theron?”

Theron Shan smiled a bit awkwardly and scratched the back of his neck. “Jedi Battlemaster, huh?”

I shuffled my feet and looked down.  “Yeah, that surprised me too.”

“I suppose we’re both going to be pretty busy.”

“Guess so…” I looked back over the ridge across the lush green jungle moonscape of Yavin IV.  I took a deep breath as the wind blew through my hair.

“So Jy… I guess this is...”

I spun quickly and grabbed his neck and pulled him down into a kiss.  He startled, but then opened his mouth and met my tongue with his own. He wrapped his arms around me, one of his hands lowering to my waist, palm spread out slightly as one of his fingers slightly hooked underneath my belt.  A flash of memory of this morning where a very similar kiss led into a shuttle caused my cheeks to heat up slightly.  Slowly easing myself out of the thought, on how much I wanted to get lost in his arms again, I lowered my hands to rest on his chest and pulled out of the kiss, both of us breathless.  I attempted to play it cool as I said, “Don’t be a stranger, Agent Shan.”

He smiled softly and his eyes seemed to twinkle as he leaned his head against mine.  He traced his fingers against my cheek and whispered softly, “I won’t.”

I slowly opened my eyes and wondered when I’d drifted off.  The pilot chair wasn’t the most comfortable place to nap, but I supposed I was tired.  Pinching the bridge of my nose I leaned back in the seat and sorted through my thoughts.  The Defender was quiet as it usually was when I opted to take the night shift.  No bickering over space or Doc being a bit confused why he was suddenly thinking of all his old ex-girlfriends.  I usually used this time to meditate.

Or accidentally fall asleep and dream about...

It’d been months without a holo.  Just a small message about actually having caf with his mother.  That’s progress though, so I don’t begrudge him that.  It’s not like I’d entirely made a lot of time to reach out either, so I couldn’t pin it all on him.  Flying from planet to planet, seeing where I can lend my hand with the war effort or even some of the little things like Master Orgus reminded me, didn’t always lend me a lot of time to go to Carrick Station or Coruscant just to see what a good-looking SIS Agent was up to.

The planet I was in orbit of wasn’t extremely remarkable, though that was from the eyes of someone who had been staring at it for the last five days.  It was an unnamed Jovian type gas giant, swirling with green and teal colors of gas.  It had two ringed belts, one full of asteroids and the other vibrant and as colorful as the world surrounding it.  The two rings intersected in an X shape. 

There has been a mine there within the asteroid belt, though it had been long abandoned many years ago.  There were some fairly rare minerals that had been mined from within the asteroids and within the gas giant itself.  There were numerous reports of a space whale like creature called Purrgils that frequented this system as well.  Those creatures were apparently fairly notorious for knocking spacers out of hyperspace so I had to fly carefully in this region.  I vaguely recalled images of them, which reminded me of something I used to dream of as a child.  The dreams didn’t make them out to be a menace, but no one ever said spacers told accurate tales.

The Council wanted me to send a few probes within the system to assess its strategic worth.  An odd task for the Jedi Battlemaster I thought.  I’m a Jedi, not a Scientist.  I solved problems easier with a lightsaber.  But I could sense there was definitely more within this system than just a simple mineral assessment.  Though this seemed it would have been better to just send an actual expert in this field.  Everything I found I just forwarded to Barsen’thor Sheridan to show to her scientist companion, Tharan Cedrix.

I thought I caught a blip of a lifesign flying into the gas giant when suddenly, a holo comm started breaking through.  Staticky at first, I fiddled with the settings.

“--repeat: Repubic call sign Aurek Nen—hey! Finally!”

It felt like time stopped.  I was walking through a desolated world: buildings, ground, even the sun all washed out in shades of brown and grey.  My own bright white clothing, faded with the terrain.  As soon as the vision hit, it was over, and I heard Theron’s voice trying to get my attention.

Snapping out of it, I took a quick breath and quickly responded, “Theron. Are you all right?”

His voice came across frantic.  “That would be a negative, Master Jedi! I’m in Imperial space, over Ziost.  Tried to slip in, help out my ground team, but I used the wrong set of clearance codes and shields are low!”

I furrowed my brow slightly but tried to keep mostly calm. “Focus on getting yourself to safety, then we’ll talk. “

“No, you really need to hear what I have to say. I was getting reports: demented soldiers; slave and civilian populations under fire. Had suspicions of what it meant, but I wasn’t sure.”  My heart sunk even lower as he continued speaking.  “I sent a team in dark to investigate, maybe handle it, but it’s all gone out of control now. I think it’s him. The Emperor.”

“I’m supposed to be the first one you contact when it comes to him, not your last resort,” I snapped.

“I should have said something—I know.”

I closed my eyes briefly to try to settle my own racing heartbeat.

He continued, “Sending through the right set of clearance codes along with the coordinates to meet my-- “ There was a loud explosion and he lost balance as his ship rattled.  “I’m hit! Going to try to land this thing! Don’t come looking for me, I’ll—”

“Theron? Theron, come in!”  I frantically tried to get the signal back.  When that didn’t work, I just mashed the buttons on console and the Defender quickly jumped into hyperspace.

[anarcoqueer1994]

It Was Just a Shirt

Feeling sad and angsty today so posting an angsty one shot I wrote back after 3.15.

TJ

It's 11 am and I haven't gotten out of bed yet. I really don't feel like it. I really hate to admit it but I'm not doing great these days. I really messed up on costume day. I wanted to do "somersault". I really did. Nothing would of made me happier than walking down that hallway with Cyrus. And damn, Cyrus was so cute with that colander on his head. But Kira…

I don't think she meant what she said the way I took it. Why would she? But I got scared. I have not come out to anyone, not even Amber, my own sister. I don't think I'm ready for anyone to know, especially Cyrus. It is selfish actually. I don't think I can put myself out there like that. I know Cyrus probably wouldn't care if I was gay. But like what if him finding out I'm gay also leads to him finding out I have a huge crush on him. I don't think I can handle the rejection.

But then again though, I think I saw something worse on costume day. Cyrus looked so upset and confused when I showed up with Kira. I didn't think he would care that much. What's the big deal...he has other friends. I'm not that special. But it broke my heart when I saw all the sadness cloud those beautiful brown eyes.

But the next day, he acted like nothing happened when I talked to him. But I knew he was upset. I noticed him hanging out with me less and less. We were supposed to watch a meteor shower together. We talked about it months ago. We were both so excited. But I guess he forgot we had plans to see it together, to camp out. I texted him that day asking him what he was doing that evening to see if he remembered what we planned. He just text back "Watching this meteor shower with Jonah." Then a few minutes later he added on. "Shoot I forgot you wanted to see it too. You can come by." I thought about going but I wasn't brave enough to be someone's afterthought.

Then a few days ago when I tried to hang out at the park with him, it was like he couldn't leave fast enough. He thought me and Kira were a couple. I don't know why, but out of all people, he is the one I want not to think that. Other people, I don't care what they think but he matters to me more than anyone I've ever met. I'm not going to lie. Part of me...well most me wanted to just do it. Put myself out in the open. Lean over and kiss Cyrus right there at that table. I chickened out as soon as Kira walked up. Why am I so pathetic?

Buzz. My phone is going off again. It's Kira. She wants to hang out. I really don't feel like it. So I'm going to continue to ignore the texts.

I really should hang out with her. She is my only friend right now. Cyrus is supposed to be my best friend but I don't think he wants that anymore. Yesterday, he sent me that shirt and I thumbs upped it so he knew I liked it. Okay, to be honest, I don't really care about the shirt. It was a a nice shirt but what I really cared about is that he was thinking of me. He asked me to come to the sale but I was with Kira and did not know how to slip away without her making it a big deal. I don't know why I'm acting like this. I could not even tell her that I was texting him. I told him I was at the park hoping he would come but he never did. Maybe I wasn't direct enough…

I also left the park feeling like crap for other reasons. I don't know quite why but I felt like I did something wrong Kira and I swung but it did not feel the same as it did with Cyrus. With Cyrus everything seemed so natural. With Kira it felt forced. But now, it seemed, Cyrus wanted barely anything to do with him. Maybe the shirt didn't really mean much to Cyrus except being a nice free shirt. It just happened to be my size. Maybe, I don't mean anything to Cyrus. Maybe Cyrus doesn't care nearly as much about me as I do for him.

Crap. Am I crying? Damn. I am. This is great, now I am laying in my bed in the late morning, almost afternoon, crying like a baby. I really messed this up. I need to fix this. But how? Can I fix this? Was there ever anything to fix?

What is my problem? Of course Cyrus cares about me...even if just a friend. He wouldn't have been so upset in costume day if he didn't. Cyrus is just avoiding because of the Kira/Buffy drama, right? I'm not sure if I believe that though. I just can't figure out why else he would be so uncomfortable when Kira is around. Why did I ever put myself in this situation?

I guess I could go to his house and see him. Maybe that's the best option. I need to figure out where he stands with me. Oh God. I think I'm going to need to be completely honest with him. Because I messed up and now we are in this weird in between place. I need to be brave and face the music. Maybe if I explain what I felt when Kira suggested the double dribble costume, he will understand. Maybe he will still be my friend even knowing how I feel. I would rather be his friend than nothing.

**********

I finally got out of bed a little before noon. I got myself ready and just left. If I waited too long I know I would chicken out. I needed to go talk to Cyrus. But then my stomach starts hurting. I was in such a hurry to leave I forgot to eat. Okay maybe I will stop into The Spoon. I'll grab a little bite to eat and then go see Cyrus.

When I get to the restaurant I sit near the counter. I order some food from my sister and just sit and wait. That's when I see him. Jonah Beck. Amber's boyfriend. I really don't see why she is still into him but to each his own, I guess. Though let's be honest, Amber is also crushing hard on Andi but I don't think she realizes it yet. Anyhow, we made up and all after that weird grudge he had. But I don't really see anything of real interest going on with him. I guess he is a little cute.

Okay, to be honest I am a little jealous of Jonah. He is so close to Cyrus. And I swear it seemed like Cyrus held onto everything that boy said when I first met him. Like at his Bar Mitzvah last year, Cyrus barely talked to me, while I saw him with Jonah a lot. But for the most part it has gotten better the more I hung out with Cyrus. In fact, Cyrus for a while seemed to start hanging onto my words. He made me feel like I was important.

Oh. My. God. I just thought of something. What if for some crazy reason, Cyrus has a crush on me too? I know it is wishful thinking, but what if? I know I look stupid smiling like this sitting alone, but I can't get that wonderful thought out of my head.

"Hey TJ." A voice pulls me from my thoughts. It's Jonah.

"Oh, hey." I give my best cool smile. I motion that he can sit down and he does.

"Did Cyrus tell you what happened yesterday?"

"No, we haven't had the chance to talk…'Amber comes and sets down my food. She smiles at me before smiling at Jonah and going back to work.

"Well, you know that sale we were having?" I nod, while munching on my food. I really don't care much about what Jonah has to say but it is about Cyrus so I'll listen. He continues.* "This lady from Mint Chip came and I talked to her and this cop came by and arrested us."

My eyes go wide. "Cyrus was in jail?! I mean...um you all went to jail? What for?"

"They said taking those clothes they were going to burn was theft so we'll probably get community service or something…"

"That's pretty ridiculous…" I can't believe Cyrus was in jail and he didn't even text me to let me know what happened. A few weeks ago, he would have texted me the moment he was out.

"Yeah, it was but honestly it was worth it, man. All those clothes would of been destroyed." As Jonah is talking, he unzips his jacket so he can take it off(obviously) but then I see something I wish I would not have. Jonah is wearing a shirt suspiciously like the one Cyrus sent me a picture of.

"Hey, that's a cool shirt. Where did you get it?" I try to sound as nonchalant as possible. I'm not sure if it is working.

"Oh, Cyrus gave it to me. I think he pulled it from the clothes yesterday."

I can feel my face subconsciously dropping as he says that. He must of noticed my reaction too because he says "Hey, are you okay?" I must of been really obvious if even Jonah noticed. He can be more oblivious than me sometimes.

"Um yeah, just um I thought, I could of been wrong, but um… Cyrus had texted me a picture of a shirt just like that and I thought he got it for me." I know I must sound pathetic

"Is that all? Do you want it? It was just a free shirt and I can give or take it. "

"No, no Cyrus gave that to you." I give a small smile trying not to let my jealousy come through.

"It is really not that big of a deal." Jonah looks so blasé about it.

"How can you say that?! Cyrus gave you something and you are just going to give it away like it is nothing?!" A few people turn to look at us sitting at the table. Amber stops to watch what is happening. I don't mean to lash out at him but it happened and I can't really take it back. I know he'll probably tell all his friends over... including Cyrus. Now I'm going to look so stupid. Why can't I keep my emotions to myself? What is wrong with me?

"Sorry...I just thought you would of liked the shirt. You don't have to take it." He says slightly defensive.

I quickly stand up and say "I'm sorry, just um...having a bad day. I got to go be anywhere but here." I walk away from the table. I know Jonah is staring at me like an idiot. He has no idea what just happened and I guess it is better that way. A few other diners stare as I push through the door.

How is this fair? Why is it always Jonah Beck? What does he have that I don't? Why can't I catch a break? I would of loved to get that from Cyrus but instead he got it. And he is willing to part with it like it didn't matter. It would have mattered to me. I am definitely not going to Cyrus' now. I don't know what I was thinking.

"TJ." I turn around. It is my sister. She must have followed me out of the restaurant. "Hey, Teej, what happened? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Amber. You can go back in. I'm just going to go home."

"Well that is obviously a lie. I know you too well to fall for that. I'm on break so how about we talk. You know you can tell me anything." She gives me a soft smile. Damn why does she have to be such a good sister.

"I can't tell you this Amber."

"Why can't you? It is just between us."

"Because...because…" It is suddenly hard to breathe. I feel like a dam in me is about to burst. I go sit on a nearby bench and try to compose myself. She sits near me. I lean over and look at the ground. She puts her arm around my shoulder, with that I know longer can hold it in. "Because...I'm gay…" A tear rolls down my face. "Don't tell Mom and Dad.. please.. " I barely recognize my voice. It sounds so broken and alien. I didn't think I could sound like this.

"TJ, that is okay, you know that, right? Plus like thank God. I was worried you liked that Kira girl. I am not a fan of her." She says matter of factly as she grabs my hand and squeezes. "And of course I won't tell them. Plus they are too busy fighting with each other to notice anything going on with us." She laughs softly

"Ambs...that's not it." I'm not even sure if I said that loud enough for her to hear. Apparently I did though.

She lowers her voice. "What else?"

"I um like someone but you can't say anything even to Jonah or Andi. Promise?" I put out my pinky.

"Promise." she says as she twists her punky with mine.

"I like Cyrus…a lot. "

"Is that why you stormed out?"

"Sort of….I really don't want to explain."

"Well you should tell Cyrus! I have got some definite vibes off him that he may be into you too."

"I don't think so...I think he likes someone else. " I don't want to tell her it is her boyfriend.

"What makes you say that?"

"Cyrus is just always hanging out with them and yesterday he offered me this shirt and I thought he was thinking about me but then he gave it to the other guy. I know it is just a shirt but...it meant something to me."

"Are you talking about that shirt Cyrus gave Jonah? It makes his eyes look so good. But I don't think Cyrus likes Jonah. Also if it is important to you, it is not just a shirt." She smiles.

"Whatever you say, sissy." I stick out my tongue.

"You know, you could talk to Cyrus." She says in an obvious tone.

"Not going to happen. Especially not after I just realized he would never like me the same way I like him."

She gives me this sad, sympathetic look before saying. "Do what you think is best."

She soon leaves me with my thoughts as she goes back inside to finish working. So yeah, I am definitely never ever going to tell Cyrus my feelings. I walk home feeling confused. On one hand, I am glad I opened up Amber but on the other, my heart was breaking.

For a split second I let myself believe that Cyrus may have like me too, but seeing Jonah in the shirt made me crash back to reality. When I get to my room,I lock my door. I lay down and cry for I don't know how long. I let myself feel the rejection. Cyrus Goodman broke my heart and he doesn't even know it.

[stereksecretsanta]

Merry Christmas, @bloodgutsandstarbucks!

Read on AO3

******

Love Don’t Lie

Stiles set his paperwork on his desk and caught the eye of his new partner, Scott McCall. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Scott grinned. “I have the best idea.”

He wasn’t sure he liked the sound of that. “Oh?”

“Since you’re new in town, I was thinking, you probably don’t know many people, and you moved into that big house outside of town…I could set you up with someone!”

Stiles’s jaw hung open. “Like a date?”

“Yes! But don’t worry, I have someone in mind. It’s perfect, because he’s new to town, too!”

Stiles laughed a little hysterically. “No, no, I think you’ve got the wrong idea. I’m actually happily-”

“No, really, he's perfect. His name is Derek Hale, he works with my wife. He's new to Beacon Hills, just like you, and he hasn’t gotten to know anyone yet, either!” Scott’s eyes widened and rounded, shining like a cartoon.

Stiles paused. “...Oh? And he's single?”

“Well, we’re pretty sure. He doesn’t have a ring, and he hasn’t mentioned anyone. How about this!” Scott waved his phone. “I’ll tell Kira to relay the message that you’re interested, and then he’ll let us know if he’s single or not.”

Stiles covered a laugh with a cough. He could just imagine what Derek's face would do at that little invitation. “Sure. You do that.”

“Great! I’ll let her know! Oh, also, we’re supposed to go check out a gnome thief on Saundersville Road,” he added cheerfully.

“Small towns are nothing but excitement, eh?”

Scott laughed.

Stiles grimaced at the menu in front of him, trying to avoid eye contact with his…date.

An irritable sigh made him finally look up. “You shouldn’t have agreed to this.”

“There were circumstances,” Stiles hissed. “And excuse me, you agreed, too!”

“I only agreed because I was told you’d already said yes!” Derek set his own menu down with a slap.

Stiles pointed at him. “And you didn’t want to disappoint your new buddy, right?”

“Kira is my boss, I couldn’t just tell her no after she said you’d agreed! It would be rude!”

“Yeah, well, Scott’s my partner, and I couldn’t say no to him, either!” Stiles held up his hands. “Look, we just have to pretend to date for a little while, until they lose interest. No big deal, and no sad puppy eyes from Scott.”

Derek stared at him. “Stiles,” he began.

“No, really, it’ll be no big deal, I swear. All we have to do is go out after work together once a week for a staged date. Like this!”

“I hate going out to eat.”

He sighed. “Homemade is better, but seriously. Three dates is all it’ll take for them to take a step back.”

Derek sighed deeply.

“If you’d seen Scott’s puppy dog eyes, you’d understand.”

“Kira’s got them, too,” he said.

“So, it’s a deal?”

“Fine,” he mumbled grudgingly. “It’s a deal.”

Scott cornered Stiles at the station the next morning. “So?” he asked eagerly. “How’d it go?”

Stiles almost spat out his coffee; he’d briefly forgotten about the nonsense that was his life. “Uh—good. We’re going to go out again on, uh, Friday,” he fabricated, nearly wincing. He’d have to let Derek know.

Scott lit up. “That’s awesome! I knew you two would get along.”

“Uh-huh, yep. It was great.”

“Where are you guys going?”

“Ummm…”

Scott beamed. “You should volunteer at the animal shelter!”

Stiles’s face must have done something weird.

“No, really. I know it sounds weird, but it’s actually a good way to get to know someone. Plus, cute animals and doing a good deed! It’ll be perfect, I have a friend who works there, and she can make sure you get an easy job, you won’t even have to clean up any poop.”

“Ah…”

Scott’s eyes rounded just a little.

Stiles sighed. “That sounds…fun. We’ll do that.”

“Great! Also, we got assigned to take statements for a robbery.” He grinned and clapped his shoulder before walking out of the break room.

Stiles rubbed his eyes and pulled his phone out. He was sure Derek was going to love the plan.

Stiles was in love. Their names were Snickers, Milky Way, and Kit Kat. “No, really. I’ll obviously take care of them, and Scott would love the story.”

Derek rolled his eyes. “And this is all for Scott’s benefit,” he muttered. He cleared his throat. “Wouldn’t Scott find it suspicious if you adopted two dogs and a kitten on our second date?”

Stiles held up Snickers, a three year old mix of some very small dogs. “I want him.”

“Don’t you have enough pets?”

“Scott obviously thinks I’m lonely.”

Derek scoffed.

Stiles set Milky Way in Derek’s lap. Technically, they were supposed to be bathing the dogs for the coming adoption fair, but Stiles considered pre-bath cuddles part of the bathing process. They deserved it.

“Do we really have to continue this?”

“Oh, what else did you have to do tonight?” Stiles scoffed.

“Unpack! And I could have had plans!”

He rolled his eyes. “It is one night out of your week. You can spare that much time for a fake date with your fake boyfriend.”

“This is only our second fake date, so I think you’re jumping ahead calling yourself my fake boyfriend. Fake boyfriend is after at least three fake dates, and you have to walk me to my fake door, and give me a fake kiss goodnight.”

“You’re very high maintenance,” Stiles observed, kissing Snickers on the nose. “Maybe I don’t want you to be my fake boyfriend.”

Derek smiled pleasantly. “Then you can tell Scott and Kira the truth.”

“Uh, you agreed, too. You’ll have to tell Kira.” Stiles lifted Snickers to eye level, staring into his sleepy brown eyes. “Look, pal, this is gonna be traumatizing for both of us,” he said seriously. “But I promise, I will be here for you the whole time. We’ll be quick and thorough.”

Snickers didn’t seem to mind the bath; he even seemed to enjoy the warm water and gentle massage.

“Dramatic,” Derek muttered while Stiles dried him off.

“Rude!”

The next day at the station, Scott and Allison Argent, another officer, looked way too eager to hear about his date.

“It went well,” Stiles said, feeling harangued. “We’re going, uh, out to eat on Saturday.”

“That’s so awesome! See, I told you I was a good matchmaker,” Scott boasted.

Allison’s eyes narrowed. “I guess. But historically, you really aren’t. You’re almost always terrible at setting people up.”

Stiles laughed awkwardly. “Well, he was bound to get lucky once, right?”

That made her relax a little, flashing a quick smile. “That’s true. Well, I’m glad your date went well. Tell us how Saturday goes!”

“Yep, sure.” He nodded maybe a little too enthusiastically, because they both stared at him. “Uh, I just remembered I have some paperwork left over. See you later!”

“So if they’re onto us,” Derek said on Saturday, “why don’t we just tell them the truth?”

They were at a restaurant, since they had to eat sometime, and it’d might as well be on their date.

“Because you didn’t see Scott’s face. He was so proud of himself for successfully setting me up.”

Derek nodded while staring at the table. “So, do you like him?”

“Sure, he’s-” Stiles caught on a second too late. “No, not like that.” He rolled his eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous. He’s the first friend I’ve made! I don’t want to crush his spirit.” He looked around the restaurant; at least four sets of eyes quickly looked away. Small towns. He smirked. “Hey, I had an idea.”

“Oh?” Derek did not look enthused.

“What if,” Stiles lowered his voice, “we kissed a little, here? I’m sure it’ll get back to them in a town this size, and they’ll know everything’s just as I said, and it’ll all be fine.”

Derek rolled his eyes. “If we kiss, they’ll know we aren’t dating.”

Stiles scowled at him. “What, you don’t want to kiss me?”

“You know-”

“Yes or no.” Stiles leaned forward and grinned. “Chicken?”

Derek grinned and leaned in, too. “Never.”

They were still kissing when someone cleared their throat right beside their table.

Stiles jerked back, flushing all the way to his hairline when he saw their audience. “Hey, Scott,” he said in a high pitched voice. “Whatcha doing here?”

Derek blinked. “Hi, Kira…Boyd.” His gaze darted over to the blond man and woman with them. “Date night?” he asked weakly.

“Nope,” the blonde woman said brightly. She leaned around Boyd and dropped something on the table.

Stiles stared at the matching silver rings.

“This is Isaac,” Scott said, gesturing at the blond man. “And Erica. We’ve all been friends since high school.”

“Hi,” Stiles said weakly.

“Isaac works at the Kenzie Jewelers on Main Street.”

“Oh?”

Derek dropped his head in his hands.

“Apparently, about four weeks ago—right before your first day at the museum, Derek,” Kira said brightly, “a man dropped off his and his spouse’s wedding rings for a cleaning.”

Scott picked up from there. “I was telling Isaac about my new partner, and how I set him up for a date with Kira’s new curator of prints and drawings, and you know, he said those names sounded awfully familiar.”

Stiles winced. “I can explain,” he said earnestly. He grabbed his ring and put it on, letting out a little sigh as it settled; he’d felt naked without it.

“Do tell. Please.” Kira crossed her arms.

Scott pulled the puppy eyes again.

Derek lifted his head. “Stiles didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.”

Scott made a face. “You could’ve just told me you were married.”

Stiles waved a hand frantically. “I tried! You kept interrupting me to tell me how great my husband was!”

Scott winced.

“And then,” he continued, “you told me his name, and I figured, hey, that’s fine, we’ll go on a date, no big deal. We could use a break from unpacking anyway. But then you were so excited that you successfully set someone up that I couldn’t come clean!”

Isaac let out a muffled snort.

Erica held up a hand. “So…Scott’s only success in matchmaking…was an already married couple?”

“Looks that way,” Boyd said. He glanced at Stiles and said, flatly, “He set me up with Isaac.”

Isaac pinched the bridge of his nose. “We all took an oath to never speak of that again!”

“The point is,” Scott said loudly, “you could have just told me. I wouldn’t have been upset.”

“I figured you’d just…back off, once we’d been on a few dates,” Stiles said weakly. He frowned at his wedding ring. “Why did the cleaning take so long, anyway?”

Derek rubbed his temple, avoiding eye contact as he put his own ring on.

“What, did you forget to pick them up or something?” he snickered.

“No, the cleaning only takes about fifteen minutes, maybe an hour if we’re really busy,” Isaac said cheerfully. “But since we’re the only jeweler in town, the engraving can take three or four weeks, especially near the holidays.”

Stiles’s mouth fell open. “What engraving?”

Derek sighed and reached for Stiles’s hand. He gently removed the ring and tilted it. “Merry Christmas,” he mumbled.

Stiles took it so he could read it. He smiled, then laughed at the engraving: Dramatic. He lifted his eyes and found Derek holding his own ring, tilted so he could see the engraving on that one: Rude.

“What does it mean?” Isaac asked. “We were all trying to figure it out.”

Stiles cleared his throat. “It’s the first thing we said to each other when we met.” He swiped at his nose surreptitiously. “We met in a bookstore back in New York; we ran into each other, literally, and I spilled hot coffee all over myself. I started swearing and…stuff, and Derek called me dramatic, I called him rude.” He shrugged. “We got some napkins and had lunch together.” He slid his ring on and rubbed his thumb over it. “I love it.”

Derek smiled at him. “It was supposed to be a surprise.”

Isaac winced. “I’m so sorry.”

“That’s alright.” Stiles snorted. “I get the feeling that secrets don’t survive long around here.”

“No,” Scott agreed, laughing.

Stiles leaned over the table to kiss Derek, because he had to. Then he looked up at their friends. “You guys should join us for dinner, since you’re already here.” He grinned. “We still have a ton of unpacking to procrastinate on, might as well do it right.”

Derek sighed. “The only things we’ve unpacked are the cats’ beds and food bowls.”

“Madame Socks can’t sleep unless she has her own bed, Derek. Tip can sleep anywhere!”

“Madame Socks is the oldest cat,” Derek explained with a grimace. “Tip is the dog.”

“This is so weird,” Scott said with some awe. “You guys are so married. I should have guessed.”

Stiles folded his hand in Derek’s. “Probably. I’m starving, seriously, if we don’t eat soon, there will be tears.”

Derek lifted his hand and kissed his knuckles. “Dramatic,” he murmured.

“Rude,” Stiles laughed.

[kuronanox]

Reminiscing - Izuru Kira

3 years ago

"Drinking tonight? But it's Thursday." Kira blandly says as he hands in his reports to Hisagi, but the older man just pats his back with excitement. "Ma! Don't feel so down! It's (Your Name) birthday dinner! Rangiku is setting everything up!" He cheers with a blushing face after closing his nose from bleeding.

"Why is your nose bleeding Hisagi San?"

"Be-be-because the theme is erotica."

"EHH?! I mean I don't really know (Your Name)!" Kira defends trying get away from such crowds, he rather be writing some haiku or a small gathering. "I already RSVP you Kira!"

He sighs and recalls that (Your Name) had been promoted 3rd seat recently for squad 10. "Don't tell me she is another Matsumoto San?"

Hisagi walks Kira off and bids a farewell until tonight.

(Your Name) agreed for Rangiku to throw her a birthday dinner because she was busy finishing all the paper work that her lieutenant absolutely refused to do. "Good job (Your Name) you can get off early since it is your birthday." Hitsugaya slightly smiles at her as she smiles back.

"Really Taicho?!"

"Yeah just make sure to get Matsumoto to wake up tomorrow so she can help you." Hitsugaya says returning to his paperwork.

(Your Name) smiles and runs out to her room to get changed and apply some make up. On her bed was a present already left from Rangiku it was a short kimono. "It's pretty revealing." She happily accepts it and wears it for the dinner because it was the only 'nice' thing she actually had to wear since she grew up poor.

"I wonder who Rangiku invited? She has a lot of friends and I'm pretty new. Hopefully Ikkaku and Yumichika are there because we are pretty close." She adds tying the kimono tightly and adding some lipstick before smiling at herself in the mirror. "Whatever, I'll have fun either way!"

Kira was pretty dead set about not going but Hisagi knew him to well and pulled the blonde man out of his own room as they walked to the restaurant together. "Did you get her anything?" Kira asks Hisagi as he happily hums some song from the world of living. "She didn't want anything!" He says back as Kira shakes his head in embarrassment.

"At least get her something if we go to her dinner."

"Well what did you give her?"

Kira sulking looks down at a wrapped rectangle and sighs. "Nothing much."

Hisagi notices and holds it. "Don't worry Kira! She's really friendly! She doesn't really want anything but if you don't want to show up empty handed then she will appreciate anything she receives."

By the time they arrived it was already rowdy inside, it was screaming from Ikkaku and Renji fighting over the last piece of gyoza on the plate. "DAMN RED HEADED PINEAPPLE THIS PIECE IS MINE!"

"THE LAST PIECE WILL BE GONE BY THE TIME YOU GROW HAIR!" Renji defends as they held each other in a lock as Yumichika protects (Your Name) by putting her by his side. "Insolent behavior, it's (Your Name) day have some manners." He stinkingly looks at the men and flips his hair.

"There's more coming out guys." Hinamori awkwardly says taking the last piece and places it on (Your Name) plate.

"Shuhei!" (Your Name) says running towards the taller man. "Oh is this Kira?" She says tilting her head. "Hi! I've heard so much good things about you! My name is (Your Name)." She introduces herself as Kira tried to smile and bow his head.

"Izuru Kira."

"Oi Kira!" Rangiku calls out patting the seat next to her! "Sake is on the house!" She screams already tipsy as he contemplated if he should drink or not tonight.

(Your Name) was happy tonight she was surrounded by so many friends.

"Your clothes (Your Name)." Shuhei says holding his nose. "What? I guess it goes with the theme Rangiku picked it out!"

Kira looks around, Renji and Ikkaku were shirtless while Yumichika wore a thin robe. Hinamori was wearing a short kimono but nothing to revealing like Rangiku and (Your Name). "Sorry we aren't dressed according to theme." Kira apologizes as he took a sip of the sake poured out for him.

"It's okay! Let's all have fun!" (Your Name) shouts with a sake bottle in her hand. The night was filled with laughter, food and lots of drinks. They played a numerous amount of drinking games so it led to drunken words and an excessive amount of compliments.

"We all know Shuhei jerks off to those magazines Ichigo's sister found one time!" Yumichika states as a matter of fact. "I-I do not!"

"Sounds like Hisagi San." Kira agrees blushing at the details.

"I forgot to tell you (Your Name) I knew the kimono would look good on you." Rangiku brings up as a drunken Kira looks up and watched the way it hugs her body showing every inch of legs and chest.

"WE COULD HAVE PICKED A DIFFERENT THEME!" Shuhei yells from the other side of the table stuffing his face with rice trying to ignore the two busty women infront of him. "Oh please, we can all appreciate women's beauty." Yumichika cooly says catching a drunken Ikkaku from falling.

"I agree! It's so pretty!" Hinamori chimes in with a giggle. "Right Kira kun?"

Kira turned a whole 360 when he was drunk he thought (Your Name) was beautiful already from first glance so he was already nervous to even attend the dinner.

"(Your Name) HAS ALWAYS BEEN BEAUTIFUL HINAMORI KUN! LOOK AT THE WAY IT FITS HER! THE MATURED BODY WOULD MAKE ANYONE SWONE, EVEN ME!" Kira blurts out jumping out of his seat waving his arms frantically. "IF I WAS LESS EMO I WOULD CONFESS SHE IS A PRETTY WOMAN, TAKE MY BABIES (Reader Name)!"

(Your Name) couldn't help but get embarrassed and blush, she looked away from Kira and drowned it by chugging down water.

"Ayy! Kira! You actually like girls? WAIT WAIT TAKE YOUR BABIES?!" Renji blurts laughing as the blonde man flicks Renjis forehead. "Kira! Did you just confess!" Rangiku yells pushing him closer to (Your Name).

"NO!" He screams trying to get away and endlessly starts ranting about how he didn't want Rose as the captain of the 3rd squad to cover up his embarrassment.

Present day

Kira rarely smiled but thinking about how he met her was a fond memory he liked to think about sometimes. That night he ended up throwing up in the grass along side Ikkaku. They have been dating for 2 and half years already. It was a huge shock for everyone when news got out that Kira had a girlfriend.

After the night of (Your Name) birthday party she and Kira would often hang out if they weren't busy and she initiated the first date between them because he was to shy to even admit to liking her. "Kira what are you smiling about?" His captain asks from across the room. "U-Um nothing, if you will excuse me." He tells Rose hiding the tint of red in his face.

Rose could only admire the couple. Rose knew from the start that Kira didn't fully accept him as Captain yet because he was still mourning over Gin, but over time (Your Name) kept telling Kira to give Rose a chance so Kira decided to give it a chance and recently the relationship has gotten better so far.

Kira waits for (Your Name) patiently to return from a mission that night. He cleaned her room and folded left over laundry she had tossed around in her room. He was trying to make time pass by faster. The mission was longer then he expected it to be. She was gone for almost a week, and he was starting to get gloomy again because her cheerfully presence wasn't around.

After about an hour he was falling asleep on her futon that he had laid out for her. Hearing footsteps coming closer to the room he gets up and stretches before opening the door.

"Kira? I didn't expect to see you tonight? You miss me that much already?" She teased him as he welcomes her in. "How was the mission?"

"Ehh, just tedious." She answers back falling into the futon dragging him with her. "Oi!"

"Mm I miss cuddles." She smiles rubbing her face into his chest as he caresses her hair. "Did you miss me Kira?"

"A little bit." He admits kissing her head softly as she looks up to him and smiles. "What are you thinking about Kira?"

"Old memories. Remember for your birthday I got you a haiku book while everyone else got you something better."

(Your Name) rolls her eyes at Kira. "Why is he always a downer."

Walking to her desk she shows Kira that the book is placed as decoration. "Shut up, I loved it."

He laughs lightly and pulls her back to him. "I'm so embarrassing when I'm drunk, I can't believe I said for you to take my babies."

"Oh my gosh, I remember you did yell that. It's not like we aren't doing that stuff now."

Kira blushes lightly and scoffs before laying her down on the futon and climbing on top.

"(Your Name) if you insist, I don't mind making it happen soon." He jokes connecting their lips together as she pulls him closer holding his head lovingly.

"Sure, make this night promising." (Your Name) deviously smirks.