#last year i got them both in one ten pull for each and was shocked

[tuprez]

also literally ehat. this was yesterday btw

[citruslullabies]

I have an idea! Imagine reader is in a (large) smiling critter costume like DogDay, only she's got her own animal going on (a lamb, to be precise!). They've been apart from each other for the longest time, but somehow manage to reunite and they are both relieved to see that the other is okay... Well, mostly. Reader is worried about DogDay's lack of legs, but she helps him out! Established relationship, please!

Oo! I love this idea!

Trigger warnings: mentions of blood and organs

Romantic/platonic: romantic

Requested by: anonymous

Category: fluff

Ship (romantic or platonic): Dogday x lamb!mascot!reader

Word count: 708

Sheep Herding Dog

It seemed like to get through this place, you had to blend in. And even then your safety wasn't guaranteed, just a small sliver of extra hope was given to you like the pennies in the universe's pocket.

By some miracle you found your old lamb smiling critter costume, it was dingy but in fairly good condition. So you continued your hunt inside your old mascot costume, having an objective now to stop the prototype and save them. You were walking around, the stench of blood rotting your nose cavities even through the thick fluffy helmet. It was awful.

But.. something seemed to catch your eye, or well, someone. Dogday, chained to a wall with blood everywhere surrounding him and matted into that old costume that was practically merged into him by now. His intestines were hanging out a bit but by some miracle he was still alive, barely hanging on and on his last foot. You slowly spoke up, taking the helmet off. “..Dogday? Rich..?” You slowly said, approaching cautiously. Unaware if he was just as dangerous as the others by now.

You and Rich were a power couple in the work space, balancing both personal lives and work well. You two had always loved each other but you had called in sick, and he didn't. You still remember how you were throwing up and your skin was breaking out into hives, but not running a fever. Maybe it was your body and your anxiety warning you that something bad was going to happen, but Rich still left. The Dogday mascot looked up at you slowly and recognized you almost immediately. “..Angel? It's been so long I.. what are you doing here..?”

He could only ask with a hoarse voice from his previous weeping and screaming of pain, but filled with relief to see a familiar face. One that he adored so much before this all happened. You stated at him in shock, before you quickly ran over to him and rested one hand over his side above the wound and the other on his face, tears threatening to escape you.

Which they did. You sniffled and had to swallow down your own sobs, looking at him with those wide sheepish eyes. “What happened to you?” You whimpered out, struggling to find the strength to do anything but look at him and cry. You were scared to try and pull his helmet off, not believing it was a helmet anymore at this point. He would've given you a smile if one wasn't already permanently on his face.

He sighed softly and as if forgetting his chains were there, tried to move his hands to hold your face but was met with the harsh reality. He pressed his forehead against yours instead, sighing.

“You have to leave, Angel.” He said softly, glad to know that at least he would die knowing you're okay. It's all he wanted before he knew that the cruel monsters of this place would eat him inside and out. But you shook your head and released a tiny sob, putting your helmet back on and looking at his confinements. You used your grabby hands to break them with haste, and quickly pulled him up into your chest and held him like you would a toddler.

“H-hold on, I got you!” you said with urgency, seeing the mini smiling critters and beginning to pick up the pace. No time to lose when your life's on the line, including your partners. You still loved him dearly, and it was clear he still did too. You had never seen another in the ten years you'd been apart and well, neither had he. Once you two made it to safety, you set him down carefully and analyzed the gaping wound and lack of legs. You sighed and hugged him tightly, before whispering. “What are we gonna do about your little.. situation?”

You asked softly, unaware of what to do. In which his response was a tired sigh with his head propped on your shoulder. “I don't know, Angel..” His legs were likely rotted at this point but maybe.. just maybe they weren't.

And you were willing to find out. He couldn't herd his sheep without legs, could he?

Thanks for requesting!

[wosowrites]

New Fear Unlocked (Mapi Leon x Reader)

Warnings: ⚠️swearing⚠️

A/n: i know germany was in the finals but for the sake of this story let’s say it was spain instead. based off this request:

Prompt: in which mapi makes a bad tackle against you in the euro final, ending your tournament and season.

"With Spain playing England in the Euro final, it’s important to talk about both teams. But the real surprise right now is the fact that Spain has actually made it this far. Why? Mapi Leon’s questionable defending."

"The real shock is usual defensive champion, María León’s rocky performance throughout this tournament."

"Spain’s number 16 is going to have to step up during this final or they’ll get crushed by the Lionesses."

"Another thing that needs to be talked about is the relationship between british superstar striker, Y/n Y/l/n who’s been having a great tournament and shockingly questionable María León, who’s given heart attacks to Spanish fans all over the world for her close calls and bad mistakes. Seeing this power couple for barcelona play each other in a final will be interesting."

"María. Get off your phone. You know better." Ona told the older woman in spanish, snatching her phone and plopping it in the defenders bag. "We play the biggest game of our lives in 45 minutes. The last thing you need is that device." Ona added. "I know. I know." Mapi said, pulling out her cleats and putting them on.

"Big game, y/n. How do you feel?" Your captain asked you. You were manspreading on the bench at your cubby, your forearms resting on your thighs, your head hung in thought. "I feel as though I want to make my country proud." You told Leah, looking up at her and smiling. "And…" She added. "And i’m terrified. Of hurting Mapi, of loosing, of making a mistake." You told her. Most of the team had headphones in, but you didn’t listen to music before games. Leah sat down beside you and looked at you. "You have already made your country proud, if we loose, we loose together, if you make a mistake, we have all got your backs. And you and María have been dating for three years, this will not be the end of your relationship. I promise you." Leah said, rubbing a hand up and down your back. "You’re right. You’re right." You said to her. She smiled at you and walked back to her cubby. You were starting today, and so was Mapi. It would be hard, and scary, and you didn’t know what tomorrow would look like.

You walked into the tunnel wearing your England kit and your england jacket. Your hair was in a tight messy bun on the top of your head, and Mapi was standing in line at the same spot you were. You gently reached out and squeezed her hand, she squeezed back and you made sure not to make eye contact with her. Today, she was the opponent, and nothing else.

You knew what the media was saying about your girlfriend, and it made your blood boil. When you talked to Mary Earps about it, she listened, but told you you couldn’t focus on that. She was right.

Soon, the referees started walking and you followed your squad out. You made your way into Wembley, the crowd bringing the most wild atmosphere you had every experienced. You lined up and the spanish national anthem started playing. You stood tall respectfully, it was your girlfriend home country and your clubs country after all. But when the english anthem played, you pushed your shoulders back, lifted your chin, put one hand on your heart and the other one behind your back. You sang, badly, but so was everyone else.

And then… kickoff.

You were a winger, which you thought really annoying for this exact game, because Sarina had put you left wing, and Mapi was right back, which means you’d be clashing throughout the game.

The first 20 minutes were dramatic. The pressure was sky high, the environment was wild, and at least ten fouls for both teams were called. But after that, it calmed down a bit.

The start of the second half was slow, everyone was freaking out, not wanting it to go to penalties. Leah was constantly having to yell at her squad to calm down and breathe. It was as though everything both teams had learned about staying calm and composed went flying out the window. And then, out of nothing, you received the most splendid ball from Keira Walsh. And then you were running, you took one touch, Mapi on one said, Ona Batlle on the other, and lifted the ball over the keeper and into the net.

Wembley went crazy. You ran as fast as you could towards then bench, arms wide, fans screaming, team yelling, atmosphere unmatched.

The kickoff happened three minutes later, and almost right away, England got the ball back and it was sent to Ella Toone. The woman received it perfectly, but then switched it to you. That’s when you felt an ankle collide with yours. You knew immediately something was wrong. Your ankle folded inwards and you yelled, loud enough for the stadium who were mostly holding their breaths to hear. You saw a cleat clear the ball away, and that’s when you saw the initials. Through your agony, even though you were rolling on the floor, crying and holding your ankle. You could see the initials ML on those cleats. The cleats that had just taken you out.

Leah, Ella and Chloe were soon at your side, calling over the medics. "What’s wrong?" Ella asked, crouching beside you. "Is she okay?" You asked a spanish voice say. "Get away from her. Right now." You heard Fran Kirby say. You ignored Mapi and Fran, too focused on the pain in your ankle. "I don’t know. But it’s wrong. Something is wrong." You cried, lying on your back and holding your ankle to your chest. You heard the stadium cheer and could only assume your girlfriend had gotten a yellow. You looked over to confirm your theory. Red.

She hadn’t done it on purpose. You knew that. You weren’t mad. Pained, sad, scared? Yes. Mad? No. You watched Mapi look at you with a look of despair before walking towards the tunnel. The medics were at your side now, touching your ankle and unlacing your cleat. As one of the men tried to take it off, you screamed loudly, putting your fist in your mouth to stay quiet. "It’s broken. For sure." The man whispered to the woman beside him. "Fuck." She muttered, looking at you.

You looked at the faces of your teammates, all of them broken to loose their goalscorer. "No." You cried. "No."

But the medics were waving over a stretcher, and you had pulled your jersey over your face, trying to hide your crying face. You kept it over your face as you got put into the stretcher, you hid your face as Leah whispered reassurance to you, you kept it hidden as the crowd stood up and cheered for you loudly. You kept it hidden as they carried you into the medical room and walked past Mapi, who was sitting against the wall in the entrance, crying almost as loudly as you were.

In the medical room, you had abandoned your shirt, wanting no recollection of the history making game being played only a few steps away from you. And then you heard screaming, but it wasn’t loud. Just loud enough to make it clear that the spaniards were happy. They had leveled the game. You started crying even harder. "We should really get you to a hospital y/n." One of the medics said. "Listen. My team is out there working their asses off to win the euros, and when we do, because we will, i’m going to walk out on that pitch in crutches and celebrate with them. Am I clear?" You told her. She nodded, and got out things to keep your ankle steady.

Mapi, who was now siting in the away locker room, was watching the game on the TV in there. And when Alexia scored, she couldn’t even find it in her to care. She just wanted to go back in time and not have fouled you. She just hoped you would forgive her.

The second your ankle was wrapped up and put in a boot, you stood up and used crutches to make your way back into the pitch. When you walked out, people went wild again, you smiled slightly, trying to seem brave through your surely puffy eyes. Sarina and some players walked up too you. Hugging you and congratulating you on your goal. You told them it was broken and your club season was over, they looked almost as sad as you did. It was only three minutes later that Chloe Kelly found the back of the net. She took off her shirt and ran around the stadium as you pumped your fists in the air, staying seated and yelling.

And then it was all over.

The spaniards fell to the ground, some of the lionesses did too, but for different reasons. You went as quickly as you could onto the pitch, but your crutches were bringing you nowhere.

You were angry, angry not at Mapi but at the media for making her feel as though she had something to prove, for messing with her mind. You saw Lucy Bronze run up to you. You stopped in your tracks and let your crutches fall, balancing on one foot and ignoring the pain in the broken one. She wrapped her arms around you, picking you up and letting you wrap your legs around her waist. You hugged her and cried, she did too, and then she put you on her back and carried you to the rest of the girls who started screaming and jumping and crying at the sight of you. The team, the managers, every person that made the lionesses, the lionesses came into a big group hug, while still being mindful of your ankle.

It was when people started going to find their families and friends in the crowd that Millie sat you down in the middle of the field, asked if you were okay and then left to find her boyfriend that it sunk in. That everything sunk in. That England were european champions, that you had scored in a euro final, that you’re ankle was broken because of the love of your life, and that the only person you wanted to see was crying by herself in the away locker room. You didn’t have anyone else. Your family was on the pitch, in barcelona, and on the opposite team. Your parents were deadbeat, all your friends were football players, and you have never felt this emotion before. The crossover between feeling lost, and feeling pure and utter joy.

The trophy lift was unreal, the smiles on people’s faces, unmatched. But when fans started leaving, and England made their way into the changing rooms, you parted from the group with Sarinas permission. You made your way instead to the Spanish locker room. The whole corridor was silent, and what broke the silence was your first rapping against the door. Aitana Bonmati, another one of your Barcelona teammates opened the door. Her eyes were puffy, her cheeks were wet, and at the sight of her you started crying as well. And not the happy tears from the trophy lift. "I’m sorry." You hiccuped. Aitana abandoned the door and hugged you tightly, mindful of your crutches. "It’s okay darling. Shh." She said lovingly. You felt bad for having her comfort you. You pulled away and saw the spanish team in the changing room, the head coach looked like he didn’t want you there at all, and in all honesty, you were scared of him. Mapi was nowhere to be seen. "I need to talk to María." You told Aitana.

She nodded stiffly and walked into the bathroom connected to the changing room. A minute later, Mapi walked out. Her eyes were puffy and bloodshot, she was shaking and she couldn’t look at you. She walked into the hallway and stood in the middle of the corridor. You closed the changing room door, struggling a little. "I’m so-" Mapi started saying. "Don’t apologize. You have nothing to apologize for. You made… a bad tackle. Yes. But you would have never, ever done that if it wasn’t for the media and what people were saying. They got to you. And I hate that. I hate it." You said, sniffling and playing with the medal around your neck.

Mapi looked up and you, her lower lip shaking. "Really? You’re not breaking up with me?" Mapi said.

You looked at her sadly. "Put your back against the wall." You told her.

She raised her eyebrows, using her tattooed palm to wipe away her teary cheeks. She didn’t argue though, placing her back on the wall and looking at you in confusion. You used your crutches to walk over to her, placing yourself in front of her. Balancing on one foot, you took both crutches and leaned them against the wall beside Mapi. You put your hands on her stomach, feeling her rock hard abs. And then you kissed her. You kissed her to tell her you loved her, and you forgave her, and you were sorry Spain lost. And she kissed you to tell you she loved you, she was sorry for injuring you, and she was so proud you had won.

Because after all, it was always going to be Mapi and Y/N, Y/N and Mapi.

[xspeter]

could u write something for carl grimes where the reader and him reunite? set in like season 4 after carl and rick think judith had been killed. and like the reader was with judith and ran her away from danger but carl and rick didnt know until they saw them both again?

INNOCENT

carl grimes x fem!reader

you never imagined you’d be in an apocalypse at 14 years old, let alone taking care of the sister of your friend alone.

➪ thank you sm for the request!

-

“it’s okay, it’s okay, please judith- just stop crying!” you begged, doing your best to scavenge for something, anything, that was suitable for a baby to eat.

being in an apocalypse was already hard, but having to take care of a baby as well as your self in an already cruel world? it might as well have been suicide.

you could hear the walkers getting closer, five maybe ten of them? when you could hear their footsteps practically in front of you you decided to just give up on your scavenging and run.

you seemed to be doing a lot of that lately, running. you had always known the governor was dangerous, rick worried about him practically every second of the day, but you never really understood just how dangerous he really was.

that’s probably why when he finally did attack, you were anything but prepared. carl had warned you that things weren’t going to end up all sunshine and rainbows, that people were probably going to die.

you wish he was still there to knock some sense into you.

you have no idea what happened to him, really you had no idea what had happened to anyone. for all you knew everyone was dead.

you decided not to think about as you stumbled into a neighborhood. a nice neighborhood. “maybe things are looking up for us jude..” you murmured, holding the baby closer to your chest.

-

you scavenged a house, going through drawers and cabinets. it looked like mostly everything had been taken, so you decided to check the upstairs. right when you were beginning to ascend the stairs, you heard a growling coming from one of the rooms.

you took a deep breath and set judith down in the bed in front of you, pulling out your knife and rounding the corner towards the room. the door was closed, and as you looked closer at it you noticed the words written on it.

“walker got my shoe, but it couldn’t get me.”

you let out a breath as you realized whoever had said written that was probably close, and people close could mean your group.

you smiled as you ran to get judith, she seemed to notice your mood and began clapping her hands as you perched her on your hip.

running out of the house, you began to look inside each and every window. “cmon.. please be here.” you muttered as you looked in the last houses window.

there were open cans and a couch seemingly pushed against the door, and on top of the couch was… a hat.

a sheriffs hat.

“carl…” you gasped, beginning to pound on the door. you heard the sound of a couch being moved, and you did your best to make yourself atleast a little presentable.

when the door opened, you gave a sad smile to the broken man standing before you. rick seemed to be bruised all over, his hair torn in patches. “hi, rick.” you smiled as he dropped to his knees, his eyes never leaving his daughter.

you gently handed her over to him as he began to burst into tears, when you looked behind him to the boy staring at you in shock. carl. your smile seemed to get impossibly wider as he stood next to his father, tears in his own eyes.

he looked up at you, a smile on his lips. “thank you, thank you, thank you,” he repeated like a mantra as he hugged you tighter than you’ve ever been hugged before.

“it was really no problem, really!” you reassured, fighting your own tears. carl smiled as he pulled you tighter against his him.

you were finally home.

-

i hope this was okay! this was my first request like ever so i was a little stressed lol

©️ 𝐱𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫

[ladykailitha]

Royal Pain Part 9

Hello! Thank you so much for the out pouring of support last time. I love that everyone loved the tattoo idea. If you want to see a basic idea of what it would look like, check the reblogs of part 8 (though if I had the energy I would throw into an editing program I’d skinny up the sword a bit and make the wings wider).

We meet the candidates for the apprenticeship and we learn the history of Jeff’s tattoo (warning for racism and bad cops) and Eddie’s reason for the wings.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8

*

Steve walked back to the front the little paper in his shaking hands.

“I’ve already had a couple people this morning asking about the apprentice gig,” Robin told him. “When should I have them come in?”

Steve rubbed him bottom lip thoughtfully. “I don’t have to go to Dustin’s until 5pm on Sunday, so have them all come at 10am then.”

Robin nodded. “He choose a design then?” she asked, nodded to the paper in his hand.

Steve nodded back his lips pressed together as he handed it to her to scan.

She looked down at it in shock. “He picked this one?”

Steve nodded again, unsure if he could trust himself to speak.

“This is going to take a long time and a lot of money,” Robin whispered. “He’s aware of that, yeah?”

“Yeah,” Steve croaked. “He knows. He was very insistent and is able to pay for it. All of it.”

Robin nodded. “Then let’s get this bad boy printed for him then.”

She printed it into three pieces. One for each wing and one for the sword.

When he came back into the room, Eddie was laying on his chest with his shirt off. Steve licked his lips as his eyes trailed down the plains of Eddie’s back to where it dipped into the man’s jeans.

This was going to be a lot harder than he thought it was going to be.

“Okay,” Steve said after taking a moment to compose himself. “What we are going to do is trace the outlines and then we’ll spend two to three hours each week, working on it. It will probably take about ten to twelve weeks, doing it once a week. So if you want to move it up two days a week, I would recommend that.”

Eddie twisted to face him. “Yeah, I figured it was going to take some time. When I set up my appointments with Robin, I’ll make sure to do twice a week.”

“Sounds good,” Steve said, pulling on the latex gloves and sitting down. He scooted as close to Eddie as he could and picked his gun.

“You know,” he murmured over the sound of the gun. “I don’t think you ever said why you wanted the tattoo so badly you waited to find the right person to do it for you. And thanks for trusting me with it by the way.”

“You’re welcome,” Eddie said. “The work you did on Jeff’s tattoo was phenomenal. It was a very personal tattoo for him and you made it special. Did he tell you how got the scar he wanted you to cover up?”

Steve hummed, placing the first stencil down. “Yeah, something about how when Miranda and him first starting dating, someone called the cops on him, thinking he was kidnapping her. And how despite both of them saying they were on a date and Jeff having his hands up, the cop still fired, hitting his right arm.”

Eddie nodded. “It was messed up. He thought for sure Miranda was going to book it, but they stayed together and it’s been five years now.”

“So he got it for the fifth anniversary?” Steve asked, concentrating on the outline.

“Yeah,” Eddie said. “It was Miranda’s suggestion, actually.”

“They seem like great people.”

Eddie smiled fondly. “The best. I think he’s still working up the courage to ask her to marry him.”

Steve laughed. “He better hurry up otherwise Robin might try and steal her from him.”

Eddie laughed too. “Well considering they both swing for both teams, she might actually have a chance.”

“Oh god,” Steve said as he finished the first wing. “Don’t tell Robin that. She might actually try. And I don’t want to mess up a good thing, you know?”

“Fair.”

Eddie chewed on his bottom lip a moment. “But, yeah, the tattoo. It’s to commemorate a poor boy from the trailer park making it in the big city to play music for a living. Actually fucking making it.”

Steve smiled. “And the bat wings were for the aesthetic?”

“Hell yeah they are,” Eddie replied with a grin. “But, holy shit, Stevie. The sword of fucking Kas...it’s like you read my mind or some shit.”

Steve lifted the gun as he laughed. “Nah, I just listened when you and Dustin talked about it.”

Eddie adjusted himself in the chair and loosened the muscles in his shoulders a bit. He settled and nodded. “You did really good, sweetheart. I love it.”

They just fell into conversation as easy as breathing and far too soon Steve was done with the outline.

Steve pulled off his gloves, having set aside the gun already. “Go on, it’s not much to look at right now, but the bare bones are pretty fucking all right.’’

Eddie immediately bounced to his feet to go look in the mirror. He turned every direction and after a moment of watching him Steve stood up with a large hand mirror and tilted it until Eddie could see his back.

Eddie let out a gasp. “Holy fucking shit. This is going to be so epic. I can’t wait!”

Steve smiled fondly. “I’m glad it’s starting out okay, at least.”

Eddie grinned at him through the mirror. “It’s absolutely wicked.”

“Do you have someone who can rub the lotion on your back?” Steve asked, biting his bottom lip.

Eddie nodded. “The guys have offered to take turns helping me with it until it’s done.”

Steve hummed. He was a little disappointed. He was going to offer to do it for him. But it was a bit of a relief, knowing Eddie had such good friends that were willing to take care of him.

“That’s sweet of them,” he murmured, taking the time to gently wrap the tattoo the best he could in Saran wrap to protect it on the way home.

Eddie scoffed. “They only offered because they’re excitable children who want a sneak peak at the tattoo before anyone else.”

Steve huffed out a laugh. “Yeah, okay. That sounds like what I’d seen of them.”

Eddie turned around once Steve was done and grinned at him. “Am I going to see you at Nightmare Holes again this weekend?”

Steve winced. “I want to but I can’t this weekend. I’m meeting a couple people on Sunday morning morning and I cannot be hungover for that.’

Eddie huffed out a small chuckle. “Maybe.”

Steve shoved at him playfully. “I’ll make it up to you. Why don’t you come over again next Monday and I’ll make dinner for us again.”

Eddie’s eyes lit up. “That sounds great, wha’cha making?”

“What do you like?” Steve asked as he cleaned up. “Italian, Chinese, Mexican? Something else? I’m sure I could find a good recipe in time.”

Eddie tapped his lip with his index finger thoughtfully. “Can you do sesame chicken?”

Steve grinned. “Oh, I knew there was a reason I liked you. I love sesame chicken and have a kick ass recipe, I think you’ll love.”

Eddie grinned back. “Can’t wait pretty boy.”

Steve flicked his cleaning rag at Eddie’s ass. “Now go on, some of us poor schlubs have to work hard for our living, rock star.”

Eddie laughed in delight as he skipped away from Steve’s deadly aim with his rag. He got to the door and saluted, before turning on his heel and walking back to the front desk, shirt in hand.

*

Steve picked up a dozen donuts and coffees for him and Robin. Robin had already gone in to open the shop for the interviewees so he felt he owed it to her to at least get her coffee and donuts.

When he got to the shop he was a little surprised how many cars were out front. They couldn’t all be there for the apprenticeship, could they? He walked into see the entire waiting room filled with applicants.

He turned to Robin and she looked as shocked as he was. He set the donuts in front Robin’s desk and handed her the coffee.

“Hello,” he said turning around to greet the...he quickly counted, the six hopefuls. “I’m Steve Harrington and welcome to Royal Pain. You’re all welcome to have a donut and we have water and paper cups over to the side.” He gestured to where it was and most head turned to see where he meant.

“Is this really a tattoo parlor, man?” one of the applicants asked. He was what Steve would have stereotyped a California surfer boy. Bleach blond hair that fell to his shoulders, tanned skin, dark blue eyes that were currently glaring at Steve.

Steve let his shoulders roll back as he regarded the man in question. “What? The bright, colorful design precludes it from being a place people come to get tattoos, how?”

The guy leveled another glare at Steve and then leapt to his feet. “Whatever, this blows. I’m out of here.” He stormed out, pushing the door so hard it clanged against the wall harshly.

Steve looked at the remaining five. “Anyone else have a problem with the aesthetics?”

There were people that exchanged glances, but they ended up all shaking their heads no.

“Good.”

A pretty blonde girl with bright green eyes and a sparkling smile raised her hand.

“Yes?” Steve asked pointing at her.

“Not to be lumped in with the asshole that just left,” she began shyly, “but I really don’t see any tattoos on you and, well...”

Steve grinned. “And it makes it a little hard to trust me as a tattoo artist, right?”

She nodded, her high pony tail bouncing as she did.

Robin rolled her eyes, but wisely said nothing. Steve showed her his right forearm. “I didn’t do this one, this is the first tattoo I got though.” It was of a small vanilla ice cream cone. “I got this after my first real job at an ice cream shop that burned down.”

A lot of eyebrows shot up at that, but no one uttered a word.

He pulled at his collar showing a female robin on his shoulder right below the clavicle. “Got this one when my best friend turned twenty-one. She has a matching tattoo in the same place.”

He pulled up his shirt to show a lion devouring a bloody heart on his right side. “My friends called my lion-hearted, my detractors called me a bleeding heart, so I got this.”

Steve put his shirt down. “Yeah, I don’t look like your stereotypical tattoo artist that has their whole body covered in tats. But I’m one of those weirdos that only gets a tattoo if it means something to me. But make no mistake I’m good. I have had this shop for three years and only been a tattooist for five. And I’m taking on apprentices because this shop is so busy I need the help to lighten the load.”

The girl blushed. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay,” he said, heaving a heavy sigh. “People who look like me don’t usually become tattoo artists and I think that’s stupid. It shouldn’t just be a certain kind of person that has dyed black hair, piercings, and their body of work all over their body.”

She nodded. “I get what you mean.”

Steve smiled at her. “I figured you would.” He knew that if she was any good, he was going to pick her, hands down.

“Right,” he said turning his attention back to everyone. “I wasn’t expecting so many of you and I realize that isn’t fair to you. If you have somewhere else to be today, make an appointment with Robin,” he cocked his head her direction, “and I’ll meet with you personally at another time. But otherwise, I’ll have Robin call you in the order you arrived and we’ll talk in my room.”

He clapped his hands. “First, let’s give you a tour of the place and if you decide it’s not for you. No hard feelings. Except that guy.” He winked at them and they laughed.

He showed them his room and the other rooms that would be for the apprentices to practice in or once they got their own chair if they stayed, it would become their room.

One of the other guys decided that it wasn’t for him and Steve was left with four remaining hopefuls.

And what a strange bunch they were, too. He had the prep girl, but he also had a native boy that while he didn’t look the part of the surfer dude, embodied it with his very soul. If the guy got brought on, Steve would have to pull him aside and make sure he didn’t do marijuana at work, because the guy looked a little baked at the moment. He also had a Goth chick complete with the tattoos and piercings, and dyed black hair. She stuck out like a sore thumb, if Steve was honest. And the final hopeful was  this squirrely looking guy with dark wavy brown hair.

All of them had more tattoos than Steve did.

He sighed to himself. He wasn’t sure this was going to work out. He knew he shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, better than most, but still as he looked at the remaining applicants he felt a little disappointed.

He sighed and went back to the office to wait for Robin to call the first one in. It was going to be a long day.

***

Part 10  Part 11 Part 12  Part 13 Part 14  Part 15  Part 16  Part 17  Part 18 Part 19  Part 20  Part 21   Part 22  Part 23  Part 24  Part 25 Part 26  Part 27  Part 28  Epilogue

Look, I love Robin with all my heart, but we all know the reason she didn’t ask Vickie out wasn’t that she had a boyfriend, but that her partner was a boy. She would 100% back off if told to, but she would so go for it if she thought had a chance. (Looking at you Ronance shippers, if you think that Robin was flirting with Nancy in the Upside Down, Nancy was still with Jonathan at the time.)

Tag List: @spectrum-spectre @estrellami-1 @zerokrox-blog @artiststarme @swimmingbirdrunningrock @gregre369 @pyrohonk​ @renaissan-vvitch @goodolefashionedloverboi @chaoticlovingdreamer @maya-custodios-dionach @messrs-weasley @val-from-lawrence @plyerice27 @thedragonsaunt @chaoticlovingdreamer @sapphirecobalt-1 @a-little-unsteddie @i-must-potato @danili666 @carlyv @rozzieroos @wonderland-girl143-blog @itsall-taken @justforthedead89 @emly03 @bookworm0690 @aizawa-emma @redfreckledwolf @thesuninyaface @bookbinderbitch @yikes-a-bee @littlewildflowerkitten @scheodingers-muppet @archermightbegay @hallucinatedjosten @ellietheasexylibrarian @anne-bennett-cosplayer @cinnamon-mushroomabomination 

[bluejaysandblackbats]

Eyes and Ears

Fandom: DC Comics, Batfam

Summary: An AU where Barbara finds Jason instead of Bruce.

Chapters: 20/?

Characters: Jason Todd, Barbara Gordon, Jim Gordon, Dick Grayson, Bruce Wayne, Sheila Haywood, Original Character(s)

Relationship(s): Jason Todd/Original Character(s), Past Barbara Gordon/Dick Grayson

Additional Tags: Canon Divergent AU, Older SIbling Barbara Gordon, Jason Todd-centric, Barbara Gordon is Oracle, Jason Todd is NOT Robin, Jason Todd Has Issues, Jason Todd Has a Crush, Adopted Siblings

Chapter Twenty: Bash/Ball

"Let me get one more picture," Jim smiled. Jason's shoulders slumped, and he sighed. "It's your first dance. I just want to make sure I get enough pictures. Now, Barbara, come take a picture with your brother—."

"Pop," Jason complained. Jim's eyes widened as he motioned for them to stand close to each other.

Jason held his cape up to his face as he stood next to Barbara. He looked over at her and whispered, "I'm Batman," in a gruff voice. Barbara let out a laugh, and Jim snapped a picture of the two of them laughing.

"This is the last picture, I promise," Jim whispered as he put the camera on a timer and set it on the kitchen counter. "I tested it earlier. Stand right here," Jim replied as he took one photo with Barbara and Jason. After that, Jason said goodnight to Barbara and followed Jim down to the car.

Jim waited a while before pulling off, and he handed Jason his wallet. "Get a twenty out of my wall—."

"You've got a picture of me in here," Jason whispered.

"Well, I think it'd be awful hard to brag about you without a visual," Jim joked, "But really, you're my son. Why wouldn't I have your picture in my wallet? Before this year is over, I'll probably have to build a mantle or something for all the new pictures."

Jason smiled as Jim drove. "I love you, Pop," Jason whispered. Jim took a deep breath so that he wouldn't get all choked up, and he smiled.

"I love you too, Son," Jim whispered, "And I want you to have fun tonight. If you don't call me to pick you up early, I'll be back for you at midnight."

"Do these things really run until midnight?" Jason asked. Jim nodded. "Wow. And you're okay with me staying the whole time if I wanna?"

"Yeah, why not. You stay at school 'til ten p.m. most nights, what's two hours difference?" Jim smiled. Jason put on his mask in the mirror. "I know you didn't go last year, but I was wondering if you were gonna go trick-or-treating with your friends this year?"

"I can still do that?" Jason asked. Jim nodded. "Well, I'll probably just go with Barbara or Reese and A.J. if they wanna go."

"You're not gonna ask the girls?" Jim asked.

"No, they go out of town for Halloween," Jason replied.

"A.J. and Reese are those football boys, right?" Jim asked. Jason nodded and chuckled.

Jim dropped Jason off at the dance and waved goodbye, and Jason entered the ballroom. He walked around the ballroom looking for his friends, and he was approached by a girl who told him he couldn't reveal his identity as part of the ball's theme. Jason nodded and adjusted his posture. Jason figured that if he was going to hide his identity, he might as well play a character. Jason got something to drink and stood with his back against the wall, holding his cup away from him and watching the other kids dance with his nose in the air. Jason committed to playing his own opposite for the night. He walked around the ballroom with his nose in the air. It wasn't until a boy much taller than him brushed his hand and he froze. Jason grabbed his hand, and they both stood there frozen in a crowd of people. The taller boy leaned down to whisper in Jason's ear. "May I have this dance?" he asked. Jason nodded.

"Perhaps," Jason replied as the boy led Jason in one slow dance before disappearing into the crowd. It wasn't until Jason snapped out of the shock of what just happened that he realized who he'd danced with. Jason didn't chase him. Instead, he walked out to the balcony and started pacing back and forth in a panic. A teacher dressed as a plague doctor came out and nudged him back inside, but Jason didn't recognize the voice. He obeyed despite his instincts to ask who the man was. He went back inside and decided to search for his friend.

Not too long after, he heard a loud pop and a hissing noise, and the last thing he remembered was the burning sensation in his eyes. He woke up in the emergency room feeling sick to his stomach. His hands shook violently as the lights burned his eyes. He couldn't see clearly. His throat was sore from whatever chemical he must've inhaled, barely managing to mutter a hoarse warning that he was going to be sick. He vomited into a sick bag and lay back. A hand touched his forehead and made sure the oxygen tubes were in his nose. "I've got you, son," Jim whispered, "Do you remember anything?"

Jason shook his head. His vision was still blurred from the chemicals, and he couldn't see who else was in the room with him. "Jason, literally anything. Try to think," Jim urged him.

"Plague doctor took me back inside," Jason mumbled. His head ached, and he felt pins and needles all over his body as if he couldn't come down from panic. He reached to touch his eyes, and Jim grabbed them. "I wanna go home."

"Jason, we don't know what you were hit with. Every emergency room in Gotham is packed with kids from your school, and it sounds like you're all going to be held overnight for observation," Barbara explained.

Jason closed his eyes and tried to calm down. Jim sighed. "We're not leaving your side, I promise," Jim reassured. Jason took a shaky breath. Barbara reached over and squeezed his hand. "We're thinking it's some sort of fear toxin, but it's not like anything we've ever seen..."

"Who called 9-1-1?" Jason asked.

"You called me," Jim whispered, "You don't remember calling me at all?" Jason shook his head and opened his eyes once more. The room was a little clearer to him, and he could see their faces.

Barbara tried to mask her anger, but Jason could see it written all over her face. She was furious. He couldn't tell if she was mad at him or at the situation, but he felt like he'd failed her. Jim seemed more concerned than anything. "I don't remember anything... I'm sorry," Jason whispered. Barbara stormed out of the room without so much as a word. Jason looked over at Jim.

"She's not mad at you. She just wants to know how this happened," Jim comforted Jason. Jim sat down by Jason's bedside. "It'll probably be out of your system by morning. I know you're probably still feeling a little anxious." Jason nodded and took another deep breath. "You didn't say much on the phone. You just told me there was gas at the school and that everyone was trapped."

[succubus-interactivefiction]

Merry Xmas all, here's a small present, one of the possible endings for Help! I Got Isekaied as a Lamia!!.

Please keep in mind that this is just the template for this one ending and it will change based on the MCs actions during the story, but I like having the base set so I can come in and alter it as needed. There will be a different ending based on each background the MC has and each of these will change based on many of the actions taken in the story. So this is just the had a good childhood background. The other two will be the on her own and the homeless endings.

OH! Potential Spoilers!!

Has it been two whole years since $name died? Glancing at the calendar on the wall next to her, Tyra sighs sadly; it has—two years since her heart was ripped from her. Of course, she wasn't the only one still suffering from the loss of her daughter; her beloved wife, Jennie, had to deal with the pain as well, and for her, it may have been worse. Finding $name crying, alone, abandoned in an alley on the same day she had learned she would never be able to bear children had a profound effect on Jennie; she believed that some higher power sent the child to them.

So, while Tyra took their daughter's death and the subsequent disappearance of her corpse hard for Jennie, it had been utterly devastating. For the first year, she had been practically catatonic, barely getting out of bed unless Tyra forced her to, and anytime she had tried to help Jennie feel better, it had backfired, resulting in some genuinely terrible fights. It had all spiraled until Tyra could no longer take it and came close to moving out and divorcing the love of her life, but seeing Tyra preparing to leave had snapped Jennie out of her state enough that she realized her wife had also been suffering. In the end, it leads them to counseling in an effort to repair the damage to their marriage and themselves.

Two years.

Two awful years.

She would give anything to have her daughter returned to her, anything at all. Even if the world had to burn, Tyra would not care as long as she and Jennie could hold their daughter again.

These thoughts consumed her when she felt a pair of arms slip around her waist and pull her away from the pile of dishes she had been trying to clean.

"Love, you have been scrubbing the same plate for nearly ten minutes." Shocked, Tyra looked down at the plate in her hand.

"Oh"

"Where is your mind at sweetheart?" She knew, of course, she knew. Tyra twisted in her wife's arms to turn and hug her back.

"With $name," Jennie's face dropped as Tyra spoke, and she pushed her face against Tyra's chest to hide the tears. Her wife squeezed the shorter Jennie tightly. "I know, love; I'm sorry, but I can't help it."

Still sniffling, Jennie pulls back and stares into her wife's chocolate-brown eyes. "No, you don't have to apologize. It still hurts for both of us. I just, I'm so sorry for how I treated you last year. It was selfish, and I…" Her sentence cuts off as Tyra leans in and kisses her gently.

"It's in the past, love." Moving her lips from Jennie's, Tyra moved to her forehead and gently kissed her wife. " We are getting better, and that's what matters now."

With no more words between them, the two simply held each other tightly for a moment, but even as they began to part, the entire house lurched. The ground beneath them seemed to heave, and bright flashes, followed by screaming, began to filter in from outside.

"Was that an earthquake?" Tyra shook. Earthquakes terrified her; it was one of the reasons she had moved away from home all those years ago.

"Impossible, we don't get those here." Even as Jennie spoke, there was another upheaval, this one so bad they could hear their house practically falling apart around them. But that wasn't the strangest thing to happen; it was the odd voice that suddenly seemed to come from thin air all around them.

//Alert! Alert! Emergency translocation is incomplete, and damage to targeting sensors is preventing the accurate placement of Ariel citizens. Initiating emergency deployment. Prepare for possible damage to surrounding infrastructure.//

"What the fuck was that?!"

Tyra shook her head at her wife's question as the two lay curled on the floor in each other's arms, "I have no idea."

Another shockwave hit, and it felt like the entire world suddenly turned upside down for a brief moment before a flash of light emanated from the living room, and the sound of something large hitting the ground crashed into their home. "//That light//," Tyra thought, "//It's just like the day $name appeared.//" As if to confirm what was on her mind, a familiar voice echoed from the living room, and the two women froze as they stared at each other in shock.

"Owowow. Fuck that hurt!! System, did you have to drop me so hard??"

Tyra and Jennie stared at each other for a moment as if each were trying to confirm what they had just heard.

"Hey, System? System?? Come on, babe, answer me!"

The two women leaped to their feet, dashed through the mess their kitchen and dining room had become, and ran into the front room, only to stop and stare in terror. "Is that a snake?" Jennie leaped behind her wife as she stared in fear at the vast tangle of $scale colored coils.

"Jesus, I think so, it's huge…but I thought I heard.."

"Me too, I was certain…" Jennie froze as a voice came from the tangle of reptilian scales now dominating their living room.

"Mom?"

Both women stared in awe as a human hand poked out from the scales, followed by a second, and a familiar form pulled herself out of the tangle. Tyra and Jennie stared at their daughter in shock as they took in their child's odd features. Scales on her cheeks, shoulders, arms, and even her ears were different, but there was no doubt in either of their minds that this was their daughter.

"$name?"

"MOMMY!"

Jennie had no time to react as her child lunged forward, her arms wrapping around both women's necks and taking them to the ground. Even as Tyra lay frozen in shock, Jennie began to cry. $name hadn't called her mommy since she was nine and declared that only babies called their mothers mommy.

"Is, is it really you?" Tyra reached up and ran her hand through the familiar $hairc hair she had spent so much time brushing.

"Ma." Even as $name began to nuzzle into her neck, Tyra could no longer hold it in and burst into tears along with her wife and daughter. Two years of pain and anguish seemed to unravel as the tiny family was reunited. But yet more surprises were about to come as Jennie noticed the mass of scales shift from the corner of her eye.

"IT'S MOVING! Get back $name!" She tried to pull her little girl away from the giant snake, but her fingers found her child's skin abruptly shift to scales beneath her touch.

"What?"

"It's fine, Mom, just gimme." The entire mass shifted again and seemed to begin untangling itself. "A moment too," pushing herself up, her mother stared in shock as $name came to stand, and they realized that what they thought had been a snake was, in fact, their daughter. "So, I got a new look while I was away…surprise." Even the playful smile and jazz hands did nothing to lessen the shock $name's parents now felt.

"But, just, what? How?"

"I think what your mom is trying to say is," Tyra gestured to the huge mass of scales still shifting and slowly wrapping around her daughter's lower half to clear space in the now destroyed living room. "What is all this, how are you alive, and why are you here now?"

"Uh, yeah, okay, so sit down," Looking over her shoulder, $name blanched for a moment as she stared at the crushed couch. "Or don't, okay, where to start…um, well, I was never human."

The next hour was a whirlwind for Tyra and Jennie as their beloved daughter began to explain what had happened to her over the past two years, why she was now what she called a lamia, and how she came back to them. They both sat with $name, each one now wrapped comfortably in their daughter's coils as she finished her story.

"Wait, so let me get this straight: you're a Princess?"

"Yup"

"From another world?"

"Mhmm"

"Okay"

"Okay?" $name stared down at Tyra with a confused look. For her part, Tyra simply shrugged.

"Yes, okay. You're our daughter. It doesn't matter where you were born or how you came to us; that will never change, scales or not."

"I knew it!" Tyra and $name both turn to Jennie, a massive smile on her face. "I knew isekai was real!"

"//Of course, that's where my anime fanatic wife's mind goes.//" Tyra smiles at the thought.

Even as $name began to say something in response, a scream echoed from outside, followed by shouting. It sounded like a mob, and before either woman had a chance to react, they found themselves on the floor as their lamia daughter smashed her way through the small front door and into the yard, the single scream from before now turning into a wave of terrified yelling.

Without hesitation, the two follow as fast as they can to find their daughter bent over a small child, whispering gently as she shields the girl from a mob. It takes Tyra a moment to register that the girl in her daughter's arms has furry ears and furry, crooked legs.

"It's okay, Leilei. I got you. We'll find your mama as soon as we can." $name gestures towards them as she continues speaking. "These are my mom's. They'll look after you while I deal with this mob, okay?"

Jennie, running on autopilot, accepts as her daughter shifts the tiny Satyr girl into her arms, instinctively holding the trembling girl who now stares up at her with tears in her eyes. Jennie's only response to this is to smile at her gently, even as Tyra shifts to stand between the two and the mob. Neither one questions how their daughter knows this strange girl, only that she has entrusted the child's safety to them, and that's all they need.

"Now!" $name shifts, snapping her gaze toward the large group of people, some of whom have weapons in hand, but she does not seem afraid. She looks furious as her entire bulk ripples with power. "How dare you threaten a child, for that I am going to make you pay."

Even as $name lunges towards the group, many of whom turn to flee, Tyra smiles, pride filling her heart. This is HER daughter.

[baronessblixen]

Playing to Win

Prompts are: Eight Nights of Mulder, day 6 - dreidel + X-Mas Files Challenge - trapped in a car during a snowstorm

Summary: Mulder and Scully have to sit out a snowstorm in their car. (UST; wc: 843)

Tagging @today-in-fic @eightnightsofmulder

Leaving the car in the middle of a snowstorm was one of the worst ideas he’s ever had. And he regrets every second he’s out here in the snow that’s pelting against his face. He holds his phone to his ear, his hand cold and wet. He squeezes his eyes shut in the hopes of shielding his eyes – and hearing what the guy from AAA is saying on the other end of the line.

Two cold minutes later, he gets back into the car, shaking his head like a wet dog. Much to the chagrin of Scully, who’s half disappeared into her winter coat. Only her eyes are peeking out and they’re as skeptical as ever.

“AAA said to stay put if we can. They should be here in a couple of hours. We’re not the only car stuck in this snowstorm.”

“Shocking,” Scully mumbles into the collar of her coat.

For once, this isn’t his fault. The snowstorm hit them unexpectedly, with temperatures dropping rapidly. Now here they are, in some ditch in the middle of nowhere. Mulder rubs his hands together and turns up the heat. Scully glances at him.

“We have enough gas,” he assures her. “The tank is basically full.”

“We don’t know when AAA gets here.”

“The gas will last, trust me.” Scully merely sighs. “What should we do?” It’s been less than ten minutes since they’ve had to stop, but he feels restless already.

“There’s not much to do, is there?” Scully opens her coat, the sound of the zipper loud in the small car. “All we can do is sit here and wait.”

“We could play a game,” Mulder suggests. “Or we could- remember what I said about crawling naked into a sleeping bag with someone who is already naked?” He waggles his eyebrows at her. One day it will just have to work.

“Still no sleeping bag, Mulder,” she says and grins at him. So not today then. This time he is the one who sighs.

“Truth or dare?”

“What’s the dare going to be? Go out and eat snow?”

“So not that either.” Mulder taps his fingers against the steering wheel. “Is there anything in the glove compartment?”

“Like what?” Scully asks, opening it. She hands him his bag of sunflower seeds she stored there earlier when they stopped at the gas station. A blush appears on her face when she takes out a small bag of chocolate chips she must have bought while he was using the restroom.

“There’s something here.” Her arm almost disappears in the compartment and when she pulls it back, she’s holding something small and colorful in her hand. Mulder recognizes it immediately.

“A dreidel,” he says, in awe.

“Do you know how to play?” Scully asks him, turning it around in her hand.

“My grandmother taught us when we were kids. I’m not sure how much I remember. That,” he points at one of the symbols, “is gimel. It means you get everything. I remember because It was Samantha’s favorite. She always wanted to win the whole pot.” He smiles, remembering.

“Did she?” Scully asks in a gentle voice.

“Sometimes. She tried to cheat a lot.” They both laugh softly.

“So did Charlie. No matter what game he played, he always wanted to win. It drove Bill mad.”

“I can imagine.” Scully hands him the dreidel and he inspects every symbol, tracing them with his fingertips. After his grandmother died when he was around eight, his parents threw away almost all reminders. He never knew why. He never asked either. Their Christmas trees got bigger and brighter with each passing year and then Samantha was taken, and more family history was swept under the rug.

“I’d like to keep this,” Mulder says quietly.

“Maybe you can teach me how to play once we’ve made it out of here and we’re back home.” He didn’t think it was possible, but his adoration for Scully only grows, and he gives her a soft smile, the knot in his throat preventing him from speaking. “I’d say we play a round now but…” She’s right. There’s no way to spin the dreidel here in the car.

“I’d like that,” he says, clearing his throat. “We really don’t have the best track record when it comes to snow, do we?” They have never talked about Antarctica, neither of them quite knowing how to bring it up, or what to say. They just left everything that happened – or didn’t – out there buried under the snow.

“We don’t. But at least this time we’re warm and not running for our lives.”

“Next time I’ll pack a sleeping bag, just in case.” Scully chuckles softly.

“If you play your game right,” she says, moving the dreidel in his palm. “You might just end up getting everything.”

“Do you mean-”

A knock at his window startles Mulder and kills the moment before it becomes too real.

“AAA,” someone yells. “We’re here to get you out of this ditch.”

“You’re right,” Scully says. “Never much luck with snow.”

[nerdy-bits]

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (Marvel Studios, PG-13)

When Guardians of the Galaxy came out in 2014, I didn't know a single person who knew who they were. No one knew who Starlord was, Gamora, Drax, Groot, Rocket Raccoon, none of them. It was one of the only times I walked into a theater for an MCU movie and thought, “Why am I here? I don't care about these characters at all.” Ironically, the other instance of this thought was before watching Captain America: The First Avenger. Luckily, I was very wrong on both occasions. What James Gunn did with the first Guardians movie was nothing short of a small miracle. The Guardians of the Galaxy were a middling hero team devised in the late 60s. One that, as I mentioned before, never really reached any amount of wide acclaim. When the team was rebooted in 2008, with the members seen in the movie that would come six years later, still its readership remained low. In May of 2023, the names Starlord, Gamora, Rocket, Groot, Drax, and Nebula are household names. 

Guardians of the Galaxy, as an MCU team, is unique. Preceding the now-inbound Thunderbolts, the Guardians are the closest thing to DC’s Suicide Squad. Though the Guardians aren't ostensibly villains, nor are they part of a government initiative to leverage villains into doing good things by holding a proverbial gun to their head, the Guardians of the Galaxy are all misfits and ne’er-do-wells. Peter Quill being a thief, Rocket an arms dealer, Groot being Rocket’s muscle, Gamora is essentially an assassin, and Drax is called The Destroyer. They are all bad people to differing degrees. So what James Gunn had to do with the first film was two or threefold: He had to introduce us to who these people were, convince us we should care about what they do, and then make us care about them both individually and as a group. To this day, the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie is one of the closest things to a perfect execution in establishing a relationship with unknown characters. 

Now, nearly ten years later, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 seeks to remind us why we cared, show us we were right to care, and make us root for our beloved misfits one last time. Ya’ll…it fucking rules. 

It’s been a while since we last saw The Guardians. We saw them off in Endgame, traveling with a disheveled and melancholic Thor, and then in Thor: Love and Thunder we saw them unload the God of Thunder, moving on to do their own thing. When the Guardians of the Galaxy  Christmas Special  came out Thanksgiving weekend last year, we got to see Knowhere (the Guardians’ base) rebuilt, and the introduction of Cosmo the Space Dog. We also fully establish that Starlord isn't doing well with the death/return/departure of Gamora. Guardians Vol. 3 picks up from there. Starlord is out of it, drinking himself into a stupor, the rest of the team is just kind of milling about in Knowhere, and the mood is pretty stale. Enter one of Marvel’s most powerful and heroes Adam Warlock, only the Warlock is here not to help, but as a repo man for the fabled High Evolutionary, the madman who turned Rocket into the creature he is today. This initial and shocking attack sends the guardians on a quest to save the life of a mortally wounded member. It’s a race against the clock film, with a little globetrotting heist film stirred in. 

Along this journey we are served up dollops of emotion. The film is framed around flashbacks illuminating Rocket’s journey under the knife and eye of the High Evolutionary. A villain portrayed brilliantly by Chukwudi Iwuji, and a villain that outshines so many villains in the MCU purely because of his acting. The High Evolutionary is a despicable, maniacal, monster of a man and each moment he is on screen your skin crawls. Truly, everyone in this movie is acting their whole asses off. Each performance is nuanced and intense, emotional and gripping. ITs something only a movie following two parts, like this one, can pull off. We all know everyone so deeply, we’ve grown to love them all, grown to admire their found family. So when this family of weirdos is put to a real test, one that threatens all of their lives in ways we haven't seen before, what comes through the cracks is this pure and natural love and passion. It works like glue throughout the film, like connective tissue, pulling each little bit you’ve ever remembered about this rag-tag team and placing it neatly in order for you to experience again. 

Rocket and Groot share their dynamic in new ways, Starlord and Gomora have some truly dynamite scenes navigating their new and nonexistent relationship, Mantis remains one of the best additions to the team as she and Drax foil each other, and Karen Gillan’s Nebula is a tremendous stand-in for the Gamora we lost in Infinity War. But this movie isn't merely old bits. It’s reimagined bits, moments illustrative of the ways family evolves and adapts. As you are recognizing the way these people interact with each other, you are also recognizing that the first time we met them, none of them would have been willing to do this. This Guardians of the Galaxy is stronger, closer, and emotionally available to each other in was the previous movies simply couldn't convincingly do with everyone. Furthermore we get more Kraglin and we get Cosmo. The Guardians of the Galaxy has changed so much in the comics over the years it begins to feel like dozens of heroes have claimed membership. In the hands of a lesser director and writer this can be a pitfall that lends to shallow writing and skin-deep characters. In James Gunn’s hands instead it lends to this tone of acceptance and love, resolute with making it clear: all types are welcome here, strange and broken as you may be. It’s downright endearing, and such a refreshing take in a world far too comfortable being unaccepting and cruel. 

James Gunn’s delicately procured playlist of songs is present again in this film, and just like the films that precede it, each song fits and feels like it was meant for each moment it is played in. Perhaps as a result or side-effect, sometimes the film’s score feels a bit out of place, but I rarely caught myself caring so much it interrupted my enjoyment of what I was watching. Perhaps because what you will be watching throughout the film is pretty outstandingly composed. Action scenes are cooperative and hectic, without losing fidelity or readability. In-fact, most of the action is so well shot and choreographed it plays out like anime fights, dripping in style and out of the box angles. I deeply appreciated this simply because superhero flicks, especially those featuring folks with similar powersets or fighting styles, can start to feel less like composed orchestras and far more like pop singles. And while Guardians Vol. 3 has its pockets lined with singles from the 80s and 90s, the format doesn't permeate or seep into the action. 

Also, for a movie in a freshly launched Phase 5 MCU, it feels like both the real and proper send off to Phase 4 and the best foot to start Phase 5 on. A dichotomy that is not easy to navigate and perhaps even harder to accomplish with a legible, parsable plot. We take everything we knew before and expand our knowledge, but we also wrap up our loose threads, tucking them into a neat-ish bow. In the process of doing this, James Gunn and his cast deliver what will end up being one of the more emotional Marvel movies released yet, content with plucking on heart strings like Redbone. 

Ya’ll, it’s just such a good movie. They did all the work they needed to beforehand, allowing them the runway to gracefully land this deeply heartfelt trilogy in a way most other properties are unable to. There are dark moments and joyous moments, funny and sad, furious and tender, and all of it fits because we know who these people are and we know how they feel. It all feels just so deeply earned and earnest. It may be a lot to take in for young fans, but this trilogy is nearly a decade old now, those fans that were young in the first film are adults now, and as those fans aged with the Guardians, the Guardians came to them with more deep and pointed stories about loss, brokenness, and family. Messages that will stick with people for years. 

If this truly marks the end of James Gunn’s involvement in the MCU then it is a masterful goodbye to some of the best characters in the whole MCU. If he decides to come back someday, well then I will be just as excited for whatever comes. But for now, go and see if the galaxy’s quirkiest band of misfits can worm their way into your emotions too. They sure found a way to pummel mine. In the best way.

@LubWub ~Caleb

[fanfictiongirlie]

HP: Forbidden - Chapter Eighteen

Click here for masterlist

Parings: George Weasley x Female OC (Slytherin)

Description:

Rosalie Riddle lives in the shadow of her father, going to Hogwarts made her feel safe and happy and when she meets George Weasley she feels a whole new emotion. Follow her story from the beginning of her Hogwarts Journey.

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: Can fluff be a warning? Little bit of angst. Fred still dies, sorry.

P.s. So this is a rewrite from a fanfiction I originally wrote when I was roughly 16. It was awful, truly awful, but I adored the story so I decided to rewrite it ten years later. Enjoy.

My sixth year at Hogwarts was horrible. It felt lonely without George, I was surrounded by two groups of friends, both groups hated each other which I used to be bothered by, but I didn't care anymore. 

I was too scared to do anything, I kept my head in the books, and focused on the studies. George had written to me so many times asking me to meet him in Hogsmeade over the weekends to see him. But I declined each time. Distancing myself was necessary. I missed him like crazy, but this would hopefully keep him safe. 

"Rose, post for you" I snapped out of my daydream to see Daphne smiling and waving a letter in front of my face. I took it from her and opened it. Dreading it to be another note from George, but this time it was a note from Fred, and it made me feel worse than before. 

'Rosalie, 

George is not himself this year, and I'm sorry to send you this message but I need my brother back, but he can't do that without you, he loves you, and I'm sure you love him, please can you just agree to see him, please.

Fred'

"Whose it from?" Draco asked me. 

"George" I lied, to my friends knowledge I still spoke to him regularly, lying was the easiest way to not have thousands of questions on all the letters I was getting. Actually I was surprised Draco even asked me something, he had been occupied this year, barely speaking to us, keeping to himself. He wouldn't tell me what was wrong. 

__________________________________

"You, come here girl!" A witch cackled at me, I didn't know who she was or how she got into the school, there was a group of men with her, including Draco. I tried to step away but the woman grabbed my arm and pulled me along with them. 

"Draco, I'm scared" I whispered, the group of wizards weren't paying attention to us, they were destroying Hogwarts as they ran through the halls. Draco didn't say anything to me but he did take my hand in his and held onto me tight. He was just as scared as I was. 

We were taken to the Astronomy tower, Dumbledore was waiting at the top. 

"Do it Draco!" The woman screeched at Draco. Draco did the worse thing I could imagine, he took his wand out and aimed it towards Dumbledore.

"Draco, what are you doing!" I snapped at him. He didn't listen to me, the witch dragged me behind the group, I wanted to fight back but who knows what they'd do to me. Suddenly a hand was on my shoulder, I looked behind and it was Snape, he motioned to the stairs, and I nodded and took one last look at Draco and slowly rushed to the stairs. 

I started rushing down them when two arms went around me and pulled me to the side. I went to scream but looked up and saw Harry. 

"Harry!" I whispered "Whats happening?" I felt the tears leaving my eyes. 

"I don't know, everything's a mess" He answers. We both stay quietly on the stairs, watching through a gap, watching Draco threaten Dumbledore. I was so scared he actually cast the spell and kill Dumbledore. Draco was crying, all I wanted to do was go up there and save him from the situation. 

"We need to do something!" I whisper at Harry. 

"Dumbledore told me not to interfere" He whispers back, I didn't like it. It was wrong. 

All of a sudden a spell was cast, and Dumbledore was plummeting from the tower, but Draco didn't cast the spell, Snape did. I was shocked, as was Harry. 

"We need to go!" He says. 

"What about Draco?" I whimper. 

"No Rosalie, he's one of them now!" Harry snaps and grabs my hand pulling me down the stairs. I followed behind him trying to keep up but the tears in my eyes were making it hard to see. 

"Rosalie go to the Gryffindor common room, find Ron and Hermione they'll keep you safe!" I nodded, not sure why I was taking orders from Harry Potter but I felt too scared to complain. He told me the password and ran off in the direction of Hagrid's hut. I ran as fast as I could and got to the Gryffindor common room, I said the password and the Fat Lady didn't look happy to let me in but she did. Hermione and Ron were sitting with the rest of their gang, they looked shocked to see me. I was red in the face with tears streaming down my face. 

"Rosalie what's wrong?" Hermione asked rushing to my side, Ginny soon behind her. I tried explaining best as I could, once I was done the group rushed out of the common room, I followed too scared to be left alone right now. We ran to the courtyard, most of the school was already there, I saw Professor McGonagall with the other teachers, explaining what had happened, Dumbledore was dead. 

We all raise our wands, mostly everyone crying. I may not have liked Dumbledore a whole lot, but I never wanted him dead. This was my father's doing, nothing good came from that wretched man. I was nothing like him, he was wrong by saying there was a part of him inside me. I knew it, I am nothing like him, I am good, not evil. And if I had to spend the rest of my life trying to kill him, then so be it. 

My father would be killed, whether it killed me or not, my life and all the lives of those I cared about couldn't be happy and free until he was dead. 

[the-last-person-0n-earth]

Chapter 2 | The Archives / Backstories

I'm trying to flesh out the backstories a little more, I know where I want the story to end up but i'm still figuring out how to get there. Updates will probably be irregular. Thank you for reading!!

-----

"I have the research you asked me for." Ruby said as he approached me in the lunch line.

I glanced up at him and grabbed a tray, "You didn't spend last night working did you?"

"I did some work this morning." He shrugged, "Can you pass me that apple?"

I tossed an apple to him and placed a pork sandwich on my own tray. "So what do you have?"

We walked to our lunch table in silence, sitting our trays down opposite from each other. Scarlet, ever punctual, was already there.

We were all kids, all around ten years old when we met. They sat together, chairs pushed next to each other, while I sat on the other side of the room. It was a bleak waiting room, grey and cramped, with brochures placed in clear shelves so we could see the smiling faces looking down at us. They looked the same. The same dark brown curly hair and the same dark brown eyes. They stared at me and I stared back at them, without thinking more than a single thought, I pushed off my chair and hopped onto the floor. My sketchers flickering with every step I made as I ambled over to the duo.

"Hi" My voice squeaked

"Hi" Two voices responded in unison

"I like your shirt" I said and pointed at the girls pink cheetah print t-shirt. She looked down for a second before looking up at me.

"I like your glasses." She responded, I felt myself reaching up to grasp at my clear teal glasses. I smiled at them and they smiled at me.

"What are you doing here?" I asked them.

"Dad works here." The boy responded.

"Oh" I murmur, "The school makes me go here."

"Is there something wrong with you?" The girl asked, unfiltered and uncaring of how it sounded. The boy elbowed her in the side and she gasped before pushing him. He fell off the chair. The girl and I both leaned to the side, staring at him as he laid on the floor in shock. He sat up swiftly, opened his mouth like he was going to say something, eyes pointed at the girl.

"There is." I broke in, and the room seemed to quiet.

The two were silent

"My name's Scarlet." The girl said, "That's Ruben."

"It's RUBY." The boy huffed, climbing back onto the chair.

I smiled.

-----

"Hey Scarlet," I hummed and sat in front of her, now, both Scarlet and Ruby had dyed pink hair, like Pinkie Pie. Scarlet wore a black jersey and her jean jacket, while Ruby wore a McDonald's uniform shirt that he refused the explain where he got it from. it was 'ironic'.

"Where's Casey?" Ruby sat next to Scarlet.

"Over here." He called and placed his tray down next to me.

"Hey Case." I hummed.

"So" Ruby said, opening his backpack and pulling out a purple folder. "This is what I've got on the new girl."

-----

I'd known Casey since before I knew the twins, he was my neighbor. We never talked, we never said anything, once in awhile we would look at each other when we both came home at the same time, or when we both left for school at the same time. We coexisted side-by-side together since we were toddlers.

"Go talk to her." His mom nudged him forward one day as we all sat outside the school waiting for our parents to pick us up. He did come up to me, but neither of us said anything for a couple minutes. I looked at him after a while, while he pretended he didn't notice. He looked tired. His hair was short, shaved mostly except for the top of his head, where there was a mass of coiled black hair. He wore a long sleeved green shirt, and under his sleeves, which I doubt people would have noticed if they weren't looking, were black gloves, not too thick but covering the expanse of his hands so no skin showed. I looked back up at his face, and noticed him looking at my hands, where I had my own black gloves, mine thicker than his.

I looked at him and he looked at me

"Are you different too?" He whispered. I nodded, and he relaxed.

-----

"Are you talking about Glimmer?" He chewed on a carrot thoughtfully. "Did she do something or what?" He had longer hair now, it reached his mid-back in long dreads that he spent hours taking care of.

"I met her yesterday on patrol." Heroes were a rare thing, few existed apart from me and my crew, and the ones that did exist tended to stay in the shadows, because of that there was rarely a need for masks, since we knew how to stay in the shadows, however, once in awhile, a new hero would pop up, one that craved the light for whatever reason, it was good to keep track of them.

"Right.." Ruby opened up the folder, pulling out a few news articles and a picture of her. "She started 'heroing' recently, seems to have a big supporter backing her up, funding her work-"

"Lucky." Scarlet grumbled.

"-She has powers too, but she doesn't look like she knows how to use them." Ruby continued, pushing forward two articles. "Intangibility for one," He tapped on the article of her phasing through a door.

"That's kind of basic for powers." Casey hummed.

"Yeah and fire powers aren't" Scarlet said sarcastically and kicked me under the table.

"Powerful though." I murmured, gazing at the news article. "She looks familiar."

-----

People with powers were uncommon, extraordinarily uncommon, though they didn't used to be. They called people like us the "inheritors", humans that for some reason, gained the powers of the old. We popped up randomly, one or two every generation. Until I was five years old, I had never met another with powers, but it seemed recently they kept showing up. This had been the largest collection of inheritors since before inheritors even existed. So far I'd met three others besides me, not counting Glimmer. Besides us I knew of a few others that existed in other communities, though I hadn't met them yet I should like to one day. Heroism is a fairly recent thing, and many heroes aren't Inheritors at all, instead regulars that trained to be heroes.

We used to be recorded. Documented in this large underground library that was only known as "The Archive". No one knew where it was until it no longer existed. About thirty years ago there was a flood. One that destroyed The Archive and all it's information. The people were horrified, afraid that Inheritors would go rampant without the surveillance that once controlled our lives. They blamed an Inheritor, saying that nothing else could have caused a flood that massive, that targeted. It wasn't an Inheritor though, it couldn't have been, none had been recorded that year. The only part of The Archive that survived was a single man who had worked there during the time of the flood, his information was limited to the year, as the Patrons of the Archive were only permitted to learn pieces of history. It was he who told the world that no Inheritors existed during that time, but many dismissed his claim.

Since the flood, many have called for a recreation of The Archive, but for whatever the reason may be, it has yet to start up again. Some don't see a need for it anymore, as for nearly twenty-five years after the flood no Inheritors had been prominent. The past couple years however, more and more Inheritors began showing up. Six confirmed in other parts of the country, and now one confirmed here. Me and my friends worked in the shadows, we were nothing but a rumor, but now due to Glimmer's appearance, I feared we wouldn't be able to stay hidden for long.

------

"I can't help but think she looks insanely familiar." Scarlet mused, tilting the picture on the table towards her.

"Yeah me too." Casey nodded, examining an article. "I can't put my finger on it though.."

"DAUGHTER OF SIMON NORWAY TO MAKE AN APPEARANCE AT THE "GOLDEN GALA HALL" FOR HER SIXTEENTH BIRTHDAY"

We looked up at the TV in the corner of the lunch room. Seconds ago it showcased school events coming up and recent school news, now it showed a picture of a young blonde girl with a wide smile plastered on her face, waving to the cameras.

"Well i'll be damned..." Ruby murmured, gaze flickering from the photo on the table to the girl on the screen.

[5sosfanfictioncatalogue]

Slice of Life Masterlist

are we the actors on the stage? (ao3) - merlypops Luke/Calum T, 914

Summary: The wind howled through the rafters like a monster and Luke’s trembling hand found his unconsciously, their fingers interlacing as his head came to rest gently on the ranger’s shoulder. “How can I help you feel better?” Calum asked softly, his voice saturated with desperation and regret. “How can I make you smile again, Lukey? You’re one of my best friends on the planet. I hate it when you’re hurting.”

Calum and Luke admit their love for each other.

Bygones (ao3) - merlypops Luke/Ashton, minor Michael/Calum T, 3k

Summary: 'Luke remembers Ashton whispering: “That’s okay, Lukey. It’s all gonna be okay” and dropping a kiss onto the top of Luke’s head, and Luke remembers how they just stayed like that until Calum and Michael came back over half an hour later with kiss-bruised lips that Luke and Ashton were kind enough not to comment on.'

Luke wants everything to end but Ashton shows him that not everything is as bad as it seems.

It's Not Supposed to Be Easy (ao3) - orphan_account Michael/Calum T, 3k

Summary: Michael remembers when Cal had pulled away from Michael's hug, looking at him timidly before brushing their lips together softly, and it wasn't weird or gross or scary like Michael had always thought that kissing a boy would be. He remembered thinking that it was because he was kissing Calum, and how it had never, ever been weird with Calum because they loved each other. To Michael, Calum was home.

Or: Michael’s sad and broken and Calum is trying so, so hard to keep him together.

i wanna tell you so (how to hold my heart) (ao3) - babushcat (MerrytheCookie)  Michael/Ashton T, 25k

Summary: Michael is a programmer by day, a vigilante’s guy in the chair by night, and a full-time admirer of the cute barista down at the coffee shop he frequents, and sometimes he wonders if everyone around him is way too dramatic or if he's missing something.

Mamihlapinatapei (ao3) - merlypops Michael/Calum T, 2k

Summary: 'Michael remembers sitting in the cafeteria at school and gazing at Calum with such fondness and feeling a jolt of shock when Calum returned the look just as warmly, and Michael remembers wondering vaguely when they stopped being brothers and started being something else instead.'

Michael falls in love with his best friend and it feels like being torn apart.

One Day (ao3) - ben_wyattt Luke/Ashton, Michael/Ashton, Luke/Calum G, 3k

Summary: Luke and Ashton are from different worlds, but they ,meet on the night they both graduate from university. We see them one day a year, July 15th, every year. Sometimes they are together, sometimes they are apart.

Sweet Silver Blues (ao3) - EstherRomanov Luke/Ashton, Michael/Calum N/R, 34k

Summary: Ashton is lost. He doesn't know what he wants in life. And it doesn't help that his friends have other things in their minds that makes him feel left out. Louis is pursued by an endearing admirer in the name of Harry Styles, a sophomore nerd everybody likes; Lauren thinks of making her last year in high school be special by any means possible; Eleanor juggles between cheerleading and writing Kurtbastian fanfics; and Michael just cares about pizza. It's exhausting, it's what it is. But maybe things for him (and his friends) would change for the better after they join the glee club.

We Got A Good Thing (ao3) - dafeedil Michael/Calum G, 4k

Summary: And just like that, Calum gets it.

God, of course. Why else would their daughter have come all the way down to their room at a quarter past ten, looking like she’s been trying to work up the courage to do so for hours?

“Holy shit.” Calum grins, practically vibrating with excitement. “Fuck, Mike, she’s going on a date.”

Or, Bella has her first date. It's a bigger deal for Michael than even Michael was anticipating for it to be.

we're classic together like Egyptian gold (ao3) - insomniacjams Luke/Ashton, Michael/Calum T, 4k

Summary: "Luke loves his job. Objectively speaking, he’s scored the jackpot for high school perks, with an endless stream of free movies and the fact that everyone turns a blind eye to the missing candy at the end of the night."

Wish Upon A Star (ao3) - ArdeaPurpurea Luke/Calum, Michael/Calum, Michael/Ashton N/R, 10k

Summary: Everyone knows that when you see a shooting star you have to make a wish and it will be granted. Calum does, every single time. He wishes for health, for happiness, for love… And call it fate or call it luck, but sometimes his wishes really do come true. However, other times… well, other times simply don’t.

Or, every time Calum makes a wish on a shooting star, every wish he makes and how his life changes.

[alltoolewis]

Could you do a Lewis one where you're his childhood best friend who also got famous as a singer and you guys start dating and you go to the paddock and everyone is fanfirling over you guys (yes Lando as well) and you feel shy and don't want to intrude in the team photo but lewis drags you in and someone says something like "you're part of the family now?" maybe his family is there as well?? ty!! i love the way you write!

Forever & Always- Lewis Hamilton 💜

How did I miss this! It's one of the cutest things I've been asked to write. So sorry for the wait, if I saw it I would of written it months ago lol, but I hope you enjoy it regardless! Thank you so much being so kind... your so sweet 🥰 I was planning on making this short but as always I got carried away lol! So be prepared for a long fluffy mess love you guys!

Warnings- none just fluff, not proofread

Words- 3.1k

You'd be lying if you said you didn't know this day would come... lying on your best friend's bare chest as he ran his fingers carelessly across your bare back. It was obvious to a naked eye that you and Lewis loved each other, after spending the last 30+ years together being inseparable it was bound to happen at some point. The both of you knew how the other one felt. He saw the way your eyes would linger longer as he worked out and you saw the look he would give you as you walked out on the stage, a look that was too pure and full of love to be just a friend! But despite the two of you knowing, neither of you said anything, wanting to see who would be the first to crack... and last night you finally found out!

Having enough of not being in your arms, Lewis finally made the big step in calling you his as he pulled you deeper in his arms and pulled you into the most passionate kiss either of you has ever had! That night the two of you got lost in the years of hidden lust and love, finally cracking to spell you had both put on each other!

"You coming to the race today?" Lewis mumbled sleepily in your shoulder, already feeling himself drift back to sleep as your fingers got lost in his hair. "Of course..." You smiled, leaning up to place a gentle kiss on his temple "When have I ever missed your home race eh?" It was true, from all of his years of racing he couldn't think of one British GP that you didn't attend. Even when your own career rocketed and your schedule became just as busy as his, you always made sure you were there, making him fall for you ten times harder!

Once your morning cuddles were over and you practically pulled him out of the bed, he couldn't help but stand back and admire you getting ready in his bathroom. Of course from your years of friendship you had stayed overnight before, but this time it felt different... and although there was no label on it just yet he knew there was no way that you were just friends anymore, he wouldn't let it be.

Creeping up behind you he wrapped his arms around your waist, causing a huge smile to appear on both of your faces. Feeling his lips tug up in a smile as he nuzzled his head deeper into your neck caused a million butterflies to erupt in your body. "Walk in the paddock with me?" He muttered between kisses, his words causing you to almost drop your toothbrush out of your mouth. "Huh?" You said mouth full of foam as you looked at him in shock. Despite how long you had known him you had never walked in with him, in fact, you had never walked into the paddock or stayed in the garage! The media knew that you were childhood friends, but that didn't stop them from creating a false story every time you were spotted together. So being the protected friend he was he kept you in his motorhome, claiming it was because you were roscoe's protector but you knew it wasn't.

"You're so cute.." He laughed, removing the toothbrush out of your mouth, allowing you to spit out the toothpaste that was now burning your mouth. "You want me to walk in with you?" You repeated his question, eyes only growing wider as he nodded his head without hesitation "Don't you think it might be a bit soon...?"

"No.." He smiled, again without any hesitation "Gorgeous, you have been my best friend since I was born & it took me enough time to do what we did last night! I don't think I can last another year of not attending my home race with you, especially now that I got you, I want to show you off to everyone. Fuck the media, your mine!"

"But what about your family? Toto? Angela?" You continued to panic, although you were already warming up to the idea. But Lewis knew you, he knew that you always tried to think of any excuse when something scared you, but he didn't want you to feel scared now... he wanted you to feel free "What if they think it's to soon... They don't even know about us, God I don't even know about us! Are you my friend, friends with benefits... boyfriend? I don't know what to label us-"

Cutting your words short, he pushed his lips to yours. Immediately swallowing any ounce of panic that was in your body, he smiled as he felt your body relax in touch, only pulling away when he knew that you were 100% calm. Pushing his head against yours, his thumb caressed your cheek "You need to calm down missus.." Looking directly in his brown orbs, time felt like it stilled as the only thing that could be seen in them was love and safety "Don't worry about them... they've been pestering me for years to make us a thing! I swear even I get a podium today the only thing they will be celebrating today is us!" You couldn't help but giggle at his words knowing that they were all true! His dad and brother has been teasing you for years about it, calling you soulmates and placing bets on who would admit it first! "& if your worried about labels sweetheart that can be easily fixed" Smirking, he pulled off his Cartier love ring the one that you have always loved. Placing it in between his two fingers, he took your hand in his smiling down at you as your cheeks flushed pink "my (y/n), my best friend, my platonic and real soulmate... will you be officially mine?"

Shaking your head you let the tears fall down your cheeks "Your so silly" You giggled as he stuck his tongue out at you "Of course I will be your girlfriend Lew!"

"About time.." He sighed, lifting you up in his arms as he twirled you around in the air. Both of your laughter blend into one as he put you back on the ground, but not removing his arms around you "Now come on girlfriend, let me put this ring on your finger to make it official?"

"Are you sure?" You smiled, as he placed it on your finger kissing it as it slipped on perfectly "I know how much they mean to you..."

"& You mean 1000 times more" He smirked, pecking your lips gently "And don't worry I've still got another 7 to piss off the FIA with, if anything your doing me a favour! Now c'mon let's get ready..." Picking up a stranded Mercedes cap of the floor, he placed it on your head his number clear on it "I want to show Silverstone the trophy I have already won!"

With his words melting your heart, you both spent the rest of the morning getting ready for the arrival. You didn't really pack any 'paddock walking' clothes, expecting to just be going straight to his motorhome. "How about this?" You mumbled to Lewis, whose eyes lit up at you wearing your ripped black jeans and a Mercedes t-shirt with his number proudly on the back. "You look unreal darling.." He smirked, waking over to pull you in his arms for the hundredth time that morning "What driver do you support eh?" He teased as you put the cap back on your head causing you to roll your eyes "Oh shut it!"

"How about you throw this on as well?" Lewis says, going over to the oversized pink and yellow coat he wore for practice earlier in the week "Apparently it might rain & I don't want you to catch a cold before your big performance on Tuesday.."

"Your so sweet.." You whispered, finding his thoughtfulness overwhelming. You were starting a new tour as an opening act for Ed Sheeran, and for the first time in your career singing at sold-out stadiums! "But people saw you wearing that... there gonna know" Chuckling he kissed the skin behind your ear, whispering softly "My hands are not going to leave you until I have step foot in that car baby girl... wearing that coat or not there gonna know that you are mine... for forever and always!"

"Forever and always eh?" You smirked, holding out your arm for him to tug the coat on "I like the sound of that.."

"Hmmm me too.." He smiled, pulling the coat on your body, stepping back to admire how adorable you looked practically drowned in everything him "I like the sound of that very much!"

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

The drive there was filled with nothing but a peaceful comfortable silence. Your entwined hands rested on his thigh as you drew around his tattoos with your other one... Roscoe sleeping

"What do you think they'll say?" You mumbled over the silence, causing him to look at you confused "Who darling?"

"The media..." You whispered, still occupied in tracing his tattoos as you felt his eyes practically burn holes in you "It's your first time walking in with a girl since Nicole Lew... it'll be a big deal. There always quick to speculate things... I'm just scared there going to do it to us, y'know break us before we have even started. I know I sound stupid but I don't want to lose you before I properly have you..."

His heart broke as he heard the vulnerability in your voice. He knew you didn't have the happiest memories with the media, they always tried to trample you down, just like they did with him... but he had thicker skin than you did. Your sensitivity always let them win!

"Baby look at me..." He cooed, pulling you closer to him the best he could "You have had me for years... and you'll have me for years to come. What they think means nothing darling, they can think or say whatever they want because only us know the truth.." Taking your locked hands to his mouth, he placed a gentle kiss to where they attached "I love you (y/n) so much... and I want to you to be comfortable okay? so If you don't feel ready for this we can turn around, drop you and little man down there off at the motorhome and I'll join straightaway yeah?"

Taking in his words, you sighed. You knew there was nothing to be afraid of... not when you had him next to you "No..." You spoke confidently, causing a small smile to grace his lips "I love you too Lewis I always have and always will... I've got this" Just in time the car stopped indicating that you had arrived. Pecking your lips softly you both smiled "No gorgeous... we've got this"

And he was right...

The second you got out of the car you felt his presence next to you... Your hand laced with his as he continued to make small talk with you, trying to get you to forget about the crowd that was now following you, firing nosy questions about the two of you. Despite not doing it for years, it felt natural to have someone other than roscoe walking in with him... You felt natural. & as he held you petite hand in his, listening to you laugh as his dog tried to keep up with the pair of you he couldn't help but kick himself at not making it official sooner thinking about the all times you could of been here with him instead of hidden in the back... but all that truly mattered was now, and he was willing to make up for any lost time.

Once you hit the entrance to the paddock, you were met with a stressed-out Angela "oh my god Lewis there you are!" She sighed in relief "You are 20 minutes late we have so much to do... what the hell were you-" She paused in shock as she took in your figure pressed firmly against his, Roscoe finally catching up with you as he went straight to Ang "(y/n)" She gasped, causing you to laugh as you politely said hi. Her eye's flickered between you and him and your hands, only then realizing what was going on "No way! Are you..." Being too shocked to finish her sentence, you and Lewis just nodded huge smiles on both of your faces as she squealed, jumping up and down as if she had just won the world champion "Oh my god! I am so happy for you guys! I have wanted this forever... when did this happen and why haven't I known about this!?"

"We'll answer any questions in a bit ang..." Lewis laughed, as he saw the steward become inpatient with you all blocking the entrance. Taking your hand back in his he smiled, "Let's make it to the paddock before Toto kills us yeah?"

"Okay.." She smiled at how in love you both looked "But I'm not letting this go.. I want all the details!" Smirking Lewis leaned down to your ear "Don't think she wants all the details... what do you think?" Jabbing him in the side playfully you rolled your eyes as the events from last night replayed over and over in your head... the both of you wishing that you could do it all again right now, but first you had a family to face and he had a race to win!

Angela wasn't the only ones that were excited for the pair of you, everybody who saw you were quick to congratulate the two of you . But no one was happier to see you walk in together than his family who instantly cheered as they saw his arm wrapped around your shoulder "FINALLY!" Nicholas cheered, looking at his dad as he held out his hand "Pass that £20 over dad!"

Lewis furrowed his eyebrows as he watched his dad sigh, handing over the note to his younger son "He said that you'll be together before you were 40! But you were leaving it a little late son... I doubted you.."

"I left it too late.." Lewis frowned as he was reminded of what could have been. But as he looked down at your smiling and chatting away to the rest of his loved ones, fitting in straight away, none of it mattered "But I've got it now.." He blushed as you looked back his way giving him a big smile "And I'm not letting her go!"

"I'm proud of you!" Anthony beamed, patting him on his shoulder "She's good for you... now we'll have to put a bet on for the wedding eh nick?" Your head whipped up at the mention of the event, causing everyone around you to laugh. "Easy dad It won't be for another 3+ years.." He laughed, grabbing you back to him, whispering in your ear "But you would look so pretty in white baby girl... maybe I have to swap the Cartier for a rock sooner!" Your cheeks flushed red as he carried on as normal, ignoring the fact he pretty much told you he wanted to marry you! And now the picture couldn't be erased from either of you!

"Right Lewis let's get going!" Angela beamed "We have a race to win!" Turning to him, you planted a kiss on his lips causing everyone around you to awe "Good luck champ!" You mumbled on his lips "I am already so proud of you..."

"I love you so much.." He mumbled back, pulling away as he felt you take roscoe's lead from his hands "What are you doing? You not staying in the garage?" There was a slight frown on his lips as you shook your head.

"I love you too..." You smiled, crouching down to stroke the inpatient bulldog who was missing all the attention on him "& I might be your girlfriend now but I was Roscoe's protector first!"

"Ahhh I see how it is!" Lewis laughed, crouching down to join you "You stole my fans and now my girl, Mr... got to stop bringing you eh? I'll end up with no one"

"You've got us silly, We love you.." You giggled, kissing his lips once more before hopping up off the ground to make it to his motor "I'll see you later baby, good luck... get a trophy for me yeah?" You teased. "Anything for you darling" He smiled, waving you goodbye "Anything..."

"Your so whipped!" Spinz laughed, hitting him over the head. His eyes never left your figure as you disappeared round the corner. "I've been whipped for years..." He proudly admitted not even caring how cheesy he sounded "& I'll be whipped forever and always!"

"Oh god what has she done to you?" Spinz teased pretending to be sick causing Lewis to join in with the laughing "I have no idea bro... but I love it!"

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

Just like he promised, he had another trophy to his name! Your heart burst with pride and love as you watch him step foot on the platform, you knew he would be a bit disheartened at the number but from how poor his season had started, everyone knew he was headed in the right direction!

Switching off the TV, you grabbed Roscoe's harness immediatly gathering his attention! "C'mon Roscoe.." You cooed, wrapping it around him "Let's go see daddy eh?" With a quiet bark and a wag of his tail you knew he was just as excited as you to see him!

Meeting them where you promised, you couldn't stop yourself from jumping in his arms. Pulling his lips to yours as you mumbled sweet nothings on them "I am so proud of you handsome... I knew you could do it!"

"Could have done better tho..." He sighed, pulling away but keeping his head pressed against yours. Rolling your eyes you shook your head "Shut up. You were incredible out there... and you got me that trophy I asked for..."

Your words swapped his frown for a smile as he pecked your cheek repeatedly "I told you baby... anything for you!"

Your moment was ruined as team orders called for a group picture, causing you to pout slightly cause you had to get out of his arms. Planting one last kiss on his head you sighed "I'll just be over there..."

Just as you were about to walk away his arm pulled you back, making you look at him with a confused look "Oh no you won't..." He smirked, pulling you in front of the camera with all of his team and family, making sure that you were placed right next to him "Lewis what are you doing?" You hissed, still trying to escape his hold "I don't belong in this picture... I haven't done anything..."

Before Lewis could speak, another voice took the words straight out of his mouth "You deserve to be here just as much as everyone else does..." His dad spoke, placing his hand on your shoulder "Your a part of the family lovely..."

Nodding at his father's words, he pulled you closer waiting for the timer to tick down before he whispered his added thoughts...

"Forever and always.."

[georgiaheartsdilfs]

→ red carpet chris e x celeb f!reader

prompt : you, like chris evans are a mcu actor. you always liked chris throughout the whole of the mcu filming, tonight is the endgame premiere and he asked you to be his date despite all your nervous energy deep down. warnings : other notes : I know that in the endgame prem he had a beard, just pretend he looks like he did in the 'what's my number?' prem. no offence to the bear because I love it. I hated cameras, specifically paparazzi cameras they're always flashing and in your face, it's always stressful, especially at a premier. Of course, I love going to see the final result of a project I'm in but when it's the avengers it's more publicity than needed. You'd think after ten years the occasional cameras would be ok but I never seemed to get used to them especially when I wasn't usually looking at the cameras. I was looking at Evans. Evans was perfect, of course, he was a great friend of mine so the whole perfect thing would be a tad bit biased but whether he was my friend or not he was just the perfect man. I always had a little crush on Evans so when he asked me to be his date at the premiere, I said yes without a doubt. It was great since we were the only ones who didn't have children or a wife/husband. "you look gorgeous" chris said, we had pulled up in front of the red carpet. This premiere was much bigger compared to the others, there were more cameras, more people, more celebrities. "thanks" I chuckle nervously, the door opened revealing all the cameras "don't worry y/n it's all easy remember we've done this a million times" he said giving me a reassuring smile, god I wish I had told him before this moment. Chris never liked walking down the red carpet alone, nor did I and that's why I'm guessing he asked me but then afterwards I know we'd have to take our individual shots. He stepped out of the car placing his hand out for me to grab, which I did. Then started the cameras, ahead of us were Hemsworth and his wife Elsa. To the paparazzi it would be a surprise that Chris and I showed up together given our history of ever denying feelings for each other in interviews... not that this made anything official we both just didn't like it alone. My blue velvet dress followed behind me as we walked along the red carpet "god I wish that this got easier each year" I clear my throat posing with Chris "don't worry the end is almost near" he said giving me a gentle smile. "interviews are next Evans" I say through my teeth smiling at the cameras and I can hear him chuckle "you'll be perfect like you always are" he says as we continue to walk down. Eventually, we reach the end and it was time for interviews, Chris walked to a separate interview whilst I did mine. "y/n blink if you die in the movie" the interviewer says and I chuckle nervously "well I dont know you know I did my acting part but then its all down to the editors maybe I like fell and then they edited it and turned me to dust like the last movie, who knows" I chuckle as does the interviewer. "expectations for the movie?" he says and I smack my lips "if I were being honest with you, pretty high no I'm kidding I mean its a big movie so I'd expect it to be somewhat decent you know, like I see all these actors some who I never even got scenes with but they were supposedly in the movie like what?" I say calmly. "Alright one more question now I need you to prepare" the interviewer says and I shake my arms jumping up and down "alright I'm ready hit me" I smile "Chris Evans and You on the red carpet, what happened to no feelings?" he says and I laugh. "I knew it, you sly guy, no there are no feelings me and chris you know ten years together having to turn up to all these things along you know makes it seem like you have no friends so chris asked me-" "chris asked you" he smirked holding the microphone up to my face. I laugh gently "yes he did ask me but it's not like I wouldn't have asked him I mean this might be our last avengers movie together so we may aswell shock everyone while we are at it" nodding the interviewer smiles "perfect thank you" he

says as I nod hugging him before walking off to ruin Chris' interview. Running up behind him I poke his hips giving him a fright as he jumps turning around wrapping his arms around me "ah you, you scared me" he said all excited "great now that I have you both here who asked who?" the female interviewer asked and I look up to Chris who was still holding me. "well I know y/n has a little crush on me, a little birdie that plays bucky barnes told me so I asked her out" chris smiles looking down at me and I open my mouth widely "I do not have a crush on you" I punch him gently and we both chuckle "thank you guys" she smiles and we walk off. We stand around after a while before I lead him to an empty hallway and I pull him towards me as I stand up on my tippy toes placing my lips on his, I could tell that I surprised him but after ten years my feelings for him hadn't changed so whilst I still had time I had to do something about it... right? "woah y/n what was that for" he chuckled awkwardly after pulling away "well if knowing you for ten years has taught me anything, when given the moment to talk to you about it or act upon it you do it in the moment and in the past ten years, I think, I was given too many chances and this was my final one" I say before walking off and he grabs my wrist pulling me back. "Sebastian did tell me about your crush I just didn't know whether to believe him" he chuckled gently placing his hands on my cheek going in for another kiss. "WOAH WOAH WOAH" A voice yells from down the hallway, Chris and I look up to see Mackie and Sebastian staring at us with their mouths wide open. I straighten up my dress and Chris straightens up his blazer "I was just checking his mouth for uh you know infections" I scratch the back of my head awkwardly walking past Mackie and Sebastian. "Well did he have any?" Sebastian asked "Nope all clear" I cough walking back out into the public as Chris quickly wipes his mouth. Well uh, that's a red carpet to remember?

[sukunasweetheart]

A better way to enjoy chocolate.

Pretty much just reader trying to give Sukuna some chocolates on Valentines. Highschool AU, gender-neutral reader, SFW content

Sukuna looks at the pile of boxed chocolates, seemingly unphased. Everyone peers to look. “Uwah! You got so much this year!” Yuuji exclaims. “Ridiculous.” He sighs, shoving all of them into a disposable plastic bag. “It’s actually pretty amazing how you went out of your way to bring your own plastic bag for this. You were expecting this, weren’t you? Pretentious bastard,” Nobara adds. “Well, it does happen every year,” Megumi says as he casually scrolls through his phone.

Megumi's the first one to leave for class and Nobara and Yuuji follow after him. You look at the daunting bag of chocolates Sukuna holds in his hand and gulps. “Do you like chocolate, Sukuna?” You ask him carefully. “...Not particularly. I don’t like sweet things. But if I throw these out, that idiot’ll never stop yapping about it. Something about going to hell if you waste food. So annoying,” he clicks his tongue. You offer a laugh at his brutal honesty, quietly regretting your own chocolates that you had made to give him today.

The two of you were dating anyway, so it wasn’t exactly necessary, right? Sukuna discreetly gives you a side glance, but you don’t notice it.

Morning classes passed by without much happening, and it soon became lunch. You watch as a classmate approaches Sukuna at his desk and holds her own homemade chocolate out towards him. “Hey. I just wanted to give you this. No feelings involved though, so don’t worry about it,” she tells him. This was obviously said for you to hear, since there was almost nobody in this school who didn’t know of his relationship with you (Sukuna is notorious for just as many reasons as Yuuji is...maybe a little more towards the sinister side of things). This apparently didn’t stop people from trying though, unfortunately. It would be a lie if you said you didn’t feel the least bothered by this. Sukuna looks at her lazily, and just gestures towards the bulging plastic bag that lay beside his desk. The class atmosphere freezes up a little as everyone looks over. S-So cold…! They all thought in unison.

However, the girl just gives a small chuckle as if she had been expecting such a reaction and just added hers onto the pile before going back to her own group of friends. “What a cruel guy,” Nobara gives Sukuna a look of distaste. He shrugs in response and proceeds to yawn. “Now, now…” You naturally take the role of the peacemaker, simultaneously thinking about what you should do with your chocolates. You had actually made four small bags, one for each of your friends. They were wrapped in clear plastic sleeves, tied up with a ribbon on top. Except, Sukuna’s one is...

Yuuji and Megumi both stroll in through the classroom door. “Yo~! We came to visit. Let’s eat lunch here today!” He says cheerfully. The two of them take the empty seats of the students who went to the cafeteria to eat. You couldn’t give the chocolates to Sukuna in front of them. Then you’d have to give him his as well - or else it'd feel like you were excluding him. Guess I'll just give it to them later on, privately.

“And? Where’s our choco, Y/N?” Nobara cheekily grins at you. You freeze up, mind giving you a throwback to the memories of last night when you had told her of your plans in advance. Silent panic echoes in your mind. “I-It’s,” You feel Sukuna’s gaze shift onto you, “...In my bag!” You hurriedly rummage your bag and pull out the three bags, making sure to avoid eye contact. “I made one for all three of you…” You say, avoiding eye contact with him. “Eh? You made one for us too?” Yuuji asks, wide-eyed. “Yeah. I thought I’d give it a try this year.” You hand them all over. “Thanks, Y/N!” Yuuji immediately opens it and plops one into his mouth. “It’s good!” Megumi also gives you a thanks but puts it to the side for now, wanting to finish his lunch first. Nobara gives you a questioning look. “What about Sukuna?” “Eh? Ah, I... kind of figured he didn’t like sweets so,” you turn to face him. “Sorry, Sukuna. Should I have made you some as well? I wasn’t sure if couples who were already dating gave chocolates on Valentines.” It’s a painful lie, but you manage to say it. “...No. I don't really care.” He looks entirely unaffected. It kind of hurt in its own way, but you ignore it and sigh out of relief for now. It was way too embarrassing to give it to him in front of the group. But now that you've said such a lie, you don't think you’ll be able to give it to him at all anymore. There was a bit of an awkward silence momentarily, but Yuuji being Yuuji - naturally carried the group's conversation elsewhere.

A few minutes later, Sukuna stands up to go to the toilet. Whilst Yuuji and Megumi are talking about something that you admittedly zoned out on, Nobara snatches up your bag and takes a peek inside. “H-Hey!” You shout-whispered. “...I knew it. You did make them! Why are you-” She stops and notices their shape. “That’s so...cute?” She gives out an amused laugh and quietly puts it back down. You fan at your face, cheeks aching with embarrassment. “Make sure you give them to him. Trust me. I’ll beat him up if he doesn’t appreciate it,” she tells you. “I’ll try…” you say meekly. Unbeknownst to you, Yuuji grins at Megumi upon hearing this and Megumi responds with his own subtle smile. 

- The bell rings for the end of school. Sukuna stands and leaves first, telling you that he had something he needed to do after school and that you should go home first. Before you can stop him, he's already left the classroom. “Go after him,” Nobara pushes you, so you hurriedly pack your things up before running out.

More than ten minutes have passed, and you can’t find him. You want to call or text him, but you’re worried that he was in the midst of doing something important. It’s rare of him to stay back at school, after all. You sigh, and tell yourself that you’ll just give up with this year’s one.

Walking out of the school’s entrance, you see Sukuna standing nearby with his usual bored expression, hands in his pockets. He catches sight of you and immediately approaches. “I thought you had something to do at school?” You start to say. “Obviously a lie. What took you so damn long?” He scratches the back of his head in annoyance. “I was looking for you inside! Also why did you lie?” You question him. “Nevermind that. You could have just called...No, that’s not the issue right now. Give.” He suddenly stretches his palm out in front of you. “Eh? Give what?” The thought of the chocolates go right over your head.

“You...the thing that you gave to everyone else except me. I know you have mine. Don’t keep me waiting,” He says, frowning. The realisation hits you like a truck and you give him a helpless smile. “How’d you know…?” You ask, quick to reach into your bag. “How long do you think I’ve known you for? The others probably knew too,” he says nonchalantly. “But I thought you wouldn’t want them...you've gotten so much. And you don’t even like sweets.” You place the bag gently on his palm. “Idiot. We’re dating. There’s no reason to not accept them if you've made some for me.” He gives them a look and grins.  “Oh…? Now I understand why you couldn’t give it to me in front of the others.”

Only Sukuna’s chocolates were heart-shaped, when the others' had been circular ones. He’d rather die than admit it, but he thrives on getting this kind of special attention from you. You get flustered and look at your feet. “It’s true that I don’t really like sweets.” He tells you suddenly. “You don’t have to force yourself to eat them-” “But there’s a way of eating them that would make it taste a bit better,” he cuts you off. You were confused as to what he was talking about, and you watched as he opened the bag and popped one of them into his mouth before pulling you in for a kiss.

Your eyes were widened in shock as you barely had the time to register all of this - he was already slipping his tongue into your mouth. One hand on your hip, and the other on the back of your neck, you're so close to his body, getting pulled into his warmth that threatens to melt you, the taste of the chocolate starting to spreading across your taste buds as he's making out with you passionately. Before you know it, you're reciprocating the gesture and kissing him back, your hands rising up, gripping tightly onto his uniform. Chocolate has never tasted any sweeter. You can feel your own body beginning to heat up and you're gradually running out of breath. As your tongue is intertwining with his, the chocolate is getting pushed back and forth, and your desire to get even closer to him is growing, growing, growing.

The last of the chocolate had melted away from the exhilarating temperature the two of you had built up and he finally breaks the kiss, leaving you breathless and gasping for air. You can't tell if this remaining aftertaste that lingered on your tongue was the taste of the chocolate, or the taste of him. Nonetheless, you adore it.

“Much better.” He licks his lips and smirks at you. Still in shock, you lack a response except for your flustered face and your eyes that are now reflecting a glint of lust within. Sukuna hums in satisfaction at this expression of yours and he gently drags his thumb across your lower lip.

“We should do this more often.”

[gossip-girl-of-middleearth]

She’s the Man (Fellowship x Disguised as Boy! Reader)

Requested by anon

Warnings: mentions of domestic/sexual assault, nudity, awkward public bathing. Might trigger a gender identity crisis in some of you folks, but don’t worry, join the club—we’re getting jackets made.

Synopsis: after having run away from your noble family and horrid husband, you cut your hair short and start dressing like a boy, presenting yourself as one throughout all of Middle-earth. This becomes hard, though, as you start travelling with the Fellowship, where they start to suspect something is up with their young “boy” comrade.

Restrictions, restrictions, restrictions—that’s all you’ve ever known. You first noticed the tight chains on your soul when you were five, when your mother forbade you from playing with the local stable-hands.

You next noticed it when you were ten, being forced to wear tight corsets to shape your body before it even began blooming.

The final nail in the coffin, however, was when you turned fifteen, and were married off to a local, and quite old tradesman.

Though he dealt in silken fabrics, he was anything but smooth or soft. The night of your wedding was painful in all regards, for at fifteen you weren’t even sure if you were allowed to remove the tight corset during the act.

Five years more of total misery accompanied you, as you were forced to attend noble banquets and celebrations.

You encountered a wide range of people, from the likes of Denethor and his two sons, to the sickly Rohan King. Of course, they did not encounter you, for you were not allowed to speak unless spoken to, which was rare.

The two sons of Denethor and King Théoden’s own son, Théodred, as well as his two cousins, Eowyn and Eomer, were the only ones to initiate conversation with you.

You quickly realized they were better-spirited than their parents, but didn’t have the chance to explore more. A tight grip on your wrist from your husband silenced you, as he tore you away from the circle of new acquaintances quickly.

That night, life in your guestroom with your husband was a living hell, as he reminded you whom exactly you belonged to.

That was the night you snapped.

Bruised and sore, you wept into your sheets. Your husband had long-gone to drink more wine at the party, leaving his young wife alone in a state of mess.

It was around the third hour of crying that you studied the tapestry on the wall above your bed. With hair wettened by your tears clinging to your puffy cheeks, you ran your reddened eyes along the art.

It depicted a strong soldier atop a horse, riding into battle. A sword was drawn, and his short hair flowing in the wind behind him.

Subconsciously, you reached up to your own hair, long in length—your husband’s desire—and pulled on it.

As mounted in every room, two swords crossed each other over a shield, making a pretty decoration above the mantle.

Looking between the bruises inside your thighs, the tapestry and the sword, your jaw quickly set. Your eyes hardened, as you threw the sheets off your frame and stalked towards the mantle.

Glancing over your shoulder, you ensured no one was entering your room. With an emotional mind made up, you removed both swords from the shield.

Hastily, you used one to bar the door shut, and walked to the centre of the room with the other. With no candlelight around, you knelt on the fur rug under a square beam of moonlight, which poured in through the bedroom windows.

You looked at your reflection in the sword, and studied the state of your misery. Despising your parents, your husband and your life, you quickly put the sword to your hair.

With only a second to build the courage, you sliced all long locks from your head, springing forward a boyish look—instantly freeing yourself from your lifelong chains.

Breathing heavily in shock, you looked at the clump of hair on the floor, and picked it up. One hand ran through your now very short locks, and the other fingered the cut clump.

However, shocked breaths soon turned into joyous laughter, as your chest swelled with pride and your eyes watered.

Standing up swiftly, you ran towards the bathroom and opened the drawers. Finding a pair of scissors, you got to work and began styling your hair further.

Soon, you were left looking like a boy, by Middle-earth’s human standards. Your hair barely scraped the nape of your neck at the back, and in front, you had a fringe swooping to one side.

Grinning brightly, and now on a roll, you ran back to the mantle. Opening your husband’s drawers, you quickly discarded your nightgown and slipped his tunic on.

Shrugging the loose fit over your form, you secured it with a thick brown belt, trousers and used your own boots.

Studying yourself in the mirror, you realized this must be how you would’ve looked if born a boy, and you were surprised within yourself over liking it.

Throwing your clump of cut hair into the fire, you soon began tying sheets together. That night, you escaped down the window and fled the city atop a stolen horse, riding towards your new life.

Five years passed by, and you had been on the run ever since. Life was never easy for you, but at least now you were calling the shots.

You had taken to your new life as a boy, like a duck to water, presenting yourself as the rather quiet and distant “Arlo”.

You kept your head down and worked hard wherever you went, whether as a blacksmith’s apprentice, baker’s boy or stablehand.

Your most favourite part of the road, however, was learning to use a sword. With a book stolen from a library and five years’ worth of nights to practice, you had become quite skilled. The spite drove you forward.

You vowed no one would ever best you in combat again, pushing you harder every day. Your best friend and only companion was your horse, Paxton, and together the two of you explored Middle-earth to its very ends.

Along your travels, you had taken to competing in swordfight competitions, where you earned most of your cash. Swindling them, you presented yourself as a weak and frail boy, but in the end ultimately beat them all.

You gained a reputation quickly, and were slightly infamous for your swordsman skills, despite being so small.

It was this reputation that led you to Elrond’s secret council in Rivendell.

Your eyes had gone wide in alarm upon entering the petal-strewn area—where the council was set to be held—for Boromir, one of Denethor’s sons, was there.

You almost turned and ran, but he caught your eye quickly. You didn’t know whether or not to avoid his gaze, but that would bring about suspicion.

He instead smiled warmly at you, and thought nothing of your appearance. You nodded back tightly, and took your seat far away from him.

You ended up sitting next to an elf, for you knew their gender worked differently from yours. He himself looked a little girlish, so you believed he’d think nothing of your appearance.

He studied you with a side-glance as you sat down, and nodded curtly. You clenched your jaw and nodded back, moving your eyes forwards again.

You discreetly let out a sigh of relief, as you found the coast to be clear. No one figured you to be a girl.

Soon, Elrond joined the council. You felt your breath hitch in your throat, as you realized his puzzled eyes lingered on you a little too long.

Worried he’d rat you out, you looked away. Knitting his brows, Elrond slowly tore his eyes away from you, and began the council.

Long story-short, you had been invited to participate on a dangerous quest, all food and expenses paid for. Unable to pass up such a good opportunity for you and your horse, you reluctantly agreed, offering your sword to the hobbit sworn to carrying Sauron’s ring.

The first few nights you kept to yourself, as an awkward air befell the Fellowship—none really knowing each other nor knowing how to interact.

Very quickly, cliques formed.

The hobbits kept to each other in a pack, Gandalf joining them. Aragorn and Legolas joined forces, and Boromir, Gimli and yourself found ranks in solitude.

However, this was not to last forever.

Boromir had attempted many times to strike up conversation with you, as besides Aragorn, you were the only other “man” there.

You kept it short and courteous, but made it apparent very quickly to everyone there that you were in no position to begin friendships. This was a job to you—nothing more, nothing less.

That still did not stop anyone from trying, though. After Boromir, Gimli was next. The topic of the night around the campfire was “women”, as they all discussed their perfect partner.

The conversation divided the group in half, over those choosing to go more physical in nature a direction, and the other half preferring emotions.

Gimli laughed heartily and elbowed you in the shoulder. “Forget this lot, eh? I bet you and I are exactly alike, laddie! Thick thighs and body hair all over! Am I right?”

Laughing nervously, you rubbed at the back of your neck. “Uh…not really…”

He blinked up at you in surprise for a moment, before shrugging his shoulders and pressing on in the conversation. Legolas studied you from across the fire, and made a mental note of your words.

Later on, when you were all setting up your rugs, Legolas approached you. He crouched down by your side and began helping to unroll your pack.

You recoiled from him slightly, and stared up in alarm. He looked back down at you briefly with a tight-lipped smile, and spoke.

“I agree with you from earlier,” he said. “I believe partnership should be about romance and emotions, not physical acts. How about you, mellon nin? Have a lady waiting back at home for you?”

You sputtered up at the prince, before averting your eyes and rolling your pack out faster. “No, I…uh, that’s not really my area…”

Legolas knitted his brows for a moment in confusion, before his lips parted in sudden understanding.

“Oh. Oh! Well, um…do you have a gentleman waiting back at home for you, then?”

Snapping your eyes up at him once more, you flushed.

“No! No! I, look—I’m really kinda tired.” You made a show of yawning loudly. “And I think I just wanna get some rest. I’ll see you in the morning, though…brother?”

Legolas blinked down at you a few times, before speaking and rising to his legs. “Oh! Uh, sure…that’s no hassle. Rest well…brother?”

“Will do,” you drew out, laying down.

He threw a glance over his shoulder at you, before walking away. He caught Aragorn’s eye as he walked past, with the ranger sat there puffing away on his pipe.

They both tightened their lips, looked away and raised their brows, figuring you were just a moody boy.

The most awkward situation of all, however, came a few weeks later. Having managed to sneak away from the Fellowship, you found a nice river, of which you could bathe in.

Paxton followed suit, keeping your towel wrapped over his saddle. He snorted in worry as you began to undress, revealing your body to the running river.

“It’s fine,” you laughed, girlishly. Your voice had returned to its normal pitch, for the first time in a long time. “Just because I’m pretending to be a boy as I travel with them, doesn’t mean I have to smell like one!”

Paxton snorted, and you knew he was telling you to hurry.

“All right, all right,” you laughed again, stepping into the water. You hugged your chest as you dipped below, submerging yourself fully.

Rising again, you exhaled a sigh of relief, and began washing the grime from your hair and face.

You were only in there for so long, however, for soon boyish laughter came from up the forested incline.

“Out of the way!” Pippin called, stripping off his clothes.

“No! You move!” Merry shouted back, also stripping down.

Behind them both, was the rest of the entire Fellowship, save for Gandalf.

Your eyes grew wide in alarm, as you watched them all meet the river’s bank. They then began undressing—Aragorn, Boromir, Gimli, Legolas and the hobbits included.

Soon, they each all jumped into the water, splashing one another and laughing loudly. You found a large boulder within the river nearby, and swam behind it.

Peeking out from the side, you watched them all swim closer in a group to where you were. They began cleaning themselves, and soon just started to wade around—relishing in the cool feeling.

However, as you tried to swim away discreetly, Legolas’ elven ears caught you. He narrowed his eyes, and began swimming over to your rock.

Knowing you would be caught if you tried to flee, you pressed your back firm against the rock, lapping up against it.

Legolas was now upon you, and looked around the corner to find what was behind it. Once he saw it was only you, he beamed brightly.

Rising up out of the water, he folded his arms over the rock and leaned over, looking down at you.

You tried to not let your eyes drift or slip, as you stared back up at him. However, mistakes were made (but clearly not on his parents’ behalf).

“Hello, Arlo!” he announced merrily. “We didn’t know you were also in here.”

Upon hearing your name, the rest of the Fellowship waved you over, asking you to join them.

You chuckled nervously and began swimming backwards and away, speaking as you did so. “Oh, no…that’s quite all right! I, uh…just remembered I actually have something to do—”

“Oh, no! Don’t be like that!” Boromir chastised. He grabbed your wrist gently and reeled you back in towards him and Legolas.

Your shoulders went rigid, as you nearly brushed up against their bare bodies.

Soon, the hobbits, Gimli and Aragorn swam over to you, and you were more thankful now for the darkness of night than you had ever been.

Though, with one slither of moonlight in the right spot, you’d soon be exposed.

“Please don’t leave on our behalf, Arlo,” Aragorn encouraged, placing a hand on your wet shoulder. “It is good for team morale to bond like this. Besides, we’re all men here.”

“Some more than others!” Gimli announced. You looked up in the direction of his voice, and immediately covered your eyes.  

Gimli was stood with his hands on his hips, proudly naked atop your boulder.

“I am the king of this rock!” he announced. “Any competitors who’d like to have a go at pushing me off?”

“Please,” Legolas rolled his eyes, before he, too, swam over to the boulder and climbed atop it. “This will be the easiest fight of my life.”

Catching more than you wanted to see, you made a squeal of rejection, before forcibly pushing your way through the group and heading towards the bank.

Paxton met you quickly, and you swiftly wrapped the towel over your shoulders like a cloak, as to not make it obvious what you were covering, but doing so nonetheless.

“I’m sorry,” you said to them, “but I truly do have something else to do…literally anything else. I’ll see you all back at camp.”

They watched as you left in a hurry, and shared glances with one another. Thinking nothing of it, besides your usual mood, they shrugged and returned to what they were doing.

This continued on for quite some time, throughout the entire Fellowship journey. Though, you never again attempted to bathe with them all around.

Fortunately, your travels soon took you out of the woods, and into the cities. Many fights had passed your small group, smaller now than before, by.

The most recent of battles saw many great feats—the “Battle of the Pelennor Fields” it was called.

In this battle, you had fought formidably. However, the true victory for women that day went to Eowyn. She had removed her helmet in the middle of the fight, pronounced she was “not a man”, like you had wanted to do so many times, and slayed the Witch-king of Angmar.

You were inspired greatly, but also so furious at yourself. You were also slightly jealous over the attention she got.

“What a brave woman,” Gimli would say.

“I’ve never met a woman so bold,” Merry added on.

“Truly remarkable,” Legolas agreed.

The six of you were sat in a stone courtyard together, camping out in the aftermath of the fight. Your jaw was rigid with fury, as you listened to them praise Eowyn over something you had been doing for the past few months.

Rolling your eyes, and making a show of turning over in your sleeping bag harshly, you quickly gained the Fellowship’s attention.

“Oh, and what is your problem, laddie?” Gimli snarked.

“Upset you were outshined by a girl?” Legolas taunted as well.

“You’re not that misogynistic, are you?” Merry chortled.

Aragorn glanced between your turned back and the laughing boys, before taking his own turn at scolding you.

“Arlo, Eowyn was a great asset today, and we are guests in her company. I will not see you sulking towards her remarkable feats.”

You glared at him over your shoulder, before huffing and returning to sleeping on your side. Your arms were folded over your chest, and your body burning in jealous rage.

“Gosh, what is the matter with you?” Legolas asked next, truly fed up with your attitude. “Why are you always in a bad mood?”

“Wouldn’t have taken you for a misogynist either,” Gimli remarked, smacking his gums as he ate a chicken leg.

You stayed on your side with your back turned to them for a few moments, glaring at the wall. However, the rage in your chest soon gave way to a lump in your throat, as you soon felt your secret burst within you.

“I’m not a misogynist…” you spoke up.

“Poppycock,” Gimli called you out.

Sighing, you sat up and looked at them to your side. “I’m not a misogynist, because…I’m not even a boy.”

Silence echoed around the courtyard, as your travel companions blinked back at you.

“What?” Pippin asked, squinting his eyes. “What do you mean you’re ‘not a boy’?”

Groaning through another sigh, and rolling your head, you pressed on. “I mean I’m NOT a boy! I’m a girl, for Eru’s sake…I’ve just been…presenting myself as one, for…reasons.”

“What reason could you possibly have to lie about something like that?” Legolas asked, not entirely believing you.

Feeling the urge to cry rising within you, you inhaled a deep breath and answered. “Nothing you men would understand.”

“I’m sorry,” Merry laughed, “but I don’t believe you at all. There’s no way you’re a girl.”

Glaring at him, you knew his words to be true. Knowing how to prove you were indeed a girl, you reached into your loose tunic, and began unwrapping the bind around your chest.

Pulling it out, you threw it down in front of the now gaping group. Without a shred of chivalry, still disbelieving you to be a girl at all, they glanced between the fabric and your chest, which indeed proved your gender.

“I don’t believe it…” Pippin whispered, staring with wide eyes.

In fact, they all did. With six pairs of male eyes on your chest, you felt very vulnerable and covered yourself.

This seemed to jolt them back to their senses, as they coughed uncomfortably and looked away.

The only one still looking into your eyes, was Aragorn. “Why did you feel the need to lie, my lady?”

Being called a “lady” for the first time in five years opened up a floodgate of emotions, as you wept into your hand.

“Yep, definitely a girl,” Merry rolled his eyes. A swift punched to his arm from Legolas silenced him.

Now knowing exactly how to deal with you, Aragorn stood up and crouched before you. He placed a tentative hand on your shoulder, and encouraged the other boys to come forwards, until they were sat all around you in a comforting circle.

“What is your real name, young maiden?” Aragorn asked softly.

Still sniffling into your hand, and bearing a downcast head, you spoke up in a barely audible voice.

“Y/n…” you revealed.

“What a beautiful name, Y/n,” he smiled warmly.

Like a turn of the tides, the boys all around took you under their wing, as if you were their own little sister. Everything about you now made sense, and they felt at ease with you instantly.

And, surprisingly, you found the same about them, regarding yourself. You didn’t at all feel threatened by their presence, but instead protected.

“I’m sorry,” you wept, shaking your head. “I had no choice, they made me marry him, and I-I couldn’t stay there, and then I had to make money so I ran with the lie and—”

They shushed your incoherent crying quickly, and rubbed at both your knees, back and shoulders comfortingly.  

They gained more information about your previous life in those few seconds than they had before in the last few months. They didn’t need to know anymore, nor wanted to, from the sounds of it all.

“Please don’t kick me out of the Fellowship…” you sniffled.

“Why would we do that?” Gimli laughed. “We now have TWO remarkable women in our ranks! Eowyn AND Y/n!

“A great win for us, indeed!” Legolas agreed brightly.

A smile broke through your tears, as they shook you softly and commended your swordswoman skills excitedly.

This carried on for a few moments, before you spoke up again, now smiling around at them through almost dried tears.

“So…you don’t mind about me lying? Or being a…woman?”

They shook their heads and returned your smile. “Not at all, lassie.”

Before the conversation could progress, however, Legolas suddenly recalled something.

“WAIT!” he gasped loudly, thinking back to the river. “THAT MEANS YOU SAW ALL OUR—”

“Let’s agree to never speak of it again, okay?”

“Aye, never again…sister.”