#like babe take a day off and have a pleasant adventure together

[agoldfishcalledem]

[lestcat-de-lioncourt]

Newbies who've arrived on Genshin since it blew up/started trending complaining abt the cut scenes: Is there a way to tell a player is new here without them saying they're new here?

Seasoned veteran player here since the start, you just gotta babe. Not everyone wants to know about the lore or the characters, but that doesn't make it a Bad game.

I've recently seen people complaining about being bored, yet all they focus on these days is repeating the same domains, and commissions every single day then exhaust themselves and log out after focusing only on primos and using up resin without doing all of the many other things to do in the game.

If you play it for just primo farming, or the marketed method of playing (because yes, it is designed to also convince you to spend money), it's going to become boring.

I've been playing for about 2 and a half years, most days and I get a lot out of doing ALL KINDS of things, and I certainly don't spend all that much time forcing myself to burn out doing only domains and suchlike, I like cooking actually quite a lot!

There's Genius Invokation TCG, a card game, to play either against characters or friends in The Cats Tail.

There's world exploration.

Farming ingredients, low-key relaxing activities, and beautiful scenery as well as music to enjoy in different places you visit. You can collect CDs for your Serenitea Pot.

There's your teapot world designing, where you can build your own home and customise it with so many different items, furniture, plants, and you can even raise your own garden to make farming plants quicker.

There's mini games pretty much every event, and you can access most events now with Quick Start, which is only pretty recent. You think now is annoying. Back when we were at it for ages, you simply had to finish ur damn quests. 😭

Food shopping, quick pick ups around all the cities or secret vendors around Teyvat.

Random chatting to the NPC civilians is often missed out, but you can just have pleasant conversations with them and some random ones give you presents for interacting with them.

There's flying challenges.

Check out the blacksmith and make your own weapons instead of only the crystals constantly. It can be quite nice to know you collected stuff to forge your own weapon set even if they're not the strongest weapons.

There are SOOOO many different puzzle games in every corner of the world to tackle if you want something to really stimulate your brain, plenty of which are pretty hard if you find some too easy. This unlocks their own set of rewards after, but if you enjoy a good puzzle, check out the locations of some. There are plenty in Inazuma, that's for sure.

Feeling irate but too stressed to domain? Idk, go whack some trees in the forests and farm lots of wood for building furniture in your teapot! You can convert things in there as well if you have loads of a certain item hanging around you don’t use.

There's hidden achievements. You can take the time running around, or just Google their locations. Some are fun. But it takes a break from the usual daily grind. And that’s the point, it should just be a grind unless you want to grind out a lot of reruns etc.

They also introduced fishing. Fish is hard to come by or isn't, depending on how much you swim or where you spend a lot of your time in Teyvat. Fishing added the ability to rest and catch all kinds of variety of fish. You can collect certain types, certain bait, and build up your fishing kit. It's a fun pastime for some, and feeds you if not anything else!

There's secret locations, caves, islands, gorgeous discoveries to be had in difficult to reach places but it pays off, and if you truly into Adventuring, this could be a fun kick to try getting to these special areas.

Co-op mode can be used to socialise, role-play, and hang out or help your friends, but it doesn't have to ONLY mean grinding domains together just for stuff, over and over again and again. I think the monotony and boredom have come from everyone desperately farming ALL the time against their will so they can have the best weapons or get favourite characters, and they feel there's no time to do anything else, or they actually don't have time to do anything else after all that if they work etc.

Hell, sometimes I just Zone out swimming around in the gorgeous waters in random areas and look around. I think I've enjoyed the game for so long without it losing its spark, as I've just done whatever felt good, and it's a really wonderful game playing it without stress like that. If it’s boring, or a currently uninteresting task? I give it a miss this time.

I don't have the best kit by any means, but I have lots of cool characters I love anyway. But I play it for peace and an escape, pushing to do the stuff we are tbh sometimes rushed to do.

If anyone has any more interesting alternative things to do in Genshin Impact, please add!

[ashortdropandasuddenstop]

While Homelander wasn’t one to drink tea or coffee, he’d had the occasional few over the years. But Norrington’s was…something else. Extremely bitter and strong. It took the Supe all his acting ability to not make a face after that sip. For once, he actually cared about hurting someone’s feelings, especially when it came to James. And the way the vamp looked at him…he seemed so innocent. So eager for their little adventure. Homelander didn’t want to tarnish it by accidentally causing offence.

Course, then James explained it was his first time making coffee, which thus explained the rather…unpleasant cup. Hence the reason why Homelander stuck with milk. It’s very difficult to fuck that up. “It’s um…different. Quite a unique taste…” Homelander managed as best he could with a smile, though he didn’t dare take another sip after the first and was rather glad that James was caught up talking to hopefully not notice.

Clearing his throat, Homelander gazed over the appliances with an equal look of wonder. Half the stuff he’d never even used himself. Just like James, he didn’t have a need to. “It would seem odd to have everything but kitchen appliances on the ship. Plus, they might come in handy one day if you have others aboard who aren’t vampire or the world’s strongest Supe.” He teased with a smirk. “For now it’s…nice decoration. Except for the fridge. That will get used.” He added with a grin.

The moment James let him off the hook with the cup of coffee, Homelander sighed with relief and set it down. “Oh, thank fuck.” He breathed before offering a look of apology. “I love you babe, but please don’t ever make coffee again. I’m…fearing for my life a bit after that one sip, honestly.” He teased, trying to make a joke of it as he got comfy on the couch. “Though, I don’t blame you for wanting to explore the mundane. It’s something I’ve never thought about doing, until you came along that is. We’ll discover it together.” The blonde said softly with a warm smile, blue eyes locked onto green.

As they sat beside one another, Homelander couldn’t help but beam with pride knowing James felt the same way. That the pair were home to one another. It meant so much to the Supe. To know that someone truly wanted to be with him, in his company, and not because of the fame or fortune. But because of who he is. “Then neither of us will ever be that far from home.” Homelander said softly, his own eyes glistening with excitement at what their little vacation would bring.

A hearty chuckle left the blonde at James’ offer. An honest and true laugh as he nodded. “Definitely one of your better ideas, sweetheart. By all means, provided it’s not…y’know, ahem…” His eyes flickered toward the cup of pure evil and back. “I’ll have whatever you’ve got in mind.” He snickered, already sensing this would be a running joke between them. After all, it wasn’t every day that James Norrington didn’t succeed in something. “Though…hang on a moment…” Homelander whispered as he leaned in and pressed a kiss to those lips he adored so much. It was soft and tender, warm and comforting. After a few moments, the Supe eased back, holding his lover’s gaze. “Now that is definitely a better taste. Mm.” He whispered.

As they settled on the couch, James couldn't help but chuckle at Homelander's genuine relief after setting aside the ill-fated cup of coffee.

The vampire sheepishly glanced down a with a bit of a flush. " Oh well. Can't win them all, as they say" About to get back up to fetch him some of the cream he'd brought, and put the rest in the fridge when he was stopped him.

The sudden hush in the cabin as Homelander leaned in for a tender kiss caught James off guard, a pleasant surprise that sent a shiver down his spine. The soft press of lips, the warmth exchanged in that fleeting moment, spoke volumes that words could not convey. As they pulled away, James met Homelander's gaze, " Now that is undoubtedly a better taste," he whispered, his heart swelling with affection for the extraordinary man who had become his anchor in this timeless voyage.

With a tender affection, James Norrington's hand glided over Homelander's cheek, a gentle caress that reflected the depth of his adoration. The brief touch lingered before he rose from the couch, a graceful movement as he moved towards the kitchen area .

Fetching a fresh container of cream from the suitcase and returning the rest to the fridge, James he poured a generous amount into a glass, and returned to the couch, offering the alternative to the disastrous coffee. "Here you are, my darling. A much safer choice, I assure you," he said, a teasing glint in his eyes.

Setting the cream down, James leaned back against the edge of the couch, his gaze fixed on Homelander. "I suppose we should cast off, no point being on her if she can't stretch her sea-legs, don't you think?" he suggested with a smile. "The waters will only get blacker now that the sun is down. Let's embark on this adventure together, and see where the night takes us."

vacation

[bucky-barnes-diaries]

Day 3 — Autumn Leaves

Pairing || TFATWS!Bucky x Female!Reader

Word Count || Around 800

Contents & Warnings || Fluff — no warnings.

Authors Note || I posted this last year, but it flopped, so I’ve rewritten it, and I’m reposting it for this year.

Disclaimer || English is not my first language so I apologise for any mistakes or misunderstandings!

Flufftober Masterlist

You looked out the living room window with a joyous expression that Autumn was finally here. It’s always been your favourite season of them all.

While in deep concentration on the Autumn world outside, you feel a pair of naked and muscular arms wrap around your waist. A warm chest pressed into your back, and you leaned your head against it—the presence behind you no other than your boyfriend, Bucky.

His vibranium arm burned cold into your skin for a few seconds before it started to warm up against you. Your arms placed on top of his to keep him close. His lips brushed against your ear as he squeezed enough to make you feel secure and loved in his grasp.

“What’s going through that pretty head of yours, doll?”

His voice was laced with sleep. The low and rough tone had shivers run down your spine, and your lips parted to let out a shaky exhale.

“I’m just admiring the beauty of Autumn. You know it’s my favourite season.”

He turned you around, and once you were face to face, you took a moment to admire him. Bucky always looked so beautiful in the morning. His hair was a bit messy, and the sculpt of his body looked more defined. It took your breath away.

He wrapped his arms around your middle again, pulling you close to him once more. Your lips brushed together as you gazed deep into each other. A smirk curved on his lips.

“Let’s have a hot shower together and then go for a walk in the park. What do you say, doll?”

“That sounds like a wonderful plan, babe.” You smiled.

After your shower together, which turned steamy, of course, you both got dressed in your warm and cosy Autumn clothes.

You remembered to grab your camera with you to take pictures of your adventure.

As you stepped out into the chilly weather, his large hand embraced your smaller one. He gave it a light squeeze before his thumb brushed the back of it repeatedly. You took in a big breath of the crisp morning air before you set out on your walk.

You watched with adoration as you took in the thick trees coated with Autumn colours—blood red, burnt orange, dark yellow and brown as far as the eye could see. The path you were walking on was decorated with fallen leaves.

Families and couples were out as well, enjoying the pleasant weather and atmosphere. You couldn’t help but giggle as you watched kids running around and playing in the pile of leaves.

You fantasised about yours and Bucky’s hopeful future where your kids would one day play and laugh as well in this magical season. It had you smiling from ear to ear at the thought.

The sound of your camera clicked away as you took a few pictures of the scenes around you.

“It’s so beautiful,” you mumbled while taking the pictures, managing to sneak in a few of your boyfriend as well.

“It sure is.”

Bucky’s eyes studied the environment around him before they landed on you. The most breathtaking sight he’s ever laid eyes on in his entire existence.

He stopped in his tracks and pulled your arm. Before you had the chance to say anything, he spun you around to face him. His hands grabbed your hips to pull you flush against his frame. Your arms locked around his neck as you stood on your toes.

His lips brushed yours softly and delicately for a brief moment to breathe you in and feel the warmth radiating off you before he closed the gap between you and laid a sweet kiss on your lips.

It felt like it was only you and Bucky in the universe when you kissed; nothing else mattered. The falling leaves around you created a picture-perfect scene that looked like something from a fairy tale.

When he pulled his lips from yours, you let out a soft whine, wanting more. If you could, you would never separate from them. You could get lost in them forever, not caring where you were and who was watching.

He rested his forehead on yours as you both closed your eyes to feel the electric and warm energy soaring between the two of you. His flesh hand cradled your face, brushing your cheek with his thumb.

“I love you, my pretty doll. You’re the best thing that’s ever come into my life.”

“I’m yours forever, Bucky. I love you so much.”

Feedback through a comment is highly appreciated! Or let me know through an anonymous ask if that feels more comfortable. As well as a reblog to share my work with other people!

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[glowingbadger]

I loved the Ashe, Sylvain, and Hilda modern-day HCs. So….can I ask for….Marianne, Dima, and Claude now? They’re so so good.

Here's a quick list of the places I've touched on ModernAU stuff with these characters before, for anyone who's interested! General Modern HCs (Dimitri) W/ insecure Reader (Claude, Dimitri) W/ insecure Reader (Marianne) Soft HCs (Dimitri)

I'll try not to repeat myself too much, but the SFW portion might be a little sparse because I've written a good deal of my thoughts on that already :3

Marianne, Dimitri, Claude x GN Reader

Modern/College AU headcanons

SFW (not sfw under the cut)

Marianne:

- Definitely a veterinary student who has an incredible, intuitive way with animals. One of those "gets along with animals better than people" types. As a result, many others in her classes see her as aloof or difficult to talk to. Fortunately, when Hilda drags her to a party one night, you notice her keeping to herself and come to make casual conversation. It takes a bit for her to open up, but she's soon grateful for pleasant, relaxing company in the midst of the loud chaos.

- She needs a good amount of reassurance in a relationship, as she's so convinced you could do better. Marianne is totally the type to apologize for not being good enough for you, then apologize for bringing it up, then apologize for apologizing. But her love and admiration for you are so very clear. She'll shyly take your hand in hers, and just the way she looks at you, it's like you're every star and every sunset she's ever seen.

- Marianne spends some of her free time volunteering at a local animal shelter, and one of your earlier dates would involve her introducing you to some of the animals in her care. Here, it's like you see a completely different side of her- she's so much more confident and firm when she speaks to the animals, and she smiles so brightly and laughs adorably as she watches you attempt to make a good impression on them.

Dimitri:

- We've chatted about Modern! Dimitri a good deal so far- but I will double down here on the fact that, while he's outwardly extremely intimidating to your friends when you first start dating, you know (and they learn) that he's absolute Malewife material.

- He loves sitting on video calls with you and just staring at your adorable, lovely face. He's an excellent listener, and will gladly hear about your entire day from start to finish, even if you insist it was nothing special. He's just so soothed by your voice, and the chance to see you. While he's honestly not very good at social media in general, he does have a couple hundred pictures of you saved. Not to post anywhere, just to look back at with a goofy grin on his face.

Claude:

- Claude is the guy on campus that everyone likes, plenty of people want, but no one can really nail down. He seems to know everyone, but he's only actually close to a few good friends, and for the longest time, even they assume that he's the "doesn't believe in serious dating" type. It starts much the same with you- he figures you're interesting and cute as hell, so he may as well spend some time having fun and getting to know you. And then... the feels TM creep in.

- You'll be caught up in a sort of... friendly flirtation with him for a while. The kind where it would be easy to play off all of the corny innuendos and knowing glances as "just kidding around." Then, one night, after a long group study session or just lazing around with drinks and games with his friends, he offers to walk you back to your dorm. When you get caught in a sudden downpour and have to duck under the nearest building's awning for shelter, he gives you a strange lingering look that's so much heavier than any you've seen. And without a word, he leans down to kiss you. When you part, he's wearing a slanted smile, but he's fidgeting a bit when he says, "Hey, uh, Y/N. I wanna be with you- for real. So uh... how 'bout it?"

- Claude is just the most fun boyfriend ever. He's got an active and curious mind, so he's always game to try anything you're interested in, and you'll never be at a loss for date ideas. He's the kind who gets okay grades, though nothing incredible, but his brilliance shines in how he latches on to new information, turning a topic around in his mind until he's seen it from every angle. It's especially charming when he asks to hear about your interests or areas of expertise- he asks all the right questions and the conversation becomes lively just about instantly.

NSFW 18 + v

Marianne:

- You're definitely her first sexual partner (she hasn't even dated seriously until you), and she's going to take a long time to get comfortable freely exploring the physical side of a relationship. She's a big cuddler, once you've assured her that you like it too- she finds it immensely soothing to rest her head on your shoulder or on your chest, just listening to your breathing and feeling you warm against her. But as for sexual affection, she'll start slow, testing things by letting her gentle hands tentatively wander just a little further than before, or deepening your kiss a little more than usual.

- Best practice with Marianne is to let her be the one to suggest or initiate things, but to respond enthusiastically when she does so she knows you're happy with it and you want her as much as she wants you. Your approval and encouragement fills her with warmth she's never felt before, and a sense of bold desire she hadn't even known she was capable of. There's plenty of communication with her- there has to be -but in a way, that becomes its own sort of eroticism. Soft murmurs of, "is this okay?", "does that feel good?", or "can you take more?" mix in with affirmative sighs and moans, turning the negotiation of comfort into a wonderful, slowly escalating path towards satisfaction.

- She's absolutely mortified by the idea of sexting or sending nudes, but if she sends you an outfit she's considering and reply with a coy "You look amazing- can't wait to take that off of you" (honestly the cheesier the better with the pickup lines- being too smooth would intimidate her)- she'll only respond with a single blushing emoji, but you bet she'll be wearing that outfit to your next date.

Dimitri:

- Everyone on campus, including your friends/roomates see Dimitri as such a pure cinnamon roll that you might be surprised to learn he has a rather healthy sex drive underneath all of that sweetness and affection. Granted, he's definitely most likely to desire you when he feels emotionally close to you- but that won't stop him from fucking you nice and deep until your bed creaks. The first time someone overhears you practically screaming out his name, rumors start spreading that your ever-devoted Malewife is actually legendary in bed. It's mostly a raunchy joke, but as far as you're concerned, they're not exactly wrong.

- He's too nervous to actually save any of the spicy pics you've sent him to his phone, but that doesn't stop him from regularly scrolling back through your message threads to find them. Masturbating to porn is fine and good, but when he can look at you biting your lip as you show off your body to him, he pumps his cock and bucks his hips against his hand until he cums far harder than he's used to. Dimitri especially gets a thrill out of the implied part of this- the fact that you wanted to flaunt yourself to him like this and made sure that he would linger on the sight of you.

- A very fun game is to comment or imply something about how good Dimitri fucks you while you're hanging out with his friends. He stammers and turns bright red when you mention how, "Oh don't you worry, Dimitri keeps me nice and satisfied, don't you babe?" with your eyebrows quirked playfully. His buddies nudge him and laugh, and as timid as he appears about it, he'll need you as soon as you're alone together, and he'll hold you extra close and pound into you a little harder than usual.

Claude:

- Alright. Claude is hot, and Claude knows he's hot, and he has no problem using this to his advantage. He'll absolutely send you gym selfies, or raunchy messages when he knows you're with friends or family. During minor disagreements or when you're pretending to be mad at him, he'll slip an arm around your waist and nibble at your ear, whispering, "C'mon babe, don't be like that..." before pulling you close and kissing you until you can't think straight.

- He absolutely doesn't care if people overhear you- in fact, he'll tease you about it, murmuring in your ear that you can't keep moaning for him like that or you'll be heard. But the fact that he's fucking into you harder and deeper as he says it tells you clearly that he wants you to cry out for him. In general, he's pretty shameless about your shared sex life if you allow him to be. He'll practically strut out of your room to clean up in just his boxers, not caring a bit if your roommates get an eyeful. He's handsy in public as well (again, depending on your comfort with it), and will absolutely grab a handful of your ass while you're on a date together, or trail his hand up your thigh during a movie.

- Claude is adventurous and open minded about sex in general, as I've mentioned a couple times. Hell, he'll even send you a porn clip or a bit of smut, along with a brief "we should try this ;)"- and he obviously loves when you do the same for him. He sees no reason to be shy with his partner about your mutual pleasure. Communicating your preferences will make sure you both enjoy yourselves, and the process of even talking about it can be pretty hot on its own.

[ficrecsbybu]

WinterIron fic rec 2021: Part I

Note: this fic rec consists only of Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark fics. the only Stucky & Stony you might see is as past relationships but that’s it. it’s also complete works ONLY. also - no underage stuff 🔪.  if you have any requests for Winteriron fic recs (for e.g non-superpower au, only one shots, series, hardcore smut, post-tws, college au, not team cap friendly fics, bodyguard au etc.) you can send me requests ^^. anyway... enjoy 😉 

✨ The Guiding of Death by RayShippouUchiha

“That whole Merchant of Death thing,” someone off to the side faux whispers, “makes a lot more sense now.”

It echoes across the bridge like a gunshot. 

Rated M, Hades & Persephone AU, Canon Divergence, always female Tony Stark, not Team Cap friendly. word count: 41391

(note: listen... I know het pairings and/or gender bend is not popular and I never really read those in general BUT this is straight up one of the best fics I have ever read so I NEEDED to share this with y’all...✌️)

✨ Forms of Love by bear_bell

Tony's the bad guy, after all. He's used to it. He's fine with it. He's good at it.

Only now, there's something far worse loitering around the tower - The Winter Soldier. No one notices the guy at first, but when they do, Tony figures that he should have the soldier's back.

Birds of a feather should flock together, and the bad guys should start a book club.

Rated E, Post-CW, Bucky Barnes & Winter Soldier are Different Personalities, Team Iron Man. word count: 33591

✨ Looking at You by NotEvenCloseToStraight

Bucky looks for so long that now all he wants to do is touch and hold and fix everything. But Tony can barely be in the same room as Bucky, cant even look him in the eye. So Bucky doesn't know what to do about Tony, but he is determined to do something. Because all he wants is to look at Tony, and see Tony looking back with a smile.

Rated E, Post-CW, PTSD, team heals, mental healing, forgiveness, angst with a happy ending. word count: 28,168

✨ I'll Be Your Bodyguard (If You'll Be My Security Blanket) by NarutoRox

When one of Loki's pranks gone wrong leaves the team with a young Winter Soldier in their care, they know they're going to have their hands full. Especially since this newer, tinier version of Bucky seems to have a bodyguard complex - and a particular attachment to Tony.

Rated T, kid fic, age regression/de-aging, de-aged Bucky, tiny bodyguard Bucky. word count: 4,993. 

(note: finally something CUTE. Im so sorry for being such a slut for angst and heavy stuff 😅)

✨ Fate Strings Not Required by Akira_of_the_Twilight

Tony took the hint.

Tony wrapped his hand around the new guy’s elbow. He kept his touch light and breakable in case he’d misread the cue.

“Just some guy claiming to be my soul mate, babe.”

The new guy’s eyebrows rose to his hairline in surprise. He chuckled and gave the first guy a smirk. “Strange. Last time I checked we were soul mates.”

Rated T, AU - no superpowers, AU - soulmates, Bodyguard Bucky Barnes, age difference. word count: 7,032.

✨ Shameless  by Finely Honed (jaqen_hgar)

Tony isn’t actually sure which of them starts it—he’d like to take credit, but if he’s learned anything it’s that Barnes is by no means a wilting flower. Besides, the start doesn’t matter as much as figuring out who’s going to actually finish it.

rated M, flirting, dirty talk, sexual tension. word count: 2,560

✨ Winter Wooer by salytierra

Winter may not be the most pleasant guy to live or share your body with, but he isn't nearly as destructive as everybody expected him to be either. He likes to brood in the corners, watch British TV, and freak people out. And Tony. He really, really likes Tony Stark. There's just one problem – Bucky's pretty sure he doesn't feel the same way about the guy.

Rated M, Bucky Barnes & Winter Soldier are Different Personalities, team as family. word count: 8,726

✨ Even Darkness Must Pass by Finely Honed (jaqen_hgar)

“Fake it till you make it,” Bucky whispered to himself, swallowing around his panic. Sam had drilled the idea into him, and it had become a mantra of sorts, something to hold onto when all he wanted to do was blend into the shadows and disappear.

“You’ll be fine.”

Steve placed a warm, strong hand on Bucky’s shoulder and squeezed, his super soldier ears having picked up Bucky uttering the now familiar saying.

Bucky nodded, tried to believe his own words, and followed Steve onto the common floor, a wall of sound hitting them as they entered.

rated M (but mild sexual content), parent Tony Stark, Bucky Barnes recovering, team as family, of love and hobbits 🧝🏻‍♂️. word count: 15,289

✨ Paths Are Made by Walking by Potrix 

The road to recovery is long, winding and a different one for every person walking it. Bucky chooses to help himself the only way he knows how; by doing what he does best.

Or, alternatively; the one in which Tony is a mess and accidentally kick-starts Bucky’s protective mother hen instincts.

rated T, post-TWS, fluff, humour, getting together, idiots in love. word count: 4,744.

✨ Rise In Perfect Light (Be Not Fearful Of The Night) by RayShippouUchiha

At first, the new element singing in his chest, Tony doesn’t understand what he’s done.

Doesn’t understand the full consequences of his actions.

But, to be fair, there’s no way he really could have.

Not even a futurist like him could have ever seen this coming.

rated G, post-CW, past Stony, angst with a happy ending. word count: 3,589.

(note: this fic is SO BEAUTIFUL. lemme just asjkdjnsjkdm)

✨ and amidst the ruins, there was you by TheKitteh

With everything resolved - post the Berlin conflict, Siberia and the rogue Avengers' return - Tony relishes in the clarity of what the team is now. He can finally see the well-defined lines, he can rely on solid rules and the chain of command. He's settled into his life like never before.

That is, until one day, an unhinged sorcerer with no grasp on his magic shatters that new-found balance.

As a result, half of Tony's soul is now gone, but he's willing to do anything to get it back.

rated T, post-CW, canon divergence, au - Dystopia, Dimension Travel, magical accidents, slow burn, getting together. word count: 36,976

✨ and so we unfold by TheKitteh

Senbazuru. Thousand Cranes.

An ancient Japanese legend that promises anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by the gods. Some stories believe you are granted happiness and eternal good luck, instead of just one wish, such as long life or recovery from illness or injury.

Bucky’s not big on believing in any legends, not after all that has happened. He just wants to create something for a change, not destroy.

He needs to prove himself that he can be trusted to handle something delicate. He doesn’t need a promise of a wish come true. He just,- needs to do this for himself.

He doesn’t need noticing how sad, tired Stark looks. Doesn’t need to want to do something for the man, when he can barely do anything for himself.

rated T, CACW canon divergence, getting together, reconciliation, POV alternating, Bucky Barnes recovering. word count: 14,449

✨ Spilt on the Ground like Water by tisfan

Tony has been black-bagged and illegally held at the Raft. Steve has no intentions of going to rescue him.

But the Winter Soldier isn't going to leave him behind.

rated E, Winter Soldier Bucky Barnes, implied/referenced torture, frottage, dub-con, mention of part non-con (HYDRA trash party), not Steve friendly, suicidal thoughts, touch-starved. word count: 10,853

✨ Norns, Save Us (From Ourselves) by phlintandsteel

It’s been ten years since half the universe was dusted.

rated E, post-IW au, A/B/O verse, Omega Tony, Alpha Bucky, Soulmates, Peter & Harley playing matchmaker, still recovering Bucky Barnes, not Steve Rogers Friendly, angst with a happy ending. word count: 37,324.

✨ Change You Like A Remix by ficlicious 

No one ever said Avenging would be easy, but Bucky could have really used a memo about the weeks where the hits just didn’t stop coming. He’d probably still have signed his soul away to the gods of spandex and paperwork, but a heads up woulda been nice before he nodded and smiled and took up residence in the house sanity fled when the Avengers moved in.

---- Soulmates, misunderstandings, snark, genderswap and sleep-deprived Avengers abound. Tony's a woman. Must be Friday.

rated E, AU - soulmates, established relationship, temporary gender swap, jealous Bucky Barnes, misunderstanding, miscommunication. word count: 10,494.

✨ Getting to Know You by orbingarrow

It had been an adventure, navigating the sweetly apologetic Bucky Barnes, who haunted the tower most days, and the the Winter Soldier, who occasionally inhabited Barnes’s body. The Winter Soldier was not apologetic; he was scary. And he was currently chilling out, uninvited, in Tony's lab.

“Leave,” Tony said, because Tony was either a dead man or not, and there wasn’t much he could do about it before coffee.

“Or you could give me permission to be here,” the Winter Soldier suggested.

“I don’t let strangers poke around my stuff,” Tony grumbled, as he walked past the Soldier to take a seat at his workbench.

“Easily solved,” the Soldier deflected. “Get to know me.”

-This is what happens when Tony does.

rated G, Bucky Barnes & Winter Soldier are different personalities, fluff, Clint Barton is a good bro. word count: 9,470

✨ Safe House by ali_aliska

For years, Tony had successfully kept his secret. Neither the world nor his team knew he was Iron Man and as far as he was concerned, everyone was better off that way. On his best days, Tony Stark was not someone people liked and trusted, so the last thing Tony wanted was to tarnish Iron Man’s good reputation by revealing the truth.

But then SHIELD falls, the Avengers face disarray, and a stray Hydra assassin forces Tony to go into hiding—and where better than the safe house he had just crafted for the Avengers and their own ex-assassin ready to come in from the cold?

Tony plans to hide away from everyone in his makeshift workshop until the coast is clear and he’s safe to go home. No one would care to spend any time with the reclusive, arrogant billionaire anyways, right? Iron Man is the one everyone wants around.

Bucky Barnes, on his own journey to reclaim his life and identity, seems to disagree with that sentiment.

rated T, post TWS, canon divergence, au - Secret Identity, mutual pining, team as family, slow burn, misunderstandings. word count: 89,533

✨ Versace on the floor by withered

The modern man’s armor is his clothing, and Bucky wants Tony out of his.

rated T,  post CW, Bucky Barnes & Winter Soldier are Separate Personalities, Barnes & Soldier & their hard-on for Tony, not team cap friendly. word count: 2,127 

[lemonmeringuecry]

The Cubs at Disneyland

Hi, so I've been trying to do this for awhile (ever since I drew Lo in a Mickey Mouse hoodie) but when the queen herself, miss Hazel, said she needs them to go to Disney... well I wrote this. And drew it. Because I'm me.

So anyway, here's the drawing and below is the fic

Tw for a couple mentions of food but I think that's it

Credit for everything @lumosinlove

Leo bounced a bit on the balls of his feet, goofy smile at full force while he waited to board the plane. He had grown up going to Disney World with his family. Living in Louisiana, Florida wasn’t too far away, and Eloise and Wyatt Knut didn’t let being adults stop them from enjoying the magic of Disney. When Leo was born, his parents were beyond excited about the prospect of going as a family, getting mickey ears, collecting pins, and making memories.

The first time he went, Leo was five, his favorite Disney movie was the lion king, and an expression of pure joy was permanent in his pale, blue eyes. Over the four days they were in the parks he got to go on rides, eat themed sweets, and meet his favorite characters.

After that first trip, Eloise started a scrap book. The book, titled ‘Disney World 2006’, was soon filled with pictures of Leo at the entrance gate, Leo with pineapple dole whip halfway to his mouth, and countless of all three of them taken by the photographers.

A favorite picture of Eloise’s was near the back, this one of her son with Simba. When Leo had spotted the cast member dressed as his favorite character, he all but threw himself at the lion costume clad employee. Leo’s mama had taken many pictures of the two lion cubs together and they were beyond adorable.

There are more scrap books from 2008, 2011, 2014, and 2017. Throughout the years of pictures Leo never looks less than ecstatic. Even though New Orleans will forever remain his favorite place in the world, Disney is a close second to home, which is why this trip with his boys is such a big deal for him.

The Lions are currently on a short break in the season after their game against the Coyotes and the cubs are going to spend a few days at Disneyland in Anaheim.

Finn reaches forward to grab Leo’s hand who is standing in line in front of him.

“Sunshine, are you excited?” He asks. Leo tilts his head around to look at his boyfriend and nods eagerly.

“We’ll take that as a yes,” logan chuckles sleepily from behind Finn where he is standing with his head resting on the red head’s back. Evidently waking up at 6:00 in the morning to drive to the airport wasn’t ideal for him.

Leo lets out a low, impatient groan, still bouncing, “I need to be there like right now. Can’t we get on the plane already?”.

“We haven’t even been waiting that long. I think they’re about to call our section though, Peanut,” Finn answers him, trying not to let his amusement show too much.

A crinkly noise cuts off Leo’s response, “Now boarding rows 1-10,” a voice says from over the loudspeaker. Leo stands up straighter and turns to his boyfriends, “that’s us!”

“I know Nutter-Butter, go on, let’s get you to Disney!” Finn says as he pats Leo’s butt lightly, moving him forward, onto the jet bridge.

The boys get settled into their seats, Finn by the window, Logan in the middle for maximum cuddles, and Leo on the aisle for the leg room. For the first half of the flight Logan sleeps while Finn and Leo share a movie, but all three boys are wide awake by the time the flight attendants come around with drinks for the second time. The rest of the flight is spent chatting about practices coming up after the break, things they need for the apartment, and what they are going to do first upon arriving.

Once getting off the plane in California, they take the shuttle from John Wayne Airport to the Disneyland hotels. They are staying in the Adventure Land tower, closest to the park. By this point all three boys are buzzing with the infectious happiness of Disney. After unpacking and getting settled into their hotel room, the cubs proceed with their plans of shopping and getting dinner in Downtown Disney. First thing on the agenda is to procure mouse ears. Logan, Finn, and Leo make their way to World of Disney in order to find the widest selection of ears. Leo has a collection of his own ears at home, including his favorite pride Minnie ears, but for this trip he wants to get new ones along with Logan and Finn. Leo and Finn decide on classic Mickey ear hats, while Logan picks out Minnie ears with a lavender bow. They all get sweatshirts too, as is custom.

After a pleasant evening of enjoying the atmosphere and getting dinner at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen (Leo’s offense towards their attempt at Cajun cuisine is only partially a joke), they call it night. They head back to the hotel, brush their teeth, put on pajamas, and cuddle up in bed. After a busy day the three boys quickly fall asleep, full of anticipation for the day ahead.

Something you should know about Leo is that when it comes to Disney, he is hard core. Their first morning there is an early entry in Disneyland park.

“Rise and shine, party people!” Leo calls as he entera the main part of the hotel room from the bathroom. Logan and Finn are just now waking up, but they aren’t remotely tired. The pure excitement radiating off their boyfriend is contagious as well as the promise of a day of fun.

“Butter baby, how long have you been up?” Finn’s question is alarmed yet distinctly amused.

“Since 5:30,” Leo responds off-handedly. Logan and Finn share a look, then turn it on Leo. Undeterred, Leo spins slowly in a circle in order to show off his carefully constructed outfit. He is wearing his favorite light wash Levi’s, paired with the crewneck he bought yesterday (light gray with vintage looking Mickey & friends). Underneath his sweatshirt he is wearing his Pizza Planet t-shirt, ready for when it gets hot later. Leo’s outfit is accessorized with his new Mickey ear hat, white air Jordan 1’s, and his Tinker Bell lanyard filled with pins from over the years.

“These things take time! Now y’all go get dressed, we have to be in line by 6:45,” Leo says. With that both Finn and Logan get out of bed and into their clothes in record time. On their way out of the room, they pick up their ears and backpacks from the desk by the TV.

After a brief stop at the Starbucks in Downtown Disney, the boys make it into the que of people lining up at the entrance gate. Once 7:00 hits, the lines start to move into the park. As Logan, Finn, and Leo enter, they gaze around in awe. At the end of Mainstreet sits Sleeping Beauty’s castle, tall and glorious. They walk hand in hand down the lane of colorful, old fashioned buildings, chatting excitedly about what to do first.

“Alright babes, what’s up on the agenda?” Finn asks.

“I don’t even know the options, what do you say Le?” Logan continues.

They end up heading over to Tomorrow Land first. They go on Star Tours and Space Mountain while the lines are short, then bounce around Fantasy land as they make their way across the park. Around 8:30 all three boys start to get hungry so they grab a bag or two of beignets from New Orleans Square. After breakfast, they hit their favorites in Adventure land (Finn fucking loves Indiana Jones), Frontier Land (Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a fan favorite), and New Orleans Square (Logan might not stop singing ‘Yo Ho a Pirate’s Life for Me’ for weeks).

Around noon the cubs exit Disneyland Park and walk across to California Adventure. After lunch at Wine Country Trattoria the boys bop around Cars Land, Hollywood Land, Pacific Warf and Grizzly Peak. The lines are a lot longer now that it’s afternoon, so they take it in stride and spend their waiting time talking, cuddling, and playing games. They end up going on almost every ride as well as hitting the extra good ones twice like Incredicoaster and Guardians of the Galaxy (still a fan-fucking-tastic ride but Leo misses the Twilight Zone theme).

By the time they finish up in California Adventure for the day, it’s almost time for Fantasmic, and Leo has yet to tell his boys that he got them reserved seats. The cubs meander back to Disneyland but when they start to near Frontier Land Finn picks up the pace.

“Sweetheart, what’s the hurry?” Leo asks with a knowing smile.

“I wanna get good seats for Fantasmic, I haven’t seen it since I was little!” Finn replies.

“Orgasmic? I like the sound of that,” Logan slides in with a smirk.

“Baby, no!” His boyfriends exclaim at the same time. Logan giggles which gets Leo and Finn laughing as well.

“And Finn, I got us seat reservations for the show so no need to rush,” Leo tells him. Finn’s response is to jump on Leo with a fierce hug and a drawn out “Yay,”.

The cubs enjoy the water show immensely, all snuggled up and bundled in sweatshirts once again to fend off the cool evening air. They point out little details to each other with intertwined hands and gasp aloud at the pretty fireworks. Once Fantasmic is over they do a few more rides, then head back to the hotel, sleepy after a full day. The boys fall asleep quickly again, ready to do it all again the next day.

[wefoundloveunderthelight]

Skyline Manor by GleefullyCaptainSwan Chapter 13/13

Read on AO3: | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13

Or on FF

Stacy's Tortured Crew: @teamhook @kmomof4 @stahlop @lfh1226-linda @ilovemesomekillianjones @itsfabianadocarmo @mariakov81 @qualitycoffeethings @zaharadessert @jrob64 @jonesfandomfanatic @natascha-ronin @tiganasummertree @xarandomdreamx @therooksshiningknight @batana54 @superchocovian @onceratheart18 @ultraluckycatnd @snowbellewells @karlyfr13s @the-darkdragonfly @xsajx @deckerstarblanche

Notes:

I want to thank everyone so much for following along on this tale, I truly enjoyed creating a tale within in a tale and I enjoyed the comments every week about the meddling Yenta Henry. I think I will never ever look at this fic again without seeing gif's of Beverly Goldberg. It made my day every week. You guys really are the greatest cheerleaders ever. I love our fandom.

Chapter 13: Happily Ever After

Emma stared at Killian; her mouth slightly open. “Is that so, brother?” Liam was speaking but Emma couldn’t take her eyes off the man beside her.

“Aye.” He said, his eyes locked on hers, a tentative smile on his face as he turned to his brother.

“We have food, would you care to join us, there’s plenty. Killian always cooks for a family of six when he makes food.”

His brother laughed. “That’s because he always eats enough for four.” He turned back to his brother. “I would hate to impose.”

“And miss the chance to hear all about Killian from his brother. I insist.” Emma demanded, leading the way back to the dining table.

Emma didn’t miss the look shared between the brothers, nor could she quiet the pounding in her heart at Killian’s introduction of her as his girlfriend. She was trying to pretend that everything was normal, that his admission didn’t cause her so much joy that she wanted to launch herself into his arms and kiss him silly.

Emma knew that this was a huge step for Killian. They agreed when they started dating in secret that they wouldn’t label it, it wasn’t easy, she wanted more than anything to be the one to break that wall with him, but she knew she needed to give him space.

They hadn’t defined anything with Henry or their friends. They simply spent their time together. Killian came for dinner most evenings, they would take Henry to the park or out sailing. But now…

He called her his girlfriend. Would this change things with their friends and family too?

“So can I ask, when did this pleasant surprise begin?” Liam brought her out of her thoughts.

Emma laughed and her eyes met Killian’s, she shrugged. “Emma and I have been seeing each other for a few months, actually.”

“I’m happy for you.” His brother said sincerely. “Emma, you must be made of magic if you could turn this man around. I did not think I would see the day.”

She chuckled, her eyes glassy, trying to avoid Killian’s gaze. “He only dates me for my son. I swear they are the same person sometimes.”

“Emma and Henry are very special.” He said softly beside her.

The dinner with Liam stirred emotions in Emma, listening to the stories about Killian and Liam’s childhood, their adventures in the Navy together, things that Emma had never known about Killian Jones she soaked up like a sponge. His interactions with his brother only made her care even more deeply for the man next to her.

When Liam announced his departure, Emma stood from the table and accepted a hug from the man. “I’m sure I’ll be seeing more of you, Emma. Perhaps you can convince him to come and visit us in Maine. Elsa misses his face, and we would love to take Henry sailing.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” She whispered jokingly.

“It was a pleasure meeting you officially.”

He followed his brother out of the room and Emma dropped down to her seat, adrenaline suddenly taking over, tides of change were coming.

~*~

“Elsa does miss you.” His brother said as he placed his hand on his shoulder.

“Aye, I’ll work on being less of a stranger.”

“I’m happy for you brother. She’s lovely.”

“I’m over the moon for the woman, I can’t deny that. Sometimes I feel like a lovesick puppy dog just because she smiled at me. It’s all quite ridiculous.”

“Sounds like you’re in love.” He said with a rise in his brow. “You know you owe me a hundred dollars.”

“I what?”

“When you told me you’d never have another relationship, I called you a liar, you bet me a hundred dollars.”

“I don’t remember that.”

“You had a lot of rum that night, brother.” He stepped through the front door. “I prefer large bills.”

“Out you go.” He lightly pushed him out the door. “I’ll talk to you soon.”

Killian closed the door and exhaled as he leaned against it. He walked slowly back to the dining room, stopping in the arch to stare at the woman sitting at the table in front of him.

“I hope I didn’t overstep.” He said softly as she made eye contact with him. “We didn’t actually discuss that change in status.”

She stood up from her spot at the table and walked over to him quickly, wrapping her arms around his neck, her lips greedily seeking his. Killian barely had time to think much less react as he took a step back, colliding with the wall behind him. “Woah love, we have all night.”

“We could get interrupted again.” She moaned against his ear, and he couldn’t stifle his laughter.

“Do you think we should talk…” He let the question hang in the air and she pulled away from him.

“Unless it’s filthy, dirty, or full of those innuendos you’re so good at providing at the most inappropriate time, we can talk later.” Her mouth continued its assault on his neck, her fingers making quick work on the buttons of his shirt.

“You did hear me earlier with Liam, didn’t you?”

She pulled her face away from his neck, her hands resting on his cheeks. “Killian, you’ve been texting me for months telling me all the things you were going to do to me when we were alone. And now, your girlfriendwould really like to experience them.”

“So, you’re ok with what I said.”

“Are you having a panic attack now that you’ve said it?” She asked him, her face full of concern.

“No, I meant it, I just wanted to make sure that you were ok.”

She laughed. “Babe, you’ve been my boyfriend in my head from the moment I laid eyes on you, leather jacket, sexy accent…” She ran her hands through his hair. “The sex hair.”

“Sex hair? I beg your pardon.”

“You always look like you’ve just been fucked. It’s sexy as hell.” She growled into his ear, her teeth nipping at his lobe. “And I’ve always wanted to be the cause of it looking like that.”

“Alright, you have my attention, love.” He reached down, grasping her by her thighs and wrapping them around his waist as he spun himself around, dropping her onto the counter beside him.

“Do I finally get a ride on the Killian Jones express?” She teased, his mouth sucking at the pulse of her neck.

“Express?” His mouth pressed together in indignation. “It’s an insult to insinuate that a night with me ends expediently.” Her head fell back in laughter, and he frowned, pulling her hips hard against his groin, causing her to look up suddenly. “I intend to make all those naughty little dreams of yours a reality tonight.”

“Who said anything about naughty dreams, Jones?”

“Shall I retrieve the text messages?” He reached for the phone at the end of the counter as she grabbed his hand, pulling it back to her hip. His eyes grew dark as he dipped his head to her ear, growling against her skin. “Enough talking, I think it’s fine time I had my way with you, woman.”

“Promises, promises.” She said, her voice deep, full of all the want and desire he could ever hope to have.

As he lifted her from the counter, her lips soft yet inviting again his, he carried her to his bed. The first time with Emma was different than his previous conquests, times he spent with women who only captured his attention and not his heart.

But the moment their bodies connected in a mess of sweat and limbs, Emma’s name falling from his lips as she screamed into the open void of his apartment, he knew that he would never let her go.

As they lay together in the dark, her head against his chest, her fingers twirling the hair on his chest, Killian knew he was finally ready to step out of the shadow he had been living in and move forward with his life.

“Is my sex hair satisfying enough for you?” He teased as her nails scraped along his scalp.

She bit her lip and smiled. “Maybe after a few more times.”

He kissed her again, pressing her back into the mattress as she giggled against him. “I think we should talk to Henry.” He announced as he stared down at her.

She smiled softly. “I’m sure he suspects something already. You practically spend every moment with us.”

“Are you complaining?”

“Just stating fact.” She leaned up, pressing a kiss to his cheek as he rolled onto his side. “But I agree, we need to talk to Henry.” He brushed her hair out of her face, smiling up at her.

“You saved me.” He whispered. “Meeting you and Henry changed my life.”

“That’s the orgasm speaking.” She teased and he felt the emotion pour out of him the way her eyes sparkled as she joked with him. He’d never felt so at ease in all his life. It was as if she was made only for him. He couldn’t help the smile that formed, hearing Henry’s voice in his head.

That’s because she’s your true love.

“What?” She asked, a curious expression on her face.

“I love you.” It was only three words, but they were the most important three words he had ever uttered. He never thought he would speak those words to another woman again. Yet when they left his mouth, it was as if his entire world made sense.

She pushed up on her elbows, leaning forward and pressing her lips to his. “I love you too.” She breathed against his mouth. ��Thank you.”

“For what, love?”

“For trusting me with your heart and opening up your life to Henry and I.”

He kissed her with every emotion that was building inside of him, rolling her over onto her back as he drove into her once more.

~*~

“So, kid, is your mom dating this Killian guy now?”

“Yeah, they’re trying to keep it quiet, but I’m pretty sure it’s happening.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because I know when mom’s happy, and she’s really happy when Killian’s around.”

His dad grunted. “Yeah but it’s not just about your mom’s happiness, I mean your opinion matters too, kid. If you don’t like the guy, that should factor in.”

“I love Killian, I’m the one that set them up after all.” Henry replied with a huge grin.

“Oh.”

“Look, I’m gonna be really honest with you dad, because Killian told me that the only way I’m going to feel better about you and me is if I tell you the truth.”

“You talked to him about me?”

“Before you go getting all jealous, let me just say this.” He paused and his dad sat back at the table. “I love you, you’re my dad. And you’re always going to be my dad, but I don’t like coming over here.”

His dad frowned angrily. “Kid…”

“Wait, I don’t like coming over here because I feel like you only want me here because it gets me away from mom or attracts those women who want to pretend like they’re my mom.” His dad started to speak, and Henry pressed on quickly. “If I come over here, I want it to be because you want to hear about my day, or you missed me, or you want to hang out at the park. And you gotta be there, you can’t keep disappearing on these business trips that have nothing at all to do with business. Either I’m your priority or an acquaintance you see once a year. Your choice.”

“Is this you speaking, or your mom?”

“See, you can’t keep saying things like that. I’m almost twelve years old, I’m not six anymore dad, you can’t keep lying to me and not expect there to be consequences. I love you and I want to spend time with you, but I’m not a pawn in your game to get back at mom.”

“Henry, I’m not trying to get back at your mom.”

“Maybe not, but you see her as the bad guy in this and all I see is my mom and dad. I don’t want to make you the bad guy in my life. But you don’t make it easy.”

His dad exhaled. “I’m not good at this dad thing, am I?”

“Not really.” He said with a laugh.

“I’m never gonna be able to handle things like your mom does, she organizes everything, knows what she’s supposed to do or not do. Even Killian seems to understand you better than I do. I don’t know if I can be what you need me to be, kid.”

“I don’t need you to be good at it. I just need you to be my dad.”

Henry felt relieved as his dad drove him home that evening. Killian was right, talking to him about how he felt made him feel better. All the anger and disappointment he had been holding inside about his dad had only led to him resenting his time with him.

He knew it would take time, and he was sure that his dad would not always succeed in his promise to do better, but at least he wanted to try. That was all he could ask for right now.

When he returned home, his mother was acting odd. Fidgety almost. He asked her if something had happened while he was gone but she assured him that everything was alright. When he asked if he could visit Killian, she told him that he had some errands to run and would be over for dinner.

“How was your dad?”

Henry bit his lip, he hated this part, coming home from one parent and having to decide which information to share with the other one. It was honestly why he found confiding in Killian just made more sense to him. “Fine. I got to try that new restaurant down by the water. Good fries.”

“That’s nice. So, things went ok?”

“Yup.”

The front door opened, and Henry was relieved when Killian walked through the door with a bag of groceries in his arms. It wasn’t exactly a new thing; Killian had often bought his mom groceries for dinner. However, walking in the door unannounced was not something he did. Usually he knocked, his mom would answer, they would act surprised that the other was stopping by. It was a game he let them play.

“I found everything to make the pasta, but they didn’t have that wine in stock that you love so much, but I got that one we had last week at the diner after work when...”

His mother cleared her throat beside him, and Henry had to conceal a grin from his face. Who did they think they were fooling with any of this? “Looks who made it home.” She said, her eyes narrowed in his direction.

Killian paused in his steps and turned toward them. “Lad, I didn’t think you’d be home for another hour.” He pointedly stared at his mother.

“Neal dropped him off early.” Henry just shook his head and continued reading his book. “So, I was thinking we could talk to him, about that thing you wanted to talk to him about.” Henry slowly put his book in his lap. Finally, they were getting somewhere.

“What’s going on with you two? You’re acting weird.”

Killian came and joined them on the couch, his mother scooting over to allow him room next to her. “So, Killian and I wanted to talk to you about something.”

They looked so serious, in fact, Killian looked like he may vomit at any moment, his mother was almost green around the edges. “Are you having another baby?”

“What?” His mother exclaimed loudly. “Oh God no, why would you think that? Of course, I’m not having a baby, Henry.” She stuttered. “Not that that’s a terrible thing, I just, not now, and…”

Killian reached over and put his hand on hers. “Henry, what your mother is trying to say…”

“You’re dating.” Henry added quickly, putting them out of their misery.

“Wait what?” His mother replied, her face sincerely shocked.

“Mom, everyone knows.”

“How, we’ve been so discrete?”

“Really? With the way you two look at each other, Killian practically trips over himself to help you do the dishes just so you can go to the other room and kiss.”

“Wait, everyone knows?” Killian finally joined the conversation.

“Yeah, Will and I have a joke about it actually. That’s why he always says he’s going home to do the dishes with Belle.”

“Oh my God.”

“Look, it’s cool. I love you both, I’m happy you guys finally figured it out, and having it all out in the open will make everything so much easier.” He stood up and kissed his mother on the cheek and patted Killian on the shoulder. “I’m going to go take a shower.”

~*~

“So, you guys just let us carry on and never said a word.”

“Of course, I wasn’t going to bloody scare off the first man you’ve truly seemed happy with. Besides, there’s nothing wrong with a little sneaking around.” Will reached over and squeezed Belle’s knee, earning a slap on his shoulder from the brunette.

“I’m really happy for both of you.” Belle said softly and Emma saw the exchange between Killian and the woman. It was soft and sincere, and she was happy that Belle continued to be friends with him.

“If Henry hadn’t locked the two of you on that roof we might still be waiting for some sense to be knocked into you.” David joked.

“My brother may be stubborn but once he becomes attached to something, there’s no taking it away from him.” Liam added.

Emma leaned her head on Killian’s shoulder, wrapping her arms around his waist. She had everything she could ever have wished for in her life. She felt his lips press against her forehead. “It seems our brothers are enjoying taking the piss out of us.” Emma laughed loudly.

“That’s what family is for.”

~*~

Killian never imagined that his life could change as much as it had in the past year. Emma and Henry had become a vital part of his life. At one point, he had reconciled with the fact that he would spend his life alone, now he felt as if he never had to worry about being on his own again.

Having a teenager was an adjustment in their life. Henry suddenly became more interested in girls and less interested in video games, but he continued his interest in writing and his imagination came in handy when the day arrived that he knew it was time to have the conversation with Liam. His brother had grown fond of Emma and handed over his mother’s ring before he even had the chance to recite the speech Henry had helped him write.

Henry assisted Killian with all the planning, decorating, and gathering of their family and friends. And when he got down on one knee in front of everyone they loved, Henry standing by his side, all his nervousness that had followed him through the planning was gone the moment he looked into her eyes. He knew her answer before she spoke, she was an open book to him, the only answer he needed was the love shining back at him in her eyes.

She was his true love, and he would remain devoted to her until the day he died.

~*~

“What time do you have to be back at the apartment?”

“I told Killian I would be there by 5. I think he’s nervous so I should probably be there before 4, just to be safe.”

“When I married your mom, I threw up right before I walked out.” His father said with a slight chuckle. “He’ll be fine.”

“What time are you picking me up tonight?”

“Take your time, just text me when the festivities are over.”

Henry was excited to get to spend the next few weeks with his dad, they were going on a road trip while his mom and Killian flew to the Caribbean for their honeymoon. Things weren’t always perfect between his mom, dad, and Killian, but they were all trying to be there for Henry, and he appreciated the effort.

Later that evening, his mother dressed in white, Henry held on tightly to her, guiding her up the stairs arm in arm as he walked her toward the roof of Skyline Apartments. Killian barely held it together as he passed her hand to his, tears coming to everyone’s eyes when they spoke their vows. By the time the fireworks exploded over the harbor, with his mother now officially Mrs. Emma Jones, Henry felt like the luckiest kid in the world.

His mother found her happy ending, her true love, and Henry had the adventure of a lifetime. Henry’s adventure became a quest to find his place in his family, and now he had a mother, a father, and the best stepfather he could ask for. A woman who gave everything to motherhood who thought she had lost her chance to find an extraordinary love, a father who learned to love his child more than himself, and a man who thought he was a villain who turned out to be a hero when he opened his heart to possibilities. Henry wouldn’t want his story to end any other way.

~*~

Henry had set sail on the Jolly Roger with his mother and Captain Jones a year prior. They had seen the world, conquered dragons, and been to exotic lands.

Henry finally learned how to sword fight after many lessons between Captain Jones and his mother, he rescued a fair maiden from a sorcerer, earning his first kiss, and learned to sail a ship as grand as the Jolly Roger.

Princess Emma sailed alongside Captain Jones, earning the honorary title Captain Swan from the man who took her under his wing and his crew. True love always guiding them on their adventures throughout the realms.

For Henry, he had unfinished business to tend to, and the first time they docked in Bostonia, he visited his father, Baelfire in prison. Captain Jones had convinced Master Henry that everyone, even a villain deserved a second chance. And so, every time they stopped in port at Bostonia, Henry got to know the man who abandoned him as a child. While it was not the same as the bond formed between him and Captain Jones, he found enough in common with Baelfire to create an understanding with the man and eventually a friendship that would last a lifetime.

As for Princess Emma and Captain Jones, they lived happily ever after.

The End.

[honey-dewey]

The Rapunzel Effect

Pairing: Ezra (Prospect)/Reader

Word Count: 2,048

Warnings: None, one use of (F/N) (L/N)

Upon losing his arm, Ezra is left stranded, almost entirely unable to care for himself without making some kind of mess. That’s where you step in. As his prospecting partner turned somewhat nurse turned Cee’s other new parent, it’s your job to keep poor Ezra functional and marginally happy as he adjusts to his life. 

Living with Ezra was hard. 

You’d known him for a while, on and off as distant friends do. You two would take a prospecting job together, work side by side for a bit, and then go your separate ways until you managed to team up for another job. 

And then he got stuck on the Green. 

You could still remember his face when you’d left him. The mutiny that your coworkers had staged, them dragging you away from him, the expression of betrayal and terror as he realized what was happening. 

You quit prospecting after that. It was too dangerous, especially on moons like the Green. For almost two years, you built a life for yourself on a nearby habitable planet, looking up and seeing the Green every so often, wondering if Ezra was up there or if he’d given in yet. 

Honestly, you should’ve expected he’d come back. He was a stubborn bastard, of course he’d come back. 

You got a call one night, stumbling out of bed and answering it. 

“Hello?” You mumbled, rubbing your eyes and yawning. 

“Is this (F/N) (L/N)?” The person on the other end asked. 

“Yeah?” 

The person took a breath. “You are listed as Ezra 4053’s emergency contact, is that correct?” 

“Who?” You asked, genuinely confused for a minute before you remembered Ezra had no surname. He had been a state ward, meaning he had a number in place of a family name. “Oh! Yeah, I am.” 

“We recently took Ezra into our care, and he now needs a responsible guardian for the duration of his recovery.” 

The shock hit you like a ton of bricks. You’d expected them to say they found his body, not that he was alive and in their care. “Oh. Okay. Um, that’s,” 

“Unexpected?” The person said, voice tipping with amusement. “He was brought in last week, along with a young girl. If you’ll consider it, she’s highly attached to him.” 

Immediately, you nodded. “Of course. I’ve got room for her too.” 

“Perfect.” The person said. “You can visit them whenever you want, and we’ll send them out to your care come the weekend.” 

“Thank you,” you mumbled absently, putting the phone down and sighing. This was going to be an adventure. 

And it was. 

Seven months later, Cee was recovered well enough. She’d begun to attend virtual school, slowly growing out of the shell she’d forced herself into. She had nightmares, of course, but she was handling them as best she could. She went to therapy, talked her problems over, and took the prescriptions she’d been given. 

Ezra was a whole different story. 

On the surface, he seemed okay. He did what he had been told by doctors as well, rubbing a numbing disinfectant on his wounds and sleeping with the help of a machine that regulated his oxygen, trying to reverse some of the damage done to his lungs. 

But below the physical, he was at war with himself. That long on the Green without pleasant company did things to the mind. Ezra was jumpy, more so than you’d remembered. Every little noise was a threat to him, turning his face pale and his hand sweaty. He had night terrors, he saw things, his entire body would hurt like crazy, and worst of all, he couldn’t care for himself anymore. 

“Ez!” You shouted through the house. “Ez! C’mon, breakfast time!” 

Ezra stumbled out of his room, clearly having just woken up. “Huh?” 

“Breakfast,” you repeated, sliding a plate with scrambled eggs and a few bites of sausage his way. 

He sighed, sitting down and fumbling with his fork. He had been right handed, but now he didn’t have that arm. It was clearly still a struggle for him. He still couldn’t really write, or eat without dropping food, or properly care for his hygiene. 

“Cee’s going out today,” you said, putting the breakfast dishes in the sink to do later. “We’ve got the house to ourselves.” 

Ezra hummed, focusing on his fork. It was shaky, but he hadn’t spilled anything yet. “Sounds good.” 

You sighed, but left him alone to eat. 

Twenty minutes later, Cee left, waving at the both of you and smiling to her friends, who were just outside. 

“She’s doing well,” you mumbled, crossing out a mistake in your most recent work assignment. “I’m glad she’s making friends.” 

Ezra was silent, slowly stabbing the last bite of eggs on his plate. You watched with interest as he ate the bite, looking down at his plate in slight shock, as if he couldn’t believe what he’d done. 

He stood, picking his plate up and putting it in the sink. You followed him, grabbing a paper towel and smiling. “Ez,” you said, holding the paper towel up. “You’ve got egg in your beard.” 

Ezra smiled, allowing you to wipe egg off his face. “Now darlin’,” he drawled smoothly. “How’s about we have some fun, you and me?” 

You laughed. “Ezra,” you murmured, running a hand through his tangled and overly long hair. “Why don’t you go shower, then we can talk about having some fun.” 

Ezra left to go bathe, and while he did, you did the dishes. Once they were all done and you’d heard the water shut off in the bathroom, you grabbed a new towel and knocked on the bathroom door. “Ez? I have a towel.” 

“Come in.” 

You pushed the door open, grinning when you saw Ezra’s left hand poking out from behind the shower curtain. “Thank you kindly. I’ll be out soon.” 

You nodded, promising Ezra you’d be waiting for him. 

Of course, he fumbled after a few minutes. 

As soon as the clattering and the string of loud curses hit you, you were up and running, shoving the door open and seeing a very frustrated Ezra staring at his hand, which had a small cut across the thumb. 

“Oh Ez,” you mumbled, opening the medicine cabinet and grabbing some disinfectant and a bandage. “It’s okay Ez.” 

Ezra whined, his eyes filling with tears as you methodically cared for his wound. 

“Do you need anything else?” You asked, putting away the disinfectant once you were done. 

Ezra turned his big brown eyes on you, pleading without words. “I can’t.” He stopped himself, choking on tears. “I can’t.” 

You slowly picked the abandoned razor out of the sink, shaking water off it and holding it out. “You can. You just need help.” 

He sighed, looking at you and choking on a whimper. “Help.” 

“Yeah.” You carefully turned him around, so he was facing the mirror. “Help.” 

It was a slow going process, helping Ezra shave. He held the razor in his shaking hand, you holding the hand and keeping him steady enough to shave. 

Eventually, you had the Ezra you remembered standing in front of you, with his patchy facial hair and visible smile. 

You grinned. “Hello handsome.” 

Ezra poked his tongue out at you, setting the razor down and hesitantly picking up a pair of scissors. “My hair too?” 

“Aw,” you pouted, taking the scissors from him. “But I like this whole reverse rapunzel thing you got going on,” you said, tugging on the natural blond streak in Ezra’s hair. 

He laughed, taking your hand that didn’t have the scissors. “I know, but it’s a damn pain.” 

You nodded, picking up a comb. “Alright. Sit.” 

Ezra sat down, wrapping his arm around your waist as you combed through his damp hair and began to take chunks off. You warned him that your hack job wasn’t going to look good, and he simply responded with the fact that he didn’t care. 

The end product wasn’t bad, in all fairness. It wasn’t great, but Ezra’s hair was back to its old length, which satisfied both of you. 

“Hey,” you said, grabbing his hand as he tried to walk away from you. “Y’know you can ask me for help, right? I’m not gonna say no.” 

Ezra’s eyes darkened. “I don’t wanna be a bother.” 

You shook your head, pulling him close and hugging him tight under the artificial lights of the bathroom. “Oh Ez. Ezra, darling. You could never be a bother. Not to me, not to Cee, not to anyone who loves you. You hear me? We’re here to help you, my love.” 

Ezra loosened in your arms, sighing out a huge breath. “You’re amazing, little dove. Y’know that?” 

You smiled, pressing a kiss into Ezra’s hand. “I know. So’re you.” 

You both ended up on the couch, mindlessly cuddling. Ezra stroked through your hair, slowly putting you to sleep. 

“Can you tell me a story?” He finally asked, causing you to look up at him. 

“What?” 

“A story,” he repeated. “Can you tell me one?” 

You nodded, laying your head back on his chest. “Once upon a time, there was a beautiful prince named Ezra.” 

Ezra snorted beneath you, but didn’t say anything. 

“The prince was born with magical powers, the power to heal the injured. This power stemmed from his beautiful brown hair.” As you spoke, you reached up to scratch through Ezra’s hair, causing him to smile. “But others were jealous of the prince, namely an evil witch who kidnapped baby Ezra and locked him away in a tower. The tower-“ 

“Babe,” Ezra interrupted. “You’re just retelling rapunzel with me as the princess.” 

“And?” You asked, shimmying upwards so you could kiss Ezra’s nose. “You wanted a story.” 

Ezra chuckled. “I did. You may proceed.” 

You smiled, shifting so you could continue. “Anyway, the tower was covered wall to wall in plants, so many plants that little prince Ezra soon started to call him prison the green. And one day, little prince Ezra wasn’t so little anymore. In fact, he was an adult, begging the witch to let him go, to let him see the world. When she refused, prince Ezra cut a lock of his very special hair, causing it to go white and lose its power. For that, the witch vowed to never let Ezra leave. Ever.” 

“Isn’t there supposed to be a prince or princess who comes to save prince Ezra?” Ezra interrupted yet again. 

“Ez!” You groaned playfully. “Stop interrupting! I’m getting there.” 

Ezra shrugged, but stayed silent so you could continue. 

“But, what prince Ezra didn’t know was that a young royal from the neighboring kingdom had been spying on the witch and prince Ezra for a while, and the royal was deeply in love with the prince.” 

Ezra sighed, smiling and letting his eyes fall shut. 

“This royal would risk it all for prince Ezra, and they did! One day, when the witch left, the royal stood at the base of the tower and called out to the prince. ‘Ezra, Ezra, let down your hair!’ And the prince did. He fell in love with the royal, and they spent many days together while the witch was away. But one day, many months into the secret relationship, the witch caught them. When she saw the royal, she freaked out, yelling and screaming. She tossed the royal out the tower window, and they landed in a bed of thorns at the base of the tower. Ezra, in his despair, jumped out after his beloved.” 

You smiled, tracing shapes in Ezra’s shirt, feeling your own eyes grow heavy. “Ezra, horribly injured, cradled the dead body of his lover, surrounded by the thorn plants. Consumed by his grief, he grabbed the dagger off the royal’s belt and shore all his hair off. ‘If this is what life is,’ he declared. ‘Then I wish to live no longer.’ However, at the last second, before the dagger could strike his body, his beloved awoke, healed by the prince’s tears. They rode off into the sunset together, and while the mighty prince Ezra lost an arm that day, he gained something of higher value. A lover for all eternity.” 

You yawned, cuddling up to Ezra’s chest and closing your eyes. “The end.” 

When Cee came home hours later, she found the pair of you laying on the couch together, tangled in a messy pile of limbs and blankets. Upon further inspection, she realized you were both asleep. 

“Those two,” she muttered to herself happily, tossing another blanket overtop you and heading off to do her schoolwork.

[asphyxiateher]

Only Monsters Come Out at Night

Chapter 5: I’ll Tell You My Sins So You Can Sharpen Your Knife

Summary: Desdemona is slowly losing herself but survival is still critical, especially when she must spend time with Daniela alone. A/N: Thank you all for the support, I’ve been busy with work but this story in my head needs to be written so I can get it out of my system. lol I’ll polish and edit this when I can. :) 

           To say the previous night was eventful would be an understatement but to Cassandra’s credit, she did not push for more than what Desdemona was willing to give. Now, Desdemona wasn’t saying that Cassandra was gentle or pleasant when she declined engaging in more intimate activities, but Cassandra understood the meaning of “no” and backed off in exchange for learning more about Desdemona. The smaller girl thought she was being clever by saying she would only get physical with her if they took the time to get to know each other better first and she was surprised when Cassandra reluctantly agreed. Des introduced Cassandra to the laptop she had brought with her on their trip and the woman was in absolute awe of the power of modern-day technology. She had begun explaining about what movies were and what she currently had downloaded onto her pc when Cassandra astonished Desdemona with a personal question.

“What brought you all the way out here in the first place anyway, Little One? Don’t get me wrong, you’re the most fascinating group of visitors we’ve had in such a long time, but for a pretty face like you to be stranded out here on your own with me? Seems foolish.” Cassandra asked as she lay on the bed next to Desdemona who suddenly snapped her laptop shut.

“Desmond and I graduated from college and we had money saved up to go embark on what was supposed to be a memorable adventure. I’ve always been into horror and science fiction movies as well as novels and comic books so I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to tour the castle that inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula, one of my favorite classics. Look how well that turned out.” Desdemona says bitterly, nervously fiddling with her fingers.

Cassandra attempted to reach out and wrap her fingers around Desdemona’s hand, but she became hesitant and pulled back instead as if she were unsure if the gesture would be welcome.

“Your brother is dead. That is something we cannot undo but I understand your anger. Bela and Daniela are trying at times, but I do love them more than anything really. I have the power to kill at will and I will not falter should anything happen to my dear sisters. You, on the other hand, are persevering in a way that’s admirable, Desdemona. You are innocent and you want to survive. You are stronger for that more than you’ll ever know.” Cassandra tells her quietly, her teeth wedged between her lips as though she may have said too much to her human plaything.

Desdemona was taken aback by what Cassandra had said and it must have shown on her face because Cassandra suddenly looked irritated with how deep the conversation was going.

“If you are not going to allow me the pleasures of your flesh, then allow me to drink from you as I’m quite parched!” She snarled before she pounced on top of Desdemona, her razor-sharp teeth flashing dangerously. One minute, she’s howling in pain the moment Cassandra pierces through her skin and begins drinking her blood and the very next, she passes out from the blood loss while still laying underneath the ill-tempered vampire. She sleeps for a few hours, only stirring awake when she feels a comfortable presence beside her. She groggily opens her eyes only to find Veronica staring at her, concern clearly etched on her face.

“Shh, shh hey, you’re okay now, Dezzy. C’mere, let me take a look at you. You were tossing and turning the whole time after they brought you back down here. I don’t know what they did to you, but we can switch places if you’d like. I think Lady Dimitrescu might take a liking to you.” Veronica says jokingly as she runs shaky fingers through Desdemona’s tangled locks.

Desdemona sighs at the contact and smiles at her best friend’s attempt to soothe her.

“That’s funny, V. Not sure I fancy calling my dentist and canceling all future appointments ‘cause I found a titan of woman with big tits to pull all my teeth for me. Nah, I think I’ll stick to reluctantly donating my blood to three horny vampire women, thank you very much.” Desdemona scoffs out a laugh when Veronica playfully swats at her arm.

“Fuck off, it was only a few teeth and yeah, that crazy bitch has got fists the size of hams so of course she can knock them straight out of me!” Veronica exclaimed. “Ugh. I’ll be honest though Des, I’m scared. Not for me ‘cause I know what’s coming if I keep putting up a fight, but I’m scared for you.” She continues, her voice now a whisper as she lays down on the cold hard stone floor and placing her hand on top of Desdemona’s.

“I’m scared for both of us. Why aren’t you more worried about you?” Desdemona squeezes her best friend’s hand and rests her head against Veronica’s shoulder.

 “You’re being forced to entertain three vampires who could bleed you dry the way Elizabeth Bathory did her victims. The way they manhandle you and take occasional sips from you is fucking horrific! I don’t understand how you’re not freaking out over it.” Veronica licks her chapped lips and glances back at Desdemona. “These could be our very last moments alive together. I need you to promise me that you will look for weaknesses that we can use against them. Fight for your right to live, babes, fight for Desmond the way he would have wanted us to. We can’t keep taking what they’re giving us, it will kill us.”

Deep down, Desdemona knew her best friend was right but how could she expect her to put up a fight against three undead creatures that can transform into a massive ball of insects at any given time? She felt so helpless and utterly alone in the way that made her feel insignificant next to her best friend. Veronica was fearless in the face of death and Desdemona felt like a coward. She wanted to survive this ordeal so badly, she practically groveled in submission to be spared from any form of punishment and observing the bruises and cuts along on V’s skin, she felt so incredibly guilty for not putting up a hard enough fight.

 “V, I don’t know how to explain it. I want to get out of here as much as you do, but as soon as my mind tells me to do something logical, I do the exact opposite. It’s like I do not want any of Alcina’s daughters to hate me, so I go out of my way to please them. It’s driving me crazy, and I don’t know if I’m just weak willed when it comes to them but fuck it…I just don’t want to die.” Desdemona admits, turning her head to face Veronica who meets her gaze at the same time.

 “Nothing wrong with wanting to live a little longer but don’t throw away your dignity for these monsters who don’t give a flying fuck about you. From what the countess herself has said about her daughters is that they entertain whatever pretty little maiden comes their way for a minute before they get bored and eat their corpse when they’re done. Don’t let them belittle you, use you, and kill you when you’re worth more than you’ll ever know.” Veronica tells her before placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. Feeling renewed, Desdemona continues to enjoy the few moments of peace with her best friend before they hear the dreaded sound of heels clicking in the dungeon.

“Well, cur, you know what it’s time for and you’ll be delighted to know I have so many wonderful things to show you. Get up, and brace yourself because after this, I guarantee you that you will not be the same after today.” Alcina declares as she unlocks the chamber door to their room.

Veronica grudgingly sits up and sighs, squeezing Desdemona’s hands one last time before standing. “Alcina, what a lovely surprise. I was just beginning to miss you, my lady. Oh, how I’ve been withering away down here knowing that I’ve gone a day without a beating. Thank you oh so much for finally blessing us with your presence.” Veronica says with a smirk only for it to be smacked off her face a second later.

“Silence, heathen! You will speak only when spoken to. For now, you will only be required to observe and shadow a maiden I no longer have use for. As for you, Desdemona, Daniela will be waiting in the library. Do not keep her waiting, dear.” Alcina says ominously, a chill running down Desdemona’s spine at the mere mention of her youngest daughter’s name.

Veronica casts her a fleeting sympathetic look before they both follow Lady Dimitrescu out of the cellar. Once they had gone their separate ways, Desdemona’s anxiety climbed to seemingly immeasurable heights. She came out of her previous encounters with lady Dimitrescu’s other daughters alive so that was good, but what of Daniela? She already gave off the impression that she was delusional and violent when provoked so Desdemona’s chance of survival at this rate was questionable at best.

When Desdemona arrived in front of the entrance to the library, she took a few deep breaths to calm herself. After a few more minutes of contemplating whether she should enter Daniela’s realm, she makes up her mind and crosses the threshold. Her jaw drops at the magnificent sight behold her. She’s in a vast circular room that is surrounded by sumptuous bookshelves and brilliant décor that has her almost envying the fact that this space belonged to someone like Daniela.

“Are you looking for me, darling? Come play with me, I’ll let you live in the meantime.” A shrill voice from behind one of the bookcases catches Desdemona off guard and she nearly trips over herself when she turns to find Daniela quickly approaching her.

“H-hi Daniela, I came to s-see you. How are you doing?” Desdemona asks as she continues to back away from the dangerous woman staring at her with the unmistakable look of hunger in her eyes. Daniela laughs uncontrollably and covers her mouth when she’s done. The red headed woman gives Desdemona an agonizingly slow once-over and licks her lips as though she were feeling ravenous at the sight.

“You’re so sweet to ask. You must have fallen hard for me, but you shouldn’t be surprised; everyone falls for me in time.” Daniela says in an almost sickeningly sweet voice. ‘Ok, so this fucking lunatic thinks you’re in love with her. Good, maybe she’d be less inclined to kill you.’ Desdemona thinks to herself, her back now pressed against a polished marble column.

“Y-yeah, I wanted to see you but only if you weren’t busy. I just thought you could use some company.” Des replies. This pleases Daniela immensely, so she takes a step closer to inhale the other girl’s scent. She was terrified and her blood smelled so delicious because of it. She needed to taste her, absorb everything that was Desdemona and revel in the symphony of her screams when she was done with her.

 “I could always use company, especially yours, my love. A few moments ago, I would have been just fine snuggling by the fireplace and having you read with me. Now that you’re here smelling quite tasty, there’s something else I want.” She says with a giggle before instantly making moves so that she was now only a few inches apart from Desdemona’s face.

Desdemona gasps when Daniela reveals her hidden sickle and suddenly tears a long cut through her shirt and pants. Moaning in ecstasy, Daniela begins to pick apart her torn clothing and caresses the smooth expanse of skin that was exposed to her. Desdemona shuts her eyes and turns her head to the side when the other woman lunges at her with an open mouth.

“Ugh, why are you rejecting me? Don’t you love me? Apologize at once and I’ll forgive you. Everybody makes mistakes.” Daniela whispers in a low, threatening tone. Desdemona feels tears begin to form when Daniela lowers her head and begins to suck and gently nibble on her neck. Veronica’s words come to mind about not putting up with whatever form of abuse they were going to give and she tries to summon every ounce of bravery she could muster. She pushes hard against Daniela and frees herself from her grasp. She twists and begins running in the other direction, not looking back at the crazed woman shrieking at her.

“Why are you doing this to me? I thought you loved me!” Desdemona was about to reach the doorway that led out of the library when a massive ball of insects appeared before her. She wasn’t able to react quickly enough so when she tried to turn again, she felt Daniela pounce on her from behind, tackling her to the floor. There was no use struggling against the immortal creature that perched herself on top of her so when Daniela forcefully flipped her onto her back, Desdemona saw her life flash before her eyes the moment Daniela raised her sickle, as if she were ready to swing at her. The logical part of her brain wanted this to end quickly, to spare herself from further embarrassment every time she pleaded for her life. But then there were dark whispers from an unknown entity, her broken survival instincts or those pesky intrusive thoughts perhaps, that were telling her to kiss Daniela in order to calm her down. She doesn’t know why or how it makes perfect sense but it does; Desdemona could either choose to die on her own terms or she could appease this goddess before her and worship her.

‘Where the hell are those thoughts coming from and why do I have a sudden urge to kiss Daniela? Gods help me.’ The frantic thoughts are the last to cross her mind as Desdemona leans up and yanks Daniela close to her level by her pendant.

Daniela’s eyes widen in surprise when she feels Desdemona’s lips press themselves against hers. After a few tense moments of not receiving the response she was hoping for, Desdemona begins pulling away but then she’s pulled back into a more frenzied, intense kiss. Daniela sighs against her mouth, her sickle dropping and causing the sound of metal clanging against the floor to echo in the room. When the need for air becomes too great for the smaller girl, she gently breaks the kiss and Daniela is suddenly looking at her with hooded eyes, desire visible in those beautiful golden hued orbs of hers. “Why did you run away from me? I hate it when my pretty playthings run away from me.” Daniela asks softly, the delicate tone in her voice surprising the both of them.

Desdemona’s voice wavers when she speaks, but she steadies herself by cautiously wrapping an arm around Daniela’s neck. She doesn’t know why she’s actively reaching out to touch the dangerous red-headed woman, she can’t explain why she’s craving for more contact, but she does and it’s scary as hell. “B-because I don’t want my f-first time with anyone to be meaningless. I’ve n-never gotten this close with anyone before and…I want it to be special. Call me old fashioned, but I’d rather you slit my throat right now before I give myself to you. I need to know you on a deeper level.” Desdemona’s cheeks are flushed a deep crimson color as she admits this, not knowing why she’s opening herself up like this to Daniela but those darker thoughts that linger somewhere in her mind are praising her.

Daniela takes a sharp breath in response to Desdemona’s words and quirks an eyebrow at the smaller girl. She was completely stunned by the revelation.

“Wait, you’re running away from me because you haven’t…not with anyone else before?” Daniela asked carefully.

Desdemona nods, wondering why this would matter to her at all. Daniela was going to slit her throat for wasting her time and-

“Oh Desdemona, why didn’t you tell me sooner? I didn’t mean to make you so nervous! Don’t get me wrong, I’m disappointed that I don’t get to make you mine tonight but I’m willing to wait for you. You’re my soulmate and if you want to get to know me before we get close, then we’ll do just that.” Daniela says, her voice huskier now than it was a moment ago. She reaches in between their pressed bodies and lowers her hand so now that her fingers were skimming along smooth skin until Daniela reaches Desdemona’s underwear.

 Underneath Daniela’s fierce, lust filled gaze, Desdemona moans into the other woman’s ear when she feels Daniela cup her womanhood possessively. This prompted Daniela to capture Desdemona’s lips in a ravenous kiss that left her feeling both thirsty and wanting more. The smaller girl, on the other hand, was quickly losing herself in the kiss, not understanding why the dark voices in her head were pressing her to do more. She couldn’t hear Veronica’s words of warning but instead sinister whispers that poisoned her thoughts. Desdemona was almost fully convinced to give herself to Daniela in that moment but then she remembers the conversation she had with her best friend earlier. This was all about survival, that’s all this should be about. She should not be indulging herself like this with these…creatures. ‘Your masters. Address them appropriately.’ The wicked voice in her head is not her own. Alarmed, Desdemona breaks the kiss with Daniela, who dives in again to lick Desdemona’s lips.

“Mmm, judging by the way you kissed me, you want me to be your first, don’t you? I can wait for you darling, but only if you promise that when you’re ready, you’ll come find me. Not Bela, not Cassandra nor my beautiful mother. I want to be the one to break you in. My sisters always get what they want but this, I want this more than anything. Pledge yourself to me.” Daniela murmurs darkly, her teeth gently nibbling on Desdemona’s earlobe.

Desdemona wants to shove her off and run away again while she has the chance. She wants to take Veronica’s hand and escape Castle Dimitrescu together. She just wants to go home, mourn her twin brother with her family and be somewhere safe and quiet and away from all of this.

Instead, Desdemona smiles at Daniela and tucks a few stray strands of red hair behind her ear. It was adorable how Daniela quickly leaned into the touch, a smile of her own gracing blood smeared lips.

“I’m yours, completely. I’ll take good care of you if you promise to do the same to me.” Desdemona says, her voice not following what her brain was trying to command her to say. ‘Kick, scream, run! Don’t let them control you, don’t let them compel you to do anything you don’t want to do –‘ ‘Obey. Listen to your masters, they own you and your body. You are theirs to do as they wish. You belong to them and nobody else. Do not disobey or you will be punished.’

There it was again, the sinister voice that did not belong to her and it was overwhelming.

Whatever rational thoughts Desdemona had as she continued to embrace Daniela in her arms had left. The last thing Desdemona remembers thinking about before she got up to join Daniela in her favorite corner to read was how much darker and menacing the bruises and hickeys all three sisters left on her skin were starting to look. They were deep red and purple, black spider veins were also beginning to sprout and spread throughout her body.

Were Lady Dimitrescu’s daughters subtly infecting her with some kind of disease or were they creating a bond with her every time they bit and clawed at her? Desdemona’s thoughts lingered on the last part before she uncharacteristically ignored what had just transpired between Daniela and herself. Ties had been indeed created but what Desdemona can’t help but wonder what the cost to sharing a dangerous bond with all three women was? She doesn’t think on it much longer as she’s seated on Daniela’s favorite couch and Daniela rests her head on Desdemona’s lap, a chosen book for her to read aloud in hand. Her mind is placated and the desire to please her Mistress takes over. Nothing else mattered anymore.

[marvelousell]

The Agreement (Part 4.)

Pairing(s): frat boy!fwb!Tom x reader, frat boy!Harrison x reader

Summary: Tom is a typical frat boy, his love for partying, drinks and girls are bigger than his ego. Y/N is a whole different dimension, she keeps her circle small, and even though she knows her best friend Tom is a total douche, she can’t say no to the little deal that was sealed between the two of them.

Word count: 2.2k

A/N: Hereee it is babes! I’m absolutely in love with Harrison in this chapter and in the next parts also believe me. Buy me a Haz asap y’all🥺. I would reallyy appreciate it if you leave a comment, reblog or send a feedback, means the world to me!❤️

My tag list is open for this series!

Warnings: mentions of smut, swearing, mentions of alcohol

Part 1. Part 2. Part 3.

Masterlist

“Well, well, look what we have here.”

The familiar, sweet voice spoke behind you.

Anna sure knew when to show up.

Please don’t embarrass me.

“I was looking for you everywhere!” She sat next you, smiling widely.

“And you too! But I guess you met each other without my help.”

Without her help?

Oh so that’s the guy she wanted to introduce me to.

At least she finally found someone who is decent and really my type.

You were confused, from where do they know each other? You’re always with her how come you never saw him?

Well most of the time.

“You found us Ann, however she already swept me off my feet, so I guess your job tonight to be the cupid fell in the water.” Harrison laughed along with Anna who rolled her eyes at his statement.

“But I’m thankful that you wanted me to meet such a dreamy girl.” He said, locking his eyes with yours.

Could he be more mesmerizing than this?

You were so lost. Flirting wasn’t something that happened to you on a daily basis, and now you were speechless.

Harrison knew you were bashful, but he found that attractive. He didn’t see or meet much girls that were modest and pleasant as you.

Anna loves to talk, and Harrison loves to listen.

He always listened to Anna’s rambling, how great you are, how your company was like a breath of fresh air, how you loved books and silent nights with your friends more than any giant frat party. She loved you so much. You were someone who was there for her since day one.

She would regularly come with Amelia to Harry’s house, and Harrison would spend most of his time there.

They clicked immediately the day they met. But strictly in a friendly way.

Anna saw how kind-hearted and easygoing Harrison was. She knew she could tell him everything without him judging or spreading it around. And that’s how she got the idea in her head.

“Why not? That would be a great match.” She thought.

She knew about your crush on Tom since you were little kids.

You always tried to impress him back then, and you’re still trying nowadays.

You would always share your lunch and sweets with him, you tried to play football every day just to enjoy his company even though you didn’t like it.

You were always around him, following him like a lost puppy.

Anna was hundred percent sure that you liked him at that moment when you blushed and laughed with her together behind the swings when he gave you a silly peck on the cheek after you gave him a muffin that you baked with your mother the previous day.

However she didn’t like it now.

Anna loved Tom with her whole heart without a doubt.

The three of you were like a dream team, still kind of are.

He was her best friend, but the things he did and still does were something she didn’t approve at all.

That’s why she didn’t want you to fall for his charm or to be his foolish one night adventure.

You deserved much more.

So she was sure that Harrison would be a fantastic boy for you. Someone who would show you the world and shower you with endless love every second.

She also made sure to tell nothing but wonderful things about you when she would come around.

“You’re thanking me? Please, thank you for making her all mushy and jolly. She didn’t blush and smile at someone like this for years!” Anna screeched with happiness.

“ANNA!” You spoke back embarrassed.

“Oh I can’t wait to show this to Harry!” She continued, waving her hands in the air excitedly.

“I’m sorry! I’m ruining your moment here! I’m going to find Amelia and the others. You two enjoy the rest of the evening and feel free to join us whenever!” She stood up, hugging you both, giving you a thumbs up before leaving.

Christ Anna.

“She really cares about you.” Harrison spoke.

“She really does. Remind me to say thanks to her for wanting to set me up with a lovely guy like you.” You flirted back. Finally.

“Good Y/N, just continue like that. You need to show some interest.”

“Thank you gorgeous, the pleasure is all mine, believe me.”

“I’m sorry if I’m a bit to quiet for your liking. I just get to nervous around guys like you. You’re absolutely attractive and have a breathtaking personality.” You stated, looking at his smile that was growing bigger after every word you said.

It wasn’t enough to say that Harrison was enjoying himself. Sure he loved going out with his friends, attending various parties every week with bunch of girls and everything. This however was something he craved for a long time.

A girl that possessed a pretty nature, a laugh that made his stomach turn upside down, and a girl that wanted to talk to him, and enjoy his presence. Not a girl that wanted to jump him straight away and take him to the bedroom.

He loved how shy you got around him, how you played with the edges of your pink pastel dress as the two of you talked, and how your cheeks would turn into a pinkish tone every time he would compliment you.

“For my liking? I prefer not just girls but people in general that are down to earth that don’t scream or fake laugh just to get someone’s attention. Anna was absolutely right when she said that you’re like a breath of fresh air.” Harrison spoke slowly, his voice like a melody.

“Anna..” You laughed, closing your eyes at the thought of her.

“Never asked you how’d you met this lovely company?” You questioned, curios for more.

“Well..Harry and Tom are my best friends since we were in diapers basically.”

Tom? Best friend?

This is going to be interesting.

“I’ve lived near Tom, but me and my mom moved a block away eventually. My mom got remarried, I got a younger sister and all that. I didn’t went to your school that’s why we probably didn’t met from a young age. But me and Tom were still pretty close, and still are. Like brothers if you ask me.”

Oh Harrison if only I’ve met you before.

“Then I met Ann and Mel through Harry. I mean they practically moved to his house so not meeting them would be impossible.” He joked.

“And now I finally met you.” He added, his body coming close to yours.

“And I’m glad I’ve met you too.” You said back, flashing him a smile.

-

“Did you do your work there?” Harry asked, pointing at you and Harrison.

“Didn’t need to actually. He found her himself.” Anna smiled, happy to see his two friends hitting it off.

“How do you mean himself?”

“Don’t know really I just found them all lovey-dovey in the garden. I’m going to ask her later.” She laughed.

“He really needs someone like her.” Harry spoke, happy to see his friend beaming after a long time.

“Absolutely, and so does she.”

“Anna you need to see the boys back there they are fucking hot.” Amelia interrupted the small conversation between the two of them.

“What are you guys looking at?” She was curious what was that interesting.

“WOAH. Did you finally set them up?! WHY didn’t you call me to see it!” She yelled, excited to see where would this go by the end of the night.

“He found her himself, it looks like she caught his eye. I hope he asks her out tonight.” Anna answered.

“He better or I’m setting her up with the brunette back there!” Amelia fired back, making them all laugh.

“Thank God I finally found you guys! The atmosphere inside is hectic can’t wait to freshen up a little in the pool soon.” Tom’s voice grabbed the attention of his friends.

Tom still didn’t see the scene that was happening in front of him.

He was still hot and messy from the make out that him and the blonde were having a minute ago.

“Already found a poor girl for the night?” Anna questioned, although she already knew the answer.

“You know me love, should I find you someone too? My boy Ian is straight fire if you ask me.” He crossed his arms, elbowing Anna only to make her laugh and shake her head.

“When will you settle down Holland? Don’t you feel the need for some love and affection?” Anna asked.

“Why so bitter sweetheart? Try to live a little.”

“If you weren’t my best friend I would break your nose in no time.” She chuckled, punching him playfully.

“Hey wait..Where is Y/N? Didn’t she come with you?” Tom spoke looking around, furrowing his brows.

“She did.”

“So, where is she?”

“She’s having a chitchat with our Romeo for a while now.” Harry added, making Tom now thoroughly confused.

What the fuck is he talking right now?

“What? Who is Romeo?”

“Chill it’s just Harrison. He looks really interested in our little Y/N here.”

Harrison? Y/N? When did this happen? How the fuck did he miss all of this?

Tom’s eyes were now fixed on your and his best friend’s back.

You two were sitting next to each other. Your head falling back from the laughter while Harrison tried his best to end something what he started to tell.

You were truly enjoying his company.

Tom didn’t mind if you had someone, he couldn’t care less honestly. The only important thing was that the guy wasn’t a jerk towards you. It was your choice who you dated, but his best friend?

How will the deal fit in all of this if something happens between the two of you?

He couldn’t do this to his friend, his brother.

Or could he?

“Wait, wait.. Can someone explain how did this occur?” His voice was stony, clearly not as happy as he should be.

“We don’t know either, but it seems like Y/N blew our Haz away.” Anna answered, still looking at them.

“Why? Are you jealous that you can’t have a girl for more than an hour?” She continued to joke, but Tom didn’t find that funny anymore.

“Not in the mood for the jokes Ann. I’m angry because I’m always the last to get informed about things.”

Bullshit.

He was worried because the thought of you breaking the deal made him exasperated.

“Looks like I need to remind you how good I can make you feel Y/N, so that breaking the deal doesn’t even cross your mind.” He spoke inside of his head.

The memories from last night flashed in his head.

The whining, heavy breathing, your face and voice begging for more.

God he needed you more than ever, he couldn’t lose you.

And he would definitely make sure he doesn’t.

His dirty mind and thoughts were stopped by Amelia’s voice and panicking.

“Oh shit, oh they’re coming. Just don’t tease them immediately guys! They’re so cute look!”

You and Harrison could go on and on with the chat, you were so similar. The chemistry was unquestionably there.

“Should we go see our host and others a little bit?” You asked, running your fingers through your hair.

“Already got bored with me?” He joked, pouting at you.

“You know I gotta show you off to everyone sweetie!” You commented jokingly, placing your hand on his knee.

“Wow, I just hope they didn’t watch us like that the whole time.” You stated, looking at your friends that were having a huge grin on their faces.

Except Tom.

Oh he is here as well? What a wonderful surprise.

You didn’t know if you’re heart was thumping that fast because of Harrison’s arm resting on your back or because Tom is there and his presence would make everything super awkward.

“You finally came!” Anna practically yelled, throwing her hands around you to hug you.

“You need to tell me every detail.” She whispered in your ear making you both giggle.

“And so do you cupid.”

Tom and Harrison were next to you, hugging like they haven’t seen each other in a while.

Tom could see how his friend was thrilled to bits.

He was happy for him, I mean how could he not be? He would be a total ass if he wasn’t.

But he also wanted you.

“You enjoying yourself I see?” Tom asked, patting his back.

“She’s lovely mate. I never met such a great person. She is stunning, hilarious and I would love to get to know more of her.” He replied, grinning from ear to ear.

“I’m glad you’re feeling this way. She is really amiable and caring.” Tom spoke, glancing at you.

“How did I never met her, I mean until now?” Harrison asked giving Tom a puzzled look.

“Don’t know mate. Probably because she isn’t a regular guest on parties, and when you were hanging out with us she wasn’t there. I really don’t know how that happened, but hey you met her at least.” Tom saw him staring at you. And so was he, but in another way. Full of lust.

He just couldn’t wait to feel you again.

-

Tag List

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@hes-amarillo

[skullrock]

the campers, chapter one - Steve x Reader

chapter one: the enemies 

series summary:Steve gets a job as a camp counselor at Camp Know Where, intending on using the summer to discover himself. When things start to go wrong at camp, the only people that can help him are the Party, Hopper, and his mortal enemy - you. [Enemies to lovers, angst, fluff, hurt/comfort]

chapter summary: You and Steve unfortunately reunite for the first time in five years.

warnings: swearing!

word count: 1.6k

a/n: alright fellas, I am back with another longfic! this one is a summer camp au. this chap is mainly exposition but it’ll flesh out in the next chapter. hope you are ready to go on this ride w me!

===

Steve isn’t quite sure what he signed up for.

“Steve, you have to,” Dustin pleaded with him a month ago. “There aren’t enough counselors, and if there aren’t enough counselors, then there’s no camp.”

Steve rolled his eyes, bit his heart was sympathetic. “Why is that my problem?”

Dustin sighed, frustrated. “Because we’re best friends, and you’re supposed to help your friends when they need it.”

Steve rolled his eyes again as he contemplated the scenario. Steve had gone to camp when he was younger, but it was nothing like Camp Know Where. Steve’s parents had sent him off to a summer camp that some other Hawkins parents sent their kids to. Tommy H. had always gone, as well as some other boys Steve grew up with. He enjoyed his time there – it was always pleasant and fun. Just a boy doing boy things with his shitty friends. But Camp Know Where had a purpose. Steve didn’t know the first thing about science. Dustin said that could be used to his advantage - Steve wasn’t so sure.

“What’s in it for me?” Steve asked, unpeeling an orange as he leaned against the kitchen counter in his apartment.

“The camp is right on a lake,” Dustin began. “It’s a great spot for swimming and kayaking. You don’t know shit about science, so this is an opportunity to learn. And some of the camp counselors are babes.”

Steve snorted. “What are they, forty-five?”

“Uh, no? They’re your age?”

Steve’s brows shot up at the mention. “You’re saying there are babes I have a chance with there?”

“They’re apparently not your type, ya know, since you hate nerds.” Dustin shrugged his shoulders, but Steve was still very, very interested.

“Desperate times call for desperate measures.”

“And, anyway, you can lead the sports and adventures and hikes and stuff, if you don’t like science. And it’s a nice way to get away from Hawkins for a few months.”

Steve nodded thoughtfully. “Is it paid?”

“You get a stipend of two hundred a month.”

Steve nearly choked on his orange. “Two hundred dollars a month?!”

“And your food is paid for. So is your laundry and housing. It’s free.” Dustin grinned smugly at Steve, and Steve held his hand out.

“You got a deal,” he said. “I’ll do it.”

Steve went through a phone interview and Dustin wrote him a glowing recommendation. And here he is, a month later, driving towards Michigan with Dustin in the passenger seat and multiple suitcases in the back. Steve was required to come two weeks early to learn the ropes, while Dustin was allowed to come early because he was a designated Camp Leader, along with Suzie and some others.

“They call us the ‘Know Everythings’,” Dustin beams.

“Sounds like they’re trying to call you smartasses,” Steve responds, staring absentmindedly out the windshield. Dustin’s smile drops and Steve’s widens. “Don’t worry, Dusty-bun, your girlfriend likes it.”

Dustin slams himself back against the seat, looking out the window. “Should’ve never invited you.”

“Too late.”

Steve was excited beyond the nerves. He had needed some type of self-intervention and introspection after the last three years. He needed a way to mend the emotional scars that the Upside Down and Nancy had left. Dustin had said there were a lot of authors and poets who wrote about the healing power of nature. Steve’s not sure it’s legit, but it’s more hope than he’s had in a while. Robin had also insisted it would be good for Steve to get away from town and try to find himself. So Steve is going into it with an open mind, trying to fight his negative side with suffocating positivity.

==

You, on the other hand, knew exactly what you’d signed up for.

You had gone to camp when you were younger, too. Except you hated that camp with a passion. Each summer, you’d cry to your parents as June rolled around. You didn’t want to go back to that stupid, hot, ridiculous camp, where a certain group of boys made your life hell. But your parents insisted it was good for you, and they sent you until you were too old to go. In a way, they were right; the camp had taught you to stand up for yourself. It gave you the confidence and self-love a lot of people didn’t have. But you certainly wished you’d found all of that in a healthier way - not because boys would steal your clothes when you were swimming at night, leaving you to walk to your cabin naked.

So, you signed up to help out at Camp Know Where two years ago because you loved science and the outdoors, and you wanted to facilitate a healthy self-love journey for the campers. You wanted to help teach them how to be themselves, to love themselves, to stick up for themselves. And, truth be told, nerds need that kind of reassurance. You’re a nerd – you’d know.

You came to camp two weeks early to help train the new counselors. You didn’t get the list of names, but if you had, you would have run away as soon as your eyes landed on Steve Harrington.

==

It was, by all accounts, a beautiful June day. Not too hot, not too cool. The breeze rustled the leaves and the waves of the lake lapped the shoreline. Not a cloud in the bright blue expanse above the camp, which was buzzing with Camp Leaders and trainees. You stood at the entrance, helping direct people to the registration table. You were excited to see some of your favorites again – especially Suzie and Dustin. They’d been campers you bonded with last year, and you were ready to see them again.

Suzie came by first, adorably excited to see Dustin when he arrived. “He said he’s bringing a friend to help be a counselor, do you know them?”

“Oh, I have no clue,” you remark. “Do you know their name?”

“Steve, something? They’re pretty close.”

The name Steve had always left a bitter taste in your mouth, so you visibly cringe. Suzie’s brows furrow but you assure her you’re fine. It can’t be that Steve. There’s no way the Steve you knew at Camp Golden Rays was about to come here, to a nerd-infested camp, to help out with kids. No way.

You continue to greet campers and new counselors as they come. During a lull, you lean against the picket fence that lined the entrance, looking out at the parking lot. You see a nice BMW come into view – it’s not one you’d seen before. Must be someone new, you think, pushing yourself up off the fence to greet them.

The first person you notice is Dustin, easily recognizable despite the hat covering his curly hair. He’s taller than the last time you’d seen him – kids grow up so fast. You smile brightly, happy for him to finally arrive, but your smile plummets comically as you see the next person step out.

It’d been 5 years since you’d seen Steve Harrington, and his hair had grown out and his body had toned, but it was unquestionably him. Steve, that stupid, smug bastard. That idiotic jerk who used to smack your lunch tray and trip you. That moron who all the girls swooned over and excused countless times for shitty behavior.

Here he is, at Camp Know Where – a place you never thought you’d ever see him.

Of course, Steve doesn’t know who you are, at first. His concussions had clouded his memory, only remembering bits and pieces. It takes work for him to remember who people are, or what things happened. Most of his memories of Camp Golden Rays are intact, but he had severely repressed his shitty tween behavior. As he approaches, all he really thinks about is that Dustin was right, there were babes here.

“Y/N!” Dustin calls out, running awkwardly with his trunk to come hug you. You hug him, but your eyes stay on Steve, who beams at you as if he didn’t ruin your whole life.

“Look who it is.” Your voice is cold and monotonous.

Steve stops dead in his tracks, confusion twisting on his face. What now? he thinks. This isn’t the first time he’s forgotten who someone was. But then it hits him, and the realization nearly sweeps him off his feet. Regret, remorse, guilt, and anger rip through him as he remembers you. You, who he used to shove. You, who he used to laugh at. There’s still a part of him that feels that hatred for you, deep down, and he tries to shove it away.

“Jesus Christ,” he says under his breath, before loudly saying, “Hi, Y/N.”

Dustin’s brows knit together, and he looks between you two. He can assume that you both have a history. Steve probably stood you up or something. Slowly, he asks, “You two…?”

“Nice car,” you quip. “Daddy buy that for you?”

“Nice to see you, too,” Steve responds, dragging his feet towards you. There’s a lot of things he wants to say – that he’s sorry, that you look really good now, that he’s changed. But it all rests at the base of his throat. His mouth opens and closes a few times.

“Can someone please explain?” Dustin says.

“You’re friends with this asshat?” You ask Dustin, gesturing to Steve. “Like, actual friends with him?”

“Guilty,” Dustin says sheepishly. He’ll fill you in on Steve’s growth later. “Let’s go find Suzie, Steve.”

And despite your apprehension towards each other, you and Steve share the same thought – This is going to be a long summer.

===

taglist (join here!): @harringtown​ @heart-eye-harrington​ @rosecolouredboi​ @comedy-witch​ @lovesong-remastered​

[vannahfanfics]

Babes, my love! Since the restriction has been lifted up I guess... *walks into ask box* If it’s not taken yet, *wiggles eyebrows* Promise Ring for Ash Ketchum and Dawn? 💕✨

You got it, love! This was super duper cute to write, so I hope you enjoy reading it just as much! ~mwah~ 

Remember Me

The breeze rustling through Twinleaf Town carried the aroma of wildflowers and loamy earth. It rippled the long grass blades against Ash’s legs as he trudged down the small incline leading to the small creek cutting through the quaint settlement; the green fronds kissed at his clothes as if bidding him farewell, wishing him luck on his impending departure to the Kanto region. The flowing water tinkled pleasantly to the Trainer as he neared its small banks as if it too desired to impart goodwill upon him. However, Ash could not enjoy the well-intent of nature; his expression was morose in the reflection of the water as he squatted down, running his fingers through the soft grass. 

“Dawn really isn’t coming with us,” he pouted to his rippling mirror image. He’d wished her the best to her face, swallowing the bitter lump of disappointment that had lodged in his throat as soon as she told him she was taking a job as a fashion model. How could he express his sorrow? Dawn was moving up in the ranks and living her dream; it would be selfish of him to argue for her to accompany him to a different region when she had so much going for her. 

Still, logic and social pretense didn’t make his heart ache any less. 

Exhaling bitterly, he fell back onto his rump and crossed his legs underneath him. Dawn had been bustling around the house preparing to leave, so he’d quietly slipped out to sulk among the fresh air of the rural countryside. He had to admit that the rustic atmosphere did lighten his mood somewhat; even just sitting there, listening to the babbling brook, quickened the spirit of adventure within him. Perhaps Dawn would not be accompanying him, but there was still so much to see out there in the wide, vast world— so much to discover. This wouldn’t be the first time he’d left a friend behind to continue his journey. 

But… Dawn’s different, he found himself thinking. There was something so electric about her, about her determination and passion for Contests, that drew Ash to her like a Mothim to a flame. The idea of leaving her behind just left such a sour taste in his mouth, and he really wasn’t sure why. I guess… I really want her to be there through the rest of my adventure, growing alongside me, he considered with a small groan and pushed his cheek into his hand. He closed his eyes, trying to bury his confusing feelings with the whistle of the wind and the bubbling of the small river. 

“Oh, there you are, Ash!” 

“Huh?” he cried as he whirled around to see Johanna walking down the slight incline, holding her rippling apron to her legs as the wind played with it. She smiled serenely at the slightly blushing boy, stopping beside him and inhaling deeply. 

“Lovely, isn’t it? There really is nothing like Twinleaf Town. As a Coordinator, I traveled across the entirety of the Sinnoh region, but this small country town always called me home,” she said as she looked down at him, her navy-blue eyes twinkling. Ash smiled sheepishly and looked back down at the water. Sure, the picturesque rolling hills, quaint homesteads, and little shallow creek were pleasant— but Ash enjoyed it for a different reason. 

“I know you aren’t like that, though,” Johanna hummed as if she read his mind, making him gasp. “To you, the little river and the trees and the wind all carry the scent of adventure, not home.” 

“Heh. You read right through me, Miss Johanna,” Ash acknowledged bashfully as he rubbed at the back of his neck, making his hat shift up and down on his head. The woman’s chest rumbled with a pleasant chuckle as she shot him a knowing wink. 

“You and my daughter are a lot alike in those respects. I always knew that Dawn was destined for great things, and she’ll probably travel further than I ever dreamed of,” Johanna sighed, her eyes growing lidded with wistfulness. Ash could hear the unspoken addendum weighing heavy on her tongue. 

“... But not now.” 

“But not now,” she agreed with a small nod, looking back at him in sympathy. She crouched down, folding her arms on her knees as she smiled sweetly. “I know you really wanted Dawn to come to Kanto with you… But I don’t think she’s ready to take that step yet, not with the opportunities she has here.” Though he knew the older woman was right, it still made Ash’s belly twist in sadness. He clenched his fists, squeezing the grass blades between his fingers, and gritted his teeth as he struggled not to let the frustration overwhelm him. 

As tears pricked at the corners of his eyes, he choked out, “I know. I just really wanted her to be there when I finally made it.” He had come so tantalizingly close in the Sinnoh League, only for it to be snatched away from him at the last moment. He was sure that Dawn felt the same, losing to Zoey in the final round of the Sinnoh Grand Festival. Someday, somewhere, he would finally achieve victory in a league— and for some inexplicable reason, he desperately wanted Dawn to be there, more than anyone before. “I don’t know why, but… I want her to be proud of me.” 

“Oh? You don’t know?” Johanna chortled, making Ash looked at her with knitted brows. She released a pensive sigh, looking down at the river with a small smile. “Well, I can tell you that Dawn is already very proud of you. She knows you and your Pokémon tried your best, and that’s all anyone can ever ask of you, you know.” 

The thought made a heat rise to Ash’s cheeks and his lips pull into an awkward smile. Dawn is already proud of me… It made his heart thump against his ribcage and a pleasurable tingle shoot through all his nerves, like Pikachu had zapped him out of the blue. Johanna looked back at him, sticking her tongue out teasingly. 

“But, I know how you feel, and I’m sure one day that you and Dawn will meet again and have plenty more adventures together!” she said, sticking up a finger matter-of-factly. Before Ash could let the uncertainty show on his face, she leaned back a little so she could rifle through the pocket of her apron. “In fact, I’m so sure of it that I want to give you something.” 

Ash’s eyebrows shot so far up his forehead that they disappeared under the brim of his hat as Johanna revealed a small, silver ring with several glittering white jewels gleaming on top. Then, his face turned an angry red and he began to sputter and wave his hands wildly in refusal. 

“Relax! This is a promise ring!” 

“A promise ring?” he echoed, relaxing now that Johanna had elaborated that she did not want him to propose to her daughter. Smiling, Johanna gestured for him to hold out his hand; she dropped the ring in his palm and enclosed his fingers over it. 

“Yes. Dawn’s father gave it to me many years ago. A promise ring is a symbol of commitment. Traditionally, it’s a romantic commitment, but it doesn’t have to be! If you give this ring to Dawn, no matter how far apart you are, you will still be linked to one another,” she explained as Ash uncurled his fingers to gander at the pretty jewelry. The white gems, which he thought might be zircon or some other faux diamond, glittered beautifully in the sunlight. He knew it would look very pretty on Dawn and would definitely jazz up her contest outfits. 

A commitment to one another, he thought, a haze of pink still comfortable in his cheeks. 

“Thank you, Miss Johanna, but are you sure? You said your husband gave you this.” 

“I’m sure!” she nodded while straightening up, stretching a little to ease the muscles that had tensed after squatting so long. Giggling, she showed him her hand, where a proper diamond band gleamed prettily against her ring finger. “I have a promise ring of my own, so to speak <3” 

Ash gulped at her mischievous insinuations, but obediently cupped the ring in his hand and clutched it close to his chest. After giving him a jovial wave, Johanna tromped back up the hill, leaving him to ruminate on the surprising turn of events. He beheld the promise ring again, his heart stirring in his chest as he imagined how elated Dawn would be receiving the gift. As his lips curled up in a smile, he jumped up to start running up the slope, eager to pass the ring on to Dawn as soon as possible.

He found her in her bedroom, chatting animatedly to her Pipilup as she piled clothes into her suitcase. She was oblivious to his presence for a few minutes as he gathered his courage, shuffling his weight from one foot to the other in the threshold before finally forcing himself to knock lightly on the door. 

“Oh! Hello, Ash!” she beamed when she noticed him awkwardly standing there. “I’m almost done packing, but did you need something?” Ash’s heart thumped against his ribcage as she clasped her hands behind her and tilted her head cutely at him, expression kind and inquisitive. She really was the sweetest person he’d ever met; he was addicted to her saccharine nature at this point, so much so that he momentarily thought of forgoing the promise ring to instead beg her to come to Kanto with him instead. 

No, I can’t… Dawn deserves to follow her dreams, too. 

He nervously cleared his throat and stepped into the room, clutching the ring in his sweaty fist. 

“I, um… I have something for you, Dawn.” 

“Oh? A present? Ash, you didn’t have to!” she chimed as her face morphed in surprise. His heart fluttered like a Starly’s fledgling wings at her coyness, making a goofy smile begin to form on his lips. Before he could drift too far off into dreamland, he stopped in front of her and used his free hand to rub at the back of his neck. 

“Nah, don’t worry… It’s just… Something to remember me by, I guess.” As he gently reached out and took her hand to turn her palm up, Dawn looked at him in confusion. Swallowing thickly, he set the promise ring in her hand, and she looked down at it. Her eyes widened like sapphire moons, and a small breath of awe breezed past her lips. 

“A ring…?” 

“A promise ring,” he corrected. “I, um… I know that you have to stay here, while I have to go, but… I want us to meet again someday. So, I, um… I want to give this to you, as a symbol of that.” As he continued to speak, he grew more and more embarrassed; a bright pink blush crept up from his neck to spread up to the roots of his hair, and he shifted incessantly on his feet. “S-so… Let’s promise we’ll meet again… Dawn.”

She was silent for a moment, enthralled by the simple jewelry in her palm. Slowly, her eyes rose to meet his own, and a saccharine smile spread over her face. She took the ring and slipped it onto her right ring finger, stretching out her hands to admire the way the light glittered over the gems. 

“All right. It’s a promise, then,” she nodded. She reached out to take both his hands, gently looping their fingers as she gazed at him adoringly. “I know we’ll both go on to do great things, so let’s make sure we do plenty, so we have a lot to tell one another when we come back.” 

“Of course!” he agreed excitedly. As they looked into each other’s eyes, Ash found the tension melting from his body. Sure, he was a little sad still that they had to part ways, but he was no longer worried. That promise ring linked them together. Every time Dawn looked at it, she would be reminded of the time they shared, and look forward to the day when they met again. Until then… Ash and Dawn both had to do their best to make each other even prouder of one another than they already were.

Enjoy this oneshot? Feel free to peruse my Table of Contents!

[bruisedbell]

Hungry for the rush ( aching to be thrown in the ring ). 

 bio. || insp. || closet. || face. 

Character name: Katherine “Katie” Emery Bell

Age / Birthday: Beltane Babe—01 May, 1979.

Gender: cisfemale

Pronouns: She/her

Sexuality: Katie is bisexual. She was taught to see the beauty of a person within as a child and has since applied that to all aspects of her life. She has no preference—instead she weighs on the depth and value of the person on the inside.

Occupation: Hit Witch within the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. ** ( I love that all hit-wizards have their own assigned beds at St. Mungo’s. How ridiculously appropriate for Katie. )

Affiliation: Katie exudes positivity and always stands up for what she believes is right, so it is really no surprise she considers herself a beacon for the light.

3 Positive Traits:

Adventurous. Daring. Makes up her own rules as she goes. She neither asks permission nor for forgiveness, unless caught red handed. Life is a game and there are no rules, only victories. Katie is competitive in nature and intends to seize as many victories as she can. Carpe rebus.

Kindhearted: Generous. She loves to give—not receive. Katie would give the shirt off her back to someone in need and never expect a favor in return. There is nothing she wouldn’t do for the people she loves. She would travel to the depths of the earth if asked of her.

Resilient: Tough as nails. Like titanium, she does not break easily. She rolls with the punches and rides on waves of fury. Katie is mentally very strong. Quidditch has vastly helped her develop this fortitude. She is a lover above all else, but there is no denying the fighter that reels inside her. It goes hand in hand with her desire to always be winning, or achieving success in any way she can.

3 Negative Traits:

Distracted. Head in the clouds. Plucking shapes and painting stars the way she thinks they should twinkle. Dream on little dreamer, unmoved by the falling reality and fragility that comes from this life. Katie is detached and a bit impersonal at times, especially when she has no skin in the game. It’s hard to hide the vacant look in her eyes when her mind has journeyed into a far world of its own.

Overzealous: Dangerous enthusiasm. Questionable optimism. Lethal tools in the wrong hands. Katie often needs to be reminded to slow down her pace and release her death grip so they don’t become just that when in her possession. Her heart is usually in the right place, but she has the tendency to get in way over her depth without realizing it. Her high energy can be all-consuming and, if she isn’t careful, may drowned whoever gets in her path. It also doesn’t hurt to mention that too much positivity can be toxic, and Katie certainly teeters between dangerous boundaries.

Detached: Katie frequently finds herself separated from reality like she is just a fly on the wall, or a stranger peering through someone else’s eyes. Reality can be a tricky concept to grasp at times. She finds it easier to throw herself into perilous situations with that made-up wall built between her and whatever unknown obstacle the day holds. Originally a coping mechanism she established to help aid with the daily traumas of working in the DMLE, it has since become an increasingly alarming problem slowly tainting other aspects of her life too.

Headcanons.

Katie is often underestimated by those around her. Many say she is too soft; teased and called a princess by others. Her kindness is usually misinterpreted as weakness, but she weaponizes this misjudgment turning it into one of her greatest assets. She isn’t mad at anyone for calling her a princess because they aren’t necessarily wrong; her crown is simply set with daggers and claws versus jewels, and she intends to have it on display for all to see.

Olivia Bell nee Fraiser, Katie’s mum, is muggle-born witch. She married a muggle man named Rhys Bell shortly after graduating. She then began her career at HM Treasury just like her father did before her. HM Treasury is the UK Government’s economical and financial ministry maintaining control over public spending, budgeting, and other fiscal aspects. Public service has always played a vital role in Olivia’s life, and subsequently Katie’s life as well. She witnessed how important it was to her mother and eventually was inspired to lead into her own career within the Ministry of Magic for this exact reason.

Katie is an expert dueler. This is illustrated in Prisoner of Azkaban when she teaches Harry Potter the full body-bind curse (switching that to Neville feels very applicable in this setting though? ). She was in the dueling club for the majority of her Hogwarts career, which is where she first established a solid foundation to nurture her skills. She later joined Dumbledore’s Army during her sixth year when Umbridge briefly reigned over Hogwarts. Having an older brother who loved to torment her as a child also helped play a key role. Once they were at Hogwarts together, there was no stopping her from getting retribution. In fact, she started making an abundance of friends which came with unexpected connections in the form of unique pranks and other jokes to help further her crafty and scheming nature.

Katie is currently working on her ability to cast both wordless and wandless magic. She favors wordless magic. It comes much more natural and is far easier than wandless magic in her opinion, however, both are thoroughly trained and implemented throughout a hit-wix’s career as it aids in the secrecy of capturing their suspects. She is also currently studying occlumency and legillimency with her mentor and fellow hit-wix.

Katie is an expert baker. Strudels. Pies. Puddings. Cakes. Croissants. Macaroons. Alfajores. You name it, she can whip it up in a heartbeat. Baking is her comfort. The alluring aromas of brown sugar and vanilla wafting across her kitchen remind her of a quaint and happy childhood. Present-day, she consumes an irrational amount of sweets, but nothing in comparison to the heaps she has to throw away at the end of the week due to the fact that she simply cannot eat them all. She makes cute little burlap wrapped packages tied with colorful ribbons, which her senile owl Blazer delivers to all her friends… but there still always manages to be more dessert left on the countertop.

Katie is quick, not just on her feet but a broomstick as well. She is known for making fast getaways. A skill she takes great pride in.

The looming war and undeniable political tensions have been anything but pleasant for Katie, and the entire Bell family. Bellatrix Lestrange’s rise to political power was alarming from the beginning for the lot. Katie’s mum maintained a position within the muggle division of government. The muggle-born witch immediately feared for a worst case scenario for someone like herself, or her muggle husband and two half-blood children. One needn’t be overly creative to fill in those lines. Katie had held a position within the DMLE ever since graduating from Hogwarts. Her older brother worked with various quidditch teams across Europe. It’s in a mother’s nature to worry, but perhaps she had more reason and experience in doing so when all their lives were so intricately designed with such chaos. 

Plot ideas: Same plot ideas from the previous group. I want Katie to be confronted with unlikely challenges. I want to see her get involved with those she wouldn’t normally do so. She is everything radiant and positive, so her leaning toward the Order is too obvious in my opinion. I want to see her manipulated and forced into doing things she would have never thought only because there is the risk of losing something greater. Katie would do anything to protect her family and friends. Especially Fred. She has a savior complex. It goes hand-in-hand with her desire to fix people and things, even if a good handful of them turn out to be unfixable. I want to see the closest of friends push each other away and have incomprehensible falling outs because of the unspeakable circumstances and lingering tensions they’re affected by. War changes people and I am anxious to see how it sinks its claws into the vibrant and kindhearted girl we all know—and how maybe just perhaps it transforms her into someone entirely unrecognizable.

Bonus Material: Gryffindor quidditch power team dynamic, angsty!angst, darker threads with purpose and tangibility, lighthearted threads, friends comforting friends, rogue punches, and other comedic content.

[missingrobin]

Unconditional (part 2)romance

Description: Love. Lies. Heartbreak. A recipe for disaster. When you move to Riverdale you have to face your dark past and a possibly hopeful future.

Pairing:Sweet Pea x Reader, Jughead x Reader

Warning:language, drugs, violence, underage drinking, parties? (just don’t get triggered)

Word count: 4199 

A/N: Yall this story is getting so good! I’m so excited to keep writing and if you’re enjoying it  tell me below and if you have any thing you might want to see in this series or just in general send me an ask or dm me :)

Part 1

You woke to feel a heavy hand on your back. The hand belonged to Sweet Pea, your sorta kinda friend. It was around 11am most people had  already left the bar but few remained because they were still too tired to drive home. You looked up and saw that Sweet Pea was still asleep, so you gently wiggled his hand off your back and grabbed your things. Toni was awake and was already cleaning up the bar. You walked over to her to see what your newest adventure together was going to be.

“Hey Toni good morning,” you said

Hey Y/N how are you feeling?” Toni replied 

“Pretty damn good honestly,”

“Hey we should probably get you all moved in,” said Toni 

“Alright let's hit the road.” 

You both jumped in your cars and you followed Toni to her trailer. You drove down a windy road till you reached the trailer park. The trailer wasn’t anything you expected. It was painted a raziliant purple color and was quite large on the outside. The trailer was partially graffitied with beautiful drawings that made the outside even better. There was a pink motorcycle and a garden with lavish plants along the trailer. The inside was so much grander there were two bedrooms and a very modern kitchen .The living room was screaming comfort from the plush chairs to the soft blankets that sat in a basket near the tv.  After your tour of your new home for the time being you resided to where your room was and placed down your few  belongings.

 You laid your bed and took some deep breaths and tried to process what the hell was going on. One second you were in California fearing for your life now you’re in Riverdale in the safety of your new friends home. Time felt like it was never ending while you were being held captive by Nico, now you feel like there’s finally room for you to love your life and yourself. 

“Y/N let's go to Pops you’ll love it.” Toni declared while almost breaking down your door

“Okay,” you agreed. 

You spang from your bed with power and met Toni in the main living area. Together you set off for Pops in Toni’s white jeep.

When you arrived at Pops you got situated and ordered a Strawberry milkshake and a large basket of fries that you and Toni would share.

“Do you miss it,” Toni asked while twiddling her fingers around her glass.

“Miss what?” You responded even though you were deep in thought. Toni noticed. 

“California.” 

“Yeah,” you hesitated slightly. “I wish things didn’t have to go so wrong,” a small sigh left your lips.

“I just miss the beaches and the boardwalk but most of all my family.”  You didn’t dare to look up. You could feel your eyes start to grow heavier and your heart start to beat faster. 

“I’m sorry you had to go through all that stuff Y/N,” Toni reached her hand across the table in hopes to comfort you.

“It’s okay things will work out they always do.” you smiled 

“Hey on a lighter note there’s a party next weekend we should totally go,  It would be a great way to meet more people  and it's being held at the Quarry so it would be fun to explore,” Toni remarked brightly. Her puppy eyes gleamed and you couldn’t resist.

“Yes! That would be awesome!” you exclaimed with fake excitement. 

You both finished your meal and drove back home.  It was already getting dark so you decided to stay in and have a girls night. You stayed up to the early hours of the morning watching Clueless, Legally blonde, and many more movies to pass the time.

When you woke up you saw that it was 3:27 pm.

“Toni, Toni wake up it's the afternoon already,” you shook her till she woke up.

“Oh damn well there goes most of our day,” Toni replied with a melancholy voice 

“It’s fine lets just go hang out at the Whyte Wyrm,” you suggested 

“That’s a really good idea, let's go,” Toni slightly cheered up. 

You both hopped on Toni’s bike and drove to the Wyrm. The parking lot was nearly empty except for a shady black van but you ignored it and walked inside. 

“Lets play pool!” Toni exclaimed 

You both walked over to the pool table and had a pleasant evening playing pool and chatting with your new friend.  

“You suck ass Toni, why did you even ask me to play?” you laughed while holding the cue stick in between your hands.

“Because I thought you would suck more,” she giggled and poked you playfully with the stick.

“I just remembered my first day of school is tomorrow ugghh,” you rolled your eyes a

“Oh it's not that bad I promise, school can actually be sorta fun and plus you have Sweet Pea, Fangs and I to keep you company,” Toni replied with warmth in her voice.

“Yeah that’s true, I should really try to be positive about this,” you declared with hope.

“Precisely.” Toni smiled 

“Oh this is gonna be such a shit show,” you said while burrowing your hands in your arms.

“I thought you were gonna be positive.” Toni looked at you with a smirk.

“I gave up,” you replied with a grim look.

Toni looked around the room. You saw a clock by a dart board that read 11:12 pm. 

“It’s getting late, we should head home, we have a big day tomorrow,'' Toni smirked with an evil look.

You flipped her off and laughed. You were home in less than 5 minutes. You both returned to your designated areas and retired for the night. You took off your makeup and itchy day clothes and picked up your latest read The Diviners from your night stand. You read yourself to sleep and soon drifted off to a comfortable slumber. 

You woke to your loud ass iPhone alarm and groaned. You rolled out of bed and got ready for the day. You put on a fabulous denim skirt and a cropped long sleeve button up top. You accessorized with gold rings and a gold necklace. You looked in the mirror and you looked like the baddest bitch ever. You threw on your black heeled boots and headed out the door. You had to drive to school alone because Toni was already gone but you weren’t worried because you knew you were gonna make this school your bitch. 

Your drive to South side high was quite refreshing. You listened to Tame Impala with the windows rolled down and thought about what school was going to be like.

You pulled into the parking lot and got out of your car. All eyes were on you, boys looked you up and down, girls gave you fake smiles and whispered to their friends . People made crude comments  in all directions but you ignored the unwanted attention. You strutted up to the school doors and you were met by Toni and Sweet Pea.

“Damn Y/N you look so fucking hot,” Toni exclaimed while stared at you in awe.

“Thanks babe,” you wrapped Toni in a tight hug.

“Yeah Y/N you really do look great,” Sweet Pea said while raking his hands through his dark lush hair.

“Thanks,” you replied 

Sweet Peas face turned a velvety shade of pink and you noticed. Sweet Pea was obviously gorgeous but you didn’t have time to deal with a boyfriend, especially another drug dealing one that likes to pull knives on you. 

You and Toni headed off to your first period class together leaving Sweet Pea in the dust. His mind was filled with thoughts of you and what he would have to do to get you. 

In your first period class you sat with Toni and her friend Fangs who you just got acquainted with and laughed and talked about how shitty the school was. You were genuinely enjoying yourself. You giggled and barely paid attention to the teacher who was lecturing the class about drugs.

At lunch you sat with Toni and her friends again but this time you met Jughead. He was simply angelic, he had the best personality and above all he was a writer just like you. You couldn’t help but stare at his gorgeous face.

“So Jughead what do you usually write?” you questioned and slid  your hand under your chin.

“Oh god Y/N please don’t get him started,” Toni begged.

You ignored her comment and connected eyes with Jughead.

“I write anything that I feel matters, from articles to poetry,” he smiled at you and looked at your red stained lips.

In your head you thought of you and him sitting in pops together sharing a milkshake on your first date and of course you thought of your wedding and how cute your kids were going to be.

“Snap out of it woman, you’ll start drooling in a second ,”  Your internal monologue told you. 

You quickly realized that you were staring at his lips and you forced yourself to look at the ground.

“Y/N do you write?” Jughead asked 

“Yeah actually I do, but I haven’t written anything in a while,” you started staring at his lips again.

“Why not?” he questioned and adjusted his hat.

“So many reasons, maybe I can tell you sometime over coffee,” you flirted, making sure to make direct eye contact then to him and look him up and down. 

“I’d like that,” he smirked playfully while sucking on a cherry lollipop.

During that whole debacle Sweet Pea was staring at you and he was pissed. He felt his insides burn with rage and jealousy. 

“Why didn’t she look at me that way, I’m ten fucking times better than that dickhead,”  he thought  and sank his head to the ground with slight defeat.

He couldn’t take it. Sweet Pea stood up and stormed off through the cafeteria. His whole face was bright red and he wanted to fight someone. Fangs noticed Sweet Pea’s change in attitude and he took off after him.

“Hey bro what’s got you all hot and bothered,” Fangs questioned trying not to make Sweet Pea even more upset. 

 “That bitch and her little boyfriend.” Sweet Pea spit 

“Huh,” Fangs said utterly confused.

“Y/N and Dickhead,” Sweet Pea had anger fuming off him at this point. He reached forward and struck a locker leaving a dent.

“How many fucking times do I have to tell you not to talk about girls that way dumbass, and Jug didn’t even do anything they were just talking,” Fangs rolled his eyes.

“Is a coffee date just talking idiot,” Sweet Pea mocked with hate in his voice. 

“Look dude, it's not that serious and aren’t you the one who pulled a knife on Y/N when you first met her,” Fangs leaned forward closer to Sweet pea and balled his fists to his sides.

 “Oh yeah she told me about that dumbass,” Fangs replied with equal amounts of anger.

“Go Fuck yourself.,” Sweet Pea slashed words at his friend and stormed off and out the doors to the parking lot.

Fangs knew that Sweet Pea could get like this sometimes but he had never seen him so upset. He wondered why Sweet Pea was so pissed off about a girl that he just met a few days ago. Fangs knew that he had to let Sweet Pea go blow off some steam by himself, but it didn’t make how he just acted okay.

The school day went very fast and was pleasant. You had noticed tension between the Sweet Pea and Fangs but you didn’t want to get in the middle of that so you ignored it. Although you didn't see much of Sweet Pea at all for the rest of the day. 

After school you had your first shift at the Wyrm and you were excited because you would be able to bartend. You had drinking experience since you were 16 but you really didn’t like alcohol too much, only the sweet refreshing stuff but you absolutely adored making drinks.

You drove to the Wyrm and Toni walked you through some of the signature drinks which were simple enough to learn. Within 30 minutes you could make anything on the menu. You were fucking amazing at bartending and talking to strangers so this job was an excellent  way to make some cash while still doing something that you loved. Time went by like a breeze and before you knew it your shift was over. When you finished and clocked out for the night FP approached you. 

“Hey Y/N your work at the bar was fucking incredible great job tonight,” FP was thoroughly impressed by you.

“Thanks FP, I really appreciate the opportunity to work here. It's great,” you gave him a bright smile and wrapped your tired arms around your body.

“You’re welcome kid, Anyways have you met my boy?” FP prodded hoping to gain insight on your relationship with Jughead.

“Yeah I met him today at school he’s really nice,” your palms started to sweat.

“Oh cool, cool, hopefully you guys can become friends, god knows that boy needs some more of those,” FP chuckled lightly.

You gave a brief lowkey uncomfortable laugh.

“Oh I should really get going goodnight FP,” you tried to make your escape as fast as possible.

“Yeah you’re right kid, goodnight,” FP replied while strolling off to a group of older serpents. 

When you finally made it to your car you sat and tried to take in that conversation. Why was FP asking about Jughead? Why did he put such emphasis on you being friends? Most importantly why did your hands start sweating when he brought up Jughead? Sure he was really cute and he liked a lot of things that you liked but it's no reason to get all worked up about. Damn it, you knew you had a teeny tiny amount of feelings for him but it doesn’t matter, or does it?

“Let it go,” you whispered to yourself with slight disappointment. 

In Jugheads trailer he was having the exact same thoughts as you. He questioned why he felt like this and how he magically felt this strongly about some girl he just met. In his head he replayed the first time he saw you walking through the cafeteria looking stunning. With your beautiful long luxurious legs and your impeccable sense of fashion. He thought about holding you in his arms while he recited poetry to you in fourign languages. What the hell man he thought. Then he suddenly slapped the shit out of himself to make the day dreaming go away. 

“That was the stupidest thing I’ve ever done.” Jughead muttered to himself as he rubbed his brutally attacked cheek. 

Several days later…

It was finally Friday afternoon. The weather was blazing and bright and you took that as a good sign. Your week had been thrilling from you starting your new school to you hanging out with your new friends and sneaking off with Jughead to hang out at the library during lunch. If you were being honest you would even say that life was currently fucking awesome. Although your week was going great you still had so much more to do like the Snake Bash starting at midnight. You still had to get on your craziest rave outfit and pregame but you just got out of school and you wanted to take a drive to reminisce on all the bomb shit that had been happening lately.

 After your drive you went back home to find sparkly shit all over the floor in your living room. 

“Y/N which one do I wear? It's the last Snack Bash of the school year.  I have to start it with a bang.” Toni was speaking so rapidly and she was quite literally jumping up and down. She held outfits up to her over and over again.

“Okay first of all where did you get all these dresses? Second wear the diamond cover up with a black swimsuit set under you’d look so hot in that.” you replied and took a second look at the shiny mess.

“Okay thank you so much.” Toni jogged over to you and wrapped you in a quick hug while trying not to step on the eight million outfits on the floor and then took off into her room.

You stepped off the mountains of clothes and went into your room to get ready. You searched through all your old rave clothes and then found the one. It was a metallic super cropped top with matching cheeky bottoms. You paired that with white fishnet tights and white doc martens that you stole from a store in California when you were homeless after your parents died. You did a ravishing makeup look that consisted of a lot of glitter and crystals. Finally your masterpiece was finished. You looked like a goddess and you knew it. 

You came out of your bedroom to find a crowd of your friends. Fangs, Sweet Pea, Jughead, and Toni were waiting for you so you all could drive to the quarry together. When everyone laid eyes on you they were stunned. You were thrown up on with immediate compliments. Jughead's jaw dropped to the floor. Sweet pea looked like he was drooling all over the floor. 

Someone finally spoke up. “U- Uh Y/N you look beautiful,” Sweet Pea professed while pushing back his hair with his strong ring covered hands. 

“Yeah you really do,” Jughead chimed in. He walked over to you on a finally clean floor and wrapped you in a warm comforting hug. 

Sweet Pea frowned and gave a look of disgust from the action but to everyone else it was just a simple hug.

The guys couldn’t keep their eyes off your body and you had to keep saying out loud that you weren’t a piece of meat. Although you looked divine your friends did too. Fangs wore a see through shirt and skinny jeans and his makeup consisted of a shit ton of glitter too. Toni wore the outfit you told her to and she curled her bubblegum pink hair into loose waves. Sweet Pea actually didn’t wear a shirt, he only had a kimono and pants on and a bandanna tied around his neck. Jughead wore a short sleeve button down shirt tucked into distressed black pants and of course that god damn hat.

You and your friends got in Toni’s jeep and drove to the Quarry. You blasted music and laughed the whole way there. 

When you reached your destination you could tell that this party wasn't going to be fucking crazy. Pretty girls danced with dangerous guys. Heads bobbed up and down, the ground almost felt like it was shaking. Colorful lights decorated the floor along with colorful outfits. You were drawn in just like the first time you went to a rave. Your eyes darted to where most people were dancing and you  and your friends immediately joined them. You ran off to the dance floor and moved your body with passion. You shook your hips along with your hair. You felt eyes on you as you got lost in the music. You were dancing with a group of Serpent girls when a handsome  stranger walked over and asked you to dance. You took the mysterious stranger's hand and deepened in the crowd. 

“I’m Leo.” the gorgeous man remarked 

“I’m Y/N,” you said while connecting eyes with the man.

He had a soft smile and beautiful hair that touched his chin. His eyes dared you to get lost in them. You danced wildly and rested your arms on his shoulders. 

The man became a little too handsy and you moved his hands off of your lower back. 

“Not so fast lover boy.” you smirked 

“Hey don’t be like that baby girl,” Leo said sternly. He moved his hands back to their previous place and discomfort washed over you. 

“Back off asshole” you spit pushing his arms off of you. You stormed off into the abyss of bodies.

You didn’t like that at all. You knew that it was probably a good idea to get away from him. You drifted off to find your friends but they spotted you first. 

“Hey Y/N is he giving you trouble?” Sweet Pea said while cracking his knuckles 

“Nah it's no big deal Sweet,” you replied in an effort to calm him down.

“Alright,” Sweet Pea hesitated

You grabbed Toni’s arm and you sped to the dance floor. You wrapped your arms around her and you swayed to the music. It was nice to have really good friends that would look out for you.

“Toni.” 

“Yeah Y/N,” 

“Thank you for everything,” you said warmly 

“You’re welcome, thanks for being here,” she pulled you into a close hug.

You both held each other and listened to Somebody Else by the 1975.  People were all around holding their loved ones and best friends. Time felt infinite. You felt Infinite. 

Behind the trees Leo and a gang of ghoulies plotted a scheme. 

“That bitch is so full of herself,” Leo spat while looking over at the crowd of people.

“Don't worry about Leo, we'll take care of her,” some goulie said while lighting his cigarette.

Sweet Pea stood lips locked with some pretty girl. Fangs was talking to some guy and you and Toni were dancing, but where was Jughead? 

“Hey I’m gonna go look for Jug okay,” 

“Got it,” Toni replied while still dancing . 

Your eyes scanned the crowd but there was still no sign of Jughead. You tried to come up with an idea of where he could be, but then a melancholy thought crossed your brain. Maybe he left with someone else, you dismissed the thought simply because you didn’t want to think of that. You walked back to the car with a droopy mood and tired feet.

When you arrived back at the car to your surprise you saw  Jughead sitting on the roof of the car looking at the stars. You strolled up to him.

“Hey stranger,” you almost whispered 

“Oh hey Y/N,” Jughead replied trying to act like you didn’t just scare the shit out of him.

“Not the party type?” you questioned

“Yeah not really.” he replied dully

You climbed to the hood and sat beside him. The sky was decorated with stars and the moon shined in the distance.

“It’s beautiful,” you sighed and laid down on the roof to rest your aching body.

“It is.” he agreed while resting his arms on his crossed legs.

“Tomorrow wanna go get breakfast at Pops and hangout?” you said calmly 

“Yeah that would be nice.” 

“It’s a date.” 

“Like an actual date?” he questioned 

“Yeah if you want it to be,” you replied with your heart racing. You were so good at flirting on accident that it should be a crime. 

“Then it’s a date,” he proclaimed while looking at you. He saw how the moonlight shined against your skin and his heart twirled. 

Your eyes were darting at all the different stars. 

“You’re a dork you know that,” you said while giggling.

“You’re too,” he said while playfully bumping you.

You sat up and looked at him. Time stopped. The World stopped rotating. It was just you and him. You turned to face him. Your eyes connected and you slid your hand on his neck. You pulled him closer and your lips locked. Your lips seemed to fit together like the perfect puzzle. The kiss was like no other, nothing could ever come close to it. It lasted a lifetime and when you parted you still felt buzzing on your lips. You had never been kissed like that. That kiss danced in your heart and was ingrained in your brain. Jughead looked at you and smiled, his cheeks were flushed with pink.

The air was filled with passion, there was no need for words. You simply just laid back down on the roof of the car and he slid his hand into yours.

You could still hear the music from the party booming in the other direction. The wind was chilled and the fresh spring air swept over your body like a blanket. Your body shivered because of the temperature outside. Jughead noticed.

“Do you want my jacket?” he questioned 

“Yes please,” you replied with a smile.

Your hand felt safe and right wrapped in his but that didn’t stop the various amounts of insecurity from coming in and drowning your brain with hesitation. Was this right? Is it too soon? What if he’s like Nico? You silenced and came to the realization that he might not be like Nico. What if he was actually a good guy.

You jumped into conversation with Jughead about the copious amount of things you shared in common. Maybe things will work out.

Well that was pretty freaking cute but the good shit never really lasts. Hearts break. People lie. And love is a dangerous thing…  

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[ramblesanddragons]

Food Brings You Together...Probably.

@elisheva9467 asked for a little slice of story with Stan and Ford. Ended up being a little longer than I thought. I have a headcanon that Stan likes to cook and this happened. Thanks for waiting elisheva

Stan was going to have to swallow a bit of his pride but it would be worth it if his plan worked.

“Hey Ford, I’m headed to the store. Would ya mind coming with me?”

His twin perked his head up from designing something for the boat at the question. A soft and understanding smile crossed his face.

“Of course.”

Now Ford thought he was coming along on the rare chance  there was a memory incident. Ever since the not end of the world, Ford had been doing his best to help Stan out and he appreciated it, he really did. The real reason Stan was dragging him along though was to get his stubborn brother to eat a real meal. Ever since coming home Ford had consumed nothing but coffee and some sort of alien food pill. His hope was that Ford would eye something good and want to eat it. If not Stan had a few other ideas.

Three isles in and it was looking like the con man was going to have to appeal to his brother’s since of practicality. He started putting in every unhealthy food item he saw. He had cut out so many of his vices in his life that junk food had become one of the only ones Stan let himself indulge in but this was reaching ridiculous even for him. Ford finally noticed.

“Stan...do you really need 3 cartons of ice cream?”

“Eh, I’m old. I think I should eat what I want.”

To Stan’s frustration Ford didn’t argue. Alright time to pull out the big guns. He casually walked over to the stakes and started picking out nice ones. (Two of which went into his jacket pocket because good meat is too damn expensive)

“Besides everyone knows I’m the better cook in the family.”

“Now who says that?”

Bingo

“I might get a lot of take out but I also learned how to cook pretty good. I was always the one helping Ma out in the kitchen. You couldn’t make cereal without burning it.” Stan chortled.

“It’s cook pretty wel...I mean. I can cook just fine thank you.”

“Okay then, prove it. You cook dinner tonight and I’ll cook it tomorrow. Who ever makes the better meal is the better cook.”

“We both know we’ll pick our own meals Stan.”

“So we get Soos and his abuelita to be the judges. Don’t let them know who cooked what.”

Ford pondered for a moment then smiled. “Very well. If you’ll excuse me I have a few things to go get.”

While Ford was distracted Stan returned the ridiculous amount of junk food and got what he needed for his dinner. A few times Ford came up to Stan asking for a few weird things (”Does this store carry Ignatriumsis?” “Ford that’s not a real word in this dimension.”) they checked out and headed home.

Having grown used to cooking over an open fire Stan helped Ford pull out the old grill and then settled into his seat to watch TV. The shack was oddly quiet. Soos was finishing packing up his stuff in his old place and his abuelita was at bingo night. He missed the noise of the kids but a chance to relax was nice too. The old man began comfortably dozing.

Until there was the sound of a large fire roaring to life.

Stan scrambled to the kitchen to grab the fire extinguisher and ran outside to quell whatever mishap his brother had created. Running outside there was a thin column of fire rising out of the grill at least 15 feet into the air but thankfully dying down. Behind the grill was Ford, smiling wide. If anyone were to summon hell fire to cook it would be Ford.

“What the actual fuck Sixer?”

“The coals refused to light so I did a little improvising.”

Stan threw the extinguisher at Ford who caught and went back inside to get his heart to stop racing a mile a minute.

Dinner was served around six. The four of them sat comfortably around the table. Still a little quiet without the kids but still pleasant. On their plates was grilled chicken, corn covered in Mexican crema and cotija (Stan knew what Ford was up to. Playing up to the old ladies’ nostalgia. Clever.) and green beans. It honestly did look very good. Ford had marinated the chicken in something zesty which was delicious but the chicken was a tad bit burnt. Soos’ Abuelita hummed in pleasure eating the corn and which lead to a few stories of her childhood. After dinner the twins did the dishes while the other two went to watch TV.

“Alright. I can admit when I enjoy a meal,” Stan said.

“Why thank you Stanley.”

“But I’m going to blow you out of the water tomorrow.”

The next day Stan found himself itching to get to dinner time. In all honesty he liked to cook, was decent at it too if you asked him. One of the few things he let himself enjoy after being financially stable enough was good food. Nothing fancy really (unless he could sneak it out of the store) but it was nice to have three square meals a day after going so long wondering where his next meal was coming from. The only reason he ate out with the kids so much this summer is those little gremlins took up a lot of energy. Between that and the portal he was wiped most days. It was nice to be cooking again.

Stan seasoned the steaks and let them sit a bit while he got the baked potatoes ready. There was even going to be a fancy cesar salad with shaved parmesan. Salad was normally classified as ‘rabbit food’ but Ford would like it.

Stan downed each of the stakes in butter and garlic careful to make it how he knew everyone liked it. This wasn’t the first time he had made dinner for Soos and his abuelita and maybe that was slightly cheating but he didn’t really care. Let’s see...he liked his rare, Abuelita liked hers closer to well, Soos liked a nice medium, and he figured Ford would like it that was as well.

Dinner was once again nice and pleasant. Stan had finally gotten used to having people constantly joining him for dinner. It was weird at first but he found that he rather enjoyed it. Soos was almost done with moving and the boys shared their plans to go to the coast tomorrow. They would be getting home late but the perfect Stan of War II was waiting to be bought.  Before after dinner clean up Stan cleared his throat.

“Okay before we head off for the night we got something to ask you two. Which dinner did you like better?”

Their judges pondered for a moment.

“I liked tonight’s the best. Love me some steak,” Soos said.

“I actually liked last night’s dinner better. Not that tonight wasn’t delicious as well.”

Ford chuckled, “Perhaps we needed a third judge.”

“Meh doesn’t matter. Got you to do what I wanted so I’ll call that a win.”

Ford shot him a confused look. “Was this a...what exactly was your goal here?”

“To get ya to eat a real damn meal.”

“Oh.”

Soos and his abuelita quietly left the kitchen although Stan was certain they were still listening.

“Look I know I don’t eat that well but living off alien pills and coffee can’t be much better for ya. Besides I’ve learned to be a pretty good cook. ‘Bout the only thing I’ve gotten good at. You’re going to be doin’ all the science stuff on this trip the least I can do it cook shit but that doesn’t help if ya don’t eat.” Stan stood and began aggressively scrubbing at the dishes.

“Stan you’re not just along to be the cook or to be some sort of help. I want to go on an adventure with my brother. We could go anywhere really as long as we’re having fun.”

The old man turned “Can that include a warm place or two? Maybe pick up some babes?”

“I will schedule babes into the itinerary. With three...or at least one square meal a day.”

Stan barked out a laugh, “Only one?”

“I’m trying to be realistic.”

The next night the boys got home very late but with a new boat to make their own in tow. Stan had planned on just hitting the hey when they got in but the twins were met with the most heavenly smell when they opened the door. They found Soos in the den already in a food coma and his abuelita setting out two plates with some of the most mouth watering food they had ever seen. Beef tamales with a slight bit of steam rising off of them and cilantro rice.

“You were so nice to cook dinner the past two nights I figured it was my turn.” She chirped happily.

Ford and Stan dug in and Stan was pretty sure he ascended to heaven for a moment. Everything was melt in your mouth good. He looked his twin in the eye.

“She wins.” They said at the same time.