#like regardless of how you feel about the age gap you gotta admit that was out of the blue idk just felt weird

[r0semultiverse]

The whole Lila & Five season 4 situation can be summarized by this tumblr post

[soreiya]

Why can't people just ship and let others ship without calling each other pedophile or slurs?

They are the fandom equivalent of Chris Sonnenburg... Stalking, harassing, and telling other fans that they are wrong for not catering to someone else's personal preferences… It all reeks of entitlement and egoism.

I can't be the only one to see the parallels.

Many of these people are not even aware of how hypocritical they sound when they make these kinds of baseless accusations. It gives off the impression of “Do as I say, not as I do.”…

I’m open about liking Varipunzel. Canonically they have roughly a 4 year age gap. By the end of TtS Varian is 16 or 17. (Some people think season 3 was longer than a year.) So according to a few bossy people in the fandom, I should feel ashamed if I age him up a year or two for a post series plot? I’m also a terrible person if I enjoy the ship in AU’s where canon ages don’t apply to anyone. There is no winning here… People will look at me badly regardless of if my intent is pure or not... So why should I care? Why should I let them taint something that I enjoy?

So if we as a fandom can’t age Varian up to ship him in AU’s then... Hmm...

Boy do I have some bad news for Varigo shippers in this case. Hugo and Varian canonically have a 10 year age gap between their respective source materials. So the Vat7K AU would be deemed immoral based on the fandom’s self imposed shipping guidelines. I doubt they would take this well at all. Haha

All I gotta say is that people need to stop with these double standards. Feign obliviousness, make excuses all day, but don’t act righteous like some kind of saint. Since everyone is bound to like something that other people would deem weird or questionable in some way. You just might not be aware of it yet.

Even widely praised canon pairings like New Dream have glaring red flags. Things that wouldn’t fly very well IRL, but they work in fiction because you have transparency. Yes, I’m being serious… Think about how Rapunzel was fresh out of the tower and had no baseline on what healthy relationships with other people should be like. It would have been easy for her to get manipulated or taken advantage of. So when people say New Dream’s age gap is okay because Rapunzel is legal, they are ignoring the fact that she has less world experience than the average 18 year old. This is a common oversight in the community. I like New Dream and even I can admit that this is a bit sketchy.

The point I’m trying to make is that every single ship has faults. No pairing is going to be loved by everyone. We should cherish our individuality and learn to be more open minded and supportive. Even to those who think differently. I'm certain that with some patience we can come to some kind of understanding of one another.

So yeah, it’s perfectly reasonable to dislike something that doesn’t appeal to you for any reason. Go forth and write full on essays or analysis posts. Do some research to try to see if you are actually right, or simple vent your personal frustrations out into the void. Just don’t be mean or make ignorant assumptions about other fans who do not share your opinions. Since there is a fine line between being a critic and being a hater.

[galaxylohnce]

VUD paladin headcanons!!!!

BTW this is based off of @voltronuniversaldefender ‘s reboot!!! CHECK THEM OUT THEYRE DOING GOD’S WORK

also i have read approx 2 headcanons and baRELY understand this AU so if there are similarities to anyone else or inconsistencies iT IS AN ACCIDENT AND IM SORRY

anyway this is just about the 4 confirmed paladins BET ill be doing more about Fa’rah/Takashi/Zahi/Ashanti once i know a bit more about their roles in the team!!

Alvaro Garcia Valladares

he has a twin. i don't make the rules, but he has a twin.

he has a big family. the biggest family. we’re talking, his mom has 8 siblings and his dad has 9 and there’s a 10 year age gap between him and his oldest sibling and he loves them all so much

natia is his best friend. i repeat, NATIA IS HIS BEST FRIEND!!!!

he’s also quite close with kiki. Natia and Kiki are the only two that he met before their great space adventure

he wasn't really sure of his sexuality at first. (i say this because i wasn't sure of my sexuality at first - im bi btw - and all the media i saw told me that any lgbt+ character was 100% sure of their sexuality form the day they were born, which made me doubt myself bc i didn't figure it out till recently, so i wanna see that in some media!! sometime!!) he probably figured it out halfway through having a crush on someone

the someone is akio, and he definitely tells Natia about it first

“natia... natia listen.... I have a crush on akio. freakin akio.... what do i do??? I’m bi, natia... I'm bi. what does this mean -”

“alvaro, I'm so proud of you, but this is a public bathroom and akio is right outside -”

GUARANTEE that the first time he saw Akio he just basically wanted to fight him but also flirt with him and had a slight moral crisis and ended up doing nothing

he is a goddamn sharpshooter, okay. he straight up becomes famous for it throughout the galaxy.

yet despite that he’s still insecure, and those insecurities prevent him from really getting together w akio until much later

he comes off as very suave and extroverted when you first meet him, but underneath it all, he’s actually really warm, personable and funny: not that anyone outside the team know that 

aliens on social media, probably: god, the blue paladin is so cool... i bet he’s amazing and awesome and eloquent...

meanwhile, alvaro: do u guys think i could fit my whole hand in my mouth or nah?

enjoys memes, and shares this love with kiki

basically an all around great guy. because he often felt like a seventh wheel at the beginning of the formation of the team, he always tries to include everybody as best as possible, going way out of his way to ask after people, even if they forget to ask about him sometimes :’)

Natia Nanai

first off: what a gorgeous name. seriously. incredible kudos, my dude. anyway on to the head canons for this gorgeous girl

probably alvaro’s soulmate. already mentioned this, but it needs reiteration. they are best friends

had a large family too (not as big as alvaros tho) and probably major relate to him with that big family dealio

v close with kiki. they complete each other on a technological level. 

natia is very, very creative. she and her sweet engineering know how are always instrumental in getting the Team out of tough situations

Akio: theres no way out of this we’re going to die -

Natia: bet?

she does say “bet” a lot. like, almost too much? but she's always right and valid when she says it

the villain: i’ve got you now!!!!

natia, under her breath: bet

the paladins, thinking: thank god, we’re saved

very soft but also badass as hell. she has a unique duality.

pulls a violet baudelaire: she puts that GORGEOUS hair up in a ponytail when doing work or whenever she has an idea

everyone on the team, regardless of sexuality, is low-key in love with her because she’s just so nice. no one can hate her. she's way too solid of a friend

speakinG of being a great friend: natia is 100% the secret keeper up in this bitch. everyone comes to her because they know she’s got the best advice around and will take their secrets to the grave

akio: idk man... alvaro is just rlly cute, u know?? but i can't tell him...

natia, thinking of alvaro literally whining to her about akio not even five minutes ago: christ

the mom friend. she always has all the things everyone needs on hand or in her lion, and she’s got it all going in terms of chore charts and family meals. she is the queen of figuring out times for team bonding and everyone loves her more for it

definitely started a board game night asap

she has a silent bravery about her that no one else can match. despite her trepidation, natia will always do what has to be done for the greater good. 

she is guided by her heart and her morals, and is easily the kindest person on the team

bc of this kindness, she is often the diplomat when conflicts arise between people on the team

she is seen by the general public (aka the galaxy) as a strong, morally righteous woman. kind of like rosie the riveter-esque??? she’s the symbol of justice and fairness. 

aliens: she's so... peacekeeping :0

natia, at kiki: throw me that wrench, or so help me god - 

basically, a queen who always considers everyone and works really hard to create a family, even when they're all so far from home :’)

Kiki Evans

generally over it tbh

“always tired, but always inspired” - kiki, on being asked why there were dark circles under her eyes

kind of standoffish. she’s not really about being nice, she's about getting the job done, and that can rub people the wrong way, since she is always the first to offer up the cold, logical solution

but underneath that, she’s just a computer science nerd who is loyal to a fault

she really is loyal. its almost dangerous sometimes, because she would put the universe in danger to save her friends, which actually comes into conflict with her typical cold, logical approach.

she has 0-1 sibling. she's every bit the single child. she cannot relate to living in a big family setting, and at first its hard for her to deal with before she warms up to everyone else on the team

she's a genius, and thus found school to be tedious. in fact, she got fairly bad grades, as she wouldn't do the work that she saw as pointless and boring

she is a meme connoisseur, and loves to quote vines, often assisted by alvaro

kiki, as they approach a giant black hole: HZZK

alvaro, catching on immediately: is... is that real???

she is a conspiracy theorist, for sure. the government is watching us all, trying to make sure we don't learn too much.... she’s sure of it, and akio is too

tbh, the first proper conversation she had with akio was about cryptids and how the government had hidden them from the public

she was friends w natia and alvaro from before, but it is akio she becomes closest with the fastest. in some ways, she feels more distant from natia/alvaro bc of how close they are with each other and  bc all of them have known each other for so long while akio is someone she got to know recently: he has no preconceptions about who she used to be, and she has none about him

plus, she and akio relate on many levels: both trans, both gay, both autistic, both theorists, and both loyal to a fault. she finds a real blood brother in akio :D

very openly gay. very. she's a space lesbian, and theres no denying it

kiki, meeting some random space girl: oh

kiki, moments later to akio: god I'm gay

akio, downing a glass of water but acting like its vodka or smthg: god, same

the public sees her as the cold and calculating techie, the brains of the operation

natia is her partner in crime. they finish each others sentences. they've got a tech connection going, babey

kiki: if we just cross-reference the zaiforge tunnel with the -

natia, nodding: particle consummator, of course we’ll get the perfect -

them, together: amount of energy!!!

everyone else: sorry wot

basically, she's a tech goddess with a splash of genius. she's uneasy and a bit awkward, but thats just bc she’s never been in a situation like this before. after literally 1 second with her, she opens up and is such a loyal friend. :’)

Akio Himura

wow this boy is gay and he knows it

he loves his parents (zahi, takashi, and ashanti) but god he will never admit it. not ever

alvaro, after listing his parents, 20 aunts and 100 cousins: and i love them all so much, with all my heart. what about ur family akio?

akio, not wanting to show weakness: they're nerds.

alvaro: um okay cool good talk haha :)

akio, internally: but i love them nd would die for them tbh... but i can't show weakness

he's so guarded after his biological parents left/died/disappeared. poor boy

definitely a single child, and definitely adopted

his parents love him SO MUCH. so much.

akio: why do i have three parents, dad?

takashi, almost crying: its simple. u deserve so much love, that it couldn't be contained in just two people. we needed three. its how its gotta be, my beautiful, sweet summer child

a yeehaw kind of guy. he grew up in the midwest riding horses before his biological parents died and theres a piece of him that will always be a southern boy

the kind of kid in school that pretends he’s a delinquent, but actually just has the aesthetic of a delinquent, and is truly soft

akio: hell yeah I'm a rebel. i logged onto disney.com without my parents permission

kiki, choked up: so brave

mothman is his love. his passion. all cryptids, for that matter. kiki is more of an all around conspiracy theorist: akio is in it for the cryptids 

he’s a bit awkward, and doesn’t totally understand all social cues/jokes. because of this, he stays away from memes, and is very guarded when meeting new people, especially after experiences with light bullying for not only his social ineptitude, but his upbringing.

considering that, his first meeting with alvaro was supremely awkward, and akio accidentally fought with him multiple times before they established a solid friendship

akio, having a gay panic: you are the light of my life

alvaro: sorry what??

akio, panicking more: I said, you wanna fiGHT WITH A KNIFE???

he pined after alvaro from basically day one, but had the foresight to actually know that he was pining, unlike alvaro who just floundered

of course he would never say anything

he is a stabby boi. he is unrivaled in swordplay, and enjoys routine. his natural affinity for picking up new skills plus his unrivaled work ethic basically DESTROYED everyone else when it came to swords

he’s loyal af and is always the first one to take action. akio is a “do something. do anything, but do it fast before we lose a chance to do something” kind of guy

the general public sees him as the fiery one: he’s the one with the fanciest footwork in a fight, and he’s very good with battle tactics. he can come thru with that strategy at the perfect times

he's a low-key emo. for sure. he loves MCR, but strangely dislikes other similar artists like p!atd and fob. 

kiki: but...brendon urie, akio....

akio, sipping tea: as a gay, i can appreciate the aesthetic. but no one can compete with MCR

kiki, exasperated: its not a competition -

basically, a slightly guarded boy with a real talent for defending the universe and his friends, but also an emo cowboy mess who is in love with alvaro and loves everyone :’)

WELL THAT ENDED UP LONGER THAN I EXPECTED. I HOPE U ENJOY AAAA

ALSO FOLLOW @voltronuniversaldefender !!!! its amazing, guys, really check it out :D

[roseonhissleeve]

Kiwi: Part Seven

A series based in Jamaica during the writing/recording of Harry’s new album.

Click here to read the previous chapters.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: A special thanks goes out to my beautiful friend @dirtystyles & my partner-in-crime @selenogomez for this one. Couldn’t have done it without either of you. xx

FEATURED SONGS: Just A Feeling by Maroon 5 & I Wanna Wake Up With You by Boris Gardiner

She had absolutely nothing fancy to wear.

When Harry asked her to go out to dinner with him, Calliope had said “yes” right away. It was to be their first proper date, aside from cliff diving and surfing, and she couldn’t help but feel a bit excited.

Except when she’d gone to plan her outfit for the night, she realized that she hadn’t brought anything remotely like a nice dress. Her wardrobe consisted of a handful of shorts that reached down to just above her knees, several t-shirts and tank tops of different colors, and a few swimsuits and sports bras that she’d wear while surfing. So, she turned to the only other friend that she really had.

“I need something to wear!” Cal announced loudly as she walked into the bar, stunned with how incredibly normal she sounded. The phrase itself was so typical of someone her age, that it tasted weird on her lips.

Pipo stuck his head out from around the corner into the kitchen, a confused look on his face.

“I’m going out with Harry,” she explained, shutting the door behind her in frustration and walking towards the large man. “And I have nothing to wear.”

Pipo pursed his lips tightly as he looked at her features—he could see that she wasn’t joking, and it shocked him to the core because it was the first time that he’d seen her ask for help.

She took a seat on the barstool and watched as he walked behind the bar and to the phone, lifting it from the receiver and dialing a number that he clearly knew by heart.

“Who are you calling?” She asked, brows furrowed as she leaned forward onto her forearms.

He chuckled lightly, turning to look at her with an amused expression coloring his features.

“My wife.”

*

She’d seen and spoken to Happy a few times before, when she’d first started working at the bar.

Pipo and Happy met each other in school and grew up together. They had been in love ever since. Happy used to work at the bar alongside him, but decided to spend more time at home with their kids, which is how there came to be a job opening at the bar.

Calliope was still sitting on the bar when Happy made her grand entrance.

“Your fairy godmudda has arrived,” Happy announced loudly as she entered the room, her voice ringing through the air like the chime of bells.

Happy was beautiful, and she knew it—the sunlight from the windows danced against her deep brown complexion like fireworks. It was clear that she was completely sure of her place in the world, something anyone would envy.

She had a larger frame, and the shape of her face was accentuated by the afro that sat atop of her head like a crown. Her hair looked light and springy—it danced when she walked, hugging her ears.

This woman was in no way afraid to take up space, nor was she going to apologize for it.

“Hello, ma’am,” Cal replied. She didn’t think that the word ma’am had ever left her lips before in her entire life, but something about this woman’s presence practically demanded that respect.

“I can’t think uh anyone in my life who ever called me ma’am, please, call me Aunt Happy, pickney,” she laughed radiantly, the lines around her eyes crinkling with the melodious sound. “Now gweh to de bathroom and try them on. Ya look like you’re ‘bout my older daughter’s size, an’ I hear ya’ve gotta handsome gentleman suitor tonight.”

Cal couldn’t help but laugh at the thought of Harry being her gentleman suitor, her eyes following the few dresses that Happy had draped over the bar.

“Is dat my beautiful wife I hear?” Pipo’s voice rang through from the kitchen, but his wife was having none of it. Amusement flashed across her rounded features as she shook her head, a soft tut rolling off her tongue.

“What does he want now?” Happy said playfully, flashing her a cheeky look before walking into the kitchen, her hips swaying gracefully as she went.

Calliope did what Happy told her and walked into the bathroom with the dresses in-hand, locking the door behind her. She looked herself in the mirror that was permanently smudged from nights of drunken shenanigans, and her lips formed a small smile.

She was excited. For the first time in a long time, she genuinely let herself feel excited about something. Like maybe, just maybe, she world wouldn’t crumble down if she let her guard down for a moment.

A few minutes later Calliope walked out of the bathroom, a black dress decorating her figure—it slimmed her in all the right places, but was still loose enough that it showed off her legs and gave her room to breathe. She wasn’t exactly thin by any means—there was no gap between her thighs and she could still slightly make out the place where her belly stuck out, but she felt amazing in it regardless. The halter top shaped her chest and revealed just enough skin in the valley of her breasts—it was low cut enough to make her feel playful, but not so much that she was uncomfortable.

She wasn’t an insecure person by any means, but that night she felt…powerful.

When Cal walked back into the kitchen she saw Happy in Pipo’s arms, both swaying together as Pipo hummed a catchy tune under his breath. Their foreheads were just barely touching along with the tips of their noses, and they were looking at each other in a way that she could only imagine came with years of mutual respect and partnership.

They looked at each other as if they were each other’s source of gravity. The only thing holding the other down to Earth.

It was a moment so soft and loving that Cal almost felt like she was intruding by watching, but just as she was about to turn around and walk out of the kitchen, she heard Happy’s gasp.

“Look a’ you, my beauty!” Happy gasped, clapping her hands loudly and walking towards Calliope. The large woman grabbed onto her hands and lifted them up high in the air, grinning as she shimmied her hips happily. “Let me see you!”

Cal giggled softly, not used to having such a big fuss made over her. But something about this woman made her feel comfortable, so she gave in and spun around softly, almost allowing herself to feel like a princess.

“One more t’ing, you have your ears pierced, yes?” Happy asked, immediately spinning to look around the kitchen.

“Yes I do,” Cal replied, running her hands through her short locks and tucking the longer tufts behind her ears.

Happy located the jewelry on the kitchen counter and grabbed onto a pair of small pearls, tucking one in between her lips to hold as she reached to insert them into one of her earlobes.

“The two of you are a beautiful couple,” Cal spoke softly, glancing over at Pipo who was back to scrubbing the grill clean. Happy looked over her shoulder at him as well, a breathtaking smile appearing on her lips.

“He’s de love of my life,” Happy replied after removing the pearl from her lips, her face giddy with the happiness of a young girl who’s just fallen in love. “An��� what about you, my dear? Tell me ‘bout this handsome boy who’s won your heart.”

“Why do you think he’s already won my heart?” Cal asked, lifting her hands to touch the pearls that now decorated her ears.

“Because of de way your eyes twinkle when I talk about’im,” Happy replied, setting her hands on her hips as she grinned.

“His name is Harry,” Cal laughed, fidgeting with the skirt of the black dress she’d borrowed. “He’s kind, much kinder than I probably deserve…he’s funny, funnier that I usually admit to him. He has this way of thinking about the world that makes me feel humbled somehow, as if he knows some secret that I’ve yet to discover. But…”

“But what, child?” Happy prodded, kindness in her eyes.

“But it’s been so long,” she admitted, lowering her gaze almost in shame. “It’s been so long since I’ve even been out on a proper date like this. It’s been a really long time since I’ve let someone in.”

“Well, sweetheart,” Happy sighed, reaching to settle her hands on her shoulders as she offered a soft smile of understanding. “I know it’s hard ta believe, but sometimes, it’s okay to let other people take care of ya.”

Calliope watched as Happy looked over her shoulder at the love of her life, and Pipo looked right back. And she felt a whisper in her heart, like a faint memory of a dream.

This, she thought. Maybe this is what it’s all about.

*

He saw Calliope sitting at the bar when he walked in.

She was leaning in on her forearms, gaze lowered to the countertop as she held onto a glass of water. Her thumb traced circles against the smooth surface, and it reminded him of the way her fingertips danced across his skin a few nights earlier in the safety of her bed. Merely the thought of it brought goosebumps to his skin.

He stood at the doorway, his hands tucked into his pockets in fists as he parted his lips formed a slight smile. The black dress hugged her figure the same way the waves hug the beach with every rolling tide—it made his heart thump so loud he was afraid she’d hear it.

And then she looked at him.

And fuck, there was something in her eyes that he swore he’d never seen before.

“Kiwi,” she exhaled, as if it was a promise.

“Hey, you,” he grinned, his eyes wide as he ran his fingertips through his hair, practically fighting to catch his breath that she’d clearly stolen.

“You look handsome,” Cal grinned as she hopped off the barstool, making her way towards him. As soon as she was close enough she reached out to take his hands in hers, and she stood up on her toes to press her lips against his.

It caught him by surprise, and there was no erasing the smile that she felt against her lips.

“What was that for?” He croaked softly once she’d pulled away, giving her hands a squeeze as he touched the tip of his nose to hers.

“Just felt like it,” she giggled, taking a step back to properly look at him. 

Harry was wearing a pair of kahki shorts and a white button-up that had been tucked in, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows so that he wouldn’t die in the heat. The top four buttons of his shirt were undone, and she could see the tattoos on his chest peeking out, framing the cross necklace that hung from his neck.

“Stop looking at my nips,” he teased, causing her to look up at his features again with a cheeky smile. “Yeh’re gonna have to buy me dinner first.”

“I believe you’re buying tonight, Kiwi,” she patted his chest with a grin before walking out the door, and before he got the chance to follow her she spoke again.

“Harry Styles, where did this come from?!”

“I rented it,” he answered with a dimpled grin, walking out to meet her. He immediately walked over to open the passenger door for her, welcoming her into the sleek black Mercedes-Benz convertible.

“Oh, you rented it,” Cal repeated under her breath teasingly, taking a step into the vehicle and immediately reaching to put her seatbelt on, attempting to recreate his accent. “I just rented a billion dollar car, no big deal.”

“Tha’s not what I sound like,” he snickered, walking around to take his place in the driver’s seat.

“It’s kinda what you sound like,” she grinned, shifting so she could face him better.

“Wow, I sound like a dick then, don’t I?” He grinned in response, reaching to grab her hand and bring her palm to his lips.

“You said it, not me,” she giggled, leaning over to press a peck against his freshly-shaven cheek.

They both laughed as Harry began driving out of the parking lot and away from the little bar, through the cool evening breeze of Jamaica.

*

Calliope’s nose crinkled occasionally when the light wind tickled her cheeks, feeling completely content as they drove down the main roads.

Harry was holding her hand firmly, their intertwined fingers resting on her left thigh. Occasionally if he was making a turn or particularly focused on the road he’d release her hand, only to settle his in its rightful place again afterwards. Her other hand was sticking out of the car, her arm resting on the passenger door so that she could trace waves in the air as the wind blew past them.

She assumed that the music in the car was Harry’s, and she honestly didn’t know a lot of it—which is why when Maroon 5’s Just A Feeling played, she practically jumped out of her seat.

I watched you cry, bathed in sunlight by the bathroom door...you said you wished you did not love me anymore.

“I love this song,” she smiled, leaning her head back against the headrest as she tipped her head sideways to look at his features. She could see his dimples appearing, and she felt a soft squeeze being delivered to her fingers.

“S’really sad,” he commented, glancing over in her direction for a moment before moving his gaze back to the road ahead.

“Mm, maybe,” she agreed, looking back out onto the Jamaican scenery. “But it’s one of my favorites.”

She cries, this is more than goodbye. When I look into your eyes, you’re not even there…

“Yeah?” He mused, his voice piquing with curiosity. “What do you like about it?”

It’s just a feeling, just a feeling, just a feeling that I have....

“I think it’s real,” she explained, her tone dripping with an almost serendipitous sadness. 

For a moment Harry felt a bit of concern, as if she was about to slip away from him—but when he looked over at Cal she was still smiling lightly, fingertips dancing in the breeze as she stretched her arm out of the car. He smiled, lifting their intertwined fingers to press a kiss against the back of her hand.

And I can’t believe that it’s over…

The restaurant was breathtaking. It was a small building that was in the heart of the city, the stone walls designed perfectly to frame the sunset from behind the palm trees. As soon as they’d turned onto the street she could hear the reggae music playing from inside, and she could tell that it was absolutely packed.

After Harry checked in on his reservation Calliope was pleasantly surprised to find out that they were to be seated at the bar—she didn’t know how comfortable she would feel sitting through an entire fancy dinner; a meal and drink at the bar was definitely more her style. She was surprised at how well Harry knew her already, and it made her wonder what other things he noticed about her.

“Do you think you’d ever learn how to play reggae music?” She asked, leaning in closer to his ear so that he could hear her better. There was a live band that was absolutely delightful to watch, and the melodies and sounds of the music were intoxicating.

“I wish,” he replied, exhaling a chuckle as he turned his head to look at the instruments onstage. There was a collection of males and females that were singing and swaying their hips to the music—she had become familiar with the pop music and pop culture of the island through her job at the bar, but the music she listened to at work was nothing compared to this.

“But I also don’t,” he added, turning his head to look back at her as he lifted his beer bottle off of the counter. “S’not mine to play, y’know? There’s a history behind it, there’s a magic to it...that I don’t think can ever be taught. Sometimes it’s better just to let magic be magic.”

Calliope leaned her cheek against her palm as she listened to him, her heart swelling with what felt like pride at him talking about something he loved and obviously had put a lot of thought into. It was one of the things she loved about him, how he could take the simplest of things and make them...well, magical.

“Come dance with me,” she said, standing up off of the barstool and grabbing onto his hands. He laughed, following her as she walked over to the dance floor.

“Yeh’re gonna regret this, m’not a very good dancer,” he warned her, his voice against her ear.

“Oh, so we’ve finally found something you’re not good at?” She teased, glancing at him over her shoulder.

“That and surfing,” he muttered almost bitterly, causing her to giggle so loud that he heard it clearly over the music.

Cal released his hands and began to sway her hips to the music, her arms swinging loosely around her body as she closed her eyes. The smile that lingered on her face was nothing less than dazzling, and he couldn’t help but want to join her.

Honestly, he would have followed her everywhere.

Within moments the two of them were bouncing and swaying and jiggling around—they were absolutely sure that they looked ridiculous, but it was worth it because they were together. It was probably the most genuine fun that she’d had in a long time, and she felt like she could fly.

Once the song ended Harry shot up off of the dance floor and stood in front of the stage, waving the lead singer of the band over. She stopped to catch her breath from dancing and watched him with furrowed brows, knowing that Harry must have had something up his sleeve. Moments later she watched as he held his hands over his chest in a way which almost made him seem like he was praying, bowing his head slightly before standing up straight again.

Before Cal could walk over and see what was happening, the singer was speaking into the microphone again.

“The next one goes out’to da girl wit’the wave tattoo,” he announced, the soft rhythmic music starting to play behind him.

Calliope felt a smile stretch across her lips as she looked at Harry, who was now watching her with a shit-eating grin. She laughed as he started walking towards her, swaying to the music as he held his hands out to her.

I wanna wake up with you...I wanna be there when you open your eyes…

“You’re a menace,” she murmured with a grin, slipping her arms around his neck to pull him close as soon as she could reach him. He simply nodded his head in response, pressing a kiss to her forehead before touching his nose to the same patch of skin.

Cal closed her eyes and allowed him to lead, swaying the both of them back and forth in unison as the song played throughout the restaurant.

I wanna feel every beat of your heart...and throughout the night, I wanna hold you tight…

Harry’s arms wrapped around her waist securely, pressing her chest to his so that she could feel his heart beating against her own. There were a few other couples on the dance floor with them, and everyone else seemed to go about their own business—nobody recognized Harry, and if they did they left him well alone.

I want you to be the first thing that I see...I wanna wake up with you…

*

“This is why I don’t wear dresses,” Calliope huffed, making her next few steps down the beach a little wider so she could spread her thighs apart.

Harry had parked the car back at the bar and had begun walking her back to her place, but about five minutes into their walk she could no longer stand the chafing in between her thighs.

“Alright, hop up,” he chuckled, jogging to get a few feet of a lead on her and holding his hands out behind his back, palms ready to catch her.

She grinned, reaching to set her hands on his shoulders and jump up onto his back. His hands immediately tucked underneath her thighs and secured her against him, her nose nuzzling into his hair as she pressed a kiss to his head.

“My hero,” she teased, gently resting her chin on his shoulder. He continued to walk down the beach, his pace only a little bit slowed by the weight on her body on his back.

“All in a day’s work,” he replied cheekily, giving her thighs a playful squeeze. She retaliated by kicking her feet a little, sinking her teeth into his shoulder and biting softly.

“Hey, keep it together back there,” he yelped, causing her to laugh and finally rest her cheek against his shoulder. She watched the moon shining in the sky as she listened to the sounds of the waves crashing against the sand.

Cal couldn’t remember the last time life seemed so...simple.

A few minutes later they were sitting in front of her little cabin on the beach. He was sitting just far in enough to dip his toes into the water—she was a few feet ahead of him, sitting in the water just enough for her lower back to be submerged. She had changed out of her dress, now sporting a pair of purple shorts and a white tank top that stopped just above her wave tattoo. Somewhere along the line the rest of his buttons on his shirt had come undone, his tattoos illuminated by the moonlight.

Calliope was looking at the ripples in the water, tracing them with her fingertips and watching as they changed their shape under the white light beaming down on them. She grew increasingly overwhelmed with how easy it was to be with him—and she didn’t know if it was that she was just starting to get used to him, or if this was what letting someone in felt like.

Either way, it made her feel fearless.

“Hey, can I ask yeh a question?” He said softly, tracing mindless patterns on the wet sand.

“Sure,” Cal replies as she shifts slightly to face him, her eyes brighter than he’s ever seen them.

“Well...we’ve been spending a lot f’time together. And I was wondering...well, I dunno…”

“Are you trying to have the ‘what are we’ talk with me right now, Kiwi?” She exhaled with a laugh, a bit of a nervous undertone to her voice as she lowered her gaze. His nose crinkles a tad as he pressed his palm against the sand and ran it across the patterns he’d traced, erasing them all.

“A little bit,” he admitted, chuckling lowly.

She took a moment to lower her gaze to the ocean, as if it had all the answers. Hell, maybe it did.

“I think calling you my boyfriend would be a little strange,” she admitted, her voice quiet and slightly wavering. He felt his heart sink into his chest with almost-disappointment, the slight sting of rejection starting to wash through him. But then, she spoke again.

“It’d be like we were back in middle school or something. You’re not my boyfriend, Harry...I think you’re much more than that.”

His eyes widened a little as he looked back up at her—when he did she was looking right at him with an intensity that made him forget his own name.

“I...I don’t think we really need a title ‘cause I don’t think we fit into one. We’re so much more than any label,” she admitted, and even though her voice was quiet there was no hesitation in it whatsoever.

There was no telling which one of them was more surprised with her confession.

“I think...I think we’re us,” she finally said, her lips spreading into a lazy smile. “Is that okay? I mean, is that enough?”

Harry exhaled a deep breath and nodded his head, absolutely elated. He let out a laugh in almost disbelief, but moments later he was crawling over to her, almost tipping himself over into the chilly water and bringing her down in a fit of giggles. Eventually he managed to find what he was looking for—her lips—and press a searing kiss to them.

“F’course, love,” he murmured, a weight lifting off of his shoulders. “Us...We’re more than enough.”

Harry left an hour later, stealing countless kisses from her lips on his way out. Calliope tucked herself into bed after neatly folding the black dress she’d borrowed and changing into some dry clothes, a smile finding what seemed to be a permanent home on her lips—it wasn’t until then that it occurred to her that she’d smiled more in the past few weeks with Harry than she had the past year of her life.

That night she went to sleep with Maroon 5 stuck in her head, the waves kissing her goodnight, and the sound of Harry’s laugh rumbling against her chest.

Kiwi: Part Eight

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