#like the metal one IS safe but it would still hurt if i hit someone with it yanno

[aquaticmercy]

Love in Full Bloom

Summary : Bucky thinks everything he touches dies, but the plants in your apartment prove otherwise.

Pairing : Bucky Barnes x Reader (she/her) 

Warnings/tags : PTSD, hurt/comfort, angst, fluff!!

Requested by : myself 

Word count : 1.5k

Note : This was another idea I had to turn into a fic, inspired by all the houseplants I’ve accidentally killed rip. Enjoy!

Requests are open!

It wasn’t unusual for Bucky to lose himself in his thoughts. From time to time, you would find him sitting on the corner of the bed in the middle of the night. The memories from his past grew like weeds in his mind. He could barely distinguish them from nightmares. 

Even when he was with you, safe and in the comfort of your shared apartment, he still carried those ghosts on his shoulders. Still thought himself as a soul occupying the vessel of a weapon, like a rose with the sharpest thorns.

But to you, Bucky Barnes was far from just a weapon. He was not a monster. He was gentle, thoughtful, and kind. It hurt that he couldn’t see it for himself.

That’s why, when he agreed to move in with you, you saw it as a step in the right direction.

Your apartment has always been a safe haven for the both of you. It felt warm and cosy, the shelves full of books and plants. At least, the plants you tried to keep alive. They were struggling under your care—yellowing leaves, wilted stems, dying flowers. You were throwing root-rotted plants away monthly. Still, you bought more, hoping you’d have better luck this time.

Then Bucky moved in.

As the days passed, the plants stopped dying. Slowly, they began to thrive. The wilting leaves came to life, the stems grew strong. To you, it didn’t make sense. You hadn’t done anything differently but the plants seemed to respond to something.

Or rather, someone.

—

Today, Bucky had barely said a word, save for the quiet I love yous here and there. 

You had learned, over time, how to read his silences. But this was different—he was slipping farther than usual.

You had convinced Bucky to spar with you today, trying to keep his mind busy, preventing it from spiralling any further.

You weren’t a super-soldier by any means, but you liked the idea of keeping up with your self-defence training. 

He had always been cautious, holding back. He pulled his punches, making sure you were safe, no matter how intense the session became. 

Bucky shifted his stance as you circled him, your eyes focused, searching for an opening. His metal arm hung stiffly by his side, as if there were vines holding it down towards the ground.

He glanced down at his metal arm.

“Are you sure?” he asked, his voice strained.

You gave him a reassuring smile. “I’ll be fine, Buck.”

He didn’t answer, but his eyes flickered with doubt as he stepped forward. You could feel the hesitation in every move he made, the way his punches lacked the usual fluidity you’ve seen him have in the battlefield. 

“Bucky, come on,” you teased lightly, though you could sense his unease. “I can’t learn if you pull back.”

His jaw tightened. 

Bucky’s strength, normally so controlled, felt heavy, like a twisted root of the past curling around him. Every step he took felt like treading on fragile soil, where one wrong move could uproot everything he had built with you.

You made another attempt, stepping in closer, and for a split second, you saw fear flash in his gaze.

You miscalculated a move, your foot slipping as Bucky’s metal arm swung out in a reflex. His fist connected with your side, harder than either of you intended. The force knocked the breath from your lungs as you hit the mat, pain shooting through your ribs. You gasped, instinctively clutching your side.

Bucky froze, his eyes widening like lily pads. He didn’t move. He didn’t speak.

“I’m okay,” you wheezed as you struggled to sit up.

His mouth opened, but no words came out. His gaze started darting from your face to his left hand.

“I... I didn’t mean to,” he whispered with a voice so soft you could barely hear it.

In that moment, his mind went through the faces of those he’d harmed and those he couldn’t save. He could not pull away from the horror that had been growing rapidly in his bones.

“It was an accident,” you said gently, “I’m fine.”

But he didn’t seem to hear you. He took a step back. Then another.

“No… no… I can’t…” His voice wilted. 

“Bucky,” you pleaded, standing up slowly, but he took another step back, his eyes wide with panic. 

“I—everything I touch…” His words trailed off into a broken whisper, “...dies.”

—

That night, Bucky didn’t sleep in the bed. He wouldn’t even come near it. 

No matter how much you reassured him, no matter how many times you told him it was just an accident, Bucky just would not forgive himself.

You woke up early the next morning, the sunlight streaming in as you stepped into the living room. You found Bucky still asleep on the couch. 

You sighed softly. You didn't want to wake him— not just yet.

You knew he didn’t mean it, but the now dull ache in your side reminded you of the man he was forced to be. While you trusted him more than anyone, there was a flicker of fear, not of him, but for him—of how deep underground his self-hatred could reach, like a root searching for water to feed on.

You moved to the windowsill, where your plants stood in their usual spot. Your eyes studied the vibrant green. That’s when it clicked.

You scanned your memories, then realized the simple things he had been doing purely out of instinct: pushing a plant toward the light when he noticed it looked too far from the window, adding water when he saw the soil was too dry. When he’d notice the leaves drooping, he’d check them, mimicking what he’d seen other people do without thinking twice about it.

Bucky had said everything he touches dies, but what if he had been wrong?

—

When Bucky stirred awake, you were sitting cross-legged on the floor by the coffee table, watching him closely. He blinked groggily, and the moment he saw you, he rubbed a hand over his face.

“I’m sorry,” he started, his voice low and cracked. It was the first thing he said, and it broke your heart.

“I know,” you said softly, kneeling in front of the couch. You reached for his hand, but he flinched away. You sighed.

“But baby, look,” you whispered, pointing to the windowsill where your plants thrived, their leaves stretching toward the sunlight. “Not everything you touch dies.”

He glanced at them, confused, “What?”

“You’ve been taking care of them.”

He stared at you, trying to figure out what you meant. You gestured toward the plants again.

“Ever since you moved in, you’ve been watering them, moving them into the sunlight, making sure they’re healthy.” You pointed to the vibrant leaves. “I don’t think you realise it.”

Bucky’s eyes widened in disbelief, his gaze drifting between you and the plants. 

He slowly stood up, walking over to the windowsill. His hand hovered over the leaves as if he was afraid to touch them, afraid they might wilt under his fingers. But they didn’t. 

He stared at the plants. “This can’t...' His voice was soft. “I hurt people, I ruin things, I don’t—”

You stood up and walked to him. You touched his cheek, guiding his eyes back to the strong, healthy plants. “They’re alive because of you.”

He hesitated, his fingers hovering over the leaves, ready to pull away. With the smallest gesture, his hand settled on the flower of a blooming peace lily. And nothing broke. Nothing wilted.

You watched him, a warm smile on your face, seeing the realisation dawn on him.

He shook his head, “I didn’t know.”

You shrugged. “You’re good at taking care of things…of people. Of me.” Of course, you were telling him what you already knew.

He turned to you, his blue eyes swimming with guilt, his brows knitting together in that familiar way when he was struggling to believe the good in himself. “But I—”

Before he could finish, you silenced him with a soft kiss. His breath caught in his throat, surprised, but he kissed you back, tentative at first. Then his arms wrapped around you, pulling you closer, as if he needed the warmth of your touch to chase away the nightmares.

His kiss deepened, slow and lingering, like he was savouring every second of it, trying to believe that you were real and that he didn’t break you. 

When you finally pulled away, you cupped his face with both hands. “James,” you pressed your forehead against his, “you didn’t hurt me on purpose. You never have, and you never will.”

He closed his eyes, leaning into your touch, and you felt him relax just a little. “I’m still sorry,” he murmured.

“I know,” you whispered. 

His eyes opened, and he looked at you like you were the only thing grounding him to the world. “I love you,” 

“I love you too,” you whispered back, before pressing another kiss to his lips, and this time it was softer. His metal arm curled around your waist again, while his flesh hand gently cupped your cheek, his thumb brushing against your skin like he couldn’t get enough of the feeling— the feeling that maybe, just maybe, he could finally outgrow his past.

-end

[lives-in-midgard]

Finally Safe

Paring: Bucky Barnes x reader

Summary: After being kidnapped from Hydra you get saved by Bucky and the Avengers.

Word Count: 1300

A/N: Hey everyone! I finally wrote a Bucky fanfic again and I hope you like it!

Divider made by @firefly-graphics

Masterlist

 You weren’t sure where you were or how long you had been there. You didn’t know what time it was or what day it was. Has it been weeks or months since you were there? You weren’t sure. The only thing you knew was that you were on your way home from work. It was only a short walk, so you decided to walk. You always thought it is a safe path until someone hit your head and you suddenly woke up in a cell in a place where no one would probably ever find you.

You were so scared, especially when these strange men came to you. The first day they didn’t do anything to you and just laughed, but the next day they started doing experiments on you. The experiments made you feel nauseous, and you began to feel a change. Whatever they wanted to do to you seemed to work. After a while you finally found out where you were…it’s a HYDRA base. You couldn’t believe it. You’ve heard stories about them. Scary things. The winter soldier was one of those things you heard about. Is he still here?

You always had to think about your friends and family. Are they looking for you or did the people who kidnapped you made it look like you died? Every night you cried yourself to sleep and hoped that one day someone would come and save you. Maybe the Avengers would somehow find out about this Hydra base and save you. Maybe this was just your dream, and no one could ever save you, but you didn’t lose hope. Not even after everything they did to you.

You suddenly woke up when you heard someone screaming and it sounded like someone was fighting. You quickly sat up and took a shaky breath because of the injury on your left arm. There was again a scream to hear. What happened?

Suddenly a loud noise was heard, and your door opened. You couldn’t recognize him…you have never seen this man before and he didn’t look like the others here. He had short brown hair, a black leather jacket and then you noticed that he has a metal arm. You got scared and moved further to the back of the room so that your back was leaning against the wall.

“Hey, it’s okay…I won’t hurt you.” He said in a soft tone and made a few steps near you.

“I’m Bucky.” He knelt down in front of you. Bucky looked friendly, but you weren’t sure if you could trust him.

“You can trust me, I promise.” He said with a worried look. You thought about it for a second, but then you told him your name and he began to smile. Then he reached to his ear.

“I found someone.” Bucky looked at you while saying that.

“Okay, let’s get out of here.” He said to you. Then he stood up and reached his hand out for you. You took his hand and stood up.

“You stay behind me…I promise I’ll get you out of here.” He said with a slight smile. As you followed Bucky through the halls, it was quiet until a Hydra agent suddenly appeared who started to attack Bucky. Then everything happened so fast they started to fight and suddenly more came. Then a shield flew behind you and you jumped to the side. Captain America and some more Avengers came to help. When you saw another guy trying to hurt Bucky from behind, you finally got out of your shock and wanted to help him. It was the perfect time to use the powers they gave you. You pointed your hand at him and then he started to turn to ice.

“Woah, what was that?” One of the avengers said while Bucky looked at you impressed. You helped them take down the others by using your power and turning them into ice and stone.

When you walked outside with them, they talked about how amazing you were.

“You okay?” Bucky asked quietly.

“Yeah.” You mumbled and looked away again. As you sat down in the quinjet, Bucky sat down next to you.

“Oh no, you’re bleeding.” Bucky said when he noticed the wound on your left arm.

“That’s from yesterday…it must have started bleeding again.”

“Steve, can you get me the first aid kit?” Bucky asked, looking over to Steve, who nodded. A few seconds later Steve was back, handing it to Bucky and giving you a soft smile. Bucky gently took care of your wound and wrapped a bandage over it.

“Thank you for saving me.” You said, looking into his beautiful blue eyes.

“You’re welcome. I’m so glad that I could save you.”

You didn’t talk much the rest of the fly. Steve told you that you would be staying at the Avengers compound for a while and that there is a spare room next to Bucky’s room.

It was already dark when you landed at the compound. You followed them into the building and to the living room.

“I’ll go get you some clothes of mine, so you can change.” Wanda said and you nodded.

“And I’ll make you a sandwich.” Natasha announced and went into the kitchen. You sat down on the couch next to Bucky and Steve. After a while Wanda came back with some clothes. Then you changed into some new clothes which made you feel a little better, then you ate the sandwich, and Bucky showed you to your room.

“If you need anything, doesn’t matter what time just knock on my door, okay?” Bucky said and you nodded.

“Okay, thank you Bucky.”

“Of course.” He said with a smile.

You sat down on the bed and began to smile. You were happy that you are finally safe. After a while you laid down in bed and tried to sleep but it took a long time for you to fall asleep.

When you woke up you let out a scream. You had a nightmare that felt so real, like you were there again. You sat up quickly, starting to sweat and starting to breath fast. Someone opened the door to your room and ran over to you.

“Hey, it’s okay. You’re okay, you’re safe.” Bucky whispered as he sat down next to you.

“Bucky.” You mumbled and reached for his arm.

“Yeah, it’s me.” He said but it still didn’t calm you down and Bucky was really worried about you.

“Let’s try to breath together, okay?” He suggested and you tried to nod and follow his breathing. But it didn’t work that well.

“Okay, let’s try something else, doll.” He said and then laid down next to you.

“Put your head on my chest and try to follow my breathing.” Bucky said in a gentle tone. You did as he said and laid your head on his chest. Then Bucky started rubbing your back, you listened to his heartbeat and tried to follow his breathing.

“That’s it, doll. Just breathe in and out.”

“You’re doing so well, doll.” With every minute you were laying like this, you felt better and safer. After you calmed down, you looked up at Bucky.

“Thank you.” You whispered and Bucky smiled at you.

“You’re welcome, doll. I’m so sorry you had to go through all that.” Bucky said in a sad voice.

“It wasn’t you’re fault.”

“I know but you don’t deserve it, no one does.” Bucky said and you nodded.

“You should try to get some sleep.” Bucky suggested.

“Can you stay here?” You asked.

“Of course.” He said and you laid your head back on his chest. Bucky held you and gave you a kiss on the forehead. After a while you fell asleep in his arms and felt safer than you ever did.

Taglist:

@marvelogic | @eviebuggg | @buckys-wintersoldier | @nicoline1998enilocin | @kandis-mom | @sergeantbarnessdoll | @noellez-best-life23 | @sgtgarricks | @ratchildspartan | @scott-loki-barnes |  @mrs-bucky-barnes-73 | @mrsbuckybarnes1917 | @brnesblogposts

@beaubbdoll

[bamfkeeper]

Kurt going absolutely feral if he sees you hurt, you never expected him to be so vicious.

I think sometimes people get caught up in his playfulness and kind hearted nature but can be absolutely vicious when he wants to be. If you got hurt in battle or if someone hurt you in any way, he'd lose his mind.

Warnings: Canon-typical violence, descriptions of injuries and blood/cleaning wounds, gender neutral reader, unedited ignore mistakes.

WC: 1.4k

Kurt loves you so much, and he shows it every single chance he gets. He's thoughtful, patient, and he listens to you whenever you need him to. Sometimes his friends forget what he's capable of under all that sweetness he displays. You do too.

You never saw him go all out in the Danger Room. Most of the time, training by his side consisted of Kurt sticking to you like glue and protecting you. You eventually had to ask him to stop, you needed to try to fight on your own. How else would you learn?

He still watched like a hawk, observing from a distance, since he could absolutely teleport to you if he needed. While the Danger Room presented threats in a fake projection and had hard obstacles, there was no real threat. Sure, you could get hurt, nothing would actively attempt to cause severe harm.

But real battles were different.

In real life, your opponent will try to kill you.

In real life, there are consequences if you aren't careful.

When your first mission came, Kurt insisted on coming with the chosen members for the team, he wouldn't let you go off on your own. You could handle yourself, he knew that. But he still couldn't shake the feeling of not knowing what would happen if he wasn't there.

"Kurt, I'll be fine. You know I've been working hard and I've passed all the tests," you said calmly, while he shifted beside you and gave you a small pout. You knew he was just trying to keep you safe, he cared so much and all he wanted to do was protect you. His tail wrapped around your leg and he sighed back.

"I know, liebling..." he whispered softly, "But I cannot help it. I know you are strong, and fully able to care for yourself." he held your cheeks and smiled at you. "I just want to make sure you'll be okay."

"I can't get any better if you're always there to be my safety net, Kurt." you cooed, but with a small frown. "Sometimes, I need to get hurt so I can get tougher. Or so I can improve my skills. Besides, Scott said I've been doing really good and that I'm ready, otherwise he wouldn't have chosen me for this mission." you added. "You know he can be a stickler."

Kurt chuckled in return, "Ja, he can be rather strict...but I want to make sure you're safe. I won't interfere, not unless I have to." Kurt promised softly.

During the big fight, you were facing three larger enemies. The men held weapons and began to swing them at you, but you were trained enough to dodge and avoid their hits. You were doing well, swinging back and avoiding their weapons, but three against one was hard. You weren't used to such relentless attacks, at least not from opponents hellbent on actually killing you.

In the heat of the moment, you mistook your step, not able to move out of the way quick enough. You feel a fist connect to your jaw, then your cheek, then the center of your nose. You stumble back and feel something flow down your nose, a metallic taste on your tongue.

You get a little roughed up, a few more good punches to the face and being tossed around from the sudden barrage of attacks. You had been caught off guard, as you were used to Kurt showing up within the second to defend you. You were grateful, but mentally cursed yourself for relying on him mid-battle.

Kurt fights off a few opponents and looks just in time to see you thrown onto your back and roll a little from the force of impact. He sees blood on your face and your body shake as you try to stand and recover. At that moment, he looses all composure.

He rushes at the opponent, "Stay away from them!" he snarled angrily, teleporting on top of them and knocking them away from you. He swings his swords and begins an intense duel with them. Hitting over and over, weaseling away from their reactive attacks while landing fierce strikes. You watch from the ground, your pain momentarily subsided as you witness his attack.

You have never seen Kurt so fast. He swings and jumps, his agile body moving almost like water, avoiding any counter the opponent had. If he wasn't battling, you would've been fooled that he was performing for the circus again. He was so elegant to watch, how he moved was hypnotizing. His tail wrapped around the opponent's arm and jerked so their fist collided with their face. Kurt jumped off and let the enemy fall onto their back.

He showed his swords, giving a growl, "Is that all you got, wretched bastards." Kurt spoke with malice in his voice, teleporting between them and knocking the two opponents down with a single twist and kick. When he landed he pointed his sword at them, silent victory.

Kurt glared down at the enemies while the rest of the team with you secured them. He didn't take his eyes off the men who attacked you, glaring and baring his teeth like an animal. He growled and watched as they were all gathered so the team could clear the area. Only after the men were secured did he turn back and rush to you.

"Liebling!" A sudden puff of smoke appeared beside you, and so did he. "Are you okay??" he asked, kneeling down as his hands gently took your cheeks, his eyes taking in your bloodied face. "You're hurt....it's okay. I'm here, I'll get you to the jet..." he carefully cradled you, your surroundings flashed with brilliant purple and black shades, like you were rushing through clouds with bright light peeking through before your surroundings suddenly appeared as the interior of the jet.

"Just relax. I will take care of you, where do you hurt?" he asked, quickly grabbing one of the first aid kits. Your ribs hurt badly, and if they weren't broken you'd be shocked. You had taken a few good hits to the face, and hitting the ground just made your hip sore. But luckily nothing too serious.

"Kurt...m'fine, really." you rasped out, slowly wiping your nose, looking down at the blood that had collected. "Just a little sore...I'm alright." you reasoned with your blue lover, but he shook his head.

"Nein, schatz...you are beaten black and blue..." he knelt back down and gently wiped your face with a rag to clean the blood. He positioned your head up slightly, dabbing a cotton ball soaked with rubbing alcohol. The smell made you cringe, and you leaned back as your cheek stung.

"Ow..." you mumbled, "Kurt, please. I can handle myself," you looked up to continue to talk but the look on his face made you pause. He was worried, he didn't like seeing you hurt. He wanted to take care of you, that was all. He looked back at you, his yellow eyes full of concern and sadness. So you held your tongue and allowed him to continue, even though you were fully capable of doing this, there was no harm letting him.

He dabbed your cuts clean, then applied some ointment to them. The entire time he tended to you, he made sure that he was very gentle. "Easy, liebe...just a little bit more." He applied the last butterfly bandage to your cheekbone and pulled back, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. "Done."

You sighed with relief, sitting up with some trouble since your ribs were definitely damaged. "Thank you, Kurt...you're always so sweet to me." you smiled and kissed his cheek. He eagerly responded and he kissed you back after you pulled away. His tail wrapped around your waist gently and he positioned to hold you.

"We will leave soon. For now just rest...I promise to tend to you if I need to." he whispered, holding your head to rest on his chest. You couldn't fight him anymore, and you relaxed against him. His tail slowly rubbed up and down your back just as you liked, lulling you to sleep.

"Schlaf gut." he whispered, nuzzling his nose into your hair and feeling satisfied with you pulled against him. It scared him, seeing you on the ground like that. You didn't have any serious wounds, but he couldn't imagine if you did. He knew it was bound to happen one day, being part of the team meant every once in a while, injury will occur. He shook his head, snapping out of his thoughts.

Instead he just held you a little tighter, happy you were safe and okay.

Thanks for reading.

*BAMF*

dividers by @/adornedwithlight

Cover Images: Way of X #5 (2021); X-Men the Onslaught Revelation #1 (2021); Way of X #5 (2021)

[dandylovesturtles]

alright, here it is: part 3 of the still untitled Room Fic! and boy is it long... this might be as long as parts 1 and 2 put together.

Content warnings for this part: vomit, serious discussion of food issues, internalized ableism, everyone being a little bit dumb

I am not a doctor and my meal plan for Leo is extremely lightly researched (mainly because it's hard to find information that would be helpful in Leo's situation but that isn't highly technical). in the end I went with what I like from a narrative standpoint. if someone starves as long as Leo did please get them to an actual doctor lol.

also I got tired and didn't proofread the last few sections.

just a warning that I'm going on vacation next week and will be out of the country for awhile so don't expect any more for this for quite some time. in the meantime, hope you enjoy this!

and if you're confused, start here!

-----

Leo wakes up.

The room is moving. His head is cradled in someone's lap. There's a furry hand stroking his arm, and a voice hums the notes of a lullaby he hasn't heard since he was a child.

-----

Leo wakes up.

He's lying somewhere soft and blessedly warm. There's a weight across his chest. Someone is chattering in his ear, happy and upbeat, saying something to him about Jupiter Jim on the desert planet Delta-5.

-----

Leo wakes up.

He's still somewhere soft but now it's too hot. He whines and pushes at the things on his chest. Near his ear someone tuts, and then a hand lands on his, giving it a squeeze.

"Nardo, you need to warm up. Don't-"

-----

Leo wakes up, and his eyes open.

"Leo?" comes Raph's voice. Leo blinks to clear his vision, then lets his eyes trail up, to find his big brother bending over him. "You awake for real this time?"

He isn't sure. Raph being here sure feels like a dream.

He lowers his eyes and looks around. He's not home. He doesn't recognize this place at all, actually. But the walls are beige (still unstimulating, but at least not white), the furniture is dark brown, the bed (not a cot) has a blue bedspread, the empty takeout containers on the table have a splash of red. It's not home, but it's not the room, either.

If he were going to dream, surely he'd just picture himself back home.

He blinks back up at Raph, and smiles.

"Wide awake," he says, echoing Raph from before.

Raph bursts into tears, immediately leaning down and wrapping Leo up in one of his signature hugs. For the first time in so many days (longer, longer, Leo can't remember the last time he got a Raph hug like this), Leo feels completely secure, fully enveloped in love and affection, held safe by his big brother where no one can hurt him.

The difference between this moment and the last week and a half is so stark it leaves Leo feeling dizzy. Like he hadn't even realized how scared and lonely and helpless he truly felt until all that pain was taken away. He's safe now. He's okay now. Raph is hugging him.

Leo hates crying in front of people, but even he can't be stoic for this.

"Oh Leo," says Raph softly once he realizes. "It's okay. We got'cha."

Leo sniffs, burying his face in Raph's plastron. He wishes he could hug back, but his limbs feel so heavy, like Donnie swapped them out for metal versions when he wasn't looking. So he can't hug back, but he leans in close and hopes that's enough.

They get about a minute to hug before Mikey is worming his way in between them, wriggling to push his arms past Raph's and around Leo for himself. "No fair, you got to hold him earlier!" Mikey declares, his voice thick with tears.

"You got to hug him earlier," Raph argues.

"He was asleep, it doesn't count!" Mikey hits back, and Leo laughs and shifts so Mikey can better get in the middle. Raph sighs exaggeratedly, but he gives Leo a pat and leans back to let Mikey in.

Mikey hugs even tighter than Raph, nuzzling in against Leo's shoulder. "I missed you," he says, then gives a choked sob he tries to bury.

"Missed you too," Leo promises, craning his neck so he can land a big smooch on Mikey's head. That replaces the sobs with relieved giggles that leave Leo feeling so much lighter.

After another minute, Mikey moves back and looks over at Donnie, who's been standing at the side of the bed wringing his hands. "Your turn, Donald."

Donnie makes a grumpy noise at having been perceived, but when Leo gets a look at his face he sees Donnie has tears shimmering in his eyes, too. They break free once Donnie's arms are around him, trickling onto the skin of Leo's shoulder.

"Crying over me, Don-ton?" he teases, even as his own voice is thick with emotion.

"Shut up, Nardo," Donnie snaps back, but his voice cracks at the end and he holds on even tighter.

"Alright, my turn," says April once Donnie starts to loosen his grip, and Donnie obligingly crawls off the bed, swiping at his eyes. Like he's looking for something to busy himself with, he starts throwing away the takeout containers on the table. They must be empty.

Leo tears his eyes away just as April swoops in to wrap him up in his fourth hug of the hour, giving him a kiss on his forehead as she does. "Hey, Leo. How're you feelin'?"

"Happy to see you," he says again, and she squeezes him tighter. "Kinda hot."

"That's the hypothermia talking," says Donnie. April shushes him.

"Hypothermia?" Leo asks. April pulls back so she can see his face.

"It wasn't that bad," she says quickly. "You'd started brumating, we think... Tromping around in the snow didn't help, though."

"Not to mention you used up the last of your energy portaling us out of there," Mikey chimes in. "It was really cool though!"

Leo laughs. "Thanks, little brother." Even with the containers thrown away, the smell of the takeout is thick in the room. Leo guesses they had Japanese. It can't have been that long ago. "Where are we?"

"Motel room about two hours down the road." April slides to sit next to him, keeping one arm wrapped around his shoulders. Her body heat is warm in a more pleasant way than the blankets, and he leans into it. "We wanted to go further, but we needed to get you warmed up."

"A motel...? Huh." Leo looks around again. This is his first time being in a hotel that isn't owned by Big Mama. He wonders how far it is from the Japanese place. Just, like, average delivery time. "What happened? It's... kind of a blur for me." He laughs.

They launch into the story without any more prompting. It all sounds like what Leo expected. Raph led the team. Donnie did science stuff. Mikey razzed his tazz. April used her investigative skills.

They tracked him all the way down to Colorado (that explains the snow) and broke him out. They floored it away from the EPF, got far enough they felt safe, then booked into a motel under April's name. That's where they've been since. Splinter and Draxum are out now, patrolling to make sure they weren't followed or discovered.

It's quite the story. And Leo knows he should be paying more attention than he is.

It's just, the takeout boxes. The smell coming from them is so strong, or maybe Leo is just abnormally sensitive to it. He thinks someone had steak, and someone else had fish. The fried rice had egg in it. His mouth is watering so badly he has to swallow every few seconds.

"Leo?" calls Mikey, and Leo startles, ripping his eyes from the trash can to look at Mikey's face. He's gripping the bedspread so hard his knuckles are cramping. He realizes this is not the first time Mikey said his name. Great, now they know he wasn't paying attention.

"Ah, sorry," he says quickly. "I didn't mean to zone out." He flashes them all the biggest smile he can, so they don't worry. "I was just, uh..."

He trails off, not sure of a way to say that he was completely distracted by the smell of their already eaten Japanese food without making it awkward.

"Sorry, Leo, we know you're tired," says Raph, reaching over and rubbing his head. "You can go back to sleep. We're not leaving for awhile."

Go back to sleep? Leo doubts he can, what with the hunger an empty yawning hole inside him. It had been muted while the cold and the exhaustion took over, but now that he's warmer and more rested his body is very painfully reminding him he still has another problem.

He's trying to come up with a casual way to approach the subject when his stomach does it for him, gurgling and growling loud enough that everyone hears it. Leo is very glad his blushes don't show up as easily as humans' do.

"Uh... heh heh." He scratches at his own cheek, then stops when he feels how disturbingly hollowed out it is. "Before that... are there any leftovers?"

Everyone's staring at him. Leo's too tired to puzzle out why they're all staring at him. Maybe there really aren't any leftovers? He did just watch Donnie throw everything away. Maybe there were some, but now they'd have to fish it out of the trash. Leo wants to say he'd happily eat it out of the trash, but that would be really weird and they'd stare at him even more.

(But he would eat it out of the trash. He may be too proud to say it out loud, but he can admit it to himself.)

"O-or," he says quickly, to fill the silence after his last question, "if... if it's not too much trouble, can you ask Dad and Barry to bring something with them when they come back? Even if it's just something from a gas station, or..." They're still staring, and Leo feels himself starting to ramble desperately, "Or if it's too late, I can just... I can just go back to sleep, hah, but... but can someone at least wake me up so I don't miss breakfast?"

His family stutters back to life at that. Raph gives a furious shake of his head and says, "Forget breakfast," which makes Leo's heart and stomach lurch painfully. Waiting until lunch? That feels like forever away.

But then Raph continues with, "Leo, why didn't you tell us you're hungry right now?"

Leo falters. "Uh... just... didn't want to interrupt the flow of the conversation," he says, which is true, but the way everyone is looking at him now, he's pretty sure it's the wrong answer.

"Please," says April, tone very close to exasperated, "interrupt the conversation."

"Will do," says Leo. But he's still not sure what to do, because no one has told him when food is coming.

(You want this? You beg for it.)

Before he can spin out on that thought, Mikey jumps off the bed and heads for the mini-fridge that Leo hadn't noticed until now. He yanks open the door and pulls out two takeout containers, a box and a cylindrical container.

"We weren't sure what you felt up to, so we got you steak hibachi and miso soup," Mikey says, waving each container in turn.

The thought of having to actually chew and swallow sounds exhausting, so Leo says, "Soup's fine." And then, just in case, he adds hastily, "Please."

"Okay," says Mikey, and even though he's clearly trying to sound upbeat, Leo can hear the strain in his voice. "Just give me a minute to heat it up for you!"

Leo would eat it cold. Leo would eat it frozen. But he bites that back and waits.

Mikey puts it in the microwave on top of the fridge. Every little tick down on the timer feels like it takes three eternities. The rest of his family seems to feel the tension as much as he does.

"April!" says Donnie abruptly, too loud to be natural. "You wanted to see what's on the sci-fi channel!"

"Thaaat's right!" she says, also a little too loudly. "I did. Hand me the remote."

Donnie gives her the remote. She turns on the TV just as the microwave dings.

Mikey yanks the door open as soon as it does, pulling the bowl out with no regard for how hot it is. He gives it a perfunctory blow to cool it down, then hurries over to the bed, pausing only to grab a plastic spoon off a little pile of utensils on the table.

He hands both the bowl and spoon to Leo, but Leo already knows his arms won't be able to maneuver the spoon, so he lets it fall into his lap, in favor of lifting the entire container to his lips. He hopes he doesn't look too pathetically eager as he tilts it back and takes his first sip.

It's good.

It's so good he starts crying.

It's not even the best miso soup he's ever had. In fact, it's a little too oily and nowhere near as good as the kind his dad makes, or what Mikey is capable of. But it doesn't matter. It wouldn't matter if this was the worst soup in the world, because right now it's the best thing Leo has ever tasted.

He may be crying more over this than he did over hugs from his family. Maybe he'll have it in him to feel bad for that later.

The TV is showing some old monster movie. His siblings pretend they're watching that and not watching him. He appreciates that, because it makes him feel less self-conscious as he desperately slurps down the soup, practically guzzling it, only pausing when he has to chew the greens here and there.

He eats until his stomach is full and warm. And then he keeps going. There's still soup left, and stopping feels impossible.

(Besides, no one actually promised him breakfast.)

"Hey, maybe you should slow down," says Donnie. Leo pauses, looking up at him, licking the remains of soup off his lips. The container is still about a third full.

Maybe Donnie is right. His stomach is actually starting to cramp. But... but...

He doesn't know what his face looks like right now. But something about it makes Donnie look sad.

He turns away, rubbing right between his fake eyebrows. "Okay, okay. Just... don't overdo it."

Leo sighs, grateful the soup isn't being taken away. He goes back to drinking it, feeling like the chasm inside him is finally beginning to fill.

-----

The next time Leo wakes up, it's because he has to puke. Unfortunately, he doesn't have time to communicate that before it's all over himself and the bedsheets.

"Whoa, Leo-" someone says, and then there's a flurry of activity around him. He can't keep up with who goes where and who says what. It's a lot to keep track of when he just woke up and is spewing half-digested miso soup and stomach bile.

"There we go... You're alright, Blue, you're alright," he hears once he comes back to his senses, and he blinks and looks over. His dad is standing on the bed next to him, and he leans in with a damp washcloth and wipes at Leo's face and mouth.

"Perhaps the soup was too much for your stomach," Splinter says as he finishes, tossing the washcloth into the floor. "How do you feel?"

"Mm... weird," Leo admits, leaning sleepily into his dad's shoulder. He shouldn't because he's gross, but Splinter lets him do it, stroking his cheek. "My stomach hurts..."

The loss of the food hurts; without anything in his stomach, he'll feel hungry again soon. Leo is terrified of that, of the deep empty chasm of his hunger returning, sucking him down into its depths. At the same time, the idea of eating makes him feel queasy.

He feels weird, and miserable, and scared, and he doesn't know when his dad came back, but he's so glad he's here.

"How much did you let him eat?" he hears Draxum ask. Leo finds the energy to feel offended that he's being talked about like he isn't in the room, but not enough energy to actually say anything about it.

"As much as he wanted," Mikey answers. Which, as Leo recalls, was almost all of the soup.

"And how much was that?"

"Here, look."

There's the sound of the mini-fridge being opened again. The pop of the takeout lid. Draxum hums in a way that does not sound pleased.

"Leonardo," he says, coming to stand by the bed now. "I have a very important question and I need you to answer: when was the last time you ate?"

Leo stares at him blearily. Then he raises a tired hand and indicates the mess all down his front.

"Don't get cute," says Draxum, ignoring the following grunt of warning Splinter directs his way. "You know what I'm asking you."

Of course Leo knows. But he doesn't want to answer. Not while his dad is holding him, and all his siblings are watching him expectantly. They aren't going to like what he has to tell them. He doesn't want to upset them.

But Draxum is unmoved and steely eyed. There's no way Leo is getting out of this without answering.

He sighs, shutting his eyes and leaning into Splinter so he doesn't have to be looking at the rest of them when he says it.

"Last time I ate was at Run of the Mill."

He hears a gasp, hears Mikey yell, "What!?" Feels Splinter's sharp intake of breath under his cheek, and then his dad shifts so he can hold him even closer.

"They... they didn't feed you in there at all?" asks April, like she doesn't quite believe it.

Leo nods.

"I should have leveled the whole building!" Donnie snaps, and Leo hears something get knocked to the ground.

Mikey comes closer, and puts a hand on his shoulder, drawing Leo's gaze back his way. He looks so upset, and Leo regrets looking. "Leo, why didn't you tell us? You didn't even say you were hungry!"

"Felt weird to bring it up in the middle of the happy reunion," he says. It's a weak justification, he knows. The look on Mikey's face just gets more miserable.

"Wait," Raph cuts in. "Wait, so... when Bishop said he gave you chances to cooperate for better living conditions, he meant..."

Leo swallows hard, not wanting to look at the distress on Raph's face. "Feeding me, yeah."

"What did he want out of you? What was he making you do?"

This part, at least, Leo can answer easily. "He wanted information. About the yokai and the Hidden City."

Raph sounds surprised. "He just... wanted you to answer questions?"

"Yeah." Leo nods again. "Like, how to get in, how many portals there are, what kind of defense capabilities there are, stuff about Draxum... That's what I remember."

"Why didn't you just tell them?"

Now Leo does look at Raph's face. He's staring at Leo with open horror and distress. But Leo doesn't understand the question, or the look. He did what he was supposed to, didn't he? He held out and didn't give Bishop any information. He did the right thing. So Raph has no reason to look so upset.

He smiles in a way he hopes is reassuring. "Hey, that's not what a hero would do, right?"

It's apparently not reassuring. If anything, Raph only looks more horrified.

He turns away from Leo abruptly and marches straight out of the room, slamming the door on the way out.

Leo doesn't understand that reaction. He did what he was supposed to, but Raph is mad at him, anyway. The rest of his family seems shocked, too, so at least Leo isn't alone.

"I'll talk to him," says April, the first to move. She leaves with much less noise, disappearing into the dark parking lot beyond the door.

Awkward silence envelops the room after that. Leo doesn't know what to do or say to break it. He made Raph mad, because he never does anything right, according to Raph. It's the same as always, but for some reason Leo feels even worse this time.

"...Well," says Draxum, cutting through the awkwardness when it becomes clear no one else wants to, "knowing this, we will have to be much more careful about what and how much you eat. I'll make a meal plan."

"Why you?" Leo grouses. "Let Donnie do it."

Donnie opens his mouth like he wants to agree, but Draxum cuts him off before he can.

"Me, because I have actual experience designing nutritious meal plans for children." Leo thinks of what he's heard about Draxum's lunchroom and makes a face, which Draxum ignores. "Besides, I can't trust any of the rest of you to actually tell Leo he can't have more to eat."

"I can handle myself," Leo argues.

"Clearly," says Draxum icily, indicating the mess still in Leo's lap, "you cannot."

Leo doesn't have a good response for that, and no one steps up to his defense. Back not even twenty four hours, and he already has multiple people mad at him. That has to be a new record.

"...Whatever," he says, because he doesn't know what else to say. Draxum nods like he actually gave approval.

There's another round of awkward silence. Splinter breaks it this time.

"Why doesn't someone call housekeeping to ask for some fresh sheets," he says, "while I help Blue take a bath."

"Ugh, yes, I'm calling them now," says Donnie. Leo notes for the first time that his most persnickety brother is as far from his bed as possible, having put the second bed and the table between them. "The whole room is starting to smell."

Leo cringes. "Sorry..."

"There is nothing for you to apologize for," his dad reassures him, patting his head. Leo isn't sure he'd say that, but he doesn't waste breath arguing. "Now, come with me."

It takes some maneuvering, but they get him out of bed without making a bigger mess. Mikey starts stripping the sheets, and he can hear Donnie on the phone with the staff across the room.

Leo's still not wearing any of his gear. It shouldn't matter because he's just in a room with his family, but he still walks to the bathroom as quickly as he can.

Splinter shuts the door once they're inside, then fills a little plastic cup with water. This he hands off to Leo, saying, "Drink this, and I will run you a nice warm bath."

Leo does as he says, and tries not to think too much about how Raph is mad at him.

-----

There's an old concrete barrier that stands between the motel parking lot and an open field. Raph hefts a piece of the crumbling concrete and chucks it as hard as he can, watching as it disappears into the tall grass beyond.

They starved him. They starved his little brother for over a week, because he wouldn't answer some questions. And he wouldn't answer those questions because...

That's not what a hero would do.

Raph's ninpo flares to life. Punching out another piece of the barrier is easy; he lifts the broken pieces and throws them after the first, watching them sail through the air.

"You better hope there aren't any security cameras out here," says a voice behind him, and he looks over his shoulder.

April is there, standing a few feet back, hands tucked in the pockets of her jacket. Raph's ninpo stutters out at the sight of her; he wonders if he looked scary.

"...What are they gonna do even if there are?" he asks. But he does stop his wanton destruction.

"I don't know, but just remember it's my credit card on file for damages." Her voice is teasing, though, and he knows she isn't actually mad. She comes over, turning so she can lean against part of the barrier that's still intact. "Come on, Big Red. Talk to me."

Raph doesn't turn around. He can't stand to look back at the motel, at the room where his brother is, tiny and weak and with a stomach that's been empty for days on end. He can't handle it right now. So he keeps his eyes on the field.

"Leo let those guys hurt him," he says.

"No he didn't," says April. "He can't help what they did to him."

"If he'd just answered their questions, they would have fed him."

"We can't know that." April shakes her head. "You heard what Draxum said about those guys. You saw what they were like. Maybe if Leo had answered their questions, they would have just killed him. Leo was probably thinking that, too."

"But that's not what he said," Raph points out.

"...Look." April takes a deep breath. "Leo... just went through a lot. We don't know what he was thinking while he was in there, or what he's thinking now. And you know that boy likes to say flashy things. Don't take anything he says right now too seriously."

"But what if this is the most truthful he's gonna be? What if he just hasn't thought of a good lie yet?"

"Raph-"

"No, you don't get it, April." Raph holds his head in his hands, like he can physically hold the dark thoughts at bay, but he can't, and they keep coming: horrific images of what could have happened, if they'd been too late, if the EPF had been less patient. "I told him to stop thinking of himself! Right before he disappeared, I told him he needed to be a hero! But Raph didn't mean like this!"

"Hey now, you don't know-" April tries, but Raph cuts her off.

"I just wanted him to stop doing everything himself! All the showboating, all the running in without talkin' to us... Raph just wanted him to remember that we're a team!" He lets go of his head and grips the concrete instead, so hard it cracks and crumbles under his fingers. "What if he took that to mean he should risk his life for everyone else? That he had to sacrifice himself?"

"Oookay, slow down there, big guy," says April, turning around and putting a hand on his arm. "You're taking one thing he said and blowing it way out of proportion."

"But what if I'm right?" Raph shakes his head. "How do I live with that, if I am? Knowing I almost killed him?"

"Okay, you look at me right now," she demands, in a way Raph can't refuse. He turns, and she reaches up and grabs his face by the cheeks, yanking him down until he bends to her eye level.

"You did not almost kill him. That was those EPF guys." Her voice is stern, and her grip on his face prevents him from objecting. "And even if you are right, and it's what you said to Leo that kept him from answering... well, then that's something the two of you will have to work out together."

She lets him go, putting her hands on her hips. "But what's done is done. Right now, Leo is exhausted and starved, and he's not really in a state for big emotional talks. So let's just get some space and get your head on straight. Once we get him home and everything's calmed down, the two of you can hash this out."

Raph lets out a strangled laugh, slumping down against the crumbling barrier. "Yeah, because that's so easy."

"I'm not saying it's easy." She sits down next to him, putting her hand on his arm. "But you guys love each other, so you'll do the hard things you have to do. I know you got this." She gives him a wink. "You're Raph."

Raph isn't sure he has that much faith in himself. But April isn't wrong very often, so he thinks he should probably listen to her.

-----

The water feels nice on Leo's skin, pleasantly warm and soothing. He sinks down until all but his eyes are in the water, letting it swirl around him.

He still feels a little exposed, but it's only Splinter in here, and that helps. It's like he's a little kid again, getting a bath from his dad, but he has to scrunch to cram his legs in the tub and that ruins the illusion.

"My Baby Blue always did enjoy a nice bath," says Splinter fondly, rustling up hotel soap for them to use.

He wets a washcloth and lathers it up, then cleans off the top of Leo's head and back of his neck, then down to his shoulders and the ridge of his shell. Leo would normally protest this kind of treatment, but right now he's not sure he can lift his arms above his head, so he doesn't.

Besides, it feels nice.

"Float on your front," Splinter says, adding, "Deep breath." It's what he always said when they were kids and he wanted to wash their shells. Everyone but Mikey can hold their breath for a long time, but he always says it anyway.

Leo takes a deep breath and flips onto his front, closing his eyes as his dad washes the back of his shell. It's so soothing he could almost take a nap here. The world is nicely muted under the water.

Splinter gives his shell three pats with his hand, the signal to sit back up. Leo does, rolling onto his back to rinse off. Splinter hands him the washcloth and soap, and he cleans his lower half, taking care around the bottom ridges of his shell.

"Thanks for the bath, Daddio," he says as he finishes. "I know I was starting to get pretty ripe." He pulls up the drain plug with a pop, watching the dirty water spin away.

He tries to imagine he's watching the last of that place drain away with it.

Splinter retrieves a fluffy white towel, drying off the top of Leo's head before handing it off. "I wasn't thinking of that," he says. "But I know a good bath always made you feel better when you were sick."

It was never really about the bath, but the undivided dad attention. How Splinter would wash his shell and pat his head and dry him off, just like he's doing now.

It occurs to Leo that he almost lost this forever, and its like his breath is taken away. He buries his face in the towel and tries to ride through it - he doesn't want to cry again.

Splinter must pick up on it, because suddenly he's sitting on the side of the tub, rubbing the top of Leo's shell. "It's okay, Blue. You're safe."

He's safe.

He really is safe, isn't he?

He lowers the towel and turns into his dad instead, wriggling his head into his lap. Splinter welcomes him, patting his head with one hand and the top of his shell with another. Leo's breath hitches and the tears break free.

"I know," says Splinter, and his voice is thick with emotion. Leo knows he can't look or he'll start sobbing. "I... was very scared for you, my son. I am so glad you're here, Leonardo. I love you very much."

"L-love you too," he warbles. His tears are falling fast, now, and Splinter takes the towel and dries them away every now and then.

By the time Leo sits up and rubs at his eyes, the towel is totally soaked through from being in the tub. Splinter moves away to grab him a fresh one, which Leo wraps himself up in.

"Leonardo," says Splinter hesitantly once he is out of the tub, "I know you may not want to talk about it right now. But I need to ask you this."

Leo wonders where this is going. He sits down on the toilet lid, looking at his dad. "Uh, okay."

Splinter looks him up and down before asking, "Did those men... hit you? Or touch you in any way?"

Oh. Leo shakes his head. "No. They didn't... I mean, they just put me in that room. They weren't, like... torturing me or anything."

He thought that would reassure his dad, but if anything Splinter only looks more sad.

"Not feeding you is torturing you," he says.

"Oh, well, yeah, I guess." Leo rubs the back of his head. "But I mean, they weren't... you know. Shocking me or whipping me or... putting me in that medieval stretchy thing from the movies."

"I see." His dad sighs, but nods. "Very well. I'm glad, at least, that you do not have any injuries."

Leo nods back. "Yeah, no, I'm all good." He tries to smile, but his smiles aren't really having the effect they usually do.

"Are you ready to go back?" asks Splinter, moving to the door. Leo nods again, standing up. "Are you still cold?"

Leo blinks in surprise, then realizes Splinter is referring to the towel he still has wrapped around himself. He's not really that cold anymore, but he grabs onto the convenient excuse, anyway.

"Uh, yeah." He grins sheepishly. "Actually, did you guys bring any of my clothes? I'm a little worried about the ride home."

"Ah." Splinter taps his chin. "I don't think we brought any of your things. Your brothers brought their hoodies, I believe, in case they needed to go in a store..." He reaches up and pats Leo's hand. "There is a gift shop in the motel lobby. I will send Purple and Orange in the morning - I'm sure they'd enjoy doing some shopping!"

"Thanks. I just need a sweatshirt or something. Maybe some pajama pants." He shrugs. "Gotta stay toasty, right?"

"That's right. No more turtle-cicles." Splinter reaches up and turns the doorknob, gesturing for Leo to lead the way.

Leo shuffles for the bed, keeping the towel tight around himself as he goes. He doesn't drop it until he's under the sheets again, safely tucked away.

Raph isn't back yet. The realization turns Leo's stomach. But Mikey barrels into bed next to him, cuddling up against one side, while Donnie scoots in on the other, tapping away at his phone, and Leo tries to forget about it.

He's sure that, as soon as he's better, Raph will be back to yell at him.

-----

Leo doesn't realize Draxum left until he comes back. He did doze off for a bit there, though, so it's not surprising.

Mikey was snoozing against Leo's arm, too, but when the door clicks shut he raises his head, blinking sleep out of his eyes. Donnie looks up from his phone. Splinter's asleep in the other bed, only grumbling incoherently at the noise before rolling over.

(Raph and April still haven't come back. It makes Leo's heart thud a little harder.)

"Hey Barry," says Mikey, voice still a little sleepy. He pushes himself up to sit against the pillows. "Find what you were looking for?"

"Yes." Draxum walks over to the bed, pulling a bottle out of a pharmacy bag. He twists the cap loose, then holds it out and says, "Leonardo, drink this."

Leo can't help the way his face screws up as he takes it, eyeing the label on the bottle. "Eugh. What is this?"

"Vegetable juice," Draxum informs him dryly.

"Gross." Leo does not bring the bottle any closer to his lips. "Can I have soda instead?"

"Absolutely not." Draxum's voice is stern. "No sugar or caffeine until I say otherwise."

The next several days are looking worse and worse. Leo grimaces. "Can I just drink water, then?"

"You can and should drink water. But you also need to steadily reintroduce your body to nutrients. The vegetable juice will help, until your stomach can handle more solid food at a time."

Leo groans, eyeing the bottle warily. Anything labeled "juice" should not be this color of red-orange.

"Draxum's just trying to help, Leo!" Mikey chimes in. "Besides, vegetable juice isn't that bad."

It's not the most reassuring endorsement, given that Mikey loves vegetables in a way Leo has never understood. But with his little brother cheering him on, he can't back down.

"Fine. Down the hatch," he mutters, then takes a swig. It tastes just as off-putting as he was imagining, and he shudders and smacks his lips. "Yuck."

"Sorry, Leo." Mikey pats his arm comfortingly. "As soon as Barry says it's okay, we'll get pizza!"

"Please don't remind me of pizza right now..."

"Here." Leo looks up to find Draxum is holding out a handful of crackers. "Eat these, too. Be sure you chew them thoroughly before you swallow. And keep drinking the juice."

Leo takes the crackers in his free hand, putting them in his lap on top of the sheets. There's only six, and they look boring even for crackers. but his stomach perks up with interest, reminding Leo that everything he put in it before got thrown up.

Leo thought he was going to be waiting until breakfast to eat again. The crackers ease that tension, relief he hadn't consciously realized he needed.

Still, can't let Draxum think Leo actually appreciates all his bullying, so Leo still makes a face as he holds up one of the crackers and examines it.

"And these are...?"

"Are you going to react like this to everything?" asks Draxum with a scoff. "They're whole wheat crackers. They'll settle your stomach, and you need food in you so can take these vitamins."

He pulls a bottle out of his bag and shakes it, filling the room with the sound of pills rattling around. Leo scrunches up his snout.

"You didn't get me the chewable kind? Or those fruit gummy ones?"

"Are you such a child you need your medicine in the form of candy?" Draxum rolls his eyes. "You will be just fine with the pills."

"Okay, okay!" Leo groans theatrically, leaning his head back. "I can't believe you guys are letting him take care of him. He'll be feeding me bugs and leaves next."

"Stop whining. No one wants to hear it this late."

"I actually like these crackers," says Donnie. "They're delightfully bland."

This statement is followed by a crunch.

The sound sends a shiver up Leo's shell, and he turns his head in time to see Donnie, one of Leo's crackers in his hand, a big bite taken out of it. He chews and swallows with a slight smile on his face, clearly unconcerned that he just took one of Leo's crackers.

Leo only had six crackers to start. Now there's five. He doesn't know when he gets any more. No one promised him breakfast. And now he only has five crackers, and not six. And he can feel the hunger coming back.

Donnie turns his head and they lock eyes. Leo has no idea what his own expression looks like, but Donnie's turns startled and then almost frightened. He's so shocked he drops the rest of the cracker into his own lap.

Leo just barely stops himself from snatching it back.

Because that would be weird. What he's doing right now is weird. Everyone is staring at him, the room has gone silent, he's acting like Donnie just committed an unforgivable sin when all he did was take a cracker, like the two of them haven't been casually taking each other's food their entire lives.

He's being weird. He needs to stop. He needs to go back to normal right now.

Five crackers can be enough. It's enough it's enough it's-

Leo forces his brain to restart, his face and posture to relax, his fingers to unclench. He schools his mouth into an unserious grin, glancing back at Draxum. "H-hey, so... how many crackers do I need to eat? Since Thief-atello just stole one."

"I'm sorry," Donnie blurts out, an extremely rare apology. "I wasn't thinking."

Leo waves a hand. "It's cool, man," he says.

"No," Donnie insists. "I shouldn't have done that, I don't know why I did that-"

Great, first he pisses off Raph and now Donnie's freaked out. Leo's family came all the way to Colorado to save him and all he's done since then is upset them.

"Dee," says Leo, and he knocks one shoulder against Donnie's. "Seriously. It's fine."

Because it is. They take food from each other all the time. Leo's the one who made it weird, not Donnie, even if he did take one of Leo's crackers.

Donnie looks at him, uncertain. He still hasn't touched the remaining cracker in his lap. Leo wishes he would finish eating it now, so it isn't tempting him.

"...Still. I won't do it again," says Donnie finally, looking down at his lap and wringing his hands. He looks miserable, and Leo hates that he caused this.

Before he can do or say anything more, Draxum gets Leo's attention by holding out a new cracker. "Here," he says, waiting until Leo takes it, before handing a few to the still shell-shocked Donnie. "Both of you can have crackers. Now don't squabble, you'll disturb the neighbors."

Donnie puts the crackers in his lap and doesn't touch them again. The air in the room is stifling. And Leo wants to eat his own crackers, but now it feels awkward.

"I think you should steal one of his to get him back," says Mikey in an exaggerated whisper, a gallant attempt to dispel the tension. It doesn't quite work, but it breaks the silence enough for Leo to force out a chuckle and pick up a cracker.

"Everyone eat what you've been given and settle down," says Draxum, going to sit on the other bed. Splinter mumbles in his sleep again and rolls over. Everyone relaxes a little more.

Leo bites into the cracker. It tastes like all of nothing, but it has a pleasant crunch between his teeth, and he finds that he likes it.

Next to him, Donnie hesitantly finishes off his own half-finished cracker. Then he half-heartedly eats the others. Leo drinks his vegetable juice, then swallows the pill Draxum gives him.

Mikey does his best to fill the room with happy chatter, and the mood lightens, little by little.

Everything's okay. He just can't do that again.

-----

Everyone but Draxum is asleep when Raph and April come back into the room, just a little before dawn. Splinter is splayed out across the bed closest to the door, while all three of his little brothers are curled around each other in the bed by the bathroom.

Raph and April spent a long time sitting by the barrier, talking intermittently between long spells of silence. Then they moved to the tank, taking a nap together on the bench seats.

April has her travel pillow and blanket now, and she takes both and spreads out at the foot of his brothers’ bed, wisely putting her head by Donnie, who sleeps still as the dead, and not Mikey, who has already moved several times since they walked in. She yawns and then conks out almost immediately, glasses held loosely in her hand against her chest.

Raph wishes he didn’t feel quite so wide awake.

Draxum is sitting in one of the chairs by the table, phone in hand. He has a notebook open and scribbles into it with a pen. Raph comes over and takes a peek: it’s all notes about nutrition, the vitamins that are most critically needed after a long term starvation event.

Draxum’s helping Leo. That makes Raph feel better, and he sinks into the other chair, leaning his head back.

“You should try to get some sleep,” says Draxum, voice low. “We’ll be leaving in a few hours.”

“Raph’s good,” he says, staying where he is.

He feels Draxum’s eyes on him, for a moment. “I’m taking watch. Go to sleep, Raphael.”

Raph hesitates, then gets up from the chair and goes to lay down next to his dad. Splinter grumbles in his sleep, but rolls over like he knows to make room for a son crawling into his bed.

From here Raph can see Leo’s face. It’s gaunt and washed out, and even with all the sleeping he’s done there are still dark circles under his eyes. He looks so fragile, and the anger burns in his chest again, that anyone could hurt him like this.

He’s safe now, though. Mikey has an arm curled around his plastron, and Donnie flanks his other side like a guard. He’s able to rest, and eat, and get better.

Raph remembers what April said. Give Leo time to heal, then talk about what happened in there. He can do that. He can be patient.

He hadn’t thought he would be able to sleep, but lying still, with his sleeping family all around him, safe and sound, puts him under in minutes.

-----

"Morning, Leo!"

Leo blinks awake, taking in his surroundings. The walls are beige, the bed is blue, there's a TV playing the morning news on low volume, there's sunlight shining through the window.

He can smell food.

"It's breakfast time!" says Mikey. He's standing next to the bed, holding a tray. Leo wriggles until he's sitting up against the pillows, grinning as he pats his lap.

"Thanks, Mikey."

"You're welcome!" Mikey gives Leo a thousand watt smile as he sets the tray down.

Leo wishes he could feel as enthusiastic as his little brother as he gets a look at his breakfast. There's a large cup of white yogurt, and a little plate of scrambled eggs that don't even look like they have pepper on them. He's glad he has food, he just wishes it was something more exciting.

He lifts his eyes and takes a look around the room. Donnie is in one of the chairs by the table, tapping away on his phone. April is in the other chair, and she smiles and gives him a little wave when he meets her eyes. His dad is in the other bed, munching on what looks like a muffin and watching the news. He doesn't see Raph, but he hears the shower running.

Draxum is standing by the doorway, watching Leo. When their gazes meet, he sighs, rubbing the furrow on his forehead.

"Are you going to ask me what you're eating again?"

"Yes!" Leo points at the cup of yogurt. "What is this!? It's not even fruit flavored!"

"It's Greek yogurt. You can have fruit when your stomach is more settled."

"Ugh..." Leo sighs, grabbing the plastic spoon off his tray and scooping up a tiny bite of yogurt. It's not terrible, but without any fruit it's not very exciting.

"Hey, look at the bright side," says Mikey, holding out a plastic cup. "You get apple juice this morning! Since it had no sugar added, Draxum said it's okay!"

Leo musters up a smile. "Well, it's better than vegetable juice..."

"Don't get too excited," says Draxum dryly. "You'll be drinking more on the drive home."

"You're such a buzzkill, Drax," Leo huffs, taking a bite of his eggs now. They're unseasoned, but they're something. And there's the part of him that is just happy to have any food, simmering under the surface and demanding he eat faster. To keep himself from cramming the whole of the plate in his mouth at once, he turns to Mikey. "Hey, sneak me a muffin. Blueberry or chocolate chip."

Mikey grimaces. "I don't think Barry wants me to do that..."

Leo pouts, chewing his eggs slowly. "Who are you going to listen to, him or me?"

"He'll listen to me," says Draxum sternly. "If you're still hungry after that, you can have some more crackers."

Leo sighs, but part of him feels better knowing the crackers are still on the table. He crams more eggs in his mouth and chews as sulkily as possible.

There's an Old Navy ad playing on TV. Splinter sits up straighter in bed when he sees it, getting muffin crumbs everywhere. "Ah, that reminds me! Blue wanted some warm clothes to wear on the ride home." Splinter reaches out and pats Mikey on the arm. "Orange, Purple - why don't the two of you go to the gift shop and do some shopping? You can get a souvenir for yourselves as well."

"Oooh, yes!" Mikey bounces excitedly in place. "Dibs on picking out Leo's clothes!"

"Gasp!" Donnie stands up, pointing at him dramatically. "You know I'm the fashionable one in this family! Leo, tell him you want me to pick out your clothes for our return trip!"

"Mmm, I dunno..." Leo grins up at his little brother, giving him a wink. "I think Angelo's got this."

Donnie makes a noise of utter betrayal while Mikey cheers and stoops to give Leo a hug. "I won't let you down, Leon!" he promises, giving Leo a big smooch on the top of his head.

"I know you won't."

"Fine then! I'll just have to make you all jealous with my own selections." Donnie looks down. "April, do you want to join us?"

"Yeah, sure." April stands up, stretching her arms above her head. "Maybe I'll get a keychain or something."

The three of them file out of the room, Donnie and Mikey still arguing animatedly. Draxum takes one of the abandoned chairs, and Splinter goes back to watching the news.

Leo continues eating his bland breakfast, and tries not to spend too much time wondering when his next meal will be. At least he's been promised crackers.

-----

Raph comes out of the bathroom about ten minutes later, just as Leo's finishing up his breakfast with a few crackers. He nearly jumps when their eyes meet.

"Oh, hey, Leo," he says, voice a forced cheerful. "You're awake! That's great!"

"Yeah," says Leo back, trying not to sound too awkward and failing. He holds up his empty cup. "Just finished breakfast."

"O-oh, yeah. Was it... good?"

Leo grimaces. "Not really."

"Oh." Raph hovers in the doorway, practically vibrating with nervous energy. Leo wonders if he should apologize, but he still doesn't know what he's apologizing for, so he doesn't.

He'd know if Raph would just go ahead and yell at him, but Raph doesn't seem eager to start. Maybe he doesn't think Leo is healed up enough yet, or maybe he doesn't want to do it in front of Splinter. Either way, no yelling seems forthcoming.

Instead, Raph says, "Uh, where's everyone else?"

"Shopping for clothes for Blue and for souvenirs for themselves," Splinter answers.

"Oh, cool. Maybe... maybe I'll go join 'em!"

Raph pats Leo on the head as he goes by, then leaves the room like it's on fire. Leo is silent; he has no idea what to say or do.

He's out of food now, too. He's already asked Draxum for crackers once, and he's not sure if asking again will actually gain him anything. And with Mikey gone, he feels too anxious to try.

He settles back on his pillows and turns his eyes to the TV, lifting the plastic spoon in his hands. He slots the handle between his teeth and chews, relaxing at the feel of it. It's sturdier than the water bottles, so he can't flatten it down as easily, but the way he can munch on it endlessly has its own appeal.

The news drones on. His dad laughs at something the anchors say. Draxum scribbles away at a notebook. And Leo leans back on his pillows and chews on the spoon.

On the ticker at the bottom of the screen, he notices the tail end of a news item about a training accident at a military facility in Colorado Springs - one injured.

-----

The outfit Mikey has picked out is a sky blue hoodie with "PIKE'S PEAK" in big block letters and darker blue plaid sweatpants. They meet Leo's standards for softness and comfiness, if not quite his standards for style. It's fine, because he's after the former right now.

"Did I do good?" Mikey asks, bouncing on his toes.

"You did great," Leo responds, motioning him closer so he can rub his head affectionately. It lacks his usual punch, but Mikey laughs and wiggles away anyway.

"We also got," Mikey rummages around in the gift store bag, then pulls out, "matching fuzzy socks!"

The socks are in their signature colors and have snowboarders on them, and each set has a terrible pun like, "SNOW RULES!" and "COOLER THAN COOL!" Leo loves them immediately.

"I think this is the best gift you've ever gotten me," says Leo sincerely. Mikey beams and comes in for a hug that Leo gladly returns.

"Here, put 'em on!" says Mikey after he backs away, nodding at the hoodie and pants on the bed. "You don't want to be cold, right?"

"Right," says Leo, lifting the hoodie in his arms. A quick glance around the room shows that they're all looking at him now - Mikey, Donnie, and April by the bed, Splinter from the other bed, Draxum at the table, Raph hovering in the doorway. Waiting for him to put the clothes on.

He wishes they wouldn't.

It's weird. He's never felt self-conscious like this. He and his brothers have never really practiced modesty the way humans do, especially around each other. And yet the idea of standing in front of them now with no clothes, not even his mask, makes him feel strangely queasy.

He tries to tell himself it's because of how he looks now. Stick thin arms and legs, weird, unhealthy skin tone, dark circles under his eyes that a few hours of unconsciousness and one night of intermittent sleep have definitely not erased. That it's just his normal vanity.

But he can still feel it: that guard's eyes on him, any time he left the safety of his hiding spot under his cot.

He pulls the hoodie on over his head while he's still in bed. Then he crawls out of bed and pulls the pants on as fast as he can.

He looks around to see if anyone noticed, but their expressions haven't changed. Mikey gives him a thumbs up.

He relaxes. With the clothes on, the feeling of being exposed finally ebbs away. And it is warmer like this, which is a plus.

It's okay. In a day or two, he'll be over this weird self-consciousness and back to normal, and no one has to know about it.

"Well, how do I look?" he asks, grinning and turning in a circle. Mikey and April clap indulgently for him.

"Lookin' good, Leo," says April, and he gives her a wink.

"Well, even though you chose to forego my aesthetic sensibilities, I got you something, too," says Donnie, pushing his way forward. He holds out a pair of flipflops, which say "We're in" and "CO" on the toes and have cartoon giraffes on the heels. Leo can't help but grin when he sees them. "Trust me, you'll want these if we have to go into any gas station restrooms. Shudder."

Leo laughs, then reaches out an arm to pull Donnie into a hug before he can escape. To his surprise, Donnie doesn't even put up a token fight against it, hugging him back more fiercely than usual.

"Thanks, I love them," he says into Donnie's ear.

"Of course you do," says Donnie smugly, but his eyes are suspiciously shiny when he breaks the hug. Nothing feels awkward between them now, even given the cracker incident earlier, and Leo is glad.

“Okay!” says April, clapping her hands. “Checkout’s in thirty minutes - if you have anything else to do, do it now.”

“Wait,” says Leo, looking around. “Where’s my mask?” It’d be nice for hiding the dark circles.

“Oh, I think Raph grabbed it,” says April, but when she turns, Raph is gone. April presses her fingers to her forehead and sighs. “Okay, you can get it later.”

Leo’s mouth suddenly feels dry. He reaches around and grabs a bottle of vegetable juice Draxum gave him, draining the last of it.

“Checkout in twenty eight minutes,” says Donnie to cut the awkwardness. “Let’s go, people!”

Leo sits on the bed and watches his family prepare to leave, gnawing on the top of his juice bottle.

-----

“Wake up, sleepyhead,” calls a voice, and Leo blinks awake to see April standing over his cot. No, not the cot - this is the bench seat in the tank. If he’s going to be sleeping so much, he needs to stop waking up confused.

And he has been sleeping a lot. The only time they woke him up was to eat another snack of crackers with a little bit of mushed up banana, like he’s some kind of baby.

The banana did help break up the monotony, though.

Leo can’t help but hope he’s being woken up for food again.

Like she read his mind, April grins and holds out a hand to help him up. “Lunch time!” she announces.

“Oh boy,” says Leo, taking the hand and slowly getting to his feet. He’s stiff from lying in the tank for so long, and he stretches and pops his arms. “More flavorless mush.”

“Maybe we can convince Drax to give you a little salt this time,” says April with a snicker. She waits for him to slip the flipflops on, then leads him out of the tank.

It occurs to him that this is the first time he’s really been out in the sun in over a week, excluding times he’s been unconscious and the short walk from the motel room to the tank. He takes a minute to just lean his face back and feel the warmth of it on his skin. It hasn’t even been that long, and he’s used to life underground, but somehow it feels different this time, foreign and new and sweet.

When he looks back at April, she’s tearing up again. She quickly wipes at the bottoms of her eyes and pulls on a smile, linking her arm around his.

“Come on. We can grab a picnic table and sit outside.”

It's then that Leo actually takes in where they are: a big travel center, or that's what the sign on the building declare. The tank is parked at the gas pumps, and Donnie, with his hood up, is excitedly talking about it to some interested truckers who have come over. He spots Mikey over at the grassy space for dog walking, laughing while a puppy licks his face, a seemingly annoyed Draxum standing off to the side with his arms folded. He doesn't see Raph or Splinter, but April fills him in as they cross the parking lot.

"Raph and Splints are inside ordering food. They have a whole diner in there!"

"Let me guess: I'm eating soup."

"I think it's potato."

"Well, at least it's not more tomato." Leo makes a face. "If I have to drink any more vegetable juice I'm going to turn red and swell up into a ball."

"You know what pizza sauce is made out of, right?" she asks, playfully bumping into him.

"Actually, I don't," he says smoothly, bumping into her back. They fake tussle outside the door for a moment, until both of them are laughing.

Someone trying to get past clears their throat loudly, and April and Leo shoot them an apologetic look before going on inside. Leo visits the restroom and tries not to look too long at the arrays of snacks on offer. April goes to help Raph and his dad with the food.

They all end up back outside at a large picnic table. His family has a mix of foods: burgers, hot dogs, salads, chicken strips. He knows there was pizza inside, and it touches him that no one picked it.

Next to everyone else's large, full plates, his own bowl of soup feels ridiculously small and sad. But he doubts any amount of pouting will convince Draxum to let him have a burger, so he digs in. At least this has some flavor.

Lunch is nice, even if Raph is still acting weird and distant. It’s just good being in the sun and the fresh air. Leo is reluctant to leave as they finish up.

“Come with me!” says Mikey as the others go to throw their trash away and buy anything they need for the return trip. He holds out his hand, and Leo takes it and follows Mikey back toward the grassy area at the edge of the parking lot. They make sure there are no dog droppings, then lay down in the grass, looking up at the blue sky and the clouds going overhead.

“I thought it’d be nice to get a little more sun before we have to get back in the tank,” says Mikey, limbs splayed out in every direction. He’s taken off his hoodie - no one at the travel center has paid much attention to the peeks of green skin they’ve been showing off, and no one is nearby right now, anyway.

It is a little hot. But the idea of being shirtless where a stranger can see him keeps Leo fully swaddled.

He pushes that thought aside, closing his eyes and just trying to enjoy the feeling of the sun on his skin, the breeze blowing by, the grass under his fingers. He doesn’t get to touch a lot of grass in the city, but it reminds him of times they would sneak out to Central Park.

“This is really nice, Angelo,” he says. “Thanks.”

“Mmhmmm.”

They’re quiet for a few minutes, just laying there, with only the ambient sounds of the travel center keeping them company. Leo starts to feel like he might doze off again.

“…Hey Leo?”

Leo blinks his eyes open, craning his neck to see Mikey. “Yeah?”

“Are you… okay?”

Ah. Maybe he should have expected this.

“Of course I’m okay,” he says, voice nonchalant. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Uh, well…” Mikey hesitantly trails off, clearly trying to decide what he wants to say.

Leo takes care of it for him. “It’s over, Mikey. You guys saved me. I’m okay.” He turns his head and grins. “And once Draxum stops being the food police, everything will be back to normal.”

“Mmm…” Mikey doesn’t sound as convinced as he should. Man, Leo’s smiles are really failing him lately. “But… if something’s bothering you… You’ll tell us, right?”

Leo pats his head. “Of course I will.”

If it’s worth bringing up to them, anyway.

Mikey’s eyes rove his face for a moment, but in the end he must be satisfied, because he smiles and rolls to toss his arm over Leo’s chest. “Okay. But I’ll hold you to that.”

“Or what, I’ll get a visit from the doctor?”

“You know it!”

Leo laughs, which gets Mikey laughing. They stay there until Raph calls their names across the parking lot, and they go back to the tank.

-----

He manages to stay awake after they stop for lunch, curled up on the bench seat. He doesn’t have the energy to talk as much as normal, but he leans against Donnie and contributes where he can. He’s just happy to be back with them, hearing and seeing them all around him.

But there’s something always at the back of his mind keeping him from fully relaxing: he doesn’t know when he gets to eat next. And he knows it will be okay - he’s with his family, and they’d never let him go hungry. He knows that, but about two and a half hours after lunch, he keeps finding himself returning to the same thought.

He’s drinking on a sugar-free Gatorade they got him at the travel center; one of the only non-vegetable or fruit drinks Draxum approved. Mikey has just finished up a story from one of the many art vlogs he watches, and, in the lag of conversation, he tries to broach the subject casually.

“Sooo… what’s our plan for the rest of the drive? Are we stopping, or…?”

“We’re going to try to make it all the way back to New York,” says April. “We already have our shifts picked out, and the autopilot is helping.”

“We can stop in a few more hours for another bathroom break,” says Donnie, pulling up a holoscreen showing their route and the drive time remaining. “Unless someone needs us to stop sooner.” He glances at Leo, and the way he’s bouncing the rim of the bottle off his teeth.

“Oh, uh, I’m good,” he says quickly, lowering the bottle. "I'm just wondering, uh... what about stopping for dinner?"

His family does about as good a job being subtle about looking at each other as he's being subtle about his worry. "We were thinking we'd probably try to find something around seven," says Donnie.

Seven. It's a little after three now. Okay. He can wait that long. What's four hours? And at least he knows what to expect now.

His family hesitantly return to their conversation. And Leo does his best to pay attention. April is telling them about all the stuff she's been doing to prepare for college in the fall, how she's already chatting with people running the student paper. She's excited about it, and Leo is excited for her.

"Ew, Leo," says Donnie suddenly, tearing him out of his thoughts. "Why are you doing that?"

Leo looks over at him in confusion. He starts to ask, Doing what?, but when he opens his mouth to speak, something falls out of his teeth and into his lap.

It's the Gatorade bottle cap, chewed down flat. Leo can see the marks from where his molars snapped through the lip, and the dents where he's been gnawing at it with his incisors.

He didn't even know he was doing that.

Everyone saw him doing that.

Embarrassment flushes through him, and he scrambles to grab the lid and toss it into their communal trash sack. Maybe no one noticed how thoroughly he had chewed on it.

"Gross," says Donnie, his nose scrunched up. So at the very least he saw. "You don't know where that's been."

"Oh please, it's not that gross," says Leo, doing his best to keep his voice light and airy. "It's just a bottle cap."

"That other people have touched and that you put into your mouth."

"Don't knock it till you try it, bro."

"I'm good not trying it."

"Your loss," says Leo with a shrug. He leans back, cool and calm and collected and not a total weirdo who gnaws on plastic like it's candy. "Stop looking at me like that, I threw it away already."

Donnie stops looking at him, literally. Things feel tense again. Leo doesn’t know how he keeps managing that.

Mikey jumps up, walking to the front of the tank, where Draxum is asleep in one of the chairs. Mikey shakes him awake, smiling in the face of his annoyed grumbling.

“Hey, Barry, is it okay if Leo has a snack?”

“Why do you have to ask him?” calls Leo, folding his arms. “Besides, I’m fine!”

His protests go ignored. “What time is it?” asks Draxum, sitting up and smoothing down his robes.

“I’m fine!” insists Leo, louder.

“It’s three fifteen,” Mikey says.

“Mm… Yes, he can have a snack.” Draxum gets up, going over to their snack cooler. “Leonardo, do you want crackers or more banana?”

“I’m fine!” Leo tries one more time, but his stomach flips when it occurs to him that he may actually not get a snack if he insists, and he wants the snack.

He sighs, sinking back in his seat, and says, “Crackers.” He wants the crunch of eating them.

Draxum brings him his crackers. There’s only four. He’s not sure why he’s getting less this time. Maybe because he was caught chewing on the lid.

He doesn’t ask. He eats what he’s been given, and then decides the best thing for everyone would be if he took another nap.

-----

Raph would have driven them all the way to New York if he’d been allowed. But they insist on having him swap with Donnie, and he ends up sitting in the back on the benches with because the other front chairs are hard for him to fit in.

Leo is asleep. He’s been sleeping a lot, but that’s to be expected. His body barely has any energy, and going by the dark circles, Raph knows he didn’t get much sleep while he was…

When Leo is awake, his family are their lively selves, chatting and laughing and enjoying each other’s company. Once he goes to sleep, everyone quiets down, Donnie dims the lights in the cab, and a weird melancholy sets in.

Leo looks terrible. They haven’t talked about it, but they all know it. Raph is shocked Leo has even been able to walk on his own, but Draxum attributes that to their reinforced mutant biology. He’s swimming in a hoodie that is his size, his hands and feet are skeletal where they poke out of his clothes. Raph wonders how long it will take for him to start filling out again, to have muscle like he did before. He’s afraid to ask.

Splinter sits with Leo’s head in his lap, rubbing his shell any time he shifts in his sleep. Mikey curls up against Raph and sniffles, and Raph pulls him closer.

He has to keep reminding himself that Leo is here, and safe. He just ate a snack, and soon they’ll get another meal in him. Just give it a week or two, and they’ll have their brother back.

And then, he’ll make sure Leo knows he never has to sacrifice himself again.

-----

Home looks just like Leo remembered it, and feels totally foreign at the same time.

His family clap for him as he walks in, and he does a little bow, which is a poor decision because it leaves him feeling lightheaded after. Luckily Raph is there to catch him and carry him from the garage to the chair in the living room. Things are still weird between them, but at least Raph isn't totally avoiding him.

(Raph still hasn't yelled at him. He wishes they could just get it over with.)

They eat lunch, with Leo getting bland soup and crackers again. Draxum notes that he could have peanut butter if they could have it in the lair, which makes Raph look pointlessly guilty, so Leo changes the subject. After lunch, April gives him a big hug and tells him she'll see him soon, but she has to go back home before her mom gets too worried. Leo feels bad when he learns she's missed several days of class now, but she just laughs and pats his head.

"I'm a senior and it's May, Leo; that I show up at all is enough for them."

Everyone's tired from being on the road for over twenty four hours, so after April leaves they unanimously agree on a movie marathon/turtle pile in the living room. His brothers drag out their comfiest pillows and blankets and set up in the floor, while Splinter cuddles up with Leo in his recliner. Draxum actually stays, to everyone's surprise, and Mikey jumps at the opportunity to introduce him to the magic of Lou Jitsu and Jupiter Jim.

Leo drifts in and out the whole evening. He'll be awake for the whole first act of a movie, then blink and suddenly they're partway through a different film. Each time he wakes his dad is there, patting his hand and saying, "Hello, Blue," and his brothers are around him, quoting their favorite lines or jumping up to act along with their favorite parts. It's normal and it's familiar and it's warm and soft.

He eats more soup for dinner, and crackers and banana and a little pudding cup, as a treat. His family gets more sleepy as evening turns to night; his dad's snoring fills the room, and Draxum finally leaves to go to his apartment. His brothers settle in and fall asleep around the middle of Jupiter Jim's Last Trip to the Moon 17, curled up in a heap at the foot of the chair.

He's home.

He's really home.

It's over.

Leo buries his face in his dad's fur and lets that thought carry him to sleep.

-----

Leo's home and it's amazing.

Raph wishes that meant everything was back to normal.

He doesn't know how to be around Leo right now. Every time he looks at him, he sees the stick thin arms and the gaunt face and he hears Leo's voice saying, That's not what a hero would do, and he doesn't know what to say anymore. What if he accidentally says something that makes Leo feel like what happened to him was right? What if he accidentally makes Leo think he should do it again?

It's only been a day, he tries to tell himself. Leo's still spending most of his time sleeping, between his regular snacks and meals. Even when he's awake, he doesn't have much energy for conversation, seeming content to just sit and listen to everyone else. It's just not the right time. It'll get better once Leo is better.

He can wait until then.

It's the afternoon now, the day after they brought Leo home. Raph just finished his workout and is making his rounds to check on everyone, just to make sure that everyone is... well, just to make sure. Splinter is in the kitchen making tea, a kind with no caffeine or sugar, as per Draxum's instructions. Mikey and Leo are in the living room, a half-asleep Leo watching Mikey play video games on the projecter.

Donnie isn't there.

His heart lurches, no matter how much he tells himself it's okay. Donnie is fine, Donnie is home, Donnie hasn't gone missing, not right after they got Leo back.

(He'd tried to tell himself Leo was fine in the beginning, too.)

He checks their rooms first, but Donnie's is empty. Then it's up to the lab, where he finds the door closed.

He knocks, and a robotic voice asks for identification. He sighs, not wanting to play this game right now.

"Donnie, it's me. You better be in there..."

The door beeps and then slides up, revealing a dimly lit lab. At first, Raph thinks he must not be here, and he's about to turn to leave, but then he hears a noise from Donnie's big computer desk.

A sniffle.

His big brother senses shifting into hyperdrive, he speed-walks over. The door slides shut behind him with a mechanical whir.

Sure enough, Donnie is there, legs pulled up into his desk chair, face buried in his knees. His goggles are off and laying on the desk, and his computer monitor shows a video, frozen on...

A white room, almost empty, save the cot that is for some reason propped up in front of the toilet, and...

Donnie sniffles again, and Raph tears his eyes away from one little brother to the other.

"Donnie...? What is this?"

Donnie sniffs and sits up a little more, rubbing under his eyes where tear tracks are already drying. "It's the surveillance video from the EPF base."

Raph gathered that much. "Why... are you watching it?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Donnie looks up at him. "I wanted to see what they did to him."

"You couldn't just ask him?"

Donnie's drawn on eyebrows go down. "I don't know, do you want to ask him?"

Raph imagines trying to ask Leo questions like that and can't help but cringe. "Okay, no. Raph doesn't want to do that."

"Exactly." Donnie gestures at the screen. "I got this footage from the base. And I erased it permanently from their systems, for the record, and destroyed the hard drives to be sure. But I kept a copy for us. I thought, if Leo wasn't in a state to... well, just in case. We might need it for medical reasons."

"But we know what's wrong with him," Raph points out.

"Do we?"

"Uh, yeah." Raph nods. "Starvation... right?"

"Well, yes." Donnie drums his fingers on the table. "But... he's different, now. He's pretending he's not, and he's doing his normal Leo thing of joking and smiling, but... he is." Donnie scowls. "And I already asked Michael to confirm my suspicions, and he said so, too, so I know this isn't me overreacting!"

"Okay, okay!" Raph holds up his hands placatingly. "So you wanted to watch the footage to see what happened. What'd you find out?"

Donnie wilts, resting his chin on his knees. "I couldn't get further than the first twenty four hours."

Raph feels a foreboding chill run over his spine. "You couldn't... or you didn't want to?"

Donnie reaches over and presses a button. The footage shifts to a different angle, so now he can see the wall Leo was curled up against. Donnie runs the footage back at a fast speed, and Raph watches as Leo gets up a few times, disappearing into the blind spot of the camera, or going to grab water from a little slot by the door, until Donnie freezes on a new scene: the wall opening up to reveal a large window.

He leans forward, putting his hands on the desk. "Raph saw that - they were watching his cell through that."

"Yes. And he would sit in that spot," Donnie runs the footage forward a bit, to where Leo is sitting against the now white wall, "because it's in a blind spot to the window."

Raph grimaces. "He didn't want them watching him."

"But it didn't matter," says Donnie, and he reaches over and taps the button to go to a new angle... and again... and again. "They have every inch of the room covered."

Raph's heart sinks. "Does he know?"

"Leo's not dumb," says Donnie, a magnanimous statement coming from him. "He knew they had to be watching him with cameras."

"But he still tried to hide..."

"He was doing whatever he had to to feel better," concludes Donnie.

Raph sighs. "I wonder if it worked."

Donnie clicks another button, and the video player closes. He swivels his chair to face Raph, his eyes shiny again.

"I don't want to watch anymore," he admits.

Raph nods. "I wouldn't want to, either."

"No, I mean... because he was trying to hide." Donnie rubs at his eyes again. "Maybe it is a little ironic for me to be saying this, but... it feels like it would be a privacy violation."

Raph turns that over. Maybe knowing what happened to Leo could help them. But what Donnie is saying feels more important.

He puts his hand on Donnie's shoulder, the part that's bare past his battleshell, and gives it a rub. "You love him and you don't want to hurt him," he concludes.

Donnie sniffles again, and then uncurls himself, putting his legs down on the ground. He doesn't have to do more than that for Raph to catch on, and Raph scoops Donnie up into a hug that is quickly returned.

"...I keep hurting him," Donnie admits, resting his head on Raph's shoulder. "I don't know how, but it keeps happening."

"...Yeah, well, join the club," says Raph sadly. He pats at Donnie's back. "Raph can't seem to say the right thing, either."

Donnie laughs miserably. "I thought getting him back would be the hard part. And then everything would go back to normal."

"Yeah..." Raph gives him a tight squeeze. "But you know what April said?"

"What?"

"That we'll do the hard part, 'cause we love him."

"Well, April is the only other smart one in this family," says Donnie, and Raph gives him a noogie with no actual pressure.

"Everything will be okay," he says. "Raph promises."

That seems to calm Donnie down. Raph just hopes he can actually keep it.

-----

It's his first night back in his room, and for the first time since escaping, Leo can't sleep.

He doesn't know why he can't. The sheets are the same as always. The dim lights from outside his subway car filter in through the windows the same as they used to. He's wearing his favorite pajamas, which have pants and long sleeves. The temperature is warm but not too hot. Conditions are perfect.

But he can't sleep.

At first he thought maybe it's because he's alone for the first time, but he doesn't think it's that. In fact, the idea of going to one of his brothers or his dad makes him feel even more exhausted. He loves them and he loves being around them, but he's had to work hard all day to not seem too weird. He caught himself chewing his spoon at lunch and had to stop. He paced the kitchen until Draxum gave the okay for him to have a snack. Mikey poked his head in while he was changing shirts earlier and he froze up, deer in the headlights. In the end, he went to the bathroom to change, because at least there aren't windows in there.

He's being weird, and trying to not be weird is taking all his energy.

So no. He's okay being alone right now. But something is still bothering him.

It's not the bed; he slept in the motel just fine. It's not the temperature, because they're making sure the lair stays nice and warm for him. And it's not the clothes, because the clothes are covering him up. And it's not the windows because it's not even like anyone is looking through them.

Right?

It's only then that Leo realizes he keeps staring out of them.

He tears his eyes away to look at the ceiling, taking deep breaths. What is he worried about? So what if the train car is full of windows? Who would even be looking at him? It's just his family outside, and if they need to talk to him they'll come in.

Besides, the windows are see-through. If someone were looking at him, he'd be able to see them.

Just to reassure himself of that, Leo looks around at all the windows again.

Yep. Still see-through. So it's fine. It's really not a big deal! No one is going to look through the windows at him here. No one is watching him. He's safe, and if he weren't, he would know, because he can see.

...Maybe he could hide under his bed.

Leo gives his head a hard shake. No. He is not going to hide under his bed, because that would be weird, and Leonardo Hamato is not weird.

Maybe he can just... put up some curtains in his room. Just, purely for aesthetic reasons. Yeah, that would look really cool. He could get some blue ones with some kind of sick design. Add some real originality to this place.

And then he could cover the windows and no one could look in unless he wanted them to.

Not that anyone is looking in, because he's home and he's safe and he's okay and he really wants to hide under his bed-

He takes deep breaths. His eyes land on the posters on the wall of the train car.

Maybe... maybe they would look better over the windows. Just... aesthetically.

He moves the posters to the windows of the train car, pressing hard to get the old tape to stick. It covers the immediate windows around his bed, but there are still others, and they're more in the dark, so Leo can't see who might be out there.

Not that anyone would be.

But if someone were, he wouldn't be able to know.

So he grabs towels next, and t-shirts, and anything he has lying around his room, and puts them on the bed. Then he sneaks to the kitchen to find a roll of masking tape.

It's not easy, but after about an hour he's managed to cover every window in the train car with something.

Just... a preview. For how sweet the curtains are going to look. And not for any weird reasons, like being scared.

Because he's not scared. He's home, and he's safe, and no one is watching him from outside the windows.

He lays down in bed and surveys his handwork. The room is even darker now, with every window covered, completely different from the stark ever-present light in that place.

It makes him feel safe and hidden.

No one can look in, and he's shielded by the dark.

(He has no idea how he's going to explain this tomorrow.)

But when he finally shuts his eyes, he sleeps like a baby.

-----

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 (here) | Part 4 Part A

[witch-hazels-musings]

Hello Hazel!

I'd like to request for a Protection ritual for Il Capitano with lavender, black tourmaline and frankincense please!

Thank you and take care!

Evergreen (the unexpected), Black Tourmaline (safety, shielding), Frankincense (confidence) Il Capitano x gn reader | Protection Ritual warning: listen --- I make no excuses (also am I a Capitano girlie??) -- uhhh, reader gets a head injury, Il Capitano being demanding, reader held in arms and manhandled a bit (this is SFW but somehow inappropriate?)

Your bones rattled as the mitachuri's ax connected with your spear. The impact shoved you through the loose dirt leaving a scratch of determination in its wake.

Using what dwindling strength you had, you shoved back hoping it would be enough power to buy you time to escape. It managed to throw the brute off balance, but not for long.

Pivoting, you twisted and bolted toward a line of sharp rocks. If you could reach them, they might provide enough of a shield to keep you safe. Unfortunately, a reaction of electro and cryo exploded to your right, pitching your world and sending you flying through the billowing grass. Your head slammed into the ground, stars flared in the midday sun.

You coughed, gasped violently, and laid on your back. Everything hurt.

The shadow of the mitachuri blocked out the sun, its massive, looming figure sending a wave of adrenaline through you. Bending to your side, you pawed through the grass in search of your weapon but before you could grab it, the monster snatched your leg and pulled you toward it. You kicked, but it did nothing.

Fear stole your senses and you stared in stilled horror as its weapon barreled toward you. Your vision clouded. All you remembered was a biting wind, crow feathers, and the sound of someone's voice telling you to hold on.

---

Warmth. Inviting, powerful warmth roused you from the black. You tried to move but the pain in your head warned you to be still. Groaning, you turned into the scent of freshly fallen snow.

"You've awakened," someone hummed above you. A crips timber and aged depth. You tried to open your eyes but it was too bright. "Ah, one moment. There, try now."

Haloed light formed around your blurry vision. The scene came back to you in flashes. A flaming ax, a crystalized blade, and the frame of someone you didn't recognize. When your vision adjusted, you found yourself gazing up at a man shrouded by metal and fabric.

"Ouch," was all you managed to get out.

"It's likely you hit your head. Try not to move."

"Head."

"Do not worry. I have things under control."

You twisted your neck and saw a battle raging on in the distance. Close enough that you could hear the cries and bashing weapons. Instinctually you reached for your own.

"Did you lose something?" the man asked, his free arm repositioning above you as if to help. You wanted to respond but your head was heavy, filled with a fog you couldn't clear. It lulled to the side. "Now, now, stay awake." Powerful fingers gripped your chin and turned you so he could look at you. "You cannot sleep now."

"But ... I'm tired," you mumbled, slurred, and winced at the oncoming pain. You wanted to throw up.

"You will stay with me, do you understand?"

You grimaced, lips curling into a frustrated pout. The man groaned and jostled you awake.

"Il Capitano, sir," a new voice sounded beside you, grating, painful. You whimpered and tried to turn away from it but the hand on your chin refused to let you.

"What is it?" Il Capitano asked, his attention on you never wavering.

"The numbers are thinning out, what would you have of us?"

His fingers pressed into the soft of your cheek, the action forced your lips apart. "Assist the people. See they do not come to harm."

"But - sir." Il Capitano snapped his head to the scout and an uncomfortable silence followed. "Yes, yes sir."

You could hear their shuffling feet, displaced dirt and gravel as they ran back toward the fray. You wanted to fight.

It was your duty.

Where was your spear?

"Are you eager to fight with them?"

Heavy, tired eyes looked at the man with a hidden face. In the swirl and distortion, you swore you could see the outline of something beneath. The edges of a jaw, the silhouette of a nose, the curve of lips. In your daze, you lifted your hand toward him but he captured your wrist before your fingers could touch him.

"What are you doing?" he asked, but it didn't really sound like a question. Something in his tone changed. "How strong is your delirium, little one?"

You stretched your fingers and brushed against something warm. The man's grip faltered allowing you to run them along what you assumed was his lips. They moved right toward the corner of his mask but where warmth once was, cold suddenly appeared.

Il Capitano stole your hand and returned it to your chest, but he lingered, his thumb running along the back before fading from your senses.

"Tired," you repeated and fell against him.

"I have not yet given you permission to sleep."

"Give it to me."

The sound of battle roared to life while the stranger known as Il Capitano held you in his arms. You couldn't see his eyes, but you felt their pressure, their intensity. Your head fell back so he grabbed your chin and gave you a light shake. "Tell me your name."

And you did.

He requested and you provided, and when your mind began to recover, your world found itself one Fatui Harbinger larger.

Thaumaturgy Anthology (October 11-13, 2024)

This event is based on spells and rituals. Inspiration does not equal understanding; liberties have been taken. All content is owned by Witch Hazels Musings, theft of these images and stories will result in immediate action.

[selfaware-bungou-stray-dogs]

So much planning

Self-Aware! BSD x SAGAU Imposter crossover

Self-Aware! Dazai Osamu x GN! Reader x Self-Aware! Fyodor Dostoevsky

Description: Dazai and Fyodor still don't get along. But they have few things in common. Both are genius. Both have twisted morals. And both will turn to dust anyone, who dared to hurt you.

Warning: OOC. Mewing Dazai. Fyodor sings lullaby to reader. Nightmares. Slight religious fanaticism. People threw rocks at Reader, Neuvillette do some damage on Reader. English is my second language.

"SINNER!"

A rock was thrown at you. You tried to dodge, but braces on your legs and rope around your neck, that was tied to a wooden post. The rock hit your shoulder. You can't even scream or beg. A metal construction in your mouth won't let you close your mouth, or make any sort of sound.

"MONSTER!"

Another rock was thrown at you. This one hit your chest.

You were cold. You were freezing. The rugs they forced you to wear couldn't stand against Shezhnaya's wind and snow.

"PAY WITH YOUR BLOOD!"

More and more rocks were thrown at your direction. And you can't do anything to stop them.

Yet, you knew, that they won't let you die now.

Not for the next week.

Each day, you will be transported to a different city. And, starting from dusk to dawn, you were chained in the main square. And people were taking their anger out on you.

You were in Snezhnaya today.

Six more cities left.

Six more days before your execution.

Your life will end before Creator's eyes.

________

You woke up, sobbing. You blinked your tears away and look around. You were home. In your room. Not in Teyvat.

You took a quick glance at the clock.

11:00 pm.

You went to bed 30 minutes ago.

You put your head back on the pillow, trying to fall asleep again. And then you heard it.

"Meow"

You sat up on your bed.

"Meow"

You looked down.

You saw Dazai.

He sat on the floor, before your bed. He put elbows on your bed, resting his chin on his hands.

Dazai looked... soft. He had a small smile on his face. His eyes sparkled.

And you saw, that he was worried.

Dazai meowed again.

"Meow."

You can't help, but smile. Back then, before you... were transported in... Teyvat, you jokingly called Dazai a cat. Because every time he had a smile or a grin on his face, he looked like he would start meowing.

Dazai remembered that.

That's why, after every time you had a nightmare about Teyvat, Dazai, among other things, would meow, to make you feel better.

Meanwhile, Dazai put his face closer to yours and rub his nose against yours.

"Mrrrrp."

You laughed quietly, raising your arm. You scratch Dazai behind the ear. He started purring.

"You knew, that you shouldn't do the cat act, right?" ask you. Dazai hummed.

"I want to do that. It makes you happy." Dazai pet you on a head. "Want some company?"

You shifted a little, making some space for Dazai. You were sleepy. You lay your head back on your pillow and close your eyes.

Through sleep, you felt, how someone lay down next to you. A familiar scent of almond, rum and cherry filled your nose. Dazai firmly pressed you against his chest. You felt safer. Safe enough, to try to go back to sleep again.

______

Dazai was listening to your breathing. You didn't have a new nightmare. For now. Dazai hopped, that it will stay this way. Still, he won't bet too much on it.

The door to your room was opened again. Dazai didn't turn his head. He knew who it was.

Without saying a word, Dazai pressed you harder against his chest and carefully moved, changing your position with his.

Now, his chest was touching your back. Now, there was an empty spot near you on your bed.

Fyodor carefully lay down next to you, running his fingers through your hair.

They didn't talk.

For now, they were making sure, that you are okay.

"General nightmare. Didn't remember someone in particular." Dazai squeezed your hand. Fyodor slowly played with your hair.

"Panic attack?"

Dazai shook his head.

"No. Just startled."

Fyodor nodded.

"Good. At least, it is something."

Fyodor and Dazai became quiet again.

Dazai broke silence again.

"Others?"

Fyodor hugged you, scooting closer to you.

"Want revenge."

Dazai looked at you with pity.

"Nikolai?" whispered Dazai, listening to you breathing.

Fyodor closed his eyes.

"Still blames himself."

Fyodor and Dazai became silent again.

Despite working together to get to the real world, they still weren't friends. They do play chess together, or have overcomplicated games in their own minds, but, they won't call each other friends.

But, there was one exception.

You.

For you, they were ready to go beyond any possible goals.

All you need to do is ask. And Fyodor and Dazai will make a plan.

But, even their combined intelligence weren't enough to find you, during the month you were missing.

And their emotions went awry, when they saw you on the barn's floor.

Beaten. Tortured. Bloody.

Dazai's eyes shrank, looking somewhere in the distance. The scenes, of what he will do with people, who dared to hurt you, flash before his eyes.

"So. What should we do next?"

Fyodor's gaze was heavy. Similar thought of future massacre flooded his thoughts.

"Let's discuss some ideas. There is so much planning to do."

_________

You can't breathe.

Your heart was beating heavily, your lungs were burning, your legs refused to move.

But you can't stop. You must run.

Or he will get you.

The storm was at its peak.

Rain water greedily licked your skin. Each drop felt like lava.

The river was close. Its waters looked like they were boiling. You jumped on the first wet stone. On the second. On the third.

And your leg slipped.

Immediately, hydro energy curled around your feet, dragging you underwater.

You managed to hold your breath right before waves closed above your head.

*****

It was a torture.

Hydro dragon was playing with you.

Letting you go, letting you breathe in some treasured air. Before dragging you back underwater.

You lost the number of times you almost drowned. You only tried to grab something, that let you stay above water.

Finally, Neuvillette got tired of this game. He dragged you on the riverbank. Right to his feet.

A pair of hands... No... Draconic hands grabbed your shoulders. Sharp claws sank into them, drawing blood. You screamed, when Neuvillette moved his arms to make you stand.

Your vision was blurry. Yet, you manage to make out a pair of draconic eyes and abnormally sharp teeth.

Neuvillette put his face closer to yours.

"Got you, dirty sinner."

Sharp teeth chomped on your left ear.

Your screams and draconic satisfied rumble mixed together.

You were in pain.

Neuvillette spit something on the ground.

You tried not to look at what remains of your ear.

Neuvillette put his face closer to your second ear.

You closed your eyes. You didn't want to look.

You didn't notice a familiar girl, who was running towards you two. She was accompanied by melusines.

Before Neuvillette can tear your second ear off, Furina plunge her sword in his side.

Draconic roar made you stumble back. Falling into the river.

The last thing you saw were Furina and melusines fighting with Neuvillette.

________

You were sobbing.

Your blood was boiling.

You wanted to scream. To run. To hide.

You tried to touch your shoulders and left ear, to call for Furina and melusines. To do anything.

The hand was placed on the top of your head.

And familiar voice start singing.

Fyodor was singing.

"Котя, котенька-коток,

Котя — серенький хвосток!

Приди, котик, ночевать...

И [Т/И] качать,"

You blinked your tears away. You felt, how Dazai embrace became tighter. He started running his fingers up and down your arm.

Fyodor rubbed your tears away.

"Уж я котеньке-коту,

За работу заплачу:

Дам кусочек пирога

И кувшинчик молока."

You didn't want to protest. You didn't care, that you are too old for lullabies. You wanted some comfort. Some stability. Feel safe.

Fyodor put his chin on the top of your head.

"Платок беленький свяжу

И на шейку повяжу;

Шубку новую куплю

И сапожки закажу.¹"

You hide your face in the crook of Fyodor's neck. Dazai's forehead pressed against the back of your neck. You were warm. You yawn.

When Fyodor finished with this lullaby, he started a new one. Then another. And another.

Until you fall asleep.

*****

You were sleeping soundly for two hours now. Fyodor and Dazai weren't sleeping. They choose to look over you tonight.

And, in the dark of the night, they were planning.

Planning a revenge on people of Teyvat.

And on someone, named Neuvillette, whose name you screamed in your last nightmare.

Dazai looked Fyodor in the eyes.

Brown eyes met purple eyes.

"Vampire outbreak."

"Economy crisis."

"Arahabaki and Demonic Beast Guivre"

"Cannibalism"

"Lovecraft"

"Spare someone?"

"Only if Iris Flower want it."

"No letting Myshonok near portal or Teyvat."

"Not even the smallest glances."

Word after word.

Slowly, the plan of Teyvat's destruction will be finished.

For now, they will simply exchange some ideas. And make sure, that you are safe.

______

1. Russian lullaby.

Kitty, kitty-cat,

Kitty - gray tail!

Come, cat, spend the night,

Rock [Y/N]

Kitty, kitty-cat,

I will pay for your work:

I'll give you a piece of the pie

And a jug of milk.

I will knit you white scarf

And I’ll tie it around your neck;

I'll buy you a new fur coat

And I'll order you boots."

******

Tag list: @withered-blossoms , @myluckymoon @cocodrilofeliz @c4xcocoa @vvyeislazzy @whisperingwinters

[that-weird-thing-in-the-woods]

See though the mist

Heyy I’m back with part two now let’s go!

As Danny woke up he expected to see a clod white  ceiling like he has been for the past … week or so..? Yeah that’s about the right amount of time right? How long had he been locked up in that cold white room that smelled of chemicals and the metallic blood smell and the sounds of their screams…wait that was him wasn’t it huh….

….oh wait where is he Danny thinks with suddenly clarity and a bit of panic and sits up and that turns out to be a bad idea as a jolt of pain goes through Danny “ok bad idea bad idea” Danny saids voice a bit strained by the pain and falls back on to his back that when Clockwork in all his Cyptid ass glory “Hello Daniel how are you feeling?” Clookwork ask “like I’ve been hit with a bus” Clockwork just nods

A few hours later

Danny’s walking next to Clockwork as they walk to….somewhere and as they get closer to a forest? “So where are we going? You really just gave me bandages and some new clothes which thank you” Danny liked the new outfit it was white and hangs of his shoulders ( due to not really being fed by the GIW) and goes to his ankles and he’s pretty sure this counts as a dress but it was comfortable and a lot better than his old clothes that were covered in his own blood ( he doesn’t think he’ll ever be able to wear tight clothes like that ever again ) anyway they get to the edge of the forest and that’s when Clockwork specks up “Now Daniel I am unable to take care of you-“ Danny was about to interject and say he didn’t need to be taken care of but Clockwork holds up a hand to stop him and continues “ but I know someone who can be of help to you and your unborn child” Clockwork says as they walk into the forest it takes a few minutes….or 30 times weird in the forest Danny finds himself with clockwork in front of a castle.

The castle itself looks extremely overgrown and taken care of just enough so the greenery doesn’t take the castle down with its weight but still very overgrown, Danny and clockwork walk into a large part of the castle it looks like where the throne should be but it is probably under the gigantic tree that is so big it goes through the roof and it’s surrounded by a large lagoon with many different types of water plants and if look into it you can see the trees gigantic roots that are bigger than him and isn’t that humbling

As Danny looks around his eye catch a beautiful black snake with green eyes ( Danny’s always thought snakes were very cute) that is wrapped around one of the branches of the tree and it seems the snake sees him to as they start to slither down from their branch but Danny can’t really think about it to long as a gigantic snake ( not as big as the tree but big ) and its head was outstretched out to them but the rest of its body was still in the tree an then a voice come from the snake “…Hello Clockwork…”

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

It’s been years since Vesper and Clockwork have seen each other after Vesper needed his help with the castle some humans thought it would be a good idea to try to set it on fire to get the land and to kill the snakes

As the castle was burning down with all of us snakes inside that when clockwork came and said he would help keep the humans out and exchange Vesper own him a favor not that he minded to much if the castle and the Den was safe that good enough for him

but he was not expecting that when clockwork would came to get the favor is that he would bring a hatching why isn’t it with their mother and Den??? But as clockwork explains the hatchings ( he now knows as Danny) situation after all he feels is

PURE RIGHTEOUS RAGE

How dare these humans hurt a HATCHING ( that is with a hatching himself) and from the other snakes hisses ( yells in snake) they are outraged as he is, it would not surprise him if the others in the den have already decided this boy is now one

And he is in agreement with them

And that’s it for part two! Sorry if the words are weird if your see any of my stuff you can tell I have bad grammar

Anyway hope you guys liked it byeee

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

TAGGS

@thatoneweirdshipper @phantasama @siluver @fucking-brains-out

[flowershines]

Please Help

Peeta Mellark x F. Reader

warnings: public masterbastion, masterbating (M reciving), cameras, viagra, blood

Rising from the tube that brung you to the game arena, a ray of sunshine blinded you eyes still trying to adjust to the unsudden brightness a small ticking sound was heard from the area where you had been facing. Looking around you were standing on the tube which had been surrounded by water, trees filled the area behind you as other participants ran along the middle of the water standing on their tubes as well. The metal cannacopia was in front of you as you checked your surroundings. You had been divided by a single brownish black line, which broke down the circle into some clock pattern. The ticking sound had gotten louder as the numbers lowered on top of the cannacopia, seeing all the other contestants getting ready to run towards the weapons not wanting to be an easy target. You had decided to run towards the cannacopia and get the leftover weapons later after everyone had left. Timer had hit the last 3 seconds, the other participants looked around at a loss trying to figure out if the others were running towards the cannacopia.

1…

Diving into the water you headed for the brownish line as it would lead you to the cannacopia directly. Arriving there, others were nowhere to be seen.

Weird.

Turning around you had faced a very handsome and young guy, you think his name was Peeta or something along those lines. Grabbing a bag along with a spear, defending yourself as others started to swarm the perimeter around you, ignoring the man behind you in the process. Not turning back and heading back to the line you came up on, hearing screams behind you getting louder and louder, blood started to seep into the water making you aware that someone had been attacked just behind you. A loud pitter patter noise was following in your footsteps, heavy breathing was heard just feet away from you.

Running full speed on a small line trying to maintain balance and not get attacked was one of the hardest things you think you have ever done when all of the sudden the footsteps stopped followed along with a splash from the water, not wanting to turn back you continued running till you made it to land then turning around you saw a dead body floating in the water just by where you had heard the footsteps stop. Turning back around to face the trees and running into them, tripping occasionally in the process, slowing down nothing but a bird chirping was all that was heard. Thinking that it was safe you sat down on a tree stump and grabbed the bag that you had grabbed from the cannacopia.

Unzipping the bag you pulled out a sleeping bag, a pocket knife, mace, a water container, rope, and nets. A tiny bag was found in the smallest packet, they were pills, it looked like the sign L4 84 making them ibuprofen was scratched out by hand. Knowing that it was weird you made a pact to yourself that you would only use it if you 100% needed it.

Putting the things back in the bag a small crunch of leaves was heard from behind you, turning around you were faced with the most prettiest guy your eyes have ever laid on once again. Peeta. He had a huge gash on his left arm making the blood run down all the way to his fingers but he didn’t seem to care or at least he didn't show that he did, seeing him made you immediately stand up dropping everything from your bag onto the ground holding you hands into fists for self defense as your eyes were searching to try and find your spear.

“Don’t worry I didn't come here to hurt you, just passing by. Need help?”

“I’m okay thanks though.” Crouching down to pick up the things from your bag and putting them back in, he walked over to you and grabbed the thing closest to him and held his hand out towards you handing it over.

“Thanks.” A small smile was displayed on your face as a way to try and show your gratitude, he nodded his head and continued picking up the things. As almost all the things were picked up you looked around thinking you had grabbed everything only to see the bag with the pills right by his thigh, “Can you hand me that?” You asked, pointing to the small bag. He grabbed it and handed it to you. “What is that?” “Ibuprofen, you want one you look like you could use one.” You knew it probably wasn't the best thing to try and be nice but you thought that he could be your test subject not wanting to find out for himself if that carved out sign really meant it or if they were going to do something else.

“Yeah, thanks.” Opening the bag you took out two and placed them in his hand, “I hope you can dry swallow.” You said jokingly, he smiled and placed them in his mouth swallowing the pills then sticking out his tongue to show you that he could.

“Good Luck.” Was all he said as he handed you the last of your things before leaving.

Peeta’s POV:

I walked away and continued to try and find my setup, my arm kept bleeding and bleeding. Trying to find a waterfall or something in the process to clean up the wound, I didn’t have to worry about the pain much longer as the girl had given me those pills. Relieved about that, I tried to listen to see if I could hear water coming from any direction. Hearing the water swish around from the area that had been surrounding the cannacopia, I decided that that would probably be the best place to clean up for now.

On the way to the water, my stomach felt weird as if there were butterflies in it. I'm probably just hungry, moving on from the thought I arrived at the water not that long after, rolling up my sleeve not trying to touch the wound then getting some water and slowly soaking in on the wound to try and clean up the surface around it.

Heading back towards the cannacopia I decided that there could be some left over things that could help me later on but as i was heading towards the cannacopia as quietly and quickly as possible that feeling came back, I needed to get food so this feeling would go away fast. Just as I took another step towards the cannacopia my cock swirled in my pants, trying to think of anything else except from my growing bulge. My mind kept thinking of that girl, but every time i think about her my dick would twitch in a show of my desperation for her.

As went on my dick continued to twitch and get harder making it almost hurt from desperation, looking down I saw a wet patch of right where my tip was from all of the precum I was leaking.

Your POV:

Walking through the trees you peaked behind one of the trees as you heard a quiet sound echoing through the area, turning your head towards the noise. It was Peeta. Was he still hurt?

Going on your tippy toes to try and get a better view of what he was doing you you heard another noise but it sounded like he was in pain, looking at him his fingers grazed over his pants, making him make more noise.

He put his shirt in his mouth to muffle his noises, he started to undo his pants and unzipped them bringing his pants to the ends of his thighs as his boxers were still on.

What is this guy doing? Doesn’t he remember that there are cameras?

Oh shit if the cameras are on and they see him doing that does that mean that they can see me as well and if they do see him doesn’t that mean- “Y-y/n!”

You were pulled out of your thoughts by a familiar but unfamiliar voice, going behind the tree and you realized that he had seen you. Peaking over gain he was staring at you, “Come here.” He said sounding angry.

Walking towards him he moaned slightly as you got closer, “What were those pills?” He placed his hand cupping his dick. “I told you, Ibuprofen.” “Ibuprofen my ass, come one just tell me I won’t be mad.” “It said L4 84 on it so i thought it was Ibuprofen but if your saying that it’s not than i have no idea. What makes you think that it’s not Ibuprofen?”

He jerked his hand up and down on his shaft, “Cause this doesn’t just happen, of course boners happen random but this one makes me want more and hurts more as well.” Looking at him jerking himself off made your stomach spin back and forth, staring at him with lust in your eyes made him realize what he had been doing.

“Please Y/n, I don’t wanna die and have blue balls. Can you help me out, please?” His eyes looked at you pleading with desperation.

“Fine but we never speak of this to anyone.” He let go of his dick that he had just had been jerking himself off with, only to be replaced by your hand rubbing his bulge over his boxers.

Small moans were heard from the man guy who was in front of you, running your fingers through the waistband of his boxers you slowly started to pull them down as he lifted his hips to give you the access you needed.

Wrapping your hand around the base of his cock with your other hand you ran your finger along the slit of his tip skidding around the pre cum as it started to drip down to your other hand.

“Quit teasing, who knows who is looking and trying to kill us.”

You nodded your head agreeing with him, slowly moving your hand along the veins of his cock he grabs the end of his shirt which was the end closest to you and places it right in between his teeth to stop him from being loud while the other participants are still hunting.

His head thrown back he moans and grunts into the cloth of his shirt as you jerk him off. The faster he would make noise the faster you would jerk him off and vice versa.

The longer you went on the closer he got, not long after his breathing became shaky and heavy telling you in a way that he was getting close.

“Y/n I’m gon- I’m gonna cum.” Just then his load spilled from hit tip and onto your shirt which didn’t really cover your tits along with it dripping down your hand.

“Thanks I really appreciate it a lot.” “No problem.” You said bringing the hand that had his cum dripping down on it to your mouth.

Head quarters:

“Boss, should we censor all that?”

“Don’t bother it’s already live.”

[aangelinakii]

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER.

— i swore i'd seen you before.

summary : cassandra was raised in the league of assassins, and as were you. years later, cassandra had been adopted by bruce wayne, and is working beside him as a vigilante, keeping the streets of gotham safe. until one night, she swears she recognises the masked shadow.

note : this is inspired by a headcanon request i received a month or so ago, but i felt like i could do more justice as an imagine !! so here it is ! ps, the request is in the form of a screenshot right at the bottom

assassins don't talk. they don't smile, they don't laugh. they kill.

that's what cassandra cain was taught growing up. she didn't know how to speak, nor read or write. she communicated through facial expressions, body language. life here was isolating, and nobody questioned it, not even her.

except for you. perhaps you weren't actively questioning it, but cassandra knew you as someone who liked to bend the rules, make a crude gesture behind someone's back, be the one to laugh, and warm the cold atmosphere of the league.

when cassandra thinks of you now, she thinks of the scar along your cheek, deep and never seeming to heal, always pink, despite the grim darkness of the temples assassins lurked. she never asked where it came from; she didn't know how to.

she would be able to ask you now, if she had been taken in by bruce wayne sooner. he and her other adoptive siblings had taught her all the skills she was not taught in the league, a place she was taught only how to kill.

but she would never get to ask.

curiosity left in the air like a book left open on a desk in a library, not sure if it will ever be picked up by the same person again.

gotham was still bustling, despite the late hour, and the darkness of the sky, roads only just barely illuminated by dying street lamps.

orphan lingered in the shadows, surveying the petty crimes occurring on the corner of every road, the depths of every alley. a flickering of flames heating a spoon, or lighting a smoke. although they were hurting themselves, they weren't hurting anybody until the side effects kicked in, then it could be her problem.

out of the corner of her eye, something shifted in the darkness. a body? a bird? a shadow.

in this town, you can never be too safe, and cass zeroed in on it, crouching down and jumping from the roof ledge she'd been perched upon, silently down to the metal fire escape steps below it.

when she saw the shadow jump through the air, body tucking into a compact ball as it slung through darkness, cassandra's heart skipped a beat. she hated to admit it, hated to think back to her dark time at the league. but she could recognise rhat technique anywhere. in fact, she still incorporated assassin technique when no one was watching – it was easy to slip back into.

this was no shadow; this was an assassin.

a mercenary.

she could tell by the glint of silver on their back; a motif on their uniform when someone reaches that status in the league. whatever this person was doing, they had to be good.

still, mercenaries didn't always target people that deserved to be killed, just people that were paid to be. innocent people could be targeted, if the stack was high enough.

if the only thing she'd be stopping tonight was needles injecting into veins, orphan felt more inclined to save the person with no choice; this assassin's target.

orphan followed the mercenary to someone's window, the room inside dark and still.

perched upon the metal grating of the fire exit outside, the assassin stopped for a moment to fiddle with the utility belt snug around their waist, pulling something small from it.

before finding out how it could be put to use, orphan slammed the assassin into the brick wall beside the window, the shock causing it to clatter to the grating, and probably fall through the cracks.

hit by surprise, but not unable to retaliate, the assassin snaked with ease out of orphan's grip on their wrist, moving upon to the metal banister and flipping on top of orphan's shoulders in seemingly one move.

strong legs, but not huge muscle build-up – the build of someone trained in the league. cass could have known this person; sparred with them, only to now be caught up in a real fight.

their calves dug into cass's throat, and the dug her claw-like fingers into the opponent's thighs, using her surprising strength to throw them from her.

before the assassin could go diving off the side of the fire exit, their hands gripped the banister, swinging around until their soft feet touched the metal grating once again, frame falling into the stance of a fighter. orphan mimicked, eyes narrowing in on the opponent in front of her.

but those eyes caught sight of something.

the assassin before her covered the lower part of their face with a black cloth of a mask, stretched near the ends, but something peeked out from above the abyss.

the edge of a scar. still pink in colour, as if it hd happened yesterday. never fully healing.

it took every muscle in her body to not grab the opponent, to stay stuck in a fight with this person. you.

you came forward first, limbs a flurry, a glint in the moonlight, but orphan was just as fast; if not faster.

one arm outstretched toward her in a punch, and she expertly deflected it, pushing the arm, and its owner, into the wall.

cassandra had a tight grip on your wrist, and a heavy shove on your shoulder. you weren't going anywhere.

despite squirming beneath her grip, you knew any attempts would be futile. but an assassin never backs down.

moving her arm to keep it pressed against your chest, she reached up, claws gripping the mask covering your mouth, and ripped it from your face. her eyes singled in on your cheekbone; that scar.

not only was the scar a telltale sign it was you, but those features... hardened over the years, eyes that have both seen and dealt death.

your eyebrows furrowed, watching as the black bat scrutinised you behind her white eyes, glowing in the darkness. as she was distracted, despite her strength against your chest, you brought an arm up to pound her in the side of the head, taking her by surprise as you leapt from the fire exit and into the night.

clutching her head, cassandra watched as you swung away, jumping from wall to wall and roof to roof. if you were in gotham, that surely wouldn't be the last time she'd be seeing you.

[jangmi-latte]

I don't usually simp for Lilia because the game has made me look at him as our friendly neighborhood grandpa, but like.... imagine meeting General!Lilia while he's on duty- and maybe he helps us with something or we help him out- and from there on a romance slowly blossoms? Just... active duty Lilia who's yet to become Lili-pa and the whole 'waiting for my friend who I want to be my lover to visit me during his break from duty'

FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD GRANDPA

good riddance mid-war/military romance?!?!? sign me up!!?!?? my brain has been going from camp-healer reader or to villager reader or subordinate reader or even agent reader (captain america and peggy carter type of romance)??? the possibilities are endless but since you emphasized helping we're going with villager who's also a healer reader.

/this can be descriptive and damn has it gotten long.

you can think of this being either fae or human reader but when you mentioned help, seeing an injured lilia who had to limp away from the camp after checking if his men are okay. so, he's in the middle of the woods hissing and sitting against a tree while lifting his clothing to see that big unhealing slash across his abdomen. the blood has already clotted but it's still dangerously huge and dirty and he's trying his best to heal it with his magic but it's concerning how he still feels the pain. plus, he needs to rest both his mana and body.

he will definitely try heating up one of his daggers to press on his wound but before he could even press the searing metal on his skin, that's when a hand stops him and pull the dagger away. it was a surprise, most especially for someone like him to be conscious of every single element around him.

you definitely look like a land of briar resident with your clothing. however, you look absolutely distressed and you're sweating so much it looked like you haven't bathed in days. he'd ask what are you doing but you keep your mouth shut and kneel down beside him. only then did he notice the belt strapped around your hips filled to the brim with antidotes and potions.

he's astonished, to say the least. he was in a daze while you're speaking and he was brought to his senses when he felt the burning sensation of liquid hitting his skin. it's literally smoking that he had to bite down on his gloved wrist to keep himself from screaming. his back arching off the tree while he's gripping your wrist. it hurt but hey, his wound his tingling and healing.

that's when he felt oddly...captivated by you. and as the old fae tradition goes, to he who was serviced must return the favor. he's just staring at you while taking deep breaths and you're looking around as if you're being watched. he assured you that you're safe with him and asked what do you want as gratitude for healing him but you just shook your head. stating that YOU are thanking him for defending the land.

all goes to say, he'd go to the said forest every now and then after you both departed, half-expecting to run into you. there were occasions he would see you crouched by a bush and plucking berries and herbs. he'd strike conversation, often surprising you with his silence and stealth. but eventually, you're warming up to him. he'd give you herbs you've mentioned needing that's only located across the other side of the land.

your presence was calming; during a war, peace was a far-fetched dream for a soldier, a general. when he's stressed, lacks sleep, and just exhausted he'd seek refuge in that very forest. he'd snap at you when you greet him but somehow, you're not affected. scary, yes. but you've known lilia from the constant meetings that you've brought some bottled mist that you claim can calm him down and give him a leveled-head again.

when he suddenly snaps his eyes open, that's when he realised he has fallen asleep without even noticing that he's definitely nonplussed. only then does he notice that he's laying on your lap while you're reading a book. he's bombarding you with questions but needless to say, he's really thankful.

baul would even notice lilia departing from the camp during breaks instead of eating with them that he's tempted to follow the general.

what can he do though? the general can find refuge somewhere else. more like...someone else.

to say he's catching feelings was questionable. other than malleficia, levan, baul, or mallenoa, he has never felt entirely close to someone outside of the royal guards or royalty. instinct driven need to protect you is there — that's what he feels towards the townsfolk anyways, that's what he tells himself.

just what have you done to the general...

might become a fic though 🫶🏻

[redheadspark]

1 & 19 from the Hurt/comfort prompts with Azriel🫣🫣🫣

A/N - So good for Azriel! Thanks for requesting this, anon!

Swear

Summary - On the eve of Battle against King Hybern, you and Azriel use your bond to talk

Warnings - just a mix of angst and fluff

“You have to be strong,”

“I don’t think I can, Madja,”

“You must, now more than ever,”

You clenched your fingers tightly into a ball as you were looking down at the workstation that was in front of you at the medical tent.  The open field that was not too far away was already filled to the brim with soldiers on both sides of the war that was about to erupt, bloodshed was about to happen, and that could only mean death and despair within the hour.  Inwardly you were somewhat glad that you weren’t an Illyrian soldier or a soldier in general.  Being Madja’s Apprentice and a Healer in training, you had your own tent to tend to for the wounded.  You trained for something like this for centuries, no longer practicing on dummies and on Illyrian soldiers from the camp.  

This was real, and you were thinking of someone else at the point.

Made move on from your workstation to her own at the main tent, leaving you to your own time to prepare and to mentally be ready.  Within the hour you would be able to hear the screaming, the clashing of weaponry, and constant bodies pouring into your tent for help.  Madja wanted you it would be chaotic and stressful, but she also knew you were ready for this since you were under her aid and guidance.  She was tough and knew more than you could ever learn in your lifetime, and yet she chose you to be her second in command.  

Your mate though, was out there on the battlefield.  He had to be out there, and as much as you begged and pleaded for him to not be there in the middle of it all, he had to fulfill his duty.  It was hard enough that you knew he was on dangerous missions or spying deep in other Courts to get information for Rhysand, that was fine with you since you weren’t close enough to think of the possibility of him getting hurt. 

Yet he was simply over the hill outside your tent.

Reaching down into your pocket, you took out a single silver necklace that had a simple yet elegant ring that was on the chain.  You held it in your palm, feeling the weight of the metal against your palm and how it shined in the sunlight that was streaming into the tent from the open flap. 

Your wedding ring.

You made the choice some time before to hide it in your pocket, simply because you were afraid of loosing it.  However, in that moment when you felt the mating bond humming deep within you, you placed the chain over your neck and felt the necklace against your chest as you hide it under your shirt.  

My love….

You heard his voice, sounding so calm and true as you were feeling the hum of your mating bond growing stronger and bolder by the second.  It always get that way when you two would talk together though your bond, and it was always intense with you.  For as long as you two were mates, speaking to him like this would always give you butterflies.

Azriel, You said in the bond, feeling that fluttering of warmth within your stomach.  You had to know that he was okay and safe, that he was ready for what was going to come.  It seemed silly to question it, Azriel was a fighter and a skilled one at that.  Still, you worried for your mate. 

I can feel it too, He voiced to you, you take in a long breath, You don’t have to hide your tears from me. It’ll be okay.  

You realized that you were crying, a few drops were hitting your shirt and apron as the rest were landing on the workstation.  Azriel knew how to calm you, even when you two were not physically together.  His words alone were enough to bring you clarity, and the pearls of wisdom he would give you in those tougher times made you love him all the more.  

He would reassure you that he would always come back to you when he had to leave for a risky mission or to spy deep undercover in a neighboring court.  He felt your fear that you would be a widow, no matter how many years he’s been the Spymaster for Night Court.  

On the day he would leave, he would hold you close in his arms for several minutes.  You felt him breathe you in to remember your scent and the feeling of your skin along his own, you would do the same.  A simple hug meant more to both of you than anything, because you both wanted that hug to be the last loving thing you two would remember from each other if you were ever ripped apart from each other.  Either by distance or death, your last hugs to one another were engrained in love.

Even that morning in your shared bed, Azriel holding you like a precious jewel as you two were bare under your sheets and simply watching each other in love and deep affection.  You thought of him as beautiful, the sun sinking in his ink-black hair and brightening his hazel eyes.  His shadows were simmering along his skin,   his eyes trained on you.

He reached over to frame your face in the palm of your hand, you nuzzling into the touch as he finally spoke for the first time that morning.

“I’ll destroy anything that so much as thinks of harming you,” He vowed, you feeling that truth etched into your skin as he leaned over to nuzzle his nose into yours, “I’ll come back to you, I swear.”

“And I you,” You whispered in reply, Azriel leaning in to finally kiss you senseless.

How do you know?  You had to ask him in the bond, hearing the lightest of a chuckle from him.

Because I know we are meant to be together in this life, for all of our lives, He said back in reply, sounding beyond sure of himself as you finally smiled.  You had faith that Azriel would come out alive from this battle, that you would too, and that you two would reunite and have your life together.  In your small and cramped but well-cozied apartment that was on the top floor, waking up together on the lazy days with your coffee and tea.  Those smaller moments seemed more sacred now, with fighting for in this battle that could change the course of the future.  

So you held onto your necklace, knowing that the vow that Azriel made to you that morning would ring true in your heart.  This battle must be won, and deep down you know that it would be won with your Spymaster on the front line. 

The End

Hurt and Comfort Prompt Session

[kitsunesfandomtime]

Simpler Times

Summary: A four year old Yoichi just wanted to prove that people are nice. Turns out he was very wrong but at least he knows he is safe as there someone that will make sure nothing ever happens to him.

_______________________

Since Yoichi could remember all he ever knew was his brother. White hair and white eyes that seem to stare at the world with fear and hostility. He always noticed people steered clear of his older brother.

But they weren’t kind to him either.

They didn’t fear Yoichi like his brother, but they didn’t offer a hand to him when he is near. They look at his hair and their face would scrunch in disgust when they realize he is different.

Unlike the fear they feel at his brother when they look at him, they look at him with contempt. He just didn’t understand that look considering he was only four years old sheltered by his brother. Always protected from the worse of it but his eyes still holding the light of innocence.

As he has seen adults being nice to kids, so maybe they will be nice if they see he needs something?

“Look at this little freak, is he looking at us?” One spoke, Yoichi could barely understand their words as he walked over to the group of guys. He had approached because he didn’t believe his brother when he said people would hurt them. People couldn't possibly be that mean but then he never really interacted with many people. He shifts in place as he realizes there were several adults, his green eyes looking up at them hungry.

Slowly he holds his hand out to the adult as he tries to remember the words to express his hunger.

“F-Food?” Yoichi stuttered wanting to prove to his brother they can ask for help. His green eyes looked hopeful as the three guys looked at him with confusion. For a moment, he thought they were considering helping as they looked among each other.

He was naive.

“Hell no!” One screamed and before Yoichi could even realize the danger he was in. He felt a sharp kick to his stomach as his reward for his bravery. A harsh gasp escaped as he fell to his knees before being kicked in the face.

“Damn you actually kicked the kid. What if he had some creepy powers and skewered your ass!” Another of the men questioned but Yoichi was on the floor gasping. He didn’t understand what he had even done wrong; he was just asking. His eyes were filled with tears as his teeth ached, instinctively his hands moved to his mouth since had been kicked in the face. It hurt.

He whines but it didn’t seem any of the adults cared that he was in pain. As they began to talk among themselves.

“Tch, it’s fine. I got to make sure he learns to stay away and see I’m in one pie-” 

Those were the last words the man ever said as a large metal beam slammed into him. A loud disgusting crunch could be heard as he was slammed through the wall. The other men were shouting in terror at seeing their friend but they weren’t able to get away. As a familiar face came onto the scene.

His big brother had found him already hitting them with a strength unbecoming of his size as he steals their power from their unmoving bodies. Those white eyes staring down at the assailants as he steps on them like insects.

He needed to act fast, Yoichi forces himself up despite the pain before finding a random soda can. It wasn’t much but it was something so he grabbed it. With as much strength as he had he chucked it as hard at his brother. The loud clink was heard as it made contact with his older brother and the older boy froze.

“Stop,” Yoichi spoke trying to remember all the words he learned to make his brother understand. His brother looked over at him surprised at having a can thrown at him. Those white eyes staring intently at him and Yoichi can tell he might be mad at that, “Don’t hurt.”

There is a pause, his older brother did seem to stop attacking the men. As if his words had the effect he wanted as the older boy without a name approached. Yoichi looks up at his older brother, trembling just a bit since this is the first time he did something like this. 

Then Yoichi got kicked for his trouble.

“No cans,” his older brother said, making it clear the kick was for throwing a can at him. Being rough with each other wasn’t anything new. Unlike those men the kick wasn’t that hard even if many would disagree as it did throw him back. Falling onto the hard floor Yoichi winces in pain at the rocks digging into him. Guessing it was a small price to pay to get his brother to stop.

His brother leans down next to him looking at his face with a frown before picking him up, clearly unhappy at stopping. Likely more upset that this area was now unsafe for them to live in since people now know they were here. He tucked Yoichi under his arm as goes to find a new hiding space for them.

Yoichi guessed he should have been more careful so no one else gets hurt. Not at all fighting his brother as they needed to find a new home to live in, far away from here. So no one that knows them will come to hunt them down, Yoichi learned his lesson on approaching strangers. Guessing his brother was right that people did want to hurt them, he was more surprised his brother wasn’t more angry.

If you ignore the kick anyway but that seemed more about the can being thrown at him then him approaching strangers.

“Sorry….” Yoichi mutters those words as his brother finally finds a spot and places him down to settle in. His brother doesn’t say anything, at most he moves a hand to pet and ruffle his head as goes to sit next to him. It seems his brother was empty handed so his attempt to find food must have not gone well.

“It’s ok,” his brother said softly as they just sat against the wall. His older brother moves to grab his wrist and leans back against the wall clearly tired. His brother really does a lot for him, he moves closer snuggling up against his older brother as he closes his eyes.

He loves his brother and hopes eventually he will be big enough to help.

[lovelynim]

Intruder countermeasures

Honkai: Star Rail - Sampo & Svarog (feat. Clara)

A/N: First out of two commissions for no other than the @otomiyaa herself! Thank you so much for the trust and support, Ginny, it means a lot to me to write a commission for you!

Summary: Someone triggered the alarm system inside the Robot Settlement. Now, who could it be and how are they going to deal with them?

Word count: 1913 words

Just how hard could it possibly be?

Get into the Robot Settlement. Check.

Find the pieces and gears the client requested. Check.

Steal Borrow them for an indefinite amount of time. Check.

Get out. ….

Well, it seems like the good, old Sampo Koski found a nice challenge for himself this time, huh.  

Against what he expected from a bunch of old machines running around, the security in the Robot Settlement - especially around that big, scary manor where the little girl in red lived - was… hard to crack, to say the least. It took him a couple hours studying the best route to get in - for which he was definitely going to charge extra.

Now, if Sampo could figure out how to get in, then what’s the problem? Well, get out. Who could imagine that tinhead would have alarms against invaders all around the house? All the sorts of robots were patrolling the place, from the silliest, smallest ones to the big, threatening ones. 

Sampo, hiding behind a conveniently placed wall, peeked at the grounds in front of the manor and watched the robots walking left and right, left and right… Damn, Svarog was really prepared for anything, huh? No opening in sight, maybe it was time for Sampo to wander a little more. Maybe he would even bump into something valuable interesting enough.

Walking a little deeper into the site, Sampo carefully followed a nearby why to the zone behind the manor. Luck seemed to be on his side as no robot was spotted patrolling that part of the settlement so far. 

“My my… what do we have here..?” Sampo muttered quietly, peeking again as he reached another safe spot. Svarog, the so-called and feared tinhead, and the little girl in red, Clara. Maybe this was some sort of playground for the girl, Sampo thought, still not sure what kind of thing she did with all those gears and screws scattered around, but who understands kids these days anyway?

The most logical thing to assume was that Svarog drove her here while the machinery did the patrol on the other side of the manor. Such a good guardian, huh?

Sampo leaned against the nearby wall, pressing the back of his hand against his forehead. If he could make it past those two, he would be out of the manor’s ground - but why did it have to be those two?

He sighed, feeling defeated by Svarog’s security system. A loud, long sigh that slowly dragged itself out of his throat. Also, a mistake.

As soon as the air left his mouth, Sampo could hear a faint metallic sound coming from where he last saw Svarog and Clara standing. However, when he turned his eyes back to said spot, they were nowhere to be seen.

Uh oh.

“Target located,” Svarog’s heavy, deep robotic voice announced seconds before his hand crashed into the wall. Sampo widened his eyes as the hit missed his face by barely a couple inches - he didn’t even want to think about what that would’ve felt like if it did land. Well, he didn’t have time either.

Thanks to Gepard’s endless chasings, Sampo managed to develop quite the agility when it came to avoiding blows - still, this was not the best scenario to put them into test. “W-woah, careful that, you could hurt someo-wOAH!”

Sampo gasped as Svarog almost hit him again. “Target ‘Threat Index’ undetermined. Stay back, Clara,” the robot commanded, his free hand in front of the girl.

“I-I’m not a threat!” Sampo wheezed, desperately waving his hands in front of his chest, hoping it would appease the angry robot dad. “I’m just your good ol’ pal, S-Sampo Koski!” He spoke in a hurry, his words barely understandable under the fear in his voice.

Svarog didn’t seem to be convinced, though. Before Sampo could even have another chance to speak, he swayed his hand at him again and, this time, managed to push him against the nearby wall. Svarog’s palm was large enough to pin Sampo’s body against the surface behind him, making the mercenary gasp - half in pain and half in shock at how fast Svarog could be despite how big he was.

“Commence annihilation.”

…What?

Sampo widened his eyes as he saw Svarog lift his other hand and spread his fingers. The cannon within his palm charged at an alarming rate and, no matter how much he kicked or squirmed, he could free himself.

Was this the end of the good ol’ Sampo Koski?!

As Sampo prepared himself for the worst and closed his eyes shut, all he could hear besides the machinery in Svarog’s body running was a panicked, yet firm command.

“Svarog, s-stop it!” Clara pleaded, tugging at Svarog’s leg. And so he did.

“Clara, stand back. I couldn’t confirm the intruder’s intentions. It can be dangerous,” Svarog explained calmly, turning his attention to the girl, but making sure to not ease his grip in the slightest.

As stubborn as her robot dad, Clara shook her head. Her cheeks were a little flushed, as if she was just about to cry. “N-no! I don’t want to see you hurting someone!”

Sampo nearly cried along with the girl as he heard those words. Yay, he was saved!

“The intruder could harm you, Clara. I can not let them go,” Svarog insisted, his head turning back to Sampo with that threatening, but faint red light coming from his ‘eye’. “They need to be ‘taught a lesson’, so they won’t come back.”

“C-can’t we teach him some other way?” Clara muttered, still clinging at Svarog’s leg with teary eyes. “Without hurting him?”

Svarog didn’t answer and, if his face could express emotions like humans, he would probably look half confused, half concerned. Sampo pawed at the large, metallic hand keeping him place, but Svarog didn’t lower his guard yet. “In what way should we deal with the intruder? What do you propose, Clara?”

“Hmm, m-maybe…” Clara hummed, looking at Sampo and then back at Svarog. Something that would leave the message, but wouldn’t hurt? “T-tickle him!” She beamed, remembering the times when the kids in Boulder Town would decide their the one to lead the Moles’ squad through a tickle fight. Surely adults could solve their problems like that, without needing violence, right?

Sampo, on the other hand, didn’t look at the suggestion as brightly as Clara did. Svarog wouldn’t consider something like that, right?

Wrong.

Carefully wrapping his fingers around his body, Svarog picked Sampo up and brought him down to the ground. With his massive strength, pinning both his arms above his head with a single hand wasn’t a big deal.

“E-eh? Wait a second, C-Clara, darling, can you tell your d-”

“Understood,” Svarog sadly coldly, his attention turning back to the man he had pinned underneath him. Sampo gulped.

Getting tickled certainly sounded better than getting blasted into pieces, but Sampo wasn’t sure if he should be thankful yet. Did Svarog even know how to tickle someone? Or would he have his bones crushed one by one by the giant robot dad?

The answers for those questions soon came into his mind. Clara watched attentively as Svarog moved his free hand and began to knead Sampo’s side and stomach. A crooked smile took place in Sampo’s face while he started to squirm and kick his legs. Yes, it tickled. And tickled a lot.

“B-be careful, mr. Svarog. Just tickle, don’t hurt him,” Clara instructed and Sampo nearly told her to shut up, but the last bits of sense he had told him to keep quiet.

“Understood,” was Svarog’s simple answer as his cold, metallic fingers continued to prod and wiggle against Sampo’s body, testing out his reactions and studying where it would work the best. “Target’s heartbeat frequency increased. Suspicion: embarrassment.”

“H-hehey! That’s- agh, c-cohohome on!” Sampo grunted, his cheeks quickly turning red as he fought the urge to laugh with all the bits of strength he had. His eyes widened as Svarog moved his hand down to his hips. “W-waitwaitwahaHAHA, NOHOHOHOH!!”

Clara nearly jumped from her spot as Sampo bursted in loud, uncontrolled laughter. Well, that was the sign that Svarog was, indeed, listening to her, right? “I-I think you got him, mr. Svarog!”

“Target’s reaction: positive,” Svarog announced, his analysis bringing new results into this system and allowing him to tell which method worked - or, better saying, tickled - the best.

There barely was any room for Sampo to complain about the coldness of Svarog’s hand or about how rough a touch or two were. As expected of a machine, his tickling was meticulous and every move felt like it was calculated. From the way he kneaded into his sides, to the repetitive pokes all around his stomach and, of course, to the squeezing and pinching over his exposed waist and hips.

It was not like Sampo could see it clearly, but Clara had a relaxed look on her face. Svarog managed to find a way to deal with the intruder without harming him. How amazing! Still, all Sampo could feel and see was an ominous figure that was surely going to tickle him into his very death. 

Choking between a laugh and the other, Sampo planted his heels into the ground. With teary eyes and flushed cheeks, he shook his head left and right, thrashing as much as Svarog’s pinning allowed him to. “PLEHEHEHEASE!!” He wheezed, the air barely making it into his lungs before he laughed again. “I’M SOHOHORRY!! I SWEHEHEAR!!”

Svarog didn’t even consider those words, as if they were unknown to his system. He looked to the side, gazing at Clara. “Unable to determine if the target is lying or not. Heart rate too unstable to consider. Your assistance is required, Clara,” Svarog pointed out, almost casually, while his hand continued to wreak havoc.

“M-me?” She chirped, clenching her little hands in front of her chest. “You want me… to help you t-”

“No,” Svarog promptly interrupted, not giving her a chance to even consider it, “it can be dangerous, don’t approach the target,” his eye then turned back to Sampo, that now terrifying, but dim red light pointing straight into his laughing face. “Do you believe the target tells the truth?”

“I D-DO! AHAhaha, plehehease!! I’m truhuhully sohoHOHORRY!!” Sampo cackled, having to almost squeeze his words out of his throat to make sure they would be heard through all the laughter.

“A-ahm, I… I think he did learn his lesson,” Clara smiled, a sense of getting the job done filling her heart. “You can stop now, mr. Svarog. Thank you,” she said, nodding shyly.

Again, listening to Clara and Clara only, Svarog stepped back. Sampo’s body went limp on the cold floor, his head spinning as he still had to come down from his high. “T-tha- ahh… t-thank you… I t-though… haaah, I was d-done fohohor…”

“Warning: further attempts of trespassing will be punished accordingly. Leave at this moment, intruder,” Svarog ordered, coldly, taking his place in front of Clara and holding his hand out in front of her.

“I-I will! I swear!” Sampo cried, prostrating himself in front of Svarog and Clara, hoping to convince them he was going to ‘behave’ this time. When the two didn’t oppose his plea, Sampo understood it was the time to flee as fast as he could.

The components his client wanted? Screw those, he would try to look for a phony to deliver instead.

Stealing from the Robot Settlement? Never again!

[neoarchipelago]

For a fantasy one-shot what if the 141 gets stranded on a mission gone wrong, and they have to find a safe house cuz someone (not sure who) is badly injured and needs medical attention.

After a bit of wandering around a forest, they find an "abandoned" house. Unfortunatly for them, it's the house of witch!reader who dosent take kindly to intruders...

After a bit of calming down and convincing, Witch!reader heals whoever is hurt and maybe offers some assistance as the enemy has been draining resources from the forest?

Feel free to change the ending, I just like forest witchy vibes...😅

YES YES YES WITCH!READER

(totally love the way marvel pictures 'magic' so I kinda used that, not sure it's still... Forest witchy tho.. sorry..)

Head canons Witch!Reader X squad 141

Your little house in the forest was perfect. The wood and Vine, the flowers and greenery making it disappear into the landscape. Of course you'd still often vanished to the city, especially for some things the forest couldn't entirely provide.

You were walking back home, the greenery of the forest surrounding you, the peaceful silence around. Unfortunately, for the past weeks, some men were troubling your peace.

The fresh smell of grass and leaves were now tainted with blood and drugs that the pathetic things used to escape the real world. If only they knew how to truly look at the world.

You frowned, the thoughts only souring your mood. That and the newly smell of blood. It could have been alright... If it wasn't straight on the path to your house. You stopped for a second, thinking about the situation. Did they wander too close?

You sighed before heading straight to your house. The smell of blood intensified, now droplets visible here and there. The droplets grew to bigger little drops and to tiny puddles.

You grew weary, your steps falling deeper into a soft silent path. Once you finally had the house in sight, you decided to go straight in. Anger rushed over you, the audacity of theses humans getting on your nerves.

The smell of blood hit you, as soon as you swung the door open. The ticking of guns pointing at you made you frown.

"hands up.." a man with a fishing hat said.

You turned to them, looking unfazed.

"you barge into my house. And you dare to threaten me?" You questioned.

"you..your house?" A Scottish accent rang.

"yes. My house." You pointed now looking at the man in a mohawk, sitting on the floor next to your couch. It made you notice the man laying on said couch, blood over his clothes and... Your couch. You sighed.

"I'm not going to repeat myself, hands u-"

You didn't let him finish, two fingers pointing to the guns before swiftly swingy them towards the ceiling, the metal things following the movement before sticking themselves on the ceiling. The silence was loud. You wanted to laugh. You rolled your eyes, closing your door behind you before walking to the kitchen table to drop your bag.

"that was so co-'

"sergeant!"

You smirked, the poor Scottish land being scolded by the masked man.

"what are you?" The hat man said again.

"again. Rude. Who are you even?" You asked, crossing your arms.

The men looked at each other. They didn't look like the other idiots that tried to roam your forest. They were... Different. Your gaze fell on the wounded man again.

"what happened?" You asked, changing the subject, as you nodded towards the couch.

"i... I took a bullet... I'm... Gaz... By the way..."

You smiled. Poor boy. His shaky voice only betrayed his fear and pain. You sighed again, frowning. You shouldn't mingle. Not at all. But the face of the man, wincing in pain, and the one of his teammates, worriedly looking at him, tugged on some string you didn't knew your heart had. Not for humans anyway.

You took a step forwards, the hat man immediately, stepping in front of you.

"calm down... If I wanted to hurt all of you, i would have done so already." You said, eyes glancing to the guns still stuck on the ceiling.

After long seconds of pondering and glances towards the others he stepped aside. You walked to the couch, kneeling next to mohawk.

"I'm... I'm soap."

Well... Next to soap then. You nodded.

"I'm Y/N." You answered..

You turned your attention to the wound.

"I'm going to remove your vest and your shirt, alright? I need to see where you got hit." You explained.

He nodded weakly. Your hands rose, snapping your fingers as the two vanished.

"How the fuck do you do that?!" Soap yelled.

"I'm. A witch. Please don't tell in my ear like that..." You answered with a frown.

You looked at the man's stomach, the bullet seemed to be on his left side, underneath his rib cage, above his hip. The bullet still inside.

"i need to remove the bullet before healing you. I'm... I'm sorry, it might be painful for a few seconds..." You said.

"it's ok... I'll... Die... If you don't..."

Again. Another pull on a heartstring.

"I'm not going to let you die." You assured with a soft smile. "Soap? Right?" He nodded "can you tell me what happened and why you're in my house? The two big guys over there are much less friendly..." You grumbled.

He smirked. You turned to the wound hand hovering above it.

"well... We're military... Special task force 141. We're on a mission. We're here to localize and intercept a group of drug dealers who use the forest for-"

Light intertwined in your fingers, blue, wavy glowing smoke, the bullet inside the body shining the same light before you focused to attract it towards you to pull it out. You'd have to work fast after, but it'll get out. The man under groaned, face torn in pain.

"i know... Sorry..I'm gonna pull it out...i just need to localize it... And...PULL." You mimicked your words, the bullet flying out into your hand, coating your fingers in blood. You sighed, dropping it to the floor, now putting both hands over the wound, applying a bit of pressure to stop the bleeding before another glow of light shinned from your hands. It spread to the man's skin underneath your palm. Veiny threads expanding from under your hands, shining blue.

Soap was gasping. You smirked again, trying to remain focused on your spell.

"go on soap. I'm listening." You reminded.

He shook his head, probably trying to focus on his story.

"hum.. yeah.. the dealers... Hum... We got ambushed... He got shot... And... We found your house here... Thought it was abandoned ...hum" the man looked mesmerized as you worked.

"yeah... Those idiots keep roaming around... They're getting on my nerves. I'm glad someone's taking care of it, didn't really want to mingle with human affairs." You explained.

It took a good five minutes for the muscles and flesh underneath your energy to grow back together. You'd have to rest for a few hours. When finally the skin had melted back together smoothly did you let the glow fade.

Removing your hand, she shadow of the bullet hole was glowing, veiny threads still expanding to the man's side and stomach.

"give it a few minutes. It'll go away." You assured before standing up slowly.

"thank you..." He let out in a shaky breath.

"don't worry. Just rest. I'll prepare some soup." You said with a soft smile before turning towards the kitchen.

"are... We the soup?" Soap asked.

You frowned, confused.

"why the fuck would I eat you? What's wrong with you?" You asked.

"your hands glow!" You heard.

---

You made your soup and everyone ate. Eventually you had let them stay the night, resting. They were safe there. You decided to help them just a tiny bit, after all, they were trying to get rid of the same enemies as you.

They remained two days, making sure their friends was up for another round. You had worked wonders, gaz being able to run around and jump quite fast.

In that time, soap just kept asking you to make things fly, or glow. You had pointed out you could do so much more, that this wasn't just some marvel movie. He seemed to ignore it.

The hat man.. price as he had introduced himself, felt more comfortable around you. The masked man however still seemed to eye you from the corner. It was time to leave when you looked at them in front of your house. You leant against the door frame.

"thank you, for everything. We'll keep your secret." Price said with a soft smile.

"something tells me you will. You're trust worthy. Be careful out there. You're four. They're fifty at least." You answered in a serious tone. "Soap." You called.

The man skipped his way towards you. You took his hand, opening it, palm up. You dropped a thick red thread, braided, a little bell at the end.

"in case of emergency. Ring."

---

They didn't ring. And weeks... Months passed. You questioned yourself if they had died. But on a rainy afternoon. You heard it. In the distance, like an echo in a dream. The bell ringing.

You didn't hesitate and immediately closed your eyes, focusing on the little bell, before simply vanishing.

---

It had turned out, it was no emergency. You had appeared in a room, the squad looking at you with wide eyes, sprawled on a couch or chairs around the cosy room. You crossed your arms.

"what in Merlin's beard is the emergency?"

"i... Just wanted to see if I'd work..."

---

It turned out to be a recurrent event. One of the boys would ring the bell, you'd get there, and they simply wanted to invite you to watch a movie.

Turns out, every Friday night, the bell rang. Poker nights, movie nights, game nights or simply to spend the evening with them. You'd often find yourself falling asleep there, unable to get back home from the tiredness or the alcohol.

Gaz was extremely thankful. He had offered you flowers and beautiful Notebooks. He had noticed your collection of notebooks laying around in your house, all scribbled. You had slightly blushed, reminding him that he didn't owe you anything at all. He didn't know it but you had crystalized the flowers, keeping them over the fireplace.

Soap was extremely happy to help you. Sometimes you'd need to make potions, you'd bring your stuff over and soap would chop things or stir. You'd often had to slap his hand away from the small cauldron to avoid him tasting anything. Of course you didn't brew anything remotely dangerous around them, but the last time you had turned your back, soap had grew a much longer pink mohawk and ran around jumping for hours.

You had wrote down in one of your new notebooks under Gaz's happy gaze, that removing three ingredients to a Calming infusion turned out to create a powerful energy potion.

Price loved it when you'd produce a little flame at the end of your finger to light up his cigar. "thank you my dear.". You had enchanted his phone, he could call you now avoiding using the bell and keeping it for emergencies only. You added in the map app, tracking points of the team, just in case. He was extremely thankful, his dad worries slightly relieved.

Ghost enjoyed watching you practice. He wouldn't say it out loud even under torture, but he was always mesmerized by the soft blue light that rose from your hands or body everytime you used your magic. He had noticed how it would naturally start flowing around you, in thin smoky waves, when you were lost in your notes or reading. He'd let his gloved hand wash through it, the sensation odd yet so familiar. You had only noticed when he had grazed your hair by mistake. Eyes falling into his you had blushed, realizing your situation. He had looked away, straightening himself. You had decided to gift him a little terrarium. On the inside, in a small porcelain miniature house, remained a little light. It took you days... Weeks even. And you'd never tell him, but you had managed to create a small artificial being, a little cute humanoid blue glowing thing. It was you. All you. Your magic and energy. It enjoyed the terrarium, and you were glad, you had wanted to gift it to him directly like this. In the end... You could feel it... The pain and sadness coming from his soul. And you could feel how your magic seemed to soothe him.

Soap calls you witchy

Gaz calls you goddess/ angel/ sweetheart

Price calls you little minx/little witch.

Ghost calls you by your name, but you had heard him once, as you were half asleep, call you 'little light'.

Little bonus:

Konig would eye you like a child in wonder. After the first fear, he would just stare. He liked seeing you garden and tend to plants, usually because nature seemed to react around you and he finds it beautiful. Flowers growing around you or grass getting greener. Butterflies or mouses, bunnies and birds often visiting when you were simply reading outside in the shade of a tree, and he always found it adorable.

Calls you Göttin.

(not sure about the translation my bad... Goddess?)

[autumnleaves1991-blog]

 "What's your problem with me?" Arkham Knight x F! Reader

Summary: Continuation of this story. Years later, your quiet morning is interrupted when the Arkham Knight sends his soldiers to collect you. Masks are torn away and the man you once loved is revealed but he's not the same Jason Todd you knew, will it be enough?

Pairing: Arkham Knight (Jason Todd) x F! Reader (wears glasses)

Warnings: 18 + for language, violence, blood, guns, mentions of death, torture, and killing.

Cross Posted on AO3

The rain streams down the window pane and you wipe at your eyes, the sleep coming off on your fingetips as you put on your glasses. It’s early and this calls for some tunes. You turn up the music on your phone, shaking your hips as you pour a cup of coffee. 

The stillness of the morning is rather rudely interrupted by the shattered glass and the body sliding across your floor. You scream as three men crash into the apartment, guns drawn and you duck covering your head below the counter. 

“Shit,” you hear someone shout, “where the fuck did she go?!” 

“I don’t know, but we better find her. We know what happens when we fail him.” 

You grab a knife off the counter, clutching it in your hands before taking a deep breath and counting to three. Their heavy boots round the corner and you pounce. The first one goes down with a scream, holding a hand to his neck where the blood gushes out, pouring over his fingertips. 

“Shit,” you hear another shout, “get the fucking knife!” 

The remaining two aim there guns and you wipe a hand across your forehead, the blood trailing across your skin. “You won’t shoot me! I heard you, you’re boss wants me alive.” 

“He said alive, Princess,” the one on the left sneers, “he didn’t say spoiled.”  

“Who the fuck do you work for?” the adrenaline is spiking leaving a metallic tang on your tongue. “What's your problem with me?!” 

“Take her,” the one on the left flips a switch on his gun, the light turning from red to blue before he takes the shot. A bolt of electricity runs through your body and as the room darkens you hit the ground with a dull thud. 

The yelling you wake too does nothing to ease the ache in your head. You blink, eyes adjusting as the room spins in a kaleidoscope of colors. “Shit,” you close your eyes rubbing your head. The couch beneath you is well worn but the blanket thrown across you is soft to the touch. 

“I TOLD YOU NOT TO HURT HER!” a modulated voice shout, “I DONT TOLERATE MISTAKES.” The gun shot has your eyes snapping open and you struggle to burrow deeper into the couch. 

The door is thrown open and a masked figure steps inside. Their chest heaving. You yelp when they smash the gun down on the table and their head quickly looks at me. “You’re safe,” the voice says, their hands raising up to show them empty, “I’m not gonna hurt you.” 

“I’d beg to differ,” you clutch the blanket tighter, “are they dead?” You nod towards the door behind them. 

They pause glancing over their shoulder before letting out a very human sigh, “yes. They’re dead.” 

“Then why would I trust you?” 

They stand their for a moment contemplating what you’re unsure. They lift a hand and flick a switch, “because I would never let anything happen to you.” 

Your chest pounds, and you stand nearly falling over with the way your head spins. The mask is still in place but you know that voice. He reaches out to help before you fall to the floor, his hands quickly retreating when you right yourself. “Jason?” you whisper, the ache growing the longer he waits to answer. 

He turns, walking over to the window gazing down at the city. You follow, always the moth to his flame. Below is chaos, every sort of bus imaginable filled to the brim as people fight for a seat out of the city. “What’s happening?” 

“Scarecrow gave them a taste of what true fear looks like,” he replies somberly. 

“I don’t understand…” 

“I couldn’t,” he fumbles over the words, “I couldn’t let you go.”

“Jason,” you press a hand to his arm softly.

But he’s quick, pressing you into the wall, a gloved hand around your throat, “Jason Todd is dead!” 

You grab the hand, digging your nails in but he’s not squeezing, just pinning you to the wall. He trembles, brow furrowing beneath the mask at your lack of fear. “Jason,” you whisper, “take off the mask.” 

He squeezes and you gasp before he lets go, his face getting closer to yours, the cold metal of the helmet pressed to your cheek, “I told you, Jason Todd is dead.” 

“Then who are you? Why am I here?” 

“I’m the Arkham Knight. And you’re here because- “ he steps back, leaving you pressed against the wall. He rest his hands on the rail, tightening his grip. “Hal’s is gone.” 

“What?” you press of the wall, “what do you mean?” 

“Scarecrow pumped his fear gas into the place. The patrons tore each other apart. I had you brought here so you would be safe.” 

“My employees? The customers? They’re all dead?” Your stomach churns and you feel nauseous. “I’m gonna be sick.” He turns grabbing you before you fall and helping you to the couch, the trash can appears in his hands and you lose the contents of your stomach. 

“Oh my god,” you press a hand to your head sobbing, “why didn’t you just let me die?! That was all I had left of him. If you’re not really Jason then I have nothing. Just put me in the cold ground beside him.” 

“You own the diner? I thought you just worked there.” 

“I bought it a few years ago. It was all I had left of him. I couldn’t let it go.” You press tour palms into your eyes, rocking back and forth, “I couldn’t let him go.” 

The hiss of the mask opening makes you freeze and you keep your eyes shut tight. “Look at me,” his voice is crystal clear and the tears flow down your cheeks threatening to drown you. You shake your head, and his voice comes out more forcefully, “look at me.” 

“No,” you cry. 

He grabs your wrists, tightening around them painfully, before he pulls you up, “LOOK AT ME!” 

The air is sucked out of your lungs, tears streaming down your face, and you whimper as his hands tighten, not doubt leaving bruises.

It’s him.

A ghost of a man you loved, his skin is covered in scars, a raised brand of a J on his cheek. His eyes are wide and his breathing is erratic as he meets your eyes. “Jason,” you cry, “oh my god, you’re alive.” 

His group loosens and you collapse against his chest sobbing. Muscle memory takes over and he holds you to him, his hands rubbing over your back. His chin resting on the top of your head. 

You pull back, your hand resting on his cheek and his eyes close, leaning into your touch. “I love you,” you whisper, “I love you so fucking much. I never got to tell you,” you speak quicker almost afraid you’ll wake from a dream. “I know you knew it though, how could you not? I never stopped loving you.” 

His eyes slowly blink open, his voice pained, “I’m not the Jason you knew,  Doll. He died in the underbelly of Arkham.” 

“Arkham?” you furrow your brow, “you’ve been at Arkham Asylum this whole time?” 

“No,” he shakes his head, “but I was there for two years. The Joker…he tortured me…burned me, cut me, beat me, broke me.” 

“Oh god,” you can’t even imagine what he’s been through, “how did you escape?” 

“He left me to die. Beat me within an inch of my life with a crowbar and left. I think he got tired of me.” He sounds exhausted and you push him into the couch, looking around the room before seeing the restroom and taking a step towards it. He reaches out for your arm, “don’t leave me.” 

“I’m not,” you promise, “never again. Trust me.” He nods, letting you go and you run to the bathroom, rinsing your mouth with water and grabbing a threadbare towel and rinsing it under cold water. 

You walk back into the room and approach slowly, sitting down onto the couch beside him. “Tell me everything.” 

He tells you how he escaped Arkham, how he fled when he realized the Joker was still alive, that he’d been replaced. You remove his gloves, brushing the blood from his fingertips as he tells you the tale. “Why didn’t you ever come and find me?” 

“I did. I went to the diner and saw you sitting there. The same beautiful girl I left behind. But I wasn’t the same Jason you knew. My time with the Joker changed me. I didn’t want to taint your memories but returning to you half a man.” 

“I hate that you took the decision away from me,” he turns his head to look at you, “I hate that you think I’d love you any less because of what happened.” 

“I’m a murderer,” he states it plainly, “I’m going to destroy Gotham. I’m going to kill Batman. I’m going to burn this city to the fucking ground and when it’s gone I’m gonna dance on it’s grave.” 

“Okay,” you whisper, his eyes widening as you straddle his waist. Your arms wrapping around his neck, his hands firm on your waist as he tugs you closer. Your lips but a breath away, “what’s next?” 

“You don’t know what you're asking for,” he doesn’t push you away, instead he leans closer. “If you stay I’m going to drag you down with me.” 

“Sounds perfect,” there is no space left between you and his lips turn up into a smirk you’ve not seen in years.

“Yeah?” he whispers, his lips brushing yours with every word. 

“I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be.” His mouth slams to yours and you moan, the feeling of home is euphoric. 

“Fuck,” he groans, devouring your mouth in a mess of tongues and teeth. “I missed you so much, Doll. I never got to tell you I love you.” He breaks away a trail of saliva connecting the two of you. His eyes turn black with rage, his grip on you tightening, “that fucking clown took everything away from me.” 

“Come back,” you run your hands through his hair, “he can’t hurt us anymore. He’s dead, nothing but ash. I’m real,” you grab his hand and he lets go pressing his hand to your chest so he can feel your heart, “you’re alive, you made it out.” 

His eyes go soft, the pupils receding as he listens to the thump of your heart. His breathing slows down to match your own. “I’m going to burn Gotham,” he repeats, “I’m going to kill Batman.” 

“Okay,” you nod, pressing a chaste kiss to his lips. “Kill Batman, burn the city, and then when you're done we leave. We leave all of this behind and live our lives together. We put away the masks, and go.” 

“I love you,” he kisses your lips softly whispering the words over and over again. 

“I love you. All of you. I’ll be here when you get back,” you lean back pressing the button on the helmet, his eyes never leaving yours the entire time as he’s sealed back inside. The eyes glow and you smile, giving a kiss where his mouth would be,  “Now go kill the Batman.” 

[jacksdinonuggets]

~Fight Nights~

Y'ALL I HAD AN IDEA AND I WROTE IT.

Summary: Vaggie has a fight with Charlie and needs comfort. However, the only other person she can run to is Carmilla

Vaggie stormed out of the hotel, angry, and on the brink of tears. She and Charlie had just gotten into a fight. They didn’t fight often so it really affected them when they did. The reason that they fought? Vaggie was suppressing her negative emotions again, therefore keeping a secret. This made Charlie pretty upset since she wanted them to have a mutual relationship and not just one protector. However, Vaggie viewed herself as someone who couldn’t show weakness so she got pretty worked up when Charlie confronted her about it. She didn’t mean to turn it into an argument. It just sort of happened.

Anyways, she just really needed comfort from someone and the only other person she could really go to was carmilla. She had been taking fighting lessons once a week with her and sometimes, she would even teach a little bit of ballet so she could learn to dance-fight. At first, they would just go back and forth with returning weapons and paying some loans and business stuff but then they started to get a bit personal. Sometimes, if Vaggie was having a bad day, Carmilla would invite her into her office and they would talk about whatever was bothering her before they practiced.

So, still slightly pissed and more emotional than ever, she walked to her warehouse that was also just her normal house. She knocked on the big metal doors, hanging her head low. Now was not the time to cry.

The doors opened after a couple of seconds and Carmilla greeted her at the door.

“Vaggie, what brings you here? It is not our normal practice day,” She questioned as she urged the girl inside. 

“I just-... I needed someplace safe to cool down. Me and Charlie had a fight,” Vaggie explained. Talking had never seemed as hard as it did at that moment. It felt like with every word she was about to break down into tears. Usually, if she was feeling like this, she would go to Charlie and the two would cuddle, spend time together, or have little time. But she couldn’t because she felt wrong for having to want comfort from the person she just fought with. It would be awkward and strange.

Carmilla sighed, “How about you meet me in my office and i’ll bring up a cup of tea. Then you can tell me all about it, ‘kay?” Vaggie nodded and started walking up the stairs. She passed the big doors that lead into the main house area and went towards the office. 

As Vaggie was waiting, she could feel her headspace teetering. It was a weird feeling to want to be taken care of and comforted by basically a stranger. But somehow she grew sort of attached to her.

When Carmilla returned, she had two cups of tea in her hand. She gave one to Vaggie, who was sitting on the couch. She nodded a thank you and took a sip. Carmilla sat next to her and put her’s on the coffee table.

“Alright, why don’t you tell me what’s going on?” she prompted. Vaggie took a deep breath and began.

“Charlie had begun to notice that i was hiding my vulnerable emotions and lying whenever she would ask if i was okay. I get overwhelmed easily but I would say i was fine whenever someone would ask, just to not be seen as weak. Well, she noticed and confronted me about it. We got into this huge fight and she brought up how i haven’t regressed-” Shit, she can’t tell her that. That’s too personal. Plus, what if she thinks its weird? “Uh- I mean used this one coping mechanism in a month or two and that i was repressing it,” wow, great save there.

“Anyways, she hit a few nerves that I know she probably regrets. I said a few things I’m not proud of, but it still hurts. Its like, I really want a hug but I can’t get it because she’s the only one I have who can comfort and love me!” Vaggie spiraled. At this point, she didn’t even care that she was talking to a dangerous overlord. She just needed to rant. And rant she did.

“Would it make you feel better if I gave you a hug?” Carmilla offered. She saw how Vaggie looked as though she desperately needed one. It was like looking at a small panicking child. You just needed to help them. In a way, Vaggie reminded her of her daughters. And Carmilla reminded Vaggie of a mother in a way. Not like she’s ever known hers, being a heavenborn orphan whose only family consisted of exorcists who bullied her.

Vaggie nodded. Carmilla wrapped her arms around the small, short girl and gave a reassuring squeeze. Vaggie had never wanted to cry more than did right now. It was overwhelming. But not exactly in a bad way. She felt this strange, clingy emotion towards her. 

Carmilla was about to pull away but she felt something stopping her. Vaggie’s arms were gripping her waist like her life depended on it and she could feel something wet on her collarbone where Vaggie had her head. She hadn’t even noticed the girl start crying. But nonetheless, she rubbed her back and comforted her, just like she would with her daughters.

“Shh, it's okay, I’ve got you,” she whispered in a soothing motherly tone, the one she never uses with strangers or in combat.

Vaggie’s headspace dipped so far when those words were spoken. She felt so small, like a toddler in Carmilla’s big embrace. 

“Mama..” Vaggie mumbled into her chest. It was very muffled and quiet though.

Carmilla noticed the words spoken from vaggie and knew that the girl’s headspace had dropped. She wasn’t stupid. She knew what regression was. 

“Mama’s here, sweetie,” she gently told her.

The two hugged for what seemed to be 5 minutes until Vaggie calmed down. She didn’t want to let go though. It felt so good to feel loved.

“It seems like it’s past your bedtime, little one,” she said when they pulled apart. Vaggie pouted but was noticeably tired. It was about 9:30 and her little brain could only stay up so late.

“Come on, I’ve got a spare room you can use.” she stood up and signalled for her to follow her. However, she Vaggie was having some trouble standing. She kept falling over. Having one eye and being small didn’t mix well for balance. 

Carmila bent over and picked her up. She held her by her hip as she carried her out of the office, their tea forgotten. She walked towards the big doors that led to the main house area. When she opened the doors, Clara and Odette were sitting in the living room on the couch. They looked up to see their mother carrying the princesses girlfriend? It confused them but Carmilla mouthed ‘I’ll explain later’. 

When they approached the guest room, Carmilla was able to hold Vaggie with one hand for about a second to open the door. They didn’t have any spare pajamas so Vaggie would have to sleep in her current clothes. They didn’t seem too uncoomfortable though.

Carmila laid her down in the bed and pulled the covers over her, tucking her in.

“Wha’ bout Char-Char?” Vaggie rubbed her eyes. The big kid in her knew that Charlie would be expecting her to be home in about an hour and would definitely begin freaking out if she wasn’t home by then.

“I’ll let her know you’re staying the night,” Carmilla said in a hushed voice, “For now, its ni-ni,”

Once she was done tucking her in she turned off the lights and left, but not before cracking the door just in case Vaggie needed anything during the night. Then, she went back downstairs to explain the situation to her daughters. They seemed pretty okay with it and promised not to spread it, as Carmilla knew it was something she’d probably like to keep a secret. In the end, Carmila never expected to be the mother of three, yet here she was.