#look at john's lil ponytail

[clerk427]

guys hear me out gUYS GUYS HEaR ME OUT GU-

- blue-coded protagonist and red-coded antagonist

- and they're nemesis

- and and er....

i actually didn't come up with anything else i just wanted to indulge myself with a stupid crossover

i love monkey island so much

[tertiaryapocalypse]

my piece for the disabledstuck zine, which you can check out here!! it looks really cool all together ^_^

[id: an illustration of john, jade, rose, dave, and davesprite sitting together, in what is presumably a living room. behind them are a variety of posters displaying theirs and the alpha kid's interests, including, from left to right: a picture of kamina from gurren lagann, a national treasure poster, a signed & elaborately framed drawing of sweet bro and hella jeff hugging, a squiddles poster which has been drawn on top of to look like the beta kids, an image of schrodinger with cat ears and whiskers drawn on in pink, a framed photo of sigmund freud, a poster for the movie contact, a photo of obama with red hearts drawn all over it, a wizard print, a poster for bbc sherlock, a print for problem sleuth, a horse calendar with orange annotations on the image and every day crossed out in red up until the 26th of july, a printed image of jigsaw, and a printed image of lil nas x. behind all of the other posters and images is a large photo of neyteri. the wall is a light bluish grey, and the floor is hardwood. june and dave sit on a light green couch with a floral pattern. davesprite is an orange sprite who is slightly glowing. he has similar features as dave, though wing wears his hair in short locks and has a septum piercing. he has gauges and a black beaded bracelet. wing leans on the top of the couch with his arms crossed and wings tail floating behind him, looking over at dave with a lazy expression as dave talks. dave is a blasian person with medium dark skin, short curly hair, which is bleached blond, braces, and aviator shades. she wears a dark red hoodie, dark grey skinny jeans, and a similarly red beanie, as well as green socks with dinosaur bones patterned on. he has a star of david pin and a system flag pin. he leans on the couch and has one leg crossed over the other. john grins, seemingly laughing at dave. she's a chinese-brazilian boy with lighter skin, square rimmed glasses, some stubble, and long straight dark hair in a ponytail. she has his ears pierced and wears a trans necklace, as well as his typical tee shirt and a pair of grey cargo shorts. she leans against the arm of the couch. rose and jade both sit on the floor with their backs to the couch. rose is knitting a pink scarf, listening to their conversation while making an amused expression. it's a blasian girl with curly lavendar hair. she has dark makeup on, and wears a black t-shirt with a purple pleated skirt and black socks. she wears compression gloves and black earrings shaped like the star of david. jade leans on it's knee, sleeping peacefully. jade is a chinese-brazilian person with long wavy dark hair, streaked with white. they have white dog ears and a tail, though said tail is hidden. they habe rounded glasses and wear a dark green cargo skirt and dave's shirt. dave, rose, and davesprite have rounded chins, wide, flat noses, and full lips, while june and jade have slightly more angular chins, hooked noses, and thinner lips. john and dave both have canes leaning against the couch. june's is green and has an offset handle, and daves is a red folding cane. end id.]

[helluvapurf]

Thoughts on latest HB ep "Ghostf**kers" (*now that I've regained a bit more energy post-Halloween weekend lol*):

So the newest ep of HB has came & went from what I've seen- aaaand naturally feels like the best time for me to finally ramble about it now that its settled in my brain some more .3. Thoughts (+Spoilers) below~ NOTE: Most of this -does- get a lil rant-y below sooo... read at your own risk lol .w.;;

First things out of the way to start things off on a good note, the Pros:

To start off with... FINALLY we got some Millie focus for a major episode plot (-or more specifically, focus that doesn't get revolved back to Moxxie somehow lol)😭👏👏. Even if Millie's spotlight here did have to be shared with Blitz for a good chunk of the ep, their friendship was actually genuinely sweet & compelling to watch (esp. their backstory & how Millie was allowed to stand up for herself, give him space, BUT also coming around to acknowledging the good in Blitz, when it all came down to it🥺👏). Which ngl, after these previous episodes reigning down HARD on this dude... idk, just felt refreshingly wholesome to see for this series, yknow?😊

New villain Rolando was pretty cool, and surprisingly spooky to watch as the second-half went on oml- .o.;; While I'm still a teensy bit confused how his powers/demon lore work (at least to what we already know about Hell limitations crossing to the human world, ex. succubi & their crystals), his underwater monster vibe gave some fun visuals to watch up until the climax. I'm not 100% familiar with John Waters' works, but damnnn he should take up voice-acting more often ngl~ 👀

FINALLY MAMA TILLA MAKES AN (on-screen) APPEARANCE 😭😭Her whole vibe & Blitz's clear love and regret over what happened to her... hhhhh my whole heart ;n; 💔

That pink client lady (Rita, I think her name is?) who assigned the hotel mission? I dig her vibe, its cute~ :3

I.M.P. feeling like a legitimate workplace family for once, with even Loona & Moxxie getting a nice lil moment towards the end?? More. Of this. Please. 👌👌

Even with the lil undertones of the Stol*itz drama from the past couple eps, I very much appreciate Blitz (+the show itself) acknowledging that what's been going is NOT a breakup ('cause... yknow, they never actually dated to begin with lol🤷‍♀️). It may not 100% fix how messy that particular narrative's been handled as of late (which I'll get to in a sec-), but eh... its a start in the right direction, I guess? .3.

Enjoyed all the colorful flashback looks given, never would I have thought I needed mercenary!Millie with a fluffy ponytail til nowww hlkjlk😩❤️

Aaaand as for the not-so-good bits (imo), aka the Cons:

Pacing felt kiiiinda all-over-the-place, I'll admit; like one min we've got a whole intro & a half to deal with Blitz's whining fest (+some other pointless banter at the hotel)... then the next it feels like we're breezing past Rolando's whole presence as the "big bad" villain. Which... idk, I guess I shouldn't be too harsh on given the production drama behind-the-scenes (aka: the leaked content that had to be cut & redone awhile back)... buuuut yeah, its just one of those things you can't help but take notice of, critique-wise lol 🤷‍♀️

The humor wasn't... exactly at its strong point here, mainly just a lil overdone in the sex joke department imo though I guess thats kind of "par-for-the-course" in the Hellaverse series nowadays, so lol

Now, idk if this may be an unpopular opinion or not; but was I the only one who felt like Blitz's month-long mope fest over Stolas was rather... OOC, all things considered? .-. Like, okay its one thing for Blitz to still be (understandably) upset over how the last two eps went down (but being the "boss" he is, continues working anyway to keep I.M.P. afloat, like in the latest HB shorts)... but for Blitz of all people to just randomly use ALL his company's funds on useless junk, force his daughter Loona to stay up all night/not go home, drive Moxxie in a panic from all the budgeting issues this past month was just... wut- 🤦‍♀️ ...Mind you, this is meant to be the SAME Blitz who not even a few episodes ago begged Stolas to not take away the Grimoire (aka the key to his + his employee's livelihood), clearly being willing to do anything to not lose all that he holds dear. You seriously expect me to believe he'd be the type to throw that all away (for a WHOLE month)... all to simply whine over some blue-blooded bird not noticing him? ...Yeaaaaah sorry, but I'm gonna have to call bs on that, chief- 🙄

Kiiiinda tying in the last point, but as much as I enjoyed the tense thills gained from the "Rolando enters Blitz' mind to make him see his own flaws/past mistakes" sequence... I do have a few issues with some of these other "flashbacks" added to the mix: 1) Loona's groin kick towards Blitz in "Seeing Stars" (*wasn't Blitz's fault since ALL he did was tell her to be nice to clients... and was right about to apologize to Loona just seconds before the kick 😒*) 2) Blitz pushing Stolas' hand away in "Ozzies" (*which Blitz only did after Stolas hide his face/didn't defend Blitz during the song*) 3) Stolas' hurt expression at the end van scene of "Ozzie's" (*mind you, taking place while Blitz is rightfully standing up for himself/telling off Stolas for being a privileged creep all of S1*) 4) Stolas trying to present the Asmodean Crystal gift in "Full Moon" (*a whoooole mess in of itself I already covered prior-*) 5) Stolas angrily walking away from their pool fight + trash-talking Blitz in the "Motherf**kers" song + drunkenly dumping his problems on him + making out with a whole other dude in front of Blitz (*again, a huge mess I covered prior but TL;DR... most of that WASN'T fully-Blitz's fault in those instances??😑*)

Like... I dunno man, I don't mean to sound like I'm just ragging on Stolas per-episode as of late... but these last few points just keep giving me mixed signals than any genuine idea as to WHY Blitz even has these "feelings" growing for Stolas, atm?🤨For any canon couple in fiction, I WANT to see reasons for why they work best together, what kind of interests/aspects they've got in-common, what special "spark" is there that helps them stand out above all the other dynamics in-canon... but from what I see so far on Blitz's end (& the narrative continuing to guilt on him being "the problem")... it honestly feels more like he's only now fallen for Stolas out of pity... not because Blitz actually wants him for him, y'know? :/ Which... ngl, sounds like a really sad precedent to send for a main-endgame couple, regardless of series genre imo... 🤷‍♀️

-------

Soooo yeah, all that rant-y rambling aside... not a bad ep in the grand scheme of things! 👍👍Here's hoping the last few remaining eps (+possible shorts) for S2 keeps up the good work! 🙏

[thinkhappythxughts]

Black Sails season 3 lets go!!

*sees Flint with the new shaved head* oh he still looks hot af, i’ll miss the lil ponytail but this is still great

*sees new and improved John Silver* OHOHOHOHOHOOOOOOOOOOOO

[fitzs-trained-monkey]

Fine On My Own

Title: Fine On My Own

Word Count: Wouldn't you like to know?

Summary: Your parents had been on the secret council of Mystic Falls and as the eldest child, they had told you everything that being a founding family member meant. But you hadn't wanted their legacy. On a whim, you had dated the original vampire Kol Mikaelson just to spite your parents. You were supposed to hate him and vice versa but you ended up feeling the opposite. But he left - you knew he had to but that didn't make it feel any better. Then someone blew your parents to kingdom come. When Kol showed up at your door, you didn't know how to let him back into your life. Did you even want him to come back? || Kol x reader || Here lies my Masterlist

Warnings: Blood, violence, fluffy and protective Kol, a manipulative wack-job, and way too many LOTR references.

Requested By: @misswe03 I hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed writing it! Thanks for being here.

A/N: Listen to Who Did That To You by John Legend when you read that last half. Makes it 10x better. Also Y/B/N stands for your brother's name just so there's no confusion. Anyway... Roll Tape!

Pulling your hair into a ponytail at the nape of your neck, you cracked open the door to the guest room quietly, peaking in for just a moment before entering. An unconscious smile spread across your face as you wandered over to the far corner of the darkened space. 

"Hello, lil' miss! Hows' ya doin' today?" You cooed. The adorable little baby giggled softly in her bassinet, staring up at you with chocolate brown eyes that looked strikingly like her father's. You waved at her before bending down to pick her up. "Did you have a good nap? Yes? Oh, dere's a good girl, yes. Yes, ma'am. You're just the sweetest, aren't you?" 

The baby gurgled and showed you the beginnings of a smile. She really was a mercifully sweet baby. For three and a half months old, the girl hardly ever cried. You held her up against your shoulder and gave her a kiss on her head. Downstairs, the doorbell rang and you frowned.

"Now who could that be, sweet-bubby?" You muttered. The baby didn't offer any probable suggestions of course, though you probably would have been more upset if she had. 

You debated for a moment whether or not you should go get the door. It was five o'clock in the afternoon and you hadn't been expecting anyone so odds were it was probably just some door-to-door salesperson or something. They'd probably go away if you ignored them. There was also an off chance it could be one of your friends, but none of them had contacted you in weeks. Not since the-

You winced a little.

It wasn't like you could blame any of them, they'd all tried their best. You'd have done the same thing in their shoes. It wasn't their fault they didn't have a clue what they should say to you. What on earth can you say to a person when their parents get blo-

You held that sweet baby girl closer and shoved the end of that thought away, blinking rapidly. You'd been doing so well.

The doorbell rang again and you rolled your eyes, secretly grateful for the distraction now. "Let's go see who that is. Yeah, we're gonna go see, huh baby?"

Descending the stairs carefully as you were still holding a baby, you arrived at the door just as someone rang the bell again. You slid away the deadbolt and flipped the lock, opening the door just a smidge - just enough so you could see out - you wanted to be able to easily slam it shut if needed. You shifted the baby to keep her out of sight. Paranoia had been plaguing you recently, it wasn't something you couldn't help. You peered out at the person standing on your porch and gasped, blinking a few times to assure you weren't seeing things. 

The boy outside was tall - a little over six foot - and thin, but in a lithe, muscular sort of way, not the wimpy kind of way like other boys. He wore dark blue jeans, a black shirt, and a gray canvas jacket with the collar turned up against the weather outside. His thick, dark hair was longer than it had been the last time you'd seen him and it looked a little windblown, but that was okay; it still looked cute on him. He stood with his hands shoved deep in his jacket pockets, rocking back and forth on his heels nervously, with his head bowed and his gaze fixed on the ground. He only glanced up when he heard you gasp, raising his head to look at you with hooded eyes - big, chocolate brown, puppy-dog eyes that you loved more than you should. 

"Kol?" You breathed, opening the door a little wider. The corners of his lips twitched up in a smile that was both hesitant and reserved.

"Hello, darling."

That smooth, silky voice washed over you and you instantly felt your body relax a little. It was involuntary - just muscle memory at this point. That boy had been your safe place once, but that was before he'd taken off in a puff of smoke. Sure, he texted and called, but that just wasn't the same as knowing where he was and seeing his face. You understood that was for your own safety - didn't stop it from hurting though. You had still missed him.

"Hi," You whispered. All you could offer him was a fragile smile - it was nothing like the broad, wild one you knew he liked, but you were trying your best. You felt stretched pretty thin. "I, uh… I didn't know you were back. Have you been in town long?"

He shook his head. "Not long. Only about two, maybe three hours or so."

"And how long will you be staying?" You asked even quieter, tucking a loose strand of hair behind your ear with your free hand. You knew he would hear you regardless of how quietly you spoke.

"A while, I hope," He replied. Kol took a step forward. "May I come in, love?" He kept his voice gentle and you wanted to feel safe but he had that look on his face that said he wanted to talk to you about something. Talking was the last thing you wanted to do - you had to keep moving.

You shook your head, staring at your feet, you moved to close the door but Kol stopped it with his hand. He didn't overpower you though like you knew he could. He just watched you with something soft in his eyes. 

"You don't have to shut me out, Y/N/N," He murmured. 

"I know that," You said.

"Do you?"

A moment passed and you sighed heavily. 

"Take your shoes off in the foyer." 

That was all you said before abandoning the door. At least you hadn't made dinner yet so you could include him in your preparations. Might as well do that now;  he didn't technically need to eat but you would include him anyway - it was the right thing to do. The sound of the door closing came from behind you as you entered the kitchen. You could have fought him harder but there wasn't really a point in doing so. You were already so tired.

After taking a moment to obey your singular command, Kol shuffled into the kitchen wordlessly. You didn't even have to glance over your shoulder to know he was leaning against the doorway with his arms folded, watching you and wondering. You chuckled slightly and faced him, turning the baby in your arms around as well. You gave her a gentle kiss on her head.

"This is Millie," You said, nodding towards her. Then you stooped a bit to address the baby girl. "And this here is Kol, Millie. He's my friend. Wanna say hi? Yeah, can you say hi?" You took her hand and helped her wave at Kol. "Yes, that's a hello from you! That's a little hello from Millie!" You glanced up at Kol, a smile tugging at the corners of your lips.

A small but genuine smile spread across Kol's face as he waved at the baby. "Hello, Millie!" He chuckled. "Are you having fun with Y/N/N?"

"Oh yeah, totally." You smirked. "This lil' Miss is my new best friend."

Kol gasped in foux shock. "But Millie, Y/N is my best friend! Did you steal her away from me?" The little baby giggled in response, flapping her arms a little.

"I think she did," You hummed, sending him a pitying look.

Kol stepped forward and held his hand out to Millie, letting her wrap her little hand around his finger and smiling as she did. "I don't believe this, darling. What's this little munchkin got that I haven't?"

You shrugged. "Sorry, Kol. She's just a lot cuter than you."

Kol rolled his eyes and smirked. "I take offense to that," He said. You huffed a laugh and turned around to preheat the stove so you could start making dinner. Mac 'n cheese because you'd always thought you'd have time to learn how to cook. Not anymore.

You could feel Kol's eyes burning a hole into the back of your head as you moved around the kitchen. You knew what he was wondering - knew he didn't want to ask. It had been almost eight months since he'd last seen you. It was possible. You stopped what you were doing and sighed.

"She's not mine, Kol," You told him, your voice soft. You didn't turn to face him but you could hear his breath of relief. "This is Milie Stoker - my second cousin I think… something like that, I'm not sure. She's three and a half months old. I've been taking care of her since-"

You cut yourself off with a strangled hum, trying to ignore or maybe distract yourself from the sudden spike of pain in your chest. You hugged that little girl closer - she needed you to be stronger than this. 

"Y/N?" The weight of Kol's gaze grew heavier on your back but you refused to look at him. In fact, you sniffed and straightened, acting as though you hadn't even heard.

"Did you know babysitters get paid like 18 dollars an hour?" You forced a laugh. "That's better than working at the grill, and all I have to do is hold a baby!"

Kol sighed. "Darling, why didn't you tell me?" He asked, his voice firm but gentle.

You stiffened and shifted Millie's weight to hide how much your hands were shaking. "You had your own problems," You mumbled. "You know, being on the run and all that… I guess I just didn't wanna bother you."

"Bother me?" Kol took a step closer to you but you still couldn't face him. "Angel, I would have come running - in fact, that's exactly what I did. I heard the news from Rebekah and I came here as soon as I could. I could have been here sooner if you had just told me." The space between your bodies disappeared as he took another step. You shivered as Kol's warm arms found their way around your waist, tightening simply because he liked to listen to your heart skip a beat. He leaned his head down to nuzzle into your neck, letting his lips brush over every inch of exposed skin. "You were there for me when I needed you, darling. You knew what I was, yet you let me lay with you, let me hold you all the night long when I felt as though I could scarcely breathe. Even when I had no one, I had you. Yet when the unthinkable lands in your lap… you didn't even say a word."

You clenched your teeth against the tidal wave of emotions his words brought swelling to your mind. 

"And what was I supposed to say?" You choked out. "How was I supposed to say it, Kol? I can't. I can't say it! I can't even think it!" Kol sighed and urged you to turn around. It's hard to properly hug someone when they're holding a baby so he took your face in his hands and pressed a soft kiss to your forehead instead. You leaned into his touch, grimacing against the painful hole in your chest. "It hurts so bad and I don't know what to do."

"I think it's about time you told someone, darling," He said, stroking your cheek. "You don't have to do this all alone."

You nodded and took a shuddering breath. "Kol?" You forced out. He hummed to let you know he was listening. You bit your lip and held little Millie closer. "Kol, my parents are dead." A sob escaped your lips, sending a painful tremor through your whole body. "They're dead!"

You'd never admitted it out loud before and you felt as though the words were knives, shredding your soul. An overwhelming pain burned in your chest and you fisted his jacket with your free hand, pulling him closer to you.

Kol rubbed your arms, nodding. "I know, darling," He mumbled, feathering his lips over your cheek. "I know and I'm sorry… Now, tell me how they died."

He already knew. He just wanted you to say it - to face the facts you had spent months denying.

"They-they said it was a fire," You hissed through clenched teeth. "The police - they told all of us it was some sort of freak accident, but I know it wasn't. It was on purpose, I know that! The whole council - my-my parents, my mom and dad - somebody blew them up, Kol! And the worst part is, I can't do a thing about it!" You cried, letting your tears soak his shirt.

Kol nodded, watching you intently with understanding in his deep chocolate eyes as his gentle touch drifted down your arm until he held your hand in his own. He pressed his lips against your knuckles in much the same way as he had when you'd first met him - except the gesture now was much sweeter, more familiar, and intimate than it had been that night at his family's ball.

"I'm terribly sorry, Y/N," He said.

"Y/B/N still doesn't know," You continued. "Dad was gonna tell him, and now more than ever he deserves to know the truth but I don't know how to tell him! He's already struggling! How do I tell him that his whole reality is a lie? I-I love Mom and Dad so much, but I don't know what to do, so I have to go along with all this crap the police are spewing and it makes me so angry! I can't even tell my little brother the truth!"

You felt Kol's finger under your chin and chose to comply as he tilted your head up to look at him. He cupped your jaw, tracing your cheek over and over with his thumb. 

"I know who did it," He said after a moment. "I know who killed your parents."

Every muscle in your body tensed, yet when you spoke, your tone was eerily calm. "Did you kill them?"

"Yes," He whispered.

You nodded. "And did they suffer?"

"I'd like to think so."

After months of anger and grief, you finally felt yourself begin to relax. "Good," You replied, pressing yourself further into Kol's warm embrace. He stilled, and you could tell that your actions confused him. You had always been such a fair and compassionate soul - your calm demeanor was a breath of fresh air in his confusing and chaotic life. You were practical and level headed and Kol admired that about you, it wasn't like you to wish unnecessary suffering on others.

"Would you like to know who it was?" He asked slowly, petting your hair. You shook your head. You didn't need to know. "Do you want to know why he did it?"

"No." Your voice was hoarse from crying. "All I need to know is that he's never gonna hurt anybody ever again. Too many kids like me and Y/B/N have lost their parents because of him, Millie's never even gonna know hers because of him. I don't think that monster deserves a name."

Kol nodded and let go of you, allowing you to step back and take a breath. You turned away from him, composing yourself as you finished up with the mac and cheese. 

"I know you feel guilty about not being here these last few months," You spoke quietly.

Kol sighed and you didn't need to see him to know he was pinching the bridge of his nose. "Y/N, I'm not sure there's a good way to explain this to you but-"

"I'm not finished." You cut him off and he stopped to listen. That had always surprised you about him, the boyfriends you'd had in the past had never respected you the way he did. You didn't have to yell at him to get Kol to listen, you liked that about him. You took a deep breath and it only shook a little. "I know you think I've been suffering, and you're right, I have. I know you're frustrated with me because you think I was being stubborn and you think that you could have eased my burdens if I had just told you. But I'm actually really glad you weren't here," You said thoughtfully. 

He blinked, surprised by your admission. "Why?" His tone held a cautious quality in it as if there was a certain answer he was expecting.

"Because of Millie," You answered. Somewhere in the back of your mind, you made a note to drink some water but you weren't sure you had any extra energy to waste on yourself. "If you had been here, she would've had nowhere to go."

Kol's hands dropped from your sides as though he'd been stung. "You think I'd hurt her?" His tone was as much of a question as it was a statement and his voice took on that guarded quality from earlier. Kol didn't like to be pushed away, he wanted the love and trust he gave to be returned. He scoffed and shook his head. "Look, I'm sure your parents had good intentions when they filled your head with lies upon my departure, but you must believe I wouldn't hurt a babe. Regardless of whether or not the child was yours - or heaven forbid, even mine - if you wanted a family, I wouldn't be opposed to the idea! I-I mean, I meant it when I told you I was serious about this - about you - and if you think I would have hurt you over something so trivial as-" He stopped, blinking in confusion as you failed to stifle a laugh. "Wait, love, why are you laughing?" He demanded, his mouth twitching up into a confused smile. Your shoulders shook as you snickered and he couldn't help but chuckle as well. "I'm sorry, was something I said humorous to you?"

"You completely misunderstood me," You giggled, shaking your head.

He raised a brow, his hard tone melting into something more playful. "Did I now?"

You finished serving up your skillfully made five-star cuisine into some plastic bowls and turned back to him with a small smile, shifting Millie's weight against your shoulder as Kol returned his hands to your hips. "I know you would never have hurt Millie," You promised. "If you had stuck around, you probably never would have known about her. You would have been too busy taking care of me."

Kol frowned. "I'm afraid I still don't understand."

You sighed, not bothering to fight the bitter scowl that spread across your face. 

"Her parents were on the council. She didn't have any other family… So when I saw Sheriff Forbes standing on my porch, holding this little bundle of sweetness, I knew she needed me. It was only supposed to be for two nights, but two nights turned into two weeks and one day I called Sheriff Forbes and asked if I could keep her. W-we are related after all, and I-I just figured with the frankly ridiculous number of cover ups the Forbes have pulled over the generations that, uh, well that we could find a way to make it legit." You knew you were rambling but Kol's questioning expression had you worried.

"Y/N?" Kol cut you off, holding your shoulders as he watched you worriedly. "Why is it so important that Millie stays with you?"

"Somebody's gotta protect her!" You exclaimed. Your tone sounded as though you were arguing though you weren't sure with who. "The council is gone! Mom and Dad are gone! Millie doesn't have anybody, Kol. She needs me. She needs me to be stronger than I am!"

Kol's brows furrowed and he frowned. "Stronger than you are?" He parroted. "What do you mean stronger?"

You opened your mouth to retort but quickly closed it. Your gaze drifted down to your toes because you couldn't look at him. "I can't get out of bed in the morning until I hear her cry," You admitted, shrinking with shame. "I put her down for a nap and I spend every minute of that time in tears. All I can think about is how proud my parents would be if they could see me. But I don't want them to be proud. I want them to be here, but they're not! Millie is the only way I can make things right." You were crying, your breaths coming in short gasps. 

"That's why you don't want to let me help, isn't it?" Kol muttered, nodding in understanding. He stroked your cheek, smiling gently. "You're afraid - terrified that I'll leave again… I promise I won't."

"You can't stay. You can't. If I let you help me, I'll just be enabling my grief." You whispered, shaking your head with a bitter frown. "I'll get used to having you around, a-and then you'll realize I'm not getting any better so you'll leave and I won't be able to function without you!" A sob shook your chest as you raised your head and met his chocolate eyes with your E/C ones full of tears. "I can't fail Millie that way, Kol. I can't and I won't."

"I know you won't," He said. "However, I won't let you go through this alone." You sighed heavily but he wasn't finished speaking. "I can help you without enabling you. Just because you're strong enough to do this on your own doesn't mean you should have to."

You rolled your eyes, groaning. Why couldn't he understand? 

"That's just the thing, Kol. I'm not strong enough to do this!" You huffed, gesturing around at your mess of a kitchen. "I broke the second the police showed up at my door! I broke and I keep on breaking!"

"You're not broken, Y/N."

You pushed his hand away, bitterly. "Yes, I am. I can't sleep, I hardly drink, and eating is an actual chore. Don't you get it? I can't do anything!" You cried, letting the ache in your chest seep into your voice.

Kol just smiled. "Well that's because you're trying to do everything," He said, taking hold of your hand. He gave it a squeeze. "I promise, you're not broken, Y/N. You're just sad, and there's nothing wrong with feeling sad."

"No," You hissed, halfheartedly. "No, you're wrong. You need to wake up and see it!" You twisted and tugged at the loose strands of hair that hung in your face, delighting in the sharp pain that followed because you knew that meant this wasn't a dream - that you were justified in pushing him away. "I am not the girl I was before you left. I'm not her. I don't even know what I am anymore." 

"I do," Kol spoke up. He dipped his head to look you in the eyes. "You are all the things I've always adored about you, brought to light. You are the compassion - the fierce fierce compassion - and love that you give, that you've always given, to the lonely, the ignored and the abandoned…" Kol leaned in closer, resting his forehead against yours as he continued. "The same compassion and love you offered to me when I needed it most… That same compassion and love I fell for in the first place." He grinned, a little wry and nervous, but sincere all the same. "You're still my girl, Y/N… just a little dirtier, a little bit bent, and a little bit more."

"I appreciate the sentiment, but I just can't handle a relationship right now, Kol." You sniffed, blinking away tears. 

"No, darling. You can't handle drama right now," He countered, smirking. His hand played with a loose thread on your sleeve. "I told you I was serious about us and I meant it. I want you, I want to be with you - no drama, no sneaking around just to annoy your parents - just you… just being here for you, to make you smile and to help out where I can, to hold you when you need it, and to annoy the living hell out of you when I inevitably forget to put the milk back in the refrigerator at six in the morning." 

A rogue grin played across your lips at his proposed imagery and he chuckled softly, finally taking hold of your hand.

"Just let me help," He pleaded. "No hovering, you have my word. I don't mind waiting for you to sort through all this and I'll be more than willing to support you wherever you choose to go next. I won't leave." A slow grin spread over Kol's face as he took the tiniest shuffling step closer to you. "And who knows? Maybe I'll even teach you what little I know of cooking because, by the gods, woman; you cannot live on boxed macaroni and cheese!"

You couldn't help it. Your lips quirked and your nose scrunched up and you laughed. You just had to, and that was the first time you had done so since your parents had been murdered. That was your first real, wholehearted laugh.

And a moment later, you felt like you might throw up because of the wave of guilt that crashed over you like a tidal wave. How could you laugh? How could you feel good, even for a millisecond, when your parents were dead? You were supposed to be mourning them. 

Your face fell and you shook your head. "I can't do this. I'm sorry." Pushing against Kol's chest with your free hand, you tried to create some space between the two of you - physical or emotional, you weren't entirely sure - but the boy didn't budge.

"Can't or won't?" He questioned dryly. His voice was soft but his eyes were narrow and hard.

"I can't," You stressed.

"Why not?" Kol demanded. He moved in even closer. Too close - too close to avoid, too close to escape - boxing you in with the burden of feelings you had spent months smothering. "Because you're afraid? Because I make you happy?"

"Because you're you!" The words barely made it past your clenched teeth. "Because you're Kol Mikaelson! Because you're an original vampire and you're dangerous! You are the embodiment of everything my Mom and Dad dedicated their lives to destroying and…" 

You trailed off, losing your bravado as he watched you with eyes that weren't as dark as you'd always thought. Now that the last few rays of sunset were leaking through the window over the kitchen sink, you could see their color properly. They were warm like amber, like sunshine through autumn leaves, like a bonfire on a frigid winter night.

"And?" His voice was so soft you barely heard it.

"And I love you anyway." You shrugged, blinking rapidly through the tears. They kept flowing despite your efforts. "Guess that makes me an awful person, huh? Cause I don't care? My parents are dead and I can't even bring myself to do the one stupid thing they wanted me to do. I mean, that's why they had kids, right? To carry on the legacy!" You forced out a bitter laugh. "But I can't… I can't hate you! I can't honor them because I love you…"

"If you spend your whole life trying to appease the expectations of others, then you never really lived at all. You shouldn't burden yourself with guilt for feeling the way you do moment to moment because emotions aren't meant to be black and white." He shrugged, offering you a smile that was somehow more encouraging than anything anyone had said since your parents had been killed. "You have to let yourself feel these things, work through them, and move on. You can't ignore it. You can't use Millie as a crutch for your grief, Y/N. That's not right, and that's not why she's here. Only you can process your grief."

"How?" You wondered, blinking the tears from your eyes as you stared up at him

"You can start by letting me help you," He whispered. His gaze flicked from your eyes to your lips and his tongue darted out to wet his own. He brushed a stray strand of hair away from your face and smiled down at you as his hand trailed down your side to rest on your hip. "Am I still allowed to kiss you?" He asked, almost nervous. The boy took a step closer, pressing you back against the counter. His lips brushed yours and you let your eyes flutter closed. You had missed being close to him. The boy lingered there, restless, awaiting your answer. He was so close; you could picture yourself giving in. Kol nipped at your lips, hesitantly, sweetly, like he couldn't resist. "Please say yes," He begged.

You nodded. "Yeah."

"Thank you." 

Passionate was Kol's default setting. The second his lips met yours, he kissed you like your lips were water and he'd been parched for days. He captured your lips over and over again, breathlessly mumbling a 'bloody hell' every so often and you could tell he was trying to hold back for your sake though he wasn't exactly succeeding. You couldn't help the moan that escaped you as he slid his tongue across your lower lip.

"Kol," You warned, though your voice sounded a little too breathy to be any sort of intimidating. He shook his head minutely.

"Shhh. I'm not done yet." He cut you off with another kiss, pressing against you more firmly. You gasped as he slipped his hand beneath your shirt and trailed it higher inch by inch, caressing your skin lovingly. His nose nudged your cheek as he broke away for hardly a moment. "I need you to trust me, Y/N." He tangled his other hand in your ponytail, tugging sweetly as he caught your lips again and kissed you hungrily. "I'm not going to abandon you," He whispered against your mouth.

"Are you sure?" You had to hear him say it. 

"Absolutely," He mumbled, kissing you again. Kol drew his tongue along your lip, torturously slow and devastatingly sweet. You shivered and he smirked victoriously, squeezing you tighter. "You're mine." His words sent a thrill of excitement down your spine and you blushed. 

"I'm yours?"

He purred, nodding. "Mine… Always and forever." Kol bit down on your lower lip ever so gently, squeezing your side and you wanted to melt. You wanted to beg him for more but you couldn't.

"Kol, I'm holding a baby," You pointed out, pushing yourself away from that boy and his liquor-like kisses. 

He shrugged. "She won't remember anything." The boy leaned down to your neck, leaving butterfly kisses along your jugular. 

"True as that may be," You giggled, squirming in his grip. "I made dinner and it's getting cold."

"Oh, heaven forbid," He mumbled. 

"Excuse you, sir. I worked hard on this boxed mac 'n cheese." You grinned, feeling yourself slip back into the pattern of banter you'd had with him before he'd left.

"I suppose you did." He grinned and stepped back, holding out his hands. You raised a brow. "Pass the baby," He clarified. 

"What?" You asked blankly.

"So you can go get your brother?"

You shook your head. "Uh, no. You go get him."

"Me? He's your brother!"

"He hates me," You huffed. 

"No, he doesn't."

You rolled your eyes. "The kid won't even look at me."

"Probably because you look so much like your mother," Kol suggested. "I'm helping you, remember? This is how."

"Come on, Kol," You groaned. "You know he's always looked up to you."

"Not my fault!" The boy raised his hands as if to surrender. You leveled him with a flat look. He sighed, shrugging. "It's because I'm such excellent company, love - I can't help it." You rolled your eyes and he smirked, holding out his hands again. "Baby?"

You sighed and let Kol take Millie from you. He held her up, looking her in the eyes playfully. You heard him talking to her as you walked away.

"You may have her fooled Millie, but not me. I'm not so easy - I know exactly what you're after. I'll hold you, but that's it! There will be no bouncing, and absolutely no rocking you to sleep, young lady. Mark my words."

You rolled your eyes but didn't fight the smile that crept across your lips as you listened to the original vampire ramble in baby-talk. When you arrived at the door to your brother's room, you didn't bother knocking. Your parents had raised both of you under a strict rule of no locked doors, and now that they were gone, neither of you had the heart to break it. If you wanted to get away with something, both you and your brother had learned a long time ago to be more sneaky about it than hiding whatever it was behind a locked door. However, you did have the courtesy to knock on the door frame - that and you just didn't want to wade through the piles of dirty laundry that covered the floor. 

"Yo, humungosaurus, come and eat," You called over the sounds of The Lord of the Rings extended edition. He was watching the Two Towers if you placed the dialogue correctly. 

"Can't." Y/B/N replied over his shoulder. 

"What a compelling argument," You deadpanned. "Mind adding a sentence to that response?"

"They're taking the hobbits to Isengaurd."

You frowned. "Dude, you can pause it."

He waved you off. "I'll eat later." 

That was code for not at all. Your little brother had lost a lot of weight in the past few months, more than you were comfortable with. He used to be a little on the chubby side but now he was skin and bones. It wasn't drugs or violence you had to worry about when it came to your little brother. No, his coping method was escapism - he spent all his free time in made-up places, forgetting that he had an actual body to keep alive. It hurt to watch him.

You sighed. "Kol's here."

That got him to pause the movie. Y/B/N turned his head to stare at you, brows raised. "Weirdsmobile is back?" He asked.

"Yeah." You nodded. "He's in the kitchen, probably skimming some off the top of your mac 'n cheese."

"But he's back?" Your little brother asked again.

"That's what I just said." 

Your little brother laughed and hopped off his bed. "Now this I gotta see- whoa!" He swayed and stumbled, catching himself on his dresser. "… I stood up too fast."

You offered him a strained smile as he passed you to leave the room, steadying himself on the wall as he walked. You followed and ended up slamming into his back as he stopped just outside the kitchen. Y/B/N glanced back at you with the most genuine smile you'd seen on his face since your parents had died. He pointed into the doorway and you peaked around him to be greeted by the sight of Kol with Millie in his lap, eating a bowl of mac 'n cheese while he read to her from a copy of The Hobbit you had left on the kitchen table.

"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort." He paused to take a bite of the macaroni. "This sounds excellent already, doesn't it Millie? Do you think we should wait for Y/N and her little brother to quit spying or continue on as though we can't see them?" Kol asked the baby, glancing up at you with a smirk.

You stepped into the room and pulled your younger brother with you. "I brought the kid," You reported, jabbing your thumb in his direction.

"So you did." Kol grinned and waved. "Hey there, sport! How've you been?" 

"He hasn't been eating," You mumbled, moving to sit by your boyfriend. 

Y/B/N glared at you, sitting as well. "She hasn't either," He grumbled.

"I've been eating more than you."

"No, you haven't."

Kol raised a brow. "Ladies, ladies, you're both pretty. Don't argue about it." He turned to your brother. "I know your sister hasn't been taking proper care of herself and believe me when I say that's going to change, but what's the problem with you? Last time I was here, I distinctly remember you devouring an entire happy meal in three minutes flat. Why give up on a record like that?"

Y/B/N just shrugged. "I dunno."

Kol squinted at him, frowning doubtfully. "B.S. detected, mate. Come on, what's wrong with making a sandwich?"

"It's exhausting," Your brother sighed. "And for some reason it takes forever. I don't feel that hungry so I just don't make anything. It didn't used to be so tiring but it is now. I don't know why."

"I see." The older boy nodded in understanding. "Well, how about this? When it's lunchtime, instead of putting together a sandwich, just eat some of the individual components. Oh, and don't forget to drink some water - it's important." 

Y/B/N blinked at him, tilting his head. "Wait… what?"

"Dehydration sucks, kid, believe me." Your boyfriend took a bite of mac 'n cheese. "Why are you staring at me like that? Is there something you didn't catch?" He pressed with his mouth full.

"I can… I can eat the sandwich parts separately?" Y/B/N asked.

"Why not?" Kol shrugged. "I used to do it all the time after my parents passed.. " He paused. "You know, actually I still do… drives Elijah absolutely bonkers so that makes it all the more worth it."

Your brother still seemed shocked. "I just always thought it was some sort of unspoken rule, you know? Like, whole sandwich or nothing."

"This is why I'm going to rule the world someday," Kol declared. You snorted, grinning and this time, it was real.

***

"Turns out I miscalculated, Kol's gonna be a problem," Shane said, fingering the bloody hole in what had previously been his second favorite shirt.

"I almost killed someone and that's what you miscalculated?" Bonnie exclaimed, staring at him incredulously. "April could have died today!"

"That's only because you didn't know the extent of your abilities," He shrugged simply, resting his weight back on his desk. The witch couldn't believe him, it was almost as if something in her friend and mentor had flipped - like his near-death had him gunning for something but she couldn't guess what.

"My father just became mayor… I-I can't be out doing black magic-" She turned to go.

"That's not what Expression is!" Atticus called out to her. Bonnie hesitated at the door and, against her better judgment, turned back.

"It's a way of doing magic that isn't monitored by the spirits - it isn't good or bad," He explained. "But it also has no limits." The professor's eyes darkened as he stood. "So how you use it is up to you. That's what I'm here for. To help you." He approached her and Bonnie took a shuffling step back. It was like her eyes were fixed on him - she couldn't look away though she wanted to. She wanted to turn and run - this had gotten out of control.

"Bonnie, listen to me," Shane said. She couldn't provide a single reason why she did. "You are the key to everything. I'm not gonna let anything bad happen to you."

Bonnie nodded, feeling reassured despite the gnawing voice in her brain screaming that she shouldn't. "What do we need to do?" She asked.

Shane smiled almost knowingly before moving to sit behind his desk. He waved for Bonnie to sit across from him. "Well, Kol Mikaelson is probably the most dangerous of the original family - at least, to you specifically. We'll have to handle him delicately." 

The young witch scoffed. "I've taken on Klaus, I'm pretty sure I can handle his baby brother." 

"I have no doubts about your power, Bonnie," Shane sighed. "It's your inexperience that worries me."

She frowned. "Why should that matter?"

"Because Kol is a legend in the witching community - every coven has a story. He's spent the last thousand years traveling all around the world, studying every branch of witchcraft there's ever been. His knowledge of magic is expansive and twisted - a compendium of crazy you or I could never dream of." Shane ran a hand through his hair with a sigh. "Brute force isn't going to work, he knows how powerful your bloodline is so he'll try to remove that variable as soon as possible. He won't wait - he'll come at you fast and hard, and you'll be an ancestor before you can think of a spell to fight him."

"We have to strike first," She surmised.

"Exactly!" His lips twitched up in an unnerving smile. "But if we're gonna do this, we gotta fight dirty."

Bonnie frowned. She wasn't fond of the turn this conversation was taking. "What do you mean?"

"We can't beat him on a fair playing field, Bonnie. We can't play to his strengths, we have to target his weaknesses," Shane said.

Kol wouldn't stop coming until anyone interested in the cure was either dead or daggered. Bonnie's lips hardened into a thin line. 

"Okay." She nodded. "What are his weaknesses?"

"That's the problem; I don't have an answer for you." Shane grimaced and leaned back in his chair, twirling a pencil between his fingers idly. "The stories characterize him as emotionally driven and impulsive, but I don't know how we'd play that in our favor without a hostage. I mean, the only people close to him as far as I can figure would be his family, but from what I saw today he doesn't seem too concerned about their well-being."

"And you said he has the white oak stake," She pointed out.

"And there's that, so its not like we could hurt any of them anyway." 

Bonnie frowned, thinking. Something itched at the back of her mind but she couldn't put her finger on it. There was something she remembered seeing - an image - but it hadn't seemed important at the time. She stilled.

"What is it?" The professor asked.

"N-nothing. I don't think-" She hesitated, biting her lip. "I-It's just that I-"

Shane leaned forward. "Bonnie, if you know anything about this guy, you need to tell me," He stressed.

The witch looked down, playing with a loose strand on her sweater. "It was a couple of months ago - back before Alaric went crazy and Elena turned. I-I was walking down the street to the grill on the weekend and I passed by him. I remember being scared because he saw me and I'd heard about what he did to Matt, but he didn't do anything." She shook her head, still confused as to why he hadn't done anything to intimidate her like Klaus or Rebekah liked to. "H-he just nodded at me and continued on his way…"

Atticus raised a brow. "I think you lost me there… Why is that important?"

She blinked. "Because he was with someone," Bonnie realized, straightening up. "I remember now! There was a girl with him, h-he was holding her hand and smiling." That didn't mean much though, did it? Not when it was someone like Kol Mikaelson. 

The Professor shrugged. "Well, that's not much but it's something, I guess. Does this girl have a name? Do you know her?"

Bonnie pursed her lips. "No… I-I don't really remember her face, I wasn't paying attention to her."

Shane hummed, nodding. "Not ideal, I'll admit. But if you're willing to trust me, I might have a way for us to find out."

"What is it?" She wondered, a little weary. The last time she'd used her magic, she'd nearly killed someone.

"It's a linking spell… of sorts," He answered. "It will allow you to see Kol's surroundings through his eyes. If this girl is important to him, this spell could give us a hint as to her identity or, at the very least, her location."

The girl shook her head, fear twisting in her gut. "I-I-I can't. I just-"

She felt a hand on her shoulder and glanced up to see Shane offering her a comforting smile. "I'll help you, Bonnie," He assured. "I'll guide you through it and I'll be here every step of the way. Alright?"

That was what he was here for. He wouldn't let anything bad happen to her. He had promised.

"Okay," Bonnie whispered.

The spell wasn't too complicated. The ingredients were relatively common and the incantation only took her a few minutes to master. She just hoped that she was doing the right thing.

"You can do this, Bonnie," Professor Shane encouraged. "Close your eyes and begin."

Taking a deep breath, the Bennett witch did as she was told, drawing on her Expression as she began to chant. The candles scattered on the floor around her flared bright and hot, yet she felt cold. She always felt cold when she used Expression.

"Very good. Now, focus on Kol Mikaelson, picture him in your mind, open yourself to the magic, and allow the spell to show him to you. Reach, look, and listen. Tell me what you see."

"It's… dark," Bonnie concluded.

"Focus."

"No no, I am focused. He's just in a dark room." She frowned, tilting her head. "He's looking at a t.v… I-I think he's playing a video game?" It was odd to think that a one-thousand-year-old serial killer would enjoy playing Star-Wars Battlefront, but Bonnie was pretty sure that was a poorly rendered Darth-Vader that she was seeing displayed on the screen. "It's a multiplayer game - split screen… There are two other people playing."

"Two?" Shane asked.

"Yes."

"What else do you see? Do you recognize the location?"

Bonnie shook her head. "No, it just looks like your standard living room. But it's not the mansion Klaus built, it's too small a-and there are picture frames, I think. He's not looking at them so it's hard to tell what those are but they look like picture frames, the family photo kind except somebody's knocked them all over…" She stopped. "Hold on."

"What? What do you see?"

"There's a backpack on the floor," She noticed. "It has a name on it."

"What name?"

"Y/B/N…" Bonnie muttered. "There's no last name."

"Well, that's interesting but not exactly helpful," Shane grumbled. "You have to go deeper, Bonnie. Listen. What's being said?"

The witch obeyed. She focused, losing herself. There were voices. Three voices.

"Why does Kol always get Public Enemy?" - The voice of a young boy.

"Because he's completely incapable of telling friend from foe." - The voice of a young woman, almost familiar.

"I see a head and I shoot it - simple as that." - The voice of an original vampire.

"Kol, you can't use the sniper on Dagobah."

"You play your way, I'll play mine. Wait a second is-is that a tank?"

"Indeed."

"Can I get in?"

"Gimme five bucks and it's a deal."

"Y/B/N! What did we say about haggling?!"

"Eat the rich!"

"Love the enthusiasm there, sport, but I think I'll have to decline. Also, love? Our daughter is crying."

"Dang it! Y/B/N, pause the game!"

Kol looked up then but all Bonnie could see was the back of a H/C haired girl rushing towards a set of stairs.

"Millie's not your kid," One of the voices said. Kol turned his eyes on a young boy who looked to be about twelve. He watched the vampire with an expression that was a mix of suspicion, curiosity, and confusion.

"You're right - she's not," Kol's voice agreed. "But your sister is pretty dead set on being that little girl's mum… and I'm pretty dead set on your sister."

"Do you actually mean that?" The young boy asked. "Or are you gonna leave again?"

Kol sighed. "I didn't want to leave."

The kid nodded. "She missed you while you were gone. She tried to act all okay, but she really wasn't."

"I missed her too."

"That's not what Mom and Dad said," The boy claimed, narrowing his eyes. "Mom and Dad said you don't really care about her - that you're just using her."

"Well, they were wrong." Kol's tone was adamant. "I love your sister very much… Probably more than I should."

"And you wanna help her take care of Millie?"

"If that's what she wants, then yes," Kol said. The sound of footsteps defending the stairs ended the conversation.

"Millie is okay - crisis averted!" The girl's voice cheered as she swung her weight around the banister. Kol looked up, focusing on her and, in the professor's office, Bonnie gasped. She knew that girl.

"Good to hear," Kol hummed. "One more thing before we start back up, however; Y/N, can I spend the night?"

Bonnie didn't maintain the spell long enough to hear the girl's reply. Her eyes shot open and she scrambled off the floor, gasping.

"Bonnie? Bonnie!" Atticus called her name. "Breathe, Bonnie. Breathe. Calm your mind… What did you see?"

"I-I-I saw her," The witch stammered. "I-I saw the girl but I-" She looked up with green eyes as round as saucers. "Professor, I know her."

"You do? Who is she?" He asked.

"Her name's Y/N Y/L/N. She goes to my school, o-or she did. She graduated last year," She answered. "Her parents were on the founder's council and her dad was a deputy, I think. She's been taking care of her brother since the explosion. That's where Kol was - he was at her house."

"I see," Shane nodded. "Does she know anything?" 

"I-I don't know. I don't think so."

"So why was Kol there?" He wondered.

Bonnie frowned. "I think he might be dating her…"

"That's a little sick, but go on."

"Well, I heard him tell Y/N's little brother that he loves her…" The witch trailed off.

Shane clapped his hands, grinning. "Excellent job, Bonnie Bennett. You just got us exactly what we needed."

"B-but he could have been lying, so-"

"Why would he lie if he could just compel?" He pointed out. "We'll have to wait until he leaves her… then we'll hold Y/N hostage and get Kol to back off."

"Wait, what?!" Bonnie spluttered. 

"This is what you agreed to, isn't it?"

"That was before I knew who she was!" She argued. "I can't kidnap her!"

"Why not?" Shane demanded.

"Because she's innocent! Me, Elena, and Caroline used to play with Y/N at founder's meetings all the time! She snuck us cookies from the refreshments table and taught us how to paint each other's nails… She's a good person, not to mention her parents just died!" Bonnie shook her head. "How can I do something like that to her?"

"To stop your friends from getting hurt," He replied. "This has to be done. Besides, you'll probably be doing Y/N a favor."

"What?"

The professor shrugged. "Remember what you told me Damon Salvatore did to your friend Caroline? How he treated her when she was human?" She nodded slowly. "Well, I'd bet good money that whatever Kol is doing to this poor girl is a thousand times worse. You won't be harming her, Bonnie… You'll be liberating her."

Shane was right. Kol was evil.

"So, we'll be doing this tomorrow then?"

"Right." He smiled. "Have a good night, Bonnie."

"You too."

And Bonnie Bennett left the office of Atticus Shane with all but her heart convinced that she was doing the right thing.

***

Kol had spent his morning taking care of a bar full of newly turned vampires. He'd slaughtered all of them and then, as an extra treat, he'd gotten to beat Damon Salvatore to a pulp before compelling him to kill Jeremy Gilbert so he wouldn't have to. Overall, he was having a really good day. All that fun and it was only ten in the morning!

However, he'd promised you he wouldn't be gone long and when Kol made a promise, he kept it. So instead of finding himself a hard drink or an unfortunate local, he made his way back to your house. He took his usual route, an extraordinarily confusing and frustrating ritual of twists turns and loops through several nearby neighborhoods that he deemed thorough enough to lose or discourage anyone who might consider tailing him. When one had lived alongside a paranoid bastard like Klaus for as many years as Kol had, one learned to be a paranoid bastard himself simply for the sake of some privacy. Kol had promised to keep you out of Mikaelson Family drama, so he was careful.

Evidently, he had not been careful enough.

A bolt of fear shot through him as he took in the state of your front door. The thing was laying halfway up the stairs, having been blown completely off its hinges. Kol passed over the threshold silently, moving to inspect the damage in hopes of determining the culprit. His eyes scanned briefly over the door and its frame; no cracks in the wood, no signs of anything being used to ram the thing open. The door itself had just been blown backward as if by…

As if by Magic.

A harsh, animalistic growl tore from Kol's throat as he stood, clenching his teeth.

Magic = Bennett witch.

He stood and continued his search through the house on silent feet, moving first through the kitchen, then the formal dining room. There wasn't much to be found. Nothing appeared to be broken or tampered with, yet you were missing. If someone had taken you, where was the ransom note? He moved on; looking, listening, tasting the air for any sign of-

Blood.

Moving faster than he ever had in his life, Kol dashed up the stairs to the origin of the enticing scent. The guest bedroom turned nursery for sweet little Millie. There, he was met with a sight that turned even his stomach.

Dark, dripping letters marred the wall in front of him, positioned ominously over the white bassinet you had arranged in the room. He'd found the ransom note. 

WHITMORE 

The crimson stain read.

As soon as he caught sight of it, he couldn't bring himself to tear his eyes away. He could hear his own heartbeat pounding in his chest, much too loud and racing faster as he realized that you might not be okay. His breaths, usually mostly calm no matter the situation, picked up yet he felt as though he wasn't getting enough air. Something clawed at his chest, rendering his muscles stiff and his throat dry and Kol didn't know what the hell that feeling was, but he didn't like it. He didn't like anything about this. Where were you?

That ugly red stain on the wall taunted him. He knew what it was… whose it was. 

Kol had tasted your blood before, he would recognize that scent anywhere because you had always smelled something like herbal tea with honey - warm and sweet. That was your blood so where the bloody hell were you?

Millie was gone too, as evidenced by the empty cradle. Bonnie Bennett was the only witch in town and she may have been an annoying pestilence but she and her friends were all stubborn do-gooders. She wouldn't stoop so low as to kidnap a baby, unless…

Unless someone had convinced her it was the right thing to do. Just as someone had convinced her to practice Expression.

Atticus Shane. 

The bloody mad professor was the only explanation. He'd taken you as revenge for the original vampire's attempt on his life.

Kol tore his hands through his hair and gasped for breath, letting loose a string of curses in every language he knew. You were right! He never should have come back. You had been better off on your own. This was his fault.

The rustling of paper caught his attention. Wind from the open window must have made the noise; it came from the direction of the cradle. Wandering over there, Kol caught sight of a torn piece of paper that lay tucked neatly into baby Millie's blanket. In the cramped, untidy scrawl of a mad man was written one more note, left just in case the message on the wall wasn't enough to paint a clear picture.

"Shhhhhhh… The baby is sleeping. Surrender or your girls will never wake again."

Kol dropped that note like fire from his fingers and he ran.

***

Getting kidnapped sucked.

You couldn't believe that Bonnie freaking Bennett, the quiet girl you used to tutor, had actually blown your door off its hinges and tossed you around with magic before taking you hostage. What had you ever done to her? You weren't sure what the deal was. No one knew you were dating Kol - at least, no one of consequence. Until now apparently. What else could anyone want from you?

"What you're saying is impossible, Shane!" Bonnie's voice argued from somewhere in front of you.

"Nothing is impossible, Bonnie." That voice belonged to a man, you'd heard it before when you'd been taken. "You of all people should know that by now."

Bonnie huffed. "Vampires are dead. They can't have children. She can't be Kol's daughter - it's impossible!"

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Were they talking about you? Gross! Why would they… 

Wait…

Millie!

"Think about it, Bonnie," The other voice coaxed - Bonnie had called him Shane. "If you were carrying the child of a mass murdering psychotic, would you tell anyone? Or would you make up every excuse in the book to make sure no one ever figured out the truth?" 

His comments seemed to give the witch pause. You couldn't let them hurt Millie.

"She… she's not his," You croaked, struggling to sit upright. "She's not his… I swear. I swear she's not."

You forced your eyes open and instantly regretted it. Light seared your retinas and you groaned, flinching. After a moment, the pain subsided and you glanced up at your captors. Bonnie and a scraggly lookin' dude stood over you. Millie rested happily in Bonnie's arms, content to blow little spit bubbles while being blissfully unaware of her situation. You wished you were her. 

Taking in your surroundings, you figured you were sitting in an office of some kind. There was a desk flanked by two chairs and a window behind that. The room felt stuffy and full of old stuff so you figured this must be Whitmore College. Ugh.

"Sorry, sweetheart but, uh, I don't believe you!" Shane said, casting you a fake pitiful glance.

"You really should, you know," A voice drawled lazily from the door. "I mean, little Millie doesn't even look like me… alright maybe a little but that's hardly a bad thing, right love?"

Kol's eyes met yours and you instantly relaxed. He was here. If he was here, you were safe. In his eyes, there was something swirling and black that promised death but it didn't scare you. It didn't scare you because you knew that he was on your side - nothing bad would ever happen to you as long as Kol was around.

You spoke too soon.

Shane latched onto your arm and dragged you to stand in front of him. Before you knew it there was a knife poised in front of your throat - ready to do something you wouldn't like. Kol's whole body stiffened and Bonnie cried out.

"Glad to see you could make it!" Shane barked. "You know what I want. Sure would be a shame if Y/N here had to die on your account." The knife dug into your neck and you hissed in pain. Kol snarled - eyes alight with fury. When he spoke, his tone was slick and cold like ice.

"I will say this once, and once only… let my girls go and I'll grant you a quick death." You didn't often see this side of him - the one thousand-year-old prodigal witch. The side of him that tears an opposing force to shreds all with that calm, playful grin dancing across his lips.

"Shane!" Bonnie hissed. "This isn't what we agreed on."

Shane pressed the knife against your throat with renewed vigor and you yelped. "Sometimes you gotta play dirty, Bonnie," He raved, chuckling like a psych ward patient. "This is how you win against things like him. You can't reason with a maniac."

Kol's eyes darkened and he cocked his head. "Oh, I quite agree." He smirked. "You have five seconds to let Y/N go before I kill you."

"I'd slit her throat before you got the chance," The professor claimed.

"Be my guest," Kol hummed with a wave of his hand. His eyes were sharp. "Let's see who's faster… One."

"Shane…" Bonnie warned.

"He wouldn't dare," Shane said. He sounded assured but you knew better.

"Two…"

Bonnie tugged at Shane's arm to no avail. "Come on, professor. We'll find another way, just let her go!" 

"NO!"

"Three…"

You felt an arm wind around your waist before you could blink and a gust of wind stung your eyes. Shane screamed. You blinked rapidly, trying to clear the tears so you could see what was going on. Kol held you against his side and in front of you, Shane collapsed to his knees, clutching a hand that no longer looked like a hand. It had been twisted so far at the wrist that you could see bone sticking out. Beside you, Kol laughed lightly. In his fingers, he twirled the knife that only moments before had been poised to slit your throat. 

"Who would have thought, darling? Looks like I'm faster." He grinned, spinning the knife around and around. He spared you a glance, flicking his eyes over your figure to check for injuries. "Are you alright, love?"

A little shocked, you nodded. He raised a brow questioningly. "I'm fine," You assured him. 

Evidently, that was all he needed to hear. 

He tugged you further behind him and leveled a chilling glare on Shane, who remained gasping on the floor. "Your turn." Kol knelt down and readied the knife with a grin that was nothing short of terrifying. He caught Shane by the throat and stood to his full height, lifting the mad professor off the ground with little effort before throwing him down onto his own desk. The hand on his throat kept him pinned as Kol impaled the knife through each shoulder, twisting for good measure. Then the original vampire started carving. Five letters across the professor's chest.

T-H-I-E-F

A blood-curdling scream ripped from Shane's throat with each letter and your stomach almost twisted in sympathy. But no. He had taken Millie. He deserved everything he got.

While your boyfriend was handling that, you twisted on your heel to face the young witch, holding out your arms. "Give me back my baby," You demanded. Bonnie stumbled back, gaping. Her eyes flicked between you and Kol in utter disbelief but you didn't particularly care what she thought. "That wasn't a request, Bonnie."

"Hand over the child, Bennett witch," Kol reinforced, not bothering to take his eyes off Shane.

"Y-you said five seconds!" She sputtered. Kol shrugged.

"I changed my mind!" He dismissed casually. Then he flicked his wrist and sent the knife straight into Shane's left eye. The corpse twitched for a moment then lay still. You cringed at the bloody sight but forced your attention back to the high school student and the baby in her arms. Millie was crying.

"Bonnie, I know this wasn't your idea and I know that the only reason you went along with it is because you're scared. That being said, that's my baby girl you're holding and I want her back. Whatever querell you have with Kol has nothing to with her, so give her back right this instant or I swear to high heaven, you will regret it." You glared at her, raising a brow.

Bonnie's eyes narrowed, flicking between you and your boyfriend accusingly. "He was right," She mumbled.

You took a step forward, gritting your teeth. "Bonnie, don't. This isn't what your father would want."

The witch took a reflexive step back. "Shane was right, wasn't he?" She demanded, a little louder. "This is his child, you've just been covering it up!"

Kol rolled his eyes. "For the last time Bennett, vampire's are incapable of having biological children, alright? That child is Millie Stoker by birth, Y/N's second cousin. Her parents were on what was formerly this town's secret counsel. The same counsel - as luck would have it - that your darling absent-minded professor blew to kingdom come a few months back."

Ah… so it was him, was it? Your eyes flicked to the bloody corpse laying on the desk and your jaw locked.

"No!" Bonnie gasped, her eyes flying wide. "You're lying! Shane would never-"

"I'm not here to debate with you, Bennett." Kol's expression held no sympathy - just cold detachment. The only reason that girl wasn't dead was because she was holding Millie. "Now hand over the child and we'll see if I'm feeling merciful."

You held up a hand, eyes still trained on the body of your parent's murderer. "Wait." Kol raised a brow and you pointed. "You said he's the one who killed Mom and Dad?"

"Yes," The boy confirmed, nodding.

"Can I see that knife?" Your tone was emotionless. You felt Kol's bloodied hand slip into yours. His thumb spread the substance over the back of your hand but you didn't care.

"Darling… he's dead," Kol murmered.

"I know that." You nodded. "Can I see that knife please?" He hesitated but pressed the weapon wirelessly into your hand a moment later. You gripped it tight and stepped over to the desk. 

Shane lay there. Dead. 

"This isn't for me," You said, glaring down at the corpse. "This is for Millie, and Y/B/N and everything you stole from them. This is for the empty seats that'll be at Y/B/N's graduation and all the Christmases and Birthdays Millie was supposed to have with her real family." You took a shuddering breath, glancing at the nameplate sitting on the professor's desk. "This isn't for me, because I'll be fine on my own. This is for being a thief, Atticus Shane. This is simply what you're owed." 

You didn't yell or scream or cry. You just drew the blade across his neck, solemnly and silently, cutting to bone and letting the blood pool around the corpse and spill off the edge of the desk to the ground. Then you grabbed it by the shirt and pulled. The body slid to the ground with a wet squelch - face down in the dirt and dust where it belonged.

You blinked, turned on your heel, and smiled.

"You know, I really think I needed that!" You announced, pushing the hair out of your face with a blood-soaked hand. Kol just stared at you, clueless as to what should be said. You simply shrugged. "Desecrating the bodies of murderers is therapeutic, I guess. Anyway, back to you Bonnie."

The young witch seemed even more baffled. "B-but I… I thought-" She shook her head, blinking rapidly.

"You thought I was being compelled." You finished, softening your tone. She was just a teenager, after all. The girl nodded glancing between you and the baby she held. You nodded in understanding. "You really trusted this professor guy, huh?"

Bonnie nodded hesitantly. "H-He said… He told me Kol was using you for sport or something really messed up like that."

"Oh…" You blinked and glanced at Kol, thoroughly disgusted. 

The boy blanched and shook his head vigorously. "Woah, woah! Don't look at me! I have more confidence in myself than that!"

You chuckled at his attempted defense and turned back to Bonnie. "While I appreciate the concern, Bonnie, as you can see, I'm fine. Now please give Millie back to me." You held out your hands again, this time with a more teasing expression. "I've been working on my Mom Voice; don't make me use it."

"Oh, anything but that," Kol muttered under his breath. You elbowed him in the side and he smiled wryly. 

Bonnie watched the original wearily as she passed Millie back to you. Once she was safely in your arms again, your cheeks split with a radiant grin. You turned away and lifted Millie into the air, giving her an Eskimo kiss to make her giggle. Behind you, Kol took a threatening step toward the witch.

"Uhh… Y/N?" Bonnie called out, voice strained.

"He won't do anything," You tossed over your shoulder, unconcerned.

"I won't?" Kol asked.

"No, you will not."

"What if I really want to?"

"You will refrain or you will be sleeping alone tonight," You declared calmly. "She's just a kid, Kol."

He scoffed. "Where I'm from, I was an adult at thirteen."

"Yes," You acknowledged, "However, this is the twenty-first century and Viking traditions are no longer observed. Bonnie is still legally a child, she was scared and she didn't know any better. She will not attempt such a vile and degraded scheme ever again. Isn't that right, Bonnie?"

"Y-yeah, I…" She shook her head as if trying to clear something from her mind. "I-I don't even know why I went along with this in the first place… Y/N?" When you glanced back at her, the girl's eyes were filled with tears. "I'm really sorry," She said.

You nodded and offered her a small smile. "I forgive you." 

"Well, I don't!" Kol supplied, moving to take your hand. 

"Yeah, I know." You smirked, shifting Millie to one arm so you could accept. He pulled you towards the door. "See you later, Bonnie!" You called back. 

"Not if I can help it," Your boyfriend grumbled, tugging you down the hall before the girl could say anything.

"Which you can't."

Once you were outside the building, Kol stopped and faced you. His hands moved to your arms, thumbs tracing invisible patterns over the skin. His eyes weren't cold when they looked at you - they weren't the cold, black eyes of a one thousand-year-old vampire. They were those warm, amber eyes of the most reliable friend you'd ever had. So when he opened his mouth to speak, you already knew what he was going to say.

"Y/N, I'm so sorry. You were right, I-"

"No, I wasn't." You cut him off with a smile. 

He frowned, brows furrowed in confusion. "Yes, you were. I should have stayed away, you were better off without me," He insisted.

"No, Kol. I really wasn't." You laughed, shaking your head. "I was a mess in pretty much every sense of the word. Hell, I still am mostly. I needed you, but I was just too stubborn to admit it."

"You've never needed me," Kol whispered. He leaned in, resting his forhead against yours. "No one ever does. Wherever I go, chaos follows. Whatever I touch, falls apart. If it wasn't for me-"

"I would have died with my parents," You stated firmly. Kol blinked, reeling back a bit.

"No, darling. That's not-"

"Yes, it is." You shook your head, shrugging. "That Shane guy would have blown up the counsel no matter what; his actions wouldn't have changed had you never taken me on that first date. Sure, if you and I had never dated, than no one would have even thought to kidnap me. But now that someone knows about us, the only thing leaving me is gonna do is put me in more danger."

"Y/N-" He tried. But you weren't having any of that.

"If not for you, I would have died with my parents in that explosion. I would have followed their blind hatred for the supernatural right to their deaths because you're the one who changed my mind, Kol." You grinned at him and squeezed his hand. "That was you."

"Well, I am irresistibly charming…" He smiled wryly. 

You rolled your eyes and grabbed his collar, pulling him down so you shut him up with a kiss. He instantly reciprocated, moving his hands to your hips and squeezing a little more firmly than he usually did just to remind himself that you were okay. You kissed him harder to say you weren't going anywhere. Pulling away much too soon for his liking, you adjusted your hold on Millie and tried to move away but Kol tugged you closer and chased your lips for more. You indulged him until you needed air.

"You know, I may be fine on my own but I really like having you around, Koala," You whispered against his lips as you caught your breath. "Think you can help me fix the front door?"

Kol just shrugged, nipping at your lips with a cheeky grin. "Who needs it?"

"I do." You gave him one more peck and pulled away, giving him your best pleading eyes. He sighed.

"Darling, you can't just scare me half back to life and then expect me not to kiss you senseless," He complained. 

"I think you can handle it," You teased, smirking. 

"Mmm. I don't want to, though." 

You couldn't even complain as Kol crashed his lips into yours again - this time with no intention to stop. The sound of someone clearing their throat startled you enough to break apart. Standing in the doorway of your house with an aluminum baseball bat in his hands and nothing short of panic in his wild E/C eyes, was your little brother. He seemed pretty miffed.

"Would y'all care to stop making out and tell me what the hell is going on?!"

You looked back up at Kol. "This one's all yours."

He paled. "It's your family legacy, darling. I think you should do it."

"Yeah, but you're covered in blood."

"Touchè…"

Tagging: @yn-ymn-yln @r13mar @rootbeerfaygo @iiskittles16ii @fandomrulesall-blog @dark-night-sky-99 @railingsofsorrow @apolloroid @thatweirdoleigh @misswe03

[kittyk4tty]

• Occasionally he will accidentally call Dutch or Hosea “dad” or “pa”

• If he had to pick his favorite gang member it’d be John. His reasoning is that it’s fun to throw poor lil John into the deep ends of lakes.

• Arthur will occasionally flick someone on their forehead, whether he was in a bad mood or not. He just likes doing it. Especially to Micah. Micah gets the most flicks.

• NEVER. never. Grab his cheeks and kiss him in surprise. Do that you will most likely trigger some PTSD war-like flashbacks in the poor boy.

• [Can’t believe I forgot this] Whenever he’s jealous of, sayyy, maybe someone being a little to touchy and close to his s/o he’ll drown out his feelings with alcohol. Or at least TRY too. Unfortunately there’s no way you can’t expect that Arthur WON’T be slumped over, passed out against a tree.

• In relation to Arthurs flicks he will not hesitate to either flick him back, or slap him in the face. One of the two, it’s either small pain or DIE.

• Touch his hair, he will kill you. Now, when I’m talking about touching his hair, I mean styling it. He hates it when someone tries to make him look like a pretty lil princess by putting his hair in a braid or something.

• [Kid John] Grab his arm, touch his hand, try to touch him basically ANYWHERE he’ll wipe off wherever you touched him and run away in disgust to wash off. As a kid he assumed girls had this weird infection(and cooties). Basically this is what young John's logic is:

Girl touches boy - boy gets sick - boy dies because he got sick from said girl.

Because of John's insane logic he’d have a mini breakdown in a small ball.

• Like John, he will not let you style his hair though with enough convincing he’ll finally let you style it and that very moment is when you realize..this boy..HAS SO MUCH POMADE IN HIS HAIR. Javier’s hair is the definition of that Gorilla Glue girl. His hair, it don’t move. Hate to break it to you but if you saw how STIFF that ponytail is, you’d agree with me.

• Seeing that Jack made Abigail a flower necklace, Javier wondered how weird and random it would be to ask a little kid how to make a flower necklace.[Javier learned don’t worry]

• Javier loves to mess with Arthur by having conversations with him in Spanish. He finds it amusing when Arthur looks at him like he came from a different planet, like the words he was saying were made up by some extra terrestrial being.

• Javier had nicknames for everyone before he fully learned and got used to their names, though they were always in Spanish so that none of them understood.

John Marston ; Lobo seco, Dry wolf[I thought it was funny, he can’t swim, and the uhhh…rescuing of John. It’s stupid but funny.]

Josiah Trelawny ; Hombre misterio, Mystery man

Arthur Morgan ; Perra grosera, Rude bitch[IT’S FUNNY, OKAY?]

Etc, etc, etc.

“[𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑏𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒. 𝐵𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑑𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑑 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒. 𝑁𝑜 𝑜𝑛𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑦 𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑡 𝑡𝑜-]Oh Arthur! Hi!”

• Charles is very quiet and moody around everyone, hardly makes a peep so it’s easy to forget he was there in the first place. Though here comes Arthur, greeting everyone and anyone he sees and his mood changes like the speed of light.

• There was one occasion where Charles came back with a rabbit he made friends with in the forest. Long story short. Micah and Charles are not on OKAY terms after what Micah did. The poor boy had a full crying session with Javier and Arthur as emotional support.

• Nobody in the gang, NOT EVEN YOU, knows what the fuck Charles is doing to his hair because that shit is soft as FUCK. Everytime you ask him he says it’s a family secret and leaves it at that so you never know. Sometimes you suspect it’s just naturally soft.

[elise-51-blog]

DICK PICS ON THIS BEAUTIFUL SPRING DAY!!

Happy Birthday, you beautiful bastard. Dick Grayson, our lil spring Robin. How'd he grow up so hot? Thank you to Travis Moore (first two images) and Bruno Redondo (next two images from NW #78) for making him look his best after so much abuse over the years (remember the mullet...remember the ponytail...)

LET'S ALL GO EAT SOME CORNFLAKE PIZZA!!! (image from the NW miniseries, issue #1)

And that awesome grumpy, pointy, Dick in the fingerstripes I believe is Chris Batista from Teen Titans (Geoff Johns run 2004-2011, issue #47).

I do miss the fingerstripes.

[cagefreeromanroy]

mmmmkay twinny for smash or pass: John Silver but like S3 onward aka his sexiest era, Flint but only with his lil ponytail, Charles Vane in general and then goddess Max

give me a character and I’ll tell you if I’d smash or pass

ohhhh I love these

Silver: same as Rio, s1 would’ve been a pass bc that’s his baby season but after that smash!

Flint: it’s not the looks it’s the insanity for me!! even with frosted tips he would still be a smash

vane: it’s not a pass but it’s a no thank you❤️

Max: smash&marry obvi!

[bleachanimefan1]

The Song of the Titan Chapter Twenty-Three

Everyone in the owl house were getting ready to storm the castle. Hooty swung open the door and flew in.

"Hey, just wanted to give you guys a heads up," the owl told everyone. "The back ups that you called are here!"

"Who did you call?" Hunter asked Eda and Luz. Amity suddenly rushed in and hugged Luz.

"I'm here! I'm here! Are you alright?" Amity exclaimed worried. "Are you hurt?! You just told me to rush over here with no explanation! I thought that something bad happened to you!" Luz smiled.

"Yeah, I wished that you should have seen the look on mitten's face," A teenage girl and boy, that were twins, walked in. They both had green hair, wearing blue illusion coven uniforms, and both had a mole on different side of their faces. The girl had long hair tied in a ponytail while her brother had short hair. They were Amity's older sister and brother, Emira and Edric. Amity's face turned completely red, blushing. She quickly turned around, narrowing her eyes at them.

"I wasn't THAT worried," she defended herself. Edric laughed.

"Really? From what I recall, you almost ran into several trees on the flight over here," he said, amused. "You were like, "I can't stop, not when MY Luz is danger!" He finished and laughed. Emira did as well, laughing with him. Amity huffed, holding in her breath, angrily, before she almost got dizzy and passed out.

"I'm fine, Amity. I'm sorry that I called so suddenly with no explanation," she told Amity. "It's Azara. She's been captured and we're staging a rescue! At midday, we storm the castle."

Then an older woman with short poofy hair walked in with a large hawk staff walked in, along with Lilith, Willow and Guz, who glared at Hunter as soon as he saw him when he walked in.

"I'm sorry about before," Hunter apologized.

"Save it, what's done is done," Guz said. "After this, we get the Galderstones back."

"It's a deal," Hunter agreed.

"I heard from Edalyn that you were planning to attack the castle," Eda's mother smirked. "When do we start?"

"Soon," Luz told her. Jewel chirped and flew over to Gwendolyn, who caught the blue jay as it landed in her hand. "Who made this little one?" she smiled, petting it.

"She's Zara's palisman," Eda told her.

"Really? Lilith had told me that more humans, besides Luz, are here in the Boiling Isles, when she came to visit. Still, it's an unusual choice for a palisman," Gwendolyn commented.

"What do you mean by that?" Hunter asked.

"Well, bird palismans are mostly sort of a Clawthorne thing," she explained to Hunter. Lil rascal chirped and Hunter looked at him, thinking.

"Okay, enough talking! Let's get Azara back!" King shouted.

As the sun began to drop, the moon was also in the sky as well half-way close to merging. Everyone quietly walked inside of the castle, walking inside while wearing their cloaks, hoods covering their faces. To everyone's decision, they left John back at the owl house with Hooty for his safety as it was too dangerous. Jewel and Lil rascal were hiding inside of Hunter's cloak, while Owlbert was hiding in Eda's. Lilith, Gwendolyn, the Blight twins, Guz and Willow stayed back as part of the distraction. They saw some of the guards as well as citizens from Bonesborough walking inside, heading to the stadiums. Some waited outside watching the projection screen conjured up by magic.

Everyone quietly took their seats when suddenly they heard the crowd went silent. The coven heads were in a circle, standing in front of a podium that had inserts for each coven's symbols for their necklace. In the center was the portal door, reconstructed and fixed.

Luz gripped the key hidden from within her cloak, staring at it. She was almost home. Her mama was waiting for her on the other side of that door. Back to her normal life...Not being able to see Amity again, her friends, Eda, King. She didn't want that. But, she promised. How are they going to take it when she tells them that she isn't coming back? Luz felt tears that were starting to burn her eyes.

She nearly jumped when she felt Eda placed her hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry kid, we'll get you back home, soon." she smiled. She didn't want to go back. Luz wanted to tell her that.

"Y-Yeah! I can't wait!" Luz smiled back at her. Eda frowned, noticing that there was something off about it. She turned her head back towards the stage, looking around.

"I don't see Raine," Eda murmured looking over the crowd trying to find them.

"We'll find him. And we'll get them and Azara and get out," Luz assured her. Hunter's felt his heart drop as he saw Belos and Azara come up from the floor from an elevator. He almost stood up from his seat if not for Amity who quickly pulled him back down.

"What are you doing?!" she hissed. "Sit down, they'll see you!"

"But, Azara's right there!" Hunter argued.

"I know, but you can't just go rushing down there!" Amity insisted. "Just wait a little longer. The others will create a distraction then we can get them!"

"Children of the Isles, the Day of Unity is almost here! Soon, the sun and moon will merge and the Boiling Isles will reunite with the human realm." Belos announced. "This human here has volunteered to help us get there as the Titan has told me." He held out Azara's necklace in his hand. Hunter's eyes widened as did everyone else. There was no way that Azara would take it off and give her necklace to him willingly.

"I can't wait anymore! I'm going down there!" Hunter shouted.

"Hunter, no!" Luz shouted. She tried to stop him but Hunter had already teleported right onto the stage, landing right in front of Belos.

"Why, if it isn't the traitorous golden guard," Belos said.

"Give her back," Hunter demanded.

"What gives you the right to bark orders at me, like that?" Belos laughed. "I see your time in the wilds have changed you."

"No, Azara changed me," Hunter told him. "She gave me something that you never could. She gave me love. She taught me to love myself, despite my faults."

"Love?" Belos laughed again. "Well, then let's put it to the test then. If she really loved you then why isn't she rushing over to you at this very moment?" He hummed. Hunter began to sweat nervously. He looked over at Azara, who was still not looking at him. Her eyes were closed as well.

"Azara, I'm here," Hunter called out to her. "I'm right here!" But, he received no response from her until she slowly began to lift up her head, eyes still closed. Hunter felt his heart began to beat faster with each second. Slowly, Azara opened her eyes. Hunter felt his heart sink in dread and horror. Blue...They were electrifying blue, like his uncle's.

Her lifeless eyes stared, unemotionally, back into his, coldly. It was like she was a puppet being held up with invisible strings.

"What did you do to her?!" Hunter snapped his head back to his uncle.

"She was being uncooperative so I asked the Titan for help." Belos snapped his fingers and several guards surrounded Hunter, restraining him. Belos slowly began to advance closer to him with each step until he was right in Hunter's face. He gripped Hunter's chin, tightly, almost making it bleed, making Hunter look at him. "Speaking of help, you are going to help me by paying back what you owe me after all these years. Your body."

Hunter struggled to break free from the guards hold but they were stronger. Belos released Hunter and turned back towards the crowd.

"Now, then shall we commence? The human is going to sing us a song," Belos announced. He turned his head back to Azara. "Well, my dear let's not keep the crowd, waiting. Let us hear that pretty little voice of yours." He snapped open Azara's music box necklace and it glowed an ominous green color. It wounded up and started playing a distorted tune. Azara opened her mouth and began to sing.

"At the start of creation, from stars and space you were born.

From the Earth and the heavens, you took your power and soul.

Now you sleep in lands beyond, where sea and sky fade to blue.

One day, you will awaken and create this world a neeew-"

"Azara, no!" Hunter cried out. Suddenly, there was a loud explosion that rumbled the stage. The distraction has started. Eda, Amity and Luz quickly took towards the stage and tried to fight off some of the guards and coven heads. King hopped off of Eda and ran over to Hunter, Belos and Azara. Some of the guards rushed towards him to stop him.

"Weh!" King shouted, unleashing a loud sonic boom.

"What?!" Emperor Belos exclaimed in shock, seeing King. "No!" The blast hit the guards knocking them down as well as Azara, knocking her down on the ground. Hunter quickly teleported over to her.

"Azara, wake up! We need to go now!" Hunter urged as he shook her. Azara groaned, opening her eyes again. They were back to normal, light emerald green. Hunter sighed in relief. Azara's eyes widen seeing him.

"H-Hunter?" she said, confused but also glad to see him. "What happened? And where are we?"

"It doesn't matter," Hunter smiled. "Let's just get out of here." Jewel chirped from underneath of Hunter's cloak, flying out of it. Lil rascal came out as well, landing on Hunter's shoulder. Azara cried hugging her palisman in her hands.

"Jewel, my baby!" she cried. "I'm so sorry that I left you!" Jewel nestled her head against Azara's finger.

It doesn't matter, I got you back! Jewel chirped, happily.

"Hunter, you're never going to believe this!" Azara told him. "I'm a witch!" Hunter looked at her confused.

"But, you are one," he said. Azara shook her head.

"No, you don't get it! I'm half a witch!" she explained. "That's why I can do magic the way I do!"

"But, how did you know that?" Hunter questioned.

Suddenly, off guard, Hunter was blasted by red magic, getting knocked back. Lil rascal chirped worriedly and flew over to him. Azara cried out to Hunter and turned her head to see Belos coming towards the two witches. Jewel transformed into a staff and Azara pointed it at Belos as he began to inch closer towards them.

"I will not let you interfere with the Titan's plans, not when I'm this close!" he shouted out enraged. Belos narrowed his eyes glaring at Azara and pointed his staff at her. "If it wasn't for you, my nephew wouldn't have been tainted with your wild ways. Because of you, you turned him against me. I will not lose him again! I'm putting an end to this once and for all! Starting with you!" Hunter got up, grabbing Lil rascal, transforming the cardinal into a staff and rushed over to the two.

"Uncle, stop!" Hunter screamed, smacking a spell blast away as he fired it at Azara.

"Step aside, boy," Belos ordered. Hunter felt a cold shiver rush down. "This is your last warning. I will not say it again." He gripped Lil rascal tightly in his hand until he felt Azara grab his other hand, squeezing it tightly.

"No, it is you who needs to stand down," Hunter said. "This has gone on long enough. I'm challenging you to a witches dual. If I win, you step down."

"Do you really think that you can beat me? Who do you think taught you? You have no chance," Belos spatted out. "You will lose, like you did before, Caleb." Hunter's eyes widened in shock before gripping his staff tightly, gritting his teeth, angrily.

"Don't call me that," Hunter shouted. "I am not him!"

Just as Belos was about to unleash a blast of magic, a stray spell was fired from out of no where. It knocked his mask right off from his face, revealing it to everyone. Everyone stared in shock and in surprise seeing his face for the first time, his ears similar to a human's but cut off shaped like a witches, also seeing his curse. Belos growled and looked up from where the spell had fired from, as did Hunter and Azara.

Azara's eyes widen, seeing someone, a woman, hovering above the entire stadium as they slowly lowered down. Hunter's eyes widen as he saw that she was wearing the same outfit, like the woman from his dream. She landed not too far in front of Belos. She was holding a palisman carved in the shape of a crow.

"M-Mom?!" Azara called out.

"Stay away from my kids," Azara's mother growled out, glaring at the emperor. Belos stared at her for a moment, as he narrowed his eyes, before smirking.

"Well, this is a surprise," He laughed, softly. "I didn't think that you were still alive after all this time. However, it is surprising seeing you like this." Hunter's and Azara's eyes widen in surprise to see Azara's mother began to transform. Her hair began to turn darker to a more green color becoming more thicker and poofier. It also had a few greyish streaks as well. Her skin color turned to dark tan brown. Lastly, her ears began to turn upwards more pointed, like a witch's.

"Azura."

"Long time no see, Philip," Azara smirked, glaring at him. "How's the curse?"

[matthewtkachuk]

baby you were my picket fence - jj

Hi, hello, bonsoir! Like many people on this beautiful website I have fallen in love with Outer Banks and my bb JJ. Here’s a little something that I wrote. 

Based very loosely off of Fall Out Boy’s “Miss Missing You”. https://open.spotify.com/track/05Z77MHLPcBA2Wd5eDSJzl?si=Ra2a8npyQo2vdG_B1GuXmg

Warnings: a little angst, a lil fluff Word count: 1360

I miss missing you now and then Sometimes before it gets better, The darkness gets bigger The person that you’d take a bullet for is behind the trigger

It’s been three and a half weeks since JJ Maybank walked out your door, and effectively your life. You’d broken up before, petty fights about nothing and times when JJ had pushed you away rather than let you in on the secrets of his broken home, but this time was different. There was no huge blow up, just a mutual agreement that things weren’t the same. 

The majority of the time you didn’t spend thinking of him. Life continued as normal, you picked up extra shifts at both of your jobs, you spent much-needed quality time with your other friends, and you went out. Sometimes you would catch him staring at you from across the Boneyard, eyes watching you above the lip of a red solo cup. On those nights, you would turn around and disappear further into the party, filling up your cup more times than usual. But, it was nights like these, when a tropical storm was on its way; the rain pounding on your window, and the power off, with just candlelight to guide you, was when you missed him. To be more accurate, it was when you missed missing him. 

You missed long nights shooting the shit curled up in John B’s hammock, sneaking him in through your window after your parents went to bed, contact. In the weeks since the breakup, you’d gone on a date, had more than a few one night stands, but nothing serious or permanent. Your heart wasn’t ready to let the blonde go just yet.

The two of you used to joke that you were each other’s “picket fences”, your perfect happily ever afters, your fairy tale ending. You dreamed of getting the hell off the island, making a living on the shore somewhere together, building a house with a red door and a picket fence. But, you settled into a routine and then one day you felt you weren’t enough for him.

You noticed it right away. He had been distant, and he wouldn’t text you back as quickly as before. No longer were you spending every afternoon on the HMS Pogue, but rather excuses were made and plans broken. It was clear his heart wasn’t in your relationship anymore. And when it finally ended, it ended not with harsh words or broken glass, but with a mutual agreement that things had been great while it lasted. 

Of course, that’s what you had wanted him to think. The moment he was gone, the back of his bike no longer in your vision, you broke down, crying. And of course you had, he had been in your life longer than any other person with the exception of your family. You knew him when he was just a tiny ball of energy, running around the playground and pulling on your ponytails. You had watched him mature, not by much, and seen him through various hard times, and witnessed his growth. You had supported him all the way, even when he pushed you away, even when he got into stupid fights because he ran his mouth, even when he showed up at your window at four am with bruises and blood covering him. You had persevered, as stupid as that sounds, because you knew that you loved him, and wanted him, all of him, forever. You wanted the picket fence and the house with the red door.

Reminiscing about JJ brought a few tears to your eyes and you blinked rapidly. You had never experienced such emotion in your life, your heart felt like it was being shoved through a blender and every fiber of your being ached for him. Not even necessarily sexually, though you were plenty frustrated in that department, but you missed his presence. 

It didn’t help that storms weren’t your favorite either. Some deeply rooted survival instinct screamed in your chest with every crack of thunder. It was silly, you’d experienced your fair share of tropical storms but always with someone by your side. Always with JJ by your side. 

Gathering up some courage, you fumbled in the dim light for your phone, squinting at the screen to see if you still had service. Seeing a bar, you decided to shoot him a text: I miss you sometimes.

The reply was almost immediate. I know, I’m sorry.

You hesitated, with your fingers hovering just above the screen of your phone. I’m sorry too. Quickly, before you could change your mind, you sent another. Come over.

He took his time answering, before finally. I don’t know if that’s a good idea.

Please? You knew you sounded needy, but you’d forgotten how much your heart raced waiting for texts from him, how each time your phone buzzed, and his name showed up, you felt a little jolt of excitement. You’d known JJ almost all your life, and he still had immense power over you.

No answer came, and you weren’t sure if that meant he was ignoring you, or if he was on his way over. Deciding to light a few more candles, you felt your way through your kitchen, bumping your hip on the counter before finding a couple of tea lights and a lighter. You sat on your couch with a little afghan covering your exposed legs, deciding to read to pass the time.

In no time at all, you saw the lights of a car pull into your driveway through your living room blinds. You felt your heart start to race once again, unsure if it was JJ, or perhaps a friend coming to check up on you. A knock hesitantly sounded at your door, and you immediately knew it was JJ, because any aforementioned friends would have just walked in. You placed your book on the coffee table in front of you, and stretched as you got up. Quickly padding your way over to the source of the knock, you opened the door wide in front of you.

There he was, hair blonde and soaked with rain. A cut off tank top lay against his frame, looking as sunkissed as ever, with his lips looking darker and more plump than you remember. His tongue darts out to lick his dry lips, and you throw your arms around him, holding him tightly. His arms lock around your back, and your head rests in the crook of his neck, as the two of you cling together. Your bodies fit together as perfectly as they always did. You whimper slightly at the feel of him around you, something you’d been craving for weeks.

Somehow, the two of you shift until your lips are on his. Soft, sweet pecks at first, turn into the hungry, desperate mashing of mouths, with tongues battling. You pull him closer, and closer, touching and feeling him, as if this is the last opportunity you have to do so. The two of you standing in your doorway, in the dark, sensing nothing but each other. 

Eventually the kiss slows down again, morphing back into soft, sweet pecks. Your eyes flutter open to see him staring at you, with a look in them you’d missed. His eyes darken for a moment, and he places his hands on your cheeks, kissing you deeply. When he pulls away, his voice is soft, “I’m sorry.” He sighs, hands falling down to rest on your hips, “I should have never let you go.” 

You look up at him, before answering, “I’m sorry. I should have fought harder for you.” 

He pulls you close again, and kisses the top of your head. “Let me be your picket fence again.” You smile and nod against his chest.

“I love you,” you whisper as his arms tighten and hold you even closer.

Baby you were my picket fence, I miss missing you now and then

[binch-i-might-be]

but how does alexander BREATHE??????? like, I've heard that you're not supposed to wear an actual binder for more than 8 hours and you can't exercise or work out at ALL, plus you can't sleep

so not only is your lil hammy boi binding with B A N D A G E S (which are very dangerous but ig there was no option back then) but he also has to do all that military shit?!?!?!?! HOW DOES THIS MAN BREATHE?? ARE HIS LUNGS OKAY? GIVE HIM SOME WATER PLEASE

also, how did alex come out? like, ik how he did it to washingdad but there must have been people who knew about general washington's children. how did they explain away the fact that they suddenly didn't have a daughter anymore?

also, does alex in your fic have long hair or short hair? it was mentioned in Alexander that he cut it, right? but since this is the musical fic he would have a ponytail as he does onstage? or did you make him have short hair? i was wondering because, y'know, dysphoria n shit

oh and another thing. so did john previously had ANY knowledge at all of transgender people's existence, or did he just basically understand that his bf was not born as a guy and was completely fine with it?

btw this is the same fanfic-reading anon who threatened to throw you into a canyon, I've returned with a slightly less passive-aggressive tone and more questions hehe

HI BESTIE SO GOOD TO SEE YOU

love how you always just get straight to the point lmao

oh, you should ABSOLUTELY not wear a binder for more than eight hours at a time, and exercise and sleep is a big nono!

the answer is of course... breathing exercises. lots and lots of breathing exercises :')

don't get me wrong that little fool was definitely on the verge of just passing out before in battle, and he did walk away with severe bruising every time, no matter how loose he was binding :/

as an aide he has to basically sit all day, so that's a bit better! it's still far from perfect tho

okay, how did he come out to like, people adjacent to his family?

he didn't :) lemme explain:

you got little eleven/twelve year old Alexander, hair freshly cut and in new fancy Boy Clothes™, going about his business around town with his Pa.

so. people will obviously see them. people know the Washingtons; they're good citizens, honest, fair, Washington let's older kids of the locals work summers on his plantation to get them some income, which is a sweet gig! they are a valued part of society!

...Washington did come home from an employment with a child a few years ago. a little girl. no one ever addressed it, but it was pretty clear she was his bastard. ah well. the child was obviously born before he got married, so he didn't cheat on his wife. they could forgive that.

so. now that little girl looks like a boy.

people attempt to ask him about it! tell him "yo George idk if you've noticed but your daughter is wearing pants"

Washington just stands there, says "his name is Alexander" and. stares. stares like only a military commander can, straight into the person's soul, daring them to say anything else, give him a reason to put them on his shitlist.

they all learn very quickly not to mention it :)

Alex has long hair! I mean kinda, just a little longer than shoulder-length. back then, it was typical for men to have somewhat long hair, right? it's just not as long as a woman might wear it :)

it wasn't that John straight up knew about the concept, but as I've stated before, for him as a gay man, it's not a difficult connection to make, so yeah, he basically just accepted it!

also I love the headcanon that's actually based in history that his little sister Polly struggled with gender, so he would have some framework of that concept already psst my homie @quillsink is working on a very angsty fic about historical John and Polly rn ;)

I love you either way, anon! you are always welcome here, with questions or just to threaten to yeet me into a canyon <3

[neon-junkie]

HIIIIII UR NEW WILLSCUELLA FIC WAS SO CUTE I WISH THERE WAS MORE WILLSCUELLA CONTENT *CRIES* THANK U THOSE BOYS ARE ALL THATS KEEPING ME GOING. ID LOVE IT IF U WROTE ABOUT THEM MORE!!

THANK YOU <3  when I managed to glitch into the rdr2 Mexico map the other week, I went up onto that big cliff north of Diez Corona and just gormed at my TV cause the view up there is so pretty ;-; so here’s a lil RDR1 Willscuella fic based off that sight I saw the other week

"Nue.. new... neuo..." Bill continues to grumble, attempting to pronounce a non-English word. Javier knows by now that Bill's never going to get it, even if he broke the word down and took his time with it, but Bill continues to 'attempt' his pronunciation. "Bill... come on," Javier sighs, slowing his mount down slightly so Bill can catch up to him. They'd been riding inline whilst passing north of Diez Corona, traveling down the somewhat busy roads as they headed further south, trying to get as far from New Austin (and John) as they can. Javier had paddled across the river, sneaking into the state to pick Bill up and save his ass, and the two had only just returned. Bill was adamant about paddling the canoe on the way back, saying it's the least he could do since Javier had agreed to bail him out, so Javier relaxed and enjoyed the sight of Bill struggling to paddle them to the other side. Bill's still got his eyes forward, his brain ticking away as he continues trying to figure out how to pronounce the name of the state they're in. Javier had told him off for just calling it Mexico, and said that if he was going to stay here a while, then the least he could do was learn a little bit of the language. "Let's try it again, huh? Say it with me, Bill. Nue-vo Par-ai-so," Javier says slowly. "New... Neuo... Shit!" Bill grumbles again, exhaling heavily. Javier sighs, rolling his eyes dramatically as he steers off the road, finding his own trail amongst the dirt. "Aye, I give up with you, Bill," Javier tuts, peering over at Bill. He knows that Bill's probably never going to get it; he's known Bill for well over a decade, a very long decade, and even after things had gone south and they'd split off, Javier still ended up helping the larger man out when he needed it. "I don't blame you. I would, if I were you," Bill agrees, staring at the dirt rather than where they were heading, letting his mount lead the way. 

"We'll hitch the horses here. I want some lunch," Javier says as he comes to a halt, hitching his horse on what's left of a tree and taking some food from his saddlebags. Bill does the same, almost standing on another cactus in the process. That's not the first time he's gotten close to hurting himself, though he's managed a few times since they'd arrived. Bill pulls some food from his own saddlebags then peers his head around, realizing that Javier has wandered from his sight. He notices Javiers pointy sombrero and follows it, realizing that Javier had continued forward a few paces, heading down onto a small ledge. Bill takes a seat next to Javier, using the small ledge as shade as they lean back against it. He finally lifts his head up to notice where they were and the sight below them. They'd been traveling along a cliff, overlooking the vast Mexican landscape. There's an array of buttes below, surrounded by the dry desert and an odd sprinkle of plants. The heat can be seen radiating from the earth, small waves rising from the sand, making Bill rub his eyes just to ensure he's seeing things correctly. Javier notices the way Bill's looking at the landscape. He thought Bill had seen it all before with the dryness of New Austin, but Bill had never seen a butte before, nor how the earth was a vibrant gold shade rather than the dirty sand shade of New Austin. "You like what you see?" Javier asks, his mouth half-full with his food. His manners had gone out the window a long time ago, though Bill never bothered much with his. "Yeah, s'pretty," Bill tells him, finally dipping his head down to open the packaging to his food. "It's different to what I'm used to, I ain't seen stuff like that before," Bill comments as he points to the buttes, the large rock formations dotted about the landscape. "Yeah, Mexico's a beautiful country. I've told you that many times before, but now you get to see it for yourself," Javier says with a soft laugh, his mind flashing back to all those years ago where Javier would tell stories about his homeland around the campfire, enjoying the way his former gang members faces lit up as he described the landscape. "Finally," Bill nods, his gaze fixated on his food, but Javier snaps his head across to give Bill a confused look. "Finally?" Javier repeats. "Well, yeah. You has always said how pretty it is, 'n' now I get to see it for myself," Bill says with a shrug. "I never thought you cared for those stories? You never really said anything when I told them." "I didn't really know what to say, plus the others would always jump in with their questions 'n' stuff," Bill shrugs again. Javier pauses for a moment, going over all those events in his head. Bill seems unphased, focused on eating, whilst Javiers mouth remains empty as he thinks about his flashback. Javier eventually decides to remain silent, unsure of what to say, unsure if he should ask the many things that have been on his mind since they went their separate ways. Javier finally picks up once he's finished his meal, leaning back against the rock, his eyes gazing out at his mother country. "Bill?" he asks. "Mhm?" Bill replies, finishing off his food. "Did you ever think you'd end up here? As in, did you ever think you'd visit Mexico?" Javier questions. "Not really..." Bill answers. He opens his mouth again but quickly shuts it, his facial expression becoming focused as he runs through a few other answers in his head. "I thought... well, maybe..." Bill trails off, unsure of the right words. "You mean, you thought you would, but not like this?" Javier asks. "Yeah, not on these terms. Not on Marstons terms," Bill agrees, his brows furrowing slightly at the thought of John. "Yeah, I understand..." Javier sighs. He pauses for a moment, coming to terms with what he knows is going to happen. "You know, John isn't going to stop until he's got us." "Not unless we get him first," Bill says with a confident laugh. "You might be able to do that, but I can't..." Bill looks over at Javier, questioning why he won't stand up for himself. "Why?" he asks. "He's family, you know," Javier shrugs. "He ain't much family if he's tryna kill you." "I guess you're right." Javier and Bill remain in silence, enjoying the shade whilst it lasts, gazing out at the landscape and watching the clouds pass by. They both want to talk about the elephant in the room, about the way they split up all those years ago. Bill's eager to question why Javier even decided to help him in the first place, and Javier wants to ask why Bill contacted him, though he already knows it's because Bill has nobody left. Though Javier doesn't know that Bill's attempted to contact him before, he's written letter after letter but ended up scrunching up the paper and tossing it into the fire, never able to find the right things to say. "You wanna get going?" Javier finally speaks up, breaking the silence. "Sure," Bill nods in agreement. Javier's about to get up but Bill speaks again. "Can we... like... we know we is gonna die here. So, could we just.. you know..." Bill asks with a shrug. He keeps his gaze away from Javiers, not wanting Javier to see his flustered and unconfident face, nor wanting to see how Javier will react. Maybe Javier will push him off this cliff for asking such a thing, but Javier surprises him instead. "I know what you're asking," Javier tells him, his eyes wide. He doesn't bother hiding the smile on his face, nor the soft laugh he lets out. "Yeah, we can, Bill," Javier agrees. They both know their ends are near, but if they can enjoy their final moments together, then at least they'll die happy. They look at each other, a pair of old, tired men, gazing into each other's eyes like a bunch of lovestruck children. Javier removes him sombrero, setting it on his lap as he shuffles a little closer to Bill. He knows by now that Bill never removes his hat, he's always been so self-conscious of his balding. A pair of slightly chapped lips meet Javiers, and the two almost freeze up in the moment. It's been so many years since they'd last seen each other, even more since they'd kissed. Though they fall into sync, remembering just how they both like it; the right angles, the specific tilt so their noses don't bump, the soft biting to Bill's bottom lip that always drives him crazy. Bill reaches up to run his fingers into Javier's hair, short jagged locks that he's definitely cut himself. He remembers the way Javier would swat his hand away whenever he used to try that, not wanting to mess up his ponytail. The two stay connected for some time, attempting to catch up on some of the years they've missed, though they've got a long way to go to make up for it. Javier eventually breaks the kiss, knowing Bill could sit here for hours with his lips locked with the younger man. "Come on, old man," Javier says with a laugh. "Old man? You can't talk," Bill replies, his voice grumbly as always. "I haven't got any grey hairs yet, unlike you," Javier teases, stroking his thumb over the grey patch to Bill's moustache. Bill lets out a frustrated whimper but lets Javier have the last laugh, knowing he's in the right. Javier puts his sombrero back on and stands up, leading the way as they head back to the horses. The pair mount up, Javier leading the way as they continue on their travels. Their eyes catch each others every so often; Javier always smirks, making Bill's cheeks flush red, just like how they used to flirt across camp all those years ago. Javier can't help but smile every time he overhears Bill still trying to pronounce Nuevo Paraiso under his breath. He'll get it eventually.

[iwriteficsandtragedies]

Comfortable

Just a lil thing that’s been knocking around in my head. 

Warnings: none

____________________________________________

She trades smiles with the familiar face at the security guard station. He looks just as sleepy as she does as he waves her through, not even bothering to check her pass. They know each other well. There are only a few other cars in the lot, and she snags a front row spot. The clock on the dash says it’s two in the morning. This may be the latest they’ve ever gotten in.

She leans her seat back, ready for a long wait. Kyle said he’d be ready in an hour, two hours ago. She expects he’ll be at least another half hour. Time management isn’t his or the manager’s strong suit. Just as she closes her eyes for a quick nap, there’s a tap on the window. She turns to see a pretty blonde, shivering in the cold, and she motions for her to come around to the passenger side.

She doesn’t speak Portuguese, but the attitude for “It’s too fucking cold” is universal. The girl’s outfit is entirely too skimpy for Manchester in March. She’ll learn.

“They were supposed to be done two hours ago.” The girl crosses her arms in a huff. “It’s hot in Brazil. My sister’s bikini shopping.” She mutters in Portuguese again, squirming uncomfortably in her skirt. The beautiful thing looks miserable.

She chuckles, flips on the seat warmers, and reaches for the blanket she keeps in the back seat. “International break is coming.” The girl thanks her profusely, bundling up. “How long have you been here?”

“In the parking lot, or Manchester?”

“Both,” she smiles. This girl is so grumpy. Her poor boy is in for it.

“Parking lot for two hours. Manchester for two months.”

“Never show up when they tell you to. Best to wait til he calls you from the parking lot asking you where you are.” That earns her a smile. “Where’s your car?” The girl jerks her head towards the far end of the lot. “Oh, that won’t do.” She shifts into gear, heading slowly across the lot. “Park as close as you can. You don’t need to be out on the sidewalk waiting for him. Wait in the warmth, he can kiss you hello from his seat.” She pulls alongside the other vehicle. “They’ll be out in just a few minutes. Come park beside me.”

Just as she parks again, Kyle comes bounding out the door, followed by the other fellow who’s got no idea how much trouble he’s in. Kyle yanks open the back door, tosses his stuff in, and rounds the car to open her door to tug her out into the cold.

“Kyyyyyyle!” She laughs as he peppers her cheek with kisses, lifting her off the ground. “It’s freezing!”

“I missed you,” he says, squeezing her tighter. “Give us a kiss.” She gives him a quick peck and tries unsuccessfully to wriggle away from him. He squishes her to his chest, giggling when she gives up and slumps into him. “Did you miss me?”

She looks up at him. “A little.” He smiles, and she gets a little warmer inside.

He loosens his hold and looks her over. “Are those my sweatpants?”

“They were.” She rises up on her toes for another kiss. “They’re mine now.” She kisses him a third time. “Call it payment for this ungodly hour.” She returns to the warmth of the car, waiting for Kyle to buckle in before heading for home.

“I like when you pick me up like this,” he replies, slipping his hand into hers. “It’s nice.”

“Maybe at a more decent time.” She yawns, loudly. “Next time you get home  in the middle of the night, you can get a ride with John.”

He brings her hand to his lips. “Thank you, sweetheart.”

“Mm hmm. You’re making breakfast in the morning.”

“McDonald’s delivers, yeah?”

“Full English.”

“All for it, babe, but you should remember how long it took to air the house out the last time.” He grins. “Your hair smelled of burnt sausage for days.”

She grimaces at the memory of scraping scorched beans from her best pot. “McDonald’s will do.”

When they reach home, she catches a glimpse of herself in the hallway mirror. Kyle’s bag is slung over her shoulder. Her hair’s in a ponytail, his sweatpants are bunched around her Uggs, and come to think of it she hasn’t changed her shirt in two days. She thinks about the young blonde, dressed to kill to welcome her man home and how there was a time she used to do the same. She thinks maybe she should put some more effort

Kyle sidles up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pressing his face to her neck. He sways them side to side in a little shimmy. “I got my baaaaby back, I got my baaaby back.” He smiles at her in the mirror.

She brings a hand to the back of his neck, turning to kiss him. “You’re ridiculous.”

“You’re beautiful,” he says softly against her lips. She turns to goo in his arms. Sweatpants or ballgowns, Kyle always makes her feel adored.  “Now,” he says, walking them slowly toward the staircase, pressing her body into his as he goes. “Come welcome me home properly.”

[all-chickens-are-trans]

here‘s an ask about black sails: who‘s your favourite character so far?? whose wardrobe are you most jealous of? and whose hair?? 😱 any plot twists you weren‘t expecting? 😉

oooohhh thanks for letting me talk about this show!!! I love it so much!!!

favorite character:

hard to say, I love them all so much for so many different reasons. gotta say, flint is just it. like. THE most character. I feel like I hit the jackpot with that one, he fills so many of my needs in a fictional character. dark, broody, drenched in shame, fucked up moral compass but with extremely intricate ways to justify his deeds, perfect fashion sense, queer. 

though it’d be unfair to quite a few other characters if I only named him. I absolutely friggin’ LOVE Anne, I want her there more. Like, all the time. And when she’s there, I want it to be about her completely, not just about her in relation to other characters like Max and Jack. Nothing wrong with Max and Jack (and I’m completely obsessed with her relationships to both of them) but I just want to know who she is outside of that. or, inside of that, but with the focus more on her. if that makes sense.

and I am absolutely 100% devoted to Miranda Barlow. ugh i’m pretty sure i’m literally in love with her?? she’s beautiful, she’s so intelligent, she knows what she wants, she’s a sight to behold when she lets her passions overtake her!! the way she says “fuck social norms” with that quiet grin of hers???? hottest shit i’ve ever seen. 

wardrobe:

all of them. I say i wanna be a pirate and I swear it’s 60% due to the looks. Jack Rackham is obviously a style icon like no one else, but then you look at Max and it’s like!! Ma’am!!! I need ALL of your dresses AND your pro tips for eyeliner!! and I gotta admit, like every hyperfixation i have this one random character - not always my favorite, not always the one character i kin the most - just one character whose look i try to emulate in the following months of my obsession. so far, i had john watson, balthazar jones, joyce byers, in recent months, sprotte, and now, if i can get my hands on some nice pirate shirts and boots, it’s definitely going to be flint. style icon. seriously. he can wear ANYTHING and I’ll want it.

hair:

this is a text i sent last night. i think it explains everything. (I also want his beard.)

image descriptions and plot twists below the cut

[image description:

a grey chat window with the following text:

“flint: *has long hair and a cute lil ponytail* me: I’m gonna let my hair grow out flint: *has a buzzcut* me: i’m gonna shave my head”

/ image description end]

plot twists:

gotta say, I was really surprised, and more importantly, really pissed at Miranda dying at the end of s2. Not just because I loved her so much, but because I also felt like it was solely done as a way to get some character development for Flint, to drive him deeper into darkness and all that. And I’m just sick and tired when women die to further some guy’s plot. It’s been a while since I saw that done as extensively as here.

not a dramatic twist per se, but I also didn’t expect the way Dufresne would turn out as a character. I was really fond of him in s1, and the way he just got darker and more selfish/focused on self-preservation is something i didn’t expect. I’m not complaining though. I still think he’s one of the most interesting side characters.

and again, not really a twist, but?? when the whole Anne/Max thing started happening and Jack was kinda weird and upset about it, I was like?? wait?? what??! they were supposed to be romantically involved?? which I just didn’t realize, because I guess I forgot that uhh, heteronormativity exists and amatonormativity and mononormativity are a part of it? I just thought they were bros for life with benefits, you know? Really funny when I realized their partnership was meant to be a romantic one. (I mean it’s not necessarily written in an overly romantic way. which is so, so good i think!! they’re partners, in the most ambiguous sense of the word. i love that.)

[fayfictions]

Kryoz x swagger fluff?

i gotchu

(its a lil long oops)

~

eric wasn't used to getting his nails painted.

he wasn't used to getting them painted by a man.

and he definitely wasn't used to getting his nails painted by his pretty crush.

it started as an offhanded comment about how he wanted to stop chewing his nails.

“oh, that's the reason why I paint them, cause then I don't wanna ruin the nail polish,” john told him in response.

“maybe I should do that,” eric hummed jokingly.

and now he was sitting in john’s bedroom, john carefully holding his hand as he painted each nail black. 

eric definitely wasn't blushing because of it. eric also definitely wasn't staring at john with his hair pulled back in a ponytail, face determined with every stroke of the brush.

when one hand was finished, john blew at his nails and told him to let them dry as he started with the other hand. eric had to admit, he did a really good job at painting his nails. he liked the color black on them, it looked nice, as surprising as that was to him. 

the second hand was done, and john grabbed both of eric’s hands carefully to look at them. he then looked proud, huffing with a grin. “hell yeah, they look awesome. you like ‘em?”

eric nodded, and john grinned even more. “sweet. youll get out of the habit in no time. and hey, maybe youll be cool like me and just paint your nails all the time. wanna see a movie?”

the switch of topics surprised eric, and he blinked in confusion. “I- what?”

john laughed. “I said, wanna see a movie? theres a new horror movie out that looks cool as hell, I really wanna see it. i’ll pay for your ticket and the popcorn. you good with that?”

“y-you mean like. now?”

“no, I meant last week. yes, I mean now, you dork.”

“oh. uh, s-sure?”

john grinned at him. “sweet, lets go.” he grabbed eric’s now-painted hand and pulled him up, not letting go as he walked out of the house and to the theater.

[lilsherlockian1975]

This is a little something for @the-sapphiresky . Sorry I missed your birthday, sweetness. Hope you like this. You are dear to me, Sky!

Huge thanks to @mizjoely for being an amazingly quick and oh so helpful beta. Alas, he mistakes all belong to me.

Sherlock’s memories of John’s words are from The Lying Detective (and one other line) I do not own them. They are in italics and stand alone in the fic.

Enjoy ~Lil~

Checking his watch, Sherlock realised he had some time to kill. Should probably do a bit of clean up, he thought with a grimace.

It was more of a distraction than anything else but it did the trick. Moving about his flat, he straightened things as he went and tried to focus on menial tasks rather than his upcoming meeting. Picking up Rosie’s discarded bits of biscuit from the coffee table, he tossed them in the bin then dusted off his hands. She had demolished his stack of medical journals… again. He restacked them, then grabbed the cushions off the floor, tossing them back onto the settee.

Once everything was back in its place, he checked his watch. That killed nearly ten minutes. He sighed as he sat in his chair and pondered.  

She’s out there, she likes you…

He laughed out loud at the absurdity of John’s statement. Now, months later, the doctor still assumed that the reason Sherlock didn’t return Adler’s messages was because of his ‘fear of intimacy’ or some such drivel. Even after the events at Sherrinford, his friend didn’t seem to have a clue. He knew this for a fact because the man had just left, daughter in tow, and had once again brought up the subject, asking if Sherlock had communicated with the Dominatrix.

He hadn’t, of course. He couldn’t send Irene a text or phone her, not while his emotions were still whirling around a certain pathologist. His mind couldn’t stop thinking about big brown eyes and too thin lips. It was filled with dimples and ponytails and ugly jumpers. The memories of her face: smiling, laughing, concentrating, angry, disappointed and worst of all near tears haunted him daily. Her whispered ‘I love you’ still echoed in his ears.

... do you have the first idea how lucky you are?

“I do, actually, John,” Sherlock said to his empty flat. Ironic, since he didn’t even believe in luck.

She should have told him to bugger off after his first insult, but Molly Hooper was made of stronger stuff. To the outside observer, she may have seemed spineless for sticking around - for staying through his mockery, though his manipulations, through his continuous bad behaviour - but he knew better. The woman was perhaps the strongest person he’d ever known.

He chuckled. “Okay, she and Mary will probably have to share that distinction.”

Would complete you as a human being…

Hmm, complete him? Possibly, he supposed. John assumed that romantic love was the one element that Sherlock was missing, but what his friend didn’t know was that he did feel it. He felt Molly’s love, even returned it, he just didn’t express it outwardly.

Oddly enough, John hadn’t pressed the issue of Molly and those words, annoyingly more fixated on Irene’s occasional text messages. He knew why, of course. John assumed that Sherlock had only said them to save Molly’s life. His friend couldn’t possibly know what it had cost to speak them… right then… in that moment… under duress.

Phone her, do something while there’s still a chance, because that chance doesn’t last forever.

He glanced down at his watch. Was time moving slower or was it just him?

It’s gone before you know it.

John’s words were understandable; he was grieving, after all. But Molly was always there. She wasn’t going anywhere…

Before you know it!

“Is she?” As he spoke the words, he stood and walked to the window.

She almost had, of course. She almost married that idiot. Would that have been so bad, though? Sherlock knew that nothing would stop her from loving him. If his behaviour hadn’t accomplished the task then marriage certainly wouldn’t. They had weathered rougher storms than her falling for another man.

John wasn’t talking about losing his wife’s heart, however, he was talking about losing her completely. A pain spiked through Sherlock’s chest when he suddenly envisioned the casket once again.

The loss of Molly Hooper might just manage what London’s most brilliant, most ruthless criminals could not. He laughed bitterly. No, it would, wouldn’t it? It would end me. Especially if it happened before he had the chance to taste her sweet lips.

Sighing, he stood and paced to the window, resisting the urge to check his watch yet again. He had been at this crossroads for months. A question had plagued his mind: What to do about Molly Hooper? Followed by many, many more…

Could he make her happy? How does a person who’s never had an actual relationship begin one? Did she deserve better? And how long do two people who’ve known each other for more than eight years have to wait before shagging like crazed bunnies on speed?

He checked his bloody watch… again.

She taught me to be the man she already thought I was.

And this was the real problem. An entirely Molly created problem.

John may have been talking about Mary at the time but he couldn’t have known how apropos his statement was to Sherlock’s consternation.  

Molly understood him without even knowing why she did. She gave her love without any hope or, more importantly, need for reciprocation. She just… loved.

It was a beautiful thing to behold, once he realised what he was actually seeing, that is. In fairness, it did take a while. At first, he thought it was nothing more than infatuation - perhaps it was… for a little while, at least - but it grew, it changed, evolved. Sherlock couldn't help but observe her. It was in his nature to closely watch those around him and once she had his attention, he watched Molly Hooper very carefully. He soon realised that she cared for more than his good looks or brilliant mind, but for a heart that he didn’t even know he possessed.

In watching her love grow - watching her give it so freely for so long - she had taught him a valuable lesson: Molly Hooper had taught Sherlock Holmes how to love.

She had always loved without getting any love directly back and he wasn’t entirely sure how the next part worked.

How did one both give and receive love at the same time?

Get yourself a piece of that.

Sherlock turned, throwing his hands in the air and growled, “I’m trying, John!” as if his friend was standing in the room and could hear his frustrated declaration.

He was just going to have to figure it out. Glancing down at his damnable watch, he realised that he had officially run out of time and quickly turned back to the window in hopes of catching her arrival.

Less than sixty seconds later he did. Molly Hooper walked up to the building, took a deep breath, and then disappeared from his sight.

His heart rate increased as he heard her light footfalls on the stairs, panic quickly setting in. As he faced the door of his flat, his own frantic voice started berating him...

You’ve hurt her.

You waited too long.

Should have talked to her just after.

Why didn’t you go to her the first chance you had?

And then suddenly John’s...

It is what it is.

She was at the door, just about to knock.

But I don’t deserve her! he thought. I couldn’t possibly be worthy of…

Knock-Knock

Clearing his throat and trying to shake off his nerves, he said, “Come in,” as calmly as possible.

And there she was. Molly Hooper. She smiled, but didn’t speak, and the most unimaginable peace settled on him, covering him like a warm blanket. “Hello, Molly,” he greeted, stepping forward.

“Hi. I was… surprised to get your text.”

“Really?”

She nodded, adjusting the strap of her bag on her shoulder. “We’ve hardly spoken… since.”

Two more steps and he was right in front of her. “And for that, I am truly sorry.”

“It’s all right, you’ve been…”

“No excuses, Molly. We’re… I’d like to start over, in a way.”

“‘Kay,” she replied with a smile, her dimple deepening, her cheeks turning slightly pink.

Reaching out, he took Molly’s hand. “There’s only one way to start this,” he said. Drawing her closer, he removed the bag from her shoulder, letting it drop to the floor, then cupped her cheek. “I love you, Molly Hooper. In every sense of the word.” Her eyes widened in surprise. “And if you’ll let me, I’ll spend the rest of my life making up for taking so long in telling you.”

Several seconds passed before Molly closed the distance, answering him with her too thin, but oh, so sweet lips pressed against his.

In saving my life, she conferred a value on it. It’s a currency I do not know how to spend.

He knew exactly how to spend that currency now.

Thank you, Mary.

Thanks for reading ~Lil~