#mehs this is an old old prompt but i have been looking at it at least once per week for the last 2 years

[jate-kara]

The vanguard and "can you pretend I didn't say that?"

“As far as welcome-back parties go, not the worst I’ve seen. Not the best. But you know what? Not the worst, so I’ll call it a win.”

‘Party’ was a generous term. Zavala’s office could hardly be called cheery on its best day, but cluttered as it was now with relics, weaponry, reports, and what looked suspiciously like a collection of half-full coffee mugs in the bookshelf’s corner, it barely passed for a workspace, let alone a party venue.

Besides that, there were no streamers, no balloons, and no fingertips sparking fireworks. No cheering guests, either. The room was lit by the single lamp set on the desk, casting shadows across Zavala and Ikora and absolutely nobody else. The combined weight of their stares was enough to give a guy nightmares.

Felt like just last week he’d been in here, meeting their scowls with a quick quip and a flash of charm. ‘Lame’ is what Cayde might have called the whole thing, under better circumstances. But these weren’t better circumstances. Might even call ‘em ‘apocalyptic’, actually. So he kept his mouth shut, leaned forward, and let his hands come to rest on the edge of the desk. Well within their sight. Not like he had Ace on him; he’d handed it off to Ikora after his resurrection. Return. Whatever. But maybe it helped.

Or maybe not. Ikora’s stare was unwavering.

“I told you,” Cayde tried, for the fifteenth time. “I can’t explain it to you. I don’t know how I’m back. Who brought me back. Why I’m back. I just know I’m glad I am. Sounds like you could use the help.”

Zavala gave an audible sigh. His elbows were propped up on the desk, so his hands were folded in front of his face, obscuring half his scowl. For a moment, he was silent, contemplating Cayde like an enemy and not an ally the Light had found fit to return from a death beyond death.

“We don’t expect you to explain,” Zavala offered at last.

“Great! Then stop looking at me like I’m going to blow the Tower up.”

Ikora winced. Cayde stopped short. “Wait. Nobody did that, right? Wasn’t one of my Hunters?”

Zavala dropped his head to his hands and left it there, scrubbing at his face like that would erase whatever headache was now blooming in the back of his skull. Could almost call it like the good old days, if his eyes weren’t shot through with haunted grief when he looked back up. “No,” he said, his voice barely more than a whisper. His gaze met Cayde’s, and held. He opened his mouth like he was going to say more, but all that came out was a hoarse croak.

Ikora rested a hand on Zavala’s shoulder, then took a measured breath. “The circumstances are…different, but you're not the first to return to us. Last time, we failed to see our enemy, and we almost paid dearly for it.”

Vague as vague can be. Someone got a foothold in the Tower, close enough to spook the Vanguard, or outright infiltrate them. Cayde looked between them.

“It wasn’t one of us,” Ikora supplied. Her voice was softer, this time.

Cayde wondered what he must have looked like to prompt that response, and pushed the thought away just as quickly. “All right, so tell me how I’m supposed to prove I’m me. You wanna hear about the Dare? Where I got the cloak? Best bet I ever lost?”

Zavala’s breath hitched. Ikora’s hand shot across the table and closed around Cayde’s wrist. Too late, Cayde remembered the crushing pain in his chest, and the Young Wolf, beside him, as the light faded, and he fought for a final word.

Cayde coughed. “Can you pretend I didn’t say that?”

Ikora’s hand didn’t move. For a beat that felt like whatever eternity he’d spent beyond, no one spoke.

“I don’t know how to prove that you aren’t an agent of our enemy,” Zavala said at last. His voice was soft, softer than Cayde could ever remember hearing it. “But I want to believe that you aren’t. I want to believe that you are truly returned to us.”

Cayde waited for a however, we can’t just- or an I’m sorry, but that’s not enough. It didn’t come. From either of them. He looked at them, and he felt the weight of Ikora’s hold on his wrist and the suffocating hope in Zavala’s eyes, and his chest ached. And he wondered what had happened while he was dead, and whether ‘apocalyptic’ could even begin to cover where they were now.

And for a second, he didn’t give a damn.

“All right, now don’t shoot me,” Cayde said. “But I’m gonna hug you. Both of you.”

And they let him.

—

[lover-of-mine]

Lady Whistledown here. I'm laughing that stuck, but I will take it. Literally, no one important just ended up there. The readers' digest version for those who didn't see the original goes like this.

In the beginning, it was all fun, and games and delusions of grandeur were written till E6, really.

That's when the Buck Tommy kind of flat lined, and what was shown was meh. Then they were desperately praying there would be on on screen pledge of commitment to shut us up before the season ended. Never happened. Pretty much all of the speculation came from paying for Lous Cameos. They built stories around them. Heavily used his cameo wearing the medal when he said they were "thriving." We all know they literally had one scene after that. Then Lou had to shut down his account, and now they were in a drought.

So they moved along into speculation territory for weeks until Oliver's live. Before then, we received their ire. We were bullies and harassing Lou ext. In the live, he basically grimaced and ignored the Buck Tommy question and smiled and blushed at Buddie. Have to remember with, in the same time frame, we had Ryan basically say so you know Buck and Eddie during an interview non 911 related, but also the old Lou interview started circulating again. The one where he basically says they called me last minute to kiss one of them and that he was basically called in to work out Bucks kinks as a starter relationship.

Clearly, this caused panic in the BT PR room!!

But it was weird because after Oliver's recent life, that's when they turned on him. Because now they had to confront why he had never posted about Tommy, followed Lou and only posted Eddie. I have seen that happen in other fandoms, but it's usually by main characters. Not a random side character. So my point is if Oliver continues as is, BTS starts popping up no Lou, Ryan, and Oliver promo. They are turning on Oliver if he doesn't promote BT. They already did and that was just the first trial by fire.

Since then, though, like any good conspiracy type behavior, it's like they forgot they were mad and never mentioned Oliver's expressions during it. Or the fact he seems to not care about the pairing.

They are back in delusional land. Some delusions include.... It's good Chris will be gone because it provides space for Buck to detach from Eddie, and we get more Tommy. Tommy will be more main character LI and involved with the team. Huge chance Tommy finally comes clean to Buck he was into Eddie before, and Buck being so loving invites Eddie to join them. Eddie secretly pines for Tommy. Tommy taking over father roles for both Eddie and Buck because clearly they need his help. Also sexual fantasies clearly written by straight people.

But mark my words... If it keeps going with no sign of Lou, Tommy, or Oliver acknowledging BT, it will because of us and Oliver. If that happens, I will, of course, message you.

And if people really want to know I am happy to always report back the gossip...

But if that was long winded as hell and you skipped to the bottom.. Yes, they turned on Oliver (behind closed doors) because his live was the first chance since the cameos to get anything. And he said let them eat cake....

Hello, my love 🩷🩷🩷

Wait wait wait wait you're telling me that after the hospital kiss when there were harassing everyone about how bt is now endgame, they were panicking about the way the relationship was portrayed? And that they realize the relationship was not defined on screen? Are you fucking with me? This is........ Okay, but seriously, do they realize how cameo works or do they think Lou was just saying those things because he felt like it? When you pay for those videos, you send him a message that prompts him. He was saying what they paid him to say. I'm...... I'm glad to know they are also unhappy with the way the relationship has been treated, I feel vindicated.

Also the way they also agree Tommy looked more interested in Eddie and are creating their own delusions on top of Eddie pining for Tommy? I don't even want to think about Tommy being a better parent, that one just makes me want to pick a fight. Interesting to know they are having the three-way fantasies in private while completely turning on Eddie out here.

Honestly, the chaos that will happen once filming starts is not something I'm looking forward to, because there won't be the level of content they want and that will 10000000% make them more feral. Especially considering the way Oliver is on our side, and even with bt on the making the promotion of s7 leaned HEAVILY on Oliver and Ryan together. And it worked. So it will probably happen again. And given how small Tommy's role was in the back half of the season, him not being around all that much is the more plausible scenario. And well, publicly turning on Oliver is not gonna get the reaction they think it will, so that's gonna be interesting for sure.

Please come back any time there's an update you feel is worth sharing, I'm loving having the inside view kapakapalapakpas

[oh-stars]

Being Your Eyes

Blind

a Stobin Month 2024 prompt | 474 words | CW: N/A | Rating: G

--

“Oh my god, Robs,” Steve hisses, leaning into her. 

She perks up, head tilting toward him as she blinks the sleep out of her eyes. “What is it?” 

“There’s a mom and daughter coming out of Barnes & Noble,” he says, probably louder than he intended but his hearing aids don’t work the best in crowded areas. “The mom has on this dress – think Madonna back in the Like a Virgin days – and they’re tucked into her spanx.” 

“Stop,” Robin gasps, covering her mouth with one hand and grabbing Steve’s arm with another.

“Daughter’s been trying to get her attention, it looks like,” Steve says. “I’d put her at twelve maybe.” 

“So embarrassed by her mom even breathing at her, let alone that?” 

“Bingo.” Steve narrows his eyes at the two as the daughter desperately tries to get her mom to stop walking and to shut up long enough for her to tell her. “Poor kid is trying so hard to save her mom.” 

“We should do something.” 

“Meh,” Steve says with a shrug.

Robin shrugs too and leans into Steve more. “What are they doing now?” 

“They’re walking into Hallmark.” He lifts his head a little, but his hip hurts from walking around the mall so he doesn’t try to do more than that. “Can’t see them anymore.” 

“That makes two of us.” 

Steve rolls his eyes. If you had asked him back in ‘85 which of them would be blind first, Steve would have said himself easily. And he’s well on his way, sure. His glasses couldn’t get any thicker than they are now and even then, he’s been banned from driving. He never would have guessed that Robin would lose most of her sight first. 

She can see a little still, mostly close up and enough to keep her from running into things in new places. It doesn’t stop her from falling, but they’re old enough where that’s a problem anyone would be having at her age so he doesn’t blame that on her eyes. But just because she can’t see from a distance or other people, doesn’t mean she should miss out on their favorite pastime: people watching. 

“Gross,” Steve huffs as he settles back in with Robin, “this guy just stuck his hand down his pants and sniffed his hand.”

“Ew,” Robin swats at him. “I don’t want to know that.”

“You need the full picture.” 

“I promise you, I don’t.”

Steve chuckles as he surveys the area of the mall they’re in. It’s not as busy as it should be, but it’s still early and there’s enough people that he’s found some good stories. And they still have ten minutes before his daughter picks them up once Eddie’s physical therapy is over, so he’s bound to find another weird scenario to tell Robin. 

If he doesn’t, there’s always tomorrow. 

--

Thank you @lady-lostmind for beta reading!

Ao3 Link

[samynnad102687]

A New Pet

@struttingstag

April 30 Prompt: A New Pet | Jegulus | 1888 words

James wanted to do something special for Regulus' birthday but he didn't know what to do. He knew that Regulus didn't really like parties and hated surprise ones even more so that was out. He could get him something but what? Regulus had a lot of jewellery already and James didn't want to get him a new ring until he got him that ring, which he was already planning for but that was a whole other decision.

"Ugh," James threw his hands up in the air as he sunk further into the couch.

"What?" Sirius asked from beside him.

"I don't know what to get Reg for his birthday."

"Oh, yeah I can't help you there. Reggie typically hates what I get him," Sirius laughed lightly.

"Yeah, because you keep trying to piss him off with your gifts. I swear your goal is for him to tell you not to bother anymore."

James glanced over at his best friend who looked like he was trying not to confirm that that was his plan.

"You are, aren't you," James asked as he pointed at Sirius in indignation.

"Not really. I just want to see if he will actually tell me that he doesn't like them," Sirius shrugged.

"I'll be sure to let him know when I get home," James deadpanned before he stood up.

Regulus would be getting home from work shortly and James wanted to grab dinner on the way home. Maybe he would come up with an idea on his walk. He still had a week to figure it out though. Sirius only lived ten minutes away from James and Regulus and there was a small family-owned cafe in between them.

"Are you leaving already? You just got here," Sirius complained.

"I've been here for five hours," James laughed.

He came over after lunch and they spent the rest of the time watching movies and just hanging out like they used to when they were teenagers.

"Besides, I need to sober up a little before I get home. I really don't want another lecture from your brother about getting drunk in the middle of the afternoon."

"You are twenty-six years old. You're allowed to drink if you want to. What's he gonna do anyway? Make you sleep on the couch?"

"If I'm lucky. He threatened to kick me out of the house last time I came home drunk. Said if I was more concerned with getting plastered with you than remembering that we were supposed to go to a dinner party with a couple of his colleagues then I could just stay with you."

"Well, it's not my fault that you forgot." Sirius shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.

"The hell it isn't." James scoffed. "If I remember correctly, I told you that I couldn't drink but you decided to be dramatic about not having anyone to drink with since Remus was out of town. You basically guilt-tripped me into it."

"Meh."

James grabbed the pillow and smacked Sirius in the face with it before he stuck out his tongue and ran out the door. He could hear Sirius' shriek about messing up his hair as he left but James was too far down the street for him to attempt to chase him down for it. James slowed down his steps as he rounded the corner and saw the cafe in sight. He would grab a coffee for himself to sober up and dinner for both of them. Regulus had been stressed at work lately and James didn't want to add to it by making him think that he needed to cook dinner too.

"Hey, Andy," James beamed when he walked up to the counter.

"Hey, James. Picking up?"

"Yeah. The usual, please and a coffee while I wait, if it's not too much trouble."

"Not at all. Does Reg know that you were drinking with Sirius again?"

"No. He knew I was going over there but then again I didn't know I was gonna be drinking until I got there," James replied with a shrug. "How did you know?"

"You only ask for coffee after you've been with my cousin."

"Oh."

Andy laughed before she handed him a coffee and went to the back to put in the order. James found a seat at an empty table by the window. He liked to watch everybody who walked past on the quiet street. Although, it was busier around dinner time when everybody was getting off work. As he was watching, he saw the cutest black cat across the street and it seemed like it was watching him too. Maybe Regulus would like a cat for his birthday. He had mentioned wanting one as a kid but his parents wouldn't let them have any pets.

A little while later, Andy came back out with his food. James paid and bid her farewell before he finished walking home. When he left, the cat was gone and he was a little sad that he didn't get to pet it. It didn't take long to get home after picking up dinner and the coffee definitely helped sober him up enough that he could get away with saying he only had a beer or two.

"Reg?" James called when he entered their modest two-story house.

"In the office," Regulus called back and James smiled.

He brought the food to the kitchen and set it on the counter before he went to the office. Regulus was standing at his desk and looked like he was trying to figure out the cure for world hunger as he stared at the papers in front of him. James leaned against the doorframe for a minute before he entered and wrapped his arms around Regulus' waist.

"Hey, love," James whispered into Regulus' hair when he relaxed back into James' arms.

"Hey."

"What are you working on?"

"Just this stupid deposition that they insisted needed to be finished tonight so I brought it home instead of staying at the office."

"Oh." James kissed him on the top of his head before he turned him in his arms. "They work you too hard, love."

"Yeah, well. It's a part of the job, Jamie."

"Hmm, maybe. I just don't want you to get too stressed out before you make partner."

"I won't be, not as long as you're here to help me destress," Regulus smirked suggestively.

"There is that," James mused with a light chuckle. "Maybe after dinner though. I picked up Andy's"

"Good. I'm starving and didn't feel like cooking. How is Andy?"

"She seems good. I didn't stay long."

"And how is my brother?" Regulus asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Sirius is... well, Sirius," James said with a shrug.

"Hmm. And how much did you drink this time?"

James looked at him for a second and wondered how he knew before he shook his head. He figured that Regulus just knew everything and he just had to live with that, not that he was really complaining. James sighed.

"I don't know," James responded honestly. "A few I think, but Sirius was making them strong this time. How did you know we were drinking?"

"Would you believe me if I said I just know?"

"Honestly, yeah but seriously, how?"

"Sirius told me he wanted to see if he could get you to try some new drinks," Regulus said with a shrug before he kissed James on the lips.

"Of course, he did. Would have been nice if he told me that you already knew?"

"I told him not to tell you."

"That's not fair."

"Oh well." Regulus shrugged nonchalantly before he wiggled out of James' arms and headed for the door. "You passed, by the way," Regulus said as he threw a smirk back at James.

It took James a little longer than it should have to figure out what he was talking about, but when he did he was both shocked and not shocked all at the same time. It wasn't the first time the brothers wanted to test him about something. Although, James wasn't sure why they were testing him now.

James left the office and Regulus was in the kitchen, pulling out the food and dishing up the plates. He handed one to James and they sat at the table in comfortable silence for a little bit before James couldn't take it anymore and had to ask.

"Why were you testing me this time? Did I do something?"

"No, you didn't. It's nothing bad, I just wanted to see if you would lie to me."

James wanted to ask more but something in Regulus' tone suggested that it would be better to not ask any more questions about it. He learned that tone a few years ago after he pushed Regulus too much and ended up on the couch for three days.

"So, what do you want for your birthday?" James asked, changing the subject.

"I don't know. I like everything that you get me," Regulus replied with a small shy smile.

No matter how long they have been together, eight years, James would never get tired of that smile. Honestly, he would never get tired of any of Regulus' smiles but that one was always more pure than the rest.

"Okay."

**

James had thought about it all week and he was sure that Regulus would love the gift that he got him. James was sitting on the couch when Regulus came home from work. He was watching something on the telly and pretending like it was any other day. James had given Regulus a small gift that morning and figured Regulus would probably think that was all he was getting him this year.

"You're up to something," Regulus remarked after he toed off his boots and stared at James.

"Why would you think that?"

"You're too quiet."

Well, shit.

"Hmm. I was just thinking," James mused.

"About?"

"Something for dinner. I was thinking we could go out tonight."

"Can we do it a different day?" Regulus asked with a sigh. "I'm tired."

"Yeah, that's fine. Why don't you go lie down and I'll whip something up for dinner and bring it to you."

Regulus stared at James for another minute before he shook his head. "Okay."

He walked towards their bedroom and James waited for a minute before he got up to follow. When he made it to their bedroom, Regulus was standing in the doorway and staring at the bed.

"I thought you were going to lie down, love," James said with a slight smirk but he changed it to a gentle smile when Regulus turned around.

"I was but it seems that something has claimed our bed."

"Oh, yeah. I forgot to tell you that your birthday present was on the bed."

"What?"

James walked around Regulus and picked up the small black kitten that was curled up on the pillow. He brought her over to Regulus who instinctively reached up to pet her.

"You got me a kitten?" Regulus asked with awe coating his tone and James could see the tears welling up in his eyes.

"Yeah," James said nervously. "Do you like her?"

"I love her."

Regulus kissed James on the lips before he took the kitten from his arms and cuddled her in his own.

"What's her name?"

"Luna."

Also posted on Ao3: Regulus' Birthday Surprise

[pjunicornart]

Okay sooo ummmm I've been working on something in the background.

So like, I've been working on a Meet the Robinsons AU idea that I plan on making a ton of content for in the background, I even have some art for it already. However, I wanna see if people would be interested in it... so I'm gonna describe the main players of the AU and answer some questions here in this post because I've just been DYING to info dump about this! Okay, let's start with...

The explanation of everything! What even is this AU I'm working on? It'll be called "Lazy Days." Essentially, this is an AU where the Robinson family stays in their comfy clothes and bedheads all day while drinking tea and/or coffee and binging junk food while watching movies... to name a few activities. My vision for this AU is a super cozy and chill vibe. Sweaters, socks, sweatpants, sleep shorts, donuts, whipped cream cans, coffee mugs, pizza, lo-fi, and more await in this AU!

What are some key differences? Besides the comfy lounge wear? Well, for one, Neil and Franny have more kids. Wilbur is still the eldest, he just has three little siblings now! One of which is adopted! I'll tell you more about them later on in this post. As for another key difference? Neil is still a super genius and everything, however, all of his inventions have a noticeably more... cozy, aesthetic feel. All I'm saying is, Carl looks REAL different in this AU.

Will there be a story? Meh... I'm still debating that. For now, it's just kind of a thing I entertain when I want to/am prompted to. If it were to have a story, it would probably focus on Wilbur and his sibs.

What did you mean by the "main players?" Just what I what refer to as the "core" members of the family. So, Neil and Fran, plus their four kids: Wilbur, Freddie, Mazie, and Leo. Speaking of...

Cornelius 42 years old. Summary: Caffeine Junkie, Sleepyhead, Scatterbrain Owner of his own engineering company, and a pretty chill one at that. He baffles others in his field because on the surface, he seems to not be all there - his choice to show up to important meetings and talks in sweatpants doesn't exactly help with that assumption. However, nobody can deny his amazing intellect, even if it at first glance it seems buried under all the goofball-ness.

Franny 41 years old. Summary: Intense, Mama Bear, Prideful A global phenomenon for her music featuring her own frog band! She's made up her brand from the fact that she's the only musician in the world right now who makes music using little amphibians who miraculously learned how to walk and talk. Besides music, Franny also adores everything about her husband.

Wilbur 16 years old. Summary: Sheepish, Easily Bored, Bookworm When he's not sneaking snacks from the kitchen in the middle of the night, he's usually curled up in a chair reading the book he recently checked out from the local library. His parents are surprised just how much he mellowed out compared to three years ago. That being said... ADHD doesn't magically go away after you grow up a little.

Freddie 13 years old. Summary: Old Soul, Green Thumb, Foodie She was adopted into the family two years after Wilbur was born. It was a circumstance of her father not being able to take care of her at the time. She's the plant person of the family, opting to spend her days taking care of her little garden in the backyard. Which includes fresh produce!

Mazie 10 years old. Summary: Weirdo, Hypersensitive, Pouty She's absolutely OBSESSED with cryptids. Bigfoot, Night Crawlers, Aliens, Mothman... you name it, she probably knows a whole book's worth of information about it. Hell, she'll even watch cryptid adjacent stuff. For example, kaiju movies. Her ultimate dream is to see the Loch Ness Monster. Or Bigfoot. Or aliens. Or any cryptid.

Leo 3 years old. Summary: Non-Verbal, Picky, Loner Leo is the only one who takes after his father, sharing his blonde hair. Which couldn't have worked out better! You see, after Leo was born, Franny went on a massive world tour. So Neil was the one taking care of him during his early years, and so Leo got very attached to his daddy. Wherever Neil goes, Leo follows. He's very fussy and uncooperative if Neil is away at work or just out for groceries.

I'm super curious to see your thoughts on this, if any. I'm gonna make stuff for this regardless, but I still want to start some conversations! Ask box is always open! THIS POST HAS A SISTER POST NOW! This one has images! :o Here it is -> Lazy Days Character Busts.

[sortofanobsession]

For that prompt where Roy and Jamie sleep together in S1 and after Roy and Jamie lay themselves bare before each other and admit they are each other's best partner that they've ever had, I just had this dialogue idea for Jamie: " I hate bein' such a fuckin' prick, I fuckin' hate it bu' he... he h-hits meh less and don't get mad as much when I do." When Roy demands to know who, Jamie just says "Dad."

Author's Note: this one I have been working on for some time now. The anon that asked for it sent you a handful of asks. I know this is at least 2 of them.are in here but it kind of took on a life of its own after the first few scenes. It turned into a bit of a beast. And I enjoyed writing it.

Unbeta'd and posted on mobile because my new computer unfortunately has Windows 11 in S mode (hesitate to change that because of my second job).

Canon divergent Season 1 before Two Aces.

Content warnings: anger, violence, fighting, physical injury, abuse, hospitalization, broken bones, cursing/cussing/swearing, pain medication. (I'm sure I missed something)

Ted Lasso Masterlist

Ao3

Tired of Fighting

The fight in the locker room might have ended but Roy couldn't cool off. He just felt like a grenade without a pin. Lose grip in the slightest and he would go off.

Jamie normally feels like he has too much energy and he has to be moving, but this felt different. This felt like there was something in his chest that was driving him in a different way. It was persistent and didn't let up. It lasted days.

It all boiled over one morning. Both of them had gotten to Nelson Road early. Insanely early. Jamie needed something to do, something to focus on so he didn't just pace a hole in his carpet at home. Roy just needed to keep pushing himself to do more, be better.

Roy curses when he pulls into the car park and he isn't the first there. Jamie's stupid car is there. He is tempted to leave but he was already there. And he wasn't going to be a fucking coward that runs away just because of one person. Especially, fucking Jamie Tartt.

Jamie looks up as Roy walks in as he laces his boot.

"Morning," Jamie says, because he can't just say nothing. Roy just grunts and goes to his cubby. Jamie is annoyed but doesn't know what he was expecting so he just finishes getting ready. Roy brushes past him to get his boots and doesn't even look at Jamie and something in Jamie snaps. He knows he should just keep his mouth shut. But since when has Jamie ever done the smart thing? So he follows Roy into the boot room.

"The fuck did I do now?" Jamie asks. "Or is it that I exist and you hate it that much?"

"So you are a self aware prick," Roy says. "Fucking shock."

"At least fucking one of us is," Jamie snaps. "Because I never fucking asked to be here. I'm just doing my job, a job I'm good at. I'm sure you can remember those days, yeah? Back when you were a force on the pitch. When everyone chanted your fucking name. What's your excuse? Other than denial? An old man, past his fucking prime," Jamie spits. "A legend. Does me being better than you piss you off that much? Like an eclipsed fucking star, a dying one at that. You can't even-" Jamie is cut off when Roy's hand wraps around his throat.

"Who the fuck do you think you are talking to? This fucking attitude of yours. You didn't ask to be here?" Roy lets out a vicious laugh in Jamie's face. "You don't fucking get it do you? You're here because City is done dealing with your arrogant fucking arse. You are such a prick off pitch that you could win every game for them and they still wouldn't want you there. You being here gives them the benefit of having a fucking star in their program but doesn't have to fucking deal with you as a person." Roy sneers. "You might be hot shit on the pitch, but your attitude makes you a fucking liability. I might be a has been, but I'm the fucking captain for a reason you little shit. Unlike you I actually fucking care about these people. I'm here until the end. You're a fucking tourist. The worst kind of tourist too. One that doesn't fucking see that they are hated by everyone around them." His fingers flex slightly as he lets his statement hang there in the silent room.

Jamie's heart is pounding in his chest, but so is Roy's. The striker can feel the way Roy's pulse pounds where Jamie has his hands wrapped around the wrist of the hand Roy has wrapped around his throat. Jamie should be fighting back. He should be clawing at Roy's skin. But Jamie had long been conditioned not to. He hadn't expected Roy to go for his throat. He had expected a shove. A punch. But this was too familiar. As Roy speaks Jamie flinches. The internal panic starts. He feels the familiar feeling of waiting for pain.

Roy is fucking livid but something in his head is screaming that this feels off. Jamie usually meets his energy. He fights back, but he wasn't. He lets go of Jamie and steps back.

Jamie knows what is coming now that he is let go. He sinks to the ground and braces himself for a kick. He curls in on himself.

"What the fuck," Roy says because he had no intention of actually hurting Jamie.

Jamie cautiously looks up at Roy, shocked that he hadn't attacked him further. And the look on the striker's face has something twisting in his stomach.

"What the fuck?" Roy repeats. "I'm not going to fucking kick you."

"Oh," Jamie says. He feels exhausted and shifts to sit with his back against the wall. "Okay."

"What the hell was that?" Roy stares at him. "You weren't even going to fucking fight back."

Jamie stares at the floor and shrugs.

"Why the fuck not?"

"Because I'm fucking tired," Jamie admits with a sniffle. He pulls his knees to his chest and puts his head on his knees. And Roy is stunned because he has never seen Jamie like this. He looked…small.

"Tired of fighting back?"

"A bit, yeah," Jamie says. "But everything else too."

"What?" Roy says. His anger is waning but he now feels like he's off keel and he hates it.

Jamie sniffles and it tugs at something in Roy again.

"I hate bein' such a fuckin' prick," Jamie says. "I fuckin' hate it bu' he... he h-hits me less and don't get mad as much when I do."

And that has alarms going off in Roy's head. And he thinks over what Jamie has just said and something in him boils over because it makes fucking sense. Without thinking he kneels in front of Jamie.

"Who, Jamie?" Roy says. "Who makes you act like that? Who-" and just thinking about it makes Roy want to shatter something, but he buries that anger because Jamie just said someone's anger made him this way. Someone fucking hits him. "Tell me who hits you?"

Jamie shakes his head.

“Jamie,” Roy says it like he would if he was dealing with his niece, a stern demand, but a less angry tone. “Tell me who it is.”

“Dad,” is all Jamie says before he buries his face in his knees, and Roy thinks he actually sees red for a moment. Jamie’s dad hits him. And Roy has a number of different things going through his mind at once. He has a thousand questions he needs to be answered. He wants to find Jamie’s dad and tear him to pieces. He had felt like he wanted to kill Jamie more than a few times since they met, but for once, he feels like he’d rather kill for him than actually kill him. And that is a fucking shock. But it makes sense because Jamie isn’t a prick because that’s who Jamie really is. Jamie acts like a prick because his dad beat him into submission and then made him this way. And that makes Roy fucking livid. It means everything he thought he knew about Jamie was essentially beaten into him or learned to prevent being punished. And Roy has been feeding into that cycle. It occurs to Roy that the fights Jamie picks are because it gets a reaction. It’s like a small child that repeats a bad word because it gets their parents' attention, good or bad, it’s attention. Jamie may not be a small child, but he is still young.

“How long has this been going on?” Roy asks.

Jamie doesn’t answer.

“Jamie,” Roy says, “Has he always been like that?” Jamie looks up at him. And that’s a start. So Roy waits. His knee is screaming at him to stand up, but he doesn’t. He has a feeling that if he doesn’t get the answer now, Jamie will shut him out or just shut down. And Roy doesn’t want that. He wants to know how long Jamie has had to live like this. “Jamie,” he repeats, one hand moving to Jamie’s knee. “Tell me.”

“Long as I can remember,” Jamie finally admits. His face was a mix of embarrassment and pain that would probably knock Roy back if he wasn’t kneeling. For over two decades, Jamie had been putting up with this shit. No wonder he acted the way he did.

“Fucking hell,” Roy says, and he moves to sit against the wall next to Jamie, stretching his knee out as he does. And an important question comes to mind. “Does your mum know?”

Jamie nods. “Yeah, ‘s why she left,” he adds.

“She just let him-”

“She didn’t want to,” Jamie says. “He gets drunk and- well, you get the picture.”

“She should have called the fucking police,” Roy grumbles.

“Lots of people did, but he’s a drunk. He’d sober up, make promises, they’d believe him, and he just got better at making sure no one knew. Tell everyone I was just a rowdy fucking prick. But tell me to quit being a pussy. Tell me that I’m weak. Or worse, I’m nothing. A fucking disgrace. He’s embarrassed to be my dad. Until I got called up by Man City, suddenly he was proud o’ me. But if I didn’t do well, he’d get mad. So I sorta figured it out.”

Roy has never hated anyone more in his life than he hated Jamie Tartt’s father at that moment. He didn’t think he could hate anyone more than Phoebe’s dad, but apparently, he was wrong. Phoebe’s dad might be a fucking waste of space and a fucking deadbeat, but he’d be a dead man if he ever lay a finger on Roy’s sister and niece. Roy’d have fucking murdered him. That was one thing you don’t fucking do. You never hit a woman or a kid. Unfucking acceptable behavior. And O’Sullivan hadn’t crossed that fucking line. But James Tartt had. And that was not something Roy could just live with, now that he knew. No fucking way.

“You’re not fucking weak, or anything he says, you’re not a disgrace,” Roy states. “But your old man is.” Jamie sniffles, looking anywhere but at Roy. Clearly, Jamie doesn’t seem to believe him. “Fucking hell, Jamie,” Roy squeezes his knee. “No fucking kid should have to live through that. But you fucking managed it. You survived and fucking thrived. Made it to the fucking premiere league while doing it. And you’re fucking good at it.”

“I’m fucking amazing,” Jamie grins. And Roy feels something loosen in his chest. He bumps Jamie’s shoulder with his.

“Don’t fucking push it,” Roy cautions, but there is no heat to it. “You’ve earned your way to it not because of him but in spite of him."

“Not the way he tells the lads at the pub over several pints,” Jamie huffs.

“He’ll be telling the lads fuck all when I find him,” Roy says. “Make him see how it feels to be the one on the other end. Make him pick up his own fucking teeth.”

“You can’t just fight my dad,” Jamie says.

“Like fucking hell I can’t,” Roy states. “Fucking see him pick on someone that’s not afraid to fight back.”

“You’ll only make it worse,” Jamie sighs.

“Can’t be worse if he can’t fucking get to you,” Roy points out.

“You going to guard me every moment of every day? Because he always-”

“If that’s what it takes, then fucking fine,” Roy agrees.

“You’re not a guard dog, Roy,” Jamie states. “You have shit to do. I have shit to do. You can’t-”

“Then I’ll find others who can,” Roy says as he gets up.

“Wait…what?” Jamie scrambles to get up, the cleats on his boots making it a little tougher. Roy is already opening the door and heading to the locker room. Jamie looks at the time and realizes how close to training it had gotten.

“Oi! You pricks,” Roy points to Colin and Isaac. Colin had just put his bag in his spot and Isaac hadn’t even made it to his cubby. They stare at him. Confused when Jamie, in full kit, rushes in behind him. Roy points at Jamie. “You see his fucking old man around, you fucking tell me, that fucking prick’s face is long due to meet the fucking pavement.”

“What’s all the commotion?” Ted asks as he and Beard walk through the door.

“Roy…” Jamie starts and everyone is surprised by how unsure he sounds. Not the usual brash and confident prick they usually deal with. “You can’t-”

“Can’t fucking what? Just let it go? When we play City, does he show up?”

Jamie hesitates but nods.

“Fucking won't, next time,” Roy says and he’s already out the door. “Higgins! Where the fuck is he?!” A woman points down the hall and Roy heads that way until he finds a confused and nervous Leslie Higgins. “Higgins.”

“Yes, how can I help you?” Higgins manages to say.

“Jamie Tartt’s father, you know him?” Roy demands.

“Of him, I know of him,” Higgins corrects, he has a feeling he should definitely point out the difference. “James Tartt.”

“Fucking ban him,” Roy states.

“What?” Higgins is shocked. He looks up to see a concerned Ted, an unsure Coach Beard and an anxious Jamie approaching. “I can’t just ban someone for no reason.”

“Hold your horses, Roy,” Ted says. “Whatever happened we can-”

“I will not fucking do that,” Roy glares at him. “If you don’t ban him, then I’m going to curb stomp his fucking head in the fucking car park!” Beard moves to partially get between the players in case Roy lashes out. Roy doesn't miss the movement and it just adds to the list of things that are pissing him off. He isn't going to actually hurt Jamie. If they would let him fucking talk he would tell them that. They just need to fucking listen to him. His focus is brought back to Jamie when Jamie tries to plead with him again. And part of him wants to appease Jamie, to not hurt him more. But the more rational part of Roy knows that he has to keep pushing for James Tartt to be banned. He cannot let this man hurt Jamie again. Even more he can not even let the bastard near him. He has to fucking try.

“Roy, I told you, you can’t just-” Jamie tries. “He’s my dad.”

“Fucking watch me,” Roy challenges and Beard moves to put a hand on Roy's shoulder because clearly something is distressing the captain. And it didn't seem to be what usually is distressing him because of how desperate he and Jamie are acting. Roy shocked them all as he continues, “No, he’s your fucking abuser, and that shit ends now.”

“He's what now?” Ted says, suddenly very concerned for the safety and sanity of not one, but two of his players. “Jamie,” he turns to look at Jamie. “Does your dad hit you?”

Jamie looks from Ted to Higgins, to Beard and then to Roy.

“Tell them what you told me,” Roy says as he shoves Beard's hand off his shoulder. Beard is too shocked by not only Roy's tone but the way he looks at Jamie. This is the closest to begging the coach has ever seen from Roy Kent.

Jamie looks between the four of them again. This was not how Jamie imagined his day would go. He looks at Roy again and Roy's eyes make him feel weird, because he has never seen Roy look at him like that. Like he really wants something from him. No anger, at least not him. What he mostly sees is concern. Concern for Jamie.

“What did you tell Roy, Jamie?” Ted asks. And there is even more concern on Ted's face. Everyone looks so worried. He considers lying or even running off, but then Roy might get angry at him again and Roy's going to tell them anyway. So he tells them.

“That dad hits me less and don't get mad as much when I act like a prick,” Jamie admits.

“Which is why he needs to be fucking banned!” Roy adds.

“Or you’ll curb stomp him?” Beard asks for clarification.

“I’ll fucking kill him,” Roy admits without shame. “Because he’s apparently been doing it for fucking years to Jamie and his mum, so he’s overdue for a-”

“Does the Man City team management know about this?” Ted asks Jamie.

“No one does, except my mum and stepdad, and I didn’t exactly plan to tell Roy,” Jamie says. “Or anyone.”

“Well you fucking did, and I’m not about to just-” Roy says.

“Roy!” Ted shouts. “Why don’t you and Beard go make sure the team is getting ready for training, Jamie you can head back too. I will-”

“You’re fucking serious right now,” Roy glares at his coach but Beard is already forcing him back towards the locker room.

“I will make sure it’s taken care of,” Ted says.

Roy storms back into the locker room and everyone stays out of his way. He violently pulls away from Beard as he does. Jamie’s not far behind him through the door but goes to his own spot and for a lack of anything to really do, he sits down on the bench. He bunches his hands up in his kit.

“You good?”

Jamie looks up to see Colin moving to sit next to him on the bench as he gets his guards on.

Jamie shrugs. "Not exactly how I thought today would start," Jamie admits and Colin is surprised at how off Jamie seems.

"What happened?" Colin asks as he shifts to show Jamie he has his full attention. "Must be something big to have Roy Kent in a fit."

"Was just honest and more came out than expected," Jamie says.

"About your father?" Colin asks, remembering what Roy had told him and Isaac to do. "If he's really a right prick, we're with you, mate. All you have to do is let us know, we'll be there."

"Thanks, I know I'm a prick, and-"

"Oi! Knock that shit off," Roy says. "You act like one doesn't mean you are one. Said so your fucking self. You old man is a liar and fucking tosser. You don't have to listen to that shit anymore."

And Colin is stunned. Roy Kent is not only on Jamie's side he's pretty much defending Jamie from Jamie's own words. And this morning is giving them all whiplash.

"Fair point," Jamie admits. "But I've been a shit teammate, and that's not fair to you lot. Roy pointed out I'm more of a tourist than a teammate." Colin looked at Roy. "An annoying one," Jamie adds. "While crushing my windpipe." Everyone is now staring at Roy.

"In my fucking defence," Roy says, still focused on Jamie. He didn't really give a fuck about the others. They knew him well enough. "That was before you fucking told me your old man made you this way by kicking your fucking ribs."

Colin winces. Hearing it put so plainly by none other than Roy fucking Kent took away any doubt about what was happening.

"Well," Colin starts. "You don't have to put on an act for him here, and you don't have to do it for us, we're a team. Just be you, I'm sure that's more than enough."

"Too fucking right," Roy says.

"And if I don't actually know who I am without the act?" Jamie says in absolute honesty.

"Then we'll help you figure it out," Colin grins. "Right Roy?"

"Fucking right," Roy nods.

"Then that's settled," Colin grins.

"Good, now fucking get to the pitch for warm ups!" Roy shouts. And they do as they are told.

Everything starts to change over the next couple days at training. The team works as a more cohesive unit. Jamie Tartt starts to be more of a team player. And Roy can't believe how one little honest moment in the boot room could make such an insane difference. It was mad, in the best way possible. His team was happier than it ever had been. Roy smiled as Jamie and Sam work together and actually seem to get along like a fucking house on fire. It was like Jamie truly was a different person.

"Whatever you did the other morning," Ted says as he stands next to Roy as he takes the bottle Will offers him. "Has made him an even better player. You're a good captain, Roy."

"I pushed him until he broke, it may have ended well, but it wasn't a good thing," Roy admits. He glances back at where Jamie is laughing with Jeff.

"Sky divers and bungee jumpers sometimes need a push, but the end result is a life change adventure." Ted claps his shoulder. "And he's not the only one that changed at that moment. Embrace it." Ted walks away.

They win their next match and the team celebrates like they won a fucking cup. And Roy sees a new side of Jamie Tartt that has a warmth spread through him. And it's a jarring feeling knowing just days before he had wanted to punch the man in the face. Roy is getting ready for bed when he gets a call from his sister and that is worrying. She tells him a friend of hers at the hospital called her to give her a heads up since her brother played for Richmond as captain. A player had just been brought in. They couldn't say who or why but Roy had a bad feeling. He grabbed his keys and was out the door as fast as possible.

"Oh good, you're here," a nurse says as Roy gets to the hospital. "His mother gave us permission to talk to the management of the team, in addition to you and his other emergency contact, Mr. Kent."

"Who-" Roy starts to ask who the other contact is when he gets his answer.

"Roy!" Keeley Jones calls out to him and it feels like someone punched him in the stomach.

"No," Roy says and it comes out more as a breath.

"Mr. Kent?" The nurse asks.

"Thank you," Roy manages because his sister would kick his ass if he was rude to the nurse and goes to Keeley.

"It's Jamie," Keeley says and Roy feels like he might be fucking sick.

"What the fuck happened?" Roy asks.

"His neighbor called about a disturbance," Keeley tells him. "When the officers got there Jamie was barely conscious."

"Fuck," Roy says. He leans against the wall to stay upright. "Who was it?"

"Roy…" Keeley starts.

"Who the fuck was it?!"

"His father," Keeley says and Roy sees fucking red.

"I'll fucking kill him," Roy growls.

"He's in custody," Keeley says but Roy doesn't seem deterred. "Roy…" she puts a hand on his arm. "There isn't anything to be done now but waiting to see Jamie."

Roy lets out a litany of curses. He wants to scream. He wants to hit something. And he does not understand why this is making him not just angry but fucking terrified.

"Roy," Keeley tries to get his attention.

"FUCK!" Roy shouts and punches the wall. Keeley jumps.

"I'll handle him," Keeley turns to see a woman approach. She looks oddly familiar.

"Are you-" Keeley starts to ask.

"I called him, he's my brother," she tells Keeley.

"Oh, okay," Keeley nods.

"Come on, tough guy," his sister says. "Let's get you sorted out."

"I'll kill him," Roy tells her.

"You won't, but I get it," his sister says as she takes a look at his knuckles. He has bruises forming and a few scrapes. He winces as she tests his movement. "Flex 'em," she commands. He does but his fingers don't move right. She sighs. "Hey Hannah," she calls to a nurse. "My idiot brother needs x-rays of his right metacarpals." The nurse nods and goes to get things sorted out since Dr. O'Sullivan wasn't actually on duty. The doctor turns back to her brother. "You're an idiot." Roy just grunts. "Injuring yourself isn't going to help Jamie Tartt, you know that, Roy."

"I told him this wouldn't fucking happen again, that we'd protect him," Roy says through gritted teeth.

"You know you can't protect people every moment of every day. There are always gaps you can't fill."

His sister is worried he might break a tooth with how tight his jaw is clenched. "I don't know what happened between you and Jamie Tartt, but I do know you. And he clearly means a lot to you," his sister says.

Hannah the nurse returns with a tray. "Bit of a wait in radiology, so might as well get a start on cleaning the scrapes," Hannah says.

"Thanks Hannah, I can handle this," the doctor says.

"Yes, Doctor," Hannah says as she leaves.

By the time she has his knuckles mostly cleaned up he is taken back for x-rays. Keeley assures him from where she had been watching with amusement she'll stay there for Jamie. So Roy lets his sister guide him.

His sister sighs as they look at the x-rays.

"Congratulations, dear brother, you broke your hand. Normally a splint would be fine, but honestly, I don't trust you to not do anything stupid, so you are getting an actual cast."

"Fucking hell, I don't need-"

"You lost your temper and punched a wall, Roy. You're getting a cast. End of discussion."

"Fucking fine," Roy relents because he knows nothing will stop his sister when it came to medical issues.

"What did you do?" Ted asks when Roy, sporting a bright blue cast, joins them. Both Beard and Ted had gotten there while he was getting X-rays.

"Interesting color choice," Keeley grins. "Expected black or just plain old white."

"My sister didn't give me a choice," Roy states.

"This is better anyway, It will match most of your kits," Keeley remarks.

"And his sweats, since he will not be playing for at least a few weeks," Ted says.

"Fuck off," Roy says. "Already down Jamie. If we have any chance of staying in the league-"

"We still have a new striker coming in, Rojas," Ted says. "And it's not your responsibility."

"I'm the fucking captain, of course it is," Roy says. "And Tartt's going to think you fucking replaced him."

"Not for the next few weeks," Ted says. "And Jamie will understand. He knows the game enough to know-"

"You fucking signed this guy to get Jamie to be a team fucking player," Roy glares at him. He knew the tactic well enough. "A challenge to fuck with his head."

Ted glances at Keeley. "For the record, Rebecca signed him before we found out about Jamie's dad and he started getting on with the team."

"Fuck off, it's still going to fucking destroy him," Roy states.

Roy refuses to leave until he can see Jamie. Keeley and Beard leave once they find out Jamie is out of surgery and stable. Keeley has to help draft an announcement about Jamie's condition. Ted stays.

"What happened to your hand?" Jamie asked Roy. Roy just grunts. Ted shakes his head. Jamie looks back and forth between the two.

"He lost a fight with a wall," Ted tells him. "How you feeling, Jamie?"

"A wall?" Jamie asks, his heavily medicated brain not able to piece it all together. "Why you fighting walls, Roy?"

Roy huffs. "I didn't fight a fucking wall, I punched it because it was that or I hunt your fucking-"

"Roy," Ted stops him because they didn't need Jamie getting upset and one glance at the monitor showed the injured man's pulse already climbing.

"Me? You punched a wall because of me?" Jamie said and Ted glares at Roy.

"Fuck no," Roy is quick to say.

"No one is mad at you," Ted tells Jamie.

"My dad is," Jamie says and shakes his head. He can't make eye contact with either of them.

And an angry growl comes out of Roy.

"No one here is mad at you," Ted corrects himself. "And I am sure that whatever your father was mad about, he's-"

"The fucking bastard is a liar and a coward," Roy interjects. "And a fucking dead man when I find him."

"Helpful, Roy," Ted sighs. "Really helpful."

Roy grunts.

"Your father's anger does not, and let me repeat that because I need you to understand. His anger does not give him the right to do what he did. No one has the right to. Ever. You didn't deserve this, not now, not ever." Ted tells him. "You get that, right, Jamie?"

Jamie doesn't answer because the medication, pain, and emotions are all too much and it's making his head hurt and it's getting harder to breathe.

"Fucking breathe, Tartt," Roy says. His voice now much closer than it had been. Jamie looks to see that Roy's good arm is leaning against Jamie's hospital bed and he is glancing at the monitor every now and again. But once Roy's eyes lock on his they don't leave. And Jamie can't help but find comfort in it because Roy fucking Kent was here. Roy fucking Kent was here for him and was trying to help him. He should listen to him, right? What did he say again? What should Jamie be doing? "Fucking hell," Roy mutters and squeezes Jamie's hand with his good hand. "Take a fucking breath, Jamie." And Jamie does. He lets Roy talk him through it until he can breathe again. It leaves Jamie absolutely exhausted.

"It's okay Jamie," Ted tells him. "You're doing great. You can sleep now. You've earned a good rest."

Once Jamie falls asleep Roy leans back in his chair and scrubs his good hand over his face.

"Fucking hell," he mutters.

"You can go home," Ted starts to say. It was getting late and it had been a very long day.

"Fuck off," Roy tells him, his tone more quiet but still just as harsh. "Not fucking going anywhere."

"You're on pain meds, you should-"

"Stay the fuck right here, because I'm not allowed on the fucking pitch, and you still have a fucking job to do. So you fucking do it."

"A bit crude but fair," Ted nods.

"Fucking go. Will let you know if shit happens."

Jamie wakes up a second time and it's just Roy there in the dim room.

"You don't have to stay," Jamie tells him. Roy shrugs but doesn't show any signs of leaving.

"You probably have better things to do like-"

"Fucking hell, Tartt," Roy leans forward. "Not leaving you fucking alone, so go back to fucking sleep, you need the fucking rest."

And despite the hostile tone Jamie feels himself smile, because Roy fucking Kent was keeping watch which means Jamie doesn't have to worry about his dad's lackeys coming after him.

"Your mum should be here when you wake up," Roy tells him.

"My mum?" Jamie is a bit surprised. He rarely gets to see his mum. He misses her a lot.

"Of fucking course your mum," Roy looks at him. "Your old man just got locked up for nearly killing you and it's all over the fucking news. Ted has to do a fucking presser and Keeley already has a statement out that you'll be on the mend. City is sending someone down and your fucking agent has been a pain in the arse."

"Really?" Jamie is surprised at how much of a fuss his dad cracking a few of his ribs and giving him a concussion had caused. "Seems a bit much."

"Fuck off," Roy grunts. "You can't be fucking serious." Roy looks over the injured striker. "You were in surgery for fucking hours. I was fucking in and out with a goddamn cast before you even had fucking stitches. He nearly fucking killed you."

Jamie shouldn't be surprised that Roy sounded absolutely livid, but he is. No one has ever been so angry over what his dad did to him, his mum had always been upset but she always seemed more sad than angry. But Roy was so angry he broke his own hand.

"I'll heal," Jamie says.

"Fucking nightmare," Roy grumbles and he gets up and paces the room a few times. And Jamie finds it a bit amusing how untethered Roy seems and for once his anger isn't actually directed at Jamie. Not entirely at least.

"Sorry you'll have to miss a few matches because of me," Jamie says.

"Dammit, Jamie," Roy says. "A few weeks is nothing. But compared to how long you'll be out. City might even call you back so they can keep an eye on you themselves now that the truth is out there."

"The truth?" Jamie is suddenly unsure what all the press knows that Jamie never wanted anyone to know. What would people think about him? His dad told him everyone would see him as weak. As a fucking pussy.

Roy doesn't miss the way Jamie's heart monitor spikes. He rushes back to the side of Jamie's bed. "It's okay," Roy says, the anger gone from his tone. And Jamie hears the same tone Roy had used as he sat beside him in the boot room. One filled with caution and concern. "Keeley didn't say much, but metro did release a statement and they are still looking for your father's fucking thugs. The press is putting pieces together. That's why Ted and Keeley are going to get out in front of it."

"What…what are they going to say?" Jamie says.

Roy sighs and props himself on the edge of Jamie's hospital bed. "That your fucking old man was banned from both Richmond and Man City games. Pep agrees that he shouldn't be allowed at all. The safety of all players, including you, is a priority to both teams. And now James Tartt and his fucking cronies are looking at a full league ban. That the met are doing a full investigation of your attack, as well as a review of previous incidents. I guess knowing that your old man has a fucking history of this shit is a big deal now since he brought his shit to Richmond. GMP ain't looking too good now that Scotland Yard's looking into it."

Jamie's head is spinning. And Roy is close enough that Jamie could reach out and touch him. And Jamie wants to because he feels like shit and he's scared because his dad always told him this would end bad. It would ruin his career if anyone found out. His panic and pain killer addled brain must have missed the part where he wasn't actually going to reach out for Roy because his hand is reaching out as if it had a mind of its own. And to Jamie's fucking shock, Roy takes it with his good hand. Roy glances at the monitors and knows that Jamie is going to stress out his already healing body if he keeps on like this. So Roy makes a decision.

"Hey," Roy says. He sits on the edge of the bed and leans into Jamie's space. "Listen to me, Jamie." He only continues after Jamie's eyes snap to his. He squeezes Jamie's hand as he does. "This isn't your fault. This isn't on you. You didn't do anything wrong." Roy says with absolute confidence. "You have spent years fighting this shit on your own, but that's fucking over, yeah? You have Keeley, you have Lasso, you have the team. Right now you have me, and I'm not fucking going anywhere. So relax and take a fucking breath."

Jamie doesn't even think about it. He just does as Roy tells him.

"Good lad," Roy nods. "Now do it again." And just like before they go on like that until Jamie calmed down and the monitors are no longer flashing. "good lad," Roy repeats. "Now, don't you fucking worry about that shit. Let Keeley and the fucking police do their jobs. You just focus on getting better so that when you're back out there on the pitch you can show the world that you are stronger than anyone fucking knew. Going to hear that fucking stupid shark chant and you'll fucking bask in it. The good kind of fucking attention. And you'll kick fucking arse and prove everything your old man has ever said wrong. Because that's the real fucking Jamie Tartt. Not the fucking charade your fucking old man made. The real fucking you."

Jamie doesn't realize he is crying until Roy uses the back of their joined hands to brush them away. It's an awkward motion but with his other hand in a cast there wasn't much else for it. It earns a bit of a chuckle from Jamie.

"You'll do fucking fine," Roy insists. "Because we'll get you healed up and back on the pitch in no time, you just watch."

"You going to help me?" Jamie asks, hopeful and glad to have Roy Kent on his side.

"The fuck else am I going to do?" Roy states and holds up the cast. "And I'm the captain for a fucking reason."

And Jamie grins because that's not the first time Roy has said that. And Roy actually didn't have to do shit to help Jamie. He hadn't before their little spat in the boot room. But Jamie wasn't going to complain now. Not when Roy fucking Kent, Jamie's childhood hero, was sitting on the edge of his hospital bed telling him everything would be alright and they'd manage it together. And he didn't have to worry about his dad getting angry at him. Especially since he was laying there holding Roy's hand. And wow, Roy fucking Kent hadn't let go of Jamie's hand since he took it and that did things to Jamie. Jamie didn't know he could feel happy, especially while sitting in hospital with broken ribs, too many stitches, and a concussion. It felt like a dream.

"If your ribs are broken in your fucking dreams, then you need to get better fucking dreams."

"How much of that did I say out loud?" Jamie asks, mortified.

And Roy fucking smirks. "Enough." Roy squeezes his hand and laughs when Jamie's face turns red with embarrassment. Roy had thought Jamie Tartt to be fucking shameless in the past. Nothing fucking phased him. But seeing him now, fucking blushing because Roy got a glimpse at what actually goes on in his head was fucking priceless. "I already knew you had my fucking poster, Tartt," Roy says. "That you watched my games. The only new info here is that you want to fucking hold my hand." He felt Jamie try to pull away but Roy didn't let him. "Fuck off with that shit," Roy says. "If I didn't want to hold your fucking hand, I wouldn't have taken it in the first fucking place. So steady on and quit getting yourself worked up over nothing before the nurses catch on and boot me."

"They wouldn't," Jamie says. "You're Roy fucking Kent."

Roy laughs. "In here I'm Dr. O'Sullivan's brother. And they know I won't do shit to make her job harder. So settle back in and fucking sleep, I'm not fucking going anywhere." Roy lets go of Jamie's hand so he can pull a chair closer with his only good hand. He settles in and offers his hand back to Jamie without another word. And Jamie takes it. Roy goes back to watching the TV that Jamie hadn't even noticed was on because the volume was so low.

"Fucking sleep or your mum will probably blame it on me," Roy states. And Jamie laughs, ignoring the pain in his ribs as best he can.

"Seriously, Jamie," Roy says. And Jamie looks away from the TV to look at Roy.

"I know, I know. Sleep," Jamie says as he gets as comfortable as he can without letting Roy's hand go and after a few minutes he falls asleep. And he stayed asleep thanks to the painkillers in his system. And that was fine with Roy.

Keeley is shocked to find Jamie's hand curled around Roy Kent's when she and Jamie's mum quietly enter the room. Both men fast asleep.

"Been like that for a bit," Roy's sister says in a whisper, now on shift in her scrubs and white coat. "Probably for the best." She grins and starts to leave. She had already given Georgie a full rundown of her son's case. "But feel free to wake them. I'm sure they won't mind."

"I'll let you handle it," Keeley says. "I'll be out here, have to update Rebecca and Ted before the presser."

Georgie nods and makes her way into the room. Roy Kent snaps awake as she gets closer. She can tell his guard is up immediately.

"Didn't mean to wake you," she says. "We talked on the phone, I'm Georgie-"

"Jamie's mum," Roy manages to recall and goes to stand up and starts to let go of Jamie's hand. Even sleeping Jamie doesn't seem to want that to happen by the way Jamie starts to shift in his sleep. So Georgie stops Roy.

"You're fine," she insists and moves to stand on the other side of Jamie's bed. Brushing her son's unstyled hair off his face. "What has he done to you my sexy little baby," she laments and Roy just silently watches as Jamie leans towards his mother's touch. "I always worried I'd get this call," she says a bit louder so Roy can hear but not loud enough to wake Jamie. She glances over at Roy as she runs her fingers through Jamie's hair to fix it. She knew he hated when his hair wasn't just right. And with his ribs broken he probably couldn't do it himself. She'd have to get a brush and properly sort it out later. Might make him feel better. Roy shifts closer so that Jamie can lean into his mum's touch without letting go of Roy.

"I hoped him coming to Richmond would be enough distance that James would leave him be." Her tone is sad and Roy knows it must hurt to see Jamie like this. It hurt Roy to see Jamie like this.

"It never should have happened," Roy says, trying to keep his tone low despite how upsetting it all was. He didn't blame her, not really.

She looks at Roy with sad eyes. Her son's childhood hero.

"It was always bound to end one of two ways. Either Jamie would break, or James did. And sadly, it was my sweet little boy." Georgie says.

"Why did you leave him if you knew?" Roy asks.

"I didn't leave him. I just couldn't stay with James," she admits. "Jamie, he wasn't stupid. He knew what was happening, and he'd try and get to his father before he could get to me. I didn't want to make it worse. I wanted him with me, but I had to find somewhere safe first. We got him when we could, but James had already gotten to him. My sexy little baby," Georgie said with a sad smile. "Then he was brought into the academy, and I hoped that would be good for him. Keep him out of James' reach, but I should have known he would find a way to get to him. Then as an adult, Jamie just threw himself head-first into the game. I hadn't realized how twisted James had made it all."

Roy wanted to shout that all that was bullshit. She was his mum, and that it was her fucking job to protect her son. But he also thought about his sister. How different her life would have been if Roy hadn't been there. If Roy didn't step in when they needed him. Or if Phoebe's father hadn't walked away but taken his shit out on them, and it was an infuriating thought. Georgie didn't have anyone to step in. No one like Roy stepped in to help. No one to look out for them until it was too late. But Roy was there now.

"It probably sounds selfish," she admits. "That I saved myself-"

"It's a fucking nightmare," Roy says. "But you never asked for it. You didn't leave and not turn back. You couldn't save him if you couldn't save yourself first. He'd have fought you."

"And Jamie was too young to understand," she nods, as she brushes Jamie's cheek. The sleeping striker leans into the touch.

Roy hums because he gets that. Phoebe is almost lucky that her dad simply left when she was too young to miss him. And Roy made sure Phoebe never had to go without anything she truly needed. Roy would throw any amount of money at any problem his sister and niece faced. He loved them more than anything. Jamie hadn't had that luck. But Jamie did have talent. And that had been his saving grace.

"Not so young anymore," she laments. "But he's still my sexy little baby." She smiles. And Roy can see where Jamie gets much of his true nature. His easy smile, his expressive nature. He needs for touch.

"You might have missed a lot," Roy says. "But at least you came back. You're here now."

She nods. "Thank you for calling me."

"The hospital called you first," Roy says.

"Yes, but you actually made arrangements. You made sure Jamie wasn't alone, and someone was there to meet the train."

"It was easier for everyone that way," Roy says.

"But not something you had to do," she tells him. "so I appreciate it."

"Not much else I bloody could do," Roy says nodding at his cast covered hand.

"Was still more than I could have asked of you or anyone," she insists.

And Roy felt the corners of his mouth twitch because fucking hell, Jamie's mum was grateful that Roy was doing this all. And that was nice but he didn't need her appreciation and thank yous. He hadn't done it for her. He hadn't done it because he was bored and useless. He had done it because it would make Jamie happy. Because Jamie Tartt's happiness was important to him. He wanted Jamie to be happy and taken care of. And that was a fucking revelation. He looks at their joined hands. Fuck. He cared about Jamie's happiness because he cared about Jamie. More than he did the rest of the team. Maybe even more than his fucking own happiness at this rate. Because Jamie deserves the fucking best after all he has gone through. And Roy wants nothing more than to give that to him. He looks back over at Jamie's mum who is just looking at him. He has to say something.

"Yeah, well, I did it for him," Roy says. And that makes Georgie smile. Because her son's hero hadn't moved from his side since he got there. He hadn't let her son's hand go since before she got there.

"You're good for him," She says plainly. And that hit Roy in a way he didn't expect. It made Roy feel like he truly had done something right. Something good.

"I just listened when he needed someone to," Roy says.

"Maybe, but you also did something about it. You didn't just listen. You tried to make it better."

That has something twisting in Roy's stomach.

"He told me I'd only make it worse, and he was right," Roy says. "I should go."

"Wait," She says but he had already pulled away and was nearly out the door.

"I'll see him later," Roy says and leaves.

Georgie worries about what Roy had just said, but she can't focus on that. She has to focus on Jamie. She'd have to ask Keeley or even his sister when she came back.

Jamie wakes up to the sound of his mum talking.

"You just focus on your son," Jamie hears another voice say as he blinks his eyes open. "My brother can be a bit self destructive and a bit of a prick, but he's a good guy. If he said he'll be back. He'll be back."

And Jamie realizes that was Roy's sister. She'd been one of his doctors. Wait, Roy was gone? Jamie looks around. When did Roy leave? He said he wasn't going anywhere.

"How are you feeling, Mr. Tartt?" His doctor asks and yeah, that's Roy's sister. He knows that for sure now. He winces.

"Jamie, just call me Jamie," he says.

"Okay, Jamie," she says.

"Tired, sore," he admits.

"That's understandable," she assures him.

"That's okay, baby," his mum says.

"How long was I out this time?" He asks, glancing over at where Roy had been.

"A few hours, the medication in addition to your injuries, might make you feel more tired and that's normal. Your body heals best when it's resting."

"Okay," Jamie says. "How long do you think it will be before I can get back to the team?" He asks.

The doctor nods, obviously familiar with the question. "If all goes well you can hopefully make it back in a few months."

"So I'm going to miss most of the season, they're facing relegation. I can't-"

"I will tell you the same thing I tell my brother," she says. "You can't help the team if you can't stay on your feet. You can't stay on your feet if you don't listen to what your body is telling you or you'll push it too far or too fast. You're not a machine, and you aren't immortal. The team will go on with or without you, it's why they have reserve players. You killing yourself is just going to make everyone feel worse when push comes to shove. And no one wins in that scenario. Relegation might feel like a fate worse than death, but I assure you from a medical standpoint, it isn't. Is it worth risking your entire future for it? And as much as I support my brother's team, as your doctor, I cannot in good faith tell you anything but the truth. You might be back by season end. But there are no guarantees that you will. You're lucky you are alive to see the team continue. You can still cheer them on. They care what happens to you. I know my brother does. So get some rest, and leave the rest to the professionals."

Yeah, she was Roy's sister. He had told him the exact same thing. Let the professionals handle it.

"Yeah, okay," Jamie agrees.

It must have been the right thing to say since is mum is smiling and squeezing his hand.

It’s hours before Jamie can go home. Days before he is allowed to leave his house. Over a week before he’s allowed back at Nelson Road. The first time mostly for a meeting with physio and letting the press see him up and about. He’s barely allowed on the sideline. It didn’t really matter though. Traning had ground to a halt when he made his way out of the tunnel, much slower than usual. He finally gets to meet Dani Rojas. The one time Roy got close enough to talk to it was mainly to remind Jamie that Dani wasn’t his replacement. Jamie had so many questions and doubt, but didn’t know how to voice them. So he nodded.

Jamie hates having to just sit back and watch from the sidelines. He had a hard enough time facing the reality he wouldn't be able to finish the season and that Man City was considering recalling him. And Jamie hated the idea of leaving Richmond if they got relegated. He was back on his feet but he wasn't cleared to play. Somedays were still harder than others and he would get winded easily. But he was working on it. And Roy had been helping him as promised. And as he figured the team was still facing relegation. And of course Man City was the team that would decide it. What made it worse was Jamie could tell Roy was pushing it. Pushing himself too hard to pick up the slack. He could almost hear Roy's sister telling him he was pushing his body too hard and something had to give. And he agreed.

He was proved right when Roy went down after challenging City's offense. The captain went down and didn't get back up. And that fucking terrified Jamie. Roy had been working so hard to help Jamie. And Jamie couldn't do shit now to help him. The striker wasn’t sure when was the last time he’d been so worried about another person. It was maddening being stuck on the sideline. Will put a hand out to block him from running onto the pitch. He felt like he could breathe a bit better when Roy finally got to his feet but the way Roy was limping away didn't bode well and Jamie just knew this was the moment Roy's sister always warned them about.

Jamie follows Roy towards the locker room. He waits there while Roy deals with the physio team. Roy pointedly ignores him as he takes off his jersey, looking at his own name. He tosses it away and sits on the bench. Roy knows it's over. His career is over. He finally looks at Jamie when he sits beside him.

"Rough play," Jamie sighs. "How you feeling?"

"Like fucking shit," Roy says.

"I get that," Jamie nods.

"At least you'll have next season," Roy says.

"Thanks to you," Jamie says.

"That's not true, you'd make a comeback with or without me. Just like you will next season."

"Wouldn't feel right without you," Jamie admits.

"Fucking face it," Roy says. "There's no fucking coming back from it this time, Tartt."

"Maybe not, but it doesn't mean you can't be a part of it. Unless you're giving up on helping me now too."

"Fuck off," Roy says. "My career ends and you make it about yourself."

Jamie grins. "If it makes you mad at anyone but yourself, then yeah, gonna do it."

"I'm not mad, I'm just…"

"I know," Jamie bumps his shoulder but instead of pulling away he stays there. Pressed against Roy's shoulder hoping to ground him, offer comfort.

Roy grunts and doesn't push him away. He actually leans into it because Jamie was here offering a bit of hope in his future. Something to do with his time now that he was looking at nothing.

"On the bright side, you'll have a lot more time for Phoebe now," Jamie grins and Roy huffs. "She will love it." And Roy can at least agree with that as Jamie keeps going, "And if you think you're gonna get rid of me just because you're out of the game, I got news for you." Jamie grins. "I'm not going to make it easy."

"Fucking nightmare," Roy groans, but smiles.

"I'm a fucking dream," Jamie boasts. And for once Roy can't argue because he came into the locker room to be miserable by himself. But Jamie had got him to actually smile. Made him feel like this was not as daunting of a change. It was still fucking terrifying to not know what he was going to do now. Football had been his fucking life for so long. So much has happened along the way, but it was all framed around football. How was he supposed to just sit back and let go? Could he do that? He wasn't sure. But it all seemed more tolerable with Jamie sitting next to him.

Roy sighs.

"You'll figure it out," Jamie assures him. "You always do." And Roy can't ignore the feeling of how much Jamie's confidence in him made him feel better, happier.

"I hope so," Roy says.

"I know so, because you told me that everything was going to be fine, because we were going to get through it. And I may not have made it back this season, but you were right. And this time, I'm right."

"Okay," Roy lets him have it because he knows Jamie isn't going to actually let this go. Not now, not any time soon. Jamie has proved to have unparalleled determination.

"Okay," Jamie grins and holds out his hand. He expected Roy to just shake on it. He doesn't expect Roy to just take his hand and hold it. And Jamie fucking love it. Because his teenage crush had only gotten bigger since Roy had sat with him in hospital. Jamie laces their fingers together. They sit quietly until the rest of the team comes in and Jamie reluctantly pulls away.

They only avoided relegation by ending the match in a tie. And Jamie is glad that he won't be leaving the team in a relegated state if he gets recalled. But he really doesn't want to leave Richmond. And unfortunately he was right. Man City wanted him back so they could get him back on the pitch their way. And Jamie has no choice but to go. The night before he is set to leave he shows up at Roy's.

"I don't want to go," Jamie says. "Even if my dad isn't there I still don't want to go."

His sad and desperate tone makes something twist in Roy's chest. He lets Jamie in and as soon as the door is closed, Roy pulls him into a hug because he didn't want Jamie to leave either, especially if he was going to be upset. Because Jamie's happiness meant something to Roy. He knows it was the right thing to do when Jamie grips the side of his shirt with a white knuckled grip. Jamie sniffles. "I don't want to leave, all my friends are here, you're here. I don't-" his sniffles turn into a full on sob. "I can't-"

"Okay, Jamie," Roy says, gently shushing him because he knows that Jamie has healed up well, but he wasn't sure how it would go if he hyperventilated now. "Shh, you're not gone yet. I'm right here. You can always come visit. And I can come see you. Not like I have much else to do," and that earns a choked laugh from Jamie. "We'll figure it out," Roy assures him. Roy pulls back enough and tilts Jamie's head until he can actually see him and something inside Roy shatters into pieces. Jamie looks devastated. Roy isn't sure he looked this broken when he was in hospital. It is like for once Jamie can't see a light at the end of the tunnel. And Roy hates that. Hates it more than he hated watching Jamie curl up on the floor of the boot room. Only thing he could ever hate more right now was himself, for walking away from Jamie's hospital room when he had told him he would stay. Because not once, but twice, now Roy has wasted an opportunity to tell Jamie how he really feels. And looking at Jamie now he thinks about all the time he could have had with Jamie that he wasted. "Because we always do." He can't help but glance at Jamie's lips because fucking hell Roy is a glutton for goddamn punishment and despite how shitty his timing is and how this could fuck up Jamie's future he finds himself leaning in. He gives Jamie enough time to pull away if he wants but instead of that happening. Jamie jumps at the chance and meets him halfway in a brutal kiss that makes Roy's heart pound like wild and Jamie feels like his skin is on fire. Jamie wraps his arms tighter around Roy. Roy buries his fingers of one hand in Jamie's hair and the other splays out on his lower back to keep him impossibly close. Roy forces himself to pull away because Jamie had just been struggling for air and sobbing and a few months ago was fighting for breath through broken ribs. And it was a smart move based on the striker's ragged breathing now. But Jamie's tears are gone and replaced by a look of total awe. And Roy can't resist. He kisses him again. And again until they both end up making their way to Roy's bed. Roy has a brief moment where he thinks maybe this is too fast. Maybe Jamie isn't in the right mindset and he's taking advantage of him in a vulnerable moment. He freezes.

"What?" Jamie looks at him with confusion. "What's wrong?"

"You sure you want-" and Jamie's lips cut him off.

"I can honestly fucking say I never wanted anything more," Jamie goes to kiss him again but Roy stops him.

"I don't want to be the guy that takes advantage of -"

"Fucking hell, Roy. You think I haven't thought about this a million times?" Jamie laughs. "You think your poster is on my teenage wall for aesthetic reasons. I have literally thought about this exact moment since I was a fucking kid. So unless you don't want to then-" it's Roy's turn to cut him off by kissing him breathless. And Jamie damn near fucking swoons. Because he wasn't lying. This is the biggest fucking fantasy he ever had. And it ends up being so much more than he could have ever dreamt up because Roy might be a legend on the pitch but he is a fucking artist between the sheets. It's like he knows just how to take someone apart and completely ruin them. And Jamie fucking loved it. Only when they were both just laying there trying to recover did it actually register what it meant. It made Jamie even more desperate to find a way to stay in Richmond and it made Roy just want to fight anyone that would try to take Jamie away from him. But they both knew the morning would eventually come and Jamie would have to leave for Manchester. So Roy just pulled him close. Jamie tucked his head under Roy's chin and let himself take in the feeling of just being with the person he wants to be with. To listen to the way Roy's heartbeat slows to a resting pace and his breathing evens out. Jamie tries to commit every tiny detail to memory before he inevitably falls asleep in the warmest and safest place he has ever been. And a sense of home settles in him that threatens to break him. And that must show somehow because Roy cards his fingers through Jamie's hair. Roy had seen Jamie's mum do it when Jamie had started to shift in his sleep at the hospital. And he must have done it right because Jamie goes to putty in his hands. And Roy thinks he might hear a sniffle.

"Hey," Roy says, his tone softer than Jamie thinks he has ever heard. "I've got you," Roy says, the hand not in Jamie's hair is holding him tight.

"And you have me," Jamie says. "As long as you can stand to have me."

Roy grunts and shifts so he can actually kiss Jamie. "Don't tempt me," he states.

"Mean it," Jamie grins.

"Fucking hell," Roy groans. "Now we have to fucking figure this shit out."

"Too good an offer to resist?" Jamie teases.

"Something like that," Roy says before catching his lips again. "We'll come up with something."

"Always do," Jamie finishes for him.

Roy sees Jamie off at the station and Jamie keeps his sunglasses on and his hoodie pulled tight because it isn't actually his, it's Roy's and no one needed to know that but him and Roy. His sunglasses hide the puffy eyes and tears and let people think he is sleeping off a bender or something because he doesn't need them to ask why he is so quiet. Why isn't he on his phone? He just wants to think of a way to get back to Richmond without ruining his career. Because Roy would be pissed if Jamie threw everything away for him, especially right after losing it all himself. Roy was a bit lost as is. Jamie didn't want to make it worse. The only thing keeping him from worrying too much about Roy being alone was Phoebe. Phoebe would keep him busy. She was smart and would know Roy needed it. Keeley had said she would help them find a way to get Jamie back. And Jamie trusted Keeley more than almost anyone. Between her and Roy, they kept him from losing it completely. He just hopes they could do the same for each other.

As time goes on, Jamie is miserable and annoyed with the rehab team that is trying to get him back to pitch ready. On the phone, Roy reminds him they are just doing their jobs and as much as he hates being there it's for the best. He doesn't take his misery out on anyone, but he doesn't exactly do much to hide it.

Pep meets with him one day and asks him if he is okay and Jamie tells him the truth. He misses Richmond. He never had friends like that. City had put up with him when he was at his worst and he appreciated that, but it didn't feel like home anymore. He wasn't happy. And Pep understood. He would see what they might be able to do to help him and Jamie felt better.

He called Roy later and told him about it.

"That's fucking great," Roy says.

Jamie was practically buzzing with excitement as he waited for the train to get there. He had to remind himself that he couldn't just run up and kiss Roy no matter how much he wanted to. No matter how much he missed him. And Jamie lights up when he sees Roy. And Roy can't help but fucking grin. Jamie hugs him and Roy lets him, fuck anyone that would care. He missed Jamie and he hadn't seen him in weeks. But they can't stay there too long and they both know it.

"How's your mum?" Roy asks as they head to Jamie's car.

"She's good. Simon's good," Jamie grins. "How's your sister and Phoebe?"

"Already annoyed that I have nothing to do but bother them and Keeley has been bugging me about fucking Sky sports."

"Oh that'd be something," Jamie laughs. "You behind the desk with those pricks. I'd pay to see it."

"You fucking would," Roy shakes his head but grins because he knows Jamie is mostly just being a cheeky prick. "You just miss seeing my fucking face."

"That's true," Jamie admits. "That and it's funny when you yell at people that aren't me."

"Fuck off," Roy says, playfully shoving Jamie shoulder. Jamie laughs.

They didn't touch again until Roy's stuff was in the boot and they were in Jamie's car. And even then it isn't more than Jamie's hand finding Roy's when he can. It's like that until they are locked away in Jamie's flat that Roy pins Jamie against the door and gives Jamie a right and proper snog. Fucking kisses him like he'd wanted to since he saw him.

"Hi," Jamie grins when they finally separate for air.

Roy's grunts. "Fucking missed you."

"Fucking missed you too," Jamie parrots. "As much as I'd love for you to fuck me right here, I think your knee would never recover and can't have that, can we?"

"Fucking hell," Roy groans as Jamie moves just right underneath him and Roy considers testing that little idea of Jamie's. But Roy knows Jamie's right and it's been fucking weeks. And he was determined to do this the right way. So he pushes off the door and follows Jamie's lead until they find themselves in a familiar position. Absolutely lost in their own little world for a bit as they make it very clear just how much they really did miss each other. Jamie couldn't stop his hands from exploring if he had wanted and Roy wanted to know what every centimeter of Jamie tastes like. And neither were disappointed by what they discovered. The rest of the day they barely left Jamie's bed. Roy re-familiarizing himself with every tattoo, mark, and scar on Jamie Tartt. And Jamie Tartt listens to the most soothing sound in the world to him, the sound of Roy's heart beating in his chest as he holds Jamie close. It was a reminder that it was all very much real. And Jamie wasn't alone. And Roy didn't mind the fact Jamie just wanted an extra long cuddle. He knew Jamie spent most days trying to get back in shape before the new season. Get back to where Roy assures him he should be. What team didn't matter because they both knew it now. They'd be Richmond till they died because that was home now. That was where most of the important people in their lives were, but mostly they knew that Richmond would be the one place that wouldn't mind if Roy and Jamie were together. Because the team there actually knew them, cared for them. Sure, Pep seemed to care a lot about Jamie, but it wasn't the same. No team had a dynamic quite like Richmond. And it made it hard for Jamie to be back with City. He considered a few lads there his mates, but it wasn't like it was at Richmond. It just felt different. And Jamie missed them terribly.

"How's the team?" Jamie asks.

"Scattered as usual, postseason. Montlaur, Rojas, and the rest went home. Sam says to stay in touch. Jeff said he'd try and catch back up with you soon. Ted says 'don't be a stranger' in that stupid accent of his."

"I miss them too," Jamie says.

"I know," Roy says as he runs his fingers tips along Jamie's scalp. He tugs slightly at the striker's now longer hair, earning an unashamed moan from Jamie. "Growing it out I see."

"Good or bad?"

"It's you, you'd make it fucking work one way or another."

"Not exactly an answer, Kent."

"It's fucking fine. I don't give a shit as long as you like it."

"I do like it," Jamie admits.

"Then it's good," Roy says, giving the longer locks another tug.

"I think I fucking love you," Jamie blurts out before he can stop himself. Like his brain hasn't caught up with his heart or his mouth. The hand in his hair stills and he is pretty sure he hears the way Roy's heartbeat races. That was good right? It's a long and painful silence for Jamie as he waits for Roy to say anything. But the silence gets to him. "Roy…" and Roy tilts Jamie's head up and manages to catch his lips.

"I think you aren't the only one," Roy says. His words spoke against Jamie's lips. "I fucking love you too."

And Jamie could cry, because Roy fucking Kent just said he loved him back while they cuddle in Jamie's bed. "Now I really need to find a way back to Richmond."

"You really do," Roy agrees.

The team cheers when Jamie walks in and Jamie is stunned. It's not until Roy guides him over to his new cubby spot, that just so happens to be right by the door.

"Told you it would work out," Roy whispers in his ear. Jamie wants to keep Roy that close and fucking kiss him so bad his hands actually twitch. But before he can do anything, Roy grins. "Go celebrate," he insists as he pulls away from Jamie to head to the gaffer's office to talk to Beard. Jamie wanted to reach over and pull him back but the team swarmed him. Because not only is he healed up and ready to start the new season, he is back at Richmond.

"You tell him the rest of the deal?" Beard asks as Roy walks in.

"Nah, want to see the look on his face when it happens," Roy says. "Little prick has been a fucking nightmare the past few days."

"Your nightmare though," Beard states. Roy looks over at the desk that's officially his. Roy couldn't help but grin when a loud round of Richmond till we die is being shouted in the locker room. And he knows, he just knows this was the right call to make. For both their futures.

Ted and Beard manage to get the team out on the field. Jamie had been sad that he hadn't had the chance to say goodbye to Roy but he had training to do.

"You ready?" Keeley asks him.

Roy nods.

Roy spends half the morning in the press room fielding questions about not only being Richmond's newest coach, one that actually knows the game, and an openly non-straight one at that. And the press went wild on that. Questions about his preferences. How long he had known. He refused to answer most of them. And absolutely shut the whole thing down when they asked if he was seeing anyone. He was just getting up to leave when someone asked about the nature of his relationship with Jamie Tartt, since Roy had been seen spending time with in Manchester in the off season. That pissed Roy off. He wasn't going to say anything revealing. Because he hadn't actually talked any of this over with Jamie.

"He asked for my help to get him ready for the new season, after his recovery. Didn't need to train myself anymore. I was his fucking captain when he was hurt and I'm a fucking coach now. Is that so fucking hard to believe?" And he walked away.

Rebecca had told him he had done well.

The locker room went oddly quiet when he walked in after lunch. Roy had spent most of his day so far dealing with Keeley plotting over a dozen photos and event lineups for him. He didn't care about any of it. He knew by the time he got back to start actually coaching the team would already know.

"The fuck you lot staring at," Roy says. "Get the fuck back to work." He looked at Jamie but Jamie wouldn't look at him. Roy sighs and drags Jamie into the office. Both Ted and Beard take that as their cue to get the team moving. Ted gives Roy a thumbs up as he closes the door behind them.

"You didn't tell me you were going to do that," Jamie says.

"Are you mad?" Roy asks him, because Jamie didn't look happy at all.

"Why?" Jamie implores.

The new coach wasn’t sure what the striker meant. "Why did I do it or why didn't I tell you?"

"Both," Jamie says.

"It was part of the deal to get Welton to buy out your contract from Man City."

"So you outed yourself for me?" Jamie doesn’t know if he should be furious or feel like the luckiest guy in the world.

"I took the job as a coach for you, Keeley thought we might as well make the announcement memorable."

That twists something in Jamie’s gut. Keeley is easily his best friend, but that didn’t mean he agreed with her tactics. He hated the idea of Roy giving up anything for, let alone something this big. "But they made you…"

Roy can tell this isn’t going the way he figured it would. He probably should have figured that would happen. "No one fucking makes me do anything I don't fucking want to," Roy assures him. "You fucking know that."

"I know but-"

"I never actually hid my sexuality from anyone. But no one fucking asked. And no one…well, no one ever made me think I'd have a reason to make something of it. But you. That's different. You've always been different. Made me fucking think. Fucking be better. Even before that fucking morning in the boot room. You always rose to meet me. Challenged me. Fucking annoying but I love it."

"Why didn't you tell me, we could have-"

"Because you are just getting back on the fucking pitch. You are now fully contracted to AFC Richmond. People are going to already have questions. Like why would a Manchester lad, born and raised, trained by City want to be anywhere but with Man City or even fucking United. Or what could possibly interest you in staying with a team that is barely in the league. If you and me were to actually go public, right now, you know what they'd say. You were throwing it all away for me. Or that I made you fucking do it."

"And I'd fucking tell ‘em all that is bullshit. My dad ruined Manchester for me. My dad is why I didn't mind coming here in the first place. It pissed him off. And I'll tell ‘em no team has ever felt more like home than Richmond. That yeah, I'm from Manchester. My mum is still there with my stepdad. And I love them. But I'm Richmond till I fucking die if they'll have me. Because there are things I love here in Richmond too. This fucking team. And I fucking love you. So that's all there is to it. I fought like hell to get back here and I made that choice. Me. And like you said, I asked you to help me get back here. Not just in the game but to Nelson Road. To the fucking AFC Richmond Greyhounds. There is no place I'd rather be than right here with you."

"That was beautiful." Jamie and Roy turn to see Ted standing there with Colin and Dani. Dani having been the one to actually say it.

"Sorry, didn't mean to ruin the cinematic moment," Ted says. "Dani was worried that Jamie was worn out from training already and Colin wanted to talk to you, Coach."

"Fucking hell," Roy says. He pinches the bridge of his nose. This team was already getting on his nerves and it was his first day as a coach.

Ted takes that as his sign that maybe Roy needs a bit more time to talk to Jamie. "We'll give you fellas a minute. But for the record, you two are adorable. Like enemies to lovers is one of my favorite troupes. So happy for you gents."

"Fuck off," Roy glares at Ted.

"Right, yeah, we're going," Ted says. Colin and Dani are already halfway to the locker rooms and looking anywhere but at the pair in the office.

Ted closes the door behind him again.

"Well, I guess the team's gonna know," Jamie says. "That okay?"

"I don't give a shit what they say. They'd always be fucking fine with it. It's the rest of the fucking league and the fucking fans that will try to fucking ruin you. And I don't want to be-"

Jamie kisses him.

"You won't be. I'd have probably found a way to fuck things up on my own if you hadn't have fought me in the boot room that morning. You're the reason we're both still here."

"Well, let's just fucking see how my shit goes over before you go making it about you," Roy says. Jamie laughs.

"You are something else, Roy fucking Kent," Jamie laughs.

"And your a fucking prick, but I fucking love you too. Now get your arse out on that pitch. And don't expect me to go easy on you because I know you better than anyone and I'm going to-" Jamie kisses him again before heading towards the door with a cheeky, "Yes, Coach."

"Dani Rojas!" Jamie grins as he makes his way into the locker room. "I assure you amigo, I am better than I have ever been. And I was fucking fantastic before." He claps Dani on the back.

"I can see that, mi amigo. I am very happy for you and Coach Roy. And I am glad you are back."

"Me too, Dani Rojas. Me too." Jamie throws his arm over Dani's shoulders as the pair of strikers head out.

"I'll go with them," Ted says. "Take your time."

Roy looks at a nervous Colin. "Hughes?"

"Yeah?" Colin says.

"Fucking out with it," Roy demands.

"Sorry, maybe I should come back another time, it's your first day as coach and-"

"Hughes," Roy says. "What is it?"

Colin had no idea how to ask what he actually wanted to ask.

“Going to need more clues here, Hughes,” Roy says. He has a feeling he knows but he isn’t going to be a prick and just assume.

Colin hesitates but he realizes that Roy just made the biggest announcement anyone could make on this type of topic in the sport. So he might as well just say it. “I’m gay,” Colin says.

“Okay? And?”

“What?”

“And I’m your coach and I’m glad you feel like you can tell me this, but is that all you wanted to say?”

“I just…I didn’t know there was anyone else like me on the team,” Colin says. “I didn’t know you or even Jamie-”

Roy is quick to stop him. “Going to need to talk to Jamie about what Jamie is.”

“But aren’t you two…” Colin is confused. He’d just seen Roy and Jamie kiss, more than once. “But you’re together, Jamie clearly-”

“Again, you’re going to have to fucking talk to Jamie about Jamie. Jamie and I haven’t labeled shit,” Roy tells him. “I’m not going to put him in a fucking box. I know that I’m me. Not straight, not gay. It’s a fucking spectrum I never bothered to figure out. All I can say is it’s fucking fine you’re gay. Fucking great you know who you are. I’ll tell you the same thing I told him, don’t fucking say shit about it to the press yet. I can take the fucking heat. I’m not saying hide it any more than you were before. Opposite really. You can be who you are outside here. That’s fine. Fuck it, you can even tell the team, be all fucking sunshine and rainbows for them. They love any reason to celebrate. I’m out, Jamie might as well be now. You can do what you want. I’m just say be fucking careful if you aren’t ready to tell the world. For better or fucking worse, I just brought a fucking press shit show to the door.”

“Why’d you do it?” Colin asks.

“Because I may not like telling the press shit, but I know they’re going to look for a story and the story is that I’m fucking here because Jamie Tartt wanted to be and that was fucking deal. Could leak from our side, could leak from City.”

“Man City knows?”

“Pep Guardiola knows more than he lets on,” Roy states.

“I don’t doubt that,” Colin says with absolute honesty. Pep Guardiola was known for being a good gaffer.

“I wanted the fucking lens to be focused on me,” Roy tells him. “Jamie’s been through fucking hell to get here. Fucking earned it. Press don’t need to be fucking digging around on why he wants to be here.”

“And if they figure out about you and Jamie?” Colin asks. “Not that I would ever say anything. I wouldn’t, I swear.”

“Then I guess we go the way Jamie suggested, tell ‘em they’re fucking pricks and that they’re looking for a scandal between consenting fucking adults that keep their private lives fucking private as much as fucking possible, and that as long as Jamie does his fucking job, and I do my fucking job, what’s the fucking problem?”

“Well, guess it’s good you have a plan,” Colin says.

“When fucking don’t I?” Roy challenges.

“Fair play,” Colin admits.

“Is that all, Hughes?” Roy asks. “Or do you want to have a fucking tea party?”

Colin isn’t sure if he should answer yes or no, that was a very confusing but very Roy Kent sort of question. “I think that’s it,” Colin manages.

“Then get your fucking arse on the pitch with the rest of the fucking team,” Roy tells him.

“Yes, Coach,” Colin says in a rush as he goes through the door to the locker room. “Sorry, Coach.”

“Don’t be sorry,” Roy calls after him. “Be fucking faster.”

Once alone Roy takes a deep breathe and fucking groans. This was his fucking life now. And he didn’t hate it at fucking all. He smiled to himself. His players clearly trusted him, at least as far as he could tell. They seemed supportive enough. He had Jamie and he didn’t see Jamie going anywhere anytime soon. He still had to deal with Ted fucking Lasso, but that didn’t seem as fucking terrible as it had before. He was supportive and he helped get Jamie back. Roy’s family was in a good place and for once it seemed he might be. Something would go fucking sideways sooner or later, but for now, like Jamie, he’s Richmond till he dies. Which being in a relationship with fucking Jamie Tartt, might be sooner rather than later, but it’d be worth it.

“About bloody time,” Jamie says when Roy finally makes it to the pitch. “What took you so long?”

“None of your fucking business,” Roy says but there is no heat in it, because this is Jamie.

“Your business is my business,” Jamie counters.

“Nosy prick,” Roy grunts.

“But you fucking love me,” Jamie grins.

“Might fucking change if your arse isn’t back running fucking drills in the next ten fucking seconds.”

Jamie laughs, because he knows that’s a fucking lie. He also knows Roy isn’t going to show him any favoritism on the pitch. “You said the same thing to Phoebe when she got out of bed after you’d tucked her in the other night,” Jamie points out. “Might need to work on your motivational shit, coach.”

“How's this for motivational,” Roy gets right up in Jamie’s face. “Get your fucking arse back to drills now and maybe you can do that one thing I told you you could never fucking do at the dog track.”

“Wait…really? But you said I’d terrorized enough kitmen and didn’t need to traumatize him more,” Jamie says.

“Not going to fucking find out running that pretty little mouth of yours on the sidelines, Tartt.” And the look on Roy’s face tells him he’s fucking serious. On all of it. And Jamie might actually be more motivated than he ever has been in his life to run drills.

“Fucking hell,” Jamie mutters.

“Fucking move it, Tartt!” Roy shouts and Jamie does with a chipper, “Yes, Coach.”

[alexanderlightweight]

If prompts are open can I have more of the deruned!alec prompt, specifically angry and protective Magnus confronting people (clary, jace, Izzy)

Yeah, I'm a little bored and waiting for edits to finish before I write new chapters for active wips. Thanks @i-cant-think-of-one-meh

So here we go, enjoy!

~

It takes days for the pain to ebb enough for Alexander to sit up and breathe without choking on his own agony. 

Alexander’s body is no longer protected by angelic grace and it bears its wounds heavily, adjusting to its new normal.

And it is Magnus who wipes the sweat and tears from his skin. Who pieces Alexander back together with gentle, protective touches and bright magic that makes Alexander smile softly.

It’s a gift. Because at the beginning, it seemed that Alexander might  never smile again. 

And Magnus shores up his defenses and when, four days after he found Alexander huddling against Magnus’ wards, he’s reached out to, he snaps on his armor and he portals to the institute. 

Alec is still unconscious. But he’s given Magnus permission to make choices for him. Because Alexander doesn’t even trust himself, but he trusts Magnus, and Magnus has never betrayed that trust.

So Magnus portals to the Institute and he lets the wards wail as they announce his presence. Magic flickers around him and his heels click and clack loudly in the pristine halls.

Most of the shadowhunters in them look haunted, and they send scowls of distaste and hatred towards the group that demanded Magnus’ presence and aid.

“And what trouble have you three gotten into now, that makes you call an old warlock to meddle in shadowhunter business?” Magnus asks dangerously, his voice dark as he gets closer.  

“Ah Magnus.” Clary looks flustered and a little nervous. There is an empty daze to Jace’s eyes and he’s holding onto Isabelle almost desperately. 

And Isabelle, Alexander's precious younger sister, she looks devastated. 

Something in Magnus’ chest gives a satiated croon at the evidence of their suffering.

“We need help.” Clary admits. “We brought the cup back. But we still don’t know which warlock made the potion. Or how to track them.”

“And you might never know.” Magnus tells her cooly, examining his nails.

“What? Magnus, why aren’t you helping me?” She asks, as if Magnus is required to help her.

“You can’t afford me, Clarissa. I helped you pro-bono because you gave me something I wanted. It’s been made clear that what I want is no longer available, ergo, I am also no longer available.”

That catches all of their attention and Isabelle’s lips wobble and Jace grimaces, putting a hand on his side where his parabatai rune once lay. 

Magnus wonders if it’s still there, or if it’s gone like Alec’s is. If it has a scar, or if Jace is like Alec, desperate for the reminder of such a deep betrayal to be erased, forever.

“You mean you only helped me because of Alec?” Clary asks angrily, as though she has any right to be angry.

The Clave may have pardoned her, but Magnus never will. 

“Have you seen him? Have you seen Alec?” Izzy asks desperately, at the same time that Clary does.

“Alexander made his stance on seeing me again clear, Isabelle. I do not linger where I am not wanted.”

Izzy chokes, as if she’d held to some quiet and desperate hope that Magnus would solve her problems, one more time.

“Speaking of which, where is your lovely commander? I’ve heard some concerning rumors about him; they are rumors. Aren’t they?”

They stutter out a lackluster attempt to avoid answering and it turns into a lacking explanation that says nothing of substance until Clary finally mutters that Alec was ‘deruned’ and hasn’t been heard from since the process. As he exited through the portals of the Spiral Labyrinth, no one knows where he ended up. Or if he’s still alive.

And Izzy and Jace flinch like the word itself is salt on an open wound. 

“The only reason I ever helped you, beyond the original consultation and payment, was because I wanted him.” Magnus says it conversationally, as if it’s as obvious as vampires avoiding the sun. 

“And when your choices pulled him away from me. I let it go, because surely Alexander could make his own mistakes. I didn’t realize that he would always bear the consequences of your actions. And I never realized how little any of you would care that he would.”

Jace snarls at him and it’s an angry thing. But Magnus simply sniffs at him.

“Well now that you’ve truly destroyed any hope for me here, I will leave you to your lives. Maybe by the time you’re thirty, you’ll have figured it out.”

Magnus tuts and turns, hears Jace’s angry and upset shouts and Isabelle’s guilty and sad sobs and Clary, confused about it all and trying to make it better, but only making it worse.  

—

“It’s not the lack of the runes themselves that are causing him so much harm.”Brother Zacahariah —but always Jem to a precious few— tells Magnus telepathically.  “It is the lack of anchor, he is no longer tied to Raziel and his devotion has nowhere to go. His faith in Raziel and his family, his culture; it’s been broken too greatly to ever truly be healed.”

“So what do I do?” Magnus asks desperately. Cat is keeping Alexander in a healing trance, her magic stabilizing him as Magnus finds a way to heal and protect him. To keep him alive, because Magnus wants Alexander alive.

Magnus will do anything to keep Alexander and Alexander is letting him.

“You anchor Alec Lightwood to yourself. It is a heavy burden, to be someone’s reason for living. This will be a more intimate bond than you could ever imagine Magnus, you will become his world. His purpose for living, the reason for his every breath.

“Nephilim are powered by belief and devotion. You have enough divine blood, fallen though it is. And if he truly devotes himself to you, you will be stronger than even your father. Raziel is so powerful and untouchable for a reason, Magnus. It is because of the nephilim, who he created and who worship him in turn.”

Magnus is greedy and while he understands the weight of what Jem is saying, he’s selfish enough to admit that he wants what is being offered like a werewolf yearns for the moon. 

If Magnus does this. Alexander will never leave him. Alexander will never want to leave. And Magnus can make sure he never does.

“Anchor him to me Jem, he gave himself to me completely. I want this. I want him.”

Jem looks at him with a solemn gaze before nodding quietly. “Then I will help you steal a nephilim soul from Raziel, and bind it to yourself. He will share your immortality, as he will be your devotee.”

Glee crackles through Magnus’ body, a lust for becoming the most important being to someone, to Alexander specifically, lighting a thrill through his body. 

A stele —an old and elegant, almost deceptively delicate looking— is pressed to his palm. As Magnus watches, it lights up, glowing with the same light as the red suns of Edom do. He sears a rune onto Alexander’s skin, just above his heart. 

It is Magnus name, the rune his power claimed, the translation of himself, in the defiled and unholy language of fallen angels.

It burns. Magnus can feel Alexander shaking under Magnus' firm grip as he sears a place for himself onto Alexander’s body. 

Alexander is claimed, branded with Magnus’ mark.

He can feel him. The desperation. The hope. The depth of his devastation and the strength he clings to Magnus with. Hoarding the fact that Magnus is protecting him, will never betray him, like a dragon hoards its treasures.

“It is up to you what runes he bears. They will integrate better if you do them first.”

Magnus nods at the instructions and lets himself linger in thought. He traces the tender skin of Alexander’s anchor  to him, and knows what to use next. 

He replaces the deflect rune on Alexander’s neck with a similar one. Because something in him hungers for a rune Magnus has chosen, to be easy for others to see. He wants to be able to see it himself, curling above Alexander's shirt collars.  Wants to scratch over it with his nails when they sit together, or leave marks blurring the smooth lines of the rune with his teeth.

And most of all, Magnus will avoid using angelic runes as much as possible. It displeases Magnus to even think about Raziel’s marks claiming even an inch of Alexander’s skin.

Not when he now belongs to Magnus.

[nevermore-grimes]

Nevermore-Grimes does Daydreamtober 2024

Original art from Pinterest.

Prompts: #12: Monster + #19: Comfort

Para Perspective: Nevermore Grimes

Paracosm: The Ember Blade Chronicles

TEBC Saga: The New-Asgardian Saga

Summary: After quelling Giffany’s newfound hunger, Nevermore wakes up to discuss the nature of her true form with her.

Warnings/Tags: Mentions of sex, sexual assault, killing, and death

Word Count: 1,598

I woke up in my own bed, fully clothed again. I guess I technically did only strip in my dream.

I tried to sit up, but moving didn’t come easy for me. Exhaustion and the sensation of a lingering weight on my chest made sure of that. I groaned, debating if I should just go back to sleep, but the noise I made caught the attention of someone I hadn’t realized was sitting at my bedside.

“Nevermore?” Her voice was uncharacteristically soft and uncertain. “Are you awake?”

I looked up at her, blinking the blond blotches in my vision into focus. The horns, wings, and impish tail I remembered from my dream were gone. The woman in front of me was the woman I was used to seeing all this time.

“…Gif?” My voice came out raspy due to my grogginess. “Yeah. Yeah, I am…”

She sadly smiled down at me. “Hi.”

I shot her a weak smile of my own. “Hey.”

A beat of silence hung between us before she grabbed my hand in hers. “How are you feeling?”

“Kinda shitty.” I breathlessly chuckled. “But, I’m alright. Still kicking and stuff.”

“Well, I, um…” Giffany looked down at our hands, rubbing her thumb in circles on the back of mine. “I did kinda eat part of your soul, so, I guess you’re not gonna feel so great after that.”

“Meh. It’s not like I’m usin’ it anyway.” I joked.

She attempted a small chuckle, but the regret in her eyes didn’t so much as flicker. “Well, you kinda need that to live, so I think you are.”

As we talked, I could feel my exhaustion slowly fading, and the conversation became a little easier for me to follow.

“How long have you been able to do this?” I asked.

She softly sighed. “A while. After that… thing that happened to me up in space, and watching you work so hard to defend me, I was… angry… but scared, too. I wanted to punish men like him, but I also didn’t want to be so helpless again. I didn’t want that to happen to me again.”

She sniffled, moving one of her hands from mine to wipe the sudden tears escaping her eyes. My stomach twisted at her mention of what happened to her during the war. I remembered being so consumed by my own righteous anger, that I didn’t really take the time to understand how traumatizing that must’ve been for her.

“So,” She continued. “The next time that I had time off, I went back to Earth and started looking for something I could do. That’s when I found this creepy old witch. She told me she could give me powers to keep myself safe, and then I wouldn’t need you or anyone else to protect me anymore.”

“Stuff like that’s never free.” I ventured.

Giffany made a small nod. “She said all I had to do was trade in a small part of my own soul, but that once I did, I couldn’t undo it. There was this whole ritual with candles and incense, and she started chanting in Latin.” She sniffled, wiping away more tears as they started streaming down her face faster. “It burned. Everything burned. And I tried to scream for her to stop but…” She shook her head, unable to finish that sentence.

Feeling my strength returning, I reached up with my free hand to wipe some of her tears away. “And that ritual made you what you are?”

“Mmhmm.” She leaned into my touch as she continued her story. “I woke up in the middle of the woods. I think the witch left me there. But, I was different. I was hungry. I remember walking back into town, and it was dark, but sometimes I would see someone walking around, and they gave me these weird looks. Some people even ran away screaming from me. Except for one.”

She gently smiled. “He offered to take me home, and he was kinda cute. So, I let him. He took me to my house, and he parked right out front. He was sweet. And we were flirting, and he gave me his number, and…” She sniffled, tears springing to her eyes again. “I don’t know what came over me, but I kissed him. I kissed him, and he kissed me back, and he came onto me, and he started taking off his clothes, but I was still so hungry and… I killed him. I ate his soul and I killed him.”

“I was so scared, Nevermore.” She whimpered in a soft, pained sound. “I hid his car in my garage, and I left his body in there, too. And I saw myself in the mirror, and… I looked like a monster! I- I am a monster!” She shook with soft sobs. “I jump into people’s dreams and I kill them! I feed on souls and sex! I’m a freak! And I almost killed you, too!”

My heart shattered for her, and I finally managed to sit up before pulling her into a hug.

“I’m sorry, Nevermore!” She cried into my shoulder. “I’m so sorry!”

“Hey, Gif, hey…” I gently rubbed her back. “It’s okay. It’s gonna be okay. I mean, I’m fine, right? You didn’t take enough of my soul to kill me, and I popped back up in no time! Elemental resilience applies to our souls, too, I guess. But, that means you can control how much you’re taking, now, right?”

“I- I think.” She hiccuped as her tears began wetting through my shirt. “But, I’m still gonna get hungry again, and… What am I gonna do?”

“We can work something out to keep you fed without you having to worry about anyone else dying.” I reassured her as we slowly pulled apart before cupping her face in my hands and gently swiping the tears from her now blotchy cheeks. “And, I mean, I don’t mind helping you out from time to time. I would’ve appreciated an ask or a heads up before you jumped into my dreams and started fucking me nasty-style, but,” I shrugged, a small smirk twitching at my lip. “I didn’t exactly hate it, so…”

She softly chuckled. “You whore.”

“Guilty as charged~” I moved a strand of her hair from her face. “And you’re not a moster, by the way. You were just dealt a bad hand… That, and you’re too sexy to be a monster.”

“Shut up.” Giffany laughed as she pushed away from me and playfully smacked my shoulder.

“What? It’s true!” I argued as my own laughter bubbled up from inside me.

As our laughter died down, I couldn’t help but bring up another question. “Why me?”

Giffany cocked her head. “Hm?”

“Why’d you choose me?”

“Well, um…” She basfully looked down at her hands. “I was desperate, and I knew you were bi, so…”

“That’s kind of fucked up.” Despite the serious nature of my comment, I found myself fighting through another bout of laughter just to say it.

“I’m sorry…” She seemed to burn with shame.

“That still doesn’t make sense to me, though.” I pressed on. “You were feeding off of what I’m assuming to be straight men before me, right?”

“Yes…” Giffany looked back up at me, confused by the direction I was taking our conversation.

“If you were really that desperate, why’d you risk it with me instead of picking off another guy?”

She let a beat of silence hang between us, avoiding my gaze again before muttering. “I craved you.”

I couldn’t help the smile that my lips curled into as my heart skipped a beat, and I gently coaxed her by the chin to face me. “I dunno if this is your wild succubus magic or what, but I’ve been craving you, too.”

Giffany softly giggled, her cheeks lightly dusting with a faint blush. “Nevermore…”

I didn’t notice when we started leaning closer to each other, but once we were in motion, I wasn’t planning on stopping until we closed the gap between us. My eyes fluttered shut, and my breathing grew heavy as I felt the heat of her breath against my face.

“Absolutely not!” Loki’s sudden appearence in the room made us yelp in surprise as we jumped apart. “Let’s save the lethal kissing for once Nevermore’s fully rested, alright?”

I bursted out laughing while Giffany hid her face in her hands. “Alright, alright.”

“Yeah, alright.” Giffany stood up, her cheeks still glowing red with humiliation. “I- um- …Thank you for saving me, Nevermore.”

I gave her a small wave. “Anytime, Gif.” Then, I leaned forward to harshly whisper. “Literally, call me anytime. I’m down to fuck whenever.”

“Oh my god!” Giffany hid her face in her hands once more as Loki let out an amused chuckle.

Gently resting a hand on her shoulder, he began to lead her out of the room. “I’ll be taking Giffany home. And I expect you to be on your best behavior.”

“But-”

“Get. Some. Rest.” With that, the door slammed definitively behind the two of them, and I giggled like a little schoolgirl as I laid back down.

“Fine~” I murmured to no one in particular before drifting off into my first normal dream in a long time.

[shares-a-vest]

Fruity Four Advent Calendar, Day 7: Coffee Shop AU but make it festive

Prompt List

It’s Christmas 1999 and Steve and Robin work in an internet cafe. They are just two dorks, slinging coffee beans and helping hapless old ladies with their computer problems, all the while fawning over a rockstar and a star reporter, respectively.

I had intended on making this waaay longer but I’ve got total writer's block/brain-mush happening right now (I'm surprised I managed to get something together to post, actually). So if this a totally meh, I'm sorry, please ignore me.

'A Very Y2K Christmas'

"Hey! Earth to dingus!"

Steve snaps out of his lovesick trace at the sight of his co-worker Robin clicking her fingers directly in his face.

"Any more ogling that leather-clad weirdo and you'll curdle that milk," she adds, reaching up to tug his dorky felt Christmas hat further down, thoroughly flattening his fringe under the damn thing. Now his hat hair was going to be impossible to straighten out.

"And what about star journalist, Miss Brainiac? I can tell you are lingering, waiting for her to come in with her pretentious laptop. When she came in yesterday, did you spill milk all over yourself again?" he retorts, setting aside the milk he'd, admittedly, heated far too much.

"I’ll have you know, I talked to her yesterday."

He snorts a laugh. Of course this happened when he wasn't there.

"I asked her why she was in town," Robin explains, straightening up his festive apron like a fussing mother. "She said, staying with her parents and she might stay until New Year to write a quick story."

He wacks her hand away and asks, "About how dumb internet cafes are, with their cheap coffee and clumsy baristas?"

Before Robin can come up with a witty retort, a middle-aged lady comes rushing over, fretting about her computer having a different start-up screen than it did a few days ago.

He makes quick work of the order he’d ruined which, of course, was for the customer in question, who was wearing a leather jacket despite it almost snowing outside. He'd been coming in for about a week and a half now, almost every day, ordering the same thing: a double espresso with three sugars in a takeaway cup. Obviously jet fuel for the amount of writing he seemed to do when he was in the cafe.

Steve tries to ignore Robin’s completely conspicuous ogling as she helps customers with their computers (more tech support than a barista, like Robin ever actually stood still long enough to make a coffee anyway) as he makes his way over to Eddie. He sets the coffee down and awkwardly lingers, fishing in his apron pocket.

"Um, I…" he stutters, producing a garish green flyer featuring the cafe's Christmas specials, supposed 'exotic flavours' that were just the normal crap they sell but in festive packaging. "I’m obligated to give these out."

He sets the leaflet down and waves it away, trying to stay casual.

Eddie looks it over as he asks, "Actually, I was meaning to ask you, man, what cocoa do you recommend? I want to get my uncle some."

"None," Steve answers, folding his arms and causing Eddie's eyes to momentarily flit to his biceps. "The coffee we sell here is awful. Go to the department store down the block."

"You're cheating yourself out of a sale here, Steve," he laughs. He seems to register Steve's questioning eye so he adds with a flash of teeth, "You’re wearing a nametag, dude."

"Oh," Steve says, brushing his hand over his red name tag and chuckling. "Silly me."

He shakes his head, cursing himself internally as he whips around, making a beeline back to the coffee machine, utterly mortified. 

He continues between the register and the coffee machine as a quiet afternoon turns into a dead night. He busies himself with cleaning, periodically looking over at Eddie who is writing between humming and tapping his ring-clad finger on the table. Robin appears, slapping a sheet of paper on the spotless countertop.

"Intel," she says, mischievous and proud. "He’s famous y’know."

She tilts her head in Eddie’s direction.

"And where did you get this?" Steve asks, looking over the paper in spite of himself. She flicks him on the side of the head.

"Computer Fusspot Francine just said her kid listens to his music so I went and looked him up on the pervert computer," she offers proudly. "For the designated pervert computer, the internet is slow as hell in that back corner."

Steve rolls his eyes. There was, in fact, a computer in the cafe commonly referred to by employees as The Pervert Computer, the only machine in the store whose screen was not at all visible from any angle other than the chair plonked at its desk.

"Heavy Metal?" he groans, looking over the paper.

"Hm, yes. A bit of a problem for someone who's been listening to Cher's Believe non-stop all year."

She suggestively side-eyes a very cute picture of Eddie included in the printout where he is smiling brightly despite his leather clothes and wild hair.

Robin suddenly gasps, grabbing Steve's arm.

"Loverboy is leaving!"

Steve rushes over to clear the table next to Eddie before he leaves. He clamours around, almost dropping an empty coffee cup, too busy watching Rockstar Eddie out of the corner of his eye.

"See you tomorrow," Eddie says, ducking into Steve's personal space with a wide grin. He winks.

Steve merely waves, wiggling his finger with a lopsided smile as he walks out the door.

"Explain to me again why you don’t totally suck?" Robin says, materialising right in front of him. Her smugness only lasts a few minutes before Nancy comes in with her laptop bag slung over her shoulder and Robin almost walks directly into the festive spiced tea display.

The following day, Eddie doesn't come in at his usual time which has Steve moping around the cafe, feeling like a promise has been broken despite it being so casual. Nor does Nancy, which makes for a pretty miserable shift, made worse by the fact there is not a damn thing to do as their customers dwindle further the closer they get to Christmas.

Steve is about to close up, setting his bag and red sweater on the counter ready to leave (if only Robin would hurry up with stealing the chocolates from the storage boxes out back). The front bell rings as Nancy pushes the door open with her elbow, arms filled with shopping bags and bringing a freezing winter chill in with her. Eddie suddenly rushes up beside her, nose reddened from the cold. At least he was wearing a hat and winter coat now.

He grabs a bag from Nancy and reaches over her slight frame to hold the door open.

"No, no, no. I’m sorry," Nancy insists, shaking her head and ridding it of enough snow to build a snowman. She attempts to take her bags back but Eddie holds them out of her reach with a grin.

"After you," he says, nodding his head and bowing as Nancy walks in the door.

"I'm so sorry," she repeats. "Last minute shopping."

"Been too busy sitting over in the corner making goo-goo eyes at Robin, have we?"

Her eyes dart around, eyelashes fluttering as she stutters out, "I've been doing work! … Also that."

"You're cool, star reporter Nancy Wheeler," he insists with a wink, the pair setting her bags on the counter in unison. "I'm here to take Steve on a date. But I’m not sure he knows it’s a date. I’m kinda late."

He looks over with a tight-lipped smile to a slack-jawed Steve.

"Huh?" Steve grunts, unable to form words.

Eddie’s snorting laugh is cut off by Robin, who halts with a yelp in the doorway to the back room.

"Hi," Nancy says with an awkward wave. She straightens up before declaring, "Um, do you want to go to a movie? I'm sorry I'm so late. I got carried away buying presents for my little sister."

Robin's eyes go so wide they look like they are going to pop out of her skull.

"That's, that's cool," she splutters. "We were just closing."

Steve realises he is still wearing his stupid Christmas hat and yanks it off his head, only to find Eddie smiling at him with his stupid dimples. Eddie tosses Steve’s sweater at him.

"Come on, Big Boy. Put your dorky sweater on and let’s go get a drink. Promise I won’t talk about how we've only got one week left on earth."

"Y2K," Nancy laughs, rolling her eyes. "Nothing is going to happen."

"You don’t believe the machines are coming to harvest our organs?" Robin shrieks and Steve just groans at the amount of time he has wasted over the past few months listening to Robin ranting about the millennium.

"If you believe that computers are going to glitch at the turn of the new millennium and destroy human existence, why do you work at an internet cafe?" Nancy laughs.

Eddie clicks his finger and points at Robin. "Wheeler’s got you there."

Robin merely shrugs, "The end is inevitable, mass-produced coffee products and Christmas aprons, or not."

"Woah," Eddie says, somehow completely amazed by Robin’s nonsense and Steve can’t help but giggle.

[syilcawrites]

1 word prompt: paragliding :) or whistle! or spices. pick what gets the creative juices flowing

congrats on 500!

This has been sitting in my inbox for so long.......... I'm so sorry for the extremely super duper long wait, I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN IT!! I had major writer's block with this but today is the day I finally send u something!!!

Thank u nathaniacolver for the ask!!

Summary: Link and Zelda have been staying in Kakariko for a few days and crave a pumpkin-filled meal. After buying a pumpkin from Olkin and heading to High Produce Spirits for some spice, they run into the store owner's husband—Steen—Olkin's produce rival! In a desperate attempt to hide the pumpkin they bought, Zelda stuffs the small pumpkin under her shirt... causing a grave misunderstanding.

ao3

"We've got all sorts of pumpkins! Like ah… like this big ol' fortified pumpkin. And then there's this little one right here and-and this perfectly shaped fortified pumpkin over there in the corner. It's one of my bestsellers, promise."

Zelda blinks once, then twice, but her perfect smile remains unwavered on her face. "You have a delightful array of… of selections!" she says enthusiastically, "so much that it's hard to really choose… which one to get." Zelda nudges Link with her elbow.

"Oh, uh…" Link rubs the spot where Zelda had jabbed him. "No preference?" he murmurs to her. She shakes her head. "Yeeah… okay. We'll just go with this?" he says, picking up the closest pumpkin to them. He tilts his head at it, a small smile springing onto his face. "Heh, it kinda looks like you."

She raises her eyebrows at him, fighting the urge to roll her eyes. "What is that supposed to mean?" Zelda huffs out, crouching down next to him to inspect what pumpkin he chose. It was one of the smaller ones in the garden, shaped cutely like a round oval–small enough that it would sit perfectly in between her two palms. Instead of responding to her, Link just grins.

"Ha! You've got a good eye!" Olkin chortles loudly. "They're much sweeter than the bigger ones. I'll give you a lil' discount and make it 15 rupees, whatd'ya say?"

"Sounds good to me." Link drops the rupees into Olkin's open hand. "Steen's not running you into the ground anymore, right? Did you two talk it out?"

"Meh," he responds with a shrug, rubbing his nose. "Once that old man stops selling carrots I'll start talkin' to him."

After a few more playful, friendly chatter, the two of them depart from Olkin's Pumpkin Farm to pick up a few spices and herbs from High Spirits Produce.

"Er... is it wise to bring the pumpkin with us into the store?" Zelda asks, grabbing Link's arm before they enter the store. "What if Trissa tells Steen we bought from Olkin? Remember the last time Steen found out we bought pumpkins from Olkin?" When they had walked into High Spirits Produce with a pumpkin in hand, and Steen had been in the store, he accused Link of being a two-timing-no-good customer.

"Oh-? Link? Zelda? Is that you?" a very familiar voice calls out from behind them. Link and Zelda simultaneously stiffen in response, goosebumps rising.

"O-oh! Steen!" Link swivels around, stepping in front of Zelda so that she's blocked from his view. "You're back early, was it a slow day selling your carrots?"

Of course Steen is right behind them!

"Just one of those days, Aha ha! Nothing to worry about though!"

Quickly, Zelda stuffs the pumpkin under her shirt and turns around, her body remaining hidden behind Link as she gives Steen a small smile. "I'm, ah, sure tomorrow will be better! I'm feeling quite ill, so... we'll be heading back..." Slowly, she turns back around and begins to trek her way up the incline with her hands tucked snug underneath the pumpkin hidden behind her shirt.

"Oh!"

Zelda freezes. She glances up to her left, and...

Trissa stands there, her eyes wide and her hands hiding her mouth in utter disbelief and surprise.

"Zelda are you- it can't be- you're pregnant??" Trissa practically screams, squealing in delight.

"P-" Zelda is too baffled to even finish the word as cold sweat forms on her skin. This cannot be happening, Zelda thinks, as she pales.

"Pregnant??" Link and Steen gasp in unison, as if Trissa screaming it isn't bad enough. Zelda's sure the whole village has heard them now.

"OhmyHylia!!" Trissa squeals again, jumping giddily to Zelda as she grabs her shoulders, squeezing them in delight. Zelda presses the pumpkin against her stomach with her dear life, eyes wide and lips pursed in utter shock. "Why didn't you say anything? I knew you two were an item! Honey, dear, look at her bump! You're not too far along, it seems!"

Steen takes no time in quickly jogging over to them with a silly grin on his face. Then, his hands reach out and- oh, if someone were to touch the bump they'd immediately know that it isn't...!

"Ah, darn. We really wanted to keep this a secret!"

Whatareyousaying?? Zelda, whose mind is currently gone to panic-mode-mush, stares at Link with wide eyes as he somehow pries her away from Steen and Trissa.

"Please don't tell anyone?" Link asks, smiling apologetically. "We don't want to give Impa a shock just yet."

"Oh, oh of course!" Trissa spews, grinning so genuine and happy that it makes Zelda feel like a terrible person. "Your secret is S-A-F-E with me and Steen, right darling??"

"Absolutely," Steen says immediately as he claps his hands together. "Trissa, go get one of everything from the store and give it to them! They're gonna need a lot more food with a third mouth joining!"

"Ah, no, please-" Zelda says weakly, but Trissa is already in and out of the store, hauling a whole bag of spices, food, and other goodies for them and hands them over to Link. Steen adds in a whole bundle of swift carrots into the bag as well.

"I added in some teas that will help with morning sickness," Trissa explains with a beaming smile. "Just pop some honey into them for some sweetness if it's too bitter!"

"Oh... thank... you..." Zelda manages to spit out. "I think- yes. I think Link and I must go, I feel terribly exhausted." She grips the sleeve of his shirt with one hand, tugging. She'll give them rupees for all the food later, but right now, every inch of her is screaming to get out of here immediately.

They say their goodbyes, and finally, when they separate from the lovely Sheikah couple and they're a good ways near the edge of the village, Zelda drops to a crouch and buries her head into her lap.

"Link," she mumbles, crumbling, pulling the innocent pumpkin out of her shirt and hugging it to her chest. "Whatarewegoingtodo???"

He bursts into laughter.

Zelda whips her head up at him, glaring, her face beginning to flush. "This isn't- this is a disaster!!" They both know that Steen and Trissa are the number one gossipers of Kakariko Village, there's just no way that they wouldn't spread it, and if Impa hears it...

He continues to laugh until he's gasping for air, clutching his stomach, and it sounds so raw and free that Zelda can't help but crack a smile because- well, the whole thing is awfully silly.

Still chuckling, he puts the bag of food down and helps her up, taking the pumpkin into his arms. He stares at it fondly as if it really is his child. "I guess we should think of a name, huh? For our unborn kiddo?"

Her cheeks warm at the thought of Link being a father and—

"Oh, enough of your silliness!" Zelda sputters, pinching his nose. She grabs the bag off from the ground and hauls it up, fully aware that her cheeks are probably as red as the ripe apples that grow in Kakariko Village. Unbeknownst of the calamity they had unleashed upon the small Sheikah clan for the coming days, they depart the village with a massive armful of delicious food.

[itsohh]

Compromised Judgement

A/N: Female reader, I think I rewrote this like 3 times, all completely  different takes on this prompt. But its done! Some places I’m not too happy with but meh.

Word count: 3726

Warnings: NSFT, smut

AO3

The memories were direct in her mind. On one hand, she berated herself, she should have known better. Yet, on the other hand, blaming herself would take away from your work, and your achievement. Taina would learn from the experience and do better next time. "She's good." Taina leaned on the desk while Nøkk sat on it next to her, Sam in the office chair.

Taina had the advantage over Nøkk, sneaking up on her and taking her down with ease. Yet two paces behind her, your light feet were almost silent on the floor and she hadn't seen you until it was too late. Her interrogation was cut short as your knife came up to her throat, signalling her elimination. A whisper in her ear. There hasn't been a fight, it had been a swift, clean elimination fitting for someone in your role. Yet, her mind stayed on you a little bit more than in a professional manner. The way you moved without a sound, your soft but firm grip on her shoulder as the blade stayed against her throat- it was ingrained in her mind.

"She's a good addition." Sam piped up behind her, snapping her out of the daydream that had started to form. "I'd like to see her hand-to-hand more." Anything less than perfect could be a major detriment. Taina pushed off the desk and looked out the window showing where you continued to train below. "That can be arranged."

-

Max was glad to catch up again, it had been far too long. The pair of you had been in a deep conversation about the admittedly more reckless of your hobbies. "Probably one of the scariest things I've ever done. Not knowing how secure and table that old rollercoaster was and then god looking down was terrifying." You had been explaining one of your trips to an abandoned theme park out in Japan where you scaled one of the coasters. Max had been delighted to hear the story and the way you gushed over it.

So wrapped up in your story, you didn't notice Taina who had joined you in the room. With your guard down she paused, staring at the smile on your face and the way you gestured in conversation. You had slipped into her team with ease, immediately adapting to the situation and bonding. Only when she called out your name did you end your conversation.

At her approach, you smiled at her. "Ma'am, how can I help you."

"Ugh, none of that. Taina please." She immediately waved off the formality and nodded towards Max in greeting.

"Nøkk says you're good in the ring, let's test that. Wrap them up, let's go." Her touch on your shoulder burned into your skin in the seconds that it patted your shoulder and you nodded at her.

"We can talk more later Max."

"Sweet as."

Taina had ditched her gear and shirt leaving her in a sports bra and shorts. Her hands were wrapped like yours preventing any damage from occurring with any punches. Max hadn't left the room, opting to watch with the rest of the small crowd that had gathered. Who wouldn't want to see the new operative in action? Sam and Nøkk had joined him alongside Ana. "So, how are we playing this?" You found your way to the corner of the ring while she prepared in the opposite corner.

"No weapons, no proper injuries, no other rules."

"Alright, let's go."

-

A groan left your lips as you sat with Max. The fight had been relatively even and the rounds didn't stop for a while. You won the first round but she won the second. Eventually, the pair of you exhausted each other out and Sam had to send the pair of you off for dinner. That smile on her face though, she had enjoyed it. An enjoyment that you had shared.

Max showed you the small pest on the table as you operated the drone. In a moment the pest jumped onto the drone and you lost all access to it. "Aww, my little buddy." He laughed at your voice. "How demoralising." You muttered as he spun the drone around.

"Exactly to design." He wiggled his brows as you stuck your fork in your mouth. It was relatively late, the pair of you the only ones there. "Ready to see how good these lil drones are?" He asked and you shrugged.

"Sure.

The drone finished its little doughnut and he angled his phone so you could see it better. It raced around on the ground weaving around the facility. Most of the building was pretty empty but a yellow light from an open door caught his eye. It was your name that you heard and Max turned to look at your face for a moment. Perhaps it wouldn't be the best idea to continue. Yet that thought was shelved as you heard Nøkks voice speak up throughout the speaker, it was hard to tell her tone. Was she annoyed or amused? Even after all the amount of time you had known her, it could still be hard to tell her emotions right away.

"You have seen her in a gunfight, seen her hand-to-hand but you still have reservations"

"Sam will be the one making decisions about her. That's final Nøkk." Her voice was stern, cemented in the matter.

"Can I ask why?"

"You can ask but I won't answer."

"Come on Cav." A sigh left Taina's mouth from Nøkk's insistence. A sigh of defeat.

"She's good Nøkk, really good. Max knows how to pick them. I just don't trust my own judgment on the matter." The reason shocked Nøkk and she flinched back, she hadn't been expecting that answer. Not at all.

"You don't trust your own judgement? Since when?"

"Since I'm in a senior role Nøkk. I can't be making such decisions when I'm so compromised on the matter."

"Compromised?" Max echoed and the pair of you exchanged a look. Silence came between the two women until Nøkk finally spoke up.

"...You have a crush on her." Her voice turned into one of delight, rocking back in laughter. Her giggles filled the room and Taina abruptly stood up from the desk.

"Nøkk." Her voice hissed.

"Aww Taina, that's adorable. The big bad Caveira finds love."

"Não quero ouvir um piu de você" Her voice was harsh as she commanded the woman to be quiet.

"Oh shit." Your voice finally came as the pair of you stayed stunned. "We… were not supposed to hear that."

"What, that Taina, the scariest operative in the entirety of Rainbow, thinks you're hot?" Max's head turned, a grin on his face.

"Yes!" You started to panic.

"Question is, do you feel the same?" He leaned ever a bit closer for your response.

"Yes, obviously, look at her." You gestured and he laughed out loud. "But that won't matter if she finds out we were spying on them. Yeah, she's stunning but also dangerous as hell. Max, how long have we known each other?"

"Six years."

"Yeah, those six years will be all we will ever know if she finds out we were spying on her right now. Because she will literally gut us alive." You hadn't known the woman long but her personality was rather… pronounced. While your heart was in the right place, the timing was all wrong. Max made the grave mistake of moving the drone while both Taina and Nøkk were completely silent.

The sound of its gears turning alerted both women to its location by the door. "Que porra é essa?" Taina swore out immediately jumping to action. Nøkk didn't move as the drone zoomed away from the doorway, Taina trailing it.

"Shit, this isn't good." Max cursed out as the drone made its way towards your location.

"Don't take it to us!" You shoved him in the arm. The drone made a sharp corner into the rec room and Max hid it under one of the side cabinets. The pair of you could only see her shoes on the floor. Searching for the drone Max spun it around so she couldn't see the small LED's on it.

"Merda." Taina's voice came out under her breath. In such a large room it would be pointless to look for the drone, the damage was already done.

Both you and Max let out a breath and he slumped down in the chair. "So… that's how the pests work." He lightened the mood and you scoffed at him. "So, what are gonna do about it?" Max gestured to the screen.

"Dunno."

"Well, you gotta tell her you feel the same right?" He folded his arms across his chest, his glasses low enough for you to see his cocked brow.

"You think so?"

"Nah yeah. Why not? You heard her, Sam's making any decisions about your role assignment. The woman deserves a good time and you seem just the type." You slapped him on the shoulder.

"Max."

"All respect to the pair of yah." He held his hands up in defence. "Look, what do you have to lose? You seem like a pretty good chick yeah? Taina's hard on the outside, sometimes got a stick up her ass but she's how do it put it- she cares. A lot. Give it a go."

"I'll think about it."

"Atta girl."

-

In front of her office door, you stood, hand clammy and heart racing. A part of you wanted to dip. A part of you wanted to sprint away and pretend you never heard what she said. Perhaps she was lying? Perhaps it was a weird test or something to get Nøkk off her back. A sigh left your mouth as you fought internally with yourself. Then the door opened. Taina nearly slammed into you. She spoke your name in shock before she took a step back. The papers in her hands could wait. "Come in." Taina turned away from you as your fist fell to your side and you swallowed. No going back now. The small stack was placed on her desk and she sat on the back on it in a half-sit half-lean.

"How can I help you? If you're wondering about your assignment, Sam's dealing with that but I can help explain it for you." She was tense, her body rigid as she kept your eye line.

"Actually I came here for a personal matter." Her eyes widened slightly in interest and she didn't dare look away from you as you stepped towards you.

"I have time, shoot."

"Heard a little birdy saw something they weren't supposed to last night." Her hand clenched the edge of the desk staring at your face, your lips.

Step by step you stalked toward her, eye second growing in confidence. "Did you mean what you said to Nøkk?"

"Going to have to be a lot more specific." She was playing dumb, just encase. Taina had no idea how long the drone had been there.

"Have I-" You let out a breath, your chest lowering as you wet your lips with the top of your tongue. "Compromised you?" Her jaw locked at your words and stayed silent. Another step and you were at arm's length, directly in front of her. Taina had to crane her neck upward at your standing state. Your thumb brushed against her lower jaw, tracing it upward as your knuckles kissed her cheek. Taina's eyes fluttered close at the soft contact, no protest in sight.

"For the moment. Yes." Taina was a professional, now she had accepted her feelings, and she would clear her head. Give or take a week or so.

"Can I kiss you?" Your voice was so quiet, so soft and for a moment you wondered if she had even heard you. Taina's eyes fluttered open only for a second. Her hand that had been damaging the desk flew up to your shirt pulling you down against her. Your lips smashed against hers and everything was let loose all at once. The quiet and unsure moment was thrown out the window as she poured everything she felt into the kiss.

Wet and full of passion you moaned against her lips as her hand let go of your shirt. Her hand slid up your shoulder and wrapped around your neck. With her newfound grip, she pulled you flush against her. All too eager you leaned forward against her which pushed her back against the desk. Your hands pinned next to her on the desk as her leg hiked up around your waist.

"Gods you're fucking gorgeous." You mumbled out as you both parted slightly breathless. Your lips kissed down the side of her jaw as her hair spread out on the desk. With a hand on her breast, you gave it a squeeze, one to test the waters. A moan slipped out of her lips and echoed throughout the room. Slowly your hand started to drift down and crept under her shirt. The woman was intoxicating, your head practically spun in her presence.

Then all of a sudden she let out a growl and pushed you back. Stunned and confused you stumbled back, hurt on your face. At first, you thought it was anger on her face but she quickly grabbed your hand. "Not. Here." She hissed out. Without a chance to say a word, she pulled on your hand. The door practically slammed open as she dragged you down the hallway.

She was on a path of pure determination. Luckily no one else was on her path to her dorm room. Almost no one. Max. He had been the only one the pair of you came across. He snapped to the side of the hallway and put his hands up. But when you turned your head walking past he stuck two thumbs up. Two thumbs that Taina glimpsed in the reflection of a nearby glass window. "We are going to have a talk later on Goose." Her voice snapped over her shoulder and you could practically see the sweat run down his face.

Max soon dispersed from view and Taina continued to drag you along right to her dorm room. She tore the door open, and it slammed behind the pair of you before she pushed you down on the bed. Her shirt was ripped off as she unclasped her bra. Taina couldn't handle it, she needed to touch you so desperately. Her pants undone at the top she crawled over you. Once again her lips pushed against yours. Immediately you wrapped your arms around her. Taina's sweet lips were all that you knew as you buried a hand in her hair giving it a light tug.

A line of saliva connected the pair of you when Taina pulled back ever so slightly. "I hope you know what you're getting into. I don't share." She growled against your lips.

"Do you know what you're getting into, Caveira?" You challenged her with a sly grin on your face. "Because when I have a taste of something I want, I don't let it go. Frankly, your the sweetest thing I've ever tasted in my entire life." Your voice matched her tone and it took away her breath for a moment. That power, that determination that she saw on the field came to play. Taina's mind wandered back to the first time the pair of your met. A blade against her throat, your voice against her ear. At that very moment, she knew you were good and at that moment she knew she wanted you.

Taina didn't reply to your taunt, your confession. Instead, her lips were a storm against yours, demanding everything from you but giving everything she had. The kiss was a fury of tongue, hers fought against yours a demand and trail of domination that you eventually gave in. wet open mouth kisses remained, nothing could take you from that moment. All that tension, desire, and affection that had built up were finally and completely realised and put into action. A mutual feeling that the pair of you so completely shared. Slender fingers found the bottom of your shirt, and she parted from you to fling it over her shoulder alongside your bra that she practically ripped from your body once the clasp was undone.

"Your mine." She growled biting her way down between your breasts and giving your now hard nipple a squeeze which turned into a pull. Her hand spread out, grabbing and feeling you up. Taina was greedy, so greedy and she knew it. You willingly had given yourself to her and she was going to take in every single piece of you that you so graciously gave her. Her fingers hooked around your pants and started to drag them down, the elastic allowing her to do so with ease.

Your underwear came with it as her lips left your body to fully pull the pants off with your sneakers that slid off with ease. Caveira paused as you lay completely bare for her. It had been a while since someone was so willingly vulnerable and open for her. It took her breath away just for a moment as she stared at you, taking in every small inch of your body. Taina would sear the image into her mind if it was the last thing she would ever do.

Knuckles brushed against your legs which caused a shiver to take control of your body. With dry lips, you swallowed and looked up at the woman. Her eyes finally found yours and her bottom lids twitched. In a fury of movement, she snapped towards you. Hands on your thighs she pulled your legs up and over her shoulders. With your body half in the air leaning against her, her mouth found your cunt. Right away her tongue licked against your entrance. She took in your taste for the very first time. That one lick had her pause, really savouring the moment before things were kicked into fifth gear.

Taina's tongue went to work to furiously lick up each and every drop that your cunt gave her. Like a woman starved she ate you out, never faulting for a moment with her grip on you. Each lick had teased at your entrance right until her tongue flicked up to your clit. Right at that moment, her eyes flickered focus from your cunt to your eyes. She peered down at you and a smirk formed on her face as she took in your expression. Lips gaped parted with your jaw dropped and eyes wide with bliss it was a screen she wished to recreate for the rest of her life. Yet she was greedy, she wanted more.

Like everything in her life, she was willing to get dirty to achieve her goal. One hand was secured on your side to keep you steady, her other was free for use. Three fingers slid into you with ease. A wet sound mixed with her kitten licks at your clit. Taina knew the ins and out of the human body and she was going to use that knowledge well. Her fingers curled and brushed against that sweet spot with the tip of her fingers. Her short nails, a blessing.

"Oh fuck, Cav." You moaned out at her motion and it was pure music to her ears, exactly what she wanted to hear. One of your hands tangled in her sheets while the other gript onto her hair. With your hand secure, your hips started to buck against her, your grind ground against her face desperate for more. "Please, please, please." You started to chant, beg. Your legs wriggled over her shoulder and her fingers dipped from inside of you to slap over your thigh. Punishingly hard her hands held your thighs still while her tongue worked.

"Taina please." You drew out the words and choked on your own breath, tears had started to form in the corner of your eyes. So close. So fucking close she had you. Mentally you prayed that she didn't stop, that she wouldn't edge you, you were sure you couldn't handle it. Yet she wasn't without mercy, Taina continued stimulating your clit until you were pushed over the edge. A choked-out cry of her name left your lips and you shut your eyes while your body vibrated against her. Careful not to overstimulate you, she stopped and started to press kisses on your inside thigh.

Blood pumped in your ears and she slowly started to lower you back into the bed. Your legs still quivered from your receding orgasm. "T-Tania. Fuck." You swallowed, and your pulse started to slow while she gave you the smile of the devil at the end of the bed. Like a tiger, she stalked over you. Her body on top of you she pressed her lips down against yours. You moaned against her as you tasted yourself on her lips; a taste that mixed with her own unique flavour. She let out a small moan of your name, it was obvious she had enjoyed the taste of your lips against hers.

But that moment was soon stopped when a knock came on the door. "What." Her voice was harsh and you immediately saw the change on her face. Annoyance and anger consumed her.

"Taina, have you forgotten about those documents I needed? I need them now." It was Sam's voice.

"They're on my desk. Feel free to collect them. She looked over her shoulder for a moment. "I'm busy."

"Your door to your office is locked." His voice was tired and deadpan through the door.

"Then open it, Fisher."

"Electronic lock remember." She cursed out under her breath as she rolled off you. Curses continued as she grabbed a shirt- yours- she hadn't noticed. It slipped over her and she quickly did up her pants. The door was yanked open and you quickly pulled her sheet over your body. The door yanked a little too far and Sam's eyes peered into the room and immediately made eye contact with yours. With an awkward half smile, you gave him a little wave before Taina cut you off from view with the door. Sam's eyes flickered to Taina, her eyes daggers at his.

"Ah." He let out still standing in front of her.

"Move."

[narrators-journal]

could i get shower sex with yu and yosuke?

Woof, this one might be a lil rough. I'm trying to vary the sexual acts in these to keep them interesting, but I'm a little torn on how this one turned out. But! I hope the meh parts are weighed out by the good parts! I tried my best! Thank you for the fun ask regardless!

Kinktober prompt list: Here

Kinktober masterlist: Here

CW: Semi-public sex, a bit of an iffy knowledge of show sex and hand jobs, and the characters lol. Tho, Yosuke is gently implied to be homophobic, which is kind of canon.

After three years, Inaba had managed to grow a fair bit. Having gone from a tiny, sleepy town, to a slightly less sleepy hole in the ground. Now, it no longer had nothing beyond Junes to offer bored teens on the weekends, or for summer work outside of family businesses, but also a pool now.

That pool, in fact, was where Narukami had run into a familiar face in the chlorine and scream-filled air. “Well, well, well. I didn’t expect to find you back in this itty bitty town.” He chuckled, making the brunette in the lazily bobbing intertube jump. He took his sunglasses off to look at Narukami as if he’d teleported there. “Holy shit, Yu Narukami?! What are you doing back here?” He about squawked, the taller male laughing when his old friend about threw himself from the floaty to scramble out of the water. “I came back to visit my uncle, and I decided to join them for a visit to the pool” He explained, grabbing Yosuke Hanamura’s arm to haul him up to his feet, only for the nine-year-old to come out of nowhere to tackle the brunette.

Not that the man seemed to mind, hugging Nanako back and taking a moment to chatter like a pair of birds before, like any other child, the little girl was off once more to chug chlorine water and soak her father’s wallet and phone. Leaving Narukami with Yosuke at the poolside.

And, taking a look at the sun-kissed man shaking the water from his hair, the silver-haired man found that the three or so years they had been apart had been good to Yosuke. Finally handling that baby-ish face he’d had in highschool, and turned his wirey, scrawny frame into a more filled out, slightly pudgier figure. Though, Narukami could also see that, like him, the persona user had stuck to those work outs a bit, at least. So, he was still just as cute as the wildcard had found in highschool. ”Do you wanna swim? I brought a spare floaty if you wanna join me in floating around.” Yosuke offered, making the taller man hum with thought. Glancing over to where Nanako had made a friend and was blissfully ignoring him, or her napping father in a pool chair. “Sure. I wouldn’t mind floating around and catching up.” He decided, smiling when Yosuke beamed.

So, the men stuck to that. Narukami grabbing the other intertube the brunette had brought with him, and spent the next hour or two simply bobbing in the cool water and joking around as they caught up The silver-haired man even hanging back when Dojima decided to take Nanako home before she got too sunburnt. All was peaceful. At least, until they got out and decided to bathe and get some food.

Making their way to the small collection of showers the pool offered to let people wash off the chemicals, Narukami found one to use, but, Yosuke had...less luck. “Bro! How are all of these broken?!” He whined, making the wildcard snort from his stall, pushing the curtain to the side to ask, “Are they really?” “Yes! I’ve tried the nobs on all of them, but none of them come on!” Yosuke whined, scowling a bit. “I don’t want to bathe right after you. You’ll be stuck waiting…” Making the wildcard shrug, “It’s not like I brought shampoo, you wouldn’t take an hour in here.” “That’s not the point! I’d be embarrassed.” “then don’t shower. It’s just pool water.” Narukami reminded, only to get a dark glare to remind him of it being a public pool. Earning a dramatic sigh, “If you really want to shower that bad, you could always hop in here with me. We’ve done weirder.”

Admittedly, maybe a bit too forward of a flirt. Yosuke had always been sort of skittish about homoerotic types of things, so Narukami might have been too forward with the offer. However, all his words got was a long, heavy silence in reply, so Narukami closed the curtain again and went back to scrubbing out his hair. Leaving his words in the air with a bit of curiosity blooming in his chest. Will he take it? He asked himself, only to jump at the sound of the curtain being just about ripped open. Yosuke standing there, pink-cheeked and huffy, “I’m taking your offer. Don’t make it weird though.” That was his only explanation. Ignoring Narukami’s snort as he stepped into the small shower with him and did his best to scrub himself clean of the piss, chemicals, and whatever grime a child could carry into the water/ All the while, Narukami admired how the cold shower water trickled over Yosuke’s tanned skin. Seeming to trace his muscles when he lifted his arms to scrub the chlorine from his hair.

Before Narukami realized it, he was putting his arms on one side of Yosuke’s head, then the other before the brunette realized it and whirled around to find the wildcard’s face mere inches from his. “Woah there! What the hell are you doing, Yu?! It’s your first visit back, and you’re making moves like that?!” Yosuke yelped, instantly the color of a ripe tomato under the cool droplets of the shower, with his hand on the taller man’s chest to stop him from leaning any closer. His hazel eyes as wide as dinner plates as he stared up at the silver-haired wildcard caging him between his strong arms and the wall of the tiny beach shower. So, thinking quickly to hide how impulsive the movements were, Narukami reasoned, “Experimenting? Uh, testing the waters? Come on, Yosuke. Aren’t you a little curious about how this would go? I mean, I always thought we had a little something there. And, personally, I think it’s worth it to test the waters now.” Watching those honey-brown pools swim with a moment of confusion, contemplation, and then, a decision. “O-okay, I’ll admit I’m...kind of curious.” His voice cracking a bit with how his nerves seemed to choke him. “But, no kissing! That’s gay.”

Chuckling, the wildcard nodded, giving a salute as he said, “Of course. Totally not gay if we don’t kiss.” And, with that, he stepped back to give the pretty brunette some space to tame the burning blush across his cheeks. Once it had simmered down to a pinker hue, the silver-haired man took his hand and placed it on his well-muscled chest. Yosuke wordlessly took the invitation to run his fingers over each muscle.

Which, Narukami didn’t mind at all. Humming slightly at the temperature difference between the cold, trickling water of the shower, and the warmth of his partner’s hand coasting over the curve of his pectorals, relaxed muscles of his stomach, and, tentatively, the tops of his hip bones.

Glancing back at Yosuke’s face, Narukami smiled slightly at the almost awe-struck glint in his eyes as he drank in the wildcard’s toned physique, making the taller man’s blood zip slightly. So, he went ahead and continued the game.

Tracing a finger over Yosuke’s collarbone, pulling away slightly when he jumped, but when he did little else but eye his hand, he returned to following the bone back to his friend’s shoulder to slide his hand down his arm, letting the cold water trickle over his fingers in more of a rush than him. Then, he lifted his hand back to the brunette’s chest to start another lazy trail down his sternum and over his stomach the same way he had with him. “You’re very handsome, y’know.” He noted, watching that rosey dusting on Yosuke’s tanned face darken once more as he stuttered out, “U-um, thank you. Y-y-you’re not that bad yourself.” His blush darkened when Narukami chuckled lightly at the compliment.

He would’ve leaned in to kiss the man as well, but remembered the rule he’d set, so he refrained. Instead sliding his fingers over the man’s belly and down to the waistband of his swim trunks. Tugging them down and wrapping his fingers around the brunette’s length to stroke him slowly, inwardly grinning when he felt his old friend shiver under his touch.

“H-holy shit…” was the only thing Yosuke offered, so, Narukami kept moving his hand up and down his stiffening length. Letting the brunette grip his hips, taking his own time to tentatively push down the taller man’s swim trunks to toy with Narukami’s member in return. Earning a shudder from the silver-haired wildcard in the same way he’d reacted to the thrill in his blood. That contrast of his warm skin and the cool water trickling off of his skin heightening the excitement of their setting to kindle a small fire in the man’s belly.

Yet, despite the small voice in his head whispering skip the appetizer. Before we’re caught. Yu Narukami kept a hold of his impulses. Letting out a slow breath and letting the cold shower water draw out a small shiver as he continued toying with the brunette’s now-erect dick until Yosuke cracked, letting slip a soft moan. “sorry…” He instantly panted, his cheeks managing to somehow turn a redder color as his brown eyes locked onto the tiled floor of their small beach shower. “For what?” Narukami chuckled, tightening his grip on his partner’s cock to increase the friction each slow pump of his hand sent through the man. “I kind of hope my partners enjoy my touch. No matter their gender.” He pointed out, Yosuke not bothering to respond, just keeping his eyes glued to the tiles with a hand over his mouth to muffle the small moans the taller man’s slow movements earned bit by bit.

Though, he did finally swallow down the embarrassment and finally remember how his fingers were wrapped loosely around the wildcard’s semi-soft, twitching member. Hesitating a moment longer before returning to slowly stroking Narukami’s dick. This time, though, with more confidence, and a slightly tighter hold that earned a quiet moan of relief. Which, thankfully, seemed to encourage the man, instead of making him recoil or call off their ‘experiment’.

Not that Narukami would’ve been surprised. A few times in their high school years, Yosuke had asked to ‘try things out’ with the taller man, only to chicken out at the last second. So, when his soft noises of pleasure didn’t discourage him, the wildcard was happy to let out a few more to keep the friction going. Thankful for the cold water running down his back, as it kept him grounded enough to keep a handle on his volume and horny thoughts, as well as hid their lewd noises with the rhythmic patter of the water hitting the tile floor.

A fact that came in especially handy when the wildcard finally sped his own motions up. Making the brunette’s noises trickle out more often. Bitten back and hissed out while he tried to match the wildcard’s pace with a thin film over those pools of autumnal warmth that had Narukami’s own stomach twisting. Each change in speed or grip was mirrored, making the silver-haired man smile and moan more each time the coil in his stomach grew tighter.

The breathless panting and glint of lust shining in those amber pools, and the wildcard’s own hums and sighs of pleasure mixing and stoking the flames in their bellies further, and further. Warming their blood until it finally seemed to boil. Accompanied by a series of hisses and muttered curses as the boys tried not to fall under the onslaught of pleasurable buzz.

Taking a moment after to simply let the cold rainfall of the shower head soothe the burst of warmth and drag Narukami back to earth before Yosuke panted, “This...doesn’t mean anything, right?” with that same tinge of red to his face as before, his warm brown eyes once again locked onto the tile floor rather than the taller man in front of him, “I mean, it means something, but it doesn’t have to mean anything at the same time. If you catch my drift,” he assured, the brunette just huffing and shoving him against the wall so he could get out to dry off and get dressed. Narukami simply laughed as he followed after him, but let him go off on his own once they were dressed again.

[danihow]

can you spoil what works you have on the draft rn??

so, i have no actual idea when this asked was sent into my inbox bt for sure bestie

My current drafts (if i post them soon i'll just link them up here too):

[Untitled]

Stray Kids' Changbin x Fem!Reader

A bit of enemies to lovers thingy + a bit of brother's friend stuff going on, here's a sneak peek:

"Option 1, I cancel a week before the wedding, return the dress and be left as the asshole who did that to her besties wedding." You sart, bringing your index finger up and your brother just 'mehs' at it.

"Option 2, I go alone and either lie about my fake boyfriend and make me look like the dumbass with a bad boyfriend." You list, middle finger up and your brother just 'mhm's you.

"Or option 3, I go alone and tell the truth about my fake boyfriend and beleft as the crazy one what has a crush on the groom." You list your last spource, thumb up and your borther side eyes you, seriously doubting if you are not joking right now.

"Or option 4, you get a date." He says, putting his phone aside as you just throw some old used hoodie at him.

"You know..." he starts, sprinkling some salt over them and blowing. "Changbin's always there."

II. Bright smiles, sad tears.

Second chapter of Five feet is too much (a wooyoung x reader thing based off on five feet apart)

"Goodmorning Wooyoung." Seonghwa sing-songed, coming in to pick up the packets of the pills he had to take and to do the morning check up on the man before ending his shift at 7:30. "Did you manage to sleep?" He asked, taking out the oxymeter and grabbing Wooyoung's hand to put it on his index finger.

"Not as much as one would want but it was enough for the first night here."

[Untitled]

A Lord f the Rings' Frodo x Reader request off my request prompt list

The prompt is:

You can't just say that, disappear and expect me not to act on it.

You are what?

A pregnancy announcement (?) hc for enhypen's hyung line

(how tf do i spoil this)

"We are going to be parents." He mumbled, voice muffled by your shirt that you slowly felt dampening.

"Jake, are you crying?"

[Untitled]

A Med!student au where san and reader are studying anatomy (not smutty tho)

"Since you are doing so well, you might as well gets some rewards, don't you think?" He says, thumb rubbing against the skin of your waist, taking advantage of you slightly riled up shirt.

Atlas: II

A Felix long af fanfic based off on Sleeping at last's album named Atlas: II, but only the senses' songs yk (touch, smell, taste, hearing and sight)

"Liking what you see?" His deep and raspy vocie snapping you back to reality, you and your boyfriend on the dorm couch, cuddling under a sky blue fluffy blanket with Love Actually on the TV screen at this point just becoming a background noise as the two of you now stare into each other, your e/c eyes locked in his brown ones.

[Untitled]

This weird af long ass famfic that has been sitting in my drafts for a year now, where the reader is trying to help Enhypen's Jay out of his toxic rlationship but mf doesn't cooperates.

Totally not based off my sad playlist

His heart was out there in the freezing cold as a never ending storm seemed to shake it, beat it over and over again, every single day being less like the noble and sweet heart it once was and instead turning into a vulnerable and insecure heart that didn't knew what actual love felt like. For three years and four months, for fucking 1272 days his heart has been broken over and over again like it was never made to be actually loved.

But it was.

I see it

I don't know what I was seeing, but I guess this is some college au enemies to lover thing with Enhypen's Jake

"Where are you going now?" Jake asks when he can keep on ognoring the fact you two are walking on the same direction. Making you snap out of your mind and look back at him.

"I'm going for ice cream with Ni-ki."

"No." He says, stopping on his steps to ook back at you, a few meters behind. "I'm..." He starts, and you get what he is trying to say immediately.

"No... Damn it." You mutter, keeping on walking and ignoring him, to which he did the same, walking a bit faster to piss you off. "Shit." You whisper to youself, walking at you own pace not to please him by hurrying your steps to catch him, you just would not.

[byoldervine]

It was supposed to be a normal mission; find the Paracosian creature, minimise human casualties and other collateral damage, send the creature home through a realm portal and get out of there before we attract the Guardians. Sounds simple, right? Routine. And for the most part, it’s getting there, the job’s getting easier. Fun, even. As a kid I always thought it would be cool to be a superhero

Kid me didn’t take into account how terrifying it is to watch your superhero partner get stabbed through the shoulder by a fellow Guardian

Angelus yelled in pain, I yelled in panic. Sure, we hasn’t always gotten along, but - shit, you know? Angelus could face his final death from this. I mean, I don’t know if he’s an immortal or not - I’d like to think he’s immortal, but hell if I’m the one to test it

The Guardian hardly has time to block my sword when I swing it at their face. I’m not really trying to put up a good fight here since I know I’m not capable of that yet, I just need to wedge myself between Angelus and the Guardian, which fortunately works. At the sight of the sword, the Guardian recoils, then reluctantly retreats, flying off into the night

I open a realm portal back to Tyrion, crouching by Angelus where he collapsed, clutching his wound. “Are you okay?!”

“Do I look okay to you?!” He snaps, breath shaky and quick. What little of his face I can see is all scrunched up and contorted. I gently move his hand away to inspect his wound. “Okay, it isn’t as deep as I thought… I should be able to patch you up, just stay conscious. Keep talking to me.”

I scoop Angelus up bridal style, moving carefully to avoid aggravating his wound. He still yowls in pain, wings tucking in and shuddering violently. “Shit…!”

I carry Angelus through the portal, closing it behind us, and set him on the floor so I have easier access to him. “Keep talking, Angelus. Uh… how was your day?”

“Are you seriously- ngh… asking me about my day right now?”

“If it keeps you talking, then yes,” I confirm, searching around my room for some kind of first aid kit or whatever else. I’m an revival immortal, I don’t plan for this shit. Hell, I commit die just to avoid the hassle of waiting to heal naturally!

“It was… meh… lot of busywork… fuck, vision’s going…”

“That’s fine, try not to panic.” I give up and grab an old T-shirt, ripping it to shreds that I can bandage Angelus up with. “What kind of busywork do you do?”

“None… of your… business…”

I return to Angelus’ side, kneeling by him to start wrapping his wound. “Okay, that’s fine,” I reply, making sure to tie it night and tight to provide the most pressure. Pressure’s supposed to be good for this, right? I need to take a first aid course or something in case Angelus gets hurt again. Or anyone else, but Angelus is most likely

“Keep talking. What things do you like?” I prompt, pushing down on the wound through the cloth. The once white shirt is already staining a pinkish-red. Angelus yells again. Are those tears escaping his eyes?

“Fuck! Shit, shit! Ah! Uh… d-dogs! Dogs! Fuck, I like dogs!”

“Really?” I look to Angelus curiously. “Well that’s new.” “What do you want, a fucking prize?!” He snaps. His eyes are screwed shut right now. I don’t think he’s opened them this whole time we’ve been here. Which is probably for the best, considering I really shouldn’t have brought him to my own room. With the benefit of hindsight, that isn’t really doing much to help the whole secret identity thing, is it? Shit…

“What dogs do you like?”

“Fuck… uh… the spotty ones… black and white…”

“Dalmatians?”

“Yeah. Them.”

At least I’ve got him talking now. “Yeah? Good choice. What do you like about them?”

“Dunno… cute…”

“Tell me more, come on. Tell me about dogs.”

“I don’t fucking know… fucking interrogation…”

“If you keep talking, you keep conscious,” I explain briefly. “That’s one of the few medical things I actually know. Now keep talking, even if it’s just you swearing at me.”

“I’m not fucking swearing…”

Despite everything, I can’t resist the urge to laugh a little at this, if only to let out my anxiousness. “Sure you ain’t. You’re the literal angel, aren’t you supposed to be all ‘holier than thou’?”

“Fuck off.”

“Guess that’s a no.”

Angelus doesn’t respond for a minute. I look closer, then when I see no movement I check if he’s breathing. “Angelus? Angelus, keep talking!” I demand, my tone sharp with worry

“Tired…” his voice is quiet

“I know. Fuck. Just keep talking. It’ll make you better.”

“How…?”

“I don’t know, I just know that you’ll have better chances of surviving if you stay awake. Learned that from experience.”

“… When… you die…. is it good?”

I give him an incredulous look. “Is what good? Dying?”

“Yeah…”

“Well I could do without the process. Nexus is nice, though I’m speaking from a place of privilege. The fuck am I saying, you won’t be finding out for yourself any time soon.”

“Oh…”

“Angelus, I need you to think; is there anywhere I can take you to get patched up properly?”

“You can’t…?”

“I don’t have the knowledge of the resources. You need actual help.”

“… Uh… Anessa… Princess…”

I pause at this, unsure if Angelus is serious or if it’s just the fact that he’s on the verge of passing out. “You mean… you, a fugitive, want me to take you to the daughter of the man who wants you dead?”

“Anessa… she’s good… she knows me…”

“… Is there anywhere else…?”

“No.”

I hesitate, considering my options, but I don’t think I have any real choice; it’s either risk Anessa turning Angelus in to King Aegis or letting Angelus bleed to death on my bedroom floor…

“You’re gonna be okay,” I tell Angelus softly as I scoop him into my arms again. “I know a secret entrance. I can get you into the palace. But if you’re caught, there’s nothing I can do to help you.”

“… Thank you…”

You’ve always had a literal guardian angel- but she’s currently bleeding out on your bedroom floor.

[asystemerror]

Drop the blorbo list! Tell us why you like them!

Prompt from here!

I have a lot,,,,, Some I haven't even yapped about on here yet,,,,,, Imma break them up by fandom though to make reading easier haha

Identity V:

-Andrew Kreiss:

I like Andrew for a lot of reasons! His design, gameplay, overall theme, there's so much I could ramble on and on about. I remember what really cemented him on my fave list was parts of his personality and general character tidbits (one being sun sensitivity). Additionally, a lot of what I consider to be my "weirder" interests happen to align with him. Sometimes it's easier to delve into them and be my authentic cringe self with the guise of character deep dives haha.

All in all, I think he's an interesting character. Kinda my go to guy to say "Ah yes my son" when speaking about fictional characters.

-Emma Woods:

One of my faves from when I first started! She actually was one of the 3 that drew me in tbh (I called her the "cute gardener girl" back then). I remember being convinced I would main her, but alas.... only in duos. Despite this, she's stands strong as one of my top faves. I find her backstory/manor game to be really interesting - and weirdly entertaining considering the drama she causes in the game. I really enjoy her general "cutesy but dangerous" vibe. I've always been a sucker for that troupe.

Additionally, Lady Truth is one of my favorite spin off characters in the game! I love a good mystery with a female lead!! I honestly hope we see more of her outside of anniversary events.... She has so much good lore potential!

-Kurt Frank:

I didn't choose the Kurt life.... the Kurt like chose ME. No seriously I never would have guessed I'd end up mailing him. The percypocolypse does things to a man. I'm glad it did though. Kurt has honestly become one of my fave characters, I find him so silly and interesting. While his deductions are...interesting to read, I loved his manor game story! I wish there was more content of him (ex. translated twitter replies) I could look at for him :/ That aside, as a fellow daydreamer, I find Kurt's attitude contagious and his rambles fun. I wish he didn't die before sharing said story, but whatever. Maybe another event with him leading it will appear to fill the void with silly.

-Martha Behamfil:

Not only was she my first rescue main, but Martha helped me figure out my gender (real) (not clickbait). So uh, I do love her a lot for that. I also love her general themes of independence, while still keeping in touch with one's femininity in a way (ex. chasing her dreams to be a pilot while also indulging in a love life). I also just honestly love her outfits and gameplay as well. She's never not slayed in my eyes thus far. I have a very soft spot for her dskhafj -Ann

Annnn!!!! My lovely hunter main. She's sunk her cat claws into my heart and I do not wish for her to let go. I honestly love everything about her. Her backstory is hella engaging (NETEASE GIVE ME MORE FOOD), her abilities are fun, and honestly I find Apostle funny.

She was very quick to becoming one of my faves. I honestly could gush about her forever, but Im trying to keep these explanations semi fair!

-Michiko

I love Michi..... She brings me great calm and reminds me of my grandmother (she had a painting of geishas in her house when I was little). She's one of the few characters I've genuinely nearly cried after reading their backstory.

While I don't main her much anymore, I can't say I have ever stopped loving Michi as a character/looking at cool content of her. She's just gRAHHhh /POS

Fnaf:

-Mangle What's not to love about Mangle? They're like a silly dog. And I honestly fuck with that. I also just love there concept as like a robot nerd, but yk. My precious mungle fungle tungle bungle.

-Toy Bonnie

I honestly was very "meh" towards him for a good while. UNTIL I like essentially got kin assigned him by my old amino friends. He was basically my mascot for a bit so like I hold a lil bit of "hehe lil guy" to him.

-Ballora

I was OBSESSED with her as a kid. I cosplayed her, I drew her, I made fics, honestly I like was fully ready to see this crazy ballerina robot lady attack people. Alas, she only got scooped... LUCKILY THE FANDOM FILLED THE VOID THOUGH!! I love seeing neat content with her!

Don't Starve Together:

-Wendy My silly main! I mentally adopted her and Abagail a while ago hehe. I find them really fun to play, plus like... I think I just like semi morbid but cutesy characters so, HELL YEAH. I'm still learning the best way to play her, but I find it a fun relaxing experience to do. Overall I associate her with great calm and zen. She's a great gal.

MFMM: (Shortened list so I don't put the whole cast)

-Miss Fisher She is the moment, she is iconic, she IS Miss Fisher. No character has made me feel as empowered as she has. Like it's actually insane. She is another character that I associate with my grandma as well as they introduced me to the series itself. It truly wouldn't be Miss Fisher without me remembering the beautiful lady posed on the covers of the books on my grandmother's end table. Its been overall a very nice piece of media to sink my teeth into... NOT TO MENTION THERES SO MUCH OF IT!! I HAVENT EVEN FINISHED THE BOOKS!

-Dot

I love Dot. In both mediums of the series. Her character growth and overall attitude complements Miss Fisher's perfectly and is honestly such a delight to see. I also find her own moments of sleuthing to be really fun! I love when she has that strong confidence. TLDR: I wanna pinch her cheeks

[thessalian]

Thess vs More Library Trawl

Still poking through the unplayed games. Generally focusing on stuff like interactive story and life sims and stuff, mostly because I got up way earlier than I generally like to on a day I don't have work and I am exhausted. One more week until I have my week off, and then maybe I'll have the spoons to finish up Horizon Forbidden West base game, at least. Still, digging through the games library for treasure in all the stuff I've acquired over the years is kind of fun, all told. I mean, sure, some of it goes in the "Meh" collection, but at least a fair few of those were a Humble bundle or something. If I get bored with browsing through my games library like I used to read the backs of video boxes at Blockbuster (yes, I am old enough to have that be a major cultural reference point for my childhood), I can probably pick up an old favourite. I understand that Wylde Flowers has had a bit of an update, and there's some romance options I didn't take before, which might be nice to try. Also I've been meaning to pick up Spiritfarer again - starting from the beginning because it's been a long time. I just never finished it because I wasn't ready ... which is ironic or fitting or both, given what that game's about. Or I could just play more West of Loathing, which is rapidly climbing my Favourites chart.

Anyway, stuff I've played so far:

Doki Doki Literature Club - Well, that's one I'm going to have to start over, because I wasn't aware when I started it that I was going to be playing as a) male, b) otaku, and c) borderline shut-in. Not that there's anything wrong with that necessarily; just went into it with the wrong mindset. Still, I see what the things I read about this one mean - it's already low-key disturbing. Not necessarily in a bad way, but I think I want to save that one for when I have a few more spoons. So it's in the "A Further Look" collection.

Cattails: Wildwood Story - I was hoping for simple but cute and fun, and sort of got it, but the pixellation and everything made it awkward for a cat colony sim. That went directly into the "Meh" collection and probably won't be leaving it any time soon. It's just not quite uninteresting enough for "Nope". Almost, but not quite.

Scarlet Hollow - this one's been basically all over everywhere, and on playing the first chapter, I can see why. It went in the Favourites but I'm probably going to take it one chapter at a time. Savour it, kind of. But it's definitely my kind of thing - creepy, funny, and straightforward from a UI and mechanics perspective.

Tell Me Why - there's a fair bit of stuff by DON'T NOD in my library. Guess that shouldn't surprise me. (Though I notice that Life Is Strange: True Colours wasn't done by DON'T NOD, so kind of wonder what prompted that decision from SquareEnix.) Anyway, this one's been easier to get to grips with mechanically than Life Is Strange was, even if trying to position myself just right to look at things is difficult at times (not sure DON'T NOD ever cracked that properly). The story so far is ... yeah, I'd say I'm invested. Another one that went into the Favourites but another one where I might take it a little easy on it because it feels like it's going to be intense.

Blegh. 26 degrees and this isn't even the hottest it's going to get today. I hate the summer.