#my cat finally moved time to reply to these two even if we just began talking aBOUT THEM

[harmonic-intervention]

Got a little inspired by Tim saying Buck wasn't spending as much time with Eddie because of his new relationship. Wouldn't leave me alone so enjoy my word vomit.

When Buck woke up, he did so gradually, slowly gaining awareness of the mattress and the frankly unholy amount of pillows under him, of the warmth settled right next to him, of the gentle stroke of a thumb over his lower arm.

Sighing, he moved, stretched like a cat in a sunbeam, and turned over onto his side, rolling right into the source of that pleasant warmth.

He didn't even open his eyes. Instead, he blindly found his way to his destination, burying his nose in the space right under a very nice jaw. He felt the vibration of the resulting chuckle right against his skin.

"Good morning," Tommy mumbled. "Sleep well?"

Buck nodded, but it ended up being more of a nuzzle. "The best."

A large hand found its way into the curls at the back of Buck's head and began gently scratching at his scalp, twirling a curl around a finger, the usual.

Buck finally found the will to move his face away from Tommy's throat and actually open his eyes. The light of the room was dim, the dark curtains keeping most of the sunlight out.

Tommy looked beautiful lying there with his hair all soft and fluffy. To be fair, Buck thought he always looked beautiful, and every time he looked at him, it was as if he became more and more so.

"Morning," Buck finally returned the greeting. He leaned in to steal a chaste kiss, but quickly found he wasn't satisfied with just one.

The same way that Tommy apparently wasn't satisfied with just a couple short ones, as a hand along Buck's jaw kept him close, and when his thumb found its place on the bolt of Buck's jaw, he opened up easily.

They hadn't been dating for all that long, but most of their mornings off were spent like this - in bed, luxuriating in the cozy, intimate atmosphere.

They both had come off of a long shift of not seeing each other, and now had the next 48 hours off together, so Buck had gone to Tommy's place after the end of his shift. He was going to spend the next two days glued to Tommy's side. A crowbar would not be able to pry him off.

Things were heating up steadily, the space between them being reduced down to nothing. Buck's hand started to make its way beneath the sheets to slide down Tommy's torso when he was interrupted by his phone vibrating on the nightstand.

Buck was determined to ignore it - whoever it was could just send him a message and he would get back to them - and sighed his relief right into Tommy's mouth when the call ended. His fingers skirted along the waistline of Tommy's boxers when the vibrating picked back up.

Still on his path of disregarding the existence of the outside world, Buck moved closer to Tommy, slotting a leg between his, and just when he was finally about to stop teasing them both and actually put his hand on Tommy's dick, his phone started acting up again.

Much to his dismay, Tommy moved his mouth away from his. "I think it's important."

Buck grumbled as he turned over to grab his phone, one hand still firmly in place on Tommy's body, "Whoever it is better have life insurance."

He ignored the soft snort that came from his boyfriend in favor of taking a look at his phone screen.

"It's Eddie."

"Better pick up."

Buck might have been ready to just turn his phone off, but Tommy's suggestion was much more reasonable. He nodded and turned back on his other side.

Tommy's eyes flitted down between them. "You gonna take your hand off my dick?"

"No," Buck replied with a wink and accepted the call. "Hey, Eddie."

Tommy shrugged and leaned in, finding something for his mouth to do. Namely go to town on Buck's throat.

"Buck, where are you? I'm at your place and it's empty."

It took a moment for Eddie's words to register, mostly because Buck was distracted by the hint of teeth against his adam's apple. "What- my place? We have a 48 off."

"Yeah, I thought we could hang out. You didn't mention any plans, did you have something?"

He didn't mention any plans because going over to Tommy's place had become the rule, not the exception.

"I'm at Tommy's." Syllables were getting harder to form when most of his brainpower was used to concentrate on hands sliding up and down his back, stopping just shy of his ass every time.

"Oh! Are both of you up, I could come by there, then."

Eddie started talking about something - probably what he had wanted to convince Buck to do with him, something about something, Buck would full-heartedly admit that he was not listening to a single word. Not when his super hot boyfriend was being a tease.

"Listen, man, that sound's great," probably, "but I'm kinda busy at the moment."

"What?"

Tommy chuckled against Buck's jugular, clearly having heard Eddie's confusion through the phone.

Buck was about to say something that would probably traumatize his best friend forever, when seemingly, he connected the dots by himself.

"Oh, ew, Buck! What the fuck?"

"Don't 'what the fuck' me, you wouldn't stop calling!" Buck exclaimed.

This time, Tommy let out an actual laugh, definitely loud enough to be picked up by the phone. Eddie groaned on the other side, sounding very much like he was regretting all of his life choices.

"Listen, we'd love to hang out, but maybe a bit later, yeah? Give us ..." Buck looked down at Tommy and raised an eyebrow, "like, an hour?"

Tommy's reply of, "Two hours," was muffled against Buck's collarbone. He had quickly gone back to ignoring the phone call in favor of biting at the edges of Buck's body.

"Two hours. Then you can come over."

Hands free and mind not pulled in two different directions, Buck immediately buried a hand in Tommy's hair and pulled him off. He narrowed his eyes at the spark of mischief in Tommy's own ones.

After getting Eddie's confirmation and the beginning of him lamenting his life, Buck simply hung up and tossed his phone onto the nightstand, uncaring whether it actually landed there or not.

"Having fun?" he asked with a put upon frown.

Tommy didn't even have the decency to look bothered by the grip that Buck had on his curls. "So far, yes."

Buck hauled him back in into a biting kiss, using the momentum of his own body to turn them over into the pillows.

He ignored the smug grin pressed against his mouth for now. He'd take care of that soon enough.

[kaiser1ns]

#. FALLIN' FOR YA

featuring 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝘅 𝗳𝗲𝗺!𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 ıllı. togame jo, takiishi chika, umemiya hajime, endo yamato, sakura haruka, kaji ren

fluff. to say you have fallen in love is one thing, but to fall for him was something you didn't expect.

TOGAME JO

You found yourself on the rooftop of Ori, the headquarters of the Shishitoren gang, high above the ground, your heart racing as you glanced down. You had no idea how you ended up here or what possessed you to climb this high, but now you were stuck, paralyzed by fear.

"Baby, I am scared," your voice trembled as you looked down at Togame who had come to your rescue. It wasn't that high — you'd seen the way Choji jumped like a monkey, scaling the building in seconds. But you were neither Choji nor a monkey.

Your boyfriend stood below, his beautiful green eyes reflected calmness. A lazy smile played on his lips as he held out his arms. "Angel, just jump. I will catch you."

"That's even more scary. We will both get hurt," you protested, your heart pounding in your chest. He looked up at you, his smile never wavering. "Come on now, nothing bad can happen."

"Jo, do you understand that I can literally break mine and your bones?" you said, stepping back from the edge, taking a deep breath to steady yourself.

"The only thing you will break is my heart if you decide to stay there any longer," he said softly. You let out a big sigh, taking a few more deep breaths before finally deciding to overcome your fear. "Alright... On three."

He began to count for you, "One... two... three!"

With your eyes squeezed shut, you jumped from the rooftop, bracing for the impact. But instead of hitting the hard ground, you felt his strong arms catch you, pulling you into a tight embrace.

"Angel, did it hurt when you fell from Heaven?" he whispered into your ear, a playful lilt in his voice.

You were on the verge of tears from the fear and stress of the situation, and here he was, flirting with you. "I should have stayed there," you replied, burying your face in his shoulder, half relieved and half annoyed.

TAKIISHI CHIKA

You had never thought you'd develop feelings for Takiishi Chika. Yet, here you were, inexplicably drawn to the red-headed boy who had somehow let you inside his usually closed comfort zone. One day, you found yourself asking him to teach you some defensive techniques. Just in case, you told him, you ended up alone without him in sight, which will never happen.

"So I clench my fist like this and then I—" you began, mimicking his earlier demonstration.

Elbow strikes could be thrown sideways like a hook, upwards like an uppercut, downwards with the point of the elbow, diagonally, or directly, even during a jump. As you tried to attack him, he easily stopped you, his hand catching yours, of course he will stop you he is the strongest after all.

"Don't tighten your muscles so much, and don't squat like that," he instructed, his voice calm yet firm, you loved listening to him on the rare moments he decided to speak.

You nodded, resetting your stance. Determined to impress him, you moved faster this time, but your foot caught on nothing, and you started to fall. Before you could hit the ground, his hands catched your wrists, steadying you as your body leaned closer.

Your eyes locked, his gaze made your heart race, and you were sure you were going to kiss at any second. You had fallen for him, deeply, and there was no turning back. But then, he let go, and you landed on your butt with a thud.

"Ow," you muttered, rubbing the sore spot. "What was that for, Chika?"

When you looked up, he was already walking away, his back to you. First he makes you fall for him and then making you chase after him — a typical game of cat and mouse.

You scrambled to your feet, quickly closing the distance between you. As you caught up, he glanced at you with a sidelong look, letting out a sigh. Despite his cold behaviour, you didn't miss the way his hand found its place on your waist, holding you close. You may have fallen for him, but he fell harder for you ... but you didn't hear it from me, alright?

UMEMIYA HAJIME

You have always been close to the members of Bofurin, especially with their leader, with whom you had a strange relationship, you were together but at the same time you were not. Nothing was official, but everything was real — from holding hands to kissing eachother. Right now you are not trying to think about it as you help the first years paint. Perched on a mini staircase, you meticulously worked on the higher parts, lost in the rhythm of the brush strokes.

"You are doing so well, Y/N-chan!" A familiar voice interrupted your thoughts. You didn't need to turn around to know who it was; that voice was unmistakable.

"Hajime, you scared me!" you exclaimed, your heart fluttering, as he laughed at you.

"Oh, did I? I am sorry," he said, his tone teasing. You rolled your eyes at him playfully as he crossed his arms and watched you work, a smile adoring his beautiful and gentle face.

Turning around, you noticed that it had fallen unusually silent. The first years were nowhere to be seen. Confused, you asked, "Where is everyone?"

"I made them go to Kotoha to get lunch. You can't work while hungry," he explained, his eyes soft with concern. He always cared about others and that was one of the things you liked about him.

Shaking your head with a smile, you returned to your painting, stretching to reach the higher spots. Suddenly, the staircase wobbled beneath you, and you lost your balance, but before you could fall, strong arms caught you.

"My little shooting star~ I guess my wish came true," he whispered, his breath warm against your ear. Your cheeks flamed with embarrassment as you buried your face in his chest, the scent of him filling your senses. "What wish?" you wondered and asked him looking into his eyes, those beautiful blue eyes you could drown in as if you were in the ocean.

"The one where you finally fall for me!" you didn't know if he was joking or not, but even with that playful tone, he was completely serious.

"Is this how we are making it official?" you mumbled, your voice muffled by his shirt.

"I guess it is," he replied softly, his arms tightening around you. Here, in his embrace, was where you belonged, as you have fallen in the right place at the right time.

ENDO YAMATO

You stumble slightly as you walk, your heels clicking against the pavement as you walked hand in hand with Endo, his grip was reassuring somehow distracting you, yet you couldn't help but hiss from the pain in your feet. Those heels were a mistake, but they were the perfect finishing touch to your outfit. You curse yourself for choosing fashion over comfort, wanting everything to be perfect tonight.

"You okay there?" Endo asked, giving your hand a gentle squeeze. His voice was filled with genuine concern, sometimes it surprised you how much he cares for you, even for the smallest things.

"Yeah, nothing to worry about. It's fine," you replied, trying to mask the discomfort. He glanced at you with those thoughtful eyes that always seemed to be searching for something. "Y/N, I may be a very bad judge of character, but I know when a person experiences pain." His words were more of a hint than a statement, and you knew he was right.

You stopped walking, intending to turn to him and reassure him face to face. But as you twisted your body, your ankle gave away. You felt yourself tipping forward, bracing for the impact of the fall.

But it never came. Endo caught you, his tattooed arms strong and steady around you. "Careful, doll. Don't fall so soon for me," he teased, the mischievousness never leaving his eyes.

Your heart raced, not just from the near fall, but from the way he held you, the way you could melt right on the spot. You had always been unpredictable around him, your feelings a whirlwind that neither of you fully understood.

"Yamato," you whispered, looking up at him. His carefree personality masked a complexity you were only beginning to uncover. He made you feel loved despite him not knowing how to identify his own emotions.

"What's wrong?" he asked softly, his eyes searching yours as he wondered how you do the things you do? Why do you make him feel... like this? He had hard time recognising what's happening inside his brain and heart. He never understood the emotions people around him expressed because he thought it just was how he was meant to live — like a lifeless soul.

You smiled, your heart swelling a bit uncertainty, but there was nothing to lose this time. "I like you." you admitted.

He blinked, processing your words as if you were speaking gibberish. "You... really do?" he asked, the surprise in his eyes was genuine, and for a moment, you wondered if you had made a mistake.

"If I didn't liked you, I wouldn't have gone on so many dates with you," you repeated, more confidently this time. "I didn't mean to make things awkward, but I couldn't keep it to myself any longer."

His grip on your waist tightened slightly, his eyes never leaving yours. "You’re serious?" You nodded, your heart was about to burst out, "Yes, I am. I know you might not feel the same way, because dating isn't your thing. I just... needed you to know."

Endo's gaze softened, and the playfulness in his eyes was replaced by something deeper, something you had never seen before coming from him.

"Y/N, you have no idea how long I’ve waited to hear you say that," he admitted, his voice raw with emotion. "You’ve been driving me crazy, in the best possible way."

A smile spread across your face, the pain in your feet forgotten. "Glad to know that." He chuckled, "But I can’t have you walking around in pain all night," he said, glancing down at your heels. "Here, let me help."

You looked at him, puzzled. "What do you mean?" Without another word, Endo crouched down in front of you, patting his back. "Hop on. I’ll give you a piggyback ride. Princesses should be taken care of."

SAKURA HARUKA

It was Tsubaki idea to invite you, Kotoha and the first years to the biggest sleepover in the history of Bofurin. He treasured you like a little sister, and took a liking in the new students especially Sakura — the boy who proved himself worthy for the gang, and the boy despite his confidence in most situations had a peculiar inability to speak or act normally around you.

The night’s activities progressed, and soon everyone found themselves engaged in a lively game of Twister. One by one, players stumbled and fell, until only you and Sakura were left on the mat. Nirei spun the wheel and called out, "Left hand on red," signaling Sakura’s turn. He gulped hard, his eyes widening slightly as he realized the predicament. You were directly beneath him, your bodies precariously close. Sakura carefully stretched his left hand towards the red circle as your hand was on the blue one, his fingers brushing yours as he did so.

The atmosphere grew tense, heat radiating from both of you as sweat glistened on his brow. His face flushed with a rosy hue, betraying his nerves and the overwhelming proximity. Meanwhile, Suo watched the unfolding scene with delight, clearly enjoying the awkward dance of two fools in love.

Nirei spun the wheel again, as he announced, "Y/N-chan, left hand on green." You felt your muscles strain, you were in a push-up position and you had to turn your whole body to reach the green circle. Every fiber in your hands screamed with effort as you managed the turn, finding yourself directly under Sakura.

The eye-patched boy, ever the prankster, seized the moment and nudged Sakura’s leg just enough to cause a slight wobble. The sudden movement startled you, and before you could steady yourself, your hands slipped. The world seemed to slow as you fell, leaving you face to face with Sakura, who had caught himself just in time.

You found yourself caged between his arms, his face mere inches from yours. His breath hitched, his cheeks a deep crimson that seemed almost like a new shade to add in the red pallet. The warmth of his body radiated into yours, his bicoloured eyes locked onto yours — panic and longing swirling within them. His lips parted as if to speak, but no words came out, only the soft sound of his breath mingling with yours.

Sakura wanted to kiss you, wanted to know what's it like to kiss the girl he held feelings for ... He wanted you and was not going to be a coward about it. Just as he decided to bend down even less the door opened and Tsubaki's voice echoed around the room causing him to startle and lose his balance falling on top of you.

"Oh, my! I am sorry, did I interrupt something?" Tsubaki asked, genuinely concerned about the two of you, putting his hand on his mouth from the surprised scene he stepped into.

Sakura's eyes widened in panic, but you could feel the warmth of his body pressed against yours, his heart pounding wildly in his chest. Why couldn't he talk? His gaze, now tender and earnest, silently begged for understanding and perhaps a second chance, and pretty soon he will be able to express his feelings without a Twister next time.

KAJI REN

You were angry, extremely pissed to the point you just want to scream, throw something or someone in the pool, kill the next person who asks you another stupid question. Your nails dug into the flesh of your palms as you tried your best to stay calm. The one time you got Kaji to agree to go somewhere, some girls immediately flocked to him, even though he ignored them or politely said no.

You watched as he spoke to them, with their polite smiles, but there was nothing nice about them, only fueling your irritation. It wasn’t fair. This was supposed to be your time with him. You took a deep breath, trying to rationalize your thoughts. It wasn't his fault, after all, but it didn't make the sting any less sharp.

"Y/N," Kaji's voice pulled you from your thoughts. He had walked away from the crowd of girls and was now standing in front of you, his expression concerned, he's never seen you like this. "Are you okay?"

"Am I okay?" you repeated, your voice dripping with sarcasm. "Do you think I'm okay, Kaji?"

He blinked, taken aback by your tone, as he was getting annoyed by the fact that you weren't telling him everything in the right context, "What’s wrong?"

"What's wrong?" you echoed mimicking his words, feeling your temper rise. "Do you really have to ask? Look around! Every time we go somewhere, you’re swarmed by girls. Can’t you see how frustrating that is?"

He sighed, running a hand through his hair, and you looking at his well-shaped body. "You think I wanted that? Stop with this bullsh—"

Your frustration boiled over. Without thinking, you gave him a hard shove, sending him stumbling backwards. Before you could register what happened, he reached out, grabbing your wrist to steady himself. But it carried you both, and with a splash, you were both in the pool.

The water engulfed you, the coolness a shock to your heated skin. You struggled, disoriented, trying to find the surface. Panic set in as you realized you weren’t as good a swimmer as you thought. Just when you felt you couldn’t hold your breath any longer, strong arms wrapped around you, pulling you up.

You broke the surface, gasping for air, coughing and spluttering. Kaji held you close, his eyes wide with worry. "Breathe, Y/N, just breathe."

You clung to him, your fingers digging into his shoulders as you tried to steady your breathing. He patted your back gently, his other hand cradling your head.

"You're so stupid," he murmured, though his tone was soft, almost affectionate. "Why would you do that?"

Your cheeks burned, both from embarrassment and from the closeness, as you realised how you are skin to skin. "I... I wasn’t thinking. I just... I was so mad."

You looked up at him, his eyes were judging you but it was out of concern, "I'm sorry," you whispered. "Listen, Y/N," he began, "Those girls don't matter to me. They never have and never will." He shook his head, his fingers brushing a wet strand of hair from your face, and you knew he meant it, otherwise you would have had fallen for him or in this case with him.

©2024 kaiser1ns do not copy, repost or modify my work

[reiiishii]

He's silent before taking it from her hands, admiring it and looking to her after a second... How sweet...~

"..it's quite beautiful."

Michiru looked over his uniform before ultimately deciding to place the carving in between his sash, eyes going back to Belial once he was certain it wouldn't move.

"Thank you, I've never once been to Hueco Mundo so you'll have to forgive me for being unfamiliar with the area.~" He waved his hand, "...I've got time, care to tell me more about it...?"

@reiiishii liked.

"Here, for you." Belial extended her hand outwards towards Michiru, palm facing upwards as it looked like she was avoiding looking at him directly.

Within her palm rested a small carving in the shape of a flower, carved from a quartz-like material. "I made it from one a branch from one of the tree structures in Hueco Mundo..." She mumbled.

[dreamyysouls]

essays and costumes

hitoshi shinsou x gn!reader (implied fem?)

synopsis: you want to tell your boyfriend about a wonderful idea you have, but he seems to be busy with other things. what do you do in response?

cw: not proofread, i also wrote this at 10 pm ; no caps ; y/n used once ; lmk if i missed something!

“hitoshi.”

“mm.”

“hitoshi. i have an idea.”

“mhm…go on..” your boyfriend stayed put, eyes glued to whatever he was doing on his laptop. the two of you were in your dorm, “studying” together.

“ugh, toshi, pay attention!” you say, waving your hand in front of his face. his eyes jumped quickly to yours and he sighed.

“love, i have an essay due tonight. i promise i’ll listen,” he said offering a smile. you gave him a look of uncertainty, but began speaking.

“okay so…halloween is around the corner and our class is having a party…” you began. he nodded his head, telling you to keeping going while he typed.

“and i was thinking…what if we did a couples costume?” you offer. he pauses.

“mhm. let’s do it.” he says nonchalantly.

“uh, okay, yay! so i was thinking we could do barbie or ken, or rapunzel and flynn, or-“ you halt your sentence, noticing that your boyfriend seems to have locked in again on his schoolwork. you sigh.

“toshi…” words fail you as you don’t know what to do. your eyes trail around your room and all of a sudden an idea hits you.

a smirk forms on your face and you let your eyes linger on hitoshi’s face, waiting for him to look back. at some point he looks up and notices the look you are giving him.

“what?” he asks, a smile forming.

“oh, nothing, just thinking…” you say with a shrug.

“just thinking?” he inches his body slightly closer to yours. perfect.

“yeah, thinking. about life and things.” you reply, moving closer to him.

“what ‘things?’” he says, moving even closer. his laptop has been discarded and placed to his right, expecting this conversation to go some place.

“i don’t know, i can’t remember…” you speak. you and hitoshi are now mere inches apart, lips threatening to connect at any second.

“you want me to help with that?” he whispers, reaching for your cheek. you look to his lips, as if to ask for permission. he looks to yours and you both lean in a little closer. as he begins to pull you in, you snap your head away, as if the “things” came back to mind.

“oh! i remember now! it was this video i saw earlier of a cat!” you say, eagerly. your boyfriend stares at you with his lips parted, now a flustered mess.

“[y/n]…” he speaks, softly. “what was that for?”

“hm? what was what for?” you say, finding a random cat video to finish your bit. “found it!” you shove your phone in his face, avoiding his questions purposefully. he slowly puts his hand onto your arm and pushes it down whilst watching the video.

“don’t play dumb. you know what you did,” he says, a small smirk forming on his lips.

“did what?” you smirk back. “this?” you quickly pull his face to yours, close enough for you to feel his warm breath on your face.

“baby, please…” he groans.

“oh? but i thought you had an essay to finish?” you whisper, your hand reaching to cup his cheek. he pauses for a moment.

“my essay can wait.”

a/n: oh wow my first writing in a while! i finally had some time and just got an idea so be blessed 🙏 also WE NEED MORE SHINSOU FICS!!! PLEASE IM BEGGING!!! maybe i can write more in the future…(?) my requests are open if you want to request anything hitoshi related, but no smut please! anyways have a great night/day and be sure to drink tons of water! thanks for reading <3

[heerocks]

CURIOUS CAT - it's about time

SYNOPSIS! Curious Cat is an app that peaked three years ago where people use it to flirt with their crush anonymously and then suddenly forgot about it.

or wherein, Y/N was devastated when her crush, Lee Heeseung indirectly rejecting her in high school. Three years later, both of them have this unknown beef between them that even their friends don't know the real reason behind. One day, Y/N suddenly remembered and opened her C.C. account, and saw that someone by the name 'Ethan' confessed to her three years ago.

The door towards the library swung open, and Lee Heeseung, who was now sitting at the empty table at the corner not far from the said entrance, can't help but raise his head to look at the new visitor. Well, from the moment he took a seat, he would unconsciously look up every time he heard the screech that the glass door would make hoping it was you that finally came.

Life might be playing with him. Only three minutes have passed since he settles in and waits but Heeseung was sure there are more than ten people coming inside and every time they did open the door, he'll look up. An obvious action telling him that he can't wait to see you.

Heeseung unknowingly smiled at the thought, and before he knew it, the familiar screech was heard again.

He nonchalantly looked up, ready to accept that it was just another random person but then your presence invade his vision, and that obviously caused him to smile. You smiled back at him, waving your occupied hands that held two bottles of juices while the other one gently carried the familiar small paper bag while walking towards him.

"I'm sorry, Am I late?" You ask, putting your belongings down and finally sitting.

"No, I just got here... don't worry."

You hummed silently setting up your laptop and other things, "Oh, here. I fetch some juice on my way here. I know you said the food has been covered but it's good that we have extra."

Heeseung took the beverage gently from your hand but in the process, his brushed against yours albeit jiffy and you swear on Sunoo's mint choco ice cream that there's an electricity that flows inside your veins.

Sparks? There's no way they're real.

Fortunately, you managed to poise yourself by chuckling although it came out awkward.

"I see that you're not with your friends today"

"They're... uhh, busy... fortunately." Why am I getting anxious though? Still thinking about the flicker that you felt with or from Heeseung, your hands can't help but nervously rummage through your things hoping the man in front wouldn't notice that you're on edge.

Unluckily for you, Heeseung did.

How can he not? He always has his eyes on you. His friends noticed it, even people he doesn't know surely did, everyone notices it but you. Heeseung should be worried about your frame gradually shrinking from tense... (figuratively) but he can't. Not when he knew you were affected by him. It's cute.

Heeseung tried to hide his smile even though you can't really see it. He moved slowly while still keeping his eye on you, bringing both of his elbows on top of the table causing him to propped up before scooting closer to you.

"Fortunately? And why is that?" He asks whispering the question. And it might be an innocent little action because obviously, you two are inside the library and people should observe how loud their voice can be but the said stunt surprisingly made you shiver which kind of contradicts how hot your face suddenly felt even though the centralized air conditioner made the whole room freeze.

You laughed, "Do you think it's kind of hot in here?" Heeseung chuckled silently watching as you took your cardigan off and began to fan yourself with your hand.

"I don't know, I am cold..." He replied shrugging his shoulder to point to the jacket he was wearing, "Well, are you?"

Now, Heeseung can't hide his smile or rather he doesn't even try to hide his smile. And, then you get it.

This little shit. Doing innocent things just to rail you up. Why did it escape your thoughts that Heeseung doing 'innocent' things is not really an innocent thing?

You clicked your tongue, "Stop."

"What?"

"Doing that"

"Doing what?"

"Stop smirking!" You frustratingly yelled and automatically someone shushed you from the other table. The nerve this Lee Heeseung has. You apologetically said sorry before turning back to the perpetrator.

"Stop teasing me or else! You're like my friends sometimes, I swear. So annoying"

Heeseung silently chuckled, burying his smile and finally raising both of his arms as a sign that he was giving up. You looked at him for some time, ensuring he wouldn't do anything. And heeseung did that childish zipping mouth as an assurance that made you laugh.

"Oh, wait. I want to show you something!!!" You excitedly whispered. And the man you're with can't believe the sudden 180 change in your behavior, he finds it cute as always though. He's down bad, guys.

You grabbed the small paper bag and then gently opened it. Your hands then seized something inside pulling it to show to him.

"I came to fetch something on my locker this morning before coming here and this was already there. It was carefully tied on the doors and when I opened it... I saw the cutest thing ever!" Heeseung smiled at your excitement. Eyes sparkling as you coo-ed at the origami bouquet that he did.

"It's cute right?"

He pretended to be in doubt, looking at the flower and then back at you. "It is... but it's quite clumsy made, isn't it?" Shame on him. Why is he sabotaging himself? Maybe he just wanted to fish more of your compliment. Maybe, he is. What about it though

You dramatically gasped as if you got offended, "What are you saying? It's the most prettiest thing I've ever seen" Bingo. "It's the thoughts that count. It's the effort, you hear me? I bet this took hours to make."

Again, he can't control his smile. "You like it that much?"

"I love it so much" You replied with no hesitation. "It's so cute. I think I'm in love with them now."

That's his cue. As of now, Heeseung cannot be reached. He was far up high, floating on cloud 9 just from your words alone.

Seeing you treasure the paper bouquet that he did, made him feel queasy. You are right, it took him hours especially because it's the first time he did try to make one.

After Sunoo gave him his blessing. Heeseung spends the rest of the day thinking of a plan to make a move. Maybe it was no coincidence that he was slammed in the head with the origami book his brother had when it fell. He think he was unlucky but looking at it now, the book just made him the happiest man on earth.

Heeseung had doubts. He didn't know what he wanted to do regarding his feelings. Will he just suck it up and be content with whatever he had with you now, or will he take a risk to step his foot forward and closer to you? After seeing your reaction to what he thinks is the most simple thing he can offer, Heeseung now knew the answer.

"You're worth the risk..." He whispered looking at you.

"Hmm? Did you say something?" Heeseung smiled shaking his head.

It's about time for him to realize.

They're right, It's time to confess...

chapter 42 — It's about time

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GENRE! smau + written, on crack, slow burn, mutual pinning or past pinning, university au, kinda enemies to lovers troupe, heeseung is a simp, reader is kinda dumb, friends bullying friends

𖥻 notes! : bite me and bills are so goooooood 😭

𖥻𖥻 taglist! : @ckline35 @meinapricity @gugudone @xoxodinaryheroes @lov3niki @ahnneyong @raikea10 @bigtoewinwin @tlnyjoong @sungookie @uwudaizy @jeongintwt @paragonofroyalty @captivq @lavisha7 @prdxinvade @lockburn-castle @chaemmie @xtra-cheese @mimikittysblog @zhaixiaowen @pb-n-juju @luvkait @myjaeyunn @redm4ri @oceanyocean @diestheticu @liliansun @yenqa @xiaoderrrr @flower-lise @mymeloem19 @jungwon-kitten @hoonieluv @vantxx95 @asherbl @alexayoonlee @georgi-salva @mdavt @kyexvly @would-bee @jhopesucker @tiramis-hoon

likes, reblogs, and comments are appreciated! ❤️

[one-thousand-and-one-fandoms]

Voltrom Ghost Whisperer AU - Part 9

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Allura wanted when she got home was to pop open a bottle of wine, order take out and binge trash tv on Netflix. What she actually got was a sad looking Keith sitting morosely on her couch. She sent a small prayer to whoever was up there making her life difficult to please, please cut her some slack.

"You're back," Keith said, and his face lit up.

"I am," Allura replied, "you remember me this time?"

Keith nodded.

"Good, so what can I do for you?" She asked.

"I... I don't know?" Keith answered, "I remember the fire, now. And my pa. And... and Lance. Are they...? Did they...?"

Allura couldn't help but feel her heart break a little. It wasn't fair, she thought, for he'd been so young and full of promise. And even though he'd just realized he was dead, he was still mostly worried about his father and his best friend. She sat down next to him and made sure to hold his gaze.

"Lance is okay," she said, and it was heartbreaking how Keith's shoulders relaxed and a small smile appeared on his face, "I saw him today. His family moved a few months after the fire."

"Did they move because of me?" Keith asked, his smile turning into a frown.

"I don't know," she admitted, "to be honest, I didn't get to speak with him a lot. He ran out before I could."

Keith snorted, "Sounds like him."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. He was always a scaredy cat."

Allura snorted, "I'm sure you know all about it."

Then Keith sobered up again, and turned his big, violet, doe-like eyes on her and asked, "And my pa?"

Allura sobered up, too, "According to the firefighters, he also died in the fire."

Keith's eyes lit up and he asked, excited, and began looking around as is Allura had him hidden somewhere, "Where is he?"

"Keith, your dad... have you ever seen a light calling you to it?" Allura said, at loss of how to explain it, "you see, when people die, they don't usually stay here. They go to a different place, a better place, full of light and people who love them."

"So he's gone? He left me?" Keith asked, and his voice wobbled, and Allura panicked for a bit.

"I'm sure he thought you were already there, waiting for him," Allura quickly replied, "I would like to help you cross over, so you can be together again."

Keith didn't answer for a long, long time. He was frowning, but the lights weren't flickering nor were the doors slamming. Allura knew better than to rush him, so she waited quietly.

"I think I'd like to go," Keith finally said, "but I've never seen anything like what you said."

"That may be because you feel you still have something to take care of in here."

Again, Keith went quiet. Allura was very willing to wait it out, but then there was a knock on the door. Keith startled, but didn't leave. Allura sighed, but went to open the door.

Much to her surprise, there stood Lance McClain. And his two friends. He also seemed surprised to see her.

"Wow, so you weren't lying," he said.

"Why would I lie?" Allura replied, mildly offended. Lance shrugged and refused to answer, "What do you want?"

"I came to see if what you said was true," Lance answered. His small friend elbowed him hard enough that Lance flinched, so he glared at his friend, "sorry, we came to see if what you said was true."

"Well, if you want to come into my home, you might as well tell me your names."

The three friends shared a look that screamed that they thought Allura might kidnap and sell their organs in the black market. The larger one was the first to answer.

"Hunk."

"Pidge."

Allura raised an eyebrow, "Allura."

She didn't know if she believed those were their actual names but she wasn't going to fight them on it. She stepped aside and led them to her living room, where Keith had stood up and now stared apprehensively at the arch that separated the foyer from the living room.

"Lance?" He asked in a whisper, and the lights then flickered.

The three teens looked up. Allura tried to warn Keith with a look, but he wasn't looking at her.

"Could be faulty wiring," Pidge whispered to Lance. Subtle, Allura thought and rolled her eyes.

"Is that K-him?" Lance asked. Allura observed him. He seemed genuined enough. She looked at Keith, who was frowning now.

"Why isn't he saying my name? Has he forgotten me?" Keith asked.

"Yes, that's Keith," Allura answered, "he wants to know why you didn't say his name."

Lance opened his mouth to answer, but Pidge beat him to it.

"How do we know you're not lying?"

Allura looked at Keith, who didn't seem to know how to react.

"I don't know how to convince you that he's really here," Allura said, "I do think, however, that it would be best for Lance to do it on his own."

"Dream on, lady," Pidge replied.

"Yeah, he's our best friend and we won't leave him alone!" Hunk reiterated.

Just then the light above them exploded and the windows shattered around them. Cabinets began to open and close seemingly without rhyme or reason and Allura knew that now they were all potentially in danger. The three teens yelped and screamed and huddled together, trying to protect each other.

"Keith! You've got to calm down!" Allura yelled above the noise.

"He replaced me," Keith said and his features were now contorted in anger, "I died, and he left and got shiny new friends. He left me, just like my pa."

"No, Keith, I'm sure that's not true," Allura replied, "tell him, Lance, that you didn't forget him nor replaced him."

Lance was shocked to hear Allura address him after seemingly talking to the air. He looked at the place where she looked at, hoping that K-Keith was looking at him, too.

"K-Keith," Lance said, "I... I'm sorry."

He was apologizing for so many things he couldn't name, but clearly that was the wrong thing to say because the cabinets all slammed at once before the house was plunged into complete silence. Slowly, Lance picked himself off the ground and helped Hunk and Pidge up, who seemed very shaken.

"K-Keith?"

"He's gone," Allura pipped up, shaking herself off.

"Gone?" Lance asked, feeling dread pull in his stomach.

"For now," Allura replied, "ghosts are emotional beings. Seeing Lance, so different, was already difficult for him without you two making it worse."

"Hey! We didn't do anything!" Pidge exclaimed.

"You set him off!" Allura retorted, took a deep breath to collect herself and turned to Lance, "can I talk to you in private?"

"Like hell..."

"Pidge!" Lance exclaimed, looking angry for the first time, "this is not about you, alright? K-Keith was there before I met you and I believe Allura when she says he was here and I want to hear what she has to say. I don't need you to act as if I can't make my own decisions, so cut it out!"

Pidge took a step back, shock and hurt taking over her features, before she stormed out of the house. Hunk hesitated between the two, but ultimately followed Pidge. Immediately, Lance felt guilty and he rubbed his hands over his face.

"What just happened?" He asked.

"There's a lot of anger for now, and it was mostly focused on you, so you probably reacted to that," Allura explained.

"No, not about... with K-Keith. What happened with Keith?"

"At first he was shocked to see you, and then he got upset you couldn't say his name," Allura answered, "but really, what angered him was hearing you have new best friends."

Lance snorted, "He was always the jealous sort."

Allura bit back her own.

"What now?" Lance asked.

"Well, we could try to go to the school to see if he's there, or wait until he finds us again," Allura replied, "usually, spirits this upset don't want to be found."

Lance looked around the room quietly for a few moments, and then said, "Do you think he hates me?"

"I know for a fact he doesn't."

"Well, maybe he should."

Allura frowned, "What makes you think so?"

"He'd still be alive if it wasn't for me."

"I don't think Keith sees it that way at all," Allura countered.

"But I do," Lance said, "maybe this is for the best."

"Do you know what you'll be condemning Keith to if we don't help him move on?" Allura asked, losing her patience, "he'd be stuck forever between two worlds, never belonging to either, always roaming and lost. Is that what you want?"

"...no."

"Then I suggest you find a way to deal with your survivor's guilt in a different way and get your head out of your ass," Allura replied, "as you said, this is not about you. This is about Keith."

Lance contemplated her words for a moment. Then, he nodded to himself and squared his shoulders. Helping Keith came first; he could feel sorry for himself after.

Next

I need your help: This was meant to be a short fic of only 10 to 11 parts. It was also supposed to be self-contained.

But then my brain remembered that there are ghosts who refuse to move on and gather strength, and I thought "hmm, those could be the Galra/druids," and little things like that and so I would like to hear from you.

Option 1: short, self-contained fic of 10-11 parts. I already have an idea for the ending of this one. (Think of it as one episode of Ghost Whisperer)

Option 2: an elaborate fic, who knows how many parts long, with world building, more VLD characters, plot twists and turns, angsty and dark in themes and probably adapting the source material to match. (Think of it as the overarching plot of Ghost Whisperer seasons 1 and/or 2)

[antclan-blogs]

MOON 9

Slightstar saved Badgerdust from a big dog, and was barely even hurt. Chaffinchbounce wants to spend more time with Badgerdust.

This moon’s story under the cut!

“Any scent of other clans on the border?” Slightstar called, slinking through the trees towards the other two members of the patrol.

“Not that I can pick up.”Chaffinchbounce mewed, sniffing around a tree and flicking his tail. Slightstar nodded and turned to Badgerdust, who was prodding at a few stray twigs on the ground and looking distracted.

“What about you, Badgerdust?” the Antclan leader prompted. “Anything unusual? You’ve got a good sense of smell.”

Badgerdust looked up with clouded eyes and swivelled his head. “Hm? Sorry, I was…thinking about the kits again.”

Slightstar sighed and gave Badgerdust a long look. “It’s alright. But you need to start focusing more on your patrols than on your kin. They’re safe with Daisyiris back at camp.”

Badgerdust nodded and looked at his paws with shame as Slightstar and Chaffinchbounce began to move among the trees once more.

Following his clanmates slowly, Badgerdust barely picked up on what his leader was saying about borders—all he wanted to do was rush back to camp and be with his kits. They had just been weaned onto normal prey, so that the queen from the neighbouring clan could return home, and Badgerdust couldn’t wait for them to try all the flavours of the territory. He had already planned out where he would take them as soon as they were apprenticed so that they could experience the best hunting spots with their father by their side.

Just as Badgerdust was losing himself in another daydream, a piercing screech split the air and Slightstar came barrelling back towards Badgerdust. Confused and surprised, the warrior rooted himself to the spot, but was flung backwards by the force of Slightstar’s impressive tackle. The pair rolled backwards in a blur of claws and fur, and Badgerdust wondered momentarily if this was a punishment for not paying enough attention to the patrol.

“What are you doing?!” Badgerdust spluttered as Slightstar leaped off of him and pelted away. What was she running towards?

Scrambling to his paws, Badgerdust watched with raw fear and the dawn of realisation as a huge, slavering, rabid dog came bounding after him, close enough for Badgerdust to feel its disgusting hot breath on his face.

Badgerdust backed away slowly, but the dog kept approaching—it was hungry for cat blood. Making a meagre attempt at swiping the dog’s ear, Badgerdust prepared to meet his end at the dog’s hungry jaws.

Suddenly, a battle cry came rising from Slightstar, and she threw herself onto the beast with such sheer power that even the large muscled animal had to take a few steps to steady itself. Quick as lightning, Slightstar clawed at the dog’s eye before leaping down and darting in between its legs, nipping at its hindquarters with her sharp teeth.

“Back off!” She spat as Chaffinchbounce leaped in to send the dog running with one final blow to the nose.

As the once-furious dog fled with a wail of defeat, Badgerdust ran up to meet his clanmates and touched noses with Slightstar.

“Where did that thing come from?” Chaffinchbounce wondered aloud, panting slightly but otherwise alright.

“No idea. At least we apprehended it, or that could have been nasty.” Slightstar replied, giving her chest a few comforting licks.

“Thank you.” Badgerdust breathed. “You saved my life. Both of you.”

Chaffinchbounce shook his head. “Don’t thank us. You would’ve done the same.” He told his friend.

“We’re clanmates. It’s what we’re for.” Slightstar added. “I can’t blame you for wanting to be with your kits.”

“Are you hurt?” Badgerdust asked his leader anxiously, but she shook her head.

“Not in the slightest.” She replied.

And with that, the three cats fell into step and began the slow walk back to camp.

badgerdust is such a devoted dad i love him so much!!! especially after what he’s been through tbh

[mariesakamari]

Chapter 1: Something isn't right

Masterlist

3rd POV… 

“So are you all ready to go,” Crowley asked Yuu. Yuu took their time to look around the Mirror Chamber. They looked at all of their friends that they had made during their stay in Twisted Wonderland. All of Yuu’s friends looked like they were on the verge of tears for they knew this day was coming but wasn’t ready for the day to come so soon. The only person who openly cried was Grim as he tried to squirm out of the grasp of Deuce. Yuu looked at Grim with tears starting to form in their eyes. To try to stop the notion of crying, Yuu shook their head. Turning to Crowley, Yuu nodded their head that they were ready to leave Twisted Wonderland and return to their own world.

“I sure will miss it here,” Yuu sighed. 

“Whenever you’re ready just step through the mirror and it will bring you back to your world,” Crowley instructs. Yuu takes a look at the mirror and back to all of their friends. Yuu had spent the last week spending time with all of their friends, but they feel as if it wasn’t enough time. Even now Yuu is still torn whether they want to stay in Twisted Wonderland or return to their family and friends. In the end, Yuu knows what they must do, even if it hurts them.

“Thank you so much Mr. Crowley,” Yuu turned to look at Crowley. “I’ve had a great time here, even after everything that has happened. I’m very grateful that you didn’t throw me off campus when the Dark Mirror revealed that I had no magic and let me become a student. I just hope that I’m able to take everything I learned here with me when I walk through the mirror.”

“You’re very welcome,” Crowley smiled. “You are by far one of the greatest students to have walked these halls. And as an educator, I am happy that I was able to see the great potential that you possess and granted you a way to be a student. I know the situation was the best, but I was very gracious.”

“That you were,” Yuu agreed. Yuu took a deep breath and walked towards the mirror. Yuu had flashbacks of their time spent in Twisted Wonderland, from all of the unnecessary work that got pushed on them to the overblots to events and going off campus, Yuu cherished all their memories. But would they still be memories once they walk through the mirror. Yuu continues to walk through the mirror, silently saying ‘goodbye’ to everyone again. And just like that Yuu had made it back to their would.

……

“Yuu… wake up…” A voice called for Yuu. The voice sounded familiar to Yuu as they tried to open their eyes. Once they opened their eyes, they were welcomed with a bright white light. 

“Oh, Yuu is waking up,” another familiar voice said. “We gotta ask them what to do with this little guy.”

“What, I’m not little,” a voice that sounded like Grim complained. At the sound of the voice that sounded like Grim, Yuu’s eyes finally adjusted to the light and began to move around to sit up. The two familiar voices moved to help Yuu to sit up. Once sitting up, Yuu was able to take in their surroundings and the people in the area with them. 

“Finally you’re awake,” the first voice said. Yuu looked at them and it was their male childhood friend. Yuu looked at the other person and it was their female friend that they had met a few years back on a school trip. The female friend was holding a squirming Grim.

“Uh, Grim, what are you doing here,” Yuu asked. Grim had stopped struggling in their friend’s arms at the question.

“I couldn’t be separated from my henchman,” Grim huffed. “And besides, I don’t wanna become the greatest mage of all time without you by my side, so I broke out of Deuce’s arms and went through the mirror after you. I think the others followed but I’m not sure where they are.”

“I hope they didn’t end up somewhere bad,” Yuu sighed.

“Who’s they and who’s this cat,” the male friend asked. 

“You might think I’m crazy, but it’s a really long story,” Yuu replied, not quite sure how to answer. If Grim was in their world that means that Twisted Wonderland still exists and there was a way between worlds. Maybe if Crowley didn’t create a one-way mirror and instead made a two-way mirror, there would be no need for the long and tear filled goodbyes.

“Well, whatever the story is, I’m glad you’re okay,” the male friend smiled.

“It’s really a miracle,” Yuu’s female friend said. “You were in a coma for a few months now and the doctors were not sure if you would ever wake up.”

“Wow, how'd I even end up in a coma,” Yuu asked, trying to recall the moments before they had woken up in Twisted Wonderland.

“According to the reports, you had a heart attack while in the mall shopping,” the male friend responded. “The mall was being robbed by a gang and you almost got caught in the cross-fire.”

“Ah, I don’t really remember that,” Yuu stated honestly.

“Yeah, the doctor said that might happen,” the female friend sighed. “But most of your memories are still there, right?”

“Yep, I still have all my other memories,” Yuu smiled and their friends also smiled. Yuu wondered what happened to the others that went through the mirror.

……

Darkness is all that could be seen. It felt like they were just floating through a void.

“Commencing scan for life forms,” a robotic voice said. He had just opened his eyes to see complete darkness surrounding him.

“Ortho is that you,” a scared voice called out. ‘Ortho’ turned to where the voice called out to him. Suddenly there was a bright light that appeared in the direction the voice came from. Ortho was able to make out his brother, Idia, thanks to the light. Idia was also able to make out Ortho, then Idia looked behind himself to look at the light. Ortho moved towards his brother.

“I don’t think this is Yuu’s world,” Ortho observes. 

“You might be right on that,” Idia sighed. “Are there any other people here?”

“According to my scans, only you and I are here,” Ortho reported. “I think we should go into the light to see where it takes us.”

“I guess we can go check it out,” Idia grumbled as the pair started moving towards the light. The light kept getting brighter the close the pair was and soon they were able to hear voices coming from the light. 

“Would you let go of me,” a voice shouted from the light. 

“No I won’t you’re why we’re here in the first place,” another voice shouted back. “If you just would have kept your grip on Grim, we wouldn’t had to chase him through the mirror!”

“The light sounds like Ace and Deuce,” Ortho observed.

“It sure does,” Idia agrees. The light blinds them and consumes them completely. When they open their eyes, they are on a platform with the other students from the school. As Idia looked around the new area, it reminded him of a video game shrine. There were stone columns and statues, and in front of everyone there was a huge throne that was currently empty.

“Oi, knuckleheads,” Leona called out to Ace and Deuce. “Be quiet for a moment. Something seems off.”

“There are a lot of things that are off,” Vil rolled his eyes. “Like the fact that we are the only ones here and there are no signs of Yuu or Grim being here.”

“Something had happened with the mirror when we went through,” Azul theorized.

“Aww, that means I can’t squeeze Shrimpy,” Floyd whined.

“We have a bit more important things to worry about,” Jade shook his head. 

“Like figuring out where we are and how to get back,” Trey added. Soon the ground starts to rumble and a bright gold light appears in the room. Everyone stares at it in curiosity. The gold light moves to where it is in front of the throne.

“Welcome to my realm,” the light greets. “Located beyond both time and space.”

“Um, bright lights aren’t supposed to talk,” Idia stuttered.

“Let’s just see what it wants,” Riddle says, not looking away from where the light is.

“But didn’t it just say that we are beyond time and space,” Ruggie questioned.

“It sure did,” Malleus confirmed.

“It is well that thou art here”, the light continued. “I am that which humans call Arceus.”

“What kind of name is Arceus,” Epel wondered out loud.

“What if it’s like a God or something,” Cater reasoned.

“I’ve never heard of Arceus, though,” Lilia pondered. 

“Soon thou shalt find thyselves in a world strange to thee…” ‘Arceus’ states. “A world inhabited by wondrous creatures that humans call ‘Pokemon’.”

“Yeah, something definitely went wrong with the mirror,” Jamil sweat drops.

“I’ve never heard Yuu once talk about ‘pokemon’,” Ace adds.

“You all…” the light pauses. “Seek out all Pokemon, and thou shalt find me once more.”

“Hey, wait,” Riddle yells as light consumes all of them. They appear in darkness once more and sparkling small lights surround them and even some attach themselves to Ortho. In front of them appears a big bright light that takes the form of a strange being, one that could only be Arceus. Sparks come from Ortho as his programming changes and code gets added to it. Soon all of the smaller lights orbit towards the Arceus light figure and everything gets covered in light again.

“WAKE UP,” a voice yells. “Ohhh… Do wake up, won’t you?”

“I’ll wake up when you stop yelling,” Leona growls and others start to wake up and shift around. 

“Are you alive, my boy,” the voice says as Ace opens his eyes and sees three weird animals in front of him. He immediately sits up as he lets out a shriek, moving away from the three animals. Hearing Ace let out the shriek, everyone else moves around to see what Ace was freaking out about. Behind the pokemon was a man wearing a lavender beanie with a pompom at the top of the hat and a tacky outfit under a lab coat. Everyone got up and dusted themselves off.

“How’d we land on a beach,” Kalim asked, looking around. 

“It might have been that Arceus fellow,” Silver replied. 

“You guys gave me quite the shock, falling from the sky like that…” the guy wearing the lab coat cautiously smiles. “But thank goodness, you all seem to be unharmed!”

“We fell from the sky,” Sebek yells. Everyone looks at the guy wearing the lab coat in shock.

“For falling from the sky, I don’t feel any pain,” Jack says as he moves around to see if anything hurts.

“Man this just keeps getting weirder,” Ace huffs. “Anyways, who are you?”

“I’d like to ask you the same,” the guy responded back.

“But I asked you first,” Ace argued.

“Yeah, but… you all fell out of the sky,” the guy frowns. “Come now⎼who in the world does that?!”

“Ace, he has a point,” Trey sighs and shakes his head.

“I must say, your clothing is…” the guy pauses to look at everyone’s outfits. They were all still wearing their Night Raven uniforms. “Unusual. You wouldn’t happen to have an acquaintance in these parts, would you?”

“Nope, not at all,” Deuce walked next to Ace. “We had no idea where we are.”

“I see…” the guy pauses to think of what to say next. “You seem to be in a bit of a pickle. Might I offer you some directions? Do you have somewhere around here you could stay?”

“No we don’t,” Ace frowns. “And you still haven’t said who you are. You’re avoiding my question by asking questions.”

“So you don’t know anyone here, and you don’t even know where to spend the night…” the guys thinks out loud.

“I say we just leave this bumbling idiot,” Leona yawns. “This is getting nowhere.”

“Finally something we can agree upon,” Vil says.

“I think Monsieur Blouse de Laboratoire could help us,” Rook objected. “Besides he does seem to be a resident in this world. It would be helpful to get all the information we can from him.”

“I’ve got it,” the guy smiles. Ace and Deuce take a step back in surprise of the guys outburst. “Well, no gentleman would abandon people in such need!”

“Oh, no,” Ruggie pales. “It’s another Headmaster!”

“I wonder if this is how Yuu felt when they ended up in our world,” Lilia giggles.

“Now's not the time to be giggling,” Cater glanced at Lilia, causing Lilia to burst out laughing.

“Fat⎼Lilia, now is not the time to laugh,” Silver says. The animals that were by the guy wearing the lab coat made some noises since they were feeling neglected. Everyone turned their attention to look at them.

“Oh my, I’d completely forgotten,” the guy says. “I had just caught up to these three runaway Pokemon when you all tumbled out of the sky… It’s almost as if they knew you’d appear here! Ah, but do you even know what a Pokemon is?”

“Not really,” Epel said. 

“We heard of them but don’t know what they are,” Riddle adds in. 

“You… you don’t,” the guy was shocked. “You all truly have traveled a long way, haven’t you?”

“You would not believe how far,” Leona muttered.

“Well, these three here are what we call Pokemon,” the guy explained. “Very mysterious creatures, you see. How marvelous!”

“They all look so adorable,” Kalim coos at the Pokemon.

“I wanna try to squeeze them,” Floyd commented.

“Oh yes…” the guy remembers something. “What might your names be?”

“You still haven’t told us who you are,” Ace shouted, feeling frustrated at being ignored.

“Let’s just all introduce ourselves,” Trey sighs. “Maybe then we can get some actual answers from him.” Some of the guys groaned but complied, they went one by one introducing themselves.

“What lovely names,” the guy complimented. “They must have wonderful meanings. Oh, but I do apologize! I haven’t even introduced myself!”

“I wanna fight him,” Ace goes to move towards the guy but Deuce catches his arm and stops Ace’s advance.

“My name is Laventon,” the guy introduces himself. “I am something of a Pokemon Professor. That is to say, I’m a scholar seeking to deepen our understanding of Pokemon. Just like these three Poke⎼” The three Pokemon that were by Laventon’s side ran off.

“Looks like they ran away,” Jade observed. “I don’t think they like you.”

“Blast and bother,” Laventon cursed. “My darling Pokemon! Why must you run from me again?! I’m terribly sorry, but do you think you could help me round them up? I beg you!”

“I mean we have nothing else better to do,” Vil sighed. “We can’t really do anything without an understanding of this world in order to find a way back to Twisted Wonderland. After we get back there we can go after Grim and Yuu.”

“That sounds like a good plan, Vil,” Azul agreed.

“Let’s go catch some Pokemon,” Kalim cheered. The ‘professor’ went to go chase the run away Pokemon. They all looked at each other before walking in the direction the Pokemon and ‘professor’ went. The group walked a bit before Idia noticed Ortho glowing.

“Hey, wait just a moment,” Idia stops the group. “Something is wrong with Ortho.” Everyone stopped walking to look at Ortho.

“Downloading data,” Ortho said.

“Huh, I wonder what kind of data he’s downloading,” Azul pondered.

“I bestow upon thee this Arc data file and thy mission: seek out all Pokemon,” Ortho says, but the voice sounds like Arceus.

“I don’t even know how that happened,” Idia freaked out. “Oh my sevens, Ortho, are you alright?”

“Downloading complete,” Ortho says, having his normal voice back. “I am doing fine, brother. Let’s just continue.”

“Alright,” Idia says unsure. The group continued on the path, some looking around their surroundings. 

“It doesn’t look like there are any towns or cities in this world,” Ruggie pointed out. 

“Maybe that Laventon guy can help us find some shelter or something,” Jack suggested.

“I wonder if Grim made it to Yuu’s world,” Deuce said. 

“We wouldn’t be in this mess if you could’ve kept your grip on him,” Ace frowned. 

“Ace that’s enough,” Trey scolded.

“Whatever man,” Ace huffed and laid off Deuce. He ended up walking in front of the group.

“Alas… Yet another miss,” Laventon sighs. The group had finally caught up with him. Laventon turns around and sees the group behind him. “I’m glad you’ve come to my rescue, my new friends from the sky! I tried catching my little runaways by tossing some PokeBalls their way, but I’m not the best at this sort of thing, you see…”

“So you want us to help you catch them,” Jamil questioned.

“Yes, of course,” Laventon smiles. “But first let me tell you a bit about these three first. Now, that one is Rowlet! Rowlet can photosynthesize like a plant, and apparently it battles using its sharp feathers. That one over there is Cyndaquil! The fire burning on Cyndaquil’s back will flare up whenever it is surprised or irate. The Pokemon near the pond is Oshawott. Oshawott naps while floating on the water, and it can battle using the shell-like object on its belly!”

“So the Pokemon have breed names, or are they like their actual names,” Kalim questioned.

“Once we find out more about Pokemon,” Azul answered. “I have a feeling that we’ll be here for a while.”

“Oh my,” Laventon gasps. “I nearly forgot to cover the most crucial thing⎼how to go about catching Pokemon! Here you are: PokeBalls! Throw these at Pokemon to catch them.”

“Oui, Monsieur Heart, could you hand me one of those PokeBalls,” Rook asked.

“Uh, sure,” Ace hands Rook a few PokeBalls. 

“Going through new file: PokeBalls,” Ortho said. “ A mysterious ball that can be thrown at wild Pokemon in order to catch them. These balls can be crafted by hand if you gather the necessary materials.”

“Fascinating,” Jade said. “I think that the data Ortho downloaded was information about this world. So we can better navigate it.”

“I think your right on that,” Idia agreed.

“So we just throw the PokeBalls at the Pokemon to catch them,” Epel asked.

“It does make the most sense,” Silver commented. “Ace, may I also have a few PokeBalls?”

“Sure,” Ace responded. “Does anyone else want any?”

“I’ll take some,” Azul spoke up. Silver and Azul walked up to Ace so they could get PokeBalls. Silver looked to where the Pokemon were supposed to be and spotted Cyndaquil. Silver decided to cautiously walk up to it with a PokeBall in his hand.

“So all I have to do is throw it at them,” Silver whispered to himself as he lightly tossed the PokeBall in his hand, trying not to scare the Cyndaquil. As Silver approached the Cyndaquil, he crouched down to be able to get closer to it. He took a deep breath and threw the PokeBall at the Pokemon. The Pokemon became smaller and went inside the PokeBall. The PokeBall landed on the ground and moved some before a circle of stars formed around the ball.

“Oh, how wonderful,” Laventon smiles. “You’ve caught a Pokemon!” Silver stood up, walked over to where the Pokeball was and picked it up.

“Isn’t that something,” Silver smiled.

“Alright, it doesn’t seem that complicated,” Azul smirked. “I would like to go next.” He walked over to the small pond where the Oshawott was. The Oshawott spotted Azul as soon as he got near the pond and started to run in circles. Once the Oshawott stopped running, Azul crouched down and moved a bit closer to it. Azul then threw the PokeBall at the Pokemon. The Oshawott was hit with the PokeBall and went inside of it. The ball landed on the ground and moved a few times before a ring of stars appeared.

“Good job Azul,” Laventon congratulated Azul. “You caught the Pokemon!”

“That was kinda fun,” Azul said while smiling at the PokeBall. He went to pick the PokeBall up.

“Looks like it is my turn,” Rook says. He moves swiftly to where the Rowlet is. He hides behind a tree for a bit before slowly making his way to the Rowlet. Once Rook gets close, he throws the PokeBall. The Pokemon goes into the PokeBall, but just as the PokeBall closes, it opens again and the Pokemon removes itself from the PokeBall.

“Ah, yes,” Laventon frowns. “I’m afraid that can happen… Since PokeBall are fairly new, the rate of successfully catching a Pokemon can vary depending on the type of Pokemon.”

“Let’s try again then,” Rook stated to himself. He saw some bushes to the left of them and moved to hide in them. He waited a bit for the Rowlet to come towards the bush. Once the Pokemon was close enough to the bush, Rook threw another PokeBall. This time the Rowlet was captured by the PokeBall. Rook smiled to himself as he went to get the PokeBall. Rook, Silver, and Azul came back to the group and handed Laventon the PokeBalls.

“Thank you very much,” Laventon said gratefully. “What a relief to have them all back. I wasn’t sure what I would do if they weren’t caught. You see, the three Pokemon you three caught have only just arrived at the village to help with our research. They won’t yet listen to anyone.”

“So they are like wild animals,” Malleus muttered.

“And as I mentioned, they bolted from the village almost as if they knew you’d come falling…” Laventon continued. “But I must say, I was taken aback by how well you three used those PokeBalls. It was almost like second nature, especially because you don’t seem to be from here. One can’t help but think there’s a reason you appeared here and now…”

“I wonder what the reason would be,” Deuce thought out loud.

“Maybe these ‘Pokemon’ can overblot and we need to stop them,” Ace suggested.

“The irony of that happening is unreal,” Cater sighed. “I really hope that isn’t the case though. I didn’t like dealing with overblots.”

“You only dealt with like two of them,” Ace fumed.

“Well we did get a message saying to “Seek out all Pokemon”. That might have something to do with us being here,” Ortho said to Laventon.

“Hmm, seek out all Pokemon,” Laventon repeated back. “That sure is interesting. If you’ll indulge me for a moment, there’s something I’d like to share with you.”

“Sure, we got nothing else better to do,” Leona grunted.

“Would it hurt you to be a bit nicer,” Vil sighed.

“Would it hurt you to leave me alone,” Leona shot back.

“You see, I have a dream⎼” Laventon stated. “A dream to compile this region’s first complete record of its Pokemon! We in the field call such a catalog a Pokedex. A proper Pokedex is a wonderful work of research, containing detailed records of all the Pokemon to be found in a region! In order to properly document Pokemon, one must, of course, catch them. There is one flaw to the Pokedex though. PokeBalls have only just recently been invented, and not many people have mastered the skill of using them.”

“So do you want us to help you complete the Pokedex,” Ruggie asked. “There are a bunch of us and we all could easily wipe it out.”

“Wakasama would be doing no such thing,” Sebek shouted.

“There now Sebek,” Lilia said. “I think it would be a good experience for Malleus to participate in.”

“Your goal is to seek out every Pokemon, and mine is to have all those Pokemon caught,” Laventon says, interrupting the argument. “A situation ripe for teamwork, don’t you agree?”

“I don’t think it would be considered teamwork if we do all of the work,” Floyd pointed out.

“Come now,” Laventon smiles. “Shall we help one another out?”

“I guess, since it doesn’t seem like we have any other choice,” Riddle sighed.

“Then whoever and from wherever you may be, I welcome you with open arms,” Laventon declares. “We’ve got a Pokedex to complete!”

“Man, this guy kinda talks like a npc,” Idia commented.

“Let’s not focus on that right now,” Azul says.

“Now⎼let’s get these Pokemon back to the village,” Laventon states. “Then we’ll sort out your lodgings, find you some proper clothes, a meal, and all that. Follow me! Onward to Jubilife Village!”

“We get free food too?!” Ruggie exclaimed. “I like this guy.”

...to be continued

[im-not-a-joke]

please write the noel x mischa they vote for each other to live but in the end only one of them can au it’s so ashjfkwnd

Me when I finally get around to finishing requests

Read it on ao3

Fic also included after the cut !!

Inside the dimly lit warehouse, the St. Cassian’s chamber choir sat, paired off, each duo quietly conversing. Constance was half-listening, sitting on the stage, while Ocean rambled on about something, again. Ricky and Jane sat at the accordion, having a conversation that must have caused a realization for Ricky, he sat, straight-backed, giving a soft look to Jane, as she stared longingly at the space behind Ricky.

Noel sat, leaning against his boyfriend, quietly watching everything unfold. Mischa would occasionally lift his other arm, taking a drink from the bottle the two of them had been sharing. They took the chance they had to just be together, something they didn’t have often in life.

Mischa tilted his head, resting it on top of Noel’s, closing his eyes and speaking lowly, “I meant it, you know, the world does need more poets,”

Noel huffed, “don’t even think about it. We both know I’m not the one that deserves it most,”

Mischa took a moment to think, trying to phrase what he wanted to say correctly. Noel took the silence as an opportunity to grab his boyfriend’s free hand, resting them on their pressed-together knees.

“Besides, I would rather stay here with you,” Noel squeezed their entwined hands.

“My darling, I cannot give you everything you want here,” Mischa sounded genuinely distressed, Noel felt him straighten, peering down at him.

Noel sat himself up, looking at the other boy with all the love in his heart.

“That’s not true, in just the last like- hour- I’ve gotten to live out my dreams of being Monique, we got to kiss, in front of the choir, you sang me the most passionate love song I’ve ever heard, and now we’re sharing a bottle of vodka,” he used his free hand to cup Mischa’s face, “I’ve gotten to do everything I wanted to do in life, because of you,” the taller boy closed his eyes, leaning into the touch and resting his forehead against Noel’s, “I want to stay here with you,”

Mischa opened his mouth to reply, the words getting caught in his throat. He crumbled, falling into the chest of the boy next to him. He felt Noel wrap his arms around him, surrounding him in the comforting scent of vanilla and Noel’s cat, Marlene. Noel started to rock them gently, swaying back and forth, doing his best to comfort the boy in his arms. He started to hum the tune of the song Mischa had sung earlier, hoping it would express the words that were rapidly building up within his brain.

Upon recognizing the tune, Mischa lifted his head, pressing a sweet kiss into his lips. Noel smiled into the kiss, not caring who was around to see them. He was already dead, there was no use in stopping himself from being happy.

Mischa pulled away, resting his head back against his chest. Noel admired his boyfriend, face hidden in his sweater, smiling into his chest. He had no idea how he had gotten so lucky to not only get to meet someone as sweet as the boy resting on him, but to be dating that boy.

He moved his hand to said boy’s hair, earning a contented hum and feeling him melt somehow closer, until neither of them could tell where Noel ended and Mischa began.

They sat there, Noel softly humming while his boyfriend clung to him, finally at peace.

Then, came the shrill noise of Ocean’s scream.

–

“Final Vote,” Karnak’s robotic voice sounded, “it is time you decide, who lives, who dies,”

Noel saw Mischa quietly talking to Ricky and Jane, gesturing as if he were desperate for them to agree with whatever he was saying. A jolt of fear coursed through his body, there was no way the taller boy could be serious, there was no way he was trying to convince the other two to vote for him.

The two gave Mischa affirmative nods, and he clapped his hands in front of him in excitement. He turned his head, catching Noel’s eyes, who gave him a tight shake of the head. I’m not leaving without you! The other boy just smiled at him.

“So, how are we starting this-” Constance started to speak, only to be interrupted.

“I vote for Noel,” he said decisively, crossing the room to hold his hands, looking directly through his eyes and into his soul.

DING.

“Mischa Bachinski has cast his vote.” the robotic voice boomed.

“Misch- no- I told you, I don’t want to be alive without you,” Noel pleaded, begging him to change his answer. He only squeezed his hands and gave him a hopeful smile in response.

“I, also, vote for Noel,” Ricky spoke up, looking lovingly at Jane, who nodded in agreement.

DING. DING.

“Richard Potts and Jane Doe have casted their votes.”

“Woah woah woah woah- guys- what are we doing!?” Ocean burst in, she looked like she had just watched someone tear up her collection of first-place certificates for the St. Cassian’s Annual Spelling Bee.

“Me, guys, you were supposed to vote for me!” she was crazed, fighting for whatever sanity she had left, “and, if not me, then her,” she gestured wildly at Jane.

“Do not fret, friend, I am happy here,” she attempted to reassure, leaning her head on Ricky’s shoulder.

“I just- I- why him?” she turned, this time, on Mischa.

“Must I always repeat myself with you,” he looked away from Noel only for a moment, “the world needs more poets. Poets like Noel,” once again making eye contact with said poet.

“But- but-”

“Listen, Ocean, think about it,” Constance attempted to calm her friend, reaching for her still wildly flailing hands, “if none of us get out of this, what’s the lesson? At least this way, someone gets to live on,” she turned to look at the subject of Ocean’s outburst, “I vote for Noel too,” she smiled.

DING.

“Constance Blackwood has cast her vote.”

Noel was growing panicked. He couldn’t live, not without his friends, not without Mischa. His life would be a tragedy, and not the fun kind. He didn’t think he could bear the thought of waking up, the lone survivor of a crash that should have- and did- kill him. He didn’t want to go to school, only to see the choir room empty, void of the noise of Ocean’s incessant rambling, the monotone of Ricky’s AAC device, the quiet shuffle of Constance’s uniform skirt as she swayed in place, the sharp ding of Mischa’s phone. He didn’t want to work another shift at that stupid Taco Bell, only to find himself alone, walking home at night, instead of warm and safe, venting to Mischa in his beat up Honda Civic. He didn’t want to walk into the Blackwood Cafe and not hear Constance’s cheery greeting, he didn’t want to live in a world where he never got to eat another homemade cupcake of hers. He didn’t want to live in a world in which Ocean didn’t show up, cold and hungry, at his door past nightfall, a world in which he had no one to have a silent bond with, a world without his sister. He didn’t want to go back to being the Gay Kid in school, alone and scared and with no one to look out for him. He didn’t want to have to hold himself on the hard nights, trying to convince his brain that his boyfriend was next to him, holding him tight. He didn’t want to live in a world without dumb autotuned rap songs, and texts blowing up his phone, and snuck kisses while no one was looking. He didn’t want to be alone.

So, for once, he hoped. Hoped Ocean would come through, hoped she would convince them all to change their votes, to vote for Jane or her, anyone besides Noel or Mischa. He, for the first time in his life, wanted Ocean to be Ocean.

And, for the first time in her life, she wasn’t.

She seemed almost defeated, her confident stride lacking as she made her way to Noel, placing a hand on his shoulder, and giving him the same look he gave her everytime she knocked on his door late at night, care.

“I vote for Noel.”

DING.

“Ocean O’Connell-Rosenberg has cast her vote.”

He began to cry.

Mischa wrapped his arms around him, offering his warmth to comfort him.

“Do not cry, my poet, the world will love you,” he whispered, like a secret, into his hair. The romantic almost believed him, had it not been for the crushing reality that he had to vote for himself, or let his friends’ votes go to waste.

“I don’t want to leave you,” he sobbed into his boyfriend’s chest.

“Is all going to be okay, I promise,” he gave Noel a squeeze, and held him back, at arms length, to give him a good look.

“Please don’t make me,” the other boy pleaded, searching his face for any form of doubt. All he saw looking back at him was love, hope that Noel would go back out and share his words with the world.

“Noel, it is time you move forward,” Karnak boomed.

Noel turned toward where the elevated part of the warehouse had been, and saw the portal. He had been chosen, the only one left to decide was himself.

He had to admit, the brilliant light opening up was intoxicating. He wanted to bathe himself in it, get lost in the warmth forever, it drew him closer, he felt himself leave Mischa’s arms, walking towards the swirling light, seeing himself on the other side, safe and alive.

“Just don’t look back,” Karnak instructed. The interruption broke his focus, drawing him back to his surroundings. Just as he was about to step in, he caught himself, wanting to say a final goodbye.

He turned, looking at his friends, unsure of what to say.

Ocean ran up to him, throwing her arms around him in a hug.

“Take care of the choir room for me- please,”

“Of course, I know just how you like it,” he gave her a final squeeze, “don’t let it go to your head but- I’m going to miss losing my beauty sleep to comfort you every other night,”

She laughed into his shoulder, “I’ll find a way to keep you up, don’t you worry,”

With that, she pulled away, and Noel saw the rest of the choir, lined up to give him a farewell hug.

Constance nearly lifted him off of his feet, spinning him in hug and wishing him luck. Jane gave a surprisingly warm hug, assuring him she wanted to stay behind. Ricky nearly tackled him, thanking him for being his first friend.

Then came Mischa. This was, by far, the hardest goodbye he could face. The two collided, nearly sending them both tumbling backwards into the portal. Noel felt his face wet with tears once again.

“I will never love anyone else,” he sobbed into his boyfriend's shoulder.

“Poet, do not limit yourself because of me. I want you to be happy,”

“You make me happy,”

Mischa pulled back, looking him in the eyes one final time, before pressing a chaste kiss to his lips.

“I love you,”

“I love you, too,”

And with those final words, Mischa turned the love of his life around, and gave him a firm push, forcing him into the light.

Noel’s world went white.

[mycoolwritingcorner]

Sailor Moon: Reignstorm - Chapter 4: Moon Spectrum Power

Usagi and her friends had decided to stop by the Bob-Floy Ice Cream Shoppe on their way home from school, with Rei, Luna and Artemis joining them along the way. The cats found their usual spots on Usagi and Minako’s shoulders before the girls went up to order. With ice cream in hand the girls started to make their way to the Hikawa Shrine for another study session.

“You’d better have that finished before we get there, Usagi.” Rei said, “I don’t need a repeat of what happened the last time you brought ice cream into my room.”

“Hey, that’s not fair!” The bun-headed girl said in response, “Mina made a mess too!”

“Yeah, but I’m Rei’s favorite, so I get a pass.” Minako said, slinging her arm around her raven-haired friend’s shoulders.

“You wish.” Rei responded with a light blush, but without making an effort to remove her friend’s arm.

Ami and Makoto walked behind them, holding their ice cream in one hand and their partner’s hand in the other. Even after they had been together for almost three months, every time Usagi saw the two of them do normal couple things it filled her with joy. She had watched Ami pine after Mako for as long as she could remember, and had begun to worry that Ami would never tell her how she felt. Especially when she thought she lost them during the Galaxia incident. After they came back Usagi strongly considered just locking them in a room together until it was resolved, but ultimately decided against it. She figured it would be best to give them some time to process what had happened to them before forcing something like that. But she swore that if it went on much longer she would’ve been forced to take action.

Although now there seemed to be something going on between Rei and Mina, which was a whole other thing. Originally Usagi just assumed that Mina flirting with Rei was no different than her flirting with… well, everyone. But now she could see why Rei had felt the need to ask her about it. There was definitely something different with how the two of them were acting. 

“Oh, by the way, how did your audition go?” Rei asked, referring to the audition Minako had attended to perform at a local club.

“About as well as I expected.” The Guardian of Beauty said, shrugging her shoulders, “They said they’d call me but… I dunno, I really don’t wanna get my hopes up.”

“Aw, c’mon, give yourself some credit. I’m sure you’ll get it.” Rei said with a smile.

“Rei’s right! In fact, I bet we could already celebrate you getting it by going to see a movie before we go to the shrine!” Usagi said, clearly attempting to get out of work.

“No way, Usagi!” Ami rebuked, “We’ve been taking it way too easy lately. I only got a ninety-one on my last English test!”

“Babe, you know that’s not bad right?” Makoto said before taking another bite of her ice cream.

“I mean… It's not great.” Ami replied.

“Ami, do you have any idea what I would give to get a ninety-one on a test?” Usagi shot back.

“You wouldn’t have to give anything if you would just study.” Luna said snarkily.

“Exactly!” Ami agreed, “Which is why we can see a movie later!”

“Ugh, fine!” Usagi finally caved.

Suddenly, the Guardians felt a shift in the atmosphere, and watched as the sky above them went dark, covered in an inky, black shadow.

“What the-” Usagi began to ask before she was cut off by a large object falling from the sky and impacting down the street from the girls. 

When the dust settled the team was shocked by what they saw. It was seemingly the Makai tree but… wrong. It was roughly the same size as they remembered, but its bark was jet black, with red leaves coming out of its branches. Branches that were currently flailing around and destroying the city, as it moved around on its roots, which seemed to function almost like tentacles.

Floating in front of the Makai Tree were two figures who Usagi immediately recognized: Ail and An. The team quickly ducked into a nearby alley to transform unseen.

“Well, it’s been a minute, ready girls?” Minako asked, to which the others simply nodded in reply.

“Venus Crystal Power!”

“Jupiter Crystal Power!”

“Mars Crystal Power!”

“Mercury Crystal Power!”

“Moon Eternal!”

“MAKE UP!” The five girls shouted in unison, the alley filling with light and energy as they transformed. When it died down, however, it was clear that there was a problem.

Usagi hadn’t transformed.

“What?!” She asked, looking down at herself, “I said, Moon Eternal MAKE UP!”

Nothing.

“I don’t understand.” Usagi said, ripping the Eternal Moon Article off of her uniform and looking down at it. Nothing seemed wrong with it. So why wasn’t it working?

“You hang back with Luna and Artemis and try to figure that out.” Venus instructed, “The rest of you, let’s move!”

Usagi watched helplessly as her friends ran off to fight. She decided it would be best to get to higher ground, so she began quickly making her way up the fire escape in the alley.

“Usagi, what are you doing?” Artemis asked.

“I don’t know!” Usagi blurted out.

She made it to the roof and looked out to see her friends fighting. They were holding their own, but it was clear they were outclassed. She looked down again at the Article.

“C’mon, I need you to work!”

…

“Jupiter Oak Evolution!” Jupiter shouted as she attempted to attack the raging Makai Tree. Unfortunately, her attack failed to leave so much as a mark on the tree’s body, “Damn, this thing’s tough.”

Meanwhile Sailor Mars and Sailor Venus had engaged Ail and An, but were struggling to get close to them due to their telekinetic powers.

“So what gives? I thought you guys turned good?” Venus questioned while dodging an attack from Ail.

“Good, bad, does it really matter?” An said, launching an energy attack at Mars, which the Guardian of Fire barely managed to avoid.

“Uh, yeah, I would say it does!” Mars said, “Fire Soul Bird!” She shouted as a large bird made of fire erupted from her body and towards An, who effortlessly repelled it with a psychic shield.

Mercury had hung back and was using her computer to analyze their opponents, “This doesn’t make any sense! They’re significantly stronger than last time! And this energy they’re giving off… it couldn’t be…”

“Mercury look out!” She heard Jupiter cry from across the battlefield, prompting her to just barely avoid being crushed by one of the tree’s roots. 

“Uh, guys, not to be a spoil sport but I don’t think we’re winning here!” Jupiter said sarcastically while launching another bolt of lightning towards the Makai Tree, which once again had no effect.

“Yeah thanks Jupiter I got that!” Venus said as another of her attacks bounced off of Ail’s psychic shield. 

…

“C’mon, work dammit!” Usagi shouted as she shook the Article in her hands, “This is a really bad time for… whatever this is!”

Suddenly, cracks started to form in the Article, and it all but exploded in Usagi’s hands before the newly freed Silver Crystal floated up in front of her face.

“What…?” Was all she could manage to say.

The crystal started flashing different colors in front of her.

Blue.

Red.

Green.

Orange.

Navy.

Sea Green.

Garnet.

Purple.

Pink.

The color sequence repeated, faster and faster each time.

Blue, Red, Green, Orange, Navy, Sea Green, Garnet, Purple, Pink.

Blue, Red, Green, Orange, Navy, Sea Green, Garnet, Purple, Pink.

Blue, Red, Green, Orange, Navy, Sea Green, Garnet, Purple, Pink.

Until finally, a new object formed around the crystal. Floating in the air in front of Usagi was a silver compact, with a large pink crystal in the center, with eight smaller, different colored crystals surrounding it.

“Usagi, that-”

“I know, Luna.” She said, grabbing the compact out of the air in front of her and affixing it to the bow on her school uniform, “Alright, let’s do this.” She said with a small smirk before raising her hand into the air.

“Moon Spectrum Power! MAKE UP!”

With that, Usagi exploded into a series of multicolored lights, before ultimately emerging as another new incarnation of Sailor Moon.

Her skirt was white with a pattern on the front which included nine different colored lines. Both her gloves and boots were now white, the shoulder frills which she had on her fuku as Super Sailor Moon had returned, along with her tiara. The tiara was no longer gold, however, but instead silver.

From her transformation four beams of light shot out and impacted her friends, altering their appearances as well. Their skirts were now multi-layered, as hers had been when she was Eternal Sailor Moon, each layer having a different shade of their respective color. They also gained bubbles on their shoulders, as well as knee-high, white boots.

The Sailor team looked up to see Usagi floating above them, utilizing a pair of butterfly wings which appeared to be made of some kind of rainbow energy.

“Sailor Guardians! You guys take Ail and An!” She instructed from above, “Leave this overgrown weed to me.” She finished, tightening her gloves.

--

So, I have a couple things I should say here:

First, yes Mako bites her ice cream (aka eats it the right way) deal with it.

Second, I don't have a lot of experience writing fight scenes, so if they come off as a little weak, that's probably why.

Third, this is probably one of the more self-indulgent aspects of this fic as I... HATE Sailor Moon's Eternal form. I always wished they had done more to incorporate some of the design elements of Sailor Cosmos as opposed to... whatever they were going for with Eternal, and thus I tried to do that with "Spectrum" Sailor Moon (Having more white on the costume, using Cosmos's skirt design, etc.) I do like the Eternal Forms of the other guardians though and the 90s anime cheated us out of seeing those, so I decided to incorporate them as well. Like I said, this element of the story was very self-indulgent.

NEXT TIME: Sailor Moon discovers the new abilities which come with her new transformation! The Inner Guardians vs Ail and An! And our mysterious masked villain finally makes the scene!

Until then, let me know what you all think! Comments, likes, reblogs, etc. are very much appreciated!

And come back next time for Chapter 5: Enter Reign.

First Chapter

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter

[muppeteyes1001]

Seeds of Doubt

The market place was always a madhouse during this time of the day. That was clear as the felinoid steadily made her way back home, carrying two large brown paper bags. One in each arm. Finally reaching her front door, she lets out a tired sigh before trying to fish for her keys in her pocket ... Which was proving to be quite the chore with both arms currently full. As the cat woman briefly struggled, she finally finds the keys, but in turn, one of her bags topples over and begins to fall to the ground ... along with a couple of food items. However ... miraculously ... none would ever touch the pavement.

"Whoops! .. Be careful, miss ... Don't want your dinner rolling down the street now do we?"

Hearing the sound of someone's voice, Kitt looks up and sees a man whom she's never seen before. He offered a gentle smile as he held the bag she had nearly dropped in one hand, while holding a pomegranate and an orange that had attempted to escape in the other.

"O..Oh! Thank you so much! .. Apologies ..that was a bit clumsy of me" the cat woman sheepishly replied. She was clearly surprised by the sudden appearance of this stranger.

"Not to worry! Glad I was able to offer a hand" he began, adjusting his hold on the bag. He then raised a quizzical brow towards her "Strange! .... You don't seem all that startled to see me, considering that I .. uh .. kind of stick out around here" he remarked, gesturing towards a few of the animal-like locals strolling about.

Hearing this, Kitt huffed a chuckle. "Well, you're definitely not local .. That's for sure" she mused with her small, side smile before continuing. "But I've traveled a lot ... And have met all sorts of folks, so nothin' really shocks me all that much anymore" she reassured the strange man. To which he seemed to relax before making a polite request.

"Say! .. If it's alright .. May I perhaps trouble you for a glass of water? .. I'd just got into town and don't really know the place all that well .. So .." the man explained. His tone was gentle, but with a hint of awkwardness to it.

"Of course! ... I actually have some tea already brewing up in the kitchen .. You're welcome to some if you like .. I mean, it's the least I can do after you've practically saved my supper, yes?" the felinoid chortled. With her key in hand, she easily opens the door. The man thoughtfully holds it open to let her in first. As she goes inside, a small insidious smirk forms on his face before following her.

Once they've arrived up to her flat, the felinoid leads the man into the kitchen. Indeed, a pot of rose hip tea was gently steaming atop the stove. Setting her grocery bag on the table, she goes to tend to the kettle after insisting her new guest to have a seat. To which he does after setting the other bag down.

"Oof! .. Sorry 'bout the mess, but I wasn't exactly expectin' any company today" Kitt apologized after moving some empty dishes and utensils into the sink to be taken care of later.

"Ah don't worry! .. Hardly notice it" the man joked before taking a lazy glance around the room as the felinoid prepped the tea. It wouldn't take very long as she finished setting up the tea tray. However, she blinked and jolted slightly at the realization that she had not even asked his name ... Or told him hers, for that matter.

"Oh gods! .. Where are my manners? ... I'm Katrina .. or simply Kitt, if ya like .. Pleasure!" she finally introduces herself with a small head nod, bringing over the tray of tea along with two cups and sides of cream and sugar.

"Jareth .. And the pleasure's all mine" he returns the gesture. As he was given a cup, the felinoid poured him some of the hot brew as he casually looked around her space again.

"So .. Do you live here alone?" Jareth inquired curiously.

"Usually I do! .. Though to be honest, I hardly ever am home .. what with work, visiting folks, an' whatnot" Kitt casually replies, sitting down as she puts a bit of cream in her tea. She took quick notice of the very personal question being brought straight out the gate, but decided not to point it out. Not just yet, anyway. Perhaps it was just simple curiosity. After taking a sip from her own cup, she gives her own inquiry.

"So .. What brings you to Dawnsburgh, aye?.. Buisness? ... Pleasure?" the cat woman asked kindly, before stirring some sugar into her cup.

"A little bit of both, actually .... As a matter of fact, I believe you can be of some help to me" Jareth responded with a low chuckle. His hands folding together over his barely touched teacup.

Kitt's ears pick up at this, giving the man a curious .. but wary .. glance. "Oh!? .. In what way, pray tell?" she mildly prods, humoring him a little as she wondered where this was going.

"I was hoping you can tell me just how such an infamous jewel thief is seemingly able to keep things .. together .. Er, stable, if you will?" Jareth asks. His tone felt a little shaky towards the end, but the very unexpected question made the cat woman quirk her brow.

"Really now? .. Hmm! .. Well sounds like you already know quite a bit about me already, no? .. But if you wish to hire me for a heist job, there's a certain way of goin' about it" she informs calmly before taking another sip. Something was up! .. And she needed to tread carefully.

"Oh No, I'm not talking about that .. What I'm saying is that I know a lot about you, Katrina .... Very much so! .. And my quite the unfortunate soul you are ... A shame really .. Losing both parents at such a young age ... left in the care of a neglectful ward for years .. Why it must've been such a shock for you to go from having a loving family .. to becoming an unwanted orphan almost overnight" he feigned sympathy before continuing on.

"Not only that, you've gone and resorted to petty larceny in a desperate attempt to fill that empty void in your heart ... And because you've been such a bad kitten in the past, it's come back to bite you ... In terms of adopting those two little waifs, that is"

"So how long have you been trying for, huh? .. A few months, a year .. maybe more ..... And it's always the same result ... Rejection, after rejection, after rejection ..." Jareth crooned mockingly.

Kitt had been listening to the man's bold, invasive talk. It wasn't as if these facts of her life had been hidden from the public. Many of the people who knew her here already knew of them. Though, some parts were obviously embellished for his own dramatic amusement. Why this man seemed so interested in researching all this and telling her her own story back to her, she hadn't the foggiest.

However, at the last bit, the felinoid tensed up, gripping her cup a little tighter .. Now, he was bringing her two young friends into this. What the hell is he trying to do? ... She held her tongue for the time being and kept her attention mildly off of him. Though, it was proving to be a very tough challenge to not reach across the table and smack that vile mouth clean off the pale, vermin's face.

Jareth notices Kitt seemingly not listening to him as she continued to stir and sip from her teacup.

"Hey!! .. Are you deaf?.. I'm talking to you!" He called out, annoyed.

"No .. But I sure wish I was to be quite honest" Kitt snapped back. Finally looking up from her tea and back at him. Glaring through narrowed wintergreen eyes.

He huffs, slowly trying to compose himself "Right! .. I've heard of that mouth of yours" he mumbles to himself. Though audible enough for her to hear.

"Oh have ya now!? ... Then you should also know how rude and just bloody creepy it is for some stranger from off the street to waltz into a person's home and all of a sudden start telling them their whole life story" the felinoid points out incredulously.

"I believe you've invited me here" the man fires back with a wagging finger.

"And I very much regret it! ... Now I don't know who or what ya are .. or why you're even doin' all this, but tea's over .. And it's time for you to leave" she has had enough, and wanted this man gone.

At that moment as Kitt stood up from her chair, the door to the kitchen that was behind the man, had suddenly slammed shut. The three windows near her then began to rattle slightly before they became barricaded by what looked to be metal plates that seemed to have magically appeared. The felinoid's eye widened in absolute shock as she looked over the materialized blockades before quickly returning her attention back to the man.

"We are not done here! .. So .. Sit .. Down!" Jareth demanded through clenched teeth.

By this time, the cat woman now understood that she was dealing with something much more than just a cruel, nonsensical prank. Kitt begrudgingly did as she was told and slowly sat back down. This man had powers, though she wasn't sure how much .. or how strong. It'd be wiser to play this safe and not aggravate the situation further.

Jareth smiles as the felinoid complied. She needed to know that he was in control, not her.

Taking a breath to calm herself, Kitt tries to placate him a bit and give a solid reason as to why she needed to leave.

"Listen .. I wasn't plannin' on staying here for too long, anyway .. I'm actually supposed to be heading off to meet up with someone in a bit ... They will be expecting me" she explained, hoping that would be enough to change his mind.

"Are you now? ... That someone wouldn't happen to be a king, would it? .... As in, the Xandoran king, himself" the trickster states with a knowing smile.

Kitt's eyes widened once more. Terror began to trickle into her heart as the fur along her back and neck began to bristle. Just how much does this man know? .. Who the hell is he?

"So tell me, just how close are you two, huh? ... I must say a big rich oaf like that, he's quite the catch, isn't he? .... Can't say much for his taste, though ... But, either way, .. it must concern you to see him .. enjoying himself with the company of others" Jareth states as he begins to toy with a bubble-like object that appeared in his hand.

Kitt watches this man's every move cautiously before speaking to him again. Trying to keep herself calm and collected despite how he was referring to Alex and talking to her.

"Why would it? ... Everyone's free to talk and spend time with whomever they want ... That includes the king, as well as me ... Just what are you tryin' to get get at?"

He then blew on the magic bubble so that it floated idly between them to where Kitt began to see visuals within it. Visuals playing out what he was about to describe.

"Only the fact that he has many people around him, doesn't he? .. Admirers and all that .... And a few of which would make very promising suitors .. Ones that can provide everything someone of his title and status could ever want ... Power, riches, kingdoms, armies, heirs ....... I mean a king's gonna king no matter what .. And he's no different" Jareth proclaims matter-of-factly. At that moment, the little show playing via bubble stops before it gently popped out of existence.

"And then there's you ... Tell me, what can someone like you .. A lone vagabond who wields no power, no magic, one who's family wealth's nearly squandered .. Why, you don't even hold a title, do you? ..... Tell me, what exactly can you ever offer a king? .. Loyalty? .. As if he doesn't already get that from his numerous guards and servants on a constant and daily basis" he added.

"I'm not a vagabond! .. And though my family's wealth was squandered, it was not by me .. If you're gonna follow fatuous rumors, then you're no different from the other dunderheads I hear yappin' behind my back on a constant and daily basis" Kitt pointed out tersely. Her own mocking tone showing off intently.

Jareth then continued on with his condescending prattle.

"Or perhaps .. You give him nostalgia .. After all, you are a small remnant of his past, aren't you? ... A sweet little reservoir of memories he likes to lap up from every now and then .. It's not uncommon for feelings of nostalgia to often be confused with that of love" he informed with a sneer. At that, Kitt's irate expression dropped to a slightly thoughtful one. Her brows then furrowed before swiftly turning her gaze elsewhere.

"... And If not that, then maybe he just sees you as a cute pet" Jareth says with a shrug. He then takes quick notice of the ruby necklace around Kitt's neck. "That's quite a fancy little collar? .. Is that from him, too?" he mocks her again. To which the cat woman responds by instantly slamming both gloved palms onto the table top before rising from her seat again.

"Alright!! .. Enough with all this tripe talk ... If all you're tryin' ta do is get me riled up, you're just wasting your breath .. I want you out! .. Right now! ... You can either go willingly through the front door or unwilling through the window .. Take your pick, mate!!" she demanded. Her teeth slightly bared.

"Oh! Don't worry .. I will be leaving .. But I have a little game that I'd like to play first .. And I need you to come with me"

"Like hell I am!" Kitt barks out angrily. She turns to grab for her crooked cane but then suddenly finds Jareth appear in front of her. She looks up at the taller man in shock.

"Now now .. We can do this the easy way ..Or the fun way .. Take your pick, sweetheart" he chides with a toothy grin.

Grasping the cane, the felinoid bares her teeth as she expertly swings the cane forward. However, the man had vanished just as quick as he did before. In a blink, he then appears at her side and knees her promptly in the stomach. She flies a few feet, back slamming into the wall causing the kitchen shelves with various items and glass ware to crash to the floor along with her.

Coughing and gasping, Kitt puts an arm around her stomach. The kick had literally taken the wind out of her as she struggled to push herself up with the other arm. But to no avail, as the pain was just soo intense. Jareth casually picks her cane up off the floor and walks over to where she fell. Her body too stunned to move, she looks up at him. A painful expression on her face.

Standing over her, the trickster raises up Kitt's cane. It's curved handle hovering just over her head.

"Looks like you won't be seeing that giant salamander for tea today! .... Night night, girlie" Jareth said with a cocky smile before bringing the cane down hard onto the felinoid's head.

Kitt was out cold.

[primefan15]

Chapter 3: Doubt

John 4:1-6 

Test the spirits

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefor speak from the viewpoints of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

Up to this point, Paul has been suspiciously alert with the events happening in our house and our yard. 

Many nights my two daughters would stare out the window, eventually, at certain times, they would see strange lights as if they were stars or planes. 

Only these "stars" moved,

disappeared, 

reappeared,

changed color, such as neon purple/pink, blue, red, white, and a whole slew of a variety of colors.

They would also either blink these colors rapidly, or in a pattern.

And then, what started on the outside began happening on the inside.

Meaning, whatever weird, unnatural, or abnormal sightings we were witnessing out in the night sky, started to happen in our house. 

My two daughters and I started seeing shadows and lights on the ceilings and walls.

To list some events, for example: at night I was using our downstairs bathroom. And underneath the door I saw a shadow go by as if someone walked past the door. But since the door was closed, I didn't completely know who it was that walked past.

But, as I went upstairs to go back to bed, I noticed everybody in our house were fast asleep, including our cat.

And after that, my two daughters came to me about witnessing the same event around the same time at night.  Also, hearing footsteps in the hallway upstairs. A pacing that would happen every night.

They would also tell me about seeing shadows go from left to right or seeing things like cloud-like objects or white figures out of the corner of their eye.  Objects would fly off of shelves or across the room.

Most encounters we got happened at night, sometimes different events during the day. At first, we thought maybe we were losing our minds. 

Paul comes up to me and says one day "Have you been noticing anything weird happening in the house?" 

I reply, "Weird like how?" 

Paul says "Feel like things are watching you, or you think you see shadows but when you look, you don't see anything. Because I hear weird tapping on the wall, water bottles being scrunched up like someone's squeezing them, gusts of wind in the house. And the strangest of all is the weird sensations like you're on a boat." 

I reply with "We were waiting for you to say something." 

He looked stunned, like he now knew that we were experiencing the same things.

One by one, we all couldn't wait to tell our stories that we have experienced, seen, and heard.

We all had individual experiences that we couldn't wait to tell because finally we could share them.

We didn't think Paul would take this information to be true, so we had kept it to ourselves for weeks up until he had said something.

Paul was blown away; he didn't know what to say.

"Are these things good or bad?" He asks.

We didn't even know what we're dealing with yet.

I proceeded to tell Paul a story that I had kept from him for awhile.

I was in the laundry room, sorting the many piles of clothes, when a very large hand wrapped around my whole right ankle, just for 2 or 3 seconds, then let go.

I almost jumped out of my skin at that very moment it happened.

Funny thing is, I've had a problem with the same ankle for a while. My ankle would lock up out of nowhere and cause me to fall.

Shortly after the hybrid issue, my ankle had begun to lock up so bad while I was in the yard, I damn near broke my leg, falling to the ground.

After those hands grabbed my ankle, not only did it not lock up anymore, but it made my ankle stronger. I have not had a problem since.

I've caught my cat Gideon getting what appeared to be a neck rub from Roy.

"Giddy" as we call him, was purring loudly, his head tilted to the side, getting what looked like a neck rub while sitting on my dresser. In the room, you can only see what to me looks like a cloud by the dresser, it looks white and sparkly, like a round aura. 

Whatever this was has passed the Giddy test, as he is highly suspicious of anyone who comes in our house. Giddy trusted whatever this was.

Whatever this thing was that was petting Giddy really likes cats. 

Any one of us could've been hurt at any time but instead we are being guarded and healed.

I do not mind this entity; I just want to know why they are here in our house?  What is their purpose, just to protect us from an evil Lizard like man creature? For so much activity and encounters, it seemed unlikely it was here simply just to guard us from something. We were about to find out their sole purpose to humanity and their connections to the spiritual realm.

One night, there was a constant tapping on my shelf that held posters and various books, including the Bible. A paper from a previous Bible study flew off the shelf onto the floor. This paper was tucked away into the shelf as it was to be added to in a future study.

The paper read:

Doctrine of Imminency

Believers are taught to expect the Savior from Heaven at any moment.

Phillipians 3:20

This was confirmation to us that they were good. 

[wonderfuldeath]

.o| It's a small world : VI |o.

Warnings : Violence, injury, graphic depictions, sex

Please, consider supporting me on Ko-Fi ! ♥

« - Freak it... »

A moan passes Yoongi's lips, as he arches his back, seeking more contact with the hips moving against him. His fingers tighten on the sheets as he moans a little louder, letting his taut penis empty against the sheets for the third time. Taking several long breaths of oxygen, Yoongi let himself fall back against the mattress, feeling the warm liquid against his lower back, making him gently shudder with happiness. 

« - You seem to be good at this. 

- Obviously so, but isn't that thanks to my partner? »

Jimin's warm lips pass against the bare shoulder, and he can feel Yoongi tense up, but gently push him away. Clearly he'd had enough and doesn't really feel like continuing their little game. He can feel Jimin rolling against the bed next to him, looking for something to hang on to in the room, as he blows softly. Jimin remains completely silent, before opening his mouth, breaking their little bubble. 

« - Have you ever had a gun to your head?

At first Yoongi doesn't answer, before sitting up on his elbows, looking at him a little taken aback, not knowing what to say. 

- I'm sorry, what? 

- I mean... Never mind, it's a strange question. »

Yoongi can't say anything when Jimin moves, straightening up to go to the bathroom of his apartment, and Yoongi runs a hand through his black hair. Looking at his phone before tossing it away, he opens the window where the onset of winter blows its icy air. Taking a long drag on his cigarette, before blowing out the opaque white smoke, he's surprised when Jimin quickly returns. 

« - You can go to the shower if you like. Didn't you say you were trying to quit? 

- Too complicated. I don't like complicated. 

- I know you don't. »

The cigarette is quickly thrown out of the window, as he gently closes it, before shutting himself in the bathroom. They'd been sleeping together for two months now. And then nothing. Yoongi hardly ever stayed over, or Jimin would disappear before morning, leaving before he woke up. It was a bit of a cat-and-mouse game, which began to tire Jimin. He wanted to put their relationship into words, to understand what was happening to them, were they lovers? Lovers? Sex friends? Or just friends with benefits? A vibrating noise makes him react, and he realizes after grabbing the phone that it wasn't his, but Yoongi's. But curiosity gets the better of him, and he looks over his shoulder to make sure the man isn't coming back. But curiosity got the better of him, and he looked over his shoulder to make sure the man wasn't coming back. The answer to all his questions appeared there, on the screen, where a certain 'Girlfriend number 4' had replied to a message Jimin couldn't read. 

« - Tomorrow at two, don't be late sweetie, I always miss you on business trips. »

Business trips? Yoongi hadn't toured for two years now, due to an injury to his shoulder after an accident. The joke, Jimin doesn't know whether he should laugh, or just cry, biting his lower lip, he straightens up, throwing the phone further away, regretting his sickly curiosity and need for etiquette. The bathroom door doesn't take long to open, and Jimin clears his throat, looking at Yoongi already dressed and ready to go. 

« - Are we meeting tomorrow night? 

- No. 

Yoongi is surprised by Jimin's rather curt tone, and the teenager understands, forcing a smile onto his lips.

- Taehyung finally invited me to celebrate the remission of a child from the hospital tomorrow evening. 

- Since when? 

- Just now. Just now while you were taking a shower. 

- Okay. » 

Jimin doesn't hold back Yoongi, returning his phone with a smile, before closing the door, the twinge in his heart seeming cruel, as he lets himself go. Sadness gripped his throat, as he let himself go with the pain against his front door. He really had been too stupid to think that someone like Min Yoongi could ever be interested in someone like him. 

                                                                     -X-

« - Don't you think it's weird? We're kidnapped, then released. No problem. » 

Both eyes landed on Jimin, Taehyung had barely touched his salad and Elyzabeth was visibly struggling to get her hair into a more comfortable position. Both remained silent in the face of the younger man's question, certainly waiting for him to express more information on the subject. Or at least for him to dig a little deeper into his thoughts. 

« - I mean, it's been three months, and no reprisals. It's still strange, isn't it? 

- The guy with the bandana said he'd only come back if there was a problem. 

- That means the guy survived, period. 

- Period? Doesn't that haunt you? »

Jimin seemed bewildered, obviously not used to the omnipresent anxiety, or to patients capable of anything to get a dose of morphine. They'd both worked in emergency departments, and had been mugged or held at gunpoint in the hospital on several occasions during their shifts. But Jimin had never had this kind of problem; he was a simple dance student, focused on being the best and seeing his dream come true. The real problem hit them both a little hard, as Jimin looked down at his trembling hands, remembering what a nightmare it could be to have a gun pointed at you, and the fear of dying at any moment. 

« - That's not what we said either. Obviously, the situation was... Traumatizing. 

- Completely delirious, you mean? So why don't we talk about it? Why are we just waiting for time to pass? 

- We promised we wouldn't say anything to the police, in exchange for them leaving us alone. The deal was clear. 

- I know, but... »

Taehyung hadn't meant to sound so cold, and he realized his mistake when Jimin felt small, attacked, tepid tears streaming down his cheeks, making the two of them react quickly to take him in their arms. Trying to calm his stress in a friendly, comforting embrace. The reality was that Jimin could no longer feel confident, the slightest thing made him nervous, he felt spied on, followed, harassed. And a slight sob passed his lips again, as he tried to keep calm. 

« - I'm afraid they'll come back, I'm afraid they'll come after us again. To me. I'm... I'm afraid they'll come again. 

- You need... Talk to someone, Jimin. We're here if you need us. 

- And Dr. Myeong is our best therapist. He could follow you, don't you think? 

- I think... I think I do. I think I need it. I want to see someone competent. I think I need it. I can't do it with someone else. »

A slight nod passes Taehyung and Elyzabeth, as they both watch Jimin trying to hold back his tears, running a hand over his face, before finally giving in completely. He needed to shake himself off and pull himself together - his life was in his hands. 

[thistledown-au-warriors]

into the wild - chapter 22

< Chapter 21 || Index || Chapter 23 >

Fire Heart and Gray Stripe retraced their steps to ThunderClan territory. Both cats were bone-weary and wet through, but Fire Heart kept up the pace. The storm was beginning to move away. A ThunderClan patrol would be out soon and on Violet Fang's trail. They had to find her first.

The sky was still dark, even though the black thunderclouds were beginning to roll away toward the horizon. Fire Heart guessed that it must be nearly sunset.

“Why don’t we head straight into ShadowClan territory?” suggested Gray Stripe as they ran down the steep hillside into Fourtrees.

“We need to pick up Violet Fang's scent first." Fire Heart explained. “I just hope it won’t lead to the ShadowClan camp.”

Gray Stripe glanced sideways at his friend, but didn’t reply.

They headed back over the stream, into ThunderClan territory. There was no trace of the old molly until they crossed into the oak woods close to the camp.

Now that the rain had finally stopped, the scents around them were beginning to return. Fire Heart hoped that the rain had not washed away Violet Fang's trail completely. He stopped and brushed at a fern with the tip of his nose, and recognized the familiar smell. Violet Fang's fear-scent prickled in his nostrils. “She came this way!” he meowed.

He pushed his way through the wet undergrowth. Gray Stripe followed. The rain was easing, and the thunder was fading into the distance. Time was running out. Fire Heart pushed on faster.

To his dismay, he realized Violet Fang's scent was indeed leading them straight to ShadowClan territory. His heart sank. Doubt began to seep into his mind. Fire Heart started hoping that each new smell would take them in a different direction, but the trail was unfaltering.

They arrived at the Thunderpath and halted. Several monsters roared by, throwing up fountains of dirty water. The two cats hung back from the edge of the wide, gray track until there was a gap. Then they raced across the path and into ShadowClan territory.

The scent markers that lined the border made Fire Heart’s paws tingle.

Gray Stripe halted and looked around nervously. “I always thought I’d have a few more warriors with me when I finally entered ShadowClan territory.” he confessed.

“Not afraid, are you?” Fire Heart murmured.

“Aren’t you? My mother warned me about the stench of ShadowClan many times.”

“My mother never taught me such things.” Fire Heart replied. But for the first time he was relieved that his fur was so wet that it clung to his body — Gray Stripe might not notice the way it was bristling fearfully along his spine.

The two cats prowled onward, alert to every sight and sound. Gray Stripe was on the lookout for ShadowClan patrols, and Fire Heart for the ThunderClan party he knew must come soon.

Violet Fang's scent trail led them steadily into the heart of ShadowClan’s lands. The woods here were gloomy, the undergrowth crowded with nettles and brambles over the marshy earth.

“I can’t smell her.” complained Gray Stripe. “It’s too wet.”

“It’s there.” Fire Heart assured him.

“I can smell that though!” Gray Stripe spat suddenly.

“What?” Fire Heart hissed. He stopped, alarmed.

“Kit-scent. There’s kit blood here!”

Fire Heart sniffed again, seeking out the smell of ThunderClan offspring. “I smell it too.” he agreed. “And something else!” He flicked his tail down sharply, warning Gray Stripe to keep quiet. Then, silently, he signaled with his whiskers toward a blackened ash tree up ahead.

Gray Stripe twitched his ears questioningly. Fire Heart gave him a tiny nod. Violet Fang was sheltering behind the wide, split trunk.

Instinctively the two cats separated, each moving toward the tree, one on either side. They crept over the soft forest floor, using all the tricks of basic training, stepping lightly, keeping their bodies low.

Then they leaped.

Violet Fang yowled with surprise as the two cats landed beside her and pinned her to the ground. She struggled free, spitting, and backed into a sheltered hollow at the base of the trunk. Fire Heart and Gray Stripe moved forward, blocking her way out.

“I knew ThunderClan would blame me!” she hissed, her eyes flashing with all her old hostility.

“Where are the kits? We can smell their blood!” spat Gray Stripe. “Have you harmed them?”

“I don’t have them.” snarled Violet Fang angrily. “I’ve come to find them and take them back. I stopped because I smelled blood too. But they’re not here.”

The apprentices looked at one another.

“I don’t have them!” insisted Violet Fang.

“Why did you run away, then? Why did you kill Leaf Spots?” Gray Stripe asked, narrowing his eyes.

“Leaf Spots is dead ?” There was no mistaking the shock in the old molly's voice.

Relief washed over Fire Heart. “You didn’t know?” he croaked.

“How could I? I left the camp as soon as I heard the kits were missing.”

Gray Stripe looked suspicious, but Fire Heart could hear the truth in her voice. The dark cloud of doubt finally left his mind. He knew he could've trusted her.

“I know who has taken the kits.” she continued. “I smelled his scent near the nursery.”

“Who was it?” Fire Heart asked.

“Claw Strike — one of Shadow Broken Tail's warriors. And as long as the kits are with ShadowClan, they’re in great danger.”

“But surely even ShadowClan wouldn’t harm kits!” Fire Heart protested.

“Don’t be so sure.” spat Violet Fang. “Broken Tail intends to use them as warriors.”

“But they are barely three moons old!” Gray Stripe gasped.

“That hasn’t stopped him before. He has been training kits as young as three moons since he became leader. At six moons he sends them out as warriors!”

“Surely they’d be too small to fight!” Fire Heart protested. But in his mind’s eye he pictured the undersized ShadowClan apprentices he had seen at the Gathering, and some scrawny looking warriors who attacked ThunderClan. They weren’t just small, they were kits!

Violet Fang hissed scornfully. “Broken Tail doesn’t care about that. He has plenty more kits to spare, and if they run out, he can steal them from other Clans!” Her voice was filled with rage. “After all, we’re talking about a cat who killed kits from his own Clan!”

The two toms were stunned.

“If he killed ShadowClan’s kits, why wasn’t he punished?” Fire Heart asked at last.

“Because he lied.” growled Violet Fang. Bitterness made her voice hard. “He accused me of their murder, and ShadowClan believed him! They were my own nieces!”

Fire Heart suddenly understood. “Is that why you were driven out of ShadowClan?” he asked gently. “You have to come back with us and tell all this to Blue Fur.”

“Not before I have rescued your kits!” Violet Fang spat.

Fire Heart lifted his head and sniffed the air. The rain had stopped, and the wind was dying down. The ThunderClan patrol would be well on its way. They were not safe here.

Gray Stripe still seemed shocked by the healers' accusation. “How could a leader kill kits from his own Clan?” he demanded.

“Broken Tail insisted on training them too hard and too young. He took two of the kits away for battle practice.” Violet Fang took a deep, wheezing breath. “They were only four moons old. They were already dead when he brought them back to me. They bore the scratches and bites of a full warrior, not of apprentices. He must have fought them himself. There was nothing I could do. When my sister came to see them, Broken Tail was with me. He said that he had found me standing over their dead bodies.” Her voice cracked and she looked away.

“Why didn’t you tell her it was Broken Tail?” Fire Heart asked in disbelief.

Violet Fang shook her head. “I couldn’t.”

“Why not?”

The old molly hesitated. When she spoke, her voice was heavy with regret. “Broken Tail is ShadowClan’s leader. Shadow Ragged Claws was his father. The Clan leader's word is law.”

Fire Heart looked away and the three cats sat in silence for a moment. Then he meowed, “We’ll rescue the kits together. Tonight. But we can’t stay here. The ThunderClan patrol is coming.” He paused. “If Tiger's Claw is with them, you don't stand a chance. He’ll kill you before we can explain.”

Violet Fang looked at him, alert and determined again. “There’s peat this way.” she told him. “Our scents will be disguised there.”

She leaped into a clump of ferns and Fire Heart and Gray Stripe quickly followed her. They could hear the rustling of undergrowth in the distance now. It was no longer the wind that disturbed the bushes, but an approaching patrol, no doubt hungry for revenge and fired up by Tiger's Claw’s lies.

An eerie stillness settled over the woods, and a thin fog was beginning to gather between the tree trunks. Fire Heart shook the droplets off his coat and impatiently pulled a burr off his chest.

Violet Fang led them onward. The ground grew even soggier, and their paws began to sink into the soft peat. The musty smell choked Fire Heart's nostrils, but at least it would mask their own trail. Behind them, the noise of cats grew louder.

“Quick, under here.” Violet Fang urged, ducking under a broad-leaved bush. The three cats crouched beneath it, drawing in their tails. Fire Heart kept as still as he could, trying to ignore the rank wetness of the ground seeping into his belly fur, and listening to the rustling of the ThunderClan patrol as it came nearer and nearer.

[thepaintedlady00]

The Sandman and the Girl Without Dreams

Chapter 6: Friends As Endless and Constantine As Mine

REPOSTING! Sorry all, my app is glitched to shit so I'm reposting to fix the missing read more issue! If you can just like and repost or something to boost this one I'd appreciate it since the other will be deleted! <3

TW: angst, depression, slight horror, slight blood, slight gore (sorry for the late posting, technical difficulties are a bitch) BUT here are all 13,039 (aka 34 pages) of chapter 6!

1934

I was floating in an endless sea of stars, the ebb and flow of cosmic waves wrapping me in an ethereal warmth. For the first time in a long time I felt free. I should have known it wouldn't last. The stars around me took shape, a hand cradling me within it as it lifted me upwards. The sea of stars pulled together, swirling around two glowing eyes until they formed the vague shape of a woman.

You do not belong in the Sunless Lands, not now, not ever.

The voice was all around me, made of the stars themselves. I didn't understand.

Two tethered stars cannot survive this world alone. One must have the other or chaos and ruin shall reign.

It didn't make sense, but I could feel the weight of impending cold beginning to seep back into the air as the hand began to lower me down. It got colder and colder until it felt unbearable. No. Please.

So upon your head I give a gift. The blessing of the Night.

The cold bit at my skin and settled deep into my bones as I pulled myself from the river and collapsed along its edge. I was shivering, shaking, so violently I almost couldn't move as I forced my stiff body to roll. The stars were back in the sky clear and bright and warm and far away. A shuddering breath left me as I looked up at it in awe and wept. It was an odd sensation, feeling both disappointed and glad. I hadn't intended to survive and after everything I'd been through, death seemed like the last way out. Yet here I was, alive?

"Hello!" A voice startled me to my feet, but as I tried to move, to run, I started to fall. Two arms wrapped around me, helping me stand. "Oh, you poor thing, you look so lost."

"Y-You could say that," I replied in a shaky voice.

"I'll admit, I'm a little lost too. Well I wasn't, but now it seems something's changed."

When I had finally regained my balance I turned to the stranger and squinted. "Do I know you? You look very familiar."

Her smile was warm and full of comfort, something I hadn't felt in so long it felt foreign. "I get that sometimes. But I don't think you're supposed to know me, not yet… At least that's what it looks like."

She was beautiful, elegant and regal even in the simple clothes she wore. The gold of her pendant glistened in the moonlight as she shrugged off her shawl and wrapped it around my shoulders, rubbing slightly to try and warm me. I could feel the heat rolling off her and before I could stop myself I'd curled up under her arm, leaning into her, soaking up every second of that warmth that she'd let me.

She held me tighter and we walked along the edge of the river, back towards the dim city lights. "I should probably give you my name since I'm curled up on you like a cat."

"You don't have to," she said. "And I don't mind, I always liked cats."

"I'm Penelope." I gave her the name anyway, though I'd gotten the sense she didn't need it to know who I was. I looked up at her, her arm thrown over my shoulder as we walked. I knew her face, but I just couldn't place where I'd seen her.

She glanced down at me. "Don't strain yourself, Penelope."

At the sound of her saying my name, the familiarly sweet voice hit me. "Death." She smiled. "You were here for me, weren't you?"

Nodding she tightened her arm around me, shielding me from the chilled breeze. "I was."

"What stopped you?"

"You did." We were just minutes from the city now, just minutes from the world I'd longed to be part of for eight years of hell. The world I no longer knew anything about. I was scared, absolutely terrified, to leave the warmth of Death's side. To be forced to face the unfamiliar life that now waited for me.

The air around us grew colder, a sign that our walk was almost over. "Why?"

She pulled us both to a stop and with the most loving eyes she pressed my hand to my chest. The beating of my heart hummed under my palm. "You feel that? That's a beating heart. Your beating heart. You are here, heart beating, lungs full of air. You, Penelope Barlow are alive. You're alive."

Tears streamed down my cheeks. "What if I don't want to be?"

Death's smile was sad, but her eyes were soft. She tucked my hair behind my ear. "We don't choose when our time is up, not me and not you. I know you think I'm the only way forward, but I'm not. I'm the end, love. I know it hurts, I feel it hurting, but in time that will fade."

"What if I can't do it?" I asked, holding back a sob. "What if I can't move forward?"

"I can't tell you what's certain for you. Hell, nothing might be certain for you, you are special." She wiped a tear from my cheek. "What I can tell you is that even though you may not want life now, you will again. In a year, ten years or even twenty! Time changes things, heals things. It won't always be this painful, it can't be, not when there's so much love and beauty here, you just need to find it again."

"But why? Why me?"

"I don't know," she admitted sadly, sad that she couldn't help me further.

I wiped my eyes and looked out at the looming cityscape of London. It looked so foreign. "I don't know what to do now."

She grabbed my hand, giving it a squeeze. "You live. For all you've lost and all you have yet to find, you live."

"Will I see you again?" I asked, squeezing her hand back. 

With a shrug she smiled brightly. "When it comes to you, I don't really know."

"Then I guess we'll see."

"Guess so." She pulled me into a warm hug. "Goodbye Penelope. I might be seeing you."

As she walked off into the night I waved, whispering a faint goodbye. "I might be seeing you too, Death."

1946

I could feel the heat of the fire rolling across my skin. Shouts and sirens echoed in the streets, the neighbors rushed from their homes, running in a frenzy of panic. But I remained still, frozen in place as I watched it burn. This was my fault, I told myself. They wanted me… If I'd just-

Two firm hands gripped my shoulders, pulling me away from the building. Everything spun. The fleeting faces of the crowd swirling together like melting wax. The hand I'd been gripping onto slipped from my grasp. "Penelope! God damn it, Penelope, move your feet!"

Move your feet. Had I stopped? Move. I didn't remember doing that. Move. The ringing echoing in my ears had finally started to dull, slowly being replaced by my loud heaving breaths. MOVE! I stumbled forward just in time as the car flew past me. Hands grabbed my arms again, pulling me forward into the solid chest that smelt of ink and steel.

"I did this," I sobbed into him. "Olethros…"

His firm voice wrapped around me like a blanket. "No you didn't, this isn't your fault."

Wails and screaming echoed from down the street. The sounds still made my mind twist, threatening to pull me back to that room, to the haunted memories of the asylum. I cried harder as Olethros' hands covered my ears, blocking the sound from bringing me further pain. He pressed a kiss to my hair and said something I couldn't hear before he moved my hands to replace his and lifted me up into his arms.

He ran, we ran. The further we got from the blazing flame the more the pit in my stomach sank. I'd failed him… Again. The past eleven years were all wasted, because of me. Because I'd gotten too comfortable. The house… Everyone inside… Their blood was on my hands.

I was soaked in it, stained, in the blood of all the innocent people my rebellion had caused. All the people that chose to help me, chose to love me. All of them were gone. And it meant nothing. The Sandman was still trapped, our plan never being able to take shape. The cult once belonging to Roderick Burgess had gained more power than ever and the Institution… A weak sob left me. The institution knew I was alive.

Everything I touched I ruined. Everything I said turned to ash. And everyone I loved either burned in the flames or withered away by my side. Long life, perhaps even eternal life, had not been the gift I hoped.

I clung to Olethros' broad shoulders, held onto him, the last piece I had left to remind me I wasn't alone. "Rest, Inky, we're almost there."

The warmth of his nickname spread through me, lulling me to sleep with thoughts of what our life would be like in America. He could paint, I could collect antiques, and my friend and I would never have to be alone again. When I woke the ground was swaying side to side. Salt filled the air and the sound of waves hammered against the wood walls that surrounded me. I sat up in the swinging hammock, eyes darting around in search of the familiar tall burly redhead. Panic filled me when I found nothing.

"Oh good you're awake!" An old man wearing a sailors uniform said as he made his way across the room to me. "Thought you were dead for a bit!"

"My friend, where is he?" I asked, not bothering with any pleasantries.

"Friend?"

"Big guy, red hair, you can't miss him."

"Ahh yeah, he dropped you off."

Despair filled my lungs. "Dro...dropped me off?"

The sailor nodded. "Yeah, he brought you on board, told us you were goin to America and left."

My jaw clenched. "No... No. We were supposed to go together, he's supposed to be here."

"Sorry lass," was all he said as he turned and left.

Alone. I was alone again. My chest ached with the crushing weight I'd long avoided, the weight of the nothing that looked over me. White walls, endless halls... NO! I'm not there. I'm here. I'm here. I pressed my hand to my chest, holding it tightly over the heartbeat. I'm here. I'm alive.

God it hurt, it always hurt. Tears streamed down my cheeks but these were different. These tears weren't out of fear or loss or sorrow, but of anger. I was angry. Angry at everyone that had just kept taking and breaking down all I worked to build. Angry at Olethros, so angry, that he just left me here, after everything. Fire burned my throat as I screamed, throwing whatever I could get my hands on at the wall. But when the fire faded I was still alone. I sank to the floor, hugging my knees as I cried, the ship rocking me back and forth with the waves.

1968

America was just another shit hole to me. The anger I'd clung to had served me well, for a while, but as anger always did it burned out slowly. It faded with each year that passed, with each brick I'd built up once again from the bottom. My life here hadn't been difficult, the inheritance I'd kept from my family's estates and whatever I'd been able to save from what Olethros and I had accumulated, kept me comfortable, but the small surrounding comforts of a lonely life meant very little to me.

Truth be told I was scared. Scared to lose anyone else. Scared to be betrayed again. Scared to do anything but sit on the rickety bed and stare at the hideous wallpaper. A chill ran up my spine as a low, guttural moan filled the room. "This feels different. Your despair."

In the shadows the figure of a woman stood. "God not again," I said with a sigh. "Look, I'm kind of over the hallucinating so if you don't mind just fucking off right back to where you came from, please."

She shuttered. "You're so much meaner than I thought you'd be. But, he can be mean too sometimes… Oftentimes."

I closed my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Look, lady, I really don't want to do this."

"You don't want anything." She said sadly. "That's why I'm here. It's why I can feel all the pain boiling up inside you."

"That sounds disgusting."

"No!" She cried, a glint of metal flashing in the pale light. "It's beautiful! I've never seen pain so beautiful before! You're special."

"Fuck me," I groaned standing and pointing a finger at her. "If I hear one more person tell me how goddamn special I am I'm going to throw someone off a building!"

The glittering fish hook dug into her face as she smiled. "Oh they're going to love you! But you'd best be nicer to them, they like to hold a grudge."

Anger swelled in me as I turned, grabbing a lamp off the desk and raising to throw it, but when I turned the figure was gone. I sat back on the bed and looked down at my shaking hands. I need help. The realization was colder than I expected, but it was more than I'd felt in a while so I welcomed it. He would hate you, I told myself looking at the wall. He would hate what you've let yourself become.

1989

Our lips were hot and wet as they moved in a poorly choreographed dance. My fingers had curled in his hair, his had done the same. I should have felt more... Pressed up against another warm body, the light buzz of alcohol, this should have been better. But it wasn't.

I pulled away, setting a hand on the stranger's chest. When I looked up, with my vision slightly blurred, his hair was dark and hungry starry eyes stared down at me. I blinked and it was gone, the dark hair turned light, his dark eyes looked down at me with confusion. "You okay?"

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine." I sighed. "I just need a minute, I think."

"Okay, well come find me later, yeah?"

"Sure," I lied.

Dragging my feet I returned to the bar of the old tavern, sitting in the stool the bartender had brought out for me. He gave me a look, the same look he'd given me two other times this week. Why was this so hard? I wanted to scream. Why did it always feel so hollow?

"My, my, aren't you just the belle of the bar," a light teasing voice cooed beside me. 

The bright red lips caught my eye first as I turned, the cheshire grin sending a chill down my spine. The golden eyes and skin tight black leather of their outfit were both close seconds though. I shook off my surprise and met their gaze, a hum of something rolling from the honeyed depths. "I'm sorry?"

"Oh no need to apologize, little petal." They said twirling a strand of my hair on their finger. "You, it would seem, are the most desired creature in this place."

I glanced around, confused as to who this was and why they'd spoken with such familiarity. "I don't understand."

A throaty laugh. "Yes, that much is obvious." Wow, rude. I thought, clenching my jaw. Their fingers brushed over it gently. "Oh come now, I'm only teasing. I was hoping you'd be more fun than him, my twin told me you had spark, but now I'm not so sure."

"Look, I don't know you or your twin nor do I particularly want to, so can you just tell me what you want so I can go back to my night?" 

The gold in their eyes swam with glee. "Oooh, there's that fire! I like it!" With a long, languid look around the bar they sighed. "All these people either want to fuck you or be you. Their desire is so... Simple." They looked back at me. "But you, you I can't seem to read. So, petal, what I want is to know... What do you desire?"

They'd moved closer, just an inch away from my face. "Some personal space."

Another long laugh. "I do love the attitude, but let's not kid ourselves into thinking it's aimed at me."

"What?"

"All that fire, all that venom and nowhere to put it. How tragic." They purred. Pressing a quick kiss to my cheek they turned to leave, but not without throwing one last insult over their shoulder, "If you ever decide he's too self important for your tastes, do remember my doors are always open for you, petal."

Through the crowd the shimmer of the black leather vanished. I did my best to brush them off. They obviously had me mixed up with someone else. The bartender set my drink down and arched a brow. "You doin' okay, sweetheart?"

"Yeah, I'm good. Just an off night."

"Looks like you ain't the only one," he said nodding toward a man alone at a table. I watched him for a moment, taking in his dark hair and sad eyes. Yeah, he's definitely not having the best time. As the crowd thinned he came to the bar, leaning against it trying to hide the sigh. "Whisky please."

"Oh, you'll have to be more specific," the old barkeeper said. "We have a menu now."

"Oh," he said, taking the plastic lined paper and giving it a half glance. "What's the oldest you've got?"

"I've got a Glen Grant old enough to be your father!" He answered.

A chuckle and a look, amused and cocky, filled the man's face. His eyes stayed sad. "I'm older than I look."

The barkeeper filled his glass, sliding it towards him. He lifted it to his nose, our eyes locking as he took a long sip. He wasn't ugly, quite handsome in fact, but I was far more curious about the sadness he seemed to carry so, before I could think better of it I asked, "You waiting for someone?"

He pulled the glass from his lips and smiled that same smile. "I think I’ve been stood up.”

“I’m sorry.”

With a shrug he looked into his glass, swirling the liquid around a bit. “We had a fight. Last time we were here. It was my fault. I wish I could say I was drunk at the time, but I was just an idiot.”

I smiled, taking a sip from my own glass. “Well, you do look the type. No offense!”

“None taken.” He said, clearing his throat slightly. “What about you?”

“What about me?”

He looked around as if the question had been outrageous. “You’re by far the most beautiful girl in this place and here you are sat alone with me and the barkeep.”

“If I’m with you and the barkeep am I really alone?” I countered, nervously stirring my drink with the straw.

“A fair point, but my question remains the same.” He slid closer. “What’s your sob story?”

I bit my lip, trying to fight the smile that started to spread. “That’s a very long story, stranger.”

He shrugged. “I’ve got plenty of time.”

“Is this your move?” I teased. “You make up a little story about being stood up by a friend and then come over to hit on lonely girls at the bar?”

With a boisterous laugh he shook his head. “That would be rather pathetic, wouldn’t it?”

I took another drink. “Eh, I’ve seen worse.”

“So, why are you lonely?”

“That is the question of the hour.” I had the answer, but I refused to acknowledge it. The pain of such an admittance would drive me back to where I’d been thirty years ago, and I wouldn't go back there. Not back to the hallucinating and the constant state of fear and pain that had all but consumed me. I owed him more than that.

"Well, lonely stranger," he said, holding out his hand. "I'm Hob."

It was an odd name, but I placed my hand in his with a smile. "Hello, Hob, I'm Penelope."

He pressed a kiss to my knuckles and winked. I rolled my eyes and sighed. "So, you think your friend is still mad at you?"

"More than likely, he's the type to hold a grudge."

The barkeep chuckled, butting into the conversation. “I’ve seen plenty of friends get in fights in pubs. Even more of them laugh about it together later!”

Hob looked over the counter and smiled again, more amused this time. “Maybe in another hundred years.”

“Ah, you’ll have to have found a new pub by then. This place has been sold to make room for new flats.” The horror that filled his face was something I wasn’t expecting. Had it meant so much to him? Perhaps to his friend? "The borough council are trying to stop them, but if you've got enough money in this country you can do whatever you bloody want."

I sat with him for another few minutes before the place needed to close. He was still upset, still for whatever reason worried as we stepped out into the night. "Would you like me to wait with you, while you call someone or?"

"It's alright, I walked." I assured him just as the rain began to pour down from the starry sky. With a sigh I looked up at them, wishing to see the blue pair of eyes looking at me once again.

"Need an umbrella?" Hob asked. "I'm sure I have a spare."

I smiled at him, a smile that reflected his. "And miss out on the rain?! Absolutely not!"

"You are the strangest girl I've ever met, Penelope." 

"Strange," I hummed, mulling it over in my head. "I quite like that."

"See you around?" He asked.

I shrugged. "Maybe in a hundred years."

The phrase seemed to light something in him as a smile, a real smile spread on his face as he tipped his imaginary to me. "A hundred years then."

2017

I pulled up to the club, tires screeching against the asphalt as I skidded next to her car. God damn you Johanna Constantine! I cursed, ripping my belt off and slamming my door. A hooded man leaned up against her car, flipped casually through the pages of his book. 

"You're too late," he said in a rich slightly scratchy voice as I drew closer.

"Excuse me?"

The chains that seemed to bind him to the book clacked against the hood of the car sending a shiver of unpleasant memories through me. "You're too late to save the girl. Or perhaps you're right on time… It likes to change for you."

I kept walking toward the door, dread filling me at the way the man's weighted words clouded around me. "JOHANNA!" I all but screamed. The smell of smoke and burning flesh was pungent in the air. No. Not again.

I ran, ran through the double doors and almost slammed into the back of Logue, a man I'd only met once before and absolutely hated. He stared down in front of him, wailing, feet planted in place. I shoved him to the side and felt my heart fall into my stomach at the sight of my friend, frozen on the ground, clutching the hand of the girl, Logues daughter, that had no doubt been lost to his stupidity.

"This is your fault," Logue spat down at her and I didn't hesitate to whirl around and punch him. 

The sound of his nose breaking beneath my fist was music to my ears. As he stumbled and stuttered out cries I stood over him. "If you want your nose to be the only thing I break you'd better leave now. And I don't want to hear a goddamn word from you ever again."

He ran out, but I didn't focus on him, couldn't, not when Johanna was sat there unmoving and practically wheezing. "Jo..." I tried in a soft voice. 

Nothing.

I knelt down beside her and carefully moved the hair from her face. Her lip quivered. "Johanna." Her eyes had begun to water, tears already spilling over as I rubbed a soothing hand over her back and gently held the wrist of the hand that still held onto the girl. "Johanna, you have to let go."

Her chest heaved. "I... I can't."

"Yes you can," I assured her. "Let go."

The arm thudded to the floor and I pulled her into my embrace immediately. As was the Constantine way she resisted, tried pushing her pain back down and me along with it, but I still held her. 

I knew this pain, knew it well, knew it wasn't one you could push down. So I held her as she pushed and shouted and raged in my arms. Eventually the fight left her and the heartbroken sobs filled the room as the remnants of fire and brimstone crackled beside us.

"I've got you," I whispered, blinking the tears from my own eyes. "I'm not going anywhere, Jo. I promise."

This promise was one I intended to keep. After all, Johanna Constantine had been my only constant in recent years. The only one I had to call upon if I needed help, so in turn I was there for her. Most would have called such a thing friendship, but she'd hated that word, so we'd called it a beneficial alliance, something she still hated but at least allowed. But, I had no trouble admitting that Johanna Constantine was my friend and that I wouldn't abandon her to bear the pain, no doubt ahead of her, alone.

Present Day

The rain had begun suddenly and had only worsened as the afternoon drifted to night. I saw the flash of white, her signature coat, in the crowd ahead. "Johanna!"

She, thankfully, heard me and stopped. I opened my umbrella, running out from my covered spot to catch up to her. She smiled as our umbrellas knocked together. "Didn't know you were out and about today."

"I was just looking at a few antiques from a collector." I replied, falling into step beside her.

"Were they shit?"

"Absolutely!"

She shook her head. "It appears you still hold the title of greatest antique in London!"

I scoffed and smacked her umbrella. "Bitch."

***

London. The city that he had been doomed to, bound to, for so long the mere air left him tasting ash. He hated it. The loud crowds of humans, the cars and trains and constant rain. This city is cursed, he deducted as he waited for the Constantine girl to arrive. She wasn't far, that much he knew, but it appeared as if she was running late.

As he stood out in the dreadful city he felt… Hot? An odd sensation filled him, one he shoved down as the black cab pulled into view and this Johanna Constantine stepped out. She paused across the road, speaking to the woman he knew as Mad Hettie, one of his sisters immortals. He waited for her atop the stairs, somewhere she'd be forced to speak to him in order to pass and when she finally turned and approached him he was surprised by how closely she resembled the Constantine he'd known. 

She stopped a mere four steps away and looked up at him with a tilted head. "Constantine."

"Do we know each other?" She asked, taking a step up.

"We have business, you and I." Was all he said, all he was going to say, if there was one thing he hated more than this city it was the forced pleasantries mortals seemed to be so fond of.

She sighed. "Get in line, bruv. I can't keep God waiting."

He was baffled at her words, more so at the way she just waltzed past him. It would seem that while in captivity the humans had grown far more impetulant than even he remembered. So the king of dreams watched Constantine bicker with the priest about the royals and her fee. It was only when the demon tore its way from its host that he intervened. 

"You talk too much," the demon growled.

Constantine tilted her head and smirked. "Tell me your name and I’ll stop.”

“And why would I do that? When there are far more enjoyable ways to make you stop.”

Now standing at the top of the steps, looking down at the demon and the one trying to send it back he called out, "His name is Agilieth.”

“I’m flattered you remember me, Lord Morpheus, after all your time away.”

Constantine looked up at him with furrowed brows and a pensive look. “Lord Morpheus?”

“He is.” Agilieth answered, not once breaking the stare of the king. “Though I confess, I almost didn’t recognize you without your helm.” Dream’s glare darkened. “I wonder where your helm could be.”

A test perhaps? To see how much he knew of what had happened to his tools while he was imprisoned. “I presume it is in hell, with the demon to whom it was traded.”

“Yes, but which demon?” He smiled. “Give me the princess and I’ll tell you.”

Dream considered it. After all, what was one mortal princess to an Endless? What was one mortal in exchange for finding his tools, restoring his power and his realm? Constantine began her chant once again. “Wait!”

She did not stop. The ring of fire circled around Agilieth. “Fine, Fine! I’ll tell you where your helm is, just don’t send me back.”

“Constantine stop!” He called out. Still she continued. “I command you!”

“Dream of the Endless commands you!” the demon shouted.

With a smile, smug and rebellious she replied, “Run along and fuck off back to hell.”

He watched as the fire encased the demon, sending it back to its home in ashes. He glared down at her. “You have no idea what you’ve done.”

“I’ve just tripled my fee,” she answered simply as she turned and began shouting at the priest about how to receive her payment.

He was annoyed, though he probably should have been expecting the outcome from the close proximity to a Constantine. They, no matter what era he’d come across them, were a difficult force of nature. As he stood outside the church, listening to the ramblings of Mad Hettie a pang of guilt filled him as he thought of the cold and callous thoughts he’d had. *She* had been just one mortal, hadn’t she? Had things turned out differently would he have so easily thrown her life away? 

The rough sound of her approaching footsteps pulled him from his thoughts and he turned slightly. She looked, if possible, even more apprehensive than she had before. Hettie huffed. “I said the Sandman and I meant the bleedin’ sandman. It's good to have you back, milord. Don’t let her mess you about.”

He gave the old woman a polite nod, taking her warning more seriously after Constantine's rebellion back in the church as he turned to her. She smirked at him. “My gran used to tell me stories about you lot.”

“I’ve known your family for centuries,” he admitted, voice low, a warning.

“Then you know there's not one of us that can be trusted.” For a brief moment, Morpheus thought he saw a hint of sorrow in her eyes, but it was gone in an instant. “What do you want with me?”

“Something of mine came into your possession.” He said simply. “A leather pouch filled with sand. I need it back.”

“Oh, that was yours?” She pondered. “I bought it at a state sale. Didn’t even manage to get the drawstrings open.”

“Where is it?”

“No idea, could be anywhere.”

“We must find it.”

“Must we? Why is that?”

Morpheus felt his annoyance at her vague answers growing by the minute. Why did it have to be a Constantine? He sighed, hands in his coat pockets fisting in a poor attempt to sooth the hot emotion. “Because without it my realm will cease to exist, and if dreams disappear, then so will humanity.”

Her eyebrows raised. “No offense, but… I could do without dreams for a while. Haven’t had a decent night's sleep in ages.”

“Nor will you,” he insisted, stepping into her path as she moved to leave. “Until we find the sand. We must go. Now.”

“Does this approach generally work for you?” She snapped. “You just turn up and order people about?”

“Yes.”

“Alright,” she replied, far too suddenly. Dream resisted the urge to make a face at the compliance. “I’ll help you find your sand.”

“Good.”

“First thing tomorrow, and I work alone.” 

There it was.

“No.”

She ignored him. “Don’t want you and your little friend following me all over London.”

“My friend?” He asked. What sort of trick was this?

Her head turned and she gestured off to the side. “Is that not your raven?”

Morpheus turned to look, far too quickly, too eagerly. For a moment he saw Jessamy perched on the back of the bench. For a moment he’d gone back to a point in time where such a sight was not uncommon, nor painful. The little black bird watched him, waiting with a stiff body and confused eyes. He smothered the warm feeling of fondness already forming with the creature.

“My gran said Dream always had a raven,” Constantine said, eyes drinking in his expression, or lack thereof.

“Not anymore.” Was all he could say, and even that had been too much. He approached the bird slowly, speaking softly. “Who are you? Tell me your name.”

“It’s, uh, Matthew, sir.”

“Matthew, I've made it clear to Lucienne that I do not require a raven at this time.”

“Yeah, she told me you’d say that,” he said with a loud caw. 

If I need assistance, I will ask for it.” A lie, one Lucienne would immediately see through.

“Uh, you do actually…” Another caw. “She’s getting away, sir!” He looked behind him where Constantine had been and now no longer was. With a sigh the bird looked down. “This is why you need a raven.”

“Go back to the Dreaming, Matthew,” he forced out, though it didn’t sound as harsh as he’d wanted it to. Dream didn’t even need to look at the raven to know he would not listen. Ensuring things went as she wanted was something Lucienne was quite good at when she found something she felt worth her efforts. He’d forgotten how much he missed it as well as hated it.

For a while he wandered the streets, thinking of how to find Constantine once again. It was a simple task, but with his mind so scrambled even the most simple thing felt miles out of his reach. Stopping beside a water feature he looked into the rippling depths, recalling how he’d seen her face in the waters of his realm. It was only one of the odd occurrences that plagued him. They shouldn’t have done that. Those waters had only ever shown him the darker version of himself before. Perhaps it was because he was now the darker version he always saw in the water. Perhaps the dreaming had sensed it and changed to accommodate… Had chosen her because she was all the good he’d had in him.

The raven, Matthew, landed beside him with an uncomfortable stretch of his wings. “I’m back.”

The glare the Endless sent to the bird would have been enough for any human to go running off as fast and far as they could, but the raven didn’t budge. “Yes, in spite of my telling you to leave.”

“I… I can’t. I… The boss lady told me-”

Boss? His mind hissed as the unsettling wave of anger and jealousy rose up in him. He was darker, he concluded then. Darker and desperate. “Lucienne is not your master.”

Matthew clacked his beak. “She told me you’d say that too.”

“Do you know who I am?” Dream asked, slightly less angry.

“Not entirely, but I… I don’t even know who I am anymore. A couple hours ago I apparently died in my sleep, and now I… I’m a bird!” He shifted from foot to foot, stretching his wings out. “I used to have thumbs. Now I have these things.”

“Yes. And now you must use them to fly back to the dreaming.” A hint of pain laced his voice when he spoke next. “This world is not safe.”

“You think I don’t know that? I lived my whole life here. That’s why Lucienne sent me to help you.”

Help me. The very idea was like a bitter wine on his tongue. He’d done nothing for the loyalty of the bird. He’d done nothing. “My last raven came here to help me.”

“Yeah? Where is he now?”

Blood, bones and feathers. The look of her eyes as she held the small creature in her hands. “Her name was Jessamy. She died, trying to help me.”

With a soft click of his beak Matthew sighed. “I’m sorry. Look, let me at least help you find this woman. If she’s asleep we’ve probably got five or six hours before she’s on the move again.”

Of course, he thought. “If she is asleep, then I know exactly where to find her.”

***

Johannas’ favorite restaurant had, of course, been busier than ever. Every time she asked me to go out to grab it the store was swamped., it was almost as if she planned it. Which, knowing her wasn’t that far fetched, especially if the job she was going off on was one she knew she needed help with. No matter how many times I’d told her about my durability she still refused to accept any help unless it included staying at her flat curled up on the couch with a book or laptop doing research. 

I had no interest in doing what she did, but after all she’d helped me with, I felt as though it was only fair I offered her the same amount. The Constantines were stubborn and more often than not paranoid when it came to friendships and love. It made sense, their line of work being as dangerous as it was, I just wished that she’d let me help her more. I also wished to not have to hear about it for the next month as she bitched about my softness. Another thing she wasn’t entirely wrong about. I was soft, well I’d grown softer. The old wounds had started to mend and, though I knew the memories and pain would always be there I couldn’t help but think that Death had been right all those years ago.

It took thirty minutes to get our order, and with another ten minute cab ride back to the flat I was certain the food would be cold by then. Johanna wouldn’t mind, especially if her night had been a long one, which was almost a certainty at this point. I just hoped it would be enough for her to finally get some sleep. After what happened with Astra… I'd never been more thankful not to dream before, but seeing Jo struggle with the nightmares always put a pit in my stomach. 

I'd seen violence and death before, and as fucked up as it was the bodies and blood weren't what I focused on, weren't what haunted me. No, instead I saw my friend in a spot I'd once been in, a spot where no matter how far ahead you looked the future remained dark and full of despair. Johanna was strong, resilient and seeing her actually break was what scared me the most.

A large shoulder slammed into me, nearly knocking me and the bag of food to the ground. "Watch it, asshole!" I hollered, but kept walking to catch the cab that had pulled up. The air around me swirled with a tang of something, but so close to the car I didn't pay it any mind as I hopped into the cab and gave the driver the address.

***

Dream stood in the darkened, cluttered apartment, looking down at the sleeping Constantine girl. He'd seen horrific memories plague humans dreams for centuries, hers had been cruel and painful, but he'd seen it all before. So, when she woke with a gasping breath and tears in her eyes he didn't react. When she finally noticed him standing in her living room she signed, "For fucks sake. How did you find me?"

"You were dreaming." He answered. "But it was not only a dream, was it? It is a memory. No wonder you do not sleep."

He'd meant for it to be a statement of understanding, but judging by the way she clenched her jaw and glared up at him he'd not done it properly. "Maybe I don't deserve to."

"Perhaps not. But, I could make it go away." A bargain, he thought, would be the best way to ensure her cooperation.

"Only if I help you find your sand." She finished, the look in her eyes shifting into a more contemplating one.

Glancing around at the shelves and piles of things he said, "Though finding anything in this place may require more magic than even you can muster." 

Finally she stood, having made up her mind. "I'll look in the office. Try not to clean up while I'm gone."

"I'm coming with you." Was his simple reply. "You have a gift for disappearing."

She smirked. "You'll love my flatmate then, woman can vanish in less than a second. She certainly wouldn't need to distract you with a raven." He felt something, a warm tug, trying to coax the question out. But instead he stayed silent and watched her as she moved around him. "If the mess out here offends you, just wait til you see my office."

Dream looked at the mess of the small living space and sighed. If this is what she considers tidy we'll be here all night. He followed her and the sight immediately confirmed his worry. Piles of junk, boxes both full and empty tossed about, clothes hanging from every surface, this was a true disaster. The Constantine jumped into looking in the furthest corner of the room, tossing useless trinkets or empty bags over her shoulders. It was a wonder she got anything accomplished when she lived like this.

They searched, well she did as he watched, for a while before she'd, apparently, grown bored of the silence and decided to fill it with questions. "So, you seem pretty attached to this sand."

"It is a part of me." He kept his hands in his pockets and watched as she flew through the space like a hurricane.

"If that's true, then how'd you happen to lose it?" Another toss, one that sounded fatal to whatever the object had been.

The small lingering spark of rage twisted in his lungs. "It was stolen by another magic user called Burgess."

Recognition sparked in her. "Wait, not Roderick Burgess? The old demon king himself, eh?" Recognition shifted to rage. "Woman beating piece of shit, everyone said he had the devil locked up in his basement, wait how did you…"

He'd felt the unpleasant curl of the memories beginning to swarm his mind, but the look she held in her eyes was deeper than mere pity, a realization. "It was you…"

"Yes," he'd said in answer, but the look did not fade.

"No… You're him, the man in the glass."

Impossible. Darkness laced his tongue when he spoke. "How do you know about that?"

"Holy shit." She breathed out, searching quicker for something in the pile. "My flatmate, the one I mentioned, stayed at the Burgess house for two years before the bastard sent her up the river to the looney bin."

He'd stopped breathing. No. This was surely some cruel joke. "That's not…"

She pulled the picture frame out front under a stack of papers and held it up to him. "Does she look familiar to you?"

His fingers curled around the frame, digging into it painfully tight as he stared down in awe. It was her. Curled around Johanna Constantines back, smile wide… Happy and eyes filled with the joy they'd been devoid of their last meeting. How? How was this possible?

The sound of the front door closing restarted his heart and for the first time in eighty years he felt the mark on his arm burn. The tugging sensation snapped into a forceful pull as he turned and looked at the office door.

***

I shut the door with my foot, and shimmied out of my jacket, scratching the puffed up skin of my mark, sending a dull burn through it, as I went. "Johanna!" I called. "You home?"

"In here!" Her voice was muffled by the door, but I could still hear something off.

"I got your usual," I said, opening the door and rummaging through the bag. "But they forgot the… Sauce."

All the air left me as I looked up, expecting to see the face of my flatmate, only to see him, the man I'd spent so many years thinking of, wishing to see just one lsst time. This wasn't real. It couldn't be. I wanted to pinch myself, or stab myself with one of the plastic forks but I couldn't seem to move, I couldn't do anything but stare at him. Had he always looked like this? So stoic, so powerful, so beautiful? 

Johanna stepped around a pile of junk and grabbed the bag from my hands. "I'm gonna, uh, give you two a minute."

Once the sound of the door had announced her departure the Sandman drew in a breath and spoke the first words I'd ever heard him say, "Hello, Penelope."

Tears spilled down my cheeks as I closed my eyes tightly. The sound of his voice was deep and rich, sending a wave of power and emotion through me like lightning. When I opened them again and he was still there I said nothing, closing the space between us and wrapping my arms around his shoulders. The scent of sea and what I could only describe as stardust flooded my senses, further cementing this as reality. My hands fisted in his coat and for a moment of his body remaining stiff I thought I might have overstepped, but then the touch came, soft feather light pressure of his hand on my back, holding me to him. I didn't know how, but somehow I managed to get the strangled greeting out, "Hi, Sandman."

We stood like that for a minute or two, frozen in the embrace of one another, an embrace I never thought I'd get, before I pulled away and wiped the tears from my eyes. His hand stayed on my back, putting slightly more pressure there as if trying to keep me from moving away any further. The star filled blue eyes I thought of so often finally stared down at me. The sound of his voice surprised me, after years of silence I definitely needed time to adjust to hearing it. Now I just hoped he wanted me to hear it more. "How?"

It was a difficult question to answer, even after all these years. "I don't really know."

"What happened?" He sounded angry, hurt even.

I sighed and pressed my forehead to his chin. Perhaps the gesture had been too intimate, but I didn't care, I just wanted to feel him for as long as I could, as long as he'd let me. "After the basement…" I swallowed hard, pushing the painful flashes down. "I wasn't going to go back… and the only way I could see to do that was to… Well…"

"Throw a car off a bridge?" He finished.

Looking back up into his gaze I shrugged. "I didn't think you knew about that."

"Paul told me," he answered as his eyes filled with pain. "He said you were dead… I thought you were dead."

I blinked away tears. "I think I was… For a little bit at least."

"Then how are you here? How do you look exactly as I remember?" His eyes trailed over my face, my body, honing in on the mark and then on the long jagged scar on the arm across from it, that I'd given myself so long ago. 

Shame burned in me as I curled the arm into my chest, pulling at the chain of my necklace to try and hide the fact I didn't want him to see it. "I only remember pulling myself out of the river. Everything before is hazy." His eyes were still glued to my arm so I nudged him gently. "How did you get out?"

His eyes returned to mine. "Paul. He broke the summoning circle, which in turn restored a small portion of my power. I used that to free myself." Another strong pulse of something swelled in me. "I kept my promise. Alex Burgess pays for every second of torment he allowed."

It felt good to hear, and though it was probably terrible, I smiled. "Thank you." Is he angry, hurt, I never came back for him? The sudden thought filled me with dread. "I… I did try to come back for you. I did… But…"

A cold hand stroked my cheek. "Do not apologize. Freeing me was never your burden." 

"Still, I wanted you to know I tried. I'd be the worst person ever if I just let you rot there without a second thought, Sandman."

"Morpheus," he whispered and a warm feeling nestled in my chest, like the answer to a question I needed to be whole. "My name is Morpheus, Dream of the Endless."

"Is it Morpheus or Dream?"

"Either, but…" He paused, "People call me Dream mostly, but in private I would like you to call me Morpheus." 

"Morpheus," I breathed, tested with a smile. "It's certainly not as catchy as Sandy, but it'll do."

"I hated that name, just so you know," his eyes glistened with the playful tone of his voice. It was so much better than I could have imagined, all of it.

"Oh I knew, but that only made it more fun." I laughed softly, before the silence turned more serious. "I'm glad you got free, Morpheus."

With the smallest hint of a smile he bowed his head, brushing it against the top of mine. "I am glad you did as well, Penelope."

We're getting out of here. You, me and Jessamy. I promise.

"I um... I have something for you," I said, squeezing the glass vial in my hand and stepping around him to get to my desk, buried among Johannas crap. I opened the drawer, fingers stroking the soft bag before I opened it and retrieved the small black pouch. I turned, placing it gently into his hand with care. Morpheus stood looking down at the pouch curiously. "It's... It's Jessamy, well her remains."

His lips parted, shock and pain settling into his features, the feeling pulsing between us. "How?"

"I'm sorry if I've offended you," I said quickly, a moment of fear hitting me. "I didn't really know how you wanted... I was going to bury her, but it just didn't feel right, trapping her in that place. So, I burned her, or well, Paul did… and kept the ashes hoping that, well… Hoping we'd get to have  this talk." I rambled nervously, twisting the vial on the chain.

For a long minute all he did was stand there, staring down at the remains of his companion. When he did speak it was quiet, pained but grateful. "You should keep it. To remember her by."

He pressed the pouch back into my palm. "Oh, I... I already have some pieces of her with me." 

"I see," he said, lifting the necklace up closer, admiring the feather in the glass vial. "She would have liked that."

"Probably would have tried stealing it from me," I said fondly, the hurt of her loss at last beginning to shift into good memories. Turning our hands I pressed her ashes back into his and smiled against the tears that began to swell. "Now you can take her home. You can find a place she loved and set her free."

 His hand slid out from beneath mine, fingers brushing along my palm. "Thank you, Penelope. I will not forget this."

"Don't thank me." I insisted. "I'm sorry I broke my promise."

"I'll not hold it against you," he said, smiling a little. His mouth… I strangled the thought quickly. "I do not possess your unwavering ability to hold a grudge."

I let out a breathy laugh, "You know I highly doubt that."

The air between us had shifted to what it used to be, comfortable, familiar. I was happy. Happy he was finally free, happy he was here. Yet, all the questions I’d long buried, convinced I’d never get to see them answered bubbled back up to the surface. A twinge of confusion, of a need to understand what this was connecting us, filled my chest, and I suppose in turn his. His eyes turned more serious and he nodded his head slightly. “You have questions.”

“Yeah, you could say that…” I muttered.

“I have some answers,” he admitted freely, “But…”

“Later,” I finished, feeling the words before he even spoke them.

“Yes.”

I kept his gaze a moment longer. “There will be a later though, right?”

“Yes.” His fingers grazed my hand. “I promise.”

A loud knock to the door was the only warning we got before Johanna barged in. I took a step away from him, not wanting him to feel uncomfortable under Johannas’ scrutinous stare. "I get that there's some history here, but I'd very much like to find this bag and be done with Mr. Sandman."

I rubbed my chilled hands together. “Okay, well what exactly are we looking for?”

“A bag of sand,” Johanna said bluntly as she began looking around the room haphazardly throwing and stepping on things, as I was certain she had been before I arrived.

While I looked around I could feel Morpheus’ eyes on me, watching every movement, every shift, everything. When I felt his gaze shift, I looked over my shoulder at him, eyes trailing down his fit form. He wore a long black coat that seemed to hold the stars inside it, black boots and well black everything. It looked good. He looks even better naked, I reminded myself. His head turned towards me, faster than I was prepared for. And his voice sounded deeper when he said, “It was one of the tools they’d stolen from me. I need it back.”

“So,” Johanna started, her signature nosey face looking up at him. “You were down in that basement all this time?”

I quickly threw an empty bag at her and gave her the glare I knew she hated. He didn’t bother answering her, but I could see the pain in his eyes as he looked down to a small roll of photos that stuck out of the box beside him. “Is this you?”

“Why?” she practically groaned. “Do I look that different? Or younger?”

She took the photo from his fingers and held it between her own with a gentleness that showed just how much she cared. “No,” Morpheus said. “Happy.”

Suddenly her hand dropped, still holding the picture. “Shit. I know where your sand is.”

“God no,” I groaned with a huff. “You left it with her?”

“I know,” she started rubbing her forehead. “I know.”

I leaned back against one of the desks. “How do you want to do this?”

She shrugged. “The only way we can.”

I smiled, trying to lighten the mood. “Oh, so we’re finally offering you up as a sacrifice? I always thought it’d be to some demon, but I suppose an ex girlfriend is close enough.”

“Not funny,” she said, slapping my shoulder on her way out the office door.

Looking over at Morpheus I smiled, “It is funny though, isn’t it?”

He looked at me in a way I hadn’t seen before, his eyes so full of fondness… no, that was too tame a word for it. Adoration, I thought, but quickly pushed aside. He didn’t adore me, he barely knew me. After a minute his lips tugged into a smile, small and fleeting, but still there. “You can be quite amusing.”

“Hear that Jo! Sandy agrees with me!” I hollered, basking in the look of utter disgust and annoyance that spread across his face that the familiar nickname.

“You are not calling me that any longer,” he commanded. 

“You gonna make me stop?” I teased, far more flirtatiously than I’d been intending, at least out loud.

He arched a brow, taking a step forward, looking down at me with a darker gaze than normal. “I could.”

Johanna cursed from the other room. “Pen, where's my coat?”

“Raincheck?” I asked softly.

“I suppose, so long as you bite your tongue the next time you feel the urge to call me Sandy.” A wave of heat rolled over me. God that voice, I thought and his eyes flared. I wonder what it would sound like when he- “You should be mindful of your thoughts.”

Heat rose to my cheeks and my eyes went wide, embarrassment filling every fiber of my being. “Can you?” He nodded. “Oh god.”

I caught a glimpse of his smirk before he erased it completely. “I can’t hear every thought, just the loud ones… the ones you can’t seem to keep to yourself.”

“How long have you been able to do that?” I demanded, unable to meet his gaze.

“The duration of this conversation.”

More heat as I covered my face with my hands as I recalled all the things I’d thought over the last few minutes. “Oh god.”

He said nothing, but I could feel the pride he felt, and could see the smirk once again before it vanished. Johanna popped back through the door. “Found it. You okay Pen?”

“Yep!” I cheered, quickly moving for the door. “Let’s go!”

“I’ll meet you there,” Morpheus said, voice full of amusement at my expense. I looked back at him, Asshole. The glint in his eyes told me he heard it.

Johanna and I stood on the corner, waiting for the cab, when she finally looked over and said, “So, you and the Sandman?” I opened my mouth ready to tell her it wasn’t like that when she shook her head. “Don’t even try to tell me it isn't like that. I saw you checking him out.”

“Jo,” I whispered. “It’s complicated.”

She pulled me to her side. “Look, I’m not gonna lecture you. You’re like ninety years older than me and we both know you wouldn’t listen. Besides, I’m not really one that should be giving out this kind of advice. I just… I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

I smiled at her. “I’ve been through worse, Jo. And for the record I’m only seventy six years older than you, I’m not ancient.”

“Not like your boyfriend.” She didn’t waste any time with the dig.

“Shut up.”

***

Dream felt like he was on fire. He had since the moment she embraced him. His eyes watched her as she walked ahead of him and Constantine, humming with her hands in her pockets and a slight skip in her step. The simple dress she’d worn bouncing up slightly with every movement, raising just enough that he could catch glimpses of her thighs. Dream found himself unable to stop thinking of the heated thoughts she’d unknowingly shared with him, of how tame they were in comparison to his.

“Who is she?” He decided to ask Constantine, an attempt to clear his thoughts and remind himself of what his focus had to be. “The woman in the picture.”

“Her names Rachel, Rachel Moodie.”

“Does she deal in magic as well?”

She scoffed, slowing beside him. “God no. No, She’s actually a decent person. Proper job, nice family. She fuckin’ hated all the magic stuff.”

“And yet you left the sand with her.”

“I did not leave it with her. Sort of left it, and her.” The two shared a look, hers one of pain and guilt and his one of understanding, perhaps even sympathy if he was feeling generous. Constantine looked away and released a huff of annoyance. “I was staying at her place for a few months. She interpreted that as us living together, which we weren’t, so, one night I just went on a job and… never went back.”

“Why?” He hadn’t meant to ask it, but as he watched Penelope look up to the sky and smile the word just slipped past his lips.

"Because it never ends well, does it?" She looked over at him, following the steady gaze that fell on her flatmate.

"What? Love?" Dream looked down at her for a moment before his eyes returned ahead of them to Penelope. If one fact had remained true over the long years that had separated them it was that he did not deserve her. "No, I suppose it doesn't."

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but people around me tend to get ripped in half or cast down to Hell.”

“Not all of them,” he replied.

Johanna smiled, looking over at the girl they both seemed to share a common fondness of. “She’s different. Pen doesn’t need me to look after her, not really. She’s been through far worse and somehow come out of it all still her… Still good. But Rachel, she wasn’t used to this kind of life. It was safer for her if I left.”

“Did you tell her that?”

“No.” She said as they finally neared the door. “I suppose I’ll have to now.”

Penelope hopped down from the step and gestured to the door. “It’s still her.”

“Bollocks.” She shoved her friend up to the box. “Maybe we’ll get lucky and she won’t be-” The sound of the door buzzing echoed in the small enclosed space and Constantines face fell. “Weird… She didn’t even ask who it is.”

“Johanna,” Penelope tried to interrupt.

“Maybe she’s expecting someone. This could get awkward. More. Awkward.”

“Do you want me to come up with you?” Penelope asked once the nervousness became too obvious to ignore.

“No, you lot wait here.”

“I’m coming with you,” he insisted, not wanting to risk her running again.

“No you’re not. Do you have any idea how much she probably hates me right now? Do you have ex girlfriends?” His jaw clenched. Yes, he had many… Many who would not be pleased to see him ever again. Many whom he would have to tell her about. No. He forced the cold thought. No, he would retrieve his tools, save the dreaming, give her whatever explanation he needed to in order to satisfy her curious mind and then he would let her go back to her life. The life she’d built without him, the one she knew and the one that would keep her safe.

“I will not wait long.”

“You won’t have to,” Constantine assured. “She’s gonna slam the door in my face.”

He and Penelope waited until the door slammed closed before looking at one another. She leaned over towards him, “How long do you think it’ll take them to get undressed?”

Tilting his head at her he smiled. “What makes you think this woman will be keen on reconnecting?”

She shrugged. “I just know Johanna.”

***

The rain had started not long after Johanna disappeared upstairs and as it began to come down harder a small black mass shot down from the sky and landed roughly onto the pavement. Morpheus looked down with a sigh. “Matthew.”

“This is a bad idea.” The raven shook off his wings and looked at Morpheus, then to me. “Uh, sorry, I thought it was just you out here.”

My eyes widened at the voice of the bird. “Oh… the raven talks.”

“The raven has a name,” he said grumpily. 

Morpheus sighed. “Penelope, this is Matthew.”

I knelt down and smiled at him. “It’s nice to meet you, Matthew. Sorry I’m just a bit new to talking animals, or spirits, or whatever it is you are.”

His feathers smoothed out. “I guess that’s fair. I’m kind of new to this too.”

“You’re a magnificent raven,” I said, holding a hand out. “Would you like me to hold you? So you don’t have to look up so high?”

“Well… Yeah, I guess that sounds nice.” He said slowly, hopping into my hand and gripping me tightly as I rose back up and held him out to Morpheus, who looked at us with a softness in his usual hard exterior expressions.

“Anyway, I say this as someone who was recently human.” I let the question go. Later. “Human beings cannot be trusted.”

“No.”

“If I were Johanna Constantine, I’d be up there cutting a deal with Rachel to keep the sand, then cut the dream sand with real sand and sell it to the highest bidder.”

"Johanna wouldn't do that," I assured him.

"Well you're not exactly impartial, are you?" 

"Maybe not, but one thing to know about me dear Matthew is I'm very good at spotting monsters." I stuck my free hand out into the stream of rain, letting it pool in my palm and run through my fingertips. "And Johanna isn't a monster. She's just seen too much and lost even more."

I could feel Morpheus' eyes watching me and not the raven, but when I looked back up his eyes had shifted. “Well, I wasn’t the best person when I was a person. We can’t all be Jessamy, who was apparently perfect in every way.”

I giggled, earning a look from both of them. “Sorry, it’s just, Jessamy was far from perfect.”

“You knew her too?”

“Kind of.” I said leaning back against the wall. “She never spoke to me, I didn’t even know she could, but we spent a lot of time together.”

“So, what was she like then?” Matthew asked carefully, almost as if he was afraid of the answer.

“She was brilliant,” I began, noticing the sad gleam in the sandman's eyes. “Sly as a fox and fast as the wind in a storm. She also liked to steal my things, ribbons, rocks, anything I’d collected that she took a liking to. Jessamy was also quite a bitch,” I admitted with a laugh. “She was always picking at my hair and clothes and swooping down to scare me.”

Matthew sighed. “She sounds nice.”

“She was.” I said. “But, she was just like you. Not better or worse.”

Morpheus looked at the bird with a sigh. “Matthew I-”

“I get that you don’t think you need a raven, but if you’re out here, waiting for human beings to help anyone but themselves you’re gonna be sitting out here in the rain forever. Whatever they’re doing up there, they’re not thinking about you.”

“Oh they sure aren't,” I chuckled.

“What’s funny?”

“Dear Matthew, I’m willing to bet they’re up there tearing each other's clothes off.”

“No way!” He cawed. “They’re definitely planning a doublecross.”

I looked down at him and smiled. “You want to bet on it?”

“I’m a raven, I don’t really have anything to bet.”

“True.”

“How about this, the loser buys the winner the meal of their choice.”

I cocked a brow at him. “Do you have a wallet hidden in those feathers?”

He shook his head slightly. “No, but I do have the tall guy.”

Looking up at Morpheus’ unimpressed stare I pressed my bottom lip out slightly, pouting. “Please, O great dream god!”

"I'm not a god." His voice was stiff. "I am one of the Endless."

"The Endless. Sounds very ominous.”

"The Endless are beings of great power that maintain the order of this world. Myself and my siblings," he explained.

I hummed thoughtfully. "You don't sound too fond of them."

He sent me a look. "There are a few that are... Troublesome."

"Just like in any family I suppose." I smiled. "How many are there?"

“More than enough.”

I shrugged. “Okay, well then, O great Dream of the Endless, will you please agree to the terms of our bet?”

He glanced down at the raven then back at me. “Very well.”

“Okay then, let's go. Prepare to lose, raven boy.” I said standing next to the door and hitting the buzzer. Nothing. I looked over at Morpheus whose face had turned sour. “That’s not good is it?”

“No, it is not.”

*** 

Upon finding Constantine in the hall Dream knew the only thing capable of this was none other than the sand they were here to retrieve. He stood back and watched Penelope as she attempted to soothe the dazed woman. With watering eyes Constantine glared at him. “What did you do to me?”

“It was the sand.” He was unsure of how to prepare her for what no doubt lay beyond the door of the bedroom.

“Where’s Rachel?” His jaw clenched, an act that only seemed to spur her into action. She pushed past Penelope and opened the bedroom door. “Rachel? Rach?”

“Jo? Jo, is that you?” The weak reply barely made it to the door as he followed in after the two women. “That’s such a wonderful dream.”

There, lying in the bed with hollow cheeks and skin clinging to bone, decaying in the bed of pillows was Constantine’s ex lover. She was barely clinging to life just as she clung to the pouch in her decrepit hand. He moved slowly, not wanting to disturb the unsettled quiet that had filled the room. Penelope stayed by the door, watching Johanna with a sorrowful gaze as her friend looked up to him. “What’s happened to her?”

“It was not meant for humans,” he said simply as he pulled the bag from her hand.

“No! Wait, please. It hurts,” She groaned.

He turned away, heading towards the door with a steeled expression. “We can go.”

“What?” Johanna demanded. “What we can’t go, we can’t leave her like this.”

It was Penelope’s eyes that he met as he spoke. “We can’t help her. The sand was the only thing keeping her alive.”

He could feel Constantine behind him, could feel her anger as she began speaking, but he didn’t care. All he saw was the sorrow in Penelope’s eyes, sorrow that he’d seen before so many times he’d lost count. But this time was different. This time he had no one to be angry with but himself. He had been responsible for this in some way, hadn’t he? He had been the reason the sand found its way into the mortals' hands, whether it was unintended or not it didn’t matter, not to him.

So he turned and gave Constantine a command, “Wait outside.”

He watched the woman apologize to her dying lover, watched her press a kiss to her forehead, an act that spurred his own memory of the goodbye he’d once thought was forever. And then, without a word to anyone Constantine left. He watched her go, eyes settling on Penelope for a moment before he spoke. “You should go with her.”

Facing the dying woman whom he had, unknowingly, put there he waited for the door to close behind her. It didn’t. Instead she moved closer, sitting down on the edge of the bed beside Rachel Moodie, taking her frail hand and holding it close. She looked up at him when he didn’t move and gave him a soft nod. She was staying. Staying beside a woman she didn’t know? Then it hit him.

It wasn’t Rachel Moodie she was staying for, not really. And so he opened the pouch, grabbing a small handful of sand and sprinkled it over Rachel Moodie. The sand fell across her face, but some of it swirled in the air drifting towards Penelope and circling over her. As the life faded from Rachel the sand retreated and settled once again. Penelope pressed a soft kiss to the woman's hand and gently set it beside her as she fell into her final slumber.

***

Johanna leaned against the wall, staring out at the rain as Morpheus and I came down. He stayed behind, giving the two of us space to talk while he spoke with Matthew. She didn't look at me when she spoke. "Was it quick?"

"Yes. She died dreaming of you," I replied, recalling the beautiful sun filled vision.

Her jaw clenched. "I didn't deserve her."

Standing beside her, shoulders touching, I shrugged. "Maybe not, maybe no one deserves anybody, but she loved you all the same and I know you loved her too."

As Morpheus drifted closer I moved out of the way so the two could speak alone. I'd hoped Johanna would be less hard on him than she had been upstairs, but the wound was fresh, and Johanna didn't deal with loss as tactfully as others. I knelt down to Matthew and sighed. "In light of recent events I think we should call off our bet."

"Yeah, seems kind of in bad taste, all things considered."

"Next time I'll beat you though," I assured him.

He laughed. "Not a chance Penny."

"Penny?" I asked with a smile.

"Yeah, cause you're all shiny!"

"I'm shiny?"

"Yeah, at least in these raven eyes of mine you are." He looked at me, as if double checking. "You got a very nice… Glow… Thing going."

"Well that's weird," I replied. "But that's kind of just been the new normal for me I guess. It's a nice nickname. I don't think anyone's called me that before."

He took a tiny bow. "I am a raven of many talents!"

When I stood back up and dusted off the dirt Johanna and Morpheus both looked away from me. Her attention turned to the little raven as she instructed him to take care of his master then she unfurled her umbrella and stepped into the rain. "You comin Pen?"

"I'll catch up with you later," I told her, settling into the spot she'd vacated. 

"Be safe," she called as she hurried off to the cab.

"How'd she take it?" I asked.

"Better than most."

I nodded. "Yeah, she's had her share of this shit. She'll deal with it, in her own way."

"How are you?" He asked softly.

"I'm alright." I shrugged. "I've gotten used to being surrounded by death."

"I suppose you have."

With a short glance at one another I asked, "I'm still perfectly fine with the whole later talk we need to have after you've got your tools back, but I have to know… did this," I gestured to my arm. "Did it keep me from dying that day?"

"No." He looked out at the rain and shook his head. "I am not even certain I have the answer as to how you survived. I'm just… I am glad you did."

I stepped towards him. "Oh? Would you have missed me?"

A pulse, strong and steady hummed between us. "More than you know."

I blushed. "You probably say that to all your friends." Friends. The word felt entirely too plain.

"I am Dream of the Endless, I do not have friends," he said lowly.

"Everyone needs a friend, Dream." I replied. "Is that not what we are?"

The blue of his eyes darkened. "I do not think that friends is a strong enough word to describe what we are."

"Best friends?" I whispered in a light teasing tone.

"Something like that," he said with mischief in his eyes.

"Well, best friend," I said. "Good luck getting your stuff back."

He looked out at the rain. "Are you intending to wait until the downpour ends?"

"And miss the rain?" I stepped out under the cold shower and smiled at him. "Never!"

"Goodbye, Penelope."

"Goodbye, Morpheus. I look forward to later!"

I danced through the rain all the way to the road, feeling his eyes on me every step until I faded from his view, where I called a cab to get me back to the apartment. Soaking wet footsteps trailed behind me as I walked through the door and got onto the elevator. A minute passed brfore the lights flickered and flashed for a seconds before the elevator stopped entirely. Soon the power cut out, flooding the pitch blackness of the elevator with red. "Great," I grumbled.

The pungent tang of sulfur burnt my nose and a wave of freezing dread filled me. In the distorted reflection of the elevator doors a shadow rose, twisted and deformed. A long gnarled hand reached towards me and then it fell like a pool of water, gone, at least from my sight.

Heart pounding I turned, checking every reflective surface, looking up the ground beneath my feet was nothing but bubbling darkness and my stomach dropped. "Fuc-"

Claws dug into my leg, pulling me down into the darkness before the scream could even form in my throat. I thrashed and clawed trying to find some kind of grip as whatever had grabbed me dragged me through whatever portal it had been capable of opening up. Sharp rocks sliced my arms and hands and dust... No, ash filled my nose. 

The claws released me, dropping me into a straight plummet down. I fell for less than a minute before my body slammed into a cold smooth floor of black. On the ground, over my gasping and disoriented form, the shadow of two large wings unfurled. Every inch of me wanted to curl into itself, every instinct I had told me to run, to get as far away from here as I could.

"Well well, what have we here? A guest in hell?"

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[yourmidnightlover]

letting go

summary - when spencer comes back from prison, there’s no doubt he’s changed, especially in the bedroom. 

warnings - cat-calling, inmates describing gross sex things, soft dom!spence, fem!reader, unprotected sex, creampie, oral (female receiving), hair pulling, fingering, aftercare, bit of subspace, fluff. *let me know if i missed anything*

wc - 3,758

masterlist

-----------------------------

spencer had been gone for almost three months. in prison. he was in prison for three months. in hell for 84 days.

you had visited him as much as you could, remembering the times he would be bruised and beaten each time you would visit him. some days his bruises would be even worse than the previous time.

on your visits, the men in the back would holler and cat-call you. you didn’t mind, as long as you were able to see spencer. but spencer did mind. he minded that those criminals were thinking things about you that only he, as your boyfriend, should be thinking. 

but he couldn’t do anything about it. 

the few times he tried, he only got beat worse. he wanted to defend you, to let you know that he could protect your image, but inside of that prison he couldn’t. he had no power. he had no control. 

you told him it was okay.

“i can handle a few whistles, spence,” you reached your hand across the table to gently stroke his knuckles. “it’s alright,” you tried to ease the obvious tension in his body.

“no. it’s not alright,” he softly argued. “you don’t even want to know what they’re thinking about right now,” he turned his eyes to the table, avoiding your gaze entirely. 

“i don’t need to know. i just need to talk to you,” you whispered softly. “i just need you to know how much i love you.”

“i love you, y/n,” he finally met your eyes, a small smile playing on his lips. 

when he would go back to his cell, or to eat lunch he would overhear people talking about you. talking about the things they would do to you. the things they were thinking about you.

“she’s got a fine ass, too. i would slam it so fucking hard, shit,” a large man groaned, recalling the image of you walking out of the building.

“i’d make dr. fbi watch while i did it, too. i don’t know how he got a bitch that looks like that,” another one replied.

he could only try to tune it out. most of the time it wouldn’t work. he would be doomed to the psychological torture of hearing them mention the crude things about you, unable to do anything about it.

so anytime you came to visit, he would have to mentally prepare himself for the worst. he wanted to see you, he truly did, but them saying those things about you made him want to restrict you from seeing him as a whole. but he loved you too much for that, and as selfish as it was, he needed to see you.

he needed your light heart. he needed your kind spirit. he needed your lifted energy. he just needed you. and if he had to do that while taking a bit of the names and annoyances, he would.

and you knew he hated it. so every time you visited him after the first time you would wear sweatpants and a hoodie or anything that would hide your figure. you wouldn’t wear makeup, you would try to look as unappealing as you could, just to try and make spencer more comfortable. 

but it didn’t necessarily work.

the first time you ever visited him, you wore your normal work outfit. a charcoal gray skirt, a matching gray blazer, white button up blouse, and black heels. that was probably the worst it was for spencer. you heard them hollering from behind the glass, trying to get your attention. you played it off cool in front of spencer, in spite of feeling slightly uncomfortable. 

he knew it made you uneasy, but you kept up your spirit for him.

the last time you had to visit was to tell spencer he was finally coming home. he thought it was just another visit, but he was also in  private meeting room waiting to see you. 

you could wear your normal work outfit to visit him again. 

you walked through the door, a small smile on your face. your eyes began watering from the thought of actually being able to touch him again, to feel his arms around you. to feel his lips against yours.

“you’re coming home now, spencer,” you felt the tear leave your eye, now rolling down your cheek.

his face changed as he came to the realization that he was no longer trapped in that hell hole. his eyes went wide, watering just like yours had as he walked quickly over to you, enveloping you inside of his arms completely. 

the first hug he’s had since he got transferred to the prison. he was glad it was with you. 

his arms went around your waist as yours were over his shoulders, his face nuzzled in your neck, his sniffles muffled by your skin. 

he relished in the smell of your shampoo, the feeling of your soft skin against his, the warmth of your body he’d missed for so long. he relished in your presence.

he pulled back long enough to press a firm kiss to your lips, his hands trailing up to cup your face softly. your hands held his arms right where they were, not wanting to let him out of your reach again. 

“i love you,” he said once he left your lips long enough.

“i love you,” you returned. 

the sweet paradise didn’t last for long because there was still the matter with cat. spencer was troubled with what was going on with his mom. stressed from the realization that he might lose her forever. he leaned on you even more during that time, needing your strength to help guide him through the hurt. you were more than happy to oblige. 

once you had all found his mom, safe and sound, spencer was finally able to relax a bit. you both had decided to have a night in, just the two of you.

you turned on some soft music, and began making dinner together. you hadn’t had a moment to actually breath for so long, let alone spend quality time together in your shared apartment. 

making dinner with him was mostly just you doing all of the work. it’s not that he didn’t want to help, he really did. he’s just not the best in the kitchen. besides, you’d rather have his moral support than him to help. 

so as you hovered over the stove, stirring the sauce the pasta was just poured into, he wrapped his arms around your waist, nuzzling his head into your shoulder and placing soft, gentle kisses. you turned around into his embrace, placing a kiss to his lips in return. 

“it’s almost ready, bubs,” you said with a smile. 

“smells fantastic,” he complimented. “but i’m also in the mood for something else right now,” he said with a mischievous grin.

“oh? and what is that?” you countered, wrapping your arms around his neck.

“i think you know what that is, darling,” he said, pressing a kiss to your jawline with a little nibble. 

“how about we save that for after dinner, yea? i don’t want it to get cold and i’m hungry right now,” you shrugged, releasing him from your grip and turning around completely. 

“well that doesn’t mean i don’t get to hold you while you finish up,” he argued, wrapping his arms around your waist again and resting his chin on your shoulder. 

“okay, well you do that, sir,” you laughed, stirring the pasta once more. “actually, can you hand me the plates, please?”

“of course,” he complied, handing you the plates that were on the already set table. “here you are.”

you both ate relatively quickly, you weren’t lying when you said you were hungry. after cleaning up a bit, which was spencer’s job since you cooked, you had both settled on the couch and were cuddling while watching a rerun episode of doctor who. 

he was laying his head on your chest, his arms wrapped around your body protectively as you stroked his hair softly.

then, he ran his hands underneath your shirt slowly, stroking the soft skin on your waist. his hands gradually went higher and higher on your stomach until the were right underneath your boobs.

“spencer?” you giggled. 

“hmm?”  he mumbled, lifting the shirt to reveal your stomach and lightly kissing it all over. 

“are you okay?” you asked, looking down at the man who was practically worshiping your body. 

“hmm, i’m perfect,” he hummed against your body. he let his hands go higher on your body, grasping your breasts through your bra. you let out a breathy exhale from his touch.

his lips traveled to replace his hands as they traveled to your back, looking up at you for permission before he unclasped your bra. you nodded eagerly.

“i need words, princess,” he ordered, his voice deeper than previous. 

“yes, please,” you squirmed, feeling the wetness pooling at your core as he undid your bra, revealing your chest to him as he threw it somewhere in the room. 

when his lips finally wrapped around one of your breasts, his hand went to the other one, playing with it gently. his tongue toyed with your nipple, his teeth gently grazing it occasionally.

“oh my god,” you breathed out heavily, your hips bucking up towards him for any friction. 

he brought his knee up to your core, giving you the perfect amount of pressure you needed. your hips ground against his knee quickly, begging for any kind of release you could get. his mouth switched breasts when he felt the other one was neglected. when he could tell you were getting close he snapped his knee away from your body, a low groan leaving your mouth.

“patience, princess,” he laughed against you, his mouth coming up to kiss yours fervently. “you’ll take what i give you, alright?” you nodded. “words,” he brought his hand up to wrap around your throat gently, not applying any pressure.

“yes, sir,” you moaned at this new found assertiveness. 

it wasn’t that he was never ‘in charge’ in the bedroom. it normally just took a while for him to get there. besides, he had also told you before how he kind of liked it when you were in control of him. you liked it either way, as long as you were with spencer you loved it. 

“i want you to go to the bedroom for me. you should be undressed by the time i go in there. no touching yourself. got it?” he asked, his hand moving from your neck to your chin, pressing it between his fingers.

“i’ve got it, sir,” you nodded eagerly as he allowed you to get up and make your way to the bedroom. you followed ever instruction he had given you, finding it even harder to not touch yourself while you waited for him. you sat in the center of the bed on your knees, facing the door.

after a few minutes you finally heard footsteps outside of the door. when he entered, he looked at you with such loving, caring eyes you weren’t sure what you had done to deserve him.

“princess,” spencer greeted you, “if you’re not comfortable with doing this you don’t have to act like it for me,” he said in his normal sweet tone as he sat beside you on the corner of the bed, his arm tracing down yours softly. “i need you to be totally and completely sure that you’re okay with this.”

“i am, spence,” you assured him. “i promise. if i don’t like anything i’ll say red like we normally do. i remember the stop light system,” you finished, leaning more into his touch.

“alright, i was just checking,” he leaned in, placing his free hand on the side of your face to bring you in for a tender kiss. “i love you.”

“i love you.”

“alright, princess,” he switched his normal tone into one of dominance. “ready?”

“yes, sir. i’m ready,” you agreed, clenching your thighs together to find any source of relief.

“good girl,” he leaned in, placing another kiss on your lips. when your hands went to wrap around his neck and in his hair he grabbed them in his own. “no. good girls ask for permission.”

“i-i’m sorry, sir,” you apologized. “i just-you’re so...” you trailed off.

“maybe i need to restrain these since you clearly have no control of them,” he wondered, moving to hold both of them in one of his hands.

“n-no sir, please. i’ll be good now. i promise,” you pleaded, trying to convince him otherwise.

“i don’t think so. sit against the bed frame,” he ordered as he moved to the closet to grab two ropes for your wrists. “now, maybe next time you’ll have half a mind to ask permission before touching me,” he began wrapping your wrists securely in the ropes.

“yes, sir,” you nodded sadly, your eyes reaching the bedspread.

“are these tight enough?” he asked as he pulled on one of the ropes.

“yes, sir. they’re tight enough,” you pouted.

“hey, princess,” spencer pulled his hand to your cheek, his thumb gently grazing your cheekbone as you nuzzled into his touch. “this is because you need to learn, alright? it won’t be forever.”

“alright, sir,” you smiled as he placed his lips to yours one more time.

“you’re my girl, right?” he asked as his hand began trailing down your naked body, tracing every curve you have.

“yes, sir,” you breathed out, goosebumps forming from his touch.

“mmm, you’re so beautiful,” he hummed as his hands traced from your hips down to your center, purposely missing the one place you craved his touch.

“please, sir,” you closed your eyes, hoping to feel his hand giving you some kind of relief.

“what did we talk about patience earlier?” he said as he moved his position on the bed.

“i-i take what you g-give me,” you recalled from your earlier conversation.

“so you’ll take what i give you now,” he said as he trailed kissed across your thighs in an upward direction. “i can’t even tell you how much i missed your pretty pussy. how often i thought about it late at night when i was alone,” he growled into your body. “i thought about,” he moved his hand to trail right above your clit, going all around it but never making any contact, making you squirm even more, “how responsive you are. i thought about how good you taste on my tongue,” he said as he trailed his tongue right over your entrance, a low groan leaving your mouth. “thought about that noise.”

“oh, god,” you mumbled as his tongue continued to move at your entrance, occasionally going in and out, eventually his tongue making its way to your clit and flicking it gently. “shit, yes,” your hips were nearly grinding against his face, your arms yanking at the bedframe.

the way he would groan into your pussy, just turned on from all the noises that emitted from your body was enough to send you over the edge as his tongue continued it’s attack on your clit. the only thing is, you needed permission.

“please, please, please, sir,” you begged.

“please what, princess?” he asked, his fingers taking his tongues place and continuing to move.

“please can i cum? p-pleaseeee?” you pleaded, tears pricking your eyes.

“cum for me,” he ordered. “show me how pretty you are when you cum,” he said as his lips connected with your pussy once more, finally sending you over the edge.

“fuck! yesss! oh my god,” you cried out as he worked you through the high.

the only thing is, he didn’t stop once you came down. he kept on going. he moved his fingers to your center and slowly pushed them inside of you, moving them rapidly in motion with his tongue on your clit. his fingers accompanied with his tongue and the way he moaned against your body was quick to bring you right back to that edge, you found yourself falling over it very quickly.

“oh my- please! can i cum? i’m so so close please?!” you begged once more.

“go ahead, princess,” he mumbled quietly against you.

you came with a string of ‘thank you’s’ as your hands pulled against the restraints violently.

“yesss, oh my god!” you yelled as you came down from your high once more.

“good girl, you’re doing so good for me,” spencer praised as his hands trailed up to your breasts, gently massaging them.

“mm, thank you, sir,” you relished in his touch.

“i’ve missed you so much, waiting to taste you like that again...” he trailed off. “waiting to be inside you again. to feel you cum all over my dick, god i miss that,” he growled.

“me too, sir. please,” you huffed out, squirming as he trailed kisses up your torso. “i-i want to feel you, please,” you pulled against the ropes. 

“does my princess want to touch me?” he teased, trailing his hand down the side of your face.

“yes, sir. please!” 

“since you’ve been so good, i’ll allow it,” he complied, finally undoing the restraints. you held your arms against your side as he massaged them, trying to bring the feeling back. “alright, princess. you can touch me now.”

“thank you, sir,” you said as you brought your hands to the back of his neck, pulling him closer to you so you could kiss him. 

“on your knees,” you immediately rolled over to your knees, your ass waving in the air waiting for spencer. “good girl,” he chuckled, his hand tracing the curve of your ass before giving it a squeeze. 

before you knew it, spencer was pushing himself into you. it had been so long since you’d been with him, it felt like the first time you had been together. subtle whimpers left your mouth as he was fully sheathed inside of you.

“fuck, i missed your tight pussy,” he growled, his words causing more wetness to pool where the both of you met. 

“it-it’s too big, sir,” you cried as he pulled back out slowly, only to push himself inside once more. “ah!” 

“take it, sweet girl. i know you can take it,” he bent down to moan into your ear as he slowly thrusted into you again. “uh... just like that, princess. just like that,” he groaned. his hands found your hips, guiding them onto his cock even with his thrusts inside of you. 

“oh my god,” you huffed as your face began to turn into the bed, the pillows and sheets muffling your sounds. “fe-feels so full.”

“you’ve got it, sweet girl. be my strong girl, alright,” he said, noticing the way your head nodded in the pillows. he trailed his hand up your back and grasped your hair, pulling your body up to meet his. “words, princess.”

“yes, sir. i-i’m so s-sorry,” you stuttered out, your head leaning back on his shoulder as his hand trailed down the front of your body. his thrusts only sped up the longer he stayed inside you. “oh, yes, yes, please!” you begged, not sure what for.

“what is it? huh?” he moaned in your ear. “want me to cum inside of you? or do you want to cum all over my dick? which is it?”

“bo-both, sir. please!” you confirmed as he quickly pulled out of you just to flip the both of you over so he was on top of you.

his hand found its way to the crest at the center of your body, doing rapid yet gentle strokes to get you just where you needed to be. before you knew it, your third orgasm of the night had come and gone. your arms went around his waist and neck, trying to pull him impossibly closer to you. the warmth and pulsing of your pussy helped pull spencer over the edge soon after you, his release inside of you being something you didn’t know you missed so much. 

“fuck, you’re such a good girl for me,” he groaned as he fucked his own release back into you. “so good, y/n. you’re so amazing,” he praised, pulling out of you as you whimpered from the overstimulation

“spencer?” you asked, feeling a bit hazy. 

“yes, princess?” he asked as he rubbed gentle circles on your hips.

“mmm, i love you,” you smiled dizzily.

spencer noticed that look. the glazed over eyes, the way your smile seemed slightly faded. he knew exactly what to do for that, too. 

“i love you too, sweet girl,” he smiled, placing a kiss to your forehead. “why don’t we get you cleaned up, yea?” spencer’s hand found your hair, gently running his fingers through it.

“shower with me?” you asked, your hands trailing his jawline ever-so-softly, barely ghosting over his skin.

“of course, y/n,” he agreed, getting up so he could guide you to the bathroom. 

he gently sat you down on the toilet as he started the bath just how you liked it. he made sure to add lavender epsom salts to soothe your muscles, which were more than likely sore from the night’s activities. he added a few essential oils which were good for anxiety, worry, and body aches just to be sure. 

“alright, sweet girl. ready for the bath?” he looked over his shoulder to find you practically on top of him.

“yes, sir,” you nodded. 

spencer sat behind you as you leaned onto his chest, his arms wrapping around your waist as his palms rested against your stomach. you interlaced your fingers with his on your stomach as your head tilted to lay onto his shoulder. 

“i missed you, spencer,” you broke the comfortable silence. “a lot.”

“i missed you too, y/n,” he replied, placing a gentle kiss to your temple. 

“can i ask something?”

“anything.”

“what was that tonight?” you asked. “i loved it, don’t get me wrong. it was amazing. it’s just... you normally aren’t like that.”

“well,” he sighed. “i guess it’s because every time you would visit, the other inmates would say things. like... really bad things about you,” he felt tears welling in his eyes from the memories. “and while i was in there, i couldn’t do anything about it. so i guess i was just a bit pent up from the frustration, is all,” he shrugged.

“i’m sorry, spence. but,” you turned to look him in the eyes. “you’re not there anymore. no matter where your mind might take you, you’re here. you’re back with me,” you wiped the tears that he didn’t even know fell as he mirrored that of yours.

“i’m so happy to be back,” he pressed your foreheads together, not breaking the eye contact. 

“i’m never letting you go again.”