#my sister was like oooh you have time between graduating and starting your new job let's go on vacation!!!! like. gurl.

[cw-ianthe]

had to buy a new bra bc the old one finally gave out :( so returned some pants I got last month to the store to cover the cost. improvise adapt overcome i just gotta survive until december

[alkaysani-archived]

You had an assigned seat next to them at a wedding for a mutual friend. + andromaquynh

oooh thank you for the patience on this kayla! this also has some joenicky in it, i hope you don’t mind!! you can also find it on ao3 here

the setup

“Nicolò, I am so happy for you.” And Quynh was, to the point that she couldn’t stop grinning that her face hurt so much. And her lovely Nicolò smiles at her, and leans into her arms, pressing close and she squeezes him tight, burying her face into his shoulder. “The ceremony was so beautiful! I can’t wait for the reception—” she starts, and Nicolò pulls away then with a smile, then a slight grimace.

 “I’m sorry again for the mix-up. I know I said you’d be with my Nona, but then my aunt showed up, with my uncle, and—” Nicolò rushes out, and Quynh just snorts and squeezes him.

 “It’s one table over, and it’s going to give me a chance to get to know Yusuf’s friends,” she says, just as said man wiggles his way in between the both of them, an arm on each of their shoulders.

 “Oh you’re going to love them, Quynh. They’re almost as terrifying as you,” Yusuf tells her, with a small kiss on her forehead that makes her feel warm. He glances at Nicolò and finds her best friend staring at his newly minted husband with the softest look in his light eyes, a small, crooked smile on his face.

A look of utter adoration. She couldn’t be happier for him. Quynh puffs up her chest and tugs down her suit jacket with a proud smirk at being called terrifying, nodding.

 “Maybe I’ll meet my match,” she says with a grin, making a soft noise when her ring catches on her shirt, missing the sly wink Yusuf gives his husband, before looking down at her hands, and reaching over to help. “Here, don’t tug,” Yusuf says softly, and Quynh drops her other hand to let the man do his thing. In the four years she’s known Yusuf, she’s learned the two most important things that she can learn about the man:

 One, he loves Nicolò with everything that he has, and has loved him since they started competing for study space at the library in their last year of college, that more than once have ended with Quynh making her way to campus to pull them apart. It reminded her of all the times she’d have to pull Nicolò by the back of the shirt when they were so much younger, away from any fight that he was willing to get into. Except that time, he didn’t end up dating them, or eventually marry them.

 And two, Yusuf makes everything he touches, better. That included his art, his writing, the people that he helps through his voluntary outreach, Nicolò’s life as a whole, especially his relationship with his family, Quynh’s appreciation for her job as the lead art curator at the university museum, and now delicate chiffon shirt, that her ring is most definitely stuck on. How did she even manage that? Yusuf takes his time, making sure not to tug and ruin her shirt, and Quynh waits, impatiently, because that’s who she is, and Nicolò moves to wrap an arm around her shoulders, squeezing.

 “Keep still, Quynh.” “No. I can just pull it, and if the shirt is ruined, take it off.” She definitely can. Quynh has a cropped, black tank underneath that’d still look great with her dark red suit.

 Nicolò makes a soft noise the same time as Yusuf lets out a soft “Yes,” and puts up the ring, smiling at her then. Her shirt looks completely unharmed. “No need to for a wardrobe change, though I still think you’d kill it,” he says, giving her the ring, that she slips through her finger with practiced ease.

 “Yusuf, do not encourage her.”

 “She’s not gonna be with Nona anymore, beloved,” Yusuf says with a wave of a hand. “I’m sure her new table companions would appreciate it,” he says, and Quynh squints at him then. What did he mean by that?

 “Either way, Quynh looks lovely. And her shirt is fine, so there’s no need to change,” he says, taking her hand then and pulling her along. “Come on, we need to get to the venue now. I’m sure they’re all waiting for us.”

 ***

 Quynh gets to the table at the reception hall first.

 The rest aren’t there yet. According to Yusuf, they couldn’t make it to the ceremony, and are looking to celebrate thoroughly when they all get there.

 “Have you met them before?” Quynh asked Nicolò softly, just before he left her, and Nicolò just gave her a smile, and a nod.

 “Remember those few years after college when Yusuf was away? When he was still volunteering overseas?” he asked, and Quynh nodded, remembering the two years after their graduation that Yusuf had left. “These are the friends he made from that. So, I’ve only ever met them when I was on video calls with Yusuf, and then when they’re on with Yusuf now. They’re still doing the same thing, even after Yusuf came home.”

 Came home to Nicolò, to build a life with him. When Yusuf had first left, Quynh had been angry, because how dare did Yusuf leave Nicolò to do this? To do good work, yes, but she was home to see how sad Nicolò had been, even though he himself was doing his own good work back home. He had missed Yusuf something terrible, and was never angry at the man. “He misses me just as much, for we love each other just the same,” Nicolò would always say to her when she’d get too upset. Still, it didn’t stop her from reaching out to Yusuf once or twice, asking him to consider coming home. And all he ever said was that he was working on it. And he did, and now he keeps his voluntary outreach at most, at a national level.

 “They’re good people then,” Quynh said, after a beat, and Nicolò smiles, nodding. “I think you’d get along with them, you know. You have something in common,” he replied, and Quynh blinks, tilting her head, just as they got to her seat. He smiled, and kissed her forehead.

 “They told him to come home to me, then helped him do it.”

 Yeah, that’s definitely going to be a plus on Quynh’s book.

 She’s fiddling with her ring and turned on her seat, conversing with one of Nicolò’s aunts when she hears the chairs on her table move behind her. Particularly, she feels the chair beside her move, and so she turns. And finds a tall woman pulling out the seat, in a sleek white suit, her dark hair stark against it. Quynh stares up at her and her breath hitches.

 Fuck, this woman is gorgeous.

 “Fuck, you’re gorgeous,” the woman says to her, and Quynh blinks, wondering if she had said her words aloud, her face heating up, a smile creeping across her lips.

 “Smooth, boss,” she hears, and she glances at a tall blond man looking at the woman with a shake of his head, slipping into his own seat with a snort, a black man sitting beside him, then, flashing Quynh a bright, gleaming smile.

 “Her name is Andromache, and she’s got no filter,” the man says, reaching over the table to shake her hand. “Lykon,” he says, nodding.

 “Quynh,” she says softly, taking his hand into a firm shake. The first man smiles at her then, taking off his sunglasses. “Booker,” he says simply, and Quynh gives him a soft nod, before turning back to the woman, standing up now.

 “Andromache?” she says, voice soft, and the woman smiles, tilting her head.

 “You can call me Andy,” she says, extending her hand to her, and Quynh smiles then, taking her hand, and shaking it.

 “Quynh,” she says softly, and smiles when Andy starts to seat, and she does the same, facing her completely now.

 “You’re Nicky’s best friend,” Andy says, and she feels her back straightening at the fact that she knows that. “Joe tells me you’re scary,” she says, and Quynh tilts her head before leaning over, raising an eyebrow.

 “Only when I have to be,” she says, and Andy smirks, then laughing.

 “Oh, I love a challenge.”

 Damn. Quynh joked about finding her match, but this definitely feels like she has. Andromache feels different, already. She commands the room, but more importantly, she tugs something in Quynh.

 Probably her loins.

 Andy smiles at her then and winks at her, and Quynh feels like she’s going to melt into a puddle.

 Most definitely her loins.

 “Ugh, I can’t believe Nile wins the bet,” Booker groans, after a moment and Quynh turns to her then, Lykon laughing and already taking out what looks like a 100 Euros. Quynh raises an eyebrow.

 “What bet?” “The bet that Andy was going to make a move on you the moment she saw you in person. Joe’s been hyping you up since we met!” Lykon exclaims, and Andy shakes her head then, rolling her eyes.

 “That’s why Nile’s taking over for me, because she’s smarter than the two of you combined,” she says, before looking back at Quynh. “Nile’s going to be here in an hour or so. She’s finishing a call with her mom and brother,” she says with a smile, and she sounds soft-hearted at the whole idea. Quynh feels like she’ll like this Nile too.

 However, that’s when it hits her what they had just revealed. This has been a setup. She then looks over to where Yusuf was, currently holding two of his nephews in his arms, dancing around with them, while Nicolò rocks their baby sister in his own arms gently, conversing with their mother, Yusuf’s cousin.

 “That little shit,” Quynh says with pure affection in her voice, and when she looks back at Andy, she’s grinning, extending her hand gently to her.

 “This was a setup!” she gasps, and Andy just smiles at her still.

 “You interested?” she asks, bluntly, and honestly? Quynh adores it.

 She takes Andy’s hand then and nods, squeezing it, letting herself be tugged forward, standing with her then.

 “I most definitely am,” she says, and Andy smiles, before nodding to Lykon and Booker, who both stand to flank them. Lykon snorts, putting up a fist for Booker to bump, Andy and Quynh looking at the two of them now.

 “The al Kaysani-di Genova setup, complete,” Lykon says, and Booker nods, as they bump fist.

 “One for the books.”

 Andy snorts, and shakes her head, but Quynh can see that she is fond, and happy as she turns back to her.

 “Good,” Andy says with a soft smile. “I can’t wait to get started, but first, introduce us to your best friend?” she says, grinning. “They’ve no idea we’re here yet,”she reveals, and Quynh grins, then she’s moving back to go the other direction. Lykon and Booker make a soft confused noise, but they still follow, and Andy looks at her then.

 “Where are we going?”

 “We’re just going to go around. Go from behind, scare the crap out of them,” she says, and they all cheer in glee at the idea, but all Quynh can see then is Andy’s beautiful smile as she throws her head back in laughter.

 “You’re something else, Quynh,” she says, and Quynh laughs when Andy starts to take off her heeled boots, just as Quynh’s start to take off hers.

 “Seems like you are too, Andromache,” Quynh says, smiling at how easy her name rolls off her tongue. She squeezes her hand, before letting go, taking her shoes and leaving it at the hallway, before re-entering the banquet hall through the other door, Andromache right behind her.

 “Booker, Lykon, flank,” Andy says.

 “Got it boss,” Quynh hears, and she sees Lykon and Booker moving forward, still hidden and honestly, she’s impressed.

 Quynh looks back at Andy then, and smiles.

“Our first mission together?” she says, and Andy smiles, iridescent and beautiful even in the low light.

 “The first of many, Quynh,” Andy says simply, nodding.

 “We’re just getting started.”

[wonderful-writes]

Oooh! For the Charlie Weasley prompt list, 5, 8, and 14, where the reader and charlie have lowkey had feelings for each other for a long time, but then he went to Romania, but finally the reader is about to go into their last year, and they're spending summer at the burrow when Charlie comes back and they talk about being together after the reader graduates

Next Year

Charlie Weasley x Reader

Summary: You had always been close to the Weasley family, and the second-oldest, dragon-loving brother was no exception. He was a few years ahead of you, tall, funny, and ruggedly handsome — all that you could ever want in a boy. It was a shame he didn’t feel the same way. But could one summer together at the Burrow change all that?

Prompts:

5) There’s always next year.

8) I never forgot you.

14) Is that my jumper?

“Y/N! Y/N! Over here!”

You turned to see Ginny Weasley calling to you from the entrance of the Burrow. At her side was a broom and a dustpan. Mrs. Weasley had probably asked her to sweep the front porch.

“Ginny!” you exclaimed, running over to her. You had apparated to the Burrow with nothing but a small suitcase, so it didn’t take long for you to reach her.

“Oh, I’ve missed you so much!” the young red-headed girl gushed as she pulled you into a hug.

“Where is everybody?” you asked when she finally let go of you.

“Percy, Ron, and Harry are upstairs cleaning the bedrooms with Mum,” Ginny answered. “Hermione was helping me out here, but she went inside to grab paper towels for the windows.”

“And Fred and George?”

“They went out with Charlie. I’m not sure when they’ll be back.”

“Charlie’s here?” you asked in surprise. “I thought you said he wasn’t coming. In your letter.”

“Huh, I probably made a mistake,” she said. “I meant to write that Bill wasn’t coming home this summer, not Charlie.”

“Oh,” you said. Part of you was excited to see Charlie again, but another part of you dreaded it. You hadn’t seen him since the end of your fifth year at Hogwarts, an entire year ago. You had finished your fifth year when he finished his seventh, and he headed straight for Romania after that. He had left immediately after graduation, not even staying to spend one more summer with you.

It was not like he had any reason to spend another summer with you. You were only a family friend, after all. The Weasleys had loads of family friends, and you were no different. Charlie probably thought of you like he did Harry or Hermione. But you couldn’t help but wish that he thought of you as something more than that.

You were heartbroken when he left, but you didn’t let it show. You spent that summer with your family, who missed you dearly when you were away at school. You had a happy time, taking trips and enjoying the company of those you love, but you couldn’t shake the feeling that Charlie was gone.

When fall came, you returned to Hogwarts to begin your sixth year. You had school to occupy you — and you were very busy with that, being your studious and ambitious self — but you never let go of the memory of Charlie Weasley. You often looked back at why you fell for him in the first place.

You had met in your first year and his third. As members of the same house, you saw each other frequently and became fast friends. Over the years, you became acquainted with the rest of the Weasley siblings and grew to consider them your second family. You spent parts of your school breaks at the Burrow, and your muggle parents became close friends with the Weasleys as well. It was hard not to fall for Charlie when you were constantly around him and his wonderful family.

Though he was two years older than you, he treated you like an equal, not like some bothersome younger sister. He was kind and respectful and had a love for animals. In your mind, he was perfect. But you never had the courage to tell him so. You were always too embarrassed about your crush and too scared that your feelings wouldn’t be reciprocated. He never showed any signs that he fancied you, so why would you humiliate yourself by admitting that you fancied him?

“I’ll take that for you, dear,” someone said, breaking you from your thoughts. You looked up to see that Arthur Weasley had come out of the house and was reaching for your suitcase.

“Thanks, Mr. Weasley!” you said, handing over the suitcase. “I assume I’ll be staying in Bill’s room since he’s not here?”

“Sure are,” he replied. “He’s been so busy at Gringotts. They just shipped him out to Egypt not even a week ago.” Mr. Weasley smiled broadly, clearly proud of his son.

“Wow, Egypt?” you marvel. “Bill must be some curse-breaker.”

“He sure is,” said Molly Weasley, joining the throng conversing on the front steps. “Hello, Y/N. How are you, dear?”

You stepped into Mrs. Weasley’s outstretched arms and told her that you had never been better. School was swell, your friends were keeping you sane, and there was nothing getting you down. She seemed happy at your reply and led the way back into the house.

Inside, you greeted Ron, Hermione, Harry and Percy. Unlike Ginny, whom you haven’t seen since Christmas holiday, you saw the four the them at school everyday. Percy was a year younger than you, and Ron, Harry, and Hermione were itty bitty soon-to-be second years. You were happy that Ginny would be starting at Hogwarts in the fall. Your last year would be her first, but at least you could go to school with her for one year.

For the rest of the day, you helped the family tidy up the house and prepare supper. When evening rolled around, Charlie, Fred, and George returned from wherever it was they went to. Fred and George said hello to you first, before heading upstairs to work on a new prank idea. Charlie was the last to approach you.

“Hey, Y/N,” he said. “Long time, no see.”

“Yeah,” you agreed, looking up at him. He hadn’t changed a bit. Same messy red hair, same freckles dotting his face. He was as handsome as ever. You quickly looked away, feeling the heat creep up your neck. The last thing you wanted was to out yourself on having a crush on Charles Weasley, especially in front of Charlie himself and his family.

“Hey, Y/N!” called Ron. “Wanna play a game of chess before dinner?”

“Sure,” you answer gratefully. You wanted any excuse to distance yourself from Charlie. Being around him only intensified your feelings for him.

After a heated round of chess, which Ron, the strategic genius, obviously won, Mrs. Weasley announced that dinner was ready. Everyone took their seats at the table, you squeezing yourself in between George and Ginny. To your dismay, Charlie chose the chair directly across from you.

He flashed you a smile. You smiled back weakly before quickly looking down at your plate. Act normal, you told yourself. When you still went to school with Charlie, you had gotten the same nervous, fluttery feeling whenever you were around him. After he left to pursue his dream job in Romania, he wasn’t nearby to make your stomach do somersaults anymore. It had been a full year since you felt this dizzying feeling, and now it was all rushing back to you.

“You okay, Y/N?” asked Hermione, who was sitting next to Charlie.

“Huh? Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Why aren’t you eating?”

You looked around and quickly realized that everyone had already piled food on top of their plates, but yours was still empty. How long had you been sitting there?

“Right,” you said as you picked up a serving spoon, about to dish mashed potatoes onto your plate. “I was thinking about someone, and I guess I zoned out for a bit.”

Hermione raised her eyebrow at you. “Who were you thinking about?”

You froze. You replayed your words and realized that you had accidentally said you were thinking about someone instead of something.

“Did I say someone?” you asked with a laugh, attempting to pass off your error as a simple mistake. “I meant something.”

“Sure you did,” Ginny teased, winking at you.

You rolled your eyes at her. You acted as if it was all a joke, but you were dying of embarrassment on the inside. You hoped you weren’t being too obvious.

“Pass me the green beans, Y/LN,” Charlie said.

You felt your face burning as you handed over the green beans. Even though you didn’t touch him, extending your hand that close to his sent electricity through you.

“Thank you,” Charlie said cheekily.

You spared him a glance, flashing him a smile. You were trying to act as casual as possible, but it was difficult when your stomach churned every time you looked at him. There was no denying to yourself that you were crushing hard.

After dinner was done, you helped Mrs. Weasley wash up. When everything was cleaned and put away, you headed over to the living room, where Fred, George, and Charlie were playing cards around the coffee table. Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Ginny were talking upstairs, Percy was in his room reading, and the Weasley parents had decided to retire for the night.

“Can I play?” you asked, taking a seat next to Fred.

“Sure,” he answered, not looking up from his deck. “Next game.”

“So, where did you guys go earlier today?” you questioned.

“We just went to town,” George replied nonchalantly. “Fred and I needed to get some stuff for our next prank, and Charlie offered to take us.”

You hummed in response. It made you feel warm inside to know that Charlie was so attentive with his siblings. Family was very important to you, and you were glad it was important to him as well. Just another reason for you to fall even harder for him. Godric, why did he have to be so perfect?

The boys continued to play. The game finally ended when both Fred and Charlie ran out of cards, leaving George the winner. You began picking up the cards and shuffling them, preparing to deal them to everyone.

Before you could complete your task, however, George interrupted. “Actually, Fred and I are going upstairs to work on our new idea.”

Giving them a wave goodbye, you watched as the two younger boys got up from the coffee table and headed upstairs.

“You and me?” Charlie asked, a mischievous smile on his face

“Sure,” you replied.

You handed him his cards, and the two of you began to play. You were both concentrated on the game, and the only noise that could be heard was the sound of cards slapping on the table.

“So, how have you been?” Charlie asked, trying to make conversation.

“I’ve been good,” you responded. “You?”

“Never been better. Working at the dragon sanctuary has been a dream come true.”

You were genuinely happy to hear that he loved his job and his new life. Although, you wished you could be a bigger part of it. Charlie wasn’t much of a writer, and he hardly sent letters to his family, let alone his friends. You had written to him once when he was away, and he had responded. That was the extent of your communication over the last year. You didn’t bother to send another letter, fearing coming off as clingy or obsessed. When he failed to write to you again, you knew you had made the right decision.

“Wanna tell me more about Romania?” you asked, setting your cards down.

“Sure!” he answered enthusiastically. “But can we sit on the couch? My bum is sore from sitting on the floor.”

The two of you moved to the sofa and sat about a foot away from each other. He told you all about his experiences working with dragons. He went into detail about the training process, the proper way to handle a baby dragon, and the different breeds he got to study. You smiled as he talked, enjoying the way his eyes lit up whenever he discussed something he was passionate about.

“So, what about you?” he asked finally. “What have you been up to?”

“Well, I just finished my sixth year, which you already knew,” you said. “I aced most of my exams, I was invited into the Slug Club, and I’m currently working towards becoming Head Girl.”

“Wow, that’s amazing,” Charlie said. “You must be proud of yourself.”

“I am proud. Exhausted, but proud. Sometimes I wonder how I got this far. I look back at all the hard work I put in and still can’t figure out how I managed to do all that.”

“You’re pretty incredible,” said Charlie. “If anyone could accomplish that much, it would be you.” He paused. “Well, maybe also Percy. He’s a know-it-all.”

You blushed at his compliment. “Thanks, Charlie.” When you first told him about your achievements, you were worried he would think you were bragging. But his kind words put your fears at ease, reassuring you that it was okay to be happy for yourself and to want to share your goals and successes with others.

“You know, we should keep in touch more when I go back to Romania,” he said.

“Agreed. We hardly exchanged two letters in the past year.”

Charlie smiled sheepishly. “Yeah, I sort of didn’t write to anyone at all. I mean, unless they wrote to me first.”

“It’s alright,” you reassured him. “You were probably too busy taming dragons or something,” you teased.

“I never forgot you,” he said, as if he had to make sure you knew his lack of communication wasn’t personal.

You felt your breath hitch. You knew he was probably only saying because he felt guilty for not sending letters to someone who obviously wanted to, but you secretly wished he had meant something more by those words. Did he miss you when he was away? Or did he just feel bad for cutting off a family friend who was desperate for company? Could he sense how you felt about him?

“I know,” you said. “You don’t have to feel bad for not writing. I know it’s nothing against me.” You really hoped he didn’t pity you or think you were pathetic. Your Gryffindor confidence truly gave out on you when you were around him.

“I-it’s not that,” he stammered. “It’s just, well, um.”

“It’s just what?” you questioned. Since when did Charlie Weasley get so tongue-tied?

“I, uh, I want you to know that I never forgot about you,” he finally spitted out, red in the face. “You’re, you’re different to me.”

You couldn’t believe your ears. Was Charlie Weasley, the boy you’ve been swooning over for years, confessing his feelings for you?

“Different how?” you asked, wanting him to get to the point. You needed to know how he felt about you, but you were slightly afraid of the outcome. What if it was all a misunderstanding? What if you had been reading the situation wrong, and he didn’t actually have feelings for you?

“Well, you’re like a friend,” Charlie began slowly. He seemed to have regained his natural confidence and composure. “But more than that.”

You stared at him, unable to speak.

“You’re like family,” he went on, “but I don’t see you as my sister or anything like that. I see you more as someone I could fancy, or rather, someone I do fancy.”

You were dumbstruck. The boy you were head-over-heels for actually liked you back. He had said it himself. He fancied you. No one else, you.

“Could you please say something?” Charlie asked.

You looked down to see him fidgeting with his hands. Was he really that anxious? The calmest person you knew was nervous around you?

“I can’t believe you just said that,” you said, looking him in the eyes. Those gorgeous brown eyes.

“I’m sorry,” he apologized, turning red again. “Forget I said anything.”

“No, no, it’s not like that!” you hurriedly told him. “I like you, too.”

“You do?” he asked, breaking into a grin that could make you melt into the ground.

“Yes, I do. I’ve liked you for a long time, but I never had the courage to say anything. I didn’t think you felt the same way.”

“Same here,” Charlie admitted. “I’ve liked you for a while, but it felt wrong of me to say so. You are my friend, after all. Plus, you’re two years younger than me.”

You nodded in agreement. You often questioned if it would be wrong to date someone who wasn’t your age. Would people think weirdly of you and Charlie if the two of you were in a relationship? Would either of you get in trouble?

You couldn’t help yourself from asking, “How long have you liked me for?” You were still flabbergasted and didn’t think you’d ever get over the news.

“Well, I’m not sure. Maybe since my sixth year? Although, it could’ve been before that. We were always such close friends that I didn’t notice when platonic feelings started to turn into something more.”

You nodded in understanding. “I get it. Although, I can’t say it was the same for me. My feelings for you weren’t gradual like that. I knew I liked you all at once. From the moment we first met, actually.”

“Oh, did you?” he teased. “Did you find me that charming?”

“Oh, shut it, you git,” you said while rolling your eyes at him. It felt nice to banter with him without the awkward tension from before. Knowing that he shared your feelings made it easier for you to talk to him.

“So, what now?” Charlie asked you. “Are we dating or...?”

“Well, you have to ask me out first, don’t you?” you said playfully, trying to hide your smile.

He let out a loud sigh. “If I must.”

“Go on,” you said with a smirk. You had missed his goofy side when you were apart from him.

“Y/N Y/LN, will you go out with me?” he asked dramatically.

You rolled your eyes again. “Yes, you doof. I will go out with you.”

He beamed. “Brilliant!”

You smiled back at him, reaching for his hands. You gripped his hands in yours and looked into his eyes. Those soft, brown eyes that never failed to make you weak in the knees.

“But what will your family think?” you questioned, finally breaking his gaze.

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “Will your family be okay with this?”

“I’ve, uh, already told my parents about you,” you said sheepishly. “They’ve known I liked you for a long time, so they won’t have a problem with us dating. It’s your family I’m worried about.”

Charlie nodded. “Maybe we shouldn’t tell them? Not now, at least?”

“That would probably be best,” you agreed. “I don’t particularly want to deal with their judgement right now.”

Just then, the thudding of footsteps coming down the stairs could be heard.

“Charlie, Y/N, it’s bedtime!” Ron called from the landing. “Mum told me to tell you!”

“We’re coming, Ron!” Charlie shouted back. He turned to you. “So, I guess we’re keeping this a secret?”

“Guess so.”

That night, you couldn’t sleep as you laid in bed. You didn’t have to share Bill’s room with anybody, so you were utterly alone with your thoughts. Part of you was too excited to sleep. You couldn’t believe you were dating Charlie Weasley, the boy of your dreams. But part of you was also terrified of what the Weasleys would say once they found out. You already knew they liked you; you had been a friend of their children for a long time. And Charlie was their own son. But would a relationship be too much?

Aside from your worries about Charlie’s family, thoughts about how to make a relationship with him work also occupied your mind. He would be returning to the dragon reserve in Romania at the end of the summer, and you would be starting your last year at Hogwarts. Would you break up? Would you do long-distance? How would you make it work?

The next morning, everything proceeded as usual. You had breakfast with the Weasleys, along with Ron and Hermione, of course, and helped with the dishes afterward. You spent the rest of the day spending time with everyone, particularly Charlie. The two of you snuck off whenever you could, but it was difficult finding time to be alone with so many people at the Burrow.

The rest of the summer went accordingly. You spent your days playing games with the younger children, helping Mr. and Mrs. Weasley around the house, and enjoying quiet moments with Charlie. During your time alone, the two of you talked, made plans, and fell deeper in love with each other. You were infatuated with him, and he felt the same about you. Both of you dreaded the end of the summer, when you would eventually have to part ways.

You would miss the hot nights laying in the field, counting fireflies together. You would miss the sweet way you held each other’s hands underneath the dinner table. You would miss the rise and fall of his chest when he had fallen asleep on the banks of the nearby pond after a long afternoon of splashing around. You would miss the blush that crept up his cheeks when you caught him staring at you when he thought you weren’t looking. You would miss him, everything about him.

The last day of summer crept closer and closer. Before you knew it, it was your final night at the Burrow. You were set to leave with Percy, Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Ginny early the next morning. A part of you was excited to finally start your last year at Hogwarts, knowing that this would bring you another step closer to your adult life. Some days, there was nothing you wanted more than to be done with school and to start working in the wizarding world. You weren’t sure if you wanted to be a healer or an auror or some other profession, but you knew you wanted to make a difference and do good things for others. But another part of you was saddened. You didn’t want to leave the warmth and comfort of the Burrow. You didn’t want the carefree summer days to be nothing but a distant memory. And you didn’t want your blossoming relationship with Charlie to come to a close either.

It was past midnight, and you were the only one awake. Having had trouble falling asleep, you had gone down to the kitchen to fetch a glass of water. After downing your drink, you had decided to perch on the sofa to contemplate your current situation. Physically, you were exhausted from a long day of frolicking in the fields and slinging rocks into the pond, the perfect end to the perfect summer. Mentally, you were restless as thoughts ran wild through your head. What would happen when you returned to school and Charlie went back to Romania? Your body was telling you to sleep, but your mind was keeping you up. You would be able to sleep on the train the next day, anyway.

“Y/N?” a voice sounded through the silence. “Why are you up?”

You broke free of your thoughts and glanced up to see Charlie staring back at you from the foot of the stairs.

“I couldn’t sleep,” you shrugged. “Went down for some water and decided to sit here.”

Charlie grinned before plopping down next to you. “Well, then, I’m glad I happened to wake up just now. We can have one more moment together before we both leave tomorrow.”

You smiled back at him. “I think one more moment with you is just what I need right now.”

“What’s on your mind, love?” he asked as he draped his arm around you.

You snuggled closer to his side. “Nothing much. I was just thinking about us. What’s going to happen after tomorrow?”

You peered into Charlie’s eyes and found that he looked utterly content, relaxed even. Was he not fazed by the idea of having to leave you?

“Well, you’re going back to school,” he began, “and I’m going back to the sanctuary.”

“But what about us?”

“We’ll do long-distance, I guess,” he answered with a shrug. “I don’t want to break up or anything.”

You smiled at that and leaned up to give him a peck on the cheek. You were glad he wasn’t too worried. It eased your nerves to see how well he was handling this. “I don’t want to break up either. But you better write me, you git.”

Charlie smirked. “Alright, I’ll write you.”

You punched him playfully. “You better.”

The two of you stayed on the couch for a while, just enjoying being close to each other. You rested your head on his chest and listened to his steady heartbeat. Its rhythmic pounding soothed you, let you know that everything was going to be okay.

“Hey, is that my jumper?” Charlie finally spoke, gesturing to knitted red garment you wore.

You grinned sheepishly, looking down at the jumper that hung oversized on you. “I wanted to have a piece of you before we go our separate ways. I didn’t think you’d miss it too much. You have a bunch of them.”

“You can keep it, love,” he said with a grin. “It looks better on you anyway.”

“Thanks, Charlie,” you replied happily. You knew he wouldn’t have minded you taking his jumper, but it was nice to hear him say it himself. Something about the way he said it looked better on you made you cling onto him even tighter.

You and Charlie fell asleep on the couch that night, entangled in each other’s arms. In the morning, you were awakened by the sound of stomping footsteps and rowdy laughter as the other children got ready to leave. Soon enough, Molly Weasley was ushering you and Charlie to get ready as well. She didn’t seem at all surprised to see the two of you sleeping on the sofa together. Like everyone else in the house, she knew of your relationship without having to be told.

Charlie decided to accompany you and rest of the returning Hogwarts troupe to the train station. He didn’t want to miss seeing you off, wanting to say goodbye one last time. By the time you reached Platform 9 3/4, it was finally hitting you that you would be leaving him again. But this time, it hurt a little less because you knew you wouldn’t be leaving behind an unrequited love. You would be leaving your boyfriend, someone who did feel the same way and would never stop caring about you no matter the distance.

Your goodbye was bittersweet. You were thrilled to be parting ways as two people who were dating at long last, but you were dismayed to leave him at all.

“Did you pack my jumper?” Charlie asked as he pulled you into one last hug.

“Sure did,” you grinned at him. “I’m going to miss you, Charlie.”

“I’ll miss you too,” he said, planting a kiss into your hair. “But there’s always next year.”

You finally pulled away and boarded the Hogwarts Express with the others. Sitting in between Ginny and Hermione, you waved out the window frantically as the train pulled out of the station. You continued to wave as the train continued to chug forward until the figures of Charlie, Molly, and Arthur Weasley became nothing but specks on the platform.

Tired from staying up late the night before, you allowed yourself to shut your eyes during the ride to school. As you were drifting off to sleep, the last words Charlie had said to you turned over and over again in your mind. But there’s always next year. He was right. Although you’d be apart for your last year at Hogwarts and his second year in Romania, you had your whole future ahead of you. You had the rest of your lives to be together, so it didn’t matter that you weren’t together now. You sank deeper and deeper into a peaceful slumber, letting the noise of the train inching along the tracks and the thoughts of your future with Charlie lull you to sleep.

[jaskierswolf]

The Viscount and The Witcher pt.1/4

(Note: Reposted from my old blog. The rest can be found on my Ao3 or on my pinned masterlist)

Viscount Julian Alfred Pankratz de Lettenhove was bored. He’d been bored for some time now. In his youth he’d dreamed of becoming a travelling bard. He’d even focused his time in Oxenfurt on the liberal arts and had graduated quite successfully from the academy, but before he’d even begun his journey to becoming renowned troubadour, he’d been called back to his family home. The news of his father’s death had been an unfortunate one and he’d been forced to step up and become head of his vast estate.

There had been a moment, in the dead of night, witching hour, when he’d very nearly picked up his lute and fled.

He hadn’t.

He’d turned over and gone back to sleep. He did have a rather luxurious bed and he’d not been short of company to fill it with. He often wondered what would have become of him if he had run away that night, at barely eighteen. He often dreamed of the songs he could have written, the people he could have met, the adventures he could have had.

A deep part of him sorely regretted the path not taken.

Instead he drowned his sorrows in the most delicious wine from Toussaint and lured beautiful people to his bedchamber. He was determined to enjoy the few pleasures left to him in gluttonous amounts.

He gazed out of the window of his study into the gardens. They were stunning at this time of year. They weren’t the most well kept gardens, but he liked that. He enjoyed the wild long grass and the litany of yellow, white and purple weeds that sprung up in the summer. The sounds of bees filled the air, a constant low buzzing that he found both soothing and wildly distracting. He enjoyed a long stroll in the gardens when he wasn’t buried under paperwork. Quite frankly he didn’t give a rat’s ass about the different silk sheets used in the guest bedrooms or whether the local houses were paying their taxes in time. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all of that diplomatic nonsense just disappeared?

Poverty could become a thing of the past. He’d given away vast amounts of his fortune whenever he could convince his lawyers to let the assets go but his estate only thrived more as the farmers, workers and merchants were able to work more efficiently and invested more funding into their livelihoods.

He couldn’t begrudge them that but he felt guilty for owning so much when they lived on so little so he kept feeding his money back into the surrounding villages and they kept growing and expanding their homes and businesses.

None of the surrounding lords or barons could understand how he did it.

He couldn’t exactly explain it himself.

He had been hoping to run his estate into the ground so he could run off and have the heroic adventures that he’d always dreamed of. Perhaps he would even run into one of those witchers. He was fascinated by witchers. He always had been, ever since he was a boy and he’d heard the rumours of the Butcher of Blaviken, Geralt of Rivia. The rumours were that the man had slaughtered an entire village with his bare hands in some kind of blood-fuelled frenzy.

Julian didn’t believe that for a second.

He’d snuck down to the library and buried himself under books, scrolls and parchments, anything in his father’s great library with even the whiff of a witcher. He’d read bestiaries and fairytales, utterly bewitched by the tales of fae, vampires and werewolves. He devoured everything he could by candlelight. It was what had driven him to his chosen career as a bard. He wanted to experience those stories himself, he needed to live it. His thirst for knowledge and innate curiosity had seen him through Oxenfurt with ease. He’d been able to spend far too long in taverns and brothels whilst his peers studied books and manuscripts that he’d read within the first months of attending the famous school. The library had been enviable and he’d been unable to stay away for months.

He sighed dramatically. It had all been a fucking waste of time. He closed the leather-bound book he’d been scrawling in, even after all these years he couldn’t help the flashes of creative inspiration that hit him. It was like a vampire’s thirst, burning in his throat and heart. He had to write, he had to play and sing and dance. He ran his fingers along the underside of his writing desk until he heard a faint click and a drawer popped open. He tucked the book neatly into the draw beneath the pressed dandelion.

Dandelion.

It was to be his stage name had he followed through with his plans.

He’d kept the pressed yellow flower as a reminder. He picked it up and twirled it between his fingers before sighing loudly.

“Master Dandelion, renowned troubadour and poet.” He pouted before gently returning the flower to its cage and closing the drawer shut, it vanished into the wooden desk without a trace. “I supposed it is quite poetic,” He whined. “I am like the flower trapped in my own cage from which I cannot escape. The flower which holds my name and soul shares my fate.”

He groaned and bumped his head against the desk. The long feather in his hat flopped down, tickling his nose. He promptly sneezed.

“Ah. To the gods! Even my own hat hates me.” He moaned.

Thankfully he was pulled from his self-pity by a knock at the door. He jumped to his feet and straightened his hat, tucking the treacherous heron feather back into place.

“Come in!” He trilled.

Annabelle, a pretty redhead and one of his longest serving maids entered the room. “ Lord Lettenhove.” Annabelle curtsied.

Julian rolled his eyes and pulled the girl to her feet. “Annabelle, dearest, how many times must I ask you to call me Julian and none of this grovelling nonsense. Tell me, how are your family? Your mother was sick, is she feeling any better? I trust she received the medicine I sent.”

Annabelle blushed and smiled up at him. “Yes Lord Let - Lord Julian. Thank you very much. You are too kind to us.”

“My darling, I simply have nothing better to do with my fortune than ensure my staff are well looked after. How’s the little one, Eleanor if I remember correctly?”

“Yes, Lord Julian. She’s growing up fast. My sister told me she started to crawl yesterday.” Annabelle answered meekly.

Julian gasped and put his hand to his chest. “And you missed it! Oh my dear, my sincerest apologies.”

Annabelle shook her head. “I love my job, Lord Julian. There is no reason to apologise. You’ve already done far too much for my family.”

It was Julian’s time to blush. He hated how much his staff revered him, didn’t they realise his motivations were purely selfish? He just wanted to get out of this house! He wanted to leave them. They just didn’t see any of that but he didn’t let his frustration show. “Now now, they’ll be time to sing my praises later, my dear, what was it that you needed? We are not due another order from the farms yet are we?”

The girl laughed quietly. “No, nothing like that. Forgive me, Lord Julian, I don’t mean to make assumptions.”

She shuffled awkwardly on her feet. “Well go on! Don’t keep me in suspense like this.” He pouted with a hand on his hips.

“There’s a rumour going round, Lord Julian.” She blushed. “About a witcher in one of the outer villages. They were having problems on the full moon. Mysterious and gruesome murders.”

Julian wanted to jump for joy.

A real witcher.

On his land.

“Oh my!” He clapped his hands together. “We must send for him at once!” He ran to his desk and pulled out a sheet of parchment. “Now tell me Annabelle what monsters are more enticing to a monster hunter, vampires or werewolves?” He scoffed before she could answer. “No no, that’s too obvious, and unbearably dull. Nekkers? Oooh, what about a draconid? A forktail perhaps?”

Annabelle kept opening and closing her mouth but there was no interrupting Julian when he got like this. He barely even noticed he still had company.

“Or a wraith!” He laughed gaily. “Oh yes that will do nicely! A wraith haunting the attic! Then we may get to see the witcher in action, oh the tales I could write! Maybe I could publish them under a pseudonym, Master Dandelion may yet still live!”

His hands flew over the paper as he scrawled as quickly and elegantly as he could. Once he was finished he read it over quickly, cornflower blue eyes scanning over the words quick as lightning.

     My dear witcher,    

     On behalf of Viscount Julian Alfred Pankratz de Lettenhove, I would like to thank you for offering your services to assist our villagers with their furry little problem. I write this letter before the news of your success has reached me but I have no doubt that you will succeed in your quest! You must tell me whether you have slain the beast or cured it of the lycanthropy. I await the tale of your heroic adventure with great anticipation.    

     The Lord Lettenhove requests your presence at his estate. You see, my dearest witcher, we have a little pest problem of our own. A wraith haunts the house and our poor chambermaids are quite at their wits end with fright.    

     I beseech you. Don’t delay.    

     Yours, Dandelion.    

He chuckled at the name. He was going to have a lot of fun with this witcher, whoever it maybe, and he didn’t need the witcher knowing exactly who he was just yet. He sealed the letter swiftly and all but shoved poor Annabelle from the room so that she could deliver it hastily.

He followed after her and practically ran down the corridor and up the stairs to the master bedroom. He flung open his wardrobe as he hummed a new melody under his breath. He needed to choose an outfit. Something that was less Viscount and more genius bard.

He stripped off his golden doublet and trousers in exchange for his favourite plum set. It had intricate embroidery around the collar that he just adored. He paired the doublet with a white undershirt with lace around the cuffs and collar.

He took off his hat and twirled a strand of his soft golden blond hair in between his fingers. He’d been growing it out lately, he was really just so bored, and he’d been considering experimenting with some curling irons like he’d seen his cook use. He was certain that Hanna would show him how to use them if he asked nicely.

But did he have enough time for that?

He still needed to set up his wraith problem, and it needed to be convincing enough to keep the witcher around long enough to get to know him, perhaps he could even lure the man to his bedroom if he were that way inclined.

Gods he hoped he was.

It had been too long since Julian, no, Dandelion, had had a male lover.

Well, if he was planning to seduce the man then he really should look his best but first he needed to make sure that they stage was set. He picked up his old forgotten lute from the corner of the bedroom, gently trailing a finger down the neck of the instrument before quickly plucking at the strings and fiddling with the pegs to make sure she was still in tune.

“I am so sorry darling.” He cooed to the instrument. “It’s been too long.”

He tucked her into his old lute case and appraised his reflection in his mirror.

“Hmm…” He stuck his tongue out as he concentrated. “Not quite right. Oh yes! My hat!” He swiped up a matching plum coloured bonnet and pinned a feather in place because plopping it onto his head. He looked back at his reflection with a furrowed brow and then inspiration hit him and he tilted his hat so he fell slightly to one side. “Perfect!”

He giggled and bowed dramatically to his reflection. “Master Dandelion, at your service!” He grinned seductively.

Oh this witcher would have no idea what hit him.

[kitchenscene]

all roads lead to space [1/15]

read it on ao3

Eddie always loved the stars.

Loved them enough to read every space exploration book at the library as a kid. Loved them enough to write essays dedicated to the sky. Loved them enough to take a brochure at career day that read ‘Explore Space!’, and promise himself that one day he’d see them up close. A promise so strong that it kept him up at night, staring out the window, waiting for a future he so badly needed.

Soon,  he promised.  ‘Explore Space!’, he remembered. He held onto that brochure, kept it close. Hung it on the wall above his desk, read the words everyday. A dream, a hope. A promise to himself.

“Really?”  his parents asked,  “You know, it’s not easy to be an astronaut…”

Of course it’s not easy. He did the research in high school, determined to pull his dream within reach. A four year degree and a professional degree. Then three years of ‘relevant experience’, plus two years of training, assuming he’s chosen as a candidate (“join the military,”  every pamphlet seemed to whisper,  “NASA loves military pilots.” It’s like they were taunting him).

“Don’t listen to them,”  Adriana reassured.

“You’d be good at it,”  Sophia hesitantly complimented.

It’s a lot to handle. A lot of time and school and training, which leads to a lot of receipts and loans and debts he could never pay. It’s brutal. To want something so bad, but have it dangling just out of reach. To see the possibility glaring at the end of the road and know that it will always be just that. A possibility. Barely out of reach, almost a reality, but never quite true.

That’s when the vultures began to prey.

  “Are you interested in joining the United States Armed Forces?”

Military recruiters. They’d scout out the high schools, searching for any able-bodied candidate they could find, preying on kids who had nowhere else to turn.

  “There’s plenty of benefits for you and your family–”

Including, but not limited to: redacted letters from your loved one overseas, nightmares that will settle deep in your skull, and bullet holes that will never quite heal. All for the low, low price of–

  “–We’ll pay for your college tuition.”

Of course that line always turned heads. Even Eddie perked at the offer. But he could never take it. It’s blood money, and he didn’t want it. Tempting, but no. No piece of paper, no cap and gown, is worth someone else’s life.

Eddie wanted to help people, not hurt them. Science, space exploration, it’s all about the pursuit of knowledge. Pushing mankind forward, not yanking them backwards onto the battlefield.

“I’m not interested,” he replied. Every single time.

Physically, sure, he could do it. He’s tall, mostly muscular, with no underlying health conditions. The perfect candidate to go to war. Or the perfect candidate to go to space. Eddie met every medical requirement. He could do it. Find a way.

Eddie graduated high school, and the vultures stopped swarming. He attended a community college and started taking physics classes (turns out, stars are complicated. Still, he had made it this far). Classes weren’t easy, but they were manageable. He could learn, he could go somewhere. With every lecture, the stars pulled closer, still out of reach but finally in sight. He might actually be able to—

  “—Are you interested in joining the United States Armed Forces?”  

So close. The recruiters didn’t disappear after high school, unfortunately. There was a constant military presence lingering over his head. Recruiters, ROTC kids, and the pamphlets he politely recycled behind their backs. The angel on one shoulder told him to go to grad school, and the devil perched on the other, whispering,  “NASA loves military pilots (it’s cheaper than a masters degree).”

Space, not war. Stars, not gunfire.

He could ignore them. Move quietly through classes and return home at the end of the day. Say no, smile, and move forward. It’s not like he had to see them every day… right?

“You know it’s not easy to be an astronaut…” the words rang in his head.  But Eddie had a plan, he always did. Graduate, apply to grad school, get accepted, find a scholarship, apply to work at NASA. Five steps, easy enough.

Easy until…

  “Hi, I’m Shannon.”

A field of vultures, and she stood unfazed in the middle of it all. The only smile that seemed to be true, the only one not trying to sell something he didn’t want. A yellow dress in the sea of camo-green, leaning against a table of flyers and pamphlets and lies. She caught his eye, and he held onto hers.

“You don’t seem like the military type,”  he noted.

  “Neither do you.”

Not a student, he learned. Not a recruiter, either. Just a sibling, helping her brother because she had nothing better to do. Intriguing, she was. Standing so self-assured, not letting a single teasing remark stick. Vultures glared at Eddie, but he kept his gaze on Shannon, borrowing an ounce of her confidence.

She asked him out before he had the chance to ask her, ignoring the “oooh’s”  and “get some!” of her brother’s friends. Not part of his plan, but a welcome distraction. How could he say no to the woman with more gusto than every soldier surrounding her?

One cup of coffee turned to three, and occasional texts from class turned into daily phone calls on his way home. All his free time, he gave to her, yet he still knew more about her brother than he did about her. She would pick and choose the details of her life, which to keep and which to divulge, whereas Eddie played his whole hand, letting Shannon see every part of himself. He trusted her, for no reason in particular. He laid out his ambitions, and she only nodded in return. But he was comfortable. Shannon gave him something to come home to; he spent more time in her apartment than his own house. His last year of college, and he spent it all with her.

He had his plan, a neat list of five steps to carry him through life. Shannon wasn’t part of that plan, but he could try and make room. Step one: graduate college. One more month, and he’d have his degree, tangible proof that he could follow through. Step two: apply to grad school. Confusing and messy and filled with questions he only half understood, but he could manage. He always found a way to manage.

Five steps. Five baby steps followed by one giant leap for mankind. One month and he’d—

  “—Are you interested in joining the United States Armed Forces?”  

Oh, fuck off,  he wanted to scream. So close. He had to admire their determination, but he was just as determined. What could they possibly offer at this point? What sales tactic could they possibly try? His response was practiced, trained.  No.  The answer is always no. Because in no  universe would Eddie ever willingly join—

  “—I’m pregnant.”

Oh.

  Oh.  

Eddie always loved the stars. So he finally followed them.

All the way to Afghanistan, betraying every promise he ever made to himself. Airman Eddie Diaz gave himself away and let the Air Force take him wherever they please.

Shannon was livid (understandably).  Impulsive  , she called him,  stupid and reckless. She understood the system more than most; her brother had fallen for the same trap, but convinced himself he loved the force. Eddie always hated the military, tried to avoid it at all costs.

He didn’t leave Shannon. He left  for Shannon and their baby. He could send them every paycheck and benefit he had to offer. They would be okay without him.

  “NASA loves military pilots…”

God,  he hated it. Hated himself; still thinking of his own damn future and convincing himself it was for Shannon (he wouldn’t even  be a pilot for fucks sake, at most he’d get promoted to Sergeant).

“I’ll be back,” he promised.

  “It’ll be too late.”

His plans changed. So he made a new one. Go to college, fight a war, explore space (more or less). Learn to be a dad somewhere along the way.  Leave them behind,  he left unwritten,  consider coming home (it’ll be too late).

Sixteen weeks of basic training and nine weeks shacked in some Air Force base in Alabama.  “Three years of relevant experience,” read every brochure he encountered. Two tours, three years of experience, one job application.

Eddie considered proposing. That’s what you do when you have a baby, you get married and start a family. But the idea died before he could really process the thought. It didn’t sit right, and part of him knew it would end too soon. A bigger part of him was half-sure she’d say no, anyways.

He apologized again and again. Every spare moment was spent calling home, reassuring Shannon that everything would work out (he didn’t know if it would; that’s a promise he wasn't ready to make). But it wasn’t enough. It was never enough.

Christopher was born. Eddie wasn’t there. His first tour ended nine months later and for the first time, Eddie met his son. He barely held him, scared to hurt him more than he already had. The military taught him to shoot and fly and throw a good punch in desperate times. College taught him to ask questions and write essays about books he barely read. His sisters taught him how to braid hair and avoid their parent's stern gaze. No one taught him how to be a dad.

Eddie wanted to hold him close and teach him everything he knew. He wanted Chris to have a good life. He didn’t want to leave.

But he was already gone. Eighteen more months. A stiff salute in one hand, his St. Christopher medal in the other, clanking against his dog tags.

In El Paso, the lights were too bright to ever see the stars properly. Afghanistan was darker, the lights much more muted. At night he could look up and see every constellation, every star, clouds dancing between the distant lights. His crew made fun of him for staring oh so lovingly at the sky;  “you look at your wife like that too?”

“She’s not my wife,” he panned, still staring up. Maybe she could see them too. Or maybe she was too busy looking down, caring for their child. Fixing his mistakes.

“Well, that’s certainly true now, my friend.” She would never forgive him for leaving, and he dreaded the day he’d come home to her rage. Fighting a war is easy. It’s a series of protocols and orders. In war, there’s always an answer. But coming home hurts. It’s regret and shame and scars that will never heal right.

His last mission was meant to be a rescue. To bring a wounded soldier home. Nothing they hadn't done thousands of times before. So of course everything went to hell. The one person he was supposed to save bled out before he had the chance to tend to him. He had a family, a real one who needed him to come home, and Eddie let him die.

Three gunshot wounds later, and somehow Eddie’s the hero; Staff Sergeant Diaz and his shining silver star. Looking at it made him nauseous. A symbol of heroism, and he wanted nothing more than to let it drown. Burn it, bury it, hurl it into the sea. Chris said it was cool. His parents said they were proud. Shannon said nothing at all (he feared her silence more than he feared her rage).

No words could make up for his absence. A thousand apologies meant nothing. He wasn’t there, he wasn’t enough. No dream was worth all this sacrifice. Go to college, fight a war, explore space.

  Go to college, leave your family, fight a war. Fight a war, come home, never leave again.

That soldier had a family. He wouldn’t have left them behind.

‘Explore Space!’ the brochure read, still hanging on the wall of his childhood bedroom. He ripped it from the cork board and let it fall to the floor.

Eddie always loved the stars. But he couldn’t leave Chris. Not again.

So Eddie stayed. He needed to stay. Somewhere along the line, Shannon left. He’s a hypocrite for being angry and a terrible person for being a little glad they never got married.

“You're such a downer,”  Adriana said. She and Sophia came to El Paso to surprise Chris for his birthday.  “Your sadness is making me sad. It’s making him sad too.” She nodded towards Chris.

“Did he say something to you?”  As much as he wanted to deny his feelings, he couldn’t. Not if it was hurting Chris.

“No. But kids are perceptive,”  she tried to level with him. “  You’ve been stuck in El Paso for years. At some point, you need to move forward. Or at least move out of our parent’s house.”

He frowned. “I can’t leave him. Not again,”  he said, unmoving.

“How do you think he’ll feel when he grows up and finds out you gave up your dream because of him? Eddie, I’m not telling you to leave him,”  she rested a hand on his shoulder,  “I’m telling you to bring him with you.”

He stood still, his head stuck to Adriana’s words. He wanted to do what was best for Chris. Jumping between jobs, trying to make ends meet, did more harm than good. He was at work more than he was at home, yet he managed to convince himself it was better for their family. Chris needed stability, something constant in his life. And Eddie needed to leave El Paso.

He watched Sophia stack Legos with Chris. Adriana watched Eddie as he considered his options.

“If you think any harder, your head might explode,”  she laughed.  “Stop trying to make a plan. Stop thinking. Just tell me, what do  you  want.”

Go to college, fight a war, explore space. One job application. Just one more step. Chris smiled up at him, and for the first time in months he felt content. An idea that was once so distant finally fell within reach. No plans, no hesitations.

  “I want to go to Houston.”

For Chris, he reassured himself, and this time he believed it. Everything he did, he did for Chris.

The next day he applied to be an astronaut. Two weeks later, and he was accepted, set to begin training at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

“I was thinking of going on a trip. How would you like to come with me?” he offered Chris. Adriana and Sophia lived together just outside of the city and they offered to let Eddie and Chris stay with them (with the added bonus of free babysitting from his sisters).

“Together?” Chris was practically beaming. It broke Eddie’s heart to see how the simplest gesture brought so much joy. He never wanted Chris to doubt him again, never wanted him to think that at any moment, his dad might leave and never come home.

“Together.”

[curiousconch]

Two Old Friends

Chapter 3 of Ricochet (An Open Heart AU).

Catch up here: Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2

Chapter Synopsis: As Bryce takes Heather in, a facade that he has blocked out for several months begins to disintegrate.

Pairing: Rafael Aveiro x MC (Dr. Heather Song) | Bryce Lahela x MC (Dr. Heather Song)

Words: 2.3k+ | Genre: Crime, Mystery, Thriller, Romance

Rating/Warnings: None for this chapter, it's pure fluff! (Yay!)

Author’s Notes: Majority of the characters are owned by Pixelberry, except the main character Heather Song. I was listening to Maybe this Time on repeat when I wrote this chapter, I think that song encapsulates it perfectly.

8 months ago

Bryce Lahela was stoked to have been assigned the Ed Farrugia case. He dreamt up of an opportunity like this ever since he graduated top of class from Stanford Law School. It wasn't out of self-ambition, it was part of his grand plan - to go opposite the direction of his white-collar criminal parents.

At first, Bryce's parents was overjoyed when he told them he's pursuing a law degree. It never occurred to them that it was all part of his scheme.

He soldiered on through law school, bagging an internship in the San Francisco DA. When his efforts to build his network provided an opportunity in Boston, he didn't hesitate to pack up his bags and fly across the country, farther away from Hawaii than ever. It was a big risk, but it eventually paid off given how his career imploded once he got the job.

But perhaps the most memorable experience was when he told his parents that he was to become Boston's newest ADA. They were nothing but furious, there were no counting the amount of expletives he heard that day.

No turning back, mom and dad.

The timing to tell them couldn't be more perfect, because it was only a week after they turned over his trust fund, a "graduation gift". He knew it was just a bribe for him to do the dirty legal work to keep them away from prison for free.

After toiling for so many years, he was more than ready to abandon his past behind and start his life over. More than it was revenge, it was Bryce's sweet and merciful justice. No more crosses behind his back, marking him as his parents' criminal son.

That wasn't his reality anymore. So he focused on work and did his best to shine. And shine he did. For the first time in a long time, he felt like he was no longer a criminal. In an ironic twist of fate, he was the one putting people behind bars. And he relished in every win.

However, being the Chief DA's golden boy wasn't providing him the opportunity to build new friendships. Although he tried to make friends with his colleagues, he began to be seen as a threat. So for the first year in the big city, he spent his free time partying hard. With his quick rise to fame, everyone wanted a taste of the majestic Bryce Lahela. He didn't hesitate to throw himself into the throng.

And in that fateful sunny morning, he felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. He built the foundations of the State versus Perry case over the weekend, not even taking a single drop of alcohol. With the help of Agent Aveiro, he collected mountains of evidence for his breakthrough day at court. He knew his case was airtight. Today, he plans to put the cherry on top.

Pulling off his sunglasses and tightening his slick striped blue tie, he grabbed his suitcase from the passenger seat and got out of his car.

He strode into Edenbrook Hospital with confidence, getting glances from several attendings and nurses as he walked the hallways. He smirked at each of them back, wondering which one he should make of a mission after he wraps up this case. God, these doctors are hot, he thought, as he slid into one of the elevators. He punched 7, and the button lighted up.

Once he arrived at the right floor, he followed the directions pasted on the walls and eventually found the diagnostics team's office. As he neared the sliding glass doors, he heard an exchange of voices in rapid succession, as if they were discussing something important. As he raised his gaze through the glass, he saw two female doctors and two males. His eyes automatically landed to the young brunette, whose hand is on her waist as she listened intently as the others debated.

His brow quirked a little, a fit of curiosity fleeted through him. She was prettier in personal. Television didn't do her justice.

Immediately shaking off the unnerving attraction, he tapped gently on the glass door. All doctors turned to him. One of the male doctors with piercing blue eyes let him in, he later found out that he was the world-renowned diagnostician, Dr. Ethan Ramsey, the head of the team.

"ADA Bryce Lahela, I'm here for Dr. Heather Song?" he walked into the room exuding confidence, burying the distracted innuendos he was currently having.

In response, she moved forward and offered her hand, smiling brightly at him. "Dr. Heather Song, at your service. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

Oh, I bet you do.

He answered mentally, stepping closer to look at her soft features. He took her hand and shook it, returning the warm welcome with a smug look in his face. He couldn't stop thinking about her ever since.

He spent almost the whole day with her, going through her testimony in detail. She spoke in a very confident manner, ascertaining every small observation she made about Travis Perry, and how he raised her suspicions. She also walked him through how she confirmed her theories, and how she decided to report this to the hospital's chief. He was amazed with the way how she mapped out every step, and acknowledged how her actions made the case straightforward and uncomplicated. Certainly controversial and sensational, given that it was involving one of Massachusetts' senators. But getting up close and personal with her that day made him realize that like him, she was at the top of her game.

She was professional and insightful. Bryce was also impressed with how she carried herself. Graceful and poised, yet fierce and tenacious. There were a lot of times that he thought he was hearing himself in the way she talked. And for that reason, he like spending time with her.

Over the course of the next few months, he spent more time with her. It was the perfect opportunity to keep in touch, as she was the star witness after all.

Beyond work, it was easy for him to befriend her. She was warm and open, sensitive and caring. Eventually, she introduced him to her exclusive group of doctors, who readily welcome him.

But he admired her more when she made it her mission to help him with his runaway sister. She went out of her way to spend time with her, bridging the gap between the siblings.

That was when he irreversibly opened up to her, telling her about his past. Making her see through him, who he really was.

And the way that she embraced it without inhibitions was a breathe of fresh air. He never knew he needed someone like her in his life, the one thing to complete his do-over.

It didn't take much for him to he admit to himself that he adored Heather. He felt a deep connection to her, something he never felt for someone else.

But in a sudden turn of events, the hopefulness he had turned out to be just a mere figment of his imagination.

He learned about her relationship with Rafael. Once he saw the way she looked at him, he knew it was time to draw the line.

Ever since, that was all he thought it would be between them - an unexplored and faraway frontier.

Gradually, his presence in her life became nothing more but group hangouts in the form of brunches or night outs in Donahues. He learned to withdraw whenever she and Rafael was around, cautious to not let others know about the way he felt. He himself went back to his string of one night stands.

He kept her at arm's length, repeating to himself that he was contented with the friendship that they had. Yet when he was finally learning to ease her out of his mind, she came crashing back in.

***

Present Day

With warm bowls of noodles in front of them, they caught up with each other's life. Bryce poured them both a glass of white wine to chase down the saltiness off of their taste buds.

"Hm, this certainly is an upgrade from that cheap bottle you had the last time," her mocking voice freed him from his thoughts. He grinned at her, leaning towards her.

"Oooh, I'm not liking your arrogance. Being junior fellow got in your head already?" he teased her, sipping from his own glass. "Has all of your student loans been paid off so you have spare money to buy your own fancy wine?"

"Certainly not. I think you're the one getting ahead of yourself, hotshot. That plaque hit you in the head and made you forgot that you're a just a noob?" Heather quipped back, her index finger pointing to the square-shaped glass on one of the living room shelves.

"Psh. It's not like my colleagues skip a day to remind me of 'my place'," his one hand mimicked air quotes, feigning a look of disgust, invoking a genuine laughter from her, her skin illuminated by the late afternoon sun as she glowed in delight.

They went at it as they ate, exchanging insulting banters, trying to one up each other as they went. It was just the way they were, at ease. Two old friends who loved their careers first, always putting their self in second place.

It was the first time in months that they were together alone, Bryce realized now how much he missed spending time with her.

He didn't want to spoil the mood, but he couldn't shake off his interest on what went down between Rafael and her. He waited a few more moments as they settled into a comfortable silence, running out of casual jokes to throw at the other. He drew a deep breathe, taking up the courage he needed to raise the sore subject.

"So, you and Raf huh?"

He saw her flinch and his heart irked a little. Her hand shivered as she set down the empty glass and grabbed the bottle of wine to refill it.

"He wasn't what I thought he was," she swirled the contents of her glass once it was full, looking distracted. "Apparently, it only took him less than a month to reveal his true self." Bryce nodded opposite her, as she shrugged casually. He saw her bite her lower lip, and instantly felt the hurt she was going through.

Without second thoughts, he approached her and opened his arms, inviting her in.

After a few excruciating seconds of hesitation, she finally leaned in and received his embrace, tears falling. She didn't think there was any left, but Bryce's offer of solace was a comfort she didn't think she needed. Her dams of pain overflowed once again, and with the horrible scare that happened this morning, her resolve to put up a brave face in front of everyone crumbled.

"You know I'll always be here for you, Heath," he whispered to her, his senses being flooded by the familiar jasmine scent of her perfume.

"I know, thank you for that," she replied in a hushed voice. "I'm just... just tired of it all, Bryce, I'm sorry."

"Hey, don't be. I got you."

He just held her, wishing so hard that one embrace can take all of her fears away. He closed his eyes, letting his beating heart speak for the rest of his unspoken emotions.

He tried to soothe her as he brushed her hair, rubbing the palm of his hand on her shuddering back. His grip tightened with her every sigh, pulling her ever closer.

For the first time in months of keeping his distance, the feelings he had for her, those he tried to bury deep within his heart, started to resurface. He was feeling the way he felt way back then.

In between her deep sighs and sobs, a flood of regrets raced through his mind. His chest constricted, as his thoughts lingered on what could have been.

If I hadn't left her alone. If I just fought for her the first time. If I just have been brave enough to let her know...

But he knew he couldn't what already happened define what should be and what it will be. Just like he dealt with his past, Bryce knew that with enough willpower, he can turn it all around.

He focused forward. A rush of possibilities, a promise of a future, it overwhelmed him.

Maybe this time, it'll be more. She's free now. Maybe now is a better time than before. Maybe now, it won't have to end. Maybe this time, he wouldn't need to let her go.

His heart burned with a fiery resolve and determination.

That late afternoon, when the setting sun's light began to shine upon his face, he decided.

Even the smallest of maybes was more than enough for him. Bryce was willing to risk it for her.

TAGS: @choicesficwriterscreations @ramsey-lahela

@eleanorbloom - I hope I'm doing Bryce justice 😬

[knbfanfic]

Takao makes sure to lose touch with Midorima after high school because he was in love and it hurt. He had tried confessing once but Midorima shut him down. But it was clear that Midorima knew what Takao wanted to do but wanted things to remain the same. But Midorima found himself full of regret and longing since Takao left. 6 years after high school, at Aomine and Momoi's wedding Kagami lets slip to Midorima that Takao is now with Izuki and that Mr & Mrs Aomine will be their new neighbours...

//Oooh why do I feel like this one might hurt a bit? Lets go~Phew this got rather long so I’m using the usual read more tag. //

((With Takao sick and unable to attend the wedding, the oblivious ace of Seirin returned from America encouraged by the new bride the tsundere and the hawk meet again… But can six years of distance and pain really be overcome over one night?))

                         ~.:.~Flashback to Team Graduation Day~.:.~Following Shuutoku’s tradition after the final game the seniors had to leave the team, and take the remaining time to study and prepare for school. There were quite a few seniors who had remained even though they didn’t get much play time, thanks to the talented rookies only one or two players in the same year as Midorima and Takao got to even be on the bench normally. There was a small party to see off the seniors, then a spartan drill lead by the third year regulars before they were freed. Everyone had split up, and as normal the former ace and point guard were together. There wasn’t really anyone around so he built up the resolve and stopped walking. Takao’s intent wasn’t missed by Midorima who was concerned at the moment the hawk faced him.

Midorima had looked at Takao with eyes full of confusion and disdain, he hadn’t been attracted to anyone that he was aware of, basketball was the thing that took all his time so he recoiled from Takao saying “Shin-chan… Since we’re going to be graduating soon I wanted to tell you something. After all, I don’t want to regret anything after we leave. So hear me out.” His smile was more fragile than normal, but that probably escaped the ace at that moment. The ravenette had taken a breath and looked up at him “I like you, I fell for you pretty hard somewhere along the line… We spent so much time together I didn’t even realize at first… But I can’t ignore it since I noticed… I really like you a lot.” The unchanging expression of shock changed to something similar to hurt and very similar to disgust, Midorima shook his head “…Takao… I…. That’s not something I can do…”

He refused to cry in front of him, and waved it off. The hawk had smiled and nodded “Of course… It’s not fitting for someone from a lineage like yours to be with a guy… I get it~ I just had to say it.” He had glanced at the clock on the wall and smiled wryly to himself “Right… I was supposed to meet my sister soon, I gotta run Shin-chan. See you around.” Turning on his heel he left Midorima reaching toward him hesitating, he could tell something was wrong, but he didn’t know what to say… Things between them had been so precious to him, to both of them he thought, and he wanted to protect that.

Takao might not have been a track star, but when he needed to he could run. And right that moment all he needed to do was run, so he did, leaving his bike at school he bolted off campus heading to a park no one went to anymore. He couldn’t get Midorima’s disappointed and disgusted looks out of his head. Tears were burning in his eyes by the time he got to the park, he threw himself at the ground back to a fence separating the weeded park from a decrepit basketball court.

              ~~A few weeks later~~ Shuutoku Graduation day~~

Graduation day at Shuutoku was always a grand affair, there were so many students and so many athletes continuing on to greatness. The hawk and the tsundere would have probably been standing together if things hadn’t cracked… Takao built up his resolve and after they graduated from the team, confessed to the former ace, who hadn’t taken it well. Takao knew that Midorima was bad with expressing his emotions to begin with, but the disgust that had seeped out made the forgiving hawks heart shatter.

Midorima was surrounded by people trying to recruit him last minute, family and team members who were congratulating him. That day Takao was glad to be part of the shadow family, he slipped out of the press of people after he got his diploma and a couple photos for his family. He avoided the buzz and slipped off campus for the last time like a shadow in the night. He’d lost weight from pushing himself to study, he enrolled in a nearby school knowing that Midorima wouldn’t be going someplace so small he was relieved. As he was aimlessly walking the street a familiar voice had called out to him with a bad joke “Ah! It seems birds of a feather do flock together! An eyesore has appeared!” Perhaps it was the memories from playing Seirin over the years, or maybe it was because he did feel a kinship to the eagle, maybe he just finally lost it… But the tears started falling again and Takao had tried to escape. Izuki had noticed something was wrong and caught him without meaning to at first, and brought him somewhere to talk.

~~ 6 years later ~~

Takao was bundled up in fluffy pajamas decorated with little eagles, he had a facemask on eyes red from lack of sleep and fever. Still he managed to joke “Jeez Shun… Everything will be untied if you stay like this.” With his trembling hands he fixed Izuki’s tie smiling under his mask. Gently he leaned his forhead to the other’s shoulder when he finished “You have to go for both of us… Momoi would kill me otherwise, especially since they’re moving into the apartment across the hall… We can’t just be flighty neighbors” Izuki couldn’t help but laugh at the bad joke and gently kissed Takao’s cheek before helping him back to the bed, his fever was insane. Honestly Izuki wanted to stay and look after him, but Takao would force himself to go if he’d attempted to do that, so there was an impasse. Takao’s little sister was going to drop by around dinner to make sure her brother ate some porridge, since she was attending university nearby she stopped in sometimes.

Reluctantly after tucking his little hawk into bed and putting a cool cloth on his head the eagle headed out with a sunset colored gift bag in hand. The pink and the blue colors had been so perfect for Aomine and Momoi’s wedding gift that the two birds had picked it before they decided on the gift itself. As Izuki headed to the reception hall to drop it off he crashed into Kagami. They chatted and walked to the venue for the wedding together, it’d been a while since Kagami left for America, he came back since Momoi made sure to invite him. After all who would skip inviting on of her husband’s best friends and rivals to their special day. Izuki caught Kagami up on everything he knew about, how Akashi was sponsoring different basketball events as he took over for his family. About how Midorima and Takao hadn’t talked since school, and how he didn’t know what the green miracle was up to but that he was seeing Takao. About how Kuroko became one of the most diligent preschool teachers around, despite his disappearing act. About Murasakibara opening a sweet shop, Kise was staring in films and on television now. Most of them still played ball in their free time as well, Kiyoshi had gone to America to get the best treatment for his leg. The coach and Hyuuga finally got together, they took over the sports gym and barber shop so they alternate what needs to get done. Kagami filled him in of what it was like abroad, how Alex was doing, about having met Nijimura the former captain of the miracles and such. After they arrived and took their seats they settled in to watch the wedding unfold, it was stunning how gorgeous Satsuki had gotten, she was glowing. With Kuroko and Kise standing behind Aomine and Riko behind Momoi everything was radiant. No one believed Daiki could be so gentle as he lifted the veil over his new wife’s face, there were plenty of cheers and tears as the two promised their lives to each other.

Hours later at the reception Izuki was apologizing to the Ao couple for Takao’s absence, he offered to help them move their gifts back to the apartment from the hall as well so they wouldn’t be late for their flight. While they chatted Kagami spotted a rather miserable looking Midorima, it seemed like he had taken the road of being a doctor. Midorima’s eyes had swept over the crowd a few times, appearing rather sad, drawing Kagami over to him without knowing it. They chatted about their professions, since Midorima over exerted himself in high school he had damaged some of the muscles in his arm. To help younger athletes avoid similar injuries he took the path of medicine, he heard a lot about Kagami playing pro overseas. They chatted a bit about the past and Kagami realized how much he was missing Takao, since Izuki-san hadn’t mentioned that Takao didn’t want to see the carrot he didn’t see any harm in telling him how the hawk was doing. Midorima’s hand curled around the small plush bird in his hand and he trembled slightly thanking him, then he dipped out to take a call from his job. Kagami wandered off to catch up with the others and congratulate the couple. Kagami was stunned to learn that the cake was made by Murasakibara, and the catering was done by Mitobe and Kogenai who now ran a catering company.

As the night was winding down Midorima saw Izuki helping Daiki and Satsuki and offered to help, since he had driven down in case he had to leave for the hospital. The blue-pink pair smiled and left Midorin and Izuri to handle the gifts so they could go on their short trip since it was only a few days. Satsuki handed Midorima the key smiling saying “If you could set things up Midorin I’d appreciate it~ You can leave the key with Izurin afterwards” She hugged the two and dragged Aomine away. It was her consideration, even Izuki couldn’t help but sigh. Good intentions pave the road to hell they say, her intentions were so pure no one could argue. Maybe her name should have been Shiroki instead of Momoi. Even Midorima was surprised by the obviousness of her intentions and looked somewhat apologetically at Izuki. After everything was loaded into the car he drove to the parking lot designated for the building and helped carry the gifts upstairs, between the two of them it took about three trips to get everything inside up to the third floor and into the apartment. It would take Midorima a few hours to sort everything and unpack it for them. He was probably going to be house sitting for the newlyweds for the night, Izuki couldn’t help but pity the awkward doctor. Midorima had taken out his phone and was searching for nearby restaurants, after all he’d have to eat something and probably buy toiletries or something. Granted being a doctor he likely had a stash in his car incase he had to stay out overnight.

Taking pity on him Izuki steeled himself and smiled “Why don’t you come over and eat dinner with us… Takao might be sleeping though, he caught a pretty bad cold when he was out doing his last photography exhibition shoot, he was trying to get the perfect photo for Aomine and Momoi’s wedding gift and he fell head first into the ice cold ocean… He’s been recovering for about a week now… I don’t know how he’ll take to it though, after all when you’re sick it’s hard to hold anything together…” Midorima hesitated and Izuki could see the internal struggle, he clearly regretted hurting Takao back then and missed him… Izuki couldn’t help but wonder just how much.

After a bit of coaxing and deliberation Midorima followed Izuki across the hall to the apartment the bird pair shared, they took their shoes off at the entrance of Aomine’s and Midorima just used slippers to cross over since he had to come back to unpack anyway.His little bird plushie was snuggled into his breast pocket since he’d needed both hands to carry that insane amount of gifts. Izuki was startled to see Takao sitting curled up in a ball hugging a deco pillow on the sofa sound asleep. It seems his sister had come and helped him eat, but then had to leave. She left a note on the coffee table ’Sorry Shun-nii, Kazu refused to lay back down and I have a lecture tonight for astronomy so I couldn’t argue! so I bundled him up before I left. He seems to be doing a bit better, his temperature is coming down! Good luck!’  Midorima had frozen in place seeing the hawk, although he had clearly aged, with that mask on and the flush from fever he looked nearly identical to how he was in high school. Izuki stroked Takao’s hair and murmured quietly so Midorima wouldn’t hear “Kazu, wake up love, we have a visitor if you’re up for it… An old friend of yours.” Takao’s eyes fluttered open tiredly and even with the mask his overjoyed smile was obvious on his face as he released the pillow and wrapped his arms around Izuki’s neck pressing his forehead to the eagle’s much cooler one mumbling tiredly “Shun you’re home… I missed you…” He affectionately cuddled for a moment and Izuki stroked his hair smiling, he was really cute like this. A few moments after he finally woke up he froze his steel eyes showed something that startled Izuki, they were full of fear when he noticed Midorima. He returned to hugging the pillow causing Izuki to almost lose his balance as he caught himself of the sofa, stroking his hair he said “Kazu, Midorima is unpacking for Momoi… I invited him over to eat so he doesn’t have to go to a restaurant… Is that okay?” The eagle was concerned seeing his lover so startled, he regretted his choice more seeing him visibly tremble. Midorima was about to say he’d go out after all when Takao’s voice finally responded “I-it’s fine…. Shin-chan probably still hates eating out… Especially alone… He finds people too noisy… And he got teased a lot back then…”

Both Midorima and Izuki were surprised by the answer, but the hawk wasn’t looking at his former teammate he was staring at the tie he fixed for Izuki earlier. Izuki kissed Takao’s forehead and nodded “Alright love, would you like some ice cream to eat with us? Your throat sounds sore.” Takao nodded and looked at his lover clearly nervous. Izuki whispered to him again “It’s okay Kazu, I’m not going anywhere… If you can’t take it anymore just call for me.” Reluctantly he nodded as he watched Izuki pull back and stretch glancing at Midorima smiling “Sit down for a bit, relax I’ll make us something light since it’s late.” Izuki the headed into the kitchen which was separated by an island toward the back of the large room.

Midorima sat in the chair closest to the exit, he smiled almost tearfully at Takao as he was the first to break the silence that spread between them “It’s been six years… Have you been doing well?” Takao was startled that Midorima took the initiative to break the silence and nodded. “I graduated from the same school as Shun with a business degree and a photography certificate… I’ve been doing photography for a few years and playing ball with a local team…. I’ve been together with Shun for about five years now…” Squeezing the pillow tighter to his chest he almost whimpered out “How have you been Shin-chan… I haven’t seen you since graduation…” Midorima blinked smiling kindly nodded “I finally finished my doctorate, I’ve been practicing progressive medicine since I hurt myself a bit in our last year from over exertion. I’ve been busy with my family as well, my father wants my assistance frequently. At the last alumni team meeting the senpai were asking about you, they asked me to pass their contact information to you if I got the chance as your number changed from back then…. I’ll be sure to leave it with Izuki-san for you so you have it when you’re feeling better… You know Miyaji-san has always been a worrier, and he was concerned that you were missing.” A small warmth took the edge of fear out of the hawk’s eyes hearing about their former seniors. The eagle in the kitchen making them fried rice relaxed a bit, this was going better than expected… Though they were rather formal with each other, clearly those two ex-best-friends didn’t know what level of distance to have anymore…

The two had small conversations, about the seniors, photography, their little sisters, their old friends, nothing substantial. This continued over the meal, they ate at the coffee table since Takao probably shouldn’t sit in a dining chair trembling as he was. Izuki sat beside Takao with a cushion between them at the hawk insisting that he might still be contagious. Slowly the eagle was dragged into reminiscing about Seirin and Shuutoku in the past, how him and Takao had hooked up and so on. The pace changed slightly when Izuki went to take the dishes into the kitchen after turning down Midorima’s offer to wash them. Swallowing his pride Midorima gave Takao the little bird plushie that had been his lucky item and said “I’m glad you’re doing well with Izuki-san Takao… Since you left back then I was worried… I didn’t want things between us to change… I loved you…. But you were like a brother to me, I didn’t know how I should respond… I couldn’t handle thinking I might lose you… But because of that, my selfishly believing that nothing would change… I did lose you… I won’t stop by anymore since it’s obvious you don’t want to see me anymore… Thank you for being my best friend and partner in the past… Stay well Takao” After that Midorima had thanked Izuki once again for inviting him and disappeared across the hall, locking the door and unpacking for the newlyweds. Before dawn Midorima had already left, leaving an envelope with the senior’s contact information with the key the the Aomine apartment in Izuki and Takao’s mailbox.

Takao was in shock for a few days and ended up getting more sick from stress, it took Izuki a few days to calm the hawk down and soothe him back to being himself. True to his word they didn’t see Midorima again, but Momoi promised he was doing well. Aomine accidently let it slip that the tsundere had gone on a vacation to recover from a heartbreak. That was the end for them. It was just as jagged as their start… A perfect ending for an imperfect pair, maybe once the hurt was gone once the nightmares of disgust and distance stopped plaguing them they’d be able to attend one of the alumni meets together, instead of one going by day and the other by night… A true light and shadow story. The hawk plushie sits in the bottom of a shoe box in the box with Takao’s Shuutoku things that Izuki refuses to throw away, knowing one day his lover might really regret it.