#next time i have lunch with my aunt i NEED to make sure it's super low cal

[sk1nnysuccubus]

auughhh ate a little bit more. not anything over 200 cals but. still.

i wanna fast so fucking bad

[ladykailitha]

All My Roads Lead Back to You Part 12

Hello! Sorry this is late, but I had to take this week super slow because I went and sprained my middle and ring fingers on my left hand tripping and falling into a wall. The hand is mostly better, but it still twinges a bit.

Edie is going through some things, Eddie gets lost, and Steve learns where Harri gets his name.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11

***  

Steve got home and found Edie at the counter munching away at cereal.

“You do know cereal is breakfast food, yes?” he asked as he went to the fridge to pull out the stuff he’d need to make dinner.

“Cereal is a state of mind, Dad,” Edie said, grinning around a mouth full of milk and Frosted Flakes.

“You’re going to spoil your dinner,” Steve said with a glare.

Edie cocked one eyebrow at him and he sighed. “Yeah, all right. So how was school?”

“Algebra is still the bane of human existence,” she murmured. “I just don’t understand it. I can do the geography portion of the syllabus just fine. But when it comes to algebra, I just...” and then blew a raspberry.

Steve grimaced. “I’m sorry, honey. I’ve explained it, Uncle Dusty explained it a different way, and Aunt Robin an even more different way than that and if you’re not getting, I don’t know what to do.”

Edie sighed. “I talked to Mr Olsen and he’s just going to have me take geometry next year instead of forcing me through another year of hell.”

“Are you going to get enough math credits to graduate if you do that?” Steve asked.

Edie sighed. “Probably not, so summer school it is. Yay!” she said waving her hands sarcastically.

“We’ll get you through this,” he promised.

“I know,” she murmured. She looked over at the counter where Steve had put aside enough food for an army. “You skip lunch again?”

He rolled his eyes. “No. Half of this coming with me to the office because Callen, one of the techs’ mom is going through chemo and he forgets to bring lunch.”

Edie looked at the food on the counter and back up at him. “It’s not for you?”

Steve sighed. “No. You’re not going to get hung up on this again are you?”

She shook her head. “I just worry about you, you know.”

He sighed again. “I know you do, but you don’t have to worry about this. You remember what Dr Rushing said, right?”

Edie heaved out a sigh of her own. “I know. It was a one-time thing. It’s never happened before and it hasn’t happened since.”

“Good,” Steve said firmly. “Now help me chop these vegetables.”

She drank down her milk and put her bowl in the sink. She got out a knife and the chopping board and got to work.

“Anything exciting happen at work today?” she asked.

Steve’s spine stiffened and went completely still. “About that, honey. Has your mom tried to get into contact with you recently?”

Edie frowned. “I guess about a month ago. She wanted me to be a bridesmaid at her wedding. But I thought she was trying to trap me again, so I just ignored it, why?”

Steve let out a shuddering breath and told her about his afternoon. “So I’m calling the school and letting them know that she is in town and isn’t allowed anywhere near you, okay?”

“God, I swear that woman is like a bad penny,” Edie muttered. “She just keeps coming back.”

Steve nodded. “Violating the order is bad, and she will get in trouble for it. But she hasn’t tried to physically harm either of us, so I’m not sure what the police can even do.”

Edie nodded back. “I wish she would just go away. Because apparently not even finding another man to scam is enough to get her to forget about us.”

“Nothing warps the mind quite like greed,” Steve agreed. “I’ll talk to a lawyer about what more we can do about her, just to set both of our minds at ease. There must be something more we can do.”

*

Eddie was lost. He was sure Dustin told him to take the second elevator to sixth floor to meet up for lunch. But now he was starting wonder if Dustin had said the sixth elevator to the fourth floor.

Fuck.

And then he saw his savior in the form of a single glass name plate. He wrenched open the door and went up to the desk.

“Hey, so I was wondering if–” he began.

The woman at the desk cut him off by tapping her sign. Eddie’s eyes followed her finger and went, “Oh.”

He started signing instead. “My sincerest apologies, fair Vanessa! I should have been paying better attention. I was wondering if you could point me in the direction of Dustin Henderson’s office. I am meant to be having lunch with him, but I have sadly lost my way!”

Vanessa giggled and pressed a button on her desk. She signed back. “I could, but I’m pretty sure he’d take you if you wanted.”

Eddie frowned and signed back. “Who?”

She pointed behind him and he turned. There leaning against his now open door, was Steve. He had his arms crossed and was smiling fondly.

Eddie turned back to her and blushed. Vanessa raised an eyebrow.

“This idiot is on the wrong floor,” she signed to Steve. “Can you take him to Dustin? Tell him to stop letting his experiments run around the building unsupervised.”

Steve laughed. “Come on, Eddie. I’ll get you to where you need to go.”

Eddie signed “Asshole” to her before turning around and following Steve. Her laugh echoed down the hall.

“You have a mean receptionist,” he told Steve as the walked down the hall.

Steve grinned. “I know, isn’t she great? I love her.”

Eddie gulped and shoved his hands in his back pocket. “Didn’t know you were the kind to date the secretary, Harrington.”

Steve laughed. “If I tried that, her husband Nick would make sure my next hearing aid exploded.”

The knot that had formed in Eddie’s chest loosened. “I didn’t see a ring when we were signing, so I wondered.”

Steve nodded. “That’s fair. But he can’t wear one doing his work, so she told him that she wasn’t going to wear one either.”

“Is he deaf, too?” Eddie asked. He knew from Dustin that the company liked to hire hard of hearing and deaf individuals.

Steve shook his head. “One of my best interpreters, though. They came as a packaged deal. I can’t live without Vanessa and Dustin trusts Nick implicitly, I do too.”

Eddie smiled. “It seems like you two have made quite the company here.”

“It absolutely was a team effort,” Steve replied. “Dustin could MacGuiver that shit from his mom’s basement, but he couldn’t get people to listen to him about the technologies.”

“Whereas you could smooth talk a snake out of its skin?” he said, ducking his head and looking up at Steve slyly.

Steve laughed. “Something like that. So it worked to both of our strengths.”

He stopped at a door and then opened it. “Hey, Dusty! Look what I found wondering the halls like a lost puppy.”

Dustin’s head shot up. “There you are! Why didn’t you just message me on your phone, dumbass?”

Eddie flushed in embarrassment. “I thought I could figure it out. But this place is huge.”

Steve laughed. “Well Bo-peep, now that I’ve found your sheep, I’ve got to get back to work.” He jerked his thumb behind him. “Also Vanessa says to keep a tighter leash on your experiments.” He winked at Eddie who protested loudly.

“Hey,” Dustin said, glancing at Eddie quickly, “if you wanted you could come with us to lunch.”

Steve paused at the door and looked to Eddie. “If you don’t mind...”

Eddie shook his head. “You are more than welcome, Stevie.”

Steve felt that familiar swoop in his stomach at the old nickname. “Then sure. Where were you guys thinking of going?”

“Sushi!” Dustin said proudly.

Steve rolled his eyes. “I’ll pass thanks.”

Eddie cocked his head to the side. “Not a fan of raw fish, sweetheart?”

Steve’s stomach swooped again and he really needed Eddie to stop with the nicknames and endearments otherwise Steve wasn’t going to have much of a stomach left after a single lunch the way his stomach kept hollowing out.

Steve shrugged. “I’ve tried all kinds, including the cooked kind and it’s just not my thing. You two have fun though.”

Eddie may have panicked a bit because he blurted. “We could change the restaurant.”

Steve smiled sweetly. “I wouldn’t want to ruin your fun. I’ll just pick something more my flavor on Monday.” He waved goodbye and they waved back.

As the door was closing Steve could hear Dustin ask Eddie, “What happens on Monday?”

*

Steve was in his office when there was a knock on his door. He had taken out his contacts and pulled out his glasses, the beginning of a migraine floating just beyond the horizon.

He had been chugging water and had long since downed pain killers to stave it off. But he could still feel the pressure building behind his eyes.

When the knock came he looked up to see Eddie standing at the door with a take away box and smile.

“I come bearing gifts of the apology variety,” he said holding up the bag.

Steve’s shoulders sagged. “You didn’t have to do that. I would have grabbed a candy bar or something later.”

Eddie grinned. “It was Dustin’s idea, I am merely the messenger.”

“Why is everyone fussing about my eating?” Steve sighed.

“He said you tend to overwork and forget to eat.” Eddie raised an eyebrow.

Steve shoulders slumped. “He’s right. Sorry. It’s just that Edie’s been going on about my eating habits lately and it’s set me on edge.”

Eddie walked into the room and set his prize down on the table, sliding it over to him. “They got a reason to worry?”

Steve pulled the styrofoam box out of the bag and hummed happily when the scent of sesame chicken hit his nose. He pulled out the chop sticks and dug in, suddenly ravenous.

After a moment or two of stuffing his face, he shook his head. “Not really. Which is why it’s weird, it’s come out of nowhere.”

“You been eating less lately?” Eddie asked, leaning forward on the desk, having pulled up a chair up close.

Steve cocked his head as he thought about it. “I mean not really. Like yeah, sometimes I’ll work through lunch, but I always make sure to grab something later. It’s not disordered eating or whatever they’re calling it these days.”

Eddie nodded. “Anything that’s happened recently that maybe put her on edge and had her latch on to your eating habits?”

Steve scoffed around a bite of chicken. “You mean other than this really great guy I used to be friends with suddenly coming back into my life via his seventeen year old rockstar in the making?”

Eddie grinned. “Other than that, yeah.”

Again Steve gave his question the weight it deserved before shaking his head. “Nothing I can think of.”

Eddie threw himself back against the chair with a heavy sigh. “You got me then man. I don’t know.”

Steve smiled. “At least you tried.”

“Speaking of my rockstar in training, how’s your rockstar in training?” Eddie asked.

“Other than the fixating on my eating?” Steve asked. “She’s fine. Her mom tried to fuck with us again. Sent her packing via cops and lawyers. Hopefully she’ll stay away this time.”

Eddie winced. “Look, I love the name Edie. It’s beautiful, but who the hell names their daughter Edith anymore?”

Steve huffed out a laugh. “I know, right? I fought hard for Lilian. Or even just Lily. But no...it had to be Edith. I think it was a family name or some such bullshit.”

Eddie rolled his eyes. “God, I think that honestly makes it worse.”

“Hence Edie,” Steve agreed. “So how did you and your husband come up with Harri. Edie said it’s spelled uniquely. With an ‘I’ instead of a ‘Y’?”

Eddie huffed and rolled his eyes. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

Steve tilted his head to the side. “I think Dusty or Nancy said it was after some prince or something.”

Eddie shook his head and ran his tongue over his teeth. “Yeah no. That’s official story. Prince Harry was born to the Prince and Princess of Wales two full years before Harri was even conceived. And when people started guessing that with Jay being English, we just didn’t bother to correct them.”

He grabbed the plaque that had Steve’s name on it and turned it around, covering the last five letters of his last name. It now read STEVEN HARRI.

It took Steve a moment before his eyes went wide. “And Jay was okay with that?”

Eddie shrugged. “It wasn’t Steven or Stephen with a ‘PH’. And I didn’t know your middle name.”

“Why?”

“Why what?” Eddie asked. “Why is my son named after a guy who’s name I’ve never spoken aloud in twenty years?”

Steve pursed his lips together and then licked them. “Yeah, man. That.”

“Jay wanted to name him after the man that save my life,” Eddie said softly. “But I was still mad at you about missing Brian’s funeral. Which I now know was because you thought Edie was being born, even if she waited a whole other week to finally make it.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I couldn’t make something up. Not with it in newspapers who the Hawkins hero was. So we used Harri.”

Steve finished his food and threw it away. He wiped off his hands. “Anyone ever guess the real meaning behind the name?”

Eddie shook his head. “Maybe Jeff. But no, everyone else thinks we were British snobs.”

“Well, I’m honored,” Steve said. “Not just because you think I’m a hero, but because Harri’s a good kid. I’m guessing he doesn’t know.”

Eddie shook his head. “I’ve got a letter from Jay that he’s going to get on his twenty-first birthday that will explain it. The surrogacy, his birth, his name. All of it. I wanted to tell Harri sooner, but Jay made me promise.”

Steve nodded. “He’ll probably still be angry. But at least a twenty-one, hopefully he’ll be be mature enough to understand why.”

Eddie slapped the desk with his palm. “That’s the hope.” He looked at his watch. “I’ve got to go. Harri’s got a dentist appointment. See you on Monday?”

Steve grinned. “Yeah. See you on Monday.”

***

Part 13 Part 14  Part 15  Part 16 Part 17  Part 18  Epilogue

Tag List: @spectrum-spectre @estrellami-1 @zerokrox-blog @artiststarme @swimmingbirdrunningrock @gregre369 @pyrohonk @trashpocket @goodolefashionedloverboi @chaoticlovingdreamer @maya-custodios-dionach @messrs-weasley @val-from-lawrence @plyerice27 @mightbeasleep @thedragonsaunt @chaoticlovingdreamer @trashpocket @sapphirecobalt-1 @a-little-unsteddie @i-must-potato @danili666  @carlyv @rozzieroos  @wonderland-girl143-blog @itsall-taken @steddie-as-they-go @lillemilly @callas-shitshow @bisexualdisastersworld @renaissan-vvitch @immortal-iratze @bookbinderbitch @cardigangoth @lilacrobin @nightmareglitter @nerdsconquerall

[reigningqueenofwords]

Honesty

Pairing: Steve x Reader, Bucky x daughter!Reader

Part 25 of Looking for the Captain

Your morning with Nat went so well. At first, you kept looking over your shoulder, though. She understood, and would let you slowly remember that it was over. It took a bit, but after a bit you were less jumpy. After the two of you got breakfast, you went to get a new phone (as yours had been blown up), a new phone case, and then opted for some retail therapy.

“Oh, that’s a cute store.” You pointed about ten minutes after you left the phone store. “Have you ever been there?” 

She shook her head. “No. I usually order my stuff online, or go to some upscale place when we have events.” She shrugged. “Let’s go check it out.” None of the people taking her picture seemed to be bothering her at all, and you hoped to one day reach that level of unbothered. It was beautiful. 

Opening the door, you held it open for her before stepping in behind her. “It’s even cuter inside.” You gushed. “I may have a new favorite store.” Your eyes drifted to the baby section for a split second before the two of you made your way to the women’s section. “Not that I need an excuse for new clothes, this is a good excuse to replace my clothes that I’d brought to the cabin.” You chuckled, starting to look at the shirts. “I should surprise dad by ordering the games he bought while we were there. So we can play them at the tower, too. We had a lot of fun.”

“That’s true.” She nodded. “That would be fun. I’m trying to picture him playing a board game, and it’s hard.” 

“He’s a sore loser.” You laughed. “He asked if I was a mean little shit playing Candy Land as a kid. Told him that was Chutes and Ladders.” At least you’d have those fond memories of the cabin, even if it was gone. 

Nat laughed, holding up a dress. “I think you’d look cute in this.” She noted. 

“Oh, Rogers, you are in for a treat!” Nat announced as the two of you got back to the tower and saw Steve waiting. You blushed lightly, but she just grinned. “A few little new bits that fit in a tiny bag, and a couple new dresses.” 

“Gross.” Bucky made a face from the side, where you hadn’t even noticed him. 

She snorted. “Maybe make yourself known next time, Barnes.” She shrugged, clearly unbothered. Turning to you, she gave you a side hug. “We need to do this again soon. I had a lot of fun.” 

You hugged her back easily. “Of course. I’d really like that.” There was something about her that screamed ‘older sister’ or ‘fun aunt’ that was a comfort for you. “Maybe one of these nights we can have a spa sleepover with Wanda.” 

“Yes! I’ll start planning and buying.” She gave the guys a wave before heading towards the elevator. 

“I’m glad you had fun, doll.” Steve told you, taking your bags. “How was your bagel?” 

“So good! I’m gonna have to go back tomorrow for another.” You chuckled. “Oh, I also got a new phone.” As you told him, you pulled it out to show him. “I’m so glad I had backed up my iCloud yesterday morning, so I didn’t really lose any pictures.” It would have sucked because you had some super cute ones of Steve and Goliath on there. “How was the tower?” 

“Good. Took Goliath for a walk. He’s passed out in the lab at Bruce’s feet.” He chuckled. “What sounds good for lunch? Figured we can order and eat on my floor. Maybe the three of us can watch a movie?” He glanced at Bucky, wondering how things would go once he found out the truth. 

You thought for a moment. “How does Chinese sound? We couldn’t get that at the cabin.” Which meant it had been too long since you’d had any. “That okay, dad?” You asked, looping him into the conversation. 

“Sure, kid.” He agreed easily. “We can order it after we drop your bags off in your room.” A small part of him was worried that now that the three of you were back in the tower…your bonding would slow down or stall. 

As the elevator rose, you got excited. “Oh, maybe a couple times a week we can order lunch and then watch a movie?” You looked between them, truly hoping you could do that. “We can all take turns picking the movie?”

Steve loved how excited you looked at the idea. “Of course. I can agree to that. Maybe we can show her some movies from our time, Buck.” He glanced at him, getting excited himself. 

Bucky chuckled at the looks on your faces. “Like you won’t choose movies you’ve heard Y/N mention.” He teased. “But, I would like that, too.” It would be something to always look forward to. 

“Yay!” You clapped. “This will be so much fun.” 

The guys shared an amused look. 

You, Steve, and Bucky were sitting around the table when you took a deep breath. You’d just sat down with your food and didn’t want to put it off anymore. “So…” You started. “I’m pregnant.” 

Bucky froze while Steve glanced at him. “You did look at the test?” He asked. 

Sighing, you shook your head and explained the same thing to him that you did with Steve. “I’ll be moving my things to his floor, too.” You added. 

Bucky clenched his jaw. “There’s more.” Steve told him, earning a death glare from him. 

“Of fucking coarse there is. You better not be telling you’re getting married, too!” He snapped, shocking you. 

“That hadn’t even crossed my mind…” You told him calmly, your cheeks a light pink color. 

Steve shook his head. “Nope. Not that.” He assured him. “I wanted to ask you to take over the role of Captain America.” His tone was calm, but you could tell he was nervous.

“You…what?!” He wasn’t sure that he’d heard him right. “You’re stepping down? And you want me to take over?” His eyes went between the two of you, then landed on you. “Did you suggest this?” His tone wasn’t exactly ‘angry’, but you couldn’t tell much beyond that. 

You shook your head. “No, I didn’t. Well, not entirely. He mentioned you wanting him to step down, and he thinks the world needs Captain America. I asked if he could pass on the shield, but pass it to someone less ‘perfect’ to the public eye. I asked if anyone came to mind. His first answer was you.” Would that mean a lot to him? Or would this somehow upset him?

Bucky blinked, taking your words in. Despite his past, and not even being in contact with Steve for years…he wanted him to take over as Captain America? “Why me?” He asked Steve quietly. 

Steve gave him a soft smile. “Why not you?” He countered, and you felt that spoke volumes. “If you say ‘no’, I won’t be mad. I promise.” He assured him. “But, can you think about it?” 

“Yeah, sure.” He nodded. “So, you’re stepping down for the baby?” 

“I am. I don’t know what my next step will be, though.” He said truthfully. “I think I’ll think more about that once I know who I’m passing the shield to.” It made the most sense to get that out of the way first. “I’ll look more into my options once that’s done.” It wasn’t like he would just quit being Captain America and not find some other way to support his little family. 

He let out a breath and sat back in his chair. “This will take some time for me to wrap my head around.” He told you. “I’m sorry I’m not excited or rushing to celebrate.” 

You shrugged a shoulder and gave him a sad smile. “I cried.” There was no use lying. “I’m still trying to wrap my head around it.” It was a huge deal. “I thought about all my options already, and I’m still grasping that I’ll have a tiny human.” It probably wouldn’t truly sink in until you saw it on the first ultrasound. “I’m telling the others over dinner.” 

“You don’t have to rush to tell them.” Bucky didn’t want you telling people before you felt ready. 

“Tony is planning a party for tonight. He knows me, and knows I would love to party. There’s no way to get around telling them.” You pointed out. “I have to be honest.” Picking up an egg roll, you took a bite. 

He looked down, then met Steve’s gaze. “Doll…” He started, and the tone of his voice was a sad one. “We need to be honest, too.” 

You looked between the pair of them, noting how the light in their eyes was dimmer than usual. “What’s going on?” There was no way you could begin to guess what they had to tell you. 

Bucky cleared his throat before speaking up. “Your mom didn’t make it when we attacked the base.” He told you, watching how his words hit you. “I’m sorry.” 

“D-did you kill her?” Would that make this worse? Better? 

“No. An explosion did.” He explained. “We didn’t know until we were sweeping for stragglers. I found her.” While he hadn’t seen her face to face since you were born, it had hit  him. His daughter’s mother was dead, and he had to be the one to tell you. “I asked the others not to tell you anything. I wanted to be the one to tell you.” 

Tearing up, you blinked your eyes quickly. “Uh, wow.” You sniffed. “Can you just pack my food up? I think I’d like to go be alone. I’ll see you guys at dinner.” Getting up, you patted your leg for Goliath to follow you. 

Neither man knew what to say and let you go.

Tagging:

@vicmc624 @hisredheadedgoddess28 @otterlycanadian

[asordinaryppl]

A3! Main Story: Part 4 - Act 15: PAINFUL RE:BAKE - Episode 8: Easy To Understand Taste

Keiku: Mornin’.

Female classmate A: It’s sooo not morning.

Female classmate B: We’re literally on lunch break.

Female classmate A: Where did you crash yesterday?

Keiku: At this guy’s.

Classmate A: At my place.

Classmate B: Why’d you leave Keiku behind, man?

Classmate A: I did try to wake him up.

Female classmate B: How about you stay over at mine today~? My parents won’t say anything.

Keiku: Girls are a pain to deal with.

Female classmate B: How mean!

Classmate B: I mean, a lot of things could go wrong if you stayed at a girl’s place.

Keiku: …

Classmate A: Where are you going?

Keiku: To get somethin’ sweet.

-

Kureha: … Hmmm… I wouldn’t say no to pudding… But I was kind of craving a donut… But this is the last of both… 

Girl A: Ah, Kureha-kun’s in a dilemma.

Girl B: He’s been at it for a while.

Girl A: Cutie~ He’s so lovable.

Keiku: (Lovable, eh?)

[Keiku takes the donut and pudding]

Keiku: ——

Kureha: Wha?

Clerk: The pudding and donut will be 300 yen. Thank you.

Kureha: Hold on a second– I was just about to pick. You taking both of them is so…

Keiku: I’ll give you the pudding.

Kureha: Huh?

Keiku: … Your hair reminds me of cheesecake.

Kureha: Wait, let me pay you back–

Keiku: No need.

[Keiku walks away]

Kureha: — Thanks!

-

Keiku: (Puddings and donuts got about the same sweetness in ‘em, so it doesn’t really matter.)

-

Female classmate A: … Honestly, Keiku-kun’s pretty cool, but he’s kinda scary.

Classmate B: That psycho that you can never tell what he's thinking?

Female classmate A: Yeah.

Female classmate B: BTW, what’s with that burn on his face? Some accident? Or a battle scar?

Classmate A: Ahh, he was born with it, seems like.

Female classmate B: That so?

Female classmate A: That kinda thing can be fixed, can’t it?

Classmate A: Don’t think he’s interested in that.

Classmate B: You’re practically an expert. Ask him some more stuff, Beast Meister.

Classmate A: Sure thing. I’ll make sure to tame him with sweets, too.

-

Keiku: …

Keiku: (... Like I thought, anything that’s not pain or sweet food is hard to understand.)

Keiku: (I could just go in there and beat these guys to a pulp.)

Keiku: (If I hit them real hard, my hands will tingle, and they’ll look scared shitless. Yup, that’s easy to understand.)

Keiku: (But that guy’s house is one of the few places I can crash at night, and I don’t think there’s any need for pain today. Just sweets.)

Keiku: …

Keiku: … I want cheesecake.

-

[Camera clicking]

Towa: How about these?

Ibuki: Woah, we can’t use any of these! One more.

Towa: Whaaaat? These are no good too?

Ibuki: Hurryyy.

Towa: They all look the same to me though…

[Camera clicking]

-

Towa: How’s this?

Ibuki: … Hmmm, well, sure.

Towa: Whew…

Ibuki: The cheesecake here is really good. Let’s dig in.

Towa: After all these pictures and videos, I can finally eat… Hm?

Towa: Wow, this is super tasty!

Ibuki: IKR?

Towa: This is the best I’ve ever eaten! The cheese has a rich yet refreshing taste, how is this even–!

Towa: I think I’ll take some to-go for my aunt… Tokyo is crazy…

Ibuki: So, what are we gonna do about the remaining two we gotta recruit?

Towa: I’d like our other two members to be able to do action scenes.

Ibuki: Mhm mhm?

Towa: Like MANKAI Company’s Autumn Troupe!

Ibuki: Enough with ManPany. Having lots of different charas would be good, though.

Ibuki: If we try to recruit through TikTak, we’ll find people in no time. Wanna try?

Towa: Hmmm… Members of a theater company will have a long-term relationship, and we’d need to be able to talk about all sorts of things, so compatibility would be key.

Towa: So, I’d like to be able to scout people I can look at with my own two eyes.

Ibuki: I see. I’ll leave that to you, then.

Towa: Still, you shouldn’t take it too easy…

-

Clerk A: Next person in line, please move to this register.

Clerk A: The cake set will be 970 yen. How would you like to pay?

Towa: With ONIGIRI Pay–

Clerk B: Are you sure you’d like 20 pieces of cheesecakes?

Keiku: Yes, I am.

Clerk B: Your total is 8400 yen. That’s the exact change, thank you.

Towa: ——

Keiku: … What?

Towa: Ah, I’m sorry–

Clerk B: Thank you very much.

[Keiku walks away]

Towa: …

Ibuki: Whatcha looking at?

Towa: He kinda… caught my eye for some reason.

-

Keiku: Mmm… Nomnomnom…

Passerby A: Uh, are those cheesecakes?

Passerby B: First time I see someone eat cheesecake while walking…

Juza: …

Keiku: ?

Keiku: I don’t got time for a fight right–

Juza: Where… did you get those cheesecakes from.

Keiku: Uh? That café over there.

Juza: … “Fromage Maison”... So the gift I got the other day was from there too.

Juza: Thanks a bunch.

Keiku: … ——

Keiku: What’s your name?

Juza: Juza Hyodo.

Keiku: … Guess it's not you. Nomnom…

Juza: … You make it look delicious.

Keiku: Huh?

Keiku: (I make it look delicious…? With my face…?)

Keiku: …

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[ae-azile]

Progression: Chapter 30 Preview

Running a bit late on chapter 30, but hope to get it done in the next couple of days. Until then, here is another sneak peak! It is told from one of Arm's three year old niece's point of view.

Sneak peak below cut:

This place is FANCY. Their old house wasn't like this! Priyja is so excited!!!

“Now that Uncle Arm is gone, let’s explore! He won't catch on and come find us!” Tida whispers. It's early. If they leave the suite, Mama will get mad. But Priyja doesn't care. Mama said she would love them and take care of them no matter what. She’ll do the same if they sneak out and explore super early in the morning.

“We can go down to the kitchen and see if they will give us breakfast!” Priyja whispers as she gets out of her bed, “Let’s go now!”

“We gotta brush our teeth first!”

Priyja doesn't see the point if they are going to eat breakfast and get food in them anyway. Why can't they brush after breakfast like they sometimes do?

“No!” Priyja says, then crosses her arms defiantly. Tida drags her to the bathroom anyway. Priyja only relents when Tida sticks the toothpaste covered toothbrush in her mouth. It's annoying and pointless if they are going to get food from the kitchen, but she will humor her sister.

“Let's go,” Priyja says once they are finished. This time, Tida agrees.

They sneak to the elevator without being detected. It’s a little easier with Uncle Khun and Uncle Arm being on their trip, but Auntie Hansa, Auntie Nalin, and Auntie Preeda all live close by too. Auntie Preeda seems to always know when they are up to no good, just like Uncle Arm does. It's annoying. They have to be EXTRA careful. They are getting better about that. They make it to the elevator without anyone interrupting their plans.

“Maybe we should sneak food from the kitchen,” Tida whispers as they crouch down in the elevator, “Make sure no one sees us.”

Priyja nods in agreement. They should avoid getting detected for as long as possible. As practice. If they hear Mama is scared and worried, they will come right back. But they are big girls now, and big girls explore.

So that's what they do! They sneak around and get food from the kitchen without anyone seeing. It's still REALLY early. The sun isn't even up yet, and Mama probably isn't either. So while they still have complete freedom, they find a sitting room, act like they are having a fancy lunch, and practice their secret language. They came up with it themselves a long time ago, but now they are trying to make it even bigger so they can talk about everything!

“Yom Rok Oglebay Belt-ka,” Tida suggests.

“Gear-Rum Magletoff Hom,” Priyja responds. It really is a good idea, but Priyja is only going to agree if they can both wear purple.

But before Tida can agree or suggest a compromise, they hear a man clearing his throat, causing them to turn their heads.

“I believe you have taken residence in my morning sitting room,” Korn says as he walks in to sit over on the couch with a cup of coffee in one hand and a newspaper in another, “Is your mother or one of your aunts around?”

Priyja is hesitant to answer. Uncle Arm made it clear to stay away from Korn if they could help it. He told them not to be disrespectful, but to never trust him.

But he seems nice enough at the moment. He isn't going off and telling Mama. Priyja supposes he can stay in their new tea party room for now.

But her opinion on him changes when he reaches for his phone in his pocket, “I will put out a notification and have a guard escort you back-”

“But we’re having fun!” Tida shouts, getting to her feet to stomp, “You're mean!”

Korn chuckles at that. Priyja has a feeling Korn secretly enjoys being mean.

They will need to handle this differently.

“ Sech vae toon unta makay,” she tells her, causing Korn to pause. He's probably pretty smart. Priyja can tell.

But he isn't as smart as them. When she glances over at the chess table by the window, she decides she is going to prove it.

“Come on!” She says, taking the paper away from him to pull on his hand, “We want to play chess with you!”

“It's our favorite!” Tida agrees, pushing at Korn's waist.

“For some reason, I feel like that isn't quite true,” Korn says, but seems okay with being moved towards the table, “However, if you would like me to teach you the basics, I would be happy to.”

Ugh. Grown-ups can be so annoying sometimes.

“Play,” Tida demands as she climbs up on the side with the black pawns. Priyja joins her on the chair and waits. Korn eventually learns his place and sits on the other side.

“The pawns can move one or two squares forward for the first move, but can only move one square after that,” Korn says pointlessly, moving his center pawn two pieces. Priyja holds back the desire to roll her eyes.

“He's really smart!” Priyja says to Tida instead, then grins, “Maro tolas minco alloine.”

As Tida grins back, Priyja knows they are on the same page. They make a couple of rookie moves at first - ones that likely surprise Korn. For some reason, he thought they couldn't actually play!

They’ll show him.

“Bast,” Priyja tells Tida. Tida must feel the same on the next move since she picks up the knight and immediately takes Korn's bishop. Korn briefly looks stunned, but also seems to be more aware of what he may be dealing with. His moves become more calculating and aggressive after that.

Priyja personally thinks he just comes off as silly.

“Kutch puck long,” Tida says, as if she doesn't know that already. Within three moves, Priyja captures Korn’s queen and lets out a squeal! Tida does as well and they both get up to dance out their victory.

“We won!” Tida says, shimmying over to Korn in her bare feet, her nightgown swaying back and forth, “We’re good at chess, huh?”

“We beat you, so that means this is our sitting room now,” Priyja says, dancing over to him as well, “You gotta say yes. It's the rules-”

“One more game,” Korn says, determination in his voice as he puts the pieces back in place. Priyja glances at Tida at that point. She doesn't know why Korn wants to lose again.

“How did you do that? I demand to know,” Korn asks them, almost sounding accusatory. He sort of sounds like Mama when they get into her makeup and wash it off before she can prove they actually did anything wrong.

“You're really funny!” Tida says with delight. Priyja bursts into giggles as well and they both come over to throw themselves over his lap and laugh into his knees.

Uncle Arm and everyone else said to be careful around Korn, but Priyja isn't scared of him at all. He is going to be so much fun to mess with. Priyja can't wait to beat him at every single game there is!

“Plya tarrondo goff,” Priyja says to her twin. As Tida nods in response, Priyja knows Tida is happy they moved here too.

[miyuhpapayuh]

21. Silk.

"I'm so glad you're here. I haven't seen you, since... Gloria left us." The tears start to fall from both of their eyes.

"I... I'm sorry, I packed up and left. I just couldn't stay here." Moving their hands from her face, she lets them swing at their sides.

"I don't blame you, baby doll. We all needed our time— hell, we still need it. I'm just glad that you came to see us. To see me. I missed you terribly."

"I missed you, too. We've got lots to talk about."

"Yes, we do. Rina, dear, will you let us catch up, please?"

"Of course. I'll let you know when lunch is ready." She heads out and closes the door behind herself.

Stevie sits down in the red recliner that sits next to his, sliding her boots off and pulling out the footrest.

"How was your flight?"

"I hate planes and my nerves were shot, but I made it." She sighs. He nods, fiddling with his wedding band.

"Planes are a death machine, I believe. Every time Gloria and I would travel, she made sure to say that on every plane we'd ever gotten on."

"She loved to travel, man. I remember she took me to Puerto Rico with her, one summer. I ate the best food and got the best tan of my life!," she laughs.

"Yeah?, is that when you learned Spanish?" She nods, twiddling her thumbs.

"Mhm. She made sure to drill it in me. I couldn't go to the pool, until I could have a full conversation with her in Spanish."

"You wanna know something?"

"Always."

"I've sat in front of this window for the last three years and hadn't spoken a word to anyone, about anything. I just watched the wind rustle through those red leaves and cry. Gloria knows I hate crying and she left me, anyway." He looks away from her.

"What made you start talking, again?"

"You."

"Me?," her tone full of curiosity. "Why me?"

"I thought about you and how broken up you were. If that fiery old woman meant anything to anyone, it was you. Oh, she loved you with all her heart." He pats her leg. "I just kept seeing your face in my head and I wanted to see you. I don't even think, I realized that you had left. I was numb to everything. But, I'd gotten tired of feeling that way— it was hard, losing her. She'd been my sweetheart for fifty years and she left me."

"I never thought about how hard this was on you. I was being super selfish and I'm sorry."

It stung, watching him tear up over the only woman he'd ever loved.

"No, dear... it's okay,"

"It's not, grandpa. I should've checked on you. You've been without your heart for three years."

The look in her eyes is one he knows, all too well.

"You're in love, aren't you?" She wipes her tears away and pulls her knees up to her chest.

"How'd you know?"

"You've got that look. What's his name?"

"Roderick." He smiles.

"How long has it been?"

"It'll be a year in May."

"Oh, it's still fresh!"

"In the measure of time, yes. But, I feel like I've known him my whole life."

"She's the most amazing girl I've ever met." Aunt Rina, Jade and Stevie's mom, Victoria, who showed up an hour ago with her husband, Gene, swoon as Rod talks about Stevie.

"Where did she find you? Are there more where you came from?" Jade raises an eyebrow in question.

"Unfortunately, I'm one of a kind, and if anybody found anybody, it was me that found her."

"Hm. La perra afortunada." Jade says, gets swatted with the hand towel right after.

"Ouch, ma!"

"Watch your language, in this house. Lo juro, ustedes pierden la cabeza a veces. ¡Jesús!"

"I was just playing!"

"Well, knock it off! Act like the good Lord gave you some sense." Victoria cuts her eyes at her niece, before looking back to Rod. "You wanna tell them the story of how you two met?"

"I'm always up for that.," he chuckles. "Stevie would kill me, if she knew I was telling it, which makes it even funnier. Last year, I was coming from the cafe and I basically wiped her out—" Mateo cackles, loudly. "It's as funny as it sounds, for real. I got off a few jokes about her being as small as she is and she wasn't feelin' it— she laughed, but she wasn't feelin' it— but, I asked for her number and the rest is history, my friends."

"Wow, you got her mean ass to be nice to you? That's wild." Derrick shakes his head. "She used to beat us up."

"Oh, she definitely gave me a run for my money, in the beginning, but mama ain't raise no quitter. I'm built for it."

"Are you?" Gene asks, amusement laced in his tone.

Rod laughs, shaking his head. "I am!"

"You're not," Stevie says, as she steps into the living room with her grandpa. Rod scans her face, frowning at her puffy, red eyes.

"Hey ma, hey dad." She heads over to her parents, kissing their cheeks.

"Hey, honey. You look beautiful."

"That's your twin, I swear." Her grandpa adds.

"They're both gorgeous, so it works." Gene replies.

"Abuelo, I want you to meet my boyfriend, Roderick."

He stands up, standing almost eye-to-eye with the older man, extending his hand.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, sir."

"Likewise, son. I've heard a lot about you. You can call me Jorge." Giving his hand a firm shake, he gives him a warm smile.

"Good things, I hope."

"Very good things, son. You've got yourself a dime."

"I'm forever lucky to have found her," he glances at her, watching her blush, profusely.

༺═───────────────────────────────────────═༻

After lunch, the photo albums are spread out and everybody's currently ripping into Stevie about how chubby she was.

"Look at those cheeks!" Jade points to a picture of Stevie. She had to be around two or three years old, her curls were tossed all over her head and she was sitting on the lap of her favorite person, her grandma.

"Ugh, I was ugly." She laughs, leaning back into Rod.

"The lies. You were the cutest baby I've ever seen." He rubs her thigh and presses his face against her arm as she sits on his lap.

"Oh, you're a slick one." Aunt Rina points her finger at him, laughing to herself. Stevie playfully rolls her eyes.

"I'm innocent." He winks.

"Mhm. I'm keeping my eye on you." She playfully threatens.

"Ooh, look! I haven't seen these pictures in years!" Jade flips the page and points to the black and white pictures of her grandparents, looking like something straight out of a movie.

"Aw, y'all were sharp! When was this?" Stevie asks her abuelo.

"This was after church, one day. Gloria wanted ice cream really badly, I could never say no to her, so I drove fifteen miles to the nearest parlor and got her, her favorite ice cream. Anybody know what it is?”

"Pistachio!" They all say in unison, laughing.

"Fifteen miles?! That's some love." Derrick shakes his head. "We'd have to go in on gas money, together."

"Oh, brother." Jade says.

"That's a little triflin', don't you think?" Rod asks.

"How?"

"It's fifteen miles. That's not much."

"You'd drive that far for Stevie?" Derrick questions.

Rod laughs. "I'd drive around the world for her."

"You'd never ask for gas money?" Mateo asks.

"Nope. Men don't worry ‘bout things like that. If she offered, it'd be a different story, but I'd never ask and never stress over it."

"You've got you a good one." Uncle Don nods in Stevie's direction.

"I know, right." She cheeses.

The front door opens and closes. "Dad!," a female voice calls out.

"In the kitchen!," he yells back.

"I'm so sorry, I'm late. The traffic out there is terrible—" rounding the corner, Stevie's aunt Isabela and cousin Adrienne walk into the spacious kitchen.

"Stevie, hi!" Her aunt rounds the table and leans down for a hug. "Ugh!, you get prettier, every time I see you."

"Cut it out! How've you been?"

"I've been good— not as good as you, I see." She darts her eyes towards Rod, who's growing used to being the center of attention.

"This is my boyfriend, Rod. Rod, this is my aunt, Isabela." They shake each other's hand.

"It's nice to meet you, dear."

"Nice to meet you, too."

"Adrienne, are you gonna come and speak?"

"She doesn't have to." Stevie says, abruptly. "It's totally fine."

"Hey, everybody....Hey, Stevie." Adrienne replies, sarcastically, moving the phone away from her ear. "So nice of you to join your family, again."

Stevie blinks. Rod wraps an arm around her waist, sensing the hostility in the air. Gene takes a mental note, chuckling to himself.

"My boy," he mumbles to himself.

"Usually, I'd stoop to your pathetic level, but I'm not gonna do it."

"And, why is that?" Adrienne folds her arms across her busty chest.

"Because, you're simply not worth it. Go take your phone call and stop talking to me."

Adrienne stomps away into the living room, leaving Stevie to roll her eyes.

"You two have never gotten along," her grandpa points out. "Why is that?"

"She's rude. It could've been cool, had she not said what she said. That wasn't necessary."

"No, it wasn't. I'm sorry." Isabella apologizes.

"Aren't you tired of apologizing for her behavior? She's too old for that."

Sighing, Stevie excuses herself, heading down the hall to the bathroom.

"I'm gonna kill somebody, before I leave." Washing her hands, she opens the door and comes face to face with Adrienne.

"So... you finally get a man and decide to show your face, huh?" The malice in her voice is as thick as the blood pumping through Stevie's veins.

Blowing out a breath, Stevie walks past her, back down the hallway. Adrienne grabs her wrist and pulls her back. "I'm talking to you."

"Don't touch me." She grits, roughly smacking her hand away.

"What's your problem, bitch?" Stevie's eyes widen at the word that ever so, carelessly flies out of her mouth.

"Excuse me?," Rod comes around the corner and zeroes in on Stevie cracking her knuckles, quickly getting between the two.

"Move, Rod. She wanna call me out of my name! I swear, I'll beat your ass in this house. It's never an issue."

"You talk a lot for someone who hasn't swung yet."

Stevie pushes against her brick wall of a boyfriend, trying to get past him.

"Stevie, what's going on?" Her mom and aunt Isabela come into the hall and throw puzzled glances at each other.

"Adrienne's lost her mind. Calling me a bitch and making comments, like she knows me."

"I do know you! You're a flake! You show up, when it's convenient for you, like now. How long has it been since you've been down here?"

"Convenient for me?," taking all her strength, she moves Rod aside. "I'm not here for me, Adrienne. I'm not here for you. I'm here for my grandpa. I'm here to properly mourn my grandma. I'm here to see my family. I'm not here to get into these stupid ass arguments with you— got me showin' out in here. It's always some bullshit with you, why? Why do you always have to be up my ass? Weren't you the one that went ghost on everybody, after she died? That was you, right?" The hot tears that stream down her face catch her off guard.

"Stevie.," her mom touches her shoulder, making her flinch and rush back into the bathroom, closing and locking the door behind her.

Rod immediately heads towards the door, softly knocking on the old fashioned, wooden door. "Stevie.."

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Victoria asks Adrienne, whose smug grin hasn't faltered.

"Getting her to see that she's the issue. She dipped on us, right? This was hard on everybody and she left."

"Oh, please!," Jade comes in, "you don't remember how you showed your ass, after the funeral? How you left and nobody could find your stupid ass for a week?!"

"Who was talking to you?"

"Who cares? Why won't you take accountability for your own actions? You think abuelo wants to hear you in here bitching about shit that don't concern you? Get you some business and stop bothering Stevie."

Adrienne gets in her face.

"And, if I don't? What are you going to do?"

"Keep it up. You'll definitely find out." Aunt Rina pulls Jade back into the kitchen, while Adrienne is pushed out the front door by her mom.

"Stevie... Please open the door." Rod pleads for the third time, finally hearing the lock click and seeing the door crack open.

Sliding in, he closes the door behind himself and pulls her into a hug, sighing roughly as her raspy sobs break through.

"Shh.... I gotchu."

༺═───────────────────────────────────────═༻

After an hour or so, Stevie emerges from the bathroom and heads into the living room, not even caring about her overly puffy eyes.

"I think we should check into our hotel now. Sorry about all of that, earlier.”

"Hotel?," abuelo asks, "you didn't come all this way to stay in a hotel, doll."

"Well, it's not just me, here. I didn't know if it was okay with you, if the both of us stayed."

"You never asked, neither. Your boyfriend is family now. He's just as welcome as you've always been." Him and Rod bump fists, making her crack a smile.

"Really?"

"Do you know how big this house is? Your aunt Rina and her knuckle-headed kids, including Don, stay here from time to time and remember, this was your home, at a point. You stayed here many summers."

"I know, I know."

"I'd be quite offended if you didn't stay."

"Okay, fine! We'll stay, old man."

He laughs.

"Good. You need help getting your bags out of the car?"

"If y'all don't mind," she pokes her lip out, catching her older cousin’s eyes, who blows out a breath.

Rod smiles and kisses her forehead, before leading Derrick outside.

"Come sit, sweetheart."

Plopping down on the soft cushion, Stevie sighs. "Is she still here?"

"No, she left like, an hour ago. Nobody wants to be around that energy for too long." Don answers.

"I'm not apologizing for her, but I am sorry. You didn't deserve that." Jade adds.

"I've been through a lot of things that I haven't deserved. I'm starting to think, that's a part of life." She shrugs.

"Things like what?" Mateo asks.

"You don't wanna know. Trust me."

Stevie watches them come back in, hauling the suitcases inside, head upstairs and into the room. She stands and heads up, sliding away from the doorway as Derrick exits.

"Thanks, D."

"Of course." He pulls her into a side-hug, before walking away.

Stevie walks into the room and looks around, a faint smile gracing her lips.

"This was the room that I used to stay in, when I'd visit in the summer." She giggles at the red floor lamp.

"If there's one thing about my grandma, she never matched when it came to furniture." She walks over to the bed and unzips her suitcase, pulling her clothes out.

Sliding up behind her, Rod wraps her up in his arms. "Are you okay? Truthfully."

"Yeah, I'm okay. I'm still mad at her, but I'm fine." He presses kisses to her cheek.

"Thanks."

"For what?"

"Everything," she turns around in his hold, "I love you."

"I love you, too."

༺═───────────────────────────────────────═༻

"I could eat this for the rest of my life." Rod blurts, before eating another spoonful of cremita de maiz, a Puerto Rican version of cream of wheat.

"It's good, huh?" Gene chuckles, biting into his darkened toast. Stevie shakes her head, cutting into her pancakes.

"I don't like cream of wheat, but the sugar and cinnamon is enough for me to not mind it." Aunt Rina pats Rod's shoulders.

"I like him. Keep him."

"I plan on it." Stevie concurs.

"Mornin', mornin'.," Derrick enters the kitchen and grabs a green apple out of the fruit basket on the kitchen table.

"Good morning, man." Him and Rod slap hands.

"Morning.," Stevie scrunches up her face as Derrick kisses her forehead.

"My girlfriend's comin' through, later. I thought I'd be nice and take y'all out. There's this club out in West Hollywood, Silk, that's always jumpin'."

"It'd be fun to let my hair down. I'm up for it! Baby?" She turns to Rod to see how he feels.

"You know I'm with whatever you with, mama."

"It's settled," Derrick announces with a clap of his hands, "y'all better not punk out on me like a couple lames."

"Ain't nobody finna punk out, meathead," she flicks him in the temple.

"You lucky you my cousin, I'd put ya lil ass in a headlock."

"Cut it out, you two," Rina cuts into the pair's back and forth, "y'all are not twelve years old anymore."

"She started it," Derrick pouts.

"I didn't start it. You started it."

"¡Ya!," she nips the impending back and forth in the bud, "Do I have to ground your grown asses??"

"No, tía."

"No, mama." They respond simultaneously. Rod has to chuckle at how quickly she gets the two adults together.

After breakfast, Stevie and Jade are in the living room sprawled out on the sofa, with Rod kicking it on the floor right below Stevie's head.

She gasps seemingly randomly, making Jade look up.

"What's up?"

"I don't have anything to wear tonight! Nothing nice enough to step into a club named Silk at least."

"You know what that means right, cuz? Shopping trip!" She does a little shimmy at the idea of going to the mall. "I hope you grew out of that awkward phase from high school, because you will not be walking in the club with me dressed like Lisa Turtle."

"¡Chíngate!"

That sends Jade into a giggle fit. "I'm just kidding, Alaina." She pinches her cousin's reddened cheek.

"Who the hell is Lisa Turtle?", Rod speaks up, genuinely confused.

"You never watched Saved by the Bell??", Jade asks.

"Do I look like somebody that watched something called Saved by the Bell?", he retorts jokingly.

"Fair," she says with a laugh, "well, my girl just could not dress. Walked out the house looking like the 80's threw up on her every morning. I'm talking big shoulders, loud ass colors and patterns, them big ass bows in her head, mom jeans", she visibly shudders at the memory, "and kitten heels when she was feeling herself, but my boo got it together, though."

"Damn baby girl, you were out here on your Madonna shit?", he ends with a Windex laugh.

"Like a virgin!" Jade sings, falling into another laughing fit at her own antics.

"You can kiss the fattest part of my ass, Jade!" Stevie throws a pillow at her head making her laugh even harder.

"Ehhh, I'll let Rod handle that, babe."

"I need a new goddamn family," Stevie says under her breath, readjusting her position on the couch.

"Oh please, you love us."

"Debatable." Jade's jaw drops, and it's Stevie's turn to laugh. "I'm just kidding, Lorena." She mocks her earlier sentiment.

The rest of the morning is full of more laughter and embarrassing childhood stories.

Around 3pm, the girls decided to make their excursion to the nearby shopping mall, letting the boys play video games on Derrick's PlayStation.

They traversed almost the entire mall looking for the perfect dress for the evening, but nothing was tickling Stevie's fancy.

That was until they came to a boutique at the very end of the mall, Luxe.

The dresses in the window were stunning enough to have them both make their way inside.

They both skim through the racks, loving everything they saw, when Stevie shrieks.

"Girl, what?? You saw a rat?"

"No, fool! I found the perfect look for tonight."

"Let me see it!"

Stevie holds the pale blue 2-piece set against her body.

"Ooh, bitch! That's hella fly. Rod's gonna have a fit!"

"He'll have to deal because I'm getting this."

She finds coordinating platforms and gold jewelry to complete her look.

When they get back home, Rod tries to peek in her bag to see what she bought, but she swats his hand away.

"Move, nosy rosy."

He puts his hand over his heart in fake shock. "I can't see it?"

"You'll see it tonight," she says teasingly, popping up on her tiptoes to reach his lips, pecking them.

"Hey, hey. None of that nasty shit.", Jade pipes up.

"Don't be a hater all your life, boo. There's someone for you, too."

"Piss off!"

"Awww, is the widdle baby upset?", she pinches her cousin's cheek.

"Ay, be nice." Rod quickly swats her backside, making her jump.

"Well, looky looky. Somebody finally got Miss Smart Mouth in check, huh? I like you more and more everyday, Roderick."

"Don't you have anything else to do??", Stevie grumbles, annoyed and slightly embarrassed.

"Nope! I can get on your nerves all day, cuz," Jade says cheerily.

Stevie rolls her eyes, heading upstairs to put away her purchases.

༺═───────────────────────────────────────═༻

Later that evening...

Stevie's putting the final touches on her look for the night. Her usual ringlets are bone straight and pulled into a high pony that grazes the top of her behind.

The makeup she wears is subtle with nude, glossed lips, wispy lashes, and matte, bronzed skin. Her legs look a mile long in the gold platforms that complement the gold hardware in her outfit.

Feeling diva-ish from being in the City of Angels, she pops on a pair of slightly oversized, baby blue shades to complete the look.

She pokes her head in Jade's room to see if she's any closer to being ready.

"We have got to cut this out," Stevie remarks as she takes in Jade's outfit for the evening. Same fit in a dark green.

They've been inadvertently dressing similarly since they were young. They always joked they could read each other's minds.

"Ooh, girl, we look cute though! And I love that your extra ass is wearing shades at night. You've come a long way, Turtle."

"Whatever! The boys are waiting. Let's get downstairs."

Walking downstairs arm in arm, Rina spots them first.

"Well, if it isn't the Bobbsey twins! You two look gorgeous."

They graciously thank her in soft voices.

Derrick and Rod look up from their conversation, and Rod feels his throat tighten.

"Damn," he mumbles before thinking.

Derrick, on the other hand, looks like he wants to throw a sheet over them as if they'd just passed out in a Baptist church.

"Yeah, you girls look beautiful. Now go change," he says in all seriousness.

They immediately hit him with the same "you got me fucked up" face.

"You can go somewhere always tryna be somebody daddy. I already have one, and I barely listen to that fool." Stevie's the first one to speak up. Rina has to keep the water she's sipped from spewing all over the counter at her niece's bluntness.

"Mama, you see how short those skirts are!", he resorts to trying to get Rina on his side, "One wrong move, and now I'm fighting every guy in the club."

"Derrick, these girls are grown! Let them be."

"But, ma--"

"That's enough, Derrick. Quieres hijos, tienes que hacerlos."

Derrick mumbles something unintelligible under his breath.

"What was that??"

"Nothing." He can feel the heat from the sandal preparing to meet his face, so he tightens up quickly.

"That's what I thought. Now--" The sound of the doorbell cuts her sentence short, and Derrick pops out of his seat to answer, knowing it's his girl, Roxanne.

He opens the door, and a stunning young woman with a pixie cut, clad in a form fitting, bright red, three piece suit appears.

"Hi, baby." Her voice is soft, almost shy as she greets him, throwing her arms around his neck. The kiss they shared is chaste since his mom is present, but sweet all the same.

"Hey, Miss Rina."

"What's going on, Roxanne? You look beautiful."

The beauty thanks her and they fall into a short conversation.

"Alright, you babies go on and have fun. I know I will," she says slickly, winking at the group.

She gives them all kisses, Rod included, and sends them on their way.

Pulling up to the imposing, brick-faced building, they're faced with a throng of young men and women chomping at the bit to get behind the velvet rope that'll grant them entry to the hottest nightclub in the city where the DJ's selections can be heard down the block.

"I thought clubs back home were hard to get into, but this is something else!", Stevie remarks as she looks at the line of people wrapped around the corner.

"Don't even sweat it, girl. Let's go," Jade responds, and they follow her with confused, yet intrigued looks.

The solid, 6'0 bouncer looks up as he hears the click clack of the girls' heels approaching him.

"'Sup, Jade," the man with intricately braided hair greets her.

"Hey, boo. How you livin'?"

"I'm straight. You know Gin in there asking for you."

"Is he now?"

"Yup. His section's on the second floor. You and your people have a good time." He unclips the rope and allows them through.

"Thanks, babe." She lightly pats his chest as she walks through.

"Damn, cuz," Stevie pipes up as they walk into the building, "you might be too damn cool for me."

"Cut it out. I just know a few people."

"And who the hell is Gin??", Derrick asks after seeing her interaction with the club's bouncer.

"Do not start that shit with me, D. I didn't come here to argue with you. Now I know there's a Cosmo with my name on it. Y'all drinking?"

She receives scattered affirmations, and they head to the bar.

California Love starts playing as Jade leads them to the second level she was directed to earlier, and she, Derrick, and Roxanne immediately start rapping along flawlessly.

Stevie bops along to the infectious rhythm, while Rod looks like the out of place New Yorker he is.

"Bruh, tell me you know this song," Derrick says when he takes in Rod's stiffness.

"Can't say that I do, playa."

Derrick & his sister's jaws both drop at the revelation.

"How do you not know about the goat?! This song is everywhere!", Jade exclaims in disbelief.

"The who??"

"Please don't get him going on this east vs. west shit. We'll be here all night," Stevie intervenes.

"Babe, the goat, though??"

Stevie gives him a look that warns him to quit while he's ahead, which he does.

The music continues with the latest in hip-hop with the drinks that keep flowing.

The girls down shots while rapping to Whatta Man. The tequila runs through their veins and loosens them up.

"What's up, stranger?", a smooth voice sounds, directly behind Jade.

She turns face to face with the handsome gentleman, whose decked out in a lime green, silk Versace blouse with sparkling diamond adornments from his fingers to his ears.

"Hello, Elgin." She remains impassive while the flock of women present look like they want to yank out her hair.

"I've been tryna hit you up all week. When are you gonna stop playing with my heart, gorgeous?"

"When you stop wearing crop tops on the red carpet," her quick wit causes her to blurt out.

Stevie & Roxanne are watching the exchange with their jaws making friends with the floor, as Jade casually brushes off the man whose song is playing in the club as they speak.

He takes the playful dig in stride, and tries persuading her to come with him so they can "talk", which she politely declines.

"I don't think so, pretty boy. I'm here with my people."

"Do not sweat us! We good, boo."

Stevie nods along in agreement. "Yeah, girl. We got them two knuckleheads back there."

Jade shakes her head with a chuckle, turning back to her admirer, who has a smirk on his face.

"You have ten minutes to convince me why I should give you the time of day."

"I don't even need that long, ma." He extends his arm for her to take, and she does, following his lead.

"She something else, isn't she?"

"I need to take a page or two out of her book. Don't tell her I said that, though." The remaining girls share a laugh.

"Ay, why y'all let my sister run off with that negro and his S-Curl?"

"Derrick, relax! She's a smart girl. She's not going anywhere if she doesn't feel safe," Stevie speaks up in defense of her cousin.

"Well, she has 15 minutes to show her face again or I'm setting it off in here."

"Okay, dad, sheesh. We need to get some more liquor in you."

"Yes!" Roxanne agrees wholeheartedly, only her reasons are a bit more...selfish. She knows he'll put a dent in the headboard with the right amount of brown in him.

While her cousin canoodles with an R&B heartthrob, the truth serum running through Stevie's system has her feeling extra touchy with her own.

Nobody serves as the soundtrack while she winds her hips against his, her hands traveling across any part of him they could reach.

She spins herself around to face him, wrapping her arms around his waist.

"You know what I think?", she asks against his lips. Her words are slurred and heavy with lust.

"Hmm?" The Henny has hit him in the best way, and Stevie's hands are sending sparks through his whole being.

"I think," she pauses to kiss his slightly parted mouth, "we should get outta here."

"What about Derrick?", he asks, really only halfway concerned.

"He'll figure it out."

With that, she hooks her finger in the front of his belt buckle and leads him through the crowd of people, outside to the fresh, night air.

They hail the first cab that rolls up to the club, ambling into the backseat. Rod barely gets the address out before she's in his lap sucking and nibbling on the sweet spots of his neck. The poor cab driver simply shakes his head with a chuckle, minding his business.

He has to stop her when her hands get to trying to unbuckle his belt.

"I will fuck you up in the back of this cab, Vie," he warns closely in her ear.

She licks the shell of his ear. "I dare you," she whispers seductively.

"Alright now," the driver sounds from the front, "I don't want you youngins to mess around and catch a charge over some hanky panky. Trust me. Save all that for when you get home."

Listening to the older man, Stevie reluctantly moves herself off Rod's lap, opting to sit closer to her passenger side door. That doesn't stop the sensual, fleeting touches between the two of them.

They nearly run out of the taxi once they reach their destination. Stevie ducks down near several rocks where Rina keeps a spare key hidden underneath one.

It's quiet as a church mouse as they enter, so they try their best to creep to their room undetected.

They're almost successful until Stevie's platforms finally get the better of her, and she loses her balance reaching the top of the stairs.

She squeals in shock, but she's caught by Rod's strong arms before she can hit the ground.

Staring at each other in silence for a moment, Stevie bursts into a fit of giggles, and in his attempt to quiet her down, Rod finds himself laughing too.

"Babe, your aunt is gonna come out here and beat our asses. Shhh." He puts a finger to her lips for emphasis.

She nods as if she agrees, but a few giggles escape her still. So, he scoops her up, carrying her the rest of the way. He uses his foot to close the door as quietly as he can.

Setting her gently on the bed, he takes her ankle in his hand to remove the offending, yet sexy footwear. With her legs gapped, he notices her smooth, glistening womanhood. He shoots her a questioning glance which she responds to with a wink.

Yanking her down to the edge of the bed by her ankle, he pins her legs back into the mattress and latches his lips onto her clit.

Her breathy sighs and gasps have him straining through the thick fabric of his jeans.

She pops the buttons on her top and uses a free hand to roll her nipple between her fingers, increasing the euphoric feelings.

The fact that she's pinned down and essentially forced to take this tongue lashing intensifies the feeling tenfold. Her hands run over his waves. Her almond acrylics running along his scalp send tingles down his spine, and he groans against her.

The familiar coil in her lower stomach tightens, and her thighs begin to quiver signaling her impending release.

She has to throw her hands over her mouth to catch the long moan threatening to fly from her lips. Her nectar flows freely into his eager mouth, but that doesn't stop him from slurping her like she was a glass of ice water in the summer.

Her hands find the top of his head in an attempt to push him away, but he's relentless.

Finally, he pulls away from her over-sensitive bud with an obscene pop, and she closes her legs putting her hands between them.

"Shit," she breathes, trying to bring herself down.

"You tappin' out on me already?", he taunts her. "You was talkin' big shit earlier."

While he's talking he pulls his pants and boxers down to his ankles in one swift motion kicking them off. "Now, put that ass up," he commands, smacking her thigh.

She rolls over, putting a deep arch in her back just how he likes it. He bunches her skirt up around her waist and sinks his entire length into her heat, eliciting a drawn out curse from the both of them simultaneously.

His nails dig into the soft flesh of her hips as he grinds in and out, allowing her to become accustomed to his size.

Not pleased with the low groans that make it past the barrier of her lower lip that's been tucked between her teeth, he takes her ponytail and wraps it around his hand, pulling her flush against his chest.

"Let me hear that shit, princess." He licks the sweet spot near the base of her ear, mimicking her earlier teasing.

His strokes become merciless, filling her to the hilt.

"Oh, fffuck! Baby, you're so fucking deep! Shit!" Her eyes roll to the back of her head while he continues to bring her closer and closer to the edge, his heavy hand coming down on her ass at different intervals.

Her head swims as she teeters back and forth in the space between pleasure and pain.

His hand moves from her hair to her neck, pulling her back up when she slumps forward. He feels her walls pulsate around him, and he knows she's right there.

The combination of his thumb applying the perfect amount of pressure and his filthy words of encouragement in her ear send her gushing all over his length, with his own release following shortly thereafter.

Heavy breathing soon turns into soft snores, as they collapse into the covers.

༺═───────────────────────────────────────═༻

The throbbing pain in their heads wake them up, at the same time. By the sheer grace of God, their bodies are covered up with the thick blanket.

Stevie looks around the room, shaking her head at the way their clothes are thrown about.

"Jesus," Rod sits up, looking around as well, slightly laughing to himself.

She glances up at him, giggling as he bends down to smother her with kisses. She playfully pushes him away and jumps up from the bed, in search of his t-shirt.

"I gotta pee.," she grabs the shirt off the floor and yanks it over her head, rushing across the hall to empty her bladder.

After washing her hands, she opens the door and squeals at the sight of Derrick. Thanking God that her shirt comes below her knees, she pushes him out into the hallway.

"You scared me!," she whisper-yells.

"Oh yeah?, you two horny toads scared me, last night!," his volume a little louder than hers, "how am I supposed to keep an eye on you, if you're hailing cabs back here and not telling anybody?!"

"Derrick, you weren't in charge of 'keeping an eye on me'," she laughs. "I'm sorry that I left y'all, last night— wait."

"What?" His voice goes back to normal as her eyes zoom in on the trail of deep red hickeys on his neck.

"You had sex last night, didn't you?"

"Yeah, well, I'm grown." He blinks.

"So am I!," she thumps him in the temple, pushing him out of her way. "Got me feeling bad and shit."

"Well, you should feel bad. You still left me." He turns her back around.

"Mm, right. You were worried about wittle Ol Stevie, while Roxy was chewing on your neck like a piece of candy. Get out my face, boy."

"If you two don't get out this hallway and shut up.," aunt Rina emerges from her room, hair all over her head.

"Sorry.," the speak at once, not taking their eyes off her appearance.

"What?" She asks.

Stevie smirks, crossing her arms. "I guess we're not the only ones who had some fun, last night."

Derrick grimaces at the instant mental pictures, flooding his brain. "Gross. I'm going back to bed." He excuses himself, slamming his door shut.

"Go back to bed, Alaina.," Rina scolds with a laugh.

Stevie slides back into her room, crawling back into bed to cuddle with Rod, whose gaze is on the window, straight ahead.

"Hey," she kisses his shoulder blade.

"Hey.," he nuzzles his chin against her hair. "Thanks for bringing me out here. I enjoyed myself."

"You're officially part of family vacations, now." She laughs. "I told you, they were gonna love you. Hell, they might ship me back to New York and keep you hostage."

"You're corny, vie."

"And, you love me!"

@ghostfacekill-monger @sheabuttahwrites @blackerthings @thegifstories @nahimjustfeelingit-writes @harmshake @honestpreference @cecereads209 @abeautifulmindexposed @mauvecherie-writes

[carrotzcake]

I literally cried tears of joy last night because of how amazing my thanksgiving was. my original plans to spend it with my immediate family got foiled because of covid (even though my mom kept saying i should come anyway if i couldn't cancel the rental car??? ma'am, i'm not exposing myself to covid right before I go on vacation next weekend or have surgery the subsequent week).

anyway, I happened to text my cousin in jersey and she wound up inviting me-she and her husband have four kids, plus their parents, her brother (my other cousin) and his girlfriend, and a few other folks, so it was a full house. my cousins and extended family are always a blast to be around and I rarely see them. meanwhile my immediate family, especially around thanksgiving, tends to be a pain to be around bc of diet talk, my mom's need for everything to be perfect, and feeling like everyone's secretly watching me.

I'll admit to some purging but mostly because I was hungover and it was not settling well; and I still ate dessert without purging that. But the food wasn't even a big deal; I had some anxiety while making a plate but I know how to eyeball and was able to trust that I know what I'm doing. I paced myself well and engaged in the conversation at the table. I've never discussed my eating disorder with anyone in my family, though I believe my mom talks to my aunt about me sometimes, so I'm not sure what they know. but I felt super comfortable and welcomed and safe and loved.

sadly, my mom had to ruin it. repeatedly in conversation before and afterwards, she said I "invited myself over". 1. that is categorically untrue. I said I was going to friends' and my cousin said I'm always welcome there. 2. they're FAMILY. they love me and i love them and I never see them. even if I did invite myself, if I showed up completely unannounced, they'd be thrilled! I really wish she could just hear how happy I was and what a good time I had and be happy for me.

took the train home in the evening and my good friend came over and we watched a movie and he stayed the night. he was there for me when I got emotional; he always is. (please note, i almost never cry). I cried tears of joy for finally having a thanksgiving full of positive memories, i cried tears of gratitude for my dynamic extended family, i cried tears of loss for the years i've spent holidays in treatment or so severely wrapped up in my eating disorder that I wasn't really present, tears of loss for the loved ones who've passed away and can't celebrate with us anymore, tears of pain that my mom cannot and has never been able to love and support me in the way that i need.

my cousin sent me home with thanksgiving leftovers which I fully gave myself permission to eat and enjoy for lunch and now i'm going to take a nap. recovering alone is so exhausting.

[shrinkthisviolet]

OC Bingo Buddies!

Where do you get your ideas for OCs?

Are any based on people you know?

Which OC is your favorite to write?

Which OC do you identify with most?

What's a random happy memory for you favorite side OC?

Hi! Thanks for stopping by 💞

Where do you get your ideas for OCs?

Honestly they kinda just come to me 😂 I tend to like “sister of/daughter of” OCs (or a combination of both, as Morgan is becoming), and it depends on which guy character (because it pretty much is one of the guys as a launching point usually) I latch on to. Most people create OCs to ship…I create them so I can have older siblings in a way 😂

Though the OCs that stick around usually do because they’re more than just that. They’re the ones I want to take further, explore a deeper story for. There’s a reason Morgan and Lucy are nothing like their first concepts—as time went on, the story I wanted to tell with them changed, and so did they. My OCs usually start as partly projection, and then develop a life of their own 💞

(The side OCs don’t develop as “sister of/daughter of” really, they sorta just spring from whatever character(s) I need for the story. Though they usually develop a life of their own too 😅 even if it takes them a little while)

Are any based on people you know?

Not the OCs themselves, but definitely some of the dynamics 😂 Lucy and Luke, for example, bicker the way my brothers and I do, and some of Barry and Morgan’s later shenanigans will mirror me and my brothers too.

I also tend to based aunt-niece relationships (like Tina & Morgan…and Lucy & Rey later) on me and my aunt 💞 I love her to pieces

Which OC is your favorite to write?

This answer changes all the time, between Lucy and Morgan 😂 currently it’s Morgan, but that could change (though hopefully it won’t until I finish this fic 😅)

I also quite enjoy writing Astra 💞 she’s a bit of a different character, in that she’s a bit more wry and sarcastic (similar to Tory Nichols, if you’ve seen Cobra Kai), and as challenging as that can be character-wise, it’s also super fun when I nail it

Which OC do you identify with the most?

Ooh probably Aminah, though that does feel a bit like cheating because I did create her to be a younger me 😅 if we’re talking about which OC is the most self-insert one I have, it’s definitely her

What’s a random happy memory for your favorite side OC?

Ooh well James and Morgan met because he saw her sitting alone at lunch and decided to sit with her.

She was still pretty wary and uncertain (understandable, being two years younger than her peers), and part of her thought he was making fun of her, so she told him to shove off. James said, “Are you sure? I won’t bother you, I promise…I just needed a place where I can hear myself think.”

Morgan just kinda shrugged and didn’t say anything else. She asked him about it the next day when he sat next to her again, but he just made the same excuse. That kept going on for days until she finally asked what he really wanted.

“I just didn’t want you to be alone,” he admitted, “because you looked like you needed it. I promise that’s all.” It took her a little while to accept that, but it helped that James also felt a little braver and started cracking some jokes, making her smile and laugh.

And that was the start of a wonderful friendship 💞 (and romance, later, though even when that ended, their friendship was as strong as ever)

[sparkylilacs]

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Kid! Chapter 13

Over the next month nothing happened and everything changed. The Smiths were given custody of a little one month old baby and since we had always insisted we wanted to stay together Beni was sent to the Garcias with me. I secretly wished the Smiths choked on all the stinky diapers. Harper the toddler’s mom got off probation and he left to live with her. Poor Sadie and Sally cried at the homecoming party we threw him. All I felt was envy and relief, for once someone was reuniting with their parent. One day a car wreck orphaned a trio of siblings which the Garcias immediately said they would take in. Making things much more full. Wanda who had been there temporarily the longest was relocated to, get this, the Tiptons. The nice old couple where I dropped the stucco piece on the husband's head. I'm sure they'd prefer Wanda's quieter ways.At the end of the school year, Hey and I had little time to talk, but when I thanked him on the way to the last day he nodded like he understood. He probably did since the only thing on the news was the Sandman hijacking the GMA performance even though we never discussed it ourselves. They even found old footage of him on the America's Star contest. It was really cringey and obvious why he was kicked off in the first tryout. At lunch once Hey randomly suggested," Next year, you should try out for the school paper. If that folder you made is anything to go by I think you'd be a great investigative reporter. I was considering joining too, writing a hobby column on my robotics. We could work together. It might be fun,"."You know maybe I will," I said back, then quickly changed the subject.With school out for the summer Beni and I had to go back to the foster center for a meeting to discuss any day camps or such (The ones they always try and have for the system kids. Usually cheap affairs, but bonus: free food) we'd want to sign up for. There I was sitting with the scratchy chair digging into my back again. Bored almost into a stupor when I hear a voice. It's muffled by the hallways but I get up to follow it anyway. "I'm going to get a drink," I say to Beni who doesn't look up from his phone and grunts acknowledgment. As I get closer I catch pieces of conversation, "And I realize you mean to be sincere. I'm not doubting you’re being honest. It's just not how things work around here. We have procedures,".

I don't recognize the first voice, but when I hear the second one say, "I understand. But I have their birth certificates right here can't we start with that and go from there?". I rush blindly down the hall crushing the tall man in a fierce hug. "You came back," I ask awed, my face half buried in his chest, “Why did you change your mind?”."You know," he says, pulling me back to look at me with the same yellow flecked blue eyes as mine, "Somebody told me once that just because things don't work out doesn't mean you quit trying. And sometimes you realize you need to get back up and try again,". I can hardly feel my face, I'm overstimulated with emotion, but I know my smile is a mile long.

Epilogue

And that's the story of how I discovered my dad was Spider-Man, ended up in foster care, grew into my own spider abilities, and got out of foster care to live in the apartment above my dad's camera and old photo restoration shop which he bought with money from selling the land Aunt May's house was on. I think they built a Quasarbucks there.I glance back over what I wrote on the laptop where I'm writing my story down to email Hey as he requested. Deleting the last line as irrelevant I can hear dad yelling at Beni's phone game upstairs. Things were a bit shaky at first but over half a year, and quite a few hours of gaming later, those two really get along. They're both pretty similar actually, super smart yet willing to waste time on pointless games they can never seem to master. I'm down in the shop manning the front desk. Next to the register is my old sock monkey, Stinky. Apparently dad salvaged him and some other more important things (Like our birth certificates. Which did help alot with the reinstatement process) from the wreckage of the house. I like working the register, it's the quietest place to write and hardly anybody shops here. Dad says it helps to not be very busy so nobody notices how often it's closed while he fights crime. Smiling at the screen I think everything has worked out so well, no loose ends untied. Just as the thought crosses my mind the door jangles to announce a customer. I look up to see a slim figure walk in with bright red curls.

The End?

[webbedphantom]

He didn't need to worry. He'd been through some crazy things, but never anything like that.

... Not yet, anyway-

"Oh, he'll definitely be enough!" Aaron chimed in, clear excitement on his mask.

"The world we're going to isn't even in the 2100's, so even though worlds with super people tend to be far more advanced than worlds without them, it shouldn't be an issue for him."

Man, just the idea of working with a sentient AI was making him all giddy. Sure, he'd already met one, even if poor Sophie was trapped in Futaba's armor systems, but that didn't make this any less cool.

He couldn't help but chuckle at the other's apology. Is this what it was like for everyone else when he argued with Arsène?

"It is pretty handy... Though, it kinda freaked me out at first. Before I accepted Arsène, I didn't have any control over it. So one minute I'm enjoying my lunch and talking with Ryuji, the next I'm having a minor panic attack after seeing that my legs were just gone-"

Yep, even the small amount of darkness beneath the table was enough to activate that power. And the rest of his abilities had been similarly disorienting.

He marveled a bit at his explanation of Shinigami. It was very different from the Personas he knew, though he supposed that it made sense. It's not like the Metaverse was the only supernatural thing in existence.

"Well, either way, let's hope that your little friend can't set off their danger senses from whatever ethereal plane he calls home."

He didn't think that he could, though it's not like he knew how it all worked, both the creature in question, as well as the sixth sense they were trying to avoid.

"Don't worry! I've made something similar in the past." He remarked proudly. "Though this particular iteration is going to need some chemistry knowledge. Thankfully, I happen to know a certain student council president who's an expert in the field~"

He was so lucky to have such smart friends. Between his engineering skills, Makoto's chemical know how, and Futaba's computer science wizardry, there was almost nothing they couldn't make together. Sure, it wouldn't be too fancy, he was limited on parts, not to mention his budget for said parts, but it'd get the job done.

"Awesome! See ya next week then!"

With that, he headed over to the window by his bed, lifting it open and preparing to swing away.

"Oh, and feel free to hang around here for a bit if you want. Just be sure to take your glasses off if you head downstairs. I don't really wear mine anymore, so it might raise some suspicion for anyone not in the know."

Granted, Sojiro and his team were well aware of his counterpart's situation, but he was more worried about the regulars or his other neighbors... or Tae for that matter. Having to explain the multiverse to the doctor did not sound fun-

"Oh, and don't touch anything on my desk. Some of those projects are a bit sensitive... and explosive-"

"... anyways, I gotta patrol. Catch ya later!"

He fired out a webline, before tugging sharply on it and swinging away.

____________________________________________

Shibuya Crossing - Rooftop

Saturday - December 23rd

One Week Later

Things had gone fairly well since the two had last met up. He'd gotten a little distracted spending time with his friends, and his Aunt, who'd come to visit him for the season, but he'd still managed to gather what they needed.

However, due to his adoptive mother-figure's surprise arrival, they'd needed to move their meeting elsewhere. She wasn't exactly privy to his other life, and since he'd planned to keep it that way, he didn't want to risk her running into him.

He swung onto the scene, his bookbag hanging off his shoulder as he landed gracefully in front of the other.

"Sorry I'm late. Ran into a guy robbing banks with a very large wheel... But I got the gear!"

He took the bag off his shoulder, before opening it up, tossing two metal bracelets and two dark red cartridges to his counterpart.

"These are webshooters! Makoto came in clutch with the formula to make the actual webs, should be near identical to what the Society uses."

He'd be sure to explain how they worked, as well as the function of those odd red pieces, but for now, it was best to focus on the task at hand. The infiltration plan.

He pulled out a small projector, switching it on before tossing it on the floor, allowing it to display a holographic map of their target. Earth-928's Alchemax Tower, the main headquarters of the Spider-Society.

The tower was impossibly tall, over twice the height of the Empire State Building. Along the building were orange lines and bright red areas, as well as their destination, the Go-Home Machine, marked in yellow.

"Hobie did his best to fill in the patrol routes and public hangout spots from memory, but he doesn't know if they'll still be accurate. What he does know is that most members should be in their home dimensions for the holidays, meaning we won't have nearly as many Spiders to sneak around."

"Lastly, the security seems less worried about keeping people out, and more about keeping them in, especially on the higher floors. Meaning that our best way in will likely be towards the top of the building."

A lot of the patrols seemed to focused around the prison area, which was a good ways away from their target. If they could avoid being detected, they might not even have to worry about the guards.

"So... What's the plan?"

"I'm up for swapping stories if you are." Seakira chuckled. "Though I admit it wasn't so much 'sun' as... very white. To the point Arsene was white. White and gold, and myself as well. White hair, white skin - porcelain-like, not... you know. Caucasian."

"Anyone who knew about Yaldabaoth would probably have probably thought I was one of his minions." It also hurt like the damned, and wasn't something he hoped anyone else had gone through. Certainly not his alternates, that was for sure.

And certainly not this one. Seakira liked this Joker, and didn't want to learn he'd ALSO basically temporarily fried his soul to help a world not die.

"Not sure who Nichole is, but my guess is probably, yeah~! If Nichole is a little mechanical lifeform with a mind of her own~" He knew Sonic, but never really payed attention to the series - Seakira hoped that wasn't gonna get him roped into a watch party.

Or did he? It had been a while since he'd watched any television... Hm. Something to think on later.

"Kenzo's usually enough, hacking-wise - his worlds time period was..." Seakira trailed off, at which point, said little droid happily chimed in to help-

'The last year I was aware of it being, it was 3234. Then I was... caught. And stuck with The Spider for a while...'

"Ah, yes, thank you - 3234 was the last date he was aware of back in his home world, so usually he's more than enough, hacking-wise. Most machines and codes in modern day just aren't robust enough to be much of a challenge, according to him."

'Of course they aren't! Most systems outside of my world have a single security check and that's it - they don't even have a basic VI to-'

"Okay, okay, calm down, we can rant about 2000's security not being up to the standards of a 3000's machine lifeform later-" He could feel the little droid huffing in the back of his... mind, resettling into whatever silent corner he usually sat in. "Sorry. Anyway, where were we... Ah. Yes, mildly jealous of the invisibility thing since I don't have that yet, and... Shinigami isn't a Persona, per say. He's a creature I met in another world, made a deal with him. It's effectively a more mutualistic 'I give you power and you give me things' contract, but I've never been sure if he's on my person or just reaching through realities." He might've been hitchhiking in his body, now, come to think of it - alternate realities might be too far for even a Voidsent to reach...

"All that aside, a grapple that they'd tune out sounds like it'd be very handy - if it's not too difficult, of course. I've been sent into places with less advantage. It all sounds good to me, though - an EMP might be a bit tricky, but I'm confidant I can come up with one. So... Yeah~! Sounds good." He took a breath - trying to tamp down the excitement he was feeling - breaking into a place full of heros, AND possibly finding a way home?

One hell of a Christmas gift, for everyone involved.

[loousir]

[Gorgon] Some Secrets Should be Said

Gorgon Male x Unaware/Oblivious Male Reader

Eros

Warnings: Tiniest ammout of homophobia/racisim, smoochin in a supply closet, YOU MAY BE IN HIGHSCHOOL BUT YOU ARE 18

Masterlist

---------------------------------------------

It was an early Monday morning. The usual early birds were arriving at school, you being one of them. Rumor was going around of a new student getting enrolled. There were only three high schools in this small town; One for monsters, one for humans, and one for both. You were enrolled in the one that shared with monsters. The overall relations in the school were good, other than the typical high school antics.

You had just been dropped off by your sibling and we're walking into the building. A few people smiled your way and you smiled back, heading to your first hour. The teacher was a Satyr and she was a bubbly as ever, happy to see you in the morning. "Good morning (Y/n), we have a new student coming today." Your ears perked up and you looked over to her.

"Ah, we do? So the rumor was true after all?" She laughed and said, "Yes! He's gonna make a bit of history here." You became confused at her statement as you walked over to your seat. "What do you mean by that?" You asked setting your bag on the table. "I might get in a bit of trouble for telling but..." She walked over, her hooves clacking on the floor as she did. She leaned in on the table, "He will be the first Gorgon to be enrolled into the school!"

She seemed overly excited about the new student but you smiled at her enthusiasm. "You seem awfully happy about that. Is he in our class?" You asked, sitting down in your chair. Her smiled seemed to get wider as she nodded. You paused for a moment and leaned back. "Does that mean he's gonna sit by me?" She nods again. "Yep! You are the only one without a table partner. I'm sure you'll be fine. He's a nice kid." She ruffeled your hair and you swatted her hands away. "Auntie, you know I'm taken right?" She isn't your biological aunt but she's very close with your mom so you call her it for fun.

She laughed and walked away saying, "He's a cute one." You sighed and rolled your eyes as you pulled out your phone. You opened Snapchat and sent a message to your boyfriend.

You took a cute selfie, looking down at the phone while your forehead rested on the table.

Aunties super excited about our new student.

Ngl, I kinda am too. She said he was a Gorgon and I think she's onto my facination with cute snakes xx

You sent the snap and put your phone face down on the table before resting your face on your bag. A minute or so passed before you got a message back.

It was a black screen but he usually sent one. Admittedly, you have never seen him but you respected that since you fell in love with his personality, which was charming as ever.

Don't go cheating on me now ;)

I might just have to show you I'm cuter xx

You smiled and took another selfie.

So that means I get to see you then??? Game on babe xx

You smiled as you sent it. Yeah, it was cheesy flirting but it made you happy none the less. A few seconds later he messaged back with another black screen.

Hmm, I just might lol

You sent that you love him too and put your phone in your pocket. Smiling slightly as you looked up to see that some other students were starting to show up. Soon enough, the first bell for class to start rings and students filter in, taking their seats. Five minutes later, you still haven't seen a certain Gorgon as the final bell rings, saying anyone who wasn't there was late.

Gotta get to class, message you when I can

Love you xx

Mrs. Hucksburry stood at the front of the class, writing some last minute things on the board. "Alright class," Most of the students quiet down at her words. "As you may have heard, we have a new student today! I want you to treat him with respect as he is one of us," She said referring to her fellow monsters. "He is the first of his kind to be enrolled into our schools system." Right as she finished speaking, the door opened to show a rather handsome face and a the obvious 'hair' that came in the shape of several small, darkly colored snakes that seemed to form some sort of style.

He wore rather nice and stylish clothes, very 90's -esk. Mrs. Hucksburry smiled more and looked over to him. "Good morning Mr. Lamollot, glad to see you made your way here." He smiles a cute and almost shy smile, making a pair of girls in class giggle. You watched and tuned out what they were saying before seeing he was looking at you.

You waved to him as he walked over to your table. "I'm guessing you're (Y/n)?" You smiled and nodded, "That'd be me." You put your bag on the floor next to the table and he quietly sat down next to you. "I'm Eros by the way." He was quiet when he spoke as class had officially started. You pulled out a notebook with a pen/pencil and made a message page.

You have the same name as my boyfriend!

You tore the paper out and slid it over to him while he was getting his own notebook and pen. Notes were handwritten on the board since the projector broke and hadn't been replaced yet but no one seemed to mind. The paper was slid back over to you.

Really? What are the chances of that?

His hand writing was nice for a boy and you looked out of the corner of your eye to see him smiling. You smiled too and wrote back.

Who knows but I think it's cool

You slid the paper back and he took a minute to slide it back but you patiently waited since you would have done the same. He didn't write anything on it.

You seem pretty chill Eros, wanna hang out at lunch? Also can I see your schedule? • 3 •

The paper was passed back for the fifth time during class and all it said was his schedule along with a "Sure!" underneath. You told him that the two of you share the same schedule. WhAt A cOiNcIdEnCe.

You looked over to him to see him looking at the paper. He looked up to you and you smiled. Eros smiled back and took the paper to ask.

Do you have early release too?

You read it as he wrote and he looked up to you. You nodded and he wrote again.

Wanna go chill at the park?

You shrugged and nodded again when he looked up to you. He smiled and nodded as the two of you went back to working on class work. You hadn't noticed it before but, his snakes seemed to be interested in you, which you thought was cute.

--- Skip to Break ---

An hour and a half had passed and the two of you had talked a bit throughout the time. The bell for break just rang and you got up with Eros. The two of you walked out to the hallway. "Let me make a stop by my locker real quick then we can go to next hour and chill there for break." He nodded and leaned against the locker next to you when two girls walked up to him. They were the same pair from first hour.

"Hey Eros, wanna hang with us at lunch?" The "leader" asked, standing in front of him. "Yeah that'd be like, totally cool if you did." Her buddy said, standing next to him. "Oh, sorry, me and (Y/n) al-" She cut him off with a scoff. "Oh you mean halfie? That kids got an imaginary boyfriend. How about you just ditch him and come eat with us." Eros looked over to you to see you had tensed and slowed your movements.

The girls focus turned on you, making you bite your lip. "Do you think you could not ruin this guy? He's like, super hot and doesn't need to be tainted by you." You looked away and felt a vibration come from your phone. You took the chance and opened it to see a message from your boyfriend. She smirked, "Did your 'boyfriend' text you? What'd he say?" She asked in a taunting tone.

You ignored her and opened the message. It was a new picture of the "super hot" guy standing next to you looking down to his phone.

Wanna dip babe?

These bitches are annoying the fuck outta me lol

The three of you looked up to him surprised as you closed your locker. He awkwardly smiled and said, "Guess I had to ruin that surprise cause some bimbos wanna fuck a gay guy." He laughed and walked over to you, grabbing your hand. You were speechless.

How did I not connect the dots earlier? Am I really that dense?

"It's a shame too. I was considering being friends, until you insulted my boyfriend, that is." He locked your fingers and looked back at the two. "Go suck a dildo, whore." Eros flipped them off and walked off with you around the corner, looking for a private spot. "Anywhere there won't be eavesdroppers?" He asked quietly. You nodded and lead him to a back room.

You opened the door with the key you had and let you go in first. The room was pretty nice considering it was useless. You turned on the light at set your bag down, Eros doing the same. "Are you really my boyfriend?" You asked stepping closer to him. He blushed and nodded, "I... I think so... I kind of ruined the supr-mm!" His eyes widened as you connected your lips to his. You pulled away and were about to speak when he connected them again, pressing his body into yours slightly.

He pulled away and you smiled, a blush was covering your face. "I've wanted to do that for so long." You said looking up to him slightly. "Me too." He said, hugging you close. "Why did you lie to me about being human?" You asked, resting your face on his chest. "I was... Scared of how you'd react if I told you the truth." You pulled away and looked up to him. "Are you kidding? Look what I was missing out on!" You said, making gestures to him.

Eros smiled and laughed. "I have a question for you though," You tilted your head slightly. "Why did they call you halfie?" You looked away and brushed back the hair around your ears. The tips of them were pointed much like an elf's but not as long. "My dads an elf. They like to use it as an insult since they're full and I'm not..."

Eros smiled again and nuzzled his nose to the crook of your neck. His snakes were gently booping their noses against your cheek as if giving you small kisses. You giggled at the sensation and he hummed to ask what was so funny. "Your snakes are cute." You said gently intertwining your fingers with them. He gently kissed your neck and rubbed your sides. "Well, they love you just as much as I love you." He said closing his eyes and hugging you.

You smiled and removed your hand to cup his cheek and make him look at you. His golden eyes were half lidded as he did. "Well," You said almost mocking him in away. "I love you and your snakes too." His eyes closed as he leaned in and yours did the same, both of your lips connecting again.

Eros pressed himself into you as both of you kissed. You pulled away first for air and he kissed your cheek and jaw lightly. You checked your phone when he pulled away he asked. "I'm curious how you got a key to a janitors closet." You leaned up to him and kissed his cheek. "My biological uncles the principal and he gave me the room to chill if I need to. It's usually where I would hang out for lunch but I dont really need to anymore since early release and all."

He "ooh'd" and nodded. "Makes sense. Wish I had a place like this at my old school." He looked back at you and his eyes went to your hair while you were checking something on your phone. Eros almost hesitantly brushed his fingers through your (h/c) hair. You jumped slightly at the sudden touch but enjoyed it none the less. "We have 4 minutes by the way." You said closing your eyes and leaning into his hand.

"Your hair is really nice. It's so soft." He smiled when you did and he gently kissed your nose while removing his hand from your hair. You tried your best to make it look like how it did before. "Sorry." He said gently with a small laugh. "Don't be, let's head to next hour so we can get this day done with and hang out." He nodded at your words and you grabbed his hand as the two of you grabbed your bags and quietly made it to the class you're meant to be in.

--- Skip to End of Day ---

The last two hours of school they had went by pretty quickly. The bell for lunch and early release seniors rang, making most people rush to leave or go to lunch. You and Eros lagged behind, waiting for the halls to clear a bit. He gently grabbed your hand as you finished putting your bag on. "Do you wanna go to the park or my house? I have a car so it doesn't matter too much on which you pick." He said with a small laugh.

You blushed and shrugged, "I would probably like your house since it's kinda cold out right now..." The two of you walked out of the class, hand in hand. The pair of girls from earlier watched with hatred/jealousy as the two of them walked out together. They were all going the same way so they got to see Eros walk you to his 1969 Blue Camaro.

Eros unlocked the car and opened the passenger door for you to get in to which you gladly accepted. You set your bag down by your feet and buckled as he set his bag in the back and got in. "I hope my dad isn't home." He said closing his door and starting the car. "Why do you say that?" You asked as he buckled his seat belt.

He sighed and leaned back on his seat. "He doesn't actually know we're... Y'know, dating. Or if he does he has no clue you're a guy..." You nodded and looked to him while he backed out from the parking lot. "We can still go to the park. I'll survive I'm sure." You said softly. "Plus I kinda wanna wear your jacket..." You mumbled the last part while looking away but he heard and smiled, acting as if he didn't hear.

"There's one close to my house we can go to. It's pretty cool if you wanna go there." Eros said while stopping at a light. "That sounds good." He smiled again and looked over to you before looking back at the light. Seeing it change to green, he stepped on the gas again and headed to the destination.

---

The ride was comfortably quiet other than the occasional comment about something in the passing scenery. "Ok, we're here." Eros said, parking his car in the relatively empty parking lot. "I've never seen this place before. It's really pretty." You said as the two of you stepped out.

"Yeah. It's pretty quiet here. I usually hang out here after school. I have never been home "on time" since I got a car 3-ish years ago." You smiled and held his hand as he locked the car and put the keys away. "I'll take you to my favorite spot. There's all kinds of secret areas thanks to the trees." He said with a slight child like glee. You giggled like the school boy that you are as he dragged you along through a beautiful walkway that was shaded by the trees. "Gods it's so pretty here." You said under your breath.

You walked for what felt like forever before he shifted to stand behind you, wrapping an arm around your waist. He removed his hand to show one of the few non blank pictures he sent. "Oh wow." The winter sun was shining over the neighboring town, giving a good idea of just how small it was. "We have a cliff?" You asked suddenly, making Eros laugh and hug you close to his body.

Eros smiled as he took a turn off the path and up a small hill. He stopped and gently let go of your hand, covering your eyes. You reached up to remove his hand but he stopped you. "W-what are you doing Eros?" He giggled and started walking, making you grab onto him afraid of running into something. "Eros?!"

"Don't worry babe. I promise it's nothing bad. I know you'll like it."

"Kinda crazy right?" He said before resting his chin on your shoulder. You nodded as his snakes gently booped you're temple and cheek again, making you smile. You reached up and gently placed a hand on Eros' cheek, rubbing your thumb against his jawline. "Wanna sit down? I have two and a half hours before I have to be home." You nodded again and he pulled away, leading you over to a fairly large tree.

He took off his jacket and tossed it up onto a branch before jumping into the tree himself. You were surprised before he reached down to help you up. "C'mon, it'll give us some privacy just incase anyone comes over here." You somewhat hesitantly took his hand and he helped pull you up onto the thick tree branch. He leaned back against the trees core, letting his legs hang down and inviting you to do the same against him.

The two of you sat in comfortable silence again while he hugged you close, resting his head against your shoulder. "I love you. A lot." He mumbled softly into your ear. You smiled and held onto the top of his hand that was holding onto your stomach. "I love you a lot too." You mumbled back. "Oh and, do you wanna wear my jacket now? I noticed you were shivering ever since we started walking."

You blushed and looked down to the tree branch and ground below it. "I didn't think you heard me say that..." He giggled and leaned forward a bit, grabbing the jacket off the branch it was hooked on to. You moved forward and he helped you put the slightly bigger jacket on. You snuggled into the lingering warmth, taking in his soft cologne.

"Your jacket smells good babe." Eros chuckles and pulls you against his chest again. "Well, it's got my favorite cologne on it so if course it smells good." You smile and let your head fall back against his shoulder and he kissed your temple.

"So. Do you wanna explain yourself a bit?"

-----

3261

Minimal spell/grammar checking, also set up for a part 2?

[supercorpkid]

Get the door, it’s depression.

Supercorp, Kara Danvers x Daughter!Reader, Lena Luthor x Daughter!Reader, Alex Danvers x Niece!Reader.

Word Count: 2850.

Warning: Yep, it’s depression. May cause some triggers, please do not read this if it could cause you any discomfort or pain.

You hear the knock on your door. Kara’s wake up call. You open your eyes, only for them to be filled with tears immediately. You can’t. Can’t get up from bed, can’t go to school, can’t face the world right now.

The knock comes with a weird tug in the stomach. You feel like throwing up. Your heart is racing, your palms are sweating, yet your mouth is completely dry.

Not another panic attack, not another panic attack.

You shut your eyes hard and pray to Rao they forget about your existence. You pray Lena doesn’t open your bedroom’s door with the same old wake up call. You can practically hear her saying, ‘come on, baby. School. Let’s go.’ The sentence makes your stomach twist and turn inside you.

“Babygirl.” You hear Lena’s voice and oh no, here it comes. You turn to the side of your bed. There’s no time to move her out of the way and run to the bathroom, so you vomit right there. “Baby!”

Lena rushes to your side, holding your hair out of the way, while you keep throwing up something that cannot be described as food. You haven’t eaten in more than 18 hours. This yellow thing coming out of you, is not food.

“KARA! Help, please!” Lena yells, stroking your back lightly, trying to calm you down.

“What’s wrong? What’s-?” Kara's face appears in the bedroom. By the time she walks in, you’re basically done leaving everything you had on your stomach on the floor. “Oh no.” She swopes you in, in bridal style, getting you out of your vomited bedroom and into theirs. “You’re ok. Mommy is here. It’s ok, little one.” She says while laying you down in their bed.

“What are you feeling, babygirl?” Lena asks and you think about it. What are you feeling?

You’re feeling sick, but you’re not sick. You’re feeling tired, but you can’t get physically tired so it’s obviously not it. There’s nothing left in your stomach still the tug is right there.There are no words to explain what you’re feeling. There’s no illness you can blame it on.

What if they tell you to go to school? What if they tell you that you must get out of bed? You can’t get up. Your body is not responding to movement.

“Just-” You think about it. Just what? What is this? Why can’t you find the words to describe it? “Sick.” You can’t believe you’re doing this, but you fake cough. Like Kara usually fakes cough. And it’s so obvious, it’s so ridiculously over the top, that you’re sure they’re going to yell at you about it.

They don’t yell. Instead, they share a look. They have one of their telepathic conversations that you are usually not a part of. But this time you can tell what they’re thinking. They know you’re lying. Maybe the fake cough was a little too much. But they also know you don’t lie. Well, almost never, anyways. And you did throw up, and you also skipped meals, and Lena is looking at you like that. So, she knows something is up, she just doesn’t know exactly what.

“Ok.” Lena lets it out, like a sigh. “So you’re sick.” She goes to the bed, sitting next to you and investigating you further. “That means you won’t go to school.”

“Thanks.” You’re immediately relieved about it. Maybe it shows because they look at each other again, no more puzzlement in their faces.

“Do you want to stay in bed today?” Kara asks, and you agree with your head weakly. Not because you’re faking being sick. What you wanted, right now, was to vividly agree with your head because staying in bed is all you want. But weak is all you can do, for some reason. “Do you want mommy to stay with you?”

“Ummm.” No. You don’t want Kara around. You can’t even fathom the thought of her trying to cheer you up or shoving food at your face like all of this can be solved with food. “It’s ok, you should go to work. Is nothing serious.”

“Ok.” She looks disappointed at your answer. “How about if Lena stays?”

No. You also don’t want Lena around. Just the thought of having Lena pressing you to tell her what’s wrong, or that she can look at your face and see all that you’re hiding, sends shivers down your spine.

“Guys, it’s ok. It’s just some stupid cold or something like that.” You can’t get a cold, moron. How is this a cold?

“I’ll bring something for you to eat.” Kara makes her way downstairs and you look at Lena, still looking too knowing next to you.

“I’m ok. I just need to sleep a little more.” You pat her leg to comfort her. Feels weird comforting her when you know you’re the one who needs it so bad. “Go to work, mom. There’s a lot to do before L Corp launches the new device.”

Lena’s hand goes to your cheek. Usually, you would try giving her a little smile, but there’s nothing inside you that would be able to fake a believable smile right now, and you don’t have to give her more reasons to worry.

“Go.” You pat her leg again.

She gives you the longest forehead kiss you’ve ever gotten in your life. “I love you.”

“I’m not dying, you know.” You complain a little, but Lena doesn’t move. Green eyes pleading you to say the same. “I love you too.”

“Rest, baby.” Another forehead kiss. “I’ll ask Kara to check in on you later.”

“Thanks mom.”

When Lena leaves the bedroom, you let out a relieved sigh. It’s ok. They don’t know. You don’t have to explain yourself; you don’t need to find words, you don’t even know, to describe how you’re feeling. You can try and find as many words as you would like but there’s only one that will do. You’re feeling empty.

There is this crushing feeling of worthlessness and hopelessness. There is a war inside your mind, and at the same time you feel like you’re underwater. And you don’t even know how this is possible. You keep hearing ‘you should die’, you keep thinking you hate the Luthor name, you keep wondering why you had to be born with super powers. But at the same time that’s all hard to understand, because your mind feels drowned in muffled noises. You are exhausted.

You hear when Kara walks back into the room with food. You pretend you’re asleep. She knows you’re faking. You know she knows. Yet, you don’t open your eyes, nor does she call you on your lie.

You feel Kara’s big warm hand stroking your arm. You hear a worried sigh. You hear her saying she loves you. And you fall asleep.

When you wake up, it’s because you hear Kara again. You don’t know how long it has been since she left, but you hear her on the phone, and still, you don’t open your eyes.

“Still asleep, love.” She says, right outside the bedroom door. If you wanted, you could use your super hearing and listen to what Lena is saying too, but it’s too much effort and you’re exhausted. “No, she hasn't eaten anything yet. I know, Lena! I’m worried too! Ok, fine. I’ll wake her up. Call you later.”

You bite the inside of your mouth, hold your breath, and wait for it. But Kara doesn’t come in, instead you hear a whoosh of air, and she flies out. You breathe out again. Great, you can go back to sleep.

“Little one. Hey.” You feel Kara’s hand on your hair. “Wake up baby, I brought you donuts.”

“No, thanks. I just want to sleep some more.” You shuffle in bed, turning to the other side and ignoring Kara’s loud sighs.

“You’ve been sleeping for eight hours straight. You’ve skipped dinner last night, breakfast and lunch today. I’m sorry, my heart, but you have to wake up and eat something.” She tries again, even more soft than she was talking before.

“I don’t want to.”

“Please baby, just eat a little bit. There’s donuts, pizza, and your mom sent your favorite pasta from that place you like so much.” Kara’s hand is stroking your back, and it feels nice. But her voice is annoying you. And you’re oh, so, so tired. Her hands move to your face, and she strokes your cheek. “There’s so much stuff you like, sweet girl.”

“Please leave.”

“Little one…”

“Momma, just leave.”

She does, you reckon. You can’t really tell. Your mind is foggy, and you think you’re asleep again. Or maybe you’re awake. Maybe this is a dream. Maybe it’s reality. Maybe-

“Hey kiddo. Can you hear me?” You can. You wish the world would just stop talking to you, though. You wish your phone would stop ringing. You wish there wasn’t a hot yellow sun lamp on top of your body right now. There’s really no reason for it. “It’s aunt Alex. Can you tell me what you’re feeling?”

“I’m tired. Let me sleep.”

“Your body functions are normal. Heartbeat, oxygen, temperature. The yellow sun light is on. You’re not supposed to be tired.” She says again, touching the pulse point on your neck.

“Leave, please.” You beg, weakly. There’s no strength, there is no will power inside you.

You pray the world would just stop. The world doesn’t.

“Listen-” The mattress dips next to you when she sits. Alex easily turns your face to her. “Open your eyes and look at me. Please.”

“Why won’t you leave?” You whine, incapable of doing what she’s asking.

“Because I’m worried, your moms are worried, your cousin is worried, and we need to figure this out.” You feel her hands cupping your face, her two thumbs getting under your eyes and pulling the skin down. Your eyes unwittingly open. “Keep them open, please.” Reluctantly, you do. “Follow my finger.” She starts moving her finger in front of your face from one side to the other. “Good. Besides feeling tired, what else do you feel?”

“Annoyed at your presence.” It’s out of your mouth before you can think about it. It’s not a lie, but also not something you would just come out and say it like that. But you have no strength to take it back.

She sighs, loudly. “Just tell me what happened, kiddo. I’m sure I can help you.”

“You can’t.” Your jaw hardens at its own accord. The thought of ‘what happened’ keeps pulling the string around your neck tighter and tighter. The pit on your stomach feels infinite. “No one can, so just leave me the fuck alone.”

“Would you be willing to talk to anyone about this?” Alex doesn’t leave. You wish you were angry about it. You wish you could just tell her to go to hell. But tears find their way into your eyes and down your cheeks without your control. You hate not feeling in control of your own body. She cleans the tears with her thumb, softly. “If you don’t want to talk to me. Maybe to one of your moms?”

“No. Please, no.”

“Jamie?” You think about it. You think about anyone you would like to talk to right now. Not a single name comes to mind.

“Can I just sleep and talk to someone tomorrow?” You beg again. All that you’ve been doing is begging and whining and praying, still not a single soul responds to it. “Please, I’m-I’m exhausted. I can’t do any more talking today.”

“Ok.” Alex agrees. “You can talk tomorrow, but you have to eat today and that is non-negotiable.”

“Ok. I’ll eat.” But you close your eyes again, and before you know it, you’re drifting back to sleep.

It’s night, it’s day. Maybe night again.

Time passes, but it doesn’t.

You twist and turn, and sleep, and sleep-

Kara doesn’t let go of you. Lena sighs and whispers. They worry, but there’s nothing you can do about it. You have no strength to do anything about it.

They sigh, you feel bad. Then worse. Then you don’t feel anything at all.

They cry, you feel shitty. Instead of making them stop crying, you cry too. Then it’s like you’ve never even knew tears in your life.

It’s a full circle.

And then maybe it’s day again.

“Please, little one, wake up.” You blink your eyes at the request. Kara is holding food, and Lena is holding water in front of your face. “It’s been two days, you have to eat or Alex will use the red sun lamp to do an IV rehydration, and it’s going to be so much worse.”

“Mommy.” You whine, closing your eyes again.

“I’m sorry, baby. But you need food.” She sets the food on the side of the bed and sits you up. “Come on, you eat a little and we’ll let you go back to sleep, how about that?”

“How about I just sleep?”

“Hey. No, no.” She holds you up, before you try to lay down again. You hear Kara whispering in your ear. “Remember that you are my heart, and I need my heart to be strong. So please.”

You whine one more time, like a hurt puppy, but you still eat. Anything they put in your mouth, really, you don’t even care what it is. You eat and drink, then sleep and sleep-

“Babygirl. Hey, mom is here with you, ok?” You feel Lena’s hand on your hair, scraping your scalp so softly; you want nothing but that for the rest of your life.

“Don’t stop.” You wail. You must be begging again. It’s all you do.

“Playing with your hair?” She asks and you hum in agreement. “Ok, I won’t. Can I hold you?”

“Yes. But no talking.”

Lena gets comfortable next to you. One arm is around your ribcage, the other one on your hair, scrapping, playing, stroking it.

Your heart is empty, your stomach is empty, now your mind feels the same. It’s almost nice to feel nothing at all.

“Your phone doesn’t stop buzzing.” Lena says a while later and again your words leave your mouth before you can even process them.

“Ignore it. It’s them.”

“Who’s them?”

“The bullies.” Lena’s hand stops moving on your hair, her body stiffens close to yours. But your mind is foggy. The string around your neck tightens harder. Your stomach is an endless void. “Don’t stop, please.”

Jamie comes, she leaves unnoticed.

Maya comes, she leaves unanswered.

You haven’t left your moms’ bed in so long. It’s day, it’s night. Is it day again?

Your therapist comes.

She is in a depressive episode, he says.

Your moms yell, our baby is depressed?

No. She is having a depressive episode. Those are different things, he answers.

You want to scoff. There’s no strength.

You’re not depressed, you’re tired. The world is an infinite pit of misery. He wouldn’t say that you’re depressed if he knew what you’ve been through. Oh, wait. He does.

You’re an infinite pit of despair. You wish people would just go on with their lives, everyone but you. You wish your life would just stopped until you’re not tired anymore and can deal with things.

Every time you’re awake, you hear a voice in your ear saying, ‘You should die. Your family will be better off without you’. And you’re so beaten down, you believe it. So you close your eyes, and sleep and sleep-

“Here, my love.” Lena holds a little pill in front of your face, with a bottle of water.

“What’s that?”

“This will help. I promise.” She asks, or is she begging? You don’t take it. “Please baby, you have to take it.”

“Here, little one.” Kara has to physically open your mouth and put the pill on your tongue. Water washes over it soon after. “You’re going to be fine, my heart. We promise.”

“What was that?” You try again. Their answers weren’t satisfactory.

They look at each other. Must be telepathic talking. You lay your head down on your pillow again. You’re exhausted. So, so fucking tired.

Why the fuck is the world still spinning? Why is the world still standing?

It’s night, it’s day. Is it night again?

“Are you reading this?” You hear far away. Like a dream. Like you might be imagining, projecting, or even hallucinating.

“I-I can’t read any more of that, Lena. Look at the things they are telling her.”

“All because of my stupid last name.”

“For how long? How long did we let this happen for? We should’ve-We-My God, Lena! How did we not notice this before?”

“Too long. But that’s enough. That’s it, Kara. I mean it.”

Is this really happening? Are you dreaming? You feel so disconnected from reality. But it matters not, if it’s real or hallucination. The pull tights around your neck, heart and stomach. There is no hope, no help. Anything they do, will make things worse. But your mind is foggy. By now, you’re just a shell of a person. So instead of screaming for them to stop, you sleep and sleep and sleep-

Notes:

@lilyduranhanna prompted me this and as painful as it was to write, I hope is still enjoyable somehow?

[matrixaffiliate]

Spetch

New Story! FFN and AO3

Andromeda isn't sure about reconnecting with her sister after the War, but Teddy might just be the key to making it all work. Family fluff!

@thisismegz sent me this prompt back in November and I've been a rotten friend and am just now getting to it, BUT it's here and I hope you like it, darling! Thanks for always being a lovely friend!

Spetch

Andromeda straightened her hat as she kept a firm grip on Teddy's hand. She had ignored Cissy's letters for almost six months, and part of her still feared that this was a mistake, but as she'd lost nearly all of her family in the war, her cautious behavior felt justified, as did this meeting.

Cissy had wanted her to come to Malfoy Manor, to which Andromeda had vehemently refused. She told Narcissa they could meet at one of the small cafes in magical London or they could continue not seeing each other. To her surprise, Cissy had agreed.

Andromeda hadn't meant for Teddy to come along to this first meeting. But Molly had fallen ill, Harry was working, Ginny was at a doctor's appointment, and while Fleur had stayed home to take care of Vic, Andromeda felt horrible asking her to handle Teddy and Vic while pregnant and trying to get what work done she could. So for better or worse, Teddy was coming along to meet his great aunt.

"Do they have ice cream, Gran?" Teddy skipped next to her, his hair green at the moment.

"I don't know dear, but if you're well behaved and they do have ice cream, I think that would be alright."

"I'll eat all my lunch if they have ice cream."

"You should eat your lunch even if they don't have ice cream." Andromeda opened the door to the cafe and led him inside. She hoped she would have the stomach to eat anything because while scanning for Cissy her stomach felt about the size of a peanut.

She found her sister, seated at a table near the back of the cafe, along with her son.

Andy slipped her hand into her robes and gripped her wand. Better to be ready.

"There they are," she led Teddy toward the table.

"Narcissa," Andy helped Teddy into his chair.

"Andromeda," Cissy smiled and Andy hoped she wasn't being taken in as she let go of her wand to sit next to Teddy.

"I'm Teddy." Teddy spoke up as he picked up a menu. "This is my Gran."

"Teddy," Andy nodded to Cissy, "this is my sister and her son. He went to school with Harry."

Teddy dropped the menu on the floor. "You know Harry!"

Draco scowled. "Not at the moment."

"Harry and Ginny are the best!" Teddy bounced in his seat. "Harry's an Auror and it's so cool! I'm going to be one too! And Ginny is super good at Quidditch! She's going to win all the Quidditch Cups! But she didn't finish this season because she's having my god-brother really soon. And Aunt Fluer is having a baby too! Vic told me yesterday! But it's going to be a long time before Vic's baby comes. They won't know if it's a brother or a sister for a long time too, but not as long."

"Thank you, Teddy," Andy put her hand on Teddy's shoulder and handed him his menu. Draco looked like he might break his teeth, his jaw was clenched so tightly. "Why don't you look at this and decide what you want. If you need help with any of the words just ask."

"Ok," Teddy took the menu and grinned as he found the word Sandwiches. "Look Gran! These come with crisps!"

Andy couldn't help the smile that spread across her face. Just like his grandfather to find the crisps first thing. "Wonderful, dear."

"I trust you've been well, Andromeda?" Cissy brought her attention back to her.

Andy looked up from Teddy and bit back the initial retort that flew to her lips. Had she been well to have her husband, daughter, and son-in-law murdered? Had she been well to raise her grandson with the help of his godparents? Had she been well, knowing her circumstances were caused by members of her own family?

"I've managed," was the tight answer she ground out. "And yourself?"

"We've been as well as could be expected." Cissy nodded.

It went silent then and just before it began to feel awkward, their server arrived to take their orders. Then it went silent again.

But Teddy had never been good with silence, much like his grandfather, he felt the need to fill it.

"Gran, can we bring Harry and Ginny some dessert tonight? Grandma Weasley says dessert makes babies happy when they're in their mom's tummy."

Draco scoffed and before Andy could glare at the young man, Cissy pointed her finger at him and raised her eyebrows. Draco's shoulders stiffened but he fell silent.

Andy smiled at Cissy in thanks and turned back to Teddy. "Tell you what, we'll stop by Harry's office after this and see what he thinks. Then we'll do that."

"That's smart, Harry knows what Ginny likes best. He knows so many things. He's really smart. Do you think I'll learn as many things as Harry, Gran?"

"I think you will," Cissy smiled at Teddy.

Teddy bounced in his chair. "I want to! Then I'll be the best big brother because I'll be like Harry, and Harry is the best!"

Andy was distracted by Draco making a sound that was somewhere between a strangled cry and an annoyed huff, but Cissy brought her back to the conversation.

"You know who else can teach you to be the best older brother you can be?" She asked Teddy.

Teddy shook his head as leant forward over the table. "Who?"

Cissy smiled at him. "Your Gran is my big sister, and I think she can teach you everything you need to know."

Andromeda pushed the wave of emotion that hit her down and smiled at Narcissa, managing a quiet, "Thank you."

That one lunch certainly didn't fix everything. They weren't immediately close because of seeing each other again. But it did start them talking again. It did get them in the same room, at the same table, once a month.

And any time Cissy mentioned Draco would be joining her, Andy took a little joy in bringing Teddy along too and watching Draco try to grind down his teeth while Teddy talked about how wonderful his godparents are.

[bbangsoonie]

teach me about love

member: kevin genre: fluff (preschool teacher!kevin au) word count: 2,120 synopsis: when your brother asks you to pick up your nieces from school, you find a teacher that you find to be cuter than the toddlers there.

a/n: happy birthday to our moonlight boy, kevin 🌙

You didn’t really like kids. They were adorable, of course, but they were snotty walking embodiments of germs and you had no idea how to entertain them. They were absolutely precious when sleeping but their tantrums terrified you.

Whenever they came up to you with those bright expectant eyes, you didn’t know what to do except pet their head. Everyone around you would scold you saying that they were children, not dogs. But in your defense, they didn’t seem to mind.

To be honest, you preferred dogs over kids. They were cute all the time.

Nonetheless, you still adored your nieces. The older one, Ahyoung, reminded you of your own past self. She was shy and reserved but sought out love and attention. She constantly needed assurance to fight early signs of anxiety. The younger one, Soyoung, was the complete opposite; she was loud and outgoing. She easily made friends with everyone and adjusted well to new environments.

So when your brother asked you for a last minute favor, you were more than happy to pick them up at their preschool. Unfortunately, however, you were terrible with directions and ended up 20 minutes late.

Apologizing profusely to the staff and teachers, you made your way throughout the building to find their classroom. That was another struggle of its own.

“Auntie Y/n!” you heard two familiar voices screech. You laughed as they ran up to you and hugged your legs.

“Sorry I’m late girls,” you pouted as you squished their cheeks.

“It’s okay, Auntie! Teacher Kevin was playing house with us,” Ahyoung beamed.

“Teacher Kevin was our dog!” Soyoung giggled.

You looked up to see a male teacher sheepishly escape from the tiny playhouse. You held back a laugh, pitying him for what the girls put him through.

“I’m sorry about that,” you chuckled.

“No worries,” he smiled. “It’s my job and I love kids. I had fun playing with them too.”

“I’m Y/n,” you introduced as you held out a hand. “I’m Ahyoung and Soyoung’s aunt. I came to pick them up since my brother got caught up in a work emergency.”

“It’s nice to meet you. My name is Kevin,” he said as he shook your hand. You knew it was unprofessional to think this but he was cute. Like, really cute.

Trying to leave before your smiling cheeks could reveal your thoughts, you quickly collected the girls’ bags and helped them put their jackets on. You bid their cute teacher goodbye and happily suggested an aunt-niece ice cream date. They cheered at the idea of sweets and raced to your car.

The next week, your brother asked if you could pick the girls up from school again. Apparently they had been bugging him to have their favorite aunt come every day.

You weren’t sure if it was his flattery or if it was their sneaky plan for ice cream but you didn’t mind. As a freelancer, you had a flexible schedule. You were glad to spend time with your nieces and catch another glimpse of their teacher.

This time, you made sure to leave your house early. You ended up arriving before dismissal and watched as the kids ran around in the playground. Something about seeing Kevin’s eyes sparkle in front of them made you soft. He seemed so genuinely happy and looked at each student with honey dripping from his eyes.

Soyoung squealed as she chased after a boy who tapped her free in a game of freeze tag. She was a little confused about the rules but the effort was there.

While still keeping an eye on the children, Kevin approached you and asked if you wanted a juice box. You kindly declined, thanking him for the offer.

“You’re really good with the little ones,” you complimented.

“Ah, no, they’re the ones who are good with me,” he shyly shook his head. “I’m thankful that they see me as a fun and respectable teacher.”

“I find young kids to be difficult,” you confessed. “I don’t know how to match their level.”

“I get you. It’s definitely not easy to figure out what they want and try to communicate with them with their still-developing language skills. I’m still not great at it. I just try to improve a little more every day,” he said humbly.

He was a lot better than you who was quick to give up and run away. His words made you reflect and feel slightly guilty.

The bell chimed, making the students rush to line up in front of the door. Kevin left your side to gather everyone together and take them back inside to gather their belongings.

By now, a handful of parents had arrived and were waiting for their children. One by one, the students walked out with their matching yellow chick backpacks, excitedly running up to their guardian.

Your nieces greeted you in that high pitched shriek you loved, body slamming into your open arms. With them in your embrace, you gave them a tight squeeze before getting up and holding their hands to take them to the car.

“Wait!” you heard Kevin call out. Turning around, you were surprised to see him running towards you. When he caught up to you, he held out a book. Taking it, you read the title.

“The Body Language of Toddlers”

“I thought you might find this book useful,” his hands fumbled awkwardly, not knowing where to go. His gesture brought you a warm feeling.

“Thank you, Kevin. I’ll be sure to give it a read,” you smiled.

“Ooooh,” Ahyoung wiggled her eyebrows, making both you and Kevin blush. You ruffled her hair and ushered her towards your vehicle.

Picking the girls up from school became a biweekly thing for you. Every Monday and Friday, you would arrive ten minutes early to chat with Kevin as he told you funny stories that happened throughout the day. And when you worked with a bunch of preschoolers, there were a lot of those types of stories.

You listened as he went on about how a little boy woke up from a nap thinking he had an argument with his friend because of a nightmare he had. Kevin had to convince him that it was all a dream and that his friend did not actually steal his gummy worms and lie about it.

The way he spoke about his students was endearing. He made them sound like lovely angels even when they were cranky and misbehaving.

“We’re looking for chaperones for the upcoming field trip if you’re interested,” he cautiously brought up. “We only had a few parents sign up so we’d really appreciate any extra helping hands.”

Panicking, you stuttered about how you didn’t have the confidence to keep rowdy kids in check at a public space. He assured you that your only responsibility would be to make sure no one ran off and to accompany kids to the bathroom if they had to separate from the group.

He was a smooth talker. He somehow persuaded you into agreeing and you couldn’t believe you left the school that day after signing the form.

“Auntie, do you like Teacher Kevin?” Ahyoung asked you in the car ride back home.

“Sure, Teacher Kevin is nice,” you hummed.

“No, she means do you like like him?” Soyoung pressed.

You feigned innocence and pretended not to understand what they were talking about. They grilled you about how often you talked with him and even pointed out that he didn’t talk to other parents like that. They sure were smart-witted for their age.

On the day of the field trip, you spent a long time deciding on what to wear. You had no idea how casual you were supposed to dress as a chaperone.

You ended up choosing a simple outfit and rushed out the door to avoid being late. You had to say you were excited. It had been ages since you last visited an aquarium. And maybe the extra butterflies in your stomach were because of a certain someone you were looking forward to seeing.

Meeting Kevin outside of the school felt different. He stood out in the crowd of tiny humans. Even more so once you entered the place and you noticed that most of the visitors were families, students, or couples.

You softly smiled as you watched the kids fawn over colorful fish and gawk at sharks. It felt like you were returning to your own childhood innocence. You followed Ahyoung, who was pulling at your sleeve, to the jellyfish section where she asked you to take a picture of her with the transparent creature.

The photos came out so incredibly that you had to immediately send them to your brother. He texted back almost instantly and you scoffed when you read his message.

“Heck yeah I made that. Those are my genes right there.”

Rolling your eyes, the corners of your lips twitched up as you put the device away. You guided Ahyoung back to the rest of the group and ran into Kevin who was coming back from the bathroom with another student.

“How are you enjoying the trip so far?” he asked.

“It’s nice. Honestly not as chaotic as I thought it’d be,” you admitted.

“Oh don’t jinx it. Lunch time will be hectic,” he warned.

He was right. Between picky kids and the kimbap packed by their parents, the unwanted vegetables were flown around the picnic table. You barely managed to avoid the carrot that was flung in your direction. Unluckily, you were unable to dodge the spinach that was now tangled in your hair.

Kevin laughed as he tried to help you take it out, cracking a joke about it looking like seaweed and you looking like a mermaid dragged out of the ocean.

“He means you’re pretty, Auntie!!” Soyoung eagerly translated on his behalf. “Mermaids are super super pretty. Like Ariel, the princess!”

This raised a teasing crowd of “ooh”s from the group of preschoolers.

“Teacher Kevin and Auntie Y/n sitting in a tree,” a boy began chanting, “K-I-S-S-I-N-G!”

His friend made a face and screamed “ew,” making him laugh uncontrollably. Meanwhile, Kevin was trying his best to cover his burning ears. He pulled the beanie over his ears, not wanting to expose his embarrassment.

“My daddy said no boy is good enough for Auntie but I’ll tell him nice things about you, Teacher Kevin. Just specially for you,” Ahyoung proudly announced.

Awkwardly coughing, you stuffed her cheeks with another roll of kimbap. Her muffled cries of resistance were appeased with a juice box shoved into her mouth. The sweet drink diverted her attention away from you and back to her lunch.

You two were now officially shipped by all of Kevin’s students. Even the other teachers giggled as they passed by you.

By the end of the field trip, you were one of the last ones to leave. After all the other students and teachers departed from the aquarium, Kevin escorted you to the car with a sleeping Ahyoung in his arms and a sleeping Soyoung in yours.

You both carefully placed them in their car seats and closed the door after buckling their seat belts. Now that you were alone with him, you didn’t know what to say. Despite the silence, it wasn’t necessarily uncomfortable.

“So have you warmed up to the idea of kids yet?” he finally asked after clearing his throat.

“The book you gave me definitely taught me a lot of things,” you nodded. “Now I’m not completely terrified of them. And seeing you handle kids comforts me.”

“Really? How so?”

“I don’t know. It’s just… you so effortlessly take care of them and I can see how much you cherish each and every one of your students. I envy that.”

“Trust me, it’s not as easy as you think it is,” he chuckled.

Silence fell between you again but you simply enjoyed his presence. You turned your head to see him already staring at you. With your eyes, you wordlessly asked if there was something he wanted to say.

“So uh tomorrow’s Saturday,” he suddenly mentioned. He was fiddling with a loose thread on his sweater and hesitated to speak up again.

“Do you have any plans for the weekend?” he blurted. You couldn’t stop the smile that crept up on your face.

“Nope.”

“Would you like to um grab dinner with me tomorrow then?”

He anxiously held his breath as he waited for your response. Biting his lips, he wondered if he had ruined things by going too fast.

“Sure. How’s 6?” you finally answered.

“6 is great. 6 is lovely. Wonderful. Perfect,” he replied with a huge grin.

a/n: calling all kevin enthusiasts aka @reverienostalgia

i also may or may not have kinda wrote my little cousins into this fic.. 👉🏻👈🏻

[c-optimistic]

Hi!! I love the way you write. I would love if you can write about Lena and Kara balancing their jobs and being a mother. Thank you! I hope you have a great day ♥️

hey anon! I dunno if you’re the same person who sent me a very similar prompt decades ago, but if you are my apologies for the wait, and if you’re not, great minds think alike. hope you like it.

“Have you seen my heels?”

Kara didn’t look up as she answered. “Um, I think the girls kicked it under the couch when chasing—hey, stop it Liz, you’re supposed to swallow your food, not throw it at your sister.” 

“She started it,” Liz protested, pointing towards Ally and narrowing her eyes. Ally, two years older and at the stage where she believed herself to be far superior to her younger sister, mimicked her Aunt Alex’s huff of disbelief and shook her head.

“You heard Mom, Liz,” she said, sounding more like Lena than she did an eight-year-old. “Don’t throw your food. We eat food. Like this.” She mimicked eating, and Liz’s eyes went wide.

Kara winced, bracing herself for what she knew was coming.

“I know how to eat, Ally! Mom, tell her I know how to eat! Mom!” 

“Okay,” Kara said, holding up a hand. “That’s enough. Ally, don’t antagonize your sister. And Liz, stop throwing things.” 

“Yeah, Ally. Don’t antgize me,” Liz said with her chin raised high. Ally opened her mouth, clearly about to respond and extend this argument well into the ride to work with her, when Lena walked over, her shirt still not fully buttoned, wearing only one shoe, the other dangling from her hand. 

“Kara, I pushed my meeting to next week, so you can take care of your assignment tonight. But we’re going to have to cancel lunch if I want to take off early to pick up the girls.” 

Kara grinned, fixing Lena’s shirt and then allowing her to use her for balance as she leaned over to put her other shoe on. “Thank you. I know the assignment was super last minute,” she said, leaning over to press a quick kiss to Lena’s lips. Ally and Liz, united by their mutual dislike of their parents’ PDA, got over their food feud and made retching noises together before dissolving into giggles. “I’ll swing by, drop off some food. I know you’ll skip lunch otherwise.” 

“Yeah, yeah,” Lena mumbled, waving a hand and turning to the girls. “You two, behave for your mom, okay? I’ll see you at 4:30.” She kissed Liz and Ally on the foreheads, gave Kara one last fond look, then grabbed her bag and left. 

Kara sighed, reveling in the silence that followed her wife’s departure, and then: “Why do you have to work at all, Mom? You’re Supergirl.” 

“Don’t be dumb, Ally,” Liz responded, rolling her eyes. “Mom isn’t Supergirl, she’s a reporter.” She stressed the word like it was something bad, and Kara just took in a deep breath before gathering the dishes from their breakfast and taking it to the sink. 

“Liz, why don’t you go get dressed? And pick one thing to bring with you.”

“Aww, just one?” Liz complained, but she did as she was told, sliding off her chair and skipping down the hallway towards her bedroom. Kara waited till she was sure Liz was safely out of hearing range, and she turned to Ally. 

“We had a deal, Als,” she said, raising an eyebrow, hands on her hips. “It’s a secret until Liz is a little older.” 

Ally—dark haired and blue eyed, looking a little bit more like her father as the years dragged on, but acting more and more like her aunt every single day, and smarter than either of them were at that age—frowned. “You promised you’d teach me more about Krypton.”

“And I will.” When Ally just gave her a disbelieving look, Kara stepped closer to her, dropping to her eye-level. “Look, I have some time off in a few weeks. What if I took you to the Fortress of Solitude?” 

“Just you and me?” 

(More and more, Ally seemed to gravitate towards her more than towards Lena. Lena liked to joke that it was Ally’s Luthor genes shining through, wanting to be close to a Kryptonian just like her father and aunt. 

But for Kara...it felt nice even if she was anxious about it. Because what it was, more than anything, was evidence that Ally—for better or for worse—had chosen to see Kara as one of her mothers, that she accepted Kara the way she was, that she wanted to be involved with aspects of Kara’s life that she hid away for so long.

And yet, Kara wasn’t sure what brought it on, and Ally—much like Lena—was often silent on her feelings.)

“Just you and me,” Kara confirmed. “But we’ll have to ask Mommy for the okay, okay?”

“Aww, that’s what you said about the zoo, too! And Mommy said no.” Ally’s eyes narrowed. “You and Mommy play good cop and bad cop, that’s what Aunt Maggie says.”

“Don’t listen to your Aunt Maggie,” Kara said with a grin, straightening as Liz came running back towards them. 

“I’m ready, I’m ready, I’m ready!” she sang, dragging a massive duffel bag behind her. “It’s one thing,” she defended when Kara gave her a look. “You didn't say the one thing couldn’t be filled with other things.” 

“Ally, help your sister choose one toy, I need to get dressed.”

(And after much protest, an accident involving glitter, and a brief panic when Ally thought she forgot her books at home, they finally found their way to Kara’s office, only a tiny bit late.

Though if you asked Kara, she wouldn’t really have it any other way.) 

x

“Liz, please stop running, you know I can’t chase after you in heels,” Lena called out, watching carefully as Liz raced towards the swing set at the park. Ally, who was walking to Lena’s right, let out a soft snort and finally looked up from the book she’d been engrossed in since Lena picked the girls up from Kara’s office. 

“Mom said we should tie a bell to her, so that she can always hear where Liz runs off to,” Ally informed her, marking where she left off in her book and snapping it shut as she followed Lena to one of the benches, sitting down dutifully next to her. “I think it’s a good idea.”

Lena reached out, smoothing back Ally’s hair and smiling when this prompted Ally to lean into her. “I do, too. Though we may not need a bell,” she said, looking over at where Liz was now singing at the top of her lungs, ignoring the looks from the other children. “Did you have a good day with your sister and your mom’s office?” 

“Yeah. We got ice cream. I’m not supposed to tell you, but for half an hour, Mom had leave us for a Supergirl emergency. Uncle James watched us.” 

“Really?” Lena said, trying not to laugh. “Your mom isn’t very sneaky. I saw her on the news.” Oddly, this made Ally pull away, gnawing at her lip, her fingers running up and down the spine of her book. “What’s wrong, Alexandra?” Lena asked softly, knowing that the use of her full name would let Ally know she was being serious. For a moment, though, it didn’t seem as if Ally was going to respond. “Is this about you wanting to learn more about Krypton?”

“No. Mom wants to take me to the Fortress. She said we’d need your permission.”

Lena didn’t take the bait, didn’t let Ally change the subject. “Come on, Ally. What’s the matter?” 

“Last week, when Mom got hurt, were you..did you...I don’t like Supergirl,” she finished, expression hardening.  

(And, oh, Lena thought they’d have more time. More time with Ally as a kid, a kid who saw her superhero mom and thought it was cool, a kid who didn’t realize how much danger her mom was in every time she put on the suit. 

But Ally was the smartest kid Lena had ever met, even after accounting for her bias regarding her daughter. So of course Ally would catch on, of course Ally would worry, of course Ally would want to spend more time with Kara.) 

“I get scared too, you know. Every time I see your mom on the television, every time she gets hurt. That’s normal, worrying for the people you love.” When Ally turns to look at her, Lena tucks a stray strand of hair behind Ally’s ear. “Loving someone doesn’t mean we can control what they do, though. Do you understand what I mean?” 

“Yeah,” Ally sighs. “Mom has to ask you for permission to go to the Fortress with me, but she doesn’t have to ask you to fight a bad man.” 

Lena chuckles, figuring Ally’s basically gotten the point. “You make her very happy, you know. When you ask about Krypton, want to know more. She wants to share it with you. And Liz, when she’s older. And you should talk to her, about Supergirl. Maybe if you hear from her why it’s so important to her, you’ll see Supergirl differently. Like I do.” 

Ally didn’t respond, but Lena didn’t really need her to. Instead, she got up and held out her hand, waiting for Ally to take it before she called out to Liz, who came running with a big grin.

And together, hand in hand, they began walking home.

x

When Kara made it home that night, it was completely silent. 

She chucked off her shoes and deposited her bag next to the couch before slowly walking towards their bedroom, pausing as she walked by the room Ally and Liz shared. 

The two of them were curled up on the bottom bunk of their bed, Liz gripping onto one of Ally’s hands, the other one near her mouth, as if she’d fallen asleep sucking on her thumb. Ally was sleeping protectively next to Liz, as if she’d fallen asleep talking to her sister. 

Kara blinked as she realized: Ally must’ve fallen asleep telling Liz a story. 

(That was Kara’s job. Every night, reading a story. Sometimes in English, but often—especially when the girls were younger—it was in Kryptonian.) 

She walked over, pulled their covers over them, pressed barely there kisses to their foreheads, and then turned to head out. But then: “Love you, Mom. Good night.” 

And when Kara made it back to her bedroom—when she slid into bed next to Lena, smiling when Lena immediately grabbed her arm and pulled it around her waist, making sure they were snugly pressed together—she couldn’t help but smile and press a kiss to the back of Lena’s neck. 

Tomorrow, Liz would be starting a new daycare and Ally would be going back to school, and there were meetings and late hours Lena needed to worry about and Supergirl duties and deadlines Kara worried about. 

But here now, her daughters were sleeping in the other room, her wife was warm in her arms, and everything was just perfect. 

(And Kara really, really wouldn’t have it any other way.) 

[fishnets-fingers]

Six Months - Part Three

Summary - Layla desperately needs a vacation and her Aunt and Uncle come to her rescue. So, at twenty two, she packs her bag and jets off to America. Harry took a break from education and is now a full fledged content creator on OnlyFans. At twenty, he makes more money than almost all of his friends. What ensues when these two meet and realise the windows in their rooms face each other? How will paper airplanes bring them closer together?

a/n - Please like and reblog. This part is filthy. If you have any request that I can add to this story, please leave a message. This is becoming a slow burn.

Word Count - 5472

Warnings - smut. fluff. just two idiots that won’t admit that they like the other.

Masterpost (find previous parts here)

“You did what?!?” Susan cackled. 

“What was I supposed to do? I ran away and avoided him. Thank god there was this little girl that kept him plenty distracted. Imagine if I went up to him and was all ‘Hi, Harry! I saw a picture of you and rubbed one out in your honour last night.” Layla says in an exasperated tone.

“You know, a lot of men are into that. It strokes their egos a bit,” Grace responds.

Ramya and Heidi are still wheezing at Layla’s expense. Layla was on her “friend catch up” monthly video call. They talk more but sometimes deadlines, the pain of scheduling a call with three (now four) different time zones, and life gets in the way. So, they have a rule: no matter what you spend at least fifteen minutes of every month catching up. The five actually met during their undergraduate. It’s funny because none of the five remember how they became friends. Things just happen to fall into place and the next thing they know, they all started having lunch together. They all went their separate paths for their Masters.

“I think you should ask him out,” Ramya says.

“I think not. I’m older than him. He’s only twenty. You know, I’d rather be with someone more mature.”

“Nonsense. You are two years older than him. Calm down. ‘Sides all men are babies. Giant babies. Trust me. Jake is four years older than me and I’m waay more responsible,” Grace says. Grace moved in with Jake a few months ago.

“I agree with Ramya and Grace. I think you go for it,” Heidi says. “It’s about time you start dating. You need to get laid.”

“Yeees, do ittt! Virgin no more.” Susan says.

“That’s true. I really do need to have sex ASAP. I’ve never been on that date, other than that blind date weird thing that Suz set me up. Which we will never talk about.I’ve never been in a relationship. What if something goes wrong? He lives next door, that’s messed up. I’m not allowed to date. My mum would KILL ME.”

“Lails, your mum is an ocean away. In another continent. She’s not gonna catch you and ground you.” Ramya says.

“I’m sure your Uncle and Aunt won’t mind. They are super progressive, right? Come on, Lails. Live a little for once in your life.” Says Heidi.

“I don’t know if I’m relationship material. I don’t even want romance,” Layla says defensively.

“Not this again. Bitch, you have the nicest body. Tits and ass to DIE for. I’d fuck your shit up if I wasn’t in a commited relationship. You have a heart of gold, you are funny and intelligent. What more could anyone want? You are a total package whore. Accept it.” Grace says.

“I know you always go back to your parents’ marriage and I’m sorry that it happened to you.No kid should ever have to go through that. But you are not your mom or your dad. Just think about it huh? You don’t need to ask him out right now. Maybe not even him, someone else might swoop you off of your feet -”

Ramya interrupts Susan. “Exactly. Anything can happen in six months. Never say never.”

“You guys are really annoying. Fine. I’ll think about it. It’s annoying to have therapists as friends.”

“Says another therapist,” Heidi says. They all crack up. 

“So, Ramya, give us some tea about your new girlfriend. Who would send over deserts with a note that said ‘Girlfriend? Tick yes or no.’ She’s smooth, bitch. I haven’t even met her but I think I’m in love with her. ”

Just like that the girls talk about anything and everything under the sun. They laugh, they give each other some advice and some much needed pep talks. 

///

Around seven. They wrap it up. Layla heads downstairs and puts together a cute floral arrangement to take to Anne as she promised. Her Aunt and Uncle were reheating the leftovers from brunch for dinner. 

“Whatcha doing?” Abi asks.

“Oh. I’m putting this bouquet for Anne. I promised I’d bring over one earlier.” Layla says without looking at them. Measuring some paper to cut up to wrap the flowers in.

“Abi and I got talking. We want you to go explore without really asking for our permission, I know that’s the drill at home but you are with us, and we think you should have a house key. This way you can come and go as you please. Plus we’ll be at work five days of the week, we really don’t want you to feel lonely or trapped. Do us a favour and leave us a note when you are going somewhere?”

“Are you serious?” Layla says, her eyes wide open.

“I know your parents are super over protective of you but we want you to have all the freedom a twenty two year old can have. Carry a pepper spray with you at all times. You know how to use your keys, in case of emergencies, right?” Vansath asks and Layla nods.

“I also know how to kick someone in the nuts, if need be.” Layla says with a smirk on her face. Abi laughs.

“Is that so, tough guy? Let’s see you grab this key from me then.” Her Uncle says as he raises his arms, with the house key, above his head and stands on his toes.

“Come on, not fair. Your legs alone are twice the size of me, Layla whines as she jumps around trying to reach for it. After a couple of jumps, she tackles her Uncle to the ground and wrestles the key from him. Her Aunt was hunched over howling at the sight in front of her.

Layla stands back up with the keys in her hand. “Victory!”

“Ugh. You knocked the wind out of me. Christ. At this rate, I don't think I can use you as my replacement dumbbells anymore. I miss those days, when you were tiny.” Her Uncle stands up and adjusts his clothes.

“Okay, curfew is at midnight-”

“Midnight?” Layla interrupts Abi.

“What? You think that’s too early?”

“Quite the opposite. I don’t have a social life, let alone one that could keep me away from home till midnight.”

Vasanth laughs. “Okay. Then on the rare chance that you do make friends and stay out late you let us know when you will be back, before 9:00 pm, okay? I want you to share your location with us if it extends beyond midnight.”

“Okay. Deal. I don’t think I’ll ever use that but sure.”

“Do you wanna learn how to drive here? You already have a license back home. It’s all automatic here, so it’ll be super easy.” Her Aunt says.

“Nah. You know me, I like walking. Plus, it feels good to be driven around by someone. I’ll walk for now, if the need arises, I’ll ask you two.”

She goes back to finishing her bouquet. When she’s done, Layla combs her hair and lets it down straight. She was still wearing her pink floral top and blue ankle length jeans. She descends down the stairs.

“Here, kutti. Take this over to Anne’s.” Her Uncle hands her a casserole dish filled with some leftovers. She walks over to Anne’s house and knocks on the door.

“Come on in, Layla.” Anne steps aside to let her in.

“Umm.. do you want me to leave my footwear at the door?”

“No need for that.” Anne smiles as she looks down to her feet.

“Oh, sorry. It was just easier to slip into,” she says sheepishly as she looks down at her feet that were in her Uncle’s bright yellow crocs. “These are for you,” she gives Anne the bouquet and the leftovers.

“Thank you so much. They look beautiful. Here, make yourself comfortable on the couch. I’m gonna go put this in the fridge and get a vase.”

Layla sits and looks around the house. It’s very cozy, there were some pictures on the bookshelves. She moves closer to it and inspects them. There were a few of Anne when she was a child, with her family, presumably. A few of Harry, one of him perched on the hood of a vintage car, wearing some light brown shorts and an oversized billowy white button up, with the Amalfi Coast in the background. It looks pretty recent too. One particular picture that stands out is a tiny Harry with a giant hairy black spider on his palm, he has the biggest smile on his face and is looking directly at the camera. It makes Layla smile for some reason.

“He’s the bug catcher of our house, you know. He’s so unphased by them. I on the other hand, particularly do not fancy them,” Anne says, making Layla jump a little.

“Same. Don’t like creepy crawlies, either. You have such a lovely home.”

“Thank you, dear.”

“Did you travel a lot? Must be pretty convenient to travel around Europe living in London.”

“Oh yeah, my ex husband and I were very particular about travel. The three of us went all around Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Moscow. What about you?”

“Never even travelled to the northern part of India. I have been to a lot of places in the five southern states though. This is my first time out of the country.”

“Hmmm. Where are my manners? Would you like a cup of tea, Layla?”

“Oh no, I don’t want  to impose. I should get going.”

“Nonsense. I insist. Wouldn’t be very British of me to let you go without a good cuppa.” She leads Layla into the kitchen.

“Do you have some green tea? I don’t drink coffee or tea with milk in it. I stick to milk or water.”

Anne looks through her cupboards. “Aha! Peach flavoured green tea. That’s a good habit you have there. People your age really run on coffee. Harry for example, he has to have a cup of black coffee everyday.”

“Oh. Never really cared for it, to be honest. I found myself being more awake and alert with limited hours of sleep compared to my friends who had to have coffee every hour to not fall asleep.”

“That’s good.” Anne pours some hot water from the kettle into two mugs and puts a tea bag into each and hands one over to Layla.

“If you don’t mind me asking. What made you take a break now? I’m sure most of your peers are itching to get a job,” Anne says as she sits down next to her on the island.

“Oh, uh….”

“I’m sorry, it’s invasive. You don’t have to answer it.”

“No no, it’s not that. It’s just… I don’t know. It’s like my whole life, I’ve always wanted to do what’s next. I’ve always thought about the future. Never really blew off steam, I guess. I finished my masters, without putting in an effort at all. In fact, I aced it. I felt like a cheat. I published a few papers, had some internships. Whatever free time I had, I sold my paintings online. It started to feel like a part time job, that whatever pleasure I got from any sort of craft just vanished. Classic example of the overjustification effect, if I’d say so myself. After I saw my final transcripts, I was just blank. I just didn’t know what I wanted to do. My mind was blank. If I were to put my education to good use, I’d say I’ve hit a wall. Burnout. I wanted some sort of an escape and here I am.”

“I’m sorry, dear. I can’t imagine what that must feel like.” Anne reaches for her hand and gives it a squeeze. 

Layla smiles at her. “So, tell me a little bit about your job. How exciting is the life of a specialist nurse?”

Anne and Layla talk for a good forty minutes. Anne asks Layla to stay over dinner with her and Harry, but she declines. She tells Anne that she still feels a bit jet lagged and wants to turn in early. Which wasn’t a total lie, she was a bit tired but she mostly didn’t want to face Harry. Speaking of him, Layla wondered where he was. 

“I’ll be sure to write down my calamari recipe and give it to you, Anne. Thank you for tea; it was delicious,” Layla says as Anne opens the door for her. 

“Thank you for the flowers and food, honey. It was nice talking with you today. I’ve always wanted a daughter. Harry is a great listener but it’s just different with having a girl around the house. Oh almost forgot, here’s Harry’s number.” Anne fishes out her phone, unlocks it and gives it to Layla. “I know you’ll be alone when your folks are at work, feel free to call him to hang out.”

“Thank you but I don’t wanna take up his time. I’m sure he has stuff to do and wouldn’t wanna walk around town with me.”

“Nonsense. He’s free most of the time. I wish he was here tonight. He would have given you his number himself. He needs a friend. Who knows, it’ll do you both some good to spend some time together.”

“Take it, Layla. At least for an emergency.”

“Okay.” Layla texts his number to her from Anne’s phone. They both say goodnight and she walks home.

“Hey!” Her Aunt and Uncle say. She finds them Aunt and Uncle curled up in the love seat watching some TV, and Cluedo on the coffee table.

“What’s all this?” Layla says pointing to the board game. 

“We thought we could play before we all went to bed. Go have some dinner and join us.” Her Aunt says.

She scarfs down dinner and comes back into the living room. 

“Alright, which one of you is ready to weep?” Layla says and cracks her knuckles.

“Oi, who said anything about  you winning?”

“That’s right. Get ready to lose for the first time in Cluedo, Lails,” says her Aunt.

An hour or so later, the three climb up the stairs to go to bed.

“I still can’t believe you won. Again, that too.”

“It’s not my fault, you two can’t put two and two together.” Layla laughs.

“Honestly, you win every single time we play Cluedo. Even when you were little. Do you cheat?” her Uncle says.

“Nope. I just pay more attention.”

They say their goodnights and head into their rooms. Layla takes a shower and puts on an oversized Panic! At The Disco t-shirt and a pair of white panties. It falls almost mid thigh. She catches a second wind as she’s moisturising her legs. She sighs and puts on a green facemask, puts her hair up in a bun, starts picking out some songs on Spotify and makes a playlist and starts jamming out as she unpacks a few of her things, she didn’t get to last night.

////

Harry pulls up outside of Phoebe’s apartment. He met her during January, when he was out dancing in a club in Raleigh when Mitch and Sarah came to visit. They were dancing the night away. Phoebe came up to him and started dancing with him, one thing led to another and his dick ended up in her mouth that night in the bathroom. They ran into each other a few months ago and exchanged numbers. They established a good friends with benefits system. They both text each other when they need to get off. Never stay over. It was exclusively sex. Nothing about Phoebe interested him. He sighs and contemplates going up to her apartment. He pulls out his phone and looks at the text ‘you free? a bit needy today ;)’ Fuck it. He hasn’t had sex in weeks and he needed to blow off his load tonight.

He sighs again and gets out of the car and buzzes in. “Come right up, Harry,” she says through the intercom. 

He climbs up to the second floor and knocks on her door. “Come on in, Harry.”

He walks in to find her standing completely naked next to her couch. “Like what you see?”

“Wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t,” he mutters as he starts undoing his pants as he walks towards her.

“Let me take care of that,” Phoebe says and swats his hand away. She cups him through his pants and his breathing hitches.

She kneels down before him and takes his dick out of his boxers. “Mmmm,” she says as she takes his length into her mouth. She starts bobbing up and down. Harry starts panting and cards his fingers through her blonde hair as he makes a makeshift ponytail.

“Ah,” Harry says as she takes his balls into her mouth and starts pumping him with her hand.

“I’m gonna come, Phoebe.” She moves her mouth back to him and suckles hard. “Ahhh.” 

He comes and Phoebe gets up immediately. Drool and come on her chin. She wipes her face with the back of her hand.

“How’d you like that, gorgeous?” Phoebe says and she pulls his face down to kiss him.

“Your mouth doesn’t disappoint”, Harry says and cups her breast. He snakes his hand down to her entrance and finds her wet. She gets his boxers and pants off. Harry kicks them aside.

Phoebe feels him smirk against her. “Please, don’t flatter yourself. I’ve been wet all day. Now come on, stick it in me.”

She saunters towards the bed and gets on all fours at the foot of the bed and wiggles her ass at him. Harry stands behind her and gives himself a few pumps. He puts on a condom and lines himself and pushes into her without a warning. He winds her hair up and pulls on her head a bit and with his other hand steadies himself by gripping on to her hip. He pounds into her relentlessly. 

“Oh, Ohh, god… I think I’m gonna come, baby.” Phoebe screams. 

She comes all over him and Harry pulls out of her. “Heey,” she whines in protest. 

“Baby? Phoebe, we have rules. No nicknames,” Harry says.

“Sorry it was a heat of the moment thing.”

“Let me make it up. I can suck you off again,” she adds. Harry sighs and sits on her bed. Phoebe immediately gets down on her knees and licks the underside of his shaft.

Harry leans back on his forearms, throws his head back and closes his eyes. Phoebe deep throats him and moans around his dick. He writhes a little bit. Harry’s mind wanders to Layla. The way she smiled when they met, her cute little dance, the way her Power Rangers shorts clung to her ass. The curve off her ass. The swell of her breasts. Her face. Her warm hands. Her abdomen. Her smile. He wonders what she would look like when she’s under him, this makes him grip the sheets harder and he moans.

He then suddenly remembers her acting weird and avoiding him till they left. Oh, good, what if she saw him looking at her through his window. He didn’t really watch her in a pervy way. He was only privy to a few moments, they were all completely harmless. He’s not a jerk. He’s not a pervert. Is he? But he is though, the kind of an asshole that would picture her when another woman is going to town on his di-

“Umm. Harry.” Phoebe says.

This breaks him out of his trance. He props himself up and looks at her and his now flaccid dick.

“Sorry,” he says as he gets up.

“No. It’s okay, it happens to the best of us. I could just pump you for a bit.”

“No, that’s alright. My mind’s a bit scattered. I’m a little stressed out.” He adds, not wanting to hurt her. “I’m gonna use the restroom.” He gathers his boxers and his pants and walks into the bathroom. He uses the restroom, puts his clothes on, and steps to her sink and splashes some water on his face.

You shouldn’t have come here tonight.

He sighs and comes out the bathroom to find Phoebe with a robe sitting on her bed.

“ You sure, I can’t tempt you to stay for another round or two. You could go on for hours, Harry.”

“Yeah, I’m not really in the mood anymore, Phoebe. Sorry. I’m going to go.” He starts walking towards the door.

“Alright. See you tomorrow?” Phoebe smiles coyly at him.

“Umm. I don’t know about that, might be busy. I think you should find someone else, Phoebe.”

“Okay, who is she?”

“Who is who?” Harry says as he laces up his shoes.

“Whoever you are seeing?”

“I’m not seeing anyone right now. Just busy that’s all. Letting you know I won’t be available that much anymore.”

“Alright. It was nice knowing you. I’m gonna miss that cock of yours.” She says and shuts the door.

////

Harry gets into his car and drives around town for a bit. He needed to clear his head. He parks in his garage and takes a deep breath. He knows two things for sure. One is to apologise the next time he sees Layla, for making her feel uncomfortable in any way. Second, is that he had a huge crush on her. He gets out of the car and walks into the house.

His mum is curled up on the couch with a blanket and the TV is on. He turns the TV off and wakes his mum up.

“Hey, you fell asleep in front of the TV. Let’s get you to bed, huh?”

“What time is it?”

“Quarter past ten.” He leads his mother upstairs and tucks her into bed.

“H,” Anne says.

“Hmm..” He responds by turning to face her.

“I have a twenty four hour shift tomorrow. I’ll be gone by ten. I also gave Layla your number today, when she dropped by earlier in the evening.”

“Did you now?” 

“Yes, if she asks for your help, you make sure to do it, okay. It’ll be nice to know that you will have some company, when I’m off working at the hospital.”

“Alright, goodnight mum.”

“Goodnight, honey.”

Harry turns on the lights as he walks into his room and gets distracted from the flickering bright lights coming from Layla’s window. He looks to see her singing something in an unfamiliar language, there’s music coming from the speakers, she was wearing only a big black t shirt, her hair was up in a bun, she was shaking her bum and was shimmying to whatever was playing in the background. Harry smiles. She was absolutely adorable. He reaches over his desk to shut his blinds when Layla turns around and sees him mid shimmy.

Their eyes are locked on each other. His green to her dark brown. His face his beet red and hers green because of her face mask. Harry is frozen.

////

Layla’s eyes pop out of her face. She swears they would fall out of her skull, if it could. She scampers to the window and pulls the curtains to close.

“You fucking idiot,” she smacks her forehead as she sinks to the floor.

////

“You couldn’t close the blinds a little bit sooner huh Harry. She saw you creeping before and again tonight,” mutters to himself as he walked into his bathroom.

After a shower, Harry settles into bed.

You are gonna apologise for scaring her first thing tomorrow.

////

Layla wakes up around six the next morning. Puts on her Yoga pants and a matching sports bra. She takes a crop top with her and walks downstairs to the garage to get a Yoga mat.

Her uncle was already lifting some weights in there. They nod at each other. It was too early to talk to someone.

She goes out to the backyard, rolls her mat and starts with some suryanamaskars.

An hour or so later she’s done. She mops her face with her crop top and puts it on. She rolls up the mat and goes to put it back in the garage.

She walks into the kitchen to find her Uncle making them some breakfast. She drinks a big glass of water.

“ Do you mind if I went to the community park for a walk?”

“Nope. Go on. Take the pike loop, you’ll want to see it. Don’t take too long though. We both have to leave the house a little after nine.”

Layla nods and puts on her sports shoes.

“You have your phone with you?” Her Uncle yells from the kitchen.

“Yup. Bye.”

////

She walks for about forty minutes. The trail was lined with these tall green trees on both sides. There were a few people who were walking, running, and jogging. She has a podcast playing in her AirPods. Her legs feel a bit tired. She contemplates turning around. She sees Harry slowing down his run. He’s heading back home. He sees Layla and smiles.

Oh fuck me, Layla thinks to herself. Events of last night and the night before come rushing in.

She smiles back at him. Harry approaches her. He’s wearing some blue running shorts and some white sleeveless T-shirt. He has his headphones on and they disappear into his shorts. He was laced with sweat and has the faintest stubble on his face.

“Hi,” he says. His voice deep and raspy, like he just woke up.

“Hi. I was about to turn back home.” Layla says as she puts her Airpods into the case.

“Alright. Do you wanna walk back together?” He says and pulls out his headphones and tucks them into his pocket.

“Sure why not. “

They both walk in silence for a few moments. Layla could feel the awkward energy surrounding the two of them. Harry clears his throat and turns to her

“I’m sorry.” They both say at the same time.

“Sorry. Go ahead,” Harry says.

“ Why are you apologising?” Layla says confused.

“No. I’m sorry for yesterday and I’m sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable during brunch. I don’t really make it a habit to look into other’s windo-“

“ Uncomfortable? Harry, you didn’t make me uncomfortable during brunch. If anything I should be saying sorry to you for last night and … and-“

“Then why did you walk away and then avoid me the entire time?”

“Umm… I'm sorry but I really don’t know how to put this in any other way. I was scrolling through my explore page on Saturday and a picture popped up on the grid. It was a picture of some in a maid outfit, which says more about my me and my algorithm than-“

“Wait? What?!?”

“I think I stumbled on to your page. With an OnlyFans linked to the bio. “

“How did you figure out it was me? I don’t post my face on there.”

“I didn’t know it was you. I didn’t click on the link by the way. If that makes you feel any better. You threw your arm around your mum and I saw the tattoo, the mermaid. There was a picture with the mermaid tattoo on display.”

“How did you know it was me? I blur out a few of my tattoos or completely edit others away.”

“Well… that tattoo was a bit… odd? The tail started way lower than her hips. How many people make that artistic choice. Plus the shape of your arm.”

“Oh. Ugh. Good guess?” Harry says as he scratches the back of his head.

The two keep walking. “Don’t worry. I didn’t tell anyone. Not your mum. Not my folks. Plus, it’s your life. You can do whatever you want with it. It’s not my place to judge.”

“Thanks? I don’t know. I don’t really go out telling people for obvious reasons. Mum wouldn’t have cared. She knows-“

“Really?!? Anne does?”

“Yup. Told her a month after I started. Look, it’s just a way to save up some money for college. I don’t want to end up in debt for the rest of my life. I make quite a bit of money, if I say so myself. I just post really suggestive pictures. I don’t whip it out for the world or anything.”

“I’ll take your word for it,” Layla laughs.

“So, that’s why you avoided me for the rest of the day?”

“Hmm.. I was beyond mortified. Wanted the ground to swallow me whole.”

“I thought it was something I did. I was worried. I was going to come over to your place to apologise.”

“Your were? That’s soo sweet. What a gentleman?” Layla nudges Harry’s arm.

“I am nothing if not gentlemanly.” Harry bows.

Layla laughs. “Okay, okay. What was that about making a habit about looking into other people’s windows?”

“You caught on to that, huh?”

“Yup.”

“Last night wasn’t the only time I saw you through your window.”

Layla looks up at him, her eyebrows were scrunched together.

“What I mean is,” Harry says. “ I saw you get into bed on Friday. Not in a creepy way. I got up for a wee and wanted to get my phone from my desk before I went to bed. It was not even a second. The second time I was editing some pictures on my laptop on my desk when you caught my eye. I looked up from my screen to see you dancing around with your clothes. I immediately took my laptop and went to bed. Then last night, I was getting home from after… after a drive and the music and singing caught my eye. I was about to close my blinds when you turned around. Again, they were all accidents. I’m not a perv or anything.”

“Fuck me. I’m mortified. Next time I do something stupid I’m gonna draw the curtains. I’m sorry about last night.”

“Don’t be. You were absolutely adorable,” Harry says immediately.

Layla’s can feel her face becoming hot.

“I’m sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable last night. Again, they were all accidents. I’m not a creep.”

“Don’t worry about it. As you said, you weren’t watching me watching me. It was all harmless right? It’s not like you saw me take my clothes off.”

Harry blushes profusely.

“Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that,” Layla says.

“Nah. So what was that move that you were doing last night?” Harry laughs.

“Shut up.” Layla smacks his arm. “I don’t even know to be honest. It was my slut song. It’s in Tamil. I just put on a face mask and I was unpacking whatever was left, and the song just came on. It’s a crime not to get into the zone when it’s on.”

“Maybe you could play it for me this afternoon.”

“What do you mean?” Layla says. They exit the park and start walking towards their houses.

“Err… it’s a beautiful sunny day. It’d be a shame to let it go to waste. You didn’t get to see the lake now. How about we go for a picnic in the afternoon by the lake?”

“I don’t know.” Layla says as she twiddles her fingers.

“Come one. It’ll be fun. That is if you don’t have anything already planned out.” Harry’s dimples pop out.

“Sure. A picnic by the pound with a friend sounds great,” Layla says. She immediately regrets that she said friends.

Harry’s smile falters a little. “Yeah. Friend picnic. Fun.”

“Alright, I’ll bring some sandwiches.”

“ I’ll bring the drinks and dessert. Text me when you are done getting ready.”

“You know that I have your number?”

“Hmm. Mum told me last night.”

“Okay. See you in a couple of hours.” They both go their separate ways when they approach their houses.

////

Harry walks into his house. Why didn’t he say it was a date? He feels stupid. Maybe she is not even into guys. If she wants to be friends, Harry can be her friend. Hell , he’ll be whatever Layla wants him to be.

////

“Alright, bye, Lails.” Vasanth says.

“Bye, kutti. Any plans for the day?” Her aunt asks.

“Yeah, I’m going on a picnic with Harry in the afternoon. I didn’t get to see the lake during the walk. I thought it’ll be fun.”

“Oooh. Like a date?” Abi says.

“What is this about a date now?” Her uncle says.

“Oh my god. It’s not like that. It’s just a picnic between friends.”

“Okay.”

They both leave and Layla closes the door.

“A picnic by the lake with a friend!” Layla repeats what she said to Harry earlier. She gently bangs her head on the door.

“I wish I hadn’t said that. I’m such a fool.” Layla says as she walks up to her room to sort out her outfit for the picnic.