#now watch this (grabs some other star and some. Like. Time travel. world travel. Something. Stuff. Grabs it and NAILS you in the head

[fisherrprince]

(head in hand) there is. a lot going on in the shadowbringers trailer

[babychavez]

Lucky

You had just gotten back into L.A from being gone to Miami on a press run for your new show. You were of course traveling along with your co-Star Nicholas Alexander Chavez. You guys had grown close over the last few months while shooting and also doing press runs together. Well as time has drug on you two had kinda started to see each other but it was nothing official of course.

"I'm so ready to be home and take a nice long hot bath." You groaned out as you slide your sunglasses over your puffy tired eyes.

"My place is closer why don't you just come stay with me tonight and get some rest." Nicholas suggested as he pulled the driver door shut and started the car.

"No. I know you're tired and need some space. I mean goodness you have been stuck with me on the road for what seems like forever now. Just drop me at my hotel and it'll be fine." You said waving off the idea of his.

Nic looked over at you and raised an eyebrow at the command you had just given him. "Really? Now you wanna act like you wanna be in a hotel room all alone?"

You rolled your eyes at Nic, "oh don't even start that crap with me. You know you're tired of me and ready to be away from me for a bit." You remarked back at him in a super bratty way. Nic looked your way with a mischievous smirk on his  face.

"I very much can assure you that I never get tired of being around you. Even if you are in one of your sassy moods, now come here and give me a kiss." Nic exclaimed as he leaned over the center console that was between you two and pushed his lips together waiting for you to meet him the rest of the way. You smiled and shook your head as you pushed yourself up from your seat and leaned forward to make your lips connect with his.

Your heart fluttered when you felt him smile against your lips as you both broke the kiss. "Let's get out of here now." Nic started the car and took off down the road. You watched out the window at the familiar storefronts passing by all the hustle and bustle of people and cars on the streets. You could feel your eyelids get heavy with each street block you passed. You finally saw the road that would lead you on to the freeway and carry you and nic back to his place.

"Take a nap baby, it's gonna be a bit because of the traffic right now. Don't worry I'll keep you safe." Nic told you as he merged on to the highway. You looked at nic and gave him a sleepy smile, as to be telling him okay. Nic reached over and grabbed your hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. You leaned your head back and slowly drifted off to sleep, knowing you were safe and in the best company.

"Baby we're here." You heard a soft voice say. You opened your eyes and saw the inside of the car illuminated by dim light. You pushed your sunglasses off your eyes and to your surprise the sunny sky that you had fallen asleep to was now dark and starry.

"What in the world is going on?" You asked while rubbing the sleep out of the corners of your eyes. You looked out the front windshield and saw no familiar sights, instead you saw a tall white house that was covered by greenery and 2 tall windows that made it look as if the house had 2 glowing eyes.

"Surprise babe." Nic exclaimed as he opened up the passenger door and extended his hand for you to take as you climbed out the door. You looked up and all the stars were bright on shining and twinkling above. You felt a nice almost cool breeze graze your face and you grabbed ahold of Nic's hand and placed your feet on the ground.

"Where are we Nicholas?" You asked as Nic pulled you away from the car and smiled widely at you. You were caught off guard and shocked to say the less because you never would have never guessed he could pull something like this by you.

"Well we have a few days off from work and meetings and traveling so I thought what a better way to spend it, than a little mini us vacation. Away from the noise of the city, people and most of all anyone knowing where we are. It's just me and you." Explained Nic as he embraced you from behind and laid a soft kiss on the side of your head.

"Aww. When did you plan all of this?" You asked him still shocked by the surprise of it all. Nic smiled and took ahold of your hand as he lead you to the front door of the house.

"Stop asking so many questions and just enjoy yourself and this time away we have. Baby sometimes living in the moment is the best way to live. We don't always have to know all the ins and outs of how something came to be. Just go with your feelings." Said Nic with a soft chuckle as he pulled out his phone and looked at something in it. He then punched a code into the lock on the double doors, he pushed open the doors.

You couldn't believe what you were seeing the lights were dim and candles were lite on top of the island in the kitchen with a lovely spread of finger foods and a chilled bottle of champagne in a metal bucket.

"Nic! This place is beautiful!" You exclaimed as you walked into the house and continued looking around.

"Yeah it came out even better than I had imagined it would." Nic exclaimed as he walked over to the island and popped open the bottle of champagne and poured you each a glass. "I knew I wanted to do something special for you since we have been so busy lately."

"Well this is perfect and you did an excellent job." You smiled and praised Nic as you raised your glass toward him. Nic smiled as he clicked his glass to mine and then we both took a drink. You started around the corner of the island to admire the food laid out in front of you when you noticed red petals on the floor. "Uh Nic what are these for?"

Nic was taking another drink out of his glass when he looked down and noticed the petals as well. "Oh yeah! Come here come here!" He exclaimed full of excitement as he grabbed you by the hand and pulled you behind him toward an open set of French doors.

Once out the doors you saw the sand and heard the waves hitting the beach. You could smell the scent of the ocean in the air and also the faint scent of floral. You looked down and saw more petals laying on the back porch they lead the way down the stairs and across the sand toward what looked to be a hammock on 2 post near the edge of the ocean and a soft glow from 2 lit tiki torches.

"Wanna go with me?" Nic asked as he was already pulling you in that direction down the stairs. You smiled and followed along behind him. But Nic didn't stop at the hammock he pulled you out into the water with him. The waves hit the both of you, soaking your clothes, you let out a giggle as you caught eyes with Nic who was smiling ear to ear. Nic grabbed you by the waist and pulled you into him. You looked into his eyes and cupped his cheeks in your hands before you pushed your lips to his.

There you 2 were in the middle of the ocean at night holding each other as the waves crashed into the both of you, you two could care less because you were both lost in each other. You felt a warmth travel across your lower back and then slowly up your sides, it was Nic’s hands raises the soaking wet shirt off your body. You broke apart from each others lips as Nic gave your shirt one last tug over your head and tossed it on to shore.

You returned the favor by taking his shirt off and revealed his toned smooth chest, you both were standing there captivated by the moment and the look in each others eyes. Nicholas grabbed you by the waist and pulled you back into him, he held you so gently and yet tightly as never wanting to let you go. You laid your head on his chest and heard the beat of his heart quicken. You gently swayed back and fourth together in the water being held by Nic made it seem like nothing could ever top this moment. You felt Nic rest his chin on the top of your head but just as you settled he pulled back and looked down at you.

“I’ve had something on my mind for awhile now.” Nicholas said softly as he took your cheek into the palm of his hand and pulled your gaze up to his brown sweet eyes.

“Oh yeah what is it?” You asked slightly nervous.

“I never knew someone like you existed until the day you came in the doorway for our 1st table read. The moment I saw you I knew I wanted you. Then as this time has continued on between us, I feel like I’ve known you forever and that I can be myself with you. I feel like I’m here just for you. No one else.” Nicholas groveled as he ran his thumb across your cheek.

You could feel the redness bubbling up on your cheeks, no one has ever made you feel so special and made you so happy as Nic had. “I have never felt this way about someone Nic. I’m so lucky I met you.

Nic’s eyes twinkled and before you knew it, you were swept off your feet and Nicholas crashed his lips back into yours. You wrapped your legs around his waist and your tongues fought for space in each others mouth.

Nic carried you out of the water and laid you down in the big hammock. You grasped at the top of his pants trying to get them off. But just as you hooked your fingers into the waist of them he pulled away and instead pulled your shorts down and panties all in one swift motion. He tossed them down and then began to pull his pants down himself, you watched as he unleashed his hard cock.

He gave you an almost evil smirk as he pulled you to the edge of the hammock. He teased your wet slit by rubbing the tip of his cock up and down your clit, he smacked your pussy with his cock before thrusting it deep in you.

His cock could be felt in your stomach and made you gasp as you adjusted to it. Nic looked down at you and admired the way you were taking him, he began to slowly move his hips back and forth. You winced as he pushed himself back in each time.

“That’s a good girl. Taking this dick and letting me know how much you’re enjoying it.” Nic said as he bite his bottom lip and tossed his head back and let out a moan into the night sky.

You could tell his pace was increasing and you could feel yourself tightening around his cock with each stroke and the warmth was growing in your stomach. You let your head fall back and enjoyed the noises that were coming from Nic’s mouth, you pulled Nic down closer to your body and intertwined your fingers in his soft brown locks.

You heard the clapping of skin echoing out, Nic popped his head back up so you both made eye contact as he rocked his hips into you harder and harder.

“Ohhhh fuck yes! Fuck me Nic!” You yelled out at him. He pushed himself back up to where he could lay his forehead on yours, your eyes were locked. You could feel the sweat between both of you making you glide easily against each other. You couldn’t hold it back anymore and you let yourself go and got lost in the sweet orgasm as it would overcame your whole body.

“Take this cum baby!” Nic grunted just as he spilled inside of you. You both locked lips as let the moment be.

You laid on Nic chest as he kicked his foot making the hammock swing back and fourth, you both laid there listening to the ocean. Nic was relaxed and happy, he had his eyes closed and a smile on his lips. You and Nic’s fingers were laced with in each others and laid across Nic’s chest, he would wiggle his fingers every now and then to see if you’d response with some form of movement back.

“Thank you so much for planning this, I think this is just what we need.” You exclaimed laying a soft kiss on Nic’s warm skin.

“You deserve this babe. You haven worked your butt off the past few months and you deserve some peace and rest and most of all love.” You were taken back by the last word Nicholas had just spoken. He had never used that word till now toward you. You pop your head off his chest and peered up at him. His eyes were still closed but now the small smile had been replaced with a huge teeth baring smile.

“What did you say?” You questioned him. Nicholas let out a small chuckle and raised his head up to meet your stare.

“You heard me. You deserve to have love and be loved. I love you.” Nic spoke once again. You were overwhelmed by the words but most of all thankful because the feelings he had for you matches up with the ones you had for him.

“I love you too Nicholas.” You exclaimed as you laid a huge kiss on Nic’s lips. You cuddles back into Nic’s chest and closed your eyes and soaked up all of the emotions floating in the air between you two.

You had just opened a new adventure in life and it was very exciting to be venturing into the unknown future with a man as great as Nic. You could feel yourself drifting off with each swing of the hammock, back and forth and back and forth.

“I love you baby girl.” Nic whispered into the wind just as you drifted off to sleep.

[cottonlemonade]

Accidental Confession

word count: 1228 || avg. reading time: 5 mins.

pairing: post-time skip!Nishinoya x chubby!Reader

genre: fluff

warnings: spoilers

request: watching Goosebumps, having caramel popcorn while dressed as a pirate (accidental confession) with Noya || fluffy, accidental confession with Noya

Noya leaned closer to the bowl and took a deep, happy sniff of the soup. It was pouring outside and originally he wanted to meet a few new friends to go fishing again but as adventurous as he was, he didn’t feel like catching a cold along with the fish. So, he resigned himself to sitting in the small restaurant he found a few days ago, enjoying a slow afternoon with you and his latest travel companion, Saruta. The little seaside town he had settled in for the time being was a narrow one like someone had pushed a bunch of houses as close to the shore as possible to save space. No building was higher than two stories, a stark contrast to the many impressive metropoles he had seen during his world tour so far. He usually never spent more than a week in one place. He wanted to see as much as possible after all before his sense of duty - as well as his parents - called him back to Japan. But here, in this tiny hamlet with nothing to do after 6 p.m., Noya stayed for almost a whole month now. And all because he met you the minute he stepped off the ferry. Much like his high school self he definitely still believed in love at first sight, however, the more he got to know you, the quicker he realized that none of what he had ever experienced with anyone in Miyagi came even close to how he felt about you.

You were daring and witty, strong and beautiful and if he could have proposed to you on that first night he would have. But if he learned anything in school that stuck it was that his previous approaches to flirting and dating weren’t exactly well-received and often described as “coming on too strong”. And since he didn’t want to mess up his chances under any circumstances, he resigned himself to pining and made a pact with himself instead. To pad his funds a bit he had joined some oyster shuckers and decided that once he found a pearl he’d confess. Unfortunately, he grossly overestimated how long it would take him to find one and chickened out immediately when a tiny pinkish thing rolled into his palm on the second day. Soon enough he carried around a small handful of them in an empty TicTac container. They weren’t worth much, all being roughly the size and shape of a corn of sushi rice but a local girl who was selling self-made jewelry turned them into a necklace in exchange for him manning her stall while she went to grab lunch.

You excused yourself to the bathroom, leaving the two young men behind. Noya already knew what was coming before his friend even started.

“Hope you realize, I feel myself age while I‘m waiting for you to make a move.“, Saruta said.

“I‘ll do it soon.“, Noya replied automatically as he looked at his almost empty bowl, considering ordering seconds.

The other raised a highly doubtful brow, “Now, where have I heard this before? Oh yeah. You, last week. Come on, it‘s not that deep. If she likes you back, great, if not, you just move on and will forget about her in no time.“

Noya glared at him, making Saruta raise his hands in defense, “Look, you have the necklace ready, it‘s her birthday tomorrow, probably some stars are aligning as well, just do it.“

“Right, I meant to ask you about something.” Noya reached into his pocket and pulled out a heavily crumpled piece of paper.

“What’s that?”

His friend smoothed out the note and skimmed the short text.

“Well, what does it look like?”

“Birthday wishes - but I’m not seeing any kind of confession here.”

Noya ignored him.

“Could you translate it for me?”

“Why? She knows Japanese.”

“I know, but I wanna do it in her native language and you’re the only one I can ask.”

“Have you heard of the internet?”, Saruta asked sarcastically, pushing the paper back across the table.

Noya waved him off. “I don’t trust online translations to make it sound natural. Plus, no program is gonna correct my pronunciation, hm?” He batted his eyes pleadingly and with pointed fingers gently slid the note to Saruta once again.

“Fine. But you’re paying for dessert.”

In all his time at school, Noya had never studied as hard as he did that night. Huddled together in the cramped hostel room they shared with 10 other guys, Noya and Saruta went through the note again and again until the latter threatened to smother Noya with a pillow if he repeated the words in his presence one more time.

The following morning the former libero made sure to dress in his best (aka cleanest) clothes and hurried to meet you outside at the pier as previously agreed.

His steps slowed when he spotted your chubby silhouette waiting. The morning air was icy even without much wind. Seagulls cawed sleepily as they patrolled the shore. The sun was just beginning to rise, coloring the horizon in tones of lavender and gold.

Noya reached into his jacket to double-check that the necklace and cheat sheet for his birthday wishes were in place.

“Y/n!”, he called and you turned around, giving him the most arresting smile.

“Yuu! Not gonna lie, I thought you overslept.”

“Not today.”, he laughed nervously and joined you at the railing that separated the street from the beach.

“I wasn’t sure why you wanted to meet so early but…”, you pointed towards the sun steadily climbing over the calm waves, “this is gorgeous.”

“Yeah…”, he said, most definitely not paying attention to the sunrise in the slightest.

When you caught him staring, he cleared his throat and pulled the little tule bag containing the necklace from his pocket. He held it out to you.

“For you.”, he added unnecessarily.

“Oh, thank you so much! You didn’t have to get me anything.”, you beamed at him and the cold October morning suddenly felt a whole lot warmer.

He took a deep breath and although stumbling over a few words here and there he recited his short speech.

“Happy birthday! I need you to know that from the moment I saw you, I knew I was in love. I can’t stop thinking about you and if you’ll have me, I’d love to be your boyfriend.”

Your jaw dropped, then you began to blush and finally you clutched his gift to your heart when he finished.

“I really like you, too!”, you replied in Japanese. Noya stiffened and his heart pounded in his ears.

“You what?”

“I really like you, too!”, you said again, a little quieter but still carrying the same enthusiasm, “And I’d love to be with you.”

The realization dawned in time with the sun. He didn’t know whether to kill Saruta or kiss him. It should have been obvious from that smile he gave him before bed.

With trembling fingers, he helped you put on the necklace, the different hues of the pearls shimmering in the golden gray morning light.

You hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and closed the gap between you for your first kiss.

In every photo he took on his travels from this day on you were by his side, necklace and all.

a/n: That necklace 100% made an appearance on your wedding photo, too.

request for @mikayla1117

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to finally write for him! Also thank you so much for your kind words 🥹 I hope you enjoyed it!

for requests see here

[hiddenwritingsintheworld]

Cruel Summer Chapter 1 (Chris Evans x Actress/Singer!Reader)

(Okay, So Ive been away for a hot minute. And I've been through quite a bit. But I got inspired to write this and I hope yall love it!! Couple of things. 1.) Taylor Swift doesnt exist in this series, the reader is like taylor swift! 2) dont come for me, I've been chewing on this idea for a few months now lol. 3.) Im almost done with chapter 1 of My Alpha, I know I've gotten some messages about that!! Also, half way through chapter 2 of Midnight rain ;) Enjoy! Let me know your thoughts on this!! love you guys!!!)

Thoughts? Suggestions? General opinion wanted here!!!!!

You’d be delusional to think that he wanted anything more than hookups with you. Being a movie star was hard enough to make a “normal” life ...falling in love with your co-star though...that made everything even worse. That’s what led you to becoming a world famous pop star, releasing smash hit after smash hit. Your smile; when up on that stage, tens of thousands of fans screaming your songs as you sang them, standing ovations, tears of happiness, excitement, thrill, it all made that heartache ease just a little bit. But not all the way. 

“Tonight is a HUGE night, I can’t believe you’re going to announce another album. I’m in awe, really I am.” Your mom said, grabbing your shoulders and looking at you in the mirror of the room you were currently using backstage. “Mom, thanks so much for traveling with me during this tour. It means so much to me.” you smiled softly at her, “especially after everything I’ve been through recently. Wanna know the surprise songs tonight? Or just be surprised like everyone else?” you asked with a soft laugh. 

Your mom and dad were your biggest and best fans you could have ever asked for. Even during the worst time of your life, you’d had your parents support when changing careers. “Awe, let me be surprised like everyone else dear. Your cue is up….come on,” she gave you a big hug and kissed your cheek. “You’re going to be amazing, just like every other night” she beamed before walking out of your dressing room. 

You stared in the mirror, touching up your red lipstick before turning around and walking out. Your bejeweled bodysuit in the colors of your most favorite album you’d put out, pinks and blues. You smiled at the stage crew and everyone working behind the scenes as you walked with your assistant. “Another great sold out crowd out there, the VIP tent is dead center, lots of celebrities are here tonight too.” She smiled before you walked away standing on your mark. 

Listening to the entrance music you’d had custom made, caused the memories to flood your mind. 

You looked over at him grinning as you both reached for a piece of popcorn. “Soooo I thought you wanted to do something else when you asked me to come to your hotel room 10:30 at night.” you smirked as he laughed, throwing his head back. “While yes, I’d love to do that too….I figured it would be nice to watch a movie or two, enjoy a snack and relax together too. I ordered some wine and chocolate covered strawberries too.” he said leaning closer to you, as you bit your lip leaning into him, letting his lips brush yours. The next thing you knew, he had you pinned to the bed, popcorn littering the floor as he kissed down your neck, slowly pushing your shirt off and attacking your chest. 

“Ready? Have fun!!” Your assistant shouted over the music and screaming fans as the platform started to bring you up from under the stage. You plastered a grin on your lips and got in your stance with your mic. 

The moment your back up dancers pulled back the large fabric fans to reveal you, you began to sing one of your songs. The roar of screams, cheers and cries erupted throughout the entire stadium as you came into sight for everyone. The platform continued to rise as you sang, smiling at everyone. 

“It's you and me, that's my whole world

They whisper in the hallway, "She's a bad, bad girl"

Oh, I just thought you should know (you should know)

It's you and me, there's nothing like this (like this)

Miss Americana and The Heartbreak Prince (okay)

We're so sad, we paint the town blue (paint it blue)

Voted most likely to run away with you.” 

The music ended as everyone cheered even louder and you laughed softly, the platform lowering back to the mainstage level; you grinned as the next song began instantly. You loved performing for a crowd, they never made you feel like you weren’t worth the love and attention. You strut toward the front of the stage, beginning to sing the bridge, along with the crowd, when a sight almost threw you off your performance. He stood there in the VIP tent with a cold beer in one hand, his other arm around the shoulders of a petite brunette. 

“I'm drunk in the back of the car

And I cried like a baby coming home from the bar (oh)

Said, "I'm fine, " but it wasn't true

I don't wanna keep secrets just to keep you

And I snuck in through the garden gate

Every night that summer just to seal my fate (oh)

And I screamed for whatever it's worth

"I love you, " ain't that the worst thing you ever heard?

He looks up grinning like a devil” 

You belt out the bridge, the crowd screaming louder toward the end. You tried to not to look at the VIP tent, the urge to see him again, standing there happy with some other girl, you danced around, happily grinning at the crowd, encouraging them to sing along. You finally took a break, smiling wide as everyone clapped and cheered. “Hi!” you said cheerfully. “My name is Y/N and welcome to The Eras Tour,” you grinned as the stadium erupted again. 

“I just want to say thank you to everyone who is here tonight and I hope that I don’t disappoint. I usually perform only two surprise songs a night, however, I’m feeling…fun tonight, so I want to add another song to the list for you all. It’s one that I don't usually perform live. But, I hope you enjoy it.” you smiled as the platform rose and you looked around, the soft jazz music starting as loud cheers erupted. You couldn't stop the smile that landed on your face as you began to sing. 

“We were crazy to think

Crazy to think that this could work

Remember how I said I'd die for you?

We were stupid to jump

In the ocean separating us

Remember how I'd fly to you?

And I can't talk to you when you're like this

Staring out the window like I'm not your favorite town

I'm New York City

I still do it for you, babe

They all warned us about times like this

They say the road gets hard and you get lost when you're led by blind faith

Blind faith” 

You smiled looking around, your eyes landed on him again, he had a look in his eyes, just like how he used to look at you, hunger and desperation for your touch. You put your lips back up to the microphone and made eye contact with him again. 

“But we might just get away with it

Religion's in your lips

Even if it's a false god

We'd still worship

We might just get away with it

The altar is my hips

Even if it's a false god

We'd still worship this love

We'd still worship this love

We'd still worship this love

I know heaven's a thing

I go there when you touch me

Honey hell is when I fight with you” 

You didn’t mean to stare for so long, but the way he looked at you, watching your body move. You wanted to jump off stage and run into his arms again, kissing him, telling him how in love with him you still were, even after the three years that had passed. You felt a tightness in your chest when the girl turned and kissed his neck, and began to dance with him. 

You finished the song not soon after and took a small bow as everyone screamed out. You stood still smiling as the platform began to lower, before diving off to get changed. “I need a minute,” you said as your assistant came up to you. She looked slightly confused as they began to help you into your next outfit. How were you going to continue this concert with him staring at you? You didn’t think you could do it honestly. 

“I can’t believe you changed the set list, We’re going to have to cut one of the surprise songs.” You looked at her. “No we can’t but we are changing them tonight.” you said as they did up the back of your dress. “What?! Why!” she gasped. “Chris is here,” you said looking at her as her face fell. “With some girl.” she sighed putting a hand on her head “Jesus fucking Christ……okay. Tell me what you need.” you looked at her again as tears filled your eyes. “I need a fucking minute.” you grabbed the new mic rushing off.

[puppysirie0-0]

Anybody Call A Doctor (I'm 1000 Degrees In Love)

Pairing: Aleksander Morozova x Lantsov!Reader

Warnings: Mostly fluff that I wanted to be smut

Chapter 3 of "The Bunny and It's Shadow"

Aleksander slowly starts kissing down your body with a tenderness you had not expected. He kisses every inch of your skin, and all your insecurities and worries melt away. You knew you loved him and he loved you, you knew this was going to be forever, even if nothing else was.

You watch as he travels down. The admiration and utter devotion in his eyes, evident as he looks back up at me. My heart skips a beat as I make eye contact with him. He also made me feel special and the intimacy of this moment pours over me like a refreshing shower.

You and Aleksander had done this before. The fleeting makeouts in his room and quickies in the hallway. Him whisking you away into his chambers or a bathroom to let out your mutual frustrations. But, now you’re married, it’s 100 times more intimate. It was coveted, it was sweet, it was something you’d only dreamt of doing with Aleksander. Never knowing that you’d ever be able to marry him.

You snap out of your haze of reflection as he reaches down between your thighs. He knew what to do to make you come undone quickly, but he didn’t want it quick. He wanted to savor this moment, cherish it like an ancient relic. You being his most prized possession. He thrust a finger in your cunt, slowly pumping it at a steady pace. Stretching you out for him, despite your numerous other times taking him.

He adds another, and another, whispering sweet nothings into your ear and the air around you. Kissin down your neck, littering your collarbone and neck with love bites. Knowing that you wouldn’t be able to hide them in the morning, purposefully making sure that they would be bright purple and noticeable when you had to face your friends at breakfast. He made you feel safe and on the edge at the same time.

He teased you like you were a puppy jumping up at a treat right before it was pulled away. And you loved it. It might have seemed cruel, but you did. His mere attention made you feel like a star shining bright in the midst of a void of darkness.

∾ ▩ °º❤️º°  ▩ ∾

The next morning, you woke up to the smell of violets. They had a very distinct smell for you because they were your favorite. Your nanny as a child would always pick them and bring them to you. Those were some of your happiest memories, happily playing with your older brother, Nikolai, and your shared nanny.

You turn to see Aleks still asleep. He looked so peaceful there, lying in the morning sunrise. The orange light illuminates his skin, making him glisten like a gem. He was a gem to you, the most precious, beautiful, perfect gem of the world in your eyes.

His eyes flutter open and he catches you staring. You blush as a smile spreads across his face. He reaches for you, pulling you back into bed and you let him. You trusted him with everything, your heart, your life, everything. He whispers in your ear, “Morning, Mrs. Morozova.”

You can feel his grin on your neck and you look back at him, “Mrs. Morzova is hungry right now, Mr. Morzova.”

He chuckles before shrouding the room in darkness. He grabs your wrist to amplify your new-found power, illuminating the once pitch-black room with stars. You both look in awe, completely and utterly amazed to see not only the beauty of your stars, but your respective stars and shadows mingling together, in harmony.

∾ ▩ °º❤️º°  ▩ ∾

You head to breakfast with the rest of the camp and your skin prickles with the stares of everyone. You had forgotten about the marks Aleks had given you. You feel a hand on your back leading you to a fairly empty section by the stoked out fire. You know it’s Aleksander, you lean into his touch, and let him guide you.

Breakfast had a tension thick enough to cut with an axe. You slowly eat your food as Aleksander casually talks with Ivan beside him, leaving you swimming with awkwardness. You turn and talk to Fedyor, but you feel the eyes boring into the back of your head.

∾ ▩ °º❤️º°  ▩ ∾

Once Breakfast is thankfully over, you start packing up to head back to the Little Palace. You knew Aleksander had duties and you wanted to move out of the Main Palace as soon as possible.

The trek back home was easy, simple. It was actually quite calming, you grin every time you see a flower. You had studied them for hours as a child, continuing far into your adulthood, ever the anthophile. But you were still nervous, you had to face your parents not only about the failed Fjerdan engagement and your marriage to Aleksander, but about your powers as well.

∾ ▩ °º❤️º°  ▩ ∾

When you're back at the Little Palace, Aleksander immediately tells the servants to move your belongings into his, or your now shared chambers. You follow him into his war room, wanting to relax after the ride home. Aleks asks for tea before sitting down on a chair he’s had for years. The leather worn from both of you napping in it after a long day of Aleks’ work.

You climb into his lap and wait for the tea. He cuddles you and grads a purple and black blanket to lay over the two of you. The tea arrives and you guys sip the tea in silence, enjoying each other’s company. But your mind is racing a million miles a second, because what are you going to do about your powers? And more importantly, what are you going to do about your parents?

Your mind snaps out its trance as Aleks exclaims, “Anybody call a doctor!”

You turn to look at him and he’s grinning before saying “I’m a thousand degrees in love.”

You smile at each other. In a soft, sweet, domestic way. You were in love and you were going to cherish every second of it.

∾ ▩ °º❤️º°  ▩ ∾

A/N:

Hey guys! This is the third chapter of Aleksander Morozova series, I'm writing this while collaborating with @lost-tothe-centuries! I have been swamped with classes so I am sorry for the wait. We'll, lemme know what you think. Also, always remember that my DMs and requests are always open if you wanna talk. Love y'all! Mwah!

[yuncheoligans]

Easy as Breathing

P.SH x Reader

W/C:1176

Genre: Fluff, Stay at Home, Date Night.

Summary: You finally can have a date night with your partner, what will you get up to? He is the love of your life after all. Don't forget some shenanigans with a kitten.

a/n: Happy Birthday to one of my best friends on the entire planet! @hwaightme I love you so so so much and I can't believe we've spent almost a year together on this rock! Thank you for always believing in me even when I couldn't and making every day a little brighter with your art and delulu, you mean the absolute world to me and I love our chaos crew! I love you so much! I can't wait for many more! Here's to you!!!! <3 <3 <3 (also thank you my love @pocketjoong for beta-reading <3)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dating Seonghwa was as easy as breathing, he fell into you like a missing puzzle piece and wamed your heart like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day. He was there in the time you were studying for your degree and you were there as he and his group traveled across your home, attending his performances was something you had always promised to do whenever you could. He made sure to be there when you had graduated and you made sure that you were at the show for his birthday.

You had moved in together some time ago as you could never be away from each other long enough to keep your own place. Your home was cozy and minimal, it had lego displays and Star Wars memorabilia, a sofa big enough fo every member and yourself in the living space with a tv made for watching movies. The coffee table adorned with “The Star Wars Archives” “Star Wars Art.” and “Cabinet of Natural Curriosities.” A turntable adorned a corner of the room with speakers. Art hung on the wall, some you created, some you both had purchased from art fairs. The color palette was cooler, soft blacks and whites, a few accents of emerald and a pop of gold. Seonghwa had liked it for the rich vibes it gave him. You both had worked hard to make it into a home, this was your home. You remind each other it could be a cardboard box and it’d feel like home if you were together.

After what felt like Seonghwa being gone forever you both had settled on a date night, and while all your outdoor plans had been rained out or cancelled due to the weather you could still make the most of it. Grabbing umbrellas and ponchos you head to the local department store to pick up a few things, a lego set, snacks, a book or two, a puzzle, and a movie to potentially watch later.

“Okay I’ll start organizing the pieces into categories.” you said sitting at the now cleared off coffee table lego box open.

“Okay I’ll see where we should start.” Seonghwa smiled at you.

Lego building always starts peaceful but about halfway through you both are arguing if that’s the correct piece or if it’s actually the piece you’re holding because it looks more like the picture that way, you decide to make hot chocolate to get away from him and cool off because after all it is a silly argument, Lego building is very serious in this household, just ask your cat…also named Lego. The sweetest little black kitten with the brightest roud boba eyes. Seonghwa as a cat as you describe to your friends.

After your adventures in lego building you decide to do something a little active to wake up so maybe a few rounds of Just Dance, or as Hwa suggested a Youtube tutorial on aerobics. Then of course neither of you could decide on reading or the puzzle so you decide to snuggle up on the sofa and he reads to you while you lean against him, adjusting his glasses when they start sliding off his face since his arms are too full of you to keep them on his nose. You journey back to the lego building but of course you become distracted when Lego begins chasing the light reflected off your phone onto the floor. Your giggles becoming his favorite sound on the planet.

As the date night came to a close you made his favorites for dinner, a proper feast even. He held you close as you cleaned the kitchen and began waltzing with you as if in one of those old time movies with the big poofy dresses and gloves, him in a three piece suit. In reality you’re both in glasses and pajamas laughing as you stumble around the kitchen and listen to him humming. Finally settling in for the night back on the couch watching Kiki’s Delivery Service.

“Maybe we should get Lego, a Jiji.” Seonghwa smiled down at you.

“You sure you can handle two cats and a girlfriend Hwa?” you smiled back slightly.

“Well I’d have you to help out now wouldn’t I.” he pinched you slightly. You yelpped out in surprise.

“Yah! Park Seonghwa!” you hit him with a pillow.

“What’s like without a little spontaneity” he smiled and held your arms above your head before crashing his lip down on yours.

Lego jumped up on the table and let out a mighty roar. A tiny baby meow that stopped you both in your tracks.

“Yes sir Lego?” Seonghwa looked at the kitten who has yelled at his father.

“I think he said ‘Stop attacking mom.’” you chuckled from under the love of your life.

“She did start it Lego.” Hwa chuckled and scooped the kitten into his arms.

“Okay maybe we do need another cat since I now have no cat and no cuddles Hwa.” you pout gently.

“Well then, my little witch needs her Jiji doesn’t she?” he smiled and passed Lego into your arms and held you both close. “See this works much better doesn’t it.”

“It does……..PARK SEONGHWA!” you practically launched the kitten across the sofa and turned to hit the man who once again has found it in his enjoyment to torture his poor significant other while the cuddle on the couch.

“Have I ever told you how much I loved you.” he smiled as he stared into your eyes like they held the stars in the sky. 

“You could stand to mention it more now that you’re here.” you stuc your tongue out at him.

“I love you very much darling. Very. Very. Much.” he emphasized each very with a kiss to your lips. 

“You’ve now distracted me through the whole movie.” you chuckle and push him up gently.

“Alright alright, I give.” he sat back up and let you get comfortable.

It wasn’t long before the warmth of the blanket mixed with you partner in crime, a soft movie, and full stomach from too many snacks and tea began to drift you off to sleep.

“I do love you very very much my darling.” Seonghwa kissed the top of your head as you breathed peacefully without a care in the world.  Yes dating Seonghwa was as easy as breathing.

Bonus:

You awoke the next morning, it still dark and damp from the non-stop rain of the night, the soft patter on the window, Seonghwa arrived with a coffee just how you like it and his laptop under his arm.

“Good Morning Darling.” he smiled softly as you sat up and took the coffee.

“Mmm Mornin’ ” you mumbled.

“I was browsing for our very own Jiji this morning while I was waiting for your coffee to finish, I think I found the perfect one. Sure she’s not a black cat like the movie but-”

“She’s perfect Hwa.” you looked at the photo of the mostly black cat with a sweet little white star patch over her chest.

[unluckyhoneybee]

Care about you (Lando Norris)

When you run from everyone, Lando is the one to find you. Angst.

Note: another short storyyy

Warning: mental health struggles.

"Hey, Max just called me. He- he hasn't heard from you in a while and... Um... He is worried. I just want to know if you are okay or... Well, just call me if you need something" Lando sounded nervous. You hadn't heard his voice since he left your flat with his boxes and now you were sobbing again like a little girl. It was the third time you had played the message and you couldn't get yourself to answer. Not him, not Max, no Tom, no one. All your friends had been trying to reach you, to talk to you, to get a sign of life. Still, you felt blocked. You didn't know what to say or how to explain whar you were feeling.

The sky was dark and the pollution wouldn't show the stars. The city lights were too bright and calling for your attention. You could see everything from here. From your neighbourhood to the city center with it's monuments. You could also situate Max's building. He had told you in a message that the door was open just in case you wanted to go there.

Some may say that scare your friends like that knowingly was a dick move. You had read the messages and let the phone ring until they ended the call, you knew they were probably terrified. But talking to them now seemed like a torture. The questions, the glances, Max more than expected reprimand, etc... You didn't have the energy yet.

Lando knew he was driving slightly over the speed limit. The car was roaring and smoothly moving through each turn of the road. He had driven in there so many times he could do it with his eyes closed. There was no music, he didn't have time to choose a song before leaving.

"Max" He spoke. His friends was on a Bluetooth car. "I found her"

Everyone in Max's living room sighed in relief. "Good, mate. Bring her home"

"Yeah, I will"

The loud roar of that expensive McLaren pulled you from your thoughts. Your heart dropped to your feet and you felt instantly cold. Why was he here? You thought he would be in Monaco, or somewhere across the world, probably flying to the next location for the race week.

Lando was cautious when he climbed down the car. He didn't want to scare you and was unsure of the state he would find you. He knew it would be good. But he hadn't talked to you in ages. He grabbed the hoodie and walked slowly. You would hear the pebbles in the floor cracking under his feet.

"YN?" He softly said.

"I'm sorry" You simply said.

Lando's heart broke. You were sobbing, crying your eyes out while shaking. Your arms couldn't be tighter around your body and your head was so low.

"I know" He said. You were sorry for so many things and probably needed a whole week to finish all your apologies. But Lando had seen you though many ups and downs. He knew you well and need to know no more. He would forgive for everything he could.

He didn't touch you, but he leaned on the railing you were sitting. There was no danger, you two had been together in there a thousand times, sitting on the stone railing and having dinner while the sun set on the other side of the city. It was your favourite place in the world.

"I told everyone I found you" He said.

"I didn't know you were here" You said still unable to look at him.

Lando wanted to reach and dry your tears, but he didn't know if he had the permission to touch you. So many things had changed. It wasn't the same anymore.

"Just for a few days. I'm traveling to Singapore"

You nodded. You didn't watch the races, but Max and Tom and everyone else had you updated.

"Why did you come?"

Lando sighed and looked down at his hands. The bracelet you made for him was still on his wrist. His thumb was always playing with the little beads.

"I knew you would be here. Max called and said he couldn't find you. And... I was worried" He said.

Finally, you turned your face to him.

"You are worried. About me?"

"Of course, YN" He said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I care about you"

It was difficult to believe him when you have believed that he hated you.

"I always did and I still do"

Your head fell and tears pulled down your cheeks. Lando had enough of keeping the distance. He reached his arms to you and pulled you to his chest. You grabbed his forearm, sitting around your torso, and cried and cried. His lips left soft kisses on your temple.

Lando held you until you calmed down, your whole body had slowly gone limp and he was basically holding you upright. You were exhausted.

"What happened?" He whispered.

You took a deep breath and turned around. Your feet touched the floor but Lando was still holding you. He kept you close and between and railing and his body.

"Everything"

You saw the sadness on his eyes.

"Work?"

"Work, uni, home, friends..." You shrugged. "I'm just tired of everything"

He pulled you closer and tucked you under his neck.

"I wish everything would stop. Time... I don't... I don't have the time or energy to catch up with anyone or anything and... I'm so overwhelmed..." All your thoughts rolled without stopping. Lando had always been your best listener, the person you always ran to when you needed to breathe. His arms were always the most comforting place. "And I miss you so much" You added at the end.

Lando felt a shiver running over him. That's all he wanted to hear. He needed you back, it was everything he wanted. He just needed to know you wanted him as much.

"I can help you at least with that last thing" He whispered. "What do you think?"

You looked up at him.

"Can you stay with me tonight?"

Lando cupped your face and kissed your forehead, then, very carefully he used his sleeve to dry your tears. "Of course. Should we go now?"

You nodded.

"My car-"

"I'll get someone to come for it, okay? Now we are getting you home, to bed with a warm blanket, yeah?"

You nodded and nuzzled your face on his neck. Lando hugged you tight and kissed the top of your head. He couldn't promise you everything will be alright, but he could be by your side and help you to make it better.

[kolbisneat]

MONTHLY MEDIA: January 2025

New year, same me.

……….FILM……….

The Substance (2024) Despite not liking horror or needles, I was really excited for this. The premise sounded great and then I sit down and see a 2+ hour runtime and start getting nervous. Did I love everything about this movie? Yes. Do I think they could've done it in an hour thirty or an hour forty-five? Yes. Except the last 20ish minutes; keep that exactly as it is.

Beverly Hills Cop (1984) I knew this movie was written for Sylvester Stallone but I didn't realize that almost all of the comedy would stem from Eddie Murphy. Without him (or his stellar wardrobe), I suppose it's just a fairly straightforward crime/detective movie. Just an incredible performance.

The Lighthouse (2019) As someone who also lives where they work and does so in (mostly) isolation, I'm glad I watched this when I didn't have looming deadlines or the urge to get back to work. Anyway love a good fairytale movie and this is a good fairytale movie.

Nosferatu (2024) Watched this shortly after The Lighthouse and while it was fun to see overlapping visuals and themes, I kinda wished it was...weirder? Still so many beautiful scenes and bold performances, but not nearly as unhinged as I was expecting.

……….TELEVISION……….

Laid (Episode 1.01 to 1.08) Fun and funny and, for something that acknowledges the pandemic, really strikes a good balance of feeling contemporary but not immediately dating itself. I'm torn on the ending but it's definitely more hits than misses here.

Skeleton Crew (Episode 1.05 to 1.08) A nice breezy adventure. Perhaps expecting a few more narrative beats or one-off adventures but really I can't complain with what this is: an all-ages entry in the Star Wars universe that stands on its own.

Columbo (Episode 2.06 to 2.08) Some really fun...villains/murderers this season and I love the recurring doctor/vet visits. Peter Falk's comedic timing and charisma are on full display this season.

……….YOUTUBE……….

The Alt-Right Playbook x PhilosophyTube: Doublewrong by Innuedo Studios Don't fall into the trap of meeting a value-driven discussion with facts and logic. It doesn't work. Instead see where your values differ and focus on that. VIDEO

What Now? by Sophie from Mars This came out at exactly the right time (for me, at least). It's not denying the struggles ahead. Instead it's a perspective that sees a way through. Community above all else. VIDEO

Why No One Wins the Fast Fashion Debate by Broey Deschanel A thoughtful look at both the fashion industry and global economics. VIDEO

……….READING……….

The Truth by Terry Pratchett (Page 45 of 442) Always a treat to spend more time in the Discworld and it's been a while since the main character is wholly new. It's refreshing.

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin (Complete) Given how much I love Le Guin's Earthsea series, I was really excited for this. Maybe it was the length, maybe it was that it was sci-fi, but I found it to be a slog. I could feel how groundbreaking this must've been, and appreciate how relevant it still remains, but the long stretches of world-building and describing arctic travel/survival was not for me.

Doctor Strange Vol 1 and 2 by Jason Aaron, Chris Bachalo, and more (Complete) I read the Donny Cates run a few years ago and didn't realize this was set before that. While I didn't like that run, I'm digging the visuals and narrative here. Doctor Strange feels a little too...quippy, but that's just because I've always liked the contrast of a very serious lead with a whimsical and unexplained setting. Happy to keep going with this and see how it ties up!

Batman - One Bad Day: Two Face by Mariko Tamaki and Javier Fernandez (Complete) A decent introduction to this series but it didn't really grab me. Great character writing but the...mystery....never really clicked.

Batman - One Bad Day: Mr. Freeze by Gerry Duggan &, Matteo Scalero (Complete) This, on the other hand, really worked for me and delivered everything I want out of a Batman comic: sympathetic villain, Bruce Wayne going undercover out of the costume, plucky Robin, and a cool bat suit. I'd definitely read this one again. Heck Mr. Freeze briefly has a sidekick called Frostbite! This is superhero comics at their best.

……….AUDIO……….

Sunflower by The Beach Boys (1970) Pet Sounds is one of my all-time favourite albums and yet I never really got into much of the other post-surf output from The Beach Boys. After seeing this review I dived in head first and now adore it. It really is a shame that they didn't blow up the same way as the Beatles, given how similar their musical trajectory was.

……….GAMING……….

Mika and the Witch's Mountain (Chibig) I don't really Kickstart video games so this was a gamble. The art direction and characters are great, but quickly realized there's really only one trick to this pony. I was even more frustrated that the trick (flying on a broom) never really clicked for me. There's potential here but it's not quite there yet for me.

Oz: A Fantasy Role-Playing Setting (Andrews McMeel Publishing) The party is spinning so many plates that it's a marvel none of them have dropped yet. Right now they're investigating a murder tied back to their first session. You can read all about it here.

Wonderland: A Fantasy Role-Playing Setting (Andrews McMeel Publishing) The Mof1 crew got back together for a one-shot! We had two character deaths but a lot of loot and XP for those that survived.

And that's it. See you in February!

[chiaraforfun]

A night to remember

(FF of HP)

!!Give credits!!

Lupin watched the dim light of the moon, which in turn played with his scars without him noticing. It highlighted them without making them grotesque, as if it wanted to convey their beauty to him. But he wasn't listening. He had never listened to her, overwhelmed as he was by the hatred he felt towards her. The Moon had never pleased him, a cruel manifestation of all his nightmares since he was a child. Yet now he hardly paid attention. He looked at her, but his gaze traveled beyond, lost in his memories and the boundaries of his pain.

-

"Come on, just tell me!!"  

"I told you no! I'm not telling you," Sirius laughed.

God, how beautiful he looked when he laughed like that, a mix of mischief and wildness like the animal he was deep in his heart.  

Lupin sighed, caught between amusement and resentment.  

"You’d tell James!" he said, hoping to reignite an ancient sense of guilt. They both knew that Sirius and James had always been united by a deeper friendship than the rest of the group, and reluctantly, Lupin had often been jealous of that bond. Just a shared glance between them was enough to communicate, excluding the rest of the world.  

"Actually, James already knew," Sirius admitted, his voice heavy with amusement.  

His friend fell silent. He hadn't expected that.  

Though he probably should have. Among them, James was indeed the only one who could know something so intimate. After all, despite being considered a heartthrob by all of Hogwarts, Sirius had always avoided expressing his feelings. The only emotions he seemed to possess revolved around friendship, adventure, and audacity.  

He loved having hordes of screaming girls at his feet but simultaneously didn’t give them a glance unless it was to generate false hopes.  

He had always been a tremendous jerk.  

The thought made him smile.  

"Right," he said, "seems obvious."  

"Hey, he figured it out by himself. He was the one who asked me!" he defended himself, raising his hands, sensing from the other's tone the weight of his words. "One day he came up to me, grabbed me by the scarf, and said, 'I figured out who you like, stop acting like a fool,' and I couldn’t deny it." He laughed again, shaking his head, then began to scratch himself insistently.  

He used to do this even when they were carefree kids, the day after spending the night in dog form, but now, after such a long time in his animagus form, it was a constant habit.  

He stopped when he noticed Lupin's gaze and assumed an embarrassed expression.

He let himself fall back with a sigh and looked up, then added, "I wouldn’t have told him otherwise."  

Lupin mimicked him, and the two found themselves gazing at the carpet of stars that, undisturbed by the lights beneath them, made its way across the black night sky.  

It had been an unexpected proposal from Sirius to climb to the roof of Grimmauld Place to get some fresh air.  

He knew that his friend struggled with the confinement of that house, which he hated as much as Lupin hated transforming, so he had asked no questions and followed him.  

Sirius had been living in seclusion in the Black house for months, a place he had learned to loathe and from which he had escaped once before.  

Now it felt a bit like breaking the rules to be up on that roof, and it brought back memories of when he would let himself be dragged into the most improbable troubles by his group of friends.  

"You know, I liked someone too," he said impulsively, continuing to gaze at the sky.  

He sensed his friend's gaze abruptly shift to him, and he couldn't help but smile.  

"Who??" Sirius asked, unable to contain himself.  

His hair fell back over his face as he slightly raised himself to look at him.  

Carelessly, he brushed it away from his eyes and stared at him with an eager intensity.  

"I'm not telling you," he laughed, echoing the way his friend had just done.  

"Moony!" Sirius exclaimed, exasperated, giving him a light slap.  

They both laughed.  

"If you tell me who you liked back in Hogwarts, I’ll tell you mine," he tried to negotiate.  

Padfoot shook his head again with that dog-like manner and howled his amusement and frustration.  

"Alright," Lupin continued, propping himself up on his elbows. "Let’s say you give me some hints."  

His friend's eyes lit up with a new spark, and a mischievous smile appeared on his face—almost victorious.  

"Let’s agree to give each other one hint until one of us figures it out."  

"Deal."  

They shook hands enthusiastically, and Sirius began with his nonchalant air intact.

That competition ignited in Lupin the need to prove that this cocky man wouldn’t get the best of him.  

"Was in our year."  

"Same thing."  

"Was in our house."  

"Same thing."  

"We knew each other's names."  

"Same thing."  

"Are you going to stop copying me?" Sirius teased him.  

"If you stop stating the obvious," Lupin shot back.  

Sirius raised his hands in surrender, laughing, "Alright, alright. Let’s see... brown hair."  

"Black hair."  

"Gray eyes."  

"Black eyes."  

They went back and forth like this for a while, until at one point, Sirius seemed to frown.  

"What’s wrong?" Lupin asked, still having no idea who Sirius Black’s young crush could be.  

"Nothing, it’s just that I can’t think of any girl that fits that description who you’d know well enough to call 'nonchalant but charming, beautiful and loyal.'"  

Lupin blushed violently and focused his eyes on his hands.  

He tried to quickly regain his composure, but this did not escape his friend.  

"Moony?"  

"Uhm?" he said, adopting the most innocent tone he could muster.  

"Is there something you’ve neglected to mention? A detail... you know... important?" Sirius asked, narrowing his dark eyes.  

Lupin swallowed hard. He didn’t like this game anymore.  

"Let’s drop it," he said, starting to bite his nails.  

Sirius took one of his hands to make him stop, and he flinched. Once again, this didn’t escape his friend, who squinted his eyes further. Then he leaned in, towering over him.  

Lupin pushed him back forcefully, making him step back a little.  

"Okay, okay!" he exclaimed, exasperated. He categorically refused to look at him, so he turned back to the sky.  

He swallowed hard again. Suddenly, he was out of saliva.  

He opened and closed his mouth several times without making a sound until he finally managed to speak.  

"Who said it was a girl?"  

"What?" Padfoot asked, caught off guard.  

"Oh, don’t think I’ll repeat that," he laughed nervously, not knowing what to do with his hands. The temptation to start biting his nails again was strong, but he feared Sirius might catch the movement from before.  

The electric shock he had felt at he's touch was enough to last a lifetime, let alone a night.

"Oh," said Padfoot, not knowing what else to say, his eyes a bit wider than usual and his brows raised.  

He moved a little further away from Lupin, as if he had suddenly realized what that might mean, and Lupin felt the blood that had been rushing through him chilling in his veins.  

Did he disgust him? Now would he hate him just like he had hated himself all those years?  

"Am I the one you liked?" he asked, his lips barely parting.  

Lupin forced himself to look into his eyes, now an endless well, inscrutable like never before.  

Yes, he was repulsed by him. He had never seen that gaze before, but it was the closest thing to hatred he could discern on his face.  

His beautiful face contorted by a primal emotion. The beast had awakened again, and Lupin could see it there, ready to pounce and tear him apart.  

Despite this, he steeled himself and, though his voice trembled, managed to say, "Yes."  

Sirius jumped to his feet, and his anger unleashed itself on everything that could be found on that semblance of a roof.  

He turned to look at Lupin, who sat there, staring at him without blinking.  

All his fears materialized before him.  

They wouldn't be friends anymore.  

A single tear slid down his cheek as he stood up. He faced him, even though he could almost feel the invisible claws slicing through the air between them.  

"Yes," he repeated more forcefully, "and you’re just a bloody jerk. You act as if I were... as if I were... the monster I feel like 24/7 but which thanks to you all I've almost managed to accept. The nights when you kept me company returned my humanity to me month after month, and being what I was... was less difficult. Then James died, and you... you were almost dead to me too, and after what I felt for you, I felt like I was the one dying. Damn it, Sirius, I hated myself so much because inside I couldn’t find the strength to really hate you. Even though I thought you were responsible for James's death, I couldn’t stop thinking about you. And I think a part of me knew that you wouldn’t be capable of betraying him, so when you reappeared, my heart exploded. Again.  And everything I once felt came bubbling back up."

He felt his heart beating so hard he thought it might burst from his chest and flee just to escape the avalanche of emotions flooding over him with increasing force. Instead, he held on, and Lupin continued with an ever more cracked voice, pointing a finger at his friend, who was subject to the flow with widening eyes. "And now you judge me and look at me the way I look at myself in the mirror, making me feel the crap I feel every day. I’ve always been wrong, a wrong creature, and even in this. Now that you know, you can hate me, but it won’t change anything because I feel such an idiot that I can still love you even if you hate me! Yes, you heard me loud and clear, I love you!"

The last two words he spat out as if they were an insult, the worst kind. In doing so, everything finally came crashing down on him, and he fell to his knees, tearing his pants at that point and scraping his knees.  

The former friend didn’t say a word, but his chest was rising and falling violently as well.  

His heavy breaths began to condense into little clouds in the increasingly dense cold of the night.  

Then he started to laugh.  

Lupin raised his tear-streaked face in shock.  

He watched as Sirius doubled over with laughter, losing his balance and falling flat on the ground. The laughter grew stronger, shaken by his disheveled body in a scene so surreal it made Lupin burst into hysterical laughter as well.  

They looked like a pack of hyenas in the middle of the city.  

"You’re such an idiot, really,” Sirius confirmed breathlessly, clutching his stomach as he struggled to get back to his feet. “You’re such a bloody idiot."  

Lupin absorbed those words without them hurting him at all. He thought them himself, and hearing them from Sirius, after all, was just like hearing his own reflection speak back thoughts and words to him.  

He was an idiot.  

He continued to laugh a little longer, and when he finally calmed down, he looked down at Lupin, in his seated position.  

Lupin was sitting while Sirius stood before him, an expression that was hard to decipher on his face.  

The amusement faded from the scene as Sirius crouched down in front of him and looked him straight in the eyes.  

Sirius's eyes, black as the night watching over them, blended with his for what felt like an eternity, during which Lupin thought of nothing else but that it could very well be his end.  

He would die like this, under the unwavering gaze of the person who loved him. And he was okay with that.

"You’re an idiot," he repeated, not losing his composure, "because all this time you haven’t understood a damn thing."  

Lupin furrowed his brow, but when he opened his mouth to speak, Sirius lunged at him.  

He closed his eyes.  

Here it was, the attack he had been anticipating.  

Here came the pain that would greet him like an old friend always lurking in the shadows.  

But it didn’t come.  

Instead, something happened that he couldn’t comprehend.  

Their lips collided in such a passionate surge that it stole the little breath he had left in his body.  

His body didn’t respond.  

Everything within him froze, except for his lips, which moved on their own to welcome the other.  

Their tongues intertwined, and their breaths fused into one.  

When Sirius pulled away, he still couldn’t breathe.  

He opened his eyes again, not understanding what was happening.  

Sirius was smiling, while he, without even realizing it, was still crying.  

"Moony," he called, and that was enough to bring him back to reality.  

He sprang to his feet.  

"Why?" he asked, his voice reduced to a gasp. He took a deep breath and continued, "Why did you do it?"  

As he spoke those words, he brought his right hand to his heart, trying to calm it down a bit, but in vain.  

Sirius was still smiling. "Because I’ve wanted to do it for too long," he said in the same tone.  

God, that voice.  

And suddenly, he understood.  

It wasn’t hatred he saw in his eyes. It wasn’t disgust, it wasn’t revulsion. It was desire. The strongest passion ever existed.

He had never seen it reflected in his body, and yet there it was, ravaged for him.  

The beast that had awakened vibrated with a primal instinct, yes, but not to kill him, but rather to devour him in the sweetest of ways.  

After all, love and hate often hide behind each other's masks.  

So Lupin chose, and he basked in those emotions and threw himself toward Sirius, allowing everything to envelop him and turn him into music.  

His heart played, his veins played, his entire being played. And all of it was for him, Sirius, his secret love. 

They spent much of the night rolling around on the roof and the rest rolling in bed, until their movements finally exhausted it, sending them crashing to the ground, abandoned on a mattress whose springs had given way to their passion.  

Neither of them could utter a word for quite some time.  

But after all, it wasn't necessary. Their labored breaths and hearts beating in sync were enough to convey their mutual emotions, stronger then ever, now free to fly between and through them.

Lupin, indeed, could finally breathe for real, all the way down to his core. He could be happy, and he could live like he had never lived before.  

He had never felt so complete in his entire life.  

So, just like that He smiled. And Sirius smiled.

The most beautiful thing in the world...

"Just so you know" said Sirius with that smile "I win. You didn't realise that it was you I longed for all this time" he kissed him again "I win".

 -

 

Lupin found himself crying.  

He cried with every part of himself as his body and soul were shaken by sobs that showed no signs of stopping.  

He would stop crying when he was dead, and if he were not dead, when there were no more tears left in his eyes to shed.  

It had only been a day since Sirius had left him, but he suspected that the pain would never diminish.  

Never.  

Ever.  

They only had a month to love each other fully, and it hadn’t been enough.  

The image of his beautiful face disappearing behind that damned veil forever clung to him.  

Padfoot. Sirius. His friend. His lover.

Dead.

He couldn’t get out of his head that beautiful body being ripped away from him.  

He had had to cling to Harry with all his strength to stop from throwing himself behind that damned veil and chasing after him into the "forever" that it promised them.  

While Harry screamed, he could do nothing but drag them both away, further and further, or he wouldn’t have been able to stop.  

His heart fought to surrender to the desire to let go and pursue a love that was now far away.  

He felt like Orpheus who, having just found Eurydice, lost her again.  

All the struggles endured in vain.  

He cried and cried again.  

The roof of Grimmauld Place soaked up his pain and seemed to weep with him.  

"You abandoned me," he said, falling once again to his knees, scraping himself again like he did that night. The first night together. "You left me here, condemning me to a life without you. Again."  

 He lifted his eyes to the sky, to the moon, to the stars, to the entire galaxy.  

In that moment, a star shone brighter than the others, and despite his misty eyes, he saw it.  

He saw it and, against his better judgment, smiled.  

"Wait for me," he said softly.  

It was just one word.  

But to put it simply, it was a promise.

[kryptomoth]

welp, dropping this out into the universe of my personal story of my ocs. this one is the beginning of Kiki's life with her new family

the short story of angst for Kiki lol

my writing is not professional so don't expect much lol i usually write for myself or friends but eh. fuck it, i'll post it here

[ ghost pipe ]

/'Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky.'/

Cold wind cuts through the trees. Branches swaying as they creak and groan. Chirping birds sing their music to one another to fill the air. Rays of sunshine cut through clouds to add some warmth to the cold land. Crunching snow is heard as a lone golden snub-nosed monkey travels.

Nova walks through the snow with purpose. Strapped to her back is her mighty bow. Carved by her own hands from a dawn redwood. A small hunting knife in it's sheathe on her right leg. In her hand is a worn axe, though sharpened to still be sharp as the day it was made. She is carrying a basket of chopped wood.

She has gone out into the forest to collect some firewood for one of the newly couples in her village.

/'When the blazing sun is gone, When the nothing shines upon, Then you show your little light, Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.'/

Loud bird calls startle her, fur puffing out as she jumps. She clutches onto her axe, prepared to strike. Nova looks up towards the noise, glaring in annoyance at the three crows sitting low in a tree. She watches them chirp and caw at each other, having their own little conversation. A shiver runs down her spine as they peer down at her every few moments. Nova huffs, turning around to head further into the woods.

Time passes as the sun slowly dips further down in the sky. Strikes of the axe splitting wood filling the air as the sun lowered. Nova sighs quietly, content with all the wood she collected.

As a reward, she decides to grab herself a quick snack. She searches for a dead tree, as they are good hosts for lichens. Soon finding one, she pulls her knife out to cut off some lichen. She chews on her little snack. Cutting off a little more to store into a small pouch.

On her way back to the village, something odd catches her sight. Sticking out from foliage was a monkey leg. Covered in brown fur. Her eyes soften at the sight.

It wasn't uncommon to see a body out in the forest. In here, it was easy to get lost if you are not from the area. Many end up freezing to death. One should never enter these woods without a proper guide, or their existence shall be swallowed by the trees. Never to be seen again.

She walks over to where the body was. She blinks at the sight of the monkey. It was a mandrill, not a species that's seen in this area. Nova lifts her head and looks around. Unsure on how long this mandrill has been out here. Looking at how pale her face is and the glazed eyes, she's probably been out here for awhile. Nova bows her head, offering a silent prayer before walking away.

A small wheeze makes her stop in her steps.

She slowly turns her body to look at the corpse. Did she mishear? As the corpse stays still, as it was a frozen-- stiff and dead. Perhaps it was just the wind.

Before she could move away, another breathy wheeze could be heard. Nova scrunches her face, walking back over to the corpse with slow, careful steps. She crouches by the corpse. Reaching out to grasp at the stiff body, shifting her onto back. Nova stares down at the mandrill's face with a tense look. She lowers her head by the mandrill's mouth to see if she could hear any breathing.

None.

Nova lifts her head, pursing her lips. It's been a long night with her sick son, so she must've just been hearing stuff in her worry of his condition.

She examines the mandrill's body more closely. Brown fur with warm undertones of yellow and orange. The once bright red and blue markings are now dull from death. Her arms and legs are well defined, so she was a strong one. Chunky earrings in her ears. Many beaded bracelets on her wrists. A tattered shawl that may provide shade from the sun, but doesn't provide warmth from the cold.

Another small wheeze.

The shawl shifts on the corpse. Not from it suddenly breathing. Nor from the wind. Her eyes widen slightly as she hastily pulls the shawl apart. A gasp gets stuck in her throat as her throat closes up.

It's a mandrill infant. Tiny puffs of vapor leave her blue lips from the cold. Her fur is brown with golden facial markings on her snout and under her eyes. A short tail lays limp as the poor thing was curled up. The monkey infant shivers, curling up further into her mother's chest. Seeking warmth from the frozen corpse.

"Oh. Come here, little one. Come here," Nova coos gently at the infant.

Gently grabbing the infant's body to scoop her up. The infant scrunches her face in distress, clinging tightly to her mother's fur. Nova's brow furrows in worry.

"Hey, it's okay, little one. I promise," she shushes the infant in hopes she'll let go of her dead mother.

She is soon able to scoop up the infant. She was so cold. The infant squirms, clinging to Nova as she digs her tiny fingers into her fur. Nova's eyes soften at the gesture, holding her close with an arm before getting up, hurrying back home.

A fate worse than death had awaited this poor mandrill infant. Nova hopes the little one will survive the night, not knowing how long she’s been out in the freezing cold. She walks with purpose back to her village, her family.

The little one’s fate has been decided by Nova. She will take in this little one and raise her as her own. Aster deserves to have a little sibling. Almost like she sensed Nova’s resolve, the infant rubs her face against Nova’s chest. A huff of air leaving her weak lungs.

A soft but worn voice finishes their song. Their voice being carried by the winds. The monkey infant’s ears twitch at the voice in the winds that Nova cannot hear.

/'Twinkle, twinkle, little star, Now I know what you are.'/

[sparklesfromtheashes]

An Archmage's Solace

Wow, I haven't uploaded anything in so long, but I finally have been getting some inspiration to pick writing and drawing back up thanks to my newest favorite game, Lovebrush Chronicles!

So here's a drabble with one of the characters that I love.

Warnings: contains spoilers for main story (Godheim ''The Legend'' route)!

❄️ ═══════════════════ ❄️⊹❄️ ═════════════════ ❄️

Nothing. There's nothing around him other than endless darkness and barely visible stars. In a place where time doesn't flow, nor can a single sound be heard, the Archmage finds himself floating, with nothing but his own self to keep him company.

That's why he uses his magic to create an illusion, of vast fields and maple trees, where the red and orange leaves dance gently in the wind. At least, this way, his eternal loneliness is a bit more tolerable. But when he watches MC through the small water mirror he was somehow able to create, his chest aches, his heart yearning for them. Their touch, their warmth...their love.

He knows that had he asked, the young painter would have gladly jumped into the spatio-temporal gap with him. That's why he told them that all he wanted was for them to stay safe and keep smiling, chasing after one of the many bright and happy futures they could have.

All that matters is their happiness. As long as they are smiling, even if far away from him, he is satisfied. Or at least, that's what he tells himself as he watches over them, ignoring the pang in his chest and how his throat feels like it's in a tight knot. He was never meant to fall in love with them in the first place, so why does his heart yearn for them so? Why does he wish he were the one making them smile this badly? If only they had met in different circumstances...

"...a!" 

...Then maybe the two of them could have spent more time together, gotten to know each other better...

"....pa!" 

...They could have gone on outings around a bright, colorful Godheim...

"...apa!" 

...And he wouldn't be all alone in this dark place, where all he has is his own mind and magic, which he uses to protect himself from the cold, eternal darkness- 

"Papa!" 

Clarence is startled awake, his eyes wide open and a gasp leaving his lips, his breath heavy. After a moment, while his breathing turns steady,  he starts looking around and taking in the scene around him, his mind finally processing the soft sheets and mattress under his body, his blurred vision slowly focusing, making him able to see the walls, the night stand made of wood, the rays of sunlight shining through the gaps between the softly flowing curtains... ...And two pairs of big eyes filled with worry, one pair being the same blue as his own, while the other reminds him of MC's. A small hand touches his cheek.

"Why are you crying, Papa...?" 

The little girl who inherited his eyes asks, her hair resembling MC's, and only now the Archmage realizes his cheeks are wet with tears. He opens his mouth, about to say something, when a familiar voice reaches his ears. 

"Your papa just had a nightmare, sweethearts." 

Clarence looks at the doorway, and his breath hitches, seeing MC standing right there, a soft, sad smile on their face. And then it hits him. That's right, MC came for him and took him out of the spatio-temporal gap.  Since then, they have been traveling through different worlds, until they decided to settle down and... Hurried footsteps bring the mage back to reality, and he barely catches a glimpse of the two kids running out of the room, making him frown. A soft giggle by his side catches his attention, and he turns his head to see MC there. When did they get this close?

"They went to grab some things they think will help you feel better." 

MC explains with a soft smile, grabbing a handkerchief before sitting down on the bed, gently wiping away the cold sweat on his forehead.

" ...you are okay, Clarence." 

They whisper, voice full of worry amd tenderness. 

"You are not alone in that dark place anymore..." 

They put the handkerchief aside, before leaning close to rest their forehead on his, their warm hand cupping the man's pale cheek.

"I am right here." 

Clarence's lips are parted as he takes in their words, letting it all sink in before his body relaxes, his eyes closing for a moment, body leaning into the affectionate touch, before he smiles, opening his eyes to look into MC's, his hand keeping theirs in place.

"You are right. You are here, and we are okay." 

He says, causing MC's smile to broaden, bringing a familiar warmth to his chest. MC leans closer, their eyes closing slowly- 

"I brought it!" 

"A-Amelia, don't run!" 

High pitched voices exclaim, hurried footsteps echoing in the corridor, making MC quickly jump back, a blush on their cheeks. The sight makes Clarence laugh, despite the heat he could feel rising to his own cheeks. And when the Archmage sees his daughter running in, her eyes sparkling while she carries a music box in her hands, where two dolls can be seen dancing under glowing stars, one with blonde hair and green eyes, and the other with long brown hair and amber eyes, followed by his son, holding his favorite stuffed animal, a lion with a crown and formal clothes, he knows for sure. That he's never going to be alone again.

[chicago-pd-is-weird]

Day 4: Overdose

@the-three-shits-whump

Read at on AO3 at the link above or find it below the cut:

Al was silent as Hank drove him home from the district. His life had finally been going alright. Things with Meredith were looking up and he was learning to let Lexi be her own person.

Until she was murdered, that was.

They’d caught the bastard who had killed her and thirty-something other kids in that warehouse. He was convicted and sentenced. Now, as the dust settled, Al couldn’t help but stare out the window at the nighttime city lights of Chicago. The silence of the world without Lexi was deafening. She’d always been his joy in the darkest of times. She’d always been his light. Now, everything was quiet and dark. He didn’t even hear Hank’s words until his name was repeatedly called.

“Al? Alvin. Alvin!”

“Huh? What?” He looked over at his best friend.

“Did you hear what I said?”

Al shrugged and sighed, looking ahead now, out the windshield. They were almost to his house.

“I was saying… no, nevermind,” he replied, shaking his head as he pulled into Al’s driveway.

“Okay.” Al moved to get out, but a gentle hand on his arm stopped him.

“Al, just… don’t do anything stupid.”

“Yeah,” he replied, pulling away from the warmth and got out, going to the garage. He glanced at the house, but it seemed Meredith wasn’t even home. He went to the garage, unlocking the door with his key, and walking inside, letting out a deep breath. He watched Hank sit in the driveway before slowly back out and leave. Then, he walked back out and got into his own car, traveling to the nearest open corner store. He walked in, nodding at the cashier once when they said hello, then looking for the medicine. The pills.

It was as if Al was moving on autopilot. He grabbed one of every kind - Advil, Tylenol, Ibuprofen, and even off-brands of the same. One of each to soothe the hurt inside him.

Forever.

He pushed them all up onto the counter, the cashier’s smile faltering, but he started scanning the pills. He was a young kid, probably in his mid-twenties.

“How are you tonight, sir?”

“Great,” Al replied, sarcasm dripping from his voice.

The man hummed, scanning the bottles slowly, more slowly than Al would’ve liked. “It’s a real nice night out, isn’t it?”

“Sure,” Al replied with a sigh, hating the small talk.

“The stars are beautiful, aren’t they?” He replied with a smile. “Alright, $50.47.” Al grabbed his credit card from his pocket, refusing to answer his questions anymore. When he presented his card, the cashier took it, swiping it behind the register and doing some other things, then frowned and shook his head. “Sorry, our reader is broken. We can only take cash right now.” He handed the card back to Al.

Al sighed deeply, grabbing his wallet to get the cash out. “Damn readers…”

“I know, right?” The man hummed as Al painstakingly dug through his wallet for the money. “Hey, so, why are you buying these pills?”

“Cause it’s a free country,” Al huffed, looking up at him. “I made sure of it.”

“You served?” The man reached out a hand. “Thank you.”

Al sighed, taking his hand and shaking it briefly before going back to dig through his wallet. “Yeah,” he mumbled.

“Where did you serve?”

“Italy,” Al muttered again. He was getting agitated. He pulled out all of the money in his wallet, which amounted to $49.23. He shoved his hands into his pockets, looking for spare change.

“So… are the pills for the pain physically, or mentally?”

Al glared at the man as he pulled out four quarters, two dimes, and seven pennies, everything he had in his pockets. It was just enough he slid the money over to the cashier. “Here, keep the rest, I don’t want change.” He put his wallet back into his pocket, the huffed, grabbing the bag of pills and walking out, despite the cashier’s protests.

Al got into his car and drove home, sitting on the couch in the garage, he grabbed the pill bottles from the bag, setting each on the coffee table. He wondered how many of each he should take. He looked at the label on each, which stated not to exceed a certain amount per day. Al decided he would do that many of each, and it would be enough. For some bottles, it was do not exceed six pills per day. Others, it was do not exceed eight. Still others were only four pills. He laid out the medicine in front of each bottle, having about forty pills in front of him.

Al took them in batches of ten. Ten, chugged a beer, ten more, poured some liquor and downed it, ten more, more liquor, and ten more. He grabbed a beer, chugging half before he sat back on the couch.

He waited for the pills to kick in, feeling nauseous as they rattled around in his stomach with the alcohol. He grabbed a photo album, looking at pictures of Lexi through the years. Tears came to his eyes and for the first time since she died, he started to cry. Sob, really. He couldn’t take it, how he would never see her again. The memories, it was all too painful. He pulled out a picture of Lexi at her senior prom, holding it close to his chest. He looked over at his gun and badge, grabbing both, holding his badge close to him as well. Lexi and his job were the two things he loved the most. Now that Lexi was gone, he only had his job. How could he go on without her, though? She was the reason he still got out of bed and worked every day, instead of taking a desk job or taking his pension early. She was the reason he wanted to take these guys off the streets. So she could be protected.

He had failed her.

He sobbed and cried out, grabbing the gun. The pills weren’t working fast enough. His agony was too much. He put it to his head, wanting so bad to just end it, but realized the reason he’d chosen pills in the first place - he wanted to make himself suffer. He wanted to suffer for all his wrongdoings. He wanted to suffer for every damned mistake he’d ever made. He wanted to suffer to let himself know that Lexi’s death was his own fault.

Al tossed his gun away, onto a nearby reclaimer, getting up and punching the wall of the garage, which was made of wood. He punched it until his knuckles were bloodied and bruised. Then, he stumbled over to the couch, the world getting fuzzy. He groaned and slowly sank down, grabbing his beer and finishing it, then laying on the couch. “Lexi…” he mumbled, grabbing her picture once more, weeping. “Lexi… I’m so sorry, baby…” he clutched the picture to his aching chest - from the medicine or the heartbreak, he had no idea. It hurt.

His body was breaking down, a fever spiking as it tried to fight off the pills Al had taken. He felt like he was suffocating as the world around him started to fade. All he knew was his love for Lexi. That was enough.

—

Hank had been nursing a glass of bourbon at a nearby bar when he got a call. Trudy. She rarely called him these days, since they saw one another every day.

“Hey, Trudy, what do you need?”

“Hank, I’m covering the night shift,” she said, sirens wailing in the background. “I think it’s Al. One of my patrolmen was dispatched to a corner store near where he lives.”

“Okay?” Hank said, putting some money on the bar, then walking out and to his car.

“The cashier said he bought a bunch of pills, all different kinds, and seemed really agitated.”

“How do we know it’s him?” Hank frowned. He never thought his best friend would do anything like this.

“Because the cashier wrote down his name from the credit card. He tried to stall him. Also, he said he served in the army in Italy.”

Hank took in a sharp breath, flipping on the lights in his own car as he pressed the pedal down. “Did we dispatch an ambo?”

“Already on the way, but we’ll get there first.”

“I know,” Hank replied. “I’m two minutes out.”

“I’m here, running in now. The garage.” Trudy hung up the phone.

She ran up to the garage, knocking first. When she didn’t get an immediate response, she kicked the door in, flipping on the lights. “Al?!” She ran over to the couch, where Al was unconscious. She saw the pill bottles on the coffee table nearby. “Damn it, Al,” she muttered, pushing the table out of the way and pulling Al off the couch, grabbing her radio. “Dispatch, I need an ETA on my ambo!”

“Ambo three minutes out.”

Trudy felt Al’s neck, frowning as she felt a pulse, although weak. “Damn it, Al! Wake up!” She shook him firmly, cupping his face. He was sweating from the fever, his eyes fluttering.

Hank ran in, kneeling on the opposite side. “Alvin!”

Al groaned. “Mmngh?”

“Al, why the hell would you do this?” Hank muttered, looking around at the pill bottles and beer bottles and the nearly empty liquor bottle. “Damn it, Al, come on!” Hank took Al’s pulse again, trying to wake him up.

The paramedics arrived moments later, Trudy and Hank trying to tell them what they knew. One assessed Al while the other grabbed all of the bottles and examined the labels. Hank pointed out the liquor and beer on the ground as well. The paramedics performed first aid, then loaded Al into the ambo. Hank and Trudy got up with them, ignoring Meredith, who had just arrived home.

The monitor started beeping after they got on their way. Hank frowned as the paramedic got up. “What’s going on?”

“You know CPR??” The paramedic asked. Hank nodded in reply. “Good, start it.”

Hank frowned, but got up and started CPR, tears coming to his eyes. “Come on, Al, damn it! Not like this!”

Trudy could barely hold back her own tears. “What else do you need?”

“He needs to get to the hospital and have his stomach pumped. It looks like he took something like thirty or forty pills.”

“He just lost his daughter,” Trudy said, as if that made any kind of difference. “He… he…” she couldn’t take it, seeing Al’s body there, lifeless.

“Come on, Alvin!” Hank cried as he continued CPR. “Don’t do this to us!”

The ambo arrived at the hospital moments later, Hank stopping CPR to let the paramedics get Al out and into the hospital. Hank and Trudy ran out of the ambo, Trudy instinctively clinging to Hank’s sleeve, Hank instinctively pulling her closer as they watched several doctors and nurses work on a lifeless Al.

Somehow, they both knew he wasn’t coming back.

[kumeko]

A/N: For the @dayoffzine! You have no idea how hard it was for me to resist the urge to just write about Logan and all of his mentees. In the end, though, somehow Kitty took over the whole fic XD

…

…

…

…

It was quiet on the moon. To be honest, it was always quiet in space, even when the Eternals lived on the moon or aliens travelled across the dark tracts. Yet it was especially quiet on the Blue Area of the moon, where Uatu the Watcher lived.

There was always something to watch, so Uatu had no need to look for entertainment. Whether it was an apocalypse, a world-domination plot, or even simple infighting amongst the heroes, Uatu had plenty to observe and note down.

Still, if he ever did have a desire to see something different, something new, it was easy enough to do so. While he primarily watched his designated Earth, Uatu could take a peek at other what-ifs, at the places beyond mere mortal’s view of time and space.

He could see, if he so desired, the same night across multiple universes. Such as a particular Halloween night…

-x-

Earth 10005

Logan had not known peace since he’d met Charles and joined the X-Men. Actually, if he were honest, and he was always as brutally honest as he could be, Logan hadn’t known peace since Alpha Flight. Or maybe it was even further than that—back to when he had been wandering the wilds of northern Canada or picking fights in bars for scraps of money.

Part of him was certain that if he ever regained his memory, his childhood would be the same. Some people were just born under an unlucky star and there were few unluckier than he was.

Still, all of those other situations were a walk in the park compared to now. Those fights would involve adults, and Logan knew how to take care of adults. He knew exactly when to walk away, when to show a claw, and when to give a beat down. It didn’t make for a great life, but it certainly made for a simple one.

Here in the Xavier Academy, however, all of his knowhow went out the window. Everything involved a kid.

Logan was not a man made for kids. He was barely a man made for adults.

Somehow, that didn’t stop kids from flocking to him. First it had been Rogue, randomly appearing in his truck like a bad penny. Then there was the trickster Kitty, who grew bolder and bolder with each passing day.

And now there was Jubilee, a punk who was standing between him and the fridge. Standing between him and his cold beer.

Today was Logan’s day off. There weren’t any strange emergencies. He had no kids to ‘teach’.

He didn’t have to put up with this bullshit. Logan growled, “Move, kid.”

“I’m not a kid,” Jubilee corrected, with all the authority and know-of of a 16-year-old kid. She grinned brightly. “And I won’t move until you agree.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn ya,” Logran growled. He stepped forward threateningly. When she didn’t budge, he grabbed her firmly.

“Hey! What’re you—”

“You can be annoying over here,” he grumbled, setting the girl down on the other side of the fridge. Without waiting for a response, he yanked open the fridge door and riffled through the shelves for a beer.

“Rude. Why’re you always like this?” Jubilee snapped, stepping on his foot. She was lucky he wasn’t in the mood for a training bout. “No wonder you don’t have any friends.”

It was a stupid, petty insult. Logan got worse a dozen times a day from that ice kid, Bobby. What Rogue saw in the kid, he’d never understand. “That’s none of your business.”

It was a mistake to even reply. He realized it the second he grabbed his beer and closed the door. Now that he could see her face, Jubilee covered her mouth in mock horror, her eyes wide. “Don’t tell me you actually don’t have any friends?”

It was a stupid, petty argument, but something about Jubilee made him want to get into a stupid, petty fight. Maybe she was just that annoying. Or maybe he was just that tired. Either way, he extended a claw and roughly snapped off the lid of his beer, making sure she saw the whole thing. “Don’t think Xavier’ll care if he’s missing a brat.”

“It sounds like a threat when you say it.” Jubilee laughed, hitting him on the back. “Anyways, let’s hang out tonight.”

Logan’s instincts were sharp and honed carefully through his experiences. All of them screamed: this is a trap. He stepped away. “Not interested.”

“Come on, it’ll be just like the old times!” She tried again, bouncing in front of him. “Just the two of us on an adventure.”

“Adventure?” Logan wasn’t sure just what he’d ever done to give the kid the impression he was the ‘adventuring’ type, but he had to clear it up today. “Not interested. Never been interested. Go play with some kids.”

“Come onnnnn,” Jubilee whined, grabbing his free arm. She had to have been taking lessons from Kitty. He missed the days when Rogue refused to touch him. “It’ll be fun.”

“Fun? Oh, now I’m definitely not interested.” Logan yanked his arm free and strolled out of the kitchen.

“Wow, do you know any other words or do I need to buy you a dictionary?” Jubilee rested her hand on her hip and rolled her eyes. It was the stereotypical teenage look. Logan had gained immunity to such childish sarcasm after his third day here.

“Insulting me?” Logan chuckled, amused. He took a swig of his beer and wrinkled his nose. It was terrible shit again; some one had taken his shit again. “That’s a new tactic.”

“Look, I’ll leave you alone after,” Jubilee pleaded, clasping her hands as she dashed in front of him. “Promise.”

Now, this was actually new tactic.  Logan narrowed his eyes. “For how long?”

She laughed, rubbing her neck sheepishly. “Alright, got me there. An hour?”

Logan snorted. “You’re delusional. A year.”

“A year?” Jubilee flinched. Dramatically, she laid her hand on her forehead and leaned back in a mock-swoon position. “Jeez, someone’ll get the wrong idea and think you hate me. A day?”

“It’s not the wrong idea,” he barked. “A week.”

“No wonder you don’t have any friends.” She shook her head sadly. “Two days.”

It was probably the most he’d ever get out of her. If he was lucky enough that she even kept her end of the bargain. “Fine. Deal.” Logan watched her over his bottle. “Now what?”

Jubilee pulled out an eye patch from god-knows-where. “Alright, now put this on and go dress up like Patches.”

Logan flinched. The only reason he had to tolerate this kid was because she somehow knew of his stupid attempt of a disguise. A disguise he had used years ago in Hong Kong. A terrible disguise that everyone had seen through the second they’d seen it and pretended they hadn’t.

He had been born under a very unlucky star.

“Why?” Logan glared at her, ignoring the dangling eyepatch.

“Cause we got some kids to give candy to and we’re not so boring we’d just dress up like normal, right?” Jubilee smiled innocently, as though she hadn’t surprised attacked him. “You know it’s Halloween, right?”

-x-

Earth 616

If there was one benefit to going to Xavier’s school, it was that Kitty had met a lot of people: students, professors, and everyone in between. The school’s doors were constantly revolving as people came and left, sometimes via graduation, sometimes via the morgue. In this tiny ecosystem, she’d learned life’s harshest and best truths.

 Right now, she was learning yet another one: Rachel Summers and Illyana Rasputina should not be put in the same room.

Then again, maybe she should have known better. It wasn’t bad enough to have two exes in the same room (and Kitty had to thank the small amount of common sense she had not to invite Piotr too), but she also had to invite in the two with the strongest, most aggressive personalities. Any other combination of her friends could have ended with a little give and take, laughter, and everyone leaving in one piece.

Now Kitty had to worry about portals to hell and an ancient, universal power destroying everything over a popcorn feud.

Kitty sighed into her knees. She had folded herself up as small as possible as she sat on the couch, squashed between Rachel and Illyana. Knees bent, arms wrapped around her legs, she rested her chin on her knees and stared blankly at the tv. What she was watching, she had no idea, but it wasn’t enough to distract her from the cold war occurring over her head. Even without looking, she knew they were glaring at each other.

They always did. The romantic in her liked to think it was over her, the realist realized it was just the way they were built. They were magnets with the same polarity; it was impossible for them to touch.

“So.” Kitty spoke first, unable to take it any longer. She finally figured out what horror movie they were watching. “You guys liking the movie? It’s good for Halloween, right?”

Illyana turned her head slightly, assessing the movie. Kitty could feel Illyana’s bare leg brush against her thigh as Illyana shifted her position.

It was going to be very hard to concentrate on the movie if she didn’t move.

“I guess. It’s pointless,” Illyana finally said. She bent her arm on the armrest and rested her chin on her hand. “The plot’s the same.”

Rachel snorted. As usual, her voice was low and husky, giving her a mysterious air even though she was wearing an ordinary flannel top and jeans. She sounded like she could be from anywhere. “Now the princess is a critic.”

“Oh, I forgot, you like boredom,” Illyana sniped back, flipping her hair over her shoulder.

Rachel growled, “I just like safety, unlike a certain rabid dog.”

Ilyana curled her lip and sneered. “Safety or just hiding from yourself?”

They were glaring at each other. Kitty felt like she was surrounded by knives. This had been a terrible idea. For two people who looked like they’d get along on paper, they were impossible to have in the same city, let alone room in reality. Any two other people would have been a better match than this.

Hell, she would have taken Logan and Scott and their weird rivalry over this. The only good thing is that with her powers, she could sink into the basement before they accidentally murdered her.

Pulling out her phone, Kitty texted furiously. Kurt. When are you getting here?

It took two seconds for her phone to buzz as her fuzzy friend replied. Sorry. Busy.

She twitched. Kurt had known about this movie night for weeks now. He’d even promised to bring nachos. Glaring at the screen, she wrote, Liar. Get here. Now.

I like living. I’ll see you tomorrow.

He was bailing. On her. Kitty clenched the phone tightly, wishing it’d crack. Who needed friends?

-x-

Earth 11052

Rogue was nervous. Her palms were sweaty, she couldn’t keep still, and her feet were itching to just leave. The last time she’d felt like this, she’d gone to prom and almost killed a guy.

It was silly. She shouldn’t feel like this tonight. That had been a long time ago, before she’d known her powers, before she’d learned how to control her powers. Rogue had been alone then. Now, she had the X-Men on her side. Unlike then, tonight would be a normal, teenage night. Well, as much as it could be, when the world was out to kill you and your classmates were composed of your enemies.

It was funny what ‘normal’ could look like.

“Nervous?” Kurt asked, standing next to her in the floor-length mirror as he adjusted his collar. With his regulator on, he looked like an ordinary teenager and nothing like the furry elf she’d come to consider a brother.

“Don’t know why ya bother,” Rogue chided, side-stepping the question as she watched him mess with his hair now. The dorms rules were pretty relaxed, not caring who went into whose dorm room as long as it was all kid-friendly. “Ah doubt you’ll look any better.”

Kurt didn’t even flinch. Instead, he grinned and boasted, “I know, it’s hard to make the regulator match my beauty, but I do my best.”

She didn’t know how to feel about that. It’d been a long time since anyone had gotten this close to her, emotionally. Long time since anyone saw past her barbs for what they were. These days, Kurt had stopped cowering in her presence. Hell, he even sought it.

Brother. Perhaps there was something to the family crap.

 Reluctantly, Rogue answered, “Ah’m not sure if ah should be comin’.”

“Well, I’m sure,” Kitty interrupted as she entered their shared bedroom. She was dressed up now, all black and leather and sleek as can be. The cat ears on her head gave away her outfit: slutty cat. “I want to go clubbing with both of you.”

Rogue glanced at Kurt and tapped her jaw. “You’re drooling.”

“I’m not!” Kurt wiped his mouth anyways.

She chuckled. It was hard to resist teasing him ever since she’d found out about his very obvious crush on Kitty. It was a miracle the lady in question had never noticed it. Turning back to the mirror, she tugged on her arm length gloves, double-checking that every part of her was covered up. “There’s a lotta people. Somethin’ could happen.”

“So? We’ll take care of it,” Kitty replied confidently, her hand reaching for Rogue’s gloved one with no hesitation. “You know what we can do. Dodging people is easy.”

“Ja.” Kurt reached for her other hand. “And I can teleport you away. We gotcha.”

It was easy to believe that, with their hands in hers, with their reflections smiling back at her.

They made her want to believe. She gripped their hands tight. “What’re we waitin’ for? Let’s go!”

-x-

Earth 982

There was unfair and then there was unfair. Mayday had fought supervillains on her way to exams, hidden from classmates to protect her identity, and even bailed on a date to keep peace. She knew all about the various degrees of bullshit the universe tossed around on a daily basis.

Seated in her living room, surrounded by her family, she had never seen a worse situation in her life. It was bad enough that she was too old to go trick-or-treating without having to deal with this. She crossed her arms and leaned back in her seat, complaining, “This is unfair.”

Across the room, her father and uncle high-fived each other before turning to her. They were old and middle-aged and still for some reason had enough baby fat on their faces that they looked like they were in their 30s. If Mayday was lucky, she won the genetic lottery and got that too.

“What’s unfair?” her father asked, plopping on the recliner.

“You two,” Mayday grumbled, shaking a fist at the pair.

Uncle Ben slouched on the couch, his posture almost identical to her father’s. He’d been born an adult; twenty years weren’t enough to change old habits. He grinned mischievously. “Do I hear a sore loser?”

“I’m not!” Mayday leaned forward, directing her death glare at her uncle. “The rest of us don’t get clones who can just read our minds. This is cheating!”

“I can’t read his mind.” Uncle Ben chuckled, covering his mouth with his hand as he tried to take the matter seriously. It didn’t help. His shoulders shook and Mayday flushed, embarrassed.

“Hey, it’s a possibility!” she defended herself. “We fight gods every Tuesday! It could happen.”

“Well, I didn’t get bitten by a radioactive psychic.” Her father, ever the jokester, pinched his brow and stared off into the distance like he was listening to a far away voice. “Yes, master, I think she fell for it.”

“Peter,” her mother chided. Any hope Mayday had of her taking it seriously was lost the second she giggled.

“You know, this is charades, right?” Uncle Ben asked, his hands moving as he talked. “If we didn’t talk or write, it’s not cheating.”

“You two don’t even have to talk!” Mayday stood up. If her mother wouldn’t do it, she’d do it herself. “You just look at each other or make a gesture and you already know what you’re going to do! It’s unfair! We’re swapping partners.”

Her mother finally calmed down. She reached for Mayday’s hand and squeezed it gently. “That’s a great idea.”

Not expecting the back up, Mayday blinked owlishly. “It is?”

“They do have an unfair advantage.” Her mom smiled beautifully, as though she were out walking the runway or giving a photo shoot. “I’ll take Ben.”

Peter, who was half-way getting up, froze. “Huh?” He jerked his head up, offended. “What?”

“He’s cuter,” her mother teased, winking at her uncle.

Ben played along, blowing a kiss back. “I got the good genes.”

Her father fell into his seat and pouted. “It’s the same genes. Which I had first.”

“What do you think, Mayday?” her mother asked, turning to her with a mischievous grin. “Who do you want to partner with?”

It was an easy question, even if her mother wasn’t making fun of her father. Without hesitation, Mayday answered, “Uncle Ben. He’s smarter and funner and nicer and—”

Her father squawked. “Mutiny! Treason! Attacked on all sides!”

-x-

The Watcher smiled, tearing his eyes away from the wonderous sights of the night. There were so many worlds to observe, so many experiences to consume. This was more than satisfying for this night. Perhaps tomorrow he’d look for more worlds, more stories, more people.

Perhaps tomorrow, he’d find an irreplaceable sight.

[freya-howlett]

The Slumber - Inside Hyrule pt.7

Content: After the Calamity was defeated, your purpose in Hyrule has now finished. Although you wished you could stay forever, it's time to go.

Author's note: One more chapter I wrote at work instead of... doing my work. I felt nostalgic so decided to create a nostalgic little piece. Remember that if you ever feel like me writing something specific from whatever other game, write me your request. Do me a favor and make me not work at work, please.

Warning: awful formatting, I did this with my phone.

Inside Hyrule series is a a series of oneshots, in no particular order about YOU in the world of Zelda! Just imagine... how it'd be to have adventures with your favourite hero and princess? How it'd be to travel alongside Link? Do not expect a cool, intricate plots, it's just something to help you (and me by writing and imagining it) to relax and have a nice moment.

You wondered if everyone had taken potions to keep the warmth or if just it was too much fun that they didn’t mind the cold breeze. Everyone seemed so happy, all together.

You started to feel it, that pull in your mind and body. It was getting more and more consistent; you could no longer ignore it. Your time in Hyrule was getting over.

You silently, still smiling softly, pulled from the fire and started to walk up the stairs in Rito Village, your hand sliding on the handrail, touching some cold droplets of fog that had rested there. As you went up, the music and laughter faded, but it did not disappear. You appreciated the landscape, going up and up, thankful for Rito Village’s high position. The sky, already dark, was covered in bright stars, they seemed to shine more than other nights. The moon, glowing in silver, was illuminating your path as you made your way to the takeoff platform to sit at the border, with your legs hanging. You leaned on your hands as support, putting them at your sides, and with your nails scratched the wood slightly. You could still hear the accordion playing down at the party.

With the snow-covered mountains watching over you, you wondered if you’ll ever see them again, just as they were now, for every time you came back everything was so different it was difficult to think it was always, mostly, the same world. For the split of a second, sadness washed over you, as it was your desire to, just once, travel through all Hyrule before leaving.

A smile with pushed lips escaped from you, you knew there wouldn’t be time for that.

“Hey,” a soft voice whispered behind you. You turned and saw Zelda standing looking at you and grabbing both her hands in such a regal position. Her expression was soft and kind.

“Oh, hey, Princess,” you greeted. “Thought you were at the party.”

“Well, it’s so much fun and everyone is enjoying themselves in a way I don’t remember seeing before,” she sat next to you, hands on her lap, “but…” she trailed off. “After a century of quietness, it can be…”

“Too much?” you completed after she made a pause. She chuckled.

“Yes, too much,” she nodded. “But I’m still glad everyone is having a nice time.”

You smiled at her and she returned the gesture. You both contemplated the nocturnal landscape, the cold breeze resulted relaxing against your cheeks and saw, with the corner of your eye, how Zelda’s golden hair moved slightly at the rhythm of the wind.

“Princess…”

“Y/N…”

You both looked at surprise at each other, for you both had spoken at the same time, then chuckled together.

“Sorry, you go first, please,” you talked.

“Well, I just wanted to personally thank you for helping us all defeating Calamity Ganon,” she stated. You could hear the formal tone in her and in her words, however, she seemed more like a friend talking to you. “I’m glad Link was not on his journey all alone, you helped a lot.”

“No, Princess, please…”

“You can call me Zelda,” she interrupted you. “There is no need for formalities between us, that is… if you’re comfortable, of course,” she smiled friendly to you, a smile that caused little wrinkles in her eyes.

“Well, Zelda,” you chuckled. “I have to thank you too for holding on for so long.”

You both stared again at the starry sky, the music was softer this time, they had changed the tune to something calmer.

“Y/N, despite feeling tired, I have to admit I’m enthusiastic to start renovating the kingdom,” Zelda spoke. “My people need me more than ever after so many years,” she put her fist close to her heart, “and, although I am in no place to demand anything from you after everything you did, I think your help will be great.”

Her eyes were bright, the grief and darkness were slowly starting to vanish from her. You couldn’t help but smile at her, however, your smile compared to hers was sad.

“I’d gladly do so,” you responded. As if signaled, that sensation appeared on you again, pulling your mind, wanting to force you to close your eyes and not opening them ever. “But, Zelda…” your voice trailed off as you turned again to the mountains. They seemed nostalgic. “I have to go.”

Zelda didn’t react abruptly, instead she tilted her head in confusion, but then her eyes showed her understanding.

“Oh,” she muttered, and you nodded, pushing your lips together.

“My mission here is over,” you shrugged in acceptance. “Anything that comes from here, you’re going to be able to handle it.”

Zelda turned to the landscape for a moment, blinking, before speaking:

“I have so many questions for you, Y/N. I thought we had more time.”

“Yes, I know.”

“May I ask some now? If it doesn’t bother you,” she turned again. You chuckled one more time.

“Sure,” you answered, although the part behind your head was feeling heavy and you did not feel at all like being philosophic. “Ask anything you want.”

“How do you know you are leaving?”

“Well…” you murmured. “It’s like feeling so exhausted you want nothing but sleep, something like that. But I don’t feel that exhausted, you know? It’s weird. I think what better describes it is just having this heavy need to go to sleep.”

“So, you’ve done this before,” she nodded in understanding. “I know you said to Link you had helped other heroes before.”

“Yes, I have,” you answered. “And every single time it’s been the same. I go into a deep slumber after whatever I am called for here is finished.”

“You feel it right now, don’t you?” she inferred. “That is why you know you are going to go.”

You nodded and responded: “It’s going to happen tomorrow or in two days, maybe.” Then again, the pull. “Probably tomorrow.”

Zelda nodded too and smiled.

“Well, I do regret we don’t have more time, I wish you could stay.”

You again stared at the landscape and sighed:

“Me too.”

*************************

You could barely wake up the next morning. It was so difficult to open your eyes that you wondered how was it that you were still there in Hyrule. Zelda and Link were not in sight, you could hear some chattering somewhere, low enough you couldn’t make up the words, they were probably up for breakfast.

The Swallow’s Roost’s beds were so comfortable that you considered whether you were hungry enough to get up or stay. Your decision did not take long, you snuggled against your thick blankets and closed your eyes again.

******************************

“Are you sure you don’t want to have anything for breakfast?” Zelda asked for the dozenth time. She seemed a bit worried. You kept cleaning your bed and space from your stuff, putting them away in your bag. That was out of habit, since you knew anything you carried now didn’t matter to where you were going.

“I’m okay, Zelda,” you responded again.

“So, it’s like you hibernate, right?” Link spoke, he was cleaning his sword mindlessly. “You stuffed yourself before to go to sleep and not eat anything.”

You threw a piece of cloth to him, which of course he caught perfectly on the air with no effort. You chuckled with him.

You knew, however, behind his joke there was a tint of sadness behind.

All the packing was tiring, you wanted nothing but rest. The pull was becoming stronger and stronger, definitely you were going into slumber that same day. The night, or better said, a few hours ago when the party ended, you told Link what was going on. He took it very casual, as if you were just leaving for a couple of days instead of not seeing each other never again. After explaining to him and Zelda that the only thing it happened was that you would just fall asleep, it was agreed quickly that you were going into the Shrine of Resurrection. It was enclosed and private, perfect for a long, long nap, longer than the one Link took.

Before you left, you thanked the Rito for letting you stay in their village and played one last tag game with the children, which one you always lost because, unlike you, they could fly. After finally deciding it was time to go, you traveled with the Sheikah Slate to one of the shrined on the Great Plateau, Zelda and you grabbing Link from each arm.

The difference of weather was such that the coats you were wearing had to be thrown away in order to change into fresher clothes. Link had his Champion Tunic on with simple beige pants while Zelda had her blue blouse and dark brown leggings.

“Are you feeling sleepy now?” Zelda asked you as she sat folding her winter clothes and left them at the foot of a tree.

“Yes, but not as much as to go to sleep right now,” you shrugged. “I have some little time left yet.”

To spare some time, you three walked to the Temple of Time and admired the building despite it being on ruins. Zelda spoke about how it used to be before it got to that state, how she remembered the light shining in colors through the windows, the beautiful and solemn music the band used to play whenever there was a ceremony and the wind that smelled of fresh cut grass when you left. You didn’t mention that you had also seen the building as it had been, but in another different time.

Later you trained with Link one last time as Zelda took pictures of you both from the trunk she was sitting on. You managed to defeat Link once using one of the movements the Gerudo taught you and pinned him on the ground; however, you suspected he let you win and, when confronted, Link denied it vehemently.

After so many activities, you were all hungry, so you decided to have a picnic at the sunset. Using one of the blankets you had for camping to put the food and plates, you sat around a delicious Mushroom Risotto Link had prepared. The first couple of minutes none of you talked, just chewing the soft texture of the rice, but then ended up telling some funny stories. You told Zelda how he almost got himself killed by a Lynel at Tabantha to demonstrate whatever he thought he would by killing it, something that was not funny back then but later became a joke between you and the Hero. Zelda chuckled, covering her mouth, and said:

“I saw that.”

That made you burst out laughing and Link laughed too, but became a bit red.

It was darkening soon, and, after games and a meal, you became so sleepy everything you wanted was to lay down. The pull was there, stronger than ever, and you knew your time had arrived. The three of you were just seating on the blanket, watching the sunset in silence. The orange of the sky was so beautiful that you could only stare it awe. Your eyelids were heavy and wanted nothing more than closing them.

“It’s time, guys,” you muttered.

Zelda was the one who turned quickly to you and gave you a small one-sided smile as she rubbed your arm. You heard Link gulp, but he was the one who stood first and offered you his hand.

“Let’s go then, Y/N.”

You helped them to pack everything before they accompanied you up the hill towards the entrance of the cave. You watched the landscape, not wanting to lose anything, memorizing each tree, mountain and star you laid your eyes upon. Only the Goddess knew if you were going to be here one more time.

Zelda and Link let you have one last peak before entering the cave and walking down the path until you arrived at the chamber. You were so distracted by the landscape outside that you noticed until then Link had your pillow and blanket with him. You chuckled at that, but it made your eyes tear up a bit.

“This way you can have a nice millenarian nap here. Better than water, I woke up with pruney fingers from the water I was in,” he joked, his voice was slightly hoarse. Zelda grabbed you by the arm and, when you turned to her, she hugged you tight.

“Thank you so much for everything you did for us, Y/N,” she spoke. She smelled sweet; her golden hair fell against your face. “I will pray that the Goddess will bring you back to us, at least for a while.”

If you said a word, you would cry, but you tried to speak anyways. Your head was heavy.

“Thank you, Zelda, for trusting in me.”

She let you go and gave you one last squeeze at your arm as she smiled at you with wet eyes. Then you turned to Link, and he locked his eyes on you after a while of avoiding your gaze. His fingers were touching the blanket slightly, his fingertips just hovering above the cloth.

“I had so much fun, Link,” you stated with a smile. “Thank you for that.”

His lips trembled and he hugged you hard, your arms went around his shoulders. You breathed deeply his smell of woods and pine.

“Please, don’t get yourself killed,” you chuckled. He also laughed slightly in your hair.

“I’ll try not to.”

He ended the hug and helped you, as the knight he was, to get on the shrine’s bed. It was a bit too hard, but it’d have to do, yet the blanket and pillow you knew so well comforted you and you snugged into them.

It was coming, there was no avoiding it now. Your mind became fogged, and your vision slightly blurred as your breathing became slower and deeper. Your muscles relaxed and you only had the strength to tighten the blanket between your fingers. Link and Zelda stared at you with soft gazes.

“Are you really staying here?” you asked, your voice was only a whisper. They both got closer, and Link took your hand.

“For sure,” he answered as Zelda sat next to your bended legs.

Your vision started to darken, and you close your eyes softly feeling Link’s hand on yours squeezing it softly.

“Y/N…” you were fading away, but you still heard Zelda’s relaxing voice calling for you somewhere. This time, however, she was not pleading. “Keep your eyes close…” it sounded far and far away as your mind wandered into unconsciousness. “Someday… we will meet again…”

I hope so.

You fell into the deepest of slumbers and slept what seemed like a thousand years. When you finally woke up from the dreamless dream, Link and Zelda, Hyrule and its landscapes, were all gone.

[wol-taleal-desharn]

And in the end....

Return (to me)

WoL x Graha

Endwalker endgame

Smut at the end

She had brought them all back to her…and now Taleal had to let them go to protect them.

"No!” Alisae yelled, watching as Taleal - her friend, big sister, mentor - released her mini-teleporter to the wind that held the rest of the Scions aloft in the sky.

The last thing Alisae saw was Taleal’s sad, apologetic smile before they vanished.

~*~

“Hnnngh….” A collection of moans sounded throughout the Ragnarok as the Scions collected their senses.

“Everyone here? All accounted for?” Livingway pipped up, looking the group over. The Lopporits had been certainly surprised to see the Scions appear in the command room of the ship.

One by one, murmurs rose from each of them that they were all right and present.

“Wait, where…”

“Tally?” Thancred frowned, looking around the room.

There was no answer.

“Where is she!?” G’raha cried, looking around frantically. The Miquo’te took note of all who had returned to the ship, easily noting the only one who was absent… His tail twitched in sharp, jerking motions, ears pinning back against his head.

It was Alisae who finally answered. “She…she stayed behind.” A sob ripped from her throat as she ducked her head; Alpinaud moved to comfort his twin.

“She activated the teleporter…and let hers go!” Alisae continued, tears falling from the young elezen’s eyes. “Damn…damn her! She stayed behind!”

G’raha felt like he’d been struck. “No. No…she…” He shook his head. How could she have done that to them? To him? Send them away at the last and stay behind. Again. The Exarch did the first thing that came to mind — he bolted for the hatch. He was going to go back there and fight with her, damn it all! And then give his Warrior a piece of his mind for doing something so reckless and…and stupid!

Or at least he was, till he was stopped mid bolt by annoyingly strong pairs of arms grabbing him from behind. G’raha fought and struggled against the two who held him, not even bothering to look to see who would stop him at such a time.

“Nay, friend. Thou wouldst make her sacrifice in vain if thou were to try to return to her side now.” Urianger stated, voice low and full of sadness. “Thou must stay here, and wait. Pray that our friend doth return to us soon, and returns successful in her endeavors.”

G’raha let out a low growl, trying to free himself. It was Thancred who spoke next.

“G’raha, listen. If I know nothing else of Tally, she won’t just give up at the end. She has the Twelve’s own luck on her side. She’ll find a way back to us. To…to you. So you have to be patient, hard as it is.”

The others murmur agreement. It takes a few minutes, but Urianger and Thancred finally let G’raha go when he stops fighting them. The Miqo’te lets himself fall to the floor on hands and knees, head bowed, hair hiding his face from the rest of the Scions.

“We…we have to hold on to hope, and pray. Pray for her and her success.” Y’shtola finally pipes up. “And when she gets back, we can all give her a piece of our minds for that stunt she pulled.”

~*~

Some time later…

It was done.

The fight with the Endsinger, the fight with Zenos…

It was all done.

I’m sorry, my Raha, everyone, she thought. I have no way back now…

Taleal laid there, mere feet from Zenos, staring up at the…sky? It was hard to call it a sky, in this place that was the end of all things.

At least…at least everyone is safe.

She could cry, and did in fact feel a few tears fall at the thought of leaving her loved ones behind. Of leaving G’raha behind, in particular, and promises that would now be unkept.

Oh, my love, my dearest Raha… I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you. Travel the world, see the wonders we have yet to see. Show you Ishgard, and Othard…

Taleal, the vaunted Warrior of Light, Champion of Eorzea, felt her consciousness fading fast, with only the stars and a dead body as her final companions. In her last moments of coherent thought, she heard a beeping….

~*~

The Scions were beginning to lose hope. Meteion had come to them, proclaiming Taleal was right behind her. But when she did not appear, worry gripped their hearts. How long had it been, since the little bird had said their Warrior was suppose to return to them?

And then suddenly, there she was, in their midst, her teleporter mere ilms from her fingertips.

G’raha was, instinctively, elated — she had come back! But then fear gripped his heart, seeing her condition. His eyes widened, and it felt like someone had taken over his body as he moved quickly to her side. He pressed a hand to her chilled cheek, and nearly choked when she did not respond. She lay unmoving on the floor of the Ragnarok.

The Exarch’s movements set off everyone else, and they all moved in, getting to work in a flurry. G’raha reached her first, cradling her head in his lap. Her wounds, he could tell, were extensive and grievous. It brought tears to his eyes - and not just his, he noted. Alisae was weeping, crying out for Taleal to open her eyes.

“Please…open your eyes…” he called out as well. He brushed some sweat and blood soaked white hair from her face, hoping against hope for her to wake up. The tears stinging his eyes began to fall, splashing the auri’s cheeks.

“Don’t you dare leave me. Not now.”

Alphinaud, Y’shtola, and Urianger had already begun to cast their healing magics, working frantically to save their friend. Thancred and Estinien stood off to the side, out of the way but close enough to see what was going on. Alisae sat next to G’raha, both pleading and cursing Tally to wake up.

“Please…” Alisae sobbed, gripping Taleal’s hand in a death grip. “You can’t leave us, not like this! If you do, I’ll -never- forgive you! So come on! Open your eyes and get up!”

G’raha’s heart broke for the young elezen. He, too, wished with everything in his being that Taleal would wake up. He found himself echoing her words, to please wake up, just open your eyes…

Please….open your eyes. Wake up, come back to me…

As if in answer to their cries and prayers…

She opened her eyes. Slowly but surely — G’raha thought he must have been seeing things at first, imagining it, even. But no, there were those beautiful blue eyes he loved so dearly, staring up at him.

“Are you…are you with us?” Alphinaud piped up, hopeful but uncertain. Everyone crowded in, watching their fellow Scion with unbridled hope and precarious joy.

The first thing Taleal saw when she finally opened her eyes was G’raha — wonderful, beautiful G’raha, his red eyes full of tears. Why was he crying…? With a shakey hand, she reached up for one of his, grasping it carefully, for fear that this was a dream. When he didn’t disappear, but yet was wonderfully real and solid, she let out a rather large sigh of relief. He flipped his hand so that he was holding hers, giving a gentle yet firm squeeze.

Alphinaud and Alisae caught her attention immediately after, and she offered them a weak but sincere smile.

“For a moment, we thought….” Alphinaud trailed off, a sob wracking his small form.

Taleal shook her head carefully. “Is…is everyone all right?” She murmured.

G’raha’s sob wracked voice spoke up next. “After what you’ve done — you’re the last person…” He sniffed, wiping at his eyes, “… to be asking that.” Despite the tears, he smiled down at her, relief and worry clear in his red allagan eyes.

“You…how can you keep your promises if you’re not here??” G’raha finally chided her as he wiped at his eyes.

“Another fine show you’ve put on, my friend.” Estinien towered over the rest, looking down on Taleal with a small smirk. She offered him a light laugh, wincing as she did so.

Y’shtola piped up next, “Another fine show, indeed. What were you thinking, fighting alone?? Never do that again! My poor heart couldn’t bear it. And neither could G’raha’s, for that matter.” Nevertheless, her gaze was that of relief and joy that her friend had returned.

“Put yourself in our place. If you hadn’t returned, how do you think we’d feel?? And if that sounded harsh…its because we care.” Thancred took his turn to chide Taleal, arms crossing as he stood next to Y’shtola.

Urianger moved to kneel between G’raha and Alphinaud. “We tended thy wounds as best we could, little sister. But how is the pain?”

Taleal sat up, slowly, with G’raha’s help. She tried, and failed, not to wince at the pain in her side...and front…and everywhere, really. Regardless, she managed another smile and a nod. “I think I can manage.”

“That is gladdening. Grievous as thy wounds were, I would counsel repose for a time.”

“Gladdening?? There’s NOTHING gladdening about this! When Meteion appeared in here, and told us you were right behind her, we got our hopes up!,” Alisae was near shouting as she slammed her fists into the floor of the ship, “But you never came! And when you deign to appear, you’re within an ilm of your life — damn you for making us worry!” Tears stung the elezen’s eyes again, leaning over to hug Tally carefully around the shoulders.

~*~

Once the ship had landed, and they had made their way through all the fanfare and cheers, the Scions retreated to the Baldesion Annex. Even there, though, they found Tataru and Krile and prepared a feast in celebration.

Taleal and G’raha managed to slip away down the hall from the festivities, tired but grinning. Almost like students sneaking off, G’raha found a small nook, pulling Taleal into it, and pulling her into a tight hug.

“I was so worried…” he started, burying his face in her hair, “…when you didn’t appear with us. And then you didn’t come when Meteion said you were. You scared me near to death.” G’raha tried to hide it, but Taleal could hear the shaking in his voice, could feel it as she hid her face against his chest. The dim sounds of laughter and chatter from down the hall could still be heard, but was far enough away that the two had what seemed to be complete privacy. For that, they were grateful.

“I am sorry, Raha - it…it was the only thing I could think of. With the Endsinger, and then she was taking all of you from me again. I had to make sure you were safe. I couldn’t…I couldn’t bear the thought of —“

“Don’t ever send me away like that again. Please.”

She shook her head against his chest, breathing in the smell of his clothes, his scent. It brought tears to her eyes, knowing how close she had come to not being able to have this moment after the fight.

“No. Never again.”

He made a humming sort of noise that sounded like an affirmative. G’raha hooked his fingers under Tally’s chin, lifting it up as he leaned in to kiss her sweetly.

“Good. I would stay by your side through anything, as long as you’ll let me. I love you to much to be parted from you.”

“You — what?” It took Taleal a moment to process what he had said. She thought her heart would burst when she DID realize what exactly he had spoken, and a wide grin broke out on her face.

G’raha hesitated. “I — I said —“

“I love you too, Raha.”

He let out a deep breath, smiling.

Tally reached for his hands, laced her fingers with his, and then gave a small tug to leave the nook.

G’raha, curious, followed.

~*~

It only took them a few minutes to reach her room there in the Annex. Silently, the pair entered. It was dark, the only light in the room coming from the moon shining through the open window.

Once the door was closed, G’raha reached for Tally, pulling her back to him, this time her back against his chest.

“I feel like if I let you go to far you’ll vanish in front of me again…” he leaned in, lips playing at the skin under her horns, down to the nape of her neck.

Taleal closed her eyes, shivering at this use of his lips. She lifted a hand, fingers finding his hair and the base of his ear, nails softly scratching at the skin playfully. This earned her a surprised moan from G’raha.

“I won’t vanish, love. I am here, with you. And I intend to stay that way.” She turned in his arms so that she could face him, eyes full of emotion.

G’raha, too, had a great mix of emotions in his eyes and his heart. But right now the only thing he wanted was to be with Taleal. They moved together, this time, and lips met in a heated, passionate kiss.

The pair broke from their kiss long enough to move the few steps to the bed, where Tally sat down, and G’raha stood over her. G’raha knelt, lips finding the auri’s neck again - but his fingers were not idle, either. They began to find the buckles and buttons of the rogue’s leather armor, making surprisingly quick work of the first few layers. Soon enough, pauldrons and bracers had found their way to the floor.

Tally, too, had set herself to work; it was easy enough to remove the scarf and vest G’raha wore, throwing them to the floor along with her bits of armor. She wanted him close, without anything between them, and she couldn’t get everything off fast enough.

“’Raha…” she murmured his name, tilting her head back as her eyes drifted half-closed, humming at the sensation of his lips and fingers on her skin.

G’raha finally managed to undo the chestpiece that Taleal wore, tossing it to the side as well. Deft fingers played at the edge of the thin shirt she wore underneath, ticking her pale, bruised skin.

“…should I stop?” he muttered between butterfly kisses, working down from her neck to her collarbone.

“Gods, no. Don’t stop, please.” She replied in a breathy whisper. She tugged at his tunic, trying to get the thing off with no luck.

G’raha chuckled, pulling back long enough to pull the tunic over his head, exposing his bare chest to the auri. All that was left was the bits of jewelry he insisted on wearing, the gold warm against his skin.

Tally hummed, half-lidded eyes taking in the sight of a shirtless G’raha. She reached for his hands, guiding them back to the hemline of her own tunic. Taking the hint, he pulled the tunic up and over her head, leaving her in just her breastband.

The exarch took a moment to enjoy the sight of her, just as she was enjoying the sight of him. Tally reached back, undoing the breastband with ease, tossing it aside, leaving herself completely exposed to her lover. A hint of pink covered her pale cheeks.

- Oh gods, I’m so small, he might not — no.. - she thought, trying to catch his gaze.

She reached for him again, fingertips playing along his jaw - the miqo’te leaned his face into her touch, letting his eyes drift shut for a moment - then up into his hair, gently pulling him back to her. The exarch was more than happy to meet her gaze, red eyes dark and filled with love and desire.

“You… you’re beautiful, you know that?” he was still kneeling before her, this time his fingers working their way up her stomach, playing over scales, scars,bruises still healing, and skin pale as moonlight. She shivered against his touch, light, breathy moans escaping her lips. Feeling properly encouraged, G’raha leaned in, once again kissing his way over her body, picking up from where he left off at her collarbone. He worked his way down, hot butterfly kisses leaving a trail down her chest until he reached her breasts.

Tally was trying to hold as still as she could, shivering in excitement and anticipation as she was. She did not want to rush this, not this night. The auri let her fingers play through his hair and down his back, nails gently scratching at G’raha’s skin, leaving goosebumps on the miqo’te.

She could tell he did not want to rush either, so she looked down when he suddenly paused his ministrations. He gazed back up to her with a smile, watching her as he leaned in, taking a nipple into his mouth. He licked and sucked, teasing at her breast. One arm wrapped about her waist to hold her, the other went to her other breast, playing and teasing there.

With a gasp, Taleal threw her head back, eyes closed, a hand digging into G’raha’s hair at the nape of his neck as she arched her back. Her breathing was becoming ragged and fast, throaty moans and murmuring the scion’s name.

“Raha…Raha please…”

He did not verbally reply; instead, he moved so that he took the other breast in his mouth, earning a louder moan. G’raha could feel her trying to move beneath him, quivering with built up anticipation. He hummed against her skin, releasing her breasts, and let his fingers glide down her skin to the edge of her pants.

- Should have started with the boots….- he thought with a chuckle. He pulled away, then, to remove first his boots, then hers. He felt himself straining against his pants, wishing for nothing more than to push Taleal down onto the bed and be within her; but he knew he wanted to wait, if just a bit longer. He did not want to rush this and ruin the mood, no. He would take this slow, and, gods forbid, give her a chance to stop things if she was not ready.

Once boots were removed, Taleal reached down and took G’raha’s hands before he could resume his previous position, and pulled him up to where he was level with her, and pressed a burning kiss to his lips, deep and wanting. The Warrior of Light scooted back, pulling him with her till she was laying down, and he on top of her.

“T-Tally…” he moaned her name into her mouth, letting his hands explore her body more. Really, G’raha felt like he would never tire of touching her, of finding new spots to memorize. Beneath him, she slowly rolled her hips against his, and he nearly cried out at the pleasure of it.

There was no more waiting - Tally’s fingers were at the laces of his pants, and he’d found the laces of hers. It was a flurry of activity, but the sound of the last remnants of clothes hitting the floor met their ears in the silence of the room.

He had waited so long for this - through the hundred years on the First, to now - he savored every second of it. He ached to be inside her, but… Soon. Instead, he let his hands drift down, along the swell of her hips and down her thigh, almost to the outside of her knee before dragging his fingertips up the inner thigh.

Taleal let out light, gaspy breaths, humming and moaning and whispering his name. Squirming, she moved to give him better access, and was rewarded when his hand found her wet, slick clit.

Gods, he thought, how did I ever come to deserve this? Surely he didn’t, and this was a dream. He played with her, stroking up and down slowly at first, almost teasing in the light pressure he gave her. Tally moved against him, arching herself into his hand for more.

“Raha…Raha -please-….” She was very nearly at a whine, brain fuzzy from pleasure and wanting, begging for more. Her hands were not idle, however, and found and wrapped around his hard, aching member, and the miqo’te let out a cry when her small hands gave a firm stroke. She found a rhythm to match his own, stroking up and down slowly, from head to hilt.

Leaning down, he nibbled at her neck as he continued working his fingers on her clit, enjoying her gasps and ragged breathing, the rolling of her hips in time with his fingers. With one deft movement, he slid down, sliding a finger into her entrance, then two, which earned him a beautiful, wordless cry of pleasure. He picked up the pace, wanting to feel her come for him.

“That’s it love….let go…” he whispered, the words breathless against her skin. She, too, had picked up the pace, her strokes almost jerky in motion, desperate for release. She was close, he could feel it, but so was he…

G’raha grabbed her hand from his cock, pulling it up over her head and pinning it down. He growled, the sound rumbling low in his throat, fucking her harder with his fingers, thumb rubbing at her clit, till she cried out again, body arching up and spasming as she came. He slowed as the aftershocks hit, stopping finally when she stilled. He nuzzled and kissed her, sending little shivers down her back as he did so.

“Fuck…Raha…” she was practically purring, if such a thing was possible. She gazed up at him, eyes dark with desire. “Your turn, my Raha.” Tally squirmed, shifting so that she positioned herself beneath him. “Please.”

“Are you sure?” He nuzzled her neck, and she nodded.

“I am, love.”

He kissed her deeply as he entered her, sliding in till he was hilt deep, both moaning in pleasure. G’raha waited a moment, to let her adjust to him, before he started a slow, easy thrust.

Tally wrapped her legs around his, rolling her hips against G’raha’s when he started moving. They easily found a rhythm, slow and steady, taking their time in their love making. The lovers exchanged sweet nothings, murmuring, moaning and gasping.

G’raha began picking up the pace, thrusts becoming faster, harder, more urgent. He could feel her clenching around him, and gods, it felt so good, it urged him on faster, harder. He wanted her to come again, but felt himself coming close to his own release; G’raha wasn’t sure how much longer he could hold on…

It was her nails digging into his back that sent him over the edge. She clawed at his back with her free hand, certainly leaving scratches. He thrust in hard as he cried out her name, head falling into the crook of her neck as he bit down on the tender skin there.

Tally cried out in an echo of his own, his orgasm triggering her own second release. At last, they fell back, G’raha on top of Taleal, both breathing heavy. Sweat soaked, they nuzzled and lazily kissed each other in any spot they could get to - shoulders, neck, lips.

“I love you.” G’raha murmured, fingers lazily tracing patterns on Taleal’s stomach. Taleal, likewise, was running her fingers up and down his back, just enjoying each others touch and the warmth of each other so close.

“I love you too, my Raha.” She answered with a small, sweet smile. Carefully, G’raha pulled himself out of Taleal before settling back down next to her, pulling her up and against his chest.

Taleal nuzzled in, face buried in the miqo’te’s chest with a satisfied sigh. Together, the pair fell into a blissful, deep sleep.

[justminawrites]

Where The Stars Collide - Chapter 1: Loke

AO3

Summary: Loke has a dream. tw: mentions of abuse.

prologue | 1 | 2 | TBC

The first thing Loke the Celestial Spirit noticed was that his pants were missing.

Now, this on its own wasn’t too alarming. In fact, he’d go so far as to say that it was a common occurrence early in his playboy-days, where he habitually drowned his guilt in women and liquor– but rarely did he stir from such a night with a hospital gown in its place. 

He woke exactly like he’d collapsed; violently and without warning, his eyes flying open the same time as his lungs heaved for air. 

“AQUA– HAH–– HAH–– AQUARIUS–“ he gasped out, bolting upright in the infirmary bed much to his nurse’s horror; cat-like pupils dilating under the fluorescent lighting.

“Shh, it’s okay, Loke. Loke, look at me.”

The second thing he noticed was that his nurse looked a lot like the love of his life: renowned celestial mage and once-heir to a multimillion-jewel corporation, Lucy Heartfilia. 

“Lucy?” He wheezed.

“Mhm,” the nurse’s blurry face swam across his vision but he’d recognise that sunshine-blonde hair anywhere. 

“Don’t over-exert yourself okay? Master Makarov said it would take you a few minutes to adjust to Porlyusica’s healing elixir since you’re part celestial spirit and all.” 

As Lucy gently took his his face in her hands Loke felt his breathing regulate and panic recede, gasps giving way to steady respiration as she eased him back against the wooden bed-frame. 

By the time she’d replaced the cold towel on his forehead, Loke had recovered most of his eyesight and found himself clearly staring into two large, worried brown eyes.

He bit the inside of his cheek to not let something embarrassing (like I love you) slip out; Lucy didn’t really respond well to advances, his or others, and the last thing he wanted to do was make her uncomfortable. Especially on top of everything else he had to tell her.

“You look.. Wow..”

Real smooth.  

Lucy to her credit, looked more sheepish than anything at the mention of her appearance. She was still in her travelling gear, face and hair streaked with grime and dirt; it had only been a few hours since they’d returned from Edolas for her, after all. 

“Oh, I know. I’m a real mess,” She huffed, “Didn’t have time to change out of anything but at least Natsu’s cloak keeps me from catching anything serious– Loke!“

Loke had opened his mouth to disagree, she looked beautiful to him either way, but choked at the mention of the pink-haired dragon-slayer. The tiny hiccup of jealousy turned into a full blown cough and suddenly he was keeled over hacking into his gown as she rushed to pour him some water.

“Natsu’s.. cloak..?” He tried to croak out once he’d set down the glass, but Lucy waved it away.

“It doesn’t matter. Now, what’s wrong with Aquarius?”

“It’s a long story,” he sighed, “but the crux of it is that she’s missing.”

“Missing?” Lucy looked horrified, “You mean, I left her key behind in Edolas?”

“No,” Loke shook his head, “Even if that were the case she’d simply reappear back in the Spirit Realm– but she never did.

“My working theory is that the anima must have interfered with her travel between worlds somehow. I wanted to see if you could summon her from your side, but it seems like whatever blocked her return, destroyed her celestial contract as a result.”

“What are you saying?” Lucy’s voice became very small and her eyes began to well up. 

“You can’t mean.. you don’t think..”

Watching the colour rapidly drain from her face Loke grabbed her arm quickly to keep her from assuming the worst possible outcome.

His time as a spirit had not only desensitised him to the whiplash of emotions that came with being a human, but also how hasty they were in considering their own death. Celestial Spirits almost never died before their time (though they were by no means eternal), but she had no way of knowing that.

“Don’t worry, Lucy,” He shook his head again, “Celestial Spirits aren’t bound by the same rules humans are. If their key is broken it just means that the spirit has accidentally ended up in a closed-pocket realm and involuntarily broken their contract.”

This momentarily put a stop to the tears.  

“A closed what?”

“It’s like an Edolas, but for spirits,” Loke frowned aloud, absentmindedly still holding her arm, “Essentially a realm that nullifies their magic.”

“In the rare occasion that this happens, it’s usually the Celestial Spirit King’s responsibility to find them and bring them back, but since there are an endless number of pocket dimensions they could’ve fallen into, it takes a while to locate them.”

“But aren’t Celestial Spirits made of magic?” Lucy asked, squeezing his hand back in concern.

“Not anymore than you or anyone else from Fairy Tail. Our magic can be shut down under the right circumstances.”

“So Aquarius is––“

“Out of commission, yes. But only briefly,” Loke added reassuringly, “Once I return, I’ll make sure we find her and reinstate her contract right away.”

“I see,” Lucy nodded, brows furrowing. She then dropped his hand in favour of standing up to pace the length of the room.

Watching her walk back and forth and back forth, pondering the temporary absence of her oldest spirit companion, Loke tried not to wince in pain as a dull throbbing began at the base of his skull; the cause of which could’ve been his depletion of magic energy, or just plain guilt. 

He hadn’t lied to Lucy exactly– he’d just omitted to tell her certain crucial details that might alarm her; like, for example, that the search for Aquarius was already underway, or how he hadn’t slept in over a month (in celestial days) and used up the final dregs of his power to transport himself here in the hopes that she could summon her friend herself. 

The truth was that no matter how lost Aquarius might’ve gotten in the Spirit Realm, her key wasn’t supposed to go missing. The contract with her Celestial Wizard should’ve remained unaffected regardless of the location of the spirit, since the key was made with the sole intention of being an anchor, in both their worlds.

Loke wasn’t sure he could tell her the whole truth until he got some answers himself; as the Leader of the Twelve Zodiac Houses, Aquarius’ disappearance weighed hard on him more-so than normal. He’d only just been back in the Spirit Realm for a few months now but the backlog of centuries’ worth of responsibilities had nearly run him into the ground, so much so that he’d underperformed each time Lucy had needed him in the past month. 

As if the humiliation at the hands of the Oración Seis wasn’t enough (he hadn’t expected to see Aries on the battlefield so soon), Loke cringed to think how he’d been so overworked he’d blatantly flirted with and subsequently gotten rejected by Lucy’s Edolas counterpart, mere hours ago.

“Loke? Hello? Earth to Leo?” He snapped back to reality.

Lucy had stopped pacing and had returned to hover over him, hands on her waist, shrewdly giving him a once-over. Loke held his breath, wondering if she could tell that he was hiding something; Lucy was smarter than people gave her credit for.

“Sorry milady,” he faked an easy grin, leaning in closer to distract her, “I got lost in your beautiful eyes for a second there.” 

Lucy blinked once, twice then rolled those same eyes in disbelief, breaking the spell.

“Someone’s confident today,” she huffed, resuming her seat, “How’d your little date go, by the way? Virgo told me all about it.”

Loke made a mental note to never joke with Virgo about dating his workload ever again.

“Terribly,” he pretended to pout, wondering if Lucy would take the bait.

“And why’s that?” She did.

“Well, to start with, she wasn’t you,” He said, reaching over to tuck a strand of blonde hair behind her ear, sure the classic Loke move would leave her in pieces. It was a little cheesy but it worked in a pinch. 

Lucy only smacked his hand away, her exasperation bleeding into irritation.

“Loke, you can’t keep doing this,” She said, crossing her arms, “What’s going on with you?”

“You were exhausted even before the Edolas fight.. when was the last time you slept?”

Loke blinked in surprise. Much smarter than people gave her credit for.

“Not for a while,” He admitted, shoulders slumping and leaning back into the pillows, “Not since the run in with Aries.”

“Loke!” Lucy’s worried gasp had him ducking his head with something like shame, “That was weeks ago!”

Between the overwhelming amount of paperwork on his table, attending every Spirit World event he’d been absent for, and now Aquarius’ disappearance, Loke counted himself lucky that he didn’t have silly human needs to tend to anymore like eating or sleeping, but his body seemed to think otherwise. The Celestial Spirit King had warned him that readjusting would take some time, of course, but Loke hadn’t listened; he couldn’t just throw away the second (and last) chance he’d been given at the expense of Lucy’s dignity–  he’d break his own key before letting her suffer for him again.

“Celestial spirits don’t need all that y’know–“ He said, trying his best to sound nonchalant about it, but she quickly cut him off.

“But you haven’t been a spirit for that long!” Lucy scolded, “Remember what the Spirit King said about–“

“I know, Lucy,” He sighed, unable to meet her eyes, “I just.. didn’t want to let yo- uh everybody down.”

“Oh..”

“You know,” He added, only half joking, “-can’t have people saying I wasn’t worth all the trouble, after all you did for me.”

At this, Lucy reached out and grabbed his hand, forcing him to look up at her.

“Loke, you’re my friend,” She said sternly, “I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

Loke wondered how she could look at him like that, like she would defend him to the ends of the Earthland, and expect him not to fall in love with her.

“Ah,” He put his other hand on his heart in mock despair, lightening the mood instantly, “You shouldn’t get my hopes up like that, Lucy.”

“W-What?”

“Just friends?” He pulled her hand to his chest then, “I thought we had something special, milady.”

“Yeah right,” Lucy smiled, relaxing a little, “Me and every girl within a five-mile radius." 

“Don’t you think for a minute that I’ve forgotten what happened with my Edolas doppelgänger, you flirt!” 

“I see, does that mean you only want me to flirt with you, Lucy?” He teased, leaning in to see the sudden influx of colour that rushed to Lucy’s face.

“I- I never-“ He tried not to enjoy it too much as she floundered around for a comeback and settled for pulling her hands away in protest.

Although Loke did his best to keep his foot out of his mouth, he constantly found himself toeing the line between cheeky and tongue-in-cheek with his flirting, mostly because he had no idea how to talk to Lucy otherwise. 

Addressing her formally (like he’d been accustomed to with Karen), felt foreign and ill-fitting and it definitely didn’t help that Lucy herself often blurred the line between spirit and friend herself– insisting everyone call her by her first name, and being determined to fight on equal footing as though they were partners. But even he knew better than to delude himself into hoping that anything might come of it.

Before Lucy could reply, however, they were interrupted by a sharp, sarcastic rap on the door. 

“Break it up ya lovebirds, the Master wants to see ‘er.”

“Gajeel!”

Loke tensed up. 

Though it had been well over four months since the iron dragon-slayer had joined the guild, along with Juvia Lockser, his popularity (unlike Juvia’s) hadn’t skyrocketed in the least. While this had, in some part, to do with Gajeel’s prickly personality, the greater blame lay in his mistreatment of the Fairy Tail members during the guild war with Phantom Lord, and, among the casualties, a certain celestial mage with sunshine blonde hair.

Loke glowered at the red-eyed wizard, still bedridden but now imperceptibly shifting his torso to shield Lucy from whatever would come next.

Gajeel only snorted, no doubt considering the implications of starting a fight with a guy in a hospital gown, and pointed over Loke’s shoulder instead.

“Just ya, Blondie,” He crossed his arms, “Somethin’ about losin' his keys or whatever.”

“Oh,” Lucy got up to leave but Loke involuntarily grabbed her hand and shook his head. Gajeel threw them another withering look.

“Look, I don’t wanna be here either, alright? Got better things to do than run around playing errand boy to that old man. I’ve got an exceed to feed y’know.”

It was only then that they noticed the animal on his shoulder. Bearing a striking resemblance to Happy and Carla, this one was covered in black fur, with stark white wings and a scar running across one eye. 

Both Lucy and Loke jumped a little when the exceed opened it’s mouth to say “Hello, I’m Panther Lily,” with the voice of a fifty-year-old war veteran.

“It’s nice to meet you.”

“Hello,” Lucy replied bravely, not to be deterred, “I’m Lucy Heartf- uh just Lucy! Welcome to Fairy Tail!”

Loke tried not to look up at her then; he knew how self conscious Lucy had become after her run in with her father, especially about her name. The other guild members had teased her about her ‘princessy’ demeanour for months on end, and though she’d laughed it off in good faith, Loke had heard from Virgo that she’d marched down to the Magic Council to have Heartfilia removed from all her legal documents.

“Loke,” he grunted reluctantly when the exceed turned to him. He didn’t want to tell Gajeel’s pet anything but his rudeness wouldn’t reflect well on Lucy.

“You’re a Celestial spirit,” The Exceed noted, fixing him with a strange look. 

“Is that a problem?” Loke raised an eyebrow.

“But not a full one. Interesting..”

Loke’s hackles raised, and he opened his mouth to ask just what exactly the little bear-cat-like creature meant before he felt the squeeze on his arm and realised Lucy was looking at him.

“I’ll be right back,” She’d already dropped his hand before he could voice his objection, so instead he watched her leave, deliberately narrowing his eyes as Gajeel made to close the door.

“If you touch one hair on her head..” He gritted his teeth.

“Yeah, yeah,” Gajeel said carelessly, scratching at his jaw, “Word of advice? Get it together before ya go off makin’ threats loverboy.”

The door slammed shut with a THUD!

Loke released a breath into the air and pressed his hand to his temples. What was he doing? 

Gajeel was right, he wasn’t in any place to sit around and growl at people like Lucy’s lapdog. Karen had loved seeing him do it, almost as much as she’d loved to torment Aries to get a rise out of him.

“Aren’t I lucky,” The green-haired, green-eyed (in more ways than one) Karen Lilica had crowed, brandishing her chain-whip, “I have both the strongest and the weakest spirits of all the Zodiac.”

Before he could realise what was happening, Loke had already slipped into the dream. 

The familiar periwinkle and gold interior of the Blue Pegasus guild hall rose up to swallow him and suddenly Loke wasn’t Loke anymore. Now he was Leo, confident and glowing as he reached out to shake the hand of the sweet, green-haired girl who’d summoned him.

“Oh wow!” She gasped, shaking his hand with both of her own, “I’m so honoured to meet a member of the Zodiac! I’m Karen by the way!”

The ground fell away under him and suddenly Loke was crouched at the foot of a plush red sofa as an older Karen lovingly stroked his head; teary mascara streaking down her face. Gone was the youthful girlishness, now replaced by a garish lipsticked smile.

“You know I didn’t mean it right, Leo? I just got so angry– I don’t know what came over me.”

He looked on dumbly as Karen cooed and fussed over the large gash above his right eyelid.

If only he had known sooner. If only he had seen it coming. If only, if only, if only.

The roar of a waterfall cascaded from somewhere inside him and Loke looked around, confused, before the ceiling opened up and released a flood of water down on him, drowning, drowning, drowning and then.. not.

Now Loke was kneeling on a rocky outcropping overlooking a great waterfall, in front of Karen’s grave, but the grave was empty and Karen was standing next to him, all pretense of love leaving her eyes as she dug the sharp tip of her heel into his shoulder.

“Why won’t you just leave me alone? Go. Back. Go back, go back, go back!” She shrieked, shoving him backward. Loke caught his balance before he tumbled into the hole and finally found the words to defend himself.

“What.. happened to you?” He choked out as Karen proceeded to loop her chain-whip around his neck and pull.

She laughed as he fought for air, grasping at the rusted metal in vain.

“What’re you on about?” She taunted, leaning in to press a kiss right above his eye, “You turned me into this, Leo.”

Her kisses felt like acid.

“It’s all your fault,” She whispered as his face began to burn and his vision began to darken, “And now you’ve gone and dragged that poor girl into it too.”

Loke turned around in horror to see Lucy now lying inside Karen’s empty grave, eyes closed, clutching his key to her chest like a lifeline. 

“Gate.. of the lion.. close.. gate..”

“Lucy! LUCY!”

Loke reached out to grab her, but it was too late. The ground closed over the hole, as he started to disappear, grass and flowers sprouting beneath the gravestone and sealing Lucy away forever - his name the last words on her lips.

“Leo.”

Another fainter voice overlapped with hers, originating from somewhere at the back of his skull; a voice that sounded suspiciously like Aquarius’. 

“Leo,” Lucy-Aquarius repeated, quiet and urgent, like she didn’t have much time, “You need to be careful.”

“The Eclipse is coming.”

Loke woke for the second time that day to a pair of worried brown eyes.

This time, however, they belonged to his long-time friend and confidante, Aries. As though dreaming about their former master had summoned her to his side, the pink-haired, Ram Spirit hovered over him anxiously, mumbling something to herself.

“Leo!” She repeated, relieved as he sat up a little straighter.

“Aries..” He replied, not fully able to process what was happening, “Did Lucy summon you? What’re you doing here?”

“Mhm,” She shook her head, “I came on my own. I learned how to after.. well..”

Loke winced as he recalled the phantom abuse in his dream, involuntarily feeling his throat to check for burn marks.

“The Celestial Spirit King wanted to know if Lucy-san still had the Aquarius key?” Aries asked hopefully.

The disappearance had left everyone in the Spirit World on edge, their monarch included. Loke had a feeling it was because it had been millennia since they were forced to confront their potential demise. That and because Scorpio kept giving everyone hell for losing Aquarius; Loke had to physically restrain his friend to keep him from ambushing Lucy on his own. 

“No,” Aries’ face fell as he continued, “For some reason, the key’s gone too. We don’t have any hint for where we should begin searching, and the closed-pocket realms are endless.”

“We can only hope she hasn’t fallen into any of the Disgraced dimensions.”

Aries’ eyes got wide at the mention of the Red-Key Spirits, former inhabitants of the Celestial Spirit Realm, exiled for breaking the code of conduct that all spirits were required to abide under. No decent spirit would be caught whispering about The Disgraced Ones within the earshot of Loke– after all, if Karen had been any less of a villain, he would’ve shared their fate. 

It was another thing he’d carefully kept from Lucy. His banishment to the human world was an act of mercy, only granted to him for his eons of unwavering loyalty to the Celestial Spirit King, and when it came down to it, Loke would pick dying in the human world over the twisted solitude of the Disgraced dimensions. At least he would die as himself.

“Do you suppose it was taken?” Aries said finally, her usual jumpiness replaced by uncharacteristic conviction, “Maybe someone stole it off Lucy-san when she wasn’t looking?”

“Maybe,” Loke shrugged, unconvinced, “But it’s unlikely. From what Lucy told me, they just returned from Edolas a few hours ago.”

“If anyone wanted to steal the key, it’d have to be from within Fairy Tail.”

“But–“

“No, Aries,” She looked hurt when he cut her off, “The people here aren’t like that. You should just go home– I’ll handle it.”

Loke tried to feign indifference as her big doll eyes began to well up with tears. He hated doing it but drawing boundaries between himself and the rest of the Zodiac had become a necessity when he returned. Aries, who’d arguably been the happiest of them all, quickly came to the realisation that her friend had become a completely different person in all their time apart.

Time worked differently in the Celestial Spirit Realm; sometimes it would go faster, sometimes slower, and there were even periods where it simply wouldn’t move at all. For the three years Loke had been in Earthland, time had spun like a roulette table and separated him from his friends by a whopping three hundred years, suddenly making him the youngest of his former team-mates. 

He lost the respect and acclaim that came with being the Leader of the Zodiac, the title going to Aquarius in his absence; no longer the notorious lion spirit, now just a cub with claws too big and too sharp for his feet. 

“I wish you would let me help,” Aries’ lip wobbled, still she rubbed at her eyes defiantly, “We used to do everything together, Leo.”

Loke clutched his hospital gown tightly, his mouth set in a thin, hard line.

After a few seconds of strained silence, where he pretended he didn’t see her shoulders quietly shaking, Aries said,

“I know you blame me for Karen’s death.”

He glanced up, surprised.

“I thought about it for years,” She frowned, not meeting his eyes, “‘Leo must hate me’. After all, you were only trying to protect me.”

“If I had just been better at standing up for myself, you wouldn’t have been punished so severely!”

“I don’t blame you,” He said gently, her tears had gotten to him, “But this is my job Aries, I can’t drag you into it.”

“But Karen–“ 

“Karen was a monster,” Loke bared his teeth, not an ounce of regret in his voice, “–and she got what she deserved.”

“She was so kind when we first met her,” Aries insisted weakly, “I can’t help but wonder if we had helped her more maybe–“

“Maybe she would’ve turned on us faster,” He snapped, “Maybe she would’ve done worse! You didn’t see her those last few weeks, Aries, I did.”

“She was unhinged– the girl I made a contract with died a long time ago.”

Loke refrained himself from adding ‘And it was all my fault.’ to the end of that sentence, because he knew Aries would never understand. She would want to share the blame for their former master’s descent into madness, but the cruel truth was that despite what Aries said, she simply couldn’t handle the pain that came with that realisation. Karen knew it too, its why she saved all the especially harrowing punishments for him. It was much more fun for her to watch him slowly begin to resent the friend he’d tried so desperately to save. 

“I don’t blame you,” Loke repeated, almost as though he was trying to convince himself, “And besides, getting banished was the best thing that ever happened to me. I wouldn’t have met Lucy, otherwise.”

“Then let me help you,” Aries refuted stubbornly, “Aquarius is my friend too!”

“And my responsibility,” He countered, “–as the Leader of the Zodiac–“

“If what happens to Aquarius starts spreading, there won’t be a Zodiac left to lead, Leo!”

Loke started at her tone. He didn’t think he’d ever heard Aries’ voice rise higher than 40 decibels.

“You’re not the only one suffering here! Remember how bad it was when we lost Capricorn– you wouldn’t even let us help you then! You had to ‘do it yourself’, well a whole lot of good that did you!”

“So just stop being so– so– pig-headed!” Even Aries looked surprised by her sudden burst of rebelliousness, and clamped both her hands over her mouth in horror.

The sight was so odd and unexpected that, try as he might, Loke couldn’t hold back the snort that spilled out from somewhere deep inside him. 

He was in tears within seconds, clutching the sides of his stomach as he keeled over with laughter, and, after a few seconds, Aries joined him; the two of them snickering like middle-schoolers over a dumb joke.

“Pig-headed?” He wheezed.

Stars, it had been a while since they’d laughed together. Truth be told, Loke wasn’t sure they’d even be able to talk normally again without the ghost of Karen hovering between them, but here they were. Stranger things had happened.

“I’m glad,” Aries said finally, as she paused to catch their breath, “I haven’t seen you smile once since you came home.”

Loke opened his mouth to protest but she held up a finger to stop him, “No, talking about Lucy-san doesn’t count.”

“Killjoy.” He huffed. Aries giggled.

“How is she taking the news, by the way?”

“Better than I expected,” He admitted, “She’s tougher than she looks, m–“

Loke caught himself just in time. 

He didn’t know what would be worse, actually slipping up and saying the words “my Lucy”, or watching his friend’s face scrunch up with pity as she hears it. Even Aries (the most optimistic of all the spirits) would click her tongue in disbelief if she found out just how deep his loyalties lay. 

Celestial Spirits don’t fall in love with humans. Capricorn had drilled it into his head since he was a boy. Especially not their bright-eyed, lavender-shampooed, beautiful, beautiful masters. 

“That’s good,” Aries affirmed, blissfully oblivious to his mental gymnastics as she rose from her seat, “I’d better head off then.”

“Is there anything you wanted me to look into while you’re.. taking your mandatory rest?”

Loke was about to shake his head and send her on her way, but a tiny voice in the back of his head made him pause, the lightness in his chest temporarily soaking in an inexplicable sense of dread.

“Actually,” he began, “There is one thing.”

She blinked expectantly.

“What can you tell me about the Eclipse?”

Next Chapter ->