#oh and i also get to stop wearing the compression wrap tomorrow!

[pentanguine]

In case anyone is wondering about top surgery recovery, I haven’t been posting about it because it’s been uneventful

Ever since I got the drains out, I’ve felt totally fine, and it’s honestly been like a nice two week vacation from work. I’ll hurt a little bit if I try to move in a way I shouldn’t (which is basically just reaching for things), and for the first week, I couldn’t walk as fast as I normally do, but other than that? Non-event

Emotionally, this still feels like the most normal thing in the world. It’s hard to imagine there was ever anything there. I keep spontaneously grinning while I’m taking a shower, in unselfconscious joy

I have had the top surgery recovery from heaven, so I can’t guarantee anyone else’s will be like this, but even if there had been more problems, it would still definitely be worth it

[swtltlmrvlgrl]

Accidents Happen

Summary:

The story is set in an alternative MC universe where Tony Stark is still alive and is paying for Peter Parker’s college tuition fees. The college life is not really something that he looks forward to, especially when he’s far away from Ned and MJ. But luckily he was able to meet the reader!

This story is part of my one-shot compilations inspired by the song “You Shine” from the musical “Carrie”, wherein two people see the way each other shines.

Pairing: Peter Parker x Reader

Warning: Fluff, awkward university students, accident, injury

Word Count: 2,906

First Day of School. Peter Parker cringes at the thought. It’s not that he hates school, he just feels uneasy at the thought that he’s new and he doesn’t have his friends, Ned and MJ, with him.

And I’m Spider-Man, I have better things to do, he thought.

If it wasn’t for his promise to Mr. Stark, to finish his college degree in exchange for full access to the Avengers Compound and all the tech that comes with it, he would’ve webbed his way out of the school before he could even get in the school.

Tony Stark, a genius, billionaire, playboy and philanthropist, initially wanted to enroll Peter in the most elite school in America but good thing Peter was able to convince him not too. With the looks of how the students dress up and the amount of cars outside the parking area, this would’ve gotten much worse if he followed Mr. Stark’s initial plan. Peter adjusts his second-hand, thrift-store-bought backpack and walks straight towards his classroom.

Before entering the classroom, he double checks the text written on his ID to see if it matches the name of the room. He slowly enters the room and lo-and-behold, a classroom that can be converted to an IMAX movie theater, welcomes him.

He scans the room and decides to sit on the desk located a few meters away from the exit door. With his elbow on the desk and his chin resting on the palm of his hand, he observes the students already forming groups amongst themselves. Peter made no attempt to join a clique or to join any group, just looking at his wrinkled plaid shirt over his 5-year old white shirt, he knows he doesn’t belong. But he knows that’s not enough of a reason to just stop making new friends.

You’re an Avenger, man. With all the courage that he could muster, he scans the room and tries to find at least one person who hasn't had any chance to make friends yet.

Before he could turn around to check if the seat behind him is also empty, you walk towards Peter’s direction. You were wearing a blue oversized sweatshirt. A tinge of reds were peaking through the gaps between the folds of your black denim pants and white sneakers also caught Peter’s attention.

This is my chance.

Before Peter could even speak with you, a voice coming from the professor disrupted Peter’s plans.

“Hi class. Good morning.” The professor flashes his name and the subject name on the screen of the projector. “For today, I will be discussing the syllabus, I think we’ll finish early. I won’t be sharing the soft copy of my slide, so please take down notes.”

Bummed that he wasn’t able to talk to you, Peter made a mental note to at least try to start a conversation with you after class. He then rummages through his things, only to realize that he wasn’t able to bring any pens. He vaguely remembers Aunt May borrowing it earlier, but he’s not really sure if she was able to return it. “Oh no.” He whispers and takes out his notebook instead.

Peter is in the middle of pretending that he’s taking down notes, when he feels a soft tap on his shoulders.

“You can borrow this if you want.” You offer a ballpen to Peter.

Peter is taken aback by this sudden interaction.

“Ah!” You exclaim. “Don’t worry, the case is pink but the ink’s black.”

“T-thanks.” Peter stuttered. “I - I don’t mind the color.”

I don’t mind the color?? What the hell does that mean?! Peter smiles at your direction while mentally cursing at his awkward self on the inside.

-----

The professor finishes up his lecture and you start to fix up your things.

“Thank you for this.” Peter interrupts, while you were in the middle of putting your notebook in your black leather backpack. “I-I left my pen at home and -” With his left hand, he rubs his nape, as he hands you the pen with his right. “I’m Peter, by the way, Peter Parker.”

“Y/N. Y/N, L/N.” You respond and push back the pen. “You can have the pen for a while. You’ll probably need that for your next classes.”

“Oh. Uh!.” That… makes sense. Not gonna lie, Peter was a little surprised by your response, he definitely did not include that in his list of possible scenarios. “Right. I’ll just return this tomorrow.”

“Sure! What time’s your lunch tomorrow?” You ask, as the two of you walk out of the room. “My lunch time is...” He looks at the back of his ID, “a little early… 11:30AM. How about you?”

“Ow. Too bad. Mine’s 12nn.”

Your small pout wasn’t left unnoticed (and it was a little cute and Peter couldn’t help but smile.) “Wanna compare schedules?” Peter asks.

“Sure!” you answer excitedly.

“So…” Peter scans your schedule. "We’re classmates in… Literature… and…”

“History.” You add. The two of you looked at each other and smiled.

“I guess we’ll see each other a lot?” Peter comments.

“Yeah. I hope so.” You answer and smile at him.

-----

The two of you started eating together ever since the day returned the pen to you. Seating next to Peter is probably one of the best decisions that you made in your life. Having someone to eat with during lunch time was a thorn out of your chest because eating alone is one of your fears.

Generally, it takes a long time before you can adjust yourself to someone (contrary to the popular belief that you’re “friendly’), but Peter’s obvious awkwardness and warmth just made it more comfortable for you. Knowing that someone is as shy as you, but still trying to converse with you is something that you really appreciate 0 it makes you want to try to converse too.

From having lunch together, you two ended up walking home together, as well. Some days you would wait for him, some days he would wait for you and then some days he has to go earlier because he had something to do for Mr. Stark. Walking home together wasn’t really something that you explicitly told each other to do, it just felt like a natural thing to do.

“Hey.” you say, one day. “Let’s go to the clinic on our way home.”

“Why?” Peter asks, his voice sounds a little worried.“ Do you feel sick?”

You don’t answer and continue walking instead. After arriving at the clinic, you open the door and Mary, the University nurse, greets you with a warm smile.

“Y/N! What’s up?” Mary inquires.

“Hi Mary!” You stride inside and Peter follows. “Can I have some of your bandages?”

“Sure! Why? Don’t tell me you got injured again.” Mary echoes your soft chuckle. “No, not me this time.”

Mary pauses whatever she’s doing and observes you, as you point at the empty chair to where Peter can sit while you look for the bandages in the cabinet. Peter looks a little confused. With a white square bag in one hand, you approach the chair where Peter was seated.

“Give me your hand.” You instruct Peter, he hands you his left hand. “Your other hand, you silly.” You smile.

“I don’t think -” The pain he felt after you touch his right hand stops him mid-sentence.

“Sorry.” You whisper. Peter was wearing a long-sleeved flannel shirt that you had to slide up. His hand is swollen as you expected.

“I-” Peter starts. “I fell from the stairs.” Of course that is a lie. Because, he, in fact, fell from a building because he was running late for Literature class. He didn’t really mind it, because it happens all the time and he knows he’ll heal eventually.

You gently place a cold compress on Peter’s hand. “I noticed that you were having a hard time writing a while ago.” You pause for a while and look at him. “You don’t have to explain anything Peter. Plus, since you injured your dominant hand, I just thought you might need help with wrapping this up.”

“My mom’s a nurse.” You mention, while wrapping the bandage around Peter’s hand. “We used to pretend to be injured and wrap bandages during play time.”

Peter hums, amused. “You’re amazing, you know.” He comments. “You’ve always been like this since the day we first met. It’s like, you can read my mind.”

You laugh. “I don’t know why, but I always get that comment about me.” You pull down and button up Peter’s Sleeve. “But I don’t think I’m amazing, though.”

Before Peter could say anything, you stand up, fix the chair and return the bandage to where you got it. “Let’s go home?”

Peter nods and you bid goodbye to Mary.

“Bye, Mary. Thanks.” Peter echoes and waves his hand briefly.

“Take care, you two.” Mary responds.

-----

On your way home, Peter stops in his tracks and points at the ice cream truck by the park. “Hey. Let’s get some ice cream. Sit by the bench over there.” He pauses and looks at you. “I’ll go get you some. My treat.” He winks and runs towards the truck.

You sit down on the bench located under a tree, stretch your arms a little while taking a breath of fresh air. A few moments later, you see Peter striding towards the bench. He stops in front of you, with two ice creams in his left hand - his fingers strategically intertwined to make sure the ice creams won’t fall down. One of the ice cream was probably cookies and cream flavored and the other one was chocolate for sure.

“You know” You comment, as you reach out for what you assume as the cookies and cream flavored ice cream. “If you can hold two ice cream cones in one hand you should might as well try to write with it.”

Peter laughs and sits next to you and hands you a paper towel. “I’ll put that on my to-do list.”

You grab the paper towel that Peter handed you and the two of you proceed eating. You were silent for a whole minute until Peter started speaking again.

“I still think you’re amazing though.” Peter comments. While you were focusing on eating your ice cream, he looked at you briefly and looked away when you started laughing.

“Why are you bringing up that topic again?” A layer of ice cream got stuck on your throat making you cough a little, you clear your throat, and continue. “I don’t think being… hmm… how should I call this?” You pause to think for a second. “Sensitive? I don’t think it’s something amazing.”

“Why is that?” Peter was curious. “It’s like you’re a mind-reader! It’s amazing!”

You chuckle. “Why? Are you going to recruit me to the Avengers or something?”

Did she notice that I’m Spider-Man, too? “Hehe-he.” Peter laughs awkwardly and continues eating his ice cream.

“But seriously though.” You continue, while chewing some of the ice cream cone bits in your mouth. “As much as being...err...hyper-sensitive with other people’s non-verbal nuances is a good thing, especially when I have a friend like Peter Parker who tends to keep their struggles to themselves.”

“Hey! I don’t do that…”

You glare at him, smile a little and take a deep breath. “It’s not particularly amazing when I have to stand in front of many people…” You finish up with your ice cream and crumple the piece of paper towel on your hand. “...and notice every little change in expression each time you utter a word… Or when you sit alone in the middle of crowded places and just feel the eyes of people staring at you, judging you.” You look at Peter and smile a little more as you try to make it look like it’s not that big of an issue.

Peter had finished his ice cream as well. “Y/N…” Peter might not be as sensitive as you, but he looks at you as if he sees beyond your half-hearted smile. Peter moves and scoots closer to you while adjusting himself to face you. He takes your hand, opens it, and takes the balled up paper towel that you’ve been gripping while you were speaking. With his left hand, he puts the paper towel into his bag’s side pocket, while making sure that his right hand never left yours.

“I’m sorry… I never meant to make you feel uncomfortable.” You look at Peter. He was gazing at you, looking straight into your eyes.

“It’s fine, Peter. It’s not like you -”

“Y/N.” Peter cuts you off. “Whether or not I wanted to, I made you feel uncomfortable and I have to apologize. Okay?” Peter pauses. “Can you promise me one thing?”

“What is it?” You ask.

“I - I’m not as sensitive as you and I might not always notice whether you feel bad or not.” Peter continues. “If it’s alright with you… can you promise to not hide your feelings when you’re with me? I mean - it’s difficult, you know. Having to hide your feelings all the time. At least if you’re with me… even if it’s for a short time, you don’t have to carry the burden of hiding it.”

You smile at Peter, tears welling up on your eyes. “Peter…”

“But if you’re not comfortable with that, it’s fine -”

You release your hand from Peter’s hand, form a fist and raise your pinky finger. “I promise.”

Peter smiles and entangles his pinky finger into yours. “Promise.”

“Just promise that you won’t fall down the stairs again.” You joke.

Peter chuckles while reaching out for your face to wipe the tear that you didn’t notice fall from your eye.

“If you have presentations where you have to speak in front of the class, whether I’m your classmate or not, I’ll try to be there and maybe you can try to focus on me?” Peter clears his throat. “I mean… just to keep your attention out of the other people.”

You laugh and Peter joins you too. “Thanks, Pete.”

-----

“I have something to buy at the grocery.” You tell Peter while the two of you are waiting for the traffic light to turn green. “You can go ahead.”

“Take care!” Peter shouts as the two of you go your separate ways.

“You too!” You shout back and make your way towards the grocery.

Peter waits until you’re out of sight before he goes to the alleyway to change into his suit and start his patrol. He webs his way up the building and gets a glimpse of you entering the grocery. He nods a little and webs away to find people he needs to help out.

-----

Normal. That’s what Peter would probably describe the first hour of his patrol today - stopping thieves from running away, saving cats that got stuck on a tree and telling a lost man the directions. It was all just normal everyday, neighborhood Spider-Man things.

He was about to take a break when he felt the hair in his arms stand up.

Peter tingle.

“Y/N!” He exclaims as he hurries down towards the direction of the grocery where he last saw you.

I hope I’m wrong. I hope I’m wrong. He repeats in his head. Y/N, please, please be safe.

-----

You were on your way to cross the street when a running child and stumbled into you, causing your groceries to fall down. You squat to pick up the groceries, you look up to search for the child, only to find him still running.

Towards the pedestrian lane.

Red light.

Huge truck.

Fast.

You stand up and dash towards the kid, leaving your groceries scattered across the pavement.

Will I make it?

You run as fast as you can.

I won’t make it. The truck’s too fast.

You run faster.

A little more.

You reach for him and you push him towards (what you think is) safety as hard as hard as you can. All the energy in your body had left you and the last thing you can remember was the loud honk from the truck and then everything was silent.

-----

Your eyes are still closed when you feel an arm tightly wrapped around you. You look up only to find yourself swinging in the air while being held and carried by none other than Spider-Man.

The two of you reach what seems to be the top of some building, you're not even sure what building it is because everything happened so fast.

Spider-Man put you down at last.

“Thank you.” You tell him as you pat down and straighten your clothes. “I’m sorry you had to...carry me. Is the - uhm - is the kid safe?” You ask him.

Spider-Man chuckles. “You were literally about to die a while ago and the first thing you think of is the well-being of other people.” He sighs. “Are YOU okay?”

You pause for a second to the sudden idea that popped into your mind while you're face-to-face with THE Spider-Man.

Familiar.

Oddly familiar.

His voice is a little muffled, but you know that voice. You hear that voice every day. And that height. You take a step forward. That scent.

That warmth.

“Peter?” You step closer to the man that you’re 90% sure is your friend, Peter Parker, dressed in the Spider-Man costume. “Is that you?”

A/N: It's my first time writing for Peter Parker! How was it?? Haha. I hope I did his character justice.

I'm so excited to write five different stories with different pairings inspired from the song "You Shine". I haven't watched the musical but whenever I hear that song, I feel so encouraged and it makes me feel assured that somewhere out there, there are people who can see good things in me that I can't see for myself. Next up, Bucky Barnes x Reader! Look forward to it!

Masterlist

[thebakingqueen5]

KW 2021: Tease

Day 6 for Kataang Week 2021 hosted by @kataang-week with the prompt Tease!

I might have stuffed up the use of this word and its definition in context but shhhh it’s fine and this is cute.

Links: FF.net | AO3

Summary: Another year, another summer, another week of prompts celebrating our favorite couple. Kataang Week 2021 Day 6. Tease (verb): gently pull or comb (tangled wool, hair, etc.) into separate strands. Aka the take on the “tease” prompt that no one (not even me) expected.

Word Count: 1.8K

It had been a tiring, tension-filled day.

The war ended five, maybe six months prior, and the four nations were still partaking in the grueling process of learning to work together after a century’s worth of fighting. Considering that a group of teenagers were the reason there was any hope of amity in the first place, it came as little surprise that most of the pressure to arrange and facilitate treaties and peace talks fell on the Gaang, much to their chagrin.

And so here they were, utterly exhausted after a long day of trying to convince the Earth King and Zuko that violence was, in fact, bad, and stressed out of their minds, aching for a distraction.

It certainly didn’t help that tonight, of all nights, Katara’s long, dark hair was refusing to cooperate despite her having just stepped out of the shower a mere 10 minutes past. No matter how many times she ran the whalebone comb through her thick locks, nothing seemed to help, and her patience was quickly dissipating.

“Spirits, Zuko and Kuei are going to drive me absolutely crazy, sweetie.” Aang ranted as he entered her room, closing the door shut behind him as he made wild gestures with his hands.

“They’re both so… stubborn! And self-righteous and it’s getting us nowhere!” he huffed in frustration. “I wish they could just- oh.”

The airbender immediately faltered, finally noticing the appearance, or rather the clothing, of his girlfriend seated in front of a square mirror, nightgown riding quite high up her thigh.

“Sorry,” he blushed, eyes darting around the room to look anywhere, absolutely anywhere except at her to keep what little modesty they had left between them. “I didn’t know you had already showered and changed- I really should have knocked.”

Katara rolled her eyes, a slight pink tint rising to her cheeks as she returned to the task at hand: attempting to tame the lion’s mane she called her hair resting atop her head at that very moment.

“It’s fine, Aang,” she laughed, pushing a strand of hair out of her face. “No need to be embarrassed, really. Besides, it’s nothing you haven’t already seen.”

The waterbender snuck a quick glance at her boyfriend, and, quite frankly, she wasn’t sure he could get any redder if he tried. A tomato would have been jealous of the vibrant hue of Aang’s face, and he couldn’t stop staring at the floor, gaze entirely focused on the wooden boards beneath him.

The boy remained silent, and guilt began to fill Katara’s stomach.

“I’m sorry, sweetie,” she frowned, standing up. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I can go change if you want-”

Aang instantly looked up from the ground, quick to clarify his thoughts. “No, sweetie. It’s not that! It’s just- you look absolutely beautiful, and I don’t want me subconsciously staring at you to make you feel uncomfortable or uneasy around me.”

Katara’s eyebrows raised in pleasant surprise, and she patted a spot on the edge of the mattress, beckoning for him to come sit near her before turning back and glaring at herself in the mirror.

“Believe me, sweetie, there is very little you can do to make me feel uncomfortable around you. Honestly, it’s a bit of a compliment knowing that’s how I seem in your eyes,” she said shyly.

The airbender grinned and walked up to her. Feeling a little emboldened, he tenderly wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed a kiss to her cheek, chin barely reaching an inch above her shoulder.

“You could be wearing a potato sack and you’d still be the most beautiful woman in the world to me,” he murmured as his stormy eyes met her cerulean ones through the mirror.

“Really?” she raised an eyebrow and gestured to the mess on her head. “Even with this bird’s nest?”

“Always,” Aang smiled earnestly. “Speaking of, though, do you need some help with that?”

“I appreciate the offer, Aang, but I’ve been trying for the last half hour now and you aren’t exactly the most experienced with hair.”

“Well, maybe a new perspective is just what you need.”

He gently pulled her back towards the mattress a few feet away from the dresser with the mirror and sat her down in front of him. Rolling her eyes, the waterbender handed him her comb, but he simply cast it aside, instead using his nimble fingers to work through the knots and tangles in her hair.

Katara was right- he did have minimal experience with hair, not having much of his own, but he often played with hers when they spent time together. He knew what relaxed her and what didn't, which gave him the perfect means to seize this opportunity and prove her wrong, while also, of course, helping the two unwind and spend some time with one another.

The waterbender had already been quite frustrated when she had started working through her hair, and her movements had reflected that. She was stressed and antsy, and she combed harshly and roughly, only compressing the knotted hair to the end of the strand and making it harder to get out. Between that and the day she had, she had been close to tears and Aang’s gentle touch was just what she needed.

Much of Aang’s stress had been alleviated when he had entered the room earlier in simply being able to see and embrace his girlfriend. Because of this, he was able to take his time and the change of pace was nice for the both of them.

He worked slowly and methodically, fingers lightly massaging the top of her scalp before moving down to dampen and separate her wavy tresses into individual strips of hair with the help of some waterbending. He took care to not tug too hard on any one strand, having heard many a horror story from Katara in the past with her unable to tolerate anyone else handling her sensitive locks. The airbender was determined to make it a pleasant experience for the both of them, and it was.

In fact, Katara had been mildly shocked by the sheer love and effort she felt Aang direct into detangling her hair. It was sweet seeing him put so much energy towards trying something new just to help her, and the tension in her mind that had been knotted up began to unravel as well.

“Halfway,” Aang whispered, breaking her out of her thoughts. His gaze was still intense and focused on her unruly strands as she sighed softly and leaned ever so slightly back into him.

“I’m sorry I ever doubted you,” she murmured back. She closed her eyes as Aang’s rhythmic yet feathery touches to her scalp soothed her and then gave herself a quick look in the mirror through her peripheral vision- her hair was already looking a lot better and far more tame than it had been 15 minutes ago.

“That’s alright, just have a little more faith in your amazing boyfriend next time, yeah?” he winked with a smile, hands moving the hair he had untangled to the front as he directed his concentration to the last section.

This section was by far going to be the hardest-  most of the strands were embedded into a few large and messy knots creating quite a complex network. Nevertheless, Aang was up to the challenge. He began humming an old Air Nomad folk tune, one of the many they’d perform at Yangchen’s Festival, causing Katara to hum along with him as he spread apart the last few unruly waves of hair.

After finishing, he steadily ran his fingers through her hair like a comb, taking extra care to caress the nape of her neck and back of her head as she sighed happily, and gave it one last sweep with the whale-bone comb.

“All done,” he said, tucking a lock behind her ear when she turned around to face him.

The waterbender beamed before lightly pushing him down on the bed as they both sank into the mattress.

“I take it you enjoyed it?” Aang laughed, looking up at her.

“Very much so,” Katara responded. She then carefully angled herself so that she was lying pressed up against Aang’s side, head resting in the crook of his neck.

“It was pretty relaxing for me too,” Aang blushed. “You know I love playing with your hair and this just kinda took it to another level. I’d be happy to do it for you in the future if you ever find yourself fighting with that comb again, that is.”

“I’d like that, Aang. A lot,” she smiled shyly. “It was great to just… unwind. Have you there with me and just relax. I was basically about to cry when you came in and you just melted all my worries away with those magical hands of yours.”

The airbender chuckled, snaking his arm around her shoulders and leaning his head against hers. “Glad to hear it, sweetie. It’s getting late though, and we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow. Time for some rest?”

Katara wordlessly nodded, sighing and closing her eyes as Aang did the same and blew out the candles lighting up the room.

“Thank you for this, sweetie. I love you.”

“I love you too, Tara. Good night.”

The two were taken away into the dream realm, but an unspoken custom was crafted that night. It became a ritual, a way for both of them to calm down and escape the high stress levels of their everyday lives.

When Katara found her dad kissing Malina and it felt like her whole world was crumbling down around her, Aang had snuck into her room that night and combed and plaited her hair until they drifted off into each other’s arms.

When Aang had confided in the waterbender about feeling anxious and insecure about becoming a new father after she had informed him of her pregnancy, Katara had shown up to the stables with a comb and some apples for Appa in tow. The two ended up assuaging each other’s concerns while leaning back against the fluffy bison, much to their attention-seeking flying lemur’s annoyance.

Whether they were stressing over not being able to find an old book from the Southern Water Tribe after moving to Air Temple Island or had just come home after a near-death experience with the most dangerous bloodbender in the world, one of the two would always sit the stressed one down and grab a comb.

It never became a chore or something they dreaded; it was almost a secret love language for the couple. It was a way of reminding each other that no matter what was going on in their lives, they would always find time for each other and help one another. It pulled Aang and Katara out of some of their lowest, darkest moments, and it only accentuated their highs.

Such a simple, pure act born out of nothing but love and a desire to help- it should’ve been insignificant, a one-time thing, but it became so much more. To Katara and Aang, it meant the world.

[dog-teeth]

a bit of a more detailed top surgery update for anyone interested, under the cut! (no pics this time sry) also ive posted a lil bit on my instagram @\archaicstarlight

so i’m 1 week post op today! i’m super glad this first week is over, it’s definitely the most difficult part. i’ve felt significantly better each day since surgery, as far as my mental state and pain, i’m back to normal. my mobility is still very limited, and my chest is still in the first phase of healing, but otherwise i’m very great and normal.

i got my drains out yesterday morning and oh my god, it’s sooooo much better now. the drains didn’t hurt, but having two containers of my own blood hanging off my bandages was really cumbersome and annoying, and i wasn’t able to take off my ace bandage wrap At All. now, i take it off a few times a day to reapply aquaphor to my nipple grafts and change the gauze over them once a day. i also put arnica gel over my bruises, which are in the last stages of healing right now. additionally i’ve been taking arnica and bromelain supplements to help bruising, i think they worked well bc none of my bruises were dark or hurting, its just a slight yellow discoloration on my skin.

there is small wounds on either side where the drains came out, but they’re just normal scabs basically, it’s annoying to put gauze+tape over them so tomorrow i’m just gonna put band-aids over them, since they’re done draining,. my doctor said they might leak a small amount of fluid the first 24 hours after they’re taken out but that’s over now.

since i got my drains out, my major concern is hoping that no fluid builds up in my chest, which is why i wear my compression bandage all the time and don’t get my heart rate up too much (can’t do that wearing the ace wrap anyways), and i also don’t extend my arms out much or lift anything heavier than a couple pounds. the other thing is keeping my nipple grafts hydrated 24/7 with some healing ointment and aquaphor. there’s medical tape over my main incisions that i can’t remove. i also have to keep sleeping slightly upright which SUCKS SO MUCH i want to be horizontal so bad lmao.

at my second post-op next monday, i will have the medical bandage tape removed from my big incisions, and have the stitches taken off my nipple grafts. i’m very excited to have the tape taken off so i can see my scars and care for them better. i also ordered a compression binder that gets here on friday, so if it works well i’ll stop using the ace bandage wrap which is annoying to take on and off. for the next few weeks (at Least), i’ll continue keeping my nipples hydrated and under gauze, wearing my compression wrap 24/7, and limiting my mobility.

tldr; dealing with my wounded chest but up and at em otherwise!

[the-fiction-witch]

More Pain Then I have Ever Felt

REAL LIFE SCANDAL COUPLE: TBS X READER RATING: CUTE

"are you ready?" Y/n asks sitting on her sofa beside Thomas the two each having a cup of tea "No, what are we doing?" "We are making you a woman" "Oh, I thought we didn't have that in the budget" "What is our budget?" "Two bottles of wine and a box of tea bags a week" "Ohh... Maybe that's why we make such low quality content" "You said it darling not me" "No, we are not completely turning you into a woman Thomas" "Oh, good. Because I have shit to do this week" "Good because your going to go though a woman's right of passage experience" "What... Your not giving me a period are you?" "No, no no," she smiled patting his leg as she sipped he tea "your wearing a bra" "I'm doing what now?" "Your wearing a bra everyday for a week" ".... Nooooo I don't wanna" he says "Well tough" she smiled "okay day one is easy. Sports bra." "This... This is an swimming crop top" "A little bit, atleast since you have small boobs you won't need two or more bras" she explained "I hope" he sighed "will these even fit me?" "Yes I took your measurements and bought you bras for this week" "... You have my measurements?" "Yes I do" "Hu, okay" he shrugs "Let's see how it goes.." she smiled

"How you feeling?" Y/n asks as they walked down the street "Not terrible, but also not great" "Explain the feelings" "It's not like bad, it doesn't hurt like nothing is digging into me" "But?" "But. I feel so compressed, we sat down for lunch and I'm just not comfortable at all." "How would you describe it" "Uhhh... Like when you wear a compression sock or glove when your hurt yourself but just around your chest, or maybe better like if you put on a pair of boxers that are all elastic but are like two sizes too small. That's how I would explain it" "It feels tight and restrictive then?"

"Yes, It feels like... wrong. And I know it's not the wrong size I just think it's meant to be like this. It feels like... when you put on like your sibling's jeans out the washing basket by accident, Like its tight, doesn't fit right, you know it's not right, and you can barely function"

"And this is the easy one"

"Yay" He sighed

"Day two! are you ready," y/n asks standing in her kitchen as Thomas sat shirtless with his coffee

"No."

"that was not the right answer Thomas"

"Can I give up?"

"It's day two"

"Still... can I give up?"

"No"

"Please"

"no"

"But you love me" "You agreed to this. look how pretty your bra is today"

"....... that is a bit of lace" "It's a bralet"

"I hate you" He sighed

"You love me really"

"How are the tit's today Thomas?" Y/n asks walking around a Sainsburys with Thomas behind her with a trolley "That was a lot of T's"

"Cosy" He smiled

"Really?"

"Yeah, I see why you would hate these because there is no support or anything so yeah if you do in fact have big boobs this... this isn't gonna be comfy, but as I have no boobs I'm good really cosy"

"would you like some lace boxers? so you match?"

"..... ohhhhh noooo.... noooooooo.... that seems like a terrible idea"

"You always say I look nice in lace panties"

"Yeah, you do. Not me."

"Maybe that's another video making you wear like women's underwear"

"You don't pay me enough for this shit" "I don't pay you at all"

".... I'd like to be paid for this bullshit."

"Why? you do worse stuff than this at work?"

"Yeah But I'm paid for it. Usually paid pretty handsomely hence my multiple motorbikes and a large house in London"

"and your vintage car"

"and my vintage car, I'd like to be paid." "I pay you in cupcakes and sex"

"wait... so if I stop agreeing to film stupid stuff with you are you not going to have sex with me anymore?" "as much"

"fine I'll film the stupid videos"

"Yay!"

"Day three. How you feeling?" Y/n asks on her sofa

"Like I wanna move out"

"Okay, this is your boob holder for today"

"Okay this is what I thought was gonna happen"

"This is the first one you recognise as a bra"

"Yeah, I don't like these though"

"why not?"

"No bones"

"ahhh no bones. why don't you like bra's that don't have bones?"

"I just... don't like them I find them uncomfortable" "fine, but I want a cupcake for this bullshit"

"you may have one cupcake"

"May I have a blow job?"

"no"

"...can I have one tomorrow?" "Maybe"

"Finally I can be evil to you too" Y/n giggled as they stood in the garden and she processed to snap the bra strap on thomas' shoulder

"AAHHH FUCK! Ooww!"

"Now you know how I feel."

"That's how bad it hurts?" "Yeah? and I was gentle.... do you recall when you used to get my strap back away two steps and let it go?"

"I... I am so sorry."

"Can I do it? for payback?"

"I'll allow it. for all the years' I've done it to you" He sighed turning around y/n giggled grabbing his bra strap taking steps back and letting go "AAAAHHHHH! OOWWWWW!" He whines holding his shoulder "Owww.... I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry" he whines almost in tears

"Is this a formal apology Thomas? for the years of you pinging my bra straps?"

"Yes it is." He nods "I'm so sorry y/n. I apologize. I'm sorry Y/n. I'm sorry Ava. I'm sorry Issy. Giz. Jessica anyone I have ever pinged the bra strap off... I'm so sorry" he whines

"who's Jessica?"

"A girl I remember from secondary school. she was in my English class and I remember pinging her bra strap, I'm so sorry....""

"This is even that bad. you haven't even gotten to a bra with underwire yet"

".... Nooo... I wanna go home" He whines

"You are home Thomas"

"I'm keeping this stick" He says picking a stick up from the ground "You come near my bra strap again I still poke you with this stick"

"Are you ready for day for?"

"fuck no. I don't wanna do this anymore"

"well tough, this has underwire it's a full cup and it has these cute little back hooks so you can cross the back or so they dig into your skin" she smiled "This is similar to what I wear"

"At least it looks cute"

"But only you will know it looks cute" "well and you. and anyone I show it too"

"are you gonna show jack your boobs?"

"Maybe, I think He'd be confused"

"I really wanna send a picture of you in a bra to jack with below the waist and above your chin cut out and see what he says"

"See if he can tell it's me?"

"Yeah"

"well, he'll know it's not you. you have bigger boobs them me"

"true"

"How you feeling?" she asks sitting on a pub bench

"This. Is more pain then I have ever felt"

"Really?"

"Yeah" He sighed

"You've been in a motorbike crash"

"This still hurts more"

"Explain?"

"The metal is digging into me, the middle is cutting my skin open, the straps are digging in, the back feels like.... like I'm trying to wrap a too small bunge cord around me, I hate this. I give up. I'm done. I can't do this anymore. I don't even have boobs and I'm in agony, I do not understand how anyone who has boobs who is putting weight into this possibly is comfy or ever has a nice day this is awful" He explained "I don't know how you, or any other woman does this. this is insane, there has got to be a way to support your boobs that doesn't cause this much pain"

"You'd think so but there isn't"

"Then that's a real fuckin problem."

"we didn't even get to the painful ones, this and yesterday are what most women commonly wear"

"I'm done, I hate it. I am in so much pain"

"Okay we'll go home, you did better then I thought"

"Can I have a cupcake when we get home?"

"You can have two cupcakes"

"and a blow job?"

"Yes...."

"Wooo!"

[silverkoushi]

haikyuu!! headcanons

⇢ scenario: how you’d spend the holidays with them!! pt.2 | read pt. 1 here! ⇢ feat. : tsukki (karasuno), bokuto (fukurodani) & kuroo (nekoma) x gn!reader ⇢  wc & warnings:  3.3k, slightly suggestive for kuroo

ʕ·ᴥ·ʔ not @ me having the phattest crush on kuroo as you can probably tell here... dear god that man is something edit: omo for some reason the paragraphs got messed up n i just checked it after hours of posting... i fixed it now so hopefully it makes more sense ahh my apologies!! ><

tsukishima kei

୨୧ ˻˳˯ₑ*॰¨̮  idk about you but i think tsukki secretly enjoys the holidays? like he’d think the music is overbearing, the movies are disgustingly cliche, and the amount of people gathering in places is one of his worst nightmares— those aren’t the things that he looks forward to. i think tsukki loves winter, maybe because i see him as a softie who collects sweaters, hoodies, and sweatpants that keep him comfy and cozy during cold nights and chilly mornings! WITH THAT BEING SAID, tsukki dies inside when he sees you wearing any of those following outfits of his. he might get annoyed at first that you don’t ask because he was planning on wearing them that day, but when you show up at his dorm clad in his night blue sweater with a little moon stitched on the side, there are no words coming out of his mouth. he will try to look menacing, eyes in a deadpan expression but you know he’s lying, and just stare at him with a doe-like face and put his hands in yours, swinging it back and forth as you drag him out of his room and into the snowy field. you don’t even think twice about getting matching sweaters because the boy will hate you for the rest of his life, but at least you got him to wear a reindeer headband for 2 seconds in the photobooth!! most of the time, you basically just bring him to anywhere you want to go. you guys look at the humongous christmas tree they placed in the center of the plaza, and you ask someone walking by if you can get a picture of the two of you in front of him. this way, tsukki can’t complain and will be semi-forced to pose with you hehe. you thought he’d just be standing there, arms to his side with a nonchalant expression but you actually feel him put his arm around your waist and lean his head down on top of yours. 

you can’t help the cheeky smile show on your face as you tiptoe just enough to reach his cheek, and once the guy said, “ok one more!” you steal a kiss on the side of tsukki’s small smile. “hey, what was—” “thanks, mister!! happy holidays!!” you avoid his stare, and get your phone back from the guy as you scroll through the pics he took (thank god only a few were blurry). tsukki keeps glaring at you, and you understand he’s not big into pda but uh, he started it with holding you close to him like that >:( “what?? you look so cute here, though!!” you whine to him, hoping he doesn’t ask that you delete it :( tsukki gives it a once over, a warm feeling creeping on his cheeks as he studies the picture: damn, is he whipped for you. he dismisses the overreaction on his part (for once), and takes your hand in his once more, asking where it is you wanted to go next. you’re surprised he left it like that, but you’re taking advantage of this situation and drag him to more festive stuff around the plaza <3

with your parents spending the holidays abroad and working overtime, tsukki’s mom invited you to their place instead and you’re!! more than happy and oh so grateful!! tsukki doesn’t show it but he’s actually extremely nervous,, what if you don’t like his family?? what if his brother is too annoying for you, what if this isn’t the kind of in-laws you were expecting— wait, he’s thinking too far ahead and you’re looking at him with raised eyebrows. quick! he turns away from your gaze, biting his lip at getting caught with his overthinking. “tsukki, you okay?” you ask gently, looping your arm around his as you guys near his house. “yeah…” he responds lamely, and you’re not sure if he wanted you at his house for the holidays or what… but you shake the negativity away and tell yourself that this is an opportunity to show your own personality to his family!! you’re greeted by a boisterous even taller guy at the door, and his also really tall mom waving at you from the kitchen, finishing up the grand dinner. “mom and i thought you were just pretending about your relationship, tsukki~” akiteru nudges him, and you chuckle at your boyfriend’s helpless look on his face, as if telling you this is what i dealt with during my childhood. but the holiday celebration with his family went super smooth!! his mom cooked amazing homemade dishes, and tsukki was actually smiling and laughing along the poor jokes akiteru made, it was so endearing to watch. you asked to help with the clean up as tsukki and his brother play volleyball outside in the cold. 

“i’m so glad he has you,” his mom comforts you, and you nod your head in thanks while you wipe the plates clean. “i’ve never seen him so… cheerful like this, you know?” what a heartwarming thing to say :(( and yet you thought he was just finally letting loose because he’s at home!! his mom turns in early that eve of christmas, and his brother goes out to have a nightly beer sesh with his hometown friends before christmas morning tomorrow. you and tsukki are left alone in his room as you marvel at the many dinosaur related merch, posters, and even stuffies he has in his childhood room!! “don’t say it,” he threatens you lightly, even though you’ve been well-aware of his fascination for the species. a little tired from the trip earlier and ngl you’re both full from the food, you lay down on the floor, pillows supporting your sleepy heads as tsukki shares the other side of his earphones. you listen to calming, lofi music for the night and at some point, he finds your fingers in his again. “thank you for having me, tsukki,” you whisper with a yawn, remembering the night days ago where you cried into his shoulder about missing your own family during this season. tsukki doesn’t respond as he hears your light snoring, and instead turns his body towards you as he caresses the side of your face, smiling at the beauty before him. “you’re always welcome here, dummy. you’ll always have me.”

bokuto koutarou

୨୧ ˻˳˯ₑ*॰¨̮  oof!! so many holiday parties!! gift giving exchanges!! dancing and singing, drinking and having the time of your lives! of course, bokuto asks first and foremost if you’re okay going to all of these celebrations with him as he has gathered a lot of friends from different majors, clubs, and such. you didn’t expect to come with him to all of them, tbh, but since he seems so excited to bring you along you found yourself nodding along! OOPS, what a wild ride it was to meet friends you didn’t even know he had. first, bokuto asked you to help him find some gifts for the exchange parties and you comply— you love thinking up presents for diff kinds of people! “would akaashi want this?” he points at a set of compression socks for sports “you’d want that more, bo” “oh oh!! how about this for kuroo?!” he leads you to the beauty section, hairspray littering the aisle “i think that’s more of an insult than a gift…” he’ll pout at his failure to think of the best gifts for his friends, but you cling to him with your linked arms and tell him not to worry— you kinda figured the kind of people his best friends are, so you suggest things off the bat: film roll for akaashi the photography minor, a mug with a pun-ny chem joke for kuroo, and a new case for kenma’s switch lite!! “wah! you know them better than i do,” he exclaims, eyes shining in excitement as you bring the gifts and other extra stuff to his apartment to help him wrap them. with this, bokuto came up with an idea to wrap the presents in the most creative way possible, and you just stare at him in awe as he tries to disguise the mug as.. a gingerbread man?? you don’t even know how he did it! as you tape up the finishing touches with the others, you eye a small gift wrapped box on the island counter along with a card next to it, all glittery and a name scribbled on top that you can’t make out where you were seated. 

“hey, bo, who’s that for?” you point at the suspecting box, and almost immediately bokuto body slams you on the ground, obstructing your view of the gift. “bokuto i can’t breathe—” you wheeze, laughing at the way he scrambles to get up from the position but his feet slips against the unused wrapping paper on the floor. “sorry, sorry i just— STOP LOOKING” he pleads, caging you with his arms either side your figure. the both of you pause, realizing the predicament you’re in until bokuto unleashes a sly smirk, eyes pointed at you with a mischievous glint. you know that look, so you start wiggling out of his way until he plops down on you again (mind you, he’s MANY inches taller than you and his built...whew, but that’s part of the problem right now!!) and blows raspberries on your neck, the audacity!! “tell me,” he whispers against your ear after a while, voice suddenly low in tone and your senses perk up. “have you been naughty or nice recently?” he continues hoarsely, and it doesn’t take long until you burst out laughing at his attempt of being flirty right now. he finally releases you, feigns hurt from your reaction but he knows what a goofball he is.

anyway, you put all the gifts in the car and head to the many parties he was invited to!! and honestly, you enjoyed yourself albeit it got really tiring to show up with much enthusiasm compared to the last. but bokuto on the other hand never runs out of energy for some reason!! he’s still winning the games, singing his heart out with his friends, and trying all the foods in the potluck, even shamelessly!! feeding you too! it’s embarrassing >< but in a way your heart swells with the thought of bokuto being very openly proud of his relationship with you, and how his friends seem to like you as well! pictures were taken, holiday spirits and gifts were exchanged and finally, he’s free for the night <3 you’ve been waiting for the right moment to give him your personal gift to your boyf (it’s an edited picture of the two of you at one of his winning games!! you can’t draw for sht but you are the best at adding lil stickers and cute petnames all around the photo hehe) you had it inserted in a picture frame too so the gift was relatively medium sized and rectangular. when you crash at his place, you ready yourself to give it to him, having second thoughts with how corny it must seem like… as you psych yourself up on the couch, you feel his arms suddenly wrap themselves around you as he starts peppering your neck with lazy kisses. your chest tightens, eyes closed at the warmth of his lips on your skin but— you can’t get distracted!! “bo, i have something for you—” “i saved the best gift for last—” o, you say it at the same time and so you look at each other with blank stares, and then laugh at your awkwardness!! 

he lets you go first, your nerves slowly dissipating at the excited gleam in his irises, he’s so cute!! as he unwraps it, he hitches a breath, looks at you then the picture and you again and— let’s say your face was just full on bokuto territory only ;-) as much as you were enjoying his attention all on you, his gift wasn’t opened yet!! bokuto went from confident to shy mode again, hiding his face with only one eye peeking out to watch you…. for some reason, since it was a tiny box you blurted out, “don’t tell me it’s a ring, bo.” as a joke but bokuto suddenly freezes at your words. and you had to stop unboxing to make sure he doesn’t go all pale on you, but also??? was he really???? GOING TO???-- “DID YOU WANT ME TO GET YOU A RING?? I CAN RETURN THE EARRINGS TODAY, I THINK I STILL HAVE THE RECEIPT—” “bo, it’s okay!!! omg no T_T” you take his hands off his face to look at him lovingly, a kiss on his pouty lips as you reassure him his presence is all that you can ever want, but whatever it was he gave you, you’ll cherish just the same!! so finally, once you take the lid off the box you see an adorable pair of owl earrings!! it’s so cute and it reminds you of him and thats probably why he got that for you :’)))) “i also wrote you a letter but please read it when i’m asleep or something…” aww shy bokuto!! >< you never thought you’d see the day :’)

kuroo tetsurou

୨୧ ˻˳˯ₑ*॰¨̮  man.. i just know this guy wouldn’t want to let leave… the bed… with him… on christmas day. imagine something like having to stay until he can for his duties at work which ended up til late christmas eve :( you were looking forward to spending time with him back at his hometown since you don’t necessarily celebrate the specific holiday, but being with tetsurou for almost a year now and knowing he does— you wanted it to be special and memorable for him! he felt really bad making you stay at his apartment until he finishes up work, really zooming through all the documents and stuff he needed to complete just so he can spend at least a few hours of christmas eve with you. when he got home, his heart dropped to his stomach at the sight of you falling asleep on the couch, right next to the lit up christmas tree you two decorated a week ago (thats how busy he has been! you opted to fix the tree yourself, but tetsu insisted on doing it together since it’s your first holiday with him!). your favorite blanket was wrapped around you but your feet were dangling midway with no socks on and he just >:( had to carry you to bed and tuck you in— all of you!! 

he changes to a sweater and pjs before readying himself to carry you against his chest. his own body is exhausted from working non-stop, but he doesn’t let it get to him as he passes by the hallway and plops you gently on your side of the bed. you stir groggily, eyes refusing to open but you notice your surroundings are different. the room is dimly lit but the figure walking around the place isn’t amiss; with his hair sticking up and his wide shoulders, you know it’s your tired boyfriend finally home for the holidays. you smile, still sleep-induced but you try to reach over for him. “tetsu… come to bed, please,” you mumble but he hears you, and his back is against you but he smiles at your half-awake tone. “i’ll be right there,” he lets you know softly, and true to his word you feel the dip in the mattress with his warmth slowly exuding onto your own body, his hands easily finding themselves over you. you wiggle into his grasp, head against his chest and hands holding onto his waist. he feels warm, he feels like home, and you press a kiss where his neck meets his collarbones. “mm, merry christm…” you mutter, losing consciousness but he doesn’t mind. he lets you snore your way into dreamland, watching your eyelashes tickle the surface of your skin, lips partly open as you breathe in and out. suddenly, his tense muscles relax with your presence oh so close to you, and he sleeps soundly after a few minutes of admiring your face.

as the sunlight filters thru the windows, kuroo wakes up first but knowing it’s his day off (finally), he relaxes into the bed and just observes the tiny details of your face, same as the night before but with some of the brightly shining rays of the sun hitting the right spots— you’re breathtaking to him. he feels you stir in his embrace so he pretends to snore because he knows you like to get up as soon as you feel awake. “tetsu…” you mumble, popping out your head from his grasp to peer your eyes at him pretending to not hear you. “you’re a lousy liar, i know you’re up,” you tell him, rubbing your nose against him as a form of an eskimo kiss. it takes so much out of his restraint to bite his lip in pure love for you, so he gives in and kisses you on the lips. 

you are taken aback for a split second until you comply to his request, and you spend your first christmas morning with him in bed just like that <3 he still asks if you guys can spend the whole day just tangled into each other’s embrace but you lecture him playfully, knowing that he had a christmas party to attend to in the afternoon with his closest friends (bokuto, akaashi, kenma, and others) and you have a lovely dinner planned in the evening. he wiggles his eyebrows, fingertips tracing the exposed skin on your chest, “what if we skip all of that and i just have you for dinner instead?” “KUROO TETSUROU IT IS TOO EARLY FOR YOU TO SAY THAT RIGHT NOW—” you swear to god, it is his teasing and malicious intent that will kill you one day. but the blush on your face doesn’t go unnoticed, and yet kuroo complies with your light nagging, getting up and getting ready for the day. you’re happy that he finally has the day off, and being with his friends during the party truly lightened up his mood. afterwards, he then asks where you got a reservation during the busiest time of the year, and you just winked at him and zipped your mouth. 

since you ate a bit at the party, you knew you had some time to finish prepping the food you had prepared the night before, it all just needed to bake or be cooked on the pan. and bec of his exhaustion last night, he didn’t even open the fridge at all so there were zero suspicious at your surprise dinner. urging him to take a long, hot bath, he drags you with him. “you seriously want me to take a bath by myself?” he says in shock horror, and normally you would join him hah but you tell him that your parents are calling, just wanting to say hello. a little sad, kuroo nods in understanding and so he goes about his way while you cook the food with haste. he likes to take his time in there but you know you won’t finish beforehand, so once he’s out of the bathroom, you immediately go right in front of him to hide the view of the kitchen. you played yourself, seeing kuroo only in his bathrobe with his chest exposed, you slap him right at the center to ignore the sensation in the pit of your stomach. “what?? what’d i do???” “existing right in front of me like that!!” kuroo laughs at your embarrassment, but kisses you on the forehead nonetheless. he ignores the obvious smell of pasta and chicken in the apartment, ignores the messy apron you forgot to take off because he thinks you really wanted to surprise him. so he goes to the room to change, thinking about how lucky he is to have you in his life. the rest of the night ends up with the both of you having a romantic dinner in the dining room, talking about everything you already know about each other—but it never feels repetitive. he always feels so renewed with you, falling in love every day. 

[faean]

Adamance of a Dragon

Collaborator: @i-am-here-with-fanfic.

Rating: T+; Language and Mild “Sexual” Content

Word Length: 1,863

Chapter 5- The Night(s) Before … And Day(s)

           “Jesus fucking Noah Aaron, do you have to knock so loud? And why’re you here so bleedin’ early,” I yawned, stepping aside to let Aaron enter my house. “Ugh, I’m regretting taking the exam now. It’s been a week and I’m still recovering. I can’t believe I let the principal talk me into it after getting in on recommendations … then again, I never took the recommendation exam.”

           He was out of breath, clearing having rushed over to my place. He certainly is excited about the exam results; which is made more evident by the lion’s mane of hair he sported, having forgone styling…

           Huh. Disheveled lion’s mane. Two large bangs framing his face. Striking blue eyes. Aaron looked like the perfect union between Aria and that skeleton man. And, if that skeleton man and All Might were … ah, fuck it. I don’t wanna think too much right now. My migraine is still terrible.

           “Well, you shouldn’t have unsealed your Prudentia form so soon after the exam. And it’s noon! Besides, I want to know our scores! I really hope I got into the general course, even though you and mom talked me into applying for the hero course as well.”

           We sat on the couch as I grabbed my letter from the coffee table. Per Aria’s request, I was tested as any other student would have been, being graded and everything, despite my recommendations from the States. If it were not for the days spent filling out paper work, I would think I actually had to take the exam. At least now I get my provisional license back, albeit with some added restrictions.

           “All right, on the count of three, Aaron.”

           “One.” Aaron and I held our letters in our hands, him sitting on the edge of his seat. “Two.” We began to tug on the envelope, excitement fueling our every action. “Three!”

           In two swift moves, we tore open our envelopes, two metal disks slipping out and onto the table in front of us. The disk projected a hologram of none other than All Might. Apparently, he’ll be teaching at U.A. from now on. Admittedly, we were hoping there would be some sort of sync up until it got to our scores, but it would seem that each video was fairly personalized.

           To summarize, Aaron and I were both accepted into U.A. Aaron got a total of 47 points, 23 villain, 24 hero. This would have almost qualified him for the hero course, if not for his current skill level with his quirk and his low scoring on the written exam (he’s prone to anxiety). Thankfully, having also applied to the general course, he was placed in the high end of class 1-C; which he was incredibly grateful for.

           I was already in the hero course, and the exam ranked me third, having tied with another student who got into the hero course. I believe her name was Uraraka? I think that’s her family name and the one I’m supposed to refer to.

           “Oh! How did unsealing your Prudentia form go? Your legs don’t seem damaged.”

           “It went well. I’m now able to use air and earth magic without repercussions to my body by channeling it properly. Although, it gives me such a migraine. And I can’t hold my form for more than an hour, otherwise it starts breaking my body down again. Excessive magic use shortens my time, too.”

           “Is that why your speech is slurred and you’re using contractions?”

           I nod, leaning back into the plush cushions of the couch. We spent some time just talking about our expectations of the school, as well as some of the rules we have to follow. I haven’t been in an actual class in a few years and having to wear a uniform is rather annoying. Fortunately, Aaron did some research over the week (he read the paper letter in the envelope) and he schooled me.

           I should also mention that I told him that pun and it earned me a punch to the shoulder.

           “In any case, you rushed over the moment you woke up, didn’t you? I bet you got the mail when mum was still at work and didn’t tell her yesterday. C’mon, let’s make some lunch, then head out to the mall later. We need supplies for school, and maybe a few extra clothing items.”

           With that said, I made a zucchini casserole for us to share as we continued to plan out our day. Aside from the mall, I need to head to the market to pick up groceries, Aaron and I need our uniforms, and we want to visit mum at work.

           After washing the dishes, downing about … 17 cups of espresso, and taking stock of what I need from the market, I went to go change, too tired to use my magic to shift my clothing.

           From across the house, Aaron began to talk about his ice-skating try-outs tomorrow. “Hey, Faian, do you think you could take me to the ice rink tomorrow? Try-outs are in the afternoon and I don’t want to bother mom while she’s at work.”

           Shouting from my room, as Aaron lacked my enhanced senses, I let him know that I would. After all, I need to take some leisure time lest I wish to miss the first day of school. Perhaps Todoroki would like to hang out, or I could meet up with some of the people I met during the exam. Whichever option I chose, I would undoubtedly require some support, evident by my donning of several compression bands and my glasses.

           With both Aaron and I ready to head out, neither of us bothering to fix our hair, we made our way to the garage.

           “Gods, there are a lot of people.”

           That was the first thing to leave my mouth after I drove us to the mall (after stopping at Aaron’s so he could pick up his wallet). In fact, Aaron was nervous about us getting separated and asked if I could unseal my tail to wrap around him; which I agreed to do. We wandered around for a bit, window shopping and trying to find a place where we could get clothes.

           We did have an accident, though. We passed by a place that had a load of All Might merch. Aaron had entered, hoping to get something for Aria, but quickly returned empty handed.

           His face the same color as his hair, he wrapped my tail around himself rather tightly. His voice was shaky when he demanded, “Do NOT let me go again. I didn’t realize that was an adult shop…”

           With a small chuckle, I replied. “Well, considering the shop is called ‘Hero’s Fantasy’, you probably should have known better.”

           “At least you aren’t slurring anymore. Anyway, let’s continue. There’s a map over there that we can look at, just … there were so many molds of-”

           “Moving on!”

           Continuing on our merry way, we found a pants store. I enjoyed the selection available, settling on several pairs of blue jeans after trying them, and listening to Aaron make jabs at me for choosing form-fitting jeans. Unfortunately, I could not make any retorts without incriminating myself.

           Spending the next few hours exploring and buying supplies, and stopping for some smoothies, we decided to call it a day; however, as we made our way to the parking lot, we got caught up in a villain attack. It was small scale; the villain having robbed a shop from the mall. Security was struggling to keep them contained and maintain the perimeter. With merely a glance, Aaron and I sprung into action (after storing our stuff in the car).

           Aaron aided security in the attempt to keep people from getting hurt. He placed his needles around the scene so police tape could be set up. I unsealed my Prudentia form, wanting to get more practice with it (it was also the only thing my quirk could sustain at the moment).

           Fortunately, from what I could gather, the villain had a simple augmenting quirk that boosted their strength and speed; the perfect combination for me to practice against.

           My body changing with each step I took; I began to resemble what most would call a Greek figure. I stood about 2 meters tall, my silver hair extending past my waist, a pattern of auburn dreadlocks and various flora adorning it. Wearing a Greek fustanella, knee high gladiator sandals, and bronze vambraces, my look was complete with a literal lightning bolt etched across my bare chest. Well, there was also the fact that my left eye was composed of a lightning storm while my right eye looked like a forest with mountains in the background (magic is fun).

           Flashing my provisional license to the head of security, he approved my involvement so long as I kept collateral damage to a minimum. Easy enough.

           Confronting the villain, I attempt to resolve the situation with diplomacy. “How unfortunate, I must say, that you got caught so very quickly. Let us avoid a brawl and you return what was stolen. Perhaps we may come to an agreement with the authorities, no?”

           Nope.

           Not even bothering to answer, the villain charged me recklessly, ‘dropping’ their bag of pilfered goods in the process (I slipped it from their grasp via some vines). Once in range, I swept their legs before doing an electrically charged hammer kick, slamming them into the ground. Unfortunately, the villain’s quirk also gave them some added durability, otherwise they would not have been able to retaliate.

           Grabbing my leg while still on the ground, they tossed me towards the gathering crowd. Rolling my eyes, I caught myself in midair, solidifying the air by my feet to make footholds. With a meager wave of my hand upward, a gale of wind encircled the inner perimeter Aaron helped create. Using the villain’s momentary confusion to my advantage (they also noticed they no longer had the stolen items), I deepened my focus and cast a powerful entrapment spell.

           “Shattered Mind.”

           Just like that, the battle ended. The earth rose around the villain to restrict their movement while an electrical charge surged through their brain to force them into a nightmare-plagued slumber. After that, I helped restore the area to normal before taking my leave with Aaron. I sealed my form once we got into the car, returning into my previous state and dealing with a headache.

           “I forgot you created that form when you were really into Greek and Roman myth back in elementary school. Are you sure you’re fit to drive?”

           “Yeah, just need my sunglasses and some Beethoven. Or maybe Queen.”

           “Definitely Queen. You’ll probably fall asleep listening to Moonlight Sonata.”

           Agreeing, I gave my phone to Aaron to make a selection before driving off towards the grocery store. After, we will visit Aria at work and I will drop Aaron off at his house, returning to mine after. Then, I am going to rest in bed until school starts. I cannot be bothered to go out again.

           Except to take Aaron to his tryouts and watch him perform.

Beta Reader, Collaborator, Owner of Aria and Aaron Granchester, and Creator of the Illegitimate Son storyline- @i-am-here-with-fanfic.

[thedistantstorm]

Drowning

Continues from Fever (or you can read this one alone, your call). Pre-relationship. Gets a little heated toward the end. Zavala almost dies. Who knew full Titan armor was not conducive to swimming?

-----+++++-----

It sounds like his ears are ringing, like a grenade’s gone off. His chest hurts. Did he fall on one for the civilians? Wait. A mental check of all four major extremities confirmed everything was in place. The aching and slightest pull of the link he and his Ghost shared confirmed that no, he has not died, and yes the light is still gone.

He was also… cold?

Yes. But no, that wasn’t quite right.

Wet. He is cold because he is wet. Why is he-

Oh.

Right. He’d tackled a stealth vandal that had gotten the drop on them to prevent it from killing one of the members of their patrol group. Off a cliff. Into the lake below. The almost frozen lake. It is not his most impressive moment, but certainly there have more grievous situations.

He opens his eyes blearily; It takes several times for them to actually focus on what’s happening above him. They widen monumentally. He does not move. He cannot move.

Suraya Hawthorne is straddling him, on the ground in the woods. Her hood is down, and her short hair is edging over her eyes, midnight black contrasting with amber irises he wants to sink into. She’s focused hard on his chest, where both her hands are primed and waiting for… something. Her hands are warm through his sopping undershirt, so his chestpiece is… somewhere. She’s panting, out of breath. Her cheeks are pink. She is a masterpiece.

More importantly: She is also wet.

It is not the worst sight a man could wake up to, he thinks, instead of the rational ‘why am I in this situation’ that he should be. She inhales shakily, swipes the back of her hand across both eyes, and abruptly clambers off when she notices him staring at her face.

He thinks her lip trembles, but she schools her expression into a fierce glare. He realizes that he’s actually incredibly grateful that he’s wearing a codpiece, because they are not alone, and really he has no idea what in the Traveler’s name is happening, but that was a vision he’ll never forget.

“I need ten,” She all but shouts, stalking off into the woods. No one says a word on the subject, instead waiting for him to catch his breath and gather his bearings. He’s got a sneaking suspicion that he nearly drowned if he doesn’t remember the how of getting back to land, and the fact that he sees one very suspicious Hunter Vanguard lurking in a nearby tree does nothing to make him feel better.

There’s also a rope tied around his waist.

Right. His armor is heavy, and he’s not light to start with. He wonders how many of them it took to pull him out of the water. They are uneasy but glad he’s alright, and the thought doesn’t occur to him until he’s almost back to the Farm that none of the other members of their group are wet.

-----+++++-----

She scoffs as she throws her wet poncho over the large drying rack next to his red sweater. “Stupid Titans and their stupid death wishes,” She grumbles, not paying any mind to anyone else around her as she retreats to the barn.

In her mind’s eye, it’s cornflower colored lips and grey skin with no aura, and fingers snapping off armor even though she can’t feel the ends of each tingling digit. It’s water as cold as winter and shaking that comes from her chest and radiates out, it’s cold but not cold to blame. It’s panic-

It’s the burn of her lungs as she knows she can’t breathe but has to tie the knot, has to do something because she can’t pull him out of the water by herself, she’s not superhumanly strong. It’s three sharp tugs and a firm kick off and his head knocking into hers and a tight arm around his middle and please don’t die on me and-

It’s dragging him with her to the grass and clearing his airway and pinching his nose and opening his mouth and sharp breaths into it with a hand over his absent heartbeat. It’s a fist twisting in his sweater before she realizes this just might be the way the world ends.

It’s a sob when she pushes down hard enough to break his ribs and breathe, damn it and more breaths on his mouth and more compressions and rinse, repeat and finally - finally - he coughs it out and breathes and - and - fuck, just fuck, she loves him-

Suraya realizes with a few blinks that she is looking out at the Shard, the creepy purple light of it radiating even in the night, that her feet have taken her to the roof of the crumbling barn, even pushed herself up through the reinforced rafters. She sighs, and pulls her knees up to her chest and wraps her arms around herself. She’s still cold and wet, and she probably should have changed, but that’s something she’ll berate herself for later. She just needs to be away from everyone. Needs to breathe.

Doesn’t want to focus on the Hunter and the Titan walking out to the fireside, or the fact that the Hunter - stop it, Cayde - is already looking up at her and drawing Zavala’s attention her way. She purposefully curls up tighter and turns away, with a humph that’s swallowed by the ambient noise of the Farm below. She sighs. Hopefully she’s putting out the vibe that she does not want to interact with anyone because honestly all she wants to do is have a good cry about things so she can bottle up her feelings again and shove them right back down into the dark pit of other things that she refuses to think about because she’s responsible for the greater good of the countless thousands of people who can’t afford for her to stumble over feelings or anxieties or inadequacies and-

These people deserve far better than her.

-----+++++-----

Cayde slaps him on the back - a good thump without his chest armor there to deflect the blow from the mostly metal and silicone Exo. He doesn’t wince, but it isn’t exactly comfortable. His chest still hurts a little, but it doesn’t hurt to breathe, and his lungs don’t feel like they’re half submerged in water anymore, so all is positive on the horizon. That and his head finally feels clear. The first few hours were a little hazy, but they told him to expect that when he’d begrudgingly allowed a medic to check him out. He was to take it easy - as if that would conceivably happen - but mostly to consider himself a lucky man.

“So,” The hunter says, raising an eyebrow in a questioning smirk, “How’d it feel to receive the kiss of life?”

His brows furrow. “I have no idea what you mean.” And he truly does not.

The fire crackles and spits as Cayde looks up over at the barn and back. “Really? You don’t know what that means?” The irritated nostril flare and shake of his head egg Cayde on. “CPR, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation… you catching what I’m throwing down? Poncho was pounding pretty hard on your ribs. I’m surprised she didn’t break any.”

Zavala casts his eyes over toward the barn, where Cayde had pointed her out a few moments ago. She was facing away from the fire, toward the pale light of the Shard. It always looked like the moon was full here, because of the discarded piece of the Traveler looming in the distance.

“She-”

Cayde chuckles. “Yeah. Full on mouth-to-mouth, buddy. Couple rounds, actually. You should’ve taken advantage and played dead a little longer.”

The Titan hisses. “Nothing about that was playing, Cayde.”

“Oh, I know,” He says, with a look that’s all Hunter cunning. “That’s why she ‘took ten’ and ran off after.” He shrugged, almost bragging, “I totally followed her. She was too distracted to realize I had, screaming to the wilderness about ‘that fucking asshole, who does he think he is,’ and ‘stupid Titan who does stupid Titan things and tries to get himself killed.’ Honestly, I think she likes you.”

“I think you’re mistaken.” There’s a cold edge to the Commander’s statement that brokers no argument.

Cayde looks at him for a solid ten-count, before leaning back against the bench and turning his gaze toward the fire. “Yeah. Maybe I am.” He pulls out a flask from his vest and takes a swig. “Still, at least you got a smooch today.”

Zavala’s eyes can’t possibly roll any harder. “Yes, because I was not breathing.”

“Minor details, compadre. Minor details.”

-----+++++-----

She drops down from the rafters silently. Everything is silent, the Farm quiet in the pre-dawn hours. She manages to retreat into the Farmhouse without interruption, slipping into the bathing quarters and soaking herself in lukewarm spray. When she’s finished and can no longer smell the stench of lake water on her, she steps out and dresses in a spare set of clothes. Her poncho isn’t worth worrying about right now. The only things worth worrying about are her bed and the inside of her eyelids.

Or, at least, that’s what she thought until she laid eyes on the armor-less Titan sitting on the edge of her bed. Her eyes darken.

“What are you doing here?” The irritation in her voice is palpable.

He doesn’t seem to be bothered by it. “I came,” He croons in his low baritone, “To say thank you. You saved my life.”

She shrugs. “Not a big deal.” The fact that she doesn’t make eye contact completely negates the validity of her words. “Anything else?”

A sideways pull of his lips to the left is the only indication that he’s here for something besides the obligatory thanks for her actions.  He sighs. “I almost died today. For good.”

“I was there,” She whispers, nodding, seeing it in her mind’s eye. “I know.”

He looks up at her, leaning her left hip against the door frame. “We could die tomorrow,” He says.

She laughs. “You’ve just now realized you’re mortal? Aren’t you a bit late to the party?”

“I know I do not have the Light to revive me,” He mutters. “But, I was not prepared to recognize what that might mean. There might not be other opportunities to-”

“I see. This isn’t a conversation we should be having,” She says, crossing her arms.

“Hawthorne - Suraya, listen to me-”

“Stop it, Zavala. I’ve already told you.” She shakes her head, her lips tightening to a thin line, “We can’t.”

He stands, his wide shoulders shadowing most of her, his frame back-lit by the lamp in her room. “If this all ends tomorrow,” He whispers, looking down at her lips and back to her molten umber eyes. “If this is the only chance we get-”

“This is not the time.” Her fingers are squeezing her elbows now, her body tense. “Let it go.”

“And if I do not?” He cocks his head to the side, arcbolt blue eyes all but sparking they’re so bright and heavy on her. “You continue to say that we can’t, but what you do not say is that you do not wish to.”

She can only glare at him. She is not denying it.

He has her, and she knows he knows it. His brow raises just slightly, in a little quirk that’s almost haughty. She stares him down, but he advances, hands on her hips, splaying, fingers pointed toward her tailbone. It’s not a tight grip, but she does not move away.

“Answer me. If this all ended tomorrow-”

“Just shut up and kiss me already.”

“No.”

Her startled eyes look up to his. She looks like she’s about to sputter, and that pretty blush is back. “Answer the question. If this is the only chance we get,” He pulls her flush against him and she gasps. He is all muscle. Not that she didn’t know that already, but it’s hard to focus with so many hard planes against her, “Wouldn’t it be better to come clean? Leave nothing unsaid?”

“I am not someone you should go around falling in love with.”

He rears back and moves his hands from her hips to her cheeks, tipping her head up to ensure eye-contact. “Let me be the judge of that.”

She sighs. “You’re not going to let me out of this, are you?”

“Tell me that you do not feel the same and you are free to go.”

Her eyes flutter closed and arms come up to cup the back of his head. “I can’t,” She admits quietly.

“I know,” He hums as he tilts his head to the side and captures her lips with his. It is very tentative and gentle, a chaste, small thing that brings sweet, dragging heat to their bellies and up into their chests.

Suraya draws back, breathing just the tiniest bit heavier. His eyes are glazed with something different, something she saw that night when she was sick. It was something that matched the subtlest hints of a smile that isn’t actually a smile. She loves that look on his face. Something about it just makes him so handsome that she almost hates him for it.

It’s that thought that brings back all the ugly, half-repressed feelings of earlier. Her eyes flick up to his eyes and then his lips and suddenly she’s pushing him into a kiss, her forwardness sparking a move backwards on his part into the bedroom, and the next thing she knows, she’s sucking on his bottom lip and hovering over him - he’s sitting on the edge of the bed, her legs almost straddling his lap.

“You almost died today,” She says with something akin to awe. “Fuck,” She curses, when the familiar burn of tears starts in her nose and behind her eyes.

He chuckles, ready to diffuse her anxiety. “Luckily for you - ahh,” The words die in his throat when she lowers herself on top of him, rocking forward in one motion. The friction of her pelvis on his has the desired effect, and she scrambles to grab his shoulders and push him down to the bed, mouth dragging along the line of his jaw as she returns to his lips with tongue and teeth. “Suraya,” He groans into her lips. No, he thinks, when she bucks harder against him, that is not what he’s aiming for. They need to slow down. He had no intentions of instigating this, but by the Light does it feel incredible. “Suraya.” It takes some effort, but he manages to still his hips from their fluid motion against hers - he did not even know he’d started - and his voice is even and not laiden with strain from her efforts.

She leans back, giving him room to speak.

“You do not have to-” He pauses. “I did not mean-”

“If this all ends tomorrow,” She reminds him of his words, umber eyes so beautifully unguarded for once, flicking back and forth as she focuses, enthralling with gaze alone, “And we don’t get another shot at this-”

The realization is not lost on him as Titan strength rears its head in the form of steady hands against her ass and suddenly he’s standing with her legs wrapped around his hips before he lays her down, sinking her into the old mattress. For all his power, it’s startlingly gentle, infinitely tender.

He undresses her like he’s unwrapping a present. It’s easy enough - her chestguard thankfully abandoned before her shower to save them the hassle - and it takes no time for him to have her bare beneath him. He leans out of a sizzling kiss just long enough to remove his shirt and when she bites her lower lip, her eyes ablaze with desire as they rake down his bare chest, he can't help but smile.

[weirdfetishes123]

Lend a hand - deviantart

"Okay guys, we need to come up with an idea for our display at the college fair. Now, I’ve got something I think could be pretty impressive."

I tried to concentrate on what Brad was saying, but as usual I kept getting distracted. It didn't help that he was wearing a particularly tight t-shirt today that showed every line of his lean torso. I had only joined the science club because he'd been at the booth during orientation and I had trouble saying no to his easy smile. I didn't even figure out what I was signing up for until I arrived for the first meeting. When I look into his eyes it’s like there’s only the two of us, like all of his attention is on me.

"How about it?"

I jerked slightly as I realised I wasn't just imagining his attention this time, he really was talking to me.

"Sorry, I drifted off slightly. I was up late last night finishing an assignment."

"I asked if you would lend a hand? You know, with the project. You and me?"

I fought to keep myself composed. Time alone with Brad? Of course I was in.

"Yeah, sure."

He grinned "Thanks man, I really appreciate it."

He seemed unusually excited about the project. I guess that's why he's president of the club, he's passionate about all of this

---

I wasn't meeting up with him till the night before the fair. It seemed rather last minute to be leaving the work, but I wasn't going to question a plan that was working out so well for me. If we ended up working late together to finish it, well, that was fine with me. Maybe it'd be so late he'd invite me to crash at his place, we're both going the same place tomorrow anyway. And oh dear, there's only one bed. I guess... No. I was getting way too ahead of myself. But then again, I had to wonder why he picked me to work with him on this.

The days in between kept on in that fashion. Rising hopes and vain efforts to be realistic. I drifted through my classes, taking in absolutely none of what I was supposed to be learning.

Finally the afternoon arrived, and I went to the address Brad had given me. It was a small house in the suburbs near the college. I smiled when I saw the decal in the window near the front door. “If you’re not part of the solution you’re part of the precipitate.” At least I knew I had the right address. My finger hovered over the doorbell, my heart hammering out of my chest, before I summoned up the courage to press it. Mercifully he answered the door almost immediately.

"Hey, buddy! Great to see you. Thanks so much for agreeing to help me out with this. Our display is going to be the best one for sure."

"It's no problem." I mumbled, with all the nonchalance I could muster "Anything for the science club, you know."

"Come through, I'll show you where we'll be working."

As we made our way through the house I took in my surroundings. Shelves on every wall were overflowing with beakers, containers of chemicals, textbooks, and assorted other supplies.

“Wow, this is some pretty intense stuff you’ve got here.”

“Yeah, my chem major is great and all. But what I really enjoy is applying what I learn. I’ve even been able to sell a few of the things I’ve developed. I’ve also been working on a special project lately that I’m super hyped to test out.”

He led me out to the back yard. There were tins of paint all about and an abundance of rope. I wasn’t too sure what we’d be painting though.

“So, what do you need me to do?” I offered

“Chill out, we’ve got plenty of time.” He reached into a cooler and tossed me a can. “Have a cold one and I’ll explain.”

I didn’t recognise the branding on the can, but I shrugged and cracked it open anyway. I leaned against the wall and took a sip. It was unusual, but pleasant. Brad seemed in no hurry to explain himself, he just smiled approvingly at me. Approvingly and, I might have been imagining it, somewhat hungrily as well. I couldn’t think of anything to say to fill the silence, so I busied myself with downing the drink. As I finished it he sauntered over to me and placed his hand on the wall behind me. He was so close; our faces were barely a foot apart. I felt the empty can slip from my grasp and clatter on the concrete under my feet.

“You have no idea what you’re doing here do you?”

“I… uh…” Crap, I’m not as got at pretending to pay attention as I thought.

“It’s okay” He laughed “I see the way you get when you’re around me. That’s why I knew you’d agree to this project.” He took his hand off the wall and brushed a lock of hair back behind my ear before moving his hand to my shoulder. Steadying it. I felt his other hand move under my shirt and play across my abdomen. His head moved closer to mine, our lips barely an inch from each other. Then I felt something else in his lower hand, he was pushing it into my navel. My hands shot down to grasp at what he was doing. There was a hose trailing out from my shirt. His smile became even wider. He pressed harder on my shoulder, pinning me to the wall, as his other hand reached behind him. I heard a hissing begin. He released me and stepped back to reveal a large gas tank that was feeding the hose. It was labelled He2. I stood, dumbfounded, for a moment, trying to understand what was happening.

“What is this supposed to-“ I stopped abruptly. My hands were still wrapped around the hose and I felt it moving. I looked down and saw my belly pushing outwards. I yelped in panic and tugged at the hose but something was holding it in.

“I wouldn’t bother trying to get that out. I coated it with an adhesive of my own design. It’s not going anywhere without the correct solvent.” Brad looked incredibly pleased with himself.

I pushed down on my belly, trying to contain what was happening. It compressed briefly but sprung back, continuing its growth unabated. I looked and felt like I had swallowed a basketball.

“How is this happening to me?” I gasped

“Well. That can I gave you was the special project I’ve been working on. A mix of chemicals that gives flesh almost unlimited elasticity. There’s a number of applications I’m hoping to market it for, but the fair gave me the perfect opportunity to test out one of the more fun ones. A parade balloon is a great way to grab attention, but I couldn’t find one that was really suited to our club. So, I decided to make one from scratch.”

“A parade balloon?” I repeated, aghast. The pressure continued building in my belly. My hands were pushed further apart as the basketball doubled in size and continued to push outwards. I tugged vainly at the hose, but Brad had secured it well. I couldn’t get it to budge. My shirt had rolled up over the top of my belly and the waist of my pants was painfully digging into me. I could feel the swelling starting to spread from my belly to the rest of my body. My limbs were becoming harder to move and the top of my shirt was tightening around my chest. Brad took a few steps back and looked me up and down, admiring his handywork. As good as it felt to have him look at me with such passion I wished it wasn’t because he was using me as a human guinea pig. It also did nothing to quell my panic.

Seemingly having overcome the initial resistance of my body the expansion picked up steam. My belly pushed out past the size of an exercise ball, tearing apart the waist of my pants as it did. I couldn’t have reached the hose at my navel if I had tried. My chest was pushing out to join my belly and one by one the buttons popped off my shirt, whizzing away as they did. My thighs were the most affected part of my limbs so far and as they swelled, aiming to join the sphere my torso was becoming, my underwear gave way as well as the remainder of my pants. I was now wearing only shoes and tattered remains of my former clothing. I kicked off the shoes while I still could to avoid ruining those too. I was mortified to be naked in this state in front of Brad, but he seemed to be thoroughly pleased with the show.

My chest and belly were no longer distinguishable as separate entities and my arms and legs were being pushed to the sides by their engorging girth. I was starting to have difficulty maintaining my balance and I had to adopt a wide stance to stay upright. I could no longer look all the way down due to my chest pushing up towards my chin. My torso sphere had claimed my limbs halfway down to the first joint when I heard the most merciful sound. The tank’s hiss began to die away before ceasing completely.

“Oh thank, God.” I muttered

“Don’t get too excited. We’re far from done.” Brad walked back over to inspect me as my panic surged again. “Remember, I need to you be a parade balloon, floating over our stall. This isn’t nearly enough helium to get you off the ground.”

He was right. Even though I had taken a whole tank of helium into my body I didn’t feel any lighter than I did before. “How much more are we talking?” I asked. Surely I couldn’t fit that much more.

“Well, I worked from the idea of a 100kg person. It’s an easy number to work with and I’m comfortable you’re under that. For current elevation and temperature helium can lift a little over a kg per cubic metre. Of course, I’m not entirely sure how much pressure your body will exert so I had to factor that in.”

“I don’t need the maths. How big am I going to get!?” I spluttered

“The needed lift will take about one hundred cubic metres of helium. Or to convert it to the dimensions of a sphere, you’ll be about five point seven five metres in diameter.”

The thought gave me a head rush and I would have toppled backwards had I not bounced off the wall behind me. Brad walked a circle around me, trailing his fingers across my taut skin as he did so. They skipped and bounced along the surface, like they would over a balloon, even squeaking when they met resistance. He pressed down into my flesh at several points and tapped on others.

“Yes. Skin integrity is holding admirably, you still have plenty of give and I’m confident you’ll be able to take the required volume. There’s no reason we can’t proceed.” He said to himself in a detached manner.

“No reason? What about my-“ I stopped abruptly as he caressed my jaw, gently running his thumb over my cheek. Protests about my feelings or wishes died in my throat. The look in his eyes told me that this was going to happen regardless. I was in no position to fight back. And besides. I was terrible at saying no to him.

“You’ll at least put me back to normal after this though?” I begged

“Mon amour. What do you take me for?” He tousled my hair. “The serum will wear off after a few days. If I left you inflated your frame would no longer be able to take the pressure, but I assure you I will have you back to your charming self well before then.”

“Good to know you’ve at least spared a thought to my wellbeing.”

“Oh don’t pout. Now, lets get you to a clearer area of the yard for the next phase, you’re a little cramped against the wall over here. You’ll need much” he lingered on the word “more room than that.” He disconnected the hose from the tank and slotted the connector into to another, longer, hose. I tested my balance and blushed, contemplating how I must look. Taking wide, slow, waddling steps I made my way to the centre of the yard. I looked about and tried to estimate just how far 5.75m was. Contemplating that made me want to run far from here but the thought of running in my state made me laugh to myself. Escape was a distant possibility at this point.

Brad dragged the rope over to me. “We can’t have you floating away, so first thing we need to do is get you secured.” My thinking hadn’t got that far ahead. I added one more thing to worry about to the litany of anxieties racing around my head. I complied as he tied loops around my ankles and wrists. I tried to inspect the security of the fastenings but since I couldn’t reach across my massive body to test them I was limited to a visual inspection. He tied the other ends of the ropes to four stakes that were driven into the ground of his yard. He looked over and must have seen my suspicious expression.

“Don’t worry. I tested these. They will hold.” He grabbed the paint tins and a brush and dragged them over to me as he spoke. “I’m a very thorough scientist, and you’re very safe.”

I snorted, I don’t know if I’d ever felt more unsafe and out of control than I did at that moment. But I had little choice but to trust him.

“Now.” He announced “We need to get you dressed up. As much as I’d enjoy it our mascot can’t be a big naked man.” I blushed as he busied himself with the paints. “I had to tweak the paints as well. Painting you at full size would be a mammoth task. These paints however will stretch out with you as you grow.”

He got to work, starting with a white base coat. As he busied himself with his project I began to relax a little. Getting such thorough attention from Brad sent a pleasant little shiver down my spine. I almost forgot how bizarre my circumstances were and drifted back to the fantasies I had for this afternoon. Of course, every time I had the urge to itch or stretch I would get a shock back to reality. Eventually he was done with his decoration and he stood back to inspect me.

“Beautiful” He exclaimed. “Wait here one moment.” Where was I going? I kept the remark to myself as he dashed inside and quickly returned with a dressing mirror. I couldn’t see all of myself in it at one time, even at a distance, but he moved it about so I could get an idea of how he had decorated me. I also got a good look at my overblown form for the first time. I had been made up to look like a scientist, most of my body covered in a white lab coat. Across my chest had he had written “Bleakwood College Science Club.” My panic returned as I realised this meant he would soon be moving on to blowing me up again.

“We’ll have you floating high enough up that no-one will be able to tell how ‘realistic’ your face is.” He chuckled to himself, clearing the art supplies away from my immediate vicinity. He took a hold of the hose again and located a gauge and knob that were along its length. “This is connected to an industrial helium tank I procured for this purpose. Are you ready?”

“Does it matter?”

He shrugged, grinned, and twisted the knob. I immediately felt the pressure within me spike. This tank was flooding the helium into me much faster than the first one had done. I felt myself steadily swelling, my limbs being rapidly swallowed by my expanding form. As the bottom of… me? I no longer really had many distinct body parts to speak of at the point. As the bottom of my sphere pushed my feet apart and touched the ground I finally lost my balance and toppled forward, letting out a yelp as I did so. I was now completely spherical save for my hands, feet and head. As the sphere claimed the last of my neck I also lost the last of my mobility. With my head cushioned on all sides by expanding flesh I could only look straight down at the ground. Brad’s feet stepped into the top of my field of vision. I felt him take my head in his hands and soothingly run his fingers through my hair and across the back of my scalp. The pressure in my body had no where to go anymore but out and I felt my body pushing outwards in all directions. I could further track my growth as I was pushed further off the ground and Brad had to slowly step back to accommodate my size. Eventually he had to let go altogether and he took a seat on the grass to watch his creation.

The pressure built within me. The speed I was moving from the ground was slowing but I could feel that that was simply to fill my massive volume. The gas was pouring in at a steady rate and the painted globe that was my body stretched out before me. Each breeze that wafted through the yard rolled my form slightly, but the weight of the ropes on each my limbs brought me back to a neutral position. Balanced on the tip of my belly, looking down at the content little man who had conned me into this. When I was a bit more than two metres from the ground he checked the gauge and updated me on my progress.

“You’ve taken about half of the helium needed. I think we can speed things up a bit more at this point.” He gave the knob a twist and the gas started rushing in so fast it vibrated my taut skin slightly, sending tingles through my body.

Only halfway? I thought. I’m not airborne yet, but surely I can’t fit twice as much gas in me as I have now?

But I kept expanding and, just as Brad had predicted, my body kept accommodating more. I could feel the lightening effects of the helium now and soon I felt my belly start to lose contact with the ground. I started to rise, slowly at first but picking up pace, until I was abruptly stopped by the ropes around my wrists and ankles and settled into a new neutral position. Brad was absolutely beaming. He jumped to his feet and pumped his fist.

“Yes! You look freaking awesome!” he crowed, before looking down at his gauge. “I left a fair bit of slack in my calculations to ensure we’d have enough lift. So, you’ve still got a ways to go my wonderful volunteer.”

“Why don’t we stop now?”

“Well, what else am I going to do with the rest of the helium? And besides, bigger is always better.”

He was now occupied in an exuberant celebratory dance, so I didn’t bother arguing with him further. I just had to hope that the tank would run out soon. Fortunately, at the gush he had left it on I didn’t have to wait too long. Though I’d guess he had pumped me up another ten or twenty percent just for his own amusement. As I felt the gush slow to a trickle and then stop I breathed a sigh of relief. Brad confirmed on the gauge that the tank was empty, then winched the ropes down a ways before disappearing under me. He let his fingers trail along my underside as he walked to my navel. I felt him tinker with the hose before appearing again, trailing the end behind him.

“There we go. All sealed up. We wouldn’t want you to spring a leak.” He slapped my firm underbelly for emphasis.

“What now?” I wondered

“Well, first thing in the morning I’ll take you over to campus to install you for the big day. In the meantime, you’ll have to spend the night out here. Of course, I wouldn’t want anyone to see you up close and see how I’ve achieved this little display. And I wouldn’t want you to get any ideas about calling for help either. So, I’m going to have to let you go a bit.” He released the winch on the ropes and I went shooting up into the air. Far further than where I had been before. For a few moments that felt like minutes I thought he had let the ropes loose, but I soon jerked to a stop. The wind at this height cause me to sway at the end of my tether. From my vantage point I could see him laughing and waving up at me before heading inside.

At least my time as a balloon would give me plenty of time to contemplate some revenge schemes for what he put me through. I hoped the science club would appreciate my display at least.

---

The fair came and went, and I watched it from my vantage point up in the sky. We won an award for our display and Brad told the rest of the club I’d done so much work on it I’d been too exhausted to come to the fair itself. Brad kept his promise and deflated me once the fair was done. He offered to buy me dinner to make up for my ordeal. I told him it was a start.

[dr-dean]

An Unexpected Surprise

Fandom: Check Please!

Ship: Zimbits

Tags: ABO, Witch/Familiar AU, alpha!jack, witch!jack, omega!bitty, familiar!bitty, fluff, smut, knotting

Word Count: 3,445

Summary: Alpha Witch Jack finally gets to meet his familiar and is very happy its a cute little omega. Because the world needs more Zimbits ABO.

A/N: I already posted a link for it on tumblr, but I was too tired to do a proper post last night so here it is! Many thanks to @blue-reveries for betaing and @unforth-ninawaters for cheer-leading.

READ ON AO3

Jack was going for his morning run, his earbuds were in and he was finally zoning out. His morning runs were one of the few times that he could shut his mind off and not be so anxious all the time. They really helped to center him and were an important part of his daily routine.

As he was running through the park near his apartment he felt a brush of fur on his leg and his magic lit up inside of him. MINE , he thought. He looked down and saw a golden retriever running next to him. The golden was looking up at him and smiling with his tongue hanging out of his mouth. Jack reached down and scratched him behind the ear as he continued running. The dog practically melted into his touch and kept by Jack’s side.

Jack brought his hand up to his nose to wipe away some sweat, and instead of smelling dog, he smelled omega. The omega smelled like freshly baked pie. It was rare for familiars to be omegas, most of them were betas. As an alpha Jack knows that if his familiar is an omega there is no way it isn’t going to turn into a relationship if the omega is even slightly attractive. No way Jack could spend that much time and get that personal with a cute omega and not get involved. Luckily, it's no longer taboo for a witch to be with his familiar but it’s still uncommon. Unless it’s an alpha/omega pair and then it was just the norm.

Jack decided to cut his run a little short and the dog followed him home. Once he was in the apartment, he poured two glasses of water and started making breakfast. “Are you hungry?” he asked while his back was turned to the dog as he got the ingredients for a veggie scramble out of the fridge. “If you change, you can sit up at the island and we can talk, if you need there is a bathrobe in the bathroom, second door on the left.”

Not all familiars could change with clothes on and he didn’t want the omega to feel too shy. Jack heard the scrape of a chair on his floor and when he turned around he saw a small blond boy wearing a tank top and shorts sitting at the island. A cute omega guy as a familiar, Jack thanked his lucky stars. Not only were omega familiars rare, but male omegas in general were really rare. Jack really had no preference between guys or girls, but he definitely preferred omegas, especially blonds. Jack handed him a glass of water. “I’m making a veggie scramble, anything you don’t eat?”

The boy shook his head and gulped down the water. Jack refilled it and handed it back to the boy. “You know, you have the same eyes and same hair as you do in your dog form.”

“How’d you know?” The boy’s eyes were wide and he had a thick southern accent.

“That you’re a familiar?” The boy nodded his head. “When you touched me when I was running. My magic lit up and responded to you. And I just knew that you were mine.” Jack tried not to sound too possessive, he didn’t want to scare the boy away but he knew he would never let this boy go.

Instead of being scared the boy seemed to relax at that. “I thought that you’re my witch. I just turned 20 a week ago, and I started to feel this pull, you know? When classes were done on Friday I went out looking for you. I found that park last night and something about it just felt right. And then you came running through this morning and I just had to follow you. Your magic was pulling at me. And it just felt right when you scratched my ears. I had to keep following you to see.”

“Friday?!? But it’s Sunday now. What school do you go to?” With his southern accent that thick he might go to a school pretty far away, but Jack hopes that it’s something closer.

“Samwell.”

A forty minute drive, but most familiars looked for their witches on foot; it was still a very long walk. “How’d you get here?”

“I walked, in dog form the whole time. I couldn’t feel the pull as strongly when I was in my human form.”

Jack frowned, he didn’t like the idea of his familiar suffering. “When was the last time you ate a proper meal?”

The boy laughed. “Don’t worry,” he pulled out something from his back pocket of his shorts and set it on the table, “as long as I have stuff in my pockets when I change I still have it when I change back, so I had my wallet and was able to stop and buy food along the way.”

Jack relaxed a bit as he looked over and saw the wallet, he knew some familiars would go for days or weeks without properly eating when they were looking for their witch, not everyone could change back and forth with their clothes let alone their possessions. His familiar must be pretty powerful in order to do that.

“Plus, it really didn’t take that long to find you.” He pulled out a cell phone from his other pocket and turned it on. “Any chance you have an iPhone charger? I forgot to bring one and I’m sure my phone is almost dead.”

“Yeah, there’s one right next to the couch,” Jack pointed with his spatula.

The boy hopped off the chair and plugged the phone in and typed furiously on it before coming back, just as he was sitting back down Jack slid a plate of food in front of him. Jack ate his while standing on the opposite side of the island. “Do you have to get back for classes on Monday?”

The boy swallowed a bite. “Yes, but my first class isn’t until noon, so I can sleep over tonight and take an early train back tomorrow.”

“I’ll drive you, that should give you more time.” Jack wanted to have as much time to get to know his familiar while they were both free.

He smiled and his eyes sparkled at Jack. “Thank you, honey, I appreciate that.”

“So tell me about yourself.” Jack couldn’t just keep calling him ‘mine’ or ‘the boy’ in his head.

“What is this, an interview?” His familiar chirped.

Jack smirked, “No, but I’d like to get to know you. I’m Jack by the way.”

The boy pointed his fork at Jack, fake scowling and trying to hold back a grin. “I know who you are, Jack Zimmerman! I watch hockey! You’re the captain of the Falconers! But I had no idea that you’re a witch.”

“Yeah,” Jack stared down at his food, “that’s not something that’s public knowledge, so I would appreciate if you kept it under wraps.”

“Oh! Of course, sweetheart!” he nodded, “no one at school knows I’m a familiar! They just think that there’s a stray dog that likes to hang around the Haus.”

“Haus?” Jack asked, the way Bitty said it sounded German.

“It’s where I live. It’s an off-campus house where most of the hockey players live, I play on the Samwell team. I’m Eric, Eric Bittle but everyone calls me Bitty.”

This Bitty was just too much for Jack, a cute omega who was into hockey? Jack felt like he had hit the familiar jackpot. “An omega on the hockey team?”

Bitty scowled at Jack. “Hey! Just cuz I’m an omega doesn’t mean I can’t play ‘alpha’ sports.”

Jack holds up his hands in surrender. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant you must be good, they have a good team, and it can be hard to be taken seriously as an omega in full contact sports so you must be the best player on the team. Do they treat you alright?”

Bitty’ scowl melted into a smile. “I’m not sure about best, but I am the fastest on the ice. They’re like a family to me. They’re like these huge overprotective brothers. You should see them if they think someone is gunning for me on the ice. They will beat him to a pulp and have no issues going to the sin bin for it.”

Jack smiled. “Good, I would hate to put the fear of God into them for not taking good care of you. I know until you graduate I’m not going to be able to be around all the time to protect you.”

“Going all big alpha on me already?” Eric chirped.

Jack turned the charm up as high as he could. “It’s hard not to when I have such a cute omega as a familiar.”

Bitty blushed and turned bright red. “Oh Lord, are you chirping me or flirting with me Mr. Zimmerman?”

“Let’s go with both,” Jack smirked and his eyes sparkled.

When they are done eating Jack cleared their plates.

“I don’t know about you but I need a shower. I have a guest room that has its own bathroom,” Jack said.

Bitty hopped off the chair. “That would be great, but I could use some clean clothes too.”

Jack nodded and headed towards his bedroom. He grabbed his smallest pair of workout shorts with a drawstring, and his tightest ‘Property of the Falconer's’ t-shirt. He liked the idea of seeing Bitty in a shirt that claimed him as his. He also grabbed a pair of compression shorts for Bitty to use as underwear. “I’m sure these are going to be a little big on you, but they are the smallest I have. Towels, soap, and shampoo are all in the guest bath.” Jack lead Bitty across the hall and placed the clean clothes on the counter in the bathroom. He opened a drawer and showed the contents to Bitty. “There’s also toothbrushes and toothpaste here for you. Do you need anything else?”

Bitty shook his head. “I think you have everything covered. You sure are prepared for guests!”

“Well, the toothbrushes and toothpaste are all those samples from the dentist’s office that they always give you. I have a fancy electric toothbrush so I don’t use them, but I can’t bear to throw them away. The soap and shampoo,” he pointed to a basket full of little travel sizes, “are from hotels, I kinda collect a lot of them with all the traveling that I do. The towels I just have.”

“Do you have lots of unexpected guests?” Bitty asked.

“My parents come to visit a bit but they always let me know first. You’re the first one to just show up out of the blue on me.”

“Sorry.” Bitty bites his lip.

Jack grabbed onto Bitty’s shoulder and squeezed reassuringly. “Don’t apologize! I’ve been waiting a long time for you. I was starting to worry that you’d never show up.”

Bitty smiled at him. “You’re not that old Jack! It’s not uncommon to not get a familiar until after you’re 25!”

“True, but both of my parents had theirs by the time they were 22. I know not every witch gets a familiar and I was starting to give up hope.” At 26 Jack was getting old for not having a familiar, it was almost unheard of for a witch to get one after they turned 30.

“Well have no fear, I’m 99% sure I’m your familiar.”

“Only 99%?” Jack chirped him.

“Oh hush you! I’ll be 100% sure after we both take a shower and I can confirm some things.” Bitty practically shoved Jack out of the bathroom. “Now go, we both stink.”

Jack met him in the living room a short time later. They both had damp hair and Bitty was checking something on his phone when Jack came out. Bitty patted the spot on the couch right next to him and Jack sat there. Bitty rested his head in Jack’s lap and Jack carded his fingers through Bitty’s blond hair.

“Mmmmmmm, that feels good,” Bitty mumbled.

“You like to be pet even in your human form?” Jack asked.

Bitty glared at him. “I’m not sure if that’s a chirp or a real question.”

“A real question. I know some familiars share some of their animal traits even in their human form.”

Bitty sighed and closed his eyes. “Yeah, I do like it.”

“Then I’ll keep doing it.” Jack scratched softly behind Bitty’s ears and Bitty seemed to just melt into him. “So what do you need to do to make you 100% sure I’m your witch?”

“I need to scent you.”

“Scent me? Isn’t that something more for mates to do then witches and familiars?” Jack liked where this was going but he had to be sure.

“Yes, but I’m an omega and you’re an alpha, if we aren’t compatible as mates then it's going to be very awkward living with you with your ruts and my heats and not sharing them. It’s already bad enough living in a house full of alphas when I go into heat.”

“Do they help you out?” Jack asked. He knew that it was a very personal question but he had to know.

Bitty turned bright red. “Um, yeah, my D-men do. They like sharing and it helps to have both of them so they can still go to class and trade off helping me out. I tried on my own once but with all the alphas in the house it was just too painful.”

“Next time you should come here. I don’t want anyone else helping you out anymore.” Jack knew it was too soon to really lay a claim on Bitty, and he didn’t mind that he had alphas to help him in the past, but he felt like Bitty was his and he didn’t like the idea of other alphas having what was his.

“But what if you’re on a roadie?” Apparently Bitty didn’t seem to mind the idea of coming to Providence for Jack to help him, he just didn’t want to be alone.

Jack continued to card his fingers through Bitty’s hair in a way that he hoped was reassuring.“Then I’ll just bring you with me. The other guys do it with their omegas all the time, you’ll stay in the hotel and I’ll only be gone for the game. Most omegas just seem to nap thru the games during heat anyways.”

“But the bus??” Bitty squeaked.

“We have some special divided rows in the back. Originally it was just meant for guys going through their ruts so it wouldn’t trigger the rest of the team to go into rut as well. But now some of the guys use them if their omega is in heat. They’re scent and sound protected so it doesn’t bother the rest of us.”

“Oh. That’s um, good.”

“When’s your next heat?” Jack had to know to start planning.

“In, like, two weeks.” Bitty bit his lip.

Jack smiled. “Well, won’t we have some fun then.”

“Why?” Bitty tilted his head in confusion.

“My rut’s due in two weeks. It sounds like our cycles might already be lined up.” Jack really liked the idea that they could already be synced up.

Bitty’s eyes went wide as he sat up, Jack kept his hand in Bitty’s hair wrapped the other hand around his waist and pulled him into his scent point. “No need to worry about that until you scent me anyways.” Bitty inhaled and then climbed up onto Jacks lap to nuzzle in and scent him some more. “Like what you smell?” Jack asked tentatively.

“Yes,” Bitty breathed out and melted into Jack.

“Can I scent you?” Jack asked.

“Yes.” Bitty tilted his head to the side and presented his neck to Jack.

Jack bent down and breathed Bitty in. Even clean he smelled like freshly baked pie. He had used some sort of fruity body wash and it just enhanced the pie smell. “Mmmmmmm, you smell good.” Jack felt his dick getting hard, and he felt Bitty’s getting on board too. Besides the smell of pie, the smell of arousal was hanging thickly over them. “If you don’t get off my lap soon, I can’t be held accountable for my actions.”

Bitty removed himself from Jack’s shoulder and bit his lip. “Maybe we can take this to the bedroom. I would hate to make a mess on your couch.”

Jack just stood up and threw Bitty over his shoulder in a fireman carry. Bitty let out an undignified squeak but didn’t complain otherwise. Jack carried him to his bedroom and then laid him down gently on his king-sized bed. Jack quickly divested himself of all his clothing and saw Bitty just staring at him with wide eyes amd his mouth open. “Like what you see?” Jack asked.

Bitty just nodded. “Can you, um, turn around?” Bitty timidly asked.

Jack did a slow turn and flexed his glutes when his back is turned to Eric.

Bitty squeaked. “That really is a thing of beauty! Oh Lord, you have no idea how many times I’ve jerked off to pictures of your butt, but to see it naked in person! I think I’ve died and gone to heaven!”

Jack laughed and pounced on Bitty. “What’s fair is fair, your turn to strip.”

Bitty takes a lot longer than Jack to wiggle out of his clothes as Jack doesn’t seem to have it in him to get off of Bitty or to stop kissing him. When Bitty finally was naked, Jack got up onto his knees looming over the smaller boy. “You look good Bits. I can tell you workout. Now let’s see if you have a hockey butt too.” Jack manhandles Bitty so that he is laying on his stomach. Jack put both his hands on Bitty’s butt and squeezed. “Mmmmm, I think you do.”

Jack laid back down on top of Bitty and nipped at his ear as his hard cock rests between Bitty’s ass cheeks. “What would you like to do?” Jack asked.

“Knot me,” Bitty breathed out, “I need you to knot me.”

Jack growled and rubbed a finger around Bitty’s hole, finding it soaking wet. Jack groaned. “Fuck, Bitty, you’re already so wet for me.” Jack was able to easily slid in two fingers and just went straight to rubbing Bitty’s prostate.

“Stop teasing me and knot me already!” Bitty squirmed beneath Jack.

“I don’t want to hurt you baby,” Jack said as he inserted a third finger.

Bitty groaned, “I’m an omega, unless you are extra rough it won't hurt. I was made to take a knot.”

Jack pulled out his fingers and wiped the excess slick off onto his dick before gently sliding it in.

Bitty sighed in relief when Jack was all the way in.

Jack moved slowly and gently while kissing Bitty’s neck for a while before picking up the pace and biting down onto Bitty’s neck, not hard enough to break the skin, but hard enough to leave a mark. Jack would love to bite Bitty and claim him not just as his familiar but as his mate. However, he wouldn’t do that until they got to know each other better, until Bitty begged him for it. It didn't mean that he would leave any other marks on Bitty in the meantime.

Bitty was moaning underneath him and pushing back as good as he was taking it. Jack could feel his knot starting to swell.

Apparently Bitty could feel it too. “Knot me, please, Jack, Knot me. I need your knot,” he begged.

Jack couldn’t say no, so he thrusted deeply until his knot caught and he came inside of Bitty. Bitty moaned and clamped down on Jack as he came as well.

Bitty turned his head so he could see Jack. “Your knot feels huge. And its pressing right on my prostate.”

Jack kissed Bitty on the lips. “Well, I hope you like how it feels because I don’t think that it’s going to go down anytime soon.”

Bitty kissed back. “It feels amazing, just don’t move or I’ll cum again.”

Jack slowly rocked his hips. “Why would that be a bad thing?”

Bitty scolded, “I’m not in heat you, asshole. Cumming so close together makes me over-sensitive!”

Jack stopped moving his hips and nibbled at Bitty’s ear. “I hope my knot convinced you one hundred percent that you’re my familiar.”

“Alpha,” Bitty sighed, “you’re my witch. One hundred percent.”

“Mine,” Jack said as he nipped at Bitty’s shoulder.

“Yours,” Bitty agreed.

[wrestlewriting]

Author Update

Yep. It’s been one hell of a day.

Sorry for lack of interaction. Sorry for lack of stories.

Handling being back to work AND medical stuff.

Which you can read about below.

Thank you for sticking by me, and for bringing me joy all the time. I love this wrestling community.

I put on my workout playlist as I sat down to type this. It's a playlist that hasn't been used in months, not by my choice.

It's a playlist that I'm now going to look towards more now than I have ever before for inspiration and motivation and comfort.

The first song that came on was Bayside "Pretty Vacant".

"I’ve been tucked in at the bottom of this lake, And I’ve begun to settle in. It could be worse, I guess. Nothing’s ever great and no one ever wins. But if you try your best you can get used to anything. I’m running out of air but I blame myself for diving in..."

Talk about a sign.

It could be worse.

If you try your best, you can get used to anything.

Both things I needed a reminder of now more than ever, as I nurse this oversized wine glass, and starve off my fifth crying fit of the past 4 hours.

I was diagnosed with lymphedema today.

Primary Lymphedema, meaning my genetics get to take the blame for this. But even that's a small blame at best because there's no real explanation as to why. No one has been able to say "Oh, it's because this part of your body is this way". It just is. My lymphatic system decided in my late 20s to just act up and be a pain in the ass. It's happening, my body is this way, and now I get to deal with what that means. My lymphatic system is broken, and there's really not a fix for that right now.

It's been a long road to this point. It wasn't a bad road really, not until the last five or so months. The entirety of this story is for another post though.

Up until today, I never had a diagnosis. DVT, or blood clot, was ruled out several times.  So were any traumas or breaks. My left leg and it's acting up didn't happen in a straight timeline of events, so various ideas and attempts at solutions had been thrown around for a while. It took a lot to get to this point.

I had a CT scan with contrast dye done right before Christmas. I hadn't realized how much hope I was holding in that test giving me an answer, a solvable problem...until I wasn't given one.

I had so much hope that I would get this fixed, that my legs would both look small and normal again. That I wouldn't have to wear yoga pants every day because it's the only thing right now that can be comfortable with the swelling. That I could go back to wearing my boots and sneakers and closed shoes, and not only wear flats. That I could go back to the gym sooner rather than later. That I would have a solid answer to tell all my friends and family, to ease their minds.

That I would have a solid endpoint to all this.

But I didn't get that today.

Nothing abnormal has shown up on any test conducted examining the insides of my body. But my left leg on the outside, well, it is quite abnormal, to say the least.

Lymphedema. No cure. Just treatment. Just management.

Someday, my right leg will more than likely start to look like my left leg. I'm starting to almost look forward to that time, simply so my legs are no longer such a shocking contrast to one another. (As my nurse told me today, "It doesn't even look like legs that belong to the same body.)

I've cried a lot today. I'm frustrated. I didn't get a solvable problem. I didn't get something that can go away. I'm annoyed. I will have to take care of this for the rest of my life. I'm irritated. I have to wear compression stockings regularly. I'm down to a limited wardrobe, and now I have to start over. I'm sad. Cute little dresses aren't exactly something you can easily coordinate with compression stockings. This isn't the kind of conversation starter I wanted. I'm worried. What if this is more or becomes worse or effects me in some other way medically? I'm not even 30 years old yet, there's a lot of time left (hopefully). I'm scared. My family doesn't exactly have the most healthy track record and who is to say what else is in store for me.

My dad raised me to have a great sense of humor, and that laughter is truly the best medicine. I come from a family of people that don't panic, don't overthink regularly. Up until today, I've kept that tradition going just fine. Hell, I created a hashtag, #SausageLegSaga to bring some levity to this whole thing while I shared it with my friends.

Today I allowed myself to feel all those other emotions I had been minimizing until now. Humor is great, but it can't always be the answer. I always tell my kiddos I work with: you are entitled to your emotions. How something makes you feel, that's real to you, and you're allowed to feel that. But it's what you do with those emotions, how you respond, that's where the work is really done.

So right now, I'm going to let myself feel all these emotions as I digest all this information I was given today.

And tomorrow, I'll start the work.

First on the agenda: getting a profore wrap on my leg. Try to get some of this fluid to go away. Maybe then I can put on a sneaker for the first time in months. A girl can hope. The downside to that damn wrap is I can't get it wet. So basically, I'm gonna savor tomorrow morning's shower for all it's worth. Also, trash bags and duct tape. If you know, you know.

The important thing is getting this swelling to go down and fluid to go away. If it stays and my leg gets worse, it can lead to tissue scarring when all is said and done. I'm not looking to live that life, thanks.

After that, there's a last-ditch-effort venus insufficiency ultrasound in a couple weeks. Maybe, just maybe, I will get to blame this on something visibly physically wrong. But honestly, at this point, it's one area I've stopped hoping in. My doctor didn't seem too hopeful herself, given any and all tests up until now have shown the perfectly fine functioning of my veins. Who knows though.

As one of my other docs said: "Normally you always want to go normal, but for you, we're going to go off that path immediately".

Yea. That sounds about right.

It's also why I drink wine a lot.

(from Dec 15, 2017; a decent day)

"Can't pay my rent, cause all my money's spent [on doctor's bills]. But that's okay, cause I'm still fly."