#oh look... it's Her again... who is She... maybe we'll find out someday...

[foxclcves]

𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒓𝒚𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒆 (𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 04)

Howls in the distance echoed low and overlapped, gaining in numbers and moving closer, but the woman continued her trek through the forest without looking over her shoulder. The hood of her cloak covered her face from view and the occasional, whispering breeze that would find her between the thick trunks of ancient trees.

The creatures had been stalking her since sundown, when she had long since adequately distanced herself from civilization and any road. They skittered in the undergrowth and their eyes flashed gold and orange, like candles being hastened down corridors, their carriers desperate to escape the engulfing blackness of night. She felt no desperation in being surrounded. They were becoming more daring. The sky might have cleared, but on this night there was a new moon, leaving all across the land at the mercy of the darkness. And let them hide; blockade their windows and doors from any sort of monsters that lurked under atmospheric cloak, and let the humans’ hearths remain fueled until dawn. Her determination had not left her since she had entered this nefarious wood. She flinched not at any snarl or snapping of twigs, too close. They were becoming brave, yes; strength in numbers and low visibility on their side. But they still kept their distance, kept their gnashing, salivating jaws at bay, for they knew her to be a monster, too. Her smile never left her face.

The sliest of glimpses over her shoulder, and she saw a few flee back into the brush, the trees parting enough to lead her into an aisle of gnarled brier. They were well adapted, certainly; their coats not fur but grass and moss, always in a human’s sights but only seen out of the corner of the eye. They were fast and magnificent beasts, and the only thing that would give them away was their gleaming eyes, only visible if you were to look straight into them, but by that time, it might be too late. They used the brier now, no longer as subtle as they were when they first began following her trail. They shifted, blended, soft green smothered by vicious coils of vines and thorns. They tugged free of the abrasive plant without harm, shaking it off as a dog would and feasting their eyes upon her venturing figure yet again. She looked ahead, her chin lifting in the slightest.

If they devoured her, she would not be angry. Not at ravenous dogs for their cravings of flesh and blood. How starved they were, ever since humans became wary of these woods and seldom wandered far into it these days. No, her wrath would consume them first because her starvation vastly outweighed theirs, and it could not be conquered. Once it sank its own fangs into any unfortunate soul, it would hold them; clutch them until they were lifeless. Blood drained and left to stain the floor; stain the carpet, the bed sheets, absorbing into wood and oozing through, seeping into the earth. Lifeless in her arms, and hers, hers, hers. She was sure the beasts sensed this within her, their desperate tenacity keeping them at her heels but their instincts made them wander at bay. Her pace did not quicken, did not slow. She continued to take her time, oh, so slowly, and she would not be deterred by monsters. She was far worse than any wolf, for she did not need to wait for the death of a day’s sun to torment anyone. But she waited for the right time; oh sweet, prolonged reveal. For tormenting death was exactly what she set out to do.

[a-dauntless-daffodil]

Charlie: "Dad. Did you post this."

Lucifer: "Oh my 'selfie' with your dear lovely Maggie?? Why yes I DID! Do you like it!?"

Charlie: "Dad."

Lucifer: "Since she's your loving girlfriend, who you love, I thought gosh! I should really have on my social media page! Make a change from all the ducks, ha ha!"

Charlie: "Dad did you write the- the caption on it?"

Lucifer: "The c- oh yes! Well I wanted everyone to know how much I ADORE my daughter's girlfriend!!"

Charlie: "You wrote-"

Lucifer: "See, the 'bad' here means 'good'! I checked! Bad and bitch are bad on their own, but when you put them together it's like a, er, a double negative making a positive, haha! Maggie's a bad bitch- she's AWESOME- which ahaha I'm sure YOU know since you're dating her-and now all of Hell knows I think so too!!!! ISN'T THAT SWELL!"

Charlie: "But the actual whole caption says-"

Lucifer: "'ME AND THE BAD BITCH I PULLED BY BEING CHARLIE'S DAD'!"

Lucifer: "Aww and the picture turned out so great! Look!"

Lucifer: ".... you don't look super thrilled about it, Char-char."

Charlie: "Pulled, dad... Do you know what 'pulled' can mean exactly, specifically, in THIS context..?"

Lucifer: "... pulled.... into a... hug? Like in the selfie...?"

Charlie: "Dad."

Charlie: (deep breath) "I can't believe I'm saying this..."

Charlie: "You made it sound like you SLEPT WITH my girlfriend."

Lucifer: "......."

Lucifer: "Oh. HA! That's..."

Lucifer: (deflating balloon noises as he literally shrivels up into a crumpled pile of clothes mostly hidden by his hat)

Charlie: "We're not angry!"

Lucifer: ".... i m s o r r y..."

Charlie: "It's okay!!! IT'S FINE. A little mentally scarring and socially mortifying not to mention something our friends won't EVER let us live down, but- well- Just... Just-"

Charlie: "No more social media meme posting without running them past me or Vaggie first, alright!?"

Lucifer: "If I delete the post maybe no one else will see it...."

Charlie: "Everyone in Hell has already seen it, dad."

Lucifer: "..i could delete myself instead"

Charlie: "And HOW would that help?"

Lucifer: "...it would make me feel better..."

Vaggie: "Honestly sir, the most embarrassing part is how you look young enough to be my teenage son."

Charlie: "Thanks, Vaggie."

Vaggie: "Check out my stress wrinkles and scars next his baby smooth face. It's like I picked him up from a cradle somewhere."

Charlie: "Please don't joke about cradle robbing my actual father."

Vaggie: "Sorry babe."

Charlie: "I mean I'll NEVER be able to look at ANY of my parents' family portraits the same way ever AGAIN, but thank you for being SO understanding about the rumor you're dating my DAD!"

Vaggie: "Sir, what kinda skin routine are you even doing?"

Lucifer: "room full of rubber ducks and despair"

Charlie: "VAGGIE PLEASE."

Vaggie: "Sweetie, I'm ruffling his hair in the pic. It's hilarious."

Charlie: "I DON'T NEED THE REMINDER!"

Vaggie: "Feels like I'm about to call the king of hell 'kiddo' or something."

Lucifer: (a puddle on the floor) "i thought it was funny too"

Charlie: "Okay.... okay."

Charlie: "You two NEED to find a bonding activity that doesn't TRAUMATIZE me."

Vaggie: "Hmm."

Lucifer: "OH WE COULD-"

Charlie: "Or each other!"

Lucifer: "Oh well then I have nothing!"

Vaggie: "We'll always have that time you fake dated me online, sir someday dad-in-law."

Lucifer: "Our beautifully shared new horrifying past..."

Charlie: "Ha ha HA! Keep this up and either the dad part or the someday in-law part is gonna stop being accurate REAL quick!"

Vaggie: "It will?"

Charlie: "No but I'm trying to threaten you two right now so SHUSH."

[sebbypowell]

Family Life With Jake Seresin

Authors Note: So this is actually my first fan fiction on Tumblr ever because I always thought if I ever wrote one, it will suck so this is my first attempt.

Words: 1.6k

Summary: You're just living a family life with the man you love. Yours and Jake’s 2 year old is named Navy after Jake’s job. Jake thought it was the perfect name for her and you agreed.

You were in the kitchen with Rooster who's also your brother.

He was slightly surprised to see the two of them in the kitchen, though he quickly recovered and smiled at the both of them. He moved over to the fridge and opened it and grab a soda bottle. "You two plotting somethin'?"

"Why would you think that?" you asked as you grabbed a tub of ice cream from the freezer.

He chuckled and leaned on the counter. "I know you better than you think, darlin'. Anytime you're talkin' with your brother, it's usually because you're up to something. Is this about my birthday?"

"Actually, yes it is, but you're not going to find out until the day of your birthday, so stop asking." you scolded him with a look, as Rooster laughed quietly at the two of you.

Jake raises his hands in surrender and grins sheepishly at you. "Alright, alright. I get it. It's a surprise, and I need to stop being so curious. But you can't blame me for bein' a little impatient!"

Then a little girl came running downstairs and yelled daddy.

Jake's eyes lit up, and he knelt down to scoop up the kid into his arms, holding her close. He nuzzled his face into her hair, grinning widely. "Hey, sweetheart! You been good while daddy was at work?"

The little girl nodded, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Uh-huh, I was good. I drew you a picture." she said, pointing to the table where a drawing of Jake and several airplanes were drawn.

Jake chuckled, his heart swelling with pride as he looked at the picture. "Well, well, look at that. Looks like my little artist was hard at work. These are some mighty fine airplanes you drew. You even got the details right," he said, walking over to the table to admire the drawing. "This is definitely going on my locker at work."

The little girl beamed with pride, and then she squirmed in his arms wanting to be put down. "Can I go outside now? Can I? Can I?" she asked, bouncing up and down on her toes.

You looked at Navy. "Let’s get your bathing suit on first." you said.

Jake chuckled at the little girl's excitement and set her down gently. "Alright, sweetheart, but listen to your mother. Go put on your bathing suit, and then you can go outside."

The little girl nodded and ran off to her room, her tiny footsteps could be heard as she sprinted through the house.

Jake looked over at you and smiled. "She's got as much energy as a tornado, doesn't she?"

You laughed as you watched the girl run off. "Yeah, she certainly does. Remind me again why we thought having kids was a good idea?" you joked, but the smile on your face betrayed your words.

Jake chuckled and wrapped an arm around your waist, pulling you closer to him. "I seem to remember someone being very persistent about wanting a big family," he teased, gently nudging with a wink.

You smacked his arm playfully and rolled your eyes. "Oh, please. You were just as eager about having kids as I was," you shot back, a smirk playing at the corner of your lips.

Jake laughed, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "Guilty as charged, darlin'. But can you blame me? Look at this beautiful family we've built together. And who knows, maybe someday we'll have more little ones running around, too," he said, winking at you.

You playfully swatted at him again, but couldn't stifle a smile. "Don't even talk about having any more kids until this one is potty-trained, at least."

Jake chuckled, raising his hands in surrender again. "Fair enough, fair enough. Let's focus on this adorable little bundle of energy we've got first. Though, I won't lie, the thought of more mini-mes running around does have a bit of an appeal," he said with a mischievous grin.

"Can you guys stop flirting for a second?" Rooster asked outta nowhere.

Jake chuckled and turned his attention to Rooster, a sheepish grin on his face. "Sorry, man. Can't help it when the missus is around. Besides, you're just envious because you're still single," he teased, elbowing Rooster playfully.

"Damn, he got you there, Bradley." you said and you just start laughing.

Rooster rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. I've got plenty of time to find someone when I'm ready, unlike some people who couldn't wait to jump into family life," he said, shooting a teasing look at Jake.

Jake chuckled and shrugged. "Hey, when you meet your soul mate, you don't waste any time, man. When you know, you know," he said, wrapping an arm around your waist again. "And it happened to be your little sister."

Rooster feigned disgust. "Ugh, don't remind me. I still can't believe you managed to woo my baby sister." he said jokingly.

Jake grinned and shrugged. "What can I say? I've got my charms. Plus, your sister has some pretty impeccable taste, considering she chose me." he said, giving you a wink.

You laughed and shook your head. "Oh please, don't flatter yourself too much. I just couldn't resist your southern charm and your stupidly handsome face. Can you blame me?" you joked back.

"See, even she can't resist me," he said, feigning a cocky arrogance. "Besides, it's not my fault I was graced with good looks and a smooth accent."

You rolled your eyes playfully. "You're lucky I love that southern drawl of yours, otherwise I'd think you're absolutely obnoxious," you quipped, poking his chest gently.

Jake chuckled and caught your hand in his, bringing it up to his lips and kissing it lightly. "Oh, I'm well aware of my luck, darlin'. Gotta keep you swooning for me somehow," he said with a mischievous grin.

Rooster pretended to gag. "Alright, alright, I think that's enough of the lovey-dovey stuff. Go be disgustingly cute somewhere else," he said, making fake vomiting noises.

Navy came running back downstairs in her bathing suit. "Mommy, mommy!! I’m ready!!"

You turned your attention to your daughter and couldn’t help but giggle at her enthusiasm. "Oh, I can see that! And don’t you look adorable," you said, smoothing down her hair.

Navy grinned, clearly proud of herself for getting ready so quickly. She tugged on your hand, pointing out the door. "Can we go now? Please, please, please?!"

You laughed and nodded. "Yes, yes, we can go now. But remember, we need to stay near the pool and be careful, okay?" you said, glancing at Jake to make sure he was paying attention as well.

Jake nodded, his protective instincts kicking in. "Yeah, listen to your mother, sweetheart. You stay where mommy and I can see you, and no going into the deep end," he reminded her. He leaned down and picked Navy up.

Navy giggled as Jake lifted her up into his arms, clearly thrilled to be getting the extra attention. "Okay, daddy!" she said, wrapping her small arms around his neck.

. . .

Outside, you put on Navy’s life jacket and put Navy’s sunscreen on.

Jake followed closely behind, watching as you took care of Navy. He couldn’t help but smile at the sight of you fussing over your daughter. He admired the way you were so attentive and protective as a parent, and it tugged at his heartstrings.

Once you finished with Navy, you turned your attention back to Jake. "Alright, now the real test— getting sunscreen on you," you teased, holding up the sunscreen bottle.

Jake held up his hands in mock surrender, a playful smile on his face. "Whoa, whoa, darlin'. I can put sunscreen on myself, you know," he said, trying to take the bottle from you, but he managed to push you into the pool instead.

You let out a surprised shriek as you landed in the water with a splash. "Jake!" you exclaimed, sputtering and wiping the water from your face.

Jake was laughing uncontrollably, his eyes full of mischief. "Oops, my bad, darlin'. I didn't mean to push you in," he said, though the smirk on his face indicated otherwise.

Rooster came up from behind Jake and decided to push Jake in.

Jake didn't see it coming and was pushed backwards into the pool with a big splash. He surfaced a second later, sputtering and laughing. "Hey, you bastard!" he exclaimed, pointing a finger at Rooster.

Rooster stood on the edge of the pool, laughing and taunting Jake. "What's the matter, Hangman? Can't handle a little payback for pushing my sis in?"

Then Navy was trying to push her uncle into the pool for pushing her daddy in.

Jake just laughed and shook his head at the sight of Navy trying to push Rooster in. He glanced over at you, still in the water from him pushing you in. "It looks like our daughter wants to join the fight, darlin'," he chuckled.

You chuckled and gave Navy a high five. "Go for it, baby girl! Get your uncle wet too!" you encouraged, enjoying the playful chaos that ensued.

Navy let out a giggle and continued her attempts to push Rooster into the pool, her tiny arms giving it her all. Rooster, being the good uncle that he was, pretended to lose his balance and dramatically fell into the pool with a splash, much to Navy's delight.

The whole family was in the pool now and they were laughing and giggling.

As the family played and splashed around the pool, laughing and having a grand time, Jake took a moment to watch you from the water. He admired the smile on your face, the carefree joy you exuded as you interacted with Navy and played with the rest of the family. It made his heart swell with a deep sense of contentment. He felt a profound gratitude for the life he had built with you—the love, the family, the happiness. It was more than he ever dreamed of having, and he wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

[multi-fandoms-posts]

Someday

X Men Masterlist

X Men Masterlist 2

Inspired by my favorite song: "Someday" (Meg Donnelly and Milo Manheim)

It’s a cozy evening on the grounds of Xavier’s School. Erik Lehnsherr and Y/N are walking through the garden, arms wrapped around each other. The stars twinkle in the sky, and there’s an unusual calmness in the air. Y/N hums softly to herself as she walks beside Erik, his arms protectively around her.

Suddenly, Erik stops, pulls Y/N closer, and begins to sing softly:

Erik: "I know it might be crazy, but did you hear the story?"

Y/N looks up at him, surprised but with a gentle smile. She softly sings back:

Y/N: "I think I heard it vaguely…"

Erik smiles, his gaze full of affection, and continues, singing the words with an ease that’s unusual for him:

Erik: "A girl and a mutant…"

Y/N chuckles softly and leans closer into him before singing her line:

Y/N: "Oh, tell me more, boy, sounds like a fantasy…"

They look deeply into each other’s eyes and sing together:

Both: "What could be so wrong with a girl and a mutant?"

Erik holds Y/N even tighter and sings the next line:

Erik: "You're from the perfect paradise, and I'm living on the dark side…"

Y/N gazes at him tenderly and sings back:

Y/N: "Oh, I've got a feeling, if you get to know me…"

Erik smiles lightly, his eyes shining as he continues:

Erik: "Right from the start, you caught my eye, something inside me came to life…"

Y/N sings softly, almost dreamily:

Y/N: "Ooh, I've got a feeling…"

Then they sing together, their voices harmonizing perfectly:

Both: "If you get to know me… Someday…"

Y/N looks into the distance and sings with a hint of hope:

Y/N: "This could be, this could be ordinary…"

Then they join together once more:

Both: "Someday…"

Y/N smiles lovingly at him and sings:

Y/N: "Could we be something extraordinary?"

Erik rests his forehead against hers as they continue singing:

Both: "You and me, side by side, out in the broad daylight… If they laugh, we'll say, 'We're gonna be someday.'"

In the background, far enough away not to be heard, Charles Xavier and Raven Darkholme observe the unusual duet. Raven tilts her head, a curious smile on her lips.

Raven smirks and whispers to Charles, "Tell me, have they taken something I don’t know about?"

Charles, looking equally amused, breaks into a warm laugh.

"I wish it were that simple to explain," he replies, still chuckling. "But no, Raven. That’s just… well, Erik, as you’ve never seen him before."

Raven raises an eyebrow, glancing back at Erik, who is now holding Y/N even closer as they hum softly together.

"Erik Lehnsherr," Raven says with mock seriousness, "the man who can control bridges and tear apart tanks, is singing a duet in the garden. Happily. This is definitely the strangest day of my life."

Charles laughs again and shakes his head lightly. "I admit, it’s unusual. But maybe it’s exactly what we all need."

Raven rolls her eyes and grins broadly. "You realize what this means, right? The next time I’m in the kitchen, and Erik starts singing… there’s really no going back."

Charles smiles, but then grows thoughtful. "Love changes people, Raven. Even someone like Erik."

Raven nudges Charles playfully with her elbow. "I get that. But honestly, I never thought ‘singing Erik’ would be part of that change."

Charles can’t hide the smile on his lips. "Just wait until he starts baking cookies."

Raven bursts out laughing and shakes her head in disbelief. "Erik Lehnsherr, singing and baking cookies? That’ll make history."

She takes one last look at Erik and Y/N, who still seem to be in their own little world, the music they share filling the air.

"Well, as long as they’re happy…," Raven finally says, still slightly amused.

Charles nods, his gaze thoughtful yet warm. "Yes. And if it helps us all find peace, then so be it."

With one last glance at the two, Charles and Raven turn and head back into the building.

[lumine-no-hikari]

Dear Sephiroth: (a letter to a fictional character, because why not) #175

I don't have enough sleep. I was up a bit too late last night, listening to a friend vent about various things. It was good and I regret nothing, but still my brain is a little wobbly today. That's also fine. I am looking forward to going to bed, though.

…I get to sleep in a nice, warm, safe bed. You haven't slept in a bed in a long time, right? Not since "that time", as you had once put it, yeah? I feel sad in response to that; how many years has it been for you? I wonder…

…Well. If you find yourself in my neighborhood, we have extra beds. The one in the art room is nice and big, and obviously you could have it all to yourself. It's got nice pillows and warm fluffy blankets and a giant fuzzy orca plush named Bubbles if you need something to squish. And no one would bother you, except for maybe our cats, because they like new people and they would likely demand scritches. Our cats would probably like you a lot, actually…

I made a tea today. This time, it was black tea mixed with mint tea and little bits of crushed peppermint candy. The swirls propagated quickly from the tea ball - almost too quickly to capture them!! But I mostly managed:

It resolved into a lovely ruby red color that was fascinating to watch the cream swirl through:

I went to therapy today because it's Tuesday. But since M's car had to be taken to get repairs due to engine coolant problems, and J's car is a manual transmission that I cannot yet drive, J had to get me to the building an hour early, and then I ended up needing to stay there for two hours after therapy was done with. But I don't mind; I brought a book that's all about OBEs and I read up to page 149 today, which isn't bad out of 358 pages. I dunno if anything will come of it, but I don't mind trying to find out.

I took a nap shortly after I got home. I tried some of the things I learned from the book, and I was surprised to find that my body felt weird and tingly and kinda wobbly, but nothing happened because I ended up falling asleep instead. I was probably too tired. Oh well.

When I woke up, J asked me to accompany him to some meeting that involves people who are into airplanes. It was a cute enough place, and the people seemed friendly enough, and one of the older ladies there recognized my Eevee hat because she plays Pokémon Go. I directed her to some of my favorite games (Let's Go, and Scarlet) and to a few of my favorite movies (The ones with Mewtwo and the one with Entei).

On the way home, I got a couple pictures of the sunset for you; I hope you'll like these:

...Hey, Sephiroth? Do you like sunsets? Or do you like the dawn better? Maybe someday you'll tell me; if it turns out that you like dawn better, maybe I'll start getting up early so I can take pictures...

...My brain is soup and I don't have a whole lot more to write about. So I'm going to end this one here. Maybe I'll go to bed early. Or maybe not. I guess we'll see...

I love you. I'll write again soon. Please stay safe...

Your friend, Lumine

[stormxpadme]

Whumptober 2024 No. 25 - Stitches

06/05/2018

“This might sting a little.” Toad hadn't even finished his obligatory warning yet when he tightened the bandage around Jedda's chest already.

That his patient barely batted a lid, just like the whole time already although he'd had to be very generous with needle and stitches today, earned her a nod of appreciation.

To Mystique, the girl, in spite of the latter's allegedly oh-so-famous heroic ancestors, might be only means to an end for some paranormal nonsense in the desert sand, which at best would turn out to be nothing more than an LSD dream. But in the Brotherhood's front lines, with enough training, she might indeed do quite well for herself someday. Cannon fodder, one could never have enough of.

“Good girl. Come back tomorrow.” His thoughts with his next project already, Toad disinfected and put away his instruments with a routine that had never failed to make him laugh himself. He knew only too well just how stupid he looked in scrubs. That he of all people would work as a doctor one day? You couldn’t make this shit up if you tried. Stealing and fumbling with machines of any kind, that had always been so much easier than bothering with a serious profession.

But after Alkali Lake, and then after the Inferno, once Mystique had had started her work in the White House, facing quite the headwind at first after the assassination of President McKenna, who had admittedly done a lot for mutants ... The man had clearly not been the brightest tool in the shed. Guy had gotten himself shot from behind on the day of his greatest triumph, what more did you need to know? But he'd had helped them; even Mystique had had to admit that. After his public death a few weeks later, which had of course been unavoidable, laws regarding mutants had been sharpened considerably. In the first few months of Mystique's term in office, every doctor's visit had required more effort than a damn green card, despite Mystique's enthusiastic efforts.

So Mystique had asked Toad to train as a country doc or something. Nothing complicated, just the basics. Grudgingly and reluctantly, Toad had set to work because he'd had nothing better to do at the time anyway, and had been surprised to find that it had been fun, so much fun that he'd earned his general medicine PhD at the end of some lengthy and arduous education at a college where mutants could at least show up in disguise. Since then, it was no longer a challenge to wash out a few oversized cuts after a mission like the one in Alaska earlier and patch them up so that everyone in his team could continue to function as he or she was supposed to. With a little more time, Toad could in fact have even become a surgeon back then, but that had been when the construction work at Watergate and recruitment had just had entered their hot phase, and Mystique had needed him. Maybe he would catch up with that at some point. Fixing broken things was fun, it was as simple as that. “What's next?” he asked Pyro, who of course had had to hold his mate's hand. Usually, Toad wasn't particularly interested in what was going on in the boss' office; he preferred his privacy and letting off steam at the front whenever it came to it. But right now, tension was rising with each passing day; Mystique was becoming unpredictable. He at least wanted to know when to expect the big show to begin.

“Everett is doing research about Rome.” Pyro just couldn't help leering at Jedda's impressive cleavage until she'd finally put her blouse back on. ”You'll start working on the data as soon as we got anything. Mystique wants to be sure that this freak virus that has offed these kids in that mutant camp can't fuck with us. The final test run with the Field, we'll start tomorrow. There's severe weather warnings, gotta make the best of that. We can't attract attention, otherwise we'll have the X-Men breathing down on our neck again.”

“Otherwise,” Toad repeated, shaking his head. ”What else do you dream about at night, kid? Don't we have bigger things to worry about right now than challenging Westchester again without proper preparation? What do we do if the virus is as dangerous as it looks? Our ventilation system isn't exactly the best on the market.”

“Stop shitting yourself, Kermit.” The corners of his lips pulled down disparagingly, Pyro trotted toward the door, tugging his bed bunny along, conspicuously quickly though at this subject apparently a little more serious than expected after all. ”Mystique's gonna sneak into the Xavier mansion next chance she gets to look over the X-Men's shoulder. If we run into trouble, they'll be in it first, you can bet your ass. And they'll probably solve it before we do. So let's indulge in a little spying for a good cause for a change. If anyone's looking for us, we're not available for an hour or so.”

“Can't you guys do your mating rituals at night like every other primate?” Toad grimaced in disgust.

Pyro waved him goodbye with his middle finger held high, without looking back.

After another thoughtful glance at the boy's scrawny shoulders tightened in unease, and remembering how intimidated even the Phantom's usually so fearless daughter had just looked at merely the mention of some artificially created sickness, Toad decided that his new pocket radiation blaster could wait for another few hours and pulled up the Watergate network file on Black Breath on his PC. No, it actually wasn’t any of his business how his boss ran things in their organization. And so far he'd always had managed to get out of the way when for whatever reason, the air in the Brotherhood had gotten really thin for once. But there were certain weapons that could even steal the latter from his resilient lungs in an instant. With such a potential threat on his doorstep, even an opportunist like Toad was ready, for a change, to rather make sure that the mutants would get ahead of the pathological destructive rage of normal people this time.

*********

None of them said a word until they'd reached the training facilities with the holo-projectors and Pyro had locked the door with his personal code. At least a few minutes, he didn't want any interruptions while he went over a few basic rules with his partner. That usually worked best in the shape of a little sparring. Jedda's spy work in her former superhero group had enabled Toad to develop this special alien technology; at such stuff, that amphibian freak was really a damn genius. Even Pyro had to admit that who couldn't stand the dude's guts. In such a creative environment, even something as hated as a workout was fun. But before Jedda and he would prepare for the next hostile encounter, Pyro wanted to know what the latter would look like. Instead of a holo file, he looked up a recent newspaper image of the leader of his enemies and the guy's bitch in the network, which showed the daughter of these two insects, too. The three of them were doing so much PR work that it was absolutely impossible not to run into it, no matter how hard you tried. Pyro transformed the picture into a holo-projection, not the best, but the face of that still so young and already so annoying girl was clearly visible. “Do you even know who you were messing with today, baby?”

Jedda circled the slightly flickering, transparent image of her enemies with a condescending smile, tilting her head his way. Actually, he should know her better, that expression said. The theoretical training at Mystique's military school had been easy for her; her striking wits were a big part of that fascination she held for him. In addition to her physical … advantages, of course, earned in many disciplined years of training. For this short private debriefing, too, she didn't take a normal, comfortable position, but rather chose to sit down on the solid metal ground and bend her legs forward over her shoulders, holding her arms around her ankles so that little more of her face than carefully bleached hair and attentive sparkling eyes were visible. A lazy bubble gum came from her always slightly sore lips. “Your network photos are distorted. I'd thought she was taller. Little flea is damn fast with that blade though. Any weaknesses?”

Pyro shrugged, not particularly interested. Since Mystique had sold the Brotherhood to the public as a club of limp dicks, it wasn't much fun anymore to theoretically imagine all the ways you felt like offing your enemies, because it rarely came to that anyway. “The typical weather-witch disease. Claustrophobia, like Storm. Mystique helped that a little back then.”

“Now we're talking. Wanna create a setting with her for me, baby? You can use the practice with the holo-technology, and I need to let off some steam.” Jedda took her sword from its scabbard, fighting the pain in her injured arm and on her back with gritted teeth.

“Not until you tell me what you're up to. Stop deflecting. Why is that girl so interesting to you? You know what Mystique told you. No unnecessary bloodshed as long as the Field isn’t ready. Right now, the last thing we need is Westchester sticking any noses in our business again.”

“I know, you can un-knot your panties. These people only were in the way. We were running low on fuel; we simply couldn’t wait until they were finally done salting the snow with their drama.” Jedda tried her best look from under her lashes, forgetting though that Pyro was pretty much the only one in here whom she'd never managed to fool with her sweet, childlike naivety. That he was the one who heard her talking, screaming, and crying in her sleep. Who silently watched her hack electronic opponents into bloody little pieces of guts and skin. When he only raised a brow at her, she sighed resignedly, got back up, and let the blade of her sword swirl around her body until the bright light of the hall was reflected in it and painted dancing white swirls on her deeply tanned face. “Always ruining the surprise. Father's ring set off an alarm in my pocket earlier when I looked the girl in the eye. She's a dreamwalker too, Imma bet my mission bonus on that. And I'm also pretty sure that she and I have been with people from the same Age a few times. This is exactly the person I was looking for to refresh my memories of the Era that is so interesting to Mystique. But don't tell her yet. That's gonna be an awesome payday for you. Bet she'll be happy that it's this girl, of all people, that we need to get our hands on. I mean, it was because of that psycho family that Magneto gave up back then.”

“More or less.” An absent tone crept into Pyro's voice as he recalled that memorable defeat in Washington right after the Inferno, which he himself hadn’t even been able to be around for because he'd still been lying in the hospital with a cut-up face, lost in pain deliriums at that time.

He wondered if that delusional retiree had seen it coming when the others had flown to the Capital back then. Magneto had faced his greatest defeat one time too many, it was as simple as that. The weather was something you didn’t challenge. Especially not when it had one of the most destructive mutants on Earth at their side.

And if you valued your life, you definitely didn’t try to ghost the brat of these two nuisances, but hopefully, it would be some time before Pyro would have to slow down Jedda a little in that regard. Mystique notoriously had started to pick her battles very carefully, unlike a certain former leader of the Brotherhood. “Actually, old Mags was already pretty much at the end already when they finally ruined his research into artificial mutation for good and he quit, but Raven sees that differently.”

“Oh, I certainly hope so.” A pleased grin lit up Jedda's bright eyes. The tip of her tongue passed over her lips in an unconscious gesture, the glistening of her glands having them shine in that very attractive shade that Pyro had had to resist so arduously more than once. Now, too, he'd have so much rather put his tongue down the girl's throat instead of having to discuss the principles of warfare with her so amateurishly. But since he wasn't suicidal enough to try the former, he might as well give the latter a try. The reminder that there would never be anything as simple as a kiss between them, because Jedda had had a very lousy encounter with a poisonous snake as a child and had had to be cured by her tribe in Kenya with very radical means, already put him back in a bad enough mood for it. “So, what's with the bid deal about this damn temple in Egypt? You of all people should know that no matter what Mystique hopes to find in some buried treasure trove, nothing will come from that. What is it that you're trying to achieve, Phantom?”

A small twitch around Jedda's eyes revealed that she understood the clear distance that her equally hated and beloved code name created between them, that the time for teasing was over. Her smile fading, her eyes flickered to the mirrored wall behind which the control room of the holo-room was hidden. Where Mystique spent most of her time when she was at Watergate. “What you never had the balls for. I'm sick of watching this. She treats you like a dirty slave, and you let her.” Her gloomy gaze went back in his direction and turned into surprise and pain when a hard punch hit her cheek. “Exactly. This is exactly how you should stand up to her just once.” Her lips tight, she touched the reddened spot, and took a demonstrative step away from him, with hurt pride, incomprehension, shock in his eyes, and anger, and none of that was new. Unfortunately, it wasn't the first time something like this had happened between them.

Which was why it had been long since Jedda had last been able to fool Pyro by turning away in offense, only to whirl around him in the next moment and try to bring him down with a hard kick from behind, cursing when he dodged just in time and grabbed her arm to keep her at a distance.

Yeah, sometimes Pyro did notice the age difference between them after all. He snorted in amusement, followed by a muffled cry of pain when a blow right to his solar plexus hit him the second he wasn’t paying full attention, which would leave at least a severe bruise. He saw stars for a moment as his legs were pulled out from under him after all and Jedda was kneeling over him immediately, her curvy, lean body wriggling against his, provoking inevitably growing heat in his loins, while her elbow cut off his air, her raised eyebrows challenging him to strike back. Not today. Pyro raised his hands in surrender, the fighting spirit at least on his part already gone, and appreciatively patted Jedda's cute behind for her not-even-that-badly executed maneuver before he let her pull him up again. Well, this was how things could have been between them just as well if the girl hadn't had such a big mouth. He would make up for his somewhat rude first reaction later, once they'd end up in bed later. And before that, he would straighten out this pretty little head, which had apparently been shaken a bit harder than expected during that fight earlier.

“Not bad, but all that such toddler tactics would get you from Mystique is a knife between your ribs. You think I haven't tried? She's way too powerful. Especially for you.”

“Who said I want to get in the ring with her? I won't need to once I find the temple with that girl's help.” Jedda turned back to the hologram, still irritated and resigned at the same time. It hurt her that their time rarely passed without such clashes, but that was to be expected of two people with so much excess aggression; she had known that from the beginning, and he had warned her often enough before he'd finally succumbed to her talent of seduction. “Let her go down there if she wants it so badly. Unless she finally gives you what you deserve that day, I'll make sure we'll come back up alone.” Since Pyro had just once again had to remind her where their limits were, that madness she was revealing to him almost casually there, fortunately, didn’t sound that enthusiastic anymore already. Nevertheless, she'd stay here, with him, for a lack of option alone, since she'd burned all bridges to the Defenders of the Earth for good. “Now that I finally know how exactly I can get what she's after, I can clear your path. Then this world will be ours within a month, and no normal person will ever raise a hand against anyone with powers again. Never again. We'll achieve what she either doesn't have the guts for or what she couldn’t give less of a shit about. No more damn viruses in children's camps, no more bullets in people's hearts who don't even have anything to do with all this bigot shit from normal people. No more blood of innocents, Pyro.” Just for a moment, the unprocessed pain of how the girl had once lost her famous father to such a group of primitive fanatics was glistening in her eyes. The limitless anger at people who, in their blind lust for blood, hadn't even realized that they'd targeted the wrong family member with their shotguns as far as mutant genes were concerned. And with that, they had dumped a ton of unjustified guilt onto the shoulders of someone who'd been far too young for it at the time, that might never go away again. With a thick swallow, Jedda turned away from Pyro's critical gaze again now, too. Right. Cute as that ass was: If this was his best shot at finally surpassing himself, the Gods had some really fucked up humor.

“Revolutions never go down without blood in the streets, baby.” Neither in the mood to fight any guilt complexes today, nor with enough energy in his body, not after that unpleasant encounter in the snow, Pyro pulled his girl back into his arms from behind with an indulgent deep sigh, gently pushing her hand with the sword grip out of reach. He didn't like metal on his body.

And Jedda wouldn't have needed any if she'd seriously wanted to defend herself against him at some point. Let her dream, let her think she could have done the same with Mystique, if it really ever came to that. Dreaming kept her agile, it kept her alive. So beautiful. “Then we better make sure it'll be the last one.” The intimate closeness brought some calmness to her agitated body and mind, her musings lost in an incomprehensible mutter. Her cheek was nestling against his neck, her hands reaching back to stroke his sides. ”I'm not waiting any longer for Mystique to finally deign to clean up on this damn planet. It's time for people chosen for it by fate to take over. You and I, we are so alike, John ... Neither of us belongs in the second row.”

He buried his hand a little too tightly in her hair before his hormones would take over and forced her to look at him again. The lesson wasn't over yet, it seemed. “Don't get cocky, beautiful. As you know, there can only be one King.”

“And his loyal wife,” his partner replied with that charming smile again. The somewhat rough gesture had promptly interrupted the romantic moment, a well-placed pressure of her elbow against a very sensitive spot of his allowing her to wriggle from his grasp easily and raise her weapon again. Suddenly her thoughts were back to her planned training after all. Sex and battle. For the two of them, these moods were pretty much one and the same.

So Pyro created the program Jedda had been asking for without explicitly mentioning her injury again. She didn't let anyone tell her what to do anyway. Besides, he admired her discipline. Coming to stand in a corner, he watched her turn Hurricane's hologram into parts, more turned on by the second and not bothering to try to hide it.

Jedda moved lithely as a snake. Her attack techniques were better than those of many of Everett's warriors. With a sword in her hand, she always transformed into one of those persons she believed she could talk to once her mind entered the REM phase. Every weakness in her body then was completely pushed into the background, like these drops of blood already threatening to soak the bandage that Toad had wrapped around her. At least two of these fresh stitches burst right open, and not the slightest flinch even at the most abrupt turns, even when jerkily ducking under a nimble blade. Yeah, in minutes like these, it was easy to imagine Jedda being more like her alleged distant ancestors than she was like her father, whose legacy she'd had barely had anything to do with since even before his death. Maybe instead, rather as a high priestess in a certain Egyptian temple, with only black paint for clothing and snakes around her, as a guardian of the dead ...

Pyro knew exactly why he'd fallen in love with her, alright. Not because he was afraid of getting old, as everyone thought, or because she looked damn good, although sex was part of it, of course. She was simply exactly what he had been looking for, for a very long time. After many years, she'd managed to melt his petrified heart. If the two of them now could actually manage to control their temper enough so that they could resolve their differences without regularly beating each other up, things might even become kinda serious between them at some point ... And given the memory of just how badly Mystique had really wanted that thing in Egypt back then, whatever it was exactly that she was after, which was still very much present in Pyro's mind even though a good year had passed since then … It might not even be that far-fetched, to imagine at least in secret, sweet moments, finally breaking Mystique's chains with the help of this woman by his side.

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

@whumptober | @whumptober-archive

[20001541]

Very interesting idea about dfo kunieda - could you share your thoughts on it please?

alright so...

afo never planned on ever having a kid so when he finds out his partner is pregnant he's oh....! (he forgot things like pregnancy can happen with unprotected sex, but he defends himself by saying he was having too much fun at the time to think properly!)

but despite this unexpected development he's interested to see what being a father is like and offers a big sum to the other parent if they proceed with this and give all custody to him, which they agree to if course. said baby comes and afo is very doting and loving and all he talks about is this baby..... for about a week. he was hoping to feel some sort of spark? some fatherly affection that people always talk about. he didn't though, he feels apathetic and he's getting bored and restless being at home when there's a quirk with a rebellious brother within it to catch.

of course this is his flesh and blood and by extension a part of him, so he's not going to abandon it, it's going to stay with a nanny who works for him that has experience taking care of children. he'll provide resources to allow it to grow and thrive, but he is not going to play an active role in its life. maybe someday after he succeeds in getting ofa and taking power he will try to attempt to bond with his son again and see if he feels any affection then, but for now it'll be fine without him.

so little kunieda spends the first four years of his life being raised by a nanny and with limited access to the outside world. he's told his father provides everything and keep an close eye on his progress, but any further questions he may have about said father are never answered. he hopes as a young child that his father may visit him in person some day.

well afo's plans of being the absent father change when kunieda gets his quirk at the tender age of four, when he's notified by henchmen, who were sent to check in as the nanny didn't send her report to him, that she's dead and her body is some sort of plant... along with a distraught child who won't come out of his room.

afo decides to handle this himself in person and is intrigued, this must be the child's quirk. he's at that ripe age where children develop them, and what an interesting quirk too. he manages to coax the child into coming out and introduces himself as his father. he soothes him and finds out what happened between the child's sobs, it was an accident apparently. but afo assures him that it's nothing to be worried about and it was actually quite impressive, he takes him in where he starts playing more of an active role in his development.

kunieda's childhood with afo is essentially afo encouraging him to give into his more darker urges and not to be afraid to use his quirk on people (after all look how beautiful and big those plants bloom when using human flesh as nutrients). a lot of what afo believes in he passes down to his own son who learns eagerly from his father. he fully buys into believing his father is some type of savior for this world, doesn't help he was educated by some of afo's own cultists. affection is something to be earned not something freely given. so kunieda often goes out of his own way to please his father which afo enjoys. as he grows up he's given his own place in afo's organization as an personal assassin of afo's. it doesn't earn him any special privileges, in fact he has to work harder than the average minion for approval as afo is a lot harsher towards him as he expects nothing less than perfection and unwavering loyalty from his own offspring.

later he ends up in tartarus because he got caught up in all mights crusade in capturing all those closest to afo, though heroes don't find out that's his son. afo is too busy to bother breaking him out and everything that's in canon happens and he doesn't get freed until afo's own breakout in prison and we'll you know the rest.

might be kind of vague at points, but thats my idea on how this au would go.

[shiningdesignersreflections]

Chapter 3: Stranger's Promise

Narrated by Marina.

Narrator: I glance around Cersei's stall. On the black velvet tablecloth lies an old, frayed set of tarot cards.

Narrator: A tall girl in an elegant, classy gown and a crystal crown is sitting behind the table. She looks like a beautiful princess!

Narrator: She shuffles the cards gracefully. I'm surprised to spot some green stubble under her veil.

Narrator: Cersei's deskmate, the youth in the noble outfit, is also standing at the side.

Noble Youth: Where are you from, young lady?

Marina: The voice...

You: So that "youth" is actually a girl...

Narrator: Meanwhile, a figure clad entirely in metal scraps is attempting to get up from the couch in the back, producing a series of loud clangs.

Robot: Activating... 20%... 30%, 35%... Activation failed.

Narrator: The strange metal man gives up his attempt and sinks back into the couch.

Cersei: Hey, Robot, don't scare our sixth member away.

Marina: What a group of weirdos.

Cersei: Bingo! That's right! We're weirdos indeed. You're indeed destined to be our sixth member.

Cersei: Let me introduce you. This is our Princess. This one is Prince. The robot dude is human, but you can just call him Robot.

Marina: You can call me Marina.

Prince: A very good name. Easy to remember.

Cersei: We all live in the Dorm of the Strange. The other students all call our building a forbidden zone!

Marina: Is that something worth being proud of?

Cersei: Anyway, if you join our club, you get free access to the Dorm of the Strange. You'll be one of us!

Narrator: Her words simply put me in a bad mood once again.

Marina: But I'm not even a student in your school.

Narrator: Princess, who has been standing silently at the side, finally sighs.

Stubbled Princess: Yeah, she's right. She's a kid. Can't you tell?

Cersei: So? She can just join the club now and enter Cicia School of Design later.

Narrator: I look up in surprise to meet Cersei's genuine, intense gaze.

Marina: B-but by the time I get in... you'll all have graduated.

Cersei: Nah, I should've graduated 4 years ago, and I'm still here. Who knows when I'll graduate? We might become classmates.

Cersei: By the way, where do you live, Marina?

Marina: I live on a big, big ship! Bigger than the whole campus, actually.

Marina: We sail all day. I don't know where to, but my brother says we'll find our destination someday.

Cersei: Wow, that sounds amazing. I deserve my own ship, too.

Narrator: Princess nods elegantly, stroking the stubble on her chin.

Stubbled Princess: It'd be nice to go tanning on the deck with a glass of champagne.

Prince: So, do you know how to steer a ship, Miss Marina?

Marina: Of course! I can do anything!

Robot: A ship bigger than the whole campus... It must be powered by cutting-edge technology. Maybe tech from the Ruins.

Narrator: They all start chatting. It's like they've already accepted me and fully believe I really do live on a gigantic ship.

Narrator: I feel right at home hanging out with them. It's almost magical. How should I describe this feeling?

Choose either "It's friendship" or "It's the mutual understanding between weirdos."

If "friendship," ...

You: It's friendship! You've made some great friends.

Narrator: So, is this what having friends feels like? Now I see why people find university fun.

If "weirdos," ...

You: It's the mutual understanding between weirdos. You fit perfectly with each other.

Narrator: Who cares if others find me weird? And what makes them so "normal" anyway?

--

Marina: But... I'm the 6th member, right? Shouldn't there be one more person here in that case?

Cersei: She went out to buy something. Oh, I see her over there!

Aeon: Marina!

Narrator: Before I can see the face of the fifth member, my brother has come looking for me.

Aeon: Where have you been? I've been looking for you for a while.

Marina: Aeon! You're already done?

Aeon: Yeah, it's time to go home.

Narrator: I hurriedly say goodbye to the members of the Research of Magical Humans Club and run over to take my brother's hand.

Narrator: From a distance away, I turn back and let my gaze linger on the stall a little bit longer.

Narrator: A new, grayish figure is standing by the small table now. The silhouette reminds me a little of a mirror we have on the Ark.

Aeon: What are you looking at, Marina?

Marina: Nothing, nothing! I didn't see a thing.

Marina: Aeon, can I study here in the future? I made some new friends and promised we'll become classmates someday!

Aeon: You want to go to school? Of course, you can go.

Marina: Really? You're the best!

Aeon: But if you want to pass the exam, you'll need lessons in history, languages, math, and more. Let's start lessons once we get home!

Marina: Huh? Nooooo! I don't wanna go to university anymore!

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

[lonesome-witching]

We'll Rule the World

I did not proofread this. I did not edit this. I wrote this in about an hour while being tired and stressed for tomorrow. But I still want to share it with you guys.

So, let's say this is my final work for @strangerthingsfemslashweek for day 7: free choice

“I like to believe that someday we’ll rule the world.” Robin lay on the hood of the Wheeler station wagon, staring at the stars in the sky. Nancy sitting next to her.

“Why is that?” She asks, her gaze directed straight ahead of her. 

“Because life sucks and people treat women like garbage. I keep thinking of the guy at Pennhurst. The way he looked at us. It just gets under my skin.” 

Nancy scoffs. Her own mind taking her back to the Hawkins Post and the men who treated her like filth. Like she was a puppet there for their amusement and to get their lunches. 

“Sorry, you probably didn’t invite me to hang out just to talk about misogyny.” Robin clears her throat and takes a sip of her drink. A can of lukewarm beer that Nancy found in the back of one of the cupboards in her kitchen. 

When Nancy didn’t reply, she spoke again. “Why did you invite me?” It was a loaded question and Robin knew it before she decided to ask it. 

“I- I don’t really know. I just needed some company and I guess it’s just easy with you.” Nancy doesn’t turn around to face Robin. Maybe she should but she doesn’t know if she can. She doesn’t know if she has the strength to look at the other girl in the dim starlight. 

“Oh.” 

“Sorry. Should I take you back home?” This time Nancy does turn, before she can think better of it. Her eyes catch Robin’s gaze and she wants to scream. 

“No, I’m okay. I’m perfectly fine.” 

Nancy leans back, lays down next to Robin, avoids her gaze once again. “Can you tell me a story?” 

“What kind of story?”

“Any kind. Just something that is true.” Nancy frowns at her own words. Even she doesn’t know what she wants, what she means with them. Somehow Robin does. Because Robin always understands. 

“When I was a sophomore with barely any friends I would go and lay on the roof of my house. If I climb out of the window and position my foot just right in this crack in the wall I can just reach it. On the way down I’ve fallen a few times though. Anyway, I would lay there much like I lay here on the hood of your car, and I would stare up at the stars and dream. There was this one dream that particularly stuck with me.” She pauses for a second, collects her thoughts and continues.

“I always talked about leaving Hawkins and running away to Europe or just anywhere. But as I was laying on my rooftop I would always dream of just belonging here. I’d dream of making friends and finding someone to love and settling down in a small house at the end of a cul-de-sac.” 

Nancy couldn’t keep the grimace off her face. 

“Sounds horrible, doesn’t it? I completely agree. Because that wasn’t my dream. It was what I was supposed to dream. It was the easy way out. And I would imagine it and there would be this knot in my stomach and I realized that even though I could try it, dream it, imagine it, I could never be it. I could never be the person that this town wanted me to be. Wants me to be. So, I became the opposite. I tried to rebel. I started slinging ice cream to escape. I told every person that would listen that this town is a trap. And somehow that’s how I found a place to belong. That’s about as real as I can get.” There’s a soft smile on her face as she keeps her eyes on her beer. The one she’s not drinking anymore. 

“Where are you going to go?” Nancy feels a tug at her heart, a reminder of what she’s ignoring. 

“I’m thinking Paris. The way that city is described in songs and poetry, it must be magnificent, life-changing.” 

“Paris does sound nice.” 

“Where are you going to go?” Robin repeats the question with a smile and a sparkle in her eyes.

“I’m going to be little miss perfect. I’ll go to Boston, get my degree and then… Maybe Indianapolis or Chicago but probably somewhere like Hawkins.” Nancy does take another drink of the beer. It’s vile and burns her throat in a way beer really shouldn’t. But it fits her mood.

“Where do you want to go?” 

“New York, maybe. Paris sounds great. LA or Rome or London. Somewhere big and grand and full of possibilities. Somewhere that keeps surprising you even though you’ve lived there 20 years. Somewhere you can be anonymous because you keep getting swallowed in massive crowds that lead you astray but you let them because it’s better than being seen.” 

“You know you can do that, right? You don’t have to be little miss perfect. You can be you. And that will be perfect enough.” Robin’s pinky slides against Nancy’s hand. 

“My parents would not approve.” 

“Karen will be fine with it, she wants you to be happy. And Ted, he’d barely notice. And even if they’d hate you for it, Nance, you have to do what makes you happy. There is no point in pretending, in pleasing other people. This is your life. Take it, do something with it, live it.” 

Nancy can’t help herself. She grabs Robin’s hand and intertwines their fingers. “I’m scared.” She admits, her throat closing up. 

“What are you scared of?” 

“I’m scared of admitting what I want… Who I want.” 

Robin looks at their intertwined hands. “Who do you want?” She asks breathlessly. 

Nancy doesn’t reply. She doesn’t know how to get the simple admission out of her mouth. Because she has been hiding for so long. She has been denying it for so long. 

“Who do you want, Nance?” Robin asks again a few moments later. 

“I want you.” Her voice breaks on that last word. A sob threatens to slip out. 

“I want you too.” 

Nancy turns her head to find Robin already staring at her. Robin’s thumb strokes over the back of her hand and that is encouragement enough for Nancy to close the distance. To finally quench that thirst in her heart that kept trying to leap out, that has leapt out. 

They kiss for hours and hours. Until the sun rises in the sky and they are both breathless and smiling and hopeful for the future. Because one day they’ll rule the world. 

[neep-neep-neep]

Auden had mentioned that Somaya's baby was expected that night. And that she would likely be called to help, and that if Frey did not see her in the morning when she came in to run her fingertip over the spines of the books like she was waking them, it meant the woman was yet in labor.

But Frey did find her. She was collecting plates and bowls from the table and stopped in her tracks, breath freezing in her chest. Auden was in her bed.

Frey had never seen Auden asleep while the sun was up. The woman had collapsed into the sheets after a night of midwifery.

"Fuck," Frey said under her breath. She went into stealth mode, setting the dishes down in the basin with stressed precision.

I was wondering how long it would take you to notice, quipped the stupid demon bracelet.

"You should have said something, asshole!" Frey hissed.

Wait, why was she talking? Auden was in the room! She turned and saw the woman shift beneath the coverlet, and her heart sank. She fucked everything up.

Minding the sound of the door, Frey slipped back into the library, and exhaled.

The peasant girl seems a light sleeper.

"Shut up," Frey walked over to a shelf, spying a sunset-colored tome she had left the night before. "Somaya's baby is healthy, or she wouldn't be here. It's a good sign."

It's a revolting spectacle.

"Oh fuck off. What does a stupid cuff know about the miracle of birth?"

You forget that I was present for yours?

Yes, Frey had forgotten. It also underscored how the demon had caused her, and so many others', suffering. She needed to find a way to torture him without harming her own skin, fast.

She hefted the book in the arm Cuff was marked on, and leafed through the pages with her left hand. It was a treatise on Visorian research.

"Maybe," Frey said, "Auden'll have one of her own someday."

And she won't care about you anymore? teased Cuff with venom. Like--what was it--that 'foster mother' you mentioned?

Frey ignored him, resting her knuckles against her cheek. "A little one that looks like her, a chubby healthy baby, and she'll let me pick them up and spin 'em around..."

The door creaked open and Frey's breath caught in her chest again. It was Auden, in her slip, rubbing one eye.

"Frey?'

"Fuck, I didn't mean to wake you up--

"Who are you speaking to?"

Frey had the feeling of one of those dreams where you realize there's no floor and start falling.

Magnificent, said Cuff.

"I--s-shit. Um. I. No," Frey inhaled and let the air out through her nostrils, turning to the woman. "I owe it to you not to lie. This...demon guy?" she tapped her right forearm. "Yeah he speaks to me in my mind."

Because that sounded normal.

Auden blinking at her, Cuff completely silent for once, and her mouth suddenly feeling dry.

"So no one else can hear him but he's kind of been talking to me the whole time, and it's annoying as shit."

Auden was looking at the gold markings that snaked around her wrist now.

Amazing, Cuff said, how you would jeopardize even a relationship you care for this much.

Frey shook him briefly but vigorously, and Auden brushed some errant strands from her face and looked up at Frey. "This must have been what drove the Tantas mad."

Frey's face was on fire. "G-Go back to sleep. You've had a long night."

"Susurrus speaking to you unbidden, Frey...I couldn't imagine the sacrifice..."

Tell her I help you. Tell her I've saved your life countless times.

"He's just an asshole," Frey said with a nervous laugh. "This gold prick can't drive me anywhere I haven't been already."

"You would say that," a smile appeared on Auden's lips.

"Seriously!" Frey took a couple of steps forward. "I've had worse internal monologues than him since I was like nine!"

This is meant to reassure the girl?

Auden failed to suppress a yawn. "You were--ah--experiencing things you never told any of us. We'll discuss it after I rest, Frey?"

"Sure."

Auden's hand raised, reaching out, and Frey lifted hers for Auden to grasp. She knew Auden would again express worry over her cold fingers, even just in the lines between her brows. Auden ran her thumb over Frey's knuckles and then let go, and let the door close again. Only once she'd left the room did Frey realize her heart was hammering.

Cuff said, You were saying she would let you hold her infant for you to then apply centrifugal force?

[fia-bonkginya]

Fearne and FCG, 29?

29. where did you get the flowers from?

Fearne found that she quite liked their new group. Orym and Dorian were still her favorites, of course, but Laudna was fascinating, Imogen was adorable, Ashton was incredibly fun, and... Fresh Cut Grass...

None of them quite knew what to make of that one, except for Ashton, maybe. But they made Fearne laugh, and they were interesting, so she wanted to talk to him more. And luckily they spent a lot of time traveling between the spires, so she could easily find the time to trot up next to him.

"Hello," she said, looking down at them with a smile.

"Well hello," Fresh Cut replied, looking up at her. They were smiling back, she thought, but it was hard to tell, with the metal face. "How are you doing today?"

Fearne looked around, at the sun above them, at Ashton leading the group, at Imogen and Laudna locked in conversation in front, at Dorian and Orym side by side behind. "It's a lovely day," she said brightly, and meant it.

Fresh Cut dipped his head a few times in quick succession. "It's nice to see the group working so well together, and I'm glad you came to talk to me!"

Fearne was hit with the sudden urge to pat the robot on the head, but she wasn't sure if that would be rude, so she held herself back, for the moment at least. "Well, I can't spend all my time with my friends," she said, "especially if I want you to be my friend too someday."

"Oh, well, I'd love to be your friend!"

"That's very nice," Fearne smiled.

They were both quiet, for a moment, and then Fresh Cut looked up at her again and said, "Can I ask you something?"

"Hm? Oh, yes, of course!"

"Where do you get the flowers from?" he asked, gesturing up at her dress and her hair.

"Oh!" Fearne said, running a hand through her hair and pulling out a blossom, a delicate yellow one that could be used to make a tea that would paralyze the person who drank it. "They're just part of me, actually." She smiled, threading the flower back into her hair and then holding out her hand, taking a moment to summon another flower, this time a white one with no poisonous properties. "See?"

"Well that's incredible!" Fresh Cut exclaimed, and Fearne didn't think his eyes could actually get wider, but it sure felt like they did.

"Here," she said, leaning down and handing them the flower, the non-poisonous one. "You can hold this one."

He smiled up at her again, and she thought that maybe she was already getting better at reading their facial expressions. "I think we'll be friends in no time," he said, taking the flower and finding a seam in the side of his head, sliding the stem in, until it almost looked like they had tucked it behind their ear.

Fearne, watching, couldn't help but agree.

(send me a number and a character or relationship!)

[startanewdream]

Dancing lessons

Summary: Lily shares a few dances with her son.

Notes: For @sweeethinny who asked me both for a story with Lily teaching Harry how to waltz and for family moments, and for the Anon who asked for a little of Harry jealous with Krum.

This story ties with 'Emergency Meeting', 'Hope' and 'Shotgun wedding' in this Jily Lives AU. Banner thanks to @the-dream-team!

On AO3 or below:

‘Merlin, this is stupid,’ Harry declares, right before he steps over her foot for the third time. ‘Sorry, Mum!’

Lily smiles, even though her foot hurts now. For someone who seems to have two left feet, he managed to hit her precisely in the same place all three times.

‘That’s fine, Harry,’ she tells him quietly, coming closer to him again. ‘No, hold my hand firmly. Yeah, like that. You are supposed to be leading me in the dance, remember?’

‘Yeah, right,’ he murmurs, not all convincing. Lily has seen him less nervous before he faced the dragon than he is with the prospect of the opening dance at the Yule Ball. At least, he didn’t call her so urgently with concerns about how to deal with a dragon.

‘One, two, three,’ she calls loudly, helping him guide her through that rented room in the Three Broomsticks. ‘One more time… now you spin me.’

He does, albeit with a little difficulty; Lily is still taller than him, though she knows this won’t last long. She remembers how James went through a growth spurt around fifteen; and she remembers what also happened with him during that time, all those teenage hormones.

Harry grew up so fast...

‘Very good,’ she compliments him. ‘Don’t forget she’ll be wearing dress robes, so be careful not to step over.’

‘Not step on the foot, not step on the dress — why did they invent dances?’

‘You might enjoy someday,’ she tells him, a knowing smile on her lips that Harry doesn’t understand yet. ‘So, tell me about this girl you are going with.’

Harry frowns. ‘Parvati? She’s nice. Ron is going with her sister.’

‘Oh, double date, then?’

‘Date?’ Harry blinks, surprised, then scandalized. ‘It’s not a date!’

‘You are going as friends?’

‘Yeah, but —’ he still looks lost. ‘Do you think she thinks it’s a date? Should it be one? What do I do?’

‘Breath, for starters,’ she tells him and, for good measure, Lily waits until Harry takes a deep breath, the panic in his eyes dimming. ‘I think you would know if it were a date. People do know these things, you know?’

Harry doesn’t seem like he knows it at all, but he nods, suddenly much more at ease.

‘Is she the girl you asked your father about weeks ago?’

A blush comes to his cheek. It’s rather adorable, she thinks, but she keeps from showing it. Harry is really shy when it comes to his feelings; one wrong word and he’ll crawl back into his shell and she won’t be able to take any word out of him.

‘No, that was… someone else.’

‘Didn’t work?’

His shoulders slump. ‘Someone else had already asked her out.’

‘Oh, it happens.’

‘Yeah.’ He looks dismayed.

‘You know, it happened to me once. I was going to ask your father out, well, at least that was what I tried to tell myself, but then he already had a date.’

Harry’s eyes widen. Lily remembers James speaking how unfathomable it is to Harry to think of his parents being with anyone else.

‘He rejected you?’

Lily lets out a laugh. ‘Rejection is a strong word, I hadn't even asked him out when I found out he had other plans. It was by the end of our Sixth Year, the last trip to Hogsmeade, and he went with this girl... Let me tell you, it was a miserable summer for me afterwards.’

‘Oh.’ Harry bits the inside of his cheek, thoughtful. ‘Because he was dating someone else?’

‘That was the funny thing, I didn’t know if he was with someone or not, because I was too afraid to ask and make it evident that I was fancying him just as he used to... well, in any case, no, what made me the most miserable was not knowing what he’d say if I had asked him out.’

‘I know,’ he sighs. ‘I mean, at least I know Cho didn’t deny it because she didn’t want to, but because I was too late.’

‘Cho?’, she asks, keeping her voice light. His blush intensifies and Harry spins her again more to gain time than because it was the correct step. It is a nice spin, though. ‘Is she in your year?’

‘No, one above.’ He stops, unsure. ‘Does it make a difference? If she is older?’

‘One year is not much,’ Lily assures him, and then Harry starts moving again as this weight is lifted from his shoulders. ‘And for older — I’m older than your father.’

‘For two months.’

‘Still makes me wiser,’ she promises him, making him laugh. ‘Well, you can ask her out some other time. You can even ask her for a dance at the Yule Ball!’

He sighs heavily, a disbelieving expression coming to his face. ‘Oh, she wouldn’t accept it.’

‘Come on’, she winks at him. ‘Being a Triwizard Champion must come with some benefit.’

He grimaces. ‘Her date is one too.’

‘Cedric?’ she guesses. ‘Oh, bad luck, Harry. He is nice.’

‘He is bloody annoying,’ he mumbles, then his eyes meet hers. ‘Ops, sorry.’

‘Oh, you should have heard what I used to call Cecily,’ she replies easily, shrugging, feeling silly for her young self.

‘Who?’

‘Cecily Jones, the girl who went on that date with your father.’

‘He never mentioned —’

‘I doubt he remembers, Harry,’ she laughs. ‘It was one date — they weren’t going out in the summer, after all — and it didn’t matter afterwards. If you and this girl, Cho, are meant to be, you’ll find your path to each other eventually.’

‘You think so?’

‘Well, you wouldn’t be here if your father and I didn’t,’ reminds Lily. ‘Just remember — always take a leap. And if you ask her to dance, well, I think you’ll do just fine.’ She pauses them. ‘You didn’t step on my foot once in the last five minutes.’

‘Oh!’, amazement shines on his eyes. ‘I can dance!’

‘A waltz at least,’ she agrees, ruffling his hair fondly. ‘Our summer project will be teaching you to loose your hips.’

___________

The ginger boy has a crossed expression on his face when Lily pulls him to the dance floor.

‘Mum,’ he calls, annoyed, as she places his hand around her waist as she did years ago. He grimaces, but takes her hand, moving rather graciously for someone who is wearing the wrong body. He still remembers, she notes gladly.

‘Son,’ she answers back, teasing.'You know, you could have been born like this.'

'What do you mean?'

'Ginger like me, but with your father's eyes.'

The boy doesn’t look like her or James at all, but it’s a nice thought all the same. Lily always wondered how another child of her and James might look like...

'So people you just give me the "you look like your mother but have your father's eyes"?'

'That would be a change.'

'Not really,' he mumbles, distracted. His eyes keep moving away from her, and judging by the way Harry sighed when the bridesmaids first appeared during Bill and Fleur’s wedding, she knows who he is looking at.

And it’s not to the bride’s young sister.

‘You should ask her for a dance.’

‘Who?,’ he asks guiltily, looking back at her. Lily raises one eyebrow, not impressed with his attempt to playing dumb.

‘While you can. Before you leave.’

‘I —’ he stops, conflicted. His face is all wrong, not one single resemblance to her son, and yet his expression is the same in the face of that muggle boy Harry is impersonating for the day. ‘It’s because I’m leaving that I can’t.’

‘The things we don’t do haunt us more than the things we do,’ she warns him, and Harry looks wistfully, his longing evident. Then an annoyed furious expression crosses his face, and he presses her hand as if to stop himself from taking his wand; when Lily follows the direction of his gaze, she sees Viktor Krum going to the table where Ginny and Luna are talking happily.

‘I could hex him,’ Harry murmurs darkly. ‘I wouldn’t regret that.’

She smiles, amused. ‘I thought Ron was the one with problems with Krum?’

‘I’m starting to agree with him,’ he replies. ‘A toss, really… Thinks he is so great because he is an international Quidditch player, big deal…’

Lily doubts this will matter to Ginny and, sure enough, as they watch, Ginny shakes her head at whatever Krum is saying, and Krum leaves, clearly dejected. Harry grins, satisfaction all over his face, and as if she can sense his stare, Ginny turns towards them.

Harry turns away quickly, but Lily knows it was not enough.

‘Harry…’

'She will accept it,' he mumbles, dismayed. 'Maybe not Krum, maybe not today, but her future is so free whereas mine…'

'Is bright too,' she finishes for him, voice stern now. 'Self-doubt will not take you anywhere, Harry. And you may have not noticed while you were brooding in the corner, but she kept throwing glances at you too. She wants to dance with you.'

'Oh. I… I would step on her foot.'

'Of course not, I taught you well,' Lily tells him with a smile, breaking away. 'I am going to find your father.'

There is a whole new trouble on Harry's face now and Lily refrains from sighing.

'I'll see you later. I’ll just stick around here for a while.'

'Mustering the courage?' she guesses wisely. He flushes. 'Remember, if you are meant to be -'

'We'll find our path to each other. Yeah, I know.'

She places a quiet kiss on his cheek, enjoying the fact that for the first time in a couple of years she is taller than him.

'Things will be fine, Harry. Don't lose hope.'

_____________

Harry is beaming, happiness written all over his face, wrinkles at the corner of his eyes more prominent than ever. Lily enjoys the fact those wrinkles come from laughing, not worrying.

Next to them, the bride and the groom's father are making a mess on the dance floor, spinning each other out of control, giggling crazily, and Harry looks at them with fondness.

'I thought Dad knew how to dance,' he says, amused.

'He does, but you know him. He likes to show off.'

Harry laughs. It's a carefree sound, not a single weight on his shoulders today.

'Well, let's show him how it's done, then?' he suggests, offering her his hand and Lily takes it graciously, letting her son conduct her to the dance floor.

He really waltzes well.

'You've been training,' she notes. Harry smiles guiltily.

'I like to dance in front of the mirror. Helps me to relax.'

'We only need to upgrade your dancing moves.'

'Ginny has this project, don't worry. We have a record player at home, she is teaching me all the good old wizarding songs. Sirius will help me with the Muggle ones and next thing I'm hitting a dancing club.'

She smiles at the idea of Harry in a nightclub; he is past twenty now, married and living away, but he is still her child in many ways.

'We should make him or her take dance classes,' he adds as an afterthought, his gaze falling to her belly, though there isn't any bump there yet. 'Make sure they won't get embarrassed in a school dance when they are older.'

'Nah, big brother Harry can teach them how to dance.'

He nods happily, spinning her around. The movement makes them get closer to James and Ginny.

'Switch partners?' James suggests, winking at them.

Harry laughs and spins his mother one last time, just as James does the same with Ginny. Lily finds herself in the arms of her husband, who stops long enough to kiss her tenderly, before drifting her away to the dancing floor.

Her husband waltzes nicely when he wants, Lily thinks joyfully, and with her pregnant, she knows he will be extra careful. James is cautious like that, but she lets him enjoy that protectiveness. It doesn’t come attached with any other worry — no war, no threat on their lives, and that’s something she can learn to live with.

Her gaze moves to the other couple. Harry and Ginny shine under the lights of the tent, today no other couple holding a candle for the happiness that irradiates from them. Her gaze drops and she watches as their feet move in synchrony, Harry always careful to avoid stepping over her long wedding dress.

Yes, she thinks. I really taught him well.

[tinyboxxtink]

"Black Magic" *Part 14*

Awwww yeah, you've been waiting for so long ya'll, now your reward is two full chapters of....Well, I'll let you find out.

You're welcome.

PS- Okay fine I couldn't get too too NSFW right now, it's the middle of the day. Y'know what I mean? So I'm sorry it's so short, but I need to run out for a while and I want this to be extra special, it's a LOT of hype you know what I mean?

Check back tonight for "After hours" fun, and the finale.

Tag List:

@madamsnape921

@lolliepopsicle

@chasingeverybreakingwave

@milkshqke

@wanniiieeee

@word-scribbless

@gibbs274

@sassyada

@aprildecker-blog

@bookishfanfic

@stars-in-the-skies-world

@stars-trash-18

@omgsuperstarg

Part 13

Part 15

(^^^ This is you. ^^^^ 😉)

---

You blushed and smiled while Rafael still held you in his arms as Chloe and Maria rushed over.

“Oh my God HOW cute are you? It’s just like the end of a movie!!!!”

“Chloe--” You started.

“Yes I know, you’re welcome,” She giggled.

“What?” You and Rafael both looked at her in confusion.

“Uh, I’m pretty sure you were about to say ‘thank you Chloe, for giving me the love of my life’!” She looked at you with an ‘obviously’ look.

“....Weeeellllll,” You dragged out.

“Seriously?” She scoffed.

“I mean I got the job--”

“By manipulating the system,” Rafael added with a smile.

“Hush you,” You hit him playfully.

“And Rafael did say he was already in love with me, Soooo--” You nodded your head back and forth.

“And he also said he wouldn’t have said anything SOOOOO” She pointed out.

“I mean, he might have, someday--” You looked at Rafael, who gave you an iffy look.

“....Thank you Chloe, for giving you the love of my life. Thank you for everything good in my entire life,” You said sarcastically with a smile.

“You’re welcome!!!” Chloe beamed, throwing her arms around you.

“And speaking of the end of a movie--” You started.

“YESSSSSSS….?” She grinned.

“Movie’s over, Chloe,” You gestured your head at Rafael.

“....What?” She glanced between the two of you, you gave her an intense look.

“Right! Right, you guys just found each other, soulmates and all,” She waved her hands and bowed out. You and Rafael were just about to savor your alone time-- when Maria came bounding over to you.

“See, chiquita I knew it! The first time I saw you, I knew it was no brujeria!” She hugged you tightly, then hugged Rafael. “I told you Raffi, she’s a keeper,”

“Yeah she-- oh my god baby, what’s wrong?” Rafael suddenly became concerned when he saw you were crying.

“I just--” You tried to stop crying. “I had made peace with that day, that it was just-- for one day,”

“Aww honey,” He shook his head with a laugh as he hugged you.

“No, look Rafael--” You looked at him very seriously. “I-- You, you brought me to your most secret place, your familia, after we hadn’t even-- okay we may have made out in your office but that didn’t really count--”

“Baby,” He stopped your rambling with a small kiss.

“You have to believe me-- I would have taken you to Maria, and the fountain, and HERE,” He gestured around the cave. “Regardless of any ‘spell’,”

He took your head in his hands. “And you should know that I’m telling you the truth because that whole-- yellow, swirly, vortex of memories should just PROVE to you that I’m under ZERO kind of magic, or spells, or potions, or anything. It’s just ME, and ME is saying that I love you. I love you, and I have always loved you, and I want everyone to know it,”

“Okay…” You nodded with a small smile. “I just...I still feel guilty,”

“Well DON’T,” He kissed your forehead. “In fact, if anyone should feel guilty, it should be me,”

“You?” You half laughed. “What would you--”

“I remember everything, Y/N. EVERYTHING,” He emphasized.

“....Meaning…?” You raised an eyebrow.

“I remember how it felt, being under Olivia’s voodoo,” He looked at you sadly. “I remember everything I...said,”

“Oh…?”

“I was so cruel to you,” He looked down in shame. “I was so…”

“I know it wasn’t you, Rafa,” You assured him, now taking his head in your hands.

“...I called you a psychopath!" He looked at you in shame. “I PUSHED you, I--”

“HEY,” You stopped him with a finger over his lips. “We both did stuff we regret, clearly,”

He nodded silently as you removed your finger. “It was awful, Y/N,”

“...Yeah?” You asked. You felt so bad for him, it must have been a nightmare.

“YES. It was like-- like the real me was locked inside my body, just watching it do this awful stuff to you. I was screaming and fighting, that’s why I kept breaking out of it,” He put a hand on your face and you kissed you softly.

“Rafa…” You stroked his cheek.

“And she-- she made me bring her here,” He nodded at the celling, meaning the cave.

“What do you mean she made you bring her here?”

“I-- I don’t know how, I guess she…’overloaded’ me with that stuff so I was literally like a...Barba Bot,”

“Oh baby…” You tried not to laugh, but BarbaBot was too cute.

“...She, she told me to bring her everywhere that I brought you, so I brought her here. But I couldn’t tell her about Eduardo even under her highest power, so she--” He stopped, looking down.

“What…? She did WHAT?” You became really concerned, taking both of his hands and gripping them tightly.

“She pretended to be you,” He looked at you with the saddest eyes.

“I’m sorry, what?” You blinked in disbelief.

“She pretended to be you, so I told her about Eduardo. But I was reliving telling you. It was awful, I just watched myself telling her, wishing it was you,” Tears came to his eyes as he relived it in his head.

“Oh Rafa,” You kissed him deeply, wiping the tears from his cheeks. “But it’s over baby, It’s over,”

“I know, I know--” He kissed you again. “I just...I can’t believe this is real. This is happening, carino,”

“...You called me carino,” You bit your lip with a small smile.

“Yes,” He nodded with a smile back.

“On purpose,” You smiled bigger.

“Yes, cariño. Mi amor, amante, I’ll call you whatever you want Y/N. For the rest of our lives,” He pressed his forehead against yours. "I'm yours, now and forever. We'll be together, for real," He kissed you again, like he couldn't get enough of your lips.

“And...I think we should start right now,” He bit his lip while staring at yours.

“....Have we not been together…?” You looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

“Remember that first day, that first morning…?” He raised his eyebrows suggestively.

“Yeah I mean you were insanely--” You stopped talking, suddenly realizing what he was saying.

“Maria!” Rafael suddenly turned to Maria with a smile. “I appreciate you being with Y/N, and helping her but--”

“Ay, Raffi. I may be old, but I’m not dead,” She winked. She hugged you one both one last time and walked away, finally leaving you and Rafael together, alone.

“So...my place or yours?” Rafael took your hand and started leading you out of the park.

“I mean, Chloe’s at mine so--”

“Oh definitely mine,” He chuckled as you both got into the Uber and headed to his place.

-----

Soon you arrived at Rafael’s place; as soon as you walked in he grabbed you in a hungry kiss. You jumped on his waist as you felt his throbbing erection against your thigh. You were lost in his touch, his mouth, the smell of his cologne. You remembered back toy your perfect day, when you were memorizing all of this. And now, you didn’t have to. You could have it whenever you wanted. And you wanted it NOW. You pulled back for a second, looking into his amorous eyes.

“What is it, carino?” He asked softly.

“I just...I’ve waited for this for a long time, maybe forever,” You gave him a happy sigh, running fingers through his hair.

“Well that’s a lot of pressure amante,” He chuckled, blushing a bit.

“Oh no no no,” You shook your head, wrapping your legs tighter around his waist. “I am just so happy--”

“Well you’re about to be a LOT happier, I promise you,” He grinned mischievously as he carried you to the bedroom. He tossed you on the bed as he unbuttoned his tuxedo vest and then his shirt, his shoes and his pants. His erection was poking through his silk black boxers as he got on the bed and crawled towards you, grabbing you in an aggressive kiss.

“You ready for this, Y/N?” He wiggled his eyebrows.

“I’ve never been more ready for anything in my entire life,” You grinned as you ripped off your t-shirt, jeans and bra, leaving your top half exposed.

Rafael gazed at your breasts with admiration, playing and cupping them in his hands. His eyes then turned up to you, you’d never seen this look in his eyes. Not even under your spell. They were wanting, they were needing. And it was for you. He grabbed you in another kiss as he slowly slipped off your underwear.

Here we go….

[hugsandpeaches]

It's U Again

Fluff

bxg

jiu x reader

---

Minji and you are High School sweethearts, well, before.

Both of you wears the same clothes, dream the same dream, thinks the same thing most of the same time. You two are defined as 'soulmates'.

She was very talented, you too as well. As said earlier, both if you has the same dream. A dream of being idols.

"I got accepted as a trainee!" Both you two surprised each other at the same time. It was an accomplishment you two dreamt of. Both of your hardwork has been paid off. But there's a thing...

Trainees can't date.

Your dreams led the both of you to separate ways. It hurts. Minji's training period is coming and you have to send her away on the train station.

The day she's leaving was very gloomy. It rained hard as you and Minji waited for her train to come. Her head laying on your shoulders, hand holding yours tightly. She want to savor her last moments with you as her boyfriend.

"When you debut, I'll wait for you"

Her heart skipped a beat and then she lifted her head up, meeting your eyes.

"You'll do the same thing too, right?"

Her eyes glistened in tears and hugged you side ways.

"When we became successful someday, let's not forget each other." As she told you the words, her train came and you stood up, helping her with her bags. She entered the train and you were left behind the yellow line she just crossed. There's just a little number of passengers getting inside the train so the train doors closed as she stepped inside.

Minjin stopped on the glass door looking at you, tears streaming down her eyes. She waved her hands at you and you copied what she did.

"Y/n-ah, we'll meet again"

The train started moving slowly and you followed it's direction, still looking at Minji. She was smiling at your actions and was shocking her head. The train moved faster and you felt the rain slap your face as you ran.

"I love you"

Minji mouthed you behind the glass doors and you ran as fast as you can, dropping your umbrella, just to say back the words.

"Minji saranghae!"

Once again, Minji waved her hands and you stopped from running, rain washing you and your clothes.

<6 years later>

5 years ago, Minx debuted and then 1 year later, Dreamcatcher was born. The group's popularity started to climbed up as they toured around the world. Minji never forgot you. She always kept your picture on her bag without the members knowing. Minji always ask for you whenever she come home but too bad you weren't there. Your parents told her that you moved to US to do something. Minji understood but it kinda hurt her because you didn't let her know.

Well, she lastly asked for you 6 years ago. Now, dreamcatcher is having their comeback and have been busy this past few months not noticing this rookie soloist under SM Entertainment.

Fans started going crazy about his visual and how soothing his voice is.

Lee Y/n.

Your name was all over internet. You didn't knew you were going to be this viral after your cover of Xiumin's You last week. SM promoted you by singing their ballads then dropping your teaser the day after. You've been busy preparing for your debut for a month so you didn't recieved any news from her. Netizens was amazed by you and then started talking over you.

You were the current hot topic.

But the only thing that you want is being noticed by her.

Did she recieved the news?

Did she read something about me?

Is she proud of me now?

Questions took over your mind as you became nervous coming into the stage. You were the first performer of today's Mcountdown.

You placed your position on the stage and hopefully searching for her on the dark crowd but she wasn't there that broke your heart. You bowed your head in disappointment and then started performing as the your song started playing.

After performing, you took your last glance on the now bright crowd but still, didn't saw her figure. You forcefully smiled at your audience and bowed before exiting the stage. You saw your manager waiting at you and you hugged him, thanking him for your successful debut.

While walking, you were your sad expression. You can't believe she wasnt there supporting you.

"I miss her"

Just then, a loud heels running on the hallways was heard by you and then someone suddenly bumped on you while doing your turn on the intersection hall.

A tall yet not so taller than you just bumped their head on you chest and then ran off without saying sorry. That was rude but you guess she's chasing someone important.

You looked down and then saw bunny necklace, you were familiarized by it and took it anyway. It was the same necklace you gave Minji 8 years ago.

The girl must been dropped it while bumping at me. You thought and then walked back at your dressing room. You sat there and then looked at the thing on your hand.

"When will I meet you again, Minji?"

I placed the necklace on my pocket and then stood up.

"I'm hungry"

Jiu's POV

"I'm here, manager unnie" I opened the door and saw my members on their phones. "Unnie, there was a handsome guy on the monitor earlier. You're late to see him" Gahyeon said while munching her food. "And he's the same age as you, maybe..." Dami wriggled her eyebrows at me while smiling sheepishly. I sighed and then sat down beside the two maknaes.

"I told you guys, I'm not interested" I said and then placed my hand over my neck. An unfamiliar feeling came into my body as I didn't touched my necklace.

"My necklace is missing" Dami looked over at my neck to confirmed it. "You rarely took that off, maybe you didn't wore that earlier? " Gahyeon asked. I shook my head and stood up.

I went out of our dressing room to find my necklace.

That wasn't just a necklace. That was his gift from our 1st year anniversary, how can I lose it. I led my way to the girl's comfort room where I went earlier and again while turning into the hallway, I bumped into someone... again.

Wait, maybe I dropped the necklace after bumping on someone earlier!

I avoided who I bumped into and was about to run when I felt my arms being pulled.

"Wait miss, you bumped at me 2 times already and you didn't even apologize "

Is that- that voice sounds familiar.

"I'm so sorry, something important is missi-"

Third Person's POV

Minji stopped on her tracks as she saw the person's face. The person was also shock from who she is, forgetting his hands was still on her arms.

"Minji?"

"Y/n?"

The bot immediately let go of her hand and then bowed at her. "Annyeaonghaseyo, Lee Y/n imnida" Y/n greeted with the widest smile plastered on your face.

Y/n can't believe what's happening just now. He's now face to face with his first love, the only girl he loved. Jiu on the other side was surprised but same as Y/n, she cant contain her happiness. Her lips started to spread into a smile and chuckled.

"Is that really you, Y/n? Am I only dreaming?" She pinched herself just incase. "Ani, I'm real" the boy spread his arms and turn around. "I'm real Minji" his smile never left his lips. Jiu came and pinched his cheeks as well.

"You're real!" Minji exclaimed. You then heard footsteps coming into one of the corners but luck is on your side. You two were just standing infront of your dressing room.

You opened the door and pulled Jiu in. She never complained, why would she? She had been waiting for this moment to happen.

As the both of you went inside, you immediately enveloped Minji a tight hug. You felt her hug back that made you tear up.

"I can't believe this is happening, please tell me I'm not dreaming!" You told her and you felt her shook her head on your chest. Then suddenly, you felt your shirt getting cold.

"Minji?" You broke the hug and you saw her brightly smiling at you, her tears rolling down her cheeks with her mascara. "Yah, don't ruin your make up" you wiped her tears using your sleeves. "You're performing soon, I'll watch beside the stage" she nodded at you and got out from your arms.

"Oh- I remember, your necklace " you grab the necklace on your pocket and turn her around to put on the necklace on her.

After putting in on, you kissed Minji's cheeks making her blush and turn around at you. "Yah, we're not official yet, take me out to date first" she said and pushed your shoulders.

"Hmm, noted. So...?"

Silence filled the room, the both of you smiling while staring at each other. "I missed you" you look down on the ground while fiddling your fingers. "Me too" you heard her said that made you blush.

"Have you watched my performance?"

"Performance?"

Your head shot up and you glared at her. "Y oi u missed it, did you?" Minji bit her lip and looked down. You smiled at her cuteness and then went closer to her again.

"It's okay though, at least we met again. So Minji... I mean, Jiu-ssi" you said and took out you hand for her to take.

"Faith really made us see each other, would you like to go out on a date with me on Saturday" you kneeled down at her and she started squealing. "Yah~ what are you doing, get up" she held your hand and pulled you up but you remained in your place.

"Only if you agree, Jiu-ssi" she smiled sweetly at you and pecked your lips.

"Of course, I would love too" you smiled and then stood up, pulling your necklace that was hiding behind your shirt.

On your necklace, there are two rings that was familiar to Minji. It was your necklace since you were still together. You wore it everyday. She wants to ask why there are 2 rings on it but her head says 'it's just design, that's it's

"Kim Minji, you were mine before, I'll make you mine again" you pulled out the rings and put the small one on her left hand. She blushed and you put the larger ring on your left hand.

"Now we're unofficially enganged" you smiled cheekily and kissed her forehead.

"Welcome back"

[fashournalist]

Just finished watching To All the Boys I've Loved Before: Always and Forever! Now I can't stop listening to Beginning Middle and End! Sigh, it's perfect for hopeful romantics like you and me.

Also it was my first time to attend a watch party via Scener, thank you for the invite, AJ sist!!! Am happy we got to hang out again even through a virtual movie date. Someday we'll attend film festivals when the pandemic is over, looking forward to the day cinemas open again!!

Time flies indeed. I just finished reading TATBILB book 3 on May 11, 2020 and I couldn't wait for the movie to come out and now it's here!! (Trivia: I shortlisted 30+ books during Big Bad Wolf 2020 but could only afford seven books. So I got six nonfiction (as a nonfic junkie) and only one novel—this was that novel.)

I'm glad it showed that love shouldn't hinder the pursuit of dreams; and they can grow together (both as individuals and as a couple) even when they're miles apart. I've seen people do that. One of my favourite power couples studied at Harvard and UPenn respectively, and their relationship made it. They're now happily married and I'm so happy for them. Relationships like these are goals :))

I can't help but compare the book with the film, but I enjoyed the movie in itself, too. 🥰

Some changes:

It rushed the proposal to Trina;

It totally simplified the promposal to Lara Jean;

It didn't show the initial conflict between Margot and Trina

It didn't show Stormy's passing (would have been a really sad scene huhu) and Lara Jean meeting John Ambrose again.

Lara Jean also gave the memory box instead of making a scrapbook.

Peter didn't give her the best tasting cookie in New York, but it's good she tried it herself.

The film also didn't show the conflict between Lara Jean and Peter's mom.

But if there's a change I liked, it's that Peter told Lara Jean their first ever meeting through the dedication he wrote on their yearbook. In the book, Peter wrote a really short dedication (and Peter gave Lara a hot photo of him so she could post it on her dorm room haha).

I also liked the little film surprise that Kitty had a happy crush on Dae!

Oh and of course, the major changes include the schools. And I actually liked it. Though the book has beautifully captured the campus of the University of Virginia, the plan B with William and Mary, and the plot twist of University of North Carolina, I think changing them to Stanford, Berkeley and NYU made it more relatable to a worldwide audience because they're more globally well-known.

Overall, it's a film that gives you all the feels while at the same time excites you to dream big. It tackles hard topics as well such as dealing with grief and growing up in a broken family.

I felt the bittersweet feeling when a trilogy or series that you love has ended.

I could relate with Lara Jean a lot, especially on the first movie when she never had a boyfriend yet and she was just writing letters. I love letters! And I never had a boyfriend, until today. Never been kissed, never had an MU or whatever haha. Though on the dreaming side, I could relate more with Margot. I'm a huge dreamer and I want to see the world. As for Kitty, I see the little me in her. Mataray, doesn't sugarcoat. But growing up, I've become more of Lara Jean with my quirks and very sentimental self. I'm also a daydreamer like her, and an idealist. Oh and, I'm a homebody! Give me books and movies and they'll be my date haha. Am a hopeful romantic. Although, I don't bake. But I make scrapbooks since I was a kid. I put art in everything I do. And I also wore literal gift ribbons on my ponytail in highschool haha. I hope, like Lara Jean, I find my Peter K someday (or actually, John Ambrose haha). But not anytime soon. Because unlike LJ, I think I want to pursue my master's degrees (yes, plural, that's the plan hahhah and yet here I am not even applying to any school so far) as a single woman haha. Well maybe unless I meet someone who can change how I feel, someone who will not hold me back from reaching my dreams, in as much as I will not hold him back from reaching his. But until then, it's best to be single haha! As a solo traveller, there are still so many countries to see on my own. Okay I'm daydreaming now hahaha!

Thank you, TATBILB and Jenny Han for giving us LJ and Peter K. Thank you for the feels and the pastel aesthetic and the great soundtrack. Thank you for introducing me to Leah Nobel's music!! (Am now in love with Coffee Sunday NYT and Talking to the Dog at the Party, aside from Beginning, Middle, and End!)

I wish I saw more of Josh Sanderson, though (I had a second-lead syndrome during the first film!! And I loved John Ambrose, too. Jordan Fisher is one of the best)

And thank you for making me want to go back to New York because clearly I have only seen less than 0.1% of it :(

I love how you captured a glimpse of NYC's splendor in just a few minutes! Of all the places you showed, it was only Times Square that I've seen in real life. But in time, will be back, experience the city, taste the same cookie Lara tasted—the best cookie in the world. And more. I'm daydreaming again haha! Here's a little selfie I had five years ago at Broadway 😄

For now, will take a break as my Dad and I are scheduled to watch Godfather II after dinner : ) Someday I will take him around the world!!! Amen in Jesus' Name <3

Omg I was just typing this and then Dad told me stories (right now) about his dreams to travel the world and we're going to places for lovers or astronomy. He's one big astronomy junkie, I tell you.

Who needs a date when I have the best date in the world, my Dad!!

Advance happy Valentine's Day, world changers!!

[buckys-little-hoe]

We’ll meet again | Platonic!Avengers x Reader

Pairing: Platonic!Avengers x Reader

Summary: No matter when and where, you always sing the same song, so your teammates ask themselves why you sing that song. The answer shocks them.

Warnings: Angst. Mentions of car accident and death.

A/N: It’s a little bit different from the other things. Hope you’ll still enjoy it! :)

—

You hum a song quietly as you fold your laundry together. You are standing in the laundry room right now because your favorite shirt got dirty. You were walking earlier and Sam had pushed you into the mud. The smell of detergent is in the air. You enjoy the calm, no annoying teammates who put their curious noses into your affairs. You put your cell phone on the dryer and pull the headphones out of your ears. You digress with your thoughts as you put sock after sock together. "Let's say goodbye with a smile, dear. Just for a while, dear. We must part. Don't let this parting upset you. I'll not forget you, sweetheart.” Your voice is gentle and has something mesmerizing.

Bucky also notices this, sneaking up as always. It is a habit that he cannot take off. That's why you don't notice him. Once again, the former assassin is grateful for his quiet steps. "We'll meet again. Don't know where. Don't know when. But I know we'll meet again some sunny day.” Without any worries you continue singing while he leans against the bare wall with a smile. He knows the song, he is sure of it. When he went to war, his colleagues with a relationship had been serenaded by their girlfriends. It was comforting if someone would not return. Quite sad actually, the more he thought about it. "Keep smiling through. Just like you always do. ‘Till the blue skies drive the dark clouds far away." You put your shirt in the basket and pick it up. When you turn around, you almost get a heart attack.

Bucky stands before you with a bright smile. "I like your voice, doll," he says with honesty and your cheeks turn red. Oh god, that’s embarrassing. The thoughts shoot through your head. "Uh ... thanks Bucky," you reply shyly and disappear through the open door.

—

"So will you please say hello, to the folks that I know. Tell them I won't be long. They'll be happy to know that as you saw me go. I was singing this song.” Your voice echoes through the ventilation shafts. Clint lies on the cool metal and listens to your voice with his eyes closed. You are taking a shower and Clint was actually on the way to his hidden nest, but your singing stopped him. You would never find out that he had been listening. What did the archer have to lose? It's not the first time he's eavesdropping on his teammates. But with you, there is something else. He just can't stop listening. Your voice expresses so much sadness and hope that he can only wonder what had happened. Why do you sing it with so much feeling? But right now he's just enjoying the song. He doesn't know it. It sounds older. He likes the text.

"We'll meet again. Don't know where. Don't know when. But I know we'll meet again some sunny day. “, You sing with your eyes closed. The water runs over your naked body and the heat loosens a few knots. You take the shower so warm that even the window and mirror are fogged up. Will the pain go away at some point?

-

"So you want please say hello. To the folks that I know. Tell them I won't be long. They'll be happy to know. That as you saw me go. I was singin 'this song.” You stand with your back to your teammates. You're preparing dinner tonight. Your friends are all sitting in the living room.

"I love her voice, but why does she always sing the same song?" Steve asks after a pleasant silence in which they could only hear your singing.

"I thought only I have noticed." Sam shrugs. Natasha rolls her eyes and pushes him off the couch. Bucky looks at her gratefully and she gives him two thumbs up.

“Maybe you just have to make wishes like to the DJ," Tony sarcastically puzzles. Now everyone is rolling their eyes in annoyance.

"I assume it's Lady Y/N's favorite song," Thor intervenes. Wanda nods in agreement.

"We'll meet again. Don't know where. Don't know when. But I know we'll meet again some sunny day. “ You finish the song quietly and add the sauce to the noodles.

"Maybe she has a deeper connection to the song," Bruce says. Tony shakes his head.

"I think you are interpreting too much into it, Dr. Banner. “, Vision says and everyone is muttering now.

"The food is ready!" You call with a smile and interrupt the discussion. Everyone gets up and goes into the dining room. After eating, everyone stays seated with a full belly. It is exceptionally quiet. This almost never happens when all Avengers are present.

"Y/N, we wanted to ask you something," Natasha says after a moment's hesitation. Your heart stops. Did you do something wrong? Didn't it taste good?

"Yes?" You try to keep your nervous tremors under control and you can do it.

"Why do you always sing the same song?" Clint asks, falling into the house with the door. You sigh quietly and try to smile, but it doesn't reach your eyes. Your heart weighs heavily and you blink the tears away.

“Back then I was in the car with my parents on the way to school. Unlike any other day, my mother went with us because my father wanted to drive her to the doctor who was on the way. Vera Lynn’s We’ll meet again was playing on the radio. I was angry with my parents because I was afraid to be late to school. My father wanted to drive her there anyway.” You take a deep breath. It's okay, you can do it. You can talk about it. "So we were arguing. My father stopped concentrating on the street and we got involved in an accident. The song didn't stop playing. Unfortunately, I did not pass out. Instead, I heard the song and saw my dead parents for about five minutes.” You finish your story and look into the faces of your comrades. During your story, the color was gone from their faces. Clint regrets asking. "The song helps me to remember that I'll see them again someday. That at some point I will have the chance to apologize. “, You explain.

Bucky, who is sitting next to you, takes your hand into his and squeezes it once. "They forgave you long ago, I'm sure of that," Thor says with an encouraging smile. He too had lost his mother after an argument. If anyone can empathize with the pain, it's him.

"It'll get easier," Steve assures you.

He's right. It will get easier. It just takes time.