#okay now i can go to sleep *salute emoji*

[orphyd]

she really dont gaf...

[minisugakoobies]

Sunny! I’d like to request #5 on the dirty texts with anyone - smutty dealers choice!

Ooooh, dealers choice?? Hmmm… I gotta go Yoongi on this one, I have not (and will never) recovered from the D Day tour. 😵‍💫

This was supposed to be a drabble but it's well over 1k so… sorry about that!! 💕

Title: Out of the Bag Now Pairing: Yoongi x Reader Genre: friends to lovers?, a bit cracky, smut, Coworkers!AU Rating: M(18+) Warnings: accidentally dirty texts, misunderstandings, mutual pining, masturbation (m), almost turns into phone sex, reader is flustered af (in the best way!), ends on a cute note, prompt is highlighted in bold

You: Okay, so we have everything ready for the presentation tomorrow?

Yoongi: Yeah, we're good to go

Yoongi: Nothing to worry about, so try to get a good night's sleep

Yoongi: I know you didn't sleep before March's shareholder meeting

Glancing at the last text message, you sigh wistfully.

For over a year now, you've been madly in love with your coworker, Min Yoongi. Ok, love might be stretching it a bit. You're wildly in lust with the man.

He's everything you've ever wanted in a partner - cool, calm, collected, clever as fuck with an acerbic wit that always makes you laugh (while praying that you'll never been on the receiving end of its sharp sting). Plus, he's absolutely gorgeous, the kind of guy that people would use an example of "have you ever seen a man so beautiful you cried?"

Or maybe that's just you.

But he is strikingly handsome, and makes your knees go weak when he favors you with one of his rare smiles. They usually come out when he's being sweet to you. Like when he's making sure you're getting enough sleep.

So yeah, you're head over heels for him. If only you had the guts to do anything about it.

You: I'll try

You: But you too! No late night movie marathons again, Yoongi

You: Boss's orders

That's just a dumb joke between the two of you. You're colleagues, on the same level, but Yoongi had insisted that you take the lead on this project, since you had more familiarity with the product than he did. Another check in the "pros" column - he's a man who supports his other colleagues and isn't afraid to take orders.

Yoongi: Yes boss

Yoongi: You can't see it but I'm saluting you right now

He sends a few emojis through and you giggle. For the last few weeks, the two of you have been texting back and forth after hours. It's mostly shop talk, but lately the conversations have dragged on and on, drifting into the late night hours. As this one has. You've already finished your nightly skincare and have moved on to your dental routine.

Yoongi: Seriously though, try not to stress about tomorrow

You: Honestly, I'm not! I'm feeling pretty confident about this

Yoongi: Good. Then you can just relax tonight

You: That's the plan

You balance your phone in one hand while using your electric toothbrush with the other. Yoongi cracks a joke, and your response is a little mangled by your sole thumb's lack of dexterity.

You: Sorry abour any typos

You: I'm like typing with one hand

Three grey dots dance across your screen for a few seconds.

Yoongi: Oh shit, you're REALLY relaxing. I didn't realize it was that type of conversation

You spit into the sink, brow furrowing as you reread his message. What does he mean by that?

Then you scroll up and nearly scream. "I'm like typing with one hand"?? Oh my god, why the fuck did you say that to him? He doesn't know that you meant you were brushing your teeth!

Frantically, you start typing out a response, erasing and starting over a few times, trying to figure out the best way to say "hey no I'm a dumbass who was just brushing my teeth and not touching myself to you" even though the fact is that you have touched yourself while thinking about him, several times actually, but that's neither here or there -

and then a new message appears.

Yoongi: Hold on, let me catch up

Excuse me??

Your phone buzzes with an incoming call and you nearly throw it into the sink in shock when you see that it's Yoongi calling. It takes a few seconds for the command to answer the call to get from your brain to your finger.

"Yoongi?"

A happy sigh greets you. "Fuck, that's better. Wanted to hear your voice."

The floor seems like the safest place to be right now, so you collapse onto it, leaning back against the cabinets under the sink.

"You did?"

"Oh yeah. You've got such a pretty voice, YN. Bet it sounds even sweeter when you're coming," Yoongi rumbles, that's the only word for it, he rumbles in that deep-ass voice of his, and you slide until you're just lying on your back, staring up at the bathroom ceiling, waiting for death to claim you, because how the fuck are you supposed to go on living after this?

"I - um - thank you?"

Yoongi laughs, but there's a slight hiccup in it, and it dawns on you what he's doing right now while he's talking to you. He's catching up. Images flood your brain - Yoongi lying on a couch, or maybe on a bed, hand tucked into his pants, fingers wrapped around a hard cock - and you choke on your own saliva.

"You ok?"

"Yeah! Yes. I'm fine, thank you."

He chuckles again, and it's physically impossible but you swear you can feel the vibrations through the phone. "You sure? You sound a little flustered."

"Oh, I'm sorry." What the fuck are you supposed to be saying to him right now? You're pretty sure it's not apologizing, but that's what you do anyway.

"Don't be. It's really cute."

Well thank fuck for that.

"Yoongi," you steady yourself with a deep breath, "what I said earlier… I didn't mean I was touching myself."

Silence. A lot of silence. It's a relief when he speaks again, but it fades quickly as you catch the disappointment in his voice.

"Oh shit, really? I - fuck." Now who's flustered? "What - what were you doing?"

"Brushing my teeth."

"Oh. Huh." He sighs, sounding deflated. "Guess I just jumped to a conclusion that I… wanted."

"Oh," you echo. "That's…" Incredible? Unbelievable? The best thing you've heard since you were born?

"Listen, YN, I'm so sorry. This whole thing was just - fuck, just really inappropriate, and if I've made you feel uncomfortable, I'm truly sor-"

Sitting up, you wave your arm to stop him. As if he can see you right now. "No, no! Yoongi. Wait. It's not like that. I wasn't doing anything right now but… but I have."

More silence. You bite your lip as you wait for him to catch up, for real this time.

"You mean…"

"I mean, I've t-touched myself while thinking about you. Before." Clearing your throat, you cover your eyes with your free hand, hiding your face from an invisible audience. Somehow, it emboldens you to keep talking. "A lot, actually."

He exhales shakily. "Really?"

"Yeah. Yeah, really." Uncovering your face, you stand, propping yourself up against the counter as you stare at yourself in the mirror. Is that really you having this discussion right now? You start to laugh.

"I don't think I'm getting the joke," Yoongi says slowly.

"Holy shit, this is just so surreal, Yoongi," you inform him. "I never in a million years thought I'd be admitting that I - Jesus, that I masturbate to thoughts of you! Not over the phone like this. Maybe after like-"

"A date?"

You huff out another laugh. "After a dozen, maybe. This is… I'm extremely out of my depth here."

"Well, if it makes you feel better, I think you're doing a great job." He's laughing now, too, and it makes you grin so wide your cheeks actually hurt. "How about this - you let me take you on a date tomorrow night, to celebrate our successful presentation, and maybe by the end of the night, we'll know where we stand on the timeline for surprising confessions?"

"Okay. Yeah. Yes." You close your mouth to prevent yourself from continuously accepting his offer.

"Great. Then… I'll see you tomorrow." His voice drops to a soft whisper. "Sweet dreams, YN."

"Good night, Yoongi."

Okay, so you may have lied to him. Because there's no way you're getting any sleep tonight.

Masterlist 💜 Find me on AO3 💜 

© 2023 by minisugakoobies. Crossposted to AO3. Please do not copy or repost.

[dreamingon-forever]

Dedicate Your Heart

Okay, since I’ve been seeing a lot of people bring up the ring collaboration with AoT featuring the famous “Dedicate your Heart” panel, I wanted to talk about it a bit more.

As most of us have figured out, the first time Levi had ever done the salute was when he was bidding farewell to Hange. It had always been something cheesy to him and out of character for him to follow with, but he still decided to dedicate it to Hange when they sacrificed themselves for the cause. A lot of us assumed he dedicated his heart to Hange here since he put his fist on Hange’s chest instead of his own- as the normal salute is done. Not only did Levi give Hange his first “Dedicate your Heart” salute, but it seems he gave Hange his heart as well. As he said the words and put his fist on their chest instead, right above their own heart. A metaphorical way of saying their hearts were now beating together in Hange. And I’ve heard the idea that the way we visualize the heart we see (like the emoji), represents two real human hearts put together to form the caricatured heart shape we know. Which to me means that Hange and Levi joining their hearts together created one.

I’m sure others have noted this too, but it’s something I just noticed for myself is the fact that Levi used his left fist instead of his right one. And you all know what the left hand entitles? That’s right, the hand that you exchange rings on when you marry. Because the left hand, and specially the ring finger is the one that has a vein that connects directly to the heart. One can pretty much interpret this scene not only as Levi dedicating his heart to Hange, but also promising himself to them from then on. So Hange pretty much took his heart with them to their final fight. This pretty much puts a new perspective to the whole “Till death do us part” part of wedding vows exchanged. Death literally brought them apart and Hange held onto Levi’s love to the end.

Bringing this back to the whole ring collaboration: the left hand with the ring finger, the vows indicating loving each other unconditionally to the end of life, and the connection of their hearts together through the “Dedicate your Heart” war cry, this pretty much sums up the fact that Levi and Hange were as close to marrying each other as possible. The collaboration pretty much indicates that they dedicated their lives to each other.

Another post I’ve seen on twitter (link), talks about how the anime depicted Hange walking down the boardawlk towards Levi for their final conversation is similar to one walking down the aisle to meet with their future spouse. And once you see it it’s hard to ignore the similarities. I think it just makes the whole Hange and Levi being in love and devoting their hearts to each other just that much more realistic.

And isn’t it fitting how the scene right after they bid each other goodbye, Hange is seen to use the ODM gear to latch onto a structure that resembles a church? When in the mange there isn’t anything similar to that structure seen? We all know that Hajime had a fair share of input in the anime creation for this season, so I’m wondering if he had brought up the idea as one of the changes he made.

I’m now going to cry myself to sleep since this made me all emotional again. I really hope they meet in the afterlife and get the happy ending they deserve together.

[namuneulbo]

week one hundred and thirteen

okay, trying a new format which will be proper grammar but all lowercase. i'll see how it goes and how i'll like it.

this week's been A LOT. yet very exciting. i moved to stockholm on thursday. had to wake up at 3 am but surprisingly ended up falling asleep quite late. the flights were not great, i felt quite anxious on both of them but i took melatonin for both and ended up sleeping for most of them.

i've of course also been listening to lots of kent. i feel like such a poser walking around town with kent in my ears even if no one can hear and no one would care.

one thing about stockholm is that it's very humbling walking around town because literally everyone's hot. it's insane. like, people are so fashionable and fancy and conventionally attractive while i feel like i barely match their level in a full face and my best outfit on a good hair day. truly so humbling.

on friday i met up with m for food and drinks. we struggled finding each other first because of the friday after work rush hour but once we got to the restaurant/pub thingy, it was very empty although it filled up over the time we were there. it was a burger place and it was really good although i got one of those humiliating cough fits at one point and never truly relaxed afterwards.

afterwards we went to an irish pub and, oh my god, it was so epic! i'm so happy to have someone to go to irish pubs with. i love drinking guinness and listening to celtic music. it was also nice because once we got there we really started becoming more natural with our conversation. i did feel quite sick on my way home though which was not the greatest because the bus home was delayed quite a bit so i just ended up walking home and lowkey died.

anyways, on tuesday, earlier in the week before i had moved, i had my last hangout with l for a while. we had subway and then they were my emotional support for asking my talking stage l on a date. it was so... okay, spoiler, i am going on a date with him but i still want to tell you about the interaction because it was a bit silly.

me and l (my bff l, not talking stage l) are sitting in the hallway of my old school and discussing what i should say and how i should send it and stuff. so i'm planning every single message out word for word in my notes app. once i've received approval from my friend, i open snapchat and stare at the conversation for a tiny bit before starting to type the messages out. i wanted to type them out rather than copy pasting so it would still feel a bit more real (for myself) in a way. literally started off with a single "btwwww" and his bitmoji shows up immediately and i literally yell and my friend starts yelling too because we didn't expect him to see the messages in real time. he replies a few quick silly messages just copying me but in swedish and then since i haven't typed out my second message yet he's going "TYPE". it was funny but it was so weird because it almost felt as if he knew it was happening right there and then.

i continue with like "you know how i'm moving soon" "to stockholm" "and i'll become a stockholmare" and he's like "yeah, you'll become swaggy" and then i just type out the entire question and i'm freaking out but i just go as quickly as possible over the keys so it'll be over:

"so i was wondering if you maybe wanted to go on a silly little date?"

i added the shy fingers emoji combo and like a looking down kinda sad/desparate i don't know emoji and he replies with like the emoji with a salute emoji and the same shy fingers and then a second message saying "hell yes" WHICH WAS SO RELIEVING OH MY GOD LIKE I DID THINK IT WOULD BE CRAZY IF HE DENIED AFTER HAVING TALKED FOR THIS LONG SO I WAS EXPECTING IT BUT LIKE HEARING IT AND IT BEING SO ENTHUSIASTIC WAS SO NICE!

we planned to go for drinks next weekend and now we've decided on friday and i'm literally shitting myself every moment ever right now. i'm so nervous. I'VE NEVER BEEN ON A DATE NOR HAD LIKE A THING WITH SOMEONE AND ACTUALLY MET UP NOR KISSED SOMEONE OR LIKE DONE ANYTHING! I'M GOING TO EMBARRASS MYSELF SO BAD!

hoping the drinks will help me out! love y'all! i'm gonna die!

sotw: kent - beskyddaren

[a-little-scamp]

good news! she still loves me. and we're no longer fighting. its really actually fine i think. we both just over reacted and that's fine. she was just scared, and we both ran. its what we do. we try so hard to run towards each other, not away from each other, but it still happens.

it happened this time. it's probably going to happen again. but we caught it in what? like 24 hours this time? last time it took us like a week. we're getting better. just cause this isn't what everyone's better looks like doesn't mean it's not better for us

and we're the ones that matter here. she loves me. i love her. that matters. its not always enough, but it can be if we keep trying.

we're going to keep trying. me and z are gonna be okay, i know it. we get scared, and we run, but we always run back together. i cant wait to go home. she's working late so she probs wont be there but that's okay. i wish i could just go to work w/ her but she's right and i need to sleep

fuck im tired, i know she's tired too. we always sleep better together. is it stupid to say i miss her? it's barely been like, not even two days. i just miss her.

i know she wishes i thought the apartment was home, but home is her. it's not home if she's not there with me. i mean it's also probably like my trust issues and bullshit and like *waves hands* yeah yeah yeah stray cat energy whatever, but like. it's her, guys. i just love her.

and now i'm getting mushy. well, time to go get my ass kicked and the i can go home at least. out of the dog house and back into the apartment at least :saluting emoji:

update from the doghouse

i can't say that sleeping at work in a new low for me, because it has happened enough that no one is shocked to see me here at 3am. so. not sure what that says about my life, but i can say it says that i'm doing better than i was doing this time last year. so i'm taking the win!

i think she's ignoring me. in my defense, i do not think that the terrorist attack should be my fault. in her defense, she did tell me not to go to the terrorist attack. in my defense, i thought i was going to get stabbed not blown up. so like. its loss loss, okay. none of us are winning, i am sleeping at my job, she is probably also sleeping at her job.

this. is fine. i get why she's mad at me. i do. i just wish she'd text me back. i hate when she avoids me because it just means i dont know what the fuck i did wrong. because if she leaves it to me to figure out what the fuck i did wrong im going to go crazy

like i'll be here all night. i can make list after list of shit i should have done starting with "listen to my girlfriend" and ending with "not getting caught in a terrorist attack you dumb piece of shit." like fcuking hell i know i couldn't have seen this coming, but what if i could have? what it i could have done something different and none of this would have happened?

yeah yeah yeah i can't control the world or the future or jackshit which is becoming glaringly apparent. i just hope we're okay. i know she's probably scared. im scared too.

i... i dont think im as scared as i should be though. like fuck, what does it say about me that i gave myself like five stitches in my work breakroom and i'm just... i'm fine. my co-workers weren't shocked because this wasn't even the first time i've done this shit. like fuck, of course she's scared. i'd be scared of me too.

fuck. no. bad thought. i should go to bed. i know she doesn't think im. i know she's not scared of me. she's scared for me cause i'm a stupid shit who almost dies every other week. but like.

its fine guys, dont worry about it. i'm sure i'll wkae up tomorrow and she'll have called me adn we'll say i love you and it will be okay again

[bleachanimefan1]

The Song of the Titan

Chapter Nine!,

In a secret room of the castle, Belos stood in front of the repaired door of the human realm, that he had managed to salvage and recover. He ordered an abomaton to turn on a switch and it did as it was told. Glowing green goo flowed down from the pipes of the machine and headed towards the door, powering it up. Belos took out a handmade key and stuck it into the keyhole.

It disintegrated almost immediately as soon as he turned it. Hidden in a corner, behind the emperor, Hunter quietly watched, curious about the portal. Lil rascal had managed to sneak into the room as well and landed on Hunter's shoulder and let out a small chirp.

"Shoo!" Hunter brushed his hand to get the cardinal to leave.

"Would you like to see how this works, Hunter?" Belos called out. Hunter gasped and went tense. He had heard him. The cardinal went ridged and turned to wood and Hunter quickly put the bid inside his cloak, hiding it. Hesitantly, Hunter stepped out approaching Belos.

"I didn't mean to hide, Emperor Belos," He murmured.

"We found every piece of the door, but without the power of the real key, it refuses to open," He told him.

"Is true that rain doesn't boil in the human realm?" Hunter asked. Belos turned to Hunter with a surprised look.

"It is. But, how did you know that?" He asked, smiling.

"I ran into the other human the other day. She told me," Hunter told him. He saw his uncle's smile immediately drop. Hunter immediately shifted his gaze away from Belo's cold and dark eyes as they stared intensely down at him. Hunter nearly jumped as he felt his uncle's fingers tuck under his chin, tilting his head up, making Hunter look at him.

"Hunter, I need you to promise me that you won't see that human girl again." Hunter's eyes widen a little as he stared up at Belos confused.

"What? Why?" he asked.

"She is a bad influence, especially since she's hanging around with the owl lady, learning about wild magic," His uncle told him. "She's dangerous, so promise me that you will stay from her."

"I-...I promise, Emperor Belos," Hunter said, his eyes dropping a little as he looked down.

"Don't make that face, you know how I feel about that, Hunter."

"I'm sorry, Uncle," Hunter replied.

"You know I've been there before, the human realm, did I ever tell you that?" Below asked, immediately changing the subject. Hunter looked back at him, and shook head. Belos had a soft smile on his face.

"The trees they're green, nights are quiet," He told Hunter. "I look forward to seeing it again." Then he turned Hunter as he walked down the stairs with him. "Were you spying on me just to hear these boring stories?"

"The operation at the knee, why did you switch me out with Kikimora?" Hunter questioned. Belos smiled.

"Everyone has a use, Hunter. Kikimora has her intricate little plans, the scouts carry out orders, and you, well..." He wrapped his arm around Hunter, placing his hand on Hunter's shoulder as they continued walking down the stairs. "The Titan has BIG plans for you and it would be such a hassle to try and find an replacement." Hunter's eyes widened. He was going to be replaced? No! He worked so hard to get where he was! If he was replaced then what use would he be? He wouldn't be able to help his Uncle.

"So right now you can be useful by staying "safe" here in the castle," Belos told him as he led Hunter out.

"If this is punishment for failing my last mission, I swear that I can do better!" Hunter insisted.

"Good night, Hunter," Belos smiled, closing the door.

Hunter stood in front of the door for a minute, before making his decision. He was going to help his uncle, no matter what happens. He had to prove that he wasn't a failure...not again.

Hunter turned around and ran, heading straight to his room and dropped off Lil' rascal. The little bird made a confused chirp as it looked at Hunter.

"I'll be back," Hunter told the cardinal palisman. "Just STAY here and don't be seen. I have to do this on my own."

As he turned around to leave, Hunter heard the small red bird began chirping frantically before he saw Lil' rascal beginning to fly straight towards him. Quickly, Hunter shut the door, before Lil' rascal could get out. It nearly broke his heart hearing the frantic and coming from the small bird as it heard it pecking and clawing the door.

Hunter shook his head, making up his mind and quickly grabbed a coven's scouts uniform as a disguise. So no one would recognize him, since his own had been eaten and was getting the uniform and mask fixed and replaced. He put the scout's clothes and cloak on and left the castle, heading to the Knee.

Back at the owl, Amity was prepping and fortifying the security of the house. She walked past the window, seeing Hooty outside.

"Hooty, what's your status?" Amity asked.

"The perimeter is secure nothing's getting past me!" The owl beast told her as he broke the window, coming in.

"Good! Clean up that mess," Amity smiled.

"Ma'am!" Booty saluted. He sweeped the broken glass aside, using his neck. Amity walked into the living room to see Willow coming in and placed some groceries on the table.

"Willow have you gathered the supplies?" Amity asked.

"Yes! We're ready to attack this at all fronts!" Willow told her.

"Excellent!" Amity smiled. A small white car walked over to her. Amity bent down petting the cat. "Aw, Ghost, did you help, too? Who's a good palisman! Great, now all we is-"

"Rain? Beach wave?" Gus suggested as he and King walked up behind the two girls.

"Something called "Lo-fi beats to study and relax to." We've got it all!" King shouted.

"Eda was rummaging through her basement and gave us these soothing human noises!" Gus explain.

"That's, great," Amity replied. "Wait, Eda's still here? Eda you're supposed to be helping Hooty build up our defenses." Then she heard Eda scream.

Amity walked into a room to see, Eda screaming loudly at nothing, while Azara and John watched in amusement. "Whoo! Don't mind me, I'm just learning how to turn into Harpy Eda on demand. According to this human workout, you just got to scream a lot until you forced your inner beast out." Eda said.

"Eda, this is a cartoon," Azara told her. "Of course, it's not going to work."

"Gee, you just love to suck the fun out of everything, do ya kid?" Eda teased.

"This looks ancient," Amity replied picking up the tape.

"What? No! You're telling me-Thirty years old? I remember seeing this in theaters," Era frowned.

"Yes, you're old. Who cares? We have a crisis on our hands!" Amity exclaimed.

"Chill bossy boots. Everything's fine," Era reassured her. Amity gestured Eda to follow her, along with Azara and John as she walked them to Luz's room, opening the door.

"Does THIS seem fine to you?!" Amity asked gesturing over to Luz.

"It's like I have snake for arms!" Luz exclaimed, as she wildly waved her arms in the air at nothing. Luz's hair was a mess and she was inside of a sleeping bag. Her nose was red and her eyes looked blood shot and tired. She was sick.

"Please, she just has the common mold," Eda explained. "it's harmless."

"But, she's a human," Amity said, worried. "We have no idea how this will affect her!"

"If I eat the portal key, would I return to the human realm?" Luz questioned. Azara's eyes widen.

"Luz, no!" she tried to stop her. Luckily, Amity made a small abomaton and it quickly took the key from Luz, walking away, and gave it to Amity.

"I am not giving this back until you are better, okay?" Amity told her. Luz whined and took out a small device that looked like a tomagachi and started to type something on it. Amity had one as well as it pinged. She looked at it seeing the strange emojis, not understanding them.

U R PRETTY...

"Uh, you got it!" Amity smiled and winked at Luz. Luz stared at her confused and disappointed as she closed the door.

"I got to admit, Amity, seeing you around more often is different, " Willow told her as Gus, King and her approached the them.

"I know but I was taught to see every situation as an opportunity," Amity told them. "And today I am going to show Luz that I am an awesome girlfriend!"

"Feels like is it a few months ago you almost got her dissected by your crazy principal," King pointed out.

"She did what now?" Azara asked, interested. Amity blushed and looked away.

"That was a few months ago," Gus added. Suddenly, everyone jumped as they heard Luz scream.

"AAH!" They quickly opened the door to see Luz frantically grabbing a pen and paper. "Luz!"

"Mouse! Uh, Philip's dairy entry!" Luz exclaimed, frantically. They saw the echo mouse projecting something on the wall, in black and white, like an movie from an old film reel. Azara a strange man dressed in weird clothes that looked like from the 16th century. His hair was tied up in a pony tail and had two long strands of hair hanging from his face.

"After five years, I have finally found it. A power source so potent it can pierce through realms, Titan's blood. There are old tales of lakes reflecting green trees and blue skies. The Titan's veins run through the land and many believe that these wild portals are created when a little of It's blood leaks into the water. That is how I came here, so that is the first place I shall look. I will journey back to Eclipse Lake."

"I have to go to Eclipse Lake!" Luz shouted as she finished the drawing the location down and quickly got up, practically jumping out the door. Willow and Gus quickly caught her, dragging Luz back inside the room, putting her back into the sleeping bag.

"Luz, no! You are not well!" Willow told her.

"She is shockingly strong!" Gus added.

"Alright, Luz. Me and King will get your Titan blood," Eda told her. "if you just calm down."

"Yes! Perfect chance to take our new powers for a test drive!" King cheered.

"You guys are the best!" Luz smiled. She handed Eda the paper, however it looked like it had some snot on it as well. Eda cringed in disgust and took it, holding the map in front of her, walking away.

"You might want to get that disinfected," Azara chuckled.

"I volunteer as well, as Luz's girlfriend, I must -" Amity immediately volunteered, following after Eda.

"I get, Boots. Just grab a coat," Eda told her.

"I'm coming too!" Azara replied.

"Well, if you're coming, you're going to have to wear boots. Where we are going is cold and I can't afford to have another sick kid on my hands," Era told her.

"Fine," Azara pouted but agreed.

"I'm coming as well!" John shouted. Azara frowned and shook her head.

"No, you're not. You're staying here," she told him. John whined.

"You're not the boss of me!" he complained. Azara smirked.

"Actually I am, since mom's not here," she reminded him. "Therefore, I am in charge of you." She approached him and bent down to his level. "And if YOU get into trouble, "I" get into trouble, and WE don't want that, do we now?" John pouted, crossing his arms, before sticking out his lips.

"Fine," he replied.

"I need you help look after Luz, okay?" Azara smiled. John nodded his head, understanding.

"Willow, Goops, watch after Luz," Eda told the two. "She thinks she has snakes for arms." Willow and Gus looked back at Luz who had her arms in the air before she noticed them and hissed.

High above, on a snowy mountain, Kikimora and the coven scouts were digging around outside in the ruins of an abandoned mine.

"Dig faster, scouts!" Kikimora ordered.

"Kikimora, these tunnels are unstable, maybe we should slow down?" One of the scouts suggested.

"Not now, captain. This could be my last chance to show Belos what I can do! And I just know that brat golden guard will try to spoil it!" Kikimora said. "Hey Steve! Jump over that chasm before I throw you into it!"

"She's getting so paranoid," the captain shook her head.

Not too far off, from the scouts, Hunter was hiding behind a tree as he watched them. He leaned back against the tree and pulled back the hood his cloak, only to be startled as he saw the cardinal palisman right there next to him.

"Why do keep following me?!" Hunter hissed. "How did you even get out!?"

I'm.....h#r% to h#lp! Lil rascal chirped. Hunter frowned as he looked at the bird.

"I don't speak palisman," He replied then continued to explain his plan to the bird. Lil rascal was nodding his head the entire time, listening.

"Here's the plan, I slip in with this disguise, I find the Titan blood before Kiki, I give it to Belos. Boom! I'm useful again!" Hunter smiled. It suddenly dropped as Hunter heard one of the abomatons fired in his direction. He and Lil rascal quickly ducked and took cover as the blast exploded the tree that they were hiding behind. Hunter gulped nervously and quietly crawled way before the scouts noticed him. That blast almost blew his head off!

"Ma'am, is everything alright?!" The captain asked. Kikimora's eyes narrowed with a dark glare.

"I just thought I heard an annoying voice!" She hissed.

"Uh, another way in! We'll find another way in!" Hunter stammered, nervously. He ran got up and ran away while Lil rascal rode on top of his head. Lil rascal 's eyes widened as it sensed something nearby and happily chirped.

Hunt*& Th%$ #ay!

Hunter stopped and saw the cardinal land on a branch in a tree and walked over. His eyes widen in surprise to see Eda, King and Amity, approaching.

"The owl lady and her dog and is that the youngest Blight?" He questioned to himself. Then his eyes noticed a familiar pair of green eyes as he saw Azara walking with them as well. Hunter's eyes widen and he had almost fallen off from the steep slope, slipping on a small patch of ice, as soon as he saw her. He nearly lost his breath and felt his cheeks burn as he felt strange feeling in his chest. Hunter's heart began to beat faster, watching Azara as she and the others got closer. Her again!?

"This place is crawling with tools! What gives?!" King asked.

"Titan blood is the most powerful source of magic on the Isles. I'm not surprised Belos wants it too," Eda explained.

"Well, we can't afford to mess this up," Amity said. "Luz is counting on me! I mean, us!" She blushed.

"Well, as soon as we find this Titan's blood the sooner I can get out of these boots!" Azara complained. She was shaking her feet as she walked along side them. Eda and King laughed.

"She's like a small cat!" Eda chuckled. Azara frowned, as her cheeks turned red, embarrassed.

"I heard that!" she yelled out.

"Alright, new plan," Hunter smiled. "They can lead us to the Titan blood."

Lil rascal stared at Hunter for a minute before he lunged out and pulled on Hunter's strand of hair.

I'm doing Th&$ for you# #wn &ood!

"Hey! Hey! AH!" Hunter screamed and he lost his balance falling right in front of the group. He groaned as he sat up. That little sh-

"A coven scout!" Amity exclaimed. Hunter's eyes widen underneath the mask as he looked up at the group. Eda and Amity had their staffs ready and pointed at him.

"Uh, yes, I am but a humble scout and I surrender," Hunter surrendered holding his hands up. Azara's eyes widen, recognizing the voice.

"Heh, that was easy!" King smiled. Eda narrowed her eyes at the strange scout in front of them.

"Not so fast, King. Don't you recognize that annoying voice?" She asked.

"Why does everyone say that?" Hunter replied, sadly. He quickly took off, running away, trying to escape.

"Don't let him get away!" Eda shouted. Amity made some abomaton goo fly out of her flask with a wave of her finger. It shot out, wrapping around Hunter, knocking him off of his feet, and he flipped over, falling down to the ground. His mask had fallen off, as well, revealing his face. The group walked up, looking down at him.

"This is none other than-"

"Hello, Hunter!" Azara smirked.

"Wait, you know him?!" Eda asked, confused.

"Yeah, he's the guy I've been telling you guys about." Azara told them.

"Well, did you know that he's Belos right hand man?" Eda frowned. "I thought I told you to stay away from them!"

Azara smiled sheepishly, shrugging her hands.

"The golden guard!" Amity gasped. "He is a lot scrawnier than I've imagined." King laughed.

Hunter growled and glared up at them.

"Did I do it? Did I go into harpy mood?" Eda asked, excitedly, busting through a wall of ice.

"No, you just screamed "Hoot!" and ran head first into a wall of ice," King told her as he walked into the mines from the hole Era had made, along with Amity, Hunter and Azara, "It was pretty funny actually."

"You can put down your staff, I won't run," Hunter said.

"Too bad, because I don't trust you," Amity answered, still pointing her staff at him.

"Huh? This stuff is old," Eda commented the old abandoned mining equipment that was left behind, lying about near them.

"Ancient witches used to mine the veins for titan blood-" Hunter tried to explain.

"They're not listening," Azara told him.

"Go on, fire it! Maybe the adrenaline will kick in and bam! Harpy Eda!" Eda insisted. King jumped on top of the mine drill, getting ready to activate it.

"Sounds perfectly safe!"

"Wait! Don't!-" Hunter tried to warn them. But, King had already activated the drill and it unleashed a blast of magic. It barely missed Eda and started to ricochet off the walls bouncing around wildly like a ping pong ball!

"This isn't a normal cave! These walls are made from the veins of the Titan any magic that you shoot will bounce right back at you!" Hunter shouted.

"Oh, you must be fun at parties," Eda teased. She turned back to King. "Hey, King How about you use your new power to echo-locate the lake?"

"Okay!" He jumped off the drill running to the tunnel in front of them. King opened his mouth and let out a sonic blast. There was silence, then King turned around to them, shrugging his hands.

"Nothing," he replied.

"These two are definitely going to get us caught," Hunter frowned.

"Us?" There is no us! Now, keep walking," Amity said.

As they started to head deeper into the mines, walking further in, Azara stopped when she heard a voice whisper in her ear.

Azura...

Azara eyes widened and she wildly began looking around.

"Who said that?" She asked.

"Who said what?" Amity asked. The others stopped, as well seeing Azara looking around at nothing. They stared with confused looks on their faces.

"We didn't say anything, kid." Eda told her. She frowned seeing the uneasy look on Azara's face. "Is there something wrong?"

Azara shook her head. "It must have been my imagination. Let's just hurry."

"Oh hey, look! People died here." King added. Everyone gasped as they saw a couple of skeletons lying on the ground.

"Okay, this is getting too creepy. Let's just find that Titan blood and get out of here." Amity said.

"Maybe, it's the lost souls of the witches who died here in the mines?" Eda joked. "And now they're angry that their tomb is being disturbed!"

"Eda! You're not helping!" Azara shouted. "I know that I heard someone! They said Azura..."

"Azura? You mean, the the good witch Azura?" King asked and chuckled. "But, she is just some storybook fantasy. She's not real!"

"I know what I heard..." Azara replied.

"Maybe, you're crazy," Hunter sneered and commented. Azara frowned, looking at him.

"Alright, let's just keep going," Amity told them. "Hearing voices is never really a good sign. Let's just find that Titan's blood then get out."

"You know, Luz told me about her trip to Latissa, where she met someone very interesting," Eda explained as they walked further into the mines. "A beat-up blond with no magical powers. She called him and these are her words, "A bad but sad boy," She snorted as she finished and chuckled. Hunter cheeks and ears turned red, blushing, embarrassed.

"If I ever see that human again," He muttered.

"Hey, watch it!" Amity warned him as she narrow her eyes.

"At least I'm not delusional to think that I can turn into a harpy!" Hunter retorted. Eda turned around and hissed.

"Hey, come on, give it a rest, you two!" King said, although he looked amused at the fight between.

"Yeah, listen to your rat," Hunter replied.

"Whee!" King screeched angrily and jumped off of Eda, pulling on Hunter's hair.

Suddenly, Amity shushed them telling to be quiet. She motioned them to take cover and they did. Everyone saw Kikimora, along with two abomatons and two coven scouts had made their way into the mines, too.

"Why are we stopping?" Kikimora demanded. "Is it the golden guard?!"

"No, ma'am, this is a dangerous area," the captain told her. "We need to move carefully."

"Careful takes too long! My butt is on line!" Kikimora shouted. "And so help me Titan, if you ruin this, I will throw you off of the peak of the tallest knee with a smile!"

"She definitely has issues," Azara cringed.

"That poor girl is going through something," Eda commented.

"She's also blocking the path to Eclipse Lake," Amity added and pointed ahead.

"We should create a distraction," Hunter replied.

"We should create a distraction!" Eda shouted. "You kids wait for my signal!" She and king jumped over the edge, getting into place to create a plan.

"Ha, that was easy! When they're caught, you two and I can take the Titan blood for ourselves," Hunter said as he leaned against an old mining machine.

"Stop talking like we're a team!" Amity shouted.

"Why not just quit the emperor's coven and come with us?" Azara asked. Hunter's and Amity's eyes widened in shock.

"Are you kidding me?" Amity asked in disbelief. Hunter chuckled and sneered.

"That's an attempting offer, but no thanks," he replied.

"Better than being miserable." Azara commented.

"I never said anything about being miserable," Hunter frowned, looking away from her.

"But you are, aren't you?" Azara asked. "Why can't you just admit that you need help?"

"I..Don't..Need..Help," Hunter replied, coldly, as he narrowed his eyes at Azara. She sighed.

"Everyone needs help every once in awhile," Azara told him. Amity stared at the two in silence with a disbelief look on her face.

"This is crazy," Amity said, shaking her head. "I am not working with the emperor's coven just because you two have a crush on each other."

"WE DON'T HAVE A CRUSH ON EACH OTHER!" Hunter and Azara yelled at the same time. The two blinked and looked at each other.

"But we might as well work together," Hunter replied. "The owl lady and her pet have nothing at stake unlike us."

"You have no idea what you're talking-" Amity's tomagatchi bleeped in her coat pocket, interrupting her. "I was going to say, you have no-" It bleeped again. Hunter and Azara stared at her, blinking and raised their eyes staring into the witch's pocket. Amity huffed and turned around, her back facing them, and pulled out the device. Azara walked closer peeking over Amity's shoulder. She saw strange emojis on the screen but couldn't understand them. She was never really any good with that kind of stuff, it was from confusing.

"Oof, that doesn't look good," Hunter replied reading over Amity's shoulder. Amity jumped as she saw Hunter and and Azara behind her. She glared at Hunter.

"Stay back!" She demanded. He stepped away as she wanted. Amity frowned, wondering what he had meant. "But, what doesn't look good?"

"Seems clear to me, come back with results or else....you can figure out the rest," he told her.

"That doesn't sound right," Azara replied. "That doesn't sound like something Luz would do."

"No, Luz wouldn't make that kind of threat." Amity agreed, shaking her head. "I'm an awesome girlfriend!"

"Has she told you that?" Hunter asked. "We have a lot in common, Blight. We both trying to show what we can bring to the table. And we can't fail cause there's nothing worse than disappointing someone who thinks you are special." he finished. Azara stared at him, silently.

Amity bit her lip and looked down, with an uncertain look on her face.

Suddenly, a blast of purple magic bounced near Kikimora and the scouts. The abomatons deployed a shield to protect them.

"Why didn't you wait for our signal?!" Eda called out as she and King, ran to catch up with Hunter, Amity and Azara, heading straight into the tunnel ahead of them to Eclipse Lake.

"We don't have time to play around! We are getting that titan blood!" Amity shouted.

As they ran, Amity's tomagachi had fallen out from her pocket and landed on the ground. Kikimora spotted it and picked it up, inspecting the device with a crazed look in her eyes.

AS the group walked down the tunnel, the cardinal palisman had been following them the entire time, unnoticed by them. Lil rascal landed on Hunter's shoulder and made a small chirp.

"Hey, find a different perch, bird," Hunter replied, shrugging his shoulder. Lil rascal flew off of him. At the end of the tunnel, everyone walked out to see some strange dried up crystallized dark blue liquid surrounding all over the room.

"Is this titan's blood?" Eda asked.

"But, Eclipse Lake is farther ahead," Amity said, confused, checking the map again.

"Who cares!? We did it!" King shouted. Eda and King began to approach it.

"STOP!" Hunter shouted. "That's fools blood. Don't touch it!"

"Oh, so you can keep it all for yourself?" Eda smirked. "Pfft! Hard pass!" She slammed the end of her staff into the crystal. It cracked and suddenly the ground began to shake beneath them, before ripping open giving away under their feet. Eda and King fell into the huge chasm below.

"No!" Amity and Azara cried out. Amity was about to hop onto her staff to go after them but Hunter stopped her.

"Wait! Take me with you!" he shouted.

"Yoo hoo! Golden guard!" The three heard Kikimora call out, getting closer to them.

"Can you at least untie me so I can escape?!" Hunter insisted. "Please, I don't want to be replaced."

"Fine!" Amity groaned. She waved her finger and released the goo from Hunter, freeing him. Hunter stretched his arm as she glanced behind her, seeing the shadows getting closer. "So, where will you go now?"

"Now..." Hunter sweeped his leg and knocked Amity and Azara off of their feet, knocking to the ground. He ran and hopped into a mine cart and wheeled off. "I get to Eclipse Lake before anyone! BYEEEE!"

"That little-!" Azara growled as she got up.

"That jerk!" Amity shouted, angry as well. Just as the two were about to get up, a spear pointed at their faces. The two girls froze as they saw Kikimora and the coven scouts in front of them.

"Would you look at this, captain?" Kikimora said "We find our little fire starter." Then she noticed Azara, and glared at her. "YOU! You will pay for blinding me!"

"Well, you shouldn't have walked so blindly to my trap," Azara scoffed. "Some coven scout leader you are."

"Silence!" Kikimora shrieked angrily. The abomatons aimed their cannons at Azara, ready to fire. Azara's widened and she gulped. She stared at the end of the cannon, glaring up at Kikimora. "But, after a deal with another little pest. Then I'll deal with YOU!" The abomatons lowered their arms. Azara felt a sudden relief rush over her as they did.

"So, the golden guard is also looking for titan's blood and he took off to Eclipse Lake," Kikimora said. "I knew it! That little snake is always making me look bad. Well, now I can get my revenge!"

"Ma'am, what about the Titan blood?" The captain asked.

"Oh, yes, I'll get that too," Kikimora replied. "This is going to be a good day!"

"What should we do with these two?" The captain asked.

"Oh, I don't care," Kikimora replied. The two abomatons transformed into carts and she rode in one, as well as the other scouts as they went after Hunter. The captain aimed her spear at Amity and Azara.

"So, did you come with anyone else or...Ugh! This is boring!" she picked up Amity and tossed her into the cavern.

"Amity!" Azara cried out. She felt the captain push her as well as she kicked Azara into the hole. Amity and Azara screamed as they fell down into the dark depths. Suddenly, several hands grabbed the two girls, catching them. Eda and King pulled them up as they hang on tightly onto Owlbert. Amity quickly grabbed onto the tomagachi, catching it, just before it fell as well.

"Guys, you're okay!" Amity said in relief.

"Just barely," Era told her. "Owlbert's knocked out so we can't fly."

"I'm just like throwing it out there, but, this would be a great time to bring out harpy Eda!" King said.

"I don't know how! I tried yelling at it, scaring it-" Everyone gasped as they saw Owlbert was starting to crack.

"Did you ever think about talking to it?" King asked.

"Ha! I-I guess I didn't, but it's a wild animal," Eda said unsure.

"You thought I was a wild animal, once," King commented.

"Okay, I'll try. Just give me a second," Eda agreed. "What?! You want to make a deal? I-I don't know if I can." Owl was beginning to crack more as a large crack appeared on it's head. "Okay, okay, I'll do it! Just change NOW!" Her eyes turned black and golden irises appeared.

"Haha! Yes!" Eda cheered as she flew out of the pit in her Harpy form, carrying Amity, King, and Azara.

"What did you promise to do?" Azara asked.

"I don't want to talk about it," Eda told her.

"I can't wait to see a real life mine cart chase!" King exclaimed, excitedly.

As they reached the end of the mine tunnel, everyone had saw that Kikimora and the other scouts had gone off the rails and crashed.

"Ooh..." Everyone cringed.

"I guess mine cart chases are a lot more dangerous than videogames make them seem." King commented.

"There it is!" Amity pointed out.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed Eda as she was caught by an abomaton. The captain of the coven scouts got up.

"I don't know who you freaks are, but that blood belongs to Kikimora!" she yelled. The abomaton slammed Eda to the ground with the others.

"Get to the lake!" Eda shouted, telling them to go on. "I'll take care of-" The abomaton pulled Eda away from them and slammed her into the wall.

"Eda!" King cried out in worry. Azara grabbed him and ran after Amity. The captain of the scouts threw a spear at them but Eda caught it and snapped it with her hand, breaking it in half. She turned to the captain and smirked.

"Alright owl beast, let's see what we can do!" Eda flew up high into the air and began spinning around as she corkscrew straight towards the captain.

Azara caught up to Amity and looked ahead to see a large crater of what appeared to be a pool in front of her. However, it was dried up and there was no Titan's blood. The trees that surround the pit were dried up as well as roots extended all over the area. She froze as she saw Hunter, desperately digging in the dirt.

"Don't worry, I won't pick a fight," He told them. "There's no titan blood."

"Then why are you digging?" Amity asked. Azara eyes widened as she saw Hunter turned around. His eyes looked a little off and a little crazed. Great, she was dealing with a crazy person. This guy was literally digging his own grave.

"It's simple really. Belos needs Titan's blood, to make a new portal key. Can't get to the human realm without it," Hunter explained.

"There's blood in the key?" Amity questioned. Azara's eyes widened in surprise. This trip had been for nothing! The key had Titan's blood all along...and it was the one thing that Emperor Belos needed. It can't fall into his hands!

She frowned, staring at Hunter, concerned.

"Since, I failed my last mission, I thought "Hey! A chance to make up for it!" But, I can't go back empty handed!" Hunter let out a hysterical laugh. "Not again. Long story short, this is my grave! Do you want me to make you one, too?"

"This is really bumming me out," King replied.

"That's just life, rat. Everyone has a use and if you don't-Pfft! Bye-bye! Your friend gets it!" Hunter said.

"What's he talking about?" King asked confused.

"Luz has been sending me these strange human codes. I don't understand all of them, but this one seems pretty clear," Amity explained and showed King the emojis. "Come back with results or we're done." King frowned until he saw something strange about the emoji's. He turned the device sideways and the emojis appeared to spell out words. Amity's eyes widened surprise.

"U ARE RAD," She read. "FOOLS BLOOD BAD. U OKAY. COME HOME."

Amity laughed and smiled overjoyed and happy. "Of course! This is Luz we're talking about!"

Suddenly, the three heard frantic chirping and turned their heads back to see Lil rascal trying to pull Hunter out of the hole that he had dug. He swatted the bird away from him.

"Hey, go find a better witch to be with!" He groaned, falling back into the dirt face first and shoveled some more on top of his head.

"We need to help him," Azara told King and Amity. King frowned.

"I don't think that he's your type," he replied. Azara blushed a little.

"I don't care, we still got to try and help him," she insisted. "You told me how your parents treated you. You and him have the same experiences, maybe you can get through to him." Amity nodded, understanding. She knew how he felt. This was a chance to help him. Amity and Azara walked over as they approached Hunter. Amity bent down to Hunter and Lil Rascal landed on her shoulder.

"You know, you were right. We do have a lot in common. I grew up thinking that everything was an opportunity to justify existing. But, there are people out there who won't make you feel worthless. You just got to let yourself meet them." Amity smiled and held her hand out to him.

Hunter opened his eyes and looked up at her then turned his attention towards Azara. He saw that her eyes were pleading at him to take it.

"We want to help you Hunter," she told him softly. "Come with us."

Hunter's felt his chest began to grow warm as he heart began to beat faster at the sound of her voice. It relax him, made him feel safe. Just as Hunter was about to get up, something shined in Hunter's eyes. He gasped a little and his eyes widen as he slowly got up.

"What are you?" Amity questioned before glancing down to where Hunter was looking at. The key!

Hunter lunged at her, and Amity quickly rolled out of the way. He quickly turned back towards her, with a desperate look in his eyes.

"Oh, come on!" Amity complained. "Being nice usually works for Luz!"

"Hunter, please don't do this!" Azara cried out. But, Hunter ignored her and ran towards Amity. King quickly jumped in front of her.

"Weh!" King shouted unleashing a sonic wave.

Hunter's eyes widened as it came closer. Lil rascal quickly jumped in front of him, reflecting the blast. Hunter grabbed the staff but Amity shot out some abomination too at him, wrapping around Hunter's body. Hunter struggled to get it off when suddenly he teleported out of the binding then started to teleport uncontrollably a little unleashing a yellow burst of energy.

"The staffs are weird," Hunter frowned looking at the staff. Hunter teleported again as Amity shot an abomination goo at him again to catch him. Now high in the air, Hunter aimed the staff down at them and unleashed several burst of yellow magic, and it began to bounce wildly all over the room. Azara quickly made a ice pillar as she made a spell circle with her finger just before a ball of magic hit her.

Hunter teleported next to Amity and she tried to block his attacks as he teleported wildly around her, trying to break through her shield. As he stopped in front of her, King tried to jump at him and knocked Hunter to the ground. Amity created a giant bubble with the goo encasing Hunter inside of it. She quickly got on her staff and grabbed King, heading towards Azara.

"We are leaving!" she shouted, getting ready to grab her. Azara shook her head.

"Not without Hunter!" she shouted.

"We HAVE to go! NOW!" Amity urged her, grabbing her hand. "Forget him!"

"No!" Azara argued, pulling back. "I won't turn my back on people who need my help!" Amity's eyes widened in shock.

Suddenly, the abomination cage exploded and a giant hand made out of earth smacked right into Amity, knocking her off of her staff.

"Amity!" Azara cried out trying to reach her but Hunter sent another ball of magic at her, stopping Azara in her tracks. King had managed to land safely but his horns were embedded deep in some tree's roots. Amity used her goo to make a slide and slide down to the ground landing on her feet. Then Hunter quickly appeared beside her. Amity's eyes widened.

"You really want to help then gimme that key!" Hunter shouted. He used the staff to rip the necklace off of Amity's neck and Amity quickly caught it before he could get it. She quickly made a sharp weapon and aimed it directly under Hunter's neck as he pinned her hand with his staff, glaring up at him. Hunter panted completely tired and exhausted and sweat dropping from his face.

"Listen your strong and I'm tired. If this continues, you'll probably escape. But here's the thing: we know where to find you and your human." Amity gasped. "So just, hand over the key."

"Fine," Amity said. "Just stay away from Luz." She let go of the key and Hunter took it from her.

"I appreciate it," He told her. "I, uh, mean that, too." Just before he was about to take off with Lil rascal, Azara stopped him. She stepped in front of Amity, clasping her hands together.

"Hunter, wait. Just think for a a minute," She tried to reason with him. "You don't want to do this. You know that this is not right. I know that your not happy there. You know that your not happy there. So, come with us..."

Hunter turned and stared at her for a minute, silently.

"Can you really turn your back on your own family?" Hunter asked. Azara's eyes widened. Hunter took off flying away with Lil rascal.

"Hunter! Stop!" She cried out. But, he was already gone.

"HaHa! Yes! I heard fighting!" Eda smiled as she flew in. "I'm ready to go! Where's the nerd?" She stopped when she saw everyone.

"Weeh!" King whined as he tried to pull his horns out from the tree root that he was still stuck upside down on. Amity looked like she had made the worst decision in her life. Azara was still standing where she was, frozen. Tears were slowly beginning to fall from her eyes as they run down her cheeks.

"Oh, dang it." Eda sighed.

Back at the owl house, in Luz's room, Luz gasped and suddenly shot up with a surprised look on her face. "Huh?! I feel great!" Luz exclaimed before she realized that she had mushrooms growing on her head. "I wonder if this is permanent?"

"I got to find everyone!" She yelled. She quickly got up, the mushrooms fell off from her head as she did, and she quickly ran into the hall. Luz bumped into Willow who was carrying to bowl of soup, knocking it out of her hands, along with Gus. Hooty caught it with his head. "Have the others returned?"

"Ow, ow ,ow! Just get an elixir!" Luz gasped as she heard Eda shout and ran into the living room . She saw King and Azara trying to pull on her wing go get her inside, but she was stuck at the door. "I got into harpy mode and now I can't get out."

"She also ate like nine voles on the way home?" King added.

"Hey, I had to keep up my end of the bargain," Eda said.

"Amity!" Luz ran over to her, knocking her down, and hugged her tightly. She smiled. "I'm so glad my awesome girlfriend is okay!"

"Me, too!" Amity smiled back.

"No king hug? What is this?!" King complained. "You are a swindler and a thief!"

"Come here, buddy!" Luz rushed towards him and swooped King up in her arms hugging him.

"I regret this!" King shouted. Eda leaned in closer to Amity.

"You want to break the news or should I?" she asked.

"News?" Amity asked, confused.

"The empty lake, the golden guard, losing the portal key?" Eda told her. "Today was an disaster."

"Actually, we might be okay." Amity said, as she showed Eda the Titan's blood that was stained on her glove.

"How did you get the Titan's blood?" Azara asked, surprised.

"I broke the key." Amity told her.

Nighttime was beginning to fall, and stars were shining in the sky. Hunter stared at the key in his hand as he held it in front of him. He had an unsure and confused look on his face. He felt terrible and guilty about taking the key. Then Lil rascal landed on his hand and happily chirped at him.

"Oh, hey. You stuck with me the whole time, huh, bird?" Hunter asked. Lil rascal made another happy chirp.

Orion.

Hunter's eyes widened in surprise. He had understood what Lil rascal had said! He can understand him!

"I think I understood that!" He smiled. "Is that your name? Can you say it again?"

My name is Orion, Hunter.

"Weird." Hunter chuckled. He thought it was a funny name to name a bird after a star constellation. But, it did seem to suit him. Hunter's life had been brighter since the little bird came into his life, even leading him to Azara. Hunter's eyes widen as her name came into his mind.

It didn't matter. She must hate him now. He quickly shook it off and looked back at Lil rascal.

"Can you say other things?"

Hunter continued on ahead, heading to the castle, as Lil rascal continued to chirp talking to him.

[simplee-dreaming]

The Ratings

A/N: This was a Six Idiots fic requested by @lokihasadaughter. Hope you enjoy!

Word count: 1323

Summary: The reader rates Ben and Simon's Ghosts characters poorly, so they seek revenge.

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

“Hello hello! How is everyone?” You said to your phone. “I got bored so I thought I’d go live.”

You were alone in your home. Today was your day off from filming the next series of Ghosts, but you were so bored you just had to talk to someone. And what better way to do that than a live stream?

Whilst you waited for more people to join the stream, you decided to make a cup of tea.

“How am I? I’m okay, thank you! Haven’t done much today except binge TV and sleep,” you joked as you read out a comment.

The kettle finally boiled and you watched the comments roll through as you let your tea brew.

“When’s the next series of Ghosts out? Well, we’re currently filming it so we don’t have a release date yet but I’m sure that will be announced in the next few months or so,” you took the teabag out of the mug and gave it a stir before taking it, and your phone, back into the living room.

“What’s it like working with the Horrible Histories cast? Um, awful. They’re all mean people,” you laughed. “Nah, I joke. They’re all lovely people and I’m so thrilled to be working with my childhood heroes.”

You took a sip of tea and watched as more questions came flooding in.

“No, Ben isn’t gay...at least not as far as I know,”

“Yes they used a real pigeon during the first series,”

“Which actor is most like their character? Hm, that’s an interesting question. I’m gonna have to say Robin because Larry likes to think he’s wise but just ends up talking a load of gibberish,” you were met with a load of laughing emojis as you chuckled into your drink.

“Can you rate each ghost out of 10? Ooh, now this sounds fun. Okay um…I’d give Fanny a 6 out of 10, because she is funny but boy she would get on my nerves; Thomas would be a 7 out of 10, he’s such a romantic but can be a bit stalkerish; Kitty is a solid 9 out of 10, who doesn’t think she’s adorable?; Mary is an 8 out of 10, she’s just brilliant and I feel sorry for her; I’ll give Robin a 9 out of 10 because he genuinely is quite wise and you can tell he cares; Humphrey is a 7 out of 10, I would give him higher if he was in it more but he seems a decent bloke; of course Pat has to be a 10 out of 10, he’s always there for everyone and I just want to give him a hug; umm Julian I’ll rate a 2 out of 10, such an awful MP; and Cap I’ll rate a 3 out of 10, far too naggy...and that’s not only on screen,” you winked at the camera.

You answered a few more questions before you realised you had been live for well over an hour. So you decided to call it quits and say goodbye. Thanking everyone for joining, you stopped the live stream and decided to get ready for bed.

The next day, you arrived on set feeling well rested. You said hello to everyone you passed and put your stuff in your normal dressing room. You jumped a little when there was a knock at the door.

“Good morning Y/N,” Ben said as he stepped into your dressing room.

“Ah! Good morning, Cap!” You saluted.

“How was your night?”

“It was boring. Watched a few films, doodled a bit, did a livestream,”

“Oh, I’m well aware of the live stream,”

“You watched it?”

“We both watched it,” Simon said, entering the room.

“Oh really?”

“Didn’t you see our names pop up?” Ben asked.

“No. Must’ve gotten lost in all the comments I got. You know, because I’m so famous,” you replied, flicking your hair. Simon and Ben exchanged a look.

“So..remind us again of your ratings?” Simon asked, stepping towards you.

“Ratings?”

“The ratings that you assigned to our characters,” Ben responded, stepping forward too.

“Oh. Those ratings,”

“So, I’m an awful MP am I?” Simon asked.

“And I’m far too naggy?” Ben asked.

You giggled nervously.

“Well, yeah. If Julian and Cap were real people, they would get on my nerves the most,” you shrugged. Ben and Simon exchanged a look.

“We’d get on your nerves, eh?” Ben asked.

“Well no, not you two. But your characters,”

“Hm. Was it not you who said I was naggy off screen too?” He asked.

“Ah. Well. Um…”

You stepped backwards as Ben and Simon slowly approached you. You couldn’t think of a quick comeback. As you took another step backwards, you fell over the chair leg and landed on the ground.

“Are you okay?” Simon asked, rushing to your aid.

“Yes, yes. I’m fine!”

“Good,” Ben and Simon said in unison. They suddenly sprang into action and Ben started tickling your tummy whilst Simon scribbled under your knees.

“WHOA HEHEY WAHAIT!” You cried.

“Not until you apologise,” Ben squeezed up and down your sides and you threw your head back and screamed. Your hands latched onto his arms as he tickled up and down your sides and across your lower tummy. You kicked your legs out frantically as Simon squeezed your knees and thighs.

“GUHUHUYS WAIT!” You fell into a loud laughter, in shock from the sudden attack.

“Simon! Get her feet! That’s her weak spot,” Ben instructed. Simon nodded and sat on your legs, pinning you down.

“NONONONONO SIMON NO!”

Simon leant forward and took off both of your shoes. With a single finger on each hand, he dragged a nail up the soles of your feet. You shrieked.

“Blimey, if I get that response from a single finger then you’re screwed,” he teased. He suddenly launched into his attack, wasting no time in scribbling all ten fingers into your feet. You screamed loudly and tried to wiggle your feet away, but you were trapped under Simon. He laughed evilly as he scraped his nails up and down your soles

Ben looked at you and giggled at your weak state.

“Ready to apologise yet?”

“NOHOHOHOHO!”

“Suit yourself,”

Ben lifted up your top slightly before grabbing your arms and pinning them to your sides. You knew exactly what he was planning.

“BEHEN NOHO!”

He drew in a dramatically deep breath before blowing a giant raspberry on your tummy. You screamed louder than before. He giggled into your stomach as he blew another raspberry, the vibrations from his giggling making the sensation 10x worse.

“Awww, poor Y/N, so so ticklish,” he teased, lifting his head up just to awe at you.

“Get her again, she hasn’t apologised yet,” Simon piped up, now holding one foot down with one hand and using his other hand to scribble deep into your sole and across your toes.

“Nomnomnomnom,” Ben nibbled gently on your tummy, after blowing another giant raspberry.

“PLEHEHEASE STOHOP!”

“Apologise first,” Ben said, releasing your arms to dance his fingers across your tummy again.

“OHOHOKAY I’M SOHOHORRY!” You screamed.

“You’re what? Can’t hear you over all the screaming,” Simon teased, clawing at your feet.

“I’M SORRY!” You screamed louder.

Ben and Simon stopped instantly and climbed off of you. You sat up slowly and glared at them both.

“Was that necessary?” You asked.

“Absolutely, we needed to get an apology out of you,” Ben replied.

“You didn’t ask for an apology before you attacked me,”

“Didn’t we? Oh. Well, we got one anyway,” Simon responded. You glared again but couldn’t help but chuckle.

“You’re so annoying, you know that right?”

“Someone’s gotta keep you in check,” Ben shrugged. “Now come on, we’ve got filming to do.”

Ben and Simon helped you up off the floor and walked with you on to the set. Little did they knowing you were planning another live stream that evening...

[robotsandzombiesarebi]

Hss class act fanfiction

Looking at the same sky - part 3

(Skye x MC)

[A/N -- If you would like to be tagged in these chapters in the future, let me know and I'll make sure you're on the list.]

Skye read the message and felt a strange mix of relief for being able to talk to Bailey after the conversation she had just had with her mother, and nerves because of the words her girlfriend had used

'Can I call? We need to talk about something 🖤'

Running though several scenarios in her head, Skye threw herself on to her bed and wiped at her dampening eyes. She sent a thumbs up emoji back and waited for the phone to ring. Within seconds, her phone lit up, playing 'Love will tear us apart'. Looking at the screen, Skye saw that it was a video call coming through and quickly hit 'Decline'. Sending a quick message, asking Bailey to wait a few minutes, she dashed to the mirror to check the make-up on her eyes was intact and pulling off the tatty pyjama top she was wearing, covering herself instead with her black bathrobe. Settling back on to her bed, after running her fingers through her long red hair, she opened a video call with Bailey.

Within seconds, Bailey appeared on the screen. Her eyes were heavy and her smile was plainly forced. Skye mirrored her expression, trying to hide the way her last conversation made her feel. Bailey worried about her enough. She didn't need outdated thinking and unveiled homophobia from her family adding to it.

"Hey Bailey." She said softly, clearing her throat after to help her voice. Bailey was clearly checking her own reflection on her camera, subtly wiping at the bottom of her eyes and trying harder to school her smile.

"Hey Skye. I miss you" Her attention was now clearly on Skye who smiled contentedly at her.

"Its hardly been an hour. But I miss you too, especially when you're sweet."

"So always, right?" Bailey let out a small laugh that caught in her throat as she spoke.

"Yeah. You're always cute I guess." Skye smirked. "What did you want to talk about?"

"Well..." Bailey began. As she thought of the best way to approach it, she saw the poorly hidden, scared look on Skye's face. "What's wrong?"

The question startled Skye. Realising she should never have accepted a video call, she gave up trying to keep herself together. A glance at her door showed no shadows in the light under it. It wasn't unusual for one of them to decide to listen in so they stay in control of everything. Skye explained what had happened since they parted. Brian snooping, her mother's critique, her dad's obliviousness to her. By the time she had finished, her cheeks were streaked with charcoal tears. Bailey looked calm, taking in everything Skye was saying, giving her time to finish before reacting, but her eyes betrayed her anger. She was furious. They talked through it. Bailey helping Skye to process what she was feeling while listening to everything her girlfriend needed to get off of her chest.

Skye exhaled slowly, composing herself and ready to move on.

"You never said what you wanted to talk about" She said dryly.

"Oh yeah..." Bailey paused. "I was going to ask..."

"Hmm?"

"Are you wearing anything under that big ol bathrobe?" She giggled.

"Seriously?!" Skye gasped with a deep blush creeping over her face. "No..."

"No?!" Bailey choked out, her blush surpassing Syke's.

"I meant, no, that's not what you wanted to talk about"

"Oh right... yeah, I definitely knew that. It's ok, we'll talk tomorrow. It's nothing to worry about right now anyway."

"You sure?" Concern shook Skye's voice.

"Yeah. Are you ok? The last thing I want is you worrying." Bailey asked, searchingly.

"I am. I think I'm just tired at this point."

"It takes a lot out of you, huh?"

"Sometimes. Talking to you helps. You always know what to say."

Bailey blushed harder than before at the praise. Suddenly feeling a little relieved, knowing she would still always be able to talk to her, she could always be there for her that way.

"I'm here to help." She said with a salute to her camera. "You should get some sleep though. If you wake up, just call me, ok? You're not disturbing me, I promise."

"Okay. I will, if I need to." Skye assured her.

They said a short good night and ended their call, not before Bailey blowing Skye a loud kiss, then waiting expectantly for Skye to catch it, which she did with an eye roll. Skye settled under her covers easily, one hand tucked under her pillow, the other cradling her phone. She scrolled social media for a while, until her phone chimed with a notification from Bailey. Skye opened the picture that was captioned "There's nothing on under this bathrobe either"

When the picture opened, it was of Bailey's dog, Biscuit wearing her purple fluffy gown against his plush white fur. It made her smile, more than she had all night. Bailey could do that. Only Bailey.

'I really love her.' Was the last thought in Skye's mind as her eyelids hung heavy and she drifted in to a peaceful sleep.

--------

The next day, Skye was getting dressed and checking the time constantly. She always met Bailey at 10:45am. It gave her a perfect amount of time to leave her house without issue. Her dad leaves early, so does Brian. Her mother, being a woman of leisure, didn't leave the house until she was good and ready. The bar at the brunch place she met her 'friends' at on the weekends opened at 10:30, so she would leave 15 minutes before, giving Skye 10 minutes to leave her room and get out of the front door before Brian came home from the gym, stinking and overdosed on testosterone. She got out without a problem and took a slow walk in to town. As she got to the arcade, she saw Bailey hitting the side of a crane machine which had a plush toy hanging precariously over the edge of the prize slot.

"Why not just put in another quarter?" Skye commented from behind her, making her jump and knock the machine, causing the plushie to fall within reach.

"Yes! I never lose!" Bailey chuckled turning to Skye and holding out the toy for her. "Here, he's all yours."

"Oh, that's ok. I don't want to take your prize." She mumbled. Looking at the toy, she could see it was clearly a knock-off version of the doppelganger monster from the movie she had shown Bailey on the first (and last) night she had visited her bedroom.

"But I wouldn't have won it if you didn't make me knock in to the machine. Besides...." Bailey held out the little stuffed monster to her again. "...You're my prize."

Skye was use to the corny jokes, the cheesy one liners, the awful attempts at flirting. Her girlfriend was awkward, it was a fact. She usually compensated for this by saying whatever first came to mind so she didn't overthink what she was saying. It made Skye feel more secure, knowing that Bailey meant everything she said without any hidden intent.

"Your prize for what?" She asked shyly, gently taking the toy and fighting her smile back.

"Hmmm... putting up with Ajay. I should definitely be compensated for that."

"Don't forget Danielle." Skye smirked.

"The girl who made me look like I would risk someone's life for a role in a play. I had totally forgotten about her, thank you." She laughed, shoving Skye's shoulder slightly.

The two of them shared a sweet kiss and walked in to the arcade, hand in hand. After playing their usual favourite games they moved over to the cafe area to get some lunch. Skye ordered their food, refusing to let Bailey pay while Bailey tried to get the busted tablet attached to the table to work. Skye sat beside her, sliding her a red basket of fries and a soft drink.

"Any luck?" She asked, nodding at the tablet.

"No, but..." Bailey gestured to the window. "...How about some classic entertainment?"

Outside, Skye saw Brian, flocked by some of his friends, all of them wearing similar gym clothes, surrounding a small group of girls. Brian was the only one speaking by the look of it, until the entire group of girls burst with laughter as walked off practically holding their sides. Brian, who's face now matched his hair perfectly, stormed off in the other direction with his friends trailing behind. Skye and Bailey shared a smile before falling into a fit of loud giggles.

As they are their lunch, Skye began to notice how quiet Bailey had become. She wasn't even eating much, just pushing her food around instead.

"Bailey!" Skye called out.

"What?!"

"You're not this quiet. What's wrong?" She asked as she stared in to Bailey's eyes, trying to find an answer.

"So. Remember I said we needed to talk about something?" She muttered.

"Yeah. Then I dropped all that stuff about my family on you..."

"No. I wanted to know how you were. You didn't drop anything on me, Skye. It's not a burden, ok?" Bailey interrupted.

"Ok. Thank you. Yeah, I remember."

"Well. It's kind of serious. I don't really know what to say." Bailey looked down, avoiding Skye's eyes. "I don't want today to be ruined. I don't want to ruin any day with this, but..." She took a deep breath. "The sooner I say it, the more ready the two of us will be for it."

"Am I supposed to be scared right now? Because I am."

"Skye, I have to move. Away from Cedar Cove. Away from Berry..." Bailey's eyes misted and her breath caught as she spoke. "I'm so sorry"

Suddenly, there was no sound. The arcades went quiet, the sounds of people talking dimmed until they were mute. Bailey was still apologising, but the sound struggled to reach Skye's ears. The whole world seemed as though it was losing its connection and Skye's senses suffered it alone. Midway through what Bailey was trying to get across, Skye grabbed her by the loose green shirt that hung loosely from her and pulled her in to a tight embrace. Bailey's hands rested on Skye's back, drawing small circles against her frame. It was too much. There wasn't anything to say to make this better. It was bad, and no amount of 'sorry' could make it better. It wasn't Bailey's fault, this clearly broke her heart too. After a few minutes of the two of them holding eachother as though they would be pulled apart this second if they dared to let go, Skye spoke up, softly.

"But... I need you. Please... don't." The words were strained in her throat and her arms tightened around the girl who was her only beacon in the dark that surrounded her life.

"Skye. I'm sorry, I didn't want..."

"PLEASE!" Skye screamed without a single thought of who would hear her. "Please...?" She cried.

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

TBC in the next chapter....

[hoseokmylovesworld]

Picture of Love | 04

Pairing: Photographer!Hoseok x OC x Producer!Yoongi

Genre/Warnings: Hoseok AU/Yoongi AU/Includes strong language.

Words: 3,598

Summary: Charlotte Galloway is the leader of the up and coming girl band, “She-Bang”, with a side hustle as a photographer for anyone who will hire her.  She meets a fellow professional photographer named Jung Hoseok who helps “She-Bang” realize their dreams and Charlotte to make a love connection along the way.

I walk back to my hotel room with only thoughts of J-Hope for the third time time this week, which meant I had that stupid ass grin on my face while stumbling down the halls of the sixth floor. I held the key card up to the lock on the door and walk in, in the hopes of hitting my bed headfirst. I was surprised to see my band members, Darren and Kyle sitting on the beds in Leyah's and my shared bedroom. They each stop talking and whip their heads in my direction as soon as I walk in.

"Oh. Hey...Everyone. What's up?" I say awkwardly, making my way to my bed that Carrie and Vicky are already sat on. Leyah, Darren and Kyle are perched on Leyah's bed. Vicky begins to speak.

"Uh, nothing. We were just talking about-"

"Where were you?" Darren cuts her off monotonously. "O-kay..." Vicky says to no one in particular. Carrie proceeds to rub Vicky's back in comfort.

"Why?" I question defensively, my bubbly, good mood ruined. Leyah groans as if she can already see where this is going, but doesn't comment.

"Well, you just left the group all of a sudden and we were worried." Darren looks me in the eye, raising his voice slightly. My face scrunches up in confusion and disbelief. Even if the group hadn't known where I was, Darren certainly could have told them, he saw me leave after all. I decide to leave that part out in my response.

"It wouldn't be the first time I 'left the group' Darren." I say using air quotes. "It's no big deal."

Darren's eyes go wide with accusation. "Yeah, but it's different this time because-" He stops himself. Leyah spares him a brief apologetic glance from the side. Kyle mirrors this expression.

"Because what?!" I urge, getting impatient.

"Ugh! Because you left with that strange guy!" He shouts. My shoulders slumped in disappointment.

Are you kidding me?

"Is that what this is about?" I nearly whisper, still trying to wrap my head around this situation.

"Yes--No!" Darren stumbled. His breathing picked up noticeably. "I just don't-"

"What Darren means to say is the band is a little bothered that you skipped out on us, especially when some hotshot photographer approached us and our leader wasn't there and Darren is pissed for God knows why." Leyah explained in one breath, which didn't seem to phase her.

Well, now I understand the intervention like setting, but that doesn't explain Darren's  resentment.

Back up.

"So wait. A photographer approached you?" I said, wanting to get to the bottom of this and avoid another one of Darren's outbursts.

"Yeah." Leyah continued. "Offered to make those posters and pics for our website we been wantin' so bad. Also talked a big game about getting us in touch with some 'important people'." She explains with heavy lidded eyes and air quotes.

Oh wow. This could be great. A push in the right direction without the help of Evan whatsoever. I originally took "official" photos of the group and posted them to our website, but I'm no professional and this could benefit us in a variety of ways, especially if they get us in touch with these 'important people'.

"Well. Did he sell you? Did you all like him?" I look around at my members for confirmation, avoiding eye contact with Darren.

Leyah nods. "We exchanged information. By that I mean I gave him your number." She spoke in her usual monotonous drawl. I can't tell how she feels about the situation.

I sigh. "Well, that's good. I'm glad...Um. I'm sorry I wasn't there guys. Really." I say trying to get back on their good side, but I noticed the only face that was actually bothered was Darren's.

"It's okay Char, I handled it. Plus you couldn't have known." Forgiveness actually seeping into her tone, but she glared in Darren's direction while she spoke.

Ohhhhh-kay.

"And that's why you're second in command." I replied happily. She looks away form Darren to salute me causing the girls and I to laugh lightly. "So...Are we cool?" I look at the girls with hopeful eyes.

"Yeah."

"Sure."

"Of course."

"Okay. Cool. I'm gonna get ready for be-" Before I could finish, Darren exasperatingly made his way out of the hotel room, slamming the door for good measure. Kyle stands from the bed instinctively, but doesn't move to follow him.

"What. The. Fuck. Is his problem?" I don't bother to control my volume, being utterly shocked by Darren's behavior.

"I don't know. I'm going to bed. Night." Leyah sighs and goes to lie down and browse on her laptop. Kyle moves closer to the door and out of her way. "Night I guess." I say.

"Oh and Char?" Leyah turns to me. "Don't let him get to you okay?" Her eyes were serious. They were sympathetic, but they sent a warning. I just nod absentmindedly, not being able to tell if she was talking about Darren or J-Hope. Or both.

Kyle hesitates in front of the door before locking eyes with me. "I'm glad you're okay Char."

"Thank you."

"Goodnight everyone." He leaves silently, unlike his furious best friend next door.

"Night guys." Says Vicky as she moves into the family room and Carrie, surprisingly, follows her. "Night." I change and take off my makeup, change into my pj's, slide into bed and check my phone before going to sleep. I saw a heap of messages and missed calls from my band mates, Darren and Kyle.

Okay now I feel a little guilty. Maybe just wandering off was a bit much. But it was kind of worth it.

I see a text from J-Hope and my face immediately lights up.

J-Hope: Hey. I know I walked you to your hotel, but I just wanted to make sure you got up to your room okay.

Me: That has to be the lamest excuse a guy has ever made up to talk to me. *laughing face emoji*

J-Hope: I know lol, but it took me 15 minutes to come up with, gimme some credit. *crying face emoji*

J-Hope: Also is it working? *winking face emoji*

I laugh out loud and try to control my volume when Leyah whips her head at me because I startled her. "Sorry." She nods and continues her browsing.

Me: OK, good job J-Hope. I'm fine and maybe. Did you get in okay?

J-Hope: Yup not to long ago. Now I can sleep soundly, knowing you're okay.

I literally have to roll my eyes, but I end up smiling like an imbecile.

Me: You're so lame...But thank you for caring.

J-Hope: No problem. Hopefully when we do this again I can do more than just see you off and text you if you're alright. *winking face emoji*

I could just hear the vibrations of his deep voice as if he were standing in front of me right now.

God the devil is tempting me again.

"Don't let him get to you."

What can I do? Do I flirt back or do I let him down easy? There is no easy, we are in too deep. But Leyah's words and the promise we made with Carrie and Vicky a year and a half ago kept echoing in my head. The promise we made never to get involved in relationships or romance.

"Love is just a distraction." I said to them with a bitter bite to my voice. We sat in a circle on the living room floor of Leyah's parent's house. Carrie and Vicky came here because it's where we would rehearse, I came here because it's where I stayed.

We had just been enjoying a romantic movie after a successful rehearsal when I began to get emotional and start crying. Memories of my previous relationship haunting me the longer I watched this couple on the screen interact.

The girls, of course, comforted me and I ended up telling them my whole life story, the parts I hadn't already shared with them.

"It distracts you from your goals and being all that you can be. It makes you weak. We are not weak." The girls look at me like I'm an anomaly they have to figure out even though they've already known me for seven months. "We will be successful...right?"  I look around to see thoughtful eyes and caring expressions. I could tell they took what I said to heart. They each started to nod one by one. Leyah reaches for my hand and mine latches around her's for strength. I can feel more tears begin to fall. "We will be successful Char. Thank you." She said, her eyes never leaving mine. I nod once.

"Let's make a promise from here on out. That we will not get mixed up in silly relationships or romance until we are where we belong. At the top."  I say strongly. You wouldn't be able to tell I had been crying if it weren't for the tears streaks on my face.

The girls think it over. "I'm down. Promise." Leyah says first, smiling me. It gave me immense comfort seeing as she doesn't do it often. "Yeah, I guess that's fine." Vicky piped up. "As long as I can still have sex, you got yourself a promise Char." She chuckles. We all turn to Carrie. "Well, I've never really been in relationship anyway so...sure. I promise."

"Don't let him get to you." I whisper to myself. He already has. But I really don't want to let my girls down or make them feel like I'm going back on my word. I could tell him I'm not looking for a relationship right now and tell him to wait for me.

This man does not wait! He's off meettin' bitches in Dubai! Men like J-Hope, with so much to offer, don't wait, they take what they want. They either settle down or move on to the next.

Are we ready for that? To be a one man woman again and try the romance thing one more time? I know I haven't laughed the way I laughed tonight in an incredibly long time and J-Hope was the reason for that. He made me feel wanted and happy and appreciated. Shit I sound like air supply again.

But the fact that all of that can be felt on one not-date is remarkable to me. It took me five months to completely warm up to my last boyfriend, the shithead, and J-Hope managed to crack the code after three days for Christ's sake. I mean if J-Hope had leaned in any closer before he played the shit out of me and walked away, I 105% would have let him kiss me. God help me.

Maybe this is a sign that I should probably try again. Maybe I don't have to be so afraid of love anymore.

I just thought that word...and didn't cringe. Progress.

I was just a shell of a girl back then. Not knowing which way was up, just that I would get there. I had my heart torn apart and shredded and wanted nothing to do with bonding with new people or creating relationships in the slightest. So I didn't let anyone in for two years, had meaningless sex to fill the void, drank myself blind and wrote depressing songs to expel the painful thoughts.

But now...what was the point? It's been two years. Do I really want to be alone for the rest of my life? Can I force my friends to make the same sacrifices I did? I should never have done that to them, it wasn't right. I just hope they can forgive me for what I'm about to get myself into.

J-Hope: No problem. Hopefully when we do this again I can do more than just see you off and text you if you're alright. *winking face emoji*

Me: What if I told you there might be a strong possibility of that happening?

J-Hope texts back immediately.

J-Hope: I'd say what are you doing this Saturday? I snicker at his reply gaining a suspicious look from Leyah.

Me: I don't know. You wanna decide for me?

J-Hope: Yes please. *smiley face emoji* How about dinner and drinks? Gary Danko?

Dinner and drinks? At Gary Danko?! That's like a five star restaurant! I should have known he had this kind of money. I do a little squeal causing Leyah to turn to me once again. "Char please. Silence is key." Silence is the enemy.

"I'm sorry." I say and reply to J-Hope.

Me: That sounds great actually.

J-Hope: Great. I look forward to it.

Me: Me too. Goodnight J-Hope.

J-Hope: Didn't we do this already? *crying laughing emoji* OH god here we go.

Me: Yeah except this time I don't look like an idiot. *flat line mouth emoji*

J-Hope: You're the cutest idiot I've ever seen. I roll my eyes and let out a giggle. Fuck you Jung Hoseok.

Me: Goodnight J-Hope.

J-Hope: Goodnight Charlotte.

Lord what did I get myself into?

++++++++

I wake up the next morning knowing I had nothing in particular to do today.

Should I even leave the bed? Yes. I get up and get ready for the day, whatever it may bring. I get dressed and lounge on my bed once again, scrolling through social media on my phone. Our fans left some nice comments on different outlets.

Should I text J-Hope? I toss the question around in my head and decide that it wouldn't be smart. I already allowed him to get an idea of how I feel about him, I don't want to text him 24/7 and seem desperate. Maybe I'll make him wait until the weekend. That'll teach him for playing me.

But I hate not having anything to do, I need to stay busy. I can't just sit here and wait for my band mates to pester me about why I wandered off last night and tease me about where I was. I respond to a few fans online, then I grab my wallet, phone and camera and head for the door not knowing where I was going.

But when I open the door I'm met with  Darren preparing to knock on the door, fist mid knock. He's almost as dumbfounded as I am when we face each other each other. "Uh, hey." He said in a low, unsure tone. His fist reaches up to the back of his neck and scratches nervously.

"Good morning." I reply strongly. "Excuse me." I say moving out of the room and trying to avoid this conversation. He moves further into my path and I glare up at him quizzically.

"Actually can we talk?" No. "Yeah, sure." I sigh. "They're sleeping, let's go somewhere." I move out and close the door behind me. "Okay. Where to?" He asks following me down the hallway to the elevator. "I don't know. You wanna get a drink?" We step into the elevator once it arrives.

"It's a bit early to be drinking Char." He drones in a judgmental but sarcastic tone.

He's not wrong, but-

"I meant like Starbucks genius."

"Oh! Sorry." Darren let's out a laugh and I follow suit. At least it's not as awkward in here with just the two of us now.

"But yeah that sounds good." Darren says looking down at me, meeting my eyes finally. I smile softly at him in turn and look away. We silently walk two blocks to a cafe near the hotel. We order separately because Darren knows my policies on letting other people pay for me. We sit with our orders and take a few sips each before Darren clears his throat.

"So I wanted to apologize." I just raise my eyebrows and nod once, gesturing for him to continue. "I'm sorry about last night. I acted out of turn and you didn't deserve that." I nodded not really knowing how to respond. Darren was behaving like a child last night and it wasn't appreciated, but he's usually a hot head and I wasn't expecting something like this.

"Um. It's okay, I guess." I left it there, not wanting to get into the actual dispute, knowing where the conversation would go.

"Good, I just-" Oh no. "Like I said, I was just worried because you walked away with that-that guy." He said the last word in disgust. Let's get this over with.

"I did apologize to the girls for that." He makes a face that suggest I might be mistaken about the topic of discussion. "I wasn't talking about-"

"Lemme finish, yeah?" Don't let him bring it up.

He pauses and nods and sits back in his seat. "I have to apologize to you as well. I'm sorry I ditched you guys at the concert last night and it won't happen again." He nods, still obviously bothered by something.

"I appreciate that, really." He says thoughtfully. "Of course." I take a sip of my coffee. Can I go now?

We sat in silence for a few moments when Darren opens his whore mouth.

"So are you dating the dude?" Fuck.

He looks at me hesitantly, like he was afraid of my answer. I would like to be, yes.

"No. Uh. He's just a friend. Why?" "Well you don't have many friends." "Well he's one of them." "Okay." We go back and forth.

He becomes flustered all of a sudden. He clears his throat and fiddles with  his napkin on the table. At this moment I can see J-Hope enter the cafe looking from side to side. Is he sure he's not stalking me?

Should I call him over to get me out of this mess? Would that make matters worse? I mean we have to deal with Darren sometime anyway. We've been skirting around this for so long now. The fact that we were obviously attracted to each other. If Darren asked me to sleep with him a week ago and any time before that I would have obliged, but I'm starting to think Darren has something more serious in mind than a one night stand because of the way he's acted these past couple of weeks. And I've decided to give J-Hope a chance so that's been put on hold.

"Uh, I was wondering, since you're single, uh, I'm single, ha..." I'm cringing please help. Send help!

"And I know you don't date, but...is there any possibility that, uh, maybe w-we-"

"Charlotte!" Thank you God.

J-Hope ended up being my savior anyway. A sign?

J-Hope bounds over to me excitedly. He rests his hand on my shoulder. "Hey Char! We just keep meeting each other like this. Oh I'm sorry, I'm J-Hope, hello." He says turning to Darren and holding  out his hand. Darren openly glares  at J-Hope, but takes his hand. The knuckles on J-Hope's hand go almost white and he winces from the intensity of the handshake.

J-Hope frees himself from Daren's grip and I send Darren daggers with my eyes.

"J-Hope, this is my friend Darren. Sorry about him, he's had a tragic day so far." I say emoting contempt in Darren's direction.

"Yeah, it's uh, nice to meet you." J-Hope muttered composing himself. "I remember you from the blues hall." J-Hope quickly pointed at Darren at his epiphany. "Likewise." Darren interrupts his glare at J-Hope to send a suggestive glance at me. I can practically hear the gears turning in J-Hope's head judging by his expression. He keeps looking back and forth between Darren and I and I can see a look of regret on his face, probably for intruding on this 'moment' between Darren and I.

No no no no no no!

"Okaaayyyy. I'm gonna go now. It was nice meeting you Darren and nice seeing you again Charlotte--Oh! We're still on for Saturday right?"

Fuck me gently with a chainsaw.

Darren's eye brows touch the ceiling and his eyes go wide. J-Hope is turned away from Darren and thankfully cannot see this. "Uh--Yes. Yes we are...yup." I say looking down at the table. "Okay. See you then. Bye guys." He walks away to get his coffee leaving me in this shit stain of a predicament. I watch him exit as Darren watches his own fiddling fingers.

"Just friends huh?" He grunts with a sick to his stomach look on his face.

Hold the fuck up! He's mad at me again?!

"Hold on! That's none of your business anyway! I don't have to prove myself to you!" I say raising my voice, blinded too much by anger to remember we were in public.

"I just don't understand-!" He shouts back. Darren's volume matches mine, but he stops himself, huffs out a huge breath I didn't know he was holding and plops his hands down on the table loudly.

"You're right Char." He says calmly. "I fucking know." I say still full of adrenaline. Darren let's out a bitter chuckle. What the fuck?

"I'm just gonna go. See ya later." He takes his coffee and leaves the shop.

Well shit. We came here together, now I have to sit here with this crowd who just witnessed my public 'domestic argument'. Plus he looks pissed and a little hurt. I have to fix this somehow before things get awkward. But I also don't feel like making even more of a scene than we already did by following him. I also just don't feel like doing this.

[robininthelabyrinth]

Fic: Jonah (ao3 link)

Fandom: Flash, Legends of Tomorrow Pairing: Barry Allen/Mick Rory/Leonard Snart Series: Flashwave Week 2018 (Destiny Series)

Summary: In which Barry goes to sleep and wakes up to a very different universe.

And it's all because Leonard "Destiny of the Endless" Snart couldn't keep his big mouth shut while reading the literal Book of Destiny.

Oh, well.

A/N: @flashwaveweek - Flashwave Week: Accidental Marriage

——————————————————————————————

Barry, as he so often does, wakes up feeling tired.

Not physically, of course; his powers make sure that even minimal amounts of sleep are enough to fully revive him.

Wouldn't want the world to go without one its heroes, Barry thinks bitterly.

Most of his mornings are spent like this, now: awake, but trapped in bitterness and regret. He's not sure when exactly it started, this endless frozen atrophied bitterness - when Joe's new baby died, maybe, or when Wally was killed, or when Caitlin was mind-wiped until she didn't remember any of them, or when Cisco went temporarily evil and killed so many people that even the defense of mind control didn't swing the jury back in his favor.

He has new members of Team Flash to back him now, but it's not the same. He knows he can't let himself get close to them or they'll just be targets as well, more than they already are.

Everyone he's close to is a target.

Like Iris.

Oh, Iris...

Maybe that's when the bitterness started, when Iris sat him down - months ago, now - and held his hands and told him that while she still loved him, she thought it'd be better for both of them if they weren't married anymore.

Barry doesn't blame her. He wouldn't want to be friends with a Jonah like him, either: mysterious disappearances at every turn, weird twists and turns what feels like every week, never any normal life, and poisonous honey to draw in every maniacal villain in existence, it felt like.

Even the Justice League, in which he put so much hope, is fracturing: Batman's latest protégé brutally murdered and Batman lashing out against them all as a result, Superman's identity and Earth parents under threat, Diana offered an irresistible chance to go home again for a rest, Hal sent far away...no one has time or interest in their alliance beyond the moments of utter necessity, which seem to happen about once a year or so.

Nothing like the group of friends who can understand the pressures of heroism that Barry wanted it to be.

And that leads him back to where he is: bitter and tired and unable to get up.

"Bar!" Iris' voice rings through the door, causing Barry to violently start. Iris hasn't lived in what was once their mutual apartment since she'd moved back home to take care of Joe, who was near-catatonic with grief. Sure, she still had a key, but she never used it... "Barry Allen, I know you have super-speed, but if you don't get up now, you're going to be late. Or, more importantly, we're going to be late!"

Barry doesn't recall any plans he had with Iris. Honestly, Barry doesn't recall the last time he spoke with Iris, even though (even after everything) she's still his anchor.

Is this another trick? Another villain's scheme?

Only one way to find out.

He gets dressed and goes into the kitchen, where Iris is rifling through the fridge, though she looks up when he walks in.

"There you are, lazybones," she says, grinning at him, and Barry has to take a step back, because he hasn't seen Iris this healthy, this whole, this happy in - years. Even before she moved out. "Don't tell me you're getting cold feet."

"Cold feet?" Barry echoes helplessly.

"More like hot feet, I'd say," another voice says with a laugh from his blind spot, and now Barry's really twitching because it's been forever since he heard that voice, it can't be, he's dead, but no, Barry turns and there he is.

Eddie Thawne is sitting at Barry's kitchen table with a newspaper and a wedding ring.

"You're letting the puns get to you, babe," Iris says, going over and giving him a kiss on the cheek. "You planning to go villain on us?"

"Hey, I don't necessarily get my puns from the villains," Eddie protests mildly, smiling up at her with that devoted, loving gaze he's always had for Iris, the one that won him Barry's affection even despite their competition. "Maybe I get it from my wonderful pun-using award-winning journalist wife. Have you considered that possibility, Mrs. West?"

"I have indeed, Mr. West," Iris says haughtily, but with a grin. "And I'll have you know that your wife just reports what's out there - Barry, you're pale. Did you forget your midnight snack again? You know your metabolism goes screwy when you don't eat enough."

Barry shakes his head and shrugs. He can't think of what to say. He can't think of - anything.

They look so happy.

"Sit and eat," Eddie says, looking at him with a frown. "Did we - did we actually wake you up? We didn't mean to."

"Like Barry would've slept through our kids getting ready to go school," Iris says, but she sounds doubtful. "They're total elephants and we do live right upstairs..."

Barry and Iris didn't have kids. They'd wanted to, of course, in the beginning, but then there was what happened to Nora and they'd never quite managed to get over that enough to start trying, not before the tragedies started - or worsened, really, it wasn't like their lives weren't full of tragedy before...

"Nora?" he croaks.

"No, Don and Dawn," Iris says, looking puzzled. "They're the maniacal little kindergarteners; little Nora's still cooking." She taps her belly, which now that Barry pays attention he notices is curved out slightly. "As you well know. Are you okay?"

Barry opens his mouth to tell them that there's been a timeline alteration, that someone's changed something - Eddie's alive, after all, and he shouldn't be - but then he stops.

If he tells them there's a timeline alteration, then they'll want to help him try to fix it.

They'll want to send him back.

Back to a world where he lives in his big apartment alone with the wreck of all his dreams, where Iris has quit her job to care for Joe, where...his friends...his friends...

"I think I have temporary amnesia," Barry says apologetically. "Can you catch me back up?"

"Uh, sure," Iris says, blinking at him. "Is this a Justice League thing?"

Barry shrugs apologetically.

"I'm going to text Diana very angrily about this," Iris says, who's never had Diana's phone number. No one had Diana's phone number, and once she went back to Thermiscyra it was a moot point anyway. "Or maybe Selina."

"Selina?"

"Batman's wife? Catwoman?"

"Oh," Barry says faintly. "Right. Her."

Batman got married?!

"Barry, please sit and eat something," Eddie says, coming over and putting a warm hand on his back. "Whatever's gone wrong, we'll help you fix it, you know that."

"I know," Barry says, his throat tight. "Uh. Can I ask you - about everyone else?"

"Sure," Iris says. "But then - as soon as we finish our appointments today - we're taking you to STAR Labs for Caitlin to check you."

"Caitlin's - at STAR Labs?"

"Well, no," Eddie says. "Only sometimes. She got that job in that hospital - Head of the Metahuman Wing, remember? Her and Killer Frost both?"

"Of course he doesn't remember, Eddie," Iris says. "He has amnesia."

"Well, I don't know how far back the amnesia goes -"

"Cisco?" Barry interrupts, a little desperately. "Joe?"

"Cisco's at STAR Labs," Iris agrees, clearly puzzled. "Probably setting up for his first class of the day -"

"Class?"

"Yeah, the Flash Engineering Corps," Eddie says, looking amused. "Best scholarship program in the Twin Cities - plus you get to work for a superhero while saving up for college. Iris' idea, of course."

"Shush, you. Joe's - well, Joe's probably dropping Jenna off at school after her dentist appointment, then dropping Cecile off at the DA's office, and then going into work at the CCPD as usual, I guess?"

Barry swallows hard. Caitlin herself, Cisco free, Joe aware...

There's got to be a catch.

"Oh, crap," Iris says abruptly. "Our appointment! Barry, we can deal with your amnesia later, but if we miss this, they won't let us have another, and then you won't have a suit for your wedding!"

...wait, what?

"Uh," Barry says.

"Listen, here, Barry Allen," Iris says. "I know you and Mick would probably get married in your underwear and a bathrobe if we let you, but damnit that is not going you happen, you get me?"

"Yes, ma'am," Barry says automatically, saluting her so that she laughs and punches his arm lightly.

His mind is still reeling. Mick? As in, Mick Rory? Formerly the supervillain Heatwave, most recently member of the Legends, kind of depressed almost all the time?

They're getting married?!

This can’t be right.

Barry checks his phone for confirmation. There’s a WhatsApp group chat titled “Justice League” that’s filled with jokes, that’s the first thing he notices – did Batman really just send around a bat emoji? really? will wonders never cease? – but Barry’s Facebook definitely seems to suggest that he’s marrying Mick Rory and that everyone is sending him congratulations on it.

“Barry,” Iris says. “Appointment. Time to get moving.”

There's a knock at the door.

"I've got it," Eddie says, and is at the door opening it before Barry can say anything - you don't open doors, you don't know who's waiting behind those doors with a gun and a grudge, that's how we lost Cecile, except here they didn't lose Cecile. "Oh, Snart, what are you doing here?"

Snart?

Wait, no, this is good - in Barry's universe, Snart had recently returned from the dead to assume some sort of mystical magical position or something, something Constantine called "Destiny of the Endless". Barry's not entirely sure what he does - it seems to involve a lot of reading - but it did mean that he spends most of his days in his garden house outside of time.

And if he's outside of time, he wouldn't be affected by the timeline changes!

"- just need to borrow Barry for a bit," Snart is saying apologetically. His hood is up over his head and his eyes are glowing that inhuman blue that Barry's still not used to, and he has his ridiculous Book in hand; he's definitely still Destiny here. "I'll get him to the fitting, don't worry; just meet us there."

"Fine, I'm trusting you," Iris says, shaking her head at him. "C'mon, Eddie; you can drop me off before you go to work - Barry will catch up later, apparently. But don't you dare be late, Bar!"

"Uh," Barry says.

"Later than usual," she amends.

"Okay," he says, because that seems slightly more plausible.

They leave and Barry turns onto Snart. "Do you know -" he starts, only for Snart to interrupt.

"I'm sorry," he says.

Barry stares at him. "Oh god," he says. "It's affected you, too."

Snart scowls at him. "It has not," he snaps. "But I promised Mick those'd be the first words out of my mouth."

That seemed pretty plausible. Mick could get Snart to do just about anything.

"And I am," Snart adds grudgingly. "Sorry. I guess."

That sounds more like it.

"You're behind the timeline change?"

Snart winces. "Bit more than a timeline change," he says. "I'm - listen, I'm new at this whole Destiny thing, okay?"

"...yeah..?"

"I was - multitasking."

Barry's never heard that word imbued with such gravitas portending doom.

(Does the ability to do that come with the Destiny job?)

"Okay, and?" he asks.

"Turns out that's a bad idea," Len says grimly.

"What did you do, Snart?"

"I was reading from the Book," Snart says. "You know, the one that describes how reality operates?"

He shakes it pointedly.

Barry just gives him a look.

"Anyway, Mick was on my case about - something - and he mentioned you a few times - as a good influence or something - and, uh, I may have lost my temper a bit -"

"Snart. What did you do."

"I said, 'if you like Barry Allen so much, maybe you should marry him'," Snart says, looking hideously embarrassed.

As he should.

"What are you, five?" Barry asks. "I haven't heard that used as a comeback since first grade."

Possibly third. Maybe even fifth.

Barry was never really good at comebacks.

That's not the point.

"The point is," Snart says, "is that by saying that while reading the Book, reality got a little...confused."

"Confused," Barry says flatly.

"It - may have reshuffled itself into a world in which you and Mick are getting married."

“No kidding,” Barry says. He’s already figured that out. “And I don’t remember the new backstory because…?”

“Speed Force,” Snart says with a shrug. “Protects you from timeline shifts for the most part, or at least your memories. You should start getting the memories from this timeline in a few months, though.”

“Just like it was with Flashpoint?” It’d taken all summer before Barry’s old memories started fading in favor of the new ones.

“Yeah, like that,” Snart says.

Barry considers this. “…can it be changed back?” he asks after a long moment.

“It can,” Snart says. “But Mick doesn’t really want to – there’s some friends of his on the Legends that died. Sometimes in pretty nasty ways. Anyway, they’re back now. But he says I have to check with you as to what you want.”

“My memories of this world will start coming in in a few months?”

“Yeah. You’ll still remember the old world, though; it’ll just be overlaid with, like, important event memories so that you're not always asking about backstory.”

“Okay, then,” Barry says.

“…what does that mean?” Snart asks suspiciously.

“It means ‘okay’,” Barry says. “Thus far, this world seems a lot better than the one I left behind so, you know, screw that.”

He wasn't able to stay in Flashpoint because what he had to give up was so great, but the world he's left behind now? The world of misery and death and the endless despair of being a Jonah?

Seriously.

Screw that.

“You have a whole brand new set of enemies,” Snart warns him.

“Not exactly a new experience,” Barry says with a shrug. “Cisco and Caitlin can catch me up until I get the memories.”

“My sister’s developed plant-related powers and lives in Gotham now.”

“…weird and not exactly on-theme for her, but that sounds like Batman’s problem, not mine.”

“You kind of have to marry Mick.”

“Have to?”

“The entire reality rewrite is based on it,” Snart says. “The whole thing won’t fix into place until you both say ‘I do.’”

“But we could theoretically get divorced afterwards?”

“Yeah, no problem. It’d take you a year, legally speaking, but you can do it.”

A year married to Mick Rory, in exchange for Iris happily married with kids (and living upstairs, no less), Joe still functional, Cisco free and teaching, Caitlin at a hospital, a proper Justice League friendship group, and even some of the Legends brought back?

Yeah, like that’s a tough choice.

“I’m in,” Barry says. “Can I talk with Mick about this? He remembers everything, right?”

“Yes, he does, and he’s coming back tomorrow,” Snart says. “Legends, you know, they’re not always great on timing.”

“I do know that,” Barry says. “Uh – how does Mick feel about it? The marriage thing? Does he just want to pretend our way through it, or…?”

It’s not like Barry would really object if Mick wanted to give the marriage thing an actual go. He’s touch-starved, he’s apparently single, and he’s always been aware that Mick is ridiculously hot.

No pun intended.

(Damnit, villains!)

Snart smirks.

“Like I said,” he drawls. “He likes you. In fact, he likes you so much that he oughta marry you – and look at that, so you are.”

Barry shakes his head. “Whatever,” he says. He’ll talk about it with Mick directly; that’ll make more sense. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’ve got a suit fitting to go to.”

Maybe, if he’s lucky, he’s arrived early enough to still help out with the cake-tasting selection…

(Mick ends up making all the cake samples. Barry would marry him just for that.)

[5am-the-foxing-hour]

First Shot at a prompt!! Okay... Small angst but happy ending. It's Virgil's birthday and Remy, Logan, Roman & Patton are planning a surprise birthday party for him!!! But... Them keeping it a secret makes Virgil think that they forgot.

*sips warm chocolate* You seem to know me far to well XD(angst and fluff is so my jam)

((It is waaaaaaaaaaaaay longer than the previous prompts (and a bit more world building.. idk) so A LOT of it is under read more))’

*looks at all the words**presses post button*YEEEEEEEEEEET!

Remy entered the cafe he knew Virgil’s friends were at, Virgil would have been with them if he wasn’t currently home due to a nasty cold. Remy looked around before he caught sight of the trio. Logan sat with his head in a book, Roman was clearly telling a story with how much his body moved, Patton listening with rapt attention nodding along with a blinding smile.

He waltzed over a big grin on his lips.

  “’Sup Gurls!” he called, Logan looked up from his book, Patton let his eyes leave Roman to look at Remy and he waved with a smile in greeting, Roman closed his mouth having clearly been in the middle of explaining something overly dramatic explanation of what had happened.

  “HI Remy!” Patton said grinning back.

  “Salutations.” Logan stated

  “Greetings.” Roman responded once he’d realised who it was that interrupted his epic story.

Patton moved closer to the wall to give Remy space to sit on the couch at the table. Remy smiled and sat down, taking a sip from the drink he had gotten before moving over to them.

  “What brings you here, Remy?” Patton asked “Is Virgil okay? he wrote that he’s sick.”

  “The kid’s fine, he just caught a nasty cold, the most he’s doing is moving from the bed to the bathroom.” Patton opened his mouth to ask something but Remy already knew and started talking before Patton could ask “And i made sure to leave enough rations for him to eat from, a thermos with soup and tea and some sandwiches. He’ll be back to normal in no time.” Patton closed his mouth and smiled. “But that isn’t the reason as to why I came here.” Remy said and leaned his head forward to look over his sunglasses. “It’s ma baby bro’s b-day soon, and what do you three say about helping me throwing him a surprise party?”

  “OOOH! I’D LOVE TO!” Patton cheered

  “That will be satisfactory.” Logan said giving away one of his rare smiles

  “It will be EPIC!” Roman said in his dramatic flare. Remy grinned.

Virgil would surely love it!

Virgil woke up with a groan, checking the time on his phone, he groaned louder when he saw the time and the date.

It was 7 in the morning and his birthday.

  “To frigging early.” Virgil grumbled as he rolled over to his side closing his eyes, showing the world that he was gonna go back to sleep.30 minutes later left him no closer to sleep than before.

his phone suddenly pinged causing Virgil to groan and roll over again grabbing the phone to see three messages, he pulled his phone closer squinting at the to bright screen before he lowered the intensity to see three messages, one from Thomas, Joan and Talyn, and one from Thomas alone, and to Virgil’s surprise one from Lilly. He unlocked his phone to see what the messages said.

The one from Thomas, Joan and Talyn said nothing but Happy Birthday in all caps and surrounded by heart and party emojis. Virgil smiled slightly at the overuse only causing him to snort. the message from Thomas alone was almost an whole essay on how much he wished Virgil a happy day and how happy he was for having him as a friend. Virgil would deny any claim that he cried a bit. the one from Lilly was a short gif of her giving the phone screen a fist-bump with the letters “You got this.“ Virgil smiled, she was the one who had given the advice to try therapy and had found Dr. Pecani’s place, Virgil hadn’t thanked her enough for it. even if it took Remy to literary drag him there the first time due to Virgil almost succeeding in barricading himself in the bathroom due to the stress of meeting someone new and god forbid TALKING!

Virgil answered the texts before he sat up and decided that he would just get bored if he stayed in bed any longer if he couldn’t fall asleep again.

The house was silent and Virgil groaned for the third time since he woke up to see the world covered in white.

  “We live in Florida, how the fudge is there snow outside!” he grumbled before entering the kitchen fixing a sandwich for breakfast before starting the tv and aimlessly watched the early terrible shows on it, to lazy and uncaring to change the channel or start Netflix.

  “What in Starbucks names are you doing awake?!” a sleepy voice suddenly said from the stairs causing Virgil to look up at a disgruntled Remy, his hair was a mess and he was still half asleep.

  “My body decided that 7 am was the time to wake up.”

  “That was 3 hours ago.” Remy groaned before he entered the kitchen. the sounds of him fixing breakfast filtered into the living room.

  “Wait.” Remy suddenly said leaning out from the doorway, holding a cartoon of milk and the box of cereal in his hands, looking more awake than when he came down from the bedrooms. “Don’t you have a session with Emile today?”

  “Not until 14.” Virgil replied. Remy nodded before he returned into the kitchen. Virgil felt a small sense of confusion, why hadn’t Remy said anything about what day it was? he was usually quit good at keeping tabs on things like this. Sure Remy did have a tendency to go a bit overboard with the gifts, but he never forgot a birthday, but still, now when Virgil started to think about it, Remy, Logan, Roman and even Patton hadn’t even mentioned his birthday approaching.

Virgil didn’t notice Remy sit down on the cough next to him, holding his bowl of cereal in one hand and spoon in the other, he looked at the tv screen before snorting and reached for the remote and changed the channel to Cartoon-Networks. he sent a look to Virgil only to stiffen, he knew the face Virgil made when he was thinking to hard and to dark. Remy put his bowl on the table before the cough before he turned to face his little brother.

  “Virgil?” he called, and got no reaction. “Hey, Virge.” Remy placed his hand on Virgil’s knee, feeling him jolt at the sudden touch. Virgil blinked before looking at Remy. “What’s wrong?”

  “… Nothing…” Virgil said looking away.

  “Hey, please don’t lie to me.”

  “It’s nothing really.”

  “Virgil. if you don’t want to tell me what’s wrong, could you at least tell Emile, just to not bottle it up?” Remy pleaded. Virgil sent him a look before exhaling.

  “Fine.” he grunted.

Emile picked up on Virgil’s distress instantly when he entered the room.

  “Hey Virgil, do you how do?”

  “Fine… i guess” Virgil said and shrugged

  “OH! its your birthday today isn’t it?! Happy birthday Virgil!” Emile said throwing his arms out and grinning.

Virgil smiled but it was a bit strained. Emile noticed even if he didn’t point it out until a while into the meeting.

  “What is troubling you Virgil?” he asked “I noticed you seemed more ‘agitated’ when you first walked in.” Emile said in a calm tone as he sent Virgil the question, Virgil stiffened, opening his mouth to day that it was nothing, but he had promised Remy to talk to Emile about it… and Virgil was not someone to back out of a promise without a very good reason to.

  “It’s just-” he sighed fiddling with his hoodie “I-”

  “Hey, It’s okay to express yourself. Take the time you need to gather your thoughts.” Virgil sighed slumping in the sofa before he rubbed his hand against his neck.

  “It’s kinda stupid.”

  “Humour me.” Emile said with a serious tone “No feeling is stupid.”

  “It’s just… it’s my birthday today… but only you, Thomas, Talyn, Joan and Lilly has said anything…” Virgil’s voice cracked

  “Hey, it’s okay, grab some tissues. Let’s work some issues.” Emile said as he moved the tissue box over to Virgil who took it with shaking hands

  “I’m scared that the others have forgotten… they haven’t even said anything about it… nor asked me what i want, like they did last year…”

Emile grimaced behind his notepad “You can be a bit to good in keeping secrets, Remy.” Emile thought before he gave Virgil a smile.

  “I’m doubt they have forgotten about your Birthday, Virgil, they love you very much, and i can say that from a personal view point. we all love you.” Virgil snorted slightly as he rubbed one of the tissues under his eyes, smudging the eye shadow way more than before and making the tissue turn grey.

  “Thanks-” he croaked out.

Virgil had decided to walk home from the meeting with Emile that day, to clear his head, he most often than not did this, and now with the snow still covering the ground the cold helped him keep his mind from spiralling.

He halted once he could see the apartment he and Remy shared when both of them started at the same college, tho ten years apart. there were a few cars to many at the drive way, Remy’s old slightly rusted Lamborghini stood as normal on the driveway, but it was the two other cars that caused him to halt, Remy hadn’t mentioned anything about them having visitors.

  “Remy you are so dead.” Virgil growled as he walked over to the door, pushing his anxiety down as he opened the door the apartment was silent and… dark? Virgil blinked wasn’t Remy home?

  “Remy?!” Virgil called as he removed his jacket and boots “If you’re passed out on the cough again i swear i’m not to be blamed for whatever happens to your face!” he thought he heard a stifled snort from the living room. Virgil stilled, before he moved closer, then the moment he entered the lights were turned on

  “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” a choir of voices called. Virgil startled taking a step back as his eyes widened and he took in the scene, Patton stood in the middle with a beaming smile, holding a gigantic birthday cake full of burning candles, with the purple letters “Happy Birthday Virgil” with a heart written on it in Logan’s organised yet beautiful writing. Logan stood next to him with a smal smile of his own. Roman was grinning there he stood next to a table full of presents. Thomas, Joan and Talyn was there as well all smiling at him. Emile was there as well and he gave Virgil a small wave still smiling. Remy was no where to be seen. 

  “You knew?!” Virgil asked the therapist who gave away a sheepish smile

  “Yeah… but i was told not to say anything, and i wanted to tell you right there and then… but I didn’t wanna spoil the surprise.”

  “Wait.” Virgil said looking around, instantly on guard “Where’s Remy?” just as the name left his lips two strong hands grabbed him from behind hoisting him up in the air. causing Virgil to scream

  “No touching the Face!” Remy laughed as he pulled Virgil into a bear hug, still keeping his feet from touching the floor.

  “GUAH! LET ME DOWN!” Virgil barked struggling in the hold. laughter echoed in the room and the sound of a camera. Virgil was put back to the floor and Remy just ruffled his hair.

  “Happy birthday, Virge.”

  “Now!” Patton called gaining everyone’s attention “CAKE!”

[quiveringbunny]

Making Merry - An Olicity Holiday Story (G - 3/3)

Well, here I am, a bit late with the final chapter of this fluffy holiday meringue. I do hope you are entertained by the resolution. 

Many thanks to everyone who encouraged me along on this one with comments and kudos. Extra hugs to the world’s most overqualified beta @tinaday3w for being awesome in every possible way.

(Ao3 Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3)

Chapter 3: The Aftermath 

It was well-after midnight when Felicity finally finished her work. She had stopped the service attack on the SCPD, strengthened security measures, and written up a situation report. She also managed to trace the ne’er-do-well to a server in Russia. Fracking Bratva. Every so often, some guy had to show off to his boss by breaching an American network. Trying to have the offender arrested by Moscow police would be a wasted effort, but Felicity did manage to forward the hacker’s IP address to Interpol’s Cybercrime division as well as a couple of European white hat hackers she knew who liked to dabble in law enforcement.

She wasn’t tired in the least, but rather feeling a bit overstimulated from the rush of problem-solving she had engaged in. The thought of going straight home and dwelling on her botched date with Oliver Queen was more than she could bear. They had exchanged texts around 10 pm. He said he hoped her night was going okay. She sent back a hurried string of anxious looking emojis punctuated with panda bears. He responded with a thumbs up. So much for an evening of holiday romance.

In an effort to embrace her epic wallowing, Felicity decided to find a bar and have a drink before heading home. She engaged a Lyft driver to take her to Poison, Max Fuller’s notorious watering hole, but on the way, they passed Verdant. She recalled that Oliver had a connection to the club. Deciding that if she couldn’t see him, she could at least drown her sorrows somewhere associated with him, she asked the driver to amend their route at the last minute. A hefty tip was added to the final bill.

Felicity had never been inside what some of her police cohorts referred to as “The Jewel of the Glades” before. It was pretty impressive. Spacious and colorful. A solid crowd of smartly-dressed people from Central Casting filled the place. The sound system was quite good. When the early notes of a popular song played, a number of people fled the bar areas to fill the dance floor and Felicity took the opportunity to find a stool at a bar near the back of the space.

The bartender was drying barware when she sat down. He nodded to her, finished a glass and then leaned forward with a nod.

“What can I make for you, Beautiful?” His face was made for smiling, she thought. That was a good quality in a bartender.

“Do you have a blender?”

He looked genuinely contrite. “Sorry, I do not.”

Felicity’s face fell. So much for submerging herself in a super-girly frozen pina colada.

“How about I make you one of my super mojitos. Sweet and minty. Or maybe a chocolate martini.”

“Are there nuts? Because I can’t have those. I’ll look like a balloon in the Macy’s Parade and then I’ll die.”

“No nuts.” He raised his fingers in the Boy Scout salute.

“Can you make a chocolate martini a double?” She couldn’t help the sigh that escaped her lips at the end of the question.

“I’ll take care of you.” His voice was warm and understanding before he turned away to gather the magical ingredients he needed to soothe his forlorn customer.

While he worked, Felicity spun her seat around a couple of times before stopping to watch the people. The happy people. They were moving together to the beat, almost like water swirling in a pool and it was mesmerizing. She was distracted by it until the bartender placed a drink in front of her with a flourish.

“Here you go,” he announced. “One Mega Chocolate Martini. Guaranteed to help you forget whatshisname.”

Felicity dropped her head into her folded arms.

“Oh God. It’s that obvious.” She looked up to meet the bartender’s eyes. They were nice, but they weren’t Oliver’s eyes. God, she was so pathetic.

“I am so, so lame,” she continued, then raised the drink to her lips and took a deep draw while the mixologist looked on with curiosity.

“He’s a scoundrel and he doesn’t deserve you.” The bartender didn’t say it in a flirty way. He said it like a brother might say it, she thought. Nice. She didn’t have a brother. But if she did, she would want one who could make a chocolate martini like the one that was currently seducing her taste buds and dulling the sharp ache in her brain.  

Felicity shook her head. “Nope. He’s wonderful. And amazing. It’s me. I blew it. We had a date and I blew it.” Felicity took another draw on the glass. “You know, Chocolate is the only edible substance that melts around 93° degrees, just below our human body temperature. That’s why chocolate melts so easily in your mouth.”

The man squelched a smile.

“What could somebody as cute as you do to ruin a date with Mister Wonderful and Amazing?”

“I had to cancel. Really last minute. Work. Stupid Russian mob.”

The bartender looked on her with curiosity, then observed as she downed the rest of the martini in several gulps, then planted the empty glass on the bar

“Keep ‘em coming, Barkeep.”

The man nodded and resigned to look after this one. She was on her own and obviously having a bad night. No need to see it get worse.

Tommy Merlyn liked to work behind the bar occasionally. It was good to experience the club from a service perspective. It allowed him insight into the current customer base. He didn’t mind the fact that people really did look for consolation in the counsel of a bartender. Tommy wasn’t exactly a wise man, but he was a good listener, which was often times all the other person needed.

Tommy continued to make the sad blonde drinks, albeit progressively weaker ones, for nearly an hour. Eventually, he offered a glass of water to help reduce the pain that was likely to come the next day. When another bartender arrived to relieve him, Tommy moved to the other side of the bar and sat with her for a while.

On her third martini, Tommy finally learned her name. Suddenly, everything made sense. That morning, he met his best friend at the gym to collect his truck and the man was smiling. So many teeth. It was disconcerting, really. Tommy pressed for an explanation and was rewarded with a ten-minute book report on a woman. She was brilliant and funny and unpredictable and remarkable. Oliver Queen never described a woman as remarkable in his whole life. So, he made a point to file away her name for future reference. Felicity Smoak.  

>--->

The sound of the doorbell caused Oliver to wake suddenly and roll off the sofa in the den of the Queen Mansion. He had fallen asleep in front of the fire a couple of hours earlier and it was only embers now. It was 2:30 in the morning and he immediately felt dread overtaking his initial annoyance at the situation. Bad news was often delivered at this ungodly hour. He tugged the hoodie around his t-shirt and lounge pants and trudged to the foyer.

Nothing prepared him for the sight, really. There in the doorway stood his best friend with a ridiculous grin and his arms full of…

“Tommy!” Oliver gasped as his best friend moved past him to enter the grand foyer.

“Shh. Please assure me this slumbering princess is the correct Felicity. The one you were mooning over this morning. Because if she isn’t, this was a gross miscalculation on my part.”

“Of course it is. What happened to her?” Oliver’s voice was louder now. The sight of Felicity looking slightly disheveled, her purse piled in her lap as she rested in Tommy’s arms was very disconcerting.

“Down boy.” Tommy gave him a pointed stare. “She’s just sleeping it off.”

Oliver scrubbed his face with his palms. He was still waking up, really, and his brain was trying to make sense of the situation.

“Where do you want her?” Tommy asked blithely. With more thought, he corrected himself. “I mean, where should I carefully place your girl?”

“Sofa in the den. I’ll get blankets.” On that, Tommy headed for the Queen Mansion’s only casually appointed room and Oliver bounded up the stairs to fetch what was needed to make his guest comfortable.  

When Oliver returned, several blankets and pillows bundled in his arms, he found Felicity still sleeping on the sofa and Tommy in a leather chair. He had stoked the fire, sourced the scotch, and had a tumbler in hand. Another glass was set on a table next to a matching chair, presumably poured for his host.

The room was warming up again. The fire blazed and crackled in the hearth. The flames reflected off the modest-sized, beautifully appointed Christmas tree twinkling with white lights that filled one corner. It was one of four trees in the house. There was another in the Great Room next to the foyer, and both Oliver and Thea’s rooms had trees as well, as was the tradition.

Oliver carefully placed a soft, warm blanket over Felicity, taking a moment to study her face and assure himself that she was okay. He actually tucked her in, eliciting a snort from Tommy. Oliver shot him a glare and returned to smooth the blanket. Finally convinced the lady was in a deep and comfortable sleep, he plopped himself in his chair and grabbed the drink that was waiting for him.

“Okay, you want to tell me what happened?” He kept his voice quiet and even, so he wouldn’t disturb her.

Tommy took a swig of liquid and snorted. “All the gin joints in all the world and she shows up in mine. Ours.”

Oliver shook his head in disbelief and waited for a deeper explanation.

“I thought at first it was some kind of post-work, post-crisis thing and the woman needed to unwind, but she was just really sad. Fate brought her to me, I guess. And so I bring her to you.”

“Tommy, she’s a person, not an offering. Wait, sad?”

“Yeah, apparently she had a hot date tonight she wasn’t able to keep. Felt terrible about it.”

Tommy’s lips curled into a smirk as Oliver nodded and hinted at a smile. He was sorry she was so disappointed about what had happened, but he couldn’t help but feel happy knowing it had meant something to her. He meant something, perhaps?

“Good. I mean, it’s good you were there. Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. She may have imbibed her weight in chocolate martinis…that I made for her.”

Oliver threw Tommy an exasperated glance. Tommy Merlyn shrugged.

“Hey, it was what the grown-up lady wanted. And Ms. Smoak assured me she wasn’t driving. Then she started waning and kind of fell asleep on the bar. I looked in her purse...just for ID, and her address was there. I thought about taking her home, but I was worried she would be alone when I left her there. So, I figured you were good for hangover nurse duty in the morning.”

Oliver sighed, signaling that he now understood.

“Of course. I’m glad you brought her here. It was the right thing. I’ll look after her.”

Tommy Merlyn affected a whisper now. “By the way, she may or may not work for the Russian mob. I'm not sure. She was kind of wasted. Anyway, she’ll keep you on your toes, Ollie. I approve.” He saluted Oliver with the remnants of the drink in his glass and finished it with a hearty swig before bolting for the door.

“Thanks, Buddy.” Oliver gave Tommy a smirky grin.

“Alright. I’m out. Beauty sleep. Santa’s coming.”

>--->

It was early on Christmas Eve morning when Oliver was gently nudged awake by his housekeeper. Raisa was a woman of formidable character and exceptional warmth who had been a part of the Queen family since Oliver and Thea were children. When it came to the Queen siblings, she was loved just as hard as she loved in return. Still, she took no sass from either of them.

“Mister Oliver,” she hissed. “Why is this young woman asleep on your sofa?”

Oliver’s eyes fluttered open and his brain skidded into wakefulness as he shifted in his oversized chair. He sighed heavily.

“She’s a friend, Raisa.”

“I should hope so,” she countered. “But that does not explain why a girl with the face of an angel is asleep in the den. The last time I cleaned, this house had five guest bedrooms with nice comfortable beds. It makes no sense to be on a sofa.”

It was rare that Raisa lectured him now that Oliver was a grown man, but he felt suitably admonished.

“I know. Tommy Merlyn brought Miss Smoak by quite late and she was already…asleep. I worried she might wake in the night and feel disoriented. This seemed like the best solution.”

Raisa studied him, as she had done hundreds of times, searching his face. When he was a callow youth, she had usually seen right through his attempts as misdirection. All she saw this morning was sincerity. Oliver Queen had outgrown his youthful stupidity years earlier to become a gentleman of character. That didn’t mean she didn’t keep him on his toes now and again.

“Mister Tommy should know better too. Now, you will be needing coffee for two?”

“A very large pot, please, Raisa.” He sighed and carded a hand through his mussed hair.

The woman looked over at Felicity and nodded before making her way toward the kitchen.

“Eggs, fruit and scones?”

“That would be wonderful. No nuts though. She’s allergic. Do we still have some of those preserves you make?”

“She must be special. You never share your favorite preserves.” Raisa smirked as she headed through the doorway.

“Thank you, Raisa.”

“Oh, Mister Oliver.” Raisa poked her head back in. “There may be some mistletoe…around.”

The woman smirked as Oliver rolled his eyes.

>--->

It was a crazy dream. One of those long ones that just goes on and on. So long that you suspect it’s a dream while you’re in it. There were panda bears and somehow Felicity was in charge of them. She liked that because they were obedient and she got to pet them. And her 9th grade gym teacher, Mr. Sadler, was there. He was wearing a furry hat like the Winkies in the Wizard of Oz and even though Felicity never smelled things in her dreams, he smelled like cigarettes. She just knew it. He was the enemy and everywhere she went – the grocery store, a server room at MIT, and the balcony at Winterfell. And he kept swinging an umbrella at her panda bears. That really pissed her off. In an unexpectedly aggressive move, she hit Winkie Sadler with an uppercut that dropped him on the ground. Felicity woke up when the panda bears hailed her as their leader.

She murmured, “Yes, I’ll be your queen,” into the soft brown suede of the couch that rubbed softly against her cheek. The utterance of his surname caught Oliver’s attention enough to pull his gaze from the weekend newspaper to his guest.

He studied her from his chair a few feet away, as he had done numerous times in the past hour. It wasn’t easy being a Queen. He had wondered for some time if he would ever find someone to share his life with. All of the obvious choices, from seasoned socialites to driven businesswomen, had drifted in and out of his life, but there had been no one who stood out, who challenged him and taught him. None of those women connected with him and made him think and laugh quite like this lady had since Friday night. Felicity Smoak was different. She saw things from a different angle, she was vivacious and funny. She could be trouble, he thought, challenging at every turn. But maybe he was ready for that. He didn’t want to rush anything, but maybe she was it. Maybe one day she could...  

“Queen of the Pandas,” she clarified in a groggy voice. Her arm even raised so she could wave to her subjects awkwardly before it dropped suddenly and she whacked herself in the face.

Oliver would have laughed quite loudly if he hadn’t been concerned she might have hurt herself. A moment later, she was sitting up, shaking off the pain. It didn’t take long for the blonde woman to look confused. Where was she? How did she get here?

“Felicity.” Oliver spoke quietly, trying not to surprise her. “You’re okay. You’re at my home.”

She looked at him but it was like she didn’t recognize him out of context. Then she scanned the well-appointed room and ran her fingers along the cushions.

“No way. This looks like a museum. This couch is suede. I can’t stop petting it. Nobody has a suede couch.”

“Felicity, it’s me. Oliver. You slept on my sofa last night.”

Suddenly, Felicity’s eyes grew wide and her skin turned pink. “Oh, my God. I drank too much. I had a cab bring me here, didn’t I? How presumptuous and rude. I am so, so sorry.”

Felicity bolted up and searched for her shoes, which were at the foot of the couch. Oliver watched wordlessly, not sure what to say next. As soon as she finished putting them on, she made a beeline for the door, but Oliver finally sprung into action and quickly headed her off before she got to the foyer.

“Don’t run away. You weren’t presumptuous at all. It was Tommy who brought you here.”

“Tommy?”

“My friend, Tommy…Merlyn.”

“Designer ski mask Tommy Merlyn?”

“Yes, him. You ended up at Verdant last night. Our club. Tommy served you some drinks and when you got…overtired…he brought you here. I hope you don’t mind.”

She cringed at her memory of the past evening. Not her greatest showing. Now Oliver probably thought she was a barfly.

“Oh, I’m so embarrassed.”

Oliver’s expression reflected a warm, charming smile. He placed his hands on her shoulders and leaned in for emphasis.

“Don’t be. You had a tough night. Were you able to fix the problems at SCPD?”

“Oh, yes. BritneyLovr888 won’t be infiltrating Starling City servers again for some time.”

“You found him and he’s caught?”

“Nope.” She sighed loudly. “He’s some jerkwad hacker in Moscow. I stopped him.  I would tell you what I did to him, but a lady likes to maintain some mystery. Just know it was fairly terrible and he won’t be bothering the SCPD anymore.”

“Wow. You’re kind of a badass, aren’t you?” Oliver grinned at her and watched her blush in return. It was fun to have her on the ropes for a moment, given how clever she was. “I guess I can take comfort in knowing that you cancelled dinner for a very good cause last night.”

Felicity’s head dropped against his chest and talked into his shirt. Oliver looked down at the top of her head and smiled.

“I did not want to cancel. I hope you know that.” She murmured.

“I know.”

Felicity looked up at him with sparkling blue eyes. “Good,” she replied.

“As far as I’m concerned, dinner wasn’t cancelled. It was postponed. Okay?”

“Okay, Oliver.” The air felt lighter suddenly. Oliver felt the change in energy and decided to embrace it.

“It’s Christmas Eve. Do you have plans?”

Felicity chuckled. “I don’t even know what I’m doing for breakfast.”

“Ah,” Oliver pivoted and pulled Felicity’s arm into the crook of his and began leading her across the foyer and toward the kitchen. “You are in luck. Raisa, she helps Thea and me with the house, she has made us a delicious breakfast.”

“Coffee?” She moaned.

“Yes, ma’am. And then, I was thinking…you have a great Christmas tree, but it’s not decorated.”

“Oh, I don’t want to make a fuss with it. The tree doesn’t need fancy decorations.”

“I was thinking simple, actually. When Thea and I were kids, our parents would make bowls of popcorn and we would string it and hang it on one of the trees while we watched movies.”

“One? How many trees do you have?”

Oliver looked embarrassed. “Four. We had eight one year. That was crazy. Now that it’s just Thea and me, we have four. Not very big ones.”

Felicity’s eyes twinkled. “Well, as long as they aren’t very big.”

Suddenly, Oliver gathered her up in a hug. He rubbed his cheek against hers as he had done the previous day and it made her giggle. Oliver held her until she stopped. He really didn’t want to let go. But eventually, she pulled away to look up at him.

“Could we do the popcorn thing tonight, Oliver? It would be perfect.” She sounded genuinely excited.

“Sure. As long as you’ll let me take you to dinner after Christmas.”

“Okay. No interruptions this time. Even if the city is under attack from ninjas.”

“Is that likely to happen?” He adopted a serious tone.

“You never know.”

Oliver took her arm and began to lead her toward the hall, the shortest path to the kitchen.

“I should warn you in advance, our housekeeper, Raisa, is a bit…how do I say this? Totally of her own volition, she may have spent the past hour putting mistletoe up all over the house instead of making breakfast.”

Felicity smiled quietly, then paused.  

He felt her stop moving suddenly.  Oliver wasn’t sure what might be wrong. Before he could ask, the blonde, so much shorter than him, rolled up on her toes, gathered her hands to reach around his neck, and pulled him down for a kiss. Her mouth was warm and soft against his. Without thinking, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pressed fingers into her soft hair, extending the moment a little longer. When their lips finally parted, Oliver pressed his forehead against hers and they shared the same air. Feeling her so close felt right.

“Felicity Smoak. You really are remarkable.”

“Well, I am impatient. I couldn’t wait for the mistletoe.”

>--->

That night, Oliver Queen made dinner for Felicity Smoak at her apartment and they strung popcorn to hang on her Christmas tree. It was a lovely evening and marked a tradition they would revisit again and again. Thea and her beau managed to get in a bit early on Christmas Day. When Oliver introduced Felicity as his girlfriend, Thea congratulated her brother on his fast work and took all the credit for bringing them together.

Tommy joined the party later in the evening. He watched Oliver and Felicity with interest, noting how they seemed to complement each other in every way that mattered. Later, he waited expectantly for Oliver to open his Christmas present. No one laughed louder than Oliver when he found a certain designer balaclava inside the box.  

The End.

Tagging: @scu11y22, @tinaday3w, @dettiot, @mel-loves-all, @andjustforthismoment, @aussieforgood, @florence-bubbles, @flailykermit, @diggo26, @olicityaddicted, @thewidowpazzy, @melsanfo, @emilybettqueen, @yourviewingparty, @lynslogic, @tanyaslogic, @angelalafan, @coal000, @triciaolicity, @choiceofluthien, @emilybuttrickards, @seaolicity, @supersillyanddorky06, @swordandarrow, @watsoncroft, @jsevick, @readerkas, @yespleasehawkeyee, @geniewithwifi, @befitandchase, @caedmonfaith, @myhauntedblacksoul, @casydee, @jamyfan-blog, @awesomeziziblr, @bigdeesmallworld, @alemap74, @angelicmisskitty, @almondblossomme, @callistawolf, @miriam1779, @imusuallyobsessed, @vaelisamaza, @mochababychristy, @juliesioux, @pjcmfalcon, @josephine-in-mirkwood, @i-m-a-fan-world, @ms-mags, @red-devilkin, @ah-maa-zing, @itshandledd, @olicityandsteroline, @turn-thy-paige, @wildirish23, @nlh03, @alanna-the-lionheart, @charlinert, @amytosh, @stygian-omada-fan, @multi-fandom-crazy-fangirl, @machawicket,  @biermank, @i-am-wordaholic, @memcjo, @jaspertown, @itchiygo, @oliverfel4, @tolivers, @ccdimples88, @ap-n, @pleasantfanandstudent, @emmilynestill,  @kainesbitt77,  @anthfan, @lyricalarrow, @laurabelle2930, @ellefraser17, @ireland1733, @mammashof, @chachurka, @somewhatinvisible, @tdgal1, @buffaleen, @suziesammy-blog, @missyriver, @lovelycssefan, @kh2o, @codebreakinsmoak, @letsnevergrowupfan, @memcjo, @bwangangelic, @arrowolicity88, @thebookjumper, @arrowlainie05, @pineprincess, @saebrfan, @olicityinmyheart, @razorbladenitro, @letsnevergrowupfan, @1106angel, @xflarrowbeforebloodx, @omglovechrissie, @benisa1608, @simonona-blog, @blindspot-fanatic, @hecatesan, @hope-for-olicity, @fangirlingkitten, @scandalnewbie, @just-arrowolicity

[imaginekpoplikethis]

7 Years - BadBoy! Jeon Jungkook X Reader - Part 18

Hey guys, I’m still here lol

I’ve been MIA for quite some time but now it’s the summer holidays and maybe just maybe I’ll finish this story within the next two weeks (?)

I hope you enjoy this part and don’t feel shy to pop up in my inbox about anything whether it’s related to my stories or just life in general.

Part 1  Part 2  Part 3  Part 4  Part 5  Part 6  Part 7  Part 8  Part 9  Part 10.1  Part 10.2  Part 10.3  Part 11  Part 12  Part 13  Part 14  Part 15  Part 16  Part 17  Part 18 - Here  Part 19  Part 20 - Final

Two weeks passed by so quickly that you were pleasantly surprised to see Taehyung bounce into your classroom on a Tuesday morning. As soon as he spotted you, he made a beeline straight for you and sat down on the seat Jungkook usually occupied before class started, lightly panting.

“Hey, I’m back! You missed me right?” Taehyung’s grin proved to be contagious and a smile creeped onto your face.

“Of course I did. Seeing you just yesterday wasn’t enough for me.” His grin grew bigger and he grabbed your hands in excitement.

“Really?! Well I’m here and I’m here to stay. I actually came in a day early.” His panting had died down by this point and he squeezed your hands. At that exact moment, Jungkook walked into the room, too occupied with his phone to notice Taehyung. By the time he stood in front of you, Taehyung had spotted him closing in on the both of you. Looking up from what he was doing, his eyes narrowed at Taehyungs hands gripping yours.

“Wipe that dumb smile off your face. And why are you holding onto my girl as if your life depends on it?” Taehyung stuck his tongue out at Jungkook who couldn’t help but smile at his childishness.

“We were just talking about how we’re going to elope.” An eye roll was the reply he received and you decided to intervene.

“Tae, why do you look like you were running from something this early in the morning?” He released his grasp on you and leaned back into his seat, taking a quick glance at the classrooms doorway.

“When Yoongi saw me in the hallway today I really thought he was going to attack me. You should have saw the way he came for me! He started shouting about how I was supposed to come in tomorrow and that I’m bound to hurt myself again.” All you could picture was Yoongi rolling up the sleeves of his shirt, eyebrows creased. You shuddered at the thought.

“Yoongi is really intimidating.” Taehyung immediately nodded in agreement. Just as he was about to say something else, he was interrupted by the familiar voice that came along with Namjoon.

“Tae. What are you doing?” He leant against the doorway, a lollipop in his mouth and arms crossed. When Taehyung attempted to duck his head out of sight, Namjoon entered the classroom and stood beside Jungkook, hands shoved into the  pockets of his trousers.

“Don’t make me drag you out of school.” His head remained lowered and Namjoon sighed, scratching his cheek. He then went on to grab Taehyung by his shirt collar and stood him up.

“Come on, I’m taking you back home. You’re lucky I found you before Yoongi did.” Taehyung gave Jungkook and you one last grin before he was forcibly pulled out of the classroom, Namjoon mock saluting the both of you as a goodbye.

“Nice jealous act.” Jungkook seated himself where Taehyung had been only seconds before, placing his phone into his pocket.

“Act? Who says I was acting?” If he hadn’t been grinning whilst he had said this, you would have been convinced that he was somewhat serious.

“You know better than anyone that Tae sees me as another sister.” He didn’t bother to reply and rested the side of his face on the palm of his hand, making direct eye contact with you. He grew silent and you wondered if you had said something wrong.

“You won’t leave me will you?”

These were the words Jungkook muttered.

“I can’t even if I wanted to. Class is starting soon.” Jungkook opened his mouth to say something more but soon decided against it. He shook his head and chuckled to himself.

“I didn’t mean it like that…” He was barely audible so you had to ask him to repeat himself. “Nothing, don’t worry about it.” Despite his dismissal you knew there was something on his mind. Whether he would share it or not was the problem.

-

As the week progressed, Taehyung had officially returned to school, bringing his childish antics with him. You had no doubt missed him and judging by the greetings he seemed to be getting from other students, you weren’t the only one.

You were currently sat alone in your bedroom on a Friday night, attempting to compete mondays homework. It took a total of ten minutes before you threw your hands up in the air and slumped into your desk chair, yelling out in frustration.

“Shut up! I can’t hear my show!” Your sisters annoyed voice travelled through your walls and you glared back as if she would somehow melt from the intensity. Your attention was quickly drawn away by the vibration of your phone, alerting you that you had received a message.

‘Babeh where uu?’

You blinked a couple of times just to make sure you were reading the message correctly. When you had come to the realisation that you had in fact read it correctly, you glanced at the name of the sender. Jungkook’s name stood in bold letters with a selection of emojis he had put after his own name when he decided to change it from its previous one the last time he managed to get ahold of your phone.

“What’s this idiot doing now…?” Your reply came soon after your question.

'Home. What’s up with you?’ Only seconds after he had managed to type a reply and you soon understood why it had taken such a short period of time.

'I mis u com see meh’  It was fairly obvious what the problem was.

'Jungkook, you’re drunk aren’t you?’

'Littl bit. wait you stil love me right!!1?’ This had to be the strangest conversation you had ever been subjected to but in all fairness it was quite amusing to see this side of Jungkook and have proof of it at the same time. There was no way you wouldn’t show this to Areum.

'Yes. Yes I do. Where are you?’

'Joon house. Tell me u lobe me.’ Well, his insecurities were starting to show.

'Love you.’ You didn’t receive an immediate reply after that and you wondered if something had happened. Maybe Namjoon was calming him down?

Around five minutes later a reply came through and you had to stop yourself from smiling like an idiot.

'Thas not propprly I love yu!11’

'I goin to video call yu’ True to his word, Jungkooks name appeared on the top of the familiar screen of your video call app and you accepted his call. The first thing you saw were his thighs and sleeping shorts.

“My babyyy! Why don’t you love me?” His words were slurred and you had to stop yourself from ending the call due to his shouting.

“Jungkook all I can see are your legs, flip the camera.”

“Okay.” You could hear him tapping on his phone but the camera did not change, only flash black a couple of times. When it stopped, a pair of feet appeared on the screen.

“Joon! The camera isn’t turning! My baby can’t see me!” You heard Namjoon sigh from Jungkook’s end before the camera finally switched.

“Maybe because you’re tapping the  actual camera.’ You were greeted with an under view of Jungkook’s face.

"Jungkook, are you crying?” The camera angle shifted and you were given a full view of Jungkook’s face. As you had suspected, a few tears were sliding down his cheeks.

“Yes because you didn’t tell me you love me properly! I asked you if you would ever leave me and you didn’t answer!”

“You won’t leave me will you?”

You had an idea where this was all stemming from. Who knew he could become this insecure and childish when drunk? You sure as hell didn’t.

“I love you Jungkook.” He flashed his adorable teeth in a grin and wiped his tears with the sleeve of his top.

“I love you too! Look Joon this is my lover!” He shoved the camera in a drained Namjoons face who pulled it back, giving you a perfect view of him glaring at your boyfriend.

“Yes, I know that Jungkook. I’ve met her plenty of times. Go brush your teeth, your breath stinks like shit.” Jungkook’s phone dropped onto the floor and you watched him leave the room from the new angle. Namjoons hand soon came into view and picked up the fallen device.

“I’m so sorry Y/N. I’ll get him to bed. Please get a good nights sleep.” Namjoons caring tone made you grin and you reassured him that you were fine with being called at what was now close to half eleven in the night.

“Don’t worry about it, it was entertaining. I hope you’ll get a good sleep though I doubt it if Jungkook’s that drunk.” He let out one of his deep chuckles and bid you goodbye, you doing the same before hanging up.

You were never going to let Jungkook live this down. Not as long as you lived.

-

You found yourself walking into your local cafe at ten o'clock in the morning the very next day. Scanning the few people already seated, you spotted the familiar hunched figure of Jungkook, clad in an oversized hooded jumper. Sliding the strap of your bag off your shoulder, you started towards him and sat directly across from him, bending your head down to look up into his hooded face.

“Kookie, why’re you wearing a thick jumper with your hood on in the middle of summer?” He groaned and rubbed his face before leaning back into his seat.

“The light is making this headache even worse. And it’s the end of summer actually.” That’s right. You had spent the majority of it hanging out with either the boys or Areum so the holidays flew by.

“Either way it’s still too hot to be wearing that.” Jungkook took ahold of the drawstrings of his hoodie and pulled them, closing his hood to the point where you could only see his mouth. Rolling your eyes at his behaviour, you began to dig through your bag in search of your money. Upon finding some, you stood from the table and headed to the counter, standing behind two girls.

It had taken them awhile to decide on a drink but when they did they diverted their attention to the table Jungkook was sitting at. The taller of the two nudged her friend and pointed in his direction which made your eyebrows furrow. He had loosened his hood, allowing you to see his full face in all it’s glory.

“Woah, he’s kind of hot…”

Kind of? You’d beg to differ. It wasn’t hard to admit that Jungkook was easily one of the most attractive boys you’d ever had the pleasure of knowing, not including the boys. They were all handsome, that was a fact.

“I know right. Look at him, he’s totally a bad boy. So my type.” You turned your full attention to Jungkook just in time to catch him pull his hood off and run a hand through his bed hair. One of the girls let out a small gasp and grasped the other ones arm, continuing to admire your boyfriend.

“I didn’t expect him to be that good looking. He’s even got that sexy bed hair and piercing thing going on.” You crossed your arms and leant back on one foot, annoyance gradually spreading throughout your entire being. You knew you shouldn’t be jealous, you didn’t see a problem with people acknowledging your boyfriends good looks. As long as it wasn’t right in front of you and they weren’t practically drooling over him. At this point, the barista had brought over the two drinks they had been waiting for and you silently thanked god that they had a reason to stop ogling Jungkook. Stepping up to the counter, you ordered yourself your usual caramel iced frappé and Jungkook a caramel macchiato. That should give him the energy he oh so desperately needed.

You checked your phone for any new messages and searched through your photos absentmindedly whilst waiting for your order. You were greeted with at least a dozen pictures of Jungkook making ridiculous faces and you laughed out loud, unable to contain your amusement.

The barista greeted you, handing you both drinks in a cup holster and you brightly thanked her. Spinning on your heel, you noticed the two girls from before sitting opposite Jungkook and your mood immediately dampened. Jungkook was leaning his head on his palm, staring at them with what seemed to be a bored expression though they either hadn’t noticed or decided to ignore it.

Regaining your composure for their sake, you began in their direction and managed to catch a bit of their conversation. “Sooo why’re you here alone this early in the morning?”

Jungkook blinked slowly as if he was trying to comprehend why she was asking him such a question.

“I’m not alone and I have a real shitty headache so maybe you can stop talking or something?” She looked taken aback for a split second before she smiled and pulled a napkin from the dispenser on the table. She then took the pen her friend had seemingly produced from nowhere and scribbled what was obviously her phone number. When she began to slide it over to Jungkook, you decided now was the time to intervene and sat beside him.

“Hey babe, what’s happening?” The girl stopped her movements and narrowed her eyes at you before she retracted the napkin. Jungkook went on to rest his cheek on your shoulder and you both watched as the girls each gave a small smile, rising from their seats.

“Nothing, just asking where he bought his jumper from.” They shuffled away from you and exited the cafe, leaving both you and Jungkook alone once again.

“Didn’t know you could get that jealous.” He rubbed his cheek on your shoulder affectionately and you set his drink in front of him.

“What do you mean, 'that jealous’?”

He smirked at you and gave his best impersonation of you, making his voice a few pitches higher.

“'Hey babe, what’s happening?’”

He then burst into a fit of laughter whilst you felt an all too familiar warmth spread across your cheeks.

“Shut up Jungkook.”

Jungkook calmed himself down seconds later and whispered into your ear, the first half of his sentence teasing and the second half sincere.

“Don’t worry 'babe’, you know I love you.”

'Babe’ was definitely going to be a recurring pet name he would use to embarrass you. Little does he know you have screenshots of him crying.

[caramel-and-pine]

12 - Friends and Emotions

Max is leaving David’s house in the morning, after a good night’s sleep, and a big mug of black coffee.

“Can I ask something before you leave?” David asks at the door, and Max only nods in response. “Will you save my number and call me sometimes? Add me on Whatsapp or something like this so we can actually keep in touch?”

“I’m not really a fan of phone calls,” Max says but he reaches for his phone and unlocks it before giving it to David. “But if you swear not to send me lame good morning images we can talk on Whatsapp.”

David smiles as he enters his contact on Max’s phone, when he gives it back he makes the Camp Campbell salute. “I swear not to send lame good morning images!”

“You’re unbelievable,” Max says fondly and he leans up to give him a quick kiss. David melts a little. “I must go now, Christine said she wanted to discuss the new outfits and performances for the club today.”

“What is wrong with the performance and outfits you have now?”

“Nothing really, but she likes to create and Sid always gives her free reign of the ‘artistic direction’ of the club.” Max shrugs and smiles anyway. “Well, she enjoys it so it is okay to me.”

“Tell her I said hi, and that I’m curious about the new performance.”

Max grins and raises his eyebrows suggestively. “Do you want to see me dancing again, David?” To emphasize his point Max crudely grabs at his own crotch making an overly dramatic face.

A deep blush overtakes David’s face and he splutters a little before speaking.

“You are both very good performers, I am curious. That’s all!”

“Well, If I know Christine, and I do, she must have everything set up for next week. You should show up next weekend to check it.” Max’s demeanor is suddenly coy as if he isn’t sure David will accept his invitation.

“Oh, I will!” David says all too enthusiastic. “But just to make sure I don’t forget or anything, you should message me some time to remind me.”

“Loser,” Max says softly but he smiles as David leans down to kiss his cheek. “I really must go now…”

“Okay, I have some work to do too and I don’t want to keep you here too long. Don’t want to make Christine wait for you,” David says with a pleasant smile. “Take care, okay? And send me a message when you get home so I know you’re safe.”

Max is half annoyed, half endeared by David’s motherly behavior. “Yeah, mommy, don’t fret,” he says without much heat. “I’ll be careful,” he adds when he sees David’s smile turning into a little frown.

David is still pouting a little bit but Max quickly fixes it by kissing him, sweet and brief, before stepping out of the house. When Max reaches the gate he looks back and David is still at the threshold watching him with a silly smile on his face. Max waves him goodbye and David’s smile goes bigger as he waves back.

Max’s heart is full of fluttery feelings and he bursts into tiny fits of giggles as he remembers the previous day. He attracts a lot of attention on the bus home, but most people just look at him fondly - one old woman sighs dreamily once she sees his blushing and giggling. When he gets off the bus his ears are red with a strange sort of embarrassment.

When he arrives home he sees that Christine has taken the entire table in the kitchen as her workplace. There are at least three sketchpads, her laptop opened on a youtube video, and a box full of art supplies Max has absolutely no hope of ever learning the name and use for. She is deeply focused on the video but when she notices his presence she pauses it and practically tackles him as she makes a million questions in under thirty seconds.

“My god, Christine, don’t you breathe?” Max extricates himself from her clutches and makes it to the sink where he drinks some water.

“You’ve been keeping me in the dark on purpose, Max!” Christine whines and pouts as she sits back on the chair. “Seriously, I am so curious!”

“I know you are, let me enjoy torturing you a little longer,” Max says smugly which just makes Christine make pitiful little noises.

“Max, please, I am serious,” suddenly, her behavior turns serious and she looks at him with a worried expression. “Was he nice?”

“The nicest,” Max says as he takes a seat in front of her. “I mean it, Chris, he was absolutely… perfect?”

Christine raises her eyebrow slightly but the look on Max’s face is so soft when he speaks it placates her worries efficiently. She rests her chin on her palm as she studies him.

“He cut your hair,” she observes and Max makes a show of pointing to his shaved head.

“He cut my hair! And we watched movies together on the couch and he was so into the cuddling and watching TV he never realized I sat in front of him and not by his side because I was hard for him the whole evening…”

“Really?”

“Yes,” Max rubs his neck, a little self-conscious. “Can you believe it? And when he finally got hard he was so fucking cute! We were back at his room and he was still asking if I wanted it and he kept saying how good it was. But it wasn’t gross or condescending, it was just spontaneous, you know?”

“Max, you are so very much in fucking love,” Christine says, at last, a smile on her disbelieving face. “I’ve never seen you talking like this about anyone else before.”

Max doesn’t reply immediately. Is he in love with David? Surely he does feel something but he can’t call it love. Not yet. David has shown him much more respect, care and attention than he’d ever received in his life and maybe that’s why he doesn’t know what to do. He has never truly known affection, how can he properly gauge the situation when his referential is null?

“Do you really think I’m in love with him?” He asks in a small voice. Christine holds his hand across the table and squeezes it lightly.

“I’m sorry, Max, I shouldn’t have said it,” she says in a very serious voice. “You were very cute talking about him, and you looked very happy on the selfie you sent me yesterday but I have no right to label your feelings. David seems like a very nice guy but your feelings are your own and you have as much time as you need to figure them out. I’ll be here for you if you need but the conclusion is only yours to make.”

“He is very nice,” Max says defeatedly.

“He is.”

“I have to text him.”

“You do?”

“He asked me to text him when I get home,” Max picks his phone with his right hand, the left still holding Christine’s hand as if taking strength from her. “He told me to take care.”

“Isn’t it a little possessive?” Christine furrows her brows as Max searches for David’s contact on his phone. He smiles a little and turns the screen to her - the contact is saved as David *pine tree emoji*.

“I don’t think so, when he asked he had a genuinely worried look on his face,” Max types a short message and places the phone, screen down, on the table. “I think he still blames himself for losing me when I was a child, all that camp thing I talked about the other day, remember?”

“Oh, yes, when you were kidnapped by your own mother.”

“It sounds unnecessarily ridiculous when you say it like this, Christine,” Max frowns and Chris laughs.

“Talking about your mother, does Hannah know about him?”

“Not yet,” Max says pensively. “I’ve been meaning to tell her but I don’t know what to say.” Max makes an imaginary phone with his hand and talks on it with a nasal voice, “Hi Honeybear, there is this guy who took care of me for a while when I was a kid and now we’re maybe dating and I’d like you to meet him because he is amazing but the nuns would probably say we’ll both burn in hell.”

“Now who is making things unnecessarily ridiculous?”

Max groans and deflates. “I am sorry. I want Hannah to know about him but until I figure out what I feel for him I think it would be best to keep it to myself.”

Christine pats his shoulder sympathetically. “Take your time, darling. I am sure David can wait; and so can Hannah.”

Silence falls over them for a moment, both immersed in thoughts until Max suddenly stands up and starts to rummage around the kitchen cabinets.

“I’ll make lunch today,” he says, suddenly full of energy. “How was work yesterday, anyway?”

“The usual,” Chris says, turning her attention back to her sketchpads. “Guess who was there asking for you?”

Max groans. “Sam?”

“Ding ding ding! Right answer.”

“And what did you tell him when he figured out I wasn’t there?”

“Well, I’d have said you were home with a terrible virulent sickness that would make you untouchable for the rest of your life,” Christine says dutifully and Max thanks her. “Unfortunately, Ivan was there and he told him the truth.”

“Damn you, Ivan,” Max mutters with a frown. “And how did he react?”

“As well as you can imagine,” she says darkly. “He literally asked for the other client’s number so he could call and ask what time you’d be free and where he could pick you up.”

“Man, that guy is a lost cause,” Max shakes his head. “He acts all ‘oh look how manly I am’ and then he cries when he takes it up the ass!”

Chris snorts a little but she quickly goes back to a more sober demeanor.

“Ivan managed to calm him down yesterday and he left without incident but I swear I was a bit scared,” a cold shiver runs down Christine’s spine at the memory. “I hope he and David never meet.”

The same cold drips down Max’s back. “Oh, please, no!”

***

From: Gwen Hi David! Are you free tonight?

To: Gwen Yes *smiley emoji* Do you want to go out? We could go somewhere new.

From: Gwen Nah, I don’t want to go out *weary face emoji*

From: Gwen How about dinner in your place? I can drop by the supermarket after work pick wine and cake and then go to yours

To: Gwen Merlot and dark forest?

From: Gwen Of course

To: Gwen 8pm?

From: Gwen Deal

David smiles at his phone, it’s been a while since he and Gwen got to hang out together. Actually, the last time he’d seen her in person was when she took him to The Fruit Bowl. After that, they’ve only texted and talked a bit on the phone. Once again the urge to tell her about Max starts to itch but he steels himself and starts to make a mental list of topics of conversation that would lead away from dangerous subjects, like the bar.

It isn’t difficult to get a long list, he and Gwen still have a lot in common despite the different paths they’ve taken in life. They rarely ever talk about Camp Campbell, but they have plenty to talk about their jobs, their friends, Gwen’s pet snake, David’s travels… The list goes on and on.

It’s barely past noon when Gwen sends the first message, so David has a lot of time to tidy up the house and cook. David enjoys cooking despite knowing only three recipes, luckily Gwen likes all three of them. Since she offered to bring wine he decided to make salmon with vegetables, a good combination according to the fancy site he and Gwen liked to scroll through when they were still dating.

David has a meeting with an editor of a magazine in a few days so he works on his portfolio until about three in the afternoon. After some deliberation, he adds two of Max’s photos to the file alongside with many landscapes and some product images he produced in the studio earlier in the week. With a satisfied groan, David finally turns off his computer and goes downstairs to prepare for the dinner.

Being a naturally organized person has its perks. Tidying the house takes him very little time, some sweeping in the living room and a little cleaning product on the floor of the kitchen and he is done. He turns his attention to the food after this.

He prepares the fish and vegetables efficiently and cleans most of the utensils he uses in the process. Gwen will surely ask to do the dishes since he’s cooking and he doesn’t want to leave too much work for her. She will probably be tired from her shift at the clinic and the traffic across the city to David’s house, so it won’t hurt to take it easy on her.

David is satisfied with his preparations. He sets the table with his good plates and a pretty towel and puts the timer on the oven as he goes upstairs to take a shower.

***

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, trust me,” Christine smiles. “Sid said we’ll have a lot of bachelorette parties in the next month, so we think an all-male performance to open the nights will be a good idea.”

“Okay, it makes sense,” Max concedes. “But you know I don’t like dancing without you.”

“I know, Maxy,” Christine pinches his cheek. “It is adorable but I need you to work with the guys on this one. It will be a short number, just to open the nights, okay?”

Max groans. “Okay.”

“Good, now, pay attention here.”

Christine shows him a video clip with a group of four men dancing in some sort of prison corridor. The narrative of the video is confusing at best and nonexistent at worst but the visuals are very strong, the beat well defined and the choreography amazing. And insanely complex. Christine’s eyes shine with a touch of maniac glee as they watch the video.

“And this is what you want us to do?” Max asks, incredulous.

“Yes,” she answers decisively. “I mean, we’ll have to make our own version, but this is the idea, yes.”

“They are wearing high heels, you crazy bitch,” Max deadpans. “You want me to sprain my ankles? Ivan won’t fill in for me if it happens.”

“Oh, please Max,” she rolls her eyes. “Just give it a try, okay? I’ve learned to walk on them, surely you and the guys can too.”

“I’d rather not,” Max pouts.

“Don’t be a baby, Maxy,” she says rolling her eyes.

“I invited David to go to the club next weekend,” Max says pensively. “Do you think we’ll have it ready until then?”

“Oh, you want to impress your boyfriend!”

“Shut up, Christine!” Max pushes her away and she almost falls from her chair, but she is laughing all the while.

“I don’t know, do you think you can stop bitching and work with me?”

“Yes…”

“Good! So, pay attention again because after this we’ll go to the club talk to the guys and hopefully have it all set until next Saturday so you can make David’s heart throb. And hopefully, other parts of his anatomy too.”

***

“Sorry, David, the traffic was awful,” Gwen says as she hugs David at the door. She is barely fifteen minutes late but she knows how much David values punctuality.

“Don’t worry, you sent me a message so I knew you’d be late,” they separate and David takes a good look at her. “I hope you’re not too tired to enjoy the evening. You surely look exhausted.”

Gwen rubs her eyes lightly but shakes her head in a negative.

“I’m fine, don’t worry. It was the traffic, you know how much I hate those slow drivers who think they are on a field trip in fucking rush hour.”

“Yeah, I know,” he smiles a little and rubs his hands together excitedly. “But you are here now, and dinner is about to get ready.”

Gwen smiles at him and there is something off about it. It is small, so subtle he isn’t quite sure if it even exists. This is a rare occasion nowadays, after so many years David and Gwen are pretty proficient at reading one another. David can’t tell what is more alarming if it is the fact that he can’t immediately tell that there is something wrong, or that something happened and Gwen is trying to hide it from him.

They move onto the kitchen and David decides to put it aside for the moment. Maybe Gwen only needs some time to relax and gather her bearings before telling him what is the problem. Or maybe after some conversation, he’ll realize there was nothing wrong to start with.

In the kitchen, he busies himself with the fish and Gwen goes to the drawer get a corkscrew to open the wine. She pours two glasses and sets the bottle aside before putting the cake on the fridge to cool down a little, the hot weather had melted some of the frosting. David places the tray on a heat mat in the center of the table and Gwen brings the wine with her as she sits down.

“How you’ve been?” She asks, taking a sip of the wine.

“I’m very good,” David says with enthusiasm. “I’ve just set up a studio upstairs. It is small, just a background on the wall and some floodlights but it is mine and I am very excited about it.”

Gwen smiles benevolently at him. “This is very good! Are you planning on quitting the tour guides?”

David frowns a little as he serves Gwen a generous piece of salmon.

“No, I wouldn’t be able to quit the tour guides,” he says fondly. “You know how much I enjoy them, but I want more options and it is important to widen my repertoire.”

“Do you have anything in mind?”

“I’ll have a meeting next week,” he tells her. “It is a new magazine, focused on alternative fashion and culture. I am very optimistic.”

“What a surprise,” Gwen says with a little eye roll. She takes a bite and makes a pleased sound as she chews on it. “Oh, this is better than I remembered.”

“Thank you,” David starts to eat his own food. Gwen is right, it does taste better than the last few times he’d made it. His good humor might have infected the food.

They eat in silence for a while. A few times, David is certain that Gwen will finally tell what is wrong, but she just shakes her head slightly and continues eating. He doesn’t remember the last time they had such a silent meal. David’s plate is still half full when he gently sets his knife and fork down to look directly at Gwen.

Her eyes are sunken, and she is looking very tired. Not ‘tired from work’ or ‘stressed because of traffic’, but a deep kind of tiredness that David is all too familiar with. It is the exhaustion of a person being consumed by a problem that seems too big to face. David had had this look for ten years, but Gwen had overcome it when she started to work at the clinic and made her peace with Max’s disappearing. If she is back at this kind of mental space, something really serious might have happened.

David clears his throat to call her attention. Her reaction is slow, it takes a long second for her eyes to meet his.

“Gwen, is there anything you want to tell me?”

Gwen looks down and she tightens her grip on her cutlery. Silence stretches between them, dense and dark for a long while. Gwen gently places her knife and fork down before cleaning her mouth with the napkin.

“Did I tell you about Simone?”

David frowns. This isn’t what he was expecting.

“I am afraid not,” he says carefully. “Who is Simone?”

“Simone is an eight years old girl who was abused by an uncle,” Gwen tells him with a heavy expression on her face. “She was taken to the clinic by a social worker because they needed her testimony on the trial but she refused to speak. I’ve been working with her for a few weeks. In fact, the last time we met I had to leave earlier because they needed me to go to the court see her for the first time.”

“I am sorry, this is a very sad story,” David says, genuinely heartbroken.

“It took me a long time, but she is finally talking more freely with me,” Gwen continues. “Two days ago she said she wanted to talk on the court because she was worried about Bianca.”

“Who is Bianca?”

“Bianca is her ten years old sister,” Gwen explains and something happens to her face when she says it. Her expression hardens all of a sudden, but the vulnerability in her eyes becomes more evident by the change. “Bianca went on a trip with this uncle one year ago, but she didn’t return. Simone thinks the uncle might have hurt her sister,” the emphasis on the word make her meaning clear.

David swallows dryly, any trace of good humor gone. He knows this is the kind of reality Gwen faces on her work, and he wants to be there to help and support her, but it is so difficult. It is such an awful, terrible thing, and despite being a different situation he can’t help but think of Max and how close to this he was during his childhood. David’s throat close.

“So, two days ago I started to look for signs of Bianca,” Gwen says. voice breaking. “And you know that I have quite the experience with missing children. I still remember all the sites, all the forums. I still have all the usernames and passwords.”

Tears start to form in her eyes and David wants to hold her and comfort her but he is too paralyzed to act.

“And since I was there I decided to look our old topics looking for clues about Max… David, why did you close them?” Gwen’s tone is not accusatory, it is confused and somehow betrayed. She is shaking slightly, her lip trembling and her eyes glittering with unshed tears.

“Gwen… I….”

“I am sorry I gave up,” she says pitifully. “I wish I was stronger but I couldn’t keep up with that life. But I did it because I knew you’d be strong for the two of us. I knew you’d never give up,” her voice breaks in a big sob and David’s chair falls when he stands up to go around the table and hold her.

“I’m sorry I abandoned you,” she says between wavering breaths. “I’m sorry I left you alone on this, I’m sorry you had to give up too.”

“Gwen, Gwen, please stop crying,” David holds her in a tight embrace and she weakly holds the front of his shirt in reply. “Gwen, you were right, I’ve never given up.”

“But you close the topics,” she whines. “Now you’ll never receive new information, we’ll never find him!”

“I found him.”

Time seems to stop when David says those three words. It stretches like molasses, slow and heavy around them. David’s brain catches up with what he’s said a fraction of a second too late; at exactly the same moment Gwen processes the information.

She slowly pushes him off, her face a painful puzzle of feelings.

“You what?”

“I…” David takes a deep gulp. “I found him.”

Check this chapter on AO3.

[wanderlustayne-blog]

This week we completed a 3 day yoga retreat in Rishikesh.

Due to our illness earlier in the trip, our stay was cut short. We lost two whole days of exploration. I feel there was much more to see in this humble riverside city…

Located in the state of Uttarakhand not far from the Himalaya mountains, it sits peacefully on the hills as the river Ganges winds through it. Two halves of the city divided by the holy water and connected by a rather questionable narrow bridge, where people, bikes, dogs and cows cross suspended by steel wire. – If you have motion sickness like me, the first time on the bridge is gonna be a challenge! –

Many people told us about doing yoga here. They told us people come here for that reason. That we must try it, or if we were going there to practice? Apparently Rishikesh is the yoga capital. Now I don’t know if this is true (do comment below if you know) but we thought being that it was mentioned so often we would get stuck in.

After we found our room; decent size, big double, ensuite with a large balcony over looking the Ganges for R500 – bargain! – we took some time to explore and find a stall to negotiate on rafting. We managed to find a place that was offering a 2h rafting experience for R500. We thought that was a pretty decent deal so we said we would come back the next day.

Rafting Down The River Ganges

This stall looked unofficial. It was small, two young lads sat there on their phones but eager to get us to join. The time now reduced to 1.5hr which made me dubious about how long it really was. As we spoke, two Israeli girls approached, confidently said they wanted to raft and haggled them down to R400, we jumped on their negotiation and introduced ourselves as their raft mates.

I didn’t bring my phone and unfortunately my GoPro is currently dead so I didn’t get any footage of how incredibly breathtaking it was to raft down the river but I 100% recommend it. We drove about 12km up the mountains to a set off station. Had a quick lesson by our instructor, a cheeky 22 year old man with 5 years rafting experience. We were given certain instructions for rowing and an emergency procedure in case we capsized. He taught us how to sit so we wouldn’t fall out – basically jam your feet into the side of the raft or under the inflatables in any way that makes you feel secure. So for me as far deep as I could get them with an extremely unnatural kink in my ankle, forcing a rather severe cramp. Not going anywhere. Safe. – And we set off!

We went through five rapids, each exhilarating and fucking terrifying. I drank about a gallon of river water. And we also got to swim in it while the waters were calm in between rapids. We stopped for a break to eat Maggi noodles and finished our ride back where we started.

It was heaps of fun. Definitely try it.

Later that day we went on the hunt for a yoga retreat to try a 3 day experience of intensive yoga. We checked out a few places but decided on one in the centre of town called Swami Yoga Centre. We were looking for an immersive experience where we could hide away in an ashram and focus solely on yoga, meditation and inner work if there was any that came up but we found them all either full, too expensive or far too noisy.

Swami Yoga Centre

This yoga centre offered a decent timetable, teacher training courses and drop-in classes. They offered prices including yoga philosophy, food and a room. We decided that we wouldn’t do the philosophy class, wanted to stay in the room we were already in as it was bigger and cheaper and we decided it would be more exciting to eat out so we could explore.

In total it was R3000 per person for 3 days. Here was the programme:

6:30 – Pranayama

7:30 – Beginner Yoga

8:45 – Ashtanga Yoga

17:00 – Hatha Yoga

18:45 – Meditation

We paid our deposit and went back for an early night.

I found myself feeling very fatigued and achey. My stomach bug was still lingering insidiously in my system. – Now, I just have to make a statement here. Nothing gets between me and food, okay. Not even a ghastly gastrointestinal bacteria that makes me shit every hour. Nothing. – And so I merrily ate my way through Rishikesh, eating thali, salads, soups, rice platters… I didn’t want to take antibiotics, I thought I wouldn’t need them but i found myself feeling weaker and weaker…

DAY 1

We awoke at 5:15, got ready and headed over to the yoga centre for our morning class of “Pranayama”.

Pranayama is a breathing exercise practice. In Sanskrit “Prana” means life force and “ayama” is to extend. These exercises are meant to clear any physical and emotional blockages in our body to free the breath and allow the flow of prana – life energy.

After our breathing class we chose to do the Beginner Yoga class, being that we hadn’t done yoga since our last visit to India earlier in the year. My body was weak, it was extremely difficult to hold poses and stretching was hellish. But I was proud of myself for persevering. I slept until our next lesson and Brad went out to get me antibiotics, I gave in.

Hatha Yoga was challenging but it was good to stretch out the aches I had been feeling all day. So in a way, despite the pain I felt it was doing me some good.

Meditation was our next and final class of the day. It was an interesting experience, it was hard to get your focus away from the noise from outside and I found myself indulging in my thoughts too much to let go. Brad fell asleep – hahahaha! – obviously. Though, I was also very close to falling asleep myself, it was relaxing to say the least. We learned about awareness, bringing your focus inward and making every movement, every breath something we could be present with.

DAY 2

Feeling a little better I felt ready to challenge myself both physically and mentally.

Pranayama – I was finding these exercises in the morning quite revitalising, it was waking up the body ready for our yoga practice. Some of the exercises were kinda weird. Like, inhaling deeply then bending forward exhaling everything. Once everything was out of your lungs to suck in your throat, stomach and your perineal – or that muscle that twitches in your butt when you cringe… – Moving on. I found that exercise difficult. It made me cough and it was very hard to keep your breath held for longer than a few seconds.

Beginner Yoga – These beginner classes we revery basic. More like a stretching class. – Which I was totally grateful for as I felt I needed to warm myself into yoga again. – It was a bit more challenging than the first day and my body was definitely feeling more flexible. Brad is far more nimble than I am and so for him these classes weren’t challenging enough for him. But he did enjoy the stretch.

Hatha Yoga – Classic yoga, we do our sun and moon salutations, lying down poses both front and back. Sitting poses and standing pose (balance). I absolutely revelled in this class. My flexibility was on point, I was enjoying the deep stretches and I felt my mind become clear and relaxed.

After the class our teacher Mohan would give us some words of wisdom. He made us td an exercise that was kind of awkward but at the same time beautiful. We needed to find a partner (at first Brad and I went together but we got separated because we already had a connection so it defeated the point.) We sat opposite this person and were told just to look into each other’s eyes. – CRINGE! – But it really did work. It totally broke down those walls you have on first meeting people and it made you see another being in front of you. We are all the same after all right? What is it about the world today where we aren’t able to allow kindness into our hearts and look people in the eyes when we speak. Why are we all so afraid to show vulnerability? Everyone is battling something, the support of a stranger, a simple smile… could change everything. At least for that moment. I found myself really smiling and feeling quite emotional after.

Meditation – This meditation class was a bit more intimate. We did first 30 minutes of deep meditation or in other words trying to block out the sound, not running away with the fairies or falling asleep… – I thought about some weird shit, stuff that you don’t usually think about… I imagine it’s cos you are lying with your eyes closed in “silence” for 30 minutes. That it gives your brain a chance to get creative… – We did some more eye gazing and hand holding and swaying *insert laughing emoji* then left to have chai and veg momos with the teacher and our new friends.

DAY 3

We were so beat by day three, I dunno how some people can do weeks to months at ashrams but I guess it gets easier or you push yourself less with more time? Not sure.

Pranayama – We didn’t get up for this class. I had a terrible nights sleep because of my stomach flu so I slept some more before our next class.

Ashtanga Yoga – Ashtanga yoga (explain what it is) Brad LOVED this class. It was a more intermediate class and the poses were held for longer and much more challenging. It definitely challenged me. I think I will stick to Hatha for now! Brad left feeling like he had cleared tensions that he had been holding onto for a while.

At 3:30 we did a beginner yoga class with a trainee yoga instructor from Ireland that we met the day before.

Then we skipped meditation to rest and restore.

Overall I really felt a huge benefit from doing yoga as often as three times a day in three days. I want very much to keep it up and to incorporate it into my daily life. It teaches you discipline, to be more present and in the moment. To nourish your body in more ways than just food. To take time out in the day to allow healing and rest & relaxation.

If I have taken anything away with me from those three days it’s to definitely respect my body more and treat it with more care. To nourish myself in every way and to take more time for inner healing and to spend the rest of my life becoming every day more self aware. To treat those around you with the same love and respect that you know yourself also deserves. Because at the end of it all, we are all the same.

I am now currently on a train from Delhi to Varanasi. The holy and very sacred ancient city where many Hindu pilgrims come to bathe in Mother Ganga and were others choose to die and be cremated to ascend finally to the source. More of this in the next post. First we must explore.

Phir Melenge, Until the next post xxx

3 Day Yoga Retreat In Rishikesh This week we completed a 3 day yoga retreat in Rishikesh. Due to our illness earlier in the trip, our stay was cut short.

[dutchbread]

I had not been sleeping well the past few weeks. By well I mean, early and I’ve been waking up at weird times. I don’t know why. But I don’t really feel like sleeping. Says the one who’s always tired at class. I also had been thinking. Too much if you ask me. There’s just so much to process every single day. There’s so much happening. Maybe it’s cause it’s a new school cycle, or I still had vacation hangover, or maybe it’s because of my fucking phone (useless, I should really tell that to my parents, ggwp), or the fact the I have like only 15 units and what’s happening is that there’s nothing much to do, well, in the morning. Sucks though. I was pretty excited to go to school, meehh. But yeah, I’ve been thinking, when you’re a graduating student who didn’t have plans to begin with, it haunts you every single day. It’s always asked in majors, in chats, in talks with peers, at home. Sucks. It’s so difficult to meet expectations when at the first place, you don’t even know what to expect. It really sucks. I’ve been thinking where I’d work, what I’ll be doing, when I’ll start, yeah I have answers but everything seems to not satisfy the expectations that people have for me. I don’t know. It’s heavy. It’s getting heavier each day. But yeah, I’m still thinking. I’m thinking way too much. WAY WAY TOO MUCH Cause they’re so much that I can’t do for these people. I’m just.... me.. What can I do? (cue in: feeling of being not enough and being scared that I am failing and disappointing people) *darkness*

I’m liking the night breeze though. It’s not as cold as the province but I like it. There’s really something about the night that settle me down, even for just a little bit. Even with cars passing by, it’s as if the world’s stopping just so I can breathe with it, with the breeze. It’s also a plus that I can see the stars. It’s beautiful to think that in this crowded and polluted city, the stars were kind enough to show themselves every night. I wish it’s always January. The month brings the breeze and the stars. December could be enough but January is when it’s coldest and when the stars and brightest (I think. hahaha)

I guess I’ll also be back to theater. It’s been a while. I didn’t know I’d be back here since I told myself last year that it would be my last cause I’d be graduating. But I guess going back to what I love will help me clear things in my mind. I think I’d have to sacrifice graduating with honors though. Honestly, I’m totally fine with not getting it, but if I can get it, good, if I don’t then okay, at least I’ll be proud to say that I’m doing what I love. It’s not also sure that I’d get that even though I don’t do theater. So back to theater. HAHA. The play’s cool I tell you. I sense how dark it will get.... AND I LOVE DARK PLAYS... Although it haunts me in sleep. I tried auditioning, it’s actually very funny cause I auditioned in front of my good theater friends. Very interesting I tell you. HAHAHA. I don’t know dude. Really hope I can get in. So I can end my college year with a bang. Theater had always been there for me. It’s always a surreal experience both on or offstage. Compare it to when you first tied your shoelaces. You remember how difficult it was to tie it, very frustrating. You can see the actual thing, the actual process, but it really doesn’t make sense. But after one effort, it just ties itself and you’re one happy kid. I would have doubts on why I do theater, on why I still do that despite all the commitments I have to my studies, to the dorm, to my friends, but as cliche as it sounds, IT IS REALLY WORTH IT. Every production I join is like me learning how to tie my shoe again. From the frustrations, to new found friendships, to late night adventures, to cramming the subjects. I TELL YOU. IT. IS. WORTH. IT.

I’m also back to praying my daily ten minute prayers in front of the Blessed Sacrament. I am having difficulties though. My mind tends to wander and think of so much things. It’s difficult, but I do hope my prayers reach Him. There’s so much to thank for. Recently, I was told that everything that I’ll be doing will be my last as a student. That hit me. It hit me so much because I know so many people that has helped me be who I am today. There’s just so much to thank for and it’s very frustrating to be not focused in my prayers. I need help. I’mma go spiritual direction again. And be as honest as possible.

Now, it’s early in the morning. I’m getting hungry. That’s why I should sleep early, but I can’t so I get hungry. During these times, I’m always torn between just sleeping it off and go down the stairs to actually get something to eat. I’ll settle for water though, for now, maybe I’ll get one viand later. Depends. It’s always good to be asked how you are randomly. It’s so lame but I like it, makes the person feel important or loved. Who wouldn’t want that? So right now, I’m hungry.

I’m also starting to listen to songs I liked before. The Script and Ed are at the top of the list. I’d be always be moved by Ed Sheeran’s Give Me Love which was captured somewhere (search it in youtube NOW. Search keyword: Give Me Love Captured. So if you see something like captured at the live room. THAT’S IT) The dorm restricted some youtube videos to be viewed so that’s very frustrating. I CAN’T PROPERLY SEARCH FOR SONGS!!!! Also, if you’re done with Give Me Love, listen to Ed’s No.5 Collaborations Project Ep. As a graduating student, I don’t know why I can relate to the songs so much. BUT IT’S LIT AF (fire emoji, fire emoji, fire emoji) I SWEAR. I’ve been liking the Script’s If You Ever Come Back also. Well I have liked that ever since, and it really has so much meaning to me, but even know, it still hits right in the feels, in my heart, in my mind. I also gained appreciation of how the instruments and voices harmonizes to make something beautiful. My favorite part is at 1:08 and 2:18 before the chorus. The instruments and the voices combined into one beautiful... errr.. part. HAHAHAHA. LISTEN!!  So yeah music. ALSO MAYDAY PARADE OMG. The band name says it all. before I forget, I’m also in the middle of a 30-day music something challenge. I like that. It’s always me sharing something about me every day. SO it’s really beautiful. I wish more people would do that. Ghaad. I’m hungry. But I want to write more. HAHAHA. Anyway, I’ll be going home later. In like 8.5 hours. But I’m not yet sleeping so I don’t know what’ll happen. But it’s okay. Sleep is life. As if I’m sleeping well. OOOOHHH. I changed my profile picture in FB. It happened on one of the best days of my life. I was with family and we went on  partying till late at night. How I wish all of my days were like that. Fun and all. But it was a tiring day. We were standing and walking for too long. HAHAHA. But it’s with family so it’s all good. and good music with water sprayers so that’s better. There’s this one band who played, SUD, and i was the only one in our group who was singing. Cool experience. Cool.

For the first time in my life, I witnessed a public confession of love. So I had this friend Paul who loved a girl named Nicole. We were on ROC’s general assembly to talk about the future projects. Well we were at Telengtan Hall and everything was like going as planned, as what should happen in a general assemble. So yeah. Paul opens the door and pokes his head in. We asked him to join us. But to our surprise HE HAD FLOWERS!!!!!! So yeah I thought it’s only just a surprise for Nicole. BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE. He went inside the circle that we formed and started saying stuff. LIKE THE CHEESY STUFF LIKE LOVE , EVER SINCE YOU STUFF STUFF. AND I LOVE YOU STUFF. OMG OMG OMG!!! THEN HE SAID LIKE TO AVOID THE AWKWARD QUESTIONS IF THEY’RE BF/GF...... HE ASKED HER TO BE HER BOYFRIEND!!!! OMG OMG OMG. SHE TOOK THE FLOWERS AND SAID YES. THAT WAS SO COOL AND PAUL WAS SO COURAGEOUS. I SALUTE YOU PAUL. Anway, I had so much feels. hahaha.

By now, I think you’ve realized how much of a mess I am, how much of a contradiction I am, how I don’t make sense. Most of the times, I really do not make sense. Do know that I’m trying. I am always trying to be sensible.

But guess what? Even without trying, she makes sense to me. I met this girl. No. Let’s not dwell there. I know this girl. Stubborn, sensitive, cute and beautiful (she’ll never believe me though), smart (again she’ll never believe me), caring, fragile, loving, emotional, grouchy, clingy, snappy, quite lax, sleepy, soft. But most of all, she’s who she is. I love her for that. I love her for all of that.

 I made a mistake of trying to change who she was. I guess I hurt her way too much. But I’m lucky enough that she stayed. Maybe that’s the reason why I always think too much. I think too much because I don’t want her to get tired of me, to not love me. Because I love everything that she is. Maybe that’s the reason why I’m liking the night breeze. I’m liking it because I want to be with her during the moments when it’s too cold for me to handle or when the stars are showing off their beauty for the rest of the world to see in awe. Maybe that’s the reason I’ll go back to theater. I’ll go back to theater because it was in theater when we met, when we knew each other, when I learned how beautiful she is. So I’ll go back to theater to enjoy wMith her one last time this college. Maybe that’s the reason why I’ve been praying my daily ten minute prayers in front of the Blessed Sacrament. I’ve been praying lately because she’s one of the reasons why I am really thankful to the Lord. Believe me, I can’t thank the Lord enough for giving me the opportunity to love her. Maybe that’s why I’m still up early in the morning and hungry. I’m still up early in the morning and hungry because I can’t wait to talk to her again tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after, and the day after, and so on. Maybe that the reason why I’m also starting to listen to songs I liked before. Because before, everything didn’t really make sense. It was a childish me trying to force everything. But now, it’s really something else. Something worth the pains and the troubles of the past. Maybe that’s why I’m hungry and i want to write more because I can never write enough to give the best for you. That’s why I’ll just try me best all the time, although honestly, I fail. But there’s always space to write, right? Maybe that’s why I witnessed a public confession for the first time in my life because I needed to be reminded how much I love you. And how much I should cherish it. And how much of a blessing you are to me. But we’ll get there. We’ll get there. If it’s you, it’ll make sense. I love you. I don’t know dude. But it makes sense, right?