#once the hyper fixation kicks in there is no stopping me

[starfruitsomething]

Once the hyper fixation kicks in no one is safe

[bitchface24-7]

HE’S A WHAT?! - VIKTOR X READER

synopsis: You're an exhausted student, plagued with too much assignments and riddled with insomnia. You've found an amazing ASMR artist called "The-Herald", their ASMR puts you to sleep almost instantly. Their voice immediately putting you into a drowsy state. So when you see a Patreon link regarding more videos, one specifically titled "Talking you through it | NSFW Audio (1mil subscriber) Special" It sparks your attention. Now you're hooked. Instead of being Pavloved into drowsiness, you've pavloved yourself into arousal. His voice sounds familiar though...

warnings: NSFW audio mentions, voice kink, masturbation, obsession, neediness, realizations, suggestiveness, grammarly is my beta, adding youtube and patreon to the arcane verse so lowkey a modern au! ???

genre: m/f

p.s. @melisshivering sent me a DM with a HOT Viktor NSFW audio (literally sounds so similar to him it's INSANE) and I came up with the idea with them for this fic. So send them some thanks as well if you enjoy this fic. I'll put the link at the end of the fic

As a top academy student alongside your friends Sky, Viktor, and Jayce, you're completely burnt out. Hours upon hours of studying, assignments, and working on the campus library to help pay for your tuition. You're riddled with exhaustion that just won't go away, and insomnia is kicking your ass.

"The-Herald" has been your saving grace. His ASMR videos captivating you, helping you quiet your mind as you fall asleep. He keeps his face out of the frame in all his videos, but you can imagine how attractive he is; especially due to his voice. It kind of reminds you of Viktor's.

Are you hyper fixating on this creator due to his voice and your massive crush on Viktor? No. Shut up.

So imagine your surprise when you see a Patreon link for more content, NSFW content specifically. Well... it wouldn't hurt to check it out...

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

You're addicted. Holy shit that audio couldn't have been any hotter. The orders, the praise, the degradation, the growly tone of his voice, the sound design.

Fuck... you don't think you've ever cum that hard before.

Your whining pants, your messy cunt, your aching wrist, and noisy bullet vibrator. You came in like ten minutes, you came again in less than two.

Who needs hookups when you've got The-Herald calling you a good girl in his sexy accent as he praises you for being good, and degrades you for being his personal slut.

Hopefully nobody finds out about your new obsession.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

It's becoming bad how dependent you are on this man. You're constantly thinking about him. His voice, his words, how he makes you feel. He's honestly rivaling Viktor at this point for how bad of a crush you have on him; and you don't even know what he looks like.

You're down horrendous.

Like your entire libido revolves around this man.

You get one hell of a surprise on your next shift at the campus library.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Here you are, doing your due diligence and retuning books to their proper shelves as you stop every once in a while to chat with your friends. Everything is awesome, it's great! Until Jayce throws a bomb at you.

"So, when're next uploading V?"

You pause your ministrations as Sky continues to work and the two men have a small conversation. Upload? What is Jayce talking about?

"Tonight, actually."

"Really? I though you only posted on Thursdays."

"Eh, I post when I want."

You butt in. No way... there's no way! "Uhhh... Post where? If you don't mind me asking." Jayce looks at Viktor and Viktor casually shrugs, "I run an ASMR channel. It helps me pay my tuition here, it's called The-Herald. Maybe you heard of it? It's been trending these past few weeks."

You accidentally drop a book.

Oh.

Oh.

Oh no.

You've been masturbating to your friends voice, your crushes voice. You've pavloved yourself into arousal if Viktor says anything demeaning, praising, or that can pass as an order. You fucked up BIG TIME.

"What is wrong with you? Pick that up. You could've accidentally hurt yourself. Those textbooks aren't light you know?"

No goddamnit why?! It's like he can read your mind! You shudder out a sigh as you bend down and pick the textbook up, putting it away.

"Good girl."

A wheeze escapes you. Oh Viktor's just teasing you now and being an asshole about it. You look over your shoulder and see Sky and Jayce working together, Viktor is staring you down.

You quickly add, "Yeah I've seen it on my recommended tab. You've gotten quite popular, congrats!"

"Thanks, sweetheart." Viktor casually states, his eyes narrowed onto you as he smirks. He knows. He's gotta know! He's eyeing you down like you're a steak and he's starving.

Another hour passes by and you can feel Viktor's stare on you the entire time. Jayce and Sky pack up, Viktor stays behind.

His one reasoning being, "I don't have class tomorrow until three pm, the two of you have a class for seven in the morning. I can stay behind and make sure she gets home safe, you two can't."

Jayce and Sky can't argue with that logic, so they leave with some hugs and heartfelt goodbyes. Now it's just you and Viktor in this massive empty library.

"You're not very subtle you know." Viktor states as he runs a finger across multiple spines on the shelf, You put your tongue into your cheek, "What do you mean?"

"You've known about my channel for a while."

"You can't know that."

You turn around and Viktor's a few centimeters away from you, your noses are almost brushing together. His voice is quiet, but it damn near echoes in the silent library, "You shouldn't use a well-known nickname as your user ID. It kind of gives you away."

A sharp inhale is what he gets in response. Fuck. You didn't think about that. You assumed The-Herald was some stranger, not your friend. Not your crush.

"I didn't know it was you."

Viktor's eyebrow quirks up as he huffs in amusement, "You didn't know it was me? Wouldn't my voice give me away? My ah... accent isn't very common here."

"I didn't want to assume."

"So you subscribed to my NSFW channel, just cause?"

"I did that cause your voice is hot and it makes me cum quick."

Viktor steps back in some shock, his eyes minutely widened, "That was much more blunt than I expected."

You shrug, "It's the truth. I have a massive crush on you, this person's voice is remarkably similar to yours, there's dirty videos. One plus one equals two."

"You have a massive crush on me?"

You look down, trying to hide your face; Viktor doesn't let you. He pushes your head back up with his fingers under your chin, "Tell me sweetheart, be honest."

"Y— Yes."

Viktor hums in satisfaction, "Well I have a crush on you too."

A beaming grin overtakes your face. Your eyes glittery, you're even lightly bouncing on the balls of your feet. He likes you back!

"I have a question for you. Would you like to join me on my NSFW channel? I'm getting tired of using my hand and imagining you. I can have you for real now; only thing is you'll need to stay quiet."

You just nod, giggling in excitement. Holy shit, Viktor's your boyfriend now. You get that glorious voice everyday. You get him.

"Good girl."

Ahhh, he's gonna kill you one day.

You're not complaining, what a way to go!

I speed-wrote this so if there is any grammar or spelling mistakes, no there isn't.

Here’s the link 😏:

[yellowballoondogs]

Giving the x-men disabilities so they can suffer like me

I just think it’s cool how much people can relate to the x-men in marginalized groups no matter the group. Just like how they’re all gay, POC, religious minorities, etc.

Cyclops- Scott Summers

C’mon this is the most autistic man to ever autism

He’s got model plane sets and shit around his otherwise empty and perfectly cleaned room with the sheet corners tucked in and everything

He stopped stimming because of O’Diamonds and Sinisters abuse but started again when he got more comfortable with the o5 team. He definitely does flappy hands

He probably hyper fixated on an obscure engineering subject

photophobia- light sensitivity

Idk if it’s cannon or not but it would make sense with his brain damage and all (plus I have it and I’m projecting) it’s also an autism symptom so double whammy- his glasses will help

Migrainous stroke- basically stroke with migraines. It ties into brain damage and photophobia with migraines which would make so much sense. Frequent strokes too? Fuck yeah let’s highlight how his childhood trauma and overwhelming power effect him- how mutant powers aren’t always good.

He should have really shitty vision- canonically colorblind- wears glasses all the time so low light, his eyes basically fucking glow. This man cannot see for shit

“cut the red wire cyclops!” “They’re all red!”

Storm- Ororo Monroe

She’s canonically claustrophobic but it’s really only used as a once in awhile plot device

I think it should tie into anxiety a lot more

Ororo is the kind of person who uses a planner to manage every aspect of her day so she’s never caught of guard

She’s got only one timer set up to take her meds instead of 10 like the rest of us (she’s simply better)

She would have actual panic attacks that don’t end the second she’s out of a confined space. Full run-

For her a panic attack would cause a lot of derealization. She doesn’t feel like she’s in her body, she feels out of control, like she can’t breathe, dizzy, both hot and cold at the same time.

Nightcrawler-Kurt Wagner

syndactyly- fusion of fingers or toes. This is basically cannon. He’s got 2 big fingers and toes so like no explanation really needed. He’s got it even if it’s for different reasons.

This greatly effects his ability to do certain things- our boy can’t use a controller can he? How’s he meant to play Mario cart with the rest of the team ):

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome- bendy bones and stretchy skin that causes lots of joint pain

He canonical has bendy bones so like this is also half canon. Plus I’m giving my blorbo chronic pain to project.

Pretty sure there’s a Spider-Man with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome too so that’s very slay.

Rouge- Anne-Marie

Hear me out- HPV It’s the whole- “I can’t touch anyone” thing

She was born with it

It causes a lot of pain for her but she hides it around people she’s not comfortable with (so really just unmasking in front of remy and her family)

Also stds just need to be a lot more normalized. And her having to be so weird about people with it fits so much with the whole ��ew mutants” thing

Xavier

Yeah yeah he’s a paraplegic

They should be better about it though. No more of this curing him so often he’s like the one famous character wheelchair bound people get

Stop making him so weak, he runs a school to learn how to kick ass, man can probably box, who needs legs. They always just make him useless once someone kicks over his chair or something

Chronic migraines again

Listen hearing all those thoughts all the time can’t be all sunshine’s and rainbows. Make him suffer (this goes for all telepaths)

Gambit- Remy Lebeau

He canonically has brain damage (via lebeatomy) (haha get it)

He’s getting hit with migraines too. Making all these losers suffer

He probably also has very bad vision because of his eyes- probably not very good with light just like cyclops (likely worse)

I’m going to give him the worlds worst period cramps via dysmenorrhea. Yeah he’s trans to me I’m a romy t4t Reuther

Rapid fire listings let’s go!

Jubilee canonically has Dyscalculia- like dyslexia for numbers

Wolverine canonically has memory issues and ptsd

Magneto canonically has ptsd

Legion canonically has multiple personality disorder or DID- dissociative identity disorder. It’s not always portrayed the best but rep is rep

Angel canonically has hollow bones- I’m gonna gc him with osteoporosis

Headcanoning Madelyn Pryor with post partum depression

Scarlet witch gets head cannoned half of all the mental disorders- depression, psychosis, ptsd, and anything you wanna give her. Girl needs a staff of therapists, psychologists, and a cocktail of pills

Quicksilver gets headcannoned with ADHD. Boring I know but I’ve got it and it fits him so projection time

Let marrow have ptsd. Girl witnessed a genocide of her people and her moms death as a child. Why do they skim over that? Girl is suffering

Pyro canonically had the legacy virus which was like a big euphemism for AIDs so he gets that. Plus he also gets hit with the autism beam

Toad is autistic. No further questions

Jean grey gets the psychic migraines but I’m also giving her autism cause her relationship with Scott is nowhere near neurotypical. The biggest disability marvel gave her was liking wolverine though. He canonically smells like shit and is an asshole. I love him.

Kitty pryde gets type 1 diabetes- I cannot explain why it fits her it just does

Cable gets lupus cause he canonically had a fantasy space tech autoimmune disease so let’s just make it more realistic

Daken gets lactose intolerance (he’s fine because he doesn’t really actually eat dairy)

Iceman gets lactose intolerance (he’s not fine because he loves all things dairy)

Dust gets celiac disease

[fluff-a-nutter]

Murder Drones TK headcanons- Nuzi

I haven’t decided if I ship them or not yet, so these can be interpreted as platonic or romantic.

Because I now have a new hyper fixation, have some headcanons.

N

This silly goober!!

He’s a lee leaning switch

worst spots are his tummy and an oddly specific spot on the back of his neck (don’t ask, he has no clue either.)

Hilariously easy to tease

If he’s being tickled he’ll normally just curl up and giggle like a dork

Loses 90% of the tickle fights he’s in (he doesn’t fight too hard)

Accidentally kicked Uzi once because she ambushed him and apologized at least 60 times.

Don’t be fooled tho he’s a pretty good ler when he wants to be

He’s the perfect blend of teasy and sweet

If his Lee screams too loud or seems even slightly uncomfortable he stops to make sure they’re okay.

Overall, he just wants people to have a good time with tickles on the giving and receiving end

Uzi

She’s such a gremlin I love her

Ler leaning switch

worst spots are her hips, armpits, and wings

doesn't let just anyone tickle her

for a long time, the only one allowed to tickle her was N.

very squirmy. Hold her down if you don’t want to get punched/kicked

will hold back laughter until her death spots are targeted

if you tickle her, be prepared to get a taste of your own medicine

says “bite me” in response to teases

hates baby talk

she’s vicious as a ler

shows no mercy

don’t ask her how she knows everyone’s death spots, she just does

loved tickling N

Overall, don’t tickle her unless you’re prepared to get it back

So yeah, that’s all I’ve got! Let me know if you have other headcanons for the goobers!

[ateriblewriter]

Bagels (a.m)

enjoy!

"Babe why are you crying?" Auston walked up to you snaking his arm around waist, his hand landing on your belly. He raised his eyebrows giving you a questioning look as to why you were crying in the middle of the bakery area at the grocery store.

You ignore your husband, instead choosing to continue staring at the selection of bagels in front of you, fixated on what was not there. How dare they not have what you wanted. The one thing that you had been craving since your mind hyper focused on the breakfast food earlier that week.

"You know I can't make it better if I don't know what's wrong." Auston tried again to break your hyper focus. He just needed to wrangle it out of you what was upsetting you and then he could help. That's all he wanted to do. "Y/N please."

"Bagels." you sniffle.

"What?" Auston wasn't sure if he had

"Bagels. They don't have the asiago." You sniffled admitting why you were tearing up. Damn hormones. It wasn't the end of the world, but with the surge of emotions if sure felt like it. And to top it off you could feel your lovely husband laughing at your misfortune. Why why was he laughing.

"It's not funny Aus. I'm huge. I feel like I'm going crazy. And this child will not stop kicking my bladder. All I want is an asiago bagel, but there aren't any left."

"I'm sorry babe." Auston's forehead hit your shoulder as he continued to chuckle at you. You do your best to throw the sharpest daggers you could despite the tears staining your cheeks. You tried your hardest to be mad at the man, but it wasn't easy. "But you're right it's not funny. I'll stop."

"Thank you." You wiped your tears, going back to contemplating your options of bagels. You were so focused on tying to decide on what your wanted, you never noticed Auston saying something and walking off in the opposite direction. "Wait Auston no. Comeback." You take a step but stop when you feel a wetness.

He really didn't need to what he was doing. But he was doing it anyways. And lucky for him the baker was able to find a bunch in the back, so he didn't have to go back empty handed.

"Look what I found." He flashed his pearly whites, holding up the newly acquired item. Auston's face fell when he saw the panicked look wash over your face. "What's wrong now?"

"It's go time. I think my water broke." As excited as you had been, now it had been soured by the fear of the unknown and dull twinges of pain from labor.

"Breathe." He set the bagels on a nearby shelf. He grabbed the basket from your hands and placed it on the ground. "Breathe with me, Y/N." he held your hands, urging you once again to take a sip of air. It help. He helps. You wouldn't be able to do this with out him. "What do you want to do?"

The two of you still had time before the little bugger arrived as you only just begun labor. A decision was made to quickly check out with the groceries you already had, check in on Felix and make it to the to hospital in time for the arrival of the sweetest little baby boy.

“He’s perfect Aus.” You hold you newborn child in your arms.

“I know. And he’s all ours. We get to keep him.” Auston sighed watching you take care of the little creature you had given birth to hours before. He couldn’t thank you enough for giving him his perfect little family.

"Now, what are we going to name him?"

[jewbeloved]

Hi! I love Undertale,and,so far,reading your Sans S/O+Papyrus S/O headcanons have been great! Could you maybe do Team Stan+Wendy (All seperate!) with a Frisk S/O? S/O is great at befriending others (human or not!),is someewhat of a people pleaser,is a giant prankster and overall quite flirty.S/O also has the same powers as Frisk,too. (The power of resetting and loading,hehe 👀).Thanks,if you do this,I appreciate your stuff 🫶!

Team Stan + Wendy with a frisk! s/o❤️

Note: STAP GETTING ME BACK IN MY UNDERTALE HYPER FIXATION! REEEEEEEEEEEEE >:C

Warnings: Having no determination is a warning lol.

Gender: Neutral

🩵 Stan "Parsh"💧

"Damn bro you're so quiet-ow! why are you poking me with that stick (Name)?! ow! Stop!".

Stop poking Stan with that stick right this instant you little gremlin >:( you'd just reset so Stan would completely forget what even happened that day of you poking him.

Nah but seriously, your quiet nature is creeping him out a little and he can't even tell if you're sleeping or not because your eyes are always closed....

WAIT- HOW CAN YOU EVEN SEE IF YOUR EYES ARE CLOSED?! WHAT ARE YOU??

Stan would be hiding in his room for days until you force him to come out and explain everything to him.

He honestly has no clue how he always keeps falling for the pranks you always play on him.

You'd calm him down and maybe even flirt with him a little to see his face get all red.🩵🩵🩵🩵

💚 Kyle Flovski 🪵

You just love messing with him don't ya? He just had to clear out his hat because you put a bunch of Ike's toys in it. He's your number one victim.

You befriended some of the six graders to help prank Kyle as well, but you kicked their asses if they thought of a prank that went too far.

Kyle is just wondering how he even ended up with you. But I guess this is his life now- and you just broke into his room and now caressing his cheek and flirting with him.

He honestly wouldn't know about your powers because he won't remember it by the time you reset or smt so you'll just have to explain it to him without resetting that specific moment of you explaining it to him.

Like Stan he cannot tell if you're sleeping or not with your eyes always being closed. Seriously how can you even sleep with your eyes closed????

You just shrugged and gave him a cheeky smirk to which he responded with a sign.💚💚💚💚💚

❤️ Eric "Tit"man 🍄

You're 100% a weirdo but you make a great partner in crime, you'll help him with his crazy plans like always right? Oh too bad, once you're his s/o you'll be dragged into his shenanigans at some point.

Doesn't mind the weird fact about you having your eyes closed at all times because he can use it as an excuse to get you both out of trouble by saying you were sleeping the whole time.

Definitely will insult you if you flirt with him while he has a hint of blush on his face.

Since you have that ability to befriend anyone and anything that saves him the trouble of having to do it himself when it comes to him planning something big. He's lazy what did you expect?

Of course you don't want your big bone boyfriend to get too rash and get himself hurt so you'll reset to undo the danger Cartman was about to get himself into. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

🧡 Menny Korrmick 🍔

I can see you both being the prankster duo together. You two would have fun pranking random people and getting away with it.

You would be using your reset powers to prevent Kenny from dying and he wonders what even happened before that last minute.

He is practically immortal but he can't deny that getting hurt and dying is still painful. He'll thank you for saving his life when you tell him what you did.

Flirting? 24/7.

You both would be flirting with each other back and forth making the other red as a tomato. It's an endless battle between you two when you start flirting.

There's never a solid winner between you two because your flirty remarks are just too good. 😳

Kenny probably at some point always thinks you're sleepwalking because your eyes are always closed until you point it out to him that you're awake.🧡🧡🧡🧡

🩷 Bendy Tellaburga 🎂

She thought you were blind at first when she saw you because of your eyes always being closed. Literally nobody can tell if you're awake or sleeping 😞

Okay she's sorry but can you blame her though? Right...she made an assumption...her bad...You ignored her for a day until she apologized.

Anyways! She doesn't mind the flirting remarks you make towards her but she might blush a little and have no clue what to say to your flirty comment.

She probably won't flirt back with you but she might send you a poem that will make your heart skip a beat.

Your power is extraordinary...but don't you think it might be a little dangerous? You're good at using it responsibly? Oh thank god.

She doesn't care for you pulling pranks but she might get a little annoyed if you prank her. She'll join you in pranking Cartman or someone that pissed her off.🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷

[screams-in-writing]

Hello! I’m not sure if you’re still taking asks or not, but feel free to ignore. I had a certain thought about reader and the TV man last night and I knew I had to share with you. So you know how Mr. Puzzles seems to be a smoker (even though we’ve only seen him smoke once in the Puzzlevision movie 😅)? What if reader came up with an interesting system for getting him to quit smoking? Bear with me, plz, cuz this might get confusing. Reader makes a deal with Mr. Puzzles where every time he thinks about smoking, but doesn’t, that’s how many kisses he gets from reader. And every time he does take a smoke, that subtracts from the amount of kisses he gets. So, now he has to consider this would-you-rather type deal every time he thinks about smoking. Hopefully that makes sense, so do with that what you will. Love your fic, btw!

I love asks; I am hyper fixated on this man here’s hoping he’s in the episode tomorrow.

But for the ask, this isn’t a drabble, per se. More like a thought on the idea, if I got it right, and some concept ideas.

Let’s say Mr. Puzzles smoking in reader’s world affects him more than when in his own. Let’s say he is attempting to kick the habit, and to do it away from the reader, because Puzzles is aware of what second-hand smoke can do and doesn’t want that to be something the reader had to deal with while around him. But it’s a hard habit to kick, when he uses it to calm down in stressful situations and the action of fidgeting with the cigarette helps as much as trying to smoke it.

[Mr. Puzzles stared up at the sky, holding the cigarette up to his screen, looking as if he was smoking. He couldn’t stay here for much longer; he knew this now. He couldn’t stop the slow deteriorating of his body; Mr. Puzzles did his best to hide it from you, but you’d seen him ‘smoke’ anyway. He needed to do so, away from you. He didn’t want it to affect your health; Mr. Puzzles didn’t even know if it affected his here in this parallel world.]

But I think, in my option, at least, that it would be a struggle for Mr. Puzzles to stop, even without the reader trying to use offers of being given more kisses, if he thinks about it and doesn’t smoke, or being withheld kisses, if he does smoke, could itself be a big stressor and a source of more guilt. And withholding affection toward an addition would be tricky.

Maybe the idea would be too much but he’d try because he’d think he could do it. And Mr. Puzzles will take no kisses at all if he fails and it maybe makes him hate himself that he can’t do something that ought to be easy but so ingrained it’s harder than he thought.

[Mr. Puzzles crushed the half-smoked cigarette and flicked it away, frustration crashing down on him. There went more opportunities for kisses from you. Why couldn’t he stop this? He didn’t even really get anything out of smoking that he used to before he’d replaced his head. It was a self-soothing gesture that had become habit at some point, and something Mr. Puzzles still fell back on to, knowing that it worked to calm stress. Yet now, with thoughts of disappointing you, and losing out in affection with you, Puzzleould only feel more stress and disappointment in himself rise up, digging it’s metaphorical claws into him for being a failure.]

And reader would catch on and apologize and the two would communicate to come up with a plan.

[“I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking about how it would make you feel.” You apologized.

“It’s fine.” Mr puzzles respsinded. “It shouldn’t have been so difficult an endeavor.”

“It’s not fine, and I shouldn’t have added kisses into the equation when I damn we’ll know you’re touch-starved.”

“I am not”. Mr puzzles said unconvincingly as he accepted your outstretched hand.

“How about we compromise? You feel like you want to smoke, you call me or my roommates? Or even our boss, Tiffany.” You offered, giving the man’s hand a squeeze. “And I won’t have kisses dependent on whether or not you do or don’t smoke. We can try another way to help you cut back.”

So when Mr. Puzzles had a particularly bad day that sends him almost to smoking, or straight to smoking; not just ‘smoking’ with his screen or vent, but actually undoing his dress shirt and shifting the cloth around his neck, enough to smoke with his facsimile lungs to calm himself down. And that would make him feel guilty despite the reader knowing how hard it was to kick bad habits, and he sinks into self-loathing but each time, he manages to smoke less, and get it down to only one. Puzzles then airs out house (if he smoked inside) and a change of clothes, and eventually does call others (mainly reader) that he needs a distraction. Code for ‘I’m highly stressed out and need to be with someone else to prevent myself from continuing on’.

If reader is busy, Puzzles will go wait in the cafe until reader is done. If not, then he goes straight to the house and it’s up to Mr. Puzzles whether or not he wants to talk about it. It helps that reader isn’t judging him for it since reader has their own troubles/habits that are difficult to get out of.

There is an unspoken agreement that since reader can still smell the smoke, that reader doesn’t have to kiss his screen but maybe a hand or his shoulder is something, but also hold hands while waiting for the scent to clear out of or off of Puzzles’ metal head (via the vents) opens up a cuddling session and a few more kisses.

(I have. Thoughts on this kind of idea. I know it’s a fictional character, but I can’t help but think the reward system is tricky, mainly due to a sibling trying to quit and it’s been a really rocky back and forth for over ten plus years where such things don’t always work)

But to the end of the ask:

Thank you! Glad you are enjoying the fic. Here’s hoping ao3 sorts the login/logout thing soon so I can update this weekend m. But hey, more time for me to answer things here, and drop drabbles/doodles in meantime (plus type out new chapters on a doc).

[softspeirs]

Then and There, Wind in Your Hair (Bill “Hoosier” Smith x OC)

Pairing: Bill “Hoosier” Smith x Female OC (could be read as an un-named OC or a reader insert) Summary: After their meeting in Melbourne, Hoosier writes a few letters, dreams a few dreams, and finds her again after coming home. A/N: I know what you’re thinking - “Katie, aren’t you neck deep in your Masters of the Air hyper fixation?!” and the answer is yes, but I just had to write a companion piece to Clouds Overhead. You don’t have to read that one first, but some elements might make more sense if you do. Disclaimer: I don’t own The Pacific. Please don’t repost, translate, or use this fic for AI without my permission.

And we both laid entwined, stared at the night Clouds overhead, but that was all right ‘Cause then and there with the wind in your hair Heaven was jealous to merely look fair against you

He can’t remember how many days it’s been since he was in Melbourne.

Sometimes, when he closes his eyes, he’s able to block out the rapid pounding of his heart and the distant ack-ack of machine gun fire and remember the sound of the waves on the beach, the feeling of her hair tickling his jaw.

There’s a part of him that’s worried he’s going to forget her face, though he’s not sure how that’s possible. 

He’s worried about a lot of things. Worried is standard operating procedure these days. 

They haven’t been able to get mail out in weeks, the shelling too intense for anything even resembling a CP or a supply depot to be set up, even behind the lines. The lines change rapidly in the Pacific, and he’s not sure he’s brave enough to try to find it even if he did have a letter to send to her.

He’s surprised when they’re finally taken off the line, and there’s mail waiting for him.

Bill, it starts, and he smiles, because she’s the first person in a long time that almost outright refuses to call him Hoosier.

Bill, 

I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to see you off. The War Department has us all running around like chickens with our heads cut off getting ready for our next deployment.

I’m not sure where we’ll be going yet, and I probably wouldn’t be able to tell you if I did. I just hope wherever it is, it’s not as hot as it was in the Philippines when I was there. 

Mostly, I hope this whole thing is over soon. I know it’s naïve of me. I signed up to go to war, and I don’t regret it, but I’m tired. I know you are too.

I hope wherever you are, you’re safe. 

Thinking of you.

x

She signs it off with a metaphorical kiss, and he feels his heart kick into overdrive. He knows it’s dangerous, but he’s starting to dream about someday, and he can’t stop himself. 

Surprisingly, the other guys don’t rag on him about it. They ask him a few questions, but they’re all so distracted about whatever’s coming next, there’s no thought about razzing anyone who’s finding a little slice of joy in anything outside of this hell hole. 

He writes her back when he finally has a minute to think. 

It’s been a long week, I think. He tells her. 

I don’t really know how long it’s been since we were in Melbourne, but I think about it almost every day. 

He wonders if he’s showing his hand too much, but he can’t help himself.

I hope you’re safe. I hope you’re far from the lines, wherever they are, and that things aren’t too bad. We were pulled off the line for a few days here, but I don’t think it’s going to last long. 

“Hoosier.” Leckie says, voice hesitant like he hates to be the one to break him out of his letter writing. “We’re moving out.” 

Bill sighs. Of course. Not a moment’s reprieve.

I think about you often. He scratches, hesitating only a moment. And I hope that’s okay with you, because it’s just about the only thing getting me out of the trench in the morning. 

I hope you’re safe. I’m going to do my best to try to stay safe too. 

Yours, 

Bill

. 

He writes to her nearly every day. He knows she’ll probably get a few of the letters all at once since the mail is so backed up, but he has nowhere else to put his thoughts, and it’s sending him half insane.

Most of his notes to her are mundane, stories about his guys and only a little bit about the mess going on in his brain. If she were here in person, he’s sure she’d look him dead in the eyes and demand he tell her what he’s thinking, but he tries to shield her from it, at least a little bit.

Her letters are the same, stories about the friends she’s making and at the bottom of one, a piece he rips off and shoves in his trunk - her address back home in Chicago. 

Just in case something unexpected happens, I expect you to call on me, Private Smith. I’ll wait for you. There’s no one else.

It brands him like a tattoo right above his heart, on his breastbone where no one but him can see. 

I’ll wait for you. 

It’s the last thought he has right before it all goes to hell.

.

When he wakes up in a hospital a week later, he’s half out of his mind with exhaustion and morphine. Still, his first thought is of her. 

He asks about her, and the nurse frowns at him. “No one here with that name, sugar. Sorry.” 

Did he dream her? 

Did his brain invent her just as a survival tactic to make it out alive?

When he sleeps, he does dream of her. He dreams of them. He dreams of that cookie cutter life with the white picket fence, and her smile. He pictures tangerine sunsets and a backyard barbecue. He pictures a little girl with her eyes and his smile. 

When he wakes, he wishes he could fall back asleep.

He doesn’t get any mail, and he doesn’t have the time or the energy to write any letters himself. He’s hauled day after day into an empty room for rehabilitation, where a nice Lieutenant named Lanie listens to him curse a blue streak as he tries to put weight on his leg. 

“Lanie, I’m beggin’ you to just write down that you saw me walk.” 

She frowns. “No can do, Private. Besides, what good is that going to do you? Don’t want to get your dancing shoes on again someday?”

He snorts. “Who’s going to teach me how not to have two left feet?” 

She shrugs. “I’ll do it. Or how about that girl you keep asking after? I bet she’d be a willing participant.” 

He levels her with a hard gaze. “Lanie, if you know something...” 

“Honest, Hoosier. I don’t know.” She leans in a little closer. “The hospital unit is still on the island and they’re socked in. I haven’t been able to get in touch with my friend there to ask her. You know how it can be.” 

He sighs. “I know. Thanks for trying.” 

“Now do me a favor, will you? Take a few steps so I can get rid of you and go eat some lunch.” 

That night when he can’t sleep, he limps his way down to the mess. There’s a few other guys there, but he finds a table alone. Under dim light, he pens out another letter that he hopes makes it to her.

I’m in the hospital, he writes, his hand shaking a little bit from lack of use. 

I have no idea if you’ll ever get this. I hope you do. I don’t want you to wonder.

What you told me in the last letter I got from you has kept me going. And it goes without saying (hopefully) that I’ll wait for you too.

Another nurse here, Lieutenant Elaine Meadows (don’t call her that, though, she’ll rip your head off. We call her Lanie) said she’ll keep her eyes and ears open for you if you ever make it here, or if one of your letters ever shows up here for me.

At the bottom is my home address in Indiana. Sorry to say, but I think I’ve got a ticket home. 

If you find yourself stateside soon, and God, I really hope you do, please let me know. 

I owe you a date.

Twelve weeks go by. He goes home. And between the agony of his leg and the mess inside his mind, Bill’s morale plummets. 

He’s thrown back into the absolutely insane situation of having to find a job, but he can’t even fathom trying to work for someone so soon after fighting for his life. He has no idea how any of it makes sense anymore.

He almost sleeps through V-E Day, but manages to drag himself out of his bedroom and have a drink with his dad on V-J Day. They’re both quiet, out on the front porch of the house, listening to the revelry from the neighbors.

“You should get out of town for a few days.” His dad says, out of nowhere.

He frowns. “Pop?” He leans forward, wincing as he straightens his leg. “What do you mean?” 

“You need-- you need to get your mind busy again. Take a break from all this, get your mind right, and decide what’s next.” He gives Bill a wry grin. “Besides, where’s that girl of yours, anyway?” 

Bill feels himself pale. “I don’t--”

“Oh, don’t bother. You’re not a very good liar.” 

Bill chuckles. “Guess not.” His hands tap out a rhythm on his knees, his body and mind unable to be still for too long these days. “Chicago.” He says finally. “She’ll be in Chicago.” 

His dad nods. “Interesting.”

.

He still hasn’t heard from her by the time he makes up his mind to just go for it. He’s been seeing in the paper article after article about men and women coming home from overseas, and he just hopes that she’s one of them.

He really doesn’t know what he’s going to do if he shows up on her mother’s doorstep and she’s not there.

The train feels like it’s going slow as molasses. He sits among men and women in uniform, and he feels out of place. He fidgets. He eavesdrops on conversations about the war and about friends they used to know and what happened to them.

His palms start to itch. 

When he arrives at Union Station, he only second guesses himself for a few moments before he seeks a taxi. The ride to the suburbs is nice, and he enjoys watching the trees change color the farther they get from the city. It seems to drag on and yet be over in a flash. He pays the driver, and gets out in front of a large house on a beautiful tree-lined street.

Bill’s hands are sweating. He hears chatter inside the large house, the windows open to let in the autumn breeze, and one voice in particular makes him stop in his tracks and shut his eyes briefly, trying to gather himself.

He knocks, takes a few steps back.

A screen door opens and shuts.

“Oh my god.”

He finally looks up.

.

They sit together on the back porch of her parent’s house, mugs of steaming coffee in their hands, her free hand tucked into his. Her eyes are closed, but the small smile on her lips proves she’s still awake.

He never thought he’d be here. He never thought he’d get this.

“Bill?” 

“Hmm.” 

“I’m--” she sits up, takes her hand out of his. He’s surprised to see her eyes filling with tears, and his heart kicks into overdrive. 

“What?” 

She smiles again. “Sorry. I’m okay, I just-- I can’t really believe we’re here.” She sniffs. “And I’m so sorry that I couldn’t be there for you when you needed me most.” She glances down at his long legs that are stretched out, crossed at the ankles. 

He’s shaking his head before she can even finish her sentence. He straightens, turning sideways to face her. “You were there for me.” He reaches for her face, brushing a wayward lock of hair behind her ear. “Whether you realized it or not, you were.” 

“You didn’t even get a single one of my letters the whole time you were in the hospital--” 

Ever since she opened the front door and ran into his arms, he’s felt more at ease than he ever did in Indiana. Despite his mother’s best efforts, he felt unsettled, and this was the final piece he was missing. Even if he had showed up and she apologized and told him it was just a fling, just a wartime romance never destined to go anywhere, at least he would have known.

But this -- this has the potential to heal him in ways he didn’t know he needed.

“Listen to me,” he says, voice soft but firm. “The thought of you kept me going. It kept me alive, as far as I’m concerned.” 

Her face is a picture. Those doe eyes, a little drier now, looking up at him like he’s hung the moon for her. Doesn’t she know that he thinks that about her, too? He realizes with startling clarity that it’s very possible she has no clue. 

“I’m in this,” he gestures between them, “If you are. You owe me a dance, after all.” 

She grins, laughs. “I thought you had two left feet.”

He shrugs. “Well, maybe now I’ve got an excuse to be bad at it.” 

“I’m in this too. All in.” She whispers. Their faces are so close she could tilt her head only a fraction and close the gap between them.

They linger there, in that so-close-but-not-close-enough state of almost euphoria so long that Bill starts to wonder if he didn’t die on that godforsaken airfield, and this is all something his mind has made up. 

But then she finally kisses him, and it’s just as sweet as the first time, and it sends all his senses kicking into overdrive, and it just confirms it: he’s home.

.

A/N: If you’re craving more of their post-war reunion, a few of those lines are directly from this fic, which has a little more of that scene included.

[mimiunfiltered]

Full House

Charlie Baker x Fem!reader OC

Summary: A full house is about to get even fuller Warnings: slight mentions of child abuse, first-person POV a/n: This will be a whole series because I've recently been hyper-fixating on this movie. Charlie is hitting differently from Clark.

I've tuned out my mother's yelling. It's things I've heard a million times before. The one thing I didn't expect to hear was the words "I want you OUT!" I froze finally and before I could think of anything else I ran to my room.

I called Charlie, my boyfriend of 2 years, and all he hears is my uncontrollable crying. "Baby, what's wrong?" His voice sounds panicked. I can hardly breathe and I'm going through my drawers.

"Okay, I'm coming to get you." I don't have time to respond before he hangs up the phone. I rush around shoving everything into a bag that I can.

I run downstairs and out the door. The cool night air hits my face and I finally take a deep breath. I start running just to get away from this house. When I hit the dirt road and can't see my house any longer I finally stop running.

I'm not even five minutes into walking and I see headlights ahead of me. As they get closer they slow down. I stop hoping it's Charlie and when the window rolls down I see him. I sigh and get in the car.

He turns the car around and doesn't say anything. Once I catch my breath fully he looks over toward me and asks "Do you wanna talk about it?" He reaches over and puts his hand on my thigh. "I don't know what I'm gonna do. We were fighting like normal and then out of nowhere she says I have to be out."

He stays quiet. We're almost to his big house and I finally ask "What is your plan here?" He lives in a house with 12 other people and his parents are really against partners staying over. He sighs and we pull into his driveway.

"I guess we'll find out, " I say, with a concerned look. He gets out and rounds the car, opening my door. Once we enter the house, I see only his mom and dad sitting in their big living room. "Oh, hi, Elise. We weren't expecting you, " his mother says.

She's so nice and I burst into tears almost instantly. Charlie pulls me into his chest as his parents get up and rush over to us. "Her mother kicked her out." He tells them over my head and I feel hands patting my back while Charlie is holding my head to his chest.

After standing there for a few minutes Mrs. Baker speaks up "We'll move some kids around and you can sleep in one of their rooms and then we'll get you all settled in tomorrow okay?" She was gonna let me stay the night here, breaking her own rule. "Thank you, Mrs. Baker." She smiles and fully pulls me away from Charlie and helps me up the stairs.

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

That night I go to sleep in a bed much smaller than the one I used to sleep in but at least I have a roof over my head and I know this family as if it were my own. Knowing Charlie is right down the hall also helps this place feel a little more like home.

[that-one-weeb-buts-its-the-main]

Icon Duo| Ronin

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Reader: female | Ronin & Reader (platonic | siblings)

Warnings: death :), some cursing, weapons, fighting, arguing, all that good stuff, nothing too detailed in the fighting.

Notes: This is because of two edits I saw on Instagram; am I ashamed? Maybe- But it's my hyper fixation and I get to choose it

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"Get up!"

"Five more minutes!"

Ronin rolled his eyes, "Come on."

He pulled the blanket off Y/n as she groaned.

"We'll be late." He argued, causing her to groan and sit up and look out the window.

"It's not even light out."

"Leaf Men rise early."

"Good thing I'm not a Leaf Men." Y/n argued, reaching to grab her blanket, which he only pulled out of reach.

"You are as long as you live with me," Ronin ordered.

"Last time I checked, I don't have a choice in that." Y/n defended.

"Then you don't have a choice in this either." He argued causing Y/n to groan and stand up; "I promised our parents you'd be a Leaf Man, a good one at that-"

"That's a real annoying excuse- stop taking orphans in when you don't know how to care for them," Y/n defended, she only received a glare from her brother; "Can you go so I can get dressed now?"

He left, and with her blanket. Y/n sighed and got ready for the day; trousers, and a long sleeve that went just past her elbows before dressing in her armor. On her way out she grabbed her belt with her sheathed sword, quiver, and small pack, securing it to her belt she closed the door behind her with her foot and a yawn.

"We're late."

"No, everyone's just early."

Y/n earned another stern glare and eyebrow raise from Ronin, and once again she waved and rolled her eyes at it.

"Forgetting something?" He argued holding out her bow which she grabbed.

"no,"

"You're helmet."

"oh in your dreams Ronin," Y/n snapped kicking open the door with her foot where the chilly air of morning greeted her.

"It's uniform."

"Is it?" Y/n gasped; "Oh if it's that, then it can get a fat drink of poison and die too."

Ronin walked out following her, closing the door behind him; "What are you gonna do when you get shot in the head and die?"

Y/n whistled as two hummingbirds flew their way; "Just that Ronin, I'll roll over and die."

Y/n climbed onto her hummingbird, Ronin grabbing the reins of her bird; "When are you going to grow up."

"When you do." Y/n told, grabbing the reins back; "Good hunting."

She clicked her tonnage as the bird took off, Ronin sighing. What was he to do with her? She was sixteen; most Leaf Men started training early; though she was younger than most...all, she was younger than all Leaf men currently in training; and she was already on the field with real work, not just basic escorts; boggin fighting; killing the dreaded dark forest that ventured too far into the light. Y/n was good at that too; most summed it up to his work, Ronin leader of the Leaf man militia. It was really her; her restlessness to defy him, to be who she wanted to be.

What she needed to be was safe; Ronin had drilled that much into his own head; she needed to be safe, and he was the only one that could do that even with how well-trained she was.

"He just doesn't get it!" Y/n argued, "I don't want to be a Leaf Man!

She kicked up water as she stood on the lily pad.

"Being a Leaf Man is a high honor!" Grub defended, "I've always wanted to be a Leaf Man! Flying high with my brothers and sisters in arms!"

"Trust me it's a lot less glorious than it sounds." She argued flopping back onto the lily pad; water splashing up.

"Could you not splash around! Being around pods is a delicate operation." Mub argued.

"Right sorry." Y/n apologized, "I just don't get it! Grow up!? Grow up? I would love to grow up before I got shot off my damn bird! I want to be something! Do something!"

"Well, why not tell your brother that?" Grub asked.

"oh please, the only time I'm even allowed out of the house is if I'm 'being a Leaf Man.' Whatever the boysenberries and carp that means! He's...He's just so!-"

"-frustrating!" Ronin complained, "She's as bad as Nod! Worse, even! Runs off to do whatever and whatever she pleases! She'll get herself killed!"

The hummingbird was silent as Ronin sighed, lifting up a hollowed-out acorn filled with flower sap for the bird to eat, both at the Leaf Men headquarters stables. Y/n is nowhere to be seen; nowhere to be heard, and not even checked in for the day.

"She'll be the death of me," Ronin grumbled, pulling away the empty acorn to refill it for the bird.

Y/n came flying in quickly, hopping off her bird before it even touched the ground.

"Where were you?" Ronin argued.

"Not kissing your ass." Y/n told, "trust me when I tell you a lot of people do it."

"You were due an hour ago!"

Y/n didn't say anything and led her bird to her stall; already fed from some flowers on the way there.

"Y/n I'm talking to you," Ronin ordered, Y/n only continuing on her way, wet footsteps following her.

It was best not to ask as she vanished into headquarters halls.

"You're late again!" Ronin's second hand called, standing by the check-in cards.

"Oh no, I'm so scared." Y/n quivered, the act soon dropping as she went straight-faced, "Bite me."

He only laughed, "I got you anyway, and on time, well; on Ronin's on time."

He held out Y/n's check-in card, and she sighed; "thanks."

Placing it in the small slot for safe keeping she was thrown a piece of fruit wrapped in a leaf by him.

"What are you two fighting about now?" He asked, the two starting down the hall for daily assignments.

"The same thing, again."

"Hate to say it, but if you're going to leave; might as well leave. What good are you doing us if you don't want to be here?"

"That's brutally honest. Thanks."

They laughed; eating breakfast together. They made their way to the assignment hall, finding their names quickly. He was in Ronin's squad as usual, and Y/n...Y/n was joining him, causing her to groan.

"Think it's early enough to leave now?" Y/n asked.

"Ronin knows your here?"

Y/n nodded.

"He'll track you in a heartbeat."

"Damn..." Y/n mumbled.

"Scouting Partners then?" He questioned.

"Yeah. Before I have to hear Ronin lecture me for the whole day."

With it set: the two were scouting partners for the day, they made their way to the stables to grab their birds, and then meet up with the rest of the group. Then their daily debrief started; what was happening: how Boggin activity has been; increasing, as it always had been of late.

Y/n mimicked him behind the group: two other soldiers were trying not to laugh, yet it was increasingly getting harder.

"y/n." Ronin snapped.

She stopped, "You have something to add to the group?"

"If I say no can I go home?" Y/n asked, snickering coming from others.

Ronin's forever glared hardened, but it was soon let go, she'd probably get chewed out for it later.

"The queen chooses a new heir within the upcoming days, I need everyone at their best, and I mean everyone."

It was in the next few minutes that they took off. The sun was rising, it was one thing that was the real kicker of the job; seeing it every morning never got old. It brought back old memories.

"Can I!? Can I go with you!" A young Y/n begged, "please! Oh please!"

"And what are you wearing?" Ronin laughed, his helmet he couldn't find on her head, and her own hand-carved bow and hand-sewed quiver on her back.

"Please!" Y/n pleaded with her "I've been practicing my archery! I could beat you!"

"is that so?" Ronin smiled watching his sister nod excitingly, "You have to stay close, but alright-"

"Yes! Alright!" Y/n cheered, jumping happily into the air, a little too high as she hit her head, the helmet too big for her and hitting her head hard, "Ow.."

Ronin chuckled, "Come on."

He held out an arm as she jumped into his grasp, hugging her brother tightly.

Y/n smiled at the thought of it, she use to be so excited to go out with Ronin and sat in front of him on his bird, he hanging onto her tightly; her excitement usually got the better of her and she'd usually jump off at the bird before it fully landed, excited to explore the scouting area.

The times he did take her out when she was young, she had only been involved in one head-on Boggin fight. There was always a hiding place for Y/n if there was an attack.

Ronin and his group thought they had gotten the small scouting squad of Boggins until Ronin heard Y/n's scream, he rushed for the hiding spot just to see her gone. Ronin shouted for her, worry painting his face, another shout coming from her. He found not her but a Boggin; on the ground, dead. It was the rustled leaves that caused him to draw his sword and be ready to take the attack when Y/n ran out, face cut, and full of dirt.

"Big Brother!"

"Y/n!"

She had run into his arms, holding onto him tight, and he held on to her tighter before he pulled away to look at her.

"You're okay?" He asked, she nodded, she had a look of fear in her eyes, as she looked past him.

"Did...Did I do that?"

"Hey, it was you or him- look at me." He told holding her face, "You did nothing wrong."

"Promise?"

"With my only good eye." He promised, and he closed his right eye, "Wait it's the other one."

Y/n giggled as he smiled and picked her up, "Come on, I think that's enough adventure for you today."

Y/n's train of thought was broken when Ronin ordered birds to be perched.

"I want two in a group, keep tight and have each other's back." Ronin ordered, "Y/n your with me."

"I have a partner."

"That wasn't a recommendation," he ordered.

Y/n sighed looking at Ronin's usual second in command, "Good luck." he muttered.

"Thanks." Y/n sighed getting off her bird to follow her brother.

She lagged behind him slightly; mind other places.

"You're quiet." He commented.

"What?" Y/n asked.

"You, quiet," Ronin repeated, "What did you do now?"

"I didn't do anything." Y/n argued, "But being myself seems to really tick you off nowadays."

"Don't be dramatic," Ronin told.

"Easy to be dramatic when your brother hates you." Y/n defended.

"I don't hate you." He told hopping down from the branch.

"I feel like you do even if you say you don't," Y/n answered.

Ronin looked back at her, she wasn't lying, "Now why would you think that?"

"Honest?" Y/n asked.

Ronin nodded, "Honest."

"Promise not to get mad?"

"Promise."

Y/n sighed, setting down her bow against a stone as she sat down on it; "I think you just don't like me."

"That's your reason? I just don't like you?" Ronin questioned.

"Resentment." Y/n continued, "I think you resent me."

Ronin was quiet, "Well I don't so get your head in the game-"

"That's it." Y/n argued, "You're doing it-"

"Doing what exactly?"

"Not talking things out with me 'Well I don't so get your head in the game?' that's all I get?"

"What do you want me to do? treat you like a kid?"

"I want my big brother back! Not some! Some! Some stupid ass general!" Y/n argued.

"I am your commanding officer-"

"No!" Y/n stopped him standing up, "You're my brother! I don't love my commanding officer! I love my brother!-"

"I am your brother!"

"no! You're my commanding officer- you're never my brother not anymore!"

"You're being dramatic!-"

"It's how I feel!" Y/n defended, "You never talk about how you feel! Maybe we could actually fix things instead of arguing!"

"How I feel!?" Ronin argued. "You wanna know how I feel!?"

"Yes!"

"I do hate you! Does that make you happy?!" He argued; seemingly just trying to end the conversation by making her right, yet his words weighed heavy, "You won't take responsibility, you won't grow up, Our Mother-"

"News Flash Ronin our Mother has been dead for sixteen years! So don't drag her into this!-"

"And who's fault is that?!"

It wasn't meant to come out like that, yet it did. The silence grew thick, Y/n trying to hold herself still even though her body wanted to shake. Ronin opened his mouth to speak but retracted. Y/n made the first move in silence, grabbing her bow.

"Y/n I-"

Y/n was silent as she walked his way; running her shoulder into his without a care as she pushed on. Ronin sighed and followed her, lagging behind her he watched her tight shoulders push forward. The rest of their time was set in silence, painful silence when they regrouped with the others; there was only silence, and the few words spoken were necessary and bleak.

The silence went from hours to days. The days that led up to the queen's pod choosing the new heir were silent. Get up; get dressed, and leave. For most of those few days Ronin stood at her doorframe, the bed a mess, and her armor gone, her bird gone too. Up and out of there before Ronin could even wake himself up fully. The only time he really saw her was at the bird stables, or within scouting. She was quick to run off with another team member before he could comment.

"What's got you in a worse mood than usual?" Queen Tara chuckled, tending to a small little purple tulip, "Now I know your quiet, but never this quiet. It's scary almost."

"It's my sister, your majesty," Ronin answered.

"Y/n?" Tara smiled, "How's she doing?"

"Fine..." Ronin lied, as she looked at him cocking a brow up; "I don't know. I don't see her."

Tara frowned, "Don't see her? She's a little young to be living on her own don't you think?"

"She's sixteen." Ronin answered, "She's grown, and still lives with me, not that that's the problem,"

"Sixteen and Grown?" Tara chuckled, "When she was eight you were telling me she's not grown until she's one-hundred and one. What happened?"

"Nothing I can't handle."

Tara hummed, "Doesn't sound like a boy; you're hiding it, and If I know you and Y/n, you did something you regret; you both do that silent treatment to the whole world when that happens."

"We had an argument is all," Ronin informed tensing, "I said some things, I shouldn't have."

"Ronin, talk to her." Tara started, " There's one thing I know, and that's that she loves her big brother. She looks up to you, Ronin."

Ronin was silent, Y/n loving Ronin? Surely not after that argument. Big brother Ronin fails once again.

"Thank you for your time your Queen Tara." Ronin bid farewell with the bow of his head.

Tara only nodded as she watched Ronin walk off. He was deep in thought; conflict really, he messed up, he knew that. Yet explaining his feelings never came any easier than admitting he even had feelings. Ronin didn't, not in his eyes; he kept his emotions in some little box that he threw away the key to. His job was more important; keeping the people safe was more important, and that's what he did. That's what he tried. The parade showed how much of a failure he was. It made him feel that way again. It was meant to go smoothly; grab a pod, get out. Easy and simple. Easily and Simple is just saying things are black and white when nothing truly is. Y/n again; avoided him; someone that would usually calm his nerves, he only saw her once or twice, dressed in uniform, standing at her post; she was still, nothing but seemingly a hard glare, she looked like him; unfortunately.

The parade? A disaster-filled mess with a Boggin ambush at the center of it all, ending with a dead queen. Ending with a dead friend. Ronin was supposed to be there; Not Y/n.

"You'll be okay." Y/n told Tara, "You'll be okay, you'll be okay."

The Queen looked up at her half dead in Y/n's arms, "Do me a solid, stick with you, brother - can't imagine one of you without the other. The worlds lost with that duo."

Y/n couldn't help but smile sadly as tears fell down her face, it was like Tara to make jest in her final moments. She let out a cry as she fell limp in Y/n's arms.

Ronin had gotten there too late, he watching the queen fade away in his sister's arms. Y/n stood up trying to cover up her face from the girl in front of her.

"I'm...sorry-"

"Y/n!"

Ronin ran over, "Are you hurt?"

Y/n kept her body turned away, "Y/n please."

With a careful hand, her face was grabbed, and soon, he had her face between both his hands. He looked her over for injury, a few cuts here and there, a bruise would form alongside her lip, before she rushed into his chest, holding onto her tightly.

"The queen...I.I," She cried, holding onto him tight, "I. I didn't - It's. It's my fault."

"It's...it's not your fault. Look at me." He told her, she looked up at him with glossy eyes and a tear-stained face," it's not your fault, listen to me."

Y/n looked up at him, holding onto his forearms gauntlet, "Go back to Moonhaven, I need you to stay safe-"

Y/n shook her head, "Go back to Moonhaven-"

"No way," Y/n argued, "I can help- Ronin please."

"Y/n. Go back to Moonhaven. Please."

"Ronin-"

"Please."

Y/n looked up at him and nodded in silence, wiping her face of mostly dry tears with her gloved hands she started to back up, finally turning to make it to her bird, only to turn back and rush into his arms again hugging him one last time, he hugging her back, before returning to her bird. As she climbed up onto her bird, she looked at Ronin one last time before flicking the reins and she was off and into the air.

She couldn't help but keep looking back; she shouldn't be helping him in the first place, not after their argument, not after what he said. She couldn't help it at the end of the day; Ronin was the last thing Y/n had, and it went both ways. Or maybe it was the guilt, maybe Y/n agreed with her brother, maybe she did feel responsible for what happened to their Mother, now she had let the queen die, and her brother seemed next in line for the chopping block; he'd die fixing her mistake. It'd be her fault. She perched her bird on a branch, Moonhaven just below. She could continue forward, and then again, she could turn back; go and help her brother.

"Come on!" Y/n shouted, pulling her reins to turn the bird around and she was off in the direction she came from.

When she returned to the spot, her brother was gone, she looked around for tracks, but only found a slime trail that ended pretty shortly where some hummingbird tracks sat facing North.

She hopped on her bird, quickly flying in the direction of North. Luckily her ego wasn't so large that she stopped and asked for directions from multiple people who lived in the forest.

"Leaf Man? You're the first Leaf Man I've seen here." One told

"Oh no sorry dearie." Another answered.

"Nope sorry." The next apologized.

"Oh yeah, I seen a leaf man! with two slugs on his bird weird." A stickman answered.

"Can we be Leaf Men!?" A kid asked.

"yeah, can we miss!" A second kid asked.

Y/n backtracked; "Wait you saw a Leaf Man with two slugs on his bird?"

The stickman nodded, "Yeah, poor bird looks like it was struggling, they were going towards the races."

"Thank you so much, sir."

"no problem."

Y/n took off quickly towards the racing tree. Docking her bird just outside the game stables she walked in, she heard people talking she quickly took behind a wall.

"Kid thinks he can double cross me- he'll wish he never was born. We get rid of Ronin and the kid's easy pickings,"

Y/n unsheathed her sword quietly as she crept forward, quick to press the tip of her sword against the fancily dressed toad. His goons getting ready to fight at the sight of her.

"You wanna run that by me one more time?" Y/n argued.

"Well, if it isn't the dog that lives in Ronin's shadow-"

"Cut the crap before I cut your non-existent cock off." Y/n snapped, "Where's Ronin?"

"And why would I tell you-"

Y/n pushed the tip of her sword farther into his clothed back; not enough to pierce skin, but until his coat was cut, he croaked in fear.

"The good thing about being in the shadows is that no one realizes you till it's too late." Y/n threatened, "Now where's my brother?"

"He took the kid and that damn pod to Nim Galuu's !" He answered quickly.

"Who's the kid!" Y/n argued the sword was easily able to cut threw him right then and there.

"Nod! yeah! Nod he took Nod with 'em, and his gear! Had a chick with 'em and slugs"

"Go." Y/n ordered pushing the toad forward, "Before I have toad for dinner."

He growled at her, the gang members following. The toad looked around to look glare at her, but she was gone, on her bird, and already off to Nim's place. They had two birds, two slugs, and three people. They couldn't be far ahead now, and they weren't.

Screaming caught her ear as she quickly followed the sound through the forest. She had no idea she was flying into a large group of Boggin bats.

"Shit!" She cursed flying into the tree quickly for cover. No one luckily spotting her.

When the bats subsided, she took flight once again and to the ground where she heard the shouting.

"Did you see that!? I didn't think I could jump that high!"

"Jump out!"

Y/n jumped off her bird before it even landed and fell into the hole. The mouse stood on its hind legs, Y/n looking up at it as she snarled and growled at it, lurching at it even to scare it off, and with success she did, it ran it off back into its hole.

She sighed in relief and turned around.

"Hey! Y/n!" Nod cheered jumping down.

Y/n looked his way: "you're an idiot."

"Get it from you." He laughed, Y/n shaking her head.

"You're older than me. Remember?"

"Oh. I am aren't I?" He chuckled nervously, "Guess you do get it from me."

There was a thud, Ronin landing besides the two.

"I told you to go back to Moonhaven," Ronin argued.

"And I decided not to listen. With the most respect as possible, that is." Y/n answered.

"Woah. Wait, respect? Are you two actually cool for once?" Nod laughed, "Seriously?"

"Are you alright?" Y/n asked walking over to the knocked-out girl.

"Mhm. Dad- you'll never guess the dream I had. There were tiny men in the woods and talking slugs-"

Y/n stood above her with cross arms, Ronin and Nod coming up beside her.

"Aw, come on." She complained, "Did one of you split in half?"

"Do I really look like Ronin that much?" Y/n asked.

"Will you take that as an insult or a compliment?" Nod asked, causing Y/n to punch him in the arm, "Uh! Ow!"

"Should I punch you harder?"

"No! No, I'm good!"

Y/n helped the girl up.

"New seating arrangement, she's with me. You're with the slugs." Ronin commented whistling to call his bird.

"What! No fair!" Nod argued, "Have Y/n take one of the slugs!"

"Alright. Grub you're with me." Y/n told, whistling for her own bird.

"yes!" Grub cheered.

"No, Y/n's returning to Moonhaven."

"She didn't go back the first time, what makes you think she's gonna go back this time?" Nod questioned, the three looking Y/n's way, she tossing Grub on the back of her bird.

"Can I wear your helmet?" Grub asked.

"Yeah, to be honest, I don't like wearing it even," Y/n answered pulling it out from her satchel attached to her saddle and putting it on his head without care.

Ronin sighed; Nod was right about this.; "If she gets hurt that's on you."

"Come on its Y/n we're talking about." Nod laughed, "She'll bust Boggins up easily."

"Come on," Ronin told M.K. who followed him to his bird.

With weight distributed more even, travel was a lot easier. They were flying in silence for a while.

"So." M.K. spoke up, "Who is she? one of your soldiers?"

Ronin glanced back at M.K. and then toward Y/n; "Her names Y/n."

"Pretty name."

"It was our Mother's name," Ronin told.

"You're siblings?" M.K. asked, Ronin nodding; "You guys seem to have a good relationship"

"Looks can be deceiving."

"you're serious?" M.K. asked in disbelief, "She's a mini you."

"So, you've said." Ronin commented looking over at Y/n who was keeping idle chatter with the snail behind her, "She's got a lot of things I don't."

"Like?" M.K. asked as Ronin perched his bird, Nod and Y/n following as Ronin scouted the area out.

"Clear." Ronin told the bird taking off again, "She's got a heart, and compassion for everyone, even if you're her worse enemy,"

"Well, how bad is her worse enemy?" M.K. asked Ronin stopping the group one more time, before pushing forward.

"You're looking at him," Ronin answered.

"You? Her worst enemy? But you're her brother." M.K. defended.

"The ones that know us the best hurt us the worse," Ronin informed, "and I've hurt her pretty bad."

Y/n whistled to catch Ronin's attention, "Nim's place on happy hour?" Y/n called out to Ronin, perching their birds for a final time to overlook the overflow of people.

"I thought this was a secret Leaf Man Mission; how many people did the Queen tell about this?" Grub asked, "hey! How did you learn about us?"

Y/n looked back at her friend, "Oh I threatened to cut off that toad's-"

"that's enough." Ronin stopped her Y/n shrugged, and he sighed, rubbing over his face; that was his sister alright.

"Anyways he ended up croaking and telling me he saw you guys leave together."

"Wow." Nod spoke, "You know you should threaten people more often, I'd love to see that fight."

"I would too, but it's not a fight if I just beat people up." Y/n commented, "I'll see you down there."

"Hey! Wait up!" Nod called.

Ronin quickly followed the two, Y/n hopping off her bird and helping Grub off it after her, the others following close behind.

"He'll be able to help us right?" M.K. asked.

Y/n watched as Ronin nodded, "If that's what the queen said, then this is the best option we have."

"Can't we just stab Mandrake?" Y/n asked.

"If it was that easy I would have done it myself," Ronin commented Y/n shrugged.

"He has to be able to help us," M.K. reassured the group; "He's like the wise old man of the forest, right?"

"Oh please," Y/n mumbled.

"He's more of like the crazy uncle," Nod told, "He's real... what's the word."

"Theatrical?" Y/n answered, "Showy? Spotlight lover?

"Yeah, that." Nod smiled, "He can put on a good show."

Y/n was silent as they made their way through; parties weren't her thing, too many people close together, no space to turn, it'd get hot and sticky too quick. Not to mention she didn't really know how to act at a party. She pulled at her collar, it was getting hot, rubbing the back of her neck as if something was bothering her. Her eyes darting around for what seemed to be an escape.

"Come on." Ronin spoke, hand on the mid of her back, "You're lagging."

"I don't like this."

"I know you don't, just stay close."

Ronin was quick to guide her through the crowd and to the side where the rest of the group waited. She looked back at him.

"Thanks..."

"It's what I'm here for."

Y/n nodded, "Yeah..."

Ronin was quiet, keeping his sigh to himself; they'd have to talk about it eventually. But with them actively with no task at hand but waiting today was the first time they talked in a week. They just, stared, at each other in awkward silence, who speaks first?

"Ronin!" Nim called, breaking his train of thought, "The queen, did you hear!? This is terrible! What's going to happen to us!"

Ronin explained, the queen's passing, how, and what were the next steps. Y/n stood quiet during the whole thing, she watching her brother. Nim finally guided them through the tree.

"Are you alright?" M.K. asked quietly walking beside Y/n.

"I'm fine." Y/n told her, "Thanks...uh..."

"I'm M.K." She introduced.

"Y/n." Y/n spoke a small smile coming to her lips, "Nice to finally be introduced,"

"Same here." M.K. smiled back; "Us girls gotta stick together you know."

"uh, yeah." Y/n responded unsure, "Like honey...?"

"That's one way to put it." M.K. laughed, the two girls starting to lag behind the group, "friends then?"

"Friends?" Y/n asked.

"Yeah." M.K. spoke, "You have friends here right? or is there another term for it-"

"No, I. Don't think I'd ever have a girlfriend though," Y/n responded rubbing the back of her neck embarrassingly.

"Seriously?"

"Yeah,"

"you have one now," M.K. spoke a smile in her voice, punching Y/n on her armored shoulder as Y/n chuckled.

"Catch up would you two!" Nod called, Y/n quick to make haste with M.K. following behind her as they all squeezed into a lift which was lowered down.

"Welcome to the scroll rooms!" Nim cheered passing layers and layers of scrolls, "Everything here, past and present."

"So this conversation is being recorded?" Grub asked.

"Yep," Nim told, enthusiasm lacing his voice.

"And this?" Mub asked, sucking his eyeballs into his head.

"Yes," Nim answered.

"What about this?" They both asked, using their eyeballs and knockers, the ones you'd get as a kid on a string.

"Yes," Nim told, a slight change in his tone was subtle but was soon replaced as the lift stopped and they filled out.

"Ah ha!" He smiled, "Should be right here!"

He grabbed it thanking the bug who was carrying it and ripped it up, uncaring about the cleanup.

"Aw, man," Mub complained.

"you've read all of these?" M.K. asked.

"Skimmed mostly," Nim answered, "Now, blooming a pod."

Y/n started to wander.

"Don't go too far," Ronin commented.

"Yeah, yeah." Y/n waved him off casually walking to one of the rows, "Don't worry about me."

Ronin only sighed.

"Here! it is," Nim spoke, "now, let's see... good thing is, once the Queen picks a pod, it will bloom no matter what, but the pod must bloom tonight, at moonlight's highest peak."

"And if it doesn't bloom in the moonlight?" Grub asked, Nim shrugging.

"To be honest termites have been a problem," Nim answered showing the ripped-up scroll end.

"We won't have to worry about that." Ronin spoke, "We'll make a plan to get some energy back."

Ronin walked off, and the others followed him.

"Y/n!" Ronin called for her.

"I'm coming," Y/n called back, making her way back to the lift.

"Hey, before we go back up." Nim stopped her Y/n turning her way.

"yes sir?" Y/n asked.

"Sir? Come on we're family!" He cheered, which Y/n could only raise a brow to, and his response was a laugh, "I knew your Mother very well, we were like two peas in a pod."

"Nice to know she made a lasting impression." Y/n answered, "Sorry to tell you-"

"She's gone I know; I should be the one sorry," Nim told, "You look just like her you know; she'd be proud, Leaf Man's a high honor, and at your age, you're one the first."

Y/n smiled small, "...thanks..."

"Anyway, she'd asked me to give you this, when you came, came with a note and everything that when you came by you'd be ready," Nim told, passing a scroll up his arms and to Y/n which she took with caution, a red string around it to keep it closed, with a little note tied to it, "She had sent it before she past away, I assume just before you were born."

"What is it?"

"I don't know, not my story to read," Nim answered, Y/n looking at the red string tied around it.

She started to untie it, but he stopped her, "It's yours to keep, don't feel pressured to read it here."

Y/n stopped, "Thank you."

The two made their way back to the lift, she took her previous spot and looked down at the scroll in her hand, quietly fiddling with the note on the string, finally, she opened it, Ronin and her name wrote nicely on the small folded paper, then made it to the main halls again.

"eat something, get something to drink, get your energy back," Ronin ordered the group, "Whatever you do stay with the pod."

Nim was kind enough to guide everyone to food and water. Ronin went a separate way from the group, Y/n following her brother.

He stopped by a window, which was really just a hole in the tree depending on how you looked at it.

"I'll take the first watch." Y/n told; "You should go eat first."

"I'll be fine." Ronin answered.

Y/n nodded, "here."

Ronin looked her way, she holding out the scroll for him to take, "It's from Mom... Apparently, her and Nim were good friends or something."

"She patrolled around here a lot with her people." Ronin told her, looking down at the scroll he looked back out the window, "Nim gave it to you, must mean Mother wanted you to have it."

"It has both our names on it," Y/n responded.

Ronin returned his gaze to her.

"I couldn't imagine what she'd want to tell me," Y/n spoke, her voice low and filled with a solemn chuckle, "I don't know her, and she doesn't know me, wouldn't be surprised if it's a big punch in the face- anyways- just take it?"

Y/n shook her hand, gesturing for him to take the scroll, he finally took it from her grasp and set the scroll against the wall. She took a step back and turned around, starting to walk away.

"It's not your fault." Ronin finally spoke up.

"The Queen?" Y/n asked not bothering to turn back to face him, "I know...but I'll do better."

"I don't see what you could have better." Ronin told, "you did what you could, you got her farther than I ever would of, you did good..."

"Thanks," Y/n responded.

"But that's...that's not what I'm talking about."

Y/n turned herself to look at him; "I don't get it."

"Mom."

There was silence between the two, the sound of chattering in the background from the group of people.

"It doesn't bother me-" Y/n was quick to speak up.

Ronin chuckled under his breath, "You're my sister, I know when your lying."

"It's fine," Y/n responded "Really."

"Y/n I'm being serious." Ronin defended.

"So I am." Y/n told him, "I. I'm fine-"

"Fine would be not freezing in a crowd-"

"Just anxiety-"

"Which you get worse when somethings bothering you," He defended, "Fine would be arguing with me -"

"I got tired of it is all-"

"Fine would be me waking you up, not you checking into headquarters hours before I'm even there, Fine would you and Nod talking each other up the trees. You haven't made fun of me this whole time-"

"You're mad because I'm not making fun of you and annoying you?" Y/n argued, "What type of thing is that to get mad at? You asked me to grow up- I did-"

"Well stop it!"

"Stop what!?"

"Being me! Stop being me!" He blurted out finally grabbing her shoulders, the heated air deflating as he sighed.

Y/n looked at him, "Isn't that what you wanted?"

"No." He told, "I don't, I want my sister, not a commanding officer. I want the little girl that was excited about being a Leaf Man! The little girl that used to beg me to go on scouting missions with me, I want the old you back, and your stupid jokes."

Y/n's couldn't help but laugh, trying to hold it in, "And your impressions are even worse. I don't sound like that one bit-"

Y/n held a smile on her face, "You do."

Ronin shook his head in disbelief with a chuckle, "And I'm sorry, Mom had a choice, and she chose you, I would do the same, no matter how many times I would have to. I'd do anything to keep my little sister safe."

Y/n looked up at him, it's been a while since she looked at him like that, with hope, and joy, proud that he was her big brother.

"I love you." Y/n smiled.

"I love you too," Ronin spoke Y/n hugged him tight, and he hugged back kissing her forehead, they pulled away after "now, go eat something, I have a message to send to the other Leaf Men."

"I'll bring you something too." Y/n spoke a smile still on her face, backing out of his grip and running off to find something to eat.

"Woah! Where are you going?" Nod asked with a laugh, grabbing Y/n's wrist, "Not to mention your glowing like the sun- who'd you kill."

"I'm going for food," Y/n said.

"I'd be excited too- but you'll be here?" Nod asked.

Y/n nodded, "Yeah."

"Good," he spoke rushing off quickly, leaving her confused.

"Nod! Where are you- Where's the pod!" She called for him but he left too quick, she sighed and went on the search for food.

Grabbing enough for herself and her brother she went to find the pod, finding Grub and Mub standing in front of a dead fruit fly. She sighed when Mub had the pod.

"Oh did he just die?" Y/n asked.

"We were just talking to him, and then-" Grub started, as the ground shook, "The forest shakes at the passing of the humble fruit fly-"

The ground shook again as Y/n dropped her food, "Get behind me." She ordered the two, hand on the handle of her sword.

There was screaming as a mole came from the floor, and people scattered in fear; looking to hide, to keep themselves safe, all from the person who rode it; Mandrake.

"Well if this isn't a surprise!" Mandrake announced, "I wasn't expecting a party to crash!"

"get out of here!" Y/n ordered drawing her sword quickly.

"Y/n! Wow I haven't seen you since you were a baby!" Mandrake cheered, "Leaf Man! Your Parents must be proud!"

Y/n glared at him, "How is your Mother doing? Her and I, we were good friends after all -"

"Fuck off!" Y/n snapped.

Mandrake chuckled, as his steed circled around the group, "So rude to your guest, tsk, business is business I suppose, a good friend of ours left something very dear to me with your people, and I was told it was here with you."

"yeah! well, you can't have it!" Mub argued.

"Yeah! There's no way we're letting you hurt this pod!" Grub agreed.

"Hurt it?" Mandrake asked, almost as if he was offended, "No, I don't want to hurt it! I need it to live!"

"Well, we're the only ones that know how to take keep it alive!" Mub snapped.

"Thanks for the tip boys!" Mandrake smirked, his staff swinging quick to hit Y/n who luckily blocked it, pushing the strike back at him, he quickly jumped off the mole.

She swung at him, but he blocked, a sound of disapproval coming from his mouth.

"I thought you Leaf Men were better than this-"

"Oh shut up and fight me-"

"Y/n behind you!"

Y/n turned her head quickly to see the Mole's tale whipping her way, smacking her in the back and across the room into a pillar, where she let out a cry at impact and hit the ground hard.

"Thanks for the party, everyone!" Mandrake bowed, grabbing the two slugs with the pod.

Ronin was there too late, jumping from the upper balcony into the hole, a cave-in stopping him from chasing Mandrake any further. Jumping back out of the hole he looked around; looking for someone to yell at; Nod especially, he and M.K. had been glued at this hip; so he should have been there- then he spotted her; Y/n laying on the ground, her sword thrown across the room.

"Y/n!" He called, running her way, tossing his sword aside as he dropped to his knees, rolling her over into his arms, "Y/n, come on. Y/n!"

Her nose was bleeding, and a fresh cut above her brow and her eyes closed, and her chest plate armor cracked.

"Y/n!" Ronin shouted, "Y/n get up!"

He sighed in relief when she made a sound of pain, holding her close, she only pushed herself out of his grasp, her head hurt, and she felt hot, rolling onto her stomach she growled in pain, trying to get herself up to her knees.

"Y/n-"

She slipped, he quickly caught her, "I. I'm okay."

"Y/n please."

Getting to her knees her breath was heavy, and she leaned on Ronin to help herself up. He wrapped her arm around his neck and put an arm across her back, she finally opened her eyes the light blinding her.

"I'm okay," Y/n told him again holding her stomach.

"Ronin!" Nod ran in, M.K. behind him.

He ignored the two, "Is anyone here a healer!? Please! My sister needs a healer!"

A few people stepped up to the plate as healers, they being taken to a side room, Y/n holding onto her brother as tight as she could. She sat down and ripped off her chest plate as quick as she could, sighing in relief as she took in deep breaths. Healers getting to work on her quickly.

"Ronin I-" Nod started.

"You had one job stay with the pod!" Ronin argued grabbing onto Nod's shirt, pinning him against the wall, "That's the last part of the queen I- That anybody had! And I just almost lost the only other thing I ever had!"

"It's my fault!" M.K. defend Nod, as Ronin backed up, "The Queen gave me the pod, I should have been here with it."

"And you, I expected this from him, but from you?" Ronin told voice full of disappointment, "I expected more."

"I was here with it, I should have protected it-"Y/n spoke up.

Ronin snapped his head towards her, "Don't you start."

Y/n groaned instead of arguing back, as one of the healers applied a salve to the cut on her side, wrapping the cut up. Another applying the same salve to her cut brow bone.

"She'll be fine. Armor really helped you there, Miss." One the healers informed, "You'll be sore."

There was a sigh of relief all around, Y/n thanking the healers before they left. Y/n stood up, wincing as she started putting herself back together.

"And what are you doing?" Ronin asked.

"Well, we have to get the pod back." Y/n spoke, pulling the chest plate on and lacing it up, "you really think you were benching me?"

"And how do we do that?" Ronin asked.

"Easy." Y/n spoke, "we'll sneak in with disguises."

"Oh great. I'll go as a rat, and Nod can be my cricket lady friend. You can be a shrew."

"Hey." Nod complained.

"Not to mention I don't have any Boggin armor on hand." Ronin spoke, Y/n grabbing her sword which had been leaning against the wall.

"I know where we could get some." M.K. chimed in, climbing onto Nod's bird.

"I'm down," Y/n spoke walking towards hers.

"You're not going anywhere. Not like that." Ronin stopped Y/n, stepping in front of her.

"He took my only friends. I'm fucking his face up, not that it isn't already," Y/n defended pushing past Ronin and climbing onto her bird looking towards M.K. "I'll follow you."

M.K. nodded and looked towards the last two, "well?"

Ronin sighed.

"In my experience, six hands are better than two." Nim answered, "and you'll have eight."

"Come on," M.K. told Nod, his only response a shrug, hopping on the bird behind her as she took off faster than light, Nod's shout of surprise being left behind.

The siblings were quick to follow M.K.'s path. They made it to the edge of the forest. Y/n perched her bird beside M.K.

"Woah where are we?" Nod asked.

"We're not supposed to go out this far," Y/n told.

"No, you aren't supposed to go out this far," Nod commented Y/n rolling her eyes.

"Rules apply to both of us you know?"

"Right, Right," Nod nodded, "And guess who comes out here anyways?"

Y/n glared at him, "Oh, you!" He cheered.

"You come out here?" Ronin asked, clearly mad; "You'll get hurt out here- you know-"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm not allowed out here because it's dangerous, yadda, yadda, ya." Y/n mimicked, "I go places I'm not supposed to go, and you don't share your feelings, seems like a fair deal to me."

"You'll be the death of me."

"You'll get a cool death at least."

"Come on," M.K. told, flying the bird off as Y/n shrugged following her.

They made it to the window seal, hopping off their birds Y/n looked through the glass.

"How'd you know about this place?" Nod asked.

M.K. didn't bother answering as they slipped in through a small crack in the open window.

"It's over there." M.K. pointed across the room.

"Let's make this quick," Ronin ordered, taking the lead and jumping down with ease, just to jump back up onto the high desk.

"See you on the other side." Y/n playfully saluted to the two, "Oh- and don't die Nod?"

He shook his head, Y/n easily made her way down, using a stapler on the floor to help her jump higher and onto the desk with ease.

"Can't jump as far as you use to?" Ronin joked.

"Oh please, I'm saving my best moves for the end." Y/n spoke, "plus- oo! ow ow!-"

Ronin went from joking to worried in a matter of minutes, Y/n holding her side as she hunched over, "y/n-"

She laughed, he glaring at her as she stood back up, "had to get you back."

Y/n pushed past him to go back to the edge with a smile, looking down, "Guys come on!" She called.

Turning back around Y/n looked around: "What is all this stuff?"

"Beats me," Ronin told.

"Hey, what's that?" Y/n asked happily wandering off, Ronin grabbing her arm before she could go.

"We're not touching anything, we're getting the boggin armor and getting out." Ronin told.

"Fine, I choose the forbidden place we go next time then," Y/n spoke, Nod and M.K. finally made their way up.

They carefully made there way across the desk, to the Boggin armor.

"You know some of this stuff I've seen-" Nod told.

"It's boggin armor, you see one you saw 'em all," Y/n told, stopped by one of the boards with pinned-up armor, she reached out for some.

"No, touching," Ronin told her.

"Seriously? how do you expect me to grab the armor then?" Y/n asked.

"hey this is my saddle!" Nod argued grabbing the saddle from the pin-up board, "Where are we-"

The ground-shaking cut him off, Ronin grabbing onto Y/n to steady the both of themselves.

"oh no." M.K. shook, the group turning there heads towards the giant that walked across the room.

"Oh!" Nod laughed.

"It's where this guy lives," Ronin spoke, the group rushing to higher ground.

"Wait you know him?" M.K. asked.

"yeah, he's a stomper," Nod answered.

"Stomper?" M.K. asked.

"Most come and go," Y/n informed, "This one's been here for years."

"why are they called stompers?" M.K. asked.

"Well there, like me and you, but, bigger, stupid, and stomp on everything," Nod told.

"And he's been obsessed with proving our existence," Ronin commented, "That'll never happen. Can't have his big feet stepping on Moonhaven, so we've been throwing him off our trail."

"Seriously?" M.K. aspirated her arms out gesturing to all the stuff, "But he's found all of this stuff."

"He only finds what Ronin 'wants' him to find." Y/n told, "I think the stompers could be helpful. I heard that there's a spray that could kill easily, easy for them to get and everything; it could just cover Mandrake's area in it and we'd be home free."

"bug spray," M.K. answered.

"I don't know, but if it kills Mandrake i could care less." Y/n told.

"But come on!" Nod jumped in, "You know how funny this guy is? Parading around the forest? Look. at. this. acorn."

M.K. clearly wasn't impressed with the impression.

"come on it's not funny-"

Y/n was surprised when Ronin jumped in faking holding his elbow in pain; "I.hurt.my.elbow."

"it's his life's work!" M.K. argued.

"Come on Y/n! You've run into him before!-" Nod tried to get Y/n to join in on the fun Y/n shaking her head with crossed arms, "Remember when he fell!"

"he's my dad!"

The laughter stopped

"Seriously?" Nod asked in disbelief, "So what? You shrunk down?"

"Yes!" M.K. shouted, "Which they know!"

Nod looked at Y/n and Ronin, "Seriously?"

"it's been a weird day for all of us," Ronin answered a smirk still on his face.

"Y/n?" Nod asked.

"learn how to read a room maybe dingleberry-brain," Y/n answered.

"You got a problem with stompers?" M.K. asked.

"A stomper stepped on my uncle," Nod answered.

"Oh, my god? seriously?" M.K.'s face full of concern.

"No." Nod laughed, M.K. groaning in annoyance, and pushing Nod hard in the chest.

"Too far?" Nod asked.

"Don't as me about too far, me and my brother joke about death," Y/n answered.

"But do it again, maybe she'll hit you harder," Ronin answered as Y/n covered her mouth in an attempt to hide her laugh. Ronin elbowed her playfully she pushing him back as they went their own way to get what they came for.

It was with ease that they pulled armor from the pinned display array.

"Hey!" Ronin called, Y/n looking back, Ronin hunched over hand out like they were claws, "How do I look?"

"Sad and depressing." Y/n answered honestly, "it suits you."

"Haha." He laughed sarcastically as Y/n laughed pulling on her own mask, covering her face fully

"Hey, you look better than you did before." He spoke Y/n pushing him as he laughed.

M.K.'s scream that came next broke their jokes, Y/n turning towards Nod: "It wasn't me!"

The continued screaming came as the three watched stuff come crashing down and the slow sound of a dog barking. Y/n rushed to the edge, M.K. being chased around. If that wasn't bad enough, the stomper was getting up.

"Go!" Ronin ordered.

Y/n jumped down with whatever she grabbed in hand, hoping to help M.K. and get the dog to stop chasing her.

"Come on!" Y/n shouted, grabbing M.K.'s hand to speed her up.

"I can't keep up!" M.K. shouted, tripping over her own feet, grip lost as her hand slipped from Y/n's hand, hitting the wooden floor.

Y/n stopped her running, sliding across the floor to a halt. She ran back towards her, quickly helping M.K. up to her feet.

"Go!" Y/n shouted, making sure to stay behind M.K. to keep her safe.

Ronin drew an arrow, aiming it at the oncoming Stomper.

"No don't hurt him!" M.K. shouted, pushing him off target, the arrow hit still, just unsure of where.

"Hey!" Y/n snapped at M.K., "watch it!"

"That's my dad!" She reminded.

"And that's my brother!" Y/n complained.

There was a crash, glass breaking, and the Stomper ran into its desk.

"Ow! I. Hurt. My. Elbow!"

Nod laughed, looking the way he pointed up at the Stomper: "Did you hear him!? He said it! Aw that never gets old!"

"Move!" Ronin ordered the group.

Y/n was quick alongside her brother to make it up back to the window seal. Nod and M.K. not too far behind.

The vacuum of wind caught everyone off guard, Y/n almost slipping from the sudden pull as Ronin grabbed onto her. M.K. wasn't so lucky and ended up being sucked into the vacuum. Nod made it up to the window seal.

"What do we do?!" Nod asked.

"You want us to go against that thing?" Y/n argued.

"No-Yes! I don't know!" Nod defended, "come on help me!"

Nod jumped back down, Y/n groaning and following.

"Y/n!-" Ronin called after her, she rushing after Nod.

Tipsy was one way to put the stumbling man, he slowly starting to fall.

"Nod!" Y/n shouted, pulling him from jumping across and onto the desk.

The stomper hit the desk, and M.K. was free with the break of glass. This guy sure did have a lot of glass in his house. Nod broke from Y/n's grip to rush after M.K. and Y/n made her way back up to the window seal.

"No ones dead." Y/n spoke.

"Surpisngly."

"Hey, I can't make everything perfect." Y/n told slipping outside and whistling for the birds.

Ronin joined her short after ordering the two to hurry, strapping the gear to the side of his saddle.

"You know after this." Y/n commented, "We should eat dinner."

Ronin raised an eyebrow, "Saving the forest? And your thinking about food?"

"Yeah," y/n told, "me and you, we should eat dinner like we use to. Whens the last time we did that? Sat down? And ate dinner that we made together? I liked when we did that."

Ronin was silent for a moment, they hadnt sat down for dinner since before Y/n started trainning to become a leaf man, it had to be atleast two? Two and a half years?

"Time goes by fast." Ronin commented, then looked her way, "I don't see why we couldn't do it again."

Y/n looked at him and smiled: "Yeah. It would be nice."

He watched as she looked back at her bird, smile faultering, she looked anxious.

"Hey," Ronin spoke up, She looking his way once again, his hand cupping her cheek, "we're gonna do it again."

Y/n was silent, "I....know..."

"You dont sound so sure that you know." Ronin pointed out; his next words ment to come out jokingly;"Dont tell me your scared."

Y/n's eyes casted down: "uh...no...No-"

"Y/n its okay to be scared-"

"Im not scared." y/n reassured, "I...I'm just..."

Ronin's thumb rubbed over her cheek in a soothing matter, he remembers when there Mother use to do it to him when he was young.

"Bile took...mom that day." y/n finally muttered out, "what if it takes you."

"Life can't stop because I go." He answered.

"Im being serious, Ronin." Y/n argued, pulling away from him and crossing her arms in matter comforting to her, "What happens if you die? What happens to...to the forest. To the leaf men..."

"The Leaf Men, the forest, it was here before both our times." He answered, "it'll be here long after,"

Y/n looked at him and nodded, arms stay crossed for a moment as she thought, "Yeah... okay."

They returned to there birds, "oh an Y/n."

Y/n turned her head, "yeah?"

"I'd never leave you alone. Even if I hated you, I'd never leave you alone."

"Promise?" Y/n asked.

Ronin gave a curt nod, "With my last good eye."

A smile was brought to Y/n's as she shook her head with a chuckle, Nod finally making his way outside with M.K. It was back to stern faces and hidden emotions, minds only focused on the task at hand; sneaking in sucessfully across enemy lines.

They hid their birds in the dead tree tops. Down below the boggin army marched. Dressing themselves in the armor - the stolen armor - they quickly joined the walking army, keeping close together.

"Smells like something died in here." M.K. complained.

"That's because something did," Y/n answered.

"Keep it down. We dont want to be noticed." Ronin ordered.

The group went quiet, Mandrake's half downed caslte of a tree came into view, Y/n found herself wearing a hard glare and walking faster than the rest of the group.

"Y/n!" Nod whisper-shouted after her, "Y/n!"

Ronin was careful to catch up, he grabbing Y/n's arm.

"You'll give us away." He argued quietly there pace slowing back down to normal.

"My friends are in there." Y/n defended.

"Rushing in will get them and all of us killed." Ronin told, "have patience."

"Im out of patience."

"Well make some more."

Y/n pulled away from his grip with a growl under her breath and kept pace beside him. Later, rather than sooner, they made it inside Mandrake's base, safe, together and still under the cover of surpise.

"You three go and find the slugs." Ronin directed, "keep the pod safe."

"What are you going to do?" Nod asked.

"I'll be the distraction." Ronin told.

"By yourself? No way." Y/n argued, "I'm coming with you. There's four of us, we split in half; no one goes alone."

"I need you to protect the pod." Ronin defended, "I don't trust anyone more than you for this."

"Ronin-" y/n argued.

"That's an order." He cut her off, Y/n's eyebrows knitted in anger.

"Fine." Y/n complained, defeated, "then you promise me, you're not going to do anything stupid."

He let out a laugh,pulling off the Boggin mask, "Stupid? Please it's me."

Y/n rolled her eyes as he tossed the coat to the floor. "Follow the trail."

Ronin pointed out the slime trail left behind by the slugs: "You'll find them easy."

Y/n nodded, "Now. Excuse me while I go have fun."

Ronin jumped off whistling loudly, Boggins turning his way, "I'm goin' to make this real simple! I run! And you try to catch me!"

"Come on, on me." Y/n ordered, leading the two to follow the trail of slug slime.

With every Boggin after Ronin, the trip was easy: the slime trail led to a cell in the ground. Y/n pushed the cover off.

Nod reaching inside to grab the first slug.

"This woman has got a grip!-" Mub cheered slurly, Nod pulling him up by his eyes.

"Oh, come on!" He complained seeing it was Nod; "You got to work on your grip dude its a bit womanly."

Y/n pulled Grub up while M.K. was handed the pod.

"You came for us!" Grub cheeded, hugging Y/n's legs.

"You're my friends. Why wouldn't I come for you?" Y/n asked.

"Well man after Mandrake whipped you into that pillar we thought you were dead!" Mub laughed.

"We did not!"

"Ub huh!"

"No!"

"Uh huh!"

"No!"

"Hey! Dead or not. Im alive." Y/n argued with the two, "we need to go!"

"The gaurds! There coming back!" M.K. told the group seeing the shadows getting closer.

"I have a plan! Everyone hide in there shells!" Grub told, he hiding in his shell, in the moment it sounded like a good idea sure; "oh...right! I have another plan!"

"Do it quick! Im going after Ronin from another angle-"

"He said your in charge!" M.K. argued.

"Right. I'm in charge. Get out of here with the pod, now!" Y/n ordered quickly running off, discarding the Boggin armor as she ran into a hall across from where they had come in.

Y/n was quick to find an opening, drawing the bow from across her body and pulling an arrow from her quiver to knock. Mandrake was boasting to her brother, pratically standing still, handing her the jackpot. Greed often spoils the jackpot, and it would again. She took the shot, a direct hit into his shoulder.

Y/n smirked, even that was to big of a celebration.

"Wow! Brought your dear sister to watch you die!" Mandrake smirked breaking the arrow at the entry point, he hissing in pain, "Kill her! Leave her bones for me: I want a new bow."

Ronin was quick to charge at him, sword unseathed, and quick to clash with Mandrake's staff, each pushing against each other with all there anger.

"You threatened my sister, so I'll have your fucking head." Ronin snapped.

"Oh, family!" Mandrake smirked, "can't live with them. Can't live without them. You know how that is: all alone!."

"I don't know I'll ask your son." Ronin argued, "Oh. Wait."

Mandrake's smirk went dark, anger, painting his face as his slashing became more furious, a frenzy of them full of anger, hard to keep up with; hard to block.

Y/n was on the run with what seemed half the boggin existence on her, she jumping from walkway to walkway leading them away. The doorway in front of her she'd figure she'd go through come out through another hall' loop around, yet Boggins came from the opening, she skidding to a stop to turn back around, her way blocked by the enemy. She trapped herself.

"Nowhere to run."

"and nowhere to hide."

Y/n backed up, almost slipping over the platform's edge, bringing her fingers to her mouth, she whistled loudly, and let herself fall off the platform, her hummingbird following in a dive after her. Grabbing onto the reins, she managed to catch her feet in the loops and pull herself into the saddle, she pulled the reins to level out the bird and guide it to a deep incline.

"Thank you!" Y/n aspirated, patting the bird on the side, they had been practicing that for a while, "Let's go get Ronin!"

The bird was quick to fly up despite the deep incline, the bird whizzed past the two fighting, past Nod and M.K. hanging from the ceiling holding onto the slugs, they where playing footsies with two guards chasing them, trying to make each other fall. Turning the bird around to make its way back down, Y/n pulled an arrow from her quiver, knocking it the bird flew back toward her brother and Mandrake. She was quick to take the shot, missing terribly as he dodged one of Ronin's attacks, he kicking Ronin back. She cursed to herself, pulling another arrow to knock, a Boggin coming up from behind Ronin, which Y/n quickly shot. Defending Ronin of extra oncoming attackers seemed the better route to go. Nod's whistle caught her ears.

"Come on! Hurry!" Nod shouted toward Ronin

"I got him! Go!" Y/n shouted the order, shooting a boggin grabbing onto M.K.'s legs, "get out of here!"

Nod looked her way on nodded, Y/n nodding back as she focused back on defending her brother.

"You know what to do girl," Y/n told to bird, they dived back towards her brother as Y/n jumped off her bird, her brother's bruises already forming.

She stood with him fighting Boggins back, "She's gonna loop back around! And then we jump!" Y/n ordered.

"Did you think of this specific situation when training her!?" Ronin laughed, back to hers.

Y/n laughed back, "Hey, who doesn't love fighting to the death! It's a great family outing!"

There was chirping; Y/n's hummingbird coming back around.

"Ready!?" Y/n asked, punching a Boggin hard across the face, ducking as another came after her with a punch, Ronin punching it instead.

"On you!" Ronin told, Y/n grabbing Ronin's arm as she ran off the edge, they landed on the bird, but not evenly, as it rocked and chirped in fear.

Ronin took lead, Y/n behind him.

"Hold on!"

The bird took off with speed, another steep incline Y/n held onto Ronin tight, and they made it out into the open air.

Ronin laughed, "Not bad at all!"

Y/n's grip started to slip from him, he looked back at her; their incline not helping at all as she was falling backward with a look of shock on her face. Shot in the back with an arrow.

"Y/n!" He called out for her, reaching his hand out, hoping to catch her, to no avail.

"Go!" Ronin ordered the bird, grabbing its reins to turn it back around, but it didn't listen and leveled out, flying quickly away; "Go back! Go back for her!"

The hummingbird continued at a face pace flying to catch up with the rest of the group that had escaped.

"Ronin!" Nod cheered, "You're alright!"

The broken look on Ronin's face told otherwise; he look away from the group.

"Where's Y/n?" Grub asked.

"Y/n..." Ronin started, "Didn't make it..."

"Oh," Mub answered.

It grew silent, Ronin's sister gone, Mub and Grub's best friend, their only friend really; gone. The idiot squad of Nod and Y/n dismembered.

"I'm sorry," M.K. offered her condolences, arm securely around Nod.

The trip back to Moonhaven was quiet, filled with saddening silence, the moon would be at its highest soon and the new Queen would be crowned. Almost to Moonhaven; a defense squad stopped them all lead by Ronin's second in command.

"It's glad to have you back sir." He told he wasn't the only one excited to have their commanding officer back.

Ronin nodded, "Have any Boggin's tried to attack Moonhaven?"

"No sir-"

He stopped himself, realizing the bird he was riding on; "Y/n is with you, sir?"

Ronin looked his way, a look that was all that was needed; "No,"

"Oh."

"Double defenses." Ronin changed the subject, "Mandrake will be coming for the pod."

His second-in-command nodded as they made it to the outskirts of Moonhaven. The pod would be safe inside the castle, guarded and taken care of. Nim was there, he knew about blooming a pod more than anyone else. It was the chaos before the storm; the last stand to save the forest and everyone within it. Everybody running around: armoring up, restocking arrows, and quickly sharpening their swords, Ronin ordered people around with haste: this had to happen, formations had to be tight and precise.

"Sir!" A leaf man shouted to grab his attention, "They're here!"

It grew silent as everyone looked at someone; it would be people's last days.

"You heard her! Out now!" He ordered, "Moonhaven does not fall!"

There were battle cries all around; soldiers rushing to their birds ready to take to the sky.

"You ready for this?" Ronin asked Nod.

"No!"

"Good!"

The fight was brutal; Boggins dropped like flies, and did Leaf Men, but it ensued, arrows flew through the air and swords clashed with clubs.

M.K. who was left to sit and wait; needed to help; she felt obligated; after all, if this pod didn't bloom, she'd be stuck here forever. So she rushed off with a bright idea, to get her dad involved, bat noises to draw away the Boggin's steeds.

Sure it worked, but Mandrake was already there; ready to claim his dark heir to the throne. Even with Nim and Mub trying to distract him, and pull him away he advanced, yet he was stabbed in the back, an arrow lodged deep inside his skin as he let out a cry and turned his head in anger.

"You miss me bitch!?" Y/n shouted, battered, bruised, bleeding, armor broken and missing; she pulled out her sheathed sword in the ready position.

"Y/n!" Mub cheered.

"You just don't die!" Mandrake shouted in anger pulling the full arrow from his back.

"Yeah well maybe don't shoot a soldier with her own arrow," Y/n smirked, "Plus imagine Ronin without me? He'd die, let's be honest."

His only response was to growl and run at her, she lifted her sword in defense as they clashed.

"not bad for a boggin." Y/n teased, Mandrake growling, if she got him mad enough- his hits became filled with fury, they were uncoordinated and spasm-like.

Finding the first wide opening she dodged to the side slashing his side and ending up on the side of the pod, she quick to take the offensive side and slashed, hit, and fought; he was tired from his anger, she pushed him hard enough to where he slid across the floor, even with his planted feet.

"Retreat while you have the chance," Y/n ordered; "Or I will kill you."

Mandrake came at her again; compassion was defeated by passion, he cursed her as he attacked with newly found energy and strength, her grip lost on her sword as it went flying across the room, landing and sliding across the floor. She glared up at him, just to be punched across the face and hard, knocking her to the ground, along with the wind out of her, before she could even try and get up she was kicked in the gut.

"You know what I love about leaves?" Mandrake asked, "They all fall to the ground and die! And you're dying all alone!"

Y/n tried to get up, as he raised his staff into the air, ready to end her life, by his hand. Two swords blocked the heavy hit that Y/n was expecting. Ronin and Nod holding their ground in defense, leaf men standing behind them defending the pod with shields.

"Alone is not the word I would use for it-" Ronin answered, "She's annoying, but never alone; not as long as I live!"

Y/n reached her hand forward grabbing the arrow that had been discarded beginning of the battle,.

"Then you'll all die!" He shouted, Ronin and Nod struggling against Mandrake's pressure.

Y/n looked back, moonlight soon to be encasing the pod she forced herself up as Ronin's and Nod's defense was broken, Y/n shouting as she drove herself into Mandrake's chest. Panting heavily as she pushed the arrow farther into his chest.

She pushed herself off him, breath still not caught as she walked him to take a step back, hand phantomly cupping in the arrow, unsure if he was to even touch it.

"I told you to leave." Y/n told holding her side, "and you didn't."

He turned to retreat, but he wouldn't get very far, not with death creeping up the steps of the palace to meet her newest addition. He made it to the stairs, but that was it, he fell to his knees, and soon his side followed as he died on the steps of Moonhaven's castle.

Y/n's body gave out after, exhausted, and tired. Ronin caught her, putting her arm around his shoulder.

"Did you know-" Y/n interrupted herself with her own coughing; it hurt and sounded deep, yet she managed to clear her throat, "Did you know...that...oh jeez...it's, give me a minute would you?"

Ronin only smiled at her exhausted state; she was beaten to hell and back, but alive.

"I don't know what you're going to say, but I know that I'm the luckiest brother out there," Ronin told causing Y/n to laugh in exhaustion.

Before she could reply, the room was filling with soldiers and civilians, and the pod was blooming. It was a happy moment laced with sadness; Queen Tara would be gone forever after this.

A warm yet phantom hand was placed on her shoulder, she smiled at the impression of the queen in front of her.

"You did good, hard to split up the icon duo isn't it?" Tara jested as they both smile, Y/n looking at Ronin and he looks back at her as they chuckled, then turned back at the queen, "You'll be amazing Y/n, I know it."

Y/n nodded, bowing her head in a final goodbye her eyes closed, Tara's last goodbye to her was a kiss to the head, motherly even. She was let go by Ronin, and luckily she could balance herself, joy filled her; her people were alright, her friends; her brother.

She raised her head, eyes opening as she looked towards Ronin who smiled proudly at her. Everyone was looking at her she chuckled awkwardly as she looked down at her feet- her armor white, with gold detailing; looking at her hands they were adorned with white gloves and golden leaf details.

"Wait! Did I just-" She asked looking at Ronin, who couldn't help but laugh at her expression.

Nim walked in front of her, "You're majesty." he bowed.

Y/n bowed back, and everyone followed quickly with a smile on their face.

"Never thought Y/n would be queen, the get-up looks good on her though," Nod murmured, Ronin hit him on the arm, "What it's a compliment- I'm jealous of the new armor."

Everyone rose to their feet, "okay I can't balance any longer-"

Ronin was quick to hold his sister up once again, they laughed as she leaned on him; "Moonhaven's lucky to have you."

Y/n smiled yet winced, "And I'm lucky to have the best brother, I wouldn't trade him for anything in the world,"

"how about a healer?" Ronin asked.

"Yeah I might trade you for that," Y/n answered both laughing, "But besides that- I'm one lucky sister, even if we do fight, and we say things we don't mean, and we hate each other. I know you'll always be there for me."

[amourcheol]

hey fia! oh my god first off i just wanna say i’ve read absolutely everything you’ve written so far and i just eat it up everytime. general cheol? chef’s kiss, i literally think about the great war like once a week it is slightly unhealthy. BUT PARIS i think about every single day since i read it, it’s been in my tbr for the longest time because i wanted to be fully immersed in it when i read it if that makes sense? and i was so happy i did that because i just fell in love with it once i read it. i love love love a slightly messy, slightly questionable main character and the way jeonghan worships her in spite of it all??? LITERALLY IN LOVE. my favourite type of writing is character-driven writing in general and i just feel like i really got to know each and every one, even seungkwan (who was so funny by the way, every time his name showed up i physically smiled). anyway i’ll stop singing my praises for paris now sorry it’s just my latest hyperfixation lol!!

ANYWHO the main purpose of this ask was actually to tell you how excited i am to read ur vernon fic!!! i literally live laugh love and breathe watching the detectives (cillian murphy has also been a hyperhyperhyperfixation of mine for literal years now but that’s besides the point) and VERNON IS THE PERFECT MEMBER TO PUT IN A WATCHING THE DETECTIVES AU like please i’m just so excited to read it and i am now about to absolutely devour the teaser. thanks for listening to my ted talk <3<3<3

hello hello user ourkivee!! firstly this ask made me kick my feet like a little schoolgirl TAKE RESPONSIBILITY ‼️‼️

Secondly THANK YOU SO MUCH ????? ur so right questionable protagonists who lowkey are mean and hard to defend but still get their redemption arc are my FAVESSSS and what is even sweeter is a simp like I AM NO ONE IF NOT A SIMP WRITER … im so happy u enjoyed the characterisations !! I feel like in fics it’s so so important to add life to the people (arguably more important than plot at times depending on what ur writing!!) and knowing Paris was ur hyper fixation makes me so so giddy so thank u for that honour !! 💖💖

OH MY FOD FINALLY SOMEONE WHOS WATCHED IT when i say since watching peaky blinders in 2019 i have WORSHIPPED THIS MAN cillian Murphy has the craziest range ever and watching him be a silly goofy film bro be humbled by a bad bitch was pure cinematic perfection and NGLLLLLL Vernon is such a filmbro the amount of Nolan movies I saw in his recs …. BUT IM SO GLAD U SEE RHE VISION 💖💖

[sophsun1]

I am so sorry, i feel like I am annoying the hell out of you but BRIAN PROPOSED!!! And he bought a house!!! I am screaming, kicking and crying all at once! He called Justin his prince!!! For 5 entire seasons he couldn’t even say the word love towards Justin. He always backed out or denied it or made some joke of it, anything to hide that he does love him and the second he said those three words to Justin, it was like the flood gates opened up! ‘Didn’t you hear what i said yesterday?’ ‘To prove to the person I love how much i love him’ GOSH!! The ‘that I would give him anything, i would…do anything, I’d be anything’ part made me want to cry. GOSH THAT WAS AMAZING! But i also unfortunately know that it has an “open” ending or whatever so while I don’t know what is coming, I do know that I will hate it. Anyway i am now going to disappear and stop rambling/spamming because its way too much but also my gosh am I happy that i came across your gifs of this show.

Hey anon!

I have nothing to add really lmao.

Listen don't knock it until you've seen it I don't hate the ending in of itself it's just some parts of it I wish I could rewrite but it's not out and out hatred for it. I still love the spirit of it and the scenes we get doesn't take from the story for me anyway.

Hey, it's why I make my gifs so others can enjoy them and why gifmakers do it, so their hyper fixations can reach a wider audience. I'm glad I could help.

Enjoy the finale, and don't forget tissues are recommended.

P.S I'm guessing you're watching the streaming version of the show? If you are I wanted to say that it's my duty to tell you the hideous soundtrack associated with it, that literally makes my ears bleed is not the original qaf soundtrack which is heaven sent and adds *so much* to the viewing experience and the episodes. I suggest if you want to, to search out the original soundtrack if you're a fan of music.

[thatoneguitargirl]

Yo, I would absolutely kill for some Robin Buckley x fem reader fluff? Thanks!

𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘳 | robin buckley x reader

god am i out of practice. this is severely unedited and lowkey shitty but i’m trying my best

in which robin is a liar and (Y/N) sees right through her

masterlist

»»————-　　————-««

“ROBIN. ROBIN. ROBIN. ROBIN.” (Y/N) drones on and on. “Robin, why aren’t you talking to me? Is something wrong? Robin. Robin. Robin.”

“What (Y/N)?!”

“You weren’t talking to me. What’s up?”

(Y/N) slides off the bed to meet where her girlfriend was sitting on the floor. Robin’s eyebrows were scrunched together and she was bobbing her head intently to whatever was playing in the headphones. When she realizes, Robin slips them onto her neck and looks over.

“Nothing. I’m just doing homework,”

(Y/N)’s jaw drops. No way was Robin actually doing homework without being asked. “Liar,” she whispers.

“Nuh-uh”

"Yeah-huh,” (Y/N) reaches over and tries to snatch the headphones but Robin dodges. 

The freckled girl tucks her legs and rolls across the room away from her girlfriend. Quickly patting down her pockets, Robin sighs in relief as she feels the cassette player safely in her pocket. (Y/N) stares over at her and scowls. So this is how she wants to play it.

(Y/N) speeds over and attempts to pin Robin to the ground. And she does.. for a good 5 seconds. Suddenly, Robin is kicking and whining, “(Y/N)! Get off of me, right now!”

“Not until you tell me what’s wrong! I can annoy you forever, don’t try me Robin”

(Y/N) reaches for the tape in her girlfriend’s pocket and just narrowly grabs it. Her fingertips brush the edge before she’s dropped hard on the carpet. Her head knocks against the carpet and she yells. “Ow, you’re gonna kill me!”

Robin smirks, “You deserve it for being nosy”

(Y/N)’s face fixes into a pout. She blinks her eyes really fast and looks up at her girlfriend. Robin notices the trick immediately and starts laughing hysterically. Her mouth is wide open and she starts to double over. “Please (Y/N), don’t make me laugh anymore. I’m trying to study.” Robin laughs harder until she’s fallen on the floor. Legitimately convulsing.

“Give it up. You’re so not studying!”

Robin continues laughing, but throws her device over to (Y/N). “Here- take it,” She manages to get out before bursting into a fit of laughter once again.

Face brightening, (Y/N) runs over and pulls the headphones onto her ears. She clicks the play button so hard she almost breaks it, only to be greeted by... Lesley Gore? The girl raises an eyebrow.

“I PROMISE IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK! It’s for band! We’re doing a song in band!” Robin immediately ceases her laughter and runs over to steal back the tape. (Y/N) turns away and continues listening. No way. This doesn’t fit a band at all. And… seriously? This for a marching band??

“Oh really,” (Y/N) taunts. “And it’s not that there’s a secret Lesley Gore fan under your ‘i’m cool and different’ persona?”

Robin flushes a deep red, which she thinks she’s hiding well. “Pfft- I would never. That music is so old… and boring… and…”

(Y/N) pushes the headphones to her neck. “And?”

Robin sighs. Resigned, she says, “good.”

“Good?”

“Yeah, actually I find that her music really speaks to me. Plus, I have this theory that she’s secretly a lesbian because who would sing about boys that much. Of course, it was the 60’s and blah blah blah blah”

(Y/N) stopped listening halfway through and just giggled to herself. She was right and now she gets to see her favorite thing, Robin talking endlessly about her hyper-fixations. She watches as her girlfriend’s mouth moves a mile a minute, but (Y/N) doesn’t care about the words coming out. She just wants to admire.

Eventually, Robin has to take a breath for air and (Y/N) takes this as her only chance to speak . “I’m not upset you know.”

Robin cocks her head, “You’re not? Than why did you look all judgy and disgusted?”

(Y/N) smiles subtly. “Just thinking about how my girlfriend lied to be and tried to kill me in the same night. It hurts, you know.” She places a hand to her chest and frowns.

Robin rolls her eyes and holds out her hand. “Toss me the tape. I’ll put it on the speaker so we can both listen.”

(Y/N) clicks the eject button, but nothing happens. She clicks it again. And again. And again. Uh oh.

“I swear to god (Y/N) if you broke my Walkman, I’m gonna kill you.”

(Y/N)’s eyes go wide before she drops everything and bolts from the room.

[hyperfixated-gvf]

Sleeper Sled

On the tenth day of Tropemas, hyperfixated-gvf gave to me:

A fluffy sledding fic where Jake is grumpy!

Christmas Song Pairing: “Dashing Through the Snow" by A Very Convoluted History of Versions and Singers

Trope: Sledding

~~~

Pairing: Jake Kiszka x Reader

Warnings: Some suggestive implications, language

Words: 2k

Author's Note: I'm not quite done with the Sammy fic that was supposed to go out today, so I had to switch up the pattern. Hope you don't mind! Besides, that also means we'll be finishing off Tropemas with 2 very smutty rhythm section fics ;)

~~~

Jake had been grumpy when you woke him up before noon. It’s not like you could blame him — you knew intimately how late he stayed up. But you had plans for the day, and when you were finally able to bribe him with a hot coffee and food on the way to where you were taking him, he finally dragged himself out of bed, demanding a kiss, as well.

“Where are we even going?” He mumbled once you pulled away, resistant to his attempts to deepen the kiss and get you back in bed.

You patted his hip and went back to searching for Jake’s good winter gloves in the box of miscellaneous hats, scarves, gloves, and mittens. “A date,” you said. 

“I could plan a perfectly good date right here, though,” came Jake’s reply from the bathroom. “And then we wouldn’t have to trek through the snow.”

The sink started to run, so you didn’t bother responding. You knew that Jake’s idea of a date at home would be him offering to teach you how to make a dish, eventually kicking you out of the kitchen because the only people he really liked cooking with are his mom and dad, and then watching a movie until you either passed out, got bored, or started fucking.

So, no. You would not be staying here. And besides, trekking through the snow was part of the date, something that Jake soon found out as soon as he saw the “Joy’s Old Sleddin’ Hill” sign sitting atop the gate you passed under to pull into the freshly-salted parking lot.

“Sledding?” Jake questioned, doubt tinging his tone. “Have you ever been snowboarding? It’s much more fun.”

You fixed your boyfriend with an unamused glare. He wasn’t usually such a spoil-sport, but you knew he’d been up in the music room all night, hyper-fixated on a new riff that he just had to get before he got to bed. You’d had this date planned for a couple of weeks now, though, and he’d known about it even if you’d kept the location a secret. Because of that, you had very little sympathy for his late-night habits.

“Yes. With your family last year, remember? When you took me out because you and Sam wouldn’t stop fucking around on the beginner’s slope?”

Jake tried to stop the smile from reaching his lips, but you saw the small smirk take over eventually and shook your head good-naturedly. “Oh yeah,” he coughed, covering up his amusement poorly. “Alrighty. Well, if we’re gonna do it, then, let’s do it.”

Despite the less-than-enthusiastic send-off, Jake reached for your hand when you met up behind the car to walk to the sled rental but before you took off, hooked his newly-gloved finger into your scarf so that he could pull it down and kiss your cheek.

“Trying to suck up to me now, Kiszka?” you teased, readjusting your scarf before leaning into your boyfriend. He must have felt bad for being a sourpuss, but you hadn’t let it affect your mood because you knew he’d come around. And again, he wasn’t always like this – you were willing to give him a break every so often when he let his creative genius take over.

“I would never,” he denied, but you saw the smile. “Why would I when I’m still getting cold and wet on a Sunday when we could have been warm and wet in–”

“Don’t you dare finish that sentence,” you gasped, pasting your wool-covered palm over his mouth, “there are children around!” It didn’t stop him, because you could feel his breath seep into your mitten as he mumbled incoherently into your hand, so you just kept it there as you walked until he quieted again. “You’re gonna get us kicked out.”

Perhaps it was a warning and a threat to you, but Jake just smiled mischievously and sighed, “If that’s how I’m gonna get out of climbing up this God forsaken hill, I’ll give a dramatic rendition of last night.”

You scoffed and glanced over at him, approaching the sled rental, finally. “What– before or after you left me on the bed to go and chase your little guitar chords?”

That certainly got Jake’s attention, and he narrowed his eyes before leaning in. He didn’t really want to get kicked out, after all. “I left you exhausted, don’t pretend like I didn’t take care of you first,” he said, the complaint ripe in his words.

You smiled as you shelled out for the best sleds the little shack had and thought about disagreeing just to see where it got you but, eventually, decided that you didn’t actually want to ruin Jake’s day. “You did,” you conceded, giving up the fight - and he had, you just much preferred to cuddle with him after he rocked your shit than with his pillow as he returned to his one true love. You weren't made by Gibson, after all.

You gave Jake his sled as you made for the hill, and he harrumphed behind you, but followed. Even trudging up the hill, you didn’t talk much, too busy trying not to look as out of shape as you both were. But, heavy breathing and all, Jake began to get a tad bit more pep in his step the further toward the top you got.

As much as he grouched about getting up early and being cold and wet, he was a Michigan boy at heart, and you knew he missed the plethora of slopes around every corner. He never passed up a chance to grab his old snowboard from his parent’s garage when you visited, and he’d disappear with Josh for hours once he knew you were comfortable and had something to do (as if his family ever ran out of things to do).

Sledding wasn’t that much different.

Someone flew past you on their way down, and Jake watched as the snow sprayed up behind them. “Damn…” he muttered, taking another look at his board. “Are you sure we don’t need to go back down and rent some goggles and a couple of helmets?”

“I knew you’d come around,” you said smugly, finally approaching the end of the line of people waiting to be placed and given the green light by the workers. “You can’t stay away from extreme snow sports.”

Jake furrowed his brows. “Since when has sledding been an extreme sport?” he scoffed, still keeping up the fake attitude, even though you could see him bouncing on his heels.

As the line gradually shortened with each person that quickly picked up speed on the steep hill, you and Jake kept up the banter, but it quickly turned competitive when your boards were placed on the snow.

“So what do I get if I win?” Jake asked, a suggestive tone that only you could pick up on lacing his words.

Waiting for the workers to nod that you were good to push off, you rolled your eyes and scoffed. “Anything you want,” you told him, sickly sweet. “But you won’t win, so it’ll actually be what I’ll get when I win.”

Jake’s eyes turned up in a smile you couldn’t see because of his adjusted scarf, but you heard him reply, “Anything you want,” just before the worker told you you could go.

As fast as you could, you dug your boots into the snow and pushed yourself down the hill like a little, snow-dwelling frog. Jake was still hanging out in your peripheral, right next to you, and you began to think there might be some merit to his words about goggles, with the spray that occurred as the hill dropped to be steeper and your sled skidded across pillowy white drifts that felt like icy needles on your face.

Perhaps it was because you had to close your eyes against the elements, or maybe your focus shifted as you felt like you’d fly right off the course and into the parking lot, but you didn’t notice Jake converging in on you until his muffled voice was inches away and he was reaching out a hand to stop the collision.

“Jake!” you squealed, trying to muscle him away from you. But with his efforts clashing with yours, you only succeeded in swinging him out in front of you, so that he was going down the hill backwards and you were the only one who saw the absolute trainwreck of a stop that was evolving. 

The huge snowdrift at the bottom of the hill acted as a stopper, and if a rider hadn’t lost enough momentum by the time they reached it, they’d either continue to sled up and then succumb to gravity, or they would shoot forward into the snow if the sled got caught before it went up.

With your combined weight, either way was gonna hurt.

The sleds slowed as the incline leveled out, but it wasn’t enough, and as soon as you hit the snowdrift, Jake tumbled off abruptly as the nose of the sled caught a compressed lip of ice from where it had been compacted by many sledders before you. And although his hands were ripped from yours, you still followed, giggling all the way.

“That was a softer landing than I had imagined,” you cackled breathlessly, taking deep breaths against the puffy material of Jake’s coat. His arm encircled your waist, and with a quick shake of his head, he dislodged the scarf from where it had been wrapped around his nose and lips.

“Soft because you landed on me,” he accused with a little laugh, digging his fingers into the layers that hid you.

Not wanting to be run over by other sledders, you got up off of him and held out your hand, which Jake took gratefully. “What do you mean? You’re all hard man muscle,” you drawled jokingly. “I was lucky you were wearing that big ol’ coat, or I probably would’ve broken something.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Jake snorted, grabbing the stings of both sleds and hauling them out of the way.

He was quiet as you made your way back to the path leading up to the top of the hill, and you gently caught his elbow. “Sorry I crushed you there,” you apologized, not really thinking he was mad at you, but to hear his voice again. You knew he likely just didn’t have anything to say, but having woke up on the wrong side of the bed, you wanted to make sure he was actually having a good time and wasn’t just putting on a brave face for you. “We can go a few more times and then blow this popsicle stand if it traumatized you too much.”

Jake glanced at you, brows raised as he took in your offering. You knew the second the lightbulb went off because he scooted off to the side of the trail and looped the sled strings around his arm so that they wouldn’t slide away back down the hill, and then grabbed your hand. “Hey, I’m having fun,” he claimed, genuine happiness softening his features in a way that made you relax for the time being.

“I know!” you assured, maybe a little too quickly, as anything less would make you feel foolish for doubting Jake’s emotional state. Jake picked up on that and made sure you were holding his gaze before he ran a cold, slightly damp finger down your nose in an affectionate gesture.

He put on his best sweet voice, sleepy and a little raspy just the way you loved. “Thank you for taking the time out of your day to plan this,” he said sincerely as tendrils of winter began to settle between the gaps of your layers now that you weren’t actively struggling up a steep hill and getting your body warm with exertion. “I appreciate you putting up with me more than you know.”

Sufficiently reassured that Jake was happy, you took your sled from his arm. “I don’t put up with you. I love you just the way you are,” you said mischievously. “Even when you wake up grumpy and leave me without cuddles after blowing my back out.”

You took off up the hill, leaving Jake with a shocked expression that quickly turned offended. “I did not! And what happened to ‘there are children around?’”

You laughed as he chased you as quickly as he could with clunky snow boots on. In your opinion, the sledding date was most certainly going to turn out a success.

~~~

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[howdoyousleep3]

soooo I googled Gabe Kepler (since I’m Australian) and from ONE pic, the $14M net worth, the S&P beard and the age?

I’m ready to listen. lead the way bestie

I should have known you would be the one to indulge me. 😌 Ilysm.

Okay okay okay pardon the usual fandom interruption, hehe. But...

...he is more than worthy of this interruption. 🤭

Listen, I don't know anything about this man aside from the half hour burst of hyper-fixation where I googled him so, aside from the facts, this is complete bullshit fantasy, okay okay okay?

he’s the manager, the coach, the leader because of course this mf is

he sure looks like the definition of tall, dark, and handsome in my book, is fit af, a big boi, could probably pick up my twin mama 200+ pound tush up and 😮‍💨

the beard, the beard is impeeeeeccable, it's tight and salt and peppery, and looks soft af, barkbarkwoofwoof c'mere zaddy

the hand tattoo. the hand tattoo. the hand tattoo (from what i read it's to memorialize his father who had parkinson's 🥺) don't mind me sitting here dizzy in my drool, what a pretty necklace it would make 😵‍💫

and the sheer size of his hands alone has me faint, wanna get 'em on my throat on my waist on my ass plz

he openly believes in the blm movement, doesn't come out for the national anthem, uses his platform to take a stance and speak out on unjustness and that's arguably the hottest thing about him

y'all should see him get angry too, he got kicked out of a game recently and I 😳🥲

he's' almost 50 years old..........

his taste in music is 💅🏻🙏🏻😻 he once stopped an interview so everyone could listen to greta van fleet playing in the stadium lol my man

have I mentioned he’s ripped af? Like the body is shredded, it’s wild

my current daydream is one where he picks me up from my apartment (daydreams do not include husband or twinsies no I do not feel bad about that yes I am madly in love with my life and my family) and we baaaaaaaarely make it to dinner in time and he’s handsy af and he feeds me bites of food from his fingers and it’s steamy af and he gives me kisses all up and down my neck and asks if I want to come back to his place and—

In conclusion: the stamina, that mean mug, the glasses, the hands, the broodiness, the passion, the body

In conclusion:

[rat-bastard-fics]

She’s Sweet

Pairing: Leah Clearwater X F! Reader

Leah finally imprints

Warnings: Mentions of anxiety and dissociation

Word Count: 631

Y/n

“Seth, I’d really rather stay home.” Seth Clearwater, my best friend who I, currently, am regretting, tugs me behind him towards the beach.

“You’re always home.” He somewhat whines at me as he proceeds. “Even Leah notices it.”

“Notices what–you complaining? I’ve never even met your sister.” I snort out a laugh at him in response, my snide remark somewhat mumbled.

“Complaining, concerned commentary, whatever you want to call it.” He smiles his signature sparkling excitement at me as our feet hit the sand. “Besides, we’re already here.”

With a huff, I follow Seth through the sand towards a small group of his friends. Only Seth could have broken through my hermit-like walls. Seth runs ahead of me, warmly greeting his friends and effectively leaving me in his dust. Sheepishly, I approach the crowd from behind him, wishing now even more than a few minutes ago that I was bundled up at home, wine and remote in their own respective hands. 

“This is y/n.” Seth continues to smile and I begin to wonder where he finds enough cheek muscles to maintain such cheer. People greet me in a pattern of organized chaos, enough so that I pick things up here and there but really, for the most part, I just feel overstimulated and stressed. I continue taking deep breaths and somewhat swallow everything down under a veil of dissociation. Absently, I greet everyone as they approach before they agree to run off and play football, allowing me enough space to sit and rest on a piece of driftwood. I kick my feet under the sand before pulling them back out again, allowing myself something to hyper fixate on. Truthfully, I have no idea how long I sat like this and I was somewhat embarrassed at my lack of engagement–I was even more embarrassed by my lack of longing to change that. “Your Seth’s friend, right?” The driftwood shifts as someone else sits down beside me. In any normal situation, I would hate this sudden entrance into my own absentness. Somehow, though, there wasn’t anything threatening about neither this voice nor this presence.

“Y/n.” I look to my left, making eye contact with the beautiful woman who sat beside me and haphazardly sticking a hand out in her direction.

“Leah.” She grabs my hand in hers, meets my eye, and freezes. 

Leah

After weeks of whining and begging, Seth got Sam to agree to allow a friend–not imprint–of his to join us at the beach. Not everyone was here today but, honestly, that’s probably for the best. I’ve never met y/n but I’ve heard enough about her to feel as though I have. The boys ran around, tossing a ball back and forth as I arrived. I didn’t see the y/h/c haired girl that Seth had spoken of so many times and grew somewhat confused until I spotted her sitting off to the side. Her arms were crossed over her stomach and she buried and retrieved her feet in and out of the sand repeatedly. I watched from a distance.

I can feel her nerves from here. I don’t know that I’m typically this in tune with other people’s emotions–aside from when my wolf-self mandates it–and maybe that’s out of sheer isolation, but her presence, no matter the distance, is pervasive. After what felt like an appropriate amount of time, I sat by her, watching the boys play ball.

“You’re Seth’s friend, right?” I knew the answer.

“y/n” Out of my peripheral vision, I can see her look towards me and hold her hand out. I smile and somewhat laugh under my breath, she’s sweet.

“Leah.” I grab her hand in mine and meet her eyes.

My world stops and begins again all at once.