#otp: i want to tell you before the sun sets

[koushirouizumi]

{K A G E P R O} ~ Y U U K E I Y E S T E R D A Y - Cover by N I J I S A N J I

[starfall-spirit]

On the Edge of Losing You

Thank you @azrielshadowssing for organizing the Summer ACOTAR Writing Circle. This is my first time participating, and my first collab fic in general. I am thrilled to be kicking this off with my OTP, Feysand. Writers of part two and three, you are more than welcome to reuse the banner I created or make your own if you don’t like my theme.

Also a huge thanks to my beta readers, @deepsleep07 and @headcanonheadcase for the critique that really helped form this piece. Without further ado, I hope you all enjoy it!

Summary: Feyre and Tamlin are set to say their I dos on the beautiful beaches of Cancún. The problem—Feyre's wedding jitters have escalated to the revival of a crush on her best friend a few days before the wedding.

CW: None

Word Count: 3,318

Part 2 (@thegloweringcastle) // Part 3 (TBA) // Ao3

Chapter I: Do I Say I Do?

“Careful, Rhys. Someone might start thinking you have ill intentions.” He knew Feyre had sensed him the second he appeared on the surf, lingering a few feet from where she lounged in her beach chair that sat low to the ground, her long legs extended so her feet were cooled by the rising tide.

Haloed by the July sun wearing only her bikini she looked… He wasn’t ready to think about how Feyre looked. Not with that sun glinting off an emerald-topped engagement band she never took off. Not with her fiancé throwing a fit every time Rhys was within a ten mile radius of her. For someone who had secured an engagement and was beginning his vacation that preluded a disgustingly grand destination wedding, Tamlin failed to view Rhys as anything other than a threat.

He snagged a camping chair and set it so it sat parallel to hers and he wouldn’t have to get so low to the ground to join her. “You’re looking a bit pink already. You know you’re hopeless when it comes to tanning, don’t you?”

Her lips turned up into a small smile as she rose to a sitting position. “I took a dip earlier. And it’s been a few hours since I applied.” 

He took the sunscreen bottle from the pocket of his chair and passed it to her. “No need to be burnt on your wedding day.” 

Her eyes snapped back to him, the set of her mouth telling him she didn’t approve of the bitter note in his voice. “Rhys—”

“I know. He’s perfect and hasn’t shown any of the red flags I mentioned from the moment you met, right?”

“Rhys!” She was red-faced for an entirely different reason now. “You are my best friend, but it is not your place to worry about my marriage.” She took his hands in hers. “You are my best friend,” she repeated, “and he will be my husband in a matter of days. I want both of you in my life. But this tension between you has to be resolved.”

This tension. A kind way of putting Rhys’ loose tongue about all of the faults he saw in his best friend’s fiance. And Feyre, stubborn as she was, refused to listen to him this time. He didn’t want to control her. He just wanted her to see sense.

“Right. Call me when he doesn’t find a guy talking to you to be a criminal offense.”

“He’s protective,” she insisted, breaking eye contact as she rubbed the sunscreen into her arms. “There’s nothing wrong with protecting someone you love.” He opened his mouth to argue again. “I’m done with this, Rhys. We can speak pleasantly or you can leave.” She sighed, turning to bare her back to him as lifted her braid. “Help me with my back please.”

Fuck. After the conversation they just had about her “protective” fiancé? He really didn’t feel like dealing with the huffing and puffing today. “Feyre, seriously?”

“Oh stop it. It’s never been a problem before now. I always miss spots if I do it alone. If Tamlin’s your concern he won’t be back for a while. Even if he was, he’d see reason.” He didn’t think either of them really believed that. “It’s not a problem.”

No, it hadn’t been a problem. Then they'd gotten older and he found himself crushing on her. And that crush grew. They hit their teens and his sweet friend who was once all knees and elbows from too few meals was standing in her prom dress, taking his breath away. 

His mother had made sure Feyre and her sisters were cared for when she saw the signs the Archeron family tried so hard to hide. Things got better, even if their father took it as an insult until the day he died. Their father’s feelings aside, they made friends and had food in their bellies. And Rhys bonded with all of them. But things had always run deeper with Feyre. Her older sisters teased and teased her for it as children, but there had never been anything to act on. 

She had been objectively attractive, of course. More so than her sisters. But one doesn’t think that of their best friend. Rhys didn’t let himself think that way. Not until she came down those stairs on prom night. He could remember every detail, a girl of sixteen attending the school dance in his senior year. She was a vision in a gown of midnight blue and silver. 

He finally saw her as a woman he hadn’t been able to look back since. Even after he graduated and the world pushed them apart for years on end. There had been other women, college flings and bar hookups. But none of them were Feyre.

Here they were at twenty-six and twenty-eight, both a little wiser and in control of their own lives. And the honest truth was he couldn’t focus on anything around her. If she hadn’t announced she was dating Tamlin six months ago, he might have acted on those growing feelings by now. Yet here they were, lounging on the private beach in Cancún with a whirlwind romance dropping Feyre at that altar. If she couldn’t see the timeframe as a red flag he didn’t think anything would change her mind.

“Rhys.” 

Scanning the beach for the blond bastard, he obeyed, rubbing the sunscreen into her back as quickly as he could, trying very hard not to think about how he really wanted to run his hands over her. Slowly, not leaving an inch of skin unmapped. He shook the thought away. “There. You should be covered.”

“Thanks.” She offered him the bottle. “Need some?”

“Sure.” He came here to hang out, after all.

She leaned back in her chair again, folding one arm behind her head. “So, what took you so long to fly in?”

He chuckled. “Other than the fact I’m a full time professor in the height of summer courses, grading a buttload of essays for Astronomy 101? Some of those students…” He shook his head.

“Girls?” Feyre asked with a knowing smirk. He wasn’t sure he wanted to hear the rest of her assumption. “You’re the youngest teacher in the department, Rhys. They’re failing because they're staring at your pretty face instead of the whiteboard.” 

He snorted, not ready to admit there had been a student or two who scrawled a ten digit number on the back of their final. “Yeah, well, flirting never got anyone an A.” He squeezed her hand. “I got here as fast as I could. Whatever disagreements I may have with Tamlin, you know I wouldn’t miss this. I said I’d be there for you through everything good and bad. This fits the bill.”

Even if he pictured himself on Tamlin’s side of the altar every time he saw the wedding invitation on his apartment’s fridge door. “I wanted to ask you—”

Before she could finish, a high-pitched squeal pierced the air. “About time! Get over here!”

Feyre jumped as white sand sprayed up onto her, clinging to the fresh sunscreen. “Mor, really!”

He saw a flash of blonde before his cousin was barreling into his arms, giggling maniacally. With her traveling so much it had been an age since they saw each other. It had been her dream to explore the best of life overseas and it seemed to do her some good. But then, any freedom must feel like heaven, growing up with a father like Kier. There were many days Rhys still ached to throttle his uncle for keeping Mor on such a tight leash. The stern hand his own father took seemed forgiving when his cousin finally opened up about everything in their early college days. Feyre had been the one to pry it out of her, simultaneously convincing Mor to lean on the found family who cared about her so much. 

She was better for it now, bright-eyed and cheerful most days they talked in person or on a video chat. “Where’s Cassian and Az?” she asked. “They were here an hour ago.”

“Looking for some activities. You know it’s a crime asking men to just relax on the beach,” Feyre jested, picking up some sort of fruity cocktail she’d ordered. How she and Mor could tolerate them was beyond him. “This one’s only sitting here because he feels obligated to be nice to me.”

 He frowned. “You know that’s not true. I—”

“Rhysand.” He grimaced at the too-familiar voice behind him, ignoring Feyre’s glare and its silent demand that he keep playing nice. “So glad you could finally join us.” Though his gait could almost be considered casual, there was no denying he was once again using his own body as a barrier between Rhys and Feyre. “Enjoying your stay?”

“I just flew in, but I’m sure it will be a delight. Thank you for so graciously inviting me.”

“You’re very welcome.”

“If you two are finished,” Feyre groaned. “Rhys, can you walk with me for a minute? Just down the beach?” 

Tamlin’s body locked, a vicious glare in his eyes aimed at Rhys. How could he turn the lady down now? “It would be my pleasure, Feyre darling.”

She smiled, reaching for her dark cover up, despite the lack of wind and the noon sun beating down. It wasn’t his place to comment on that. Even if he felt it very much was his place to characterize the man his best friend intended to spend the rest of her life sharing a home with.

Feyre was silent at first, watching the birds soaring ahead of them. He didn’t pry, waiting until she was ready to share what needed to be shared. “I love you. You’re my best friend.”

“Yes?”

She swallowed. “So much of this has been planned by… friends. I let things go, when it came to the technicalities of the wedding. Ianthe has been… helpful.” He suppressed a snort. Just days ago, Feyre had been moaning and groaning about how Tamlin’s old friend and apparent officiant couldn’t keep her nose in her own business. “I just…”

He paused, gently taking her hand and squeezing it. “Are things okay? Are you having doubts?”

“About marrying Tamlin? No. I’m just feeling off-kilter I guess. Caught up in a whirlwind of planning and out of control. I just want to hit the pause button and make my own choice on something, but I don’t even know the first thing I’d change. I need an anchor. Something they haven’t thought of yet.”

He furrowed his brow. “And you think I can help?”

“Yes. Before Tamlin sticks it on Lucien or something. I don’t want anyone’s feelings hurt.” He cocked his head. “I don’t have my father anymore. And even if I did… things were strained when I got older. And then he died before things could mend. Rhys, would you walk me down the aisle?”

And if that wasn’t a punch to the gut. 

He cast a nervous look over his shoulder. “Feyre, are you sure?”

She nodded, lacing her fingers through his. “It’ll be fine, Rhys. He knows I want you in my life. I know things will get better for you two. And I should have some say in my own wedding, shouldn’t I?”

“Of course, but…” He shook his head. He couldn’t and wouldn’t try to stop the wedding. Feyre was smart. She had to know Tamlin well enough to feel safe if she had agreed to marry him. So he would step aside. He would do this one last thing for her, even if he broke his own heart in the process. “I’d be honored, Feyre.”

~~~~~

“You did what?”

She sighed as she opened the door to the bathroom. “Tamlin, you said you were going to try. You aren’t trying. Not even slightly.”

“That arrogant piece of—”

“My best friend, you mean?” 

He let out a huff. “Rhysand,” he hissed, “has no place walking you down the aisle. That’s—”

“That’s whose job, Tamlin? Certainly not my father’s any longer. Or did you expect Lucien who I’ve known for a matter of a few months to do it? Rhys and Mor and Cassian and Az will always be my family. They aren’t going anywhere, no matter how many fits you throw about it.”

“Your sisters are an option, of course.”

“Tamlin, don’t. What’s done is done. On our wedding day Rhys will be my escort. And you will keep your mouth shut about it and keep a smile on your face.”

“You have other friends, Feyre. You and Ianthe get along well.”

“Oh do we? I’m sure you know my feelings so well when it comes to tolerating her.” He reared back. “Ianthe will keep batting her eyes and paying compliments as long as you let her leech off of you, Lucien hasn’t even tried to hug me because you probably threatened to cut his arms off for doing so. Tamlin, you will stop this overbearing asshole behavior or I will not marry you.”

Faster than she could react, he lunged, red-faced and wild-eyed. His grip on her arm was bruising. While she was all fired up and ready to lay things out he had been stewing with every word. “I am doing what’s best for you,” he snarled. And that was the wake up call.

God, had Rhys been right? Was it taking the cogs turning just days before her wedding to see the red flags as Rhys called them?

“You are trying to control me. And I will not let you. Now let me go.” Seemingly in a daze, he uncurled his hand from around her wrist, the pale print from his hand beginning to pinken again. “I’ll be back later.”

“Feyre.”

“I said I’ll be back,” she snapped, shoving her feet into her flip-flops. “Do not follow me and do not send Lucien like some hound on my trail. I need some space.”

One thing. She asked one thing of this wedding and it was that her best friend be more than another name on the absurdly long guest list. What a crime it was. Down where the beach started to soften, she removed her shoes, letting the sand sift through her toes. Minutes or miles she walked with nothing more than her thoughts and a nocturnal choir around her. While the silence might have bothered most, She had always found peace in a quiet night.

Feyre sank to the sand, leaning back on her hands and tilting her head to view the sky above her. She was lucky the busy lights were on the other side of the resort. Here on their side, even with the light pollution day and night she had a chance to enjoy the star-flecked unknown. She was hopeless to identify constellations without her favorite astronomy professor of course, but they were still pretty to look at alone.

“You can see Lupus from here.” She jumped slightly, whipping her head over her shoulder. “Sorry if I startled you. Can I sit with you?” Rhys asked.

“Always.” She sat up so they could sit shoulder to shoulder and he reached for her hand, frowning when she jolted away and rubbed it instinctively. The tenderness there scared her more than she wanted to admit. And Rhys was staring. “What?”

“What’s wrong with your hand?”

“Nothing.”

“Feyre.”

“Rhys.”

“I know you too well to fall for your lies.” She bit her lip, casting her eyes to the ground, only looking back up when he gave a heavy sigh. “Ara.”

“What?”

“Ara, it’s almost straight ahead. And there’s Corvus there.”

“You’re speaking Latin to me.” He snorted at the frankly terrible joke, nudging her shoulder good-naturedly. She slumped against him, exhaustion taking over. “You’re going to have to carry me back,” she mumbled. “In the morning.” He tensed beside her. “I can’t go back there tonight. It would just be weird.”

“Why?” She shrugged. “Feyre.”

“He doesn’t like you.”

His lip curled slightly against her head. “I think I’ll survive.”

“We were fighting over it. You. All of you. He has his bubble, and if he can’t control the people in it… I didn’t realize how deep it ran until I told him you would give me away. I’ve never seen him so…”

The word hung between them as he reached for her wrist again. She wondered if it would bruise by morning. If Ianthe would try to dab a bit of powder over it before Mor showed up and had a cow. Feyre didn’t know what she would do at that point.

“He’s been stressed lately. Between the wedding and work and—”

“Do not make excuses for him.” The edge in his voice put a new heaviness between them. “Do not pretend this is okay, Feyre. You want to know why you’ve never seen him so violent? It’s because cowards like that need control to feel they hold the power. That they’re worth something. He let you speak your mind this long to make sure he had you for good, but the second you say ‘I do’ everything is going to change.”

If Tamlin’s anger was the strike of a storm, Rhys’ was the deadly calm before it. Chilled as death even as those violet eyes glinted against the moon. He twisted in the sand, cupping her face and pressing his brow to hers, as he had done so many times to calm her from her panic. This time he needed that calm.

“Do not make excuses. Do not wait for that stress to go away. And Feyre, please do not marry a man who will free his temper the moment you kiss him on that altar.” 

She twisted her lower body to face him fully, stroking a hand over the short stubble at his jaw. It had started as a teasing touch when he was just old enough to start growing facial hair, later a habit she couldn’t resist maintaining. Until she met Tamlin and all the fond habits and touches earned scowls and glares. That hand teasing his stubble rose to run through his hair, a touch to sooth. It still seemed to work.

“All I’m saying is that six months is awfully fast for a wedding,” 

“Oh, is that all you’re saying, Rhys?” 

She pulled at his hair slightly and his eyes fluttered open again. If she didn’t know better, she would say  time had turned back for them. They were kids again and he was taking her to his senior prom, despite her only being a sophomore.  Coming home from the dance she’d joked on her front porch that they were at the point where he was supposed to kiss her goodnight.

She’d been the typical sixteen year old, crushing on a senior. Except that senior was her best friend. Romantically off limits was an unspoken rule of friendship to them, no matter what their friends and family thought. But for a moment—one fraction of a second—the world paused, giving her a glimpse of a boy that wanted to kiss her back.

She never saw that boy again.

Until now.

Days before her wedding he was staring at her like she hung the moon. Like she was the only thing keeping his world turning, as ludicrous as that seemed. But god, she wanted someone to want every part of her that badly. Looking into his eyes now, she realized all of the things she’d been compromising.

“Feyre, what are you doing?” Her hands slid down to cup his face. “Feyre.”

Every moral she had was screaming for her to stop. She was an engaged woman and kissing her teenage crush could be the biggest mistake of her life. And yet the devil on her shoulder spurred her on.

And Feyre listened, kissing Rhys for the first time. Only the stars could damn her tonight.

~~~~~

AN: I hope this is alright in length and content for the first part. As I said, this is my first writing circle fic.

Taglist: @goddess-aelin // @shallyne // @the-lonelybarricade // @the-lost-changeling // @faeriequeensuriel // @pandavelaris // @s-uppertime // @elentiya-whitethorn // @acotar-fanns // @reverie-tales // @acourtofwips // @jealousveronya // @darling-archeron // @gwynkyrie // @corcracrow

[simon-x-billy]

Simon x Billy

Year of the OTP: March

March prompt: Acceptance

Meet my OTP: Simon Lewis, author of a best-selling paranormal book series, who keeps writing himself into his novels; and Billy Delaney, Irish handsome devil and nomadic man of mystery, who chefs internationally. AN: Simon x Billy is a slow-burn m/m first-time-bi fic (nsfw at ch. 7). TW: References to the pain of being cheated on, language, Irish-isms, massive rewrites. Event details || ao3: Full Event || @yearoftheotpevent

Masterlist || ao3 || Start: Jan Ch. 1 || Prev: Feb Ch. 2 || Here: Mar Ch. 3 || Next: April Ch. 4

————/-/—————

March Chapter 3: My red stripe of pain

———/Simon/———

Ooh, my ass is sunburnt. In a slightly-but-mostly-not sexy way. Look at that. I’ve taken on a rather tomatoesque appearance after four hours in the meaty embrace of the sun at midday without sunblock. But even pain can’t spoil this utter relaxation and bliss I feel.

Huh. I’ve just realized I’ve never done this before — traveling to another country alone. Maybe it’ll turn lonely again later. But right now, watching a boat streaking across my view, I feel free.

And slightly dehydrated.

————/-/—————

“You have a stripe on your arse. That’s what yer tellin me, is it.”

“Yes.”

“A stripe of pain. Have you been naughty, Simon?” Billy asks with the most obscenely good looking smirk. Ew. How dare he.

“Don’t grin at me like that, you barbarian. My red stripe of pain isn’t worthy of that kind of interest, trust me.”

“Why not?” He’s pouring me his favorite wine at the hotel bar, while I wait for my table at the very-big-deal restaurant outside.

“Why n- Are you- My red stripe of pain is a boring kind of red stripe of pain, I assure you.” After a second’s very deep reflection, I’ve realized I want to know, “Why are you so focused on my red stripe of pain, anyway? Never mind. I’ve changed my mind about wanting to know that. Ugh, look at this place. I have no words,” I sigh as the sun dips toward the horizon.

“Finally noticed you’re in Italy, did you,” he chuckles. He’s chuckling. Great.

“Even I had to notice sooner or later. And though it was a little, ok fine, quite a bit later, it’s ok. I’m good with that. Look, the point is…” What was my point? (I am the essence of cool rn.)

Now he’s raising one of his eye caterpillars at me.

He squawks out a laugh and then ducks, as a few of the other patrons look up at the bar.

“Tell me I didn’t say that out loud,” I ask weakly.

“You didn’t say that out loud. But the truth is, yeh said that out loud, mate. And I’ve never heard quite that arrangement of words, ever. Eye caterpillars,” he chuckles.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. I bet they keep your face warm come winter. But don’t worry, I was once described as having eye caterpillars, too.” By whom I can’t remember. But am I admitting to furry eyebrows? Fuck no. His are far furrier than mine.

“Mate, looks like your seating is ready.” He inclines his head to the side to indicate the host coming to claim me.

“Oh. Ok. Have a good night Beelee.” I waive as I say, “Ciao,” then cringe. “Oh kill me now, I said ciao.” All I can think every time I hear it is puppy chow. Or puppy ciao.

“Keep using it, til you don’t think about it anymore,” is Billy’s random advice. ”Ciao, Seemon.”

“Does he talk dirty to all the guests?” I mumble as I’m seated.

“The list of the wines, signore.” The host hands me a binder so freakin big it requires tabs. Oh look, there’s another one for their selection of olive oils, too.

I never was any good at languages. I’m thinking maybe I should have spent some time on important things, like “Where’s the bathroom? Right and left. Do you have a cell phone charger?” The essentials.

I was too focused on setting everything up for the proposal. The one I’d planned for tonight.

…Fuck, man, I miss her. Why? Why the fuck do I miss her? Why does she get that from me, karmically? It’s so unfair.

I mean, at least I finally feel buzzed. But it’s not cheering me up. It’s just making me all moony.

…I’ve never seen a lavender sky before. Have you? This would be an impossible place to contemplate suicide. Not when you get this sky every day.

…Why does she get to have me miss her? That’s just not cool. “What did I ever do to you?” Maybe I really shouldn’t shake my fist at the sky in the middle of a Michelin-starred restaurant. Even when there isn’t somebody here to get embarrassed by me. So I’m hereby mentally shaking my fist at the sky. Screw y-

Whoa. Look at that.

Is that a freakin schooner? I mean that looks like the Pirates of the Caribbean came to the Mediterranean. I just- I can’t- It’s- It’s a freaking cruise ship. A sailboat version of a cruise ship. My god.

That is simultaneously brilliant and an unholy alliance of two things that should not exist in the same paragraph on a travel brochure. I dunno. I’m just jealous. I’ve always wanted to be in Pirates of the Caribbean.

…You ever wonder what he or she saw when they looked at you standing there at the end? I can’t stop thinking about it. What had I turned into in her mind, right before she finally got the balls to say and do what she wanted to? How long? Why didn’t I notice the change? How much of this can I blame on myself? Because I will find the things I can blame on myself and then I’ll chew on them like an old piece of beef jerky. And my whole head will ache after, because of all the chewing.

…Towns lit up, like a diamond necklace draped aaaaaaaaaaall along the bay. I would have bought her a diamond necklace. I totally would have. I already bought the ring. Would have felt obligated to keep it in my underwear, so, at least there’s an upside to her dumping me. Oh hey look, that must be Vesuvius. Why would you want to live near Mount Vesuvius? It’s alive.

…I shake my head back to consciousness as someone steps in the way of my view and leans toward me over the back of Elijah’s seat. (That’s a joke. An empty chair for Elijah. If you’re Jewish you get it.)

“How you doin there, mate?” It’s Billy.

I don’t much like that careful, quiet tone he’s using.

“Yeah, totally. Amazing restaurant.”

“Em,” he looks back over to the kitchen and says quietly, “Mate, you didn’t eat.”

“What? I ate!”

“You ordered olives. At a Michelin-starred restaurant that people can only reserve a year to the day ahead of time. Everything ok?"

Or you call and bribe them. That can get you a table, too.

“Yeah, the olives were good.” And are still largely untouched, I see as I glance down at my plate. Yet I’m certain I’ve ordered something. Beyond the wines, I mean.

“Shit.” I now realize that the staff of the restaurant are waiting for me. “This outdoor patio is a patio all day. Doesn’t it just turn back into a patio at night? Like when the clock tolls midnight?”

“Sure but midnight’ll still be two hours away.” He pauses to look behind him and motions to someone that he’s going to sit down with me.

“Um…” I don’t know what to say. Cuz I really don’t want to talk to him rn. It’s not that I don’t - I just - I don’t want to have to try so hard to speak in complete sentences.

“You’d rather that I didn’t join you. Well, if you can put up with my less than ideal company for the next half hour, then the kitchen will be locked down and you can sit out here staring at Naples all night by yerself. Or is it me specifically?”

I snort.

Billy shifts in his seat. “Simon? You didn’t actually answer the question. You just sort of breathed loudly at it.”

I shake my head, not sure what he’s talking about.

“Leave by yourself, or sit for 25 more minutes with me.”

I feel like he’s speaking a different language and frown at him. Why is he looking at me like that?

“Mate, you’re thinkin out loud again. And for your information, I’m speaking English, with an Irish accent, which really isn’t that different to all other versions of English. Because it’s English. And I’m lookin at yeh like this cos you’re startin to scare me, yeah?”

“Is that a rhetorical question? I’m not sure that was a question at all.”

He slides his chair back looking kinda pissy.

“What did I say?! Don’t look at me like that,” I finish in a mumble.

He stands. “Em.” It’s Billy, who is annoying the fuck out of me rn. “You’re not looking too-”

“Fuck it. Where can I sit?”

Billy takes a step back, definitely looking pissed off now, and raises his hands in an “I give up” kinda gesture. “Enjoy your solitude. I’ll just tell the owner to turn the lights off on yeh, then.” He turns and starts to walk away toward the kitchen again.

“Yes! Thank you. I’ll be able to see the view better,” I say, tapering off at the end. I hear the kitchen door close.

I go to take another sip of wine, but my glass is gone. All that’s left is the last bottle I ordered, already uncorked, thank god.

The lights go out. Finally.

————/Billy/————

“Well if it isn’t the lovely Rosalina. What brings you my way this early in the day, love?” She always blushes when I greet her this way. If she didn’t work here at the hotel, I’d be finding all the places I could make her blush. Christ, she’s beautiful. They grow ‘em like that here. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?”

“It is the American on the roof. You come, please.”

That can’t be good. “On the roof?”

“Or maybe I do not speak it well. He is on the floor of his room, on the floor next to his room. He sleeps there. Maybe he drops his key in the sea? Or the window?”

“He’s asleep on the floor?”

“Si.”

“But not in his room?”

She shakes her head. So do I. What now, Seemon.

Haven’t laid eyes on him in a coupla days. Hoped he’d be doin better.

She looks very serious now. “And I do not like to see the other girls also seeing him when they go to clean. You speak English to him and you are tell him to go to his room for the sleep.”

That’s really very sweet -- she doesn’t want to embarrass him. “I do not like them seeing him like that, either, Rosalina. Thank you. You are very kind.”

“Kind?”

“You have a beautiful heart,” I say, tapping my chest. No use listing everything else beautiful about her. “And your English is improving.” She smiles, and twists away so I can’t see her blushing. Why do women do that? When are they more lovely?

She’s a coworker, Billy, she’s a coworker. I already regret my feckin principles.

She shoos me toward the stairs to the top floor, and all but flees down the hallway when I aim a smile her way. She’s sweet.

————/-/—————

Even before I top the stairs, I can already hear him snoring.

Actually, that sounds more like choking.

Aw, mate, this isn’t good. He snores until his head lolls too far to the side, then he chokes, making his head roll back against the wall, where he starts up with the snoring again. Jesus Christ, has he been choking like this all night?

He’s sat propped up next to the door to his suite. The closer I get, the more I smell fumes. It’s sickly sweet, and oof, he’s got sticky-looking drool migrating in a slow stream from his mouth down the side of his chin.

The label on the half-empty bottle says Limoncello. “Aw, mate. The pain you’re about to feel is a unique suffering.” I hate to get in his face to wake him up. Something tells me Simon’ll be mortified, but there’s nothin for it.

The hall is dim with the storm shutters bolted tight from the inside. Maybe if I shed some light on the situation… Result!

Simon choke-snorts, then groans as he attempts to shift away from the source of light. So the – oof, they stick – shutters at the far end of the hall are open. Result again.

He mumble-whines. “Mmmfm mmmmbnnnaway.” Then there’s groaning, as if the sound of his own voice is too offensive to bear. Then growling and groaning. Until I finally hear some English I recognize. “Ow? Owwwwwwww. Nooooooo. Make it ugly again. n’Go away.”

“Make it ugly?”

“Dark. Too pretty. Hate it.” Followed by whimpering.

“How can something be too pretty?” I mumble under my breath.

“Just can.” Then he tries to roll his head toward the sound of my voice and fails. “Owwwwww?”

Probably needs a hand up. Leaning down, I can see his pulse pounding in his temple. I’d take the pain away if I could, mate. I would if I could. “Let’s get ye to bed, get ye down for a kip, mate. It’ll make you feel better, promise.”

“s’Too pretty in there. Don’t want pretty. You’re too pretty, go’way.”

I can’t help snorting.

“Said go’way.”

“Sorry, mate. Not happenin. Anyway, I can shutter the windows in there to keep it dark. The bed’ll be more comfortable for yeh to sleep it off than this floor, at any rate.”

“Don’t wanna be comfortable.”

Hm. “Here, man. Take my arm. We’ll get you sorted.”

“Go’way!” he shouts, then clutches his head and whimpers. “n’Stop being so nice. s’Disgusting. Don’like it. Don’like you. Go’way.”

“Yer lucky I’m pretendin to be hard of hearin, or I’d go ahead and leave ye here. Now take my arm and-”

“Stop it!” He tries slapping my hands away. And misses.

Shaking my head. Just shaking my head.

“Can do it myself,” he demands. But no, he really can’t. He gives standing a go, and all he manages is a high pitched sob.

“Aw, man. Go on, lemme help yeh.”

Apparently there is a threshold of stupidity with Simon Lewis, thank Christ. He holds out his arm.

But before he takes my hand, he squints up at me. “Never speak of this,” he says with deadly seriousness. “Never happened.”

As I shutter the windows and draw the curtains, he shuffles into bed, fully clothed. “Gross. Why am I sticky?”

“Aw, mate. Ye don’t want to be sleepin in those clothes. I promise yeh, mate. You get your kit off, and I’ll fetch you a wet cloth.” I hold up my hand to stop the inevitable complaints and refusals. “Enough whingeing, man, just do it.”

I come back from the bathroom to find a pile of clothes on the floor, and Simon snoring away with the sheet stuck to his face. It would be endearing if he wasn’t such a feckin pain in my arse.

————/-/————

Simon’s been silently staring out the window for 45 minutes. But not out the window with the gorgeous view. He’s staring at the rock cliff face blurring past too fast to see much of anything.

I want to reassure him that everything will be alright. But it’s not my place, and he’s not for hearin it, anyway.

And what if it isn’t alright.

I try to just leave it be, but I can’t help myself. “You alright man?”

“Why.”

“You’re usually a lot gobbier than this. I’m worried about yeh.”

“Italy was a bad idea.”

“Italy is never a bad idea.”

“Says the man not living my life.”

He’s got me there. “Ok.

As I’m pulling his bags out the boot, I feel like I can’t leave it like this. I don’t know why. It’s just unsettling seeing someone in pain like this, and not bein able to help. I wasn’t lyin -- I’m worried about him.

“Thanks, Beelee,” he says, holding out his hand.

We shake, and before I give him his hand back, I find myself saying, “Text me in 6 months and let me know you’re alive, yeah?”

He huffs out a breath and looks at me. After a moment he shifts uncomfortably, and finally says, “Yeah.”

I’ve no idea why I feel so relieved. “What’s yer number, I’ll text yeh.” Shocked be fuckin I when he gives it to me.

“Thanks, Billy. You’re a good guy. Appreciate you.” And then he’s gone.

————/-/—————

Start: January Ch. 1 || Prev: February Ch. 2 || Next: April Ch. 4

————/-/—————

[mish-tique]

Hi! Can you do 2, 14, 22, 28 and 51 for Versainz? 💙

ofc sweety!! sorry for the late reply

What would they do if the other woke in a manic state after a nightmare?

When Max would wake up from nightmares, he needs his space - something to work the anxiety/sadness/anger/frustration (any emotion the nightmare caused really) out of him Carlos usually tries to support with small things, a bottle of water, maybe Max's favourite midnight snack. Later, when Max feels more calmed down, Carlos is usually still awake. Carlos doesn't press Max to talk - Max either talks or he doesn't. But they return to bed after.

When Carlos has a nightmare, he is silent. He doesn't like to do much, he just needs max. Max doesn't always wake up when Carlos has a nightmare, but he usually knows because when he wakes up Carlos is clinging to him stronger than before.

How do their personalities compliment each other? How do they clash?

How they clash is quite obvious - they're both extremely competitive, and sometimes they take it a little to far. But because they both are also really hardworking and when they set their mind to something, they can really do it together. I feel like they are the kind of couple that achieves their goal really fast.

What reminds each of their partner?

For Carlos, the wind and sea on stormy days reminds him of Max. Something about the untamed strength; that's Max.

For Max, it's the warm sun on his skin that makes him think of Carlos, the warmth of his love and physical affection.

What are there thoughts on pet names? Do they have any?

Max is not a fan of petnames. Truly. Not. He doesn't have one for Carlos, nor does he really want one from carlos. He feels like there are different ways to show love. Carlos respects Max's opinion on pet names but sometimes, during vulnerable moments (post-coital or when they are emotional), he uses one.

What’s a non verbal way they say I love you?

Max knows that Carlos is pretty good at cooking and enjoys it a lot, but he also knows how much Carlos values a moment together over a meal. So, when he has time, he tries to cook for carlos. Sometimes it fails, but the amount of time he spends trying and working on it tells Carlos a lot.

Carlos is more affectionate physically behind closed doors than in public, but when he wants to remind Max in public, he links his pinky with max's and lightly pulls the younger towards him.

Send me numbers from the OTP ask + one of the ships i write for

[fandoms-are-family-forever]

Imagine Your OTP #7

Imagine your OTP:

Person A is sat on the kitchen island in their friends’ house (Person C and Person D), enjoying the quiet afternoon as the sun shined softly through the window, slowly setting as evening set in: they were drinking tea. Person B sauntered into the kitchen, noticing A and admiring them, standing in the doorway and taking them in. B smiled in amusement and admiration before slowly shaking their head and walking towards them. A and B have been pining for each other for many years.

Person B: *walking around the island towards the cabinet in front of A* enjoying the view?

Person A: *looking over at them with a dazed look* I am *smiling softly* it’s been really nice having a quiet day to myself, not having to do anything and just being able to relax

B: *chuckling while grabbing a glass* I believe that. Everyone’s been telling me you’ve been busy at work - I’m guessing you finally got a day off?

A: *letting out a soft laugh* yeah. I’m actually taking the next week off. I haven’t really had time to spend with anyone, and I’ve been meaning to reach out to everyone. I feel bad.

B: *filling up glass with water* to be honest, I think everyone knows you don’t have time. I think they all understand and if you tell them you’ve been busy, they’ll tell you not to worry about it

A: I hope you’re right

B: *leaning against the counter and looking at A for a moment* so other than reaching out to friends, what plans do you have?

A: *pausing to think* you know, I’m not sure. Maybe clean my place. Do laundry. Sleep in. The possibilities are endless *chuckling* oh! Do you have a free day this week? We haven’t really hung out in a good while.  Maybe dinner or something?

B: *lighting up* yeah! At least I should be - *pulling out phone and scrolling through it* - yeah! I’m free this Wednesday night *smiling*

A: cool! Then it’s a date!

B: *blushing lightly*

A: *noticing B’s appearance with confusion* *sudden realization dawning on them* I mean or not! Not a date! Or maybe! You know what? It’s completely up to you what you want to call it and - 

A continued rambling on about the concept of a date versus not a date, not noticing that B had set their cup down on the counter next to them and walked toward A, putting their hands on either side of B’s legs and leaning in.

A: ...and I mean friends can have dates! Friend-dates! Families! People have dates all the time and - you know what? Nevermind. I’m just gonna stick with what I sai- *finally noticing B* you’re very close to me. *starts blushing* can I help you?

B: a date huh? *looking into A’s eyes, tilting their head and smiling softly*

A: *staring back into B’s eyes* if you want

B: that sounds nice *places a hand on A’s cheek, eyes glancing between A’s eyes and mouth, and moving their thumb along A’s bottom lip*

A: *opening mouth ever so slightly, placing their tea cup beside them*

B: *leaning forward to close the gap*

A: *leaning in*

Person C: hey A! Are you busy?!

A and B jumped back from each other slightly, but B’s hands remained where they were.

A: *glancing at B before letting out a small sigh* kind of. What do you need?

C: *walking into the kitchen* I was gonna ask if you wanted to go with me to the store and pick up some- *noticing A and B* ah. Nevermind. Carry on *winks at them before leaving*

A and B listened to C’s footsteps echo away from the room, and waited until they hear the front door open and close and the car door slam shut before looking at each other.

B: well, they certainly seem to have some really good timing, huh?

A: so it would seem... but it sounds like they’re gone *flashes a not so innocent look at B*

B: I think you’re right *smirks and leans in again, this time placing their hands on A’s hips*

A: *leans forward and closes their eyes, feeling the heat radiating off B*

Person D: hey C! You in here?!

A and B jumped back again, and stared at each other shocked. B shook their head slightly, and A let out a sigh before responding.

A: no, but it’s A and B. Did you need something?

D: *still yelling from somewhere in the house* yeah. I was wondering if C still needed to go to the store.

A: they just left. You can call them if you need to!

D: oh great idea! Hold on.

A and D continued yelling across the house from each other, leaving B flustered and frustrated. Suddenly, an idea occurred to B.

B leaned forward again, this time placing their lips on A’s jawline, and moved their hands to fit more comfortably on A’s hips. A let out a small sound in the back of their throat, unconsciously leaning their head back to give B a better angle. B continued to leave small kisses, trailing their mouth down to A’s neck. A let out a whimper, right as D called out again.

D: C said they’re just down the street and they’re gonna come back to pick me up!

The sound of C’s car pulling up is heard through the house.

A: that s-sounds gre- *suppresses a small moan as B brings their mouth down to A’s collarbone* great. That sounds great. 

D: oh they’re here! Okay, I’m heading out! I’ll see you when I get back! *walks into the kitchen* did you need anything while we’re go- *notices A and B* nevermind I don’t think you guys need anything.

B: *lifts their head from A’s collarbone* we’re good

D: okay. Well, I’m off. Have fun! *races out the door*

A: *lightly hits B in the chest* really??

B: *smirks* what? It didn’t seem like you had any complaints

A: *groans in frustration* whatever

B: *looks at A* hey, I’m not a fan of interruptions. Speaking of which, where-?

A balled B’s shirt in their fists and yanked them down to meet their lips in a searing kiss, only a moment of hesitation before B reciprocated and the two start fighting for dominance. B slipped a hand underneath A’s shirt, reaching for the hemline of their pants and started slowly moving their hand down-

D: crap I forgot my wallet! Sorry!

C: me too! Kinda important when driving!

B: that’s it!

B slid their hands underneath A’s thighs and pulled them off the island, leaning in to kiss A more tenderly, meanwhile A wrapped their legs around B’s waist and their arms around B’s neck, and B walked them towards a guest room in the house, passing C and D on the way.

B: *glaring at them* are you guys sure you have everything?

C and D: yup!

C: we got what we needed! Maybe we’ll even grab some con-

D: we’ll be leaving now! See you later! *grabs C and hurries back out of the house*

B continued walking, planting small kisses on A’s lips before reaching the door. B walked backwards and used their back to push open the door before walking in and using their combined weight to shut it, leaning in for a more passionate kiss against the door. A slid their hands into B’s hair, tugging on it slightly that solicited a small moan from B. B pulled back and looked at A before walking towards the bed and placing them gingerly on it, standing in front of them and watching them. B looked at A for a moment before speaking.

B: how far are you willing to let me go?

B asked this in a soft tone, both needy and careful - they leaned over A and placed a kiss on their lips, pulling back to study their face.

A: as far as you’re willing to let me go with you.

A reached out a placed a hand on B’s cheek, and B leaned into it before kissing A’s palm.

B: let me know if you want me to stop

A placed their hands on B’s face and pulled them down into another kiss, and lead the rest of their body down on top of them; clothes soon disappeared, A never once stopping B.

[irishk0rn]

OTP asks for Wranduin! 10, 22, and 57 :3

of course it was you <3333

10. Describe their first date.

Hmm, okay, so of course, with this ship, it was comedic. There were two ideas I liked, the first w/ BFA wranduin and the second with MoP wranduin. So a bit of context: Wrathion goes to Jaina of all people. Basically, he says, “Ms. Admiral Proudmoore please help me impress your nephew.”

She absolutely grills him with questions before she helps him, but ultimately tells him that Anduin likes extravagant things. Wrathion is kinda surprised but he listens to her.

Anduin does not like extravagant things. He is quite simple and hates having to pretend he likes big and extra things.

So Wrathion, being the goof he is, sets up a big and very vibrant and decorated date. Anduin doesn’t like it, but the sweet boy isn’t gonna tell Wrathion that during the date. So afterwords he pulls him aside and says, “Do you not know me at all?”

Wrathion explains that he went to Jaina and she told him that’s what he liked, so he wanted to make the first date special. Obviously endeared, Anduin just giggles and hugs him. “New story for Winterveil exchange.”

OR.

Wrathion goes up to Anduin’s room with a watering can. “I heard Genn say that the first date should always be memorable, so I brought you this watering can.”

22. What reminds each of their partner?

Wrathion can’t go outside without thinking of Anduin. The sun, the flowers and the rabbits remind him of Anduin. When he sees the Pandaren he thinks of Anduin. When he sees the color blue or yellow he thinks of Anduin.

Anduin used to sit by a furnace he had in his room and cuddle up with a blanket next to it and pretend he was sleeping next to Wrathion like when they were children. So the heat.

57. Whose the serious one when grocery shopping and who likes to toss random things in the cart?

Wrathion throws himself into the cart and rides around, either as his grown ass man form or huge juvenile whelp form. Anduin thinks it’s really funny but embarrassing but does nothing about it.

On top of that Wrathion basically only eats protein bars, instant ramen and raw meat. Anduin hates that.

Bonus!!!

Wrathion is around 6’5 for me. Anduin is 6’0. When they fight, Anduin gets a chair so he can stand on it and be taller just to yell in Wrathion’s face. Every time he does it, Wrathion’s laughing too hard for Anduin to stay mad.

They swear that is the only reason they’re still married sometimes.

[siriushxney]

* . CAT EARS !

pairing — nihachu x reader

rating — fluff

wordcount — 891

warnings — n/a

note ! — fluffy, cute, goodness with the queen herself

when niki streamed, you tended to avoid invading them — not wanting to have many people's attention shift onto you, when they should be focused on the host herself. but when she asked you to join her, who could say no.

seated to her side, you conversed and joked with the viewers to the best of your ability— still not the most comfortable on camera.

“what is the weirdest food combination you’ve ever had… I don’t know, I need to think about that,” niki scratched her head slightly as she pondered ont he question.

“marshmallows and ketchup — and before you ask how or why, let me just say that it was for money.”

niki laughed loudly at your confession, “of course it was for money — i’d be concerned if you did it for nothing.” she turned her chair slightly so she could face you, her knee knocking into your own. “so… what did it taste like?”

you thought back to when it had happened — a night with a few drinks passed around and someone who had recently got paid and was ready to blow some of it. while you couldn’t remember the exact taste, you could remember the texture as if it was yesterday.

“picture eating a normal marshmallow, but like, add a touch of battery acid — the ketchup burned my tongue-“

“ketchup isn’t hot-“

“I know that… but it and the marshmallow together was just,” you shuddered at the thought of it. “let's just say I didn’t do any more food combos that night.”

a small ding brought your attention back to the screen, a dono drawing attention to the sun goal meter at the top of niki’s screen — the number was slightly over the one that was pre set sub goal.

“oh, we hit the sub goal!” niki smiled as she spoke. she pushed herself away from her desk and hurried out of the room for a moment, leaving you awkwardly sitting as you awaited her return.

niki hurried back in, a small bag clutched in her hands and an mischievous glint in her eyes. you watched as she set the bag down onto the desk, the sound of a soft thump and ringing of a bell following.

“what the hell is in the bag,” you went to reach for it slowly, but niki grabbed your hand quickly and pushed it back to your chest.

“no, no! I want it to be a surprise!” she pulled a small piece of fabric from her sweater pocket, moving to stand behind you. “can I blindfold you for a moment?”

as soon as you gave her the green light, your vision went black, no longer able to see the setup and rapidly moving and excited chat as she carefully wrapped and tied the blindfold over your eyes.

while niki had remained awfully quiet during the ordeal, you could hear soft giggles and sighs just over the sound of bells and the bag crumpling.

“you’re going to be adorable…” as she spoke her hands lifted a section of your hair, and slid something that you could only describe as a hair clip onto it, securing it with a satisfying click — the other side with a repeated action.

the realization hit you fast, “oh I know what the hell is on my head now-“

“shh! just wait for me to get mine on!” two clicks followed soon after her words, the soft sounds of the electronic voice reading out compliments to the both of you.

with a tug to the knot on the back of your head, the blindfold fell, revealing the sight to you — niki with a large grin on her face as she played with the bells attached to her pink andwhite cat ears, and you, slightly shocked at the image of yourself with black, white, and pink cat warts adorning your head.

niki turned to you, he large grin melting into a more genuine and heartfelt expression. with a slow and gentle hand, she reached up and brushed a strand of hair from your face, “you make a pretty cute cat person.”

you felt your cheeks warm at her compliment, your attention solely on her and her lovely words. “you’re too nice to me — and let me tell you,” you brought your own hand up to intertwine with her own, bringing it to your lips and placing a kiss on the back of her hand. “you make a down right gorgeous cat-girl.”

‘otp with cat ears on? i’ve gone to heaven!’

‘I love them, but god am I jealous’

‘I’m- they’re beautiful<3’

the comments flooded in, in tidal waves — all of them going ignored as you and niki’s eyes stayed trained on one another. niki’s eyes bouncing between your eyes and the fluffy ears that sat upon your head — quick hands shot up and covered her face, “it’s too cute, I can’t handle it.”

“and you think I can? niki, now I need to start a petition to get you to wear them daily!”

even though the chat called you simps, they all could see the unspoken love the two of you shared.

and they all couldn’t deny that the two of you in cat ears, was the best thing to happen to the community in the past few weeks.

[wowitsel]

she found out

(not my gif)

masterlist

Summary: When you’re dating Luke Alvez, and best friends with Penelope Garcia, things might get a little messy when she finds out

Paring: Luke Alvez x gn! reader

Word count: 1.3k

WARNINGS: none

Genre: Angst (hurt to comfort)

The sun was painfully bright as it hit your eyes, and your warm, warm blanket had seemed to have gone astray. Squinting your eyes and hiding from the sun, you squirmed in the bed to try and find the nearest source of warmth. Which just so happened to be Luke. You latched onto him as if your life depended on it, and then you fell back asleep.

When Luke woke up, he smiled when he saw you sleeping next to him. He quietly laughed at how you were latched onto him, and then gently brushed the hair out of your face.

The two of you had been dating for about five months now, and no one on the team knew. Especially not Penelope. Given her dislike of Luke and the fact that you were her best friend, you and Luke both thought it would be best if you didn’t tell her. But, you both very well knew that if she went snooping, she would find out, because she’s Penelope Garcia for goodness’ sake. But for now, the two of you had your secret rendezvous’, and sneaky little hand holdings.

You had been rudely awakened by the ringing of your phone, which you groggily picked up, and answered.

“SSA Y/n L/n,” you said with a raspy morning voice.

“Hey! It’s Prentiss” you heard Emily say, “I just need you to come into the office for a few minutes. There are a few problems with the paperwork, and I need you to come to sign some things. Sorry for the inconvenience, I know it’s your day off though,”

“It’s all good Em. I’ll be there in 15,” you told her as you hung the phone up.

“Do we have a case?” Luke questioned as he had heard you on the phone.

“No, I just have to go into the office cause there were some problems with the paperwork,” you said with a frown, disappointed that you had to leave.

“It’s ok. I’ll be waiting here for you when you get back though!”

“Yeah, I know you will. This is your apartment after all” you said teasing him with a huge smile on your face.

You gave him a peck on the lips, then proceeded to change out of your pajamas. You didn’t feel the need to fully get ready, seeing as you were only going to be in the office for a little bit, so you just threw on random clothes you found on the floor.  

You then grabbed your bag, and quickly ran out the door, not hearing when Luke was saying as you closed the door, and walked out into the hallway.

+++

You entered the FBI building, humming your favorite song, and then proceeded to make your way up to the floor of the BAU headquarters.

Walking through the doors of the BAU, you spot Emily, and then you begin signing all the things she needed. It took about five minutes to do everything you needed, and when you were done with that, you began to search for your phone. You were planning to text Luke, to tell him you were headed home, but you couldn’t find it. You panicked a bit, searched your whole bag, and your surrounding areas, panicked a bit more. 

You let out a big sigh of relief when you realized your tech genius best friend Penelope was in the office and that she could help you.

You rushed into her batcave, and hurried to tell her, “Hey PG! Can you do me a favor? Yeah? Ok cool. I lost my phone and I was wondering if you could track it,”

“Yeah sure Y/n,” she said as she began to type your phone number into her computer.

“Ok. It says your phone is at-” she pauses when she reads it’s location, and then you read it for yourself.

“Oh no,” you mutter to yourself.

“Y-your phone is at Luke’s apartment! Why is it there! OMG! Wait! No! Omg omg omg” Penelope rambled as she panicked.

Your thoughts drifted to earlier this morning. When you were changing you set your phone on the edge of his bed. “Oh, how could I have been so stupid!” you said to yourself.

You were snapped out of your thoughts by Penelope gasping, and almost yelling, “Ahhh! Is that Luke’s shirt?”

You looked down at the shirt you were wearing, and it was indeed Luke’s black polo. You must’ve grabbed it from the floor.

“Umm, yeah” you awkwardly replied to her, as you watched her freakout, not sure how to help her.

“I can’t believe you hid this from me! You're dating the newbie? I mean how could you do that? He’s like- like the enemy!”

“Hey, Penelope, calm down ok? Just listen to me for a sec. Ok, yes. Luke and I have been dating. But we just didn’t want to upset you. I knew you would be hurt if you found out, so I was just trying to find a better way to tell you. Pen, he makes me so happy, and we love each other. I know you really don’t like him, but maybe you can just try? For me?” you said to her, trying to sound as calm as reasonable as you could. When in reality, you were freaking out, and very desperate.

“Yeah ok...  I guess.” she sighed, and you could hear the hesitance inner voice. She was still mad.

After Penelope agreed, you rushed back to Luke’s apartment, because you knew you needed to talk to Luke, before Penelope did.

+++

On the way back to Luke’s, you couldn’t help but worry. You loved Luke, but you also loved Penelope, and if she wasn’t ok with your relationship, you weren’t sure what you’d do.

The anxiety was slowly bubbling within you, with you felt, along with the panic. But there was something else. Guilt. Guilt for keeping this from Penelope, and guilt for getting caught in the first place.

But before you could delve even more into those thoughts, you were pulling into the apartment complex.

“Hey, baby...” you softly called out to Luke as you unlocked the door to his apartment.

As you approached the bedroom, you quietly said to him, with a frown on your face, “Uhh I kinda did something bad…”

Luke then, grabbed both of your hands, and comforted you, he hated seeing you upset. “Hey, It’s ok. What happened?”

“Well I left my phone here but didn’t notice, and after I finished with the paperwork I was freaking out cause I couldn’t find my phone, so I asked Penelope to track it, and she saw where it was. Here. She knows now, Luke.” you said, trying not to hyperventilate.

“Ok, Ok. Umm, how did she react?” Luke asked processing everything.

“Pretty bad,” you said in a worried tone, “but she agreed to give it a chance. So that’s good. But we should probably invite her over for dinner or something though.”

“Yeah ok,” Luke said as he pulled you onto the bed to cuddle.

As Luke put his arm around you, and you snuggled into him, he noticed something was still wrong.

“Hey, bub. What’s wrong?” Luke asked in a concerned tone.

“I’m just worried. I mean Penelope’s my best friend. I just want her to approve of our relationship.”

“It’ll be ok, my love. I’m sure Penelope will get over it soon,” he said hopefully.

“Do you even know her? I mean she still calls you newbie,” You said laughing a bit under your breath, but still under duress.

“Ok, ok you’re right. But you have to relax ok? Penelope loves you. She can’t stay mad at you forever. Right?” Luke said to comfort you, and once you nodded at what he had said, he told you, “and hey, if she still is mad, at least you have me,”

“Yeah. ok,” you said, as you swung your legs over his, and rested your head on his shoulder.

“Always,” Luke said while kissing you on the forehead.

At that moment you knew that no matter what happened, you would be ok, because you had had Luke, someone who loved you, and that love would be enough. 

(Spoiler alert: Penelope forgave the two of you, and you became her OTP. But too whose surprise, really?)

[ssscentral]

serotonin | for ara

Summary: He loves to rile you up - and you let him every time.

Pairing : Jungkook x female reader

Genre : Fluff, Romance, e2l (but not really), Established Relationship

Warnings : Kissing - nothing else

WC : 1.5k

Member : Lillia & Rid || @moccahobi​ & @taegularities​

A/N : HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR MAKNAE @heejinnien!!!!!! I hope your birthday is an amazing one! Some of us (@tae-cup, @hoebii, @jinings, @voiceswithoutlips, @biaswreckme, and @xiaokoo) have created a few collaborative pieces for your birthday! So take some time to celebrate and relax with our fun (and most def not quickly put together) fics! We love you so much and are so glad to be friends with you! May this birthday be an amazing one!!!! 💜💜 - Lillia

Jungkook was the epitome of hard work. If there was anyone you would’ve named as annoyingly competitive at your school, it would’ve been him - sarcastic, fierce, smart, always trying to up you whenever he could.

The science lab that you both shared was always an intense business, and the class knew how the whole lab would be punctuated by the teacher deciding which of you was more correct as soon as you and Jungkook entered the room. The semester had started one month and a half ago, but the whole team of teachers had taken note of the mess that the pair of you were. From trying to out correct each other to vying for the TA’s praise, the competition between the two of you was something that made everyone gawk and laugh at. This lab was no different.

It was a simple class to help you start familiarizing yourself with tardigrades before you did experiments on them later. You were simply tasked with drawing them and documenting the development of their eggs, but you didn’t think even such a thing could turn into a full-on war between Jungkook and you.

“So, if you look closely, some of you might have pregnant tardigrades under their microscope. The person who spots them and manages to document everything correctly, will get some chocolate from me the next time,” your teacher encouraged you, always the nicest sweetheart of your college.

Curse Jungkook’s superior art skills because even though both of you had pregnant tardigrades, it was like comparing a toddler’s hard work to something that belonged in MOMA.

“Teacher…” Jungkook shot you a knowing look after interrupting more of the teacher’s praise of his diagram.

“Yes, Mister Jungkook?”

“Well, you see… I know you expressed a want to hang up the diagram… but I honestly don’t feel like it’s the best I can do. Especially since Y/N knocked my elbow a few times and even scribbled something on my paper. I mean, I tried to make the scribbles look like part of the diagram… but I know I could do better. Could I try to redo it for extra credit?”

“Miss Y/L/N. Did you really try to ruin his work?” 

You floundered some and glared at the lying Jungkook, “N-no! I mean I did bump into him, but when our chairs are so close together, it is bound to happen! It wasn’t to try to sabotage him.” 

The teacher’s eyes narrowed before she nodded at Jungkook and continued on with the lesson, her better nature taking what you said as truth… as it was! That “bumping” was simple brushing him… that you might have intended, but still! Not maliciously! When the teacher’s back was turned to you and Jungkook, you sent him a glare, to which he smirked back before focusing on the teacher again who was pointing out more details about the tardigrades that needed to be added to diagram labels. 

And although the lesson was still not over - technically - she spoke up as soon as you and Jungkook handed in your work. “Perfect! As promised, Mister Jeon and Miss Y/L/N may leave earlier - you worked hard today again!” your professor announced, clapping her hands and spurring on the rest of the class to do the same - you could clearly see how annoyed and unmotivated your classmates were, and it made you chuckle.

Grinning back at Jungkook, you put the strap of your bag around your shoulder, knowing that he’d follow you very soon. He always did. The corridor was empty, the classes still going on as you heard his faint footsteps behind you. You rolled your eyes - no matter how many times you beat him in class (even if today, you only beat him by answering more stuff correctly), he’d always stay right next to you.

You walked in silence for quite some while until you stepped out into the pleasantly warming sun, the fresh wind grazing your skin and playing with your hair softly. There was a park you’d always go to, one that belonged to the campus, but mostly stood empty despite the large number of students at your school. Most of the students spent their days flitting between classes and fulfilling last minute assignments and they barely had time to look or go to the park that was ever so slightly out of the way from the other, less cool, outdoor spaces your college offered. 

Considering the fact that beautiful flowers and plants bloomed on the grounds of the small park, you felt like the students who never cared to visit were stupid and oblivious to the park’s amazingness. It was a perfect place to study, relax or spend time with friends, and now that you were released from your last class of the day, you didn’t yet feel the urge to go back to your dorm room yet. You approached a bench, your bench, directly next to the swing set.

As you almost reached it, still aware of how close your rival was, Jungkook suddenly grabbed your wrist to pull you close to him, his face just inches away. Trapping you in his arms, his eyes wandered to your lips.

“Aren’t you tired of following me around all the time?” you asked with a bratty smile, throwing back your hair as you awaited his answer.

“How could I ever?” And without a warning, he pressed his lips against yours before you could even give him your devilish smirk that he loved so much.

That was bound to happen, you knew it, and you relished in the intense feeling his careful touch gave you. He kissed you gently and with so much unsaid emotion that you tried to match, enjoying the soft touches of his hands against your body and the feel of his firm body under your hands. All of this, you both and your secret relationship, had started not long ago. Always the bantering couple that the school loved so much and you had long been selected as the ultimate OTP - something that meant one true pairing nowadays, many students asking if the class rivalry had ever become more.

As he kissed you, mouth moving against yours tenderly, softly, affectionately, the excitement in your body increased, wanting nothing more than to stay here in the empty park with him forever, pressed against his chest. In his arms with your lips locked together, nothing else seemed to matter. Not his insane art skills or who outperformed the other in class or grades. It was just the tender kisses and touches of him.

When he let go, stroking your cheek with his fingertips gently, he smiled endearingly. “Seeing you all riled up and motivated to beat me is so hot.”

You furrowed your eyebrows as you pushed him away slightly, but his hands on your waist stayed stubbornly, firmly holding you in his grip as he laughed at your expression. “Good that you think that. I just can’t believe how much fun you have annoying the hell out of me in front of our teachers.”

“You’re the cutest when riled up,” Jungkook said with a smirk.

“And I can’t believe you said that I scribbled on your diagram today! We are stooping to lies now?”

Jungkook laughed lightly, one of his hands traveling down your arm to hold your hand. “Well… You got all pink when I brought up the bumps. I enjoyed watching you flush. You’re just so cute, Y/N.” He pinched your cheek as he said the last words.

What? You blinked slowly, a robotic laughing coming out of you. “Jungkook. I love you… but don’t do that again.”

“What? Can you repeat? I didn’t hear?” Jungkook’s ears were pink as he looked at you hopefully, his eyes glistening and shining as he spoke.

“Don’t do it again.” 

“Nooo! What was the first part? I wanna hear it again.” He whined and squeezed your hand tightly while bringing it up to his chest. 

Mimicking a deep thought process, you pursed your lips and scrunched your brows together. “No. You’ve not been a good boy.”

Jungkook’s eyes widened in shock as his lips parted wordlessly, his hand going slack in yours. Laughing excitedly, you quickly removed yourself from Jungkook, set your bag down, and started off away from him.

“You might have to catch me to get me to say anything more!” you shouted when you were only a meter or so away, quickly catching Jungkook’s attention once again.

Even from how far away you were, you saw the tell tale competitiveness flow into him as he raced off after you. A squeal left you when he came closer and you quickened your pace, but it was no use. Jungkook was so much faster and stronger than you and before you knew it, he had swooped you up in his arms and spun you around.

“Tell me, you love meeee!” Jungkook whined childly as he set you down, pouting at you as he started to pepper your face and neck with soft kisses.

His kisses tickled you, and he enjoyed that every single time. “I-I lo-love yo-you!” you managed to squeal out before once again, he was kissing your lips.

“Good, because I love you too.” 

[addictedtostorytelling]

I’m still melting from the ring scene <3 but I was hoping Grissom would say something reassuring, like ‘ring or no ring you’re mine forever’ :) also do you think it’s weird Sara is still a tiny bit insecure? Divorce flashback?

also, from anon #2:

what did you think of the ring scene? your prediction was pretty much spot on! also the shoulder rub ended me

hi, anons!

the ring scene played out pretty much as i expected it would, and it was beautiful.

even though our otp has had two proposals in their history, we'd never gotten to see the classic "slip the ring on the finger" moment before, so this scene felt like a gift to us from the writers in that sense.

there were lots and lots of wedding overtones, from the nice clothes to sara's hand-on-heart, teary-eyed “i do”-esque reaction to the music to the outdoor setting, all of which came across as very deliberate.

they wanted us to read "nuptials" or even "vow renewal" into this scene, for sure.

i love that grissom knows sara so well that he can tell she was displacing her anxiety about the case onto her lost ring. i also love that he realizes that even though it's theoretically a small thing—just a replaceable material object—that the ring matters to her and that it's important that he get it back to her so that she can feel secure.

for someone who has so often been accused of being insensitive to the needs and wants of others, that man sure is cued in to his wife's internal state of being.

he's such a sweetheart, and her total prince charming, and this scene shows so incredibly clearly that he is.

as for her, i love these moments where we see her get to be swept off of her feet by him. she's been in love with gil grissom for over half her life now, and you get an illustration of both how much so and why here. she was trying to soldier through, put on a brave face, and focus on the "more important stuff," but the fact that she'd lost her ring was obviously still eating her up inside. when he gives it back to her, you see this wave of relief wash over her—closely followed by adoration for him and gratitude for what he’s done and this sense of validation because he's always there for her; he always shows up when she needs him.

i'm so happy that this girl who thought she was going to be perpetually alone and have to deal with all of her problems by herself was wrong—that she has someone in her life now who will constantly and unwaveringly be there for her.

billy and jorja act this scene to perfection, from the line delivery to the physical cues.

sara putting her hand on the back of grissom's neck will never not kill me. ditto for her adjusting his tie like she's done it a thousand times before because she has.

it's a gorgeous moment, all around.

__

all of that said—

STOP READING HERE IF YOU WANT TO AVOID NEGATIVITY

—i am well and truly pissed that this scene didn't include a kiss.

it feels fucking bizarre that there isn't one.

it's a highly glaring omission.

if sara doesn't kiss her husband after he sifts through vats of human sludge to find her wedding ring and gives it back to her with a romantic flare most harlequin novel writers could only dream of conjuring, then when the hell does she kiss him?

if grissom doesn't kiss his wife after she looks at him like he's her sun and stars and sky, then does he ever kiss her at all?

seriously, do they only ever kiss at big partings or big reunions? when they're alone in their bedroom together?

i have no fucking clue why this production team is being so stingy with kisses between a happily married couple.

i suspect they're trying to be cute and maybe are "saving up" for a kiss in the finale (possibly), but if that's the case, they're working off such flawed premises that it's maddening, as it's not the rarity of kissing scenes that makes them "special" but the context of them!

they could have grissom and sara kiss here—where it would be 10000% thematically, narratively, and characteristically appropriate for them to do so—and it wouldn't diminish any big finale kiss scene they have planned.

someone needs to send tptb a memo, because at this point, they're creating some serious awkwardness.

i mean, for fuck's sake, grissom and sara are even talking about other people kissing right before this exchange takes place! you can't have grissom make a quip about wix kissing his star witness and then not have him kiss his own wife, jfc.

again, if there were covid restrictions preventing them from filming kiss scenes, i'd get it, but they already filmed one kiss scene that was cut, and they've had other people on the show besides grissom and sara kiss (like the couples at the swingers club in the second episode), so we know there's not a blanket ban in place.

they're just choosing not to show grissom and sara kissing, period.

and it's hard not to fixate on their decision to do so when it's such a bad decision and is so loudly obvious on screen.

as for the dialogue in the scene, i'm with you, anon: i feel as if grissom probably should have one more line after sara says her bit about "bad omens;" the end of the scene feels a bit abrupt, having her comment be the last word, and particularly in the absence of a kiss.

/END RANT HERE

as for the issue of sara potentially being insecure because of the divorce, yeah, i think she probably remembers the last time she went for a prolonged period of time not wearing her wedding ring and doesn't like those vibes one bit.

of course, i also think it is incredibly possible to read this entire reboot as retconning the gsr divorce out of existence, because if they didn't directly mention it in this episode—not when hugo was telling sara his divorce story, not in the context of the case-of-the-day (which involved a messy divorce)—then it's almost like it never happened. so if one's inclination is to pretend that s10-s15 of the original show were all just a bad fever dream, then i think one can ignore even the slight divorce insinuation here by reading things in the way that i explain below.

that said, i also think that her anxiety in this episode was never really about the ring itself but was displaced from other worries.

i mean, yes, she absolutely wanted her ring back and felt naked without it and scared that she'd lost it forever, but i don't think she was ever actually concerned that she and grissom would get divorced again because she had the misfortune to lose her ring no matter what ideas hugo filled her head with.

instead, i think what was/is really eating her up inside was/is her sense that she's gotten not only herself but grissom and hodges and max into something really deep, and they may all end up going down for it.

she charged into this case fully convinced that she and grissom would ultimately be able to exonerate hodges and that every extralegal action they were taking—and that max was enabling them to take—would therefore be retroactively justified and excused.

it was okay that they were cutting corners and breaking laws because they were going to save hodges's life and prevent thousands of criminals from being set free, you know?

that's how she was rationalizing everything to herself.

but in this episode, she's staring down a 48-hour deadline, knowing she's got nothing that will break the case, and that if she doesn't somehow pull off a miracle, not only will she probably go to jail, but so will grissom and so will hodges, and max will lose her job, and the crime lab's reputation will be ruined, and hundreds of convictions will be overturned, and hodges's child will have to grow up without a father, and the cause of justice will be undone, etc., etc.

it's all really hitting her how much her "go big or go home" approach to this case hasn't only put her in jeopardy but has endangered lots of people and causes that she cares about.

and that's why the lost ring feels like a bad omen to her.

—not because she's worried that she and grissom are going to break up but because she's worried that she's going to get him sentenced to federal prison, and that it will be her fault because she's the one who dragged them into this mess when he didn't want to be part of it to begin with.

we see this fear expressed from her in the episode only once explicitly, when she tells grissom as they're standing on the observation deck watching folsom's interrogation that this case may be the last one they ever work (and she's not just talking in a "because after this is all said and done, we're going back to our boat" way); however, it's also there in her anxiety throughout the episode and in her high level of upset, which far exceeds the triviality of one lost personal item.

she's obviously worried about so much more than the ring itself.

it's a thing where she feels like everything is out-of-control around her, and the ring is a symbol of the fact that it is.

if she can find the ring, that's one thing she can regain some control of.

but if not, then that's a sign that the chaos has her beat.

it's that whole psychological displacement issue of "when someone gets disproportionately upset about something relatively small, that's usually a sign that there's some bigger underlying problem."

—which is why, like i said above, it's so beautiful that grissom finds the ring for her and makes sure to get it back to her.

he knows as well as she does that finding the ring won't actually solve all of their problems, but he also knows that finding the ring will make her feel grounded and will show her that he's with her, no matter what.

and that's what she needs right now: reassurance that together they can figure things out.

that's why she gets so weepy about the gesture—not only because it's sweet (though it is) and romantic (though of course) but because it tells her that grissom is by her side with both eyes open, and he doesn't begrudge her anything.

anyway.

those are my thoughts.

thanks for the questions, anons! please feel welcome to send more any time.

[lunatriense]

OH MY GOD STOP WRITING SO WELL AND BREAKING MY HEART (i know i requested the sad crimson tide headcanon but still)

Crimson Tide 30

I'm sorry anon, but tysm for the compliment!!! 🥰 Hopefully this will stitch it back together.

One headcanon about this OTP that mends it

Neptune lies on his bed, flicking through photos on his scroll. Photos of Pyrrha — many with him as well — taken over the years, each of them a memory. She's smiling in those pictures, so happy… she wasn't smiling when he saw her last. He sighs… he took her smile away; that's the last thing he ever wanted to do. He flicks to another photo.

Scarlet hair streams behind her like a banner, shimmering in the evening sun. He follows, drawn onward by her melodic laugh through the streets of Argus, weaving between pedestrians and vehicles and the kiosks set up on the side of the road, all the way down to the wharf. She's so fast! He can't keep up, but every now and then she looks back and slows down to offer words of encouragement for him, and they drive him forward.

When they reach the wharf, fear grips his heart. So much water… he can go no further. She knows he won't go further, not out onto the piers, not where he might fall in. She gives him a smile and darts out without a care, to the furthest docking post. Without hesitating, she scampers up onto the post to watch the battle beyond.

This is why they've come. When the sirens sound, when the rest of the city looks out with trepidation, the girl knows only excitement. She runs toward the danger, not away. She wants to see it for herself, not hear the reports later. He doesn't quite get it, but when he's around her he feels like he can do anything… anything except go out to the water, that is.

She watches from her perch as the airships clash with the Grimm, tracer fire and smoke trails crisscrossing the red-gold sky. Among them are a few hunters, either fighting from the airships themselves or leaping out to engage the creatures in aerial combat.

The sight is breathtaking — the little girl gazing up to the battle above. He fumbles momentarily to pull out his scroll and capture the image.

"That's going to be me one day," the girl tells him when she finally comes back in after it's finished, more excited than he'd ever seen her. "I'll become the greatest huntress ever. I'm going to save the whole world!" Crazy as it sounds, he believes her. She's Pyrrha Nikos, and she can do anything.

A little smile comes to Neptune's face — he remembers that day well. "You were right," he murmurs to himself. "You're gonna save the whole world…" His smile falters, then fades. "And I won't be there by your side…" He thumbs over to his messages and opens the one Pyrrha sent him this morning. Even if he'd given up on her, she hadn't given up on him.

He clenches his teeth, then opens up his contacts to call her. No service; she's already out of range. "Damnit…" He backs out and swipes down to Sun's icon, hesitating briefly before tapping it and waiting for the connection.

"Hey man, what's up?" Sun looks to be playing some sort of game and munching on snacks.

"Hey, you know that friend of a friend you told me about?"

"Uuuuh… oh yeah, the band girl? Sure, what about her?"

"No dude, not her, the other friend of a friend."

Sun's eyes widen and the cheese puff he just grabbed falls from his fingers before it reaches his mouth. "Wait… you don't mean the guy with the-."

"Yeah, that's the one."

"Whoa…" Sun is obviously gobsmacked, and why wouldn't he be after hearing that? Honestly Neptune can barely believe it himself.

"I made a huge mistake and I gotta fix it, so I need a favour. I don't know who else can help, so… you think you can convince him to be ready in an hour?"

"Dude, come on, it's me. Of course I can!"

Neptune gives Sun a grateful — if nervous — smile. "Thanks man, I owe you."

Pyrrha sits against the wall, the same melancholy looming over her that has since yesterday, since Neptune had… She squeezes her eyes shut and takes a deep, shuddering breath. She never thought he would leave like that. They were supposed to stay together forever, that's what they'd always said ever since they were children.

Of course she can't really blame him. He's right, she did leave him first, did run off to Beacon; she hadn't realised at the time that the application deadline would already be past when she found out if she was accepted, and he'd seemed so supportive, but it's no excuse. And now with everything… maybe it's for the best that he's staying home, away from all the danger that this life — the life she dragged him into — entails, and all the more for recent revelations.

At least she'll always have her memories. She withdraws her scroll, ignoring the little stab of pain upon being reminded that Neptune saw her message this morning only minutes after she'd sent it — long before she'd left the range of Argus' communication tower — but never sent a response, and instead opening her photo gallery. Inside are countless precious memories, many of them shared with Neptune himself; she taps one of them to enlarge, and it brings with it both a small smile and new tears.

"Neptune?"

The boy turns, a little awkward-looking in his suit, and blushes. "Pyrrha! H-hi. What're you doing out here?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing. I didn't think you'd want to miss a second of a party like this."

"Oh, yeah, it's pretty great huh? I, uh, I just needed some fresh air."

She smiles and nods. "Well then, shall I keep you company?"

He returns her smile. "Sure, that'd be great."

She steps closer to lean lightly against the wall with him. "You know, Melanthe is looking for you. She said you promised to dance with her tonight."

His smile wavers. "That's not-! I didn't promise, I told her maybe we could dance!!"

She giggles, lifting a hand to cover her mouth. "It's alright, I don't mind. Although," she steps away from the wall and in front of him to face him, leaning forward just a bit, "I may be a little jealous if you dance with her before me."

"N-no, never! Besides…" He goes beet red, looking away and shoving his hands in his pockets as he mutters something under his breath.

She blinks. "Hmm? I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you."

He mutters again, a little louder. "I said… I don't know how to dance…"

Her eyes widen a little. "Oh… is that…" She takes a half-step closer, straightening as she does and lifting a hand to gently turn his face to meet her gaze. "That's why you were avoiding me last time?"

He nods, obviously embarrassed.

She smiles. "Neptune, it's alright. I don't know how either."

He blinks and snaps his head up, looking at her as though she's grown a second head. "… What? No way! I saw how you moved in the tournament – how you always move for that matter. There's no way you can't dance!!"

She giggles again, but blushes this time as well. "Those are very different than dancing."

He gives her a sceptical look in reply.

She glances to the door of the auditorium she'd exited a few moments ago, from where the music can be heard. "It's just the two of us out here, you know…"

He freezes. "What about it?"

She smiles and extends her hand. "May I have this dance?"

He looks down to her hand, blinking momentarily before blushing and lifting his gaze to her face. "But I don't know what I'm doing."

"Neither do I."

"I'm gonna be clumsy."

"We'll be clumsy together."

"I'll probably trip over your feet!"

She giggles. "Then I'll catch you." She tilts her head and lifts her hand a touch. "Please?"

After a few heartbeats longer, he nods and takes it. "Okay."

He wasn't exaggerating, and neither was she. It only takes a handful of steps before he trips over her feet. She catches him, and for a moment that seems to stretch far longer than it actually lasts she holds him up, her hair spilling down over her shoulder and his. Then the grass, damp from the afternoon's rain, gives way beneath them and sends them both tumbling to the ground where, after rolling a few times, they settle laughing in a heap… just in time for Auric, who's also come looking for Neptune, to find them and snap the photo.

Pyrrha is roused from her memories by the sense of Yang approaching. She looks up to her friend, who stops a few steps from her with a concerned air about her.

"We have company."

Pyrrha blinks and pushes herself to her feet, putting her scroll away as she moves. "What kind?"

Yang motions for her to follow. "It's not Grimm."

Pyrrha nearly misses a step at that. "Atlas is patrolling this far out?"

"Nope; we don't know who it is yet, but someone's coming up on us from behind. In a boat."

Sure enough, once they emerge onto the deck of the ship, Pyrrha looks astern to find that a boat is quickly gaining on them. It's a small and fast island hopper, but far further to sea than such a craft would normally be found.

Yang climbs up the stairs running around the outside of the bridge to shout up to her sister. "Can you tell who it is yet!?"

"It's just… some guy!," comes the response from Ruby on the roof, staring down the scope of her rifle. "He's not wearing a uniform or anything that I can see!"

The rest of the group is arrayed on the deck below, armed and ready, and so Pyrrha leaps down to join them.

"-old you guys we shouldn't have gone by sea. I knew my plan to steal the airship was better!"

"It definitely wasn't, Jaune." Pyrrha gives him a look. "Even if it didn't get us shot down, it would've crippled Argus' sensors and defences, and we're supposed to be protecting people, not endangering them."

Ren joins in with an 'I told you so' look, then they turn their attention the the fast-approaching boat. Pyrrha draws Miló and transforms it into rifle mode, aiming at the craft to get a closer look herself… and her breath catches in her throat.

"Neptune…?"

He trembles, staring at the wall across the room, seemingly unaware of the steaming mug in front of him or the blanket draped around him.

"He's really not looking too hot."

"Do you think he'll be okay?"

"Maybe… we should give him some space?"

"That's probably a good idea."

"Go ahead, I'll stay here to take care of him."

Eventually he becomes aware that someone is holding his hand. His vision is horribly blurry, so he can't tell who; he blinks a few times and finds that his eyes burn badly from dryness, so he squeezes them shut.

"Neptune?"

He knows that voice. That confirms what he thought — it's Pyrrha holding his hand, now squeezing it gently.

"Neptune, are you alright?"

"Yeah, I… I'll be… I'm fine…" It doesn't sound the least bit convincing even to him. When he opens his eyes and blinks away the tears, he finds Pyrrha frowning; clearly it wasn't to her either.

"What are you doing out here? I thought… You said you weren't coming…"

"I wasn't, but.…"

"But?"

"But I… I realised I was being an idiot."

Pyrrha shakes her head softly. "You were just doing what's best for you, that's not-."

"Please don't. Don't do that. I was, I was being stupid. Really stupid!" He sighs. "Because… I was afraid." He hangs his head a bit. "I'm still afraid."

Pyrrha leans a little closer and gives his hand another squeeze. "I'm afraid too, Neptune. We're all afraid, you'd have to be crazy not to be."

He scoffs. "Yeah right, I know you better than that, Pyr. You're the bravest person I've ever met. You're fearless."

She blushes slightly. "Bravery isn't being fearless, it's being afraid but facing your fear and moving onward anyway."

"Huh…" He considers a moment. "Anyway, I thought about it and… and as much as all this scares me, as-," he chokes up, and it takes a moment and a shuddering breath for him to continue. "As terrified as I am that walking this path with you is going to get us both killed, I realised I'm even more terrified that if I don't… if I don't, it'll still happen and I won't be there beside you. That I won't have been there when you needed me."

Pyrrha's eyes glisten with unshed tears and her voice quavers a bit as she speaks. "But we're in the middle of the ocean. The water… how did you…?"

"I had to face my fear, like you said." A small smile spreads on his face. "It turns out I'm a lot more afraid of losing you than I am of the water." He glances toward the door. "But please don't remind me where we are. That's the stuff of nightmares."

She gives a little half-laugh, half-sob but smiles and nods nonetheless, then leans in to kiss him, wrapping her arms around him in a close embrace, both of which he's all too happy to return.

[nalu-love-4-life]

Dragon Swan Song

Author’s Note:

It’s been a very long time since I wrote a drabble on Tumblr for NaLu. But I have had an itch lately to write something for them, because I haven’t written anything passionately in a very long time, and what could be more fun to jump back into writing than to write about my OTP?

I hope you all enjoy this short NaLu drabble where Natsu is a knight assigned to protect the princess, Lucy!

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The skirt of my dress flowed freely around my ankles as I paced back and forth from the end of my bed to the chamber doors. A feeling of impending dread was steadily building in my stomach and each time I stopped to take a breath the anxious knots only seemed to pull tighter. The late morning sunlight streaming in from the balcony created patches of heat on the cool stone floor. While the warmth on my skin brought brief comfort, my thoughts were still troubled and they swirled in my head, going ‘round and around, making me dizzy. My pacing stopped only when I heard a low rapping on the doors behind me.

“Excuse me, Princess. I’m coming in,” a husky voice called.

I swiveled around and straightened my back, and hastily tucked a couple loose strands of hair - which had fallen over my face - behind my ear. After clasping my hands together with a firm grip, I answered, “C-come in!” There was a momentary pause before the doors opened and a familiar mess of pink hair peaked into view.

Natsu, I thought with a soft sigh. I could already feel my worries sliding off from my shoulders. As he stepped into the room, I could see his firm build. He stood almost a foot taller than me and his skin was tanned from spending long days training in the sun.

“Princess Lucy, is everything alright?” He asked. “I could hear your footsteps from the other side of the doors. Is there something on your mind?” His voice was deep and sincere, but the formality of his speech felt strange.

“Y-yes! Everything is fine, really. No need to worry. I’m just overthinking some plans that my father had proposed to me this past evening.” I did my best to brush his concern away with a smile and a curt wave of my hand, but the crease between his eyebrows remained and his lips did not move from the slight frown they were set in.

“Hmm,” he hummed aloud. “Well, though I believe you’re telling me the truth, I cannot take your words at mere face value.”

“Huh?” I questioned.

“You don’t look like you’re in full health, Princess. So I will do my own inspection to make sure you are feeling well,” he said in a raised voice while peering down the long hallway. I waited with anticipation as Natsu quietly shut the wooden doors. He paused, and I watched his shoulders rise and fall as he slowly breathed in and out. When he turned around and looked at me I could see the glimmer of mischief dancing in his onyx eyes.

“Natsu,” I said. “What are you doing? It’s the middle of the day. We could be caught!”

He smirked, briefly flashing his sharp canines. A jolt rippled down my spine and my heart beat faster in my chest.

“We’ll be fine, Luce,” he said. Natsu took a couple steps closer to me. He had a confident air about him. “Anyone who was around thinks I’m simply checking on the princess to make sure she’s feeling well. Nothing wrong with that, right?” He raised his eyebrows and the devilish flare grew in his eyes. My knees wobbled underneath the intensity of his stare. As he entered further into the room, the sunlight illuminated the details of his face. I couldn’t help myself from studying him.

The old scar that ran down his right cheek stopped at his jawline, and another stretched across the right side of his neck. The rough skin healed a bit darker than his normal shade, which only made them appear more prominent. His cheeks were dusted a soft rose giving him a healthy and youthful likeness. Light freckles speckled the bridge of his nose and under his eyes, but if you weren’t looking close enough you wouldn’t think he had any at all. There was a bit of dirt on his forehead and his hair was in mild disarray, so he had probably been training in the courtyard or tending to the horses in the stables earlier. My eyes continued to scan over his face. I didn’t want to miss a thing.

“Like what you see?”

“Huh?!” Startled, my concentration broke and our eyes locked.

Natsu chuckled and closed the little distance that was left between us. His smile was warm. “You’re cute when you get lost in thought,” he muttered bringing his right hand to rest on my cheek. It was as if there was fire in his fingertips. His touch was gentle, but every one set my skin ablaze. I could feel the rough callouses on his palm that had formed from years of hard work wielding his sword and perfecting his skills.

“Don’t tease me like that,” I pouted. My hair fell loose around my shoulders as I turned my head to the side.

“Aw, come on, Luce. I was being serious,” he whined, but the slight twitch at the corners of his mouth gave away his amusement. A gasp escaped my lips as I felt two strong arms circle around my waist and pull me forward. Our bodies pressed together and the palms of my hands rested on his chest. All I could think about was how firm and strong it felt.

“Natsu th-this is embarrassi-!”

“You really are beautiful, Princess,” he murmured. His voice was low and tender and every word sounded so sincere. I really admired that about him. Though sometimes he could be honest to a fault, it was just another one of his many charms.

He used his hand that was on my cheek to brush the hair from my face and place it back behind my ear. “There they are,” he said. “Hey, Doe Eyes.” A quiet chuckle rumbled in his throat.

“Hi,” I whispered almost breathless. Natsu smelled like warm linen and earth, with a hint of something sweet, like honey or vanilla. I wished that I could bottle that scent so I could revisit it whenever, but did my best to focus so I could at least commit it to memory. His dark eyes held me as a willing captive and I couldn’t tear myself away. As frustrating as his teasing could be at times, I was never more at ease than when I was enveloped in his embrace. Whenever it seemed like everything was turning upside down and I felt as if I could float away at any given moment, I could always count on him to tether me and bring me safely back to solid ground.

His face relaxed as he scanned over me. “Now,” Natsu said clearing his throat. “Are you gonna tell me why you were pacing so much? Your footsteps were so loud, I bet everyone in the castle thought an ogre was stomping around in here.” Natsu’s eyebrows lifted and his lips puckered ever-so slightly. I could tell he was holding in laughter.

“How dare you!” I huffed and pushed against his chest so that he would relinquish his hold on me. “And just when I thought you were being genuinely sweet for once.” I crossed my arms over my chest and marched onto the balcony.

There was a cool spring breeze and the sky was bright blue with thin white clouds floating lazily overhead. I positioned myself so that my arms rested against the thick metal railing that overlooked the castle garden. All of the flowers were in full bloom and their many scents mixed in a harmonious melody which filled the air and swirled around me. I took a deep breath in to fully appreciate the wonderful aroma. As my muscles began to relax the sound of heavy boots came closer to my turned back.

Natsu stood quietly beside me with his back leaned against the railing. He craned his neck to the side and looked across the castle grounds. “You always did enjoy the garden, didn’t you?” He asked, although it seemed like it was more of a statement to himself. “Even when we were kids, if you were ever upset you’d always go someplace where you could see the flowers.”

I glanced at him from the side. “Of course I like the garden,” I sighed. “The flowers are pretty, it’s always quiet, and I can lose myself walking around in it. I can pretend like I don’t have a care in the world—like I can do whatever I want—be whoever I want—love whoever I-” I stopped myself and turned to look at Natsu. He was smiling at me, but it was small and there was sadness underneath. Natsu shifted his eyes away from me and turned around so that he faced the garden. His broad shoulders slumped forward and his weight pressed down on his forearms that he’d rested on the railing.

“Do you remember that day?” He asked. “When we met?” I ran my eyes over his face, trying to discern what he might be thinking. “You were picking daisies in the far corner of the garden to make a makeshift crown, and I was running from Makorov ‘cuz I accidentally tore a hole right through his trousers with my sword.”

“As I recall, you caused that tear because you were sparring with Gray again over who was going to get to eat the last slice of Miss Mira’s strawberry shortcake that she’d baked earlier that day,” I mocked. “But then Erza knocked your heads together, claimed it for herself, and ate it right in front of you! So neither you nor Gray got any cake and you were both punished for fighting—no sweets for a whole month!” I raised my hand to cover my mouth as I laughed.

“Y-yeah… Erza’s scary,” Natsu muttered.

I stood with my hands on my hips and gave a disapproving stare. “I haven’t forgotten how you ran straight into me and crushed all of my daisies before I could make that crown, by the way,” I said. “And you caused me to fall face first into the dirt and ruin the new dress Father had gotten for me, too,” I huffed. Natsu grimaced and rubbed the back of his head, ruffling his hair.

“Uh, yeah, sorry,” he said. “I remember getting an earful about that too.”

I scoffed in mild amusement. “It’s fine. To be quite honest, Father always ordered the most stuffy dresses back then, anyway, and the one you ruined was particularly stifling to wear,” I said. “Especially when I was out in the garden.”

“Well, I wish you had said something back then before Erza chewed me out for that in between mouthfuls of cake,” Natsu laughed.

“Why would I when it’s so amusing to see how you and Gray shake like puppies when she scolds you?” He pretended to pout at my taunting which only made me laugh more. “Miss Erza’s not so terrible, you know,” I said gaining my composure.

“You only think that because you’ve never had to fight her. After one training session I can barely move for days whenever she’s put in charge of combat practice. She��s merciless!” He whined.

I giggled and Natsu turned his head so he could look at me. His eyes were serious when they met mine. Something about his steady gaze threw my stomach for a whirl. “W-what is it?” I asked.

Natsu shifted his weight and stood tall. His stature blocked the sun and cast a shadow over me. To someone else, he might seem scary using his full height to his advantage like this. But to me, he was no more threatening than a dragonfly.

“Lucy,” he said. His voice came off stern but his eyes were almost pleading. “Tell me why you’ve been so stressed lately. I won’t continue to pretend like I haven’t noticed.” Natsu took my hand in his. I could feel his thumb tracing gentle circles over the tops of my fingers. Unlike before, he kept a respectable distance between us and was careful to hide our clasped hands behind the railing.

We couldn’t risk the groundskeepers or any other castle attendant seeing us, and the balcony was a very public spot. Any affectionate display witnessed by the wrong person was sure to circulate through the castle grapevine, and there would surely be repercussions to face. I knew this, of course, but I still felt my heart longing.

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Author’s End Note:

I hope you all enjoyed this first installation of this NaLu drabble as much as I enjoyed writing it! Sorry to leave you all on a bit of a cliffhanger there but it was getting much longer than originally intended haha Should I continue it and make it a real story? If you want more please like, comment, and/or DM me and let me know what you think! And make sure to follow me on here on tumblr for any updates on this story and so you don’t miss any other Fairy Tail NaLu drabbles or fanfic posts/art or story reblogs!

❤️ nalu-love-4-life

[bring-the-storm]

Rated: T

Word Count: 1833

written for @mlcorefour appreciation week

After accidentally panicking and telling basically the whole world that she's dating a member of the hero team, Ladybug must someone to fake-date her, and fast. Of course Carapace suggests the obvious solution: she can just date his girlfriend for a few weeks. As the plan dissolves into chaos, the four learn what it means to be the heart of a team, while also getting into more shenanigans than humanly possible along the way.

---

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Those were the first words to tumble from Chat Noir’s lips, his smile too overeager, too happy to be genuine. 

“I didn't-”

“Girl, you have GOT to be kidding me,” Rena Rouge interrupted, whirling on her the second her feet touched the rooftop. “I thought we were friends!?! Who is it? Pegasus? Viperion?”

“I thought he was dating Ryuko,” Carapace jumped in.

“I’m not-” Ladybug opened her mouth to explain, only to be interrupted. She couldn’t really blame Alya (who only had fifteen Ladynoir pinterest boards and showed them off to anyone who so much as mentioned the superhero duo). 

“Oh, right,” Rena Rouge nodded. “Otherwise she totally would’ve been my next guess.” The fox heroine turned to her desperately. “Please don’t tell me it’s Tigresse. I’ve been working on my Tigerella fanfic for months.”

“Guys, can you calm down for-”

“King Monkey, maybe?” Carapace guessed as Chat plopped down on the edge of the building, failing at not looking miserable. “He doesn’t really seem like he’s her type, but you never know.”

Rena Rogue cut her off again. “I swear, if it’s Vesperia and I didn’t see it coming…” The heroine buried her face in her hands. “Ladybug you better explain. I don’t know what to do with my life anymore!”

Instantly, three sets of eyes locked on her, begging for clarification. Ladybug took a deep breath.

“Guys, I’m not dating anyone.”

“But you said-” Rena protested. 

“I know and I’m sorry!” she cried, trying not to look at Chat as her face heated. Not that it meant anything. Obviously.  “The reporters kept asking all these questions and I just wanted to get out of there and it slipped out.”

It was hard to miss the flash of relief in Chat’s eyes.

“So, let me get this straight,” Carapace said, staring at her incredulously. “Your grand plan to get out of a stressful press conference was to tell everyone in Paris on live television that you’re dating someone on our team?”

It sounded a lot worse when he said it out loud.

“I panicked,” Ladybug admitted with a wince.

Carapace breathed a sigh of relief. “Well, at least you can just admit that and everything will go back to normal.”

Rena Rouge and Chat Noir glanced at each other knowingly and almost simultaneously burst into giggles, as if he had said something hilarious.

“That doesn’t sound like a good sign,” Ladybug swung her yo-yo in an anxious circle.

“Trust me when I say it will not work out like that,” Chat Noir smirked somewhat bitterly in the light of the setting sun.

Rena waved her hand across the sky as if she could already read the headlines written on the clouds. “Shocking Reveal - Ladybug Tells All.”

“I could just tell them the truth,” she tried to protest.

“Heroes Attempt to Cover up the Truth,” Alya finished, stopping the yo-yo’s frantic circle with her flute.

Ladybug groaned, wanting to kick something, preferably Hawkmoth’s stupid face.

“And of course it's right around the anniversary,” Chat Noir reminded her.

“Uh, no it’s not,” Carapace glanced at her partner like he was crazy. 

And he kinda was. She distinctly remembered a picnic with a certain kitty on the rooftops near where she ‘fell from heaven’ as they watched a parade of small children stream by, wearing Stoneheart cosplay only a few months ago.

“Not that anniversary,” Chat Noir deflated a little. “I was talking about Oblivio.”

Her brain screeched to a halt. 

“This just keeps getting better and better,” she groaned. 

Carapace and Rena exchanged a glance. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“After a certain Ladyblogger posted a photo of me and Chat,” she locked her gaze on Rena, relishing the moment a little too much. “Some of the fans seem to have gotten it into their heads that Kitty and I are destined to get together on that day.

“Generally involving a week full of frustrated Ladynoir-shipping akumas,” Chat jumped in. “And one exhausted and pointedly not together bug and cat.”

Ladybug giggled. “Okay, you have to admit, some of them are kinda funny.”

The cat hero snorted. “I wouldn’t call Aphrodite funny.”

“What about the fanfic style one?” she nudged his knee playfully, trying to see if banter would help cheer him up. “You have to admit, throwing mugs at the akuma during the coffee shop AU was the best.”

A hint of a real smirk flickered across her partner’s lips. 

“You called me sweet when you dumped all that sugar in my hair,” she reminded him.

“It was an accident!” he protested with a grin.

“Yeah, right,” Ladybug crossed her arms. “You were supposed to throw it at him. You totally did it on purpose!”

Chat clutched his chest, pretending to wipe tears from his eyes. “I can’t believe you would have such little faith in me, m’lady!!”

Both of them somehow missed the knowing glance their best friends shot each other.

All their weapons buzzed simultaneously, doubtlessly with an update from the news. Chat Noir flicked open his baton and sighed, showing the headline to the rest of them.

“Which of Our Heroes is Ladybug’s Boyfriend?”

Her partner scrolled through the article, grumbling under his breath.

Carapace raised his eyebrows under his hood. “Bold of them to assume you don't have a girlfriend.”

“I wish I could say that it’s bold of them to assume I’m dating anyone at all,” she sighed. “But I kinda started this so I guess I can’t blame them.”

“THAT’S IT!” Rena Rouge leapt to her feet, nearly knocking her boyfriend’s shell over the edge of the roof.

“What?” Ladybug glanced at her comrades to check if they had the slightest idea of what was going on. 

“You told the press that you’re dating one of us on the hero team, right?” the fox heroine asked excitedly.

“Yes?” Ladybug answered hesitantly. “You were there too.”

“Not the point,” her friend waved the comment off. “The only solution that doesn’t end in even more akuma attacks is fairly obvious.”

The other three glanced at each other to see if they had gotten it.

“COME ON GUYS,” Alya sighed. “Ladybug just has to pretend to be dating one of us for a few weeks. Think about it. They go out on a few dates, cue general excitement from Paris about the first official hero couple, tragically break up after a few weeks and everything goes back to normal.”

Ladybug shrugged. “I guess it could work.”

“Why does this sound way too similar to the basic plot for any fake dating fanfic?” Chat Noir hissed in the nearby turtle hero’s ear. 

Or hood by where his ear should be. 

“Probably because that's exactly what it is,” Carapace whispered back. 

Rena smirked.

“And I happy to know of an available cat who would be happy to take-”

Her triumphant Ladynoir wingwoman grin fell from her face as the duo shook their heads in unison.

“Bad idea,” Chat Noir admitted. “I don’t want to think about the worldwide catastrophe that could occur after out ‘breakup.’”

“It would be like last Valentine’s day, but infinitely worse,” Ladybug jumped in, wincing at the memory of yet another love akuma that nearly burned Paris to the ground in its mission to make its OTP kiss.

Not that kissing Chat was such a bad thing. He was kinda good-

She cut off that mental track before it could get anywhere.

“Well, who else are you going to fake-date?” Alya asked. “I mean, I would totally be up for the job, but…”

She gestured at her boyfriend.

Carapace’s silence spoke for itself.

“Uh, babe?” Rena nudged him with her boot.

“Yeah?” he said with a grin.

“You can’t actually be considering this.”

“Why not?” he shrugged. “It’s not like anyone in Paris will know any better.”

“Hawkmoth could target me!” Alya pointed out. “He knows where I live!”

Carapace shrugged. “I mean, he could do that anyway.”

“Still, this could…” her voice trailed off. “Uh- why you aren’t fighting me on this.”

The turtle hero shrugged. “I guess I don’t see a problem with it, dudette. As long as both you and Ladybug are cool with it, then I’m not going to stop you.”

“You’re supposed to be my voice of reason!” Rena Rouge stared at him like he had just admitted to secretly being Chloé’s BFF. “Are you secretly a sentimonster or something?”

Nino raised his hands innocently. “I’m just trying to be a supportive boyfriend and help you reach your dreams.”

“By handing me off to the first bug who wants to date me?”

Carapace fell back dramatically. “Babe, did you see Ladybug today,” he cried in an impression of his girlfriend's voice. “The way she stuck that landing and then she winked at me and I swear I died. No offense babe, but if Ladybug ever asked me out, I would break up with you in an instant.”

Rena turned bright red.

Ladybug giggled. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“You’re cool with this?” Rena spun on her.

“I mean, if Carapace is,” she smirked. “Sounds like it's the closest to a realistic relationship I’m going to get.”

Rena Rouge buried her head in her hands. “Hold on. I need to go scream on a rooftop.”

“Take all the time you need, babe,” Carapace called after her.

Ladybug smirked, grabbing her hand and kissing it like Chat would sometimes do for her (which totally didn’t leave her in a stuttering mess afterwards. Obviously.). “Yeah, babe. Take all the time you need.”

Rena Rouge turned red and fled.

“Whoops,” Ladybug turned back to Carapace with a sheepish grin on her face. “Too much?”

“Just because you’re fake dating my girlfriend doesn’t mean you can steal her,” Carapace nodded. “Don’t worry. She’ll be back in a few minutes and fully on board with this.”

“I should go and talk to her,” Ladybug said as she bit her lip nervously. She waved to Chat in a TOTALLY NORMAL WAY as she leapt over the rooftops.

***

The ribbons on her pigtails fluttered in the evening wind as Chat Noir watched her vault over the rooftop after her possible future fake-girlfriend.

Carapace whistled. “Dude, you’ve got it bad.”

Adrien’s face heated as he punched the turtle hero's arm. “Shut up.”

“Have you considered telling her that, you know, you still love her?”

Chat Noir laughed bitterly. “And watch her heart rip in half as she tells me yet again that we could never be more than friends? No thanks.” He glanced away. “I’d rather give up my miraculous.”

The sounds of the city that echoed off the rooftops awkwardly filled the void between them.

Finally, Chat Noir asked. “So, wait, are we actually doing this?”

Carapace nodded. “We’re superheroes. It’s our duty to protect Paris. If the only way for us to do that is for my girlfriend to pretend-date yours, then it’s a sacrifice we have to make.”

[deepperplexity]

My Sacrifice

Title: My Sacrifice

Pairing: Snape x Reader

Setting: Diagon Alley

A/N: Been listening to My Sacrifice by Creed a bit lately and I felt an urge to write something set to this song about/with Snape. So I did. I hope you’ll enjoy it! <3

Lyrics in the bottom of the post! Song links for Youtube and Spotify!

Word Count: 1333

Warnings: Angst, Heartbreak, Lost Love

Masterlist page // Masterlist post // AO3

There he was. As gloriously handsome as ever. Your heart tugged and your blood heated. Your body froze in place. Magicians mingled about around you, none the wiser of the turmoil that erupted within you. His eyes had found yours and they were as deep and dark as ever. Endless galaxies to drown in, to be consumed by at any given moment. That moment had already happened, years ago. You had drowned in his eyes and floated about in the dark cradled by his perfect love.

It felt as if your body would take flight, as if your soul would spread its wings within and burst through the heavens at the mere sight of him. Your heart pounded, ached tremendously for the man and love he had given you. Your breath hitched as his eyes softened and shimmered. Tears were brought to your eyes as you felt the world crash around you. The world you had so carefully built after being broken beyond repair.

You had loved him, loved him still. Deeply, hauntingly, eternally. An echoing cry of your pain lulled in your mind as you remembered the pain. The ferocious, shattering, unyielding pain you had lived through when you had left him. When you had abandoned the perfect love he bestowed upon you at all times. When the pain of what you had sacrificed was more clear than ever.

You loved him more than anything you had ever loved before or after him. He was the ultimate. He was perfect love. Your fingers tingled with the ripples of a memory of his skin against yours, his glossy hair dragged through your fingers. Your tears threatened to fall but you kept them at bay with every ounce of your power as people kept going on with their lives all around.

His stance softened, his shoulders looked tense though. His jaw set harshly and the soft lips he used to kiss you with were set in a thin line. Everything about him screamed at others to run away, hide, to leave him be. Yet his eyes called for you with desperation. Desperation you felt echoed through your entire being. With him you were careless. With him, you had believed. But in the end, it had not been enough with perfect love.

You wanted desperately to say hello to him, speak with him. Hear the rolling thunder of a voice that he spoke with so gently to you all those years ago. You wanted to hear him call your name, hear him say that he loves you and need you. Like he had done all those years ago. Everything within you roared and thrashed in pain from the remembrance of his love. The thing you had so desperately suffocated and pressed into an iron chest hidden deep within the locked vaults of your heart and mind.

Yet there he stood and all things had burst out with revenge. The sensations and emotions as vibrantly colourful and strong as they had ever been. You were always aware of them, always felt them pounding against the walls of their confinement. But you had kept them at bay and done your best to find new love and happiness in life. For there had been things you needed that he could not give you. Things that meant more to you than the perfect love that he was, that he gave.

You shivered as your arms came around yourself in a protective hug. A barrier towards him as his eyes glinted with unshed tears and burned with embers of love. Love he still carried for you. Despite the distance between you both and the busy lives that bustled around you you could feel it. Sensed it. He still loved you and you knew, by the smallest of sad smiles that etched his lips, that he knew you loved him as desperately back. That was your sacrifice. He was your sacrifice along with true love, perfect love.

He stepped towards you, his black hair shined in the afternoon sun and the wind made his coat flare out like a black cloud around him. He was magnificent and you loved him, wanted to say hello one more time. Wanted to talk to him one more time. Even if it would break you all over again. You were desperately aching for him in places that you had nearly forgotten. Places that you had shut away from your mind and soul as they had been too painful to live with.

But he halted, froze in place as an arm came around your waist and gentle lips were pressed to your temple. Severus’ eyes hardened, turned cold as icy fire roiled around in them where the burning embers of desperate, perfect love had been a mere moment ago. Where hope had burned a moment ago.

“Cold, honey?” You glanced up at your husband with gentle eyes as you slammed down the lid on the iron chest in your heart and shoved it back into its vault. You locked the door and barricaded it for your own sanity and survival. “A tad, love,” you answered as a soft smile etched your lips as you looked at him with adoration. You added an extra vault around the first vault and then barricaded that door as well. “Here,” he said with a sweet smile while he placed his warm coat over your shoulders. It smelled of vanilla and dog. A scent you associated with your husband on pure instinct now.

You gave him a quick peck on his cheek, “Thank you, love,” you said and he beamed at you. He loved you, fully and completely. He gave you what you needed in terms of security and reliability. Things Severus had never been able to grant you. Sure, your husband’s love was nothing compared to that of Severus’ but that was not all there was to a happy life for you. Don’t say hello again, don’t do it. Don’t break yourself over something you sacrificed years ago. Don’t let the past destroy what you have now. You made your choice, and it was the right one. Love is not the only thing in the world to want and need. No matter what all the novels say.

You looked towards Severus as your husband offered his arm. You took it as your eyes met Severus’, tears shined like stardust in the endless galaxies you loved and drowned in. You had no words of comfort to give him - only painful ones. He knew you loved him just as fiercely as he loved you. He also knew he was not enough for you in other things that mattered more to you. Things you needed to be happy, to feel safe and thrive in life.

You passed him with painfully open eyes as your husband asked what you wanted to shop for next. You gave Severus a small nod, his back straightened and he nodded sideways as his eyes slowly closed and opened in that special way he had. You saw the pain he was in as clear as day, you allowed him to see yours for a moment before you allowed the perfect love you had sacrificed to remain hidden deep inside of you as your husband doted on you and made plans for what to do during the summer holidays in a few months time.

You found peace in your thoughts again as Severus was shoved away and your heart calmed itself. You had made your choice and, despite the pain, it had been the right one for you. In the end, you were happy even if your heart was irrevocably broken beyond salvation. Even if the love you held for that dark man left behind was unmatched, you still loved. Just gentler, smaller, less. You just loved enough and that was okay. Even if you wished, with all your might, that Severus could have been enough for you. That his love had been all you needed. It just was not.

Lyrics of My Sacrifice by Creed: Hello my friend we meet again It's been a while where should we begin? Feels like forever Within my heart are memories Of perfect love that you gave to me Oh I remember

When you are with me, I'm free I'm careless, I believe Above all the others we'll fly This brings tears to my eyes My sacrifice

We've seen our share of ups and downs Oh how quickly life can turn around In an instant It feels so good to reunite Within yourself and within your mind Let's find peace there

'Cause when you are with me, I'm free I'm careless, I believe Above all the others we'll fly This brings tears to my eyes My sacrifice

I just want to say hello again

I just want to say hello again

'Cause when you are with me, I'm free I'm careless, I believe Above all the others we'll fly This brings tears to my eyes 'Cause when you are with me, I'm free I'm careless, I believe Above all the others we'll fly This brings tears to my eyes My sacrifice

My sacrifice (I just want to say hello again) I just want to say hello again

My sacrifice

Masterlist page // Masterlist post // AO3

Taglist:  @lizlil​ @snapefiction @darkthought15​ @monstreviolet @flowerdementia​ @marvelschriss​ @simpforsnape​ @once-upon-an-imagine​ @ravennight41​  @morphineisouthoney​ @setsuna-meiou31 @meteoritewolf69​ @bionic-otp​ @elizabeth-baelish

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Caffeinate me so I can keep on writing for you ☕✨

[Mar:2021]

[nitropix]

Incorrect OTP quotes

Ranboo: Oh, is it? We're conversing. Checkmate. Ranboo: I made tea. Phil: I don't want tea. Ranboo: I didn't make you tea. This is my tea. Phil: Then why did you tell me? Ranboo: It's a conversation starter. Phil: It's a horrible conversation starter.

Summary: Sleepy boi inc live with each other, Ranboo and Tubbo are with them. Whole family duo, but incorrect. Based around Bee Duo meetup,,, kind of

742 Words

It was early, way too early for anyone other than Phil or Techno to be awake, yet there was Ranboo, stood in the kitchen, basking in the morning light as the tea kettle began brewing. He was tired, it was obvious in the way he laid over on the kitchen counter, head resting on his forearms as the warm sunlight hit his back, warming up with figure. He didn’t mean to wake up this early, but he also hadn’t gone to bed last night, and was in dire need of something to drink other than soda or beer. Not that he could even drink.

Behind him Phil was sat at the table, calmly reading through an article on his phone while he sipped his coffee. The room was calm, quiet besides the low whistling of the tea kettle, and both the males were content with that fact. Happy enough to just do their own thing in peace, that was until the kettle signaled loudly that the tea was done and the high pitched noise caused Ranboo to jump, startled by the noise in his half awake state. Phil laughed behind him, amused by the exhausted boy and continued to half heartedly watch as the younger male shifted to pour himself a cup of the hot liquid. Not long after the stove was switched off and Ranboo had made his way over to the oak table to sit down across from his peer. And once again a calm quiet had settled over both of them.

Ranboo’s exhaustion seemed to seep into the atmosphere as he rested his forehead in the palm of his hands, eye’s closed as he took a sip of his tea. “I made tea.” The blonde boy pointed out softly, easily breaking the silence, and gently caught Phil’s attention. The older man placed his phone on the table, simply shifting away from his article to address the tired male. “I know mate, but I don’t want tea.” He stated clearly, picking up his mug of coffee from the table to take a swig, and watched as the other did the same. 

“I didn’t make you tea. This is my tea.” Ranboo muttered, a tired, amused smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. It was evident that he was comical in his sleep deprived state, and it managed to make Phil chuckle with confusion. “Then why did you tell me?” Phil questioned, still chuckling slightly as he crossed his arms across the table and awaited a response. 

Ranboo didn’t reply immediately, taking a few moments to gulp down his tea and look out the window with his blue eyes. He found comfort in the sun’s warm rays, warmly up slightly from the house's chilly atmosphere, but eventually he did look over at Phil. “It’s a conversation starter.”

Phil choked on his coffee, laughing at Ranboo’s response. He could see the dark patches of skin under the droopy blue eyes, and played into the conversation once more, curious of where it was leading. “It’s a horrible conversation starter.” Phil wholeheartedly told the younger boy, and let his eyes wander behind the blonde as he noticed Techno silently enter the kitchen. The pink haired male didn’t acknowledge the pair sitting at the table and quickly found his way over to the freshly made tea. Ranboo was wrong now, the tea wasn’t just for him but Phil wouldn’t go on to say anything about it. 

When Phil’s eyes made their way back to Ranboo he found the boy standing beside his original seat, a smile on his face and cup in hand. Phil continued to watch as Ranboo slowly made his way over to the door before stopping to acknowledge his peer for a final time. “Oh is it? We’re conversing. Checkmate.” His voice dripped with tired pride when he spoke but he was gone the next minute, moving down the hallway towards his room. From down the hall he could hear Phil laugh, and another smile found its way to his mouth before he slipped into his shared room. 

He carefully found his way through the dark room, gently setting his cup down on the nightstand before shifting under the blankets with Toby and cas who sleepily greeted him before they all fell back asleep. 

Ranboo didn’t wake up again until five pm when Toby and Cas came to check on him.

[unimooshi]

Christmas Fluff Snippet Megapost

(brought to you by your host Mooshi bc I’m stuck at home and wanna procrastinate cleaning my room :) )

Rated: G/Fluff

Relationship(s): Literally as many I can think within the span of 3 hours as they’re all basically 1 paragraph long. Feel free to read whichever ones you want I’m making word soup rn. We smackin’ tonight kings, queen, and royals in between😌😭✨

All relationships can be whatever universe you want, unless stated otherwise. Have a good time

Also please keep in mind that I haven’t read a lot of the comics and have a limited knowledge on the cartoons bc I haven’t watched some of them, but I’ll try my best to write out the dynamic as I see it.

1) Starscream/Optimus (StarPrime) you knew we were gonna start with OTP

“I know you wanted to visit Earth for a small vacation, but did you really have to choose the coldest of Earth months to visit?”, Starscream said with borderline disgust as he stared at the snow at the bottom of their ship, the only redeeming thing about the environment was the setting sun.

He kneeled down and scooped up a pile of snow, watching it crumble away between his digits. His internal heating system kicking into overdrive to compensate, little puffs of steam floating into the air. It wasn’t that it was cold, the issue was how wet it would be. The mess that would be made inside their circuits and the water dripping from exposed wiring made Starscream shiver.

“No, I didn’t have to but Earth has such a happy culture this time of year and I wanted to share that with you. I think you’ll like Christmas. Cheer up, let’s take a walk.” , Optimus planted a small peck on the side of Starscream’s helm and stepped outside, the soft crunch of snow following the Prime.

Starscream reluctantly stepped into the snow and groaned with how much water his sensors were already detecting, “How happy could this holiday possibly be with frozen condensation falling from the sky and getting into your circuits?”

“Well, according to what can be found on the internet, it’s an annual religious festival, but most humans use it as a time to see loved ones and celebrate their love for one another.”, Optimus took Starscream’s servo and interlaced it with his own, removing his battle mask to reveal a soft smile with blue optics to match, “and besides you can take a warm lather in the washracks later while I warm up some energon. I know you like watching Earth movies every once in a while.”

Starscream really couldn’t argue with his conjux and just vented out more heat, the puff leaving a trail of white steam as it floated into the evening sky. If being on a mud ball planet meant Optimus would be relaxed then he supposed it would be worth getting his circuits drenched for. Honestly, doing anything was worth it if it meant his Prime would stop thinking about his responsibilities even for just a cycle.

“Your strobes are blinking by the way.”

Starscream stopped walking and flapped his wings into view then dipped them low, brushing it off.

“It doesn’t mean anything.”

“I’m sure it doesn’t.”, Optimus rolled his optics and laughed, holding his conjux’s servo a little tighter.

———

2) Knockout/Breakdown (KOBD)

“Merry Christmas Knockout!”, Breakdown burst into the Medbay with a clumsily wrapped box.

Knockout nearly dropped his datapad and jumped from the sudden intrusion, his servo switched out for his buzz saw until he saw who it was.

“Breakdown!”, Knockout vented out and transformed his servo back, “Don’t scare me like that so suddenly.”

“I’m sorry, but I just wanted to finally give you this. I knew you just had to have it when I saw it and I really hope you like it.”

“All is forgiven. Thank you.”, Knockout casually tore away at the wrapping and lifted the lid, his optics glowing brighter.

“Well...do you like it?”

“Like it? I love it!”, Knockout unfolded the white stripe vinyl inside to it’s full length, laughing with a full smile, “You always know just what to get me!”

He put his gift down on the examination table and went to go hug his conjux, climbing up a little to properly plant a kiss.

As high as the mood was brought up, it was quickly shot down again.

“Wait, I’m not done with your gift yet.”, Knockout left for his datapad and scrolled through something.

“It’s alright, you don’t have to give me one. Your company is the only gift I need.”, Breakdown tried to comfort his conjux, but Knockout held out a servo to stop him.

“That’s a sweet sentiment, but it doesn’t feel fair if I had my gift before yours is even done and I don’t want you seeing it while it’s incomplete.”

“I’m sure I’ll like it even if it’s unfinished. The thought matters more than what it is. Can you tell me what it is?”

“Are you sure?”

Breakdown nodded excitedly.

Knockout sighed and handed over the datapad, “It’s only about 75% of the way done, but it’s a transcription of that Earth book you wanted to read but couldn’t find an online PDF version of it.”

Breakdown scrolled through the pages of words and felt his frame melt.

“I know it’s not as good as what you gave me but—”

“I love it!”, He lifted Knockout off the ground and squeezed, “Thank you!”

“You’re welcome but watch the paint!”

———

3) Bumblebee/Blitzwing (TFA Blitzbee)

Bumblebee wasn’t one for snow to be perfectly honest. Sure, making snowmen and having snowball fights with Sari were fun, but he mostly did those activities to make her happy as her best friend. The frosty windows on the base served as another reminder as to why he liked to stay inside where it was warm and there was plenty of oil to drink, so it was rather ironic when he started seeing a mech who could make ice and enjoyed just burying himself in the frozen stuff.

“Come outside my little bee~”

Random sang softly and taunted him from outside the Autobot base. The heat from Blitzwing’s system fogging up the window further. Everyone else in the base had retreated back to their rooms for the night, leaving Bee free to do what he wanted in the living room. At least, he would be if there wasn’t a giant beige and purple bot trying to get him outside.

“No way Blitzbrain. It’s beyond freezing out there. I’m not locking up my servos just so you can eat street snow again.”

Bumble whispered harshly and opened the window, a gush of frozen air creeped their way through the cracks of his frame. His central heating system kicked online.

Random’s glossa slithered out of his intake, “Aww why not?”

“Because it’s gross. And that’s saying something when it comes from me!”

Vrrrr.

“I suppose that’s true.”, Icy’s lips pouted outward as he pressed his digits to his chin. His sharp features standing out in the crisp darkness of the night, “But aren’t you the one always wanting to go out? Why is it so different this time?”

“Because time impossible to drive in snow and I don’t wanna deal with traffic.”

“It’s the middle of the night.”

“So?”

Vrrrr.

“So why don’t you want to come out here and spend some time away from this stupid base you tiny bug bot!”

Bee held a digit to his intake, “I’m right here idiot, you’ll wake everyone up and then they’ll see you and then we’ll have to fight.”

Vrrrr.

“You’re afraid of the snow aren’t you.”

“What? No. That’s not—I’m not afraid of it are you kidding me? Only sparklings are afraid of stupid things like that.”

“Ok, so you just don’t like the cold.”

“So what if I don’t?”

“Even if you can’t drive, it’s still a nice night for flying.”

Bumblebee’s optics widened, “Flying?”

“Yes. Calm winds, clear skies, no organics or bots in the streets, what more could you wait for?”

“You’re gonna take me flying?”, Bee’s voice rose in pitch and he looked up at his mechfriend with stars in his eyes.

Vrrrr.

“If you keep repeating the same thing I’ll crush you with this wall!”

Vrrrr.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen something go splat!”

Random laughed at his own morbid thought.

“Ok, first of all, don’t crush me. You’re like three times my size, you don’t need a wall. Second, as long as I don’t have to get my servos wet I’ll be there in a nanoklik.”

Bumblebee gave a quick peck before racing away to touch himself up a little for his small impromptu date.

———

4) Megatron/Soundwave (MegaWave)

Megatron was busy. Again.

Soundwave didn’t mind it much as he just worked on his reports, but deep in his spark he really hoped he would’ve made some time to be with him. There was no such luck unfortunately. Soundwave knew his leader was always busy which is what made their small times together all the more special and intimate. Nobody ever saw the side of the warlord that he did and he was quite proud of that. It made him feel special.

>Soundwave.

A private communication line blipped open from Megatron. What convenient timing.

>Yes, Lord Megatron?

>I need you to send a message to Shockwave about the latest export of energon. There will be a delay because of Autobot meddling, but it shouldn’t take more than a couple earth cycles to have everything in order.

>Message received. Will be sent as soon as possible.

>Good. By the way Soundwave, I’ve left something for you in your desk compartment. Consider it a token of my appreciation for all you’ve done staying loyal to the Decepticons.

>Understood. Thank you Lord Megatron.

With that, the line cut off and Soundwave was left alone again in the communication center. His optics glanced over at the large compartment in his desk and opened it. Inside he found a small stack of datapads and one single use datapad filled out.

—

‘To: Soundwave

Silent as a thief in the night

You crept into my spark and took flight

Your visor so full of mystery

Yet take away much of my misery

In war there is treachery

In war there is loyalty

No words could ever be strung to say how much you mean to me

Merry Christmas,

From Megatron

—

A/N: I’m done with this post. Whoop. 4 short stories in one post. This is all I could crank out in a few hours. I didn’t anticipate this day to be so busy for me😭😭. I’ve been hanging out with family and dropping off gifts for friends at their door step. You can kinda tel I gave up at the end and poems aren’t really my thing. I’ll finish the rest tomorrow, so just pretend that whatever I post tomorrow was done today. Tell me what you think and have a nice night. I’m gonna pass out now. Mwah.

AND YES WHEN I WRITE MEGS IN ANY FIC HE IS A MUSHY BASTARD WHEN HES NOT AN ASS HAT AND THATS ON SOFT BASTARDS😌✨✨