#plan programs for kids for fall

[faraway-there]

putting off sleep like a boss because i had a migraine earlier today and napped longer than i should have so i'm wide awake now but it's too hot and humid to do anything so i'm just procrastinating.

i still have to go to work today, so sleep would be kind of nice so i'm not dragging during my shift. not to mention i have a union meeting afterward that i take notes for that i'd also like to not be dragging through.

and this whole weekend... past week... past week and a half? has been kind of a drag on the family front that has us all bummed, and as such i put in an application to adopt a new kitten because, why not? i need a new distraction, and apparently books and rp isn't cutting it completely, so a new kitten it is. hopefully. they have to approve the application, but if they do she comes home next saturday.

am i pretending like my hoa doesn't have a rule about only two cats? of course i am. i own my condo, so i figure they're unlikely to just drop in and investigate. my oldest cat is turning 12 today, and he's really starting to slow down; because he's overweight, i know he's not going to live as long as my last cat did (i had to put her down at 19), so i know that to offset the giant hole in my other cat's heart i need to start pairing him now so the transition will be smooth. this is about the same age my first cat was when i got the now-12-year old cat.

but also, i've been wanting a kitten for like the past four years, and i feel like with the family drama going on i deserve this.

[wol-fica]

-In Charge-

summary - after watching how well you are with kids, Tara gets a funny feeling in her stomach…

warnings - smut, p in v, talk of pregnancy, riding, tara’s a freak

an - the people ask, and i deliver. hope this satisfies the masses!

—————————

“Which color do you want?” You questioned, peering down at the toddler in your lap, “Do you want the red?”

The small girl, named Emma, nodded shyly and made grabby hands for the crayon you picked up, giggling when you handed it to her. It was a required part of your Education class to spend time with kids and observe their behaviors so you could become more prepared for teaching in the future, so your professor invited some kids in the foster care program to come hang out with you and your classmates.

The on-campus coffee shop offered to host the event, reserving half of the tables for it. Currently, you were seated at a small circular table with a couple kids and another one of your classmates, doodling on a drawing pad and passing a few drawings around for the kids to color in. They were super engaging toddlers, with one boy even cracking a few dad jokes that made you chuckle from time to time, but Emma was the one who connected with you the quickest. She had clung to you as soon as she got there, and had been adding color to almost every single one of your drawings for the past hour.

“I’m kind thirsty Emma, wanna come with me to get a drink?” You asked, setting your pen down.

“Ya!” The girl replied, tossing her crayon onto the table.

You smiled, picking her up and setting her on your hip before heading towards the front counter. The cashier greeted you and happily waited to take your order, giving a little wave to the toddler on your side, but your attention had been captured by a certain brunette.

It was Tara, your girlfriend of almost two years, was eyeing you with a gentle smile from the back corner booth. She was wrapped up in one of your hoodies, the article seeming to swallow her tiny frame whole as your clothes were always oversized on her. Her brown eyes were tracking you precisely, and they immediately lit up when you met her gaze. She gave you a little wave, holding up a second drink from her own that you recognized as your favorite.

“Actually, I won’t need anything.” You said to the worker before heading over to Tara’s booth.

Emma babbled in your ear, playing with a little toy unicorn you had brought for her. You set her down on the booth seat, before sliding in next to her and facing Tara with a big smile.

“So are you stalking me now?” You asking, leaning into your palm.

“I have your location at all times, so yes.” She teased back, pushing the drink towards you, “And I knew you’d be thirsty.”

You smiled wider, taking the beverage and sipping it with a sigh, “It’s perfect Tar, thank you.”

“Perfect!” Emma squealed from your side, standing up and placing the unicorn on top of your head.

You chuckled, wrapping your arm around the toddler to make sure that she didn’t fall, “You having fun Em?”

Tara watched from across the table, her bottom lip slipping between her teeth from the sight before her. She always knew you had a soft spot for children, being that you were majoring in education and you were always taking up babysitting jobs, but she had never experienced your skill set firsthand. You pulled Emma into your lap and began to tickle her, the small girl laughing sweetly, and that’s when Tara knew she had to get you home immediately.

A certain feeling was bubbling in her stomach, and watching you be a mother figure made her want nothing more than for you to get her pregnant.

——Time Skip——

“Mmph.” You groaned softly, muffled by Tara’s lips against your own.

After your coffee shop play date with the kids, Tara had insisted on you coming back to her single dorm to spend time together, though you knew she had other plans when a familiar glint flickered across her brown iris’.

Hence why you were now here, your hands firmly placed on the fat of her ass while she rode you fiercely. Her hips ground into yours with vigor as she threw her head back, a guttural moan falling from her lips when she finally sat back fully onto your length.

“Fuck babe, stretching me out so good.” She moaned, placing her hands behind her and rolling her hips up.

You whined, your eyes rolling from the stimulation. Tara had been at this for awhile now, unrelenting and determined to make you cum over and over again until you couldn’t remember your own name.

Her words, not yours.

“Think you can be a good girl and give me another?” She asked breathlessly, biting her lip while rocking her hips a little faster, “I know the answer…but I want to hear it.”

You moaned in response, gasping when she clenched down hard and pushed herself down. Her torso bent over you, hands reaching to grab your face and force you to look at her.

“Use your words.” She stated, subtly grinding her hips against yours.

You gulped, fighting back another moan, “Y-yeah, I can.”

Tara smiled, pressing a sweet kiss to your nose before returning to sitting upright. She carefully raised herself up before slamming back down, the wet noises of her soaked cunt enveloping your cock filling the room. Your orgasm approached fast, the knot in your lower stomach tightening quite quickly with how Tara was manhandling you.

“That’s it.” She mumbled when you cried out her name, her hands running across your breasts with each roll of her hips, “Good girl, just let it out.”

You whimpered pathetically, eyes rolling back and toes curling when you finally came. Your seed pumped deep inside of her, and she soon followed you through when she felt the warm liquid coat her walls.

“Fuck.” You muttered, letting your arm fall over Tara’s waist when she snuggled into your chest.

“Always fill me up perfectly.” She whispered against your collarbone, leaving little kisses there, “So perfect.”

She locked her legs around your waist, trapping you inside of her, and rolled you both over until she was on her back and you were hovering over her. She looped her arms around your neck, giggling when you sucked in a breath at the movement.

“I just did sooooo much heavy lifting.” She whined playfully, pushing you closer to her by her heels, “And after seeing how good you handle kids, well…”

She bit her lip, playing with the hairs on the back of your neck, “How about you do some of the work now, hm?”

You stared at her a moment, weighing your options before pushing your hips forward gently. Carefully, you worked yourself back into her, eliciting small huffs and whines from the both of you. She was tight, very very tight, yet her walls caved and opened for your thickness, and before you knew it you were fully sheathed in her warmth again.

“Shit…Tara!” You moaned, your head falling to her shoulder from the feeling of her.

“Poor baby, all flustered.” She cooed, running her nails across your muscular back, “I know it feels good, but I’m expecting you to do what I told you to.”

You nodded weakly, drawing your hips back before thrusting them forward again, soon settling into a smooth rhythm. Your pants were muffled against her skin, your hands holding her ass tightly as you pumped into her. She would sigh in your ear from time to time, mumbling little praises and sweet things, but other than that she was silent. It was a test, to see if you could please her in the way she needed you to.

“I’m…close.” Tara murmured after a while, purring when you moaned back to her, “Bring me to it baby…that’s it…mMM!”

She came with a tight lipped squeal, her eyes fluttering shut as her orgasm washed through her. You gritted your teeth, giving a couple few thrusts before following her through, promptly collapsing on top of her when you finished.

Her hands wound into your hair, massaging your scalp gently whilst turning you both to the side. You were still inside her, dimly aware of that fact, but you knew Tara had a thing for falling asleep while being stuffed with your cock, so you didn’t mind in the slightest.

“You did such a good job beautiful.” She praised to you, pressing little kisses to your forehead, “Always so obedient.”

You grumbled an incoherent sentence, nipping her skin lightly before burying yourself into her neck. She giggled at you, hugging you close and pulling your hips even closer with her legs.

“I’ll be here when you wake up.” She said, noting your tired body, “Can’t promise that I won’t be sucking you off though.”

You chuckled, patting her butt as a way to say that you didn’t care, and soon fell asleep tucked against her.

Thank god Tara was on birth control.

————————

:D told ya i’d have it out today

[victoryai]

The ascendant in solar return chart

♈ Aries ascendant: When this shows up as your Sr ascendant, we are talking about you, you and you. The focus of the year is on you, new beginnings, new goals, a fresh start. They'll be a very significant change in your life and physical appearance. You might adopt new habits, start hitting the gym, dye your hair, cut your hair, change your name, or make a major achievement in your life. Your confidence will sporadically shoot. Aries is ruled by fiery mars. So be careful

♉ Taurus ascendant: Taurus represents, money, food,wealth, self worth etc. when Taurus shows up as your solar return ascendant this listed above will be highlighted. This is a year that is about to shake up your account balance 😂. Your going to earn and spend more. There's a high chance of adding weight. This is literally spoiler alert😂. You'll spoil yourself rotten and buy what ever you like. Your self esteem is gonna reach the stars. Not a year to be broke baby!

✨Where Taurus falls in your natal chart is also going to be highlighted.

♊ Gemini: Gemini represents short distance journeys, siblings, neighborhood, your country/continent, learning, education , writing. So literally any of these could come up for you. You might find your self really restless 😬. Yeah, the year I had this, I was sooooo restless and anxious 😰😂. I also moved from one city to another . You would literally be so busy. Might end up writing a book or start a blog or take an educational program. You might travel within you country or continent (exceptions if Gemini falls in your natal 9th house, then you can travel abroad)

If you had a strained relationship with your siblings, you can fix that. Something significant happens in the life of your siblings/cousins/neighbors. They might be something happening in your neighborhood too. Where Gemini falls in your natal chart is also going to be highlighted.

♋ Cancer: Cancer represents home, house , mother, emotions, family, home country, mother figures, Grandma etc.

So when Cancer shows up as your Sr asc, expect this 👆to be highlighted. You're very likely to make a renovation at home, buy a new house, invest in real estate, change homes. The focus of this year might also be on your Mom, just something about her . If afflicted, it might show fights with family or at home. If you're a woman, then you might have your first child or you might become for family oriented. It might also show you reuniting with family members. Where Cancer falls in your natal chart is also going to be highlighted.

♌ Leo: This year is going to be shiny year😂. Believe me when I saw you might have children this year or focus more on your kids. If not, you might be really having the time of your life. Going on dates, having numerous crushes and admirers, having funnnn. Let's not forget that this is also the house of education. You might enroll in a partime educational course . A short educational program. If your a gambler, expect luck to rain on you this year. Your going to be fortunate In betting and gambling. Lastly and most shiny, you have the chance to be in the spotlight. You're a star✨⭐. You'll find yourself seeking attention and fame and you'll get it. Go girl/boy. plus be careful not to get too prideful. Where Leo falls in your natal chart is also going to be highlighted.

♍ Virgo: Pls tryy your possible best to take care of yourself this year😬. There's a 50/50 chance of really falling sick. When I had this, that particular year was the worst of my life 😭. I normally don't fall sick but that year, it was something else.

Well apart from sickness, you'll find your self more picky and organized. You wouldn't tolerate nonsense tho 😂 . The year I had this , I literally fought with someone. If your planning on losing weight, then it'll be easier for you this year. You might also do something education related. Your schedules will be full and you'll find yourself being repetitive. You might also decide to take more care of yourself , go to spa, healthcare, clinics often and youibe very careful too 😊. I almost forgot, you'll be of service to someone that is sick , old or a baby . That year I took care of my 90 yr old Grandma. You'll pack others 💩😂 or maybe community service too.

Where Virgo falls in your natal chart is also going to be highlighted.

♎ Libra ascendant: Awwn 😊, your gonna make heads turn . Having your Sr asc in the sign of partnerships and love, you should know what to expect. People are going to find you attractive as hell 😉even if you didn't change much. Your very likely to find yourself in a romantic relationship or you're going to be surrounded by people. You might get married as well !. If you're already married then your focus for this year is going to be your spouse and your marriage. Without affliction, the love btw you and your person will grow stronger. People will come to you✨.Where Libra falls in your natal chart is also going to be highlighted.

♏Scorpio ascendant: This year is likely to be about transformation, death, inheritance, wealth of others,s3x, your spouse properties , surgery. Expect a transformative year because your due for a change . You can come across massive wealth this year(which is def not yours), someone might die, thereby leaving you with inheritance. You might decide to go for surgery(mostly surgery to change your looks). You might obsess over something which might be unhealthy for you. Take note. Where Scorpio falls in your natal chart is also going to be highlighted.

Your headed for a change baby!!.

♐ Sagittarius ascendant: 😋 my favorite. This year is about religion, travel 🧳 college/university, beliefs, teachers and adventure. You can't get bored this year!😋. You might be making a significant move regarding your studies, might start or finish college. You may travel overseas this year!!😋🤤. Get to experience different cultures and places. Let's not forget the spiritual side of this house. You're likely to improve in your beliefs this year or maybe even change them or convert to another religion . You will feel the presence of God. Your definitely in for luck this year. You might meet a mentor or a very great teacher. Even if you're an introvert you'll literally stand on a hill and scream 😂 lol. Where Sagittarius falls in your natal chart is also going to be highlighted.

♑ Capricorn ascendant: Your job is highlighted!!. If you're looking for a job, you'll get one this year. Your concern this year is your job and public image. You might even get promoted . You are Boss!. You'll learn to accept responsibilities this year. If the stars are even more aligned, expect fame. Youll shine and be in the spotlight. You should also try to be in good terms with your Dad and other authority figures. This is a year to establish your careeer goals. You might feel a little overwhelmed.Where Capricorn falls in your natal chart is also going to be highlighted.

♒ Aquarius ascendant: This year is about your hopes and wishes, community, friend group, socials, being unique and being online all the time 😂😂lol. This year you are one among the crowd. You fight for your justice and for what is right. You seem so different from the people around you. You are innovative this year. You're likely to have new friends this year or might even become popular online. Maybe you decide to boost your socials or you fulfill long term goals.Where Aquarius falls in your natal chart is also going to be highlighted.

♓ Pisces: 💦💨🌊🌬️. A year of deep introspection or isolation. This year you seek to shut the outside world so as to renew lost energy. You seek peace and quiet but don't let it throw you into depression mode. You're often more quiet this year and let your mind and soul wander in other realms. You third eye 👁️ may 👐 open. You no more seek material things of this world but seek that which last forever. Your likely to be more immersed in spiritual practices.

The bad side is that you might easily get depressed 😔, or get into drugs. There's also a chance of going to jail. I love y'all . pls be careful and don't get confused or deceived 🥺🥺Where Pisces falls in your natal chart is also going to be highlighted.

[batboyblog]

Things Biden and the Democrats did, this week #19

May 17-24 2024

President Biden wiped out the student loan debt of 160,000 more Americans. This debt cancellation of 7.7 billion dollars brings the total student loan debt relieved by the Biden Administration to $167 billion. The Administration has canceled student loan debt for 4.75 million Americans so far. The 160,000 borrowers forgiven this week owned an average of $35,000 each and are now debt free. The Administration announced plans last month to bring debt forgiveness to 30 million Americans with student loans coming this fall.

The Department of Justice announced it is suing Ticketmaster for being a monopoly. DoJ is suing Ticketmaster and its parent company Live Nation for monopolistic practices. Ticketmaster controls 70% of the live show ticket market leading to skyrocketing prices, hidden fees and last minute cancellation. The Justice Department is seeking to break up Live Nation and help bring competition back into the market. This is one of a number of monopoly law suits brought by the Biden administration against Apple in March and Amazon in September 2023.

The EPA announced $225 million in new funding to improve drinking and wastewater for tribal communities. The money will go to tribes in the mainland US as well as Alaska Native Villages. It'll help with testing for forever chemicals, and replacing of lead pipes as well as sustainability projects.

The EPA announced $300 million in grants to clean up former industrial sites. Known as "Brownfield" sites these former industrial sites are to be cleaned and redeveloped into community assets. The money will fund 200 projects across 178 communities. One such project will transform a former oil station in Philadelphia’s Kingsessing neighborhood, currently polluted with lead and other toxins into a waterfront bike trail.

The Department of Agriculture announced a historic expansion of its program to feed low income kids over the summer holidays. Since the 1960s the SUN Meals have served in person meals at schools and community centers during the summer holidays to low income children. This Year the Biden administration is rolling out SUN Bucks, a $120 per child grocery benefit. This benefit has been rejected by many Republican governors but in the states that will take part 21 million kids will benefit. Last year the Biden administration introduced SUN Meals To-Go, offering pick-up and delivery options expanding SUN's reach into rural communities. These expansions are part of the Biden administration's plan to end hunger and reduce diet-related disease by 2030.

Vice-President Harris builds on her work in Africa to announce a plan to give 80% of Africa internet access by 2030, up from just 40% today. This push builds off efforts Harris has spearheaded since her trip to Africa in 2023, including $7 billion in climate adaptation, resilience, and mitigation, and $1 billion to empower women. The public-private partnership between the African Development Bank Group and Mastercard plans to bring internet access to 3 million farmers in Kenya, Tanzania, and Nigeria, before expanding to Uganda, Ethiopia, and Ghana, and then the rest of the continent, bring internet to 100 million people and businesses over the next 10 years. This is together with the work of Partnership for Digital Access in Africa which is hoping to bring internet access to 80% of Africans by 2030, up from 40% now, and just 30% of women on the continent. The Vice-President also announced $1 billion for the Women in the Digital Economy Fund to assure women in Africa have meaningful access to the internet and its economic opportunities.

The Senate approved Seth Aframe to be a Judge on the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, it also approved Krissa Lanham, and Angela Martinez to district Judgeships in Arizona, as well as Dena Coggins to a district court seat in California. Bring the total number of judges appointed by President Biden to 201. Biden's Judges have been historically diverse. 64% of them are women and 62% of them are people of color. President Biden has appointed more black women to federal judgeships, more Hispanic judges and more Asian American judges and more LGBT judges than any other President, including Obama's full 8 years in office. President Biden has also focused on backgrounds appointing a record breaking number of former public defenders to judgeships, as well as labor and civil rights lawyers.

[beforetimes]

planning a modern/fame timebomb au in my head where jinx is a celebrity recovering from addiction after a public meltdown who's lost contact with most of the people she knew when pre-breakdown/pre-fame. and in completing her recovery program she reaches out to ekko to offer a direct apology for anything she might have said/might have happened in the depths of her addiction, but doesn't hear back from him.

following this she decides to go out and sign up for a program to help at-risk kids like herself—after reflecting in therapy and realizing that a lot of the issues that lead to her being in such a volatile state of mind was because of the lack of support she had in childhood when dealing with losing her family [haven't planned what would work as a stand-in for the powder factory explosion so lets skirt past that for now] she decides that she wants to be that support for other people that she didn't have herself, after spending about a year trying to get better.

basically, she signs up as a volunteer to this big brother/sister-esque outreach program after a few months of anonymously donating to see if she can help someone in person rather than continuing to isolate herself. which is where she meets isha, who immediately imprints on jinx and insists on following her around. and jinx, who is unused to being at the centre of someone's attention without larger expectations that come with her status as a celebrity attached as caveat, starts relaxing by the very nature of her interactions with isha not being as loaded as others. like, this is just a kid! she doesn't know about jinx's issues or how she freaked out and lost it on stage/on a set/made headlines before disappearing from the public eye and ending up here. all isha sees is someone with cool blue hair and nails she wants to try her hand at painting.

after a few months of building a rapport with isha through this community mentor program, jinx accidentally bumps into the last person she really expected to see here—ekko.

ekko is also very surprised to see her here, because the last time he saw her, she was freaking out on him because he wouldn't enable her self-destructive behaviour, their final and most explosive fight resulting in their subsequent falling out where jinx threw a lot of shit back in his face and he did the same and they decided not to contact each other. well, besides jinx's attempt at an apology, but he didn't reply to that.

he sees her here and they both freeze because, like? what do you even do in this situation? they haven't seen each other in a few years at this point, maybe two or three at the most. enough time that it feels so entirely awkward to even try to act like nothing happened while also knowing that it would be equally nerve-grating to try and acknowledge the history between them.

of course, this stand-off is interrupted by isha, who sees jinx frozen in the hall and immediately stomps over to drag her away because they had been working on a painting together that she's been waiting to finish all week.

and jinx eventually relaxes because ekko doesn't say anything and neither does she, even though she wants to know what he's doing here in the first place. but the day ends without any further interactions between the two.

eventually, after asking around, jinx learns that ekko was the one who set the program up a few years prior, a tentative friend in the program telling her that the community didn't really have a lot of resources on hand and that a lot of the program was personally financed by ekko and he did a lot of work to try and uplift the people and community without demanding financial support in return, like most state-funded programs tend to do.

jinx is just, like, in awe of the fact that this childhood friend grew up to do something so great before being overwhelmed with guilt over the fact that she had been so wrapped up in her own world that she hadn't even noticed.

of course, this doesn't really change things because they're still not talking to each other, but weeks pass and jinx feels like they've gotten into a steady pattern of avoiding each other.

what she doesn't know is that ekko has been subtly watching in on her and isha's little hang-out sessions and is just in awe that this girl who had only a few years ago been so unsure of herself and in so much pain had managed to heal to the point of being able to help someone else and make a good positive impact on isha's life in a program he created.

so, after a while, jinx gets a reply on that email she had sent him nearly a year ago where ekko just asks if she wants to meet for lunch. which she replies to, after a lot of back-and-forth, by saying yes absolutely.

and then the romance unfolds further from there, yadda yadda yadda. haven't decided how this will ultimately end or where vi will play a part or anyone else but i thought that the bare bones concept i had in mind was worth posting here.

in my head maybe ekko's second, scar would be a friend who had seen the majority of the fallout and would be warning him away in the background while ekko was sort of caught up in being both happy that jinx seemed to be doing better while also conflicted on whether or not he wanted to forgive her because their last fight was like, super nasty. awful stuff said

maybe if anyone has ideas for how vi / cait / anyone else could be worked in, you can leave that below?? none of this is super set in stone! just rambling. ^_^

[tinfoil-jones]

Tate Pines AU 

(aka Tater McGucket is an oops baby Fiddlestan kid)

Note: LONG POST. This is me hyper fixating on a brain worm because the Gravity Falls Fandom roared back to life. This is probably misspelled in a lot of areas, and not the clearest or most concise post because this is me rambling at 2 in the morning. Also the characters are maybe OOC. Also, this is written without accents because I'm not from the Midwest or southern United States.

In this AU/Scenario, Stan is a transgender man, and 'encountered' Fiddleford during his vagabond years. It was a heavily drunk/high one-night-stand, so they never properly met or even knew each others names. This happens after Ford graduating Backupsmore University, and for this scenario to work let’s say that Fiddleford went to BMU for his undergraduate program, but then went to the local university in Palo Alto for his graduate studies.

Years later, just like in the OG show Fiddleford is Stanford's research partner in Gravity Falls, and married to Emma-May Dixon; but they don't have any children together at this time, and they got together *after* his encounter with Stan. So this isn't an affair baby scenario.

Tatum "Tate" Pines is 5 years old, living on the road with his dad, currently staying in a motel but they're about to move into a real apartment for the first time ever because Tate needs to start school soon. Stan is still a drifter and a con man, but he recently came upon a large sum of money because Tate accurately guessed the lottery number for the state they were currently in.

Stan still receives a postcard from Gravity Falls that says "Please Come", and is allegedly sent from his estranged Twin who he hasn't seen in almost 12 years. But this is roughly a few months before it would have happened in-canon.

Given Stan's disownment, no one knows that he even has a son, not even Ma Pines. Not like he'd want them to know. Having his own son and loving him unconditionally made him realize that his own dad Filbrick was a monster, who he didn't need to prove himself to. But he still wants to reconcile with Ford, so he decides to go just like in canon.

This post card, however, wasn't sent by Ford. It was sent by Fiddleford, who was watching Ford spiral in real time and hoped that if anyone could convince Ford that he was acting crazy and unstable, it was his twin brother.

While Stanford doesn't greet Stanley with a crossbow like in the original because this is before the portal test with Fiddleford, he's definitely shocked to not just see Stanley there, but Stanley with a tiny gap-toothed child in tow.

Stan doesn't know that Ford wasn't expecting them, and excitedly introduces Ford to his nephew.

Ford: Stanley, are you sure this child is yours? Stan: ...Ford, did you forget we're not identical twins?  Ford: ...Oh! Oh my, Stanley... Stan: *thinking* 'I don't know if I'm touched that you don't see me as anything other than a man... or insulted that you forgot something so fundamental about me'

Flabbergasted, Ford lets them both in; Fiddleford is welding something downstairs so he doesn't see or hear any of this. Ford plants Tate on the couch in front of the TV and practically drags Stan to the kitchen to talk to him privately; he's too surprised by Stan having a child to question why they were there in the first place.

Ford: Is there a... another parent..? Stan: ...It's just me and Tate. Always has been. Ford: How did...? Stan: I didn't plan a pregnancy... but I had no money for T-shots for months on end, and without the T, everything down stairs went to factory default.  Ford: Do you know who it is? The father- I mean, the other father? Stan: Not exactly, some southern guy, don't think I ever got his name. Ford: What happened? Stan: Funny you should ask. (FLASHBACK) Fiddleford, high out of his mind: -and that's how I won a golden fiddle. Stan, drunk out of his mind: That's crazy, dude. *grabs him aggressively by the shirt collar to pull him close* Now shut up and fuck me until I can't walk. Fiddleford, horny out of his mind: Hoo-whee, well don't you diddly-darn mind if'n I do. (END) Ford: Stanley? Stan: Hmm? Ford: Are you okay? You just said 'its funny that you ask', and then stared off into space for 10 seconds. Stan: Let's just say I never touched tequila ever again.

Eventually, Fiddleford does come upstairs when he notices Ford didn't come back downstairs, and see's the brothers in the kitchen just as Ford asks Stan why he even came here.

Fiddleford admits it was him who sent the postcard, that someone needed to 'talk some sense' into Ford, and then introduces himself to Stan.

While Stan isn't perplexed by Fiddleford because he was too drunk to remember a face- Fiddleford, who has very good memory, immediately knows he met Stan somewhere, he just can't quite place where, when, or why.

Ford does show Stan the portal, saying it's his life's work and he'll need to test it soon, and casually asks Stan if he wants to stay and help. Before Fiddleford can protest that's a bad idea and Ford should just stop, Stan agrees because he wants to reconnect (and also keep a roof over Tate's head, what were the chances they'd win another lottery?), it did hurt his feelings that Stanford hadn't reached out out to him after all, but maybe they could work on that.

While Ford hasn't exactly forgiven Stanley for the science fair incident, he can't just let his brother, a single father be homeless with a five-year-old (Stan had to drop the lease with their intended apartment to come to Gravity Falls). And... well, Ford gets attached to Tate quite early:

Tate: ... *staring at him* Ford: Can I help you with something, Tatum? Tate: Uncle, is your name "Stanford"?  Ford: Yes, but if you prefer you can call me Uncle Ford. Tate: Oh. Okay. It's funny, Stanford is my middle name. *later* Stan: Kiddo, why has your uncle been sobbing in his room for the past thirty minutes? Tate: *shrugs*

Not realizing the gravity (hehe) of the situation, Stan gets settled in the house and helps Ford and Fiddleford where he can (usually just moving heavy objects or punching paranormal creatures, or forcing Ford to shower). He does notice that Ford seems a bit... unhinged, and weirdly obsessed with some new geometry based religion, but people change after college right?

He does get unnerved by Fords weird episodes where his personality seems to shift and he goes into town to act like an absolute menace. Stan can't help but think that isn't Ford; its been years since he saw him but damnit he knew his brother and whatever entity possessed him just to slap a cops belly, *that* was not Ford. But Ford always brushed him off when he tried to bring it up, and one time 'Ford' even coldly reminded Stan that he could remove Stanley and his son from the home at any time if he wasn't going to be useful.

During this time, Stan and Fiddleford get to know each other, they get along quite well actually; Fiddleford is fond of little Tatum, who along with Stan enjoys listening to him play the banjo. One could say, given Fords obsession with his current passion project and prioritizing work over his relationships, that Stan and Fiddleford become close. 

Fiddleford picks up, however... that little Tate is a genius. Although he's a quiet kid, he has an advanced vocabulary for his age. He's able to read and write at what must be a 2nd or 3rd grade level despite not even starting kindergarten yet, and... one time Fiddleford left an 8x8 cubiks cube unattended, and came back no more than five minutes later to see that Tate had already solved it. And Stan had told him that Tate has actively predicted lottery numbers before.

He brings it up with Stan, who admits that he already knows Tate is a genius, but he also knows what academic pressure and high expectations can do to someone (referring to Ford), and he just wants Tate to live life by his own terms, not let other people dictate that for him based on his IQ.

Fiddleford... also see's resemblances between himself and Tate. Sure, Tate has browner hair like Stan, but the wavier texture is just like his own. And while Stanley does have a prominent nose, it's not as prominent as Tates, which is much more similar to Fiddlefords. 

Fiddleford begins to ask Stan about his past, specifically bringing up that he believes they may have met before.

Fiddleford: Say, Stan, did we meet before you moved here? You're so familiar to me. Stan: I wonder where you could have possibly seen my face before? *glances at the lab* Fiddleford: No. I feel like we've met before - you ever been to Palo Alto? Stan: That city in Cali? Yeah. I'd say about six years ago. I was just passing by, resupplying, and selling weed to college students. Fiddleford: You were a weed dealer? Stan: Among other things, yeah. California's *the* place to go to for weed. I don't do it anymore. Fiddleford: Did you... ever visit the university there? Stan: A couple times. Hated going there because it reminded me of... well, I think you know. Why? Fiddleford: I did my graduate studies there, maybe I met you there? Stan: You think so? I only saw buyers, did you buy weed from me? Fiddleford: No... I had a dealer, but it wasn't you. Stan: Other than that, I did get invited to a frat party once. Think they were called "SigEp" or something. Fiddleford: That's 'Sigma Phi Epsilon'. That was the fraternity I belonged to. Did I see you at that party? Stan: Probably - oh man that party was crazy. I made so many bad decisions that night. Fiddleford: Stanley... how old did you say your son was? Stan: Five, why? Fiddleford: ... Fiddleford: Stanley... *reaches out* Stan: *jerks back, before pointing away* Hey look over there, a distraction! Fiddleford: What- *looks away* Stan: *jumps out the window and makes a run for it*

Stan does not entertain any further discussions with Fiddleford about his past, and goes out of his way to keep Tate with him and away from Fiddleford. Given his criminal past, he's afraid that if Fiddleford is correct, he could make legal actions to take Tate away from him.

Fiddleford eventually goes to Ford about his suspicions.

Fiddleford: Stanford I'm going to tell you something, and I need you to promise you'll stay calm. Stanford: *doesn't look up from microscope* Are you going to tell me you suspect you're Tatum's father because you slept with my brother around the time he would have been concieved? Fiddleford: ... Stanford: Because you are. Fiddleford: What in tar- Stanford: *tosses a file folder towards Fiddleford* I have all of our DNA on file - Fiddleford: You do???? Stanford: Of course I do! I store the DNA profile of everyone who's entered my residence, just in case there's a shifter afoot. Comparing yours and Stanley's DNA to Tatum's, there is only a 0.001% chance that he isn't your biological child. Fiddleford: ... *speechless* Stanford: Congratulations, according to science you're a father.

Fiddleford does eventually manage to talk to Stan about it, and clear the air between them. Stan is apprehensive because Fiddleford is married, but he's at least relieved that Tate happened before Fiddleford was in a relationship with Emma-May. Stan allows Fiddleford to spend more time with Tate (supervised), but they agree Tate doesn't need to know just yet what Fiddleford is to him.

Fiddleford also holds back on telling his wife about Tate, he'd prefer to tell her face-to-face.

But then the portal test happens and Fiddleford gets a glimpse of the horrors beyond the portal, which traumatizes him just like in the original. This doesn't convince him to leave, because Ford is becoming dangerous and Fiddleford is worried about what would happen if Stan and Tate were left alone with him. He invents the memory gun, but holds up on using it on himself.

The relationship Ford has with both Stan and Fiddleford  becomes more explosive. Stan and Fiddleford are both telling Ford that he's messing with forces beyond his control.

To get Fiddleford off of his back about the portals, Ford instead lashes out at him about something else.

Stanford: Fiddleford... you know you're my best friend right? Fiddleford: ...Of course. Stanford: Stanley and I don't have a good relationship... we haven't in a long time. *puts a hand on his shoulder* But don't you dare hurt my brother, or nephew. I don't care how strained things are between Stanley and myself, or how close you and I are... He's my brother, and I'll always protect him, even if it's from you. Fiddleford: Do you think I would try to steal Tatum, Stanford?! *Pushes him away* Also, if you're going to threaten me, you could at least not be such a hypocrite. Stanford: How dare- Fiddleford: You say you care about Stanley? That you'd protect him? He's been homeless for over a decade! You SAW him get kicked out of home when he was still a minor! He escaped three different prisons, had extremely shady black-market top-surgery, chewed his way out of the trunk of a car, and gave birth by himself in an alleyway! He had walking pneumonia for nearly a year straight and almost died from it because he had to choose between himself and Tate over who needed treatment more!  But you didn't know any of that, did you? Because you don't talk to him or try to reach out. You still avoid him. You still treat him like he's your enemy. You're still resentful about that damn science project.  You don't know him or what he went through. You didn't even want him here, I called him up here so maybe somebody could set you straight!  Working with this portal, messing with these forces beyond comprehension and control- the only threat to Stan and our son is you! Ford: Get the hell out of my lab- and stay the hell away from my twin.

But this 'Mystery Trio'-esque era of their lives has a Bad End:

After Ford gets sucked into the portal the same way as he did in the original, Stanley decides to take over his identity; Fiddleford helps him with everything up until Stan fakes his own death.

As Tate's biological (other) father, and Stan having recently altered Tate's birth certificate to add Fiddleford, the boy is given to Fiddleford right away following Stan's 'death' and not put into foster care or an orphanage. This window of time is also when Fiddleford establishes the Society of The Blind Eye, but he chooses a leader after he founds it rather than leading it himself.

When Stan makes it clear he's going to dedicate himself to fixing the portal and bringing Ford back, Fiddleford makes a drastic decision. 

Knowing what the portal obsession did to Stanford, Fiddleford doesn't want Tate to be around if- no, when, the same thing happens to Stan. 

He uses the memory gun on Stan to make him forget about their son entirely. He does the same thing to Tate to make him forget about Stanley, legally changes his name to Tater McGucket, and takes him back to California with him.

He makes this decision because in this scenario he never used the memory gun on himself, so the memory of what's on the other side of the portal still haunts him, making him more desperate and callous, especially with a child involved.

It breaks his heart that he did this, but he doesn't want Tate to be dragged into Pines drama. He takes the boy home and tells his wife that he was conceived before they were together (looking at Tate's age, he was born at least a year before they started dating), and uses the news clipping about Stan's death to explain how he got custody without any trouble, and Emma-May adopts Tate. Tates memory gaps are excused by his young age, and the trauma of losing a parent at such a young age, so Fiddleford and Emma-May decide not to tell him about Stanley.

Stan forgets about both Tate and Fiddleford, but he has this deep sense of loss and betrayal that he can't place. He figures over the years that maybe it's just some of his feelings about Ford having gone through the portal...

Decades later, and after a divorce, Fiddleford moves back to Gravity Falls, bringing Tate with him so Tate can start his Bait and Tackle Shop somewhere quiet. Fiddleford is there to check up on the Society of the Blind Eye, and also to check on Stanley because he feels guilty about what he did. Although he knows that this is Stanley pretending to be Stanford, he says nothing to anybody about it, it's the least he could do.

When Stan see's Fiddleford again - he doesn't know why, because he's 'never met the guy', but just looking at his face pisses him off. And every time Stan see's Fiddleford from then on, whether its across the street or at the shops or what have you, he is openly hostile towards him even if he can't adequately explain why he feels this way about Fiddleford. Also strangely attracted to him, particularly his banjo playing, but its overshadowed by his hostility.

Stan meets Tate shortly after the Tate and Backles Bait and Tackle shop is opened... and he doesn't know why, but this young man he's never met makes him feel sad. But also... Relieved? Elated? Proud?? He comes by often, sometimes not even buying (or stealing) anything, he just chats with Tate (and Backle to a lesser degree).

Tate himself feels strangely fond of this frequent flier customer. Like he's met a dear old friend. He is awfully confused why Stan will sometimes call him 'Tatum', seemingly without noticing, and why he never feels like correcting him. 

Fiddleford knows why, because he never erased his own memory, and he feels so guilty. But it's been 30 years, he can't say anything without ruining his relationship with Tate (which became strained after the divorce, which in this timeline happened maybe around Tate's late teen/early adult years). 

One way that this whole thing can be revealed is when Dipper and Mabel deal with The Blind Eye society, they find two memory tubes, one labelled "Tatum S. Pines" and another labeled "Stan Pines" take it with them because it has their last name, and Grunkle Stans name, on them.

They play the one labeled Stan Pines at first, and realize it's Tates early childhood memories of Stan.

When they play the one labeled "Tatum S. Pines" they see it's all of Grunkle Stans memories of Tate, leading up to his confrontation with Fiddleford.

(MEMORY) Stan, backing up: Wait, what is that thing? Fiddleford, what are you doing with that?! Fiddleford, pointing the memory gun at him: I'm sorry Stan, I truly am. But I can't let you drag our son into this... I do care for you, and I wish things could have been different. But you're just like him!  **BLAST** (END OF MEMORY)

This horrifies them, and they have a real moral conundrum of if they tell Stan and Tate, or if they keep it to themselves to keep the peace. 

They deserve to know... but it'd be so painful. And this would take place before "The Tale of Two Stans" so they don't even know what Fiddleford was talking about to justify stealing Tate, or who 'him' is.

Eventually, it's Wendy and Soos who confront McGucket and tell him that he better be honest with Stan and Tate, or they're going to do it for him. That he's a selfish coward who ripped someone's young child from their arms.

Or, an alternative scenario; Fiddleford never stored those memories in the first place, or at least didn't store them with the Society of the Blind Eye, and it's Ford who brings this all up to Stan. Ford was already through the portal when Fiddleford decided that parental abduction was totally okay if there was amnesia involved.

Ford: Are these Tatum's children? *motioning to Dipper and Mabel*. Stan: They're Shermie's grandkids, and - who? Ford: ...Tatum? Tatum Stanford Pines? Your son. Stan: ...I don't- I don't have a son. *tears gathers in the corner of his eyes, but he either doesn't notice, or chooses to not react* And if I did, I wouldn't give him your name as a middle. Ford: Yes you do, and yes you did. You introduced us right before the portal incident. I even DNA-sequenced him to confirm that his other father was Fiddleford. Stan: WHAT? And- who?? Ford: Here, look *pulls up his DNA files from ones of his secret safes in the lab and shows it to Stanley, which not only has the DNA results but also pictures of Stanley, Fiddleford, and Tate from the time* Honestly Stanley, how could you forget a child you car-.

Ford realizes something is wrong when it's clear that Stanley is distressed, but also confused, like having a son is legitimately a surprise to him. He's so shocked he has to lie down for a bit. His eyes keep leaking tears but he doesn't know why 'Fords cruel and oddly elaborate joke' is making him so upset, because 'clearly it's not true'.

When Ford hears Fiddleford lives in Gravity Falls, he seeks him out and demands answers.

At first, Fiddleford tries to play it off like maybe Ford was remembering things wrong - but with enough pressure, and a ray gun pointed at his chest, Fiddleford finally comes clean. About what he did. Why he did it.

Ford is still angry at Stan for getting him trapped in the Nightmare Realm Multiverse for 30 years; and then stealing his name, identity, and house, but that's still his twin brother. And what Fiddleford did was to him was horrendous, especially after Stanford had already warned him years ago to not to hurt Stan or Tate. This was a crime against the whole Pines family. 

So Ford beats him up. No, he doesn't kill or maim him, but he beats the living dog shit out of him until Fiddleford promises the glass tubes of Stan and Tate's memories in exchange for mercy.

Mabel, Dipper (and Soos/Wendy) are clearly confused (because they wouldn't have seen the memories in the "The Hall of the Forgotten"). Although, this whole revelation does bring Dipper closer to Stan, because Dipper had no idea he wasn't the only transgender person in the family.

Ford shows these memories to Stan first, who is going through all kinds of emotions especially after getting Ford back and their bitter reunion. This allows Ford and Stan to somewhat reconcile early; just like how Ford lost 30 years of his life to the portal, Stanley lost 30 years with his own son because of his conviction to fix it.

Ford also has to physically stop Stan from hunting down and murdering Fiddleford (who Stan only knew as McGucket up to this point) with his bare hands. Reminding him that it's more important that he reaches out to Tate.

But Stan is conflicted. He wants to be Tate's dad again but... Tate is in his mid-thirties, he doesn't need him like he did when he was 5. And Tate already has two loving parents, both of which don't have an extensive criminal record, and who provided him with a stable home, which Stan never did because they were homeless the whole time.

Does he really want to uproot Tate's life and/or peace of mind with a revelation this big?  

This goes all the way to Weirdmageddon, where everyone gathers in the Mystery Shack for security; faced with a possible end of the world, Stan takes Tate to the side, dragging Fiddleford with them, and tells him the truth. Fiddleford confirms it all, ashamed and apologetic. Finally, they give Tate his memory tube, which he watches.

For a moment Stan and Fiddleford have a moment of solidarity; Stan can see that Fiddleford really did want to spare Tate from whatever unknown-at-the-time fate had befallen Stanford because of the portal.

Fiddleford finally faces his past mistakes, and apologizes for what he did. That what he did was wrong, and he can never make it up to them, but if they survive this maybe he could try to make things right.

This is their last family moment between the three of them pre memory-wipe.

The mind wipe thing still happens. Gravity Falls is saved. Mabel and Dipper manage to jog Stan's memory but there's no way to make him remember Tate - the glass memory tubes have already been used, and Stan didn't keep any photos from his homeless era because he couldn't afford it most of the time, and when he could he always managed to get kicked out of whatever state they were in before the photos were done developing.

Once again, Ford comes in clutch. Throughout his last journal, just like how he made entries about Fiddleford, he also made entries about Stan and Tate, including detailed sketches. How Tate liked to get into high places, exasperating Stanley who was afraid of heights. How Stan would take him to the woods to follow the creeks because Tate was intrigued by waterways. How Tate said so few words but Stan always seemed to know exactly what he wanted or needed at any given time. How Tate only liked eating the green M&M's but Stan was fine with it because he got to eat the rest. 

Now while Stan's heartwarming memories of his son come back, so does his desire to break Fiddlefords neck. 

Fiddleford still buys the Northwest Mansion and converts it to "McGucket's Hootenanny Hut", but because the Pines families are the heroes of Gravity Falls, they (Ford) manage to convince the local government to put Fiddleford on house arrest for an indeterminate amount of time as punishment for 30-something years of parental abduction and alienation (also the whole starting a Cult thing). Fiddleford accepts this, and Tate still lives with him.

Post memory-wipe Stan still reconciles with both of them, and his relationship with Fiddleford is... weird, but not entirely bad. It's like they're dating, but with a lot of emotional distance. Like, Stan still tells Ford he wants to murder him... but also tells him to never, ever, check their texting history. 

Stan still goes to sail the world with Ford on the Stan O'War II. They do invite Tate, who declines because "He'd rather just live the simple life in Gravity Falls, and not get involved in whatever supernatural gobbledygook his dad and uncle are sure to get into".

And Stan is so proud of him... because just like he said thirty years, there's nothing he wanted more for Tate than to live his life by his own terms. He video chat's with him as often as he does with Dipper and Mabel. 

Tate ends up keeping McGucket as his last name, but he changes his first and middle back to what it was originally.

And that's the end of this tale, thanks for sticking with me. Here's a passage where Ford teases Stan while they're on their sea adventure;

Ford: It was so sweet of you to give your son my name. Stan: Poindexter, I swear to Moses. Ford: Even after a decade apart. Admit it, you missed me so much. Stan: *rolls his eyes* Of course I did. Stan: Stan: But the real reason that's his middle name is because he was conceived at Stanford University. Ford: I- Ford: I really didn't want to know or think about that.

The End... Go home.

[mrsbuckybarnes1917]

8: PAINTBALL, PUNS AND PLANS

Previous chapter < MASTERLIST > Next chapter

Summary: A bachelorette party turns into a chaotic day of paintball, bruises, and a little too much fun. By the time dinner rolls around, exhaustion and cocktails lead to meddling friends taking matters into their own hands— by texting your "mystery boyfriend" without your knowledge. When Bucky actually shows up, the girls are left wondering: is he really your secret boyfriend, or have they just summoned The Winter Soldier to a bridal party?

Warnings: Mild swearing, alcohol use, meddling friends, and one very skeptical bridesmaid, fluff, humor, and a slightly tipsy reader.

Word Count: 3500

“I TEXTED YOU. YOU DIDN’T REPLY.”

“DID YOU PRESS SEND?”

You’d been up since the ass crack of dawn. When it came to your friends, you couldn’t say no. Everything had to be perfect for them. Although, setting up flags on a paintball battlefield wasn’t how you’d imagined spending the morning of Hanna and Aditi’s bachelorette party, but it was what they wanted— a day of adrenaline, followed by a night of indulgence— so you had obliged.

By the time you’d finished hanging up the flags, checking the boundaries of the field and making sure the bridesmaids had their protective gear, you were already feeling a little worse for wear. It hadn’t helped that you’d not gone to bed until 2am, checking and rechecking all the details of the plan. Luckily Hanna and Aditi’s excitement was infectious and you found yourself getting a second wind as you donned your jumpsuit and grabbed a paintball rifle.

The next few hours were sheer chaos. Camille, Aditi’s coworker, had taken the game far too seriously, barking out orders to incomprehensible strategies like she was leading a tactical unit. She was the chief resident on Aditi’s residency program. When you had first met her you had got the impression that she didn’t like you. Now you were convinced, since she targeted you almost exclusively. Her shots were relentless and you swore she was out for blood.

“Damn, Camille,” you called out, ducking behind a bunker after another near miss. “You know this isn’t actually a life or death scenario, right?”

Her response was a cheeky grin and another well-aimed shot that exploded right next to your head, splatting yellow paint across the side of your face and in your hair. You groaned and Hanna dived behind the bunker beside you to save herself from Aditi’s fire. Luckily, her poor aim compensated for Camille’s sharpshooter skills.

“You okay?” Hanna asked.

“Peachy,” you sniped, glad to have the spritely woman on your side.

Hanna jumped up and started firing in the direction of her bride and teammates, allowing the two of you to make a getaway.

“Hey!” Aditi yelled. “You’re supposed to be my bride! Isn’t there supposed to be some loyalty?”

“Not in this wedding!” Hanna hollered, peeking out just long enough to fire at Camille— and miss. Her paintball went wide, hitting Aditi right in the chest.

Aditi gasped dramatically, clutching her heart and falling to the floor like she’d been mortally wounded. “You’re supposed to be on my team! Divorce!” she shrieked, doubling over in mock betrayal.

“At least wait til we’re actually married!” Hanna quipped, laughing so hard she had to lean against the tree for support.

Your laughter joined theirs until another paintball hit your hip— courtesy of Camille, who clearly had no sense of humor. “Retribution!” she yelled joyfully, waving all the flags she had aggressively claimed for their team.

“Alright, that’s it,” you muttered under your breath, plotting your revenge. A few moments later, you managed to circle around behind her and fired three perfectly aimed shots, covering her back in pink splatters. Unfortunately Hanna and Aditi got caught in the crossfire.

Camille whipped around, stunned. “Are you kidding me?”

“Oops,” you said sweetly.

The rest of the bridesmaids gathered around chuckling, all quite pleased to see Camille get a taste of her own medicine. Hanna and Aditi were in stitches when they saw Camille’s scowl.

 “You’ve really got it out for us today, don’t you?” Hanna teased later, still wiping tears of laughter from her eyes.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to hit you two,” you retorted before dropping your voices so only the brides could hear. “Camille, though? Totally on purpose.”

By the time dinner rolled around, you were sore and dead on your feet. Your arms were covered in round bruises and your hair still had the remnants of dried paint in it. But there was no denying it, you’d had fun. The restaurant and lounge was walking distance from the paintball field and the party had stripped out of the coveralls trudged over in cocktail dresses. The restaurant lounge was cozy and as evening fell, it was dimly lit, providing a sense of comfort and warmth.

The food being served was exquisite, the multiple courses providing variety and flavor. And the cocktails were good— dangerously so— and by the third round, your exhaustion had finally caught up with you. But not quite enough to loosen your lips.

“Alright missy, spill,” Hanna demanded, leaning towards you. “When are we going to meet this mystery man of yours?”

“Yeah,” Aditi chimed in, her glass of sangria swaying slightly in her hand. “You’ve been suspiciously vague about him.”

You gave them a small smile and feigned extreme interest in your own drink to avoid their inquisitive gazes. “You’ll meet him at the wedding,” you said airily. “He’s… busy.”

“Too busy for you?” Hanna asked, raising an eyebrow.

Camille leaned back in her chair, a teasing smile playing on her lips. “You know, when I met Gabriel, I used to think he was too busy for me. I mean surgical residency is no joke, right? But he’d show up at the randomest times— once, he even surprised me at 2am in the middle of my double shift with coffee and croissants.”

Hanna’s work friend, Swan, chimed in. “Same with me and Jung. He worked such crazy hours at the firm when we first started dating, but we always made an effort to never let over a week go by without seeing each other.” She shot you a pointed look. “You just know when someone’s serious.”

“Or fake,” Camille muttered under her breath, not quite quiet enough for you to miss it.

You scowled, rubbing your nose angrily. “He’s not fake.” Their stories had started making you uncomfortable until your guilt was overcome by outrage.

But Camille wasn’t about to let up. “I’ve heard a lot of stories about these secret boyfriends,” she smiled smugly. “And they’re usually so conveniently unavailable and, well… imaginary.”

“He looks awfully handsome,” Swan piped up in rescue from across the table. “Your Insta posts look pretty perfect.” 

You hoped your blush would be attributed to your mildly inebriated state. “He’s pretty photogenic, huh?”

“Yeah, it’s pretty easy to photoshop yourself into photos these days.”

“Shut it, Cami!” Aditi hissed as she spotted at your reddening expression and mistaking it for anger rather than embarrassment.

“Bucky is real,” you said with gritted teeth.

“Prove it,” Camille challenged with a saccharine smile.

“Well he’s coming to the wedding, so we can all meet him there!” Hanna elbowed Camille roughly under the table. “You can’t just hoard him forever. He must be judged; can’t just have our girl dating any random guy.”

You rolled your eyes, but gave her an appreciative smile. It was good to know they truly cared for you.

Aditi leaned forwards, her expression softening. “Seriously though, we’re just teasing. It’s okay if you don’t want us to meet him. But we just want to know that you’re okay.”

“Thanks,” you muttered, your guilt flaring once again and tears crept into your eyes. And suddenly your defenses crumbled slightly. The alcohol and the exhaustion from the day catching up with you. Hanna and Aditi looked horrified but you waved them off. “I’m fine, it’s just been… a lot. Setting up all of this, trying to make sure everything’s perfect for you two— I’m just tired.”

Everyone fell silent for a moment, your vulnerability catching them off guard. Camille had the decency to look ashamed. Hanna, on the other hand, threw her arms around you and pressed a kiss on your cheek. “We appreciate you so much. You know you didn’t have to do all this alone, right?”

Aditi nodded, looking just as concerned as her fiancé. “You’re the best,” she said, squeezing your arm gently.

“And maybe he’ll surprise us all at the wedding,” Hanna smiled.

“Maybe,” you muttered, leaning back against the cushioned couches of the lounge. Your eyelids grew heavier and you didn’t know who had removed your glass of wine from your hand. The sound of everyone’s voices felt more and more distant and before you knew it your head was resting against the back of the couch.

Just a few moments to rest your eyes, you thought. But those moments turned to minutes and you were sound asleep. When Aditi and Camille noticed you’d drifted off, they exchanged mischievous glances.

“She out?” Aditi asked Camille, who nodded. “You thinking what I’m thinking?”

“Way ahead of you.” Camille had already reached across the table to grab your phone. She swiped your screen to life. She held your phone in front of your face and grinned at how easily the lock screen disappeared.

Aditi whispered. “She’s gonna kill us for this.”

“What’re you doing?” Hanna asked, her eyes narrowing.

“Texting the mystery man,” Camille smirked.

“Camille!” Hanna hissed, reaching out to stop her, but failing.

Camille waved her off with a mischievous smile. “Relax, I’m doing her a favor. She’s clearly exhausted. If this guy’s worth a pinch of salt, he’ll come get her.”

She opened your messages and scrolled down. “What’s his name?”

“Bucky,” Aditi offered readily.

“Now, what do we say?” Camille smirked at the crowd.

“It needs to be convincing, but not too much,” Swan suggested.

Aditi scrunched up her mouth and tapped her lips. “Something simple, like, ‘Can you come pick me up? I’m too drunk to drive.’”

“Boring,” Camille whined and rolled her eyes. “We need to go big.” She started typing. Hey lover, your girlfriend misses you so muc-

Aditi grabbed the phone from Camille mid sentence. “No way. Subtle works better. She’s the least flirty person you’ll ever meet. He’s gonna know something is up if we get carried away.”

“Fine,” Camille said with mock exasperation and snatched the phone back from Aditi. She typed quickly, her thumbs flying across the keyboard.

“Can you come pick me up? I’m too drunk to drive.”

She dropped a pin of your location for good measure.

“Oh my God, Camille!” Hanna gasped. “You could have let us proofread it!”

Aditi covered her mouth to stifle a laugh to avoid waking you. “What if he doesn’t come? Or worse, what if he does?”

Camille smirked. “Oh he’ll come. Most men love to play the hero, they can’t resist a damsel in distress. And if he doesn’t, well... we’ll have our answer about him, won’t we?”

Everyone sat back in the wake of what they’d just done, the phone in the center of the table.

“Do you think it’s really him?” Swan asked.

Aditi frowned at her. “What do you mean?”

“The guy in the photos.”

“She called him Bucky.”

“Yeah, Bucky Barnes. You know, The Winter Soldier.”

Aditi and Hanna looked at each other with matching looks of concern. Camille on the other hand pulled out her phone and did a quick google search. Comparing the images to your instagram. “Yeah, I guess they look kinda similar, but I’m not convinced. Didn’t think Y/N would be into the bad boys.”

“Isn’t he a killer?” Swan whispered.

“I thought he was Captain America’s best friend.”

“Or, he’s made up.”

“She’s texting with someone called Bucky.”

Their debate was interrupted by your phone buzzing and the group crowded around your screen.

10:45 PM - Bucky: On my way. Be there in 15.

The chatter in the lounge faltered when Bucky appeared in the doorway, only for a moment before a wave of excitement spread across the group.

“Oh my God,” Camille whispered, gripping Aditi’s arm so tightly that Aditi winced. “He’s gorgeous.”

“Is that him?” Hanna murmured.

“Hellooo, Winter Soldier,” Swan chimed, earning a round of laughter.

Bucky’s broad frame filled the doorway, his striking presence commanding attention. He glanced around the room, taking in the surroundings. His expression remained neutral despite the wariness he felt. His sharp eyes flitted past the bachelorette group until they landed on you— now curled up on the couch, blissfully unaware of the commotion your ‘boyfriend’ had caused.

A familiar crease appeared between his eyebrows as he took in the scene. He wasn’t thrilled to be there, you had not prepared him for this eventuality but he couldn’t exactly say no to a plea for help. But as he gazed at your sleeping form, his gaze softened, betraying a quiet fondness.

He had barely had time to take a step towards you when he was intercepted by Camille, like a predator stalking its prey.

“You must be Bucky,” she said, her voice practically dripping with sugar. She hooked her hand through his arm as she looked up at him with a flirtatious tilt of her head. “Wow, I see why she’s not been keen to share.”

Bucky hesitated, his eyes flicking down to her hand before he offered a polite but tight smile. “Nice to meet you,” he said, stepping back just enough to create a sliver of space between them.

Unfortunately Camille wasn’t one to give up easily. She hadn’t become chief resident by being shy about her goals. She slid her fingers up to his bicep, giving it an appreciative squeeze. “Wow, Bucky, do you, like, workout every day? Because like… wow.”

Behind her, Aditi and Hanna exchanged looks, half amused, half exasperated and came to Bucky’s rescue. “Sorry about Camille. She’s…”

“I’m Hanna, this is Aditi. It’s nice to meet you, Bucky.” Bucky shook hands with the brides and waved to the other women.

“So, umm, I guess I’m here to pick up… Sleeping Beauty over there.” He nodded his head towards you, making the group burst into a fit of giggles, wolf whistles and whoops.

“Can’t believe she’s been hiding him from us,” Swan shook her head.

Camille pulled out her phone, calling Bucky’s name as she snapped a photo. She was momentarily stunned as he evaded further opportunity for interrogation. He slipped past the ogling women and crouched down at the couch beside you. He put his hand on your arm but his mouth froze before he had a chance to call your name as he spotted the bruises on your skin. Gently he grazed his fingers over the darkened patches, his face etched with concern. But rather than asking the other women what had happened, he called your name softly. “Hey, Princess.”

You stirred, blinking groggily. It took a moment for your sleep and alcohol addled mind to focus on the man in front of you. When you recognized Bucky, a sleepy smile spread across your face. “Bucky! Hi, Bucky!”

He chuckled under his breath, feeling glad that you didn’t seem upset. “Hi. Let’s get you home, yeah?”

Before he had the chance to help you up, you noticed everyone’s attention on you. You threw your arms around his neck. “Everyone, this is my boyfriend, Bucky!” you announced proudly in a slurred voice.

The girls cheered with a chorus of ‘awws’. Hanna buried her face in her hands, shaking with suppressed giggles. Aditi whispered to her, “She’s gonna hate us for this later.”

“Nice to meet you all,” he said dryly.

Camille, however, was still skeptical. “So boyfriend, huh?” she interjected with a smirk.

“Yeah,” you pouted and Bucky’s eyes widened, worried about what you were about to say in your current state. 

“Look how handsome he is!” you declared. “Boy-friend.”

The group dissolved into another round of laughter.

Bucky raised an eyebrow, glancing down at you with a faint smirk. “That’s me,” he said dryly, wrapping his arm around your teetering form. “Handsome guy with the sleepy girlfriend.”

“Guess you’re officially off the market, Y/N.”

“Completely,” Bucky said firmly and politely. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, Sleeping Beauty here needs some actual beauty rest.”

“Hey,” you pouted. “I’m not sleepy.”

“You literally fell asleep in a room full of people,” he replied, smirking with amusement. “Let’s get you home before you try and prove something else.”

“Wait, you’re leaving already? Come on! We haven’t heard a single embarrassing story!” Aditi called after the two of you.

“I’ll be sure to remind her of this one tomorrow,” he said, glancing down at you as you leaned into his side.

“You’re the best, Bucky,” you murmured sleepily, letting him guide you out.

He rolled his eyes fondly. “Yeah, yeah. Let’s get out of here.”

He walked you out, ignoring the cacophony of shouts behind you.

Bucky opened the passenger door for you to get in. “Come on, Princess. In you get.”

“They love you, you know,” you slurred, your words coming out in an exaggerated whisper.

He snorted. “Yeah, I noticed. Pretty sure Camille was ready to propose back there.”

“Ugh,” you groaned, flopping back against the seat. “She was a little handsy, huh?”

Bucky smirked, leaning down to buckle you in. “A little?” he repeated dryly. “She actually asked for my workout routine. And I’m not sure she was referring to the gym.”

“She’s not your type, though,” you mumbled, your eyelids fluttering closed.

“And what exactly is my type?” he asked as he straightened up.

“Mmm... me,” you declared, the word coming out more triumphant than you intended.

Bucky froze mid-motion, his eyebrows shooting up. “Is that so?”

“Yeah,” you sighed. “Why else would you be here?”

Bucky shook his head and closed the passenger door, circling around to the driver’s side. He slid into the driver’s seat and glanced over at you, clearly trying to fight sleep.

“Didn’t realize I’d be meeting everyone tonight,” he teased, starting the engine. “You sure know how to keep things interesting.”

“Gotta keep you on your toes, Barnes.”

Bucky chuckled, the warm sound echoing through the car. “Yeah, you’re doing a great job of that.”

The ride was silent, the hum of the car engine pulling you towards slumber.

“Bucky,” you murmured.

“Yeah?”

“You didn’t have to come all the way out here, you know?”

He glanced over at you, the corner of his mouth twitching upward. “Someone had to rescue you from the wolves back there.”

You giggled at that, your laugh fading into a content sigh. “Thank you, you’re so… good.”

Bucky stared at the road ahead of him, his grip on the wheel tightening as he took in your words. Good. Not a word he would have used to describe himself, but somehow he didn’t mind it coming from you.

“Get some sleep, Princess,” he said softly, more to fill the quiet than anything else.

For a moment, he let himself steal a glance at you, before turning back to the dimly lit road. And even though he wouldn’t admit it to himself just yet, a strange warmth was blooming in his chest�� something he wasn’t ready to name.

The next morning, you woke up with a groan. Your head throbbed lightly. Thank God for Sundays, you thought. Picking up your phone, you shielded your eyes against the brightness of the screen, cursing about how it hurt your eyes. You hadn’t had that much to drink, had you?

Your phone buzzed and a message notification popped up at the top of the screen from your group chat: Power of 3.

10:15 AM - Hanna: Mystery boyfriend: No longer a mystery!

You sighed and rolled over, groaning into your pillow.

10:16 AM - Aditi: Can’t believe you’ve been hiding him. I don’t bat for his side, but I might consider changing teams for him.

10:16 AM - Aditi: Don’t tell Hanna I said that.

10:16 AM - Hanna: I can read this, you know!

10:17 AM - Aditi: Have you seen Camille’s Instagram yet?

10:17 AM - You: No… should I be scared?

You winced at Aditi’s message, but curiosity got the best of you. You opened your Instagram and tapped on Camille’s profile to be hit with a photo of Camille with a huge smile on her face, draped over an incredibly uncomfortable looking Bucky sporting a stiff smile.

The caption read “@charmedbynature sleeping on the job.”

You felt your stomach twisting as you watched her clinging to him. He clearly wasn’t doing anything wrong and the man looked like he’d rather be a thousand miles away. But seeing Camille’s beautiful smile next to him sparked a wave of something unfamiliar.

10:18 AM - Hanna: You’d better watch out because she looks like she’ll race you to the altar for that one.

You tapped off the picture and back to your messages. He hadn’t even bothered to text you to see if you were okay. Why did you even care? You silenced your phone and rolled out of bed. Maybe a run would help you shed this feeling. 

As you opened your front door, your eyes landed on the whiteboard hanging on it.

“YOU MADE IT HOME! GOOD JOB, SLEEPING BEAUTY.”

Your irritation faded instantly, replaced by a reluctant smile. Grabbing your phone, you snapped a quick photo of the message before erasing it. After a moment's thought, you wrote back:

“THANKS FOR THE RESCUE, PRINCE CHARMING.”

Previous chapter < MASTERLIST > Next chapter

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Posting schedule will be Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays around 2.30pm EST / 11.30am PST / 7.30pm BST

[sailorsoons]

THIS BLOG PROHIBITS THE US OF AI TO REPLICATE OR ALTER ANY OF ITS WORK.

★ PERMANENT TAG LIST ★ WIPS AND UPDATES ★ SKZ MASTERLIST ★

★ o n e s h o t s ★

Amnesia | Seungcheol x f. reader | Friends with Benefits to Lovers | Hint of Angst | Smut | Complete

Choi Seungcheol has never been the type to commit to relationships - casual is more his thing. You’re fine with that - except you and Seungcheol seem to be terrible at casual when it comes to one another. 

Giving Season | Chan x reader x Seungcheol | Established Relationship (w. Seungcheol) | Polyamorous | PWP | Smut | Complete

You always enjoy the office holiday party each year, especially when you get to do secret santa. This year, you enlist Seungcheol’s help to give Chan the perfect gift.

Hush | Incubus!Seungcheol x reader | Supernatural | PWP | Smut | Complete

You can’t seem to sleep, but the strange man in the bar that you can’t visiting promises he can help. 

Midnight Sails | Pirate!Seungcheol x reader | Pirate AU | Sort of Lovers | Requested | Complete

Seungcheol has never been able to give his heart over to anything but the sea, which has landed him in a never-ending game of chase with the sea’s favorite daughter. 

★ coming soon ★

★ o n e s h o t s ★

Break | Witch!Joshua x Cursed!Reader | Magical AU | Friends to Lovers | Heavy Angst | Smut | Complete

You’ve suffered your entire life after a single magical accident when you were thirteen. Joshua has been your biggest comfort and anchor, but he also becomes your deepest regret. 

★ coming soon ★

★ o n e s h o t s ★

Baby | Soonyoung x f. reader | Mafiaverse | Established Relationship to Exes to Lovers | Angst | Smut | Complete

Soonyoung had been in your life for as long as you can remember. You haven’t spoken since your wedding to someone who isn’t him, but when you uncover your husband’s plans to turn against your family, you don’t know who else to call.  

Greedy | Vernon x f. reader x Soonyoung | PWP | Idolverse | Smut | Request | Complete

Vernon is good at a lot of things - Soonyoung wants to help him be good at one more thing. 

One Hundred and One | Soonyoung x Reader | Established Relationship | Fluff | Requested | Completed

Soonyoung is always affectionate and sweet. Soonyoung after a few drinks is all of that and more.

Petrichor | Soonyoung x afab reader | Slice of Life | Smut | PWP | Established Relationship | Completed

Waking up to the sound of rain is good - waking up to the sound of rain and Soonyoung pressed up against you is better. 

You. Always. | Soonyoung x f. reader | Established Relationship | Slice of Life | smut | PWP | Complete

Soonyoung isn’t a jealous guy - he’s not. But sometimes it gets to him, the way other people look at you and fall a little in love with you. Don’t they know you have him? 

★ o n e s h o t s ★

Chat, is that Rizz? | Wonwoo x f. reader | Established Relationship | Slice of Life | Smut | Completed

Your rivalry with Wonwoo has existed for as long as you’ve been streaming. It’s fun, and both of your communities love it. Wonwoo is happy to play along - at least until you question his rizz while live, and he feels like he should remind you just how much rizz he has.

Santa Baby | Wonwoo x f. reader | Established Relationship | Humor | Slice of Life | Completed

Your boyfriend is stuck working on Christmas Eve in hell on earth. You decide to pay him a little visit to cheer him up - and give yourself a good laugh.

Sweetest Thing | Dad!Wonwoo x Mom!Reader | Established Relationship | Slice of Life | Smut | PWP | Completed

For the first Halloween in years, you and Wonwoo are able to enjoy it together without the kids. When you feel a little nervous about your costume, Wonwoo is determined to show you that you’ve always been the sweetest thing. 

★ o n e s h o t s ★

Storm Breaker | Jaeger Pilot!Jihoon x Jaeger Pilot!reader | Pacific Rim AU | Forced Proximity | Strangers to Lovers | Smut | Angst | Complete

It’s a known fact Lee Jihoon is one of the best pilots the Jaeger Program has. The only problem? He can’t keep a co-pilot to save his life. He thinks you’ll just be another Ranger in the rotation, but you are an unpleasant surprise. 

★ coming soon ★

★ o n e s h o t s ★

Prism Power | Mingyu x afab!reader | Established Relationship | Smut | Fluff | PWP | Complete

It’s your first Halloween with Mingyu as a couple and when a power outage threatens to ruin your favorite holiday, Mingyu makes sure to save the night. 

★ coming soon ★

★ coming soon ★

★ o n e s h o t s ★

Hello, Darling | Vernon x afab reader | Supernatural | Friends to Lovers | Thriller | Smut | Complete

Vernon has been one of your best friends for years. Shy, quiet and calm, he’s always been a steady rock for you. He has no idea you’re in love with him, but that’s neither here nor there. Ater a strange series of events on Halloween night, Vernon seems a little… different, and the new version of him both terrifies and thrills you. 

Greedy | Vernon x f. reader x Soonyoung | PWP | Idolverse | Smut | Request | Complete

Vernon is good at a lot of things - Soonyoung wants to help him be good at one more thing. 

On the Clock | Vernon x f. reader | Fake Dating | Coworkers to Lovers | Smut | Complete

Modern problems call for modern solutions, including naming a random stranger in the bookstore as your boyfriend to avoid an embarrassing encounter with your ex. The problem? The stranger is Vernon and he’s not supposed to be a stranger at all - he’s your coworker, and now everyone at the office - including your ex - thinks you’re dating. 

Vengeance | Vernon x f. reader | Mafiaverse AU | Established Relationship | Smut | Angst | Complete

You always knew you were different from a young age. The only person who has ever been able to understand you is Vernon. When things take a turn for the Choi Syndicate, your long-term relationship is put to the test.

★ o n e s h o t s ★

Blood & Popcorn | Chan x f. reader | Friends to Lovers | Idiots to Lovers | Smut | Hint of Angst | Fluff | Complete

Fridays are reserved for watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer and stuffing your face with popcorn and pizza. It’s been like that for you and Chan since your freshman year of college. But when he skips your Blood and Popcorn night for a date, things take an unexpected turn. 

Giving Season | Chan x reader x Seungcheol | Established Relationship (w. Seungcheol) | Polyamorous | PWP | Smut | Complete

You always enjoy the office holiday party each year, especially when you get to do secret santa. This year, you enlist Seungcheol’s help to give Chan the perfect gift.

Still Watching? | Chan x f. reader | Established Relationship | PWP | Smut | Slice of Life | Complete

Blood and Popcorn with your newly minted boyfriend is your favorite. Except now you watch a lot less Buffy and a lot more of Chan. 

COLLECTIONS

These are masterlists to stories that all occur in the same universe, whether or not their stories are connected.

★ The Syndicates Collection ★

[hannibals-favourite-meal]

.⋆｡Forgotten｡⋆.

Bruce Wayne x plus size reader

To love Bruce was risky and it was exhilarating but you weren’t ready to deal with its consequences when everything suddenly changed.

Warnings: angst, amnesia, injuries, unplanned pregnancy, fluff, i couldn’t help but add bat family shenanigans, hints of smut, scarecrow fear toxin, mentions of self-harm as a result of toxin, hospital visits/health scare, happy endings baby, age difference WC: 7k

Minors DNI

Library- @hannibals-favourite-meal-library

You knew Bruce Wayne.

You knew the depth of blue in his eyes, the placement of every scar and mole and freckle on his body, the little cowlick at the back of his head that would only appear when he had gone too long without a haircut.

You knew he liked tea but only when he didn’t have meetings, his right shoulder locked up when it was cold and wet, he hated the beach but loved the ocean, he regularly brought home stray animals until he was 12, and he was a hopeless romantic.

And you loved each other deeply, so deeply that you felt like there was no colour in your world before him and he had no light in his before you. It had started out simply enough, you were his secretary. Fresh from your Masters program, you needed a job and he needed a new assistant after the retirement of his last one. You were hired on the spot with the promise that it would only be temporary until you got a job in your field. But that was almost 4 years ago now and you had no intention of leaving the man you had fallen so hard for, he guiltily admitted once that he did not want you to leave either.

There were countless date nights and sleepovers, weekend getaways and times where you would spend the entire day naked in bed. You saw each other almost every day and yet it ached when you were apart for even just a few minutes.

But no one else knew. 

Besides the fact that he was your boss and 10 years older than you, Bruce wanted to shield you both from his life as Batman and from the public eye. And you were terrified of the judgement of his family especially given that there was only a couple of years difference between you and his oldest kid. And it was fine, for a while at least. You got to exist in this perfect little bubble of love with the only man you could envision a future with, away from the harshness of your lives. 

As it must, the real world crashes down upon your little bubble, shattering it.

“Bruce! You have a meeting!” His teeth sunk into the column of your throat with a discontented grunt as he pressed his hips even closer to your own, his arms winding around your plush middle.

“They’re not as important as this.” The tip of his nose brushed against your pulse. You let yourself melt into his strong hold for just a moment, savouring the feel of his toned body against you like you always did when Bruce lathered you with attention. With one last squeeze around your torso, Bruce reluctantly let you go. His huge hands lingered on your wide hips as you shifted so you were now facing him.

“You’ve blown them off three times already, you have to go.” You cupped his cheek, your thumb brushing along the 5 o’clock shadow that was already growing along his jaw.

“I’d rather you blow me off instead, sunny.” You smacked his chest as Bruce chuckled.

“Alright rein it in big boy, you’ll get your fill of me soon enough.” 

“I think you’ll find that it’s me that does the filling.” You glared at him and stepped away, making his hands fall from your body.

“Go, before I start to rethink about our ~plans~ for the weekend.” 

“Oh you fucking vixen. If I can sneak away from the boys tonight, you’re gonna be eating those words.” You spun on your heel, letting Bruce get a good look at your ass in the tight work skirt you knew he loved on you.

“I think you’ll find that you’ll be the one who will be eating. I’ll see you tomorrow Mr Wayne.” You cooed, not bothering to look back at him as you left Bruce standing in the middle of the hallway with a stunned expression and a straining in his pants.

——————

You were getting nervous now. You hadn’t seen Bruce in almost a week, which wasn’t unusual considering his ‘nightlife’ but to have no communication from him at all? That was completely out of the ordinary. There had been a message left on your office phone from his butler that Bruce had some business to attend to and would be unreachable for the foreseeable future but the way your stomach twisted in fear told you that something else was going on. He did not, in fact, sneak away that night to see you nor come to your apartment over the weekend as you both had planned. But there was nothing you could do without exposing your relationship.

So, you did what you could to keep WE functioning without him: misdirecting calls, charming impatient board members, even sending phoney emails from his account to placate people as with each passing day, that little spark of anxiety grew into a blazing fire. 

Then, at promptly 9 am on the sixth day of Bruce’s disappearance, your routine was disrupted once more. You were typing away at your computer, having been in the office for almost an hour already, when you heard the elevator doors slide open and the click of men’s formal shoes against the tile. You eyed the bottle of Tylenol on your desk, anticipating yet another headache from some prissy rich boy who couldn’t take no for an answer. But you froze as soon as an imposing figure turned the corner.

Your breath caught at the sight of him. Mostly unharmed, save for the wicked looking cut across his left eyebrow, he was dressed the same way he normally would, but there was something about his posture that was completely wrong.

“Bruce.” Your legs shook as you rose to your feet. His steely gaze flicked to you as he nodded politely, not even missing a beat in his stride.

“Miss Y/L/N.” His office door slammed shut behind him and you felt your heart splinter. Silence washed over the hall and for just a moment, you could almost believe that he had been a hallucination that your anxiety ridden mind had conjured up. The ping of an email notification from your computer broke you out of your desperate reasoning and suddenly you were following his steps.

Your knuckles curled over the steak knob, just as you had done so many times in the past and you pushed open the door. Bruce looked up from the pile of papers that you had left on his own desk over the past week, brandishing you with a look far more harsh than he had ever given you before.

“Bruce, what’s going on? You’ve been gone for days with no calls, no texts. I’ve been worried sick.” His jaw clenched, sending a shot of panic up your spine.

“Miss Y/L/N I don’t know where this feeling of entitlement has come from. What I do with my time is none of your business. I am your boss- not your friend and I would keep that in mind if you wish to keep your job.” He snarled. You physically recoiled as if he had struck you, unconsciously taking a step backwards. “Please refrain from using my first name, this is a place of business.”

Never, in your many years of working for this man, who was now a stranger, did he ever speak to you with such contempt, even hatred. And it broke your heart.

Your throat bobbed as you swallowed down tears. “Of course Mr Wayne, I apologise for my unprofessionalism.” He grunted in acknowledgement. Your hands shook as you closed the door to his office, shutting yourself out from the man you loved with every piece of you.

——————

There was no greater torture than this, you thought, to watch as your soulmate iced you out until you couldn’t remember what his warmth had felt like. When was the last time his name slipped past your lips or when yours escaped his. You were forced to see him almost every day and yet, he was more like a ghost to you.

He wouldn’t even speak to you anymore. At first, he kept his interactions with you to a few words in the mornings when he arrived and evenings when he would leave. But as the weeks carried on, he spoke less and less until he would barely even look at you as he passed.

Your chest burned with thousands of questions, each breath laced with the poison of doubt and fear. You wished for this behaviour to be some sick dream, oftentimes you thought that this could be a result of Scarecrow’s fear drug. But when you awoke each morning, you knew, deep down, that this was very real. You could only wonder if this was an inevitable fate that you were meant to suffer for loving someone as unobtainable as Bruce was.

You had known since the very first moment that his blue eyes held something more than friendship for you, that your love for him would always be greater than he would ever hold for you. You knew this, and yet you didn’t think you would have to accept such a devastating truth so soon. You were greedy for him and perhaps, you had taken too much.

“Y/L/N.” The sudden call of your name snapped you from your spiral of self-pity. You looked up and met the bright green eyes of the youngest Wayne. The ever-frowning Damian was now glaring at you, an almost perfect replica of his father. “Where is my father?”

“He’s-“ You cleared your throat, feeling incredibly uncomfortable under the 10 year old’s scrutinising gaze. “He’s in his office. You can go right in.” Damian observed you for another moment before he turned his nose up and walked past you. You breathed a sigh of relief as the door behind you opened and closed, seemingly leaving you alone once more.

“Are you quite alright Miss Y/N?” 

“Jesus!” You yelped in surprise, clutching your chest. The ever present force of Alfred looked down at you, lips pursed in concern. “Sorry, I didn’t see you come in.” 

“I believe it is I who should be apologising, I didn’t mean to frighten you. But, are you very sure you’re ok? You seem to be out of sorts.” He stepped closer, placing Damian’s jacket on the coat rack just beside the office door.

You waved him off, your throat suddenly thick with emotion. Alfred had always been immensely kind to you in the fleeting encounters you’d had with the man. And for a while, you believed that he knew about you and Bruce, but since he had been acting the same way since Bruce’s unexplained absence, you were obviously wrong. 

With a glance over your shoulder, as if to double check that your boss wasn’t listening in, you grabbed your purse from the floor and quickly slung it over your shoulder. “He doesn’t have any other meetings today so I think I may leave early. It was nice to see you, Alfred.”

And before he could even get a single word of protest out, you had already dashed to the elevator and slipped inside. As the reflective doors shut, you were able to catch the way Alfred frowned, his brown eyes dark as he watched you run.

You managed to hold off your sobs until you were safely in your car. Grief wrapped around your chest like a snake, slowly crushing your ribs inwards until all you could manage was small gasps of air as you slowly drowned in it. It was all getting too much, Bruce and work and this stupid fucking nausea that kept showing up at the worst times.

The stress was going to wear you down until you were nothing and what did you get out of it? A boss that couldn’t even look you in the eye even after years of sharing your life and your bed with him. He was acting like he didn’t even know your first name. You couldn’t keep doing this to yourself.

Tears still rolled down your rounded cheeks as the car’s engine turned over and you pulled out of your designated spot. The white paint that they used to write your name was chipping away, leaving a faded imprint of each letter like a child’s chalk drawing that was being washed away.

Your hiccuping sobs were slowly dying down until you pulled into your apartment complex and a notification appeared on your phone. The screen lit up the inside of your car, immediately drawing your attention to it.

‘Your period is 6 weeks late, is it stress or something more?’

——————

Silence in the office was not unusual for the top floor of Wayne Enterprises, though a complete lack of any noise was deeply concerning. Bruce once again glanced over his monitor to the open door where your vacant desk was clearly visible. His eyes flicked to the time displayed on the screen in front of him, you were over a half hour late and for the life of him, he couldn’t figure out why.

Just as Bruce was reaching over for his phone, you turned the corner. Your heels, far smaller than you normally wore he noted, clacked against the flooring as you strode towards him. Before you could spot him looking at you, he forced his gaze back down to the spreadsheets he hadn’t even bothered to read when he arrived this morning. His stomach fluttered as he heard you enter his office. Bruce tried to swallow the feeling down like he always did when you were around.

“I’m resigning.” His neck audibly popped as his head snapped up, suddenly all of his attention on you. Your hands trembled as you put a sheet of paper on his desk and quickly took a step back like a deer preparing to run. Bruce kept his eyes on you, the muscle in his jaw rolling as he bit back a thousand questions.

“I’m assuming this is effective immediately?” You nodded while he leaned back in his chair as nonchalantly as he could. “Is there any reason why? I thought you were happy working here.” 

Your left eye twitched but you steeled yourself with a deep breath. “I’m not obligated to tell you the reason why I’m leaving, just as you promised when you hired me. I have responsibilities elsewhere. I left candidates for your next secretary on my desk.” You turned on your heel, intent on leaving as quickly as you possibly could.

“Wait-“ Bruce darted out of his seat, sending it flying back as he rushed forwards. “Please I just want to know why, I think I deserve that much.” His large hand wrapped around your wrist in an iron grip, forcing you to stop your retreat.

“You’re a fucking asshole, you know that Bruce.” You didn’t even bother to look at him as you spoke. “I really thought you were different. But obviously, I was wrong. You’re so selfish and cruel and I made the mistake of falling in love with you.”

He stumbled back as you finally met his gaze. Your eyes were burning with a loathing that sent a chill to his bones. “So no, you don’t deserve to know why I’m leaving. Be glad I even did you the courtesy of giving you my resignation in writing.” You yanked your hand from his hold. “Goodbye Mr Wayne. Don’t contact me.”

And then you stormed out of his life, leaving the feared Bat of Gotham confused and with a massive pit in his heart.

——————

“Okay, so we agree that this isn’t an invasion of anyone’s privacy, Y/N or B’s, because it’s for the sake of the greater good.” Dick made eye contact with each of his younger siblings as if to reinforce this statement.

“Yeah cause if B doesn’t stop moping around and nagging us, I will actually kill him.” Jason quipped from where he was perched on the fire escape. Cass nodded in agreement from beside the bigger man as Steph snorted under her breath.

“I’m just here for the drama. I’ve never seen him acting like a moody teenager before. Babs wants me to keep her updated.” Dick sighed heavily, deciding to ignore her comment as he continued to address the others.

“We stay hidden and only observe. Got that Damian?” 

“Why am I being singled out when Drake was the one that hacked into her medical records?”

“For the last time, it wasn’t her medical records, it was just her employment records!” 

“Like that’s any better.” Tim glared at Duke.

“You’re the one who snitched.”

“Hey!” Dick stepped in before they could escalate their little squabble, “That doesn’t matter now. What does matter is finding out exactly what happened to make Y/N quit and B so fucking miserable.” 

“Ooo golden boy swore, guess that means it’s serious.” Jason jostled Cass with his shoulder as she giggled quietly. Dick rolled his eyes.

“If you’re not gonna take this seriously, you can just go home.” Red Hood rose to his feet, his gloved hands raised in surrender.

“I am taking this seriously, I just also enjoy annoying you. It’s called multitasking.” 

“Father is fine. I don’t understand why this is necessary.” Damian huffed from his place at Dick’s side. He had been adamant that nothing was wrong with Bruce, even after the increased number of injuries he had been receiving on a nightly basis and a general disinterest in anything besides crime fighting. All the kids knew that it was a problem but Damian got to go on more patrols so he was content.

“Because demon brat, ever since Y/N quit, he’s been in an awful-ass mood and has been making it our problem. I would rather not have the old man keep sticking his nose in my business just because he’s cranky.” 

“And-“ Duke shot Jason a look, “he’s getting extremely reckless. We’ve all seen the amount of med supplies he’s been going through. If we don’t find out what’s going on, he’s gonna end up in a body bag.” Silence fell upon the rooftop. 

We can help both of them. Cass signed. I really liked Y/N. She was nice.

Tim cleared his throat. “So, can we go now? The longer we’re not responding to Alfred, the more chance B comes after us.” Dick put his hand on Damian’s shoulder.

“Tim’s right. We stay low and we stay quiet. Duke, Jay you two go on ahead and we’ll follow behind. Do not engage and don’t be creepy.” He spoke specifically to Jason.

“This whole thing is fucking creepy but fine, I guess I won’t look in her nightstand.” And before Dick could even open his mouth to scold his younger brother, he was gone over the side of the building. Duke shrugged and followed after, his footsteps silent beneath the sounds of the city.

Damian jerked forwards but Nightwing’s grip on his shoulder kept him stuck to the spot. “You’re with Steph. You two keep an ear open for the big man but other than that, stay off the comms. Cass, Tim with me, we’ll cover the street and then come up behind.” Cass nodded and pulled her mask up higher over her nose, following after her older brothers.

“Are you sure about this Dick? If we’re wrong-“

“I know T, but what if we’re right? Something happened between those two and maybe, we can make it right. B isn’t himself and it’s affecting all of us.” Dick then released his youngest brother. “Remember, stay out of sight.” 

As soon as he disappeared into the night, Stephanie muttered. “This is bullshit.”

“I agree.”

Your apartment was easy to find— the 7th floor of a relatively upscale building, one that was suspiciously out of your price range. Jason raised an eyebrow at the double glazed window panes as well as the discreet sill reinforcements he could just make out around the edges of the glass. 

“She’s either extremely paranoid or someone else is.” Duke grunted in agreement.

“Think B is behind it?”

Jason shrugged as he lowered himself down onto the steel grate of the fire escape that snaked past the apartment’s windows. “That or she’s got a hell of a lot more secrets than we thought.” Duke dropped down beside him, the two of them moving in sync along the catwalk. 

The kitchen was dark, as was the living room. Duke’s head jerked to the right, drawing Jason’s eyes to the soft glow coming from the last window. He gently squeezed the shorter man’s shoulder as he slipped past. 

Jason pressed his bulk against the naked brick and crept his way forwards, keeping to the shadows as much as he could. Thin curtains covered the window from the inside, but it did nothing to hinder his view of the brightly lit bedroom. 

You were sitting in a rocking chair in the corner of the room, eyes locked onto a small black and white photo in your right hand. Your left gently cradled your belly, your thumb gently brushing over the soft layer of fat. Even through the haze of the sheer curtains, the sadness on your face was as clear as day.

Jason’s own eyes narrowed in on the image in your hand before he stumbled backwards, almost falling from the fire escape. His neck clicked as his eyes met Signal’s who was suddenly standing ram-rod straight.

“Holy shit she’s pregnant.” But before Duke or Jason could even begin to comprehend the magnitude of their discovery, the bedroom window slammed open and suddenly, you and the Red Hood were face-to-face.

“Do you all want to come in for tea or should I tell you to fuck off now?”

“Huh, I guess she did have some secrets.” You moved out of the way, letting Duke slip into the warm apartment and leaving Jason stunned for only a second before he clicked on his com system.

“Yo, we’ve been caught.” And then he followed behind.

The bedroom was smaller than he thought it would be, but it was cosy. A thick duvet on the bed, a candle on the vanity in the corner. It was… nice. Duke had already made himself comfortable at the kitchen counter by the time Jason stepped out of the bedroom. The thick black and yellow helmet he donned was neatly placed on the chair beside him.

“Dude.” Jason whined but his little brother only smiled at him, his eyes crinkling in the corners.

“Would you like milk in your tea Jason?” 

“What the fu- goddamnit. Yes and honey too please.” You hummed softly and set the kettle on the stove.

“I take it the same way. Mugs are in the cabinet above the sink, grab them for me. Duke, would you mind opening the front door, I’d rather not have mud tracked into my bedroom.” The teen dutifully stalked off as Jason retrieved said mugs and set them down on the counter. His own helmet soon joined his brother’s as he leaned against the wall across from you.

You continued to fuss about the kitchen, pulling out some biscuits and sugar as well. “It’s Bruce’s isn’t it?” Your body stuttered but you were quickly composed once more, though you did not look Jason’s way.

“I think you already know the answer to that.” He lurched forward as if he were about to defend his adoptive father but then just as suddenly, he leaned back and pinched the bridge of his nose. 

“Jesus. I just thought you got sick of him.” You chuckled under your breath though it was plain enough that there was no joy in it. You looked truly exhausted as you placed a tea bag in each mug, the dark circles that marred your face almost broke Jason’s heart. 

“You’ll find that it’s the other way around.” But before he could open his mouth to object, the rest of his siblings burst into the apartment, led by a frazzled Dick.

“How!” 

“I would appreciate it if you didn’t yell in my apartment Richard, I don’t want a noise complaint.” Dick’s jaw shut with an audible click, his shoulders slouching in defeat.

“Yes ma’am.”

“Good dog.” Steph cooed as she strutted past, her own mask already off and safely tucked into her belt. She gunned straight for the freshly poured tea. The others shambled around the stunned man, each finding their own spot in your apartment. 

The air was stale with questions that none of them wanted to ask though the answers were obvious. Damian settled himself beside you, the top of his head just barely peeking out over the top of the stone counter. The blank white eyes of his mask were fixed on the steaming mugs.

“This is acceptable.” This time your laugh was genuine as you gently pushed the largest mug towards the 10 year old who quickly snatched it off the counter. Jason noticed the way the tension in your shoulders gradually eased as each of his siblings took their own tea, filling the room with quiet murmurings. 

Dick was the last to approach you. “So you know.”

You nodded and offered him his own cup. “I know. Figured it out pretty soon after I was hired.” 

He gratefully took the mug, letting its warmth seep into his gloved hands as he sank onto a chair from the dining room. You smiled sweetly at him before your attention was pulled away by Steph who interpreted for Cass. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

You shrugged, the fingers of your left hand brushed against the swell of your belly. “What could I have said ‘hey I know you and your kids dress up in costumes and run around Gotham at night punching people, anyway, can you sign this document?’. Bruce- Mr Wayne and I had an understanding; I don’t mention the whole bat thing and he actually starts doing work and showing up on time. Plus a great health care package.”

“Apparently that wasn’t the only package you were getting.” The words had barely left Jason’s mouth before Cass slapped the back of his head, hard. “Fuck! What was that for?” She gave him a withering look then met your eyes once more with a silent apology.

You smiled at her and continued. “I wouldn’t put it as crassly but yes, we were together. Our anniversary was supposed to be next week.” 

“And now you’re pregnant.” You nodded at Duke.

“I’m 12 weeks as of yesterday.”

Tim cleared his throat but kept his eyes locked on his now empty mug. “There was an incident during patrol a few weeks ago. Bruce got hit with a new serum scarecrow had been developing and- it was really bad. He threw himself at walls and us, screaming about how he needed pain. We were only able to stop him when he knocked himself out on a pipe. He was in really bad shape, when he finally woke up after three days, he couldn’t even remember his own name.

“We all had to come home and essentially re-introduce ourselves to him but he did remember us, some just took longer than others. He recognised Cass as soon as she smiled at him while it took Dick swinging from the chandelier in the dining room for it to click.” Dick’s cheeks warmed in embarrassment.

“I did what I had to do.”

“Tt, you just wished to show off Grayson.” Damian chose to speak up then, making you jump as his voice was far closer than it had been a few minutes before. The youngest Wayne now stood at your hip, barely an inch of space between the two of you. “Father remembered me the quickest.”

Jason rolled his eyes. “Oh yeah definitely, it had nothing to do with you getting upset and throwing a temper tantrum for him to remember.” Damian glared at his older brother but made no move to stray from your side. 

“Anyway.” Tim continued. “After what happened we’ve been trying to help him but-“

“He’s fucking miserable.” Duke interrupted, “He has been since the accident and even more so after you quit. At least hear him out.” Duke leaned forward, planting his elbows onto the kitchen counter. “At least you should tell him about the baby so he could help support you.” His voice strained like he was on the edge of tears.

“Your father doesn’t owe me anything. I was greedy and I took too much. I-“ You choked on your words and suddenly, you were just a heartbroken girl standing in front of them. “I just want peace now so I think it would be best if you all forgot about me, about this. I get that you want to protect your father and under any other circumstance, I would agree with you but even if what you said is true, then why hasn’t he remembered me? We were together for almost four years, and saw each other every day. If he needed to see me to jog his memory or talk to me then that would’ve been solved the day he walked back into the office. He doesn’t want to remember- he doesn’t want me.”

No one spoke until you cleared your throat and turned towards the kitchen sink, your back now to the whole group. “I think you all should leave. Just forget tonight ever happened. We’re not your concern and we certainly aren’t Bruce’s. I appreciate that you all care so much but I don’t think this is something that can be fixed.” 

“But-“ Steph tried.

“Please, go. This hurts enough as it is, don’t make it worse.” 

Dick sighed. “She’s right. Let’s give her some space. C’mon.” You ignored the way their pitying looks burned against the back of your neck as they each walked out the door, donning their masks once more until Dick was the last one in your apartment. “Here’s my number, call if you need anything at all. And I mean anything, even if it’s for stupid cravings. You may think that Bruce abandoned you but I won’t.” 

He gave your shoulder a friendly squeeze before slipping out behind his siblings.

You waited until the door shut to finally cry, not knowing that all the kids could hear you.

——————

“Do you ever want to tell them about us?” Your voice was soft, as if you were whispering a dark secret. Bruce’s heart thumped loudly beneath your ear as you rested on his naked chest. You traced the pale lines of scars that littered his torso, occasionally pressing soft kisses to his overheated skin. 

His large hand cupped the back of your head as he let his lips brush against your crown. “Maybe one day princess. But I want to keep you to myself just a bit longer.” You wanted to protest but the fight was quickly stolen from you as Bruce rolled you onto your back, slotting himself between your plump thighs as you felt him harden once more. “Let me spoil my girl in peace.”  Any protests you had were quickly drowned out as he pulled moans from you. 

Bruce lurched up with a gasp, desperately trying to suck in oxygen as the dream replayed in his mind. It felt so real but there is no way that it could be, he would’ve remembered it by now if it was.

“Fuck.” His ribs screamed in protest at his violent awakening. Even a month after his run in with the Scarecrow, his body was barely recovering and he could feel pieces of his mind that had still yet to fit themselves back into place. 

The blaring green light from the clock on his nightstand told him that he had only been asleep for an hour, an improvement after he recovered from the concussion but still not great. The cold hardwood sent a jolt of alertness up his spine, but did nothing to subdue the torrent of images that flashed in his mind every time he so much as blinked. 

The curve of your shoulder as water droplets ran down your back. 

Bruce rocked his weight forward and stood with a groan.

Your thick thighs wrapped around his hips as he gripped you by the waist and thrust downwards.

He slipped a shirt over his shoulders, and tugged on a pair of sweats as he headed for the door to his bedroom.

Candle light flickering across your face as you cradled him against your chest, his lips branding every inch of skin he could reach.

“What a fucking pervert.” He snarled to himself. All you had ever been was kind to him, and respectful. And yet he was imagining you in his bed. Not only in his bed, some twisted part of his mind coos. His nails bit into his palm as he swallowed thickly.

It started the first day back after his ‘accident’. Bruce vaguely knew who you were, fleeting memories of your job interview and casual conversations at the beginning of the work day. Alfred had told him of your intelligence and hard work but none of his family could recall anything other than a professional relationship between the two of you.

The second he saw you, he couldn’t stop thinking about you. He wanted to touch you, kiss you, just be in your presence but how could he? You were young, his secretary and you would be in danger if he indulged. And still, you remained.

For weeks, Bruce buried himself in the mystery of you. He needed to know what it was about you that captivated him. Yet none of the information he uncovered gave him answers and you still remained in his dreams. He pushed himself into patrols, into training and work. He had already been on the end of dozens of lectures from Alfred and Dick (and one very strange one from Damian), he kept pushing on.

The cave’s chill sliced through him as Bruce stepped from the elevator and he was greeted by the sight of his oldest and youngest bickering by the huge wall of monitors. He ignored them.

The police scanner was suspiciously silent as he took a seat in front of his workbench. “You shut off the alert system.” His voice was raspy from disuse but it immediately silenced his boys and drew their gaze to him.

“Grayson did it. I was just informing him how irresponsible he’s being.”

“And I was telling Damian that you need a break, desperately.”

“Chum-“

“No. I’m serious Bruce, you’re actively fucking killing yourself and I won’t let you. Jason and Cass are covering your patrols for the foreseeable future and you are staying put. I am sick of this stupid self-destruction rampage you’re going on.” 

Dick’s phone suddenly rang, the default tone echoing around the cave for a moment before he fished it from his pocket and answered. “Grayson.” As the person on the other end spoke, his eyebrows scrunched and his jaw tightened.

“Which hospital are they taking you to? Ok, I’ll meet you there, just keep breathing, everything's going to be fine.” The line went dead. Dick regarded his father with a look. “I have to go but this is not the end of this conversation.” Before he could take a step towards the exit, Damian grabbed his brother’s hand.

“Is Y/N hurt?” There were moments like this where Dick cursed the fact that his little brother was so observant. He could see Bruce sit up, his focus no longer on the work in front of him. 

“She’s fine, just a little scared but she’ll be alright.”

Then Damian did something so dumb, Dick knew that it was on purpose. “Is the baby ok?” 

There was a beat, then another as he waited on his father’s reaction. Damian had already tried to jog his memory on the topic of you but nothing ever worked and he only succeeded in pissing off his siblings who tried to get him to understand that it wasn’t his decision to make. “The baby?” Bruce whispered like the air had just been knocked from his lungs.

Dick’s temples pulsed with the beginning of a migraine and he glowered at the young boy. “The baby is fine, they’re gonna run some tests. You stay here and we’re going to have a very long talk when I get back.”

“Y/N’s pregnant?” He ignored his father and instead shook off Damian before he jogged to the elevator. So instead Bruce looked to the boy that stood alone in front of the wall of glowing monitors. “Is-is the baby-“

“It appears as though I won’t be the youngest any longer. If you run, you could catch up.” 

Bruce’s stomach dropped. “I-“

Damian glared at him. “Go.”

——————

“I’m only taking you because I think that you’re still listed as her emergency contact so I need you in order to visit.” Bruce nodded solemnly as Dick pulled into a parking spot in the hospital garage. “You will not talk to her, you won’t even fucking look at her.” He took his father’s silence as agreement.

The powerful engine cut off and without another word, he stepped from the car, expecting Bruce to follow behind. Bruce had always hated hospitals, the air too stale from all the cleaning chemicals they used, the silence, the blinding lights. But if you were here, he would spend the rest of his life on the uncomfortable waiting room chairs just to make sure you were safe.

“I’m here to see Y/N Y/L/N, she called me from the ambulance.” The older nurse at the check-in desk raised her eyebrow at the pair.

“She’s in room 335. Down the hall, third door on your right.”

“Thank you.” Bruce trailed along behind his son, the questions in his mind building up higher and higher with each step he took. But all he could concentrate on was if you were ok.

Dick gave him a warning look as they reached the room. “It’s me, can I come in?” There was a muffled response and then Dick slipped inside, quickly shutting the door behind him. 

The hall was now only filled with the beeping machines from other rooms and the occasional call over the pa system, leaving nothing to distract Bruce from the fear that curled around his heart. He knew what he was going to do was a bad idea, one that could have the potential to destroy not only any redemption with you but might fracture the already tumultuous relationship he had with his son.

But he had to see you, just once.

As quietly as he could, Bruce grabbed the door handle and slowly pushed his way in, praying that the hinges didn’t squeak. 

“I’m ok, I just got a bit dizzy and fell down like 1 step. I think the ambulance was totally unnecessary.”

Dick shook his head. “Will you just let someone take care of you for once?”

You chuckled softly and took his hand in such a maternal fashion, it made Bruce’s heart lurch in his chest. “I called, didn't I?”

The door swung fully open, hitting the wall behind with a resounding thud. Both your attentions snapped to Bruce.

You sat up in bed on the opposite side of the room, dressed in a flimsy hospital gown and illuminated by harsh lights but you were still the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Your fading smile was tired and your eyes bloodshot from crying and Bruce realised that you were comforting Dick, not the other way around. He hadn’t seen you smile in so long.

“Why is he here?” You hissed and visibly curled in on yourself, arms around your stomach. 

“Bruce-“

“I know you.”

He knew each dip and bump and curve of your soft body, the colour of your eyes in the sun and how different they were under fluorescent lights, which hairstyle you wore indicating what mood you were in.

He knew your insecurities and your trauma, you hated humidity but didn’t mind the heat, the names of all your plants, and the way you would smile just a bit brighter and just a bit wider when children or animals were around.

He knew you loved him.

Bruce Wayne knew he loved you.

“I-I know you.” His voice shook as he took a step towards you yet this time, you didn’t flinch away. “Sunny. My sun. My light.” 

“Bruce.” A tear rolled down your cheek.

“I’m so sorry.” He fell to his knees beside you, his head bowed. “I’m sorry my love. I didn’t mean to, I didn’t- Why couldn’t I remember?” He sobbed.

“It doesn’t matter now.” Your fingers, your perfect delicate fingers, brushed away his tears before you gently cupped his cheeks, lifting his gaze back up to meet yours. 

“I was so horrible to you, I didn’t know. And you’re- god you’re pregnant.” His hands slid up the side of the bed, cupping your thigh over the scratchy hospital blankets. You nodded and guided them higher so his palms spread over your growing stomach. “Wow I guess I really did do the filling huh?”

“Oh god, ‘m gonna throw up.” 

You laughed as Bruce bashfully looked over at his son. “Sorry chum.”

“I’m gonna go get some coffee, by the time I get back, you two better be fully dressed.” Your lips snapped shut as you looked away in embarrassment and it was Bruce’s turn to chuckle.

“Sunny, I’m so sorry, you deserved so much better.” 

“Will you stop that? I know it wasn’t your fault.”

“But it still hurt you and I made a promise to never do that. So please, let me grovel.” He laid his head onto your thigh while you threaded your fingers into his hair.

“What made you remember?”

“Your smile. I realised that I would always remember your smile and then everything came flooding back.”

“You’re a fucking sap you know that.” You tugged on his hair but Bruce just smiled dumbly at you before he smirked.

“Marry me.”

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[kr-starz]

Modern Highschool Arcane AU headcanons !!

(Vi & Jinx)

Jinx and Vi are still teenagers, their age gap would be like 3 years in this AU, so when it's Jinx's freshman year Vi's already a Senior.

People were genuinely surprised finding out the little chaotic science geek and the sports-minded athlete were SISTERS since they were so different friend group and personality wise.

(Cait & Vi)

Vi is a jock! She does winter wrestling and she's the best in her weight group. She's also involved in fall and spring sports. Baseball and football are her other seasonal sports.

People know Vi to be just a sports junkie, she has pretty good grades but nothing exceptional.

She's not so great at science , which forces her to be tutored.

Vi and Cait met in their sophomore year, she needed some help improving her grade in order to be eligible for the spring season sports since she was failing history at the time, so Caits assigned to help her out.

Caitlyn’s a goody two shoes icl, like she’s apart of the student council and her mom’s the superintendent. She’s in ROTC and she’s so very loud about it, she’s basically the FACE of the program.

Cait and Vi get close because Vi keeps seeing Caitlyn around and she’s become sort of a hallway crush, but with her fuckboy attitude Vi tries to flirt the second she realizes that she’s somehow managed to get Caitlyn as her tutor!

Cait is used to people flirting with her, she usually brushes it off since she’s a man magnet. Vi on the other hand, is weirdly making her flustered? It’s strange, really.

Cait and Vi start getting closer and eventually start dating the year after.

(Ekko & Jinx)

Ekko and Jinx are the same age but Ekko's older by a few months so he brags about it.

Ekko D&D nerd. He dragged Jinx into it, she only complied since Ekko asked so nicely (he threatened her kindly)

Jinx isn’t into extracurriculars, did track in middle school so she’s exceptionally fast and she’s in the track and field team in high school but she skips practice A LOT but the coach lowkey needs her so she doesn’t get punished.

Jinx has straight A’s but she skips classes and has days where she just can’t attend class so she does some of her work online (it’s like 70/30) in person-online; she has accommodations in her 504 plan that lets her listen to music all the time and lets her leave class whenever.

Jinx is just a nickname that was given to her while she was a kid since every sports team she cheered for ended up losing (she only ever went since she wanted to see what Vi was up to) and she was Jinxing every game which DID hurt her feelings when she was like 6 but now it’s kind of funny since she doesn’t care for sports.

She’s slightly uncomfortable letting random people call her Powder now since she introduces herself as Jinx, only her closer friends call her Powder.

She no longer Jinxes games now though but it was funny while it lasted.

Ekko and Jinx have this weird rivalry-friendship-situationship where they ARE childhood best friends who back each other up but they refuse to pair up together when working on projects since they wanna see who can get better grades or impress more people.

Ekko and Jinx is like “the boy/girl next door” trope since they’ve been casually hanging just whenever since they were little itty bitty kids. So people kind of know Jinx as “that girl friend he’s always around” and Ekko as “that boy friend Jinx is always around” to their respective classmates and acquaintances.

Ekko and Jinx used to get the “wait you guys aren’t dating” comment at least once a month. (They’re not dating just yet)

Ekko is in the art club and has never considered doing a sport (Ice hockey has intrigued him more and more every year though) and he’s in a bunch of clubs to compensate. He established the D&D club, being in a little “green thumb” club for plant parents, afterschool computer-science club which is run by Viktor and Jayce. He’s got a pretty decent variety of friends because of it and larger social circle. He’s known to be this friendly little nerdy guy and people either love him or think he’s weird.

When Ekko doesn’t have extracurriculars to focus on he’s out practicing new skate tricks,

Ekko is the plant dad of the CENTURY, he has like 20 plants in his room, he’s nurturing a garden in his backyard and he has the prettiest bushels of flowers in the house. He’s got the greenest of thumbs.

Jinx has a black thumb and kills every plant in a 20 mile radius. No but seriously, when Ekko tried giving Jinx a plant to take care of as an attempt to bond, it DIED within a week. (She drowned it) and when he gave her an easier plant to take care of, she fed the thing rubbing alcohol and didn’t notice until it was DEAD.

Ekko asks Jinx to Hoco, that’s when they started dating. Everyone calls it like “oh my god finally” “you weren’t dating before?” Etc. it’s really cute but there’s minimal changes!! They just start like, kissing or something.

[animeshotsh]

A doggie!! | Various x Kid!Reader |

Warnings: Fluff - Curses - HH violence - Alastor hates dogs - Lucifer its all up to bother Alastor - grammar mistakes - may do pt2 -

Charlie could not hold her smile as she walked down the streets of hell, a big box in her hands and a nervous Vaggie at her side.

"Charlie...love, do you think this is a good idea? Vaggie asked again for the 10th time that day

Charlie who was already planning on how to give you your gift stopped to look at her gilfriend.

"We have been over our head with the hotel and the new patrons. No one has the time to play with (Y/N)...." Charlie said, memories of your sad self leaving the room after seeing everybody was working on something.

"I know but do you think a....dog would help them? They are too young..."

"This" Charlie exclaimed with the biggest and proud smile on her face shoving the box in Vaggi's face "its the most well trained and behaved Cerberus!! I know this race i used to have one, they are loyal and friendly and.."

"And they breath fire, do you really think (Y/N) its going to be alright with one?"

~☆~☆~☆~☆

Turns out, you were even better than right.

Amazing one would say.

Charlie let out sounds of happyness as she snapped pictures of you and the little and chubby cerberus. Both of you currently playing inside your room.

Well one of them, since Alastor and Lucifer insisted on you having a room close to each one of them.

"Its really mine Sis?" You asked giving the dog some trears then rubbing its belly.

"Yes! We have been working too hard in the hotel and i know you must have feel lonely, but now you have this frien by your side"

The shadow from alastor and flying lamb from Lucifer where at the side giving Charlie offended looks.

~☆~☆~☆~☆

No one was ready for how was going to be with you and a cerberus.

First, Lucifer almost had a heart attack when he went to your room to get you and saw the puppy who in return sent a blast of blue fire towards him.

You had to calm down the creature that had turned big when being suprised by the hell's king.

"Hey hey!! Its fine its my dad"

"(Y/N) GET AWAY FROM THAT THING"

Of coruse his screams alerted Charlie who went as fast as she could to see her father sending glares towards your cerberus (when did it got so big?) And you trying to calm it down.

After Charlie explained and Lucifer calmed down so did the dog. Returning to its puppy size and now running in circles, not a single sign that it was the same beast from minutes before.

~☆~☆~☆~

Alastor hated it. And the dog hated Alastor back.

When he heard you had got a dog Alastor was ready to try and get the thing out of the hotel.

Maybe he could get you a fish....yeah that sounded better.

But no. The moment Alastor tried to get that dog it turned six feet tall and growled at him.

And no, Alastor was not suprised and he was ready to fight it.

But that thing was more intelligent, when it hear you were coming it went back to its puppy size and started crying. And you just happened to be around the corner.

"Cerberus? Uncle? What happened?"

Oh that fucker played Alastor so well, he could see the dog smiling and wanted nothing more than to squish it.

"Oh Dear! Looks like i scared it, maybe its not as strong as it seems" Alastor joked getting a low growl.

"Nono! Cerberus its so strong and gets big!! It even let dad, sis and I ride on its back" you explained while petting each head. "Maybe you can come with me? I promise you wont fall"

Like hell he would let himself be on top of that thing. But he could not tell you that so he just smiled "maybe another time, lets go and listen to some jazz while i work on my program"

"Can cerberus come?"

At the question Alastor's eye twitched "of course it can"

~☆~☆~☆~☆

Lucifer was in cloud nine after hearing at dinner that Cerberus had pissed Alastor's studio making the radio demon let out static noise and almost stabbing the king.

You were so sorry almost crying your eyes out making Alastor stop from breaking the dogs necks.

So new rule! No dogs in his radio station. And no dogs in his room.

You know what? No dogs near him.

~☆~☆~☆~☆~

The only time Lucifer and Alastor agreed on something: you spent too much time with the dog.

Sleep? With the dog. And no one could be in the same bed with you and it. Why? Because that thing would get bigger on purpose to prevent someone from stealing you.

The only one who could be with you and it was Charlie. Why? No one knew but if you were out your room the only other demon near you and your dog was Charlie.

She would prepare sleep overs with you and cerberus, Vaggie would join too, and the dog never reacted towards them. It even let itself be pet and kissed.

But with Lucifer? Yeah no. Even if it did let him ride on its back it was still not so friendly towards him. The dog even glared when Lucifer claimed you and him needed to go and could not bring it.

And Alastor had a personal war. Everytime you were not looking he would snap his fingers to try and make the dog leave. Nothing even worked.

"A truce, we get the dog out" a drunk Lucifer said one night to an equal drunk Alastor.

"I accept, i cant deal with that thing any longer"

"Well, it pissing your studio was something..."

"Haha, dont forget when it took your hat" Alastor bite back.

"HAHAHA well at least it likes me a bit"

"You must smell like it"

"FUCK YOU"

[ghostgirl-22]

Yes hello I have some thoughts about dopey cockslut Art I'd like to share with the group.

In the lockeroom with Patrick and his teammates.

Wearing those obscene blue panties briefs.

Discuss.

🩷

Oh my love. It’s been ages since you sent me this. I know. I’m so sorry 💔

Poor guy. Art definitely prefers boxers at this point in his life but it’s been two a day practice sessions for the past couple weeks. And with his crazy course load he’s barely had time to do laundry so he’s wearing as a last resort these briefs his mom bought him (Patrick finds that part out later).

CW: 18+ NSFW, exhibitionism, voyeurism, bimbofication, cock!slut, my little mildly ooc au where everyone wants that blond in those panties. And no, i don’t mean the au that is challengersblr. Or do i…<3

—-

It’s not even Patrick who does it. It’s this boy named Eli. Tall and built, he’s kinda stocky for a tennis player. He’s not particularly quick on the court but when he gets to the ball the return is usually powerful and right down to the baseline.

The locker room is half full, everyone just getting ready to go home and that’s as close as they come to all doing it. Eli is sitting on the bench, watching art bend over to grab something out of Patrick’s tennis bag when he tugs at the waistband of his shorts trying to peek inside. “Shit are you wearing panties, Donaldson?” He says loudly. Heads turn, some boys start snickering. 

“No,” Art begins to flush immediately, shoving Eli away and trying to straighten his shorts. 

“I can see the panty line…You so fucking are,” Eli says. 

“Oh my god, lemme see.” Eli’s good buddy Adam approaches. Walking up behind Art.

“I’m not… shut up you guys,” Art says, but his voice takes on this playful sing song tone. A tone that Patrick is more than familiar with. Flirty and soft because he can’t help himself.

Adam and Eli aren’t the only boys that are curious .

“Are they lacy panties?” Another teammate jumps in and there’s more snickering.

“I wanna see,” another boy says excitedly.

It’s been such a crazy past few weeks, they’ve been training so intensely for this tournament against the best program in the nation. No time for parties and girls and all the other usual outlets. Just school and tennis. They’ve been all up in each other’s personal space, spent more time with each other than anyone else. There’s been all this tension and hormones and Art’s kinda pretty. Girl pretty and kinda soft. This blond with full lips, long eyelashes and sad blue eyes. In one of their more inappropriate away game late night drunk discussion sessions they’d all basically agreed they’d fuck Art first if they ever got stranded as a team.  (They all planned to eat this kid Jeremy first, the team captain, nothing personal it’d just be his duty to the team). 

The whole dumb conversation left Patrick oddly aroused, the idea that practically the whole team admitted they would fuck his best friend. The idea that most of them had thought about fucking him before it ever came up. Gets him so fucking hard.

Art had rolled his eyes, saying that it was so stupid and unrealistic and none of it made sense.

“Really? you don’t want us all to take turns fucking you?” Is all patrick had to say, whispered soft in his ear. Art never says anything but he does go silly for the rest of the night.  

He tends to fall apart so easily for sexual attention. Especially when it comes from other boys and everybody knows it.

“Come on just let us see the color,” Adam teases, he’s grabbing at Art’s t-shirt while Art playfully bats him away. 

”I bet they're red,” someone else says, padding over from the other side of the locker room. “He’s so pretty in red.” 

“I bet… Patrick knows what color they are,” team captain Jeremy chimes in.  

Patrick snorts, “well as his roommate…sure i do,” he shrugs casually and settles on the bench, just opposite of them. As distracted as he is, it’s easy for Art to find Patrick’s gaze, it’s like he follows the sound of his voice or whatever which is kinda fucking hot. Patrick isn’t sure what to do with that yet.

Art can’t stop looking when he sees Patrick sitting there watching him. His flush getting deeper and more delicious.

“As his roommate, right… I’m sure…” Jeremy smirks, clapping Patrick on the back and Patrick grins.

“Dude everyone just wants to see if you’re in girls panties, come on, show us,” Eli says.

Art goes completely silly when Adam grips his waist and shoves him firmly up against the locker. Art leans his back against it, jutting his hips out while gazing at Adam and Patrick in turns. Lips wet, eyes dilated, as Adam tugs the waistband of his shorts low, revealing his little blue briefs. Fitting even tighter cause he’s half aroused.  

“I told you they weren’t panties,” Art says, tone still singsong and soft. 

“Might as well be. Holy shit, look at you,” Adam says, touching him right away.

Art gazes at Patrick biting down on a soft little moan. 

Patrick drags his palms over his thighs. 

Eli puts his hand on Art too and suddenly they’re both touching him.

”oh fuck,” someone else whispers. There’s barely any air in the room when Eli kisses him and Art closes his eyes and starts moaning for it in front of everyone.

“You should let me fuck you… oh my god.” Adam sighs, kissing his throat. “Fuck.”

“God,” Jermey says, he’s mildly breathless. “You know you boys can’t do that in here. I-I mean what if coach comes in.” 

Eli breaks the kiss with a sigh. “Yeah, mmkay right, cap.”

“’m sorry,” Art says, licking his lips. He’s all flustered pushing Eli and Adam off of him and trying to pull his shorts back up over his erection. Trying to hide it.

Silly. Silly boy. So fucking silly.

It’s enough to put a little bit of the air back in the room but Patrick can see various teammates adjusting themselves for this.  

Eli pats Art on the bottom when he tries to bend over Patrick’s bag again. Another boy pinches his waist when he stands up. Jeremy is practically white knuckling his gym bag, can’t take his eyes off Art.

“I don’t see why we have to wait to be stranded to fuck him.” Patrick overhears one of their teammates whisper to another as they’re leaving the locker room.

Adam is basically begging Art to come over later. “I know you want to.” 

“I dunno,” Art’s all squirmy trying to accommodate for how messy he just got. For how hard he still is for their attention. They all want his attention and he’s just so flustered and overwhelmed. He walks the wrong direction to grab his bag. Patrick tugs at his shirt as he passes, to redirect him to the right locker. And of course he can’t remember his locker code.

“Come on, I got it.” Patrick says. 

“I didn’t mean to,” he tells Patrick, antsy, bouncing on the balls of his feet as Patrick spins the dial.

“Didn’t you?” Patrick smirks, teasing the hair out of his eyes. Art bites his lip. Patrick grabs Art’s bag. Picks up his own.

Art is so easy right now, nearly let himself come in front of his teammates. Probably would’ve let Adam fuck him if Jeremy wasn’t such a goody two shoes team captain. Probably would’ve let them all fucking take turns inside him after that.

Patrick can’t wait. he just has to fuck another load into him right away.

He doesn’t even have to try to get those little blue briefs off, just steps away from the boys locker room, Art bent over the desk of an empty office. They’re still all sweaty and damp from practice and from what they did right before practice started. When he’s done, Patrick pulls the briefs back up slowly while Art’s panting for him. Admiring how they look over the mess he made. 

“Mm i dunno.” Patrick sighs. “i like you in red but blue is my favorite color.” 

(I have one day off, yall, dare I say inbox zero? *she says, eyes maniacal, crazy and deranged*)

[sapphicandgraphic]

Breathe — Chapter 1

Summary: Got my first Melissa fic request from a reader! Prompt: Reader has an asthma attack and Melissa comforts them.

Series Warnings: Detailed descriptions of asthma attack, medical drama, hurt/comfort

Chapter: 1/3

______________________

It was a crisp, early fall day at Abbott Elementary and hundreds of excited students were making their way to the gymnasium for a school-wide assembly.

You stood in the hallway, silver whistle perched idly between your lips, staring at a wrinkled piece of paper with some hastily scribbled bullet points.

A few of the younger kids said hello as they passed you, smiling shyly and waving.You were the newest faculty member at Abbott, but your friendly, easygoing nature had quickly endeared you to the students.

A trio of older girls rushed up, giggling as they each hugged you.

“Okayyyy,” one of them said, immediately clocking your more formal outfit. “She upgraded from coach to first class, fam.”

“Purr!” The others agreed, clapping their long acrylic nails in applause as you played along, posing and popping the collar of your black wool blazer.

You had indeed dressed up today, knowing that Ava was planning to drag you on stage at some point and introduce you to the whole school.

As Abbott’s first official athletic director, you were in charge of the entire fitness program. That included everything from after-school sports to health and gym classes. You loved your job and all the responsibility that came with it, but public speaking always made you a bit queasy.

You finally managed to shoo the girls away and went back to studying your remarks. You lifted the whistle to your mouth again, absently holding it between your teeth.

A familiar, raspy voice interrupted your nervous pacing.

“You warmin’ up, coach?”

Melissa was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, smiling crookedly. Her class was marching through the gym doors single file. Not for the first time, you admired how this woman managed to exude such a steady aura of control, to corral her kids so effortlessly.

You crumpled up the piece of paper and shoved it in your pocket, trying not to look as nervous as you felt.

“Ms. Schemmenti,” you said, smiling over the heads of the passing second graders. “Good morning.”

“So, are the rumors true?” She asked. “Are you going to star in today’s assembly?”

“The principal is insisting, for some reason,” you said, swiping a hand through your hair.

“She wants to show ya off,” Melissa said, her bright green gaze lingering long enough to make you blush.

“Why?” You asked, tone veering toward whiny.

The other woman rolled here eyes and did her best to ignore the surge of affection she felt in that moment.

When you first got hired, Melissa had expected you to be egotistical, arrogant, peacocking around for attention. You were a jock, after all, with a long list of awards and medals attached to your name. Instead you were disciplined, thoughtful, funny, great with the kids. And you had done nothing but consistently surprise her since the start of term.

She pushed off the wall, stalking toward you.

“Because you’re a catch,” she purred. “All them fancy private schools dying to snap ya up, and yet here you are, slumming with us at Abbott.”

As always, your heart rate spiked when the redhead fixed you with that bright, taunting smile. She was wicked hot and a little scary—just your type.

“You nervous?” Melissa was suddenly quite close. You swallowed, looking anywhere except down her shirt at the glorious expanse of creamy cleavage on display. Tits like that should be illegal.

“Kinda,” you admitted, glancing up at the ceiling.

She chuckled, brushing lint off the lapels of your coat. “Shouldn’t you be used to crowds? Big state champion and all.”

You looked down at her in surprise. “How did you know —“

“I have my sources,” she said, mysterious and vaguely threatening.

You chuckled, shaking your head.

“That’s different,” you said. “Besides, I’m a team player. Not used to being in the spotlight all by myself.

“Aww,” Melissa cooed, pinching your cheek softly. “You’ll do great, hon.”

You had a sudden, absurd desire to grab that teasing hand, to pull her off balance and silence her with a bruising kiss.

But then Barbara arrived with her class. One look at the scene before her—Melissa’s predatory smile, your flushed cheeks—told her all she needed to know.

“Melissa,” she scolded. “Leave that poor girl alone.”

In the short time you’d been at Abbott, Barbara Howard seemed to be the only one who could effectively muzzle Melissa. The redhead gave you one last appreciative look before stepping back and shrugging.

“What?” Melissa said. “I was just bein’ friendly.”

Jacob called your name, summoning you backstage and breaking the tension. Melissa watched you walk away until Barbara rolled her eyes, ushering her friend into the auditorium.

“Behave,” she warned, swatting her on the arm. Melissa made a noncommittal noise before wandering off to take her seat.

Ava intercepted you by the curtain.

“Hey, Madame Athletic Director,” she said. “Ready for your big debut?”

You laughed uncomfortably. “As I’ll ever be.”

Jacob appeared, wheeling a small black machine with several buttons and knobs on a metal cart.

“We like to start the year off with a bang,” Ava explained, pulling out her phone and connecting to the Bluetooth. “But per usual, the district didn’t give us any budget, so we had to get creative.”

Hype music started to play over the loudspeakers, to the clear delight of the entire student body.

“And now for the piece de resistance,” Jacob said.

He rubbed his palms together like a magician about to pull a rabbit out of his hat, then flicked a switch on the machine.

You didn’t have time to react before a wall of thick, white smoke billowed out. Ava jumped back.

“Is that s’posed to happen?” She asked.

“Hmm,” Jacob frowned. A smell like melting plastic permeated the backstage area.

“Ugh, turn that off!” Ava coughed, waving a hand in front of her face.

Jacob flipped another switch but the smoke kept coming, curling up toward the ceiling and giving the air a chemical haze.

“Help,” he moaned, hands hovering over the control panel uncertainly. “Help, help, help.”

You opened your mouth to make a suggestion and accidentally inhaled a few lungfuls of the stuff. Stepping forward, choking on the acrid smell, you unplugged the power cord from the wall outlet. Jacob shot you a grateful look.

“Thanks.”

With a disappointed hum, Ava put her phone away and waltzed out onto the stage to begin the assembly. You tried to focus on her words, but your eyes were watering and your chest felt tight. Uh-oh.

“Be right back,” you said, jogging down the steps. Jacob nodded, turning back in disappointment to the fog machine.

Melissa and Gregory, sitting in the front row with their classes, noticed your hasty exit out the side door.

“Isn’t she getting introduced soon?” Gregory asked.

The redhead narrowed her eyes. “Yeah.”

As soon as you were out of the gym you started coughing. Your throat and lungs burned, and you felt the telltale creep of inflammation as your airway constricted.

Your office was just around the corner from the gym, and you started to jog that way. It had been more than a year since your last asthma attack, and you’d gotten out of the habit of carrying your emergency inhaler on you. By the time you unlocked the door and stumbled inside, you were wheezing.

You made a beeline for the medical locker on the far wall, throwing open the metal door and rummaging in your first aid kit. Ace bandages, tubes of neosporin, packets of Advil—but no inhaler.

A ripple of panic slithered down your spine as your breathing grew more labored, each gasp shallower than the last.

It suddenly occurred to you that someone might have moved it. Black dots hovered at the edge of your vision.

“Fuck,” you murmured, realizing all at once how much trouble you were in. “Fuck.”

[howlsofbloodhounds]

Kinda upsetting when people write killer willingly and/or knowingly hurting or killing any animals, let alone his cats. I firmly believe he would never willingly or knowingly do that, would never want to.

And if he ever suspected that he could be a danger to any animal in his care while in his higher Stages (which I prefer to think he wouldn’t be, simply because his SOUL will immediately switch to Stage 1), which he can’t control and where his impulse control plummets even more, then he’d do the intelligent and mature thing—attempt to rehome the animals in his care.

Find them somewhere else safer with someone he can trust to take care of them, and far away from anyone or anything that could pose a danger to them.

(Not to mention the popular fanon belief that Killer not only keeps those cats, but takes them into Nightmare’s castle.

The cats are never once shown or even implied to have stepped their little paws into even an inch of Nightmare’s castle, and Killer would never take them there.

Not to mention—it doesn’t seem like Killer even keeps them anywhere. It’s made pretty clear that these are stray, homeless cats who choose to be around and hang around Killer. They like him, they trust him, they keep coming back to him. Them not having a home either is one reason Killer relates to them so much.)

Just because he’s a (literal) programmed killer, and is currently being trafficked by a corrupted being of negativity where he has to do and say a lot of horrible things—at least appear to be extremely obedient and willing, useful—in the name of survival and avoiding unnecessary suffering, doesn’t mean he doesn’t have lines he hasn’t yet crossed and would never willingly cross.

Not without some desperate situation, or external force coercing and threatening him into it.

Just because any sense of morals or morality he has may not be considered traditional, maybe even more flexible, doesn’t mean he doesn’t have them when in Stage 2. Doesn’t mean he doesn’t have them still whenever it has to take the backseat in order to survive.

He’s not an animal abuser or an animal killer. He’s not a cheater, in the “agreed to be in a committed relationship” sense.

He’s not a rapist, or a sexual harasser, or a sexual assaulter. In fact he’s actually a lot more likely to be the one being assaulted. He’s not misogynistic, or homophobic, or transphobic, or queerphobic.

And despite the harm he has caused children unrelated to him and not under his care—because he still very likely had to kill and torture children, because that’s what you gotta do when your partner in crime is controlled by a being who can control the entire world and your Boss can dig his little dirty tendrils in your mind and soul and bring you to heel anyway—I doubt he goes out of his way to harm or abuse children willingly.

He may not care much about or trust children in the slightest—definitely not parent material—but similar to the cats, he’d find someone better, more willing, more able, to take care of any kid or kid(s) that somehow fall into his care.

Kids may find him and his Stages confusing, and because they’re young kids who don’t understand what’s happening to the adult taking care of them, they could be uneasy and scared—even if Killer hasn’t harmed them and has no plans, intent, or desire to.

Killer in Stage 1 would actually be hyper aware of any harm or risk he could do or be to children, actually. Especially if he’s still under Nightmare, somehow with a kid in tow.

He was an older brother once, after all—even if he failed miserably with his actual brother. On top that, it’s known already how much Killer doesn’t want to hurt anyone in Stage 1, and how much he demonizes and dehumanizes himself including in his higher Stages—and actively encourages others to view and treat him similarly, and even attempts to make the idea of killing him out to be something understandable and justified.

(Because he feels it’s justified. Even when he eventually starts realizing that he wants to live, that he wants a chance at a better life, I do think he’ll still struggle with feeling like he deserves it—but also the crushing fear that he’ll ruin it.

That he can’t trust his own mind, control his own body anymore—and his existence is inherently a threat to everyone around him, especially the ones he loves.

He thinks others would not only be safer if they stay far away from him or if he pushes them away—oftentimes justifying it with “you don’t need me” like he did with Papyrus—but he thinks his very existence puts those around him in danger.

And the only way to not be a danger anymore, to not hurt anyone again is to stop existing. (Which he just can’t seem to do, not from the lack of wanting and trying, though.)

Killer, particularly in Stage 1 and Stage 2, has been living his life with the expectation that he may not live to see tomorrow for quite awhile, and most days he probably never felt like he deserved tomorrow in Stage 1. Other days he didn’t want tomorrow.

Some days maybe even prayed that he’ll go in his sleep, and that his broken, deteriorating body will succumb to its hunger, pain, exhaustion, and injuries. If only because he knows the blood covering him isn’t likely to be just his anymore, come tomorrow morning.)

As if he’s more focused on assuaging anyone causing him harm or attempting to kill him of their own potential guilt or hesitation, willing to let himself be painted and treated as something subhuman if it means someone can and will kill him without hesitation or guilt. He self sabotages by trying to make people want to kill him, and feel justified in doing so.

He’d be more concerned with not taking any risks, wanting to give the kid(s) the means to protect themselves or run away if they ever have to.

When he’s in Stage 2, the kid(s) may feel like he’s suddenly more cold, distant, unreachable, emotionally unavailable. A child’s understanding of what’s happening can be simplistic.

Killer has done and is willing to do horrible things, but there are some lines he hasn’t yet crossed in his canon and we don’t have to pretend that he did in order to dismiss him, and the possibility of him trying and being able to change as soon as he���s actually able to be free from the environment and person that threatens him with erasure and torture on the literal daily if he attempts to disobey.

Yes, even if he and Nightmare were to be laughing together and playing a game of chess. The threat isn’t forgotten.

He has killed and tortured many people—likely children as well even if not shown much, and yes both Horror and Dust likely have as well—and he does mutilate and torture Swap during their first fight, and it seems to be something he continues to do whenever Swap keeps coming back to him.

It’s made clear that Killer doesn’t seek Swap out—Swap seeks him out. That doesn’t justify what Killer does in the slightest, but he is not going out of his way to hunt Swap down and hurt him.

Doing so would be counterproductive to what he wanted from the beginning—which was to make Swap give up on him, leave him alone, go away, and stay away. (When he asked if he kidnapped Blue, he even says he didn’t in ‘this’ timeline).

Also, some people have been really weird by insisting that Killer can never have healthy relationships of any kind at all, not even with Color, and that it’s “not canon” to say or depict his relationship with Color is such a way when that’s simply not true.

And i think this is because some seem to think that Killer doesn’t do anything but “hurt everyone” and that his apathy and disconnect from most people, his indifference towards his own actions in Stage 2, means he will actively and willingly hunt down and torture random people for no reason whatsoever.

The only person Killer has been shown hurting and abusing since Nightmare kidnapped and removed him from his own timeline was Swap.

And even then he’s never shown actively hunting Swap down just to hurt him—Swap is always the one shown to be coming around and bothering Killer even after he has made it clear that he wants Swap to just leave him alone.

He never asked for Swap’s help, nor did he ask him to save him or “fix” him or “make him feel and be good again,” but Swap keeps trying to and forcing his presence on Killer.

Keeps trying to force his wants and desires for Killer onto Killer. His ideas of what Killer should do or who and what he should be.

Thinks he knows Killer better than Killer knows himself, thinks he knows what Killer needs and wants. Thinks he knows what’s good for Killer.

Color doesn’t do this: he’s the only one who has ever asked Killer what Killer wants. (And of course, this is me writing from Killer’s perspective of Swap. We all know that no one deserves that, and there’s better ways to handle this situation.)

Everyone else Killer was shown hurting and killing was never anything personal to him, or something he did completely unprompted. Everyone else was Killer doing Nightmare’s dirty work—fighting the Star Sanses, terrorizing AUs and their residents.

And unless Nightmare told him to do otherwise or something triggered Stage 3/4, Killer was never fighting to kill—but he wasn’t holding back or refusing to fight either, unlike the Stars. Only enough to severely injure or incapacitate, not to kill.

He also sometimes got and gets crueler with his attacks when he was starting to get bored of the fight or of the lack of challenge/reaction/resistance his opponents put up, such as with Dream.

Killer in Stage 2 is indifferent in that he is desensitized to acts of extreme violence and abuse (especially when inflicted on himself), is used to causal murder and torture and death, and is removed—derealized—from the reality of it all.

He is also indifferent in that, unless he is given something he deems reasonable enough to get violent for—outside of being ordered to or being triggered and reacting violently—then he won’t bother to go out of his way to hurt someone for no reason.

If he doesn’t care about someone or is utterly apathetic to their existence, then he won’t bother to go out of his way to hurt them either until he thinks they’re starting something with him—making him into a problem or have hurt him.

He’d just ignore and/or avoid them, and acknowledge them if it’s for a reason or a convenience. Or a purpose of some sort, like having to work together on something.

Could he hurt people if he were to become interested in/curious about someone/something about them? Yeah, sure.

But I don’t think he’s doing it for the explicit purpose of finding pleasure in their pain or something—in this situation, him inflicting pain would likely come from a place of detached, desensitized, removed curiosity.

The subject of his attention and fascination isn’t much of a fully realized real person to him, I’d liken them more to a test subject or experiment of sorts.

As if he’s trying to figure out how they work, or perhaps if things like their emotions and their words are real. If they’re only coded or programmed to react a certain way.

Those “reasonable” reasons seem to be because he thinks it’d benefit him or give a desired outcome—using violence as a tool to scare people away for one—or because he thinks they deserve or deserved it. Aka, because they hurt him first and he wants to hurt them like they’ve hurt him.

(Wanting to hurt Nightmare because Nightmare hurt him by taking away what made him happy, that which gave him hope, what made him feel something—his cats, Color—and forced him to keep living—when Killer didn’t want to—and doing Nightmare’s dirty work, making Killer feel completely hopeless. That there would be no hope.)

Killer also asked Swap Chara if he could cut off their arm to study it, because he’s never studied a human body before. (Meaning he has not performed any unethical experiments on human bodies by that point in his canon.)

On top of that, Killer performs experiments on people’s souls, their blood, and their dust.

He keeps all that in jars—he has never actually been shown experimenting on living beings, let alone against their will. He uses their remains—often times without consent, and it’s unclear how aware exactly a soul that persists after death is of its surroundings when the body is dead. It’s for science, but given what he does, people may view it as keeping trophies of his victims.

We have yet to see him take souls from people who aren’t already physically dead, but we do see that he’s willing to bargain and make deals for others’ souls so he can experiment on them.

He’s doing this because he wants to study their codes—implied that he’s trying to fix his own SOUL. Trying to return to “normal.” He has his selfish reasonings for it, but it is not without reason and it’s certainly not for fun.

(Only time we see him use the word “fun” is when describing what it’s like to work with the Bad Sanses (and the word ‘sad’ is directly beneath it), when Dream asks him why he’s doing what he’s doing and Killer says “because it’s fun” (which he then immediately follows up with “and because your ‘bro bro’ asked me to”), and when someone asked him why he’s hurting Swap.)

(Does he feel guilty about it or remorse for it, any emotional empathy for his victims? No, probably not, not until he’s in Stage 1, likely.

But lacking empathy, guilt, or remorse doesn’t mean purposefully going out of his way to make things as sadistically painful as possible or purposely drawing things as out.)

Meaning every soul he didn’t snatch off a dead body (sometimes ones he killed himself when triggered into Stage 4, because again, Killer says himself that Nightmare doesn’t allow him to kill), was given to him through a bargain or a deal.

There’s also the possible blood drinking, where the only canonical evidence is that Killer was once drawn drinking something from a cup, some of the liquid dripped from his mouth down his chin, and the liquid looked red/similar to how rahaf tended to draw blood. It was never directly confirmed, and from what I can see, no one even asked rahaf about it at the time.

And the fact he collects and keeps human blood in jars for scientific study. Given who he is, it’s reasonable to assume he was curious and bored enough to try it out even once.

But it’s also just likely he’d resort to it originally either because he was forced to, or because he was hungry and he had to survive. There is no reason given as to why, nor is it even directly confirmed besides one possible drawing.

All in all: as of what we have in his canon, Killer in Stage 2 is more detached from traditional morality. He is not without any.

[playboysaleen]

Through Ash and Iron (10)

Jinx x Reader x Caitlyn

Summary: Through Ash and Iron plunges you into the heart of Piltover’s gritty streets, where you’ve always felt the weight of your family’s failures. Rejected from the Junior Enforcer Program, your anger burns brighter than ever—until one fateful punch changes everything. The eyes of Piltover’s elite may look down on you, but it’s the wild eyes of Jinx that truly see you. She’s chaos personified, and you’re drawn to the destruction she promises. But that’s not all. Caitlyn Kiramman, a poised enforcer with a soft spot for rebels like you, offers you a chance to rewrite your future—if you can control the rage you can’t seem to escape.Torn between the order Caitlyn represents and the dangerous freedom Jinx offers, you stand at the crossroads of two worlds. As your power grows, so does the tension between these two women. One promises a chance at belonging, while the other ignites a fire you didn’t know you had. But the choices you make will change everything—not just for you, but for both cities teetering on the edge of war. Who will you choose? And how much of yourself will you lose along the way?

Warnings: Violence duh, gay panic(lol), cursing, all that jazz (whatever you seen in Arcane is what you gon see here)This is also a slight AU.(She/her)

Word Count: 4.1k

A/n: Blessed yall with a little some<3

___________________

The walk back was quiet at first, each step labored but steady. Jinx broke the silence, her voice soft but teasing. “So, uh, you planning on pulling any more crazy stunts? Or is this the last ‘explode-the-lab’ gig?” 

You chuckled weakly, wincing as you leaned more on her. “No promises.”  

Caitlyn shot Jinx a pointed look. “She’s been awake for all of ten minutes, and you’re already asking for trouble?” 

Jinx smirked. “Just keeping her on her toes, cupcake.”  

You smiled faintly at their banter, your gaze falling to Isha, who was fiddling with the clasp of her helmet. You tapped it gently, drawing her attention. “You kept me sane too, you know.” Your voice was soft, almost reverent. “Thank you for waiting for me.” 

Isha giggled, her helmet bobbing as she nodded.  

When you finally reached your apartment, you paused at the threshold, leaning against the doorframe. The others watched you closely as you looked around, taking in every detail. The familiar, worn furniture. The cluttered workbench. The drawings Isha had left by your bedside. It was home, and yet… it wasn’t.  

You walked inside slowly, your movements deliberate. Caitlyn and Jinx exchanged worried glances as you moved to the center of the room and stood still, your hands brushing over the edge of the table.  

“I felt… stuck,” you said suddenly, your voice breaking the quiet. You didn’t turn to face them, your head bowed. “When Viktor took control, it was like… I wasn’t me anymore. I was watching everything happen, but I couldn’t stop it. I couldn’t stop him.”  

You turned then, your expression raw and open. “I was lost. But the two of you…” Your voice cracked, and you swallowed hard. “You were the thread keeping me tethered. Keeping me from slipping away completely.”  

Jinx’s lips parted, her eyes glistening as she opened her mouth to speak, but you shook your head, smiling faintly.  

You reached down, brushing a strand of hair from Isha’s face and tapping her helmet once more. “And you, too, kid. You reminded me what it was all for.” 

Isha grinned, wrapping her arms around your waist.  

You let out a shaky breath, looking between Jinx and Caitlyn with gratitude shining in your eyes. “Thank you,” you whispered, the words carrying the weight of everything you couldn’t say.  

Jinx looked away, her hands on her hips, muttering, “Don’t make me cry, damn it.” 

Caitlyn smiled softly, stepping closer. “You don’t need to thank us. We’re just glad you’re here.”  

But your expression shifted, a quiet determination settling over you as you began gathering a few belongings—a satchel, a jacket, and a small notebook.  

Jinx frowned, stepping forward. “What are you doing?” 

You slung the satchel over your shoulder, turning to face them both. “This isn’t my home.”

Caitlyn blinked, her brow furrowing. “What do you mean? You’ve lived here for years.”  

Your eyes softened as you stepped closer, reaching out to take both their hands in yours. “Home isn’t a place,” you said quietly, your voice steady. “It’s with you. Both of you.”  

Jinx’s breath hitched, and Caitlyn’s lips parted, her eyes searching yours.  

“Wherever you go,” you continued, “that’s where I belong.”  

The room fell silent, the weight of your words sinking in. And then, Jinx let out a quiet laugh, pulling you into a fierce hug. Caitlyn followed, wrapping her arms around you both, her head resting against your shoulder.  

For the first time in a long time, you felt whole.

The pillow fort was a masterpiece of chaos and comfort, a cocoon of mismatched blankets, glowing string lights, and plush pillows stacked haphazardly. You sat cross-legged inside with Isha, who was busily coloring in her sketchbook, her tiny hands moving with careful focus. Jinx, perched a few feet away at her workbench, tinkered with one of her gadgets. The faint hum of machinery filled the room, blending with the soft scratching of crayons.  

You glanced up from Isha’s drawing—a lopsided rendition of you holding hands with her and Jinx—and found your gaze drifting to Jinx. Without thinking, you stood, brushing off stray bits of fabric, and wandered over to her.  

Jinx didn’t look up as you approached, her hands deftly adjusting screws and wires. You slipped your arms around her waist from behind, pulling her close.  

She stiffened slightly before leaning back into you, her hands pausing mid-movement.  

You pressed a kiss to her temple, your voice soft and warm. “Come spend time with us.”  

Jinx tilted her head, glancing at you out of the corner of her eye with a smirk. “You’re needy today.”  

You chuckled, resting your chin on her shoulder. “And you love it.” 

She set down her tools with an exaggerated sigh, swiveling in her chair to face you. “Fine, fine. But only because Isha’s better company than you.”  

“I’ll take it,” you said, grinning as you tugged her toward the fort.  

Jinx plopped down beside Isha, stealing a crayon and starting to doodle with a mischievous grin. The three of you colored in companionable silence, the occasional jab or laugh punctuating the calm. Jinx would nudge your elbow just as you were drawing, or Isha would scold her for coloring outside the lines.  

After a while, Jinx leaned back on her elbows, her gaze flickering to you with a faintly teasing glint. “So…” she started, drawing the word out.  

You didn’t look up. “So what?”  

She tilted her head. “You’ve been quiet about Caitlyn.”  

That got your attention. You glanced at her, your brow furrowing slightly. “What about her?” 

Jinx rolled her eyes, tossing the crayon she was holding. “Oh, come on. Don’t play dumb. You haven’t seen her in what… a week? Two?”  

You looked away, your fingers tightening around the edge of the paper. “She’s busy. I didn’t want to bother her.”

Jinx snorted. “Bother her? You think she doesn’t want to see you?” She sat up, fixing you with a look that was both playful and serious. “You miss her. Admit it.” 

You hesitated before sighing, your shoulders slumping. “I do,” you admitted quietly. “I miss her more than I thought I would.”  

Jinx grinned, satisfied. “Then go see her.”  

You shook your head, though your resolve was already crumbling. “It’s late. She’s probably—”  

Jinx cut you off, leaning in and pressing a firm kiss to your lips. When she pulled back, she smirked. “You’re going. Isha and I’ll hold down the fort. Just be back by tomorrow afternoon, alright?”  

---

The streets of Piltover were quiet as you made your way to Caitlyn’s home, the cool night air wrapping around you. You hesitated briefly at her door, your hand hovering over the wood. Finally, you knocked softly.  

It took a moment, but the door creaked open to reveal Caitlyn, her hair slightly tousled and her silk nightwear catching the faint light from inside. Her blue eyes widened in surprise.  

“You’re here,” she said, her voice soft with disbelief.  

You didn’t respond—not with words. Instead, you stepped forward, cupping her face in your hands. Her breath hitched as your thumbs brushed against her cheeks, and before she could say anything else, you kissed her.  

The world seemed to stop as your lips met. Her hands flew to your shirt, clutching the fabric as if she feared you’d vanish. You poured everything into the kiss—all the longing, the unspoken words, the gratitude for her unwavering presence.  

Caitlyn melted against you, her fingers twisting in your shirt as she pressed closer. Her lips moved against yours, tentative at first but growing more confident. She tasted faintly of tea, her warmth seeping into you like a balm.  

When you finally broke apart, she rested her forehead against yours, her breath coming in soft, uneven pants. Her hands still clung to your shirt, her eyes searching yours.  

“I thought I’d lost you again,” she whispered, her voice trembling.  

You shook your head, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I’m here. And I’m not going anywhere.” 

Her eyes glistened, and she nodded, pulling you into another embrace. You held her tightly, grounding yourself in her presence.  

This moment—this intimacy—felt like coming home. 

The warm morning sun streamed through the window, casting a golden glow across the room. You stirred, the light warming your skin and coaxing you from sleep. Instinctively, you reached out for Caitlyn, but your hand met only cool sheets. A pang of disappointment settled in your chest as you turned, only to see her standing in the doorway, framed by the soft light.  

She was dressed in a loose robe, her hair slightly disheveled, and her blue eyes were fixed on you with a mix of warmth and something deeper.  

“Couldn’t sleep in?” you asked, your voice still heavy with sleep.  

Caitlyn smiled softly, stepping into the room. “Not with you here.” She leaned against the doorframe, her gaze never leaving you. “Having you by my side last night… in your arms… it felt like everything I needed.”  

Your heart ached at the vulnerability in her tone. You opened your mouth to respond, but she continued, her cheeks tinged pink. “I spent hours just… watching you sleep. Memorizing every detail. It felt selfish, but I couldn’t stop myself.” 

You held out your hand to her, and she crossed the room without hesitation, slipping into the bed beside you. You pulled her close, tucking her against your chest.  

“You know,” you began, your voice soft, “I used to think about the first time we officially met a lot.”  

Caitlyn tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. “Oh?” 

You nodded, a faint smile playing on your lips. “That fight with Garret? I swear, I thought you were about to throw me in a cell and toss the key. But then…”  

“Then I brought you food,” she finished, laughing gently.  

“Exactly,” you said, chuckling. “And it wasn’t just food. It was damn good food.” 

Her laugh filled the room, light and musical, and it struck you how much it affected you—how it melted some unspoken part of you.  

“Then there was the time I made food for you,” you continued, teasing. “You didn’t even blink before going in for seconds. That’s when I knew.”

She raised an eyebrow, amused. “Knew what?” 

You smirked. “Knew you definitely didn’t have a boyfriend.”  

Caitlyn’s laugh came louder this time, and she buried her face against your chest. You could feel the slight shake of her shoulders, and it was impossible not to smile.  

Her laughter faded into a comfortable silence, and she looked up at you, her expression softening. For a moment, it seemed like she wanted to say something, her lips parting hesitantly.  

“What is it?” you asked, brushing a strand of hair from her face.  

She shook her head slightly, but her eyes betrayed her. They flicked to your lips for the briefest moment, and you caught it.  

“You’re overthinking again,” you teased, your voice low.  

Before she could protest, you leaned down and kissed her softly. The kiss was tender, unhurried—a silent promise. Caitlyn melted into you, her hands coming up to rest against your chest as she responded, her lips moving against yours with a sweetness that stole your breath.  

When you pulled back, she smiled, her cheeks flushed, and you couldn’t help but press another quick kiss to her forehead.  

---

Later, as you dressed to head back to Jinx’s and Caitlyn got ready for work, the air between you was filled with a quiet longing. You caught her watching you more than once, and each time, she looked away with a faint blush.  

At the door, you both lingered, unwilling to part. Caitlyn hesitated, her fingers brushing against yours. “Will you come back soon?” she asked softly.  

You nodded, a small smile tugging at your lips. “I will. I’ll talk to Jinx—figure out a way to spend time with you both.”  

Her eyes lit up at your words, and she reached out to squeeze your hand. Just as she began to speak, you stepped forward, your hands finding her waist.  

“Wait—” 

You cut her off with a kiss, one that was deeper than before, filled with the promise of your return. When you finally pulled away, you grinned, your voice light with teasing warmth.  

I’ll see you soon, Commander.”  

Without waiting for her response, you slipped out the door, leaving her standing there, her fingers touching her lips, her heart racing.

->

The morning sun cast a radiant glow over Piltover, and for once, Caitlyn strode into the Enforcer headquarters with a spring in her step. Her usually composed demeanor carried a newfound brightness that hadn’t been there in years. Enforcers exchanging reports or standing guard noticed the change immediately.  

“Morning, Commander,” one of them greeted, a hint of curiosity in his tone.  

“Good morning,” Caitlyn replied, her smile soft yet genuine. It was a smile that left those around her exchanging glances.  

Even as she walked through the hallways, handling her duties with her usual efficiency, there was something unmistakably different about her. She hummed softly under her breath, her posture loose and relaxed. She felt lighter, as though the weight of the city’s struggles had shifted—at least a little.  

Ambessa Medarda watched all of this with sharp, calculating eyes. She leaned against a pillar near the training yard, her arms crossed, her imposing frame cloaked in a commanding silence. The woman’s keen sense for power plays and shifting alliances tingled as she observed Caitlyn dismissing officers with quick decisions and navigating problems with ease.  

When Caitlyn finally noticed Ambessa’s presence, she sighed inwardly but kept her composure. “Ambessa,” she greeted, her voice polite but firm. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”  

Ambessa stepped forward, her expression unreadable but her tone pointed. “You’re glowing today, Caitlyn. I’d even say… radiant. Care to share the secret?”  

Caitlyn’s lips quirked into a faint smirk. “Perhaps I’ve finally found a moment of peace.”  

Ambessa raised a brow. “Peace, you say? That’s a dangerous word in a city on the verge of collapse.”  

The older woman’s probing gaze was relentless, but Caitlyn held her ground, her confidence unwavering.  

“And yet,” Caitlyn replied calmly, “it’s a goal worth striving for. I’ve been working to ensure Piltover and the Undercity don’t just survive—but coexist.”  

Ambessa’s eyes narrowed. “Coexistence? Do you honestly believe that’s possible, Caitlyn? You’ve seen what they’re capable of.”  

Caitlyn’s expression softened for a moment, her thoughts drifting to you and the quiet determination in your eyes. “I’ve seen what they’re capable of, yes. But I’ve also seen their potential when given the chance.”  

Ambessa stepped closer, her voice dropping to a low, deliberate tone. “Do you think those alliances you’re building will hold? Jinx, of all people? She’s volatile. She’s dangerous.”  

Caitlyn’s jaw tightened slightly, but she remained steady. “Jinx is more than what people see. She’s capable of change—of building something better. And we’ve already taken the first steps to bring down the barriers that separate us.”  

Ambessa scoffed. “The borders between Piltover and Zaun are there for a reason, Caitlyn. You think tearing them down will lead to peace? It will lead to chaos.”  

Caitlyn took a step forward, her voice steady and sharp. “The chaos has been here for decades, Ambessa. It’s the borders that fuel it. For the first time in years, there’s a chance for hope. For trust. And I’ll do whatever it takes to protect that chance.” 

Ambessa studied her, searching for any sign of weakness, but found none. Caitlyn’s resolve was unshakable, fortified by the quiet strength she had found in you.  

Finally, Ambessa’s lips curved into a faint, humorless smile. “You’ve changed. I wonder… who’s responsible for this new Caitlyn?”  

Caitlyn met her gaze with a quiet confidence. “Someone who taught me that peace isn’t just a dream—it’s a choice. One I’m ready to fight for.”  

Ambessa stepped back, a glimmer of respect in her eyes, though it was tempered by her ever-present skepticism. “Then I hope, for your sake, that you’ve chosen wisely.”  

Caitlyn watched as Ambessa strode away, her mind already turning back to her plans. She thought of you—your warmth, your determination, the way you bridged worlds with a strength she couldn’t help but admire.  

As she returned to her duties, the vision of a united Piltover and Zaun became clearer in her mind. It wasn’t just a dream anymore; it was a future she could almost touch, one she knew she could help build—with you by her side.

The quiet hum of the city filled the air in the small rooftop apartment you had kept—a neutral ground, perfectly straddling the line between Piltover’s gleaming towers and Zaun’s gritty sprawl. You sat at the modest wooden table, papers spread out in front of you, your hood pulled back to let the dim glow of the streetlights outside illuminate your face.  

Jinx sat cross-legged on the opposite end of the table, one of the treaty drafts in her hands. Her eyes darted across the text, but every now and then, she glanced at you, her lips twitching into a small smirk.  

“You know,” she said, her voice playful, “if you told me a year ago that I’d be sitting here reading Piltover paperwork with you, I’d have laughed in your face. Maybe blown something up for good measure.”  

You didn’t look up from the page you were reading, but your lips quirked into a faint smile. “Funny, I was thinking the same thing about you knowing how to read.”  

Jinx let out a dramatic gasp, clutching her chest. “Oh, the audacity! You wound me, babe.”  

“You’ll live,” you teased back, still focused on the treaty.  

She stuck her tongue out at you before settling down again, though her gaze lingered on you longer this time. After a few moments of silence, she spoke again, her tone softer. “You know... this is kinda crazy, right? Piltover and Zaun trying to make peace? After decades of blowing each other to bits?”  

You finally glanced up at her, setting your pen down. “Crazy doesn’t mean impossible. You’re proof of that.”  

She snorted, but there was a warmth in her eyes. “Guess you’re rubbing off on me.”  

“About time,” you quipped, earning a laugh from her.  

Jinx leaned back in her chair, holding the paper up and tilting her head as she studied it. “You really think this’ll work?”  

You looked at her, the weight of her question settling between you. “I think... It's a start. A small act of peace can lead to something bigger. And for once, both sides are willing to try. That’s because of you—and Caitlyn. The two of you taking that first step.”  

Jinx’s expression softened in a way you rarely saw. She set the paper down and stood, walking over to you. Without a word, she slid into your lap, her arms draping around your shoulders as she rested her forehead against yours.  

“You know,” she murmured, her voice low and intimate, “I don’t say this enough... but you’re kinda amazing.”  

You raised a brow, smirking. “‘Kinda?’ I’ll take it.”  

She rolled her eyes before pressing a tender kiss to your temple. Her lips lingered there for a moment, and when she pulled back, her gaze was serious. “I mean it. You’ve done something no one else has ever been able to do. You’ve made me... care. About people. About Zaun. About this stupid treaty.”  

You cupped her cheek gently, your thumb brushing against her skin. “Maybe I just reminded you of what was always there.”  

Her lips found yours in a kiss that started soft but quickly deepened. The warmth of her body against yours, the way she clung to you as if grounding herself—it was rare for Jinx to show this level of vulnerability, but with you, she let the walls fall.  

When you finally pulled apart, her breath warm against your cheek, she whispered, “You know... I’ve been thinking.”  

You tilted your head, intrigued. “Should I be worried?” 

She smirked, but her tone was serious. “I want you to take Sevika’s spot.”  

You blinked, caught off guard. “What?”  

“I’m serious,” she said, her hands tracing idle patterns on your shoulders. “You’d be perfect. You’ve already got both sides listening to you. Zaun trusts you. And if you do it... I’ll be there. By your side. We could do this together.”  

You leaned back slightly, searching her face. “Jinx, this isn’t something I can just decide on a whim. Caitlyn doesn’t even know about this.”  

She leaned in closer, her lips brushing against your ear. “She’ll understand. She loves you. And this? This isn’t just for Zaun. It’s for her too. For both of us.”  

Her words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. You were quiet, your mind racing, but as Jinx rested her head against your shoulder, her arms tightening around you, you felt the weight of her trust and belief in you.  

“You don’t have to decide now,” she murmured. “Just... think about it.”  

You nodded slowly, pressing a soft kiss to her temple. “I will.” 

And as you held her close, the world outside the apartment seemed a little less daunting, the path forward a little clearer—if only for a moment.

The air buzzed with the sound of chatter and the clinking of tools as merchants worked along the border markets. You found a quiet contentment in assisting a small stall, helping an elderly man and his crippled son stock their wares. It was something you loved—bringing a little ease to those who needed it.  

The old man gave you a grateful smile as you carefully arranged the fragile jars of homemade oil on the wooden table. The boy, his leg bound in a crude brace, watched with wide eyes as you handed him a small, polished toy you had whittled in your spare time.  

“Here,” you said softly. “A little something to keep you busy.”  

His face lit up, and his father clapped a hand to your shoulder, his gratitude unspoken but clear.  

The peace of the moment didn’t last long. Garrett, flanked by a few junior enforcers, strode through the marketplace with his usual swagger. He spotted you immediately, his lip curling in disdain, but his attention quickly turned to the small stand you were helping. With an exaggerated huff, he swiped his hand across the table, knocking several jars to the ground. Glass shattered, oil spilling onto the dusty cobblestone.  

The elder man gasped, his son flinching at the sound. You straightened slowly, your gray eyes narrowing as you looked at Garrett. Your face betrayed no anger, only a cold, neutral calm that sent a ripple of tension through those watching.  

Before Garrett could step away, you crossed the distance between you, your movements deliberate. With one swift motion, your hand clamped around the back of his neck. He yelped in surprise, his bravado crumbling as you dragged him unceremoniously through the market.  

Caitlyn, overseeing the Junior Enforcer Program nearby, caught sight of the commotion. Her sharp eyes immediately locked on Garrett—and then on you, your expression unreadable as you approached.  

You stopped in front of her, releasing Garrett with a firm push that sent him stumbling. Caitlyn’s brow furrowed, but when her gaze met yours, she understood everything in an instant.  

“Enforcer Garrett,” she began, her voice calm but commanding, “what do you think your role is here?”  

Garrett hesitated, his usual arrogance faltering under her piercing stare.  

“To... uphold the law,” he mumbled.  

“Exactly,” Caitlyn said, stepping forward. “To uphold the law. To protect and serve. Not to intimidate. Not to destroy. Your actions today are a reminder of why the divide between Piltover and Zaun exists in the first place.” Her voice carried across the marketplace, drawing the attention of merchants and passersby.  

She turned to the crowd, her gaze firm. “Peace is not just a word. It is an action. A choice we make every day to rise above our differences and treat one another with respect and dignity. If we want a future where Piltover and Zaun can coexist, we must hold ourselves to a higher standard.”  

The crowd murmured in agreement, heads nodding. Garrett looked down, shame written across his face.  

You watched Caitlyn with a quiet pride, a faint smirk tugging at your lips. She was commanding, grounded, and resolute—a far cry from the officer you had first met, yet still very much the woman you had come to love.  

As she finished her speech, she extended her hand to you. You hesitated for only a moment before clasping it firmly, your smirk softening into a genuine smile.  

“Well said, Commander,” you murmured.  

She returned the smile, her fingers lingering against yours for just a second too long.  

The crowd, moved by the display, broke into applause. Piltover and Zaun merchants alike clapped, their cheers echoing through the market.  

You and Caitlyn exchanged one last glance—loving, unspoken, yet entirely professional. The understanding between you was clear: this was just the beginning of what you could accomplish together.  

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

Okay, if you think Cait and the reader slept together? No, not yet- Im saving that for a way better time. Enjoy!

[inhuman-obey-me]

Celestials and Saltiness: Lessons 48/49

HAHAHAHA of course while we had irl stuff going on and couldn't go through the lessons for a couple weeks, was when the Big Stuff drops. But we have caught up, and hoo boy, there is plenty to discuss. So let's discuss! Strap in, it's a long one.

(MAJOR spoilers for NB lesson 48/49 below the cut)

The Situation

Let's start with what's actually happening. Hey, remember when the devs decided Simeon is a human now as punishment over the whole stealing the Ring of Light situation? SURPRISE, they've decided he's becoming a demon after all! You know, like all of us fucking expected of what happens to angels when they are punished and fall? Yeah, that.

As it turns out, despite the whole "I'm human now" gradual reveal across two whole fucking seasons, they've now decided this has been going on since basically all the way back to his human world cafe days in OG Season 3 to say he was starting to become a demon even back then, or at least so Solomon theorizes. So...basically the entire length of his "human" punishment thus far. Cool, cool, we're sure that's totally not a retcon due to the devs realizing they wrote themselves into a corner. Definitely had a plan all along, that's why they bought themselves 2 seasons of Nightbringer time travel shenanigans of time before getting into this. Totally.

Anyway, setting aside the salt (for now), we are told that this demonic aura has been starting to appear whenever he feels deep emotions, somewhat similar to how power manifests for the brothers. Solomon tells us that it's because Simeon has a unique ability to access his latent power - which is an interesting little tidbit to note, as it implies that they took away his angel powers but he has his own inherent powers which he was just never able to access until now. We have long held the headcanon that God artificially limits angels' power, so it's very interesting to us to see that it may be suggesting something similar here.

On a related minor worldbuilding note, this does confirm the detail that celestial power has a distinctly opposite feeling than demonic power, meaning that their magic and powers are not neutral. And we also get an in-game reminder that demons do not like angels, so in this situation, it would be expected that an average demon might think an angel deserves to fall and want to torture/kill them if given the chance.

By the way, all of this is going on during the Science Fair Chemistry competition specifically, which is...an interesting parallel to say the least. Chemistry is the science concerned with matter -- including its composition, structure, and how it changes down to the molecular level. We've always been of the opinion that Simeon just turning into a human was odd as it's been established that demons and angels have different physiology in comparison to humans (like how Demonus can get both demons and angels drunk, but doesn't affect humans). Simeon turning into a demon with the absence of his angel powers makes sense.

Celestial Realm Reactions

Now, the consequences.

First, let's look at the political implications. Diavolo, Barbatos, and Lucifer know that this does not bode well for relations between the Realms. After all, what will the Celestial Realm think, having one of their own turning into a demon after they sent them to the Devildom for the exchange program? Especially considering everything that happened with Lucifer and the Great Celestial War, it would be very easy to point a finger at Diavolo and the Devildom for being a corrupting influence.

Lucifer also mentions that Simeon is currently not allowed through the gates into the Celestial Realm without first obtaining forgiveness. However, that status as a human is an ongoing punishment (think of a kid being grounded by parents), not a one-and-done thing, opening up an implication that this transformation is not necessarily intended to be permanent. That's also totally not a retcon, we're sure! If he turns into a demon, that challenges the supposed punishment and calls into question which realm actually has a claim to him -- in a situation where both answers would have precarious implications for Diavolo's peace plan.

So, that's the Celestial Realm as a whole, on a political level. But let's take a look at the individual angels we know too, shall we?

First, there's the big question mark of Michael. We know that he's the one who called Simeon back to the Celestial Realm about the Ring of Light, and we also know that he is in fact the one Simeon stole it from. However, Lucifer assumes Michael is planning to bring Simeon back to the Celestial Realm when he gets the chance, so it seems like he was not actually the one to decide on this punishment and may actually be working to end it. And interestingly, this would not be the first time Michael has acted on his own to seemingly try to cancel out a punishment from God -- as a reminder, he also went off to the Devildom disguised himself as Raphael to try to invite the brothers back at the end of NB Season 1!

Considering Lucifer's insistence that Father would never forgive him, plus his Cocytus punishment at the end of NB Season 2, it does seem like Michael probably didn't have permission from God to go inviting them back. If he's also looking to reverse Simeon's punishment, that would show a surprising rebelliousness from the top angel of the Celestial Realm! So it will be interesting to see how Michael's role in this whole situation unfolds.

Then, we have our sweet baby angel Luke -- who ends up crying himself to the point of passing out when he finds out. He's grown a lot since he first arrived to the Devildom, no longer thinking that all demons are inherently evil monsters -- but he's still very proud to be an angel. He loves Simeon dearly, as the one who has acted as a parental figure of sorts for him this entire time. Luke is adamant about protecting and helping Simeon in any way he can, even if he's not sure what can really be done.

However, this sets up quite the conflict for the poor boy. He was too young to know Lucifer and the other brothers at the time of the Great Celestial War, so this is his first time reckoning with an angel he's known personally becoming a demon. And on top of that, this began with the Celestial Realm's decision to punish Simeon for taking the Ring of Light -- saving MC and Lucifer, and stabilizing MC's "ring" to essentially save all of the Three Realms.

In other words, Simeon is becoming a demon now for saving everyone. So it begs the question -- will Luke, who has unquestioningly believed in the Celestial Realm until now, start seeing his home in a different light after all of this?

Then there's the next-youngest angel, and the newest in the cast -- Raphael. We didn't see too much of him, but we get enough that it's clear he's not taking this news well either. It's assumed he was suddenly called to the Celestial Realm because of this development, though we don't know exactly what they say to him about it, and when he returns, he's in a daze. We see Mephistopheles being the one to actually first run into him and try to talk to him, but he is mainly met with a very out-of-it angel, and he then takes him out to have his family's special Demonus because it's clear Raphael is distressed. In another scene, we see Thirteen run into a now spaced-out Mephisto and he asks her a "hypothetical" -- what happens when an angel reaches their limit? Also, Solmare, are y'all setting up RaphaelxMephisto as a ship?

And then, of course, we have the angel of the hour -- or rather, ex-angel. And Simeon's reaction to this change is...not so bad, actually. It's one of understandable confusion but also a kind of near acceptance. We've always been convinced that the reason Simeon was demoted after the Celestial War was because he stayed neutral and refused to fight. And how Simeon discusses the past in Lesson 49 suggests similarly -- he has always had regrets over not joining Lucifer, because he couldn't. Now that it seems he is possibly turning into a demon, he can't help but wonder how things could have been different if he had.

He mentions how he feels less unsure about this than turning into a human, as he always did want to be closer to the brothers, and didn't like that he was different from them. In that sense, turning into a demon doesn't seem so bad to him -- though he also doesn't have control over these powers yet, so he needs to be careful. And, if you choose the "are you a bad boy at heart" option, he mentions that maybe his loyalty to the Celestial Realm is lacking -- pretty understandable, after all he's seen from them and all they've put him through...!

And Then There's the Shady Sorcerer...

Now, that's all complicated enough for that delicate, delicate balance between the Celestial Realm and the Devildom, but let's not forget there's one more realm in the "Three" Realms, with one very conspicuously powerful representative here in our cast.

And so, where is Solomon in all of this? Well, we know he placed a protection charm on Simeon to protect him when it was thought that he was a "defenseless" human, so that even if a lesser demon messed with him, they'd be in for a world of pain. He was also, it seems, the first one to notice Simeon starting to transform into a demon, but kept that information to himself until confronted about it. Lucifer opens up to us that he can't help but wonder if there's some kind of connection between the sorcerer's activities back in the human realm and Simeon's predicament, feeling some doubts even if it seems everyone relies on Solomon and trusts him. And after all, Lucifer would be a demon with a good reason to distrust Solomon, since the sorcerer has long been after a pact with him, even on top of all the many powerful pacts he already holds with others.

Lucifer brings up some of his concerns to Solomon by asking him why he's been going back and forth to the human world so much -- to which Solomon answers that's making some preparations for unlikely scenarios. He insists it's not important, but we wonder...

Back in OG Season 2, Solomon knew about MC's "ring" which was putting the Three Realms at risk, and he secretly swiped the Night Dagger from the Reaper's Cave as a potential solution. His top priority, as we've seen, has always been protecting humanity from the battling influences of the other two realms. We know that's also part of his mysterious deal with Nightbringer.

So what possible plans and preparations could Solomon be making, and for what unlikely scenarios? Another war? Another imbalance of power? We'll see what awaits with this whole new situation...