#point here is I was RIDICULOUS over Spike

[youngpettyqueen]

my dad and I are going through Cowboy Bebop (which I have seen and he hasn't) and im being reminded of how insanely down bad I was for Spike when I first watched this

[sysig]

Somebody ordered Sushi Beefcake (Patreon)

[auroracalisto]

day #13: mistletoe

modern au fiyero x gn!reader, 1k words a/n: had a request for mistletoe fiyero. didn't think they celebrated christmas in oz, so i improvised. also, jonathan bailey is so pookie. that is all. tw: reader is overstimulated? alcohol consumption, pre-established relationship but no one knows until now, momentary boq slander but it's lighthearted and not serious at all i promise

Christmas parties for rich people were the worst. Scratch that—parties in general sucked.

From the spiked egg nogg and punch that somehow ended up in everyone's red solo cup, to the obnoxiously loud music that someone decided to play, it all royally sucked.

A game of charades was happening in one of the many living rooms of Galinda's mansion, a few party-goers were out in the backyard looking at the snow while smoking something that definitely wasn't a cigarette, and a strand of mistletoe hung from the ceiling, just out of reach so no one in their right mind could tear it down.

It mocked you.

Called you weak. Useless. Most definitely alone.

Okay, okay, maybe that's a lie and the egg nogg was getting to your very senses.

How did you even get invited to this shit?

Oh.

Right. Galinda. Something about Fiyero, Elphaba, class... It all kind of just melded together after a moment.

Fiyero had begged you at some point, saying it would be so much fun. That if you came, he wouldn't leave your side, wouldn't stop holding your hand.

He's such a liar. But it is what it is. You can't expect such a popular man like him to only stick with you at a party of this caliber, could you?

You sighed and got to your feet, checking your phone. To put it simply, this party was a bust for you. You had hoped to get something out of it, anything, but honestly, all you had gotten was a mild panic attack from the loud noises and the inkling of a headache that riddled it's way deep into your bones.

It was nearly midnight.

You began to make your way to the door, pulling out your phone to call a friend to come and pick you up. Maybe text your boyfriend and tell him you were just going home.

You didn't make it very far when he calls your name.

You quickly whipped your head around to see him—Fiyero.

He had disappeared after your second cup of punch and your first cup of egg nogg (which was much better here than you imagined—perhaps the spiked part muted out the rest of it). He has that sweet little smile of his as he walked over to you.

He pointed up to the ceiling once he came upon you.

"Mistletoe," he simply said.

You stared him down before your eyes flickered upwards. He was right—mistletoe hung just above you. Of course it did.

You couldn't ever catch a break, could you?

You grumbled under your breath, rolling your eyes. "For fuck's sake."

He grinned at you. "I mean, I feel like that's a bit too far for mistletoe, but if you want to—"

"Oh my god, stop it!"

He let out a laugh at your mild anguish, a smile forming on his lips. "Come now, love, it's just mistletoe. We could kiss if you wanted."

You blinked slowly. Is that what you wanted? To kiss him?

Yes. Oh, god, you've wanted to kiss him for ages now. Not just little pecks here and there, on the check or on the forehead.

Christmas party at Galinda's be damned. You'd wanted to know how he kissed for months. A real, public kiss, that showed everyone that you belonged to him and vice versa. A kiss that would change how everyone saw your relationship between each other.

"Don't tell me you're trying to leave, love," he softly said, motioning towards your phone. "Party's not even really started if you ask me."

You huffed. "I didn't ask you," you said. "You've ignored me most of the night. I've resorted talking to Boq and my cup of egg nogg like a crazy person."

He snorted softly. "You are being ridiculous," he said. "I did spend time with you."

"Right, right," you said, crossing your arms over your chest. "Before you went off and left me with Boq."

"Is Boq truly all that bad?"

You pouted up at him.

He smiled down at you, tilting his head as he watched you. "Now. I'll repeat myself," he said. "Mistletoe. Christmas party. People all around."

You took a moment to realize just how many people were in the living room. Had you really been that much in your mind that you didn't realize the crowd that had migrated inside?

"Kiss or no kiss. It's up to you," he said.

"Maybe I'll go grab Boq. Kiss him under the mistletoe instead."

He snorted softly. "You wouldn't."

You narrowed your eyes at him. You go to walk back to the sofa where you saw Boq's red curls.

He quickly reached out and grabbed your wrist.

"Do not do that," he said, narrowing his eyes at you. "Come on, please," he said. "I'm sorry for disappearing on you. I didn't mean to."

You huffed softly. You knew he was being earnest—you could see it in his eyes. You looked away, frowning.

He gently nudged your cheek with his knuckle. "Look at me," he softly said. "Let me prove to you how sorry I am."

You gave a quick and curt nod, and he immediately leaned forward, a hand to the back of your neck as he pulled you in for a rather deep kiss.

Lips molding with yours, his hand at the base of your neck fitting just perfectly. His teeth gently nipped at your bottom lip, and you would have granted him access had it not been for the need to breathe. Damn alcohol inhibiting all of your senses.

You sucked in a soft breath as you looked up at him, feeling the warmth of... something spread throughout your body. What was it? It wasn't anxiety. Wasn't excitement. No, no... it was...

"Do you know how long I've wanted to do that for?" Fiyero asked, leaning forward and pressing a second but rather quick kiss to your lips. "Ages, love."

You licked your lips nervously. Oh, you knew that feeling well. Joy.

Perhaps Christmas parties weren't all that bad.

They seemed to make your secret boyfriend not-so-secret after all (judging by the hush and the bruises that now rested on several partygoers' arms).

You tossed your phone onto the sofa nearby, hands gently gripping at his jacket. You pulled him close and kissed him again, feeling as his arms wrapped around you.

Lips to lips, bodies to bodies, the mistletoe watched as its tradition granted yet another kiss to those who deserve it.

[yayll]

~ a little something about Dazai's impeccable detective skills... only when it comes to you ~

"Uh-huh... And you said you were meeting someone last night?" Dazai pretends to jot down this information, his brows slightly furrowed as he scribbles into the notepad he conjured up from his long tan coat just a few seconds ago.

"Yes, that's correct."

"Ah, I see.. Fascinating. And how was it?"

"How was what?"

"Your date." He says, smugly. His head tilts in mock innocence, and his smile stays plastered on his lips while he watches you practically choke on your own spit. Now he's really going to start writing details down...

"Oh, no, it wasn't like that. Nothing that official, heh." You fidget with your fingers, looking down, and suddenly your shoelaces are the most interesting thing you've ever seen. You didn't think questioning would last this long, you weren't even involved in the crime, but this eccentric detective before you says all witnesses are vital for the investigation and you're just doing your civil duty as a valued member of society!

And this drives Dazai insane... how ridiculous that you don't have a clear standing within the life of whomever you were seeing. It should be a crime, really! If you were his, no one would ever hear the end of it. He hums to himself, nodding as if in deep thought as he draws a heart around your name in his notepad, adding his own name right under yours. He clears his throat and looks back up at you, making sure his knees don't give out at the way you seem so bashful around him.

"I beg your pardon? Do I hear that a young and beautiful person has not been swept off their feet successfully?"

Just before you can answer, a young man with white hair and a peculiar asymmetrical haircut runs to Dazai's side. He peers at his notes, and nervously chimes in.

"Er, Dazai? Mister Kunikida wanted me to come find you, but I didn't think you'd actually be working- Why are there so many hearts drawn-"

Dazai immediately moves his hand over the young man's face and comically shoves it away from his notepad, still smiling at at you. He speaks through gritted teeth and a nervous chuckle.

"Not now, Atsushiiiii, I'm working~"

This causes Atsushi to grumble, his face deflating into an annoyed sigh as his gloved hand scratches the top of his head.

"But Dazai, this is kind of important, and I really don't want to have to be the one to tell Kunikida that you're slacking off again..."

Dazai instantly snaps his head to look at Atsushi, pointing at you with dramatic flair, his voice reaching a mocking pitch.

"Oh, but I'm not, young Atsushi! I've come out here on pure basic instinct... I'm conducting a very serious investigation, and so unfortunately Kunikida and the rest of the folks at the agency will just have to wait for my genius intellect to come up with a tantalizing resolve. Get Ranpo to help. 'Kay byeee!~"

Dazai grabs you by the arm and though the gesture is hasty, he's surprisingly very gentle as he drags you away from the white haired young man. You're now standing outside a cafe and Dazai takes out what looks like a business card, presenting it to you. He scans your slightly confused face, and thinks about what other precious faces you'd make for him if he stuck around you long enough like the hound dog he is. He wonders if you'd let him touch your arm again, maybe even your hand... maybe even your-

"Are you okay, Dazai?" You ask in slight concern. Oops! He's been nonverbal for too long. He shakes his head rapidly and lets out a soft chuckle.

"Never been better! Here, take this, it's my personal contact. I think I've got all the notes I need to finish my work, but I seem to be missing one last thing-"

He proceeds to lean in a little, his now softened hazelnut eyes looking into yours intently, and his voice becoming drastically more serious. There's a glint of sincerity, and an emotion you can't quite place, but it makes your blood pressure spike and your cheeks flush at the casual intimacy of it all.

"... A time and date so I can see you again, perhaps?"

You feel yourself feeling giddy, and slightly stammer as your response flows out of you coyly.

"Ooh well, maybe tomorrow in the evening? I'll be off of work then. We can um, get coffee here?" You nod your chin up at the cafe sign, and flash him a soft smile. A smile that will keep him happily satiated until tomorrow.

"Ah, then it's a date! An official one..." He winks at you, and pats the top of your head, the feeling is light and angelic. By the time you recover, he's gone. You get a last glimpse of the way the tail of his coat swishes as he sharply turns the corner of the street, and you stand there smiling like a giddy schoolgirl. What you don't know is he does the very same thing, thinking about how playing with the fire of his own destiny is worth ruining if he could cement himself into your heart. In his adoring eyes, you could do no wrong. That's his job.

[morningsharksworld]

Hiding Underneath the Sheets

OW Hazard x Reader (Slight spice at the end)

A/N: I wanted to do a lil comfy fic again but with a hint of spice at the end to test the waters (I’m still not ready to write smut)

Summary: You have sometime for yourself at the hideout but turns out your not alone

────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──────

The Phreaks’ lair had a strange kind of charm: a mix of grunge, neon lights, and chaos that only a group like them could pull off. Tonight, it was unusually quiet. The others had decided to hit up some underground party downtown, leaving you in the lair by yourself. You’d stayed behind, citing the bitter chill of the evening as your excuse. Wrapped in layers of blankets on the oversized couch in the living room, you had everything you needed—a steaming mug of cocoa and the lair’s giant projector playing your favorite movie.

You were so absorbed in the flickering images on the screen that you didn’t notice the soft footsteps behind you. A low chuckle broke the silence, sending a jolt through you.

“Didn’t think anyone else was stayin’ in” Hazard’s voice drawled, thick with his Scottish accent.

You turned, meeting his sharp, brown eyes. He stood there with his signature cocky smirk, hands stuffed into the pockets of his gray sweatpants. The dim neon lights from the lair’s decor highlighted his messy blonde hair. You had no idea he hadn’t gone with the others.

“Could say the same about you” you replied, trying to keep your voice steady. “Didn’t think you were the type to skip a party.”

Hazard shrugged, plopping down onto the couch next to you, much closer than you expected. “Wasn’t feelin’ it. Guess I’m nae the only one in hermit mode tonight, eh?” He grabbed a blanket corner and tugged it over his legs without asking. You rolled your eyes but didn’t protest.

The two of you sat in companionable silence for a while, the movie’s glow casting soft shadows on his face. You could feel his presence, almost too aware of the way he lounged—completely at ease, like he owned the place. Not that he didn’t; Hazard had a way of dominating any space he was in.

As the movie’s credits rolled, Hazard shifted, resting an elbow on the back of the couch to face you. “So, what’s yer deal, anyway? Thought ye’d be out there tearin’ it up with the rest of ‘em.”

“Not really my vibe tonight” you said with a shrug. “Besides, it’s freezing outside.”

Hazard’s smirk widened. “Ye’re one of those folk who’d rather cocoon up than brave a wee bit o’ frostbite, huh?”

“Absolutely” you shot back. “Some of us like bein’ comfortable.”

“Comfortable’s overrated” he said, leanin’ a bit closer. “But I’ll give ye points for the blanket fortress. That’s dedication.”

“Thanks…?” You eyed him suspiciously. He had that look on his face—the one that meant he was about to stir up trouble. And sure enough, he leaned back and stuck out his tongue, flashing something you’d never noticed before. Was that... a tattoo?

“Wait, what’s that?” you asked, leanin’ forward to get a better look.

Hazard’s grin turned downright wicked. “Oh, this?” He stuck his tongue out again,showing off a small, intricate design inked on the surface. It was hard to make out, but it looked like some kind of stylized spiked… skull?

“You have a tattoo on your tongue?” you said, incredulous. “Who does that?”

“Cool folk” he shot back, clearly amused by your reaction. “Bet ye’ve never seen one up close before.”

You snorted, trying to act unimpressed. “And here I thought you couldn’t get more ridiculous.”

Hazard’s eyes narrowed playfully, his smirk turning into something more mischievous. “Careful” he said, leaning closer until his face was just a breath away. “Ye keep lookin’ at me like that, an’ I might think ye’re interested.”

You could feel your face heatin’ up, and before you could stop yourself, you ducked under the covers. “Nope! Nope! Nope! Nope!” you mumbled, yer voice muffled by the blankets.

Hazard’s laughter rang out, low and teasing. “Hidin’ now? C’mon, don’t tell me I’ve embarrassed ye.”

“I’m not embarrassed!” you shot back, peeking out just enough to glare at him.

“Sure ye’re nae” he said, his grin widening. Then, with an exaggerated sigh, he shifted closer and grabbed the edge of your blankets. “Guess I’ll hae to come in an’ get ye out myself.”

“Wait, what—” Before you could protest, Hazard slipped under the blankets, his movements swift and deliberate. You tried to squirm away, but the couch didn’t give you much room to escape. In the chaos, you ended up flat on your back, Hazard loom—no, wait—looming over you, one arm braced on either side of your head.

“Caught ya” he teased, his voice low and smug. He was so close you could see the faint freckles on his nose, the sharp glint in his eyes. His cocky grin was firmly in place, but as the seconds ticked by, his gaze flickered down to your face—and froze.

Your cheeks were burning your wide eyes staring up at him in shock. Hazard’s smirk faltered, his usual confidence replaced by something uncertain as he seemed to realize the position you were in. His body was pressed against yours, his face just inches away.

For a moment, neither of you moved. Then, Hazard’s grin returned, softer this time, as his gaze lingered on your lips. “Y’know” he murmured, his voice low and warm, “Ye make it really hard to stay outta trouble.”

Before you could process his words, Hazard closed the distance between you. His lips crashed onto yours in a kiss that was surprisingly gentle, though there was an undeniable hunger behind it. The taste of him was electric, sending a rush through you that left your breath shaky.

Just as you thought he might pull back, his lips began to trail down the side of your neck, slowly, deliberately, pressin’ soft, lingering kisses against your skin. You gasped, your breath hitching at the sensation, and you felt a shiver run down your spine as he continued, his lips warm and teasing against your throat. His kisses were soft at first, almost like a whisper against your skin, but then, they grew more insistent, the touch of his lips making you whimper involuntarily.

Hazard chuckled low in his throat, the sound vibrating against your neck as he kissed his way down further. “Ye’re nae gettin’ away that easy”

His eyes locked onto yours again, a smug, satisfied grin tugging at his lips. “Guess I’m nae the only one stayin’ in tonight after all.”

You were too stunned to reply, your heart hammering in yer chest, as you stared up at him, flushed and trembling from the kiss. Hazard chuckled, brushin’ a strand of hair from your face. “Don’t go hidin’ under the blankets again” he teased softly. “I might just have to chase ye all over again.”

=================

You didn’t remember falling asleep, but the warmth of the blankets and the lingering haze of Hazard’s presence must have lulled you into slumber. When you woke up, Hazard was still sleeping on the couch, next to you. The neon glow of the lair cast faint colors across the room, and the faint hum of machinery filled the silence. Stretching and rubbing the sleep from your eyes, you wrapped a blanket around yourself and shuffled toward the kitchen, craving something to drink.

Boomslang was already there, leaning against the counter and nursing a mug of tea. Her dark curls were tied back loosely, and her sharp, inquisitive eyes flicked toward you as you entered.

“Morning, sleepyhead” she greeted, her Scottish brogue softer than Hazard’s but still distinct. “Didn’t expect tae see anyone else up this late.”

You mumbled something incomprehensible in reply, too focused on rummaging through the cabinets for a mug. You could feel Boomslang’s eyes on you, sharp as always, as you moved around the kitchen.

When you finally turned to lean against the counter, sipping your drink, her gaze narrowed. Her head tilted slightly, a knowing smirk curling her lips. “You’ve got somethin’ on your neck.”

“Wha—” You froze mid-sip, nearly choking on your drink. “What do you mean?”

“Come here” she said, setting her mug down and motioning for you to step closer. Reluctantly, you obeyed, and she reached out, tilting your head to the side to get a better look. Her smirk deepened as her fingers brushed just below your jaw, right over the faint sting of skin that felt far too sensitive.

“Well, well,” Boomslang drawled, her tone laced with amusement. “Looks like someone had a bit of fun last night. Bite marks and hickeys, huh? Dident know you were the type to let Hazard sink his teeth in.”

Your face went hot, and you pulled away, covering your neck with your hand. “It’s not—it’s nothing!”

Boomslang raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “Nothin’ huh? You want to explain why you look like you went a round or two with a hungry wolf? Or do I have to guess?”

You groaned, turning away to hide your face. “He’s such a menace” you muttered under your breath, more to yourself than to her.

Boomslang snorted, clearly enjoying your embarrassment. “But seems like you didn’t mind too much, judgin’ by how your blushing to your ears.”

You groaned again, hiding your face behind your mug. “Not a word to anyone” you warned, your voice muffled.

Boomslang laughed, the sound rich and teasing. “My lips are sealed. For now. But you might want to invest in a scarf. Or explain to the rest of the crew why Hazard’s marked you up like his favorite chew toy.”

Her teasing lingered in the air as she sauntered out of the kitchen, leaving you to stew in your flustered thoughts—and the undeniable evidence on your neck.

=================

You were still trying to process Boomslang’s teasing as you stood in the kitchen, sipping your drink and hoping the heat in your cheeks would fade. The last hing you expected was for Hazard to stroll in, his usual cocky swagger softened by the grogginess of just waking up. His eyes found you immediately, and he gave you a lazy grin.

“Mornin’, sunshine” he drawled, his voice rough from sleep. He raked a hand through his messy blonde hair as he made his way to the counter, grabbing a glass. “Thought ye’d still be curled up oan the couch. Ye move quick.”

You swallowed hard, keeping your gaze firmly on your drink. “Needed something to wake me up” you muttered.

Hazard leaned back against the counter, glass in hand, and gave you a slow once-over. His grin widened as his eyes landed on your neck. “Well, whit d’ye ken?” he said, his tone thick with teasing. “Looks like I left a wee bit o’ evidence, aye?”

Your cheeks burned as you tugged the blanket tighter around your shoulders, glaring at him. “You think?”

He chuckled, pushing off the counter and stepping closer. “Couldn’t help masel’, love” he said, voice lowering with that familiar mischievous lilt. “Ye looked too good no tae leave ma mark.”

You tried to stay composed, but the memory of his lips trailing along your neck sent a shiver down your spine. “You’re unbelievable” you muttered, but the heat in your voice betrayed you.

Hazard’s smirk softened, his mismatched eyes locking on yours. “Aye, but ye didnae mind, did ye?” He brushed his fingers lightly over your neck, tracing one of the marks. “Did it hurt, love?”

You hesitated, the ghost of his touch making your skin tingle. “Not exactly” you admitted quietly.

“Good” he murmured, his tone gentler now, but still laced with his usual charm. “I’d hate tae think I did somethin’ ye didnae enjoy.”

Before you could reply, his grin turned devilish again, his voice taking on that familiar cocky edge. “Y’know,” he said, leaning in close enough that you could feel the heat of him “I reckon ye wear ma handiwork pretty well. Suits ye.”

You swatted his hand away, cheeks flaming as you tried to maintain your composure.

Hazard chuckled “Well, then” he said, gesturing toward your neck with his hand “guess I’ll just need tae work harder, won’t I? But for what it’s worth, love, I think I’m off to a pretty decent start.”

You groaned, hiding your face in your hands, as Hazard’s deep laugh echoed through the room, leaving you flustered and far too aware of the marks he’d left behind.

[knightsickness]

Hi! I hope that I don't bother you with my question. I'm asking out of genuine interest for an analysis and also because it has been 5 years since I last read any asoiaf book.

Coming from you comparison of Cersei's and Tyrion's time as Hand, what obvious mistakes did Tyrion make? I was probably not paying too proper attention because Tyrion did a lot of sympathetic things like ending Jeoffrey's terror on Sansa, or came up with a great strategy to limit casualties during Stannis invasion. His downfall struck me as Cersei conspiring against him, and Tywin taking all the credit for the work his son did. But I feel like I missed something here, and don't have all the details. (Again genuine question, not a "how dare you imply that perfect innocent angel uwu did anything wrong" way!)

i originally wrote a much longer list for this but i think the myrcella episode sums up most of the problems w tyrions politicking in microcosm

the entire point of the scheme is to embarrass cersei and undermine her with the removal of one of her spies. a lot of tyrions moves in acok are ridiculously cersei-focused because it makes him feel good to get petty wins over her he enjoys doing kings landing spy vs spy antics. constantly asking ‘what is cersei doing? does cersei know what im doing?’ when the answer to both is invariably ‘spying on each other’. when theyre still actively fighting three major enemies all this effort to plot and spy feels like it could be focused elsewhere. the scene where they laugh at stannis and renly pettily stupidly fighting each other rather than them obviously an acknowledgment of this neither of them notice

the idea to tell all the small council members different plans and then identify whichever one he told the story cersei gets mad at him for as her spy is good on paper a lot of tyrions moves are motivated by what makes him feel clever. in practice its kind of a mess

the idea of littlefinger having harrenhal is initially proposed to him by tyrion (who notes littlefinger looks extremely excited) as a reward for him arranging a hypothetical myrcella arryn match and then snatched away annoying and alienating him. its then next raised when littlefinger has obviously requested it to kevan/the tyrells/etc as his prize after the battle of the blackwater and he gets it. this isn’t necessarily direct cause and effect littlefinger always wanted to be a big lord he could have wanted harrenhal on his own but it seems like he was told he would have it, formulated his affc taking-over-the-vale plan, and then found out tyrion was fucking with him. again getting one over littlefinger makes tyrion feel good its gratifying to have the biggest schemer at court going grr you used me as a pawn and lied to me do NOT do that shit again

one of the main strengths of the situation tyrion inherits is a hypercompetent small council he immediately sets to turning on him (petyr) and giving them dangerous personal secrets (varys) while fantasising about having all their heads on spikes over the city walls

the idea of an elaborate plan to prove pycelle of all people is an incompetent lannister toady is absurd. you can tell that by talking to pycelle once. worse this makes pycelle hatee tyrion when if tyrion hadnt noticed he is ALSO a lannister he could have benefited from this !!

the sending myrcella to dorne plot that tyrion commits to lest cersei thinks he wasn’t serious and this was a finding-the-mole ploy (in which he gave them plans so obviously shocking and upsetting to cersei that if theyre her allies theyd immediately tell her) is terrible on the face of it and in affc proves to also be terrible in practice. the two outcomes are she gets crowned or killed both explicitly to start a war with the lannisters + burning one of your two spare heirs on the outing pycelle as a fraud and annoying cersei and littlefinger plan is. misguided. its insane to me he goes through w it he could still say ohh i changed my mind + let cersei think she’s persuaded him out of it (giving her a false win) or even just say yeah i was fucking with you haha you fell into my trap and exposed your own spy but he doesnt do either

tyrion’s conclusion on the plan is ‘this doesnt actually prove i can trust varys and littlefinger. theyre just untrustworthy in a subtler way. nobody in the world is as smart as me nobody has ever been this good at politics’

[darkmodepls]

Extended Team Phantom

I love the classic trio and seeing Jazz and Valerie added to the roster, but I also love seeing some fresh faces fighting the good fight. Here's some more people I always picture when I'm thinking about how the team would evolve over the years.

Wes Weston - obviously, you've got to include the fandom's collective child. Once they finally drill the importance of Danny’s secrets into his head, he's actually great at misdirection. It turns out there's a slight memetic effect to the information he spreads. It causes people to also disbelieve any evidence of Wes's theory they stumble across later. The effect lasts somewhere between 1-2 week

Kyle Weston- Kyle is actually his middle name. He did not escape the Weston naming tradition, but he told his kindergarten teacher that his middle name was actually his first name. From that point forward, he learned that: the more outrageous his lies, the more power they held. Kyle may be ridiculously laid back, but that doesn't change the fact that he's been academically tied with Jazz since 1st grade. He knows EVERYTHING that goes on in Casper High and has been covering for Team Phantom ever since the 1st Lunch Lady fight. Good luck getting him to admit to any of this. Danny is still convinced Kyle thinks the moon is made of cheese.

Philip "Spike" Wilkins - the only adult member of the team and the only one with first aid training. Spike was a senior in his first appearance and has since graduated and got his paramedic's certification. One nasty fight led to Spike learning Danny’s identity and calling Jazz to pick him up. The absence of his piercings (can't wear those at work) cause Jazz to not recognize him at first, but that moment of confusion was soon replaced with relief. Spike has been Jazz's best friend and pseudo big brother since she was in 3rd grade. It's not a problem for him to expand that to all of Team Phantom. Looks can be deceiving and the studs and mohawk don't change the fact that Spike is the true Team Mom of the Extended Team Phantom.

[finalgirllx]

mattheo riddle | coffee shop drabble just some fluff with mattheo outside of his typical setting. been in my drafts for a while but the 500 mg of caffeine i’ve had today inspired me to finish it. 1.1k words | f!reader

After spending most of your morning strolling through densely populated city streets, you and your boyfriend Mattheo longed for a short break. You found yourselves entering an equally busy coffee shop; despite all of the action, you sighed in relief as the inside brought a coziness that the foggy spring weather had not granted. Your moment of peace was swiftly interrupted when the comforting air was punctured by a spiteful “Fucking London," muttered by Mattheo.

"Hey, remember what I said, to speak respectfully of muggle life,” you firmly reminded him, prompting Mattheo to roll his eyes.

"I'm just commenting on their ridiculous practices. Imagine living without a few charms to speed up their queues or possessing knowledge of hexes for unruly patrons. Some of these raggedy muggle men clearly have a death wish, eyeing you up," Mattheo explained, his voice heating up slightly as an air of jealousy spiked through him, earning a swift hush from you.

"Enough of that. Firstly, pay no mind to the muggle men; we're not leaving this cafe with an assault charge. And you can't simply overlook every aspect of their world, Matty," you told him. "We're gonna have to stop here sometimes. And let's not forget, you've already strayed from your 'hardened Slytherin principles' by being involved with a half-blood," you added, arching a stern brow. A faint blush tinged Mattheo's cheeks with the reminder of your blood status. He knew he had messed up slightly. "Feeling less judgmental now, are we?" you questioned with a pleased smirk before gesturing towards the lengthy queue of customers. "Come on, go get in line."

Mattheo shot you one last sour glance before standing up, planting a guilty kiss on your forehead, and apologetically joining the queue.

As the aroma of coffee grounds filled your senses and the chatter turned to white noise, you observed Mattheo as he waited. He was constantly fidgeting with his fingers and casting wary glances around, his discomfort for something so foreign to him obvious. It was jarring seeing Mattheo in a new context. Because of your relationship, sometimes you were oblivious to the fact that others found him a bit terrifying.

For one thing, Mattheo constantly exuded a dark allure. His deep brown eyes seemed to penetrate whatever they landed on. His tousled dark curls, erring on the longer end, failed to conceal most of the scars on his face. The most prominent one that lined the bridge of his nose left him looking jaded, with bystanders unaware of how often you placed kisses over it. Despite not being exceptionally tall, his muscular frame hinted at his physical strength. And then there were his scarred hands, roughened up by his often excessive fights, some appearing as if they could have happened as recently as the day prior (and to be fair, you're not sure what he had been up to the times you weren't with him). Even his all-black outfit served to highlight the rest. The subtle paces the muggles strayed away from him in the queue confirmed your suspicions that Mattheo stood out for reasons beyond magic.

Of course, you adored him. To you, he was simply your handsome boyfriend, with scars and poor choices of wording and all.

After a few moments of growing boredom, you made the decision to move from your saved table to join Mattheo in line. Lost in his thoughts (probably something like asking himself how he ended up here), it took you nudging his side for him to notice. He looked at you, the pointed glare he had been directing at everything else softening, but the tenderness was short-lived as he soon became mischievous.

"A tad antsy, are we?" he teased arrogantly, "Have you forgiven me yet?"

"You did offend me back there, so I'm keeping you on a tight leash for the rest of the day." You snuck a hand around his upper arm, emphasizing your point. He smirked and took the excuse to wrap his hand around your waist in a sweet but possessive hold.

"So, what is the lady ordering?" Mattheo asked with a light squeeze to your side.

"I think I'll go for the iced latte," you remarked while perusing the menu. Mattheo snorted, a cocky smirk gracing his lips.

"Don't tell me you also judge others for their coffee," you cautioned, letting him know he was getting on your last nerve.

"Oh please, black coffee being the better drink is just factual."

"Enough of that," you snapped. "You're pushing it today. And I'm not sure how much I trust you, with your entire diet consisting of coffee and cigarettes. Which, speaking of, is a habit we need to break you out of," you continued with your irritated lecture.

"Hey, I'm not on my deathbed," he cut off your tangent, feigning offense with a defiant scoff.

After what felt like an eternity, you reached the front of the line, and Mattheo watched as you placed your order. He offered to pay, a gentlemanly gesture that was most likely to make up for the half-blood comment, to which you accepted. After solving a slight delay caused by confusion over muggle versus wizarding money (Mattheo handing the polite employee galleons, to everyone's surprise), your drinks were finally being prepared.

"It serves you right," you remarked. “Keep insulting your lady, and you'll be paying forever."

"Don't worry; I planned on doing that anyway."

You picked up your drinks and Mattheo pulled off the lid to blow on his to cool it down, prompting you to giggle at his actions.

"How's that scorching black coffee for you?" you asked teasingly, looking a bit too pleased at the sight. He pouted slightly before upping the attitude, warning you to watch your tongue.

Once again, without a clue about his surroundings, Mattheo attempted to cool his drink with a freezing charm. You quickly stopped to remind him that fingertips don't typically summon ice in the muggle world. He gave you a scornful look but complied, waiting patiently instead for his prized black coffee.

Waiting a few more minutes before heading out to brave the lousy weather, you couldn't resist checking out your boyfriend again. You had to admit that Mattheo's intimidating look, paired with a drink in hand, was especially attractive. Everything about him just worked for you, and you pulled some corny comment about him looking hotter than the drink, eliciting a groan from him to hide his amusement.

Now fastened with liquid energy to get you through the rest of the day, you left the cafe side by side, the bickering never ceasing.

[writerdarlin]

Last Christmas - JJ Maybank

A/N: To my first Outerbanks fan fiction. I don't know if I'll write more like I was planning to, but since it's Christmas and I love Last Christmas by Wham I felt inspired.

Summary: At the Pogues' Christmas party, memories of last year resurface when Rafe arrives with Sofia, stirring old wounds. But JJ, with his charm and playful antics, reminds you of the love and laughter you’ve found with him. This Christmas is about letting go of the past and embracing the present with someone who makes you feel whole.

Warnings: Little bit of angst but mostly Fluff.

JJ Maybank x reader, exbf!Rafe Cameron x reader

The Pogues’ annual Christmas party was a loud, chaotic mess in the best way possible. Music boomed through the speakers, snow was falling outside, and you were pretty sure someone had spiked the eggnog far more than necessary. You stood near the kitchen, sipping a drink as you tried to steady your nerves.

And then, like clockwork, he walked in.

Rafe Cameron.

His arm was around Sofia, his face lit up with an easy smile that hadn’t been aimed at you in almost a year. The sight shouldn’t have hurt anymore, but it did. It brought back memories of last Christmas—of nights when his attention had been solely yours, when you thought the two of you were untouchable.

But you weren’t.

"Babe!" JJ’s voice snapped you out of your spiraling thoughts, and a second later, he was at your side, all golden hair, blue eyes, a mischievous grin m, and a stupid damn hat that he wore backwards never failed to make you’re heart skip. He waved his hand in front of your face dramatically. "Earth to (Y/N)! What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?"

You blinked, startled by his energy, and forced a laugh. "Nothing. Just thinking."

He tilted his head, his gaze narrowing. "Thinking about Rafe?" he asked bluntly, motioning over his shoulder toward the other room.

Your mouth fell open, but before you could deny it, JJ threw his hands in the air. "Nope, I already know. I’m psychic." He tapped his temple with a smirk. "Saw you looking, babe. I know that look."

You frowned, setting your drink down on the counter. "JJ, I wasn’t—"

"Shhh," he interrupted, holding up a hand like he was making a grand declaration. "Let me tell you something important." He leaned in close, lowering his voice as if revealing a world-shattering secret. "That guy? He’s yesterday’s news. You? You’re my whole front page, center spread, breaking story."

You burst out laughing despite yourself, shaking your head as JJ gestured dramatically, pointing at himself like he’d just solved the meaning of life. "You’re ridiculous."

"Ridiculously into you," he quipped, grinning like he’d just won.

Your laughter softened into something warmer, something real. JJ’s antics might have been over the top, but they always worked. He had a way of making you forget about the weight you carried, of bringing you back to the moment.

"Come on," he said, wrapping an arm around your shoulders and steering you toward the main room. "You’re not hiding in the kitchen all night. We’ve got bad karaoke and good booze waiting. Plus, I’m about to deliver a world-class performance."

"And by world-class, you mean horrifically off-key?" you teased.

JJ stopped in his tracks, spinning to face you with mock offense. "Excuse me, babe, I’m a star." He jabbed a thumb at his chest. "Just wait. They’ll be lining up for my autograph after this."

Your laughter bubbled up again, the warmth in your chest finally overpowering the lingering ache from earlier. JJ cupped your face briefly, his thumbs brushing your cheeks as his gaze softened.

"You’re too good for that guy, you know?" he said, quieter this time. "And for the record, I’m really glad you’re here. With me."

Your heart swelled at his words, and for a moment, everything else melted away. You wrapped your arms around his waist, pulling him into a hug. "I’m really glad I’m here too."

As the night went on, JJ lived up to his promise, delivering an outrageously bad but enthusiastic karaoke performance that left you in stitches. And when you glanced at Rafe and Sofia again, it wasn’t with pain or longing. JJ caught you looking and threw you an exaggerated thumbs-up from the makeshift stage, shouting, "I told you—you’re front-page material, babe!"

This Christmas wasn’t about what you lost last year. It was about what you’d found—someone who made you laugh, someone who made you feel special. And you wouldn’t have it any other way.

[romanticintheory]

on my knees BEGGING for more price and civilian!reader. i just read it and i can’t stop thinking about all the cute itty bitty interactions- their date, their convos, maybe him meeting her surprisingly scary dog (currently in love thinking about COD men and K9s yknow?).

Like if there’s not a single supporter for this, i’m dead in a ditch somewhere

what it's like dating john price as a civilian.

john price x gn!reader

part 1

more fluff, more domesticity, me being down bad

a/n: KSAHDASDKJ im so glad u love them as much as i do!! hope this does them justice for u <3

-

the date went really well, thankfully. he showed up at your place ready to pick you up with the bouquet of flowers he knew you deserved. call him old-fashioned, but he was adamant on making sure you didn't have to lift a finger for anything.

hell, he even asked you why you were standing out there in the cold by yourself, saying, "i could have come to your door so you didn't have to freeze all the way out here, sweetheart!"

he held out his hand for you to take as he guided you down the stairs, opened your side of the door for the car, and always walked with you on the side closest to the street.

the movie was a cute action comedy. it was even funnier with john because he'd sometimes pipe up at the action sequences talking about how unrealistic some scenes were.

when you told john that the main character's actor, a built, older-looking man, was used to be your celebrity crush in high school, he couldn't help but let a chuckle rumble in his throat and ask, "got a type then, love?"

"yeah, probably do," you admitted shamelessly.

the dinner was just as nice as the movie: he took you out to a nice restaurant and hung onto every word you spoke. likewise, you couldn't take your eyes off him whenever he told you stories about him and his boys.

he wouldn't tell you stories about him doing his job, mostly because he didn't want to disturb you with what he's had to do. he did, however, happily tell you stories about the ridiculous things he's seen his task force get up to.

"they sound like a handful," you said warmly, "you sure they're not your kids?"

"no, but they certainly sound like it," he leaned just a little bit closer to hear you better over the chatter of the restaurant.

"i get that. i've got a handful at home, too." you paused to take a sip of your drink. "a little puppy."

"really? what's its name?"

when he takes you back home, he wordlessly walks you back to your door.

"would you like to meet beau, john?" you ask, hand hovering over the door you unlocked.

he opens his mouth to speak but gets interrupted by the sound of scratching and a dog panting on the other side of the door.

"well, only if he's okay with meeting me."

when you open the door, john is surprised to see a full-grown rottweiler launching at him at full speed. for a second, he saw his life flashing before his eyes before he realized the wagging of beau's tail.

"oh my god, i'm so sorry!" you call out immediately, "he's usually more polite around strangers. beau- beau get down!"

john only laughs at your panic and took your dog's friendliness as a sign to pet him. "'s alright, love. i trust you enough to know you wouldn't put me in harm's way."

he takes in beau's stature. from the looks of his larger-than-average size, he might be a guard dog for you. or maybe you just wanted company and decided to hone in on his scariness and bulk by adding that spiked collar.

"so, a puppy, huh?" he points outed humorously, locking eyes with you after realizing that your canine was, in fact, fully grown.

"hey, he's still a puppy to me!" you interject, kneeling down beside john's crouched figure to also show the rottweiler some affection.

"i see," he nods thoughtfully, turning his attention back to beau. "you're just as gorgeous as your owner, huh?"

your face is on fire again. "you flatter me, john."

"how does the saying go? it's not flattery if it's true?" he stands up much to the disappointment of beau and to take a step closer to you.

"you're too kind."

"jus' trying to treat you like how you deserve."

it's like he's trying to light you aflame on purpose. your embarrassment grows so much you have to cover the smile on your face with your hand. once your face has cooled down, you take a deep breath and let your hand fall down back to your side.

"thank you for tonight," you say quietly. "i had a really good time."

"glad to hear," he replies. "'m also happy to see beau likes me, too."

"well, we both have that in common, i guess."

"oh, who's doing the flattery, now?" john says playfully, his hands on his hips as you laugh softly at him.

"still you!" you insist.

"hm. maybe next time we can figure it out, yeah?" he proposes, a hopeful glint in his eye.

"next time? you already ready for a second date, price?"

oh, he was ready for more, but he didn't think you were ready to hear that.

"unless you're not," he tells you slowly, afraid of pressuring you into saying yes already.

sensing his worry, you reassure him with, "how could i not be?"

he relaxes at your admission and leans forward to give you a kiss on the cheek. "i've got your number. next week sound fine to you?"

"of course. whatever you like, soldier," you nodded, the lingering feeling of his lips on your cheek leaving a tingling sensation. if you were just a bit more confident, you would have kissed him then and there.

"i'll see you then, love."

he bends down to give beau a well-deserved goodbye pet before turning to leave, looking you in the eyes one last time before leaving for home.

[itsalwaysteatimeinwonderland]

Finding Peace Pt.3: Dance With Me (Spike x Y/N)

Request: No. Part 3 of the Multi fic.

Synopsis: Being a cursed slayer is hard. Harder when a vampire won't just leave you alone.

TW: None.

Word Count: 1.2k

Previous | Next

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

Sun has set and the air is thick with fog. It’s eerily quiet in the cemetery. Not a creature to disturb the atmosphere. Inside the crypt there permeated a different energy.

Heavy sighs and lustful laughs can be heard. The sound of passionate kissing and groping is evident in the quiet of the night. Spike held you close to him on the sofa. Like a predator that caught his prey. You sighed in his mouth as you melded in a fiery storm of desire. His hands roamed your upper back, trying to unclasp your bra. You didn’t protest. Everything was going well. Too well. You came out for air. Heavy eye contact was made. As if you could communicate your deepest desires with one look.

As Spike was ready to go in for another round of erotic contact a loud noise was heard. He looked up but nothing was there. Another thud nearer still. He felt in a haze. As if something was amiss. As he looks back down at you, you disappear. His dream is broken. He wakes up with a gasp. Another dreaded dream of the cursed slayer. He felt surprised that his attention had shifted so suddenly to the new slayer. His heart still belonged to Buffy, or at least that’s what he liked to believe. However, these heavy sensual dreams were more frequent as of late.

Outside y/n roamed the cemetery, hacking away at heavy foliage near the wooded area. Another night out on the hunt. If it could stop, that would be an improvement to y/n's life. Being cursed to hunt demons for over 1,000 years is less of a privilege and more of a punishment. The world may be safe, but y/n loses her grip on reality. Every day is the same. Wake up, go to work, wait till the sun sets and hunt. Everything was the same with a little twist, this time around. Spike being the lemon to her lemonade. She regarded him as an equal, someone that she enjoyed being around, but the lord knows he was bad for her. With his British accent, bravado and underlying poet heart. She had met many like him, but he had a spark to him. A light that others missed. She hadn’t seen him since their slow dance. You could say that tonight her hunt was partially focused on finding him again.  

The cemetery was empty, quiet. The fog gave it an eerie ambiance. Y/n was guarded and ready for a fight. No, hoping for a fight. A crack in the distance catches her attention. She walks closer, hoping to encounter a demon. She pounces on a bush, wrestles with a branch or two to find nothing. A bunny on its way to its hide out.

"Attacking critters, are we?" A smug voice called from behind.

Y/n whips her head around to find him, leaning on a tombstone. She made a mental note of how ridiculously big the tombstone was. She feigned annoyance.

"You can never be too sure in the Hellmouth. What are you up to in this cryptic place." She brushed off the twigs and leaves that gathered in her hair.

"Vampire plus cemetery equals home."

She felt dumb. "Oh right, god forbid you find somewhere that doesn't smell like death"

"I like to call it musk." He grinned and walked closer. He fiddled with her hair, pulling the remaining twigs out of it. "Are we hunting tonight, cursed slayer?"

She snatched her hair back. "It’s just slayer and yes. I heard that a big demon was hiding out here. You didn't see a skinny little rascal full of horns and pointy teeth, did ya?"

"The description paints a picture but none that I’ve seen. Why not entertain yourself with some vampires while you wait?"

"No can do. That's Buffy's territory. I just hunt demons now a days.”

Spike raises his eyebrows, incredulous. “A retired slayer?"

"No, to loop back to your original point, I’m a cursed slayer. Part of the ordeal is that I can't kill vampires and they can't kill me. So we're eternally stuck with each other. Poetic, ain't it?" Y/n makes a face of defeat.

Spike takes a breath, processing what you just said. He is thoroughly amused by your circumstances. Enthralled with the idea that you can't hurt him and he can’t hurt you. Equals.

He proceeds to laugh after a pause. "You're pathetic."

"Super rude." She pushes past him. She regrets seeking him out. Of course, regardless of how she feels about him, he is still evil.

He reaches back for her only to miss her hand. The slight touch sending shivers down his spine. What a nit he has been. If she were like Buffy, she would’ve bantered with him. Picked a fight. Y/n is much less tolerant of his teasing.

Y/n walks with purpose deeper into the cemetery woods in search of the demon. Spike follows her.

"What do you want Spike? Let me be pathetic in peace." She's angry and hurt.

This is why you don't share about your curse. It makes you feel defective, useless. She thought.

He steps in front of you, hands up in a defensive stance. "I’m sorry. I didn't mean it as an insult"

You laugh. "How else am I supposed to take it?"

"I’m not used to people taking what I say to heart. I was expecting an insult back."

"Yes, please make fun of my suffering. I just love being eternal. If you’re looking for a fight, go somewhere else. Now move, this pathetic cursed slayer still has work to do."

As you walk away, he beats himself up internally. What a fucking idiot he's being. How can he reach out to you if he's too busy pushing you away? So, he follows you again without a word.

Screeching is heard from a couple of miles away. A pained scream from an unknown being. There's a clearing in the woods and an animal is seen thrashing and fighting for its life. Y/n crouches low, eyes on the demon feeding on the animal.

"That our guy?" Spike sneaks behind you.

You don't answer. You pull a sword from a sheath strapped to your back. You're ready.

You go in fast with a big swing. You miss by a small margin. The demon confronts you and you go at it. His slim form permits him to be agile while you're slightly slowed down by your weapon.

Frustrated, Spike gets tired of being on the sidelines. "Mind if I cut in." He slugs the demon unexpectedly.

The demon stumbles and before he can get his bearings you slice into the demon’s chest cavity. The demon screams out in pain. His body slumps with a disgusting thud.

"That was easy." Spike smirked.

You're frustrated with him for insulting you and the even more for cutting in. It was clear that coming out tonight was a mistake. You turn around and start to storm off, sword in hand. You hated how overly sensitive you felt around Spike. He was just another vampire. So, why were you so hurt by him?

"Wait..." Spike begs.

You swing your sword and place it inches away from his face. He steadies.

"I liked our dance the other night. It felt right. Can we do it again sometime?"

"Are you gonna insult me again?"

Spike pondered it. He liked getting under her skin. "Not unless it turns you on."

You laughed, you couldn't help it. This dolt of a vampire had you in a chokehold and you didn't know why.

"Do you know how to waltz?" She asked.

Spike grimaced. "A bit uppity for my taste but I'll do it." He pushes your sword away and steps closer "But only for you."

[amazingmsme]

Brotherly Antics

AN: day 2, here we go! This has been one of my favorite fics to write so far! It’s just so fun & playful, & I just love these characters so much! If you haven’t already, go watch Blood of Zeus! Now, on to the fic!

The fight was far from over, Heron knew this well. Their victory on the battlefield will be short lived, but for now, they could enjoy the rest and relaxation.

His friends remained on earth while he resided in Olympus for the time being, talking things over with his half siblings and training by their side. Their father would be proud.

Heron sat on the side of the field, drinking water as he watched his brothers spar. In a flash, Hermes ran behind Apollo, hooking both arms under his before slamming him to the ground in a cloud of dust.

"Why you little-" Apollo growled, swinging his legs to knock Hermes off his feet. His back hit the hard packed dirt with a pained groan. His eyes flew wide open as he felt an arm wrap around his legs and he began kicking with all his might, the wings at his ankles flapping frantically.

"Apollo don't! That's cheating!" he cried, a smile playing at his lips as he tried to shove him off.

"You cheated first! Attacking from behind like that, really Hermes?" he taunted as he began scribbling against the downy feathers. Hermes shrieked so loudly, it made Heron jump in shock, head snapping up to look at the pair.

"Ohoho plehease, you're just looking for ahan excuse to- NOHO WAHAHAIT!" Hermes cut himself off with a giggly squeal before hysterical cackles burst free from his chest. Heron found himself chuckling along to the infectious, goofy sound, though a blush was quickly spreading and he found he couldn't bear to watch the scene for long. He grabbed a whetstone and began sharpening his sword to appear busy, watching from the corner of his eye.

"Stick around long enough, and you'll be next," a gentle voice warned from behind, startling him enough to turn around. He relaxed slightly; it was only Athena.

"Trying to scare me away so you can have the field all to yourself, sister?" he teased, looking down to hide his blush. She snickered, something sly and knowing behind the sound.

"It was a warning. You're fresh meat for them, and if they see you sitting here..." she trailed off, looking him up and down. He squirmed under her gaze, furrowing his brows. "I'm afraid you'll be serving yourself up on a silver platter."

"That's ridiculous," he hissed, dragging the stone across the blade harshly. "They're all the way other there, and a little busy, if you haven’t noticed," he reasoned, a fair amount of sass entering his voice. "I'll be fine." Right? he didn't say aloud, but looked up at her expectantly, hopefully.

Athena arched a brow at his tone, cocking her head to look at him.

"Do you know what Hermes is the God of?"

"A lot."

Athena snorted and rolled her eyes, resting her hand atop his head and leaning on him like a table. "Be specific."

"Speed, travel-"

"Mischief," she cut him off, and he snapped his mouth shut, eyes wide. "And Apollo is almost as bad, though he may have you fooled. But, I mean, just look at who started this mess?" she nodded to the pair subtly, not keen on drawing their attention by pointing.

Heron followed her gaze, watching the pair roll around and laugh. Hermes was flopping around like a dying fish, cackling and pleading for mercy as Apollo pinched and rubbed the wings between his fingers. He scratched at the base of the wings where they met the ankle and his laughter spiked, surging forward with renewed energy to launch an attack of his own. He buried his hands under Apollo's arms and he jolted, slamming them down to his sides with a bark of laughter. Hermes let out a triumphant, giggly war cry as he fought for the upper hand. Heron smirked as they watched it all play out, but there was the faintest touch of sadness to it. These were brothers, who grew up wrestling and playing with one another, who loved each other wholeheartedly. This was everything he and Seraphim never got to have, and he bit back the vile taste of jealousy.

He wasn't jealous that he wasn't included! That's not what he meant, so don't go putting words in his mouth. He was jealous of the bond that never was; the brother- the best friend he should've had. It was like looking in a twisted mirror of what could have been.

His lip curled in a sneer as he scraped the stone along the sharp edge. "So?"

"Do I really have to spell it out?" she asked, more amused than annoyed. "You're our brother. That makes you just as much fair game as the rest of us," she teased softly. His mouth hung open in shock, but she cut him off before he could speak. "So if I were you, I'd get a head start. Hermes is quite fast."

Heron sat there frozen, looking between her and the wrestling Gods on the ground. He locked his gaze with hers, "Are you being serious?"

Athena chuckled, shaking her head fondly. "Trust me, I'm one of the few who won't pull the wool over your eyes." He nodded before heaving a deep sigh, accepting the truth of the matter. If she's right, he'll be quick work if he sticks around. So he gathered his things as quietly as he could, but by that time, he could hear their fight beginning to wind down. Still, he crept towards the exit, praying they wouldn't notice.

"Just where are you off to?"

Of course they fucking noticed.

"I'm done training," he said curtly, glancing over his shoulder to call out, trying to play it casual. When he looked ahead, he stopped in his tracks with a choked gasp as Hermes stood blocking the exit.

"Actually, I don't think you are."

"Excuse me?" he asked, tossing his things to the side, knowing it's best to ditch them now than while he's running for his life.

"You have to get a full workout. You can't just hit the weights brother, cardio is very important," he practically purred, taking a step towards him. Heron took three steps back.

"I think I'm good-"

"No, he's right brother," Apollo spoke from behind, and he tensed up when he felt a large arm rest over his shoulders. He slipped out of the hold, stepping away and turning so he could keep both of them in his vision.

"Why so jumpy Heron? Did our dear sister warn you about us?" Hermes asked with a smirk. Heron didn't move a muscle, and that was all the confirmation they needed. "She knows us so well," he mused.

"I'd hope so. Otherwise we'd need to give her a little reminder," Apollo piped up.

"I think we should anyway. She did tip him off," Hermes shrugged nonchalantly.

"Guess it's settled then," Apollo agreed. As the pair spoke, Heron took off running across the field. They gave him a few more seconds to believe he had a fighting chance before they gave chase.

Heron came to a screeching halt when Hermes suddenly stood in his path and he turned on his heels. He screamed when he saw Apollo coming up from behind, and he made a B-line for the rows of seats. He jumped over the wall into the stand, heading towards the exit. Apollo paced him on the field while Hermes circled around from behind.

Apollo jumped into the stands with ease, quickly gaining on him. Heron should've known better than to look behind him. It was the same kind of fear as when you're up high, and you look down. A small scream escaped his throat and he ran even faster.

He was grabbed from behind, and panic surged through his body. He shot forward with God-like speed, breaking free of the hold. Hermes cut him off at the last second and he froze, caught between his half brothers.

"You're trying awfully hard to escape. You must be rather ticklish to go through this much trouble to avoid it," Hermes teased, flashing him a smirk. Heron took a step back.

"No, I just know you two are awful together," he justified with a smirk of his own.

"Thank you, you're too kind," Hermes hummed, taking another step towards him, and Heron took that as his cue to start running again.

"Great brother, you let him get away," Apollo rolled his eyes.

"Relax, it's not like he'll get very far," he quipped, dashing off and returning in less than a second with a struggling Heron in tow.

"Noho, let me gooo!" He leaned back as far as he could, running in place as he tugged on his trapped arm.

"Oh dear, laughing already?" Hermes cooed, chuckling at the blush that spread across Heron's face.

"No! Shut up!" he snapped defensively. He landed with a thud on the ground when Hermes let him go, watching Heron launch himself into the dirt with his own momentum.

"Is that any way to speak to your brother?" Apollo asked, crouching down to grab his arms while Hermes straddled his waist.

"I'm sorry! Let me go!" Heron put up a good fight, trying to get away. However, he had a twitchy, nervous smile and the struggling was mostly for show.

"No can do. See, you haven't gone through initiation yet," Hermes drawled, resting his hands on his sides. "I mean, are you really our brother if we haven't tickled you until you cry?"

"What?"

"Oh please, you're scaring him. Don't worry Heron, we'll stop once you beg for mercy. We're not animals."

"No way, I'm not gonna beg from a little tickling," he argued. His defiance was adorable.

"Won't you?" Hermes asked, arching a brow. Heron faltered in his confidence.

"No?"

"Oh my, you sound a bit unsure of yourself," Apollo spoke up smugly. "What's the matter, afraid you'll crack?" he taunted. Heron grunted and strained to pull his arms down, but they were firmly pinned beneath Apollo's knees.

"I won't!" he growled, kicking his legs against the ground. Hermes smirked down at him, leaning in a little closer.

"Let's test it then, shall we?"

Heron's eyes flew wide open and he shook his head. "Wait, that's not what I meant!"

Hermes threw his head back in a shrill, hysterical cackle of his own. "Oh dear, sweet, baby brother, there really is no escape. So you might as well just accept your fate now." As soon as he finished speaking, he began squeezing his sides softly, relishing in the way Heron jumped beneath his touch, yelping before biting down on his lip. Still holding onto the last shreds of his dignity, he shook his head.

"Oh good! I was so hoping you'd go down fighting," Hermes chirped, clawing just beneath his ribs.

Heron grit his teeth together, sealing his lips shut as tight as he could, but muffled giggles and shrieks still managed to make themselves known.

"I just love it when they try to hold it in, don't you?" Apollo teased, walking his fingers down his arms. Heron jerked under the touch, arms straining to come down. His breathing came in quick bursts through his nose, sounding more like laughter by the second.

"It's only one of the best parts," Hermes agreed before clawing at his stomach. Heron immediately crumbled at the touch, allowing loud belly laughs to escape. Hermes couldn't help but giggle at the reaction, "Aww, you really are a ticklish one, aren't you?"

Heron felt a blush rise to his cheeks, and he tried to hide his face in the crook of his arm. "SHUHUT UHUHUP!"

"I didn't hear a no," Apollo pointed out, scratching his bare armpits. Heron shrieked and arched his back before flailing uselessly beneath his half brothers.

"You're one toho tahahalk!" he managed to taunt back.

Apollo gasped loudly before drilling his thumbs in the center of his pits. Heron was thrown into hysterics, and the God had to raise his voice to be heard over frantic laughter, "You little shit! Just for that-" He didn't finish his sentence, instead he brushed Heron's hair away from his neck and took a deep breath.

"Wahahait! W-what ahahare you- AHAHAHAHA OHOH SHIHIHIT!" Heron tried to scrunch his neck to block the feeling as Apollo blew a raspberry on his neck. He pulled away, watching as Heron giggled and rubbed his neck with his shoulder, panting heavily to catch his breath. "Whahahat the hehell was thahat?"

"Oh? Don't tell me you've never had a raspberry before."

Heron scrunched his face, "That's what you call it?"

"Well, that's what humans are calling it," Hermes reasoned.

"Why?"

They both chuckled, and Heron felt his face grow warm. "I don't know. Say, you're half human, why don't you tell us?" Hermes asked with a smirk. Heron whined, tugging on his arms and bucking his hips.

"Just lehet me gooo! You're being mehehean!" he giggled, throwing his head back in defeat. The mischievous pair replied in unison.

"Oh I'll show you mean!"

"What? But we're being so nice!"

Hermes rolled up Heron's shirt, taking a deep breath just as Apollo had moments before. He shook his head, eyes wide with giddy fear as he realized what was coming.

"Nohoho wait! Please, I'm sorRYYYYY!" his pleading dissolved into a shrill squeal as the trickster God blew a raspberry in the center of his stomach. Heron kicked his legs and bucked as much as he could, snorting and cackling when Hermes blew another raspberry, followed by one on each side of his belly, still quivering with laughter.

"Plehehease! You're killing mehehehe!" he squealed, eyes shut tightly and nose scrunched adorably as he laughed.

"What? Come on, you can take a little tickling, can't you?" Apollo asked smugly, scratching behind his ears and earning a choked off giggle in response. "I mean, you're half God, so it would be pretty embarrassing if this was what did you in, after everything-"

"OHOHOKAHAY I GEHET IT! SHUT UP!"

"Oh, he gets angry when he's flustered. Good to know," Hermes noted with a smug smirk, clawing at his sides.

"Noho I dohohon't!" Heron argued, blushing profusely and trying to look at anything else besides the two Gods grinning down at him.

"Agree to disagree," he shrugged smugly. He moved down to squeeze his hips, and Heron bucked with a loud, giggly shriek.

"Ohoho shihihit! Nohot there, plehease!"

"Not there, you say?" he asked, cocking his head to the side. He squeezed his hips, making him thrash with another yelp. "See, when people say that, they usually mean it really tickles. So, is this a bad spot?"

"Ihihhi'll kihihill you!" Heron growled through his laughter. They both rolled their eyes.

"Sure you will. You look quite threatening with that smile plastered on your face," Hermes taunted.

Oh, that was the last straw. Heron summoned what little strength he could and thrust it out through his hands. He latched onto Apollo's knees where they were keeping his arms pinned and let the electricity flow from his fingertips, hoping for the best.

Suddenly, Apollo jumped back with a startled shriek of his own, rubbing his knees frantically. Hermes stared at him quizzically.

"What-"

"He used his damned lightning," he explained in a rush, cutting him off. He turned to look at Heron, hoping for a truce.

"I'll help hold him down if you promise to do that to him-"

"Excuse you, but what the fuck?" Hermes snapped, staring at Apollo with a look of utter betrayal.

Heron nearly choked on the air he was sucking in. He looked at him in bewilderment, furrowing his brows.

"You do know you'll be next, right?"

"Of course, I'm just biding my time, same as you. It's why you ran, is it not?"

"Just stop talking." When they looked up, Hermes was already halfway across the field. Apollo smirked and pointed at him.

"See, if he really wanted to escape, he'd be halfway to earth by now."

"I can still hear you!"

Apollo stood and stretched, "And yet, you don't hear him denying it." He smiled down at Heron and winked, offering a hand to help him up.

"No, you don't," Heron agreed with a genuine grin of his own.

"Well, he's waiting for us to catch up. So? What do you say?"

Heron just smirked and cocked his head before taking off in a sprint.

[redroomreflections]

The Case of the Ex

Natasha Romanoff x fem!reader

Summary: Natasha and R meet one of R's exes in an unlikely place

The Loud House universe

General Masterlist

note: no angst. just more glimpses into their lives before the move to ohio

w/c: 3.2k

As you pulled into the parking lot of the doctor’s office, you only had one message for the children.

"Alright, everyone, listen up," Natasha began, her voice firm but gentle. "We need you all to behave while we're here. That means no running, no yelling, and no fighting."

You nodded in agreement. "This is important. We don't want to cause any trouble or disturb other families. So please, be on your best behavior."

Cara rolled her eyes. "This is so stupid," she muttered under her breath.

Natasha shot her a look. "Cara, we're serious. Just because you're older doesn't mean you can act out."

Cara huffed but didn't argue further.

As you got out of the car, Charlie and James immediately started fighting over who got to hold Natasha's hand.

"Hey, hey, it's okay. How about I hold your hands?" You quickly intervened, taking each of their hands in yours.

"It's not fair that James always gets what he wants because he's the only boy," Charlie frowned.

"That doesn't make sense, Luke is literally right there," Cara rolled her eyes. The baby boy in question, Luke, was peacefully sitting in his car seat as he waited patiently for Natasha to open his stroller.

"I'm talking about my age, not Luke's."

"It's fine," Natasha sighs. With everyone ready you walk into the office. It's fairly empty save for a few families so you have enough room to maneuver with yours. Natasha finds a row of seats in the back of the room, closer to the bathroom and the toys, and she parks Luke's stroller there.

The kids all sit on the floor and begin playing with the blocks while you go up to the receptionist to check you in.

"Hello, I'm checking in for the Romanoff family, we have several appointments today for 9 am," You sign yourself in.

"Okay, Mrs. Romanoff, just fill out these forms for me and I'll get you checked in," the receptionist smiles. "Also, as a heads up, your normal doctor Horton is out on sabattical for a few months. Your physician for the time being is Dr. Whitlock. She's really good. So you have nothing to worry about."

"Great, thank you," You smile before heading back to where the kids are playing. Natasha is still seated, scrolling through her phone while keeping an eye on the children.

"Did they tell you our doctor is out for a few months?" You inform her.

Natasha looks up from her phone. "Really? Why?"

"Just on sabbatical. But our doctor's replacement is apparently really good, so there's no need to worry." You skim through the paperwork you have to fill out. All updates and things for the children that the doctor's need to know.

"Alright, well that's good. As long as they're competent."

"They're a pediatrician, I think they have to be."

"You'd be surprised," Natasha mutters. "Maybe we can go for ice cream after."

"If they need to get shots today, make sure my ice cream is spiked," You joke.

Natasha cracks a smile at that. "Well, if they get their shots without crying or whining, we can consider it.”

"That sounds good," You agree.

"Mom, can you order me this?" Cara asks as she passes you her phone. She's on a shoe website and has pulled up a ridiculously expensive pair of shoes.

"Absolutely not," You shake your head.

"Oh come on," Cara groans. "I've been saving my allowance for it."

"You don't need $700 shoes," Natasha cuts in. "Especially ones that look like someone puked all over them."

Cara rolls her eyes and returns to her phone. “Not like Mom doesn’t have the same priced shoes in her closet.”

"James, don't you dare throw that block at Charlie," You call out. James looks sheepish as he lowers the block back onto the ground.

"Mama, I have to potty," Paige stands. She does a little dance, crossing her legs one over the other, before she points to the bathroom.

"Alright, let's go," You stand, holding out your hand.

"Mommy, can I go too?" Charlie stands, reaching for your hand.

"Yes, come on." You lead the two to the restroom and wait outside of the stalls. As you stand there, you can't help but let your mind wander to the last time you were here. The last time you brought the children here, Charlie had bit one of the staff and James had refused his shots. Not a fun time for you. It ended with a lot of begging on your part to be able to bring them back. Hopefully this time is different.

"Mommy, can you help wipe my butt?" Paige yells out.

You roll your eyes. The joys of motherhood. "Just a minute!" You call back. You step into the bathroom, seeing Charlie at the sink, checking herself out. "Charlie, wash your hands. Don't forget to sing the Happy Birthday song twice."

"Yes, Mommy," Charlie responds. She turns the faucet on, lathering her hands up.

"Mommy, help," Paige reminds you.

You make your way to the stalls and help Paige get off the toilet and clean up. She washes her hands in the sink before you lead her back out into the waiting room.

"I'm tired," Paige rubs her eyes.

"Come on, sweetheart. Lay your head in my lap." You position yourself to hold her in your lap.

"Mommy, can I have water?"

"If this doctor doesn't come soon," Natasha sighs. Luke was becoming frustrated with being in his stroller and not being able to crawl around. He began to fuss. "Luke, it's alright. We'll go home soon."

"I'll take him," Cara offers. Which leaves you genuinely surprised. Lately she's not wanted anything to do with her siblings.

"Thanks," Natasha hands him off to her.

Luke leans his head back, observing his older sister. He grabs her face, making her smile.

"He's so cute when he's not screaming his head off," Cara grins.

"Aren't they all," Natasha chuckles.

"Romanoff Family," The medical assistant calls out into the waiting room. All eyes are on you as you take your slightly rowdy bunch and head to the back. "Good morning, first we're going to take height and weight for each of the children. Who wants to go first?"

"I can," Cara volunteers.

"Perfect, step up here," the assistant instructs. Cara steps onto the scale, avoiding observing the number, before she steps over to take her height. "157 cms."

"What does that mean?" James questions.

"She's short," Charlie whispers.

Cara shoots her a look.

"Alright, Cara, you can step off. Now who's next?"

"Can I do it?" Charlie raises her hand. "I know I've grown a few inches."

"Of course," the assistant chuckles. Charlie steps onto the scale and then takes her height.

"147 cms," the medical assistant smiles.

"What about me?" James raises his hand.

Eventually everyone has their heights and weights taken. Then you're directed to a big room that magically fits all of you. You sit with Luke in your lap, Natasha with Paige in hers, and Cara shares a seat with Charlie. James is the first up with his legs swinging as he sits on the examination table.

"So far, with these wait times this doctor isn't getting on my good side," Natasha mutters.

"I'm sure there are more pressing matters than the Brady Bunch's checkups," You reply.

There's a knock at the door, and the first thing you see is brown hair with blonde highlights. That familiar chin and hazel brown eyes belong to none other than Melinda Whitlock. Melinda stands at an average height with a lean, athletic build, exuding a casual yet polished style. Never in a million years did you think you would see your ex-fiancé standing here in the same room as you. Okay, sure the last name aligns. You still have some of the same social circle so of course you knew she was a doctor.

"Hi," She smiles politely. "I'm Dr. Whitlock, you can call me Melinda. It's nice to meet you." She briefly glances around the room before stepping over to the sink to wash her hands. "Sorry about the long wait time. I had a patient puke all over me. The smell's mostly gone but..."

"Uh...you too," Natasha says slowly, taking note of the way your jaw hangs slightly open. You quickly snap out of your surprise to greet her.

“Hi, Melinda,” You speak softly. Hopefully you don’t sound too excited. Not that you are excited. You’re just surprised. Surprised is good. Surprised is neutral. Surprised won’t get you into trouble with your wife. Though by the look on Natasha’s face she’s not as happy about this “surprise”. 

"Oh, wow, y/n?" Melina greets. She looks around at all of the children and back to you and Natasha.

"Surprise?" You say sheepishly.

"I didn't know it was you," Melinda looks down at her tablet to check the charts. "I didn't make the connection. That's funny. How are you guys?"

"Uh, we're good," Natasha nods.

"How's...uh...your mom?" Melinda begins. "Hi, you must be James. I'm just going to check a few things for you. I'm Melinda."

"Oh, she's great," You answer. "Still working at the library in her free time."

"That's great," Melinda smiles. "So, how have the children been?"

"Uh, they're good," You nod. "No allergies or anything to speak of."

"Cough for me, James," Melinda instructs. From beside you, you can see Cara trying to connect the dots about your connection with this other woman. She can see the uncomfortable look on Natasha's face and then her eyes wide.

"Mama," Cara whispers. "Mom." She reaches over to tap Natasha. "Is that mom's ex? The one you talked about?"

"Yep, that's her," Natasha whispers back.

"She's cute," Cara smirks. "I can see Mom kind of has a type. Short and hot."

Natasha shoots her a warning look. "Don't even."

Melinda's attention remains on James though you swear you could see a smirk on her face.

"Hey, I didn't see you guys' last month for the annual," Melinda says, glancing at her tablet again. "James seems to be a healthy five-year-old. How are his eating habits?"

"Oh, uh, he eats well," You nod. "We were kind of busy. You know my job as ADA keeps the schedule pretty packed." You unconsciously fix your shirt, hoping there's no leftover baby food or puke. Natasha narrows her eyes.

"Good," Melinda smiles. She pulls her gloves off and throws them in the trash. She picks off a new pair before choosing another child.

"Charlie," Melinda gestures to her.

Charlie climbs onto the examination table.

"Do you mind lifting your shirt up for me? Just to make sure nothing's changed since the last time you were here," Melinda requests.

"Okay," Charlie nods, pulling her shirt up.

"Does she always look at people's belly buttons?" Cara frowns.

"It's because Charlie has an outie," James provides for his sister.

"Oh." Cara nods. "So does she have to get that checked every time?"

"I'll be quick, Charlie," Melinda reassures.

Charlie nods.

"Alright, I think everything looks good," Melinda smiles. "Most umbilical hernias are harmless. Is it causing you any pain?"

"Nope," Charlie replies.

"No constipation?"

"No, I poop everyday."

"Well, that's good," Melinda chuckles. "There is a surgical procedure that she's of age to receive now. If that's something of interest to you."

"Not right now," You shake your head. "Charlie, you can put your shirt down."

"Can I get down, Mama?" Charlie asks.

"Yeah, sweetie," Natasha replies.

"So, do you have a wife, Dr. Whitlock?" Cara clears her throat. Leave it to your fifteen-year-old to snoop.

"Oh, well, no," Melinda laughs. She's a little startled by the questions. "I'm a widow."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Natasha says. "My condolences." You’d heard about it when it happened but didn’t reach out besides words of sympathy. 

"It's fine. My wife died a few years ago." Melinda shrugs. "It's just me and my dog now."

"What kind of dog?" Paige inquiries. "So you live all alone?"

"Uh, yeah. She's a German Shepard named Lola." Melinda inputs something into her chart.

"That's nice. What's her favorite treat? We love dogs too," Charlie replies.

"Charlie, you can sit over here," Natasha cuts in, gesturing to the spot beside her.

"We had a dog," James pipes up. "But she ran away. We never found her." Melinda eyes the two of you for confirmation.

"Well, I accidentally left the gate open," You muster up the courage to confess. "She was always a flighty little thing. She wasn't really our dog. It was Natasha's sister's dog."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sure your sister wasn't very happy," Melinda frowns. "You always were a little forgetful."

"Mom? Forgetful?" Cara looks at you incredulously.

"Oh, well, you know. There's a lot on my plate," You defend.

"Of course, I understand," Melinda agrees. "I mean, when we were together you would forget a date, we had all the time."

"What date was that?" Cara smirked. She was loving this right now.

"Uh, our anniversary," Melinda replies.

"Oh, wait tell me more," Cara nods.

"Actually, by the looks I'm getting I think we should keep this professional," Melina excuses herself to check a few things. "Paige, it's your turn." She directs to the three year old.

Paige gets up from her seat, walking over to the doctor.

"I don't want any shots today. Okay?" Paige protests.

"I can't promise that," Melinda offers. "But we do have delicious lollipops for after. Would that appease you?"

"Hm...okay," Paige gives in. "You better be quick. Mommy says you should always be quick."

"I'll try my best," Melinda takes her stethoscope to listen to Paige's heart and lungs. "She has a healthy set of lungs. Breathing seems normal."

"So far so good," Natasha sighs.

"So, what are we looking at for shots today?" You ask, hoping the worst is over.

"Hm, it doesn't look like the children had them last round," Melinda continues. "I'll have a medical assistant come in soon. I just need to check out baby boy over here." Melinda gestures for you to bring Luke over to the examination table. You remain holding onto him as he finds curiosity in Melinda and her tools. He drools all over her hand when she checks his teeth. Then his ears.

"Oh, well, he's not fussy," Melinda chuckles. She turns back to her tablet, writing a few things down. "He looks healthy and is up to date on all his shots. Have you introduced solids to him yet?"

"Just a little bit. He's getting more and more every week," You explain.

"Alright. Sounds good. Is he sleeping okay?"

"Yep. Most nights, anyways. We're lucky if we can get through the night without a wake up." You smile.

"He'll get better with time," She nods. "Now, for the final child. The big one, Cara, right?"

"That's me," Cara gets up from her seat and hops onto the examination table.

"Cara, how old are you again?" Melinda asks.

"I just turned fifteen."

"Do you participate in any sports or physical activites?" Melinda goes down the list of questions she has to ask.

"I run track and field, soccer, and sometimes dance," Cara provides. "Though dance isn't really my thing."

"Any injuries recently? Stomachaches?"

"Uh, nope. None."

"Have you had your period yet?"

"Yes," Cara nods.

"Okay, this is the part of the exam where I need you to step out of the room." Melinda gestures. "Just for routine questioning. It shouldn't be long. You guys can wait out in the hall."

Right. The questions parents aren't supposed to hear. You gather your crew and you all wait out in the hall.

"She looks good," Natasha speaks. Oh, no. You know what this is. She's fishing for something and you're not going to take the bait.

"Oh, yeah, she does." You say nonchalantly. Not like you noticed. "Is this weird for you?"

"Kind of," Natasha admits. "It's not every day we see an ex out in the wild."

"Yeah, " You shrug, shifting Luke on your hips. "But she is a doctor."

"A nice doctor," Charlie cuts in.

"Nice is subjective," James adds.

"Kid is on my side," Natasha snorts.

"She's got a dog," Paige points out. "And she has lollipops."

"I don't think any of you guys will ever see her again. Unless one of you get sick," You explain. "So, no need to form a crush."

"If she's your ex that means you dated her?" Charlie questions. "You cheated on Mama?"

"No, no, absolutely not," You rush out. This was not a conversation to be having in public - or the hallway of a doctor's office. "I was with her before I met your Mama."

"Oh, well, why didn't it work out?"

"Just adult things," You end the conversation there. "Nothing for you to worry about."

Adults things where you both were quite toxic for each other. Also, missing the anniversary was a one time thing. Well, two time thing. Only because you’d been in college and prepping for law school. You’d both simply grown apart and wanted other things. You think everything has worked out how it’s supposed to be. 

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

Meanwhile inside of the room Melinda and Cara are having a conversation.

"So, I have to ask you these questions," Melinda begins. "Just know that anything you say stays between us unless I feel it is harmful to you."

"I gotcha," Cara replies.

"How are your eating habits?"

"Uh, good."

"Any weight fluctuations or loss?"

"Nope. My coach says I'm gaining muscle."

"Any recent injuries?"

"No.You asked that one already.” Cara points out.

“Right, it’s on here twice.” Melinda swipes to another screen.

"Stress levels? Have they increased recently."

"Yes," Cara admits. "We're moving out of town soon. To Ohio."

"Why's that?"

"Mom's got a new job," Cara explains. "Which is fine. I'm just worried about leaving all of my friends behind. I've known them forever."

"That's understandable," Melinda nods. "When was your last period?"

"Last month."

"Has it ever been irregular or heavy?"

"Sometimes. Like when I'm stressed."

"Okay, have you had any unprotected sex?"

"No, never." Cara slightly blushes.

"Do you understand that if you do there are contraceptives that are available to you?"

"Yeah, my Moms taught me about those a long time ago," Cara nods. "They make sure I am prepared."

"Any drugs or alchohol?"

"No, none of that," Cara denies. "I'm an athlete. That stuff isn't good for me."

"That's a good mindset," Melinda offers a small smile. "I know sometimes when people go through stressful situations they feel like they want to take some sort of release or relief."

"I don't want that," Cara insists. "I'm happy. I have a great family."

"I'm glad."

"You were Mom's fiance?"

"Yes, many moons ago," Melinda nods. "It's all water under the bridge now."

"Were you close?"

"We were," Melinda replies.

"Why did you guys' breakup?" Cara wants more of the story.

"I'm not sure your moms would like me telling you this."

"Right," Cara tucks hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry about your wife. That must be lonely."

"I have my moments," Melinda shrugs. "I appreciate the concern. I occupy my time with sports and things outside of work."

"Do you run?"

"I used to," Melinda says. "I was a gymnast for a while."

"Me too," Cara smiles.

"Really?"

"Yeah, but then I got into other sports." Cara continues. "Moms allow me to choose so I try out everything."

"You should try boxing," Melinda suggests. "I'm trying to convince a friend of mine to start teaching it."

"I will. When are the lessons?"

"I'm not sure," Melinda laughs.

"You should come over to dinner sometime," Cara offers. She really likes Melinda's vibe. That and she wants to be nosier.

"I don't know if that's appropriate," Melinda smirks. "I'll invite your family back in.”

 "Okay." Melinda opens the door to gesutre for you all to pile back in.

"Well, I've reviewed the children's charts and everything is in order. I'll have the nurse come in to administer the vaccines."

"Thank you, Dr. Whitlock," You nod.

"You're welcome," Melinda responds. She turns to leave. "You know, after all this time the both of you still look the same. Still beautiful. " She looks at you for a few seconds longer. Before she leaves the room.

"I don't like her," Natasha mutters to you. "Are you blushing?"

"No," You insist. "The room is just a little hot."

"Right," Natasha rolls her eyes.

"Can I have the lollipop now, Mama?" Paige tugs at Natasha's hand.

"Of course, baby girl," Natasha hands Paige a lollipop from the tray. "I think we're done here. What do you think?"

"Sounds good."

"Let's wait for the nurse then we can go," Natasha smiles.

"What about ice cream?" Charlie asks.

"Is it still too late to get it spiked?" Natasha reminds you. You chuckle. 

[millenialfanfictionaddiction]

Bakugo with a Shy and Quiet

Girlfriend

Katsuki Bakugo x shy Fem! Reader (she/her pronouns)

Warnings: ridiculously long and for no reason, fluff, Bakugo swearing, protective, possessive Bakugo, Mineta being a perv, reader being a badass, reader gets beat up

AN: Starting off 2023 strong 💅This is an Anon request! I just want to say, I am not a shy person so this is me trying my best to write a shy reader 😅 I know Baku-bro is a fav so I hope I did him justice 😌

You’d always wanted to be a hero, ever since you can remember

Maybe it was the uniforms, maybe it was the fact that they saved people, whatever the reason you always adored heros

So when you were accepted to the prestigious U.A. High you were so excited

Your quirk was quite useful when it came to hero work

You see, you were able to see thought solid items, useful for everything from finding lost pets to locating victims during natural events

You had a lot of control over your quirk, being able to turn it on and off at will

You also were extremely athletic, with exceptional fighting skills

However one thing you struggled with was your extreme shyness

It wasn’t that you never talked but you just never felt comfortable speaking up

You often kept to yourself, too shy to initiate conversations with others

So when you were placed in class 1-A, you were a bit nervous

Everyone seemed so outgoing and confident and you just didn’t seem to fit it

“Hi there!! You must be Yn!” A voice sounded as you jumped as a pink haired girl stood in front of you

You blushed, smiling a little and nodded

“Wow you are so cute!! My names Mina, it’s so great to meet you!” She said extending her hand for a greeting

“Mina calm down! You’re going to scare her!” A voice boomed as you again jumped

“Boy you sure are a jumpy one,” Mina giggled as a tall redhead came besides her

“Hi there, I’m Kirishima! It’s super nice to meet you!” He said as you smiled again

“Dang what’s everyone doing over here?” A yellow haired boy said, continuing the circle of people now surrounding your desk

“We are just talking to Yn!” Mina cheered as the yellow haired boy smiled at you

“I’m Denki Kaminari, it’s super nice to meet you!” He said as you smiled again, eyes looking down at your desk

“OI SHITTYHAIR!” a voice boomed from behind the wall of people as you squeaked in surprises

A blonde haired boy came besides Kirishima as you stared at him, his eyes narrowed on the group in front of you

He was a little taller than you, hair spiked up all over the place, and he was super cute

“Bakugo chill out what’s wrong now?” Kirishima asked, smiling at Bakugo

“Why is everyone standing around my desk?! Go sit in your own!” Bakugo growled

“We aren’t around your desk explosion boy, we are talking to Yn!” Denki added as Bakugos head snapped to you

You 👉🏻😐😳

Bakugo studied you, eyes narrowed on your face

You avoided his penetrative stare, eyes averting every which way

“Whatever, go to your own desks!” Bakugo said, sitting down next to you as you stiffened and sat quietly

During class, you’d occasionally glance at the stoic blonde

His profile was perfect, everything from his hair to his chin was incredible

At one point, you turned to steal a quick glance and we’re met with a pair of red eyes glaring back at you

“Is there something wrong?” Bakugo said as your eyes widened and you viciously shook your head, turning back to your work and hiding your face

You were so embrasshed that he had caught you looking at him that you literally wanted to cry 😩

However Bakugo thought it was rather amusing

A small smirk grew on his face when he saw how red your face turned

He thought you were rather cute, with how shy you were

You were really one of the only people he could actually stand being around, your presence light and calming to him

At first, he didn’t think of you as much more than a classmate

That was until he first heard you speak

“Alright YN, let’s talk about your quirk today. Why don’t you share with everyone your speciality,” Aizawa asked as you gulped

Everyone turned to look at you as you quietly stood up, playing with your fingers as you spoke

“Umm well, I can see through objects and ummm well it can be very useful for ummm locating victims in things like earthquakes or collapsed buildings,” you say shyly as everyone watches you

“Thank you YN, you can sit down now,” Aizawa added as you quickly sat down, flustered by having to speak in public

After class, you stood up, ready to leave when an agitating, grating voice hit your ears

“Well hello there gorgeous,” Mineta spoke as you quickly turned, avoiding his gaze, “I was just wondering if you could use your X-ray vision to see though things other than buildings?”

You looked at him, confused 🫤

“Umm yeah, I can see thought pretty much anything if I want,” you said as Mineta smirked

“Does that include clothing?” He grinned as you froze

Honestly, why out of my way Yn, I’ll punch him on your behalf 👊🏻

“Umm well- umm no I don’t-”

“HEY FREAK!” a voice growled from behind you as you jumped a little, the atmosphere changing as you felt someone come behind you

You turned to see Bakugo standing behind you, his body stiff and his eyes narrowed on the little jerk in front of you

“What the hell do you think your doing? Leave her alone before I blow your ass clear into outer space!” He said as you watched the blood drain from Mineta’s face

“I was just talking with her, she has a very interesting quirk,” Mineta said

Meanwhile, the entire peanut gallery is watching your interaction like 👉🏻👀🍵🍿

“You were just being a perv and you messed with the wrong girl! Now back off!” Bakugo snarled as Mineta slowly backed away

“Umm thanks Bakugo,” you manage to squek out quietly as he walks away

“Whatever,” he says walking past you and out the door

You sigh, following him out the door as the peanut gallery reflects on the situation

“Have you ever seen Bakugo act like that?” Kirishima probes

“Never!” Denki adds as Mina nods

“Do you think-” she adds as the other two smile back at her

Oh they DEFINITELY think 😏

Back at the dorms, you begin making yourself a cup of tea when Midoriya and Todoroki greet you

“Hey Yn!” Midoriya says as you smile back, stirring your tea

“Hey,” you say shyly as the two stand close

“We were wondering if you could help us study for the test coming up? We know you are pretty smart in the subject and we are having a bit of a rough time,” Midoriya asks

“Oh umm- I mean I’m not really that smart but I can’t try,” you say, smiling back at them

Meanwhile 👀 a certain boy is watching from a distance

A totally not jealous blonde haired boom boom boy

He’a definitely not jealous tho, let’s make that clear

He’s just clenching his fists while those damn nerds talk to you, getting WAY too close to you

But he’s not doing it out of jealousy oh no way 🙃

He watches as you talk with the two, icy hot getting a little too close for his comfort

The final straw happens when you accidentally back up, bumping into the side of the ledge

And of course, that damn icy hot is there to steady you

He stomps up to you, staring straight at you

“Oh hi Kacchan!” Midoriya says as Bakugo storms up

“What the hell are you two bothering her for?” Bakugo growls as Todoroki and Midoriya study him

“We were just asking Yn to help us study, it’s not big deal,” Todoroki added as you watched their interaction

“Yeah well don’t!” Bakugo spat, his volume now attracting the attention of many of the students

The entire class 1-A is all about this drama

“Uhh Kaachan,” Midoriya starts to say before Todoroki interrupts

“YN said she would help us so we are going to study now. Come on Yn!” He says, grabbing your hand and tugging you towards the study areas

Oop 😶

“I’m coming with!” Bakugo adds as Midoriya just stands there

“Kaachan you just told me earlier you wouldn’t help me study,” he added as Bakugo stomped after you and Todoroki

“Shut up you damn nerd!” He shouted

The entire study session was a bit awkward to say the least

Bakugo sat on one side of you while Todoroki sat on the other, just glaring at each other the entire time

Both you and Midoriya were hella uncomfortable as you tried your best to help the boys

“YN thanks so much for helping us! We really appreciate it,” Midoriya said as you smiled and nodded

“You nerds still don’t get this stuff,” Bakugo scoffed as Todoroki glared

“Well we would if you’d let Yn have an inch of space to explain anything!” He gritted out and Bakugo snarled back

“Ok well this was fun,” Midoriya interrupted :D, “but I think we should get going!”

He grabbed Todoroki and began to tug him out the door

“Thanks again YN, we really appreciate it!” He shouted as he pushed the other boy along with him

Bakugo glared as the boys left, sitting next to you as you stared down at your notes

“Come on, let’s go get something to eat,” Bakugo said, grabbing your notebook, book and holding onto your hand

Your eyes widened at his sudden forcefulness

He paraded you thought the corridors, glaring at anyone who DARE say anything to him or you

“Well dang, he really does like her,” Kirishima said as Denki and Mina nodded, watching probably the oddest couple they have ever seen walk though the halls

After that day, Bakugo always stood close to you, seeking you out whenever he could

He barely spoke to you, a wordless nod here and there as he waited for you to pack up

Your relationship with Bakugo was rather an odd one

You found comfort in sitting next to him, studying or watching TV

Eventually he would open up a bit and you would as well

You found him visiting your room often, brining you meals he cooked

“Thanks Karasuki,” you’d say as he blushed

He had been wanting to ask you out for a while now but this was completely new territory for our precious explosion boy

“Uh YN, how would you like to go on a walk with me?” He said, rubbing the back of his head

“Uhh sure,” you said shyly, grabbing your cardigan and following him

You walked around campus, feeling secure within the confines of U.A.

When suddenly, he just blurted it out

“YN I like you!” Bakugo shouted as you froze, your head turning to look at him

“Umm I like you too Katsuki,” you blushed back

“Would you consider being my girlfriend, I mean you don’t have to or anything-”

“YES!” You shouted as Bakugos eyes widened in your direction

Damn Yn, chill the whole campus is going to hear you 🫣

Your eyes shot open as Bakugo smiled and chuckled to himself, “you’re such a nerd but you’re my nerd.”

He grabbed your hand and walked you back to the dorms

After that night, Bakugo was always by your side

Every chance he had, he would seek you out, sometimes finding you studying or quietly reading a book

He adored watching you as you silently went about your business, never making waves or doing anything unnecessary

When it came time for individual studies, Bakugo was nervous

Now, he knew you could handle yourself out there

He had seen you fight and seen your skills first hand

But still, he worried about his sweet, shy girlfriend

“YN be careful ok?” He said before kissing your forehead as you turned to leave

“Getting a little soft aren’t we Kaachan,” Midoriya gushed as Bakugo snapped his head towards him

“DEKU YOU NERD IM GOING TO BLOW YOU UP IF YOU DONT GET OUT OF HERE!” He shouted as you smiled

“Katsuki, I’ll be fine. I can do this,” you said as he smiled and nodded

However that night, you found yourself regretting those words

“Alright girly give it up and surrender!” A man shouted as he kicked you in the ribs

Your partner was unconscious and down and you had been knocked on the ground

A false call had come in, trapping both you and your pro mentor in a dangerous position

“Ugh get off of me!” You whined as another kick was delivered to your stomach

“Katsuki, help me,” you whined before your vision went blank

Bakugo paced back and forth as he watched the clock

You were 10 minutes late, you were never just 10 minutes late

“Bakubro chill dude! YN is fine!” Kirishima said as Bakugo sneered at the redhead

“YN is a very competent individual and she’s with one of the best pros in the city,” Todoroki added as Bakugo glared in his direction

“This happens sometimes, being a hero isn’t exactly a 9 to 5 job,” Aizawa interrupted as Bakugo looked at him

“She’s never been late without letting me know,” He said, practically running a hole in the floor

“Bakugo-” Aizawa said as his phone began to ring

“Hello? Yes this is he,” Aizawa said as his voice went silent

“Ok where is she? Do you know where they are? Yes she’s one of my students,” he said as Bakugo took three large strides, standing in front of his teacher

“What the hell is going on?” He growled as Aizawa tried to listen

“Yes I know where that is, send as much backup as you can and I’ll meet you there,” he said before hanging up his phone and turning on his heel

Bakugo ran in front of him, blocking his way

“That was about YN wasn’t it? Where the hell is she?” He shouted

“She was captured along with her mentor in the abandoned toy factory by the river,” Aizawa said as he ran past Bakugo and the others

His classmates watched as Bakugo began to seethe

“Bakugo, you need to calm down,” Mina said, slowly approaching him

“Yeah the pros will get her and she will be fine!” Denki added

However, Bakugo wasn’t listening.

He suddenly stormed out of the school, blasting himself towards the direction of the abandoned factory

“Well crap,” Mina said as she watched him blast away

“Rock, paper, scissors for who has to chase him?” Kirishima said looking at Midoriya

Bakugo was gone, blasting himself as fast as he could towards you

“That idiot! I knew I should have went with her!” He growled as he approached the warehouse

Meanwhile, you slowly came out of your unconscious state, body hurting everywhere as you saw the group of men talking

“So who do we kill first? The little girl or the pro?” He said

“I don’t know, she’s kind of a cutie, maybe we should hold her hostage for some money,” one said as you grimaced at the thought

Suddenly you heard a loud blast, managing to cover yourself quickly as wood flew everywhere

“Not today!” Bakugo screamed as he blasted everything in sight

Seriously someone should probably warn him about that temper of his

“Katsuki,” you whined our as Bakugos eyes flew to yours

He raced over to you, grabbing you up in his arms, “we have to get you out of here!”

“No! Take them first, they are really hurt!” You said as Bakugo shook his head

“YN we don’t have time for this!” He growled as you squirmed in his arms

“I said let me go Katsuki! Take them first!” You said as Katsuki grit his teeth and sore under his breath

“Damn woman! What the hell is wrong with you?” He said, setting you down and grabbing your mentor before blasting out

The fire, started by our favorite boi 💅, was now raging around you

You managed to get to your feet, going to the two men who had held you hostage and hoisting one of them up

“What the hell? YN where did you go?!?” Bakugo yelled as you shouted for him through the flames

“Katsuki help me!” You shouted as he found you helping the criminals

“YN come on! This place is going down!” He shouted, “nows not the time to play hero!”

“Im not playing hero Katsuki and I’m not letting them die!” You screamed as Bakugo balled his fists up, grabbing the other man he had beat to a pulp

“God I liked it when you were quieter!” He scratched out as you both managed to break through the doors, exiting to lights flashing

You collapsed as Bakugo set down the other man, running to grab you

“YN! YN stay with me!” He said before you blacked out

A few hours later ⏳

You winched as you awoke, the pain in your ribs excruciating

“Don’t move Yn, I need a little more time to heal you,” recovery girl said as you laid back

Bakugo stood, leaning against the wall as he scowled at you

You hoped recovery girl would take a few days at this point to heal you, giving Katsuki enough time to forget any of this happened

“…and we are done!” She said as your eyes widened, knowing there was no way that you would ever escape this room without a lecture

Recovery girl left as Katsuki continued to glare at you

You 👉🏻👀😗 🎶

Bakugo 👉🏻😠 Yn-

You 👉🏻 🫡

Suddenly Bakugo closed the gap, his lips slamming onto yours as you squeaked a little

He pulled back, still glaring at you, “don’t you ever and I mean EVER, do that again nerd or I’ll blow your ass up!”

You smiled at him, his eyes softening a little bit

“Stop being such a hardass on your girlfriend bakubro!” Kirishima said from the door as Mina, Denki, Midoriya and Todoroki watched on

“Get the hell out of here before I kill you!” Bakugo snarled as you giggled

You sure caught yourself a good one Yn 🥰

[girl-next-door-writes]

Fake it til you fall

Characters: Armitage Hux x reader

Summary: Anxiety spikes at a holiday party until an unexpected ally, Armitage Hux, helps you fake-date your way to triumph—but is your evening as fake as you first thought?

Word Count: 1274 words

Prompts: Crowded party. Fake dating.

A/N: A sweet anon requested this one, and I hope they see it.

The clamor of the holiday party swirled around you like a chaotic symphony. Laughter, the soft hum of music, the clinking of glasses—sounds that should have been comforting felt anything but as you scanned the room for a familiar face. The sprawling penthouse, draped in tasteful holiday decor—gold and white lights twinkling against polished wood and sparkling glass—felt more like a museum than a place for merriment.

You had one mission tonight: survive this.

Across the room, you caught sight of your co-worker, Lila, and she wasn’t alone. She was surrounded by her usual gaggle of friends, none of whom you could stand. They'd zero in on you the moment they spotted you alone, hurling the same passive-aggressive questions as always: "Oh, you're here alone again this year? How independent of you!"

The air caught in your throat at the thought. Not again. Not tonight.

You edged closer to the refreshment table, trying to look busy by fussing with a glass of eggnog. The bubbling anxiety gnawed at the edges of your mind, but then, as if summoned by some miracle—or maybe just sheer desperation—you saw him.

Armitage Hux, the last person you expected to be at a party like this.

He wasn’t mingling. Of course he wasn’t mingling. The man looked as out of place as a cat in a dog park. His tailored suit was immaculate, the dark fabric setting off his ginger hair and sharp features. His arms were crossed, his expression one of thinly veiled disdain as he surveyed the room with the air of someone who would rather be anywhere else.

But he was here, and more importantly, he was alone.

You’d worked with him tangentially—sort of. He was a consultant for a neighboring department at your firm, and while you’d only exchanged a handful of words, you knew one thing for certain: he was someone who commanded respect.

Or fear.

Either way, the idea struck like a bolt of lightning.

You could ask him to fake date you. Just for tonight.

You almost laughed at the ridiculousness of it, but then you caught sight of Lila again, her eyes narrowing as they landed on you. Time was running out.

You squared your shoulders, grabbed two champagne flutes, and approached Hux.

“Hi,” you greeted, forcing a smile and holding out the extra glass like a peace offering.

He raised one perfectly arched eyebrow, looking at you as if you’d just interrupted a very important thought.

“Yes?”

You resisted the urge to wither under his gaze. “I… I need your help.”

His other eyebrow joined the first. “My help?”

“Look,” you said, glancing over your shoulder toward Lila, who was now whispering to her friends and shooting pointed looks your way. “There’s this group of people here who always make my life miserable at these events, and I just—well, if I could pretend I wasn’t alone tonight, they’d leave me alone.”

Hux blinked slowly. “You want me to pretend to be your date?”

“Just for tonight,” you said quickly. “No strings, no weird expectations. Just stand near me, maybe talk to me every now and then, and let people assume we’re together. Please.”

He stared at you for a long moment, his green eyes piercing. You braced yourself for rejection, for mockery, for him to laugh in your face and leave you to fend for yourself.

But then he said, “Fine.”

“Fine?”

“Yes,” he said curtly, taking the champagne flute from your hand. “Let’s get this over with.”

It didn’t take long for the ruse to kick into effect.

Hux, to his credit, was an exceptional fake boyfriend. He stood close enough to you that no one would question your supposed relationship, but not so close as to make it uncomfortable. He offered you his arm when you moved through the room, and his sharp, dry wit kept even the most insistent small talkers at bay.

You found yourself relaxing in his presence, the initial awkwardness giving way to something almost… fun.

Lila, of course, made her move.

“Oh, wow,” she said, sidling up to you with an exaggerated smile. “I didn’t know you were bringing someone. Who’s this?”

“This is Armitage,” you said, keeping your voice steady. “My boyfriend.”

Her eyes flicked over to him, and for the first time in your life, you were grateful for Hux’s intimidating demeanor. Lila’s smile faltered for just a fraction of a second before she recovered.

“Boyfriend?” she repeated, her voice a shade too sweet. “How… unexpected.”

Hux, who had been sipping his champagne, gave her a cold, thin smile. “The best things in life often are.”

You almost choked on your drink.

Lila, flustered, made some excuse and quickly retreated, leaving you and Hux standing together in victorious silence.

“Thank you,” you said, your shoulders dropping as the tension left you.

Hux shrugged. “It was nothing. People like that are… predictable.”

“Still, I appreciate it. You’ve made this party a lot less miserable.”

He glanced at you then, his sharp features softening just slightly. “You’re welcome.”

As the evening wore on, you found yourself talking to Hux more than you’d anticipated.

It turned out that he had a dry sense of humor, one that matched your own. He wasn’t as cold and unapproachable as you’d once thought; he was just guarded. But beneath that icy exterior was someone who was intelligent, quick-witted, and—dare you say it—kind.

You told yourself not to read into it too much. This was just a favor, after all.

But as the party wound down and the crowd began to thin, you couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment at the thought of the night ending.

“You’ve done more than enough,” you said as you both stood near the exit, coats in hand. “You’re free to go. I mean, you were always free to go, but—”

“I’ll walk you home,” he interrupted, his tone brooking no argument.

“Oh. You don’t have to—”

“It’s late,” he said firmly. “And cold. I insist.”

You didn’t argue.

The walk back to your apartment was quiet, the snow falling softly around you. The city lights reflected off the white blanket covering the streets, casting everything in a golden glow.

“Thank you,” you said again, breaking the silence. “For tonight. Really.”

Hux looked at you, his expression unreadable. “You’ve already said that.”

“I know, but I mean it. You didn’t have to help me, but you did. That means a lot.”

He was silent for a moment, his breath visible in the frosty air. Then, he said, “You’re not as insufferable as most people. It wasn’t entirely unpleasant.”

You laughed, the sound echoing in the quiet night. “High praise coming from you.”

His lips twitched, the closest thing to a smile you’d seen all night.

When you reached your building, you turned to face him, suddenly unsure of what to say.

“Well,” you began awkwardly, “this is me.”

“So it is.”

“Thanks again. I guess I’ll see you around?”

He hesitated, his green eyes searching yours. Then, to your surprise, he reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind your ear.

“Perhaps we should try this again sometime,” he said, his voice soft.

“Try what?”

“Pretending,” he said, though there was a hint of something in his tone that suggested he wasn’t entirely pretending anymore.

You felt your cheeks flush, the cold forgotten as you nodded. “I’d like that.”

And as he walked away, his coat billowing behind him, you couldn’t help but smile. Maybe, just maybe, fake dating Armitage Hux wasn’t such a ridiculous idea after all.

[mj-iza-writer]

Warning: infantilized Whumpee. Whumpee is baby and Whumper agrees.

"Are you my cute little baby?", Whumper cooed at Whumpee as they changed their diaper, "smelly baby is more like it, geesh."

Whumpee wiggled away while Whumper cleaned up.

"Don't go too far", Whumper spoke over their shoulder.

Whumpee tried to reach up for a higher shelf. They climbed up on their feet to get a better reach.

"Whumpee no", Whumper came from behind and smacked Whumpee's butt.

Whumpee jumped from the warning and slap. They fell to the floor with a bang.

They looked up at Whumper with tears threatening to fall.

"Oh no, did baby go boom on the floor", Whumper knelt down, "did that cause an owwy?"

Whumpee's lip quivered as they nodded.

"It's okay baby", Whumper scooped them into a hug, "that's why babies shouldn't be standing up", Whumper grinned and kissed Whumpee's forehead, "let's put on your bootys."

Whumpee struggled to get away, "ymhmm", Whumpee shook their head no.

"We have to Whumpee, you know better than to say no to me", Whumper reached for the slippers, "do you want another spanking?"

Whumpee watched Whumper for a second before pointing at the item they were trying to reach.

"Does baby Whumpee want their chewy?", Whumper reached up and grabbed it.

Whumpee nodded as they watched Whumper carefully.

"Alright, come here then, let's clip it on you", Whumper held it up.

Whumpee crawled to Whumper and stopped a few steps away.

"Very cute attempt", Whumper watched them stretch as far as they could, "you need to come a little closer."

Whumpee scooted a few inches.

"You're being ridiculous. These don't hurt you unless you stand up, and you know better than to stand up", Whumper sighed, "come here before I get up and get you."

Whumpee huffed in annoyance.

"Don't huff at me", Whumper warned, "I'll give you the icky syrup if you keep being disobedient."

Whumpee quickly scooted closer... anything to not have that sludge go down their throat.

"That's what I thought", Whumper clipped the toy holder onto Whumpee's outfit, "I have a feeling my mind control is losing its edge on you", Whumper tickled Whumpee's sides playfully, "do we need to fix that?"

Whumpee quickly put the toy in their mouth and happily chewed on it.

"You're probably hungry. We'll get breakfast once these booties are on you", Whumper grinned, "is my baby grumpy because your hungry."

Whumper slipped the booty onto Whumpee's foot, and made sure the bottom sat right, they then buckled the boot and locked it.

Whumpee whined as cold metal touched their feet.

"I know Whumpee, just don't stand up. The spikes won't hurt you then", Whumper started to put the other one on.

These boots were a soft padded slipper with a belt around the ankle. They could be adjusted and locked into place . Inside the slipper, a removable insert with a few dull spikes waited for the wearer to stand up. This would cause severe pain and cause the person to fall over. It normally didn't cause bleeding though.

Whumpee rolled onto their stomach when Whumper was finished.

"Let's go get breakfast", Whumper watched Whumpee try to pull at the slipper, "nuh-uh", Whumper smacked Whumpee's hand away, "do you want me to add the mittens?"

Whumpee cowarded away and shook their head no.

"Let's go get breakfast then", Whumper sighed.

Whumpee sat in a highchair type seat in the kitchen. Whumper fed them while also eating their breakfast and packing lunch for work.

Whumpee realized the weekend was over.

"Please don't leave me", Whumpee whispered, "I-I don't want to be alone."

"Wow a baby who can speak... amazing", Whumper turned, "who gave you permission to speak."

"I-I'm sorry, I just don't want you to leave me", Whumpee looked down.

"As much as I enjoy hearing that, I do, in fact, have to go to work", Whumper frowned as they gave Whumpee another spoonful of food, "trust me, I'd rather stay here and play with you all day, but I can't. I had a feeling you were breaking out of my mind control. You've been a bit more difficult than normal this morning."

Whumpee let another tear fall.

"No need to cry, little baby, I have something fun planned for you. Considering you just talked to me, I think you already know what that means for you."

Whumpee panicked, "no master please....I-I'll be go..."

Whumper forced another spoonful of food deep into Whumpee's mouth making them choke harshly.

"Save it", Whumper grinned, "sometimes the brainwashing wears off and you lose your edge. Nothing a little coaxing won't solve."

Whumpee was strapped into a sleep sack and tied into their crib. They could only wiggle now.

"It's a shame, you normally get to play while I'm gone now you have to lay here until I get home. Don't worry though, I'll let you have plenty of screen time."

Whumper adjusted a screen directly in front of Whumpee's face. They gave it a few wiggles to make sure it didn't fall on Whumpee.

"Please, I promise I'll be good", Whumpee panicked as Whumper attached an electrode sticker onto Whumpee's neck.

"I know you will be. It's okay, you just need a little mind adjustment, it happens occasionally", Whumper grinned as they attached a wire to the sticker, "this will send a small shock every ten minutes to make sure you stay awake while I'm gone."

Whumpee whimpered, "please."

Whumper showed Whumpee a pacifier gag, and forced it into Whumpee's mouth and locked it into place.

"You'll be able to drink water through that, you have a full container of water to keep you hydrated", Whumper laughed as they turned on the screen, "I'll be checking in on you throughout today with this camera here."

The first shock stung Whumpee.

"Ymph", Whumpee jolted, "pwease."

"Enjoy the screen time", Whumper chuckled as they snapped a picture and left.

Whumpee screamed into the gag as the video started. A never ending black and white spiral took over the screen. Next an extremely annoying song played in several different volumes: extremely loud to almost quiet.

Whumpee fought against restraints. They squeezed their eyes close and wished they could cover their ears, especially knowing what was coming next.

Another shock went into their neck, making them scream again.

"Whumpee open your eyes you cute little baby", Whumper's recorded voice came on. This video was a continual loop of Whumper saying the same de-aging triggers over and over. This mixed with the hypnotic spiral and sensory overloading music would put anyone in a trance. Then, to add being shocked every ten minutes to make sure you do not fall asleep, which is both painful and torturous, Whumpee was doomed to go numb again.

They had already felt their body stop fighting. Their eyes widened as they stared at the screen.

Their mind kept yelling to move... or do something to fight for their freedom.

All fight left them. The spiral was just to beautiful and Whumper talked in such a soothing voice. They wanted their master back to see how good they were being. This song was so catchy.

"Ah, ah, ah", Whumpee tried to sing along until their eyes closed.

A shock jolted them awake again.

Drool pooled down the sides of their mouth now.

'Pretty colors', Whumpee thought to themself.

Whumper grinned as they watched Whumpee from their desk at work.

"They are long gone", Whumper chuckled, "they still have a long time to. Their brain will be like jello at the end of this."

A little before Whumper was to leave work they logged on to see Whumpee again.

Whumpee was crying uncontrollably. The overstimulation had gotten to them more than Whumper had wanted.

Whumper watched as Whumpee's back arched up in pain as another shock came through.

"Yep, you have definitely had too much now", Whumper sighed, realizing nine hours was probably too long for the mind control program to be watched.

Whumper hurried into Whumpee's room and hurried to turn the program and shock mechanism off.

Whumpee shook weakly.

"Aww, is my little baby okay?", Whumper cooed.

Whumpee sobbed as they tried to get out.

"That was scary for my baby... I'm here now. You're okay", Whumper hurried to untie Whumpee and free them from the sleepsack.

Whumpee quickly rolled to the further side of the crib and sniffled.

"It's okay baby come here, we'll get your diaper changed, and we can have a snack before dinner", Whumper tried to reach for them.

Whumpee tried to stand up.

"No Whumpee the slippers", Whumper tried to stop them.

Whumpee screamed as they fell over.

"Whumpee, it's okay, I need you to take a deep breath for me little one", Whumper tried to pull them out of the crib, "come here."

Whumpee continued to cry as Whumper finally got a good grip to pull them up.

"My poor baby", Whumper lowered themself and Whumpee to the ground, "I over did it."

Whumpee struggled for a second before finally burying their face into Whumper and crying.

"I know, it's okay. Let it all out", Whumper rubbed their back, "you've never had to go that long with that video playing. That was not a good idea for my little baby."

Whumpee quieted, but their body shook. They jolted again as though the electrode was still on them.

"Ahh, my baby", Whumper sighed, "come on let's get your diaper changed, and we can have some cookies while I make dinner. You are such a good baby."

Whumpee thought for a second before weakly nodding.

They laid quietly while Whumper changed them. No happy babbles like normal.

Even after watching the video for a while, Whumpee hadn't been this disoriented by it.

Whumper sighed, "I guess next time I'll just tie you down and regress you later. I shouldn't play with mind control so recklessly. I don't want you brain dead... not yet at least."

Whumpee watched them, but they didn't react to anything Whumper was saying. Their eyes were dull.

"Look at those lifeless eyes of yours", Whumper sighed while booping Whumpee's nose, "let's see if my little baby is in there still."

Whumpee was sat in their play pen in the living room. Some of their favorite toys were spread out for them to play with. Whumper then carried in a sippy cup of milk and a container of cookies.

Whumpee crawled to where Whumper sat the cookies and grabbed one.

"Well that's a good sign", Whumper stated in relief, "you're still food motivated."

"Hu-hu", Whumpee mumbled.

"I bet you're hungry... dinner is almost ready", Whumper smiled, "is my baby coming back?"

That evening Whumper lifted Whumpee to the couch and started to cuddle them.

"I see a little more life in your eyes now", Whumper grinned, "I bet you're sleepy though."

Whumpee rested their head on Whumper's chest.

"Aww my poor baby.... so sleepy", Whumper patted their head, "tomorrow will be a better day."

Taglist. As always please let me know if you want to be added or taken off of the list. It's not a problem at all.

@villainsandheroes @the-beasts-have-arrived

@sacredwrath @porschethemermaid

@monarchthefirst @generic-whumperz

@bloodyandfrightened @freefallingup13

@notpeppermint @cyborg0109

@idontreallyexistyet @painfulplots

@whumpbump @everythingsscary

@skittles-the-whumpee @expressionless-fr

@theforeverdyingperson @legendarydelusiongoatee

@candleshopmenace @whumpanthems

@lavndvrr @ivymyers

@starfields08000 @a-living-canvas

@lumpofsand @watermeezer

@indigoviolet311 @whumpy-mountains

@3-2-whump @risk606

@electrons2006 @paperprinxe

@whumprince @kaz-of-crows

@mis-graves @decaffeinatedtimetraveler94

@sausages-things @sunglasses-in-the-bentley