#pov: theo gray

[build-a-problem-musical]

William, on Theo:

Here is your brother. He is turbulent, but he is yours. He stares at you with eyes that are far too wide. You are just a boy on the same ground he stands on. That won’t stop you from wanting to give him everything. You need to clear his poor stormy head, to shake the rage and the shame away. He does not listen to reason. Your touch can do nothing. He is much too proud, too certain he can take away your choice to love him. You won’t let him even if staying will tear you up.

Theo, on William:

Here is your brother. He is better than you’ll ever be. You are explosive, weak, undeserving. You are rain and you are a storm; he is the unfailing sun and he somehow thinks you are worth his effort. You know better. He would be happier without you. You scream at him that you don’t want his hands over yours, that you need your fists to hold the thunder over your head well past the point that your arms tire. He tells you it hurts; though you don’t want that, it has to get worse first and he will have to go eventually. He stays. He stays and he stays and he has tried to sit with you through all your episodes. You want to be better. You want to contain yourself so you don’t hold him back. He has friends and he has wants and he cannot put them all down to tend to you. You have tried not to be selfish. You have tried and you have failed. He will never let you remove yourself from the equation of communion. He loves you and you know it will ruin him.

[impish-baby]

Ummm, a lot of my asks have been eaten lately, but I figured that typing this out again probably won't hurt. Sorry if you got it and I'm being annoying, but what if we went grocery shopping and met the twins by accident. The thing is, we don't see it as us running away. From our POV, we were distancing ourselves from our toxic family, so we're just like "Hey, wassup?" And the twins are like "wtf, where have you been asshole?!"

And then we just get pulled into a bone crushing hug and shoved into their car while we're just shocked bc literally when was the last time they showed us affection? Physical affection at that? And (small fact about myself) we don't like being touched bc we didn't grow up with it, so we're struggling in the backseat as one twin practically suffocates us and the other twin drives home.

-🏹

Hihi! I am pretty sure I've gotten that ask, although it didn't have a sign off, it was this premise. (Don't worry about being annoying! I understand the anxiety about tumblr eating asks ^^)

Don't you know it's fight or fly, little wolf - how the twins react to seeing reader out shopping

'It's just groceries, you're fine..' It's repeated like a mantra as you wonder down the aisles, anxiety pooling in your gut and making you queasy. Too bright, too much noise, too many people, every single thing is grating on your already fried nerves. You're constantly reminding yourself that you can do this, that you're just buying what Pam needs, and then leaving. It's simple, you're an adult, you're not having an anxiety attack just because you're shopping and it's crowded-

If you weren't already having a horrible enough time, there's a sudden hand on your back, tightly gripping your hoodie and pressing you up against the aisle you where browsing. "So you are in one piece... Jack has been worrying himself sick, you know?" You have to crane your neck to the side to see your older sibling, Theo standing as close as humanly possible. There's a cold look on their face, frowning disapprovingly at you when they turn you around to be face to face with them. "I think he was starting to go gray, honesty.."

You can't even get a word out between the panic you were already feeling and their sudden presence, momentarily stunned. Theo is too busy checking you over to pay attention to your reaction, scrutizing your form for any injuries before your hoodie is released, vice like grip holding onto your hand instead. You don't even do anything when they start dragging you through the store, only stumbling helplessly behind your older sibling.

When Jack eventually catches sight of you both, you're immediately crushed into a hug that knocks the wind out of you, squirming once you can feel him start to press kisses to the crown of your head, is... is he crying?? He is crying, tears tricking down the man's cheeks as he holds you like you're the most precious thing on the planet. Since when...

"God, where have you been? Are you ok? You're not hurt, right? T- Theo, they aren't hurt?"

"They're fine." Theo huffs, still holding onto you even though Jack has you in a suffacating embrace. "...stop making a scene."

"Ok.. ok.." Your older brother sighs, taking a few breaths to calm himself down. He doesn't let you go however, swinging an arm over your shoulder as they both begin to leave the store with you in tow. "You.. you can come to the apartment, alright? We'll call dad and then-"

That gets your brain to start working again at least, starting to drag your feet and cause Theo to curse as you begin to struggle. "I'm not going anywhere with either of you! Do you seriously think-" Your breath hitches in your throat as a hand wraps around your neck and squeezes.

"He wasn't asking your opinion, he was telling you that's what's happening." Jack has let you go now, standing off to the side as he nervously wrings his hands. It's Theo's intimidating figure standing over you, clutching your neck with a warning glare. "You're not a toddler, but if you don't walk, I'm carrying you out of the store."

Theo sighs when you stubbornly make no move to be cooperative, now carrying you out to the parking lot, uncaring that you're still trying to squirm out of their grip. "Jack, you have to drive.."

The older boy startles when he's addressed, having been trailing you both like a lost puppy until now. "Y- Yeah.." Jack hums meekly, fumbling for the keys in his pocket. He's shaking so bad you're unsure if he'll even be able to pull out from the parking spot, almost dropping the keys as he tries to unlock the doors.

He gets it eventually though, and you're dumped into the backseat, theo caging you back into their arms before you can even try to reach for the handle, the sound of the door slamming shut and locking only sealing your fate.

(a/n: theo would not care if you bite them :> they'll only scoff and use it as evidence against you. You're how old and biting people still?)

[sexualtensiongrowing21]

As the Sun Sets // A Virginial Moment // Part Twelve

TW: Smut, P in V, mentions of scars, cursing

AN: Y'all, I wanted SO BADLY to include smut, then as I started writing it I realized... I have no idea how to write smut... Please don't hate me.

Part Thirteen

Theo POV: 

Scarlet is holding on to my hand as she drags me throughout the castle. Where is she leading me? I have no idea. But what I do know, is that I will follow this beautiful, witty girl to the ends of the earth if she asks it of me. 

Scarlet has led me all the way to the seventh floor of the castle, where she stands, after walking back and forth in front of a blank wall. “Uh, Scar-” My voice dies in my throat as a large oak door appears out of thin air. 

Turning around, Scarlet grabs my hand once more and leads me inside. “Is this--the Room of Requirement?” I ask, looking around the large, fireplace lit room as she hums in agreement. 

The room is the size of my room back at the manor. To the left, there is a gray chaise near the fireplace with plush pillows and blankets resting on top. To the right, there is a tea cart, as well as two doors, which I assume is a closet and a bathroom. Then, in the middle of the room, there sits a large four poster bed, adorned with black satin pillows and a large green blanket. 

This surely isn't where Draco and Scarlet have been sneaking off to, in order to fix the cabinet. There is no side of it here. 

As if she could read my mind she giggles. “It's not here. This isn't the room of hidden things.” 

She leads me further into the room and she stops to face me, wrapping her arms around my neck, as mine go behind her back. “Then, what is this room?” The room fills me with a sudden feeling of familiarity. I feel as if I have been here before. 

She slowly runs her hands through my hair and back around my neck with a blush upon her cheeks. If I died today, it would be worth it just to know that I am the one who she is looking at like she is right now. 

“It's uh- m-my bedroom back at Malfoy Manor.” Of course. I have been here before. Only once, in 5th year when I was visiting Draco during the summer. I hum as I lean down connecting our lips together while I walk over her to the bed. The back of her knees hit the bed and she lays down. 

“It's lovely.” I whisper as I scoot her farther up the bed and crawl over her. I start kissing down her neck as my hands start to travel up her thighs under her skirt. Her breath hitches and her hips lift up to meet mine. 

My cock throbbing in the confines of my trousers, right against her heat. A groan leaves my lips as I kiss down on her neck, pulling as many sweet moans from her as she will let me. 

She moans ‘Theo’ as my hands start to travel under her jumper starting to pull it off of her as I hear my name leave her lips again. God I will never tire of hearing my name leave her sinfully plump lips. “Theodore.” The use of my first name has me pausing at the realization that she has stopped moving completely. Her voice is laced with sadness. I stop my descent down her neck and meet her eyes to find her biting her lip, face flush in nervousness and embarrassment. 

“Oh merlin. I'm so sorry, love. I'm going too fast. I-I got caught up.” I couldn't help myself. The feeling of finally having her in my arms. Being able to kiss her. Hear her beautiful moans. I start to pull away. 

She pushes up on her elbows, with a small smile, linking her hand with mine. “No Theo. Don't be sorry.. It's just..” She goes quiet. I move to lay next to her. She closes her eyes. “I haven’t-- I mean I just--” 

She's never had sex? My eyes knit together in confusion. “You and Adrian never?” She opens her eyes and a stray tear escapes. “No.” She whispers. “He wanted to-- Tried to, many times. But I would have to take my clothes off. The Malfoys and the other Death Eaters have seen my scars.” She pauses, using her free hand to wipe a few straw tears away. “--and the only charm that covers them, wears off during distress.-- Or during immense pleasure.” 

She moves to sit up, her eyes meet mine and she has tears starting to fall within them. “Love, we don't have to. I am lucky you even let me be here with you in the first place.” I squeeze her hand reassuringly. 

How could she think I would care about her scars? She and I both know I have my own that riddle my body. How bad could they honestly be?

“I want to. I-I really do. I'm just scared.”

I sit up and place both of my hands on the side of her face wiping the fallen tears with my thumbs. “You have nothing to be scared of, Mi Tesoro. Nothing you can show me will scare me away. I have seen your scars and you are still the most beautiful witch I have ever laid eyes on.” She winces at the reminder of the circumstances at which I saw her scars. With shaky hands she reaches for the edge of her jumper. Hesitating for a second. “Do you promise?”

“I promise.” I assure, with a slight nod as she starts to pull off her jumper. My breath got stuck in my throat. She stands to undo her skirt but I push off to sit at the end of the bed, and stop her, replacing her hands with my own. I unbutton her skirt, letting it slowly fall to the ground. I take a small step back to fully appreciate this beautiful girl in front of me. She's wearing a pink lace panty set and I feel my cock come back to life. 

“Are you sure you're not part Veela, love?” There's a blush creeping back up onto her face. “Theo.. before I take the charm off.. I need to tell you something.” She pauses, looking down in shame. Her right hand has come up to cover her left forearm. Bile immediately rises within my throat.

She has the mark. 

From my position at the end of the bed, I pull her by the backs of her thighs to stand in between my legs. “When?” I grab her left arm and place a kiss where I know the mark is hidden. “A couple weeks before Draco…” When I look up at her face again, tears are flowing rapidly down her face. 

“I didn't want to do it Theo… P-please believe me. I-I never wanted this.” Her voice breaks as she looks down in shame. “I know, love. It's not your fault.” I sympathize, while lifting her chin to face me. She struggles to hold a sob in, as her sea glass eyes meet mine.  “I’m ready… But I need you to do it for me. I can't--.” 

I nod slightly, in understanding, reaching into my trouser pocket. I get my wand and wordlessly wave it over her. Knowing the charm she speaks up, as I have used it on myself many times when my father has been drinking too much and I look more like my mother.

She takes a deep inhale and steps backwards a foot, so I can see her in all her beauty. 

She has a scar along her left eye, burn marks all along her arms, cuts, some big and some small all along on her thigh and her stomach. My eyes search for the one more prominent one that I saw at the lake, the word ‘pathetic’ stands out among the rest of the scars. Almost as if it was charmed to look as harsh as the day it was carved.

My eyes drift up her stomach and down her left arm. There is the mark. Surrounding it are large healed cuts. With tears in my eyes, they drift to her face. “I tried to get rid of it.”

Who could do such a thing to her? Scare and mutilate her in such a way? Scarlet Johnson is the most selfless person that I have ever met. My heart aches for the blonde girl in front of me. 

“Scarlet. You're the most beautiful witch I have ever seen.” I whisper while wrapping my hands around her thighs and pulling her back into my embrace. Stradling my waist she leans forward and crashes her lips with mine. “Beautiful. Amazing. Kind. Gentle. Mine.” I growl out in between kisses.

I run my hands under her skirt squeezing her arse, as a low moan escapes her lips. “I need you Theo.” she whispers. My cock jerks at the smooth velvet of her pleas. 

Nothing. No dream. Could compare to the woman in my arms now. 

I flip us over and kiss down her neck, on each scar I pass. One by one, I made my way down her stomach and I met with the smell of arousal. Her clothed pussy has a wet spot already forming. I reach over to grab my wand, casting an anti-pregnancy charm. Watching the soft glow on her pelvic bone I throw the wand on the floor. 

“Already so wet for me.” I grin as I kiss each thigh before placing a kiss on her pussy, and I can see her stomach tense. Slowly, I pull her panties down her legs and throw them behind me. Once she is bare for me I lean back on my legs and adire the goodness in front of me. 

“Theo.” She mewls, face flush. “You are the most beautiful thing that I have ever seen.” I lean my head down, “And I cannot wait one more second to taste you.”

Within the first couple of minutes that my tongue is on her pussy I feel her walls clenching. I slip a finger inside her perfect folds and her breath catches. 

Fuck. She's so soft. 

“T-theo.” I curl my finger and slowly pump in and out of her. “Relax Mi Tesoro. I need to get you ready for me.” I add another finger, stretching her walls. I continue to lap at her pussy, as her hands drop to my head and she is pulling at my brown locks. 

“That's love, come for me.” I pump my fingers twice more, and she is shaking around me, coming undone. With a loud moan of my name she is panting, and I continue to lap at her clit as she rides out her orgasm.  

I remove my shirt, and my trousers and lean over her, placing a heated kiss on my lips. I fist my cock as I look into her emerald green eyes. “Are you sure you want to do this Scarlet?” 

She nodes eagerly. “Words, Mi Tesoro.” I feel someone casted a glacius on me as I wait for her response. “Yes, Theo. Please I need you in me.” I am searching her face for any sign of regret, when I find nothing but lust and love in her eyes I slowly thrust in. 

Her pussy is strangling my cock as I slowly bottom out. My eyes are pinched closed in sheer ecstasy, waiting for her to give me the okay to start moving. Once her breathing relaxes, she whispers “Theo, move.” My eyes snap open at her command and I start moving. 

With every thrust in her smooth walls, I feel as if I am coming undone. Scarlet lays below me hair a halo around her head, sweat glistening on her body from her previous orgasm. This right here, has been a recurrent dream of mine since I hit puberty. 

But nothing could come close to the real thing. 

“So good for me, Mi Tesoro.” I groan “You're taking me so well.” My mouth finds her nipple as I slightly bite down, causing her to arch her back in pleasure. “T-theo. Please. F-faster.” 

Her moans go straight to my cock as I let her nipple go with a ‘pop’ and lift her legs up over my shoulders and start pounding into her. Scarlet is a mess of moans incoherently slipping past her plump lips with every thrust. 

“Fuck. Theo. Please don't stop. Fuck, I love you.” 

I can feel my balls tighten as my own climax is near. I slip my hand between us, rubbing her clit. “Come for me, Mi Tesoro. Come all over my cock.” 

After I continue to fuck her through her orgasm, use my cum to paint her walls. “I love you, Mi Tesoro.” I groan as the last of my climax flows through me. 

I lean down next to her. Both of us breathing heavily, both covered in sweat, as I take the sheets and pull them over both of us. I look over to Scarlet and see that her eyes are closed. 

I pull her into my arms. Her head resting on my chest. “Thank you.” She mumbles. Gently, I curl her hair around her ear and place a kiss on the top of her head. “You’re welcome Mi Tesoro. But you don't need to thank me.” 

Scarlet doesn't owe me anything, especially a ‘Thank you’. “For being you. For always being there for me. For loving me.” Her green eyes sparkle in the fire light, as she reaches up and places a soft kiss on my lips. “You don’t need to thank me for that love. If anything, I should be thanking you.” I pull her back on to my chest and whisper into her ear “Get some sleep.” 

After I am sure Scarlet is asleep I take the time to truly admire her.  Her blonde hair is draped around her face, every curve of her body fits perfectly against mine, like she was made for me.

I still cannot believe that this is truly happening. The girl I have been pinning for, for as long as I can remember lays beside me. 

This is it. This is what being at peace feels like. She is my forever. 

Masterlist ATSS Masterlist

ATSS Tag List: @helendeath

[asifyoucouldoutreadme]

THE EMPRESS OF ALL MALADIES

AsIfYouCouldOutReadMe on AO3

THE GIST: Betrayed by the Order, Hermione is blackmailed into soul bonding with Draco - initiating a fateful chain reaction that will turn the tides of war.

THE STATS: Explicit, dual POV, 148,402 word | 41/43 Chapters WIP

FEATURING: Forced soul bonding, sentient magic, Death Eater Draco, Dark Hermione Granger, Mad Scientist Theo, Spymaster Blaise Zabini, more morally-gray characters than you can shake a stick at, Crookshanks, experimental magic, blood rites, Death Eater political intrigue, and a proper slow SLOW burn E2L (he falls first).

[boasamishipper]

my personal favorite highlights from the official top gun: maverick script:

meek engineer's name is simon and is dating someone at the pentagon which is how they found out about the drone ranger coming to shut the darkstar project down

"That's...blue sky up there, Mav." "Yeah, but dark blue. Ominous."

mav also called darkstar 'angel' and 'girl' which i'm glad they cut otherwise i would have died in the theater then and there

"Hondo stares at his monitor. He knows his friend well." 🥺🥺🥺

"y'all built one hell of a plane" oh mav ❤️

"For anyone unfamiliar, it’s obvious there is story here - Glory and ghosts." g o d

admiral's aide do you MIND he's having a MOMENT

warlock is described as "an affable, brilliant two-star" hell yeah

i personally think it's hilarious that cyclone was apparently top of his class in '88 but in the script he's in his forties?? even if he's 49 the film takes place in 2019?? that would make him 18 in 1988?? mr mcquarrie sir the math ain't mathing

"Maverick has had about enough of this shit" if that doesn't just sum up both movies

as a macheresin shipper the fact that hangman and coyote were planned as besties from the get-go,,,,,,,my heart is Full

"sorry i couldn't be there" oh ice 🥺🥺🥺

mcq's love for casablanca continues to shine through

penny's dad is alive and retired and still hates mav

"Keepin’ it tight, I see, Phoenix" hangman is such an ASSHOLE i HATE him (affectionate)

bob's description is "human wallpaper" i am DYING

"shit, that's fritz" i DEMAND to know why fritz's arrival elicited that reaction from fanboy!! show me the fritz&b-team daggers cut!!

"Maverick sees a ghost. From this angle, the kid is a dead ringer for Goose, just as gawky and gangly, loving life." and what if i Bawled

MAVERICK REQUESTED HONDO SPECIFICALLY

HONDO WAS GONNA MEET UP WITH A LADY IN RENO WHO IS 'AN ACROBAT' AND 'VERY FLEXIBLE'

"I need at least one person on my side here" MAV

"I'll stand somewhere else" HONDO

mav originally ran the entire class through the contents of the F-18 NATOPS 👀👀👀

in the original script rooster gave hangman his callsign...personally gonna stick with the headcanon that phoenix (if it had to be one of the daggers) was the one who gave it to him, but Very Interesting nonetheless.

rooster calls phoenix 'fee' brb peppering this into All my fics

PHOENIX IS THE MAV OF THE MOVIE CONFIRMED

I DEMAND TO KNOW IF THERE IS FOOTAGE OF GLEN POWELL SINGING 'HOT FOR TEACHER'

genuinely cannot believe mcq wrote this. he is on galaxy tier levels of thinking i could never even hope to reach.

rooster being protective of phoenix you know that's right

theo the yellow lab was originally named "t" in the script,,,,,,,,t for tony scott,,,,,,,,,

"You're a warrior, Ice. A fighter." bury me ALIVE

"(Note: Important we include PILOT POV establishing gray-out in the lead up to G-LOCK)" this script is tighter than a snare drum

"Kinda like your ass depended on it" GET HIS ASS MAV

phoenix and bob refuse to even IMPLY that mav was in any way at fault for them having to eject,,,,,,,,they are Ride Or Die

as a warlock/hondo shipper i am also Delighted they actually got some screentime together

MAV WAS SUPPOSED TO GIVE THE EULOGY AT ICE'S FUNERAL 😭😭😭😭😭

mav and hangman were apparently supposed to talk after mav chose hangman as his wingman but i'm glad that scene got cut because a) showing vs telling and b) hangman is Not emotionally aware or mature enough to say what he says here out loud and you can't convince me otherwise

"Hondo stares at him. Maverick stares back. Something unspoken passes between the two men." and mavhondo shippers everywhere rejoiced

"HONDO squeezes his fist tightly, feeling something crack. He opens his hand to see the crystal of his stopwatch is crushed, the second hand frozen. An omen." HEY MCQ WHAT THE FUCK

"CLOSE ON Hondo, reflecting on his last moment with Mav." see above

"How we gonna get this bag’a ass in the air?" "Just hang on. Cause this bag‘a ass is about to go ballistic."

"Rough Rider, this is, uh...Ghost Rider" *cries in callbacks*

"The minute Hangman touches down, pull the trip wires and have the barricade stanchions ready." (silence) "HE DOESN'T HAVE A GODDAMN TAILHOOK." (OH SHIT FUCK OKAY RUNNING NOW)

lowkey like the parallel between cyclone nodding at mav and hangman and rooster shaking hands. they still don't like each other, but they respect each other a little more now. as the script says, that's enough.

"Among the pictures is one of Goose and Maverick in the bloom of their youth - their whole lives ahead of them." 😭😭😭😭😭

WE WERE ROBBED OF PHOENIX JOINING ROOSTER AND PENNY AND AMELIA AND MAV AT THE HANGAR I REPEAT WE WERE R O B B E D

"TIME CUT as Phoenix holds two model planes, demonstrating air to-air combat to a very interested Amelia." ooooh amelia has a cruuuuuush

"Rooster turns, looks at the make-shift family taking shape in this makeshift home…And he smiles." 😭😭😭😭😭

[bubblegump-1-nk]

As She Walks By pt. 4

- summary: Theodore and you are just best friends (or not), but when he finally hooks up with the Hufflepuff girl who’s had a crush on him for years, things may start to change

- based off of the song Heather by Conan Gray (a little bit), set in three perspectives: yours, Theos, and the Hufflepuff girl (an OC I called Althenea Circ). I made you a Gryffindor but if you want to change your house just imagine whatever house I want.

- warnings: insecurity, angst, not really cheating but idk, typos probably, cussing, toxic relationships, kissing(?) (these warnings apply to the upcoming parts so you might not see some of them in some of the parts, if that makes sense) I think that’s all but tell me if you find anything else pls!

- Your POV -

“This way!” I whisper to Hermione, both of us trying to hold in our giggles.

We were running through the corridor trying to find a bathroom, an activity that can be quite hard when drunk.

“I think it’s this way!” Hermione whisper to me, our arms linked together.

We go down a hallway and begin to turn the corner when we hear voices.

“Who is it?” I asked Hermione, who was closer to the noise.

She discreetly turns her head around the corner and sucks in a breath when she sees the culprits.

“What? Who is it?” I ask, interested by her reaction.

“Althenea and Wesley!” She says, looking at me with wide eyes.

“Merlin! Ok, be quiet so we can hear.” I say, and we shuffle closer and get very quiet to be able to hear the conversation.

“I mean why would he even kiss me? I’m not even half as pretty as her. And he thinks I don’t notice how his eyes wander to her whenever she’s in the room and the way he tries so hard to just be close to her or… or to make her laugh! And the worst part is I can’t even hate her because she’s such an angel. But honestly at the same time I kind of hope she gets hit by the Whomping Willow or something!”

Wesley softly giggles at the comment and then says “Look, I know this is hard and I’m sorry that Theodore is annoying, but you are so perfect. And if he can’t see that then he’s twat!”

Althenea stays silent for a moment her sniffles echoing throughout the corridor. Then, she finally says, “No, I’m the twat. For thinking that I could ever have a chance with Theodore when perfect Y/n L/n is running around.”

Hermione and I looked at each other. I had a suspicion she was talking about me but this just confirmed it. The other two girls are silent so I quickly grab Hermione’s hand and say “C’mon!”

She follows me absentmindedly and we walk towards the two girls. When they see us their eyes to wide, and their breath hitches.

“Excuse me, do you know where the nearest bathroom is?” I ask.

Wesley let’s out a breath, thinking I hadn’t heard the conversation and begins to respond but Althenea quickly interrupts her.

“I’m sorry y/n! I really am. I didn’t mean any of that, I just… I’m just angry that Theo doesn’t want to be my boyfriend. And I’m just jealous because he seems to like you.”

I stare at her for a few seconds, not knowing what to say.

“Don’t worry, I understand. But I think it’s best you tell him that, otherwise the three of us will continue hurting.” I say, and after a few beats of silence I leave, dragging Hermione behind me.

-Althenea’s POV-

I walked back into the party, focus only on finding Theo. I had wiped my eyes to the best of my ability but I seemed to be losing the battle against letting my tears out again. After a few quick moments, I found him playing beer pong with a bunch of other guys. I mustered up enough courage to do what I needed to do, and walked up to him.

“Theodore, we need to talk.” I said, loudly enough for him to hear.

He looked surprised at my confidence and quickly nodded before putting his cup down.

“Uh oh, someone’s in trouble.” Said Dean, which caused all the boys to laugh. Theo sent them a look before following me into a corner.

It was quiet for a bit, Theo looked at me expectantly. I just wanted to bask in the last few moments of us. The Theodore Nott and Althenea Circ I wished would happen. The one that never would.

“Well, get on with it.” He said, trying to sound kind.

“I… we’ll I just think we should stop seeing each other.”

His eyebrows shot up and he let out a breath, “Well alright then.” He said trying to hide a smirk.

He began to leave but I put my hand on his shoulder, stopping him. “Wait! I’m not done yet.” He turned around, exasperated.

“Listen. What me and you had it was nothing special, I know that now. But I didn’t then. I thought that we could be something but I was wrong, I can admit that. But can’t you admit that maybe you were wrong to for leading me on?”

He looks at me softly and then says, “Yeah. You’re right. I shouldn’t have led you on. Sorry.”

“Thank you. And I think we both know the reason why we didn’t work out. There might be other reasons but I’d like to think this was the only one. So, for me or for you, it doesn’t matter, but, just please, don’t mess it up with her.” I say, I look into his eyes for one last time and see only confusion. Then I get on my tip toes and give him a kiss on the cheek, the last one, before leaving the party.

- Theo’s POV -

I sat in the fairly empty courtyard on a bench doing my Divinations homework. The sun was shining bright but there was still a light breeze which made the weather bearable. I hadn’t seen much of Althenea since our “break up”, but when we did see each other a small wave or smile was usually given and returned. After that night nothing had really changed, other than my strange relationship, but I had noticed something different between us. We weren’t fighting or anything but I felt a rift. It was small, really small, but I could tell you were pulling away. I was trying everything to stop it, and even more than everything to get my mind off of it. That’s what I was doing now, but reading tea leafs wasn’t helping.

Suddenly a shadow came over my face and I looked up for the reason. It was you. You’re beautiful face. The one person I was truly, 100% sure I loved, my beautiful y/n.

“Teddy, I have to tell you something. And I’ve tried to hold it down but I can’t. I just can’t. So I have to tell you now. Or else I’ll regret it. But you just have to promise me something. If you don’t agree with me please, please promise me we can go back to normal.”

I looked up at you confused and worried. Nothing you could say could make me think of you differently, but either way I nodded and held out my pinkie for your to grab with yours. A smile spread across your face and after we let go of each other you took in a deep breath and wiped your hands on your skirt.

“Ok, um… well before I say anything I just want you to know that I’ve put a lot of thought into this, so it’s not a mistake or anything. I’m sure of it. So well here goes, I love you Theodore. And not in just a friendly way, I mean I really love you. And well, I just had to tell you because I would hate myself if I never told you because there’s always that tiny, tiny chance that you feel the same way.”

My heart dropped.

- Your POV -

I stared at you and you were silent. Completely silent. My heart was beating so fast and so loud I was sure it was going to pop out of me. And I sort of hoped it did because by your lack of response I thought you didn’t feel the same way. After a few more moments of silence, i got my answer. And I couldn’t take it any longer, so I gave you a tight smile and then walked away.

I felt dizzy and my hands were clammy and shaking. My whole body was shaking. I felt like I need to vomit and my eyes were welling up with tears. I was almost to one of the hallways when I felt your grip on my hand. Great. You turned me around so that I was looking directly at you. It was taking everything in me not to cry. You grabbed my other hand and held them up to your chest.

“I-I thought that I was dreaming when you said you loved me. And I had to take a moment or two or three to realize I wasn’t. Because y/n, I’ve dreamt of this moment for years, and I couldn’t believe it had finally come. And you know why I dreamt of it? Because I love you y/n, more than I ever thought possible.”

I looked into your eyes, and suddenly I was smiling, I was smiling so wide it hurt.

“I love you!” I exclaimed, fore jumping into your arms.

My arms were wrapped around your neck, and yours around my waist. You spun me around as we both laughed before you set me down.

“Can I kiss you now?” You asked, your firm hands holding my cheeks.

“Please.”

Our lips crashed together, and nothing had every felt so right. Your lips were soft and the kiss was tender yet hungry. Our lips moved in a synchronized fashion, as if we were meant to kiss each other. My hands found your neck and I held onto it firmly. As if if we let go of each other we would fall apart. I deepened the kiss and soon our tongues were discovering new parts of each others mouths. After what seemed like ages we had to pull apart, no longer able to ignore the fact that we were out of breath.

We stayed looking at each other, our eyes searching each others faces and our smiles wide. Then you went back in for a second kiss, and just as you did so a cheer was heard.

“Wooohoooo, finally!” The voice said, which caused us to pull apart to find the culprit.

Althenea Circ.

I cant believe I just wrote two parts in one night, I should probably get some sleep. But I hope you enjoyed the ending and this series as a whole! Love ya.

[maimedaffair]

— get to know theo !

what's your phone wallpaper: my lockscreen issss a really unnerving close up of my dog's old man gray face. then my normal background is steeb rogers holding flowers over his face all shy like !!

last song you listened to: tis the season from the smidgerton soundtrack

currently reading: re-reading a c o t a r !! i'm actually gonna read that one rhys pov fanfiction next.

last movie: i watched the idea of you again today. sue me.

what are you wearing right now?: an ankle length black nightgown bc clothes are hard after surgery

how tall are you?: 5'2" !

piercings / tattoos?: i don't have any piercings bc they always close up but !! i have like 25-26 tattoos !

glasses / contacts: i wore glasses for 27 years but i got lasik last year !!

last thing you ate?: like physical food ? some chili. but i'm drinking a protein shake rn.

favorite color: black is my go-to color , but i love a good maroon

current obsession: mmmmmmmmmmmm i think smacotar still holds this one. or steeb. i fall into a helluva rot every couple of days ansdfk.

do you have a crush right now?: always. i am demisexual so it's always pretty innocent and chill but !! i've had a crush on one of my rp friends for like ... five years. ✨ if you flirt with me even once i guarantee i have a crush on you.

favorite fictional character: steve rogers , lucien vanserra , ella of frell , luc , emma swan , olivia crane , s1 klaus hargreeves , love quinn , emily the corpse bride , nani pelekai , greg serrano , jennifer check , peeta mellark , finnick odair , charlie kelmeckis , aaaaaaand flynn rider. u know what fuck it , bella swan. i love that bitch.

last place you travelled: like ... locally ? the hospital lmao. out of state , i went to florida recentish. i haven't left the country since high school.

tagged by: i just saw shelley do it <3 tagging: @jizzlords , @blitzs , @spidersins , @lornrequiem , @jbbarnes

[dhr-ao3]

The Conspiracy of the Gray

The Conspiracy of the Gray https://ift.tt/DIuAhjP by CRMcCarthy Something dark is stirring at Hogwarts, and not even Maddie’s closest friends can shield her from it. After a summer of upheaval, Maddie returns to school with more questions than answers when Theo Nott shows up at her doorstep in the dead of night, shaken by a secret he’s not ready to share. With Harry Potter now living at Spinner’s End and Draco Malfoy spending more time there than at home, Maddie’s world is far from ordinary. Sirius Black’s escape from Azkaban has shaken the wizarding world, but Maddie and her friends know the truth—he’s innocent. Narcissa Malfoy is determined to clear his name, but Dumbledore’s strange behavior raises more questions. The Dementors stationed at Hogwarts make their presence impossible to ignore, and Maddie finds their effects on her far worse than anyone else’s. Hermione, overwhelmed by her schedule and secrets, only deepens Maddie’s curiosity. When her annual “illness” strikes again, entangling someone else in its wake, the mystery deepens. As darkness tightens its grip on Hogwarts, Maddie must confront fractured truths—and realize the answers she seeks could be more dangerous than she ever imagined. Words: 4905, Chapters: 1/31, Language: English Series: Part 3 of The FiendFyre Diaries Fandoms: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: F/F, F/M, M/M, Multi Characters: Original Female Character(s), Draco Malfoy, Theodore Nott, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Pansy Parkinson, Blaise Zabini, Ginny Weasley, Fred Weasley, George Weasley, Severus Snape, Narcissa Black Malfoy Relationships: Severus Snape/Original Female Character(s), Narcissa Black Malfoy/Severus Snape, Lucius Malfoy/Narcissa Black Malfoy, Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy, Fred Weasley/Original Female Character(s), Theodore Nott/Harry Potter Additional Tags: Fix-It of Sorts, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Manipulative Albus Dumbledore, Mentor Severus Snape, Good Parent Narcissa Black Malfoy, Hogwarts Inter-House Friendships, POV Third Person, POV Alternating, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Implied/Referenced Cheating, No Endgame Couple Cheating, Explicit Sexual Content, Between Adults Only via AO3 works tagged 'Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy' https://ift.tt/JoBq8sW November 29, 2024 at 01:04AM

[jadekitty777]

The Emotionalist: Chapter 5

You all thought I forgot, didn’t you?! Well I didn’t! I just... stupidly made this chapter twice the length of the rest lol But it turned out great and I’m so excited!

So here we go, my final entry for FG week! (There was technically a Day 7 entry I had been trying to complete but it remains very unfinished lol)

Prompt for Day 6: Kisses

Rating: T

Word Count: 8K

Summary: Clover Ebi was a huntsman who, like most Atlesian soldiers, hid most of his emotions behind a mask of calm professionalism. That is, unless, one knew where to look. And Qrow looked a lot.

Or, 5 times Qrow learned to read Clover’s mood not from his face, but from his ears. [An adjacent story to Hunting Season Hunting Season; events from Qrow’s POV]

Ao3 Link: Warm Like a Summer’s Rain

~

Icy white sped underneath his wings, stretching out for miles, broken by gray-tinted mountains and fissures that opened into deep canyons. Occasionally, there were small, man-made structures that were meant to be safe outposts for traveling huntsmen on missions. His frozen talons urged him to stop at one, but he ignored it, pushing on just a little further. 

He couldn’t stop until - there!

As he cut between the jagged ridges of one of the mountains, the mine Amity was resting in finally came into view. The top they had spent months building overhead of the once glorious colosseum had sunken in, metal shrapnel and steel beams piercing across the sides of the mine and littering the snow around it. As he flew down into the gaping hole, he could see the interior had fared no better. The scaffolding had been ripped into parts, crushing the former bleachers and the old talk boxes were shattered, equipment and wiring slashed through and pulled out. Well beyond repair without gutting it and starting over. It wasn’t a surprise to see it in shambles, but it still hurt all the same.

He landed on the wall of one of the upper rings, just taking in all the destruction quietly, musing over Theordore’s words from months ago.

“Something doesn’t add up to what you’re saying.” Theo was pacing his office, a somewhat frenzied energy about him. “Why did one of her entourage strike Amity? Why does it matter if we know?” 

“Because she doesn’t want us to come together?” Ruby suggested quietly. But everyone was quiet in comparison to Theodore.

He gestured so widely, a few of them had to duck. “But why? Because of these so-called Gods of ours that she loathes? No - no. Then why get the relics at all! Why risk it?” He paused in the middle of his floor, turned to them. “I think it’s something else. When we get to Atlas, if Amity is broken apart, then I’m certain of it. She’s afraid of us.”

A few of them met eyes. Qrow was the one to finally ask, hope filling him. “When we get there?”

“Well yeah. I ain’t waiting for her to pick us off next.” He smacked a fist in his palm. “We’re taking this fight to her.”

Shaking off the memory, Qrow took off from his perch, gliding into a hallway and ducking into the first open door he could find. He found space among the dust crates to touch down on the heels of his shoes, yanking the door closed just in case there were any Grimm patrols. 

He read the labels on the boxes until he found the one he wanted, yanking open the one marked fire crystals. His numb hands burned with relief as he touched them, all of them emitting warmth. He took out as many as he could grab, finding an empty spot in the room to lay them out around him. Slowly, his shivers grew less as the air around him heated.

It didn’t take long for him to fall asleep.

~

After taking stock of what dust had survived and lodging a count on his phone, he was back in the sky. Night had fallen while he’d slept, and though any other regular corvid would struggle, Qrow’s eyes had been enchanted to become like an owl’s at night. Between that and the moonless night, he practically blended into the environment while in the air.

As he approached the kingdom, he found even if he was closer to the ground, he’d blend in there as well. The tundra was crawling with Grimm to the point he couldn’t even see the land in some spots - though, noticeably, many were not native and he could tell many were suffering in the cold, their movements sluggish and uncoordinated. Yet, whatever army was surrounding the city didn’t compare to the Kingdom itself. The dome-like shield that had been erected to protect the two cities was covered end to end by Grimm. Some had been laying there so long, they were covered in mounds of snow. 

They were keeping the sun out, which wasn’t healthy for the plants - or the people.

He cycled the sky a few more times, picking out as much visual information as he could to take back with him - particularly the massive whale Grimm resting like a cumulonimbus cloud across the southern mountain tops - before he honed in on one of the watchtowers that had been set around Mantle. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was the only one left standing.

A sentry in the form of a Nevermore was perched on the angled rooftop, beak tucked into its wing as it slept. Qrow’s landing on the metal bars outside of the communication center was nearly silent and it didn’t stir. He stayed there for several long minutes, chanting an old rhyme from his days of living out in the forest - ‘You don’t see me, I’m not here; You don’t see me, nothing to fear’ - until his heart was calm enough to touch down on the balcony, tip-toeing on socked feet to the entrance. 

He slowly pulled open the door, just enough to slip inside, and shut it behind him with barely a click. There were a few chairs and a communications console against the far wall, the hanging radio implying someone without Atlas’ code of orderliness had used it recently. Someone making bargains. 

He bypassed it entirely, stuffing himself underneath the console to keep out of sight, knees practically touching the top of the desk. Once situated, he tapped the communicator in his ear that Marrow had loaned him, and said as loud as he dared, “Clover? You there?”

It seemed a lifetime before he heard the crackle. “Qrow?!” 

Try as he might, his heart jumped at the sound of that voice he hadn’t heard in three months. He heard the scrape of claws overhead.

“-You okay? Where are-” Clover was continuing on.

“Sssh.” He whispered hurriedly. “Sorry Clubs, not in a good place. You just need to listen.”

He pulled out his scroll, laying it out flat. He then set the communicator by the speaker.

A second later he was a bird again, using his body to shield the scroll from sight. Just in time, as the massive head of the Nevermore peeked into the Watchtower, the beady eye of his Grimm cousin scanning the room for anything unusual. 

Qrow shut his eyes and nestled down further into the shadows of the desk, willing himself to disappear. 

Though it was only minutes, it felt like it eternity before it stopped hopping around to check through the windows. 

In the communicator too soft to be heard, Clover was calling, “Qrow? Qrow?? Stardust, please tell me you’re okay.”

Qrow breathed deeply, making a rattly, clicking noise from deep in his chest - a noise quiet enough not to echo but loud enough to get picked up on.

“I’ll… uh… take that as a yes.”

If he could have, he might have laughed. He lifted off his scroll and tapped it with his beak to start the video he’d pulled up. It was on the lowest volume, practically a murmur, so he picked up the communicator in his beak and set it right over the speaker.

“Hello, this is Professor Theodore. If you’re hearing this, then Qrow made it in range to deliver this message. As I understand it, I should be speaking to Captain Clover Ebi - all of this information I need you to deliver to James Ironwood promptly. We’re on the north side of the continent and will be mobilizing as soon as we know what the current situation is.”

Qrow settled in as the recording continued, eyes falling shut as it droned on. A lot of it was semantics, things about their army size, vehicle force, dust supply, general weapons overview and so on. Even Theo had sounded bored reporting it, more of a man of action than a diplomat.

Yet, he had no doubt Clover was taking dutiful notes if his muted yell of, “Pen, now!” was anything to go by.

He peeked an eye open as it started to wind down, Theo ending with, “If there is anything you wish for Qrow to deliver back to us, speak. He’ll be able to hear. Let James know - let all of Solitas know - that Vacuo is with you. Long live the people of Remnant!”

The message ended and his scroll went dark.

There was a long stretch of silence as the soldier no doubt considered the information he needed to share with their ally.

Then Clover announced, “I love you.”

Qrow squawked. 

He hunkered down immediately after, certain the echo would attract attention, but there was hardly a peep above him. He tapped at the communicator with his beak in annoyance. You stupid, beautiful jerk! Now is not the time to give me a heart attack!

“Don’t take that one back with you, eh?” He was laughing away. “I just… before this all happens, I wanted to tell you.” Qrow froze in his assault. Unhindered, Clover continued adoringly, “I knew it since that last night we had together on the rooftop. And when this is all over, my new mission will be to show that to you every day. If you’ll have me?”

He sat there, overwhelmed with the bold declaration. 

How did they even get here, with how things had left off? With all the things still hanging, left in the rafters to discuss? 

Wasn’t this too fast? 

Too sudden? 

Too likely driven by the tumultuous situation?

Most importantly, why was he sitting here mulling it over, when he already knew what he wanted?

He shut his eyes and sighed through the nares of his beak. 

Then, in the same cadence as before, he gave another rattly click. 

The best yes he could give.

The smile in Clover’s voice told him he understood perfectly, “I’m holding you to that.” Breathed in, breathed out - then suddenly, he was talking with Captain Ebi. “Alright Qrow, this is our current situation.”

He listened carefully to every word, committing it to memory. 

Ten minutes later, he was slipping back out the door, soaring away on silent wings.

~

The first sign of their attack had been the V-formation of a half dozen white Lancers swooping over the eastern mountains at the break of dawn, dropping crates of fire dust across the ridges. The chain of explosions caused a massive avalanche that dropped across the tundra, burying and crushing Grimm underneath the weight. 

Their second sign came when the swarm moved towards the site, a fleet of flyers coming over the western mountains to bury bullets into their backs before flying across the twin cities to release bombs along the dome. Winged Grimm went after them and they scattered.

With a chunk of land free and the skies clearer, the slower moving airships lumbered forward over the north ridge.

The motors and artillery guns shooting out aerial grimm were loud but Qrow’s heart was louder, pumping shots of adrenaline through his system. From the open cockpit, he could hear reports coming from other pilots. 

“Division 2 has deployed!”

“Division 3, deployed!”

“Division 4 has taken damage! Descent is slow, we’re deploying now!”

“Division 5 took an engine hit! We’re off the mark and abandoning ship now!”

He sucked in a sharp breath. Tried not to dwell on Nora murmuring a mantra to herself across from him “Ren’s in 2, Ren’s in 2, Jaune’s in 6, Ren’s in 2” or the way Yang had started to reflexively open and close the safety on her metal arm. Blake was with Ren and other flighty-semblance types that were going to chip away at the Grimm on the northeastern side and Ruby was in Division 3 with the other light and speedy hitters that would take the northwest side. Division 6 was their immobile team, lying low in the mountains for first aid and reloading purposes. But Division 4 and 5 were in charge of center north, with 4 being their semblance specialists like Glynda and Marrow, and Weiss had been in 5 with the dust-focused users.

They were tough. They were fine.

Before his anxiety could spiral, a voice came over the intercom from their own pilot, “Division 1, standby. We’ll be over the dome in t-minus one minute.”

Beside him, he heard a sigh. Then, Tai was cuffing a fist against his shoulder almost playfully. “Ready?”

It was enough to knock some focus back into him. Smirked back at his brother-in-law. “Better question is, are you?”

Tai grinned. “Just try to keep up, old-timer.”

“I’m nine months younger than you!” For a second, he could pretend they were at Beacon again. That this was just a routine mission in the forests around the city, easy and effortless and fun. That this wasn’t just Tai’s old M.O. of cracking jokes, because if people were laughing and smiling, then the Grimm wouldn’t flock as much to them. “Alright!” Theo shouted from the front of the ship, drawing their eyes towards him. Flanking him on either side were Alexandria and Penny, their maidens. “Everyone, gear up! Sooner we get these Grimm off, sooner we get Atlas to join us in the fight. We’re coming down and hitting this dome hard! You hear me?!”

The returning roar of war cries was deafening.

“Good! Drop us!”

The floor opened up underneath them, and suddenly Qrow was weightless.

The maidens took the first strike, blasts of wind and electricity slamming into the center where they were falling, disintegrating Grimm on impact. Sixty huntsmen and huntresses landed in the open space, turned, and sprinted for the enemy. 

Qrow unfurled Harbinger into scythe mode, taking lead as he swiped in a wide arc at a set of charging Sabyrs, knocking them back into the ones behind them.

Ducked at a piercing whistle as a glowing arrow flew overhead, stabbing the chest of one still tumbling back. It exploded on impact, killing the whole lot. Stood and swung left, cleaving the underside of a Boarbatusk’s jaw. Didn’t flinch as Tai dropped into the space at his right to deliver a brutal roundhouse to a leaping Swift Seizer and shoot off another arrow from Devil’s Grin to fell a swooping Griffon.

“Duck!” He ordered and Tai dropped. He swung Harbinger’s handle around his own neck, the report of the shotgun increasing its velocity to mercilessly rip through the encircling Beowulfs. 

They’d been surrounded so quickly. 

But he didn’t think about it, just kept moving with Tai, clearing as much ground and as many Grimm as possible. Faintly, at times, he could hear the others. A report of Yang’s gauntlets. Whoops from Theodore. The mechanical whistle of Penny’s whirling swords. Explosions from Coco.

Anything else got lost under the snarls of Grimm and the sound of his own blood rushing through his ears.

At some point, he took a hit, a Ursa’s swiping paw knocking him clear across the dome. He rolled and charged back into the fray - but he’d lost sight of Tai. Just keep going. Just keep going. 

He switched from scythe to sword and back more times then he could count, littered the bodies of dozens of Grimm with savage efficiency. 

Eventually, he was joined by a different brawler, the strike from Theodore’s red gloves blowing a hole right through a Beringel’s chest. “We’re thinning it! Keep going!”

Even had he had the air, Qrow wouldn’t have bothered to reply.

It was the sudden series of explosions underneath them, strong enough to shake the shield, that had him crying out, “What was that!?” He shot rounds at encroaching Grimm, looking between their feet at the cities below

Huge sections of Atlas and Mantle were on fire.

“James, talk to me! What happened?!” He heard Theo shout into his communicator. Then, a minute later, “The dust factories?! Who the fuck went for those?! Cin-who!?”

Qrow faltered, gun lowering.

There was a factory… right in the slums.

Clover.

A shoulder knocked against him roughly. The Manticore that was about to take off his head snapped around a bo staff instead.

“Focus!!” Tai shouted at him before kneeing the beast right in the throat. 

As it reeled back, Qrow swung Harbinger’s sword with a vicious snarl, lobbing its head right off. His blood burned with rage. “I’m killing all of these bastards right now!”

“Good! Just keep your head!” Tai slammed his staff through the skull of a centinel. Yelled to the man still on the radio behind them “ Theo, you need cover?!” 

The headmaster hopped back from a strike, hit twice as hard back. “James is moving emergency services already. Nothin’ we can do to help ‘till we get this handled - but less Grimm we drop on them, the better!”

“Then let’s get shearing.” Qrow growled menacingly.

Tai spun Devil’s Grin back into bow form, readying for another team strike. “Lead on Trigger.”

~

They all knew the shield would drop eventually.

There was no warning as to when.

One moment Qrow was cutting down a Ravager. 

The next he was plummeting into the streets of Mantle. 

He transformed on instinct, catching himself on wind currents. Grimm dropped past him, unaware. He cycled the sky, spotting Yang to his left, ricocheting to an apartment complex and catching herself on a fire escape. Watched Nora land on the back of a Teryx. Lost sight of Theo dropping between buildings. Saw Tai pummeling his staff into an Ursa, before using its dissolving body to flip off of and land onto a roof. Qrow dropped beside him.

They were both breathing hard.

“Yang’s okay.” Qrow offered, the second he felt he could speak.

Still gasping, Tai just caught his shoulder, squeezing it tightly in gratitude. 

He pat his hand, turning his eyes skyward. The sun was high, implying it was now late morning. Small mantas were roaring above them in complicated patterns as they moved onto the neglected sides to the south, east and west of the cities, shooting out flying Grimm as they went. Larger airships were already descending over the tundra, dropping troops down into the fray. Atlesian Knights were in the streets, shooting down the stragglers that had come down with them. More lined every inch of Mantle’s wall, some of their guns audible from here.

Atlas had rallied, ready to turn the tide of this war.

“Division 1!” Theo’s voice lit up their scrolls, “I’m sending coordinates to your scrolls. Convene on me. The General’s sending a ship to pick us up and we’re going to move south to join the others.”

No sooner did he finish that order, then a bellowing cry echoed across the city, so loud it rattled the windows in their frames. 

Then, the whale lifted off of the eastern mountains, gliding through the sky and descending onto the towers of the tallest skyscrapers in Atlas. It opened its maw and from it spilled black ichor, filling the streets below.

Qrow stared, horrified.

A delayed beep came from his scroll. “Change of plans. Penny? Get Ruby. Everyone else? Let’s move.”

~

Qrow could feel Harbinger’s weight as he sliced it down into a Deathstalker’s thorax. Could feel the burn in his muscles as he lifted it back up. Pushed on regardless, because if he dropped now, he was dead. It felt too soon to stop - silver light had filled the sky only minutes ago, stoning the whale, but so many Grimm had been spewed into the streets, it was as bad as the dome. 

Worse, because there were people down here.

But, they had lost Alexandria, who had gone after Cinder, who had gone after Penny. Without her, they were flagging fast. He was reaching his limit. They all were. Heard report after report of aura flashes, of breaks. Heard cries as people took real, physical damage. One person’s last scream filled the air, joining the others they’d already lost.

Eventually, it became too much, and Theodore started to yell for a retreat before they all got killed.

As they made their way down an alley, his semblance finally decided to rear its head.

“Watch out!” Tai was the one to shout, tackling his own daughter back as an avalanche of rubble came down, avoiding the burial by inches.

Another huntress by the name of Roane jumped but slipped, the snap of her ankle audible. Her shout was piercing. Nora ran to her side.

If that wasn’t bad enough, now split from everyone else on the other side, they had effectively gone from a team of 45 to just 7.

“Get over the top!” Qrow ordered before whirling to face the Grimm that were squeezing their way into the tight space and rushing down the alley. Without room to move his scythe, he shot until he couldn’t, then just sliced at anything getting in range.

Counted down as he heard the others make the jump.

7 and 6 were Roane and Nora, the grenade launcher resonating across the walls.

He almost took a face full of teeth. Instead the Sabyr got a face full of his fist.

5 and 4 were Coco and her quiet teammate he couldn’t remember the name of, parkouring between the rubble and the walls.

He ducked under a swing of beowulf claws, sliced off its legs at the knees.

3 was Yang, her gauntlet blasts unmistakable.

He didn’t quite get up from his crouch in time to miss the strike of a slithering centinel. An arrow pierced its skull before it could ever make contact.

“Qrow come on!” Tai yelled, just before his bo staff smacked the concrete, vaulting him up and over.

And then it was just him. He blasted Harbinger’s shotgun right in a Sulfur Fish’s face, using the momentum to swing himself backwards onto the rocks. He scrambled a bit on his footing, about to leap - when something caught his eye.

A hulking form was charging right for them, its heavy body crushing everything in its way at a lightning pace.

A Nashorn. Hard-plated overtop like a Boarbatusk but five times more dangerous when on the attack.

The rhino would storm right through the rock wall and trample anyone who hadn’t yet made it out.

Qrow didn’t think. 

Didn’t even hesitate. 

Just screamed, “KEEP GOING!” Before he leapt down to intercept.

Raised his sword at the threat, even knowing his aura was on the edge. That his strength wouldn’t be enough. 

Felt like the entire world was ending as it shook under his feet and for a split second, he was somewhere else, clutching onto a light post and pulling the man who lit up his own life into one last kiss.

Heat prickled in the corners of his eyes - he never meant to make that true.

The last of the Grimm’s brethren were pulverized under the Nashorn’s feet and all that was left was Qrow.

He swung Harbinger and braced for impact.

He never connected.

For shining under the sun, a little sliver of silver swung true, winding around the rhino’s horn and hooked on.

Snneck!

The Nashorn forcibly reared up like a horse, exposing its soft underbelly.

Qrow stabbed it right in the heart.

As the large creature faded into bits of ash and dust, it revealed the man standing at the end of the alley, his shadow casting long as if seeking him.

Qrow felt his heart seize in his chest.

Ears up and eyes bright, Clover grinned, giving him a cheeky, two-fingered salute. “Hey Stardust.”

With wet eyes and a wobbly smile, he replied, “Hey Clubs.”

And despite the world actually ending around them, he never felt more whole.

~

War was awful.

There was probably a more profound way of saying it, but as Qrow limped past rows of beds that held the injured, it was all he could think.

Though they’d won, casualties had wracked up. Injuries even moreso, to the point every hospital and anything that could even be considered a medical facility was already filled to the brim - anyone else who wasn’t critical were shoved into emptied warehouses to be pieced back together with hydrogen peroxide and some bandaids. With supplies finite and staff short, it was the best that could be done. As was typical of his life, he got the shortest stick that could be drawn. He was stuck in an air hangar where there was absolutely no heat circulation, his nurse was a kid who looked like she’d barely finished her first semester of medical school, and the ten inch gash on his thigh was going to be completely sewn together without anesthesia.

When he’d been handed the whiskey instead, he downed the thing so fast he didn’t have time to regret it - with his tolerance levels, didn’t do much to help either.

But at least he got to walk out. The same wasn’t going to be true for a lot of others. 

He tried not to focus on that and instead tuned in to the room around him, loud and busy as workers flittered between the injured and loved ones made space to be with one another. Local comms had gone down sometime during the second phase of their attack, everything from earpieces to scrolls useless for getting in contact. While it hadn’t shaken them too much on the battlefield - all of them had leaders to turn to, commanders to guide them - it was the aftermath that was leaving the populace in shambles, families and friends alike desperate to find each other in the chaos.

But Atlas was, as always, a place of order. Even without their tech, they were quick to turn to more manual means of keeping tallies of everyone, lists of the injured, missing and dead being updated round the clock, pulled from recovered licenses and word of mouth.

It was how Ruby and Blake had found him, his niece practically barrelling into him when she saw he only had a mortal wound. They had their own bruises and cuts, the most notable ones the notch in Blake’s right ear and cut along her forehead where a Teryx’s claws had gotten too close and some rather sizable bite marks on Ruby’s shin from a Beowulf. 

But they were alive and it was all Qrow was going to ask for.

From there, they traded off what little they knew of the rest of their party, which amounted to him telling them that Ren had left an hour ago searching for Nora and anyone else he could find and learning Jaune was working in one of the critical care hospitals looking after the most severely injured. They split from there, Ruby and Blake heading to Schnee Manor, hoping they might at least be able to track down Weiss since it seemed the most logical place to station herself to be found, much as she probably loathed it.

As for Qrow, he fought the crowds to look through the updated rosters and discovered, to his immense relief, a new name had shown up.

So now here he was, looking for a familiar face among the sea of people, hoping to spot that unmistakable shade of straw yellow. As he made his way down another row, a shout of his name had him whirling around.

A glint of sunshine was his only warning before he found himself being barrelled down by one of his nieces for the second time that day.

Her bright blond locks were a grungy mess and her mechanical arm was only partially functional, but as she pulled back to look at him, even with the tears brimming her eyes, the smile was unmistakably all Yang. “Saw that ugly mug of yours across the room, old man.”

He made a show of rolling his eyes, even as he valiantly fought his own emotions threatening to spill over. “Good to see you too, Firecracker.”

“Dad’s over this way.” She tugged his elbow and he let her guide him along the far wall to where the last few rows were. 

It was a long enough trek to regain his composure.

Until he saw Tai, then he completely lost it. Unsure why, when he wasn’t even that hurt.

“Gee,” His brother-in-law tried to lighten the mood as he embraced him, patting his back, “I know the costume isn't great, but it’s not worth getting that upset over.”

“Shut up. You don’t get to make jokes.” Qrow blubbered. (Gods since when was he such a crybaby? Maybe quitting alcohol had a more positive effect then he realized.)

Even with his skull wrapped up tight like a mummy, Tai’s corny smile was as telling as ever, “You saying I don’t have the brain left for it?”

He punched him in the shoulder.

It was the weakest blow he’d ever dealt.

After a minute, Yang squeezed her way onto the cot to hug them both, and for a time, Qrow just allowed himself to feel their warmth and the relief in knowing his tiny family was all still with him.

~

Qrow rapped his knuckles against the door of room 7007 for what must have been the eighth time in three days. 

Waited half a minute, then knocked harder.

Nothing.

His shoulders slumped and he flipped out his scroll in vain. As if the signal would have magically appeared despite the fact the local towers were still broken all over the streets of the twin cities. He knew, perhaps, he was being impatient. They had only found Oscar two hours ago, only had word of mouth to tell them James and Winter were alright, and they still hadn’t seen Marrow - or any of the Aceops, for that matter. 

Certainly not the one Qrow was looking for most. Everyone kept checking the rosters ‘round the clock, and every time, someone came back to tell Qrow his name had still not shown up.

Despite that, or maybe because of it, the urge to track down Clover persisted.

He’d tried scouting by air, flying through the districts by day and cycling their old rooftop spot at night. He’d even gone to the slums - but the impoverished district was a horrific sight of leveled homes and burnt rubble. He left it behind, disturbed and weighted by its eerily silence, as if nothing but the ghosts lingered.

So now he just kept coming back here, hoping beyond hope the other man would eventually return to his quarters and the sight of him could finally settle the anxiety and fear that had gripped onto Qrow like a disease. 

A door shutting from another hallway startled him from his heavy thoughts and he sighed, trudging towards the elevators.

He hadn’t yet turned the corner when someone called to him, “Qrow? Is that you?”

He turned around so fast, he almost gave himself whiplash.

“Hot damn, it is you!” Elm’s smile was toothy as she approached, patting him on the shoulder. It was like being pummeled by a small hammer. “It’s so good to see you.”

“Yeah, you too.” He returned the sentiment, shock warming into relief. It didn’t appear the battles had touched her much, which he’d consider amazing, if he hadn’t known who’d been fighting at her side for the majority of it. “You all good?”

She flexed an arm, grinning. “Ready to go another five rounds with the witch herself.”

Qrow snorted. “I’d like to see that.” He rocked a bit on his heels, the anxiety that had been with him for days clawing up his throat and spilling into his words, “And, the rest of the Ops?”

Her hand was warm and reassuring as it rested on his arm, expression shifting to gentle understanding as she said, “Clover’s fine, Qrow. Didn’t even get so much as a scratch.”

And just like that, the weight that had plagued him for nearly seventy-two hours lifted. He’d held it for so long, he almost collapsed to his knees. “Thank you.” He breathed out. Then, like an afterthought, “For the record, I did want to know about Vine and Harriet too.”

“Well, Hare took a spill, busted up her knee a bit and Vine’s got some bumps and bruises, but both of ‘em were doing well enough to take our mandatory time off.” She must of caught his perplexed expression because she clarified, “General’s orders. We’d been at this whole secret war thing for nearly two years now; so he told us to finally take some time to spend with our families.” She laughed. “Never seen the Captain run outta here so fast.”

Wait. That didn’t make sense. “But… the slums? We all saw it go up in flames.”

“Oh, yeah. That.” Elm rolled her shoulders. “General Ironwood kinda predicted the factories might become a target. We pre-evacuated those areas well before the war started.” She paused, then added with an uncomfortable chortle, “But uh, the slums were evacuated days after we landed. Turns out you can’t shake up a buncha rickety buildings and not expect ‘em to go down. Casualties and injuries were pretty minimal though and we were able to relocate everyone within a few hours.”

Qrow took that in, unable to fathom how terrified and frantic Clover must have been when the reports first came in. Had their situations been reversed, he knew he would have been losing his mind. But the news took an additional weight off, the misery he’d felt steeped in finally loosening its jaws on his heart.

He just… wished he could have been here.

“Do you know where he is now?” Qrow asked, urgence and impatience surging anew.

Sensing that, Elm drew out her scroll, only to roll her eyes in remembrance. “Uh, you know where the Carousel Boutique is?” 

He nodded - it was where he’d gone to purchase the clothes the night of his and Clover’s date. 

“Across from it’s a hotel. Dunno which room his folks are in, but if you ask around, you’ll find your way.” 

It was all he needed. “Thanks! Hate to cut and run but, you know.” He shrugged, not really having an excuse for himself. “See you around soon.”

“Yeah. Of course.”

But as he practically sprinted for the elevator hall, her following call made him pause. 

“Ah, Qrow?”

He paused, looking back, foot bouncing with agitation. “Yeah?”

“It’s just, do you, uh.” She started, hesitated, looking uncertain for several long seconds. Then just shook her head and smiled, a bit too wide to be genuine. “Know what? Nevermind. I’ll ask you some other time.”

He tilted his head, confused, but just nodded.

It wasn’t until he was already heading down that he realized she had been trying to ask him about Marrow.

~

Having traveled as much as he had, Qrow had stayed in a lot of hotels and inns. But, it was almost never necessary in the capital cities of the kingdoms, as there was always someone willing to hole him up for free. So he hadn’t really seen many of Atlas’ lodging options.

Regardless, he wasn’t at all surprised to see the grandiose look of the lobby for The Golden Aspire. There were grand, loping arches with heavily decorated pillars, fancy spiraling staircases leading to upper floors, and shiny marble flooring that reflected the enormous center chandelier, twinkling with its thousands of tiny white lights. It was really all par for the course for the upper class. 

What was certainly more shocking was the congregation of Faunus that seemed to take up the majority of the floor - more in that single room than he’d bet the hotel had ever housed in its entire lifetime.

He weaved his way around the crowd, only to find the registration desk was unattended. He sighed, leaning against the tall desk, craning his neck towards the monitor. Considered how possible it’d be to just slip around the other side and dig around for the room assignments himself.

As was becoming much too common anywhere he went, he heard his name in the air, “Qrow!”

He straightened, turning towards the familiar voice, and sighed in relief as he spotted Marrow making his way over, tail going full speed. “Tch, where you been rookie? You’ve been worrying everyone.”

“Ah, have I? Sorry.” He rocked his head back some, indicating the space behind him. 

Qrow peered past, seeing quite the family taking up space of the majority of the furniture on that side of the room, many holding a resemblance to the man before him. He recognized Maxi among them, crocheting the beginnings of a new tapestry. 

“Ran into my cousin while I was looking around and well, my ma’s got quite the iron grip when she wants to.” Marrow rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. “Hope they aren’t too mad.”

Qrow shrugged one shoulder. It wasn’t like he couldn’t understand. “Ah, forget it. I’ll pass the word around. It’s just good to know you’re alright.”

“Well of course!” He placed his hands on his hips, puffing up his chest proudly. “I am an Aceop, after all.”

“You’re such a-” The word show-off got caught in his throat, the man he normally associated with the title pushing back into the forefront of his mind. “Braggart.” He mumbled instead, all humor gone.

The slip didn’t go unnoticed, though Marrow just seemed exasperated. “You just missed the Captain. Went off to Huntington Garden with Nick’s family not ten minutes ago.”

Qrow grimaced, guilt nipping at how transparent he apparently was. “I, uh…”

“Swear you two are gonna drive me up a wall.” He grumbled under his breath before rolling his eyes overdramatically. “Well? Go get him.”

It was all the permission he needed. “Thank you.”

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t mention it. Really, don’t!” Marrow shouted the last part after him as Qrow dashed his way through the crowd and back out the sliding doors.

~

In the center of Atlas’ commercial district stood Solitas’ largest garden. Stone pathways carved a simple cross pattern, sectioning the garden into four quadrants with a statue of the planet in the center. Each section was dedicated to a kingdom and the wildlife thrived among their brethren, from Vacuo’s tall palms and reedy sedges surrounding an oasis-like pond to Atlas’ creeping arctic willows basking underneath evergreen pines. Though they were separated, the quadrants still stood alongside each other, neither harming nor encroaching on one another’s territory. This was how the garden’s name, Huntington, came to be. It was a nod to the academies, and the unity of the gardens was meant to represent the unity of huntsmen and huntresses from all walks of life. 

It was also, perhaps, a space in which travelers could find a bit of home, no matter how far it was.

Qrow looked between Vale’s Forever Falls and Emerald Greens to Mistral’s Golden Fans and Pink Clouds, but he didn’t wonder over the nostalgia of each, just bemoaned that they both were more thickly grown then their counterparts. Atlas and Vacuo both were more sparse and open, easy to see across - so he knew by just a glance that Clover was not within either section.

So he took a guess and turned for home.

Small, brick roads weaved him around swaying trees and rippling fountains, through fields of wildflowers and past artfully carved hedges shaped like animals. Ignored most of the majesty in favor of peering into every populated gazebo and passing by every occupied bench, hoping to see a familiar splotch of white among all the green.

The minutes passed into a half hour and he found himself cycling back to the heart of Vale’s quadrant, where the trees opened up to a small meadow meant to function as an eating area.

His injured leg was protesting painfully and, with a grunt, Qrow dropped longwise onto one of the few vacant picnic table benches, scrubbing a hand through his hair as he looked up at the sky, feeling despondent.

Would be just his luck that he’d guessed wrong.

He could still try Mistral’s side, but he wasn’t sure how far he’d get with his injury flaring like it was. Maybe he could duck behind the ivy-entangled lattices and transform? It would certainly give him a better eye on things. He started to move, intending to get back up, only for discomfort to burn along his thigh and, with a hiss, he carefully rested it back down.

Five minutes, then he’d get going.

He rested his cheek against the wood below him, looking from underneath the table at the meadow beyond, eyes drifting aimlessly over the flora. Lavender-shaded heather and bright dandelions were intersped in the perennial grasses, spreading across the field where adults sat among them, speaking in fervent whispers, brows wrinkled and frowns troubled, juxtaposed by their young kids who wrestled and chased one another, not a care to them.

He turned his head the other way, peering towards the meadow’s edge, where red roses grew under the shade of the Forever Falls and white lilies grew underneath the Emerald Greens. It was clear the designer’s intent was to have a perfect symmetry - but time had emboldened nature to take over, the lilies sprouting between the rose bushes, embraced almost protectively within their thorns, and the wilder branches of the Forever Fall were reaching across the space to entangle into the Emerald Green’s.

Between the trunks of the intertwined trees, he took notice of the stone walls that sectioned off another area of the garden, presumably a scenic terrace for those looking for something more private and cozy. The wooden archway that led within was almost hidden behind hanging jasmine spilling across the top and sweeping so low it nearly touched the ground. Like a secret doorway one might find in a fairytale.

Just underneath where the fronds didn’t quite block out, he could see a young girl of maybe six crawling around on her hands and knees, a white and black spotted tail with a floofy end trailing behind her. Obviously deep in some game of make-believe, she was swiping fiercely at the blue boots of an adult kneeling down in front of her, perhaps envisioning he was a monster she was bravely taking down. Valiantly, the adult fought back by batting her with a couple of cattails that must have been pulled from a nearby pond, the cylindrical ends bouncing harmlessly off her head. It made Qrow chuckle, remembering how he used to do the same with Ruby and Yang when they were that age.

Another set of shoes of another adult came into view, the worn leather coming apart at the sole, a fading flowered sundress sweeping around her ankles. Something must have been said, for the little girl looked up at the woman who was likely her mother and, though he couldn’t hear a word, Qrow could see how she lit up, reaching upwards eagerly by whatever was being proposed.

Dainty hands gathered her up, lifting her out of sight. The little girl’s pretend foe rose to join them, arm moving to reveal the sloping end of a notched belt. A glint of silver hanging from it caught the light and drew Qrow’s eye immediately just before it moved out of sight.

Brief as the glimpse was, the shape of the horseshoe was unmistakable.

His heart stopped.

Then, Qrow was shooting up, sprinting across the field in moments, shout tearing from his throat.

“CLOVER!”

He’d just hit the treeline when a gloved hand emerged from the foliage covering the archway, shoving it to the side.

And there he was. 

Framed by a wreath of star jasmine and trifoliate leaves, Clover looked gorgeous.  

Verdigris green eyes swept over him as if they could not believe what they were seeing, raised ears reflecting the shock on his face. But, slowly, as the reality of the moment sunk in, they both shifted, ears coming down but still arched upwards, mimicking the smile now arching his mouth and sparkling in his eyes. So much joy reflected at the mere sight before him.

It took Qrow’s breath away. 

He was only just getting it back when Clover strode forward with purpose, sweeping him up in a hug so tight and warm, Qrow wouldn’t be forgetting it anytime soon. He wound his arms around him in turn, burying his nose in his neck and just breathed him in, emotions swelling in his chest, heat pricking at the edges of his eyes. Felt the stuttering breath against his chest as Clover struggled with the same.

He wasn’t sure how long it took him to find his voice, but when he did, all he managed to murmur was a soft, “Clover…”

Yet it seemed enough to bring Clover to action, the man breathing out sharply, “Gods, Qrow-” He cut himself off. Pulled back so he could hold his face in his hands. Swept fingers delicately through his hair. “Are you okay? I saw you on the roster - but when I went to the bay, you were already gone.” 

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Just a few stitches.” Qrow rushed to reassure. Then, what he said fully registered, and he started to laugh.

One of Clover’s ears pulled up in exclamation. “What?”

“It’s just - heh. I’ve been looking for you for days. Past hour, I’ve been all over town.” He informed, amused. “Just seems like the beginning of the world’s worst joke: What happens when the luckiest and unluckiest guys alive go looking for each other?” 

Clover blinked, then snorted lightly. The fingers that had continued to sweep through Qrow’s hair slowed, becoming more of a caress. “Maybe…” He leaned down, brushing their foreheads together, offering guilessly, “They find each other at the right time?”

The words gave him pause, considering them for what they really meant. He wondered, had he met Clover years back, how things might have turned out. Would his younger self have been as observant as he was today? As honest? As tolerant? As open to listening, instead of just asserting his own opinions?

The further back he scaled himself, the less and less those answers became a yes, until they weren’t there at all. 

“Guess we did.” Qrow decided finally. 

He knew the man who once started petty, immature fights in courtyards and recklessly drunk himself to oblivion in bars and the man he was now, sober, softer, and more compassionate, would never quite meet again. 

He wouldn’t miss him.

Because that him…

“Clover?”

“Mm?”

“There’s something I meant to tell you, back when I radioed in.” 

“What is it?”

That him would never have even considered to welcome the devotion Clover was so freely giving. 

Would never have even tried to take care of it, the way he wanted to with his whole heart today. 

Would never of even had the guts to say-

“I love you too.”

Caught off guard, Clover only stared, jaw unhinging but wordless from shock.

Qrow smiled up at him. “And I’m going to show you every day too.” His smile turned into a smirk. “If you think you can handle me, I mean.”

That broke the spell. “Oh - you! Come here!”

A hand cupped the back of his neck, dragging him into a kiss that had Qrow seeing stars.

When they parted, he couldn’t help the cheeky, “That a yes?”

Clover leaned in, the playful tug of his hair as thrilling as the whisper in his ear, “You’ll have to handle me first, Stardust.”

“I can do that.” He murmured huskily. Turned his head to kiss him again.

Before it could turn heated, an excited, youthful shout from somewhere in the terrace broke them apart and hitched up Clover’s ears. 

“Unkkie Covvie, hurry! Der are fishies!”

Qrow barely withheld a chuckle, eyebrow raising some. “Unkkie Covvie?”

“Unofficially. Honorary Uncle of three now, actually.” Clover explained, still profusely proud. His left hand skimmed over Qrow’s, offering but not taking. Hesitant, but hopeful. “Would you… like to meet them?”

There was no unwillingness in the way he reached in turn, fingers slipping in between Clover’s securely. “Absolutely.”

That all-over joy was back, Clover positively beaming. 

And with a tug of their joined hands, Qrow allowed himself to be pulled through the doorway and into Clover’s world.

[manyfandomocs]

Speak Now [Taylor Swift]

Okay this has been 75% completed in my inbox long enough so I'm not doing the vault tracks as initially planned but! Just lmk if you do wanna see the vaults

also I am apparently so attached to assigning Enchanted to ships I should just do an edit series for couples. And Innocent was so hard to assign

Mine ; Thomas Mayfair (with Brady Mariano @randomestfandoms-ocs ), Ashton Daniels (with Blaine Anderson), Emmeline Fitzherbert (with Mal), Cassidy Fuchs (with Grace Chasity)

Sparks Fly ; Ruby Fitzherbert (with Evie), Natalia Finch (with Obie Bergmann)

Back To December ; Ashton Daniels (with Sam Evans), Sebastian Van Wyck (with Henry, pre-RWRB), Katherine Keller (young with FP Jones)

Speak Now ; Tiffany Holloway (with Max Jägerman), Jasmine Teller (with Jess Mariano), Robin Davidson (with Betsy McDonough), Theodosia Fortescue (with Colin Bridgerton), Sampson Lockhart (with Arabella Kingsley)

Dear John ; Belladonna Callow (with Malachi), Gabriel Legume (with the unnamed ex), Genevieve Sterling (with Hiram Lodge)

Mean ; Felicity Moore, Cassidy Fuchs, CJ Kelly

The Story Of Us ; Genevieve Sterling (with Hiram Lodge), Steve Schuester (with Jesse St James), Serafina Hollander (with Tristan Dugray), Solana Reed (with Val), Carrie Ryan (with Noah Puckerman)

Never Grow Up ; Chloe Brown (with Eloise Sol @randomestfandoms-ocs ), Lottie Tyler (with Rose Tyler), Silas Green (with Hannah Foster)

Enchanted ; Leticia Beaumont (with Colin Bridgerton), Arabella Kingsley (with Sampson Lockhart), Calliope Angelos (with Nora Holleran), Kendall Frost (with Beatrice Mountchristen-Windsor), Cassie Rose (with Annabeth Chase), Vincent James (with Jenny Banks), Tamora Snow (with Lucy Gray Baird), Charles Pond (with Clara Oswald), Odelia Roth (with David Nolan & Odessa Pavlova)

Better Than Revenge ; Gabriel Legume (with Ben, Audrey's POV), Delilah Curdle (@ Betty Cooper), Catalina Cabrera (with Dan Humphrey, Serena's POV), Carrie Ryan (honestly this is just Rachel @ Carrie for all of their shared boyfriends)

Innocent ; Chloe Brown, Ginevra Gothel

Haunted ; Carrie Ryan (with Noah Puckerman), Steve Schuester (with Jesse St James), Wrenley Daring (with Jay), Gabriel Legume (with Harry Hook), Victor Chase (with Billy Loomis), Lorelai Cooper (with Chuck Clayton)

Last Kiss ; Steve Schuester (with Jesse St James), Carrie Ryan (with Sam Evans), Ashton Daniels (with Sam Evans), Thomas Mayfair (with Lane Kim), Tiffany Holloway (with Max Jägerman in most timelines), Catalina Cabrera (with Nate Archibald)

Long Live ; Sage Rowe, Nathan Price, Ashton Daniels, Carrie Ryan, Silas Green, Cassidy Fuchs, Ivy Perkins, Abigail James, Felicity Moore, Zeke Beiste

Ours ; Arabella Kingsley (with Sampson Lockhart), Karina Jimenez (with Brittany Pierce), Felix Dosier (with Finn Hudson), Ashton Daniels (with Blaine Anderson), Gabriel Legume (with Ben), Theo Gleason (with Jess Mariano)

Superman ; Carrie Ryan (with Jesse St James), Silas Green (with Lex Foster), Sebastian Van Wyck (with Henry Hanover-Stuart-Fox, pre RWRB), Katherine Keller (with FP Jones), Madeline Stevens (with Frank Delfino)

Send me an album and, if I know the artist, I will try to associate to every song an oc/ship/crossover

[build-a-problem-musical]

Theo, on Miranda:

I love you. I’m angry they did this to you and twisted you and terrorized you until now you’re the woman who stands before me waiting for the floor to collapse. I mourn for everything you’ve suffered and for how you consider yourself only lovable as a puppet to pilot and perform rather than as a person who has every right to be loved solely by virtue of being here. I love you, and I can’t love you out of darkness, and I can’t take my time and give you safety in the hopes of fixing you, and it is entirely your choice whether or not to trust me. But I love you anyway. Don’t apologize for this choice of mine. I know, I know you have to allow yourself to want it first. I wish you thought you’re worth enough to be allowed to want it. You think you’re entirely terrible. You aren’t. Whenever you’re ready, please let me walk beside you. Miranda, I promise this is not something I do to hold over you or to hurt you later, and I’m sorry they made you believe everyone would want to control you. I'll take my time with you. I will wait and I will wait and I will stay when the earthquake comes and the walls crumble.

(There are things I think in the dark that I can’t say out loud.)

I love her.

(Beating my head against a brick wall and going nowhere.)

I love her.

(Sameness of feeling—

What are you thinking?

—that is not at all the same. A weighty error of a few months is not the weight of an inherent error that is an entire being for an entire lifetime, even if the result wears vaguely the one face.)

That's better.

(Beating and beating my head, smashing it and stifling my tears as the wall won't yield—)

What are you thinking? Shut up.

[vukovich]

I’m bored and waiting, so I’m adding a list of summaries and the reason I abandoned each fic and some of the things I've scavenged from them. For science. Welcome to the sausage factory.

Harry adopts a stray dog. It has lovely gray eyes and is suspiciously smart. It’s his best friend. Abandoned because I felt weird about writing desi Harry, especially with identity issues being a theme.

Harry is a garbage boyfriend power bottom slut who realizes Draco has like, needs or something. Abandoned because I got asked to do a fest thing and I just never went back.

Harry has body image issues and an eating disorder. Draco is vaguely autistic. Crack fluff, surprisingly. Halloween costumes and a Minecraft server are involved. This fic is where the Atrium and Ministry Headquarters for Fearful Trill came from. Abandoned due to fest.

Drarry immortals AU, Library of Alexandria to present day. Abandoned because I felt weird writing Jewish Harry, with it being a focus, not just a passing background thing.

Draco is in Azkaban, gets released but is confined to Manor grounds. Poor bastard has to eat his pet goat, grow his own food, and whittle his own dildo. Dead bodies start falling out of the sky, so he just starts burying them. He gets out because Things Are Afoot in the world. Dubcon with zombie Harry. This fic picks up where Whorecrux stopped. Abandoned because the endgame is Draco's survival, not Drarry, and I don't think that many people want to read it.

Astoria nagini POV. She's basically Amy Winehouse. But sometimes she's a massive snake. She ate Lucius, so Draco fell in love. Her husband goes missing. Harry is to blame. Scorp can turn into a bebe snek and hunts mice. Abandoned because meh. Drastoria longfic feels like a big pivot.

This one will actually get written, and it's a collab, so I'm not gonna spill the beans. But it's just evil.

Draco is a hot mess. Harry is a hot mess. They're horrible together. And then they're werewolves. And then they fuck Teddy. Temporarily abandoned because I can't see this thing coming in under 300k.

Hugo/Draco/Theo nasty first time fuck. This fic is responsible for some of the age-related dynamics in a currently posting WIP. Abandoned because I figured writing underage dubcon on main would get me more death threats.

Draco summons big magic and breaks out of Azkaban. He's very... Ozymandias. Magical houses start turning into their various namesakes: the Burrow sinks into the ground, the Rookery becomes a nest in the sky, etc. Harry and Ron are Hit Wizard partners. Harry is married to Ginny and it's not good. He's also spending a lot of energy pretending he's just a normal cishet dudebro Auror. Yeah, he's not. Ron is fucking cold-blooded. Harry's secretly afraid of him. Draco has a pirate ship made of Twelve Grimmauld. Cho and Theo are there. Endgoal: Destroy the Ministry and re-wild magic. This fic is actually where the Cho from WHISKY-TANGO-FOXTROT came from. Abandoned because... I dunno. I'll probably end up writing this one. I can't not with Draco in a crown saying shit like "Scream now or cry later about how you took it so quietly."

10 First Lines Tag Game

Thanks, @the-francakes! You should peep her list, especially I WANNA SEE SOME ASS

Rules: share the first lines of ten of your most recent fanfics and tag ten people. If you have written less than ten, don’t be shy and share anyway

Extra Rule Vuk Added for Herself: Only use first lines from unpublished WIPs. For spice.

Something is following me home from St Jerome’s graveyard. 

Draco eased the car to a stop, frowned, and muttered the street names under his breath.

"Black coffee, no room for-"

“Heralds!” Queen Zenobia’s hand, a spearpoint of sun-bronzed skin, pointed at the splintered gate of Alexandria.  “Go!”

There surely existed a molecular weight to consciousness, Draco mused.

Astoria Athena Greengrass was created for war, conceived to protect her darling older sister.

January 2nd, also known as Hair of the Crup Day in Wizarding London, was fast becoming Fall Asleep on Your Desk Day in Harry’s office.

"So," Ron said, setting a pair of beer bottles on the table, "when are you gonna make an honest man of him?"

"I'm gay."

10. The Shrike Sylvia Plath When night comes black Such royal dreams beckon this man As lift him apart From his earth-wife's side To wing, sleep-feathered, The singular air, While she, envious bride, Cannot follow after, but lies With her blank brown eyes starved wide, Twisting curses in the tangled sheet With taloned fingers, Shaking in her skull's cage The stuffed shape of her flown mate

--

Tagging @mintawasalreadytaken @oknowkiss @kbrick @peachpety

[sexualtensiongrowing21]

As the Sun Sets // The Meeting // Part Six

TW: Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, mentions of R*pe

*Please be aware of the trigger warnings for this chapter as it is dark and some themes may be triggering or hard for some readers.*

Part Seven

Scarlett's POV:

"It's been a week since the Halloween dance and Adrian caught me leaving my dorm the next afternoon and apologized. Explaining to me that it looked bad on him that I would be showing that much skin around other people. I hesitantly  apologized, but apologized no less and told him that I would be more modest. “Good girl” he said as he kissed my cheek and walked me to class.

Draco and I have our meeting with the Dark Lord tonight and we have been in the room of requirement every night trying to get this damn thing open. We are no closer than when the term started. Needless to say, we are bloody stressed. 

Slipping into my wand into my jumper, I stand outside Draco and Theos dorm. I knock on the large oak door twice. “Come in.” I hear Draco's voice call. When I open the door I see Draco pacing back and forth from his bed to Theos, mumbling to himself. Seeing as my lovely cousin is having a sort of panic attack I take a seat on the edge of Theos bed. 

The bathroom door to my left squeaks open. “Hey, tell me if you see my father will you? Oh, and feel free to throw him under the night bus if you get the chan--” He pauses looking at me with his seductive smile. “Bambina, I didn't hear you come in.” Theo is wearing just a towel that is low on his hips and water is dripping from his chest and disappearing under the towel. 

Say something Scarlet! I yell at myself. “I uh. Yeah. Draco said it was okay to come in.” 

“Well it's more than okay. Are you here to keep me company while our Drakey goes to see the Dark Lord. “ He says that last part with a very dramatic Italian accent while using another towel to dry his curly hair. 

This stops Dracos pacing “What? No Theo. She is coming with me. The letter from mother specifically said her presence was required. I’m only invited because hes at the Manor.” 

“What? Why do they need Scarlet?” Theos eyes start to gray while he is looking at me with concern. 

“I am not sure.” Draco says digging through the mess of blankets on his bed, looking for his wand. Once his wand is secured, he holds his hand out for me, I stand up to grab it when I am stopped with a loud thump from behind me. Theo now has a black jumper on and is struggling to put his pants on. 

“Hold on. I am coming with you.” He says once his pants are on and he's reaching for his own wand. 

“Theo. No. You cannot come.” Draco is pulling us away from the brown haired boy. “The Dark Lord requested her. Not you.” 

“You're bloody mad if you think I am just going to let her get thrown at his feet. You know what he is capable of.” His face is red and his eyes are fully gray now. Anger radiating off him in waves.

“Theo.” I reach for his hand, pulling his attention off of Draco. His eyes snap to mine and lighten slightly. “I will be fine. I promise. He probably just wants me to attend because I essentially live with Malfoys.” I give him my best convincing smile.

If I am being honest, when Cissy wrote that he requested me to be there as well I was flooded with panic. It's all I have been able to think about. But Theo cannot go. I do not want to anger The Dark Lord anymore than he will already be. 

“Please. We will tell you everything we can when we get back. I promise.” I squeeze his hand reassuringly. 

Still looking unconvinced he pulls me into a hug and kisses the top of my head. “Please be safe, Bambina. Draco, please bring her straight back here.” 

With Theo releasing him from their man hug, he puts his hand on Dracos shoulder and steps back. With one final look, Draco takes my hand in his and the uncomfortable twist and pull from the belly we are home. Malfoy Manor. 

——————————————————————————————————

Aunt Cissy is standing outside the gates of the Manor awaiting our arrival. 

“Mum. Is he here already?” Draco asks quietly while hugging his mother and giving her a chast kiss on the cheek.

“Yes. He's inside waiting for you two.” She pulls me as well and kisses my cheek. “Come on. We have to hurry. Need not anger him. Remember what I taught you both?” Closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, I locked all my doors. Stealing myself off. I turn and see Draco doing the same. 

Making our way into the manor feels like a death sentence. As soon as we walk through the doors we can hear screams. Female screams. And then that laugh that haunts my dreams. My mothers laughed. 

There, sitting at the dinner table on a large wingback chair sits the Dark Lord. 

“Ah, my Protégés have arrived. Sit. Sit.” He waves his hand out to indicate for us to sit next to him at the table. As we make our way around the table I see many familiar faces. Nott Sr. Umbridge. Snape. The Carrows. Crabbe Sr. Goyle Sr. Aunt Cissy, Lucius, and of course my mom and dad. Bellatrix and Rodolphus. 

“Little Lestrange. Your father tells me you have come a long way with your training.” His red eyes are trained on me. I can feel a pinch in between my eyes. I try to focus on his words. “Yes my lord.” 

The room is silent. “Then how come… You and the young Malfoy boy have yet to fix the cabinet?” I feel Draco stiffen next to me. 

I am starting to sweat, “Well my lord.” I swallow hard. “It has proven to be more difficult than we originally anticipated..” He is pushing through now. Breaking all the locks he sees. 

“And here I was… hoping your father wasn't lying to me. That you could in fact be useful.” out of the corner of my eye I can see Rodolphus seething. “Stand up Little Lestrange.” Taking a deep breath I stand up beside my chair. 

“Rodolphus, why don't you show us some of your… training methods.” I stiffen, eyes darting to aunt Cissy, only to realize that she can't help me. Breathe…

Then before I realize,He shouts.  “Crucio” I try to stay strong. I try to focus all of my energy on staying standing. He is still pushing through my mind and now with me being distracted images of Adrian, Pansy, Blaise and Draco flashes through my mind. Late night study sessions, stolen kisses in alcoves, dress shopping. He rips through my memories one by one. 

“Remove the disillusionment charm Bellatrix. Let her show us her true self.” 

“Please” I pleaded quietly to the floor. I see her flick her wrist “as you wish my lord”.

My eyes wander to Draco. I have never shown him my scars. I have never told him what goes on when I am not at Hogwarts or here. No one knows but my parents. 

My skin feels chilled and I know that the charm was removed as well as the jumper that I was wearing. Gasps and murmurs from around the group. Tears streaming down my face and Draco's eyes are fully gray as he stares at me.

“There she is…” The Dark Lord smiles sinisterly. “Again.” This time it's Bellatrix to cast the curse, smiling her yellow teeth at me.  

“Crucio.” I'm screaming. The pain is deafening. White hot blades working their way from inside my skin trying to get out. His attack on my mind doesn't stop. This time. Images of Theo work their way to the forefront of my mind. I try to push them back but I am so weak.

Late nights by the lake. Butterflies in my stomach when he calls me “Mi ragazza”. His smile as he kisses my hand. Falling asleep on him in the common room. The way my heart wrenches when he comes back from visiting his father, covered in bruises and with broken bones. 

I can't fight back. I finally break, falling to the floor. 

“Nott....” the Dark Lord stops his attack and turns towards the elder Nott. “Ah yes. Your heir… Why hasn't he been marked?” 

Nott Sr. Looks confused, eyes narrowed as he looks from me to the Dark Lord. “He doesn't have what it takes my Lord… He is a disgrace and a disappointment to our family name.” Disgust riddles the elders' words. 

The Dark Lord contemplates this for a second “Our Little Lestrange here, begs to differ. It seems she cares a great deal for your son…” I am struggling to breathe when I am lifted by my arm, to stand by my father. “Nott… Come forward.” My vision is starting to blur but I can see Nott Sr. coming to stand in front of me. 

“What do you think your son thinks of our little Lestrange? Do you think that her feelings are… reciprocated…?” The elder Nott assesses me closely. “I am not certain, my lord.” he says solemnly. 

“I see… What do you think, little Lestrange?” I can barely think, let alone will myself to speak. 

“SPEAK” The Dark Lord yells, with a flick of his wand I'm screaming, pain coursing through my body. “N-no… M-my L-lord.” I can feel the blood starting to trickle from the laceration he created just now on my collar bone. Blood slithering down my arm and my chest.

Deep in thought the Dark Lord “ Well… What about you Nott. Are you interested in our Little Lestrange?” Stepping up to me I can feel Nott Sr. coming closer. Running his fingers down my scar over my eye. 

The other men in the room are watching intently “Well… I guess without all the scars she was quite attractive. Perky breasts. Round behind.” His hand trails from my face down to my collar bone. I try to squirm away but I am unable to while being held in place by Rodolphus. Hands ghosting over my right breast, I involuntarily take a deep haggard breath. 

“She seems eager for an affectionate touch from a Nott… How about the rest of you?... Greyback? Dolohov?...” The Dark Lord suggests to the rest of the men around the room. “I hear they can be quite… intense…” The Dark Lord whispers to me. 

Both men rise from their seats to come near me, just as eager as Nott. Sr. Tears are flowing freely now. I can still sense them standing in front of me. Eyes trained on me, licking their lips. 

My breathing picks up, my limbs locked in place. Whimpers of pain and fear escaping my mouth. 

“Now, Now… Settle down Little Lestrange. They won't touch you… Not yet…”  

“Sit back down.” He dismisses the men to be seated again and my vision has cleared a bit he speaks to me again.

“You will fix that cabinet. You will get us into Hogwarts. If not…” He goes quiet and looks around at the men who had all been standing around me 

“Then you get a taste of what life is like for your precious Nott Jr. at home.” His snake-like smile reaches Draco and with a wave of his hand he calls my cousin to attention. “Malfoy… Get our Little Lestrange back to school. You have a cabinet to fix.” 

Draco doesn't need to be told twice. With quick movements he carefully takes me from Rodolphus’ hold and walks me out of the dinner room. 

Once we are out of earshot of the others Draco tries to talk to me, I think he is trying to calm me down, but I can't concentrate on what he's saying. He picks me up bridal style and my head lays limply on his chest. 

His heart is beating rapidly. Whispering to me. Words unclear. The blood is draining from the new laceration fast. I feel the pull of apparition but as soon as we land back in the dorm I feel as if I'm drying. 

[asifyoucouldoutreadme]

I have an entire doc of smut for this fic - I’m just waiting for these angry kids to stop fighting the magic and f**k 🙄 So here’s a little teaser for what’s coming up now that Hermione and Draco are officially soul-bound.

The Empress of all Maladies by AsIfYouCouldOutReadMe on AO3

THE STATS: Explicit, dual POV, 102,988 word WIP - posts every 7-10 days

THE GIST: The one with a dying Death Eater Draco who blackmails Hermione (fresh from 5 years w/o magic in witness protection) into soul bonding with him to heal damage from dark magic.

FEATURING: Forced soul bonding, sentient magic, Death Eater Draco, Dark Hermione Granger, Mad Scientist Theo, Spymaster Blaise Zabini, more morally-gray characters than you can shake a stick at, Crookshanks, experimental magic, blood rites, Death Eater political intrigue, and a proper slow SLOW burn E2L (he falls first).

THE VIBES: Gothic horror wartime AU roughly inspired by Frankenstein/Bride of Frankenstein and Jane Eyre.

[nerdzzone]

Gaze on the Shore

Summary: As the world starts to reopen, tentatively hoping the worst of the pandemic is behind them, Chris and Whitney face a new set of challenges. With busy work schedules and the pressures of normal life looming on the horizon, will the foundation they’ve built through lockdown be strong enough to keep their relationship steady or will they crack under the strain?

Chris Evans x OFC

18+

Part of the Once Bitten/More Hearts series

Part Three

Note: There is a bit of a POV change in the middle of this chapter, I hope it isn’t too confusing or disruptive! Thank you to everyone who has liked and commented so far, I love hearing what you guys think!

-----

Part Four

“Mom, how many people did you invite to this party?” I asked as Chris returned to the kitchen from his fourth trip unloading groceries from her car. “You do know that we’re still not supposed to have huge gatherings, right?”

“I do know that,” she nodded as she started unpacking the bags. “It won’t be a large gathering. It’s just your dad and I, you, Chris and Gray, Jack, Andrea and Theo and your Uncle Rob and his gang.”

I raised an eyebrow at that claim.

“By ‘his gang’ do you mean ‘everyone he’s ever met’? Because there’s enough food here to feed an army.”

“Oh, you’re so dramatic,” she rolled her eyes. “It looks like more than it is. I figured we’d keep it simple and just have lots of appetizers instead of a big meal and the boxes they come in take up more space. It might not even be enough if I’m being honest.”

“Yeah, it looks like we’re all going to starve.”

There was sarcasm dripping from my words and my mom shot me a glare.

“Is she always like this, Chris?” She asked. “I don’t remember her being so condescending and I don’t know how you put up with it.”

“Hey!” I laughed. “That was mean. I’m not being condescending, I’m being realistic.”

“Children and men eat a lot,” she argued. “Look at the size of Chris, he could probably eat all of this by himself.”

“Was that supposed to be a compliment?” Chris asked with a soft chuckle. “Because I’m not sure that it was.”

“Sounded to me like she’s saying you’re getting chubby,” I informed him teasingly, ignoring my mom’s protests. “Honestly, Mom, it’s been a hard year for everyone, it’s not nice to mention someone’s weight gain like that.”

“That is not what I meant! And it doesn’t appear that he’s gained any weight,” she insisted before shooting him a sly smile. “But, Chris, why don’t you take off your shirt and show us, just to be sure.”

“Mom!” I shrieked in horror as Chris howled with laughter. “That is so beyond inappropriate.”

“He’s a handsome man!” She weakly defended herself. “I may be old and married, but I have eyes, Whitney.”

I shook my head as I laughed in disbelief and crossed the kitchen.

“Let’s get you out of here,” I suggested to Chris, grabbing his arm and tugging him towards the door. “We need to keep you away from her.”

He was still laughing as I dragged him into the hallway and I shook my head as I leaned my forehead into his chest.

“I regret wanting you to get to know my family more,” I decided. “I think it’s time for us to go back to the other side of the country, four days is clearly long enough.”

“Your family is great,” he assured me. “It’s fun seeing you with them and learning where you got your wonderful taste in men.”

I wrinkled my nose in displeasure at that observation.

“I can’t believe my mom thinks you’re hot.”

“I can,” he chuckled. “I do great with women over fifty.”

“Great, so I have the fangirls and the cougars to worry about.”

“I’m afraid so,” he smiled, pulling me close against him. “But luckily, I’ve only got eyes for you.”

“Good,” I smiled, stretching up to kiss him softly. “Do you mind going to find Grayson? I’m suspicious of how quiet him and my dad are being. I’m guessing it’s not because they’re resting like my Dad’s supposed to be and I need to try and convince Mom not to cook all that food.”

Chris chuckled and nodded his head before letting me slip out of his grasp and heading off in search of our son.

-

I lost the battle about just how much food we would need. From my estimation - as I looked over the dining room table that was absolutely covered in food - we would be eating hors d’oeuvres for the foreseeable future, but my mom was so excited that it was hard to criticize her. She always loved hosting a good gettogether, especially if the whole family was going to be there and we hadn’t all been together in so long now that I decided it was best to keep my mouth shut and let her have her moment.

Knowing it would be a very overstimulating afternoon and evening for Grayson with probably a late bedtime, Chris took him upstairs for a nap just after lunch. He hated napping and only really did it when he was feeling particularly tired, but Chris took some books and figured they could at least have some quiet time even if he didn’t actually fall asleep.

They stayed upstairs for a little over an hour and just as they were coming back down there was a commotion outside. Moments later the door opened and all of our guests, who had apparently arrived at the same time, came pouring into the house. There was a flurry of greetings and for once, Grayson seemed a bit overwhelmed. He clung to Chris’ leg, half hiding behind it, but as soon as his eyes landed on my uncle, his whole face lit up.

“It’s you!” He cheered, leaping away from Chris and rushing towards the new, but familiar face. “Hi!”

“Hello!” Robert grinned. “How are you?”

“Good!” Grayson answered. “Why are you here?”

I laughed at his blunt question, but Robert took it in stride.

“I’m here for dinner,” he informed Gray. “We’re having a party!”

“Oh, yeah!”

“You probably don’t remember these guys,” Robert told him, gesturing to the younger two of his own kids who’d come with him. “But these are your cousins.”

He introduced them, the older one looking amused by Grayson’s enthusiasm and the younger one looking a bit concerned, but Grayson was undeterred.

“We have a trampoline!” He told them. “Come see!”

He didn’t wait to see if they were interested before turning and running towards the backdoor, but apparently he’d managed to pique their curiosity as the other two children chased after him.

“Someone’s going to need to supervise that,” my Aunt Susan announced, giving her husband a pointed look.

“I’ll go,” he nodded before turning his attention to me. “But when did you adopt a teenager? That kid is huge compared to the last time I saw him.”

“Don’t remind me,” I smiled, shaking my head. “It’s breaking my heart how fast he’s growing up.”

“Just wait until he starts school and makes you drop him off around the corner,” he teased. “That’s when the real heartbreak starts.”

“That’ll never happen,” I insisted as Chris nodded beside me before adding his own thoughts.

“He’s got cool parents, he’ll never be embarrassed by us.”

My parents and my aunt and uncle all laughed at that claim.

“That’s what every parent thinks,” my dad informed us. “And they’re always wrong.”

I shot him a playful glare, knowing that what he was saying was probably true.

“I don’t need to hear that,” I told him, crossing my arms with a dramatic huff. “Why don’t you go outside and watch the kids? You can take that negativity with you.”

“Alright, alright,” my dad chuckled. “I don’t mind going out to watch the little monsters.”

“You and uncle Rob head out,” my brother suggested. “And Chris and I will grab some beers.”

All the men agreed and quickly set about accomplishing their respective tasks with strict instructions from my mother for my dad to be very careful about his alcohol intake as she reminded him that he’d had surgery not quite a week ago as if he could have forgotten.

As soon as they were gone and the room was less crowded, Andrea put Theo down and, to my delight, he toddled straight over to me. I happily scooped him into my arms and Andrea laughed, shaking her head.

“He’s never going to learn how to walk if you carry him around all the time.”

“He just walked to me, didn’t he?” I smirked. “Seems like he can walk just fine already and I have a year of cuddles to make up for.”

I tickled his belly, earning a squeal of giggles from the little guy just as Chris and Jack walked back through the room with their beverages.

Chris glanced over and shot me a wink as they passed by.

“You’re killin’ me, Winnie!”

I laughed as he followed Jack out of the room without waiting for a response. Almost in unison, the women around me raised a questioning eyebrow at his comment, but I shook my head and shrugged them off, not wanting to start up that conversation.

-

Chris was amazed by how well he fit in with her family. Of course, it helped that he was already so close with her uncle from their time working together on The Avengers, but everyone else had welcomed him with open arms as well. He hadn’t wanted to admit it, but he was nervous that some people in her family - especially her dad - would hold a bit of a grudge about how things had gone down between them, but everyone appeared to be pretty understanding of their complicated situation. There seemed to be no ill will towards him or at least, if there was, they had the decency to keep it to themselves.

A few beers into the evening, he was contemplating those facts as he leaned on the railing of the little back porch, watching Grayson bounce on the trampoline with his cousins. They’d been at it for hours, barely pausing for long enough to eat and digest their food before they went back to bouncing again. He smiled as Gray’s giggles filled his ears when one of the other kids jumped a bit too close to him and sent him even higher than before. He didn’t think he’d ever get tired of that sound and he couldn't deny the ache in his heart that throbbed every time he thought about his upcoming busy schedule.

“It’s pretty great, isn’t it?” Robert asked, appearing by his side. “Being a dad.”

“It’s the best,” Chris agreed. “I know it’s been such a dark year, but it’s been one of the best of my life, getting to spend every day with Grayson and Whitney.”

“We saw your official Instagram engagement announcement,” Robert smiled as he leaned on the railing next to his friend. “Susan and I thought it was very sweet.”

“Thanks. Sometimes it’s easier to just put it out there instead of letting everyone speculate and for the most part, people have been very supportive.”

“I’m glad to hear that, you deserve to be happy. I’m glad you two figured it out.”

“It’s not always easy,” Chris acknowledged with a smile. “But we’re working on it.”

“Relationships never are,” Robert wisely reminded him. “And I say this with all the love in the world, but Whitney can be hard work.”

Chris laughed, hanging his head for a moment before looking back at Rob.

“She’d probably say the same about me.”

“That’s true, you both overthink things too much,” Robert teasingly rolled his eyes. “But Whitney can be very self-protective, often in a very self-sabotaging way.”

“I’ve noticed that,” Chris admitted. “But I think we’re in a good place right now. We’re getting better at communicating. The real test will be when I go back to work next week and I’m away a lot more.”

“It’ll take some patience, but I have faith in you two,” Rob assured him before giving him a pointed look. “I stand by what I said before though, if you break her heart, you’ll have me to deal with.”

“Oh, there’s a long list of people who will be right there with you,” Chris informed him with a laugh. “But you won’t need to. She’s it for me. I can’t imagine a life with anyone else and I owe you big time for introducing us.”

“I don’t know why I didn’t think of it sooner, you’re perfect for each other,” Robert patted him on the back. “And that kid of yours is pretty special.”

A proud grin instantly slid onto Chris’ face.

“He is, isn’t he? We got lucky.”

“I don’t think it’s all luck,” Robert insisted. “He’s respectful, kind and considerate and I think those are things he’s learned from you and Whitney. You might both be idiots in some ways, but you know how to raise a good kid.”

Before Chris had time to comment, a voice from the doorway drew their attention.

“Who’s an idiot?”

The smile on Whitney’s face told them that she already had a pretty good idea who they were talking about as she walked over to join them.

“You and Chris,” Robert confirmed with a smirk. “But I was just saying that despite that, you’ve done a great job with Grayson.”

Whitney laughed as a shiver ran through her from the cool night air. Without a thought, Chris moved closer and tucked her under his arm for warmth.

“I’m not sure if I should say thank you or be insulted,” she mused. “But we can’t take much credit for Gray. I think he’d be a good kid even if we tried to actively discourage it.”

“He has his moments though,” Chris smiled. “He can throw quite a tantrum if you catch him in the wrong mood.”

“I don’t believe it,” Robert shook his head. “I’ve seen absolutely no evidence that he’s anything, but an angel.”

“You just wait. As soon as he starts getting tired, the other side will come out.”

Whitney laughed at Chris’ warning and nodded in agreement.

“He’s like Bruce Banner,” she teased. “Once all the sugar he’s had wears off, his hulk side will come out.”

Robert smiled at the comparison, but shook his head.

“I’ll believe it when I see it.”

“Well let’s hope you don’t have to,” Chris joked as the kids stopped their bouncing and ran over to the adults on the porch.

“Daa-ad,” Robert’s son called in a sing-song tone. “Can we have dessert now?”

“Dessert?!” Robert gasped. “We thought you didn’t want any and ate it all already!”

All three faces fell at that news, but as Grayson’s lip quivered, Whitney ended their suffering.

“He’s just being mean!” She assured them. “There’s still plenty of food and dessert for everyone.”

There was a chorus of cheers before the kids stampeded towards the house. Whitney followed after them, playfully shoving her uncle on her way by.

“You almost made Gray cry!”

He shrugged at her scolding, a smirk on his face.

“I was just trying to bring out the hulk.”

She rolled her eyes and continued back towards the door as the sound of the two men’s laughter followed her.

-

After an afternoon and evening spent eating mountains of food and drinking an abundance of drinks, I was in a wonderful mood. Slightly because of the alcohol, but more so because of how heart-warming it was to see my new little family of Chris and Grayson bonding with the rest of my family. They fit in so well and it was amazing to have most of the people that I cared about in one room at the same time after being apart for so long.

Chris was also in a wonderful mood, but I had a sneaking suspicion that his mood was much more influenced by the alcohol. I knew he’d had a good day, especially having time to reconnect with my uncle, but he was definitely much more intoxicated than I was. Not nearly as far gone as my brother - who was looking very sloppy by the time my sister-in-law dragged him out the door - but as he got louder, goofier and more physically affectionate with me throughout the evening, it became obvious that he was feeling the effects of the many beers he’d had.

It was even more apparent when he stumbled into the bedroom we were sleeping in later that night.

I was lounging on the bed waiting for him to finish brushing his teeth in the bathroom across the hall and when he appeared, the cheeky grin on his face put a smile on my own.

“I put some water for you next to the bed,” I told him. “I thought you might need it in the morning.”

“Why ever would you say that?”

“Because I have a feeling that you might be a teeny tiny bit drunk.”

“Me?” He gasped. “I’m totally fine.”

He drew out the ‘i’ in the word in an attempt to emphasize his point, but it had the opposite affect and earned a giggle from me.

“You’re a goof,” I told him. “Take off your jeans and come get some sleep.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

He saluted me before turning around and unbuckling his jeans. In the most sultry way he could muster, he slid his jeans down his legs and popped his hip as he looked back at me over his shoulder. I snorted a laugh at his attempted strip tease and shook my head.

“You’re ridiculous.”

“Ridiculously sexy,” he clarified as he walked over to the bed and slowly crawled over me until I was laying back against the pillows. “Right?”

“I can’t deny that,” I relented, sliding my arms around his neck as he hovered over me. “But also, just plain ridiculous too.”

“I’ll take it.”

His words were mumbled as his lips dipped to brush over mine before leaning in for a kiss. It was slightly sloppier than the usual kisses we shared - no doubt due to Chris’ intoxication - but it was passionate nonetheless and I found myself disappointed when he pulled back to bury his head into my neck

“Winnie,” he groaned against my skin. “We need to talk.”

The phrase usually would have sent a flash of panic through me, but there was a playfulness to his voice that had me more curious than I was anxious.

“Do we? About what?”

He was quiet for a moment, his breath tickling my neck before he spoke.

“I want another baby,” he informed me, his announcement coming out in a slightly whiny tone. “I really, really do.”

I laughed, moving my hand up to the back of his head to affectionately run my fingers through his hair.

“I know you do, you’ve made your thoughts on us growing our family very clear.”

“No, but I really want one,” he pleaded. “Seeing you with Theo has made it all so much more real. You’re a natural, Win. I’m ready to have another one of our own.”

He’d taken on a more serious tone and it filled me with a strange feeling - one of eagerness and anxiety.

“We will, Chris. One day.”

I’d hoped that my assurance would squash the discussion for the time being, but it seemed to just make him dig his heels in even more.

“No,” he whined. “Not one day, now. We could do it right now.”

He pressed his hips against mine to emphasize his point and while the sensation was very enjoyable, I still shook my head and stayed firm.

“We can’t make decisions like that on a whim and especially not while you’re drunk.”

At that point he pulled his head back from where it was nestled against my neck and looked me in the eye, his seriousness clearly returning.

“It’s not a whim, I think about it all the time,” he insisted. “I want a big family and I want us to experience it all together, as a team. I missed so much last time with my filming schedule and then you moved out and we started sharin’ time. I want to do it all together.”

His words were so sincere and said with such conviction that it did tug on my heartstrings, but even as I affectionately grazed my nails across the back of his neck and he nuzzled against my jaw, I resisted.

“I know what you mean, I’m looking forward to it too,” I agreed. “But there’s more to discuss before we leap in.”

It was something that we’d have several discussions about over the last few months. Chris had never been as determined as he was currently, but he’d made his desire to grow our family abundantly clear. I’d explained my hesitations to him and he was always understanding because my concerns were perfectly valid, but it was becoming increasingly clear that he considered the benefits to outweigh the potential stress it could cause. 

He demonstrated his growing impatience with a dramatic sigh and I smiled at his little sulk, but the words that left his mouth next turned that smile quickly into a frown.

“Are you saying no because you still think we’re gonna break up?”

“What? No!” I squirmed and wiggled until I could slide out from underneath him. He flopped onto his back as I sat up and looked down at him so I could make sure he was listening and taking in what I was about to say. “Things are good for us right now, Chris. I feel like we’re really solid and working well together even when we have hiccups. I feel like we’re more secure now than ever.”

“So, isn’t it the perfect time for another baby then?”

“Maybe,” I shrugged. “But we should talk about it, work out all the logistics and make a well thought out decision, not just leap into it because you’ve had a few beers and are feeling broody from seeing me with a baby.”

Chris stared at me for a moment before his cheeky smile slid back onto his face.

“Fine,” he relented, tugging my arm until I was laying down again, facing him. “But I’ll hold you to that ‘maybe’.”

“It was ‘maybe you’re right’ not ‘maybe we should’,” I warned him. “Don’t get ahead of yourself.”

He giggled and shook his head before pulling me in for a quick kiss.

“No take backs,” he teased. “You’ve said it now!”

“Oh, Chris,” I laughed, snuggling in close against him. “I love you. We can talk about it more tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

He placed a kiss on the top of my head before leaning back just enough to turn the off the lamp on the bed side table next to him. Once it was dark, he squeezed me tightly against back against his chest and almost immediately fell asleep.

-

Despite the fact that Chris’ enthusiastic plea for a baby had started the wheels turning in my brain, we didn’t actually talk about it the next day because we simply didn’t have time.

I was unbelievably grateful to see my parents again and I was more than happy to stay with them while my dad got settled back in at home and my mom had a chance to calm down from the ordeal of his heart attack, but now that Chris had organized his house, it was time for us to go. We still planned to see my parents as often as possible, but we needed our own space and I wanted Grayson to get settled into the place that would be our home for the next few months. Chris was feeling a little rough that morning and had slept in so by the time he was up and ready, we started packing and headed off to our new home.

The complications hit when we were about halfway there. Chris’ phone rang and I answered since he was driving, but the news was fairly disappointing. We’d ordered a new bed for Grayson that was supposed to be delivered late that afternoon and it had somehow gotten lost. The delivery company were very apologetic and promised it would be delivered the next day, but as Chris had already removed the old bed from the room, it left us a bit stuck.

“I guess he could just sleep with us,” I suggested with a shrug. “He’s little, he’ll fit in your king sized bed.”

“Our king sized bed,” Chris corrected with a pointed look before glancing in the rearview mirror to see if Grayson was paying attention. “But I have a better idea if you’re up for it.”

“Go on…” I prompted, curious about what he would suggest.

“Why don’t we have a little slumber party in the living room? The couch is big enough for us all to sleep on or we can pull the cushions off and watch a movie. It’ll be like a little celebration to get him used to the new place, make it feel like home.”

A smile slid onto my face as he glanced at me hopefully.

“That sounds like a great idea,” I agreed. “Would you like that, Gray? Should we all sleep in the living room tonight? Have a little slumber party?”

“Yeah!” He cheered. “With pizza?!”

We laughed at his priorities, but I nodded my head.

“I think we could arrange that!”

Grayson let out another cheer of approval and it warmed my heart. He’d been so great all week - well, really, the entire last year - adapting to all the changes that we constantly threw at him. He had his moments, but for the most part he took everything in stride and was so easy going. I was grateful to him for not making things even more difficult for us and it would be nice to have a little party with just the three of us to make him feel special and show our appreciation in some small way.

A few hours later, after doing some unpacking of our suitcases and sending Chris out to pick up the pizza, we were all sitting on the floor on top of the cushions that we’d pulled off the couch, trying to decide on a movie.

“What about The Little Mermaid?” Chris suggested, shooting Grayson a look as he knew he didn’t have much interest in it.

Right on cue, Grayson pulled a face and came very close to rolling his eyes as he looked at me.

“That’s Daddy’s favourite,” he told me. “But I don’t wike it.”

“It’s one of my favourites,” Chris corrected him. “And you might like it if you gave it a chance, you’ve never even seen it.”

“Yes, I did,” Grayson argued. “It’s boring!”

Chris gasped dramatically, earning a smirk from Gray.

“Alright, you two, stop bickering,” I smiled. “I’m sure we can think of something that we’ll all enjoy.”

“What about…” Chris made a thoughtful face as he took a bite of his pizza with Gray eagerly awaiting his next suggestion. “Monsters Inc?”

“Ooh, that’s a good one,” I nodded. “Have you seen that one, Gray?”

“No,” he shook his head. “Is it scary?”

“Well, there are monsters,” Chris informed him. “But they’re nice monsters. They just scare children because they use their screams as electricity.”

His description, while it was supposed to be reassuring, made it sound a little bit scarier than it was and Grayson’s eyes widened as a rather appalled look came onto his face.

“No, thank you.”

Chris laughed at his polite refusal, but after another moment of thought, he shot me a smirk.

“What about The Good Dinosaur?”

Grayson gasped, his whole face lighting up.

“Yes! Yes! That one!”

He frantically looked between us, waiting for one of us to disagree. Chris was watching me closely as well, but as much as I didn’t want to watch a movie that I knew would make me cry, I couldn’t bear to damper the excitement on Gray’s face.

“That’s fine with me!”

I smiled at Grayson as he let out another little cheer and turned his attention back to his food. Once he wasn’t looking, I stuck my tongue out at Chris as he chuckled and pulled the movie up on the TV.

-

I managed to hold it together through the first half of the movie. I could feel Chris watching me, waiting for me to shed a tear, but it only made me more determined not to. It wasn’t until the little dinosaur had to say goodbye to his new friend that I let a few tears slip. I almost got away with it as Chris and Grayson were too engrossed in the movie to notice, but when I sniffled quietly, Chris’ gaze shot over to me.

“Awwe, Win! Don’t cry.”

That comment caught Grayson’s attention and he spun around to look at me too. However, his reaction was quite a contrast to Chris’ as worry covered his face.

“Mama, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong, buddy,” I assured him with a smile. “The movie just made me kinda sad.”

“But…” Grayson paused as his brow furrowed in confusion. “They found their families.”

“They did, but they had to say goodbye to each other and that made me a little sad.”

He frowned at that admission and crawled into my lap. Mimicking the way I always pulled my sleeve over my hand to wipe away his tears when there were no tissues handy, he did the same for me before wrapping his arms around my neck and squeezing me tight.

“It’s okay, Mama,” he comforted me. “Don’t cry.”

I squeezed him back as tight as I could without hurting him, fighting back more tears at his kind gesture. A quick glance at Chris told me that he was doing the same and I was overwhelmed with love for the child in my arms and for our little family.

Once the movie was finished, I took Grayson to brush his teeth while Chris did the dishes before we all settled back on our little improvised bed for a story. Grayson snuggled up against me while Chris read to him and by the time the story was done, he was fast asleep.

“He needs a haircut,” Chris observed as he watched me smooth his hair back and out of his face. “It’s getting long.”

“I can give it a shot. Maybe I’ll do it tomorrow.”

“I don’t think so,” Chris chuckled. “He told me once that your mom said you’re never allowed to cut his hair again.”

“That was so long ago,” I smiled. “And it was one bad haircut when he was, like, barely two years old. I might have improved since then.”

“Oh?” Chris smirked. “Have you been practicing?”

“No,” I admitted. “But I’m sure it would be fine.”

Chris laughed softly and shook his head.

“We can find a professional.”

“Alright, if you insist,” I playfully rolled my eyes as Grayson sighed in his sleep and snuggled even closer. “Gosh, he’s so sweet, isn’t he?”

“He really is,” Chris agreed. “He’s adjusted to all these changes so well, it blows me away. He doesn’t let anything rattle him.”

“He’s a little trooper.”

I smiled down at him and we stayed like that just appreciating the quiet moment. After I let out a yawn, Chris shifted his gaze back to me.

“Slide him over here,” he instructed. “I’ll sleep out here with him and you can have the bed.”

I thought about it for a minute, but shook my head.

“I’ll stay out here with you guys,” I insisted. “It’s comfortable and it’s nice being all snuggled up together.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely,” I smiled. “Just help me lay him down so he doesn’t hurt his neck.”

Chris nodded and gently slid Grayson away from my side until his head was resting on the pillow that was between Chris and I. Once he was all settled, Chris leaned over him and cupped my cheek to pull me in for a kiss.

“I love you,” he mumbled against my lips when we parted. “I’m glad you guys are here.”

“Me too. It would have been awful without you around for so long.”

Chris nodded in agreement before slipping his hand from my cheek and shifting to lay down. I did the same and Chris pulled the blanket over all three of us as I drifted off, enjoying the sensation of being curled up in our little cocoon.

-

Part Five

Tags:  @maggotzombie @moonlacebeam @mizzzpink @zaylaugh @flowery-mess @flowerjewels @njrronaldo7 @hockeychick10 @partypoison00 @theladybiers @sidepieces @firoozehmoon @patzammit @sparkledfirecracker @mytbel0st @chvntelle-99 @mjey12 @denisemarieangelina @elrw24 @findthebeautyinbreakdowns @trottae17​

[bubblegump-1-nk]

As She Walks By pt. 2

summary: Theodore and you are just best friends (or not), but when he finally hooks up with the Hufflepuff girl who’s had a crush on him for years, things may start to change

- based off of the song Heather by Conan Gray (a little bit), set in three perspectives: yours, Theos, and the Hufflepuff girl (an OC I called Althenea Circ). I made you a Gryffindor but if you want to change your house just imagine whatever house I want. You’re also kind of a home-wrecker (respect people’s relationships please lol) in this so..

- warnings: insecurity, angst, not really cheating but idk, typos probably, cussing, toxic relationships, time skips (?) - (these warnings apply to the upcoming parts as well, so you might not see some of them in some of the parts, if that makes sense) I think that’s all but tell me if you find anything else pls!

-your POV-

My mouth dried up, and suddenly I felt like I was trapped in a little box.

“Y/n?” Cho asked. She had just told you about the interaction she had overheard. Althenea Circ had asked Theo to Hogsmeade and he said yes. What was wrong with me? Why do I care? Why should I care? I snogged Dean Thomas yesterday, god why am I such a hypocrite.

“Y/n? Are you ok?” Cho asked again, interrupting my thoughts.

“Er, uh, yeah, sorry Cho.”

“It’s ok. I just thought I should tell you because, you know, Theo’s your friend.” She said, emphasizing the word ‘friend’ in a weird way. Somehow insinuating we weren’t just friends.

“Yeah, thank you. I’m going to go finish my potions essay now, but, er, I’ll see you later.” I said, quickly getting up from the library table.

“Oh, um, ok? Why not just stay in the library.” She said, giggling at my silly antics.

“Oh, I just have to grab some supplies is all.” I said, stacking my papers crudely just so I could get out quickly.

We said our goodbyes and I was quickly walking down the corridor, hoping to find an empty bathroom. I turned the corridor quickly and entered the girls lavatory and quickly locked myself in the stall.

What was wrong with me? Why did I care? Shouldn’t I be happy for Theo, and Althenea who’s practically been in love with him since forever. Why was I suddenly so possessive. None of his other flings have made me feel this way. I was being unfair. I snog whoever I want, he can do the same, right?

-Althenea’s POV-

I was getting ready in my dorm, my best friend Wesley was helping me get ready for my date with Theodore Nott. THE Theodore Nott. I seriously could not believe it.

“And his arms were around my waist, and god- he is such a good kisser.” I gushed to my friend, who was curling my hair.

“I know. I seriously could not believe it when he came up to you. I mean I’d always thought him and y/n were going to end up together.”

A sour taste entered my mouth and I fell silent - y/n. Oh Merlin how I hated her.

“Yeah,” I said with a fake laugh. “She’s nice.” I said, because she really was. One time in fourth year she helped me with my Charms Essay. But oh god how I hated her.

“Her and Theo are always together. Honestly you’d think they were soulmates!” Said Wesley.

“Ok, I get it. You think they belong together. Whatever.” I said, frustrated with my friend.

“Oh Merlin- I’m sorry A, I didn’t even realize what I was saying.” She said, suddenly realizing what she was really saying and who she was really saying it to.

“Don’t worry, I get it. I mean she is perfect” I said quietly, looking down.

“Oh come on Althenea. You know I didn’t mean it like that. Plus, you’re the one going out with him.” She said, squeezing my shoulder lightly.

“Exactly!” I said, happily.

-Theo’s POV-

I was sitting in my comfy bed, reading my good book, in my comfy sweater when Blaise interrupted me.

“Oi mate you’re still here? I thought you were supposed to go out with that, uh, Athena girl?” He said, forgetting her name.

“Holy shit!” I yelled, practically jumping out from under the covers.

“I totally forgot about that.” I said, rushing to the mirror to check how I looked.

I was wearing my quidditch sweater and some black sweatpants - that should be good for the date right? Well whatever, it’s not like I cared anyway.

“Thanks for reminding me, I guess.” I said, adding the last part as I ran out the door.

I rushed to the Hufflepuff common room, that’s what house she was in right? As I was running I bumped harshly into someone, causing them to fall backwards. I looked down and saw her, Althenea. Looking rather… mediocre.

“Oh god, I’m so sorry.” I said, helping her up.

“Oh don’t worry about it really. It’s sort of funny!” She said.

“Er, yeah, I guess so.” I said, scratching the back of my neck.

“Well, are you ready? I was thinking the Three Broomsticks, of course, but if you don’t like that than we could of course-“

I cut off her rambling, her stupid rambling, by saying “Three Broomsticks is fine.”

-At the pub-

“…and then I said that we should have trolls in the bathroom!” Althenea said, telling me a story I was trying so hard to be focused on.

I let out a dry chuckle before saying, “Do you want anything else?” Nodding my head down to her empty plate of food.

“Oh, no thank you! It was really nice of you to pay, you know.” She said, beaming.

“Er, yeah, it was no problem.”

We were silent for a minute or two before I said, “well, it’s getting sort of late and I have to finish up some homework.”

“Oh, yeah of course! Me too. I cant keep putting off those essays!” She said, giggling. She didn’t even think it was weird that I had said it ‘was late’ at 3 in the afternoon.

We finished up at the table and started to walk back, Althenea walking a little too close to me.

“So… what homework do you have to work on?” She asked, trying to fill the void of silence.

“Er, potions and transfigurations.” I said, saying the first two subjects I could think of.

“Me too! Maybe we could work on them together?” She asked, overly exited.

“Oh, well, um, I usually do my homework alone, sorry.” I responded, looking down at her.

“Oh, yeah, how stupid of me!” She said, lightly slapping her forehead.

Before I knew it we were back at the castle and we parted ways, not before she kissed me on the cheek. She skipped away after her lips left my side, and I just stood there dumbstruck. You know, maybe this wouldn’t be so bad. I could finally get my mind off of you, someone I could never have, and Althenea wasn’t all that bad really.

-your POV-

“I’m done with him. Really.” I told Hermione, adding the last part after she gave me a strange look.

“We’re just friends. This jealousy is just forming out of something possessive, nothing else. It’s not fair of me to do that to him. Plus, she seems like a nice girl.” I continued, ranting to Hermione.

“I’m glad. The quicker you get over this the easier your life will get.” She responded.

“Exactly! I don’t want anything weird going on in our friendship and this new relationship will not be the end of Theo and I’s lifelong friendship.” I said.

-At Dinner-

“I still can’t believe it. Theodore Nott with that Hufflepuff, it just doesn’t fit.” Said Ron, loading his already overflowing plate with more food.

Theodore Nott and Althenea Circ’s date had been the talk of the night, already having been spread around all of Hogwarts.

“Did he say anything to you y/n?” Harry asked, pouring me more pumpkin juice after he noticed that I had finished my cup.

“Thank you, and, er, no. We didn’t really talk about it. You know, now that I think of it, we haven’t talked since the party.” I said, remembering my last conversation with Teddy.

“Interesting.” Said Ron, taking a bite out of his Shepard’s pie.

“It really isn’t. Nothings going on, we’ve just been busy.” I responded, aggravated by his comment.

“I’m sure you’re right, y/n. There’s nothing wrong.” Hermione said, reassuring me.

“Thanks ‘minoe.” I said, sending her a smile.

“Why don’t you go talk to him bow. Go over there and tell them all about what we heard Snape talking about.” Said Harry, trying to help me out.

“Good idea! I’ll go do it now, just to make sure there’s no tension or anything.” I said, getting up from the Gryffindor table to go tell the Slytherins about Snape saying he had always thought Sirius Black was cute.

As I began walking over to the Slytherin table, I noticed a pair of eyes on me. I turned and saw Althenea glaring at me from her table. Suddenly, she got up, and walked very quickly over to the Slytherin’s table, and sat down right next to Theo.

I stood their shocked, surely she didn’t think of me as competition right? The Slytherin friend group looked uncomfortable, but no one looked more uncomfortable than Theo. He looked around, wondering what made Circ think she could come sit with them. I saw his eyes go to the Gryffindor table, to look for me. When he didn’t find them, he looked away, but he quickly locked eyes with mine after another quick scan of the room. He sent me a smile, and a small ‘help’.

I smiled back, and began walking towards their table after my delay. I wasn’t going to let some insecure bitch ruin my friendships.

“Y/n! Thank god.” Said Mattheo, eyes darting to the Hufflepuff quickly.

“Hey guys. You won’t believe what I heard.” I said.

Theo subtly pushed Althenea away, making room for me next to him. But I wasn’t going to be that girl. So, instead I sat next to Draco. Theo looked at me confused, and I whispered just loud enough for him to hear “the Hufflepuff.” He nodded his understanding but looked sad anyway.

“Ok well tell us!” Said Pansy, reaching over the table to play with my rings.

“Well, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and I were walking down the corridor when we heard Snape talking to Mcgonagall. So, obviously we eavesdropped on their conversation and Snape said ‘you know, Sirius Black was always cute. I think that’s why I hated him.’”

The group burst out laughing, all except for Althenea.

“Sirius Black? Like the murderer?” She asked, confused as to why we were all amused.

The group all knew Sirius was innocent, but I couldn’t spill information like that to Althenea, not without Harry’s permission.

“Er, yeah. But they went to school together before he was a murderer.” I explained, causing her to lightly smile to try to fit into the group.

“Ok well, I’ll be going now.” I said getting up, sending Pansy a face that she laughed at before I got up.

“Wait,” Theo said, grabbing my forearm. “Meet me in the astronomy tower later?” He asked, eyes filled with want.

“9:00, don’t be late, Nott.” I said, which he smiled at, before I walked away.

-Theo’s POV-

I stood on the tower at 8:57 PM. I leaned down on the railing, staring out onto the beautiful night sky. The wind ruffled my hair, and I noticed a strong scent of firewood. Suddenly I heard your footsteps, and your sweet perfume filled my nose.

“Hello stranger.” You said, walking up behind me.

I turned around and took a good look at your face. The moon light made you look even more ethereal than I had ever seen you, and I had no idea that was even possible.

“Stop looking at me like that.” You said, turning away from me as you leaned your arms against the railing and looked out at the view.

“Like what?” I asked.

“You know how, Teddy.”

The nickname made my heart swell up, and I didn’t have it in me to fake hating it. I was locked in your trance before you spoke again.

“Plus, I don’t think your girlfriend would be too happy about it.”

“She’s not my girlfriend!” I said, it came out angrier than I expected.

You let out a small laugh before saying, “I like her. She’s good to you.”

She’s not as good as you, is what I wanted to say, but I couldn’t.

“Yeah, I guess she is.” Is what I ended up saying instead.

We were both now leaning on the railing, looking out at Hogwarts’ vast territory, our shoulders leaning against each other.

“She’s really pretty too, and she’s sweet.” You said, your sweet voice ringing in my ears.

“Sounds like someone’s jealous.” I said, chuckling.

“What?” You said, turning to be swiftly, your eyes wide.

“Oh, uh, I only meant that you seem jealous that I’m with her. Because you talk so nicely of her. Like you want her to yourself.” I said, struggling to find an explanation.

“Oh,” you said, you’re demeanor becoming calm again. “You got me there Nott. I’m head over heels for your girl.” You said, giggling, which only made me laugh.

We stood there, laughing like some idiots as we stared out at the beautiful world.

The laughing stopped and you spoke again, “look what I brought.” You said, pulling something out of your pocket.

“Cauldron Cakes! You’re the best, you know that?” I said, grabbing the one you handed me.

We sat down with our backs leaning against the wall, eating our cauldron cakes and talking about everything and nothing. That’s the thing about you, no matter if we were talking about the recent quidditch match or ancient runes for fucks sake, it was never boring, not with you.

The wind was blowing, and I felt you shiver from under my arm.

“Here, have my sweater.” I said, lifting my arm up off your shoulder to take my quidditch sweater off.

“Oh thank you, Theo.” You said, grabbing my sweater and putting it on.

You looked so cute engulfed in my large sweater, with my last name sprawled on the back of it.

“I’ll give it back to you someday.” You said, and I hoped you never gave it back so that everyone would know you were mine. Except your not.

-Altheneas POV (a week later)-

Theo and I have been… dating(?) for a week now. I didn’t know what to call it. He hadn’t asked me out yet, but we’ve been going out on dates, and I’ve spent two nights under him already. He was starting to let me hold his hand more, but he kept saying public affection wasn’t really his thing. Except that, it always had been. Theodore Nott was known for being a softie when it came to his girlfriends, especially when it came to his girl-friend y/n. But people change, right?

Wesley has been reassuring me, but my other friend Quincy keeps telling me to get away from him. I don’t care though, Theo is mine now. For the most part.

“Hey, can you pass me your notes?” Whispered Quincy, taking me out of my thoughts.

“Oh, yeah, sure.” I said, sliding them over, trying to focus on the lesson.

“You’re the best.” She whispered back, sending me a smile.

…

Class ended after what felt like hours and it was finally time for lunch. Quincy and I met up with Wesley before we began walking to the Dining Hall.

“Yeah, and I heard that Avanore and Seamus hooked up.” Said Wesley.

“Avanore Dorian? Isn’t she dating Hermes?” I asked, shocked at the news.

“You bet she is. And if it’s true Seamus is in for one hell of a beating.” She responded.

Suddenly, Quincy stopped, holding both of their arms out to stop Wes and I.

“What?” I said, exasperated.

“Um..” She said.

Wesley and I looked around, trying to find the reason for Quincy’s abruptness. Wesley found it first.

“Oh my.. Are you still with Theo, A?” She asked, mouth agape.

I suddenly became very nervous, “yeah.” I said, worried.

“Look. At. That.” Wesley said, pointing to someone.

I followed her finger and when I found the object of her pointing my mouth fell open.

It was you, y/n l/n, wearing my boy’s quidditch sweater. His name sprawled out boldly on the back. How could you be walking to lunch, chatting and laughing with your friend so calmly knowing that you’re wearing another girl’s boyfriend’s sweater.

“Move please.” Said a voice, belonging to Pansy Parkinson, as she pushed past my stopped figure.

“Y/n, Hermione, wait up!” She said, causing you two to stop and wait for her.

“I like the sweater.” She said, sending you a wink.

“I know right!” Responded Hermione, giving you a playful nudge on the shoulder.

“Guys, it’s just friendly! Plus he’s with that other girl.” You said.

I couldn’t believe it. ‘That other girl’?? Seriously?? You couldn’t even say my name. I seriously couldn’t believe it. My eyes began to well up with tears.

“I’m not so hungry anymore.” Said Quincy.

“Me neither.” Said Wesley.

-your POV (later that night)-

I walked into the library, looking for Althenea.

I felt bad for what happened today, I didn’t realize it would be such a big deal. I mean, everyone knew Theo and I were best friends, and it wasn’t uncommon for me to wear his clothes. But after Hannah Abbot told me that I had made you sob, I felt terrible. And I was on a mission to find you.

I spotted you sitting in the back, with your friends Quincy and Wesley.

I walked over to your table, and cleared my throat. The girls looked up at me: Quincy was sending me a death stare, Wesley had a pathetic attempt at a glare, and you couldn’t even look me in the eye.

“Is this seat open?” I asked, pointing to the empty seat at the table.

Quincy began to say no, covering the seat with her hand but you spoke up, “yeah. It is.”

The two other girls were shocked, sending her looks of ‘are you sure??’ Which she nodded to.

“Thanks.” I said, sitting down.

We sat in silence for a few beats before I finally said, “look I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for you to feel insecure or anything. I’m not trying to take Teddy from you, definitely not. He’s all yours. We’re just best friends, and we have been since forever, but it’s not like that. I was only wearing his sweater because he gave it to me at the astronomy tower a week ago and it was the first thing I grabbed since I was late for class today. And trust me, you have nothing to worry about. You’re beautiful, and smart, everything Theo likes. So, really, I am sorry. But believe me when I say it was a misunderstanding. So… here.” I said, taking the sweater off and handing it to you. The three girls looked at me surprised, but I quickly got up before they could say anything.

“Thank you!” You called out as I was leaving the library, and I sent you a thumbs up as I walked out the door.

I hate being this part but it’s getting soo long so part 3 (hopefully I can write it quickly :))