childrenbooksvulinh

[kybercrystals94]

Sounds Like Him

Read on Ao3 here!

Angstpril 2024 | Day 24 | Prompt 24: Ghost of You

Rated: G | Words: 435 | Summary: Wrecker and Crosshair talk about their lost brother. | Character Focus: Wrecker, Crosshair 

Wrecker groggily wakes to the sound of sure fingers typing. “Go to sleep, Tech,” he grumbles, turning over in the pull down bunk to face the wall. 

The typing stops abruptly. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to wake you.” Crosshair’s voice. Not Tech’s. Never Tech’s. 

Tech is dead. 

Wrecker rolls to his back, stares at the bunk above him. “Sorry,” he says. 

Crosshair makes a scoffing noise. “What for? I woke you up.”

“I thought you were Tech for a second,” Wrecker says. “It just sounded…like he was here. The way you were typing. Haven’t heard typing like that since before.”

Crosshair is quiet for a few moments, and Wrecker isn’t sure he’s going to answer, and then, “Hunter types like a newborn blurrg’s first steps.” 

Wrecker barks out a surprised laugh, turning his head to look at his brother. Crosshair smirks back at him. 

“I missed you, Cross,” Wrecker says. “A whole lot.” He isn’t sure why he’s suddenly feeling sentimental, but the words need to be said. 

He misses Tech. Every day. 

But he also missed Crosshair. 

Every day.  

Crosshair blinks at him, smile dropping. He glances away. “I missed you too.” 

Wrecker sits up, ducking his head so he doesn’t hit it on the upper bunk. He leans forward, propping his elbows on his knees. “Did Omega ever tell you about Tech winning a pod race?”

A half shrug and a nod. “A little. No details, but I got the gist of it.” 

“You should’ve seen him,” Wrecker says, becoming animated. “He was the craziest racer there.” 

Crosshair chuckles. “You sound surprised.” 

“Nah,” Wrecker says. “Just proud of him.” 

His little brother hums. “I would’ve liked to see that,” Crosshair mumbles, looking down at the data pad gone idle in his lap. He pecks one finger at the screen, igniting it to life, but he doesn’t do anything else with it. “There’s a lot of things I should’ve been here for.”

Wrecker swallows, but only lets his silence agree. 

“Maybe,” Crosshair continues once the quiet between them has settled, “you can tell me what happened…with the pod race.”

Wrecker grins so big it hurts. Until this moment, he hadn’t realized how badly he’d wanted to share this story with Crosshair. All the details, even the ones he and Tech and Omega had carefully left out when reporting to Hunter and Echo. 

“Well,” Wrecker says, swinging his legs over the side of the bunk. “I’ll have to start at the beginning.” 

Crosshair rolls his eyes good-naturedly. “Well, that’s obvious,” he snarks. 

And kriff, if he doesn’t sound just like Tech when he says it. 

@the-little-moment @just-here-with-my-thoughts, less than a week left of Angstpril! But that also means less than a week until the end of the Bad Batch 😭 I'm not ready!!

And I'm posting this story before the second to last episode airs just in case it ruins me emotionally....eeeeeep!

✨Let me know if you'd like to be added to my tag list!✨

Tag List: @followthepurrgil @isthereanechoinhere96 @amorfista @mooncommlink @arctrooper69 @nagyanna424 @proteatook @ezras-left-thumb @merkitty49

[chocoblep]

#24: Asking a Friend

Prompt: Bar

It had been a busy night. The bar had been packed the entire time, and if he was being honest, he was ready to go home. When one worked behind a bar enough, one came to see certain things quite a lot: People in groups, chatting away with each other about serious things or nothing at all. Couples, having intimate moments and fights. People alone, talking to strangers, hooking up with others, or drowning their sorrows with booze.  There were always drive-bys, those who came for a single drink only to scurry off to a dark corner or ringside spot. Sometimes he saw people he knew and called friend, and sometimes he met kind new faces.

But none of the people here right at present, for all his friendly, flirtatious facade, were the people he wanted to see right now. As he finished his shift and wiped down the counter, his mind raced; he needed to start planning his treasure hunt, and he needed to put some thought into his proposal, and he’d talked to everyone that was involved except for one person. He left the tavern behind, taking the aetheryte to the place where he knew he’d likely find the last person on his list.

As he walked into Nightingale House, he paused to look around. He was a frequent visitor here, and it was not unexpected that he’d find his way here alone, even if these days he typically came for a friendly spar with Shev. When he found Aeluan, he was in the kitchen with Shev, having a quiet conversation as they ate. He knocked on the door frame, and both of them turned to look at him.

“Hey, guys!”

“Starlight, what’re ya doin’ here?” Shev asked, looking a little concerned. “Everythin’ all righ’?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah, everything’s fine,” Kismet said, fixing Shev with a tired smile. “Just got off my shift. I needed to talk to Aeluan, so I figured I would stop by before going home.” he looked to Aeluan, who looked a little confused as he shoveled curry into his mouth. “Can I borrow you for a moment? I promise I won’t be long.”

“Hmm? Sure!” Aeluan replied. He slid out from behind the kitchen counter, and then came toward Kismet. Halfway there he stopped, though, turning to point a finger at Shev. “Leave my curry alone, Shev! I’ll know if you touched it!”

“On m’ honor, Blue,” Shev said solemnly.

Kismet snorted, and when Aeluan reached him he led him downstairs and out the front door, only speaking once the door had closed behind them. He’d thought about what he was going to say all night, and now that he was here, his heart thumped a warning in his chest. What if Aeluan said no to either of his questions? What if he didn’t approve? Well, there was only one way to find out if this was going to work.

“All right, well, as his best friend, I wanted to get your thoughts and your blessing. I plan to propose to Shev. And… regardless of whether you give your blessing, I was hoping you might be willing to do a favor for me regarding a gift I’ve gotten him. A rather large seafaring gift.”

(( Aeluan belongs to the lovely @valdiis! ))

[pillow-anime-talk]

Congratulations on reaching 4000!! I read your TG Drabbles and absolutely fell in love with your writing so I was wondering if I could get prompt 24 + Urie 💕💕 fem! Ghoul reader x quinx member Urie!! Thank you :)

# tags: scenario; kinda enemies/lovers and current relationship; light romance; drama; angst; ghoul!reader & quinx!kuki; crying, vomit and blood mention; dead body; kinda ooc!kuki (but not much); suggestive

includes: female reader ft. kuki urie {tokyo ghoul}

author’s note: hi! thank you very much for this request! i really like kuki and i am really happy that i can write about him! love u

24. “I’m a monster! Can’t you see it?!”

Your blood-stained long T-shirt, tears on your cheeks flushed with heat, a few strands of hair on the dirty floor, and the fear in your eyes seemed to the young Inspector an image that was downright terrifying, even nightmarish; however, not because of your appearance and the look of the room you both were in, but because of how scared and sad you were at that time. How much your eyes shone with self-loathing and how damned deep down you wanted to disappear and never be born.

“I’m a monster! Can’t you see it?!”

Of course he knew you were a ghoul. The walking grotesque, his enemy, the walking death, humanity’s greatest failure. A abominable monster.

He knew and watched you for months, studying your whole body and your behavior – he believed that he would eventually find a magical solution that would restore your humanity. He has kept you as a secret for a long time from the rest of his co-workers, from his command and from his own family. Although he knew every day that you could attack him, he bravely endured your outbursts of aggression and murderous desire, insatiable anger.

He was there when you vomited trying to eat a tomato and cheese sandwich, he was there when you cried into his shoulder, begging him to kill you, and he was there when you felt too human, wishing he would love you and stay with you for ever. He was in your worst and nastiest moments, but he was also next to you when you smiled slightly as you laid the last wild draw four card on the table and shouted a loud, almost carefree ‘Uno!’. He was always there and will always be.

It was hard for him to bear the sight of your hands in the dark liquid, your torn clothes and the traces of murder that were right under his feet. You killed an innocent woman who got a promotion in the family business two days ago. You killed a person who probably had a family who loved her, children who had to be kissed before bed, or even a dog who was eagerly waiting for her to put some of his favorite food in his bowl. You ate half of her firm, sweet flesh with tears in your eyes, and when Kuki caught you in the act, you nearly ripped out your own windpipe to relieve your own suffering. If there’s one thing you hated, it was definitely being a ghoul.

The silence between you two was interrupted only by your painful crying and the sound of cars driving down the street a few floors below. You looked alternately at the dead headless woman and at the man you loved, once again begging him to finally kill you. Of course, he didn’t do it that night, nor when you begged him to do the same three days later, clutching his shirt in a tight grip; behind you lay the lower limb of some five years old child.

It was hard for both of you to live with the thought that you loved a human and he loved a being he should have killed the first time he discovered your true colors. But he couldn’t do that. He just couldn’t.

You were both weak and pathetic.

[cadrenebula]

Prompt #24: Bar

Valen had decided it was time to make a bit of gil the old fashioned way. Singing for his supper. Not that he'd starve without doing so. He just liked having enough gil in his pocket without relying on his family. They wouldn't let him starve if it came down to him being broke. But he knew for sure he'd get all sorts of looks from his uncle if that happened.

He found a rather decent looking tavern to stop at for the night. Making sure it was okay with the owner for him to perform. Some places got a little iffy about people performing without permission. It wasn't that they disliked bards or minstrels. It was just sometimes you had to be careful about what sort of music was played in an area. Or how easily a bar fight might start on a bad day.

Thankfully this tavern seemed to be eager for some live performance of a musical variety. Good. Valen was eager to be a bit of a brat tonight. He knew full well his uncle would deny these songs because it was making the Jackal of Coerthas out to be more of a hero than an assassin. Valen had heard one of two of the people he'd gotten to pick up the songs had been quietly threatened by Alexois for singing those songs. Not that his uncle was likely to actually go through with those threats over music. Even better that he wasn't too far from Ishgard right now. It just made it even more amusing to sing of the Jackal.

He opened up with a song called 'Hero of the Brume'. Mixing in one of the more traditional songs afterwards. Putting too many of the Jackal songs together never fit well for him. It seemed to work better to mix them into his usual song set with older songs. Make it seem less like he was doing this on purpose and more likely he'd picked them up from other bards or minstrels. One more lively song before he stepped into the next Jackal song he'd called 'Toss a Gil to your Jackal'.

He played a couple more tunes before deciding he needed a break. Checking the coins in his hat he'd left sit near the edge of the stage to see what he'd made so far.

[beth--b]

Did you just sneeze?

Steve had a hectic week ahead of him.

He had a busy day planned.

It was because of the previously mentioned 'busy day' that when Steve woke up with a dry, scratchy throat and a blocked and stuffy nose, that he chose to ignore those facts and get ready for work.

He thought he had gotten away with it too.

Last he'd checked Eddie had still been passed out cold in their bed.

At least he had been, until he sneezed.

"Stevie? Did you just sneeze baby? Don't tell me you caught that bug Robin had last week?" Eddie called from the bedroom, voice sleepy but concerned.

"Ah no, it's nothing Eds I'm fine," Steve answered only to wince at how raspy, and distinctly not fine, his voice sounded.

Read it here on ao3

Eddie scoffed and rounded the corner, crossing his arms over his chest and looking Steve up and down.

"Ah excuse me, but I must have heard wrong just a moment ago when you said you were 'fine'. You don't look fine. You certainly don't sound fine. So I couldn't have heard you say that you were, now could I?" Eddie was now right in front of Steve, long pale fingers reaching out to press against Steve's sweaty forehead.

Steve ducked away from Eddie's searching fingers. "Look, I might have the start of a very mild cold, but I feel alright. I have to get to work, Eddie."

Eddie frowned and quickly moved in and pressed his whole palm to Steve's forehead, Steve not managing to get out of the way this time. Eddie's frown only deepened as he felt Steve's temperature.

"Baby I'm no thermometer but you are most definitely sporting a fever. Do yourself, and everyone you would potentially spread this to at work, a favour and call in sick. Then you need to go back to bed and I'll make you some tea to help your throat."

Steve turned away to face the door. He wanted to cave so badly, he really didn’t feel well now that he had been forced into thinking about it for more than half a moment while throwing clothes on and rushing out the door. But he had work, and then he was meant to taxi the kids around in the afternoon after his shift.

Eddie just crossed his arms and stared at Steve, while Steve stood frozen with indecision, one hand on the door handle. Then, he sneezed so hard he smacked his head into the door and his decision was apparently made for him.

"That's it!" Eddie threw his hands up before wrapping an arm around Steve's shoulder and steering him back towards their bedroom. "You sir are getting into some comfy clothes and getting back into bed. I will go make some tea, then after you finish you are going back to sleep. Have I made myself clear?"

Apparently struck momentarily mute all Steve could do was nod and do as he was told.

Eddie followed through and set about making tea while Steve got settled into bed. The sheets were still warm and he was honestly feeling worse the longer he was awake. It wasn't long before Eddie was setting a mug onto the bedside table and then sliding under the covers beside Steve.

"I put honey and lemon in the tea sweetheart, should help your throat. After that you get some rest, I already called work for you and told them you won't be in so you don't need to worry about that. I can cart the gremlins around later, but for now we are just gonna rest quietly, I can read if you like, and you just worry about getting better."

"Thanks Eds," Steve rasped, picking up his mug and taking a sip of the soothing drink within. "You take such good care of me."

Eddie huffed, giving a long suffering sigh, "Someone has to! But I'm always happy to do it. I love you."

Steve sniffed and leaned his head against Eddie's shoulder. "Hmm love you too."

Eddie took the mug from Steve's slackening grip and placed it on his own bedside table before pressing a soft kiss to Steve's forehead. "Rest up baby," Eddie said softly.

Steve just closed his eyes and pressed closer against Eddie's side. Maybe taking a sick day wasn't so bad after all.

[promptsbytaurie]

prompt #24

“Maybe one day I’ll grow up.”

[thedarknesssings]

Prompt 24: Wheel and Deal

Prompt 24: Free Write - FFXIV Write 2023 Characters: Ice; Fane @templemoth

Continued from Fane's story Here.

Ice’s head tipped to one side as he watched the miqo’te vanish back down the street.  The crowd was dense, and he wasn’t the only pickpocket he had out working the streets of Ul’dah.  Fane had to be the most attractive pickpocket he had out on the street that day.  Ice leaned his back to the pillar behind him, the shadow failing to do much to protect him from the midday heat.  A day like this is when he missed Ishgard and the city-state’s endless cool the most. He hadn’t been back since he argued with his twin brother. 

“Ice?  Head’s up.”  

The voice caught him out of his reverie, and he peered down into the miqo’te’s face once more.  The smile curling along those shapely lips made his eyes narrow.  Had he been daydreaming in the heat that long or was the catte getting quicker?  He held his hand out, catching the purse tossed his way.  This one clunked much heavier in his palm.  

“Well, damn.” Ice grinned, bouncing the purse in his hand.  “That’s lunch, two rounds of drinks, and maybe even an iced dessert on the way home.”  

He slid his way down the wall to land on the street next to the miqo’te.  The purse disappeared into one of the many inner pockets of his vest and freed up the arm that he swept around the smaller figure at his side.  The way the miqo’te dodged touching strangers in the street wasn’t something Ice missed noticing. His taller elezen figure was more likely to drive the smaller hyurs and lalafel into streaming around them.  So long as Fane permitted his touch. Ice tried to leave his arm as an optional thing, light and easy enough to slip free from.  

“You know, I think you may be ready for some bigger jobs.  Your sleight of hand is getting pretty good.  Faster, cleaner.”  Ice kept his voice pitched low, his head turned toward one of the miqo’te’s ears.  “How’d you feel about learning to use that beautiful face of yours to fleece unwitting men out of thousands of gil and jewelry?  I’ll even teach you to use a dagger, just in case.”  

And the hundreds of uses for a fancy hairpin which he produced out of a pocket to offer out to Fane.  The head of the pin was gold and mother of pearl crafted into the shape of a moth.  The pin’s other end boasted a wicked steel tip that was slender enough to slip a lock and sharp enough to slide into a throat. 

[midcinmancave]

Story Prompt:  "Is it over? Is it really over?"

Summary:  Byron hears a scream in the middle of a stormy night. Complete Story Source

Fictober Submission #12 Fandom:  Midnight Cinderella Featuring:  Byron Wagner, Albert Burckhardt, Nico Meier, The Princess Warnings:  A bad storm Rating/Genre:  General Audience, Romance Writer:  Byron Wagner's Admin

[perfectpaperbluebirds]

Sicktember #24

Prompt: “Did you just sneeze?”

Fandom/OCs: Grey’s Anatomy (Meredith and Derek)

Words: 710

Sicknario inspo: Doctor with hay fever from this post

Author’s comments/background: I’ve only written Grey’s Anatomy once before for a fic exchange event (read it here) but it’s a fandom I’ve been in for a long time and always intended to write for. Not sure how great the characterization is here since admittedly it’s been a minute since I’ve revisited these lovlies, but I think it works. This is set in the first few seasons when Meredith is still an intern and super angsty and pining after Derek from afar, AKA the best part of the series IMO. This is also the only allergy fic this year. Allergies aren’t usually my thing, but I try to squeeze at least one in every Sicktember. 

~~~***~~~

In Meredith's opinion, spring was the most horrible time of the year. Everyone pretends to be happy about the flowers and the birds and the love in the air in spring, and fake happiness is Meredith's worst nightmare, but it's not just the fake happiness. She was also cursed with the world's worst spring allergies, and she spent most of every spring wanting to claw her eyes out from the itching or else worried her nose was going to fall off from all the sneezing. Allergy medications didn't work, except to make her tired enough to fall asleep standing up, and she would choose being sneezy over being near-comatose in the OR any day. She could keep the sneezing under control when she needed to, at least usually. 

One morning though, while doing rounds with the rest of the interns, her nose betrayed her. She was the presenting intern for one of Dr. Shepherd's patients, and it was an interesting case that she was excited about. The minute she walked into the patient's room, though, she knew she was in trouble. The smell coming from the two massive bouquets of flowers beside the bed almost knocked her over, and she cleared her throat to ward off a coughing fit, making an unattractive hacking noise. Cristina elbowed her none-too gently, giving her a "get it together" look. 

Meredith did her best to get it together, but she was fighting a losing battle from the start, since all the flowering plants outside had nearly done her in before she'd even arrived. She started off in a clear voice, presenting the case and all the research she'd done, but the itch in her sinuses grew nigh unbearable in moments. Derek saved her by asking the interns a question just as she was about to lose control, and while Cristina was showing off her knowledge, Meredith turned to the corner of the room to let out a stifled sneeze. It was quiet, thankfully, and she hoped no one noticed. Yet when she turned back around, Derek was looking right at her. 

"Did you just sneeze?" he asked with a half smile. 

"Nope. Just clearing my throat. Sorry." She felt Cristina's eyes boring into her, which Meredith pointedly ignored as she continued to present, trying not to breathe in the smell of the flowers. It was a lost cause though, and out of nowhere she sneezed, harsh and wet and totally unhidable, all over the chart in her hands. 

"Bless you!" exclaimed the patient. "Oh dear, are you getting a cold, dear? Or–oh no, are the flowers bothering you?"

"I'm fine," Meredith managed, though her eyes were streaming and her nose wasn't far behind. "I'm not sick, don't worry about me. So as I was saying���."

She pushed through the rest of her presentation through sheer force of will, but her fate was sealed, and she crushed another sneeze into her shoulder as she finished. 

"Bless you!" exclaimed the patient, the patient's husband, and Dr. Shepherd. The other interns were either snickering behind their hands or looking sympathetic. 

Derek quickly came to her rescue even as she felt another sneeze building. "Thank you, Dr. Grey. She explained what we're going to do very well, but do you have any questions for me?"

As the patient and her husband began to interrogate the neurosurgeon, Meredith accepted the inevitable and turned away to sneeze twice more into her elbow. The patient turned to look at her once more.

"God bless you again! Are you quite sure you're alright, dear?"

"I'm really fine," Meredith sniffled. She forced herself to smile at the ridiculousness of the situation. "And anyway, I think we're supposed to be asking you that."

Her breath began to hitch into another sneeze, and this time Derek turned to her with an amused look. "Why don't you excuse yourself and go blow your nose, Dr. Grey. I think we've got it from here. But come back when you're ready and we'll go over the case again, away from the flowers."

Red-faced, Meredith did as she was told. Yes, she thought to herself as she washed her face in the bathroom down the hall, she really really hated spring.

[lire-casander]

#24 letting out their anger in front of them

letting out their anger in front of them original prompt list here

Tough days are bound to happen in his line of work. Carlos knows that. TK knows that. Everyone and their brother know that.

Knowing something doesn't mean Carlos is ready for those days when they roll together in a row.

His hands are shaking from exhaustion when he makes his third attempt at slotting the key into the lock of their loft. To any outsider, it may look like he's drunkenly trying to open his door. It couldn't be farther from the truth.

The truth is that he's so ready to give up he's about to kick the door open.

Just when he's seriously thinking about stomping all over the wood, the lock clicks open and the door slides to the side, revealing an equally tired-looking TK.

"Long shift?" his fiancé asks, mostly rhetorically, as he steps aside to allow Carlos to enter their home.

"The longest," Carlos replies. He drops his bag on the floor and has barely taken three steps into the living room when TK speaks again.

"Want to talk about it?"

And, somehow, that's the last straw for Carlos. That's all it takes — a sliver of kindness after a horrible day — for him to snap.

He turns around and faces TK, his hands still shaking, though this time it's due to anger. "Do I want to talk about it?" he questions through gritted teeth. "Do I want to talk about the three casualties at a car crash that could be alive if a drunk driver hadn't taken her car? Do I want to talk about the woman who can't report her abusive husband because she'd have nowhere to go? Or do I want to talk about the little girl murdered by her father simply because he was mad at his ex-wife?" Within each question, Carlos’ voice rises higher, until it's almost an anguished shriek that hangs over their heads like a threat.

Through it all, TK remains silent, enduring Carlos’ words as he cries them, as the pain he feels bubbles up inside of his chest until it bursts and he finds himself collapsing on the floor, knees hitting the ground while tears finally fall down his cheeks. TK rushes to his side, gathering him up in his arms and murmuring soft reassuring words into his ear as he rocks them both.

Later, much later, Carlos will think about how lucky he is to have TK by his side — someone who understands the frustration that builds up whenever there's something he can't fix in the world, someone who knows that his anger isn't directed at anyone but himself. But right now, while he's being held as though he's the most precious thing in the world, Carlos simply lets his pain flow out of his system.

Maybe tomorrow will be a better day.

[multifandom-disaster]

Prompt #24

You are a forgotten god, lying dead in you relam. When suddenly you hear a voice, calling you and asking for help. What are you gonna do?

[kybercrystals94]

Misplaced

By KyberCrystals94

Read here on Ao3!

Whumptober 2023 | Day 24 | Prompt 24: “I thought they were with you.”

Rating: G

Words: 673

Summary: **I can’t resist some gentle whump once in awhile. No permanent damage done, just a lesson learned, you know?**

“One job, you had one job, Echo,” the cyborg mutters, eyes scanning another side street. Hunter’s going to kill me.

“Make sure she’s within arm’s reach of you at all times,” Hunter had said.

Echo had rolled his eyes. “I was an ARC trooper, Hunter. I think I can handle watching a little girl.”

It all happened so fast. One minute, Omega was right there at his side, chattering endlessly about everything she saw: the architecture, the culture, the vendors, the sky, the ground, that plant, that pebble…Echo had, admittedly, started to tune her out, focusing his attention on finding a shop that sold a part he needed for the Marauder’s mainframe.

“Omega,” Echo said, “keep an eye out—” he looked down at his sister only to find the place she had occupied at his side empty. He looked to his other side, behind him, around him. His heart rate spiked so fast he felt the vein pulsing in his neck. “Omega? Where are you?” He tried to sound casual, unconcerned. It didn’t work.

Echo is trying not to panic. It won’t do him or Omega any good if he panics. What did they tell her to do if she got separated from the squad? Stay where you are. We’ll find you. But when and where had Omega realized she was lost? Where would she be waiting? Would she be waiting? What if a bounty hunter took her? Or another nefarious individual? The universe is full of them. Echo curses under his breath.

He should comm the others, have them help search. She’s been missing for…five standard minutes? Anything can happen in five minutes. Force, Echo!

“Echo?”

The man turns sharply and finds himself face to face with Tech.

Tech is glancing around. “Where is Omega? I thought she was with you.”

“She was,” Echo says, “But she wandered off.”

“You lost her.”

“Don’t just stand there,” Echo says, “help me find her!”

“Have you tried her comm?”

Echo blinks. He kind of forgot about that.

“I take that as a no,” Tech replies primly. He takes out his comm. “Omega, do you copy?”

“Tech! I found the coolest vendor. They sell all sorts of things!” Omega’s excitable voice immediately replies.

“And would Echo agree?” Tech asks.

There is a long pause. “Uhm. I think I lost him.”

“Fortunately for you,” Tech says, “I found him. I will return him to you in short order. Stay where you are.”

“I’m not a lost tooka,” Echo grumbles as he follows Tech through the streets to Omega’s location.

“You certainly looked like one.” The smirk in Tech’s voice is oh-so-painfully obvious. “I’ve never seen you so frantic.”

“I wasn’t frantic.”

“Hmmm. Why didn’t you think of communicating with Omega over comms?”

“I forgot we’d given her one.”

“Because you were in a state of panic which clouds logical thought.”

Echo knows he doesn’t have any right to be annoyed with Tech’s smug assessment of the situation, so he grits his teeth and doesn’t offer a rebuttal. Tech glances over his shoulder, and Echo sees that his brother’s eyes alight with amusement.

“I’m sure we’ve all learned a valuable lesson,” Tech continues, “I don’t see why it would have to be reiterated by Hunter.”

“You’re not going to tell him?” Echo asks.

Tech rolls his eyes. “I could fill several data pads with the things I haven’t told Hunter.”

Echo wishes he could see those metaphorical data pads.

They arrive at Omega’s location, and the girl bounds up to them, grabbing Echo’s hand. “I am so sorry, Echo! I turned around and you were just gone!”

“I could say the same thing about you, kid,” Echo huffs. But he gives her hand a squeeze. “How about we do better about sticking together, huh?”

Omega nods emphatically. “Yes, sir!”

“I think it’s best if I keep an eye on the both of you the remainder of this expedition,” Tech says loftily. “Come along, I still need to find a couple of parts for the hyperdrive…”

END

Author’s Note: There is no fear quite the same as misplacing a child in your care…and I don’t think even level headed Echo is immune.

Tag List: @isthereanechoinhere96 @followthepurrgil @amorfista

✨Let me know if you’d like to be on my Tag List✨

[lynlee494]

After a close call, Bucky Barnes finds himself alone in the Tower.

Solitude is not something that bothers Bucky, and a chance to relax and nurse his wounds wouldn't be so bad...if it wasn't also Steve and Bucky's anniversary.

It certainly didn't help things that there may have been a mix up with Bucky's medicine.

[chocoblep]

#24: Protecting the Produce

Hinan Akaruta was a man of means. The Koi business was doing well, and the money coming in was enough to keep the business afloat and give both himself and Rhuk their own little nest eggs. He was saving for something he’d not tell anyone about (especially not Rhuk) and though he’d been steadily putting a little bit away at a time, he was concerned that at the rate he was saving, it would be at least a year before he could afford it.

Maybe he should have taken up something more practical than origami as a hobby.

He’d been contacted by an old employer about a job that would pay well, and he’d agreed to do it after he’d learned that it was short. Rhuk had insisted that he would be fine on his own for a few days with the shop, though he seemed conflicted as to whether he wanted Hinan to do the job or wanted to keep him home. The fact that there was any conflict there at all had warmth blooming in his chest, and when he left for the three day adventure, he pulled Rhuk into a massive hug and told him that he loved him more than life itself. Rhuk, for his part, had laughed and told him he’d only be gone three days, and it wouldn’t even be a dangerous job, but he loved him too.

That was how Hinan found himself helping one of the orange orchard owners in La Noscea install and test defenses and deterrents for his property. It wasn’t glamorous work, or even really fitting for a contracted mercenary, but the owner trusted him to give him honest feedback regarding where his property was most vulnerable, where many of the local contractors had little experience sneaking onto others’ property. Not that Hinan was particularly subtle, but he did a decent job adjusting and moving things as needed while testing.

When he was done, he recommended a few other things and pointed out places in the property’s fencing that needed to be repaired or replaced, and then recommended his brother when the owner asked about building a few custom storage solutions. On his way back home, said brother was on his mind, so he called him on his linkpearl.

“Hinan,” his brother answered, voice full of warmth.

“Aniki,” he began, and then smiled. He’d reached Shirogane, and didn’t have much time before he arrived home, so he walked a little slower so that he didn’t feel like he had to rush the conversation. “I’m on my way home from a job. I was just thinking about you.”

“Oh, were you?” Aeluan asked, sounding a bit surprised. Hinan wished he wouldn’t; that he had cause to doubt that anyone was thinking about him at all made Hinan’s heart hurt a little for him. For a man whose shadow far outstretched his own, he was extremely lonely.

“Yeah,” Hinan said. “And I recommended you for a build job, so you might be getting contacted soon for that.”

“A build job? It’s not making counterfeit cocks again, is it? Because I had to tell that lady she didn’t want to make those out of wood.” His voice was skeptical, wary.

Hinan burst into laughter, stopping his forward progress entirely. It took a moment for him to recover. “No, no! I swear, I didn’t know that’s what that lady wanted! No, this guy owns an orange orchard, and he needs a custom storage solution, and was also thinking about a new table and some chairs for his patio.”

“Oh! Well, that is doable. We’ll see if he gets in touch.” There was a pause, and then Aeluan spoke again. “How are you? I haven’t seen you in a while.”

“Yeah, Rhuk and I have been kinda busy. You wanna get together for dinner sometime soon?”

“I’d like that.”

“You at Nightingale House right now?” Hinan asked, and then added, “Because if you are, I’ll see you in about two minutes.”

“I’m at the beach house,” Aeluan said.

“Oh. Well, then I’ve gotta let ya go, but let’s get together soon, okay? I’m pretty sure I’m about to be pounced.”

Aeluan laughed. “You might be. Give Rhuk my love. And I love you, Hinan.”

“Love you too, Aelu. I’ll hug him for you.”

When he cut the linkpearl, he was halfway up the steps to the front door, and as he crossed to the hallway where the door to his suite resided, he heard it: The quiet thump of a door closing, the near-silent scuff of bare feet on wood.

“It’s just me,” he called, and Rhuk popped his head around the corner ahead of him with his ears straight up and a grin on his face. Naturally, the rest of him followed, and soon enough he was throwing himself into Hinan’s arms. They stayed there like that for a good ten seconds, before Hinan loosened his grip and leaned down to kiss Rhuk between the ears. “Orange you glad to see me? I missed you.”

“Missed you too,” Rhuk replied, and then rocked on the balls of his feet. “And that was bad! I bet you’re hungry.”

“Oh, am I ever,” Hinan groaned, and they headed into their suite. Rhuk paid special attention to him for the rest of the night, helping him to wind down after his travels, and he let him pamper him. After all, who was he to say no?

[cadrenebula]

Prompt #24: Extra Credit

Leandra smiled softly as she looked down at the letter in her son's neat handwriting. One of the many he'd sent her over the years as he traveled. Not that she didn't get other bits and pieces of his travels from others too.

Carefully tucking the letter into the bundle with the rest. She was happy for her son and his little successes. Fame wasn't what she'd had in mind for her child. Even if she had wanted him to be his father's son.

No she had wanted him to be happy and bold. Always willing to help others despite the lot fate had dealt him. To share his joy and music with others. A light in the darkness for some. That was how she had viewed Leonceault. Unfortunately Leon's life would be far too short due to illness.

Her heart had been gladdened when her son had wrote home about being given his father's bard stone. Not that she wasn't happy every time he wrote. But clearly someone or something had made sure his father was with him in some form or other. Oschon perhaps?

Though she did want to meet this Sanagi and Alexois. At least her son had given her a proper warning that Alexois was nothing like Leon even if they looked similar. The half-brothers were nothing alike in personality. Raised to different circumstances but the same awful father.

Oh an there was this Miss Cashmere she wanted to meet someday. Her son talked so glowingly about her. Always positive things. A part of her was beginning to think Valen had a small crush on this Cashmere. But it didn't seem like he'd told the lovely woman yet though.

Plus there was the occasionally traveler that had encountered her son. Hearing their opinions of him from another source. Most of their words were positive. Only once did she hear words from someone that had clearly been jealous of her son's talent. Or perhaps just his flirty nature. It had made her laugh in private later. Definitely took after his father there.

Placing the bundle of letters safely into the box she kept them in. Regardless of what her son was doing right now... She was proud of Valen. One very proud mother.

[slythindor100]

25 days of Draco and Harry The challenge is to write a drabble, ficlet, story, whatever for each of the pics. Your fic for each prompt must be a minimum of 100 words - but there is no maximum. They can be twenty-five one-shots or each one can be a part of a bigger story. Yes, you may combine this with other holiday challenges. But to be part of 25 Days of Draco and Harry – Draco and Harry MUST be a couple. You can post your fics anywhere, but please post the header below - with a link to where ever you post. I highly recommend you post to the AO3 collection set up for this challenge: 25 Days of Draco and Harry 2022. 

You can do this easily by posting the work to your AO3 account and where it says post to collections start typing 25 Days... a list will come up and you simply need to select: 25 Days of Draco and Harry 2022 (25_Days_of_Draco_and_Harry_2022). When you post it's included in the collection. Easy!! This will help me for the recap I'll put together. ♥ But you are NOT obligated to post to AO3. A hint for those of you writing one, big story is to click "this work has multiple chapters" when you make your first post. That way you can add a chapter to it each day and people can find it easily. Also, if you're doing 25 not related fics – click "this work is part of a series" and then title your series something like sassy_cissa's 2022 25 Days of D/H series (but using your name, of course) or something that will uniquely identify it on AO3. NOTE: your fic does not have to be a story of the picture - you can use a part of the picture or whatever that picture says to you. For those doing traditional style – the prompts must be used in order – as stated in the guidelines. This does not apply for early-bird participants. The challenge of this is to write and post within the 24-hour period between prompt postings. There's no penalty if you don't, but if you'd like to challenge yourself you can. Otherwise, you can post anytime for any prompt if you are posting for fun. You can also combine prompts if you're not able to write one day. The hope for this is for it to be fun and low-stress. And because your mods want more H/D loveliness during Christmas!! NOTE: your work doesn't have to be beta'd for this challenge.

Each day at midnight (EST) beginning on Dec 1st - the prompt for that  day will show at the top of that day’s post. 

NOTE: THIS CLOCK is the official clock. If you have any questions or concerns - feel free to contact the mods at potionsgod@gmail.com. If posting on tumblr, please tag all entries: #25 days of drarry, #25 days 2022. Thanks