#quickly i gotta go to bed before i stay up all night agonizing over my mistakes. as if i don't already do that goddamn

[passiveagreeable]

just now remembering this. like full stop i don't think i've thought anything of this experience since a few days after it happened.

but more than a year ago. i was taking a bus from malaga to granada and one of the station employees came up to me (i was the last person in line to board the bus at this moment) and ask me if i could help out this gentleman (the station man's words precisely, he called him caballero) he was leading with him. and it was immediately evident that this guy was visually impaired or blind.

and well. i was like 'yeah of course' because yeah of course.

and i did, sort of. but i wasn't sure like, how far was too far. with helping. so i only helped minimally. and also i didn't immediately fess up that i didn't speak spanish natively, in fact i don't think i mentioned it at all. (maybe i said i was a student? i can't recall). which i should have said immediately so that he understood that if i said something wrong or weird, it wasn't me getting impatient with him or exasperated over assisting but simply low confidence in my imperfect linguistic grasp (and just overall low confidence, generally, extensively, but nevertheless). or so that i could have asked somebody else to help if he didn't feel comfortable with me and my incompetent ass, which would have been totally fair. i probably should have said that from the get go, really, but it felt like it might have come off as me trying to brush off the task and trying to make excuses to get out of it. yeeeeah, so the two of us basically stood there in silence except when i had to give verbal directions for like "walk forward" "stop" "there's stairs" etc. which were overall pretty stilted, i think.

also, he got off the bus just fine but then i wasn't sure if he wanted help from there, so i let him alone. i'm sure he could have gotten out of the building without issue eventually, but it was taking him a bit of time with the layout, to find the door from the bus stall, whatnot, and everyone was giving him weird looks. which really just rubbed me the wrong way, so after maybe 15 or 30 seconds, i did go up to him and offer to assist him again. so i got him to the taxi area and into a taxi, if i'm remembering the events correctly.

simultaneously a nice experience and a super humiliating one. because like i am literally so👏 dumb👏 and i think way too much but i thought if i said something about not speaking spanish super fluently that i would get in trouble or something. so instead i probably made him feel terrible and was like suuuuuper awkward about helping him. like bitch, if you don't know, just ask what he wants you to do to help, holy fuck.

now i know better, but i would go back and slap myself right in the face if i had the chance.

[pascalpanic]

so i read this scenario on reddit and i thought it would be a cute and fluffy fic idea if you want to write it :)

one of the Pedro boys (i was thinking frankie or marcus moreno but you can put any one of them that you feel like would fit the story) lands himself in the hospital and the reader visits him often cause they’re friends. they notice that every time they visit, his heart rate monitor speeds up, like not enough to cause alarm but enough to be noticeable, and that’s how she finds out that he likes her and they decide to date (after he gets out of hospital)

Appendicitis (Frankie Morales x f!reader)

Summary: ^^

W/C: 2.4K

Warnings: talk of being ill, vomit, pain, lots of talk of hospitals and that being a major setting, Frankie is a dad, language

A/N: welcome back to Josie’s quest to clean her inbox! This idea was so precious!! I hope you guys like it!!

Frankie is in fucking agony. Never has he felt something as painful as this, never has such pain radiated through his body so intensely that he has no choice but to vomit out his stomach’s contents.

He spends the day at home, occupying his daughter as best he can while he’s in such suffering. He figures that maybe it’s just really bad gas cramping or constipation. Marisol plays quietly, at her daddy’s request, watching her favorite Disney movies on the couch while nuzzled into his side. Frankie has never been so grateful to get her into bed at the end of the day.

After a full day of the pain, and realizing that it wasn’t going away no matter how many painkillers he took, Frankie gave in around midnight. Lying in his bed, skin turning gray and the pain now decisively in his right side, Frankie called you.

After a few rings, you picked up. “Hey, Fish.”

“Hi.” His voice sounds agonized. “How much do you charge for babysitting again?” He asks, the strain clear.

You’re confused, pushing the phone closer to your ear and thinking it might be the distance that makes him sound so odd. “Uh, you’re my friend, so free. You need me to take Mari?” You ask him.

He nods. “Yeah; how much for like a week though? I don’t want to impose though, and-“

His voice sounds terrible. “Frankie. Shut up. A week? What’s wrong? I can take Marisol for as long as you need, but I gotta know what’s going on.”

Frankie is quiet before he grunts softly in pain. “I think my appendix might be fucked up. It hurts like fucking hell. Mari’s asleep, I don’t wanna wake her or anything, but could you-“

You cut him off once more, sitting bolt upright. “I’m on my way over. Do you think you can hang on until I get there? I can drive you to the hospital, or we’ll get one of the boys.”

“That sounds good,” Frankie agrees. “Fuckin’ ambulances are so expensive.”

You chuckle softly. “Hang in there, Fish, okay? I’m gonna call Will, see if he can drive you and I’ll stay with Mari. How’s that?”

Marisol loves you. There’s no better solution in Frankie’s eyes: she behaves better for you than she does for him. She’ll be in good hands, happy for as long as he needs to be in the hospital healing. “Perfect. God, you’re a fucking angel. Don’t deserve you.”

“You deserve better than me,” you snort as you pull on a hoodie and slip on some shoes. “I’m gonna call Will. You got this, Fish. Distract yourself. I’ll send you updates.”

When you arrive at the Morales household, Will’s truck is already in the driveway. He lives closer, so it makes sense. Be quiet and don’t wake Mari, you remember as you slip off your shoes and head up the stairs of Frankie’s home. It’s quiet, unsurprising for this time of night, and you know Mari is a light sleeper. Frankie would never want to wake her at this hour.

Wandering into his room, you find Will standing next to the bed and an incredibly worn-looking Frankie. His skin holds barely any color, his face almost green in nausea. You rush to his side. “Frankie, holy shit,” you exclaim in a loud whisper, taking his hand. “You’re okay?”

“I will be if Miller mans up and gets me out of this bed,” he says, followed by a chuckle with no humor.

Will sighs. He’s wearing pajamas too, looking as exhausted as you are. Frankie groans as he hears Mari’s tiny voice over the baby monitor. “Fuck. You’re staying with her, Will’s bringing me?” He clarifies, looking up at you with bloodshot eyes.

Nodding, you squeeze his hand. “Give me directions quickly and I’ll go get her. You gotta sit up first, Frankie,” you reassure him.

He squeezes your hand back tight and sits up, his face contorting in pain. There’s a flush of redness to his cheeks, and it makes him look more human for a moment until it fades again. “She won’t fall back asleep unless she’s in this bed with you. She needs the attention. Uh, food is in the fridge, you know emergency shit,” he says, with surprising coherence for the pain he’s in.

You nod and ruffle Frankie’s soft bedhead. “Benny- fuck,” you wince, knowing the Miller brothers hate being mixed up. Somehow, even with their distinct personalities, you do it all the time. “Will. Send me updates,” you remind him as you stand. “And you, Francisco,” you murmur and press a kiss to his sweat-beaded forehead, “get some strong pain meds and get better for me and Mari.” You smile softly and walk out of the room.

The room next to Frankie’s is beautiful, a sage green paint and lots of woodland creatures painted on the walls by Frankie’s surprisingly artistic hands. There’s a crib covered by a creamy white canopy and the little girl pokes her head up, tilting to the side in confusion as she sees you.

It’s not fear, of course. Mari loves you, absolutely adores you in fact. She’s just… confused. Her little brain can tell it’s the middle of the night. “Where’s Daddy?” She asks, making uppy arms at you.

You walk over to her crib, picking her up and kissing her head. “Daddy’s got a tummyache, cutie,” you tell her and tickle her tummy gently, making her giggle and bury her tiny face in your chest. “He’s gonna go see the doctor and get it all fixed up, okay? You and I are gonna have so much fun,” you assure her, and she giggles again.

You can hear two sets of feet, slowly moving. “Let’s go give Daddy a kiss goodbye, okay?” Mari nods and rubs her little eyes.

Frankie’s got an arm around Will’s shoulders in the hall, looking absolutely agonized. He smiles a little as he sees you and his baby. “Hey, patita,” he chuckles. He dubbed her duckling from the soft tufts of fluff on her head as a baby. “Be good while I’m gone.”

Mari nods and puts a hand on either side of Frankie’s sweating face, making a little pout and giving him a kiss. “Love you, Daddy,” she says, a yawn overtaking her tiny face.

“Love you too,” he nods and looks up at you. “I owe you.”

“Friends don’t owe each other,” you shake your head. “Now get your a… butt to the hospital, Morales,” you tell him and pat Will on the shoulder. “Thanks, man.”

He nods at you and the two men shuffle along through the house until they can get Frankie into the car and on his way to (hopefully) sedation and a cure.

Yawning again, Mari’s big brown eyes look up at you from where you hold her on your hip. “Snack?” She asks you, pointing towards the kitchen.

Her little voice and tiny, pudgy fingers are too much. “I suppose. Only because we’re having special girls’ time,” you tease and boop her nose. Setting her on the counter, you grab some cubes of cheese and some berries, which you make sure are in small pieces.

Mari’s content to eat her snacks with you, and you can see her growing sleepier again as the plate empties out. “Sleepy?” You ask her, and she nods. “Alright, cutie pie,” you sigh and lift her, holding her to your chest as she wraps her arms around your neck and her legs around your torso. “Do you want me to cuddle with you?” You ask.

She nods. “Gotta snuggle for late sleepies. Daddy says that.”

The words melt your heart. Frankie’s always been so good with her, so warm and skilled and precious. It only makes your crush on the man grow every time his little girl babbles about how much she loves her daddy. “Does he?”

She nods. “Daddy sings for me.”

Frankie singing Marisol to sleep. The idea melts your heart. You need in on that. “What does he sing to you?” You ask. “What’s your favorite song that daddy sings to you?”

She thinks for a moment as you sit on the edge of the bed, allowing her to clamber off your lap and into the cozy king-sized bed. “Rocket Man.” It’s hard to decipher in her baby-talk, but you get it.

“He sings that for you?” You ask as you get under the covers, into the blankets that are still warm from Frankie’s body heat, that smell like his cologne.

Mari snuggles into your chest, and nods softly. “Can you sing Rocket Man?”

“Of course,” you nod and trace little circles into the toddler’s back, singing the Elton John song to her in a soft voice. It doesn’t take long, now that she’s in her daddy’s bed and got a snack, for her to fall asleep. She snores softly, and you follow suit not too long after.

-

It did turn out that Frankie had appendicitis. The doctors weren’t entirely sure what caused it, but you and the Miller brothers rotated your time with Marisol at home and the hospital with Frankie, as his stay was painfully long for such an active man. Santiago video chatted often, but being out of town prevented him from physically seeing Fish.

It took him about a week to recover, and that time was mostly spent napping or watching the television in his room. He’d bullshit with the guys or you when you were around, and he especially loved the time of the afternoon every day where one of you brought Marisol to see him.

Usually it was just you or one of the Millers who stayed in the room with him. The other two either stayed with Marisol or got to stay at home and rest for themselves. It was a lucky day when you and Benny got to both be with Frankie for a while, telling stories and laughing. It was your turn to be off-duty, but all you wanted from your free time was to be with the man.

Your presence has always made Frankie’s heart rate a little faster. It’s always made his palms a little clammy, and his pants a little tighter sometimes. At least now he can attribute it to the pain.

Every time his eyes catch yours, his heart monitor gets a little louder. It’s odd, but you shrug it off. It can’t mean anything. It’s just your Frankie. After an hour or so of spending time with the guys, you run to get fast food for the three of you. While you’re away, you receive a text from Benny.

Benny Boy: you’re fucking with his head, bro

You: what?

Benny Boy: the heart rate monitor is nearly silent right now. every time frankie looks at you it spikes, don’t tell me you haven’t been noticing that

You: do you want nuggets or a burger?

You: thats ridiculous, Benny.

Benny Boy: always nuggets. but seriously, his heart rate is at like 54 right now, he’s just chilling and kind of dozed off. let’s check it when you come back.

You: be prepared for the most boring science experiment ever. also, what dip do you want?

After you receive your bulging bags of food, stuffed from both Benny’s and Frankie’s massive appetites, you return to the hospital.

You: walking in. pulse status?

Benny: 60. he’s a little more awake now.

As you enter the room, Frankie turns to you and grins. “Hey. What did you get?” He asks.

You plop the bags on the small table overhanging Frankie’s bed and grin. “Just your usual order. I know what you like,” you shrug as you unpack the food.

Beep beep beep beep. HR: 77

Smiling at the rate of Frankie’s heart, more than you should really, you sit down back next to Benny and the three of you eat your food. It’s somewhat quiet, the chatter dying as you devour the fast food, savoring the grease and salt.

After everyone is finished, you stand and clean up the garbage, tossing it all away. You sit back down on Frankie’s bedside. “So, macho man. How’s the pain?” You ask, your fingers tracing his good side.

Beep beep beep beep beep. HR: 86

He shrugs. “It hurts like a bitch, and they said it’s gonna keep hurting like a bitch.”

“Poor baby,” you chuckle, cupping the side of his face and kissing his forehead softly.

Beep beep beep beep beep beep. HR: 96

Benny groans and stands. “I’m gonna hit the bathroom.” He smacks your arm as he walks past, as if rubbing in the evidence he’s found. “And then take a walk, I think.”

You’re still seated at Frankie’s side, on the inflatable hospital mattress. “Oh Benjamin,” Frankie rolls his eyes. “Why’d he leave so quick?”

You shrug, though you know the answer. “Who knows? Benny can’t even predict himself,” you chuckle. Frankie’s hand rests over his chest. You slide your hand over his torso and lace your fingers through his until you’re holding it. You can feel his heart thumping steadily against it. “I’m really glad you’re okay.”

Beep beep beep beep. HR: 104

He smiles. “I’m lucky I have you.”

You sigh softly as you look up at the heart rate monitor again. “I gotta say, you have a really high resting rate,” you say nonchalantly, as if you believe it.

Frankie’s face warms. “I, uh-“

“I’m kidding, Frankie,” you mumble softly to him, smiling a little. “I really like you, and I think that monitor is helping me know you like me too. When you get out of here, can we maybe go on a date some time?”

Beepbeepbeepbeepbeep. HR: 112

Nodding enthusiastically, those floppy curls move with his head. “I would love that,” he tells you with a beaming smile. “God, have you been able to tell all day?” He asks as he looks up at the monitor, his ears burning with heat as he reads the pulse rate. It’s embarrassingly high.

“Yeah,” you finally admit and smile down at him. “But it’s cute. And it makes me feel all warm inside because I finally know you like me too.”

Big brown eyes stare up at you with all of the love in the world. “If I wasn’t wearing a hospital gown, I’d kiss you right now,” he promises. “But that’ll have to wait.”

“Yes it will,” you nod and kiss his forehead again, easing him back against the mattress he’d lifted up from slightly. “Now I’m going to go find Benny, and you slow down that heart rate,” you tease and ruffle his curls.

“I’m not gonna be able to slow it down with you around,” he says with a soft smile, his eyes slipping shut.

-

taglist:

@remmysbounty @mishasminion360 @blo0dangel @binarydanvvers  @sleep-tight1 @apascalrascal @randomness501 @spideysimpossiblegirl @notabotiswear @pedro-pastel @sanchosammy @lv7867 @greeneyedblondie44 @hunnambabe @astoryisaloveaffair @emesispo @pedritobalmando @magikfanatic @a-court-of-feysand-and-elorcan

[gingerale2017]

“Now, Kiss!”

Based on this hc I made earlier :)

3474 words

Fandom: The Lunar Chronicles

Pairing: Kai x Cinder

Fluff

Description:

Kai knew that the annoyance was part of having a sibling, but he hated it all the same. Nainsi would tease him about everything and when she figured out his crush on Cinder Linh, it only got worse. When Cinder calls Kai on the day that Nainsi brings some friends, she suspects that something might be cooking in the pot. Is she right, or are they friends for another agonizing day?

(Also I decided to name her Nainsi bc I’m too tired to brainstorm anything else I like it)

“WAKE UP KAI!” was the first thing Kai heard after being unfortunately interrupted by a sweet dream involving a certain someone. He was awake now, with a 100-pound pillow being tossed onto his head. Groaning, he flipped to his other side, squeezing his eyes shut as if that would make the tiny monster go away.

“KAI WE’RE GONNA BE LATE!” Nainsi yelled. She threw another pillow at him and when he didn’t show any signs of stopping, she yanked the cover out. Thank the stars for sheets.

“Stars, what time is it?” Kai managed to ask. Knowing his family it was probably five in the morning.

“Seven-thirty, ” he groaned again. It was way too early to get out of bed. Plus, the school didn’t start until eight-thirty so they were very much not late. He tucked his head in the pillow and wished for his sister to magically vanish away into whatever drama she obsessed with now.

“KAI! GET OUT THE BED RIGHT NOW!” Kai turned his head to glare at her. She glared right back.

“You know Cinder gets up super early for whatever reason. That’s something you two can get along with, ” instead of rolling her eyes like she usually did when Kai talked about Cinder, Nainsi's lips formed into a coy smile.

He cursed.

She somehow smiled even further and cocked her head, “Got any plans with her tonight?”

He could feel his ears turn red, and he tried to kill her on the spot with his eyes. His little sister took the smart choice and sprinted out of his room with Kai on her heels.

She screamed as he followed her down the stairs into the kitchen, seeking refuge next to their father’s chair. Kai could tell he was annoyed by the posture he was in and the way he took another sip of his coffee.

Nainsi shot Kai a smug smile that he wished to wipe off her face, “are you gonna wear pajamas to school, Kaito?”

“I’m going to kill you.”

“Ah, yes, but then you’ll spend the rest of your life in jail and will never see your precious Cinder again.”

He glared at her once more and left to go change. When he came back, the aroma of fried eggs was so strong that it filled the whole house.

His father was humming a tune while seasoning the eggs with pepper, now in a less annoyed mood. There were two plates on the kitchen counter already equipped with breakfast. Nainsi rebelliously made cereal instead of eating eggs. Kai, on the other hand, was grateful for the free breakfast.

He sat grabbed a ate and sat at the barstool, preparing to dig into his meal. Dad wanted to make small talk instead, “Good morning, son, and you're welcome for the delicious breakfast that I so graciously made for my marvelous kids.”

“Good morning, father, and us marvelous kids are so grateful for this delicious meal that makes caught us by surprise. But unfortunately, one of your children prefers Lucky Charms to you’re amazing breakfast, ” Kai responded after swallowing his first bite of eggs.

Nainsi looked up from her cereal, “that’s because I don’t like eggs, they’re disgusting.”

“You don’t like anything, ” she stuck her tongue out. Kai picked up his plate and placed it in the sink. Unsurprisingly, he was still hungry, so he went to see what was in the fridge.

“Kai, why don’t you ever want up early?” his father asked.

“Um, because-”

“Because he’s up all night thinking about making out with Cinder in the back of her BMW, ” the little monster interrupted before he could continue. He grabbed a tomato and slammed the fridge shut.

He then threw the tomato at her, “two strikes, Nainsi.”

She dodged the tomato and looked back at Kai with big round eyes.

“Hey, it's too early to fight with your sister just yet, ” interjected his father, “also, if you couldn’t tell, your mother is working double shifts at the hospital today so she wouldn’t be coming back tonight and I have a business trip. I know you have some friends coming over today, Nainsi, so behave better than usual. Both of you.”

“What friends are coming over, Nainsi?” Kai mused, an idea forming in his head.

“Just Geovanna and Emily. Possibly Ben but he hasn’t confirmed yet,” she answered, “why?”

“Just wondering. Anyways, we gotta go now,” Kai pulled on his sweatshirt from the laundry and headed towards the front, “bye dad.”

He nodded at Kai, currently preoccupied with his second mug of coffee while Nainsi rushed to follow Kai.

It was freezing out, as it usually was during winter in Maryland, but today was unusually cold. He turned on the car while Nainsi hopped in the passenger seat.

“Are we gonna go or what?” she barked.

“In a minute. Let me close my eyes for a bit.”

“You always do that, you lazy bum.”

“Your insults are getting drier and drier Nainsi.”

“Just go, ” this time she hit his forearm with her binder from nowhere. Repeatedly.

“Okay, stop hitting me. Ow.”

They drove off towards the school. Although Nainsi lived to tease Kai, they got along pretty well. They talked about this new show and had similar opinions on it during the short car ride. Once they were at Nainsi’s school and she was gone, then he could start playing the radio.

He bid his goodbye’s and see you later’s and now was off to his school.

᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽

Kai was unsurprisingly drained during the last period of the day. He fiddled with the corner of his notes to keep himself awake for at least ten more minutes. When he felt himself starting to doze off, he began to replay the day so far.

When he got to school, Cinder was marked absent which made his day worse. He always looked forward to hearing her sarcastic remarks or her smiling at one of his witty jokes.

Anyways, she was gone and he was sad, but Cress wasn’t. She happily explained to Kai that she and Thorne were going on a date Sunday. He was happy for her, truly, but all he could think about was how he can unsuccessfully tell his feeling to Cinder.

Not telling her felt like he was forgetting something important every day, except he was not forgetting. He knew exactly what he was doing and it killed him, but he also didn’t want to ruin the good that they have now. Then Kai would think about how it would be better and his thought would circle around and around.

After meeting up with Cress, they endured through the first two periods they shared, Scarlet and Thorne joining during the second. Although he had plenty of friends to talk to and enjoy, he couldn't help missing Cinder.

She's gone for one day and you feel like this? he thought, get a break. The little voice inside Kai's head was right.

Then the last bell rang, startling him. He stood up and began to pack his things. Then he fast-walked out and left.

"Kai!" he heard someone call.

Iko and Cress gestured at Kai to come to their lockers. He obliged.

"Look, Winter's birthday is in a couple of weeks, during the break. We want to throw a party because it's her sweet sixteen! We already have all the decorations ready, I know it's early, but long story short, can we throw it at your place?" his blue-haired friend asked as innocently as possible. Although she had to change her posture, tone, and expression to look innocent, Cress had that personality as her default.

"Please, Kai?” Cress pleaded and she knew what she was doing. It was always impossible to say no to her without feeling guilty. Or maybe it was just Kai who hated saying no.

“Of course! My parents are going to their parents during that week, so I’ll just ask to stay behind.”

“Yay! Thank you so much!” Iko hugged him tightly, “also not a word to Winger. It’s going to be a surprise.”

“Sounds nice.”

“Yep. I got to go to my job interview, remember what I was telling you about. Ah, the chance to work a boutique, what a dream,” and with that, his friend walked away.

“Hey Cress, did you hear anything about Cinder, ” he pressed.

She nodded, “Adri was mad at her again so she’s stuck at the garage, ” the blonde began to nibble in her fingernails. Noticing the bad habit, she brought he hand down.

“Oh, ” he hated Cinder’s stepmother, he truly did. And it killed him he couldn’t do anything about it.

They walked silently down the hall. Girls batted their lashes and some greeted him but he ignored it as usual.

“Do you think Adri would let Cinder free tonight?” he asked, now in the parking lot of the school.

“If you’re the one taking her anywhere then, of course, Adri would.”

Cress, Cinder, and Winter all skipped one grade. Cinder and Winter skilled first, and Cress skipped seventh. Cress was the smartest of them all, granted, and they don’t have a driver's license. So Cress got a ride with her older brother Jacin, and so did Winter (Jacin’s girlfriend). Cinder usually rode with Thorne, but on the good days, she rides with Kai.

They reached Kai’s car which was near Jacin’s car and being the super over-protective brother he was, he glared Kai down. Kai found this confusing because his feelings for Cinder were quite obvious, but then he saw Thorne parked next to Kai.

Thorne was currently ‘interested’ in Cress which made her a flustered mess.

Cress walked quickly to Jacin’s car and hopped in the back. Kai called goodbye and started his car. Then there was a rap on his window.

“What?” he asked Thorne, “I got to pick up my sister.”

“What flowers does Cress like?” he lifted an eyebrow at his friend, “not like that,” what Thorne did not know was that Cress told Kai everything about their date. Perhaps Thorne wants to keep it secret until then.

“Uh-huh.”

“Just answer the question!”

He shifted in his seat, “I dunno. Ask Jacin.”

“Great advice,” Thorne deadpanned.

“Get her roses. Those are super romantic and she’s all about the romantic gestures.”

“Nah, too cheesy. Pretend it's Cinder, what would she like?”

“Cinder doesn’t like flowers. Wrenches, however, are much appreciated.”

“I think I’ll just get roses.”

“Yeah, now move, my sister is waiting for me, ” Kai rolled up the windows and drove out.

Time passed very quickly and the next thing he knew, Nainsi was climbing in the passenger seat with her three friends in the back seat.

“I thought it was only two people, ” he whispered harshly.

She shrugged, “Ben decided to come.”

“What are you gonna feed them.”

“Pizza.”

“Who’s money?”

“Yours,” he shoved Nainsi but she shoved back.

“Fine but you owe me.”

“We’ll see, ” she turned in the seat to talk with her friends.

᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽

Once everyone was settled inside and pizza was ordered he began to brainstorm ways Kai could punish Nainsi for this morning.

Then, like a light bulb, a perfect idea formed into his head. He walked into the laundry room where a basket filled with his clothes was waiting for him.

He pulled off his shirt, grabbed the basket, and headed into the living room. His sister was watching a realistic drama with her friends, although Kai wasn’t sure the drama wasn’t ‘realistic’ at all.

This plan happened before on accident with the same friends and they just stared at him while Nainsi shooed him out. Little did he know that her friends would just start talking about him and his looks. When Nainsi told him this, he groaned and whined about how he got enough of this from school. So when Nainsi had people over, Kai would camp in his room to avoid the awkwardness.

Now, he knows how her friends would react. And how she would react.

But before he could do anything, the phone in his pocket vibrated, making him turn a one-eighty back into the laundry.

It was actually Cinder calling and he answered quickly, “hello?”

“Uh, Kai?”

“Yes?”

“Can you do me a favor? Please?” it sounded like she was outside where it was currently raining.

“Yes, of course, what do you need?”

“I need a ride. I’m stuck here in the rain, by myself. Also, this is going to sound weird but, can I also stay with you for an hour and a half?” she defeated like she lost an argument.

“I can pick you up and you can stay with me. Nainsi has some friends over but it should be fine, ” Kai wondered if he sounded too cheery.

“Ok, thanks. I’m at the gas station outside your neighborhood, by the way.”

“Great, see you in a few minutes. Bye.”

“Bye, ” she hung up.

Kai hurried to put on a shirt and grab two rain jackets from the close, just in case Cinder needed one. Then he walked into the living room and out the front door, only to come back in. He forgot to tell Nainsi where he was going.

“Hey Nainsi, I got to pick up someone. I’ll be back soon though, ” she nodded, mouth full of pizza crust, “uh, don’t open the door to strangers. Bye.”

This time he didn’t go back inside after he left. He drove out of the neighborhood, slowly because it was pouring buckets and he could barely see three feet in front of him. After an eternity, Kai finally reached the gas station and parked under the large roof.

He didn’t even see Cinder come in, only heard her, sacring him witless. She smiled apologetically while tossing a white plastic bag onto her lap. It was full of snacks.

“Thanks for coming to get me, I owe you one now, ” she said, handing him one of the bags of chips.

“Of course, Cinder, I would do anything for you, ” the corner of her lip curved upwards as Kai’s cheeks heated, “that came out wrong. I meant that you’re my friend and such. Like the good moral movies where like the one friend reminds the other what friendship is truly about?”

Cinder snorted, “Like My Little Pony?”

“Isn’t that a TV show?”

“Same thing.”

“Is not.”

“Whatever, I know what you meant. Peony had made me watch enough TV shows and movies to last a lifetime.”

“Okay then, ” the rain seemed to finally thin during their conversation making it much more comfortable conditions for Kai to drive in.

Cinder had a habit of talking with her mouth full and the ‘good manners kid’ inside of him cringed. He hoped he hid it well.

Anyways Cinder explained why she was soaking wet at a gas station abandoned with snacks. She was bored and hungry and wanted something to do. So she walked to the gas station, alone, for snacks and a good walk.

Kai raised an eyebrow at that, “you live far away from me, how and why did you walk miles just for a bag of junk food?”

“People can do miraculous things when they are bored, Kai.”

“Yes, and penguins can fly if they really set their minds to it.”

“They are a bird so, hey, nothing’s impossible.”

“Who drove you?”

Cinder shoved a chip in her mouth, “Pearl,” she admitted reluctantly.

“What?”

“I skipped lunch and she knew I was hungry so she drove me here and left me while I was getting snacks. She also called me and said that it was a prank she couldn’t resist.”

“Oh, ” Kai said as they were pulling in his driveway. It was drizzling now so there was no need for the rain jackets.

“I’m also supposed to be at the garage until later so that's why I have to stay that long. If I come back early, Adri would get mad, and I don’t feel like getting yelled at today.”

“Ok,” he said as he walked out of the car.

He opened the door for Cinder and followed her inside. Nainsi and her friends did not move from before he left, but they switched shows. His little sister locked eyes with Cinder, immediately getting up.

“Hey Cinder. I did not know you two were hanging out today?” She said conspiratorially.

Cinder nodded, “yeah it was kind of sudden. Also, Peony is not with me, sorry.”

“That’s okay. I’m going back to my friends now. So you guys can ‘hang out’” Nainsi emphasized the last part then ran off to her friends.

“So, um, what do you want to do for an hour and a half?” he asked.

Cinder turned to him, “I don’t know, what do you want to do.”

“I don’t know.”

“Let’s just go to your room then.”

“Good idea, ” Cinder has been to his house enough to know the layout. He followed her to his room where she fell on the bed.

“Working under cars all day isn't good for the back you know, ” she explained, muffled by a pillow.

“I would expect so because your posture is not up to standards.”

She snorted, “I guess that’s true, ” Cinder sat up and leaned on the headboards, “sorry for taking up your space. And for calling you. Stars, this was a bad idea, you already have people here. I’m like an intruder-”

“Why are you apologizing so much? I don’t care if you light my room on fire, ” Kai accused. It was true, ever since he met her, she would apologize for every single tiny thing, as if every single wrong thing she did was unacceptable. He moved towards her to place a hand on hers, “it’s okay, Cinder. And calling me was a good idea because you saved me from the little demons.”

Cinder let out a genuine laugh that ended with a genuine smile. A smile that never ceased to make his heart twitch. He bashfully realized that he was still holding her hand.

Kai let go but she only grabbed his hand back. He watched her intertwine their fingers, trying to ignore the strong pounding of his heart. He dared to look up and realized that Cinder was staring at him.

He looked into her chocolate eyes that seemed to shine with stars. He wanted to dive into that sea of brown and lie there for eternity. As long she was there.

“Now kiss!” cried a shrill voice. Kai jumped away from Cinder, noticing that she copied his actions.

“Aw, come on just kiss already, the tension was so thick, ” said... Peony?

Cinder’s eyes widened, “Peony, what- how did- why are you here?”

“Well first, I was invited to the sleepover but I had volleyball practice so I had to come late. I just got here. And second, I saw Nainsi sneaking up here so I followed, and oh my stars, we ruined the money, didn’t we?” Peony looked at Nainsi.

“We did. Sorry guys, we’ll go now.”

“Yes, now you can kiss in peace, ” the girls left, leaving Kai very flustered. He glanced at Cinder and saw that her cheeks were also tinted pink.

“So, do you want something to eat, ” he asked finally. He could not bear the silence anymore.

“Yes, ” she nodded, although they already are in the car.

They got up to leave but before he could open the door, Cinder grabbed his wrist and pulls him down. The next thing he knew they were kissing. It was quick and soft and amazing. It felt like everything suddenly clicked and the world was righted. Like the stars finally aligned.

She pulled away and Kai could feel the heat in his ears. His heart was beating so loud that he was sure Cinder could hear it as well.

“Let’s go get some food, ” she breathed and opened the door. She was still holding his wrist, he realized. He intertwined their hands like before, but this time it felt more meaningful. It was like their hands now signified that they were more than friends. That they loved each other, even if they hadn't admitted it yet. But he could feel it and was sure that she could too.

They entered the kitchen and Cinder began to talk about food options but all he could think about was the kiss. He wanted to kiss her again. And to hold her.

Someone cleared their throat behind them, making them turn around. Nainsi, Peony, Emily, Geovanna, and Ben all stood with knowing faces. Nainsi smirked, “finally.”

Peony looked like she was about to explode with happiness, “I already told Iko. She’s ecstatic.”

Neither Kai nor Cinder said anything. Nainsi probably knew because of the looks on their red faces and told Peony. Then Peony told Iko and Iko probably told everyone in their friend group.

So now everyone knows.

“Just to be sure, you guys did kiss, right?” asked Emily.

Slowly, Cinder nodded. Kai opted to stare at his feet. Peony whooped, Nainsi squealed, Cinder blushed, and Kai groaned.

“Ok now we will leave you alone, for real, ” Nainsi promised, dragging her friends away.

“Why are there so many people here?” Kai murmured then turned to Cinder. She leaned on his shoulder. They were still holding each other's hand, “I really want to kiss you again, by the way.”

“Me too.”

“Okay then, ” he cupped her cheek with his free hand and kissed her. Cinder squeezed his hand affectionately. He once again felt like everything was where it was supposed to be, where he was supposed to be, and that was with Cinder.

Tagging: @just2bubbly @winterrhayle @jacihayle @shelbylmkaider @cerenoya @a-salting-the-world @ladyvesuvia @not-the-founder-of-rome @greenalmond @zephyr-thedragon @cinderswrench @cindersassasin @strawberry-seraph (these are just one-shot tags so please tell me if you want to be added or remove for these types of fics <3)

[vannahfanfics]

Stereo Hearts

Category: Romantic Fluff

Fandom: My Hero Academia

Characters: Denki Kaminari, Kyoka Jiro

Hello, everyone! It is my pleasure to present my story for the @kmjr-mini-bang! A super big thanks to my partner @chiztec​ who drew an absolutely stunning piece to accompany my story, as well as Amii and nish, who were kind enough to beta my story. I hope you all enjoy the finished product! 

Denki sighed for what felt like the hundredth time that night. He laid on his bed, thumbs twiddling as his hands were clasped over his stomach. His worried gaze could have bored holes into the ceiling if he had the right Quirk. He felt a little silly, fretting so relentlessly over something as simple as a high school graduation. For most students, it was a time of excitement, a chapter of transition in their lives as they went bungling on into adulthood. Denki was eagerly looking forward to getting out there and showing the world what Chargebolt could do. Adulthood wasn’t exactly what he was worried about. 

He hadn’t told Kyoka that he loved her yet. 

“Jeez, that sounds right out of some corny chick flick,” he groaned and rubbed his palms over his eyes. He grimaced as nervous sweat smeared across his face. He flopped his arms back down against the bed with another forlorn exhale, eyes lidded as he envisioned the beautiful, talented girl he’d fallen head-over-heels for their first year. Everything had seemed to get in the way of professing his feelings for her, and also, he felt a little… unworthy. He was a great big massive dork, not nearly cool enough to even be seen with someone as pretty and sophisticated as Kyoka. 

He’d probably short-circuit and go into “yay” mode when tried to confess to her. 

Groaning, he rolled onto his side to grab his phone off the charger. It wasn’t like he was sleeping anyway. As he unlocked it, his thumb came to rest over the screen, and his golden eyes stared at the time burning in white numbers in the center of the display. The time was inching closer to midnight. Soon, it would officially be the day of his graduation. The realization sent a sinking feeling spiraling into the pit of his stomach. 

He was running out of time. Everyone made well-intentioned promises to keep in touch after high school, but everyone knew that almost never panned out. You went on, to college or to a career, you got insanely busy, and next thing you know you haven’t talked to anyone you know in years and made new friendships. Denki swallowed thickly, mindlessly bringing up his favorite picture of Kyoka in his gallery. She was smiling brightly, so hard her eyes were scrunched up into little half-moons. She’d made that face for Denki when he’d surprised her for her birthday with an expensive album she’d been eyeing since its release. When she’d smiled at him like that, he’d almost electrocuted everyone in the room because he’d been so damn in love. 

He was still so damn in love. 

He pulled up Kyoka’s contact information. His fingers hovered over the keyboard. Would she even be awake right now? He wondered with a tiny sigh. Probably not. It was the middle of the night. Still, he found himself texting out a message.

Hey, are you awake? 

He rolled back over and set the phone down on his chest to stare up at the ceiling again. He fully expected his message to go unanswered, so he began losing himself in the confusing stream of “what ifs” and regretting every moment he never chose to tell Kyoka how he felt. He was so lost in thought that he nearly jumped out of his skin when the message alert rang through his quiet bedroom. He fumbled with his sweaty hands to pull up Kyoka’s response. 

Yeah, I’m awake. What’s up? 

A sappy smile bloomed on his lips, and he rolled over, snuggling into his mattress while typing out his reply. 

Just thinking. What about you? 

Three dots popped up on the message screen, quickly followed by a simple, Same. 

Denki ruminated on his thoughts for a moment, thumb hovering over the keyboard. He didn’t even really know what he wanted to say, or what he wanted to do. He wasn’t enough of an ass to confess to Kyoka over text, no… It had to be more special than that, something that she was deserving of. 

A cheesy grin slowly appeared on his face as he recounted a conversation he’d overheard—  Kyoka talking to Mina about her favorite romance movie tropes. Believe it or not, Kyoka secretly adored them and often requested them for the girls’ movie nights. He’d always stored that information in the back of his mind, just in case it would ever become useful… 

Yeah… he thought deviously. He threw off his covers and scrambled over to his closet to throw on something halfway-decent. He couldn’t profess his undying love in a pair of All Might pajama pants, after all. He inspected himself in the mirror after wiggling into a pair of skinny jeans and a band tee-shirt that Kyoka had bought for his last birthday. He licked the palm of his hand to slick down the flyaways in his blond hair, turned his face left and right, and then gave his reflection finger-guns. 

“You got this. You’re a stud. Ladies love ya!” He grinned encouragingly. He held the expression until his face hurt, trying to will the confidence into existence. Then, he flopped his arms and hung his head in defeat. “She’s probably gonna laugh,” he snorted. “But,” he added, peeking through his bangs at the mirror. “I still gotta try!” 

Before his courage could fail him, Denki snatched up the vintage stereo sitting on his desk— another birthday present from Kyoka— and scurried out of the room, hopping on one foot down the hall trying to slip on his Converse. He slowly tip-toed past Tenya’s dorm clutching his stereo to his chest; their class representative had a nose for trouble, especially Denki’s shenanigans, and had caught the blond many a night trying to sneak away and get up to no good. It seemed that luck was on Denki’s side this evening, as he made it to the stairwell without inciting a peep for the tall bespectacled boy’s room. He breathed a sigh of relief and gathered himself for a moment before proceeding downstairs. 

He treaded carefully, having long since memorized the creaky spots in the wood in his many misadventures. The tip of his tongue peeked out of his lips as he used the sparse moonlight to guide his steps down to the first floor. It was slow going, but the even best-laid plans were ruined by haste. He could feel his cell phone vibrating in his back pocket, probably Kyoka wondering why he suddenly stopped texting her. 

All in due time, my dear Kyoka! <3

When Denki reached the first-floor landing, he cautiously peered out into the gloom. It wouldn’t be the first time he surprised another student who had fallen asleep in the lounge, or worse, Mr. Aizawa, who had relocated to the common room to stay up late grading assignments. Thankfully, Lady Luck was generous and granted him passage through his second trial; the lounge was empty. 

Denki stole away through the darkness, like a thief in the night, to the back door. He grimaced as it creaked loudly and looked over his shoulder. After an agonizing half-minute of silence, no one emerged from the dark to scold him, so he elected that the coast was clear. He slipped outside, and the warm wind immediately enveloped him, clouding him with a cologne of night-blooming flowers and dew. He stared out into the side alley, the concrete path that led him to the space just beneath Kyoka’s balcony— and began to doubt. 

I’m really going out on a limb here, he gulped and clutched the stereo to his chest until the metal creaked. His absolute worst nightmare wasn’t Kyoka rejecting him… but laughing at him. He tried to tell himself that Kyoka would never do something so callous, but he worried all the same. It was such a frightening thing, putting yourself out there. The mind tried to worm its way out of it whenever possible. 

But it’s now or never! Even if she laughs at me… If I don’t do this now, I’ll regret not doing it for the rest of my life! 

Denki was going to go out on this limb, even if it broke underneath him and he plummeted headlong into bitter heartbreak. He could always put himself back together again. Resolute, he tromped down the small alleyway to the rows of balconies jutting out from the dorm. 

He counted under his breath until he found Kyoka’s sliding glass doors and fluttering curtains. He set the stereo down by his feet and finally pulled out his phone to discover a series of confused messages from Kyoka. 

Hello? You text me first, and then don’t answer me? What’s up with that? 

He smiled, sensing that playful bite in her tone that he’d fallen head-over-heels in love with. 

Come out onto your balcony, he answered. Before he could stow his cellphone, it buzzed with a quick reply. 

What? Why? 

Just do it! He insisted in mild panic. He’d failed to consider that Kyoka would just tell him to shove off and go to bed. As nervous sweat condensed on his forehead, he heard the faint click of the door. He jerked in shock, inadvertently dropping his phone face-down on the concrete. He cringed, already imagining the crack spiderwebbing across the glass screen.

“Denki?” he heard Kyoka call suspiciously as he ducked down to hit the power button on the stereo. It automatically started up a CD of Kyoka’s favorite songs that he’d burned on the off-chance that he would need it. Just as she came to the edge of the balcony, he straightened up and swept his hand through his hair, smiling bashfully. Her eyes widened, refracting the moonlight as her ears drank in the pretty tune streaming from the stereo’s large speakers. “Denki?” she repeated perplexedly. “What are you doing?” 

He nudged down the volume with his toe while a blush rose to his cheeks. 

“Look, I know this is corny as hell, and you probably don’t appreciate being called out at three in the morning, but I’m kinda desperate here,” he admitted, nervously rubbing at the back of his neck and chuckling. “You know how I told you I was thinking? I was thinking about you. How your smile lights up my whole life, and when you sing it sounds like an angel walking this Earth, and how damn lucky I feel to have shared these last three years with you. How cute you are when you laugh, and gush about romance movies when you think nobody notices, and how badass you are that it leaves me breathless.” 

As he rambled on and on about everything he absolutely adored about her, Kyoka’s face glowed like a pink opal in the moonlight and her wide eyes glimmered like gems. By this time, the noise had attracted the other girls from their dorm rooms, and they sleepily peered out at Denki pouring out his heart and soul to their startled classmate. His cheeks darkened with embarrassment, but he’d already said so much; there was no going back now. 

“I was thinking about how stupidly in love I am with you, and how if I don’t tell you now that I’ll regret it for the rest of my life. So I love you, Kyoka, and I’d be really stoked if you’d go out with me.” 

A ripple of gasps rang out from the girls’ mouths, and they all looked expectantly at Kyoka. The girl gulped audibly and pawed at her dark hair, which was sticking up in odd places and tousled with sleep. Her earjacks nervously writhed above her shoulders and her eyes cast down as she considered Denki’s confession. All the while, he stood there holding his breath, waiting and listening to the love song serenade the silence. 

He was beginning to feel a bit faint and like he was going to start sparking when her eyes finally flickered up to meet his own. 

“I’d be really stoked to go out with you, too.” 

The girls erupted into cheers and squeals, jumping up and down while clapping their hands. Kyoka blushed under their ecstatic congratulations. Their whoops and hollers attracted the boys from across their halls, meandering out onto the girls’ balconies to investigate what all the fuss was about. Denki shrunk under all the attention, twiddling his fingers and turning as red as a tomato. 

“Aw, congratulations, you two!” Izuku called with a big smile. 

“It’s about damn time,” Katsuki grumped from beside Eijirou and Ochako. “I was getting sick and damn tired about him mooning over her like a lovesick sap.” 

“Hey, bro! Don’t you have a nicer way to say congrats?” the redhead scolded, making Katsuki snarl. 

“Denki Kaminari!” came the expected chastising. Denki flinched and grinned apologetically at Tenya, who was gestating emphatically on Tooru’s balcony with his nightcap flapping. “What is the meaning of this? I understand the romanticism, but it is the eve of our graduation ceremony! It is imperative that we be rested to do justice to our prestigious institution, not straggle in like zombies! Have you no sense of decorum?” 

“Oh, can it, class rep,” Mina chided. Tenya leaned down over the balcony railing with an affronted gasp. The pink girl’s smile was wide as she winked at Denki. “So, stud. Are you gonna just stand there, or are you gonna come give your new girlfriend a kiss?” 

“Mina!” Kyoka hissed, turning her head so hard and fast that Denki swore he heard her bones snap. Denki jumped, stuttering nonsensities, and dipped down to retrieve his stereo. It was still blaring as he sprinted back into the dorm and up the stairs. Kyoka was standing in her doorway as he came barreling up the steps, tripping over the laces of his Converse and nearly plowing headfirst into the wall. The rest of the students watched with bated breath, crowding in the other doorways and on the steps behind him. 

“Hey, Kyoka,” Denki swallowed, holding the stereo to his chest as he timidly approached her. His breaths came in ragged gasps from his rapid staircase sprint, and a sheen of sweat stuck his hair to his forehead. He doubted that he looked the picture of handsome— but Kyoka still smiled coyly as he approached, tucking her hair behind her ears and staring at him like he was her knight in shining armor. His golden eyes never left hers as he set the stereo on the floor and rubbed his palms on the denim fabric of his jeans.

“Hey, Denki,” she smiled shyly. His heart fluttered just at the sweet sound of her voice, and he swore he fell in love all over again in that moment. His body moved instinctively as his mind was ensnared by her unconscious charm, stepping close to her and using his index finger to slowly tip up her chin. He sucked in a breath, enchanted by her shy little gaze and slightly parted lips. 

“You’re so beautiful.” 

“Just kiss her already, you asshole, I’m tired!” Katsuki yelled from down the hall, making both of them jump. He heard Eijirou scold him under his breath and elbow him in the ribs, making Katsuki unleash a string of unflattering curses. After the fiery blond’s grumbles had died down, Denki smiled bashfully at the pink-cheeked Kyoka. She fluttered her eyelashes demurely, then flickered her gaze down to his lips. 

Well, if he was waiting for an invitation, that damn sure was it. 

Without further ado, Denki leaned in to gently capture her in a sweet kiss. His heart sung as she hummed slightly, making his hair stand on end. He almost wondered if he’d strayed into a dream, that his fantastical whimsies had come to fruition only in his subconscious. However, when he pulled back and opened his eyes, he knew he was awake. He could never dream the way she looked at him then, with such utter adoration that it made his heart ache. 

“All right. Show’s over,” Katsuki grumbled, skulking off toward his room. Denki rolled his eyes but leaned down to finally switch off the stereo. When he straightened back up, their classmates had retreated into their rooms— leaving them alone. Kyoka shyly swung from side-to-side, hugging herself with a sheepish grin. 

“That was pretty smooth,” she admitted. 

“Really?” he asked excitedly. Her cheeks darkened a shade of pink, and then she nodded. Denki suppressed the wild urge to embarrass himself with a happy jig. Kyoka would probably find it charming, but he wanted to hang on to some sense of decorum, as Tenya had put it. After several minutes of staring adoringly at one another, Denki finally drawled dreamily, “Well… We should probably get back to bed… Tenya’ll be mad if we’re tired at the ceremony tomorrow.” 

“Yeah,” she said, sounding just as enthused about ending the moment as he was. Neither of them moved for several seconds. “You should go, Denki,” she reminded him, finally prompting his sluggish body to move. He scooped up his stereo, never breaking eye contact, before rising to clutch it to his chest. “I’ll see you later,” she reassured him with a light laugh, before retreating into her room. She didn’t close the door, just gazed at him like he’d hung the moon in the sky— and he would, for her. 

“Yeah,” he said as he began backing away towards the end of the hall. When she finally shut the door, he risked his happy dance, jitterbugging back to his room. Just as he flopped onto his bed, his phone buzzed. He pulled it out with furrowed brows, and then broke into a stupid smile. 

I’m looking forward to our date. 

His thumbs flew across the screen to type up a reply as he rolled on his side and snuggled into bed. 

Me too. Goodnight, Kyoka. 

She must have drifted off, because there was no reply. That was all right. After a minute of goofily admiring her contact picture, he finally put his phone on the charger and settled into bed. Sleep took him easily this time, gifting him dreams of what was to come.

Enjoy this oneshot? Feel free to peruse my Table of Contents!

[maladaptiv3]

Sunflower, Vol. 6

Content: the long awaited part 2 to good fit...and an homage to my other favorite man 

Warnings: swearing, smut, I get in my feels at one point (lmao)

Word Count: 2,036

sorry it has been so long since I posted! i hope this makes up for the absence...

read part 1 here

*original content by colsonbakes*

You groaned at the sound of your alarm. The phone screen was bright and stung your sleep laced eyes. You felt a familiar arm snake around your waist as you were scrolling through all the emails you managed to miss throughout the night. He pulled your closer to him, nuzzling your neck, tickling you with his bed head. He lightly kissed the back of your shoulders, feathering kisses along your exposed skin. You leaned back against his chest, “Colson, I have to get up. I can’t be late again.” You had shifted and could see the playful disappointment in his eyes. He huffed, “Come on, what’s the point of being in charge if you can’t use it to your advantage sometimes?” You shook your head and rolled your eyes, “I’m not in charge, I still have a whole board that I report to.” He knew your work was important to you and this wasn’t a disagreement he was going to win, no matter how hard he tried, “Fine. Leave me, I guess.” He pressed a long kiss to your lips and you felt his lashes flutter against your cheek. You tapped the tip of his nose with your finger, “Don't pout. Why don’t you come over after I get off work? I don’t think I have to work late.” He propped himself up on his elbows, “Your place?” You shook your head at him, confused, “Yes, my place. Is that a problem?” He reached out beckoning you to come back to bed, once again, “You always stay here. This is like the fifth night you’ve stayed here this week.” You giggled as you made your way to the bathroom, “You have a better shower than me.” You could hear Colson shout from the bedroom as you splashed your face with cold water, “Oh yeah, I'm sure that's why."

He did have a better shower, but you had also developed this sort of routine. A nice, safe routine that finally felt organic. For so many past relationships there had always been something forced. Whether it was pretending to laugh at his friends or the fact he always had to be the smartest in the room. There was something different about the time you had spent with Colson. He was a comfort you thought you would never have. A slight smile crept across your face every time he absentmindedly drummed a beat with his fingers. The soft snores that filled the air as you typed into the early hours of the morning soon became your favorite song. His touch simultaneously melted your heart and left lines of fire on your skin. You felt everything all at once with Colson, in a good way. You wanted to wrap yourself up in the way he made you feel and just exist in that feeling forever. You wanted to exist with him forever.

You were jolted from your thoughts by Colson’s bare feet padding across the ice-like bathroom floor. You jumped slightly and he took notice, “Someone’s jumpy.” You continued to run your brush through your hair, “I’m not jumpy, I was just lost in thought.” He stood behind you, you looked up at him through his reflection. He placed his hands on your shoulders, giving them a light squeeze before running his fingers down your arms, “What are you thinking about?” You gave him an innocent look, “Nothing.” He turned you around to face him placing his hands on the counter on each side of you. He lightly pressed his body against yours, “Oh come on, I know you better than that. You’re never just thinking about nothing.” You wrapped your arms around his bare torso and buried your head in his chest, “Don’t laugh.” He wiggled out of your grip so he could look at you, “Why would I laugh?” You could feel the heat in your cheeks, “I’m just thinking about how happy I am.” His angular features seemed to soften, “Why would I laugh at that?” You shrugged, his gaze burning a hole through you, “I don’t know, it’s cheesy.” He pressed a kiss to your forehead and you felt your heart flutter, “I like cheesy.” You couldn’t figure out why but you wanted to cry, it was almost out of relief. You cleared your throat, trying to hide your emotion, “I gotta get ready for work.” He stepped to the side letting you get on with your routine, “I’ll come over later.” You just shook your head as you pulled your sweater over your shoulders. 

It was nearly eight before you had managed to find your way home. You felt bad for telling Colson that you weren’t working late then sending your normal, “still at the office. x” text. He was always very understanding, probably because you extended the same sentiment whenever he had a late night in the studio or a longer than usual rehearsal. You fumbled with your lock bracing yourself for the probably now dead plants you had neglected while at Colson’s. You tried to close your door quietly when you noticed Colson sprawled out on your way-to-small-for-him couch. His arms were crossed and his head was leaning back against the wall. His nose twitched a little whenever the cool air from the ceiling fan passed across his face. You walked over to him and slightly shook his foot, you didn’t want to scare him. You whispered, “Colson.” He groaned, pretending not to wake up. You sat down next to him and blew in his year, “Baby, wake up.” He playfully swatted at you keeping his eyes closed. You rolled your eyes, “Come on, scarecrow I’m hungry.” His eyes shot open and his jaw dropped, pretending to be offended, “You know I hate it when you call me scarecrow.” You laughed, pleased with yourself, “It got your attention though.” He pressed his lips against yours and you hummed. He stood up and stretched his arms above his head, “How was your day?” You swept your hair up into a messy bun on the top of your head, “It was fine, just a lot of work. I’m tired.” He pulled you up off the couch, “And hungry?” You nodded, “And hungry.”

The two of you crossed the room to your tiny kitchen. You shuffled your playlist and let it play lowly over the speaker that lived on your counter. You started rifling through your fridge, “You know, I don’t really have anything. I haven’t been home in like a week.” Colson set two packs of ramen on the counter, “Looks like it’s a noodle night.” You began to sway to the soft melody of Champagne Supernova as you filled a pot with water. Colson placed his hands on your hips and began to sway with you. You set the pot down on the counter as he spun you around on the cold tile floor. You pressed up on your toes and wrapped your arms around his neck, pretending you could reach it without him slightly bending down. He slightly crouched down and pressed his lips against your ear and softly sang along, “A dreamer dreams she never dies.” You echoed back, “Slowly walking down the hall.” He slowly pressed his lips against yours before turning you around, your back meeting his chest. You stayed like that for a few minutes before turning back around to meet his lips. You were lost in each other, limbs tangling together while Harry Styles started to play in the background. Colson lifted you onto the cold kitchen counter. You instinctively wrapped your legs around his waist, pulling him closer to you, “You know, I’m not that hungry anymore.” He pressed a chaste kiss to your jaw, “Yeah, me either.” The music was still playing in the background, “Kiss in the kitchen like it’s a dance floor…”

Colson slid your sweater off your shoulders as you pulled the hem of his shirt over his head. His shirt, soon joined by yours, in a heap on the floor next to you. You both reached for each other’s waistbands. Colson took hold of your wrists and pressed your hands against the kitchen counter, sucking lightly on your collarbone. You slightly lifted your hips to make it easier for your jeans to slide down your thighs. Colson trailed wet kisses until he met your hip bone, his calloused fingers pressing into the soft skin of your inner thigh. His hot breath wafted over you and you shivered in anticipation. You tried closing your legs around him but he met your knee harshly with the palm of his hand. Your breath was uneven and you were almost too frustrated with his slow actions to enjoy anything. Your fingers found his messy locks and you pushed them off his damp forehead, fingers lacing with the blonde strands. You breathed out his name as your hand found his chin, urging him to come up and meet your lips. Your lips pressed together feverishly like you had been deprived of his touch for too long, a whole 12 hours.

Colson wrapped one arm around your back and the other around your hip. He lifted you off the counter, nearly tripping over the pile of discarded clothes on the way, found his way to your bedroom. You sat on the bed as he stood above you, his icy blue eyes now dark with need. You shoved his jeans down his thighs until they pooled at his ankles. He kicked them to the side as he moved to hover over you. You slightly leaned up pressing a kiss to his chest as you took him in your hand. He pressed his lips to yours, moaning into your mouth as you began to slowly move your hand up and down his length. He breathed against your neck, “Not like this.” You repositioned yourself farther up on your bed, your head slightly propped up by pillows. He followed your movements. You stroked his cheek with your thumb, “I love you so much.” He pressed a kiss to the palm of your hand, “I love you.” Colson’s head dropped into the crook of your neck as he slowly pushed into you. You wrapped your arms around his shoulders, frozen in time for a minute, taking in the intimacy. You connected your lips to his, “You can move, ya know.” He stifled a small laugh, “Right.” He slowly circled his hips, it was deliciously agonizing. You could feel your stomach tighten as a heat rose within you. You could barely choke out a word, “More.” He quickly obliged, his rhythm picking up, becoming more erratic. You could tell he was close as his thrusts become short and sporadic. His words were breathy, “God, fuck.” You dug your heels into the back of his thighs, burying him deeper than he already was. A look of concern spread over his face, “I’m gonna…” You cut him off mid-sentence crashing your lips into his, squeezing your eyes shut.

He collapsed on top of you. His sweaty forehead was sticky against your bare chest. You raked your fingers through his hair as he took your fingers in his hand, dancing along your fingertips with his. You basked in the afterglow until your breath steadied. You could stay like this forever, you wanted to stay like this forever. You closed your eyes, Colson shifting so that all of his weight was no longer on you. Your bare legs intertwined, the cool night air from your open window washing over your bare skin. Goosebumps erupted everywhere as he traced small circles on your hip. This was a perfect moment. Your comfortable silence was broken when Colson’s shrill ringtone started playing from the other room, “I’m gonna let it go to voicemail.” You just nodded. His phone rang again, he huffed in annoyance, “I guess I'll get it.” You could hear his tone shift into confusion and panic. You shouted out, “Everything okay out there?” He trudged, standing in the doorway, “We forgot to pick Pete up from the airport.” You scrunched your brows in confusion, “I thought he didn’t land until like almost ten.” Colson pointed to the analog clock sitting on your dresser, “It’s almost ten.” “Shit.”

Part 3? Maybe? 

[angst-fairygodmother]

Big News  ~ An Idiot (Affectionate) Story

A.K.A. part 2 of “Where do babies come from?”

A/N: While this is technically a continuation of Late Night either fic can be read alone. And I hope you enjoy! Word Count: 1365 Rating: T Content Warnings: pregnancy, fear of illness, a lot of crying

Ryne shifted anxiously on the exam table, grimacing at the sound of the paper crinkling beneath her, her hands twisted in her lap. She wished that the doctor would come in soon, and that she would stay out forever. 

She was scared, even if she didn't tell Derek just how much when he'd asked that morning if she was okay. She had been too young to know what was going on when she'd lost her mother, but she remembered her being tired and in pain and then gone. So when she made the appointment, she was fully braced for the doctor to tell her the fatigue and headaches were a sign of something serious, that drastic steps had to be taken or her days were numbered. (She attributed the cramps to her fear and the other aches and pains to something in her head.)

It wasn't fair. They'd barely been married a year. She wasn't yet thirty. There were so many dreams and plans ahead of her. After everything they'd been through, the idea of breaking this news to Derek made her feel like she was going to be sick.

The doctor came in. Ryne tried to calm her racing emotions as she explained everything. The doctor nodded sagely and started drawing up an order for bloodwork.

“Now, Kathryn,” the doctor said as she typed, and Ryne suppressed a roll of her eyes at the use of her full name, “you got married about a year ago, is that correct?”

Ryne did the math quickly in her head. “Yeah. A little less than that. Why?”

“And do you and your husband have a...busy marital bed?”

“Are you asking if I have sex with my husband?”

“I don't want to presume what kind of relationship the two of you have, but yes, that is my question.”

“Yeah. We're...I mean we do...pretty regularly…” she found herself tripping over her words suddenly, face growing warm.

“Do you use any methods of birth control?”

“I'm on the pill, but that's it. It's not like either of us has to worry about STIs or anything, we have no other partners.”

“Ah. I'd like to add one more test to the bloodwork then. It'll still take at least a few hours, so we'll call you tomorrow with the results.”

“Tomorrow? What's so serious it has that short a turnaround?” She asked nervously. 

“I don't want to jump to any conclusions, but based on what you've described today, I think you might be pregnant.”

“I...oh.”

Her mind struggled to wrap around the doctor's words. That would be a very different kind of news to break. Her heart skipped a beat. Would he be excited? Nervous? Scared enough to run away?

~

Ryne chewed nervously on her lower lip. It had taken all her willpower not to call her husband immediately when the doctor had confirmed the suspicions shared the day before. But this was news best delivered in person, if only to be able to see Derek's face. 

She thought she might burst by the time he walked through the door that evening. She struggled to maintain her composure, greeting him with a smile and letting him catch her around the waist for a kiss as he passed her in the kitchen.

“Hey baby girl,” he drawled, nuzzling into the side of her neck. “How're you feelin?”

“I'm fine,” she answered maybe too quickly, laying her smaller arms over his. “Today's been good.”

“Really? Cus this morning you seemed pretty sick...you didn't even drink your coffee…”

She could hear the concern in his tone and bit her lip again. 

“Plus you're still kinda pale and look tired. Not that I'm tryin t' insult you or nothin but…”

“I'm not insulted, Derek. You know how much I appreciate you looking out for me. But I promise I'm okay.”  

She fell silent for a long while, just leaning into his touch. She liked this, the casual little moments together, and wanted to savor them while they could. 

“I heard back from the doctor about some of the tests she ran,” she said finally, regretting that she had to break their stillness.

“That was quick,” he hesitated. “Are you...how bad is it? Is it bad? Whatever you need, whatever we gotta do baby, you know I'll take care of you.”

His arms tightened around her waist, a castle against whatever dangers she faced. A sense of calm washed over her then, and she twisted around to face him.

“That depends,” she said, her fingers dancing briefly over the scar on his temple. She met his eyes, finding warmth and love and dedication there, the kind that said he would be on her side through anything. “How do you feel about it not just being the two of us?”

“You mean like a nurse in the house or somethin?”

She giggled, burying her face into his shoulder and unable to stop now that she had started. 

“No, you goof,” she managed eventually. “I don't need a live-in nurse. I mean a baby.”

Derek's face scrunched in a frown of confusion that made her heart flutter. When he remained silent for several long, agonizing minutes, Ryne spoke his name softly, a question. 

“Really?” he asked, the whisper lower than anything she'd ever heard from him before, full of hope and fear in equal measures.

“Yeah,” she said, smiling at him and reaching up to wipe at the tears building in the corners of his eyes. “Really.”

“You're gonna have my baby?”

“Well it's not the second coming of Jesus so it had better be yours. Otherwise there's some weird shit going on.”

“For real?”

“Oh my god Derek,” she laughed. “Yes. For real. Not a joke, not a dream, high nineties percent accurate test. We're going to be parents.” 

The grin that split across his face was dazzling as he whooped and lifted her off her feet, spinning her in an excited circle. 

“I'm gonna be a Dad,” he cheered and laughed before setting her down and repeating the sentence in a subdued and stunned tone. “I guess I should stop calling you baby girl now huh?”

Now it was her turn to frown, puzzled. 

“We don't know yet, it might be a daughter in there, and I can't have two baby girls can I? That'd be cheatin.”

She laughed again, rolling her eyes at her husband's logic. “And if we ever have more than one daughter? What will you do then?”

He opened his mouth to speak and then closed it again, face drawn in careful consideration. Ryne watched the emotions travel across his eyes: the excitement and wonder, the fear, the love. And then suddenly he was ducking down to bury his face in the crook of her neck. Her hands traced soothing patterns wherever they could while she held him, carefully guiding them both through the apartment to the couch without letting go. By the time they were seated, both their faces were wet with tears. 

“I can’t believe this is real…” Derek breathed.

“In a good way, right?” Ryne asked, stomach twisting with nerves, his rollercoaster emotions leaving her scared that he’d settle on ‘abandon ship and run away.’

“Is that a real question? Of course in a good way. In the best way. You’re having my baby. I get to be a Dad. And then you were talkin about maybe more in the future and I just...I love you so much baby girl, and I’m gonna love this kid and you and them are gonna be my whole world.”

His words sparked something in her, the realization that she was really going to be a mom and be able to raise a little life and give them everything she never had, and she had her best friend and partner in crime by her side to do it, and she let out a sob as she threw her arms around his neck. Their lips were salty and wet as they met in their passionate, overjoyed embrace, but neither seemed to care.

“I love you Derek,” she murmured against him.

“Not nearly as much as I love you.”

[remmushound]

Curse of the Clans part 36! @brightlotusmoon @selfindulgenz @scentedcandlecryptid

Content warning!! Physical attack, restraint, cursing

SMACK!

April woke up to a solid, heavy thud. It took her a moment to recognize her own room; it was her first night staying in her house for almost three weeks. Every time her parents would go away on their business, the house would be too quiet for her to want to stay in it very long. But now the lair was just as quiet, and with her brothers gone, she didn't want to spend much time there either. It just made her sad. Her conflict with Splinter and Cassandra served to make things worse.

SMACK!

That sound came again, and this time her head snapped immediately to the window. Another impact, and another. A steady, drumming sound. April slid out of bed and into her slippers, slowly approaching the window and pulling back the darkened blinds. Surely the brothers couldn’t be back so soon?

April gave a shout and fell away as another projectile was launched at the window and smacked against it. Was that a rock? Quickly, she scrambled back over to the window and peered outside. Then she opened the window, just barely ducking her head in time to dodge another rock. She slowly peeked back over the windowsill and threw her arms open.

“What the hell Casey?!”

“Sorry!” Cassandra called back from the streets, “You opened the window!”

“No shit, Jones!” April snarled back, and then fell to a weak laugh. “What are you doing throwing rocks at my house at…” She checked the time, “Two in the morning?”

“Come down!” Sunita called up; she was in her human form, which hadn’t changed at all in the years April knew her. Skin a shade darker than April’s own, and hair of ink pulled tight again her scalp in braids.

“Not tonight, yall.” April leaned on her window sill and gave a tired smile.

“What?” Cassandra scoffed in an exaggerated fashion, “Why not?!”

“I have a headache.” Was April’s excuse; she didn't have one, but she certainly didn't feel good. She just couldn’t exactly pin point what part of her body it was that ached.

“I have ibuprofen!” Cassandra held up her purse.

“Good night, girls.” April closed the window.

***

“Well, that stinks.” Sunita put a hand on her hip as she turned to face the shorter Cassandra. “Should we knock again?”

Cassandra considered. She gave a smile that was undetectable due to her mask and cracked her fingers and neck. “I have a better idea~”

***

April was more than happy to enjoy the warm, weighted embrace of her comforter, hugging her childhood teddy bear to beckon sleep to return to her faster. With her injuries, this was shaping up to be the most boring summer of her life! But to be fair, the promise of a simple, normal summer of relaxation definitely appealed to her, no matter how far out of her reach she knew it was. A girl could always dream, right?

April’s body shuttered. It told her to open her eyes, and when she did it was like her worst nightmares came true, though for only a moment before her mind caught up with the fear in her heart and recognized the silhouettes standing over her like villains in the night.

“Casey? Sunita? What are you—?”

Cassandra grabbed April around her waist and hoisted the teen over her shoulder.

“Casey! Put me down!” April growled and kicked her legs, but Cassandra only laughed.

“Sunita— help me! Get her legs!” Cassandra howled, and Sunita hurried to restrain April’s legs while Cassandra supported her front, both of them holding April between them like a hammock. “You’re coming to girls night April!”

They started to carry April toward the open window. April’s initially startled screams slowly turned to laughter. She still struggled, but her actions were more playful than anything. They stopped at the window, though Cassandra had already climbed out of it.

“She ain’t got no shoes, get her shoes!” Cassandra laughed.

Sunita’s arm turned from human back to its slime form and extended out to grab April’s shoes and a pair of socks. Cassandra forced April’s feet still so Sunita could put her shoes on, and then they continued out the window and into the fire escape.

“Guys— I need a mask!” April laughed.

“Got one!” Cassandra reached into her purse and pulled out a blue mask, fixing it over April’s mouth and nose while still carrying her with one arm. Down the fire escape they went, and only when their feet had touched the ground did they put April down.

“Are you proud of yourselves?” April huffed, putting her hand on her hip.

“Very.” Cassandra smirked.

“You could at least have let me get dressed!” April laughed, “I can’t go out for girls night in my PJs!”

“Why not?” Sunita asked innocently.

“Cause It's not proper for a social setting!” April scoffed.

Sunita was quiet for a time before whispering, “Humans are so weird…”

“Oh yeah. Forgot you’re a slime dude.” Cassandra turned to face April, “You’ll be fine! It’s not like we’re going drinking! You’re not old enough; believe me, I’ve checked.”

“Then what are we doing?” April asked, genuine curiosity seeping into her voice.

***

The trio got close enough to see the mutant hippo known as Hypno Ron wandering the shadows of the streets; he didn't seem to have a care in the world as to being spotted. After all, he could always just Mesmer any human to forget! April wasn’t so keen on how reckless the mutant was being, but Cassandra locked on to the hippo almost immediately from the rooftops.

“Oh! Oh! I got this one!” Cassandra cleared her throat, and when she spoke again, it was in a heavy accent; her best attempt at mocking the way Hypno spoke. “Oh oh, deary me! I simply have to find a tiny suit for my tiny worm friend for our anniversary! How am I ever going to find one in time to enjoy tiny tea cakes and orange peels with the lovely Warren Stone?”

“Orange peels?” April scrunched up her nose.

“What? Worms taste with their body.” Cassandra shrugged.

“Oh! There’s one!” Sunita spotted the next mutant, Repo Mantis, buzzing around. She dropped her voice low and raspy. “Rrrrr. I just know there’s a birthday cake to repo ‘round here somewhere. That three-year old’s hiding well, but I’ll sniff em out with my sniffer.” Sunita made exaggerated sniffle motions that made April and Cassandra almost fall over laughing.

“This one’s mine!” April claimed a few buildings down when they spotted the mutant prairie dog wandering an alleyway, her nose twitching in the search for decent morsels. April didn't know her name, so she had to improvise, clearing her throat. “Can I dig here? Noooo this isn’t a good place for digging? Here? Maaaaybe not? Here? No. Man, none of these places are good for digging!”

Sunita and Cassandra were covering their mouths trying to keep their laughter to a minimum. The prairie dog seemed to hear them anyway, looking up from her curious search to twitch her ears in search of the noises.

The girls all ducked down low to hide from her sight, all covering their mouths and their snickers until the suspicions had died down. Then, at Cassandra’s command, all three of them peeked back over the edge and down at the mutant as she continued her work.

“Ohhhh the voices are back!” April carried on, this time in a lower whisper, “Hm? However will I pass the time? I know!” she cleared her throat and started to sing in her mock accent. “Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene! I’m begging of you please don’t take my man! Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Joleeeene! I’m singing this song just because I caaaaan!”

The prairie dog looked up again. “Did someone call me?”

That made the trio of girls fall apart laughing until their sides hurt and they felt like they might be sick if they laughed any harder. Through the next hour, they found more and more people to mock from afar, both mutants and humans, but after the hour had passed, April was starting to feel completely exhausted. The constant running and laughing made the soreness of her side ache even worse, and now her head really was hurting, and her stomach too.

“Sorry gals.” She told the two of her friends when she felt her body couldn’t hold out any longer. “Really gotta turn in for the night.”

“What?” Cassandra groaned, and Sunita seemed disappointed, “Come on! We still got two hours before the sun comes up!

“And I really should be spending it sleeping.” April sighed, “But I had a really good time! I’ll see you in the morning, girls?”

“Do you want us to walk you home?” Sunita asked softly.

“No, no, don’t trouble yourselves!” April waved her hand, “I know you two are having fun, and I can handle myself.”

“Are you sure?” Cassandra asked, “It’s no trouble…”

“It’s fine! I grew up with the turtles, I can handle myself!”

“If you say so…”

“I’ll be fine. Really.” April tried to reassure.

“At least take my knife.” Cassandra said, giving the long blade over to April, “I feel bad for abducting you without your bat.”

“You don’t have to do that.” April said.

“I want to!” Cassandra beamed. “Besides, I’ll just come back and get it in the morning! No big whoop.”

“Well then… thank you.” April turned the knife over in her hands a few times. “I promise I’ll give it back.”

April found where she was by checking the nearest street signs. She wasn’t more than a few blocks from home. The streets would be far easier to traverse than the buildings; as much as she had trained with the brothers, she never did quite get the hang of building jumping. That’s why Donatello had his special seat in his armor just for her! Thinking of Donatello, April felt a sudden sadness wash over her. She missed his sarcastic voice, his dramatic flare, his simple presence!

When she was out of view of Cassandra and Sunita, the first thing April did was let herself finally release the bile that had been churning her stomach for the past ten minutes, and she felt a lot better when the vomit was outside instead of in. Then she started to cry immediately after, but she didn't know why. She missed Donatello, sure, but enough to cry? And though her head hurt it wasn’t the agonizing, ripping headaches that usually plagued her, so it wasn’t the pain. Maybe it was just a bit of everything mixed into one, and that was why she felt so… not good. She wanted to feel better, and maybe crying could help that! It wasn’t like she could stop now. Once the tears started to fall, they just got heavier.

The tears fell hard as April entered a shortcut alley. Then she stopped when she saw a man at the other end; a man that looked to be just minding his own business, leaned up against a wall drinking from something within a paper bag. She already had a hunch of what it could be, and she certainly didn't want to cross his path. Not when there was a longer, but safer, path she could take instead. Gripping the knife in her pocket, April started to back away; it was preferable to turning her back on the man. At least, that’s what she thought before she collided with a bigger, heavier weight.

April tried to turn around. Powerful arms wrapped around her, one around her chest holding her in a grip so tight she thought her ribs might break, and another holding a cloth to her mouth. She held her breath for as long as she could, kicking out and trying repeatedly to strike the mans legs and groin, but all she met was muscle and what must have been an athletic cup protecting him. Figures! Just her luck!

When April could hold her breath no longer, she squeezed her eyes shut as the acrid fumes overwhelmed her, followed quickly by darkness.

[drawlfoy]

Mirror, Mirror P.5

masterlist (<- to read parts 1-4) request guidelines want to be tagged? 

pairing: draco x ravenclaw!reader

request: nope!

summary: y/n has admired draco from afar for a hot minute. what will happen when they’re finally paired up to do rounds together and run into the mirror of erised?

warnings: language, mentions of being very very ill, my terrible editing skills, way too much dialogue

a/n: here it is :) it’s been a bit. the finale will hopefully be posted this tues! i hope all of you guys have been continuing to social distance and i hope everyone reading this is healthy! also, important update: the first part of just a call away has been postponed until this monday (i originally expected it to be posted tomorrow but i’ve hardly been able to work on it at all). enjoy!

word count: 2.3k ;)

music recs:

permanent tags:  @gruffle1 @missmulti @cleopatera @hahaboop @accio-rogers @geeksareunique @eltanin-malfoy @war-sword @cams-lynn

tags for mirror, mirror:  @theres-a-dog-outside-omg​ @mey-rapp @kaibie @blackpinkdolan @sugarbby99

“Rena, I am going to kill you!” 

Y/N’s roommate looked up, the fear of Merlin struck into her eyes. The Transfiguration study guide in front of her lay entirely forgotten as she watched her friend slam the door and flop on the bed. “Oh?”

Y/N flung off her robe and tossed it on the floor. “When were you gonna tell me that you talked to Malfoy about me?” 

Her roommate narrowed her eyes, leaning forward in her chair and propping her chin up on her hand. “What are you talking about? He approached me and asked if you knew what the mirror was. I said you did. That was it.”

The venom seeped out of Y/N’s expression as the realization crept in.

“Oh. Oh, Rena, I’m sorry. I had no idea. He told me that you told him ‘everything’.”

“And you took a Slytherin’s word? Malfoy’s word? Honestly, Y/N, you give me a headache.” Rena sent a gentle smile her way. “What happened? Did you tell him?”

A sour feeling crept into Y/N’s chest as the memory she had suppressed on the walk to her dorm surfaced like bile in her throat. The rest of their shift was tense at best and downright agonizing at worst. Malfoy was uncharacteristically quiet, wringing his hands over and over again and scratching the back of his neck when he exhausted his wrists. Y/N knew that she was bright red by the time that they said their goodbyes--which really wasn’t much of a goodbye, just an uncomfortable nod before they parted ways to their respective dormitories--and cursed the fact that their ending spot was right under a torch. 

She would much rather prefer him to just straight up tell her he wasn’t into her; however, she supposed he technically did, that week or so ago in the Great Hall when he had told her he wasn’t into Ravenclaws.

Maybe I’m the one that needs to pull back. Maybe I’m actually the git in this situation and I’m making Malfoy feel uncomfortable.

“Yeah. I did.”

“And?”

“That’s it. He doesn’t feel the same way.” The words left her mouth feeling like heavy lead, weighing her breath down.

Rena stood up from her chair, her face softening. “He said that?”

“He didn’t say anything, really.”

“Well that doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel the same way,” said her roommate. Her voice was painfully cheerful for Y/N. “Maybe he’s just nervous.”

Y/N offered a weak smile as she pulled her hair out of her ponytail and got up to rifle through her drawers to find something to sleep in. “It’s over, Rena. I don’t know why I’ve entertained this for so long. It wasn’t even a thing to begin with. I just want to go to bed.”

“All I’m saying is that he’s Malfoy, Y/N. I’ve literally never seen him flirt before in his life. I don’t think he knows how. Maybe he’s just being mean because he doesn’t know any other way?”

“I think I just want to stop thinking about it.” Y/N began changing into her nightclothes quickly with her back to Rena. “I want to go to bed and forgot about it and get my O on the Transfiguration exam tomorrow and just never think about rich daddy’s boys again. No matter how cute they look!”

Y/N tossed her old robes in her hamper, turning to Rena one more time with a blazing expression on her face that said I dare you to disagree.

“All I’m saying,” Rena said slowly, “Is that Malfoy didn’t seem like a total rat when he came up and asked me about you. It just seems strange that he would do that if he had no interest in you.”

“The only interest he has is in antagonizing me,” Y/N snapped. “He’s a class A git and I hate him.”

Rena raised an eyebrow, her expression slightly amused. “Whatever you say, Y/N. We can talk tomorrow morning. I think you need some sleep.”

oOo

Y/N’s dreams were torturous--just a loop, replaying over and over again, of her interactions with a certain Slytherin. She was dragged through her memories against her will, feeling the initial admiration of seeing him read in the courtyard for the first time, crumbling under the anxiety of their shift assignments, suffocating through the tension of their final meeting, reeling at the way his hair looked under the torch lights…

It was too much. She awoke with a pounding headache and a throat so sore that she may as well have swallowed a healthy spoonful of fire over the night. Her eyes hurt to open, like the edges of her eyelids had been lined with Dittany. 

“Merlin, Y/N, you look like shit.” A voice that sounded suspiciously like her roommate wafted from her right side, but she couldn’t be sure. “I’ve gotta get you to Madame Pomfrey.”

“Rena?” 

“Y/N?” 

If she hadn’t felt like she was toeing the line between the dead and the living she would’ve been sure that the tone in her roommate’s voice was tinged with amusement. She tried to croak something more out.

“Don’t worry, Y/N,” Rena cut in before she could try any harder. “I’ll be back in just a minute. Don’t try and get up, alright? You need your strength.”

Y/N nodded--or at least, she tried--and turned back into her pillow to sleep. A part of her mind registered that she had a Transfiguration exam today and then rounds that night with Malfoy, but as a cold bead of sweat ran down her spine, the thoughts were pushed to the back of her mind. He could wait. He’d already taken up her entire night by filling her dreams and she was not eager to see him again any time soon.

“Y/N?” The door creaked open and her roommate’s voice dragged her back to lucidity. “Hi girly. Can you walk?”

Y/N forced her eyes open and winced at the light filtering through the curtains. It was hardly light out, but the weak morning light sent pangs through her head. The heavy quilt that she had been burrowed under was lifted up off of her...and the shivers started.

Her entire body began shaking, her teeth clattering together so hard that she was afraid she would break them. She wondered if anyone had ever chipped their teeth from fever chills.

“Just swing your legs around the edge...yes, just like that…”

Rena’s hands held her shoulders with a firm grip as she shakily made her way to her feet, swaying slightly. 

“Fuck, Y/N, you’re absolutely shaking…”

“Mmmhmmm” was all Y/N had the sense to use as a reply.

“All you need to do is make it down the stairs. I can put you in a wheelchair and push you the rest of the way.”

“Love you,” Y/N mumbled as her friend guided her down the stairs. Even though she’d been walking up the stairs to her dorm for years, everything felt oddly foreign to her through her feverish haze.

“Love you t--whoa! Easy.” Rena caught Y/N from near demise as she almost missed a stair. “You’re almost there, doll. Just hold on a bit more.”

“I need you to....” find someone to cover my rounds tonight she tried to say, but the words caught on what felt like daggers in her throat as she felt the wall. 

“Focus on getting down the stairs,” Rena interrupted. “You can tell me once we’re on the way to Pomfrey’s.”

Finally, she made it down onto the last step and allowed herself to be guided into a seat. Exhausted from her trip, she slumped back in the chair and forgot about her request as she drifted back off into her feverish dreams.

This time, they were different. Instead of interactions that had actually happened, her brain took her through a different whirlwind of events. A flurry of sensations met her--a thumb dragging across her slightly parted lips, a chaste kiss placed on her neck, a hand softly squeezing hers, a warm breath fanning across her cheek, a pair of just barely blue eyes staring down at her with so much affection that her heart skipped, a rough hand shaking her shoulder, the sting of something pressing into her wrist (a wand, she thought absently), voices around her calling her name…

Her eyes shot open as she recoiled from a burst of unbearable cold across her chest. The ceiling of the infirmary wing greeted her. Her torso was wet, and once she cast her eyes down to the end of her bed, she could see why.

Madame Pomfrey stood next to Professor Trelawny and Headmaster Dumbledore, brandishing an empty bucket in her hand. 

“Thank goodness! She’s awake!”

Pomfrey sent Trelawny an irritated look as she rushed forth, muttering incantations and running diagnostic tests on Y/N’s body. 

“What...what happened?” she managed, trying to sit up.

“Stay down,” Pomfry commanded, turning to her nightstand to mix a concoction of various potion ingredients. 

“I just had the flu.”

Trelawny moved to the side of the bed to clasp her hand firmly in hers, a kind look in her loony eyes. “Miss Y/L/N, I’m afraid that wasn’t the case. You had an acute case of Dream Sickness. We’re lucky that you were able to wake up when you did. You’re even luckier that your roommate noticed and brought you down here.”

Y/N knitted her eyebrows together. “I’m sorry. Dream...what?”

“Dream Sickness,” the headmaster finished. “A very rare affliction that primarily affects the overthinkers in the wizarding community. Naturally, you Ravenclaws are at a higher risk than other students.”

“So who gave it to me?”

“No, dear,” said Trelawny. “It’s not contagious. It can happen to anyone, but it’s more common if you spent time around powerful magical artifacts. Have you?”

Y/N cringed at the thought. 

“Er...yes, I guess I have. I ran into the Mirror of Erised on one of my prefect rounds. I never lingered, though.”

“That would do it,” Dumbledore mused. “The mirror has a tendency of...inflaming emotions. I ought to locate it and put it in a safer place.”

“So I’m okay? I can go back to classes? I have a Transfiguration exam today, and I’d really like it if I could make it.”

“McGonagall’s Transfiguration exam, I presume?” he asked. 

“Yes. It’s later in the afternoon. I promise I’ll be careful!”

The adults beside her shared uncomfortable glances.

“Dear,” Trelawny began, “You’ve been here for two days.” 

The air was sucked out of her lungs as the realization kicked in. “But that’s impossible! I was only sleeping for a little bit. And I had rounds! How did I miss my rounds?”

Pomfrey seemed mildly sympathetic as she emptied the mixture she had been stirring into a crystal goblet and offered it to her. “It’s normal to be disoriented after a bout of Dream Sickness. Professor Flitwick is sure to understand the situation, and if he does not, I am willing to vouch for you. Now drink. You have some recovering to do.”

oOo

Rena Severjyn was always the confrontational type. It had been a shock to her as well as her family when she’d been sorted into Ravenclaw (with all the bookworms and the teachers’ pets, as her older brothers said to her) instead of Gryffindor, but she’d grown to love her house. Studying came more naturally than cliff-jumping, or whatever it was that Gryffindors did, but when it came down to it, she had no problem with telling someone off.

So when she ran across a deliciously alone Draco Malfoy reading in the courtyard, she had no trouble walking right up to him.

“Hey, arsehat.” She plopped down next to him as he started, nearly dropping the book on the gravel walkway. “We need to talk.”

“Severjyn,” he greeted, his tone even but his eyes flickering nervously. “Do you know where your roommate is? I had to do my rounds alone last night.”

“She’s in the hospital wing. But no matter. I want to know why you’re being such an intolerable prat to her.”

His mouth opened and closed a few times, clearly trying to cope with the fact that he was at a loss for words.

“Spit it out, Malfoy. I don’t have all day.”

“Is she okay? Did something happen to her?”

Rena rolled her eyes. “No, she just decided to spend more of her time around Pomfrey. Yes, something happened to her. She’ll be fine. You’re not answering my question.”

“I don’t understand.” The crease between his brow deepened with worry.

“She said she told you how she felt and you didn’t say anything about it!”

“I’m sorry. I just got nervous.”

“Are you dense?” Rena’s voice became shriller. “You told me yourself you fancied her, and you can’t even manage a measly ‘me too’? Even though you had the whole of fucking two hours to do it?”

A blush spread across his fair cheeks as he slammed his book closed and stood up. “It’s not that easy. You know it isn’t.”

“It’s never that easy. But she was able to do it, and you even told her that you weren’t into her! Honestly, I cannot believe you.”

“Please just…” Draco evaded eye contact, dropping his eyes to the floor and grinding his toes into the gravel. “Just leave me be. I promise I’ll talk to her once she’s better. Just don’t tell her, okay? I want to do this myself.”

Rena rolled her eyes. “You better.”

final a/n: finale is coming out soon! let me know what you thought :)

[tasteslikepepsicola]

I Know What You Did Last Summer Part 2 (Sodapop Curtis x Reader, Dallas Winston x Reader)

Authors Note: I can’t believe I disappeared so long after posting the first part, I’m so sorry, I have so much motivation to write now and the next part might even be up in the next few days. Again, I’m so sorry for the wait but I hope you like it. I love the concept for this series, (as you can tell I really like love triangles) and I hope you guys do to! Also, might change my username soon, but I’ll keep you updated. Make sure to follow so you can stay up to date with the series! Thanks again <3

Warnings: Cursing, slight angst, implied smut

Word Count: 1,600+

One month later…

After Sodapop had dropped her off that night, nothing had been the same. They hadn’t been in contact since then, and it was finally starting to hit the two that they were no longer together. That didn’t make it any easier, however, on either of them. Both lied awake at night wondering when they lost what they used to have, gazed at their ceiling wondering what they could have done differently. And both would have given anything for another chance at loving each other. But Y/N knew that wasn’t her place anymore. She lost the right to love Sodapop the moment she gave her love to someone else, while he was at home waiting for her. And worse, she lied about it. She hoped he never forgave her, she didn’t deserve it.

Meanwhile, Sodapop reminded himself of this fact every time his mind wandered off to her...which was often. He couldn’t be with someone who could betray him like that, it wouldn’t be fair to himself. But he also wasn’t sure how much longer he could stand being away from her. She was like his oxygen, without her around, he couldn’t breathe.

Avoiding each other wasn’t hard. Y/N started getting her gas elsewhere, and Sodapop took a different route to work that didn’t require passing her house.

Y/N was sitting in the booth of their local diner when her friend pointed to a pair of boys who walked through the door. “Ain’t that Sodapop’s kid brother?” she asked.

Y/N whipped her head around quickly, noticing Ponyboy and Johnny as they started walking towards them. “Act normal,” Y/N muttered through a forced smile. They walked past the girls towards an empty booth a few seats in front of them. Neither acknowledged her presence, though she was sure they must have seen her staring at them. 

After a few agonizing minutes, the waitress brought them their check, and Y/N decided to try to get out of there as fast as she could. She didn’t need to say anything for her friend to catch on, she didn’t know much about their breakup, but could tell it was an awkward situation. As they wordlessly stood up to leave, Y/N felt a hand lightly grab her arm.

“Y/N?” Ponyboy asked, now standing behind her.

“Oh, hey Pony…” her voice trailed off.

“Sorry- uh, can we just talk for a minute?” he asked through the biting awkwardness of the whole situation.

Y/N glanced at her friend, who only said, “I’ll pull the car around, come out when you’re ready to leave” and then scurried away quickly.

The greaser boy and her sat down at the table she had been sitting at. Johnny still sat a few seats down, more focused on his lunch than the situation happening a few feet away. 

“What’s up?” Y/N tried to ask casually.

“Sodapop…” Pony started. “He’s- he’s real messed up about this whole thing. He keeps saying he doesn’t want to talk about it, but I know he hasn’t slept right in a month. I know he misses you.”

Y/N felt her heart break as he continued. How could she do this to someone so good? Someone who had never, who would never hurt her. What was wrong with her?

“Be straight with me, Y/N, please. What happened between you two?” his voice dropped low, like he was expecting the worst.

“I-” Y/N couldn’t find the right words. “I made a mistake. And it’s not something that can be forgiven.” she fought back tears she hadn’t realized that were building as she spoke.

“You- you cheated on him?” Ponyboy concluded, anger suddenly rising within the young boy.

“I don’t know. I thought we were broken up...maybe we weren’t. But it doesn’t matter. Sodapop will never forgive me, I don’t even forgive me. We both just need to forget about it. Me, him, Dallas...whatever, the only way this can get better is if I stay away from him.” Y/N couldn’t meet the greasers eyes, feeling nothing but shame and pain.

“Dallas? Dallas Winston? That's who-” Ponyboy stopped himself, almost on the verge of yelling at her. But he couldn’t, not in front of all these people, not at a girl, he knew that wasn’t right.

Y/N looked at the boy she used to consider a little brother, the boy who used to idolize her. The boy who used to question Sodapop about why he wouldn’t just marry her already. Now, he looked at her like he didn’t know who she was anymore.

“I got to go.” He mumbled.

“Ponyboy!” Y/N yelled after him, but he was already walking away. People looked their way, startled by the sudden scene that was coming from their table. Hot tears began to roll down her cheeks, she wiped them as she stood and got out of there as fast as she could.

When she got in the car out front, her friend asked, “Woah! What the hell happened in there?”

Y/N didn’t answer, instead she only said, “Don’t take me home. Drop me off at Buck’s. I need to talk to someone.”

*****

The whole ride there, she had rehearsed what she was going to say. Now, standing outside the notorious party spot, Y/N suddenly felt very self conscious. She tried to remain determined as she banged on the door. Nobody answered. She continued to pound on the door, finally crying out, “Dallas Winston I know you’re in there! I need to talk to you!”

She then heard footsteps clambering down the stairs. The dark haired boy opened the door quickly, grabbing her arm and dragging her inside.

“What the fuck?” she quipped.

“Sorry…” he mumbled, lighting a cigarette as he spoke. “Shepard’s pissed at me, gotta lay low for a bit.”

As she stood there, arms crossed and pouting, everything she had mentally practiced saying to him in the car had escaped her mind.

“What do you want doll? Why are you just standing there looking at me like that?” he smirked slightly as he spoke.

“Don’t play dumb Winston, I know you know what happened.” she vented.

“What? Something happen with your boyfriend?” he mused.

“I know you know we broke up.”

“Yeah I might have heard something about that.”

“Well...he knows.”

“Knows what?”

She rolled her eyes, angered at his desire to play dumb. “Don’t make me say it.”

“Y/N, of course I know he knows we slept together. He didn’t give me a black eye and split lip for no reason.” 

Y/N swallowed her words, shocked at what she was hearing. Sodapop didn’t fight.

“I could’ve taken that pretty boy, but I figured I deserved it. And no, nobody else knows, not even the gang, if that's what you're worried about. Your reputation is safe.”

“Fuck you, Winston.”

“You already did.” he replied with another grin.

Y/N turned to leave, yelling, “You’re a terrible person! You know that?”

“Newsflash, honey, it takes two people to cheat.”

She turned back around, anger spilling over, “I hate you! I had a perfect boyfriend before what happened. My life was perfect, I was probably gonna marry him.”

“Alright little Miss. Perfect, I get it, I’m the cause of all your problems, you hate me. What do you want me to do about it? Why are you even here?” his voice remained calm.

“I want you to apologize, to say sorry for once in your life for fucking up!” she yelled, stepping closer to him.

“I’m sorry, I truly am, sorry to Sodapop, for sleeping with his girl. But I’m not gonna apologize for what happened between us, because honestly, I’m not.” he replied, the distance between the two getting slimmer.

“God, what is your problem?” she asked.

“You wanna know what my problem is? It’s you! You were all over me that night, I didn’t just fuck you, I was there for you. You were crying when you walked in, you told me what happened and I listened.”

She shook her head, trying to ignore what he was saying, trying to avoid replaying the night in her mind.

“And you kissed me. And we got together, and the next day you just left. And went back to him. And I had to watch as you pretended like nothing happened. As he hugged and kissed and held you. And now, you show up here blaming me. So yeah, you are my problem.”

“He was my boyfriend!” She fought back tears for the second time that day.

“Why’d you avoid me?” he questioned.

“Are you kidding me?” she cried.

“No, why the fuck did you avoid me? Obviously it wasn’t guilt, you were fine lying to him. So why? Why couldn’t you be in the same room as me? Even without him there?”

She shook her head, “I’m not doing this.” She tried to pull away, but he caught her elbow and kept her there.

“I think I know why now, Y/N, because you and I both know you stopped loving him before that night, or else you wouldn’t have done what you did. You avoided me cause it was easier than facing the reality of the situation.”

“You’re wrong…” she said.

“Deep down, you know you don’t hate me, not even close, doll.”

She raised her hand, to slap him, he caught her wrist and said, “Prove me wrong then, leave if you want, I’m not gonna stop you. But, just so you know, I want you to stay.”

He started to pull away, then, and Y/N didn’t know what came over her, but she grabbed him, and smashed her lips on his. Without a second of hesitation, he reciprocated. His hands traveled to her thighs, he lifted her up, and she responded by wrapping her legs around his waist.

They didn’t move from that position until they were in his bedroom, and he was slamming her onto his bed.

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

summertime sadness .8.

deja vu

Sequel to kiss me in the d-a-r-k

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 (masterlist under construction)

Warnings: non con 

This is dark!(dad)Steve and dark(professor!)Bucky and dark!Loki and explicit. 18+ only.

Summary: The reader tries to avoid disaster.

Note: Not much to say for this one. Just enjoy. Thank you!💋

<3 Let me know what you think in a reblog, reply, or like. I’m loving the feedback from y'all and the enthusiasm! Also as always, memes accepted.

💋💋💋

Friday night. You were on the train before six. Loki let you go fairly quickly. He had cum fairly quickly. The remnants were on your blouse, barely concealed by your cardigan. The shadows of the underground flickered through the windows and the noise of the crowd drowned out that in your head.

You walked the half-block to your building. An unexpected figure sat waiting on the step. It was too late to hide. Bucky stood, the pizza box balanced against his chest. He smiled weakly.

"Figured since you've been dodging me, I'd come to you," He said evenly. "And I brought some food to appease you."

"I'm not very hungry." You muttered as you dug around for your keys. "I'm tired."

"Must be. You're home late. Train doesn't take that long." He remarked. "If you don't want a slice, you can keep the leftovers for tomorrow. Or is it me you don't want?"

You sighed as you brushed past him and he followed you into the lobby.

"I just...have a lot on my plate." You said as you unlocked the door. "I don't think it's a good idea to keep this up while I'm..." 

"Fucking your boss?" He ventured. "You think I couldn't guess?"

"Working." You insisted as you stopped in the door. "And what do you care?"

"I don't, really. I'm only curious. It's all so sudden. You know, it wouldn't bother me if--"

"Nothing bothers you," You snapped. 

"So what do you think? You cut off your old ties and chase him into the sunset? You really think he's gonna help you once he's had his fun?"

You flinched. You lowered your eyes and turned away. He kicked his foot in the door before you could close it.

"No, but it will do neither of us any good to carry on like this." You retorted.

He frowned. He looked at the pizza box and picked at the edges with his nails. He nodded. "He knows."

"Yeah," You confirmed meekly. "He knows."

"And so he told you to ditch me? He blackmailing you?"

"I made that decision. To protect both of us."

"Protect us? This could fuck up your whole career."

"Yeah, and if our little affair got out, what do think then? You think they'd keep you on tenure?" You spat.

"I'd find something else. You don't have to play martyr." He argued.

"Sure, maybe you'd survive the fall but what about me? I don't think I'd be able to climb back up."

"Sure you could." 

"I'm on scholarship. And if they didn't kick my ass out of the university, they'd surely pull my funding. And the internship? Loki could have me blacklisted all the way to England." You shook your head. "I don't get to fuck up. Not like you."

"And what about Steve?" He asked.

"What about him?” You sneered. “I think I'll stop while I'm ahead." 

"You can't just cut him off like that." He said.

"I can take care of myself. About time I start." You hissed.

"A little help never hurt anyone." He said.

"Just... I can't right now." You uttered. "I can barely think. I don't sleep. I... please just leave me alone."

Bucky scowled. "You gonna tell him?" 

"When I find the words," You said. "Please don't."

"Yeah, no, you take care of yourself," He shoved the pizza toward you. "And eat something. Just one slice."

"No, I can't."

"Just do me this last favour." He pushed it against you until you took it. "I don't even like feta."

"Thanks." You took the box entirely. "I'm sorry."

"Nah, I'm sorry." He shrugged. "It's as much my fault as yours but... hey, if the fall gets too high, let me know. I'll still be there to catch you if I can."

You gulped and nodded, unable to speak through your tightened throat. You sniffed and finally found your voice.

"Bye." You squeaked.

"See ya," He gave half a wave. "You got my number."

He turned and you watched him go. You backed up slowly until the door shut. The pizza was still warm but the smell turned your stomach. Or maybe it was yourself that made you so sick.

💋

Another week passed. Another agonizing week. The office that was once your naive fantasy had become an all too real nightmare. Loki hovered over you, even when he wasn’t there. He loomed menacingly on your shoulder. His voice in the back of your head.

And Steve. The messages never stopped. You woke to them and fell asleep reading them. Still, you couldn’t think of what to say. He’d give up eventually. You were just some girl he fucked. That’s it. So you left him on read and distracted yourself with your daily torment.

Loki was out of his office that day but it didn’t preclude you from his schedule. As you packed up, your phone vibrated. He was waiting for you outside. You knew exactly why. The same reason he kept you every day. He wanted to try a new toy. Wanted to play with his toy. You responded quickly and dropped your phone in your bag.

The elevator was too fast so you took the stairs. Your steps echoed around the flights and when you reached the bottom, you were out of breath. You stepped out into the lobby and lingered there. Loki’s streetcar was by the curb just outside the doors. His driver kept the window up when you were around.

You took a breath and your heels clicked across the polished floor. You pushed through the door as the rear window of the car slowly declined. Your name tripped you up as it came from your left. You turned to the familiar voice as its owner stepped away from the side of the building.

“Steve?” You gasped. “What are you--”

“Ah, so you remember me?” He asked as he crossed his arms. 

“Steve…”

“I just want an answer. Anything?” He stepped closer. “Just tell me why?”

“I… can’t,” You sucked in your lip nervously. “I gotta go.”

“No, no, you can’t just run away,” He caught your arm before you could flee. “Bucky told me you iced him out too. And I can tell he’s not telling me everything either.”

“Look it’s… complicated.” You sputtered. “Can we-- can we meet later? I’ll tell you then but I really need to go.”

A car door opened and closed. You cringed as the figure in your peripheral neared and the arm snaked around your waist to draw you away from Steve.

“Problem?” Loki asked with a smirk.

Steve scowled and looked between you. “Not yours, buddy.”

“I’d say it was. You’re keeping my date…” His hand dropped and he squeezed your ass. You flinched and looked to the sidewalk. “And we have plans I am most eager for.”

“We’re talking,” Steve said. “Give us a minute.”

“You can keep talking,” Loki taunted as his hand trailed along your spine.

You felt Steve’s eyes on you but couldn’t bring yourself to look up. “Without you.” Steve warned.

“Whatever you have to say to her you can say to me,” Loki argued. “Don’t worry, I don’t mind. Seems she has a certain taste.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t think she was into assholes,” Steve scoffed. 

Loki chuckled. “Look, gramps, can we get this over with?”

“Oh, we can end this,” Steve stepped up to Loki. “You just gotta walk away.”

Loki rescinded his arm and met Steve in kind. “Doesn’t look like she wants to talk.”

“I didn’t ask you.” 

“Well, let’s talk then.” Loki taunted. “You see, me and your midlife crisis have been having quite the time and we’re running behind.”

“Don’t,” Steve bristled.

“And I hear… rather I know,” Loki lowered his voice, “She loves it from behind.”

“Don’t talk about her like that.” Steve growled.

“You must know? Or maybe you’re the old missionary hero, yeah? How long does that little blue pill keep you going?”

“Stop.” Steve’s tone drew your eyes up at last.

“It’s all me. No enhancement.” Loki continued. “And oh, does she love it. You should hear her, begging for it as I--”

Loki stumbled back suddenly as Steve’s fist flew up. You exclaimed and backed away as Loki barely stayed on his feet. Steve reeled back again and you caught his arm before he could grab your boss by his scruff. 

“Steve,” You pleaded. “Leave him alone.”

He looked at you then to Loki cradling his bloody nose. “You’re coming with me. Now.”

“No, I don’t think she is,” Loki said as he sniffed back the blood. 

“Oh ho, well you can stop me from taking her,” Steve flexed his fingers. 

“Steve!” You snapped. “Enough. Both of you.”

Loki narrowed his eyes as he pushed his knuckle to his nose to stem the bleeding. He nodded and glared at the other man. “Fine. Get him out of here before I’m inclined to return the favour.” He barked. “But I expect you at eight. Sharp.”

“Alright, okay,” You appeased as you clung to Steve’s arm; he was still tense and ready to pounce again. “Just go.”

He pinched his nose and grimaced. He turned and strutted over to his town car. He sent one last snarl your way as he opened the door. As his door snapped shut and the car drew away, you let out a shaky breath. You looked up at Steve and his eyes met yours.

“We need to talk,” He said.

“Yeah,” You sighed. “I think we do.”

💋

Your apartment was quiet. A thick silence that settled in your chest. You closed the freezer and grabbed a cloth from your drawer. You wrapped up the ice pack as you neared Steve and sat beside him on the end of the bed. You took his large hand and pressed the cool bundle to it. He hissed, his knuckles swollen and red.

“You shouldn’t have done that,” You said.

“I couldn’t help myself,” He let you cradle his hand. “I can’t believe you’re fucking that guy.”

“Yeah? Or you can’t believe I’m not fucking you?” You challenged.

He frowned and looked away. “Maybe both.” He admitted. “But why him?”

You let out a long breath. You looked to your feet and shifted on the bed. “Because… he could take everything from me.”

“He…” His brow creased. “He’s blackmailing you?”

“Just like you.” You shook your head. “Same tricks, only better.”

“I--” He began. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

“You still got that video?” You asked.

He hung his head guiltily. He didn’t need to say so.

“It’s all gotten out of control and the only thing I can do is let the mess drown me,” You grumbled. “All I have to do is get through the summer.”

He drew his hand away and leaned away from you as he dug in his pocket with his uninjured hand. He pulled out his phone and unlocked it. He opened his gallery and scrolled through until he found the video. He handed it over.

“Delete it.” He said. “I shouldn’t have ever taken it. I shouldn’t have…” 

You took the phone as his voice died. You watched yourself undressing by the hot tub. It felt so long ago. You hit the trash can icon and hovered your finger over ‘yes’. You sniffed and pressed down. The video disappeared.

“So, does that make everything right?” You scoffed.

“Not even close,” He said. “I don’t think anything will. I realise that now.”

“Yeah, no going back,” You muttered.

“I’m sorry. I know it probably means nothing, but I am.”

“Loki… isn’t your fault.”

“No, he isn’t but… I still hurt you. I used you and I knew what I was doing but I did it anyway.” He stretched his bruised fingers and hissed. “I wish I could punch myself.”

“I know what you mean,” You leaned against him. 

“You can punch me.” He said.

“No, I meant me,” You shook your head and placed his phone beside him. “Thank you for apologizing.”

“Least I could do.” 

He let you take his hand again and exhaled as you put the ice to it. You stared at his phone as you thought. You raised your head and looked him in the eye. 

“Thank you!” You chimed.

“For what?” He blinked. 

“I think I figured it out.” You breathed. 

“Figured it out?” He wondered.

“First,” You grinned as the pieces fell together in your mind. “I gotta meet Loki at eight.”

[uzumaki-rebellion]

“Black Boys Bloom Thorns First: Volume 2, Chapter 29″

"Oh my, time heals all but you outta time now (Now) Judge gotta watch us from the clock tower (True) Lil' tear gas cleared the whole place out I'll be back with the hazmat for the next round We was tryin' to protest, then the fires broke out Look out for the secret agents, they be planted in the crowd Said, "It's civil unrest," but you sleep so sound Like you don't hear the screams when we catchin' beatdowns Stayin' quiet when they killin' niggas, but you speak loud When we ride, got opinions comin' from a place of privilege…"

"Lockdown"-- Anderson.Paak

Califia stood before the march organizers and read off the things the group wanted to pass along to other protestors. Erik sat next to her on a chair and listened to her tick off each item.

"People should bring protective gear if they can. Goggles or sunglasses for pepper spray. If they have access, they can use the heavier gear for tear gas. Masks or bandannas for the face. Milk and water is good to have on hand to flush out the eyes if tear gas is used. Tattoos and other identifiable markings need to be covered. They should wear plain clothing or gear that doesn't have identifiable brands. A woman was arrested in the States because the Feds were able to trace a T-shirt she bought online at a specialty site. We have advised everyone to bring extra t-shirts and other clothing to switch out so they can disappear if surveillance photos are taken and the streets get hot. Confusing the enemy is the name of the game. We learned a lot from Hong Kong protestors in the past. Phones need to have GPS turned off and if possible, passcodes placed on them in case they are confiscated. No sharing selfies or uploading images…"

The list was long and her fellow organizers nodded in agreement with all the actionable items she shared.

Soliel stood next to her and read off her list of protest roles that would be fed out online to give everyone interested an opportunity to participate, especially those with disabilities and even those who wanted to march but were afraid of losing their jobs or being harassed by their own families.

"As long as we all fight in our own way, we can move this city and this country forward. The whole world. We expect the state to use whatever tools they can to make us look bad, so we must squash any groups that try to disrupt our peaceful march. There will be plants among us. We know this. But we can't allow them to bait us into a situation that would allow them to use violence against us. That is what they want. We'll have our shield soldiers briefed on how to defend us if the federals act out. Our flag bearers are young and move fast, so we will be made aware as soon as possible when the federals arrive in various locations. We have range soldiers, fire squads, and barricaders trained to act. There will be medics available, and as long as we follow our plans, we will have a safe and successful march," Soliel said.

Califia's chest eased with the tightness she had after talking with Erik. He listened on the chair and even asked a few questions about their safety if the police there took them to jail. They had bond pledges ready and lawyers on stand-by, but they hoped it wouldn't come to that.

When the meeting broke up, she walked outside to check on N'Jobu, Bakari and Besouro who opted to stand watch outside. As the organizers left their home, N'Jobu walked up and down the street. She worried that the spies sent to watch their house would take pictures of him, but he assured her that his kimoyo beads would mess up their tech. He planned on using a protective shield on her when they marched.

Besouro said goodnight, and her father and Bakari turned in for the night. She sat outside with N'Jobu and Erik.

"You feel comfortable?" N'Jobu asked her, tossing his arm around her shoulder.

"Yeah. I think we have it all down. The people just have to show up."

"How are you feeling?"

Looking into his eyes, she saw worry in them.

"Quiet…um…settled I guess. It's like the feeling I get when I used to dance at school. You rehearse and practice and understand your role, and now it just comes down to the performance. You hope things go well."

"They will," Erik said.

He sat on the small step that led up onto their tiny porch.

"Did we forget anything in there?" Califia asked, giving her son a smile.

"You had it all covered, Mom. Good job."

"Thank you."

His eyes glanced around the street. Then rested on N'Jobu.

"Baba, what's the matter?"

"Nothing. Just thinking about the march and us returning home."

Erik walked over to N'Jobu and rested his arms around his father's shoulders.

"I like having you around like this all the time. It's been fun here," Erik said.

N'Jobu stroked Erik's hands.

"I've enjoyed myself too, Son. What will you and Marisol do while we are at the march?"

"We'll watch it online, and then make dumplings with Auntie probably. She promised to make them on Saturday."

"Don't eat too many, you always get bad gas," Califia said.

"No, I don't—"

"You don't have to smell yourself when you go to sleep and start ripping bombs," she said rolling her eyes.

"Slander!" Erik said pushing on her arm. She pushed him back.

Down the street someone put on music in their home and Erik wiggled his hips and did a couple of backflips. Tapping his father's knees to get him to play, Erik hopped back from the porch to give N'Jobu room.

N'Jobu slid off his shoes and did an assertive swagger step that circled Erik. The boy's eyes kept watch on his father's hands, expecting the attack to come for his chest and not his feet. Erik stayed on the balls of his own bare feet, hopping up and down each time N'Jobu passed behind him. N'Jobu lunged forward but dropped to his feet tricking Erik into using his hands to go for his father's face. The moment Erik did that, N'Jobu cartwheeled into a side handstand using his legs to knocked Erik aside.

"Clever!" Erik shouted, hooking his fingers and jabbing N'Jobu with hard hits into his thighs. Their motion was fluid, and N'Jobu didn't allow it to move too fast.

"Alright little warrior, time for bed," Califia said.

Erik gave his father a hug.

"If you take a shower, try not to make too much noise, okay? Grandpop is having a hard time sleeping, so any noise keeps him up," she said.

"Okay. Night."

She kissed his cheek and watched him enter the house. The street was quiet then, and there were no more spies that they could see watching their home. The unmarked cars were gone.

Califia sat next to N'Jobu on the sturdy wooden chairs they propped out on the porch. Life felt good in that moment. She reached out and held his hand.

"When we have the vibranium, people can be protected from all police. All types of violence. We can create sources of energy that will lower the cost of living for everyone. People can really live. Sit on their porch and just watch the stars at night with their families and not worry about bills, or putting food on the table," N'Jobu said.

He cradled her fingers and kissed them. Califia stared into his eyes. She believed every word he said because the conviction in them was infectious. She had so many plans for when they began to remake the world. She wished Lia was alive to participate in shaping the future.

"Free education for all at any level. And that education will be equitable in quality everywhere. We can transform healthcare and the education of doctors and nurses on what true health and healing is. No more fossil fuels corroding the earth. People can work at what makes them happy, like my people at home. Wakanda isn't perfect, but we know how to run a society that treats people like humans and not capital gains."

She kissed his lips.

"What was that for?" he asked with a teasing quality in his voice.

"All that sounds so sexy coming from your mouth."

"This mouth right here?" he said pointing to his lips.

"Yeah."

"Are you sure?"

"Let me test it again and see."

She climbed onto his lap and he held her sideways. Lowering her head, she licked his lips then suckled his top lip before going full open-mouthed kissing with him. His hand slid up and down her back and she felt a little something growing under her.

"We should take this to the bedroom," he whispered rubbing on her backside.

"We can't. Erik's sleeping in there, remember? Grandpop has his bed—"

"And Bakari's on the couch…yeah…that is a problem," he sighed.

They kissed longer, and when their necks began to shift left and right as their passion grew, N'Jobu broke away from her wet mouth. They didn't have a car, and the house was so small inside, they would wake up everyone even if they tried to sneak into the bathroom or kitchen.

N'Jobu's eyes darted to and fro, and then he had her lift up.

"What are you doing…babe…no…"

His jeans slid down to his thighs.

"Pull down your jeans, girl."

His erection was hot against her naked thigh. Dragging his fingers up and down her slit, he teased out her wetness.

"It just looks like your sitting on my lap," he whispered. His tone had gone heavy. He was ready.

She couldn't resist and sat down on his length and when she felt his balls, a groan escaped her lips and he covered her mouth.

"Shh, c'mon now. Let's pretend we're back in your grandmother's living room. You know how hot you get when you have to be quiet. Mmmm…shit…Califia…see, you do remember what that was like. Riding my dick. Up and down. Just like that. Give me what I want Califia. I'm your throne…I'm your throne…fuck!"

Califia shifted her weight and let it drop on his lap, allowing his dick to penetrate her deeper. He had her at his mercy, but she switched that up quickly.

"You like that Your Highness?"

His eyes grew big then narrowed with lust. This man. That royalty talk made him grow even stiffer. She rotated her hips in slow agonizing circles as she kept direct eye contact with him, biting her lip and pouting whenever he said her name in submissive whispers.

"You like that Your Highness?"

His head tilted back and his lust-filled eyes gazed up at the heavens filled with stars. She rocked forward and back letting his dick hit her walls with a different energy in the movement.

"I love it!" he gasped clutching at her covered breast.

She began a slow calculated bounce and his right thigh shook under her.

"Dammit!" he cried out while burying his face in her neck, gripping the skin there with his teeth.

"Bite me," she panted, wanting those gold panther teeth of his to dig into her throat and make her feel drunk with his power to weaken her flesh.

His loving never got old or boring or repetitive. N'Jobu's dick aged like fine ebony wine and he could still bring tears to her eyes when they made love. The tasty fucking he was giving her on the porch had her eyes swimming in water already.

"Fuck me Prince N'Jobu."

She whimpered when his eyes fell shut and he held her down on his lap so he could thrust up into her. She leaned forward again to adjust the side angle he had her in and allowed him to slam his dick into her with a faster rhythm. Her cheeks began to clap loudly and she worried that her family inside could hear it. N'Jobu gave no care to whoever heard him. He was inside his woman. That's all that mattered.

"Your Highness, fuck me harder!" she blurted out in a rush of desperate air.

He gave out a loud moan that he couldn't hold back, and now her loud ass cheeks were joined by the sound of her wet pussy being stirred like creamy cake batter. She didn't even have to play with her clit to keep it stimulated, the side fucking tugged on her stiff bud.

"Yes! Baby…harder…"

Tears dropped from her eyes and her mouth started to dry out from being open and yelping every three seconds. When she began to squeal and squirm from all his thrusting, she dug her nails into her knees and let go.

"I'm cumming Prince N'Jobu! I'm cummi-!"

She slammed her hand over her mouth as the contractions in her walls took over. She stood on tippy-toe as her pussy did all the work of milking his dick. He shouted a curse word in Wakandan and the swelling of his length released a torrent of hot semen. He shoved his dick into her deeper and allowed his release to coat every inch of her slick interior.

Panting, N'Jobu pulled out of her and she felt the back rush of his excess cum drip from her folds. She pulled her underwear and pants up.

Wiping his sweaty brow, N'Jobu stared at her face and they both laughed.

"We are a mess," she said.

She watched him slip a single bead from his kimoyo bracelet as he walked to the front part of their tiny yard. Digging a small hole with his index finger, he dropped the bead in like a seed and tapped it twice. Califia's eyes caught a slight bright afterimage in her retinas that felt like a muted camera flash.

"What was that?" she asked.

"Security. I just activated a surveillance sensor. It will protect the house and alert me of anything outside."

He tapped another bead on his arm. Their house popped up as an image floating above his arm. It rotated 360 degrees. She could see her father, Bakari, and Erik asleep inside.

They snuck into the house and took a shower together. Crawling into bed next to their son after changing into shorts for him and a nightie for her, they spooned Erik on either side of him, the child's snores giving Califia relief that he heard nothing.

N'Jobu stared at his son's sleeping face. Califia' stroked the boy's hair.

"I will give him the world," he said.

Califia nodded, but her man had to know that he was already their son's world.

Erik had it whenever his father was next to him.

###

At the starting point of the march, N'Jobu slipped a kimoyo bead inside the pocket of the black jeans Califia wore.

If any trouble occurred, he would activate a protective camouflage shield around her and him and escort her out. She seemed anxious but eager after Soliel's parents dropped them off and took Erik to stay with Marisol. Erik appeared disappointed once more that he couldn't participate, but he kissed them goodbye and N'Jobu felt relief that his son would be away from potential harm.

The weather was agreeable and he watched Soliel and the march leadership give final instructions to the large crowd that listened to them speak through megaphones. Califia passed out water bottles from the medic supply tent that was set up at the starting zone. There would be others dotted along the march route.

Despite the sad memories of losing Lia, there was a palpable sense of celebratory vibes wafting off the marchers. Some had posters with Lia's face on them, others had posters of other victims of police brutality and police misconduct. Califia wore a brown and beige Steampunk mask that covered the bottom half of her face with attached goggles with dark lenses that protected her eyes. Once Soliel stopped speaking, she too covered her face with a bandanna and dark sunglasses that obscured her face. The family of Lia would be direct targets, and relatives were advised to blend into the actual march and not center themselves for any reason.

More supporters arrived and by the time the march started at three, there was plenty of media and the frenzy to try and capture trouble wafted off of the press. Chants of Lia's name and Brazilian protest songs were sung, and N'Jobu felt proud of the family for keeping Lia's name and work alive.

Two hours in and miles of bodies marching through the streets, word spread through the crowd from flag bearers that the police were moving in to contain pockets of protesters who had broken off from the main march. There was to be a rally at the end in front of the city hall, and the joyful energy in the crowd shifted into caution mode. N'Jobu held Califia's hand and kept her next to him as they walked. The surge in numbers of people grew, and N'Jobu began to feel as if he should remove Califia and the family. Something didn't feel right.

His military skills went into hyperdrive and he searched roofs for snipers and spotted some along the route. They were near the front of the first wave of marchers, and he could see police barricades already blocking access to city hall and limiting the space they had been given permission to occupy.

The crowd grew tense.

Soliel chatted with some women who were to speak in front of the mayor's office and she signaled for Califia and N'Jobu to come next to her.

"They don't want me to speak," Soliel said, "there are some police here who many think we're part of the assassination of Lia."

"You have a right to speak without fear for the family," a young man said who was in charge of the speakers line-up scheduled.

Soliel's face was creased with worry.

Another woman held up her cell phone.

"A group on social media have threatened to make trouble," she said.

"I won't be scared off," Soliel said even though her voice shook. She looked at Aunjanue. Bakari caught up to them.

"There are some people near the middle of the line that are instigating trouble. Some police are getting a little heavy-handed," Bakari said. He scrolled his burner cell.

"Besouro and some drummers are trying to help contain it when I left."

"What do you want to do, Soliel?" Califia asked.

"We should speak. I will speak. They silenced my sister a year ago. We can't allow that to stop us now. Intimidation tactics are what they are known for. I won't bow down to it."

The rally commenced.

N'Jobu and Califia watched speaker after speaker give testimony about Lia and the work still being done to combat the problems of police brutality and the inequities in the city. Califia checked in with Soliel's cousin who babysat the children and things were fine. Soliel closed out the speeches and gave a fiery address. N'Jobu watched her pull off her t-shirt and standing in her bra, she showed everyone her old bullet wounds in her chest and arm. Her voice was guttural and Califia translated her words as fast as she could for him.

"They put a bullet in my sister's head, and they tried to kill me too. Look at me! Look at me! I am a Black woman fighting to honor my sister's memory. I have dedicated my life to doing work that helps my people just like my sister did. My family is still watched by the police. I get email threats every week since my sister has been gone. Why? Because they do not want anyone else to rise up and challenge injustice. The police do this. The same police who allowed my sister to be murdered by their own are out here standing among us. They are not here to protect and serve the people. They are here to uphold the will of the state. And the state says that Black people are not worth anything…"

The crowd booed and some made catcalls to the police surrounding the mayor's office.

"…they say we are not human beings who deserve to live dignified lives. My sister dared to speak truth to power and…"

N'Jobu watched the crowd carefully and then kept watch over the police on alert.

"Oh shit…" Califia said.

"What?"

"She named names. Told the crowd we know the individuals who killed Lia…."

Soliel held up her cell phone and scrolled it.

"She's now naming cops in the line up here and telling the people reports of their misconduct records…"

N'Jobu felt the energy around him get amped up. The anger was swelling from the marchers. The cops looked tenser. A few left their posts and threaded away from the protestors.

"I'm glad she did it, but that was not part of her original speech," Califia said.

Loud chanting started behind them and N'Jobu swiveled his neck to see where it was coming from, but it seemed to erupt from everywhere in a spontaneous show of power.

"Fuck the police!" Califia shouted her fist in the air.

N'Jobu's eyes darted around. Many cops had their hands on their weapons ready to discharge them as they held up riot shields to push back people. He slipped his fingers on his kimoyo beads. One false move and he would make Califia and himself disappear from sight. Califia caught his fingers on the beads and she clutched onto his arm.

"Soliel," she whispered.

"I slipped a bead into her jean pocket," he said.

Califia pressed her head onto his shoulder. The relief spilled from her.

"We are not afraid of you. You should be afraid of the power from all of us. We will change this city for the betterment of all. The world is watching us right now. My sister, Negra Li, she is watching all of us right now. Our ancestors are watching over us right now. Justice will come. Justice is here. I thank all of you for coming—"

An organizer rushed over to Soliel and tugged on her arm. Soliel stared down at her cell phone.

"I just received word that my home was firebombed. My home was attacked—"

"N'Jobu! The children!" Califia shouted.

N'Jobu grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the crowd.

###

Smoke rose up from the destroyed back half of Soliel and Aunjanue's home, and as it drifted up to the sky, the setting sun made it look monstrous like a snarling dragon sitting on top of it with a heated white-gray breath. Adrenaline coursed through N'Jobu. The fire department and police tried to hold him and Califia back as they all stared in disbelief at the destruction.

His heart began to beat again when he saw Soliel's cousin who was in charge of caring for the children standing near an ambulance with Marisol. The little girl was given fresh oxygen. That relief was short-lived.

"Where's Erik?" Califia screamed.

The cousin, Ines, began to cry with a bruised face and Califia shouted out in agony and lunged for the wrecked house again. N'Jobu grabbed her and held her tight, but she fought him. "Is my baby in there?! Is he in there?" she screamed at the firefighters.

There were already firemen going through the rubble in the back. He dragged Califia over to the cousin and Marisol.

"What happened?" N'Jobu asked trying to contain his anger.

"I was cooking and Marisol was with me in the kitchen. An explosion blew up the back….we were thrown onto the floor. I covered Marisol up…but JaJa, he was in the bedroom playing a video game. I called to him, but I couldn't get him because we were covered in debris and the house was burning…"

Ines burst into uncontrollable tears and Califia tried to comfort her as her eyes pleaded for him to find Erik.

"Go get him!" she demanded.

He moved with a swiftness as Dante and Soliel's parents arrived. Soon enough Bakari and Soleil showed up with many organizers.

"My son is in there get off of me!" he yelled pushing on a policeman. He kicked aside wood and concrete, shouting for his boy, his eyes filling with smoke…

"Baba! Mom!"

N'Jobu turned to find Erik running up to his mother. Califia grabbed him in a tight hug, lifting him off of his feet.

"Where were you?" N'Jobu said clutching for him too.

Guilt was on his face.

"I left the house…I snuck off to go to the march…"

His eyes took in Marisol and then he stared at the destroyed rear of Soliel and Aunjanue's home.

"What happened?" Erik asked. His eyes were wide like a baby owl.

Califia kissed all over his face.

"I should be angry with you, but being hardheaded saved your life!" she scolded.

Erik walked up to Marisol who was in the arms of Soliel.

"You okay?" he asked.

Marisol burst into tears.

"We thought you were dead!" she wailed.

The little girl said what they all felt and Erik hugged her.

Califia wiped her eyes.

Soliel lost it.

"They tried to kill my family again!" she shouted.

Aunjanue tried to hold her and Marisol's face crumpled.

"The police did this! The police did this!"

Soliel's parents pulled her and her family away from the ambulance and ushered them to a waiting car. N'Jobu grabbed for Erik and Califia's hands.

"Let's go," he told them with Dante and Bakari on his heels.

He hailed a cab two blocks away and Califia called Soliel's mother to see where they were headed. The new family home was the destination. N'Jobu checked their own rental property and it was intact.

"This is crazy," Bakari uttered.

The ride in the cab only lasted five minutes and they took refuge inside a single-story home. Both the children were checked thoroughly and Marisol was sent to go rest. Calls were made and fears were heightened. Califia's hands wouldn't stop shaking and N'Jobu rubbed her back.

"JaJa," N'Jobu said.

"I know you told me to stay at the house, but I watched the march online and I just wanted to be there. I caught the bus but a lot of streets were blocked off, so I just walked around until I found some marchers. I walked and then I came back."

Fate.

Fate had a way of working on N'Jobu, and he thanked Bast for whatever got into his son's head to leave.

"Poor Marisol, and Ines," Califia said.

"Shit," Dante said.

Califia's father walked to the front door and they all followed.

Groups of angry people were storming down the street yelling.

"This isn't good," Bakari said.

Erik tried to peek at the action but Califia pulled him back and took him to the room where Marisol rested.

N'Jobu heard bottles breaking outside. Soliel's father Andres closed the front door.

"We stay indoors," Andres said.

"They destroyed my home!" Soliel shouted. Aujanue tried to calm her again.

"We will go salvage what we can in a couple of hours, but right now, we stay here."

Andres's voice made things sound final.

The rest of the night was spent watching the news of the firebombing, screening phone calls from the police and media.

People took to the streets and whatever feelings of goodwill and hope that the march provided ended in anger and destruction of public property. Government property was targeted and they all watched in horror as the Sao Paulo community that peacefully assembled to celebrate Lia broke down into hopelessness. Hundreds of arrests were made. N'Jobu and Califia saw young people throwing Molotov cocktails at the police who shot back with rubber bullets and real ones. Complete chaos. Supporters stood outside and protected Andres's home.

Califia was able to slip his kimoyo bead away from Soliel when she changed clothes and returned it to him. N'Jobu spoke with Erik about what he saw in the streets. His son only reported positive things and he felt good about being a part of the memorial march.

"Will they be able to fix the house back up?" Erik asked when he rested between him and Califia for the night in the spare bedroom of Andres's home.

Bakari was camped out on the floor next to the bed on a small cot, and Dante was curled up in a sleeping bag directly on the floor to help his back.

"There was too much damage to save it," Califia said with bitterness lacing her voice.

"Are you guys still mad at me for leaving?"

"No, Son. We are happy that everyone is alive and well. Homes can be replaced. People cannot," N'Jobu said.

Erik rested his head on his mother's stomach.

"Why do bad things happen to us here?" Erik asked.

Califia looked at N'Jobu for the answer.

"Powerful people with ill intent often don't like to see good people change the world. They are afraid of losing their power to control others," he said.

"Marisol was so scared. I shouldn't have left her."

"Don't worry about that. You are safe and sound and here with us," Califia said.

"Will she have to see someone like Dr. Davis? Like I had to talk to someone about…you know…"

"Probably. Don't think about that. Get some sleep, okay?" Califia said.

"Will they stay out in the streets all night? Because of what happened to Auntie's house?"

"Most people have gone home. Luckily, no one was killed by the police—"

"But that woman got shot in the leg, Mom."

"She'll live, son. Everyone is upset and hurt by what happened. They had to act out those feelings. But it's calm now."

Califia smoothed hair from Erik's eyes.

"Somebody needs a haircut," she teased.

"You!" he said pulling a clump of her hair.

"Ow! Boy!" she chirped slapping at his hand.

Erik giggled.

N'Jobu was glad that he wasn't traumatized by the shocking events of the day.

Erik fell asleep and Califia eased him off of her belly and tucked him between them. N'Jobu reached over and stroked Califia's arm.

"I'm still so angry. If they were watching all of us, then they knew there were children in that house. They didn't care. Willing to kill our babies—"

"Shh, Califia. Not now. Don't wake him."

She stared at her hands.

"Look at my hands. They still shake. God, I want to strangle whoever did that to us. I just saw that rubble and knew Erik was under it."

She grew quiet.

"Califia?"

"You think he's okay? He seems calm about all of this."

"I think he's fine. No one was seriously hurt and we all came together quickly. There was no chaos like…like last time."

"I needed to be here for this…"

"But?"

"Maybe it was a mistake. Bringing him here. I could've come by myself…"

"We needed to be here together. All of us—"

"Don't just say that to make me feel better, N'Jobu."

"We can't control the actions of our enemies. The march was an overwhelming success."

"But after the march, we'll get blamed for what happened."

"People acted out of legitimate frustration and anger about what happened to Soleil's home. It was another attack on Lia's good name, and if people destroyed a few police vehicles and buildings, so be it. Why are you smiling?"

She shook her head, her smile deepening.

"What would the old N'Jobu say about you talking like this?"

"The old me was naïve and corrupt."

"Corrupt?"

"Corrupted by privilege. Isolation. Willful ignorance."

Her eyes rested on their son.

"He'll really be okay, right?"

"Yes."

She eased her head on a pillow and closed her eyes.

He drifted in and out of sleep. Their journey into the future would begin soon and he fretted about it until he saw Bakari wake up and go into the kitchen. N'Jobu followed him.

"Couldn't stay sleep," Bakari said pouring himself some instant coffee.

"Me neither. Part of me wants to run out and just beat the hell out of anyone affiliated with the police, and another part of me knows that it could be anyone out there against Black people."

Bakari nodded.

They sat at the kitchen table together and listened to the loud ticking of the grandfather clock in the living room.

"Erik?"

"Good. So far. He wasn't there so he's only concerned about where they will live. Marisol and Ines will have to process this."

"Marisol was laughing with Andres last I heard before I went to bed. Ines said she's been through worse, so…I don't know. Maybe this will pass by for them without much scarring."

"Bakari. When we return to the States, I will need your help with some legal things."

"Like?"

"I'm planning some things and it involves my family. I'll give you more details when there aren't so many ears around, but it's very serious and I need your complete confidence and discretion."

"Whatever you need man."

N'Jobu walked into the living room and peeked out of the large front window. He could see a few neighbors standing guard outside the gated yard, and not much foot traffic or cars rolling through since the police blocked off access near the house. He hoped things had really calmed down, but his gut told him to be ready for anything.

###

The local news was in a frenzy, but the story about the firebombing was picked up on international channels. N'Jobu laid low indoors with Erik. Califia moved in and out of the house to make statements with the press alongside Soliel. Later that day the family went to salvage personal items from the destroyed home. N'Jobu watched the children and cooked for them, checking his kimoyo beads for Califia from time to time.

The march organizers had a debriefing meeting that Soliel insisted on participating in that evening. Dante had a return flight back to Oakland, so goodbyes were given and Califia saw her father off in a cab before she headed out with Soliel. They were gone for hours, and when he didn't hear from them after too much time had passed without a check-in, he grew concerned. He asked Bakari to watch the children while he set out to track her with the kimoyo bead planted on her.

He tried Califia's cell phone, but she didn't answer it. Soliel didn't answer hers either and when he drove a few blocks away from the house, Califia's phone number popped up on his cell.

"Califia?"

The voice on the other end spoke rapid Portuguese and N'Jobu couldn't make out the words. It wasn't his woman speaking. He pulled over and parked. He saw a police vehicle on the corner and there were people lingering outside as the evening settled down.

"Hold on. I don't understand…too fast…slow down…vá mais devagar! Where is my wife?"

The voice became shrill. The only thing he understood was his name and Califia's.

"Hold on for a minute, please!"

Clutching the phone to his chest, N'Jobu swept his eyes back to the police car ahead of him. Something made him leave the car where it was and walk discreetly back to the house.

"Erik, come here!"

Erik bounded out of the bedroom. Bakari stepped out of the kitchen.

"What's up man?" Bakari asked wiping down a plate.

"Someone's on the phone and I can't figure out what they're saying. They're using Califia's phone."

Bakari reached for the cell.

"I can talk to them."

"It sounds urgent and Erik's Portuguese is better."

Erik took the phone.

N'Jobu tapped his beads and he could see that Califia was alive and stationary, but she wasn't where she was supposed to be. He wished he had given her a 4D bead, but he couldn't take the chance of his brother scanning it and discovering his whereabouts or seeing Califia with it.

"Baba, this woman says that the police raided Mom's meeting…the phone cut off."

N'Jobu felt his heart leap to his throat.

Andres and Soliel's mother stepped into the house carrying bags of groceries.

"Mestre, I need you to call Califia's phone back. Something has happened."

Andres took the cell and put it on speakerphone.

The woman answered again but her voice was quieter like she was trying to whisper.

"Turn on the TV!" Andres shouted.

Bakari snapped on the television and N'Jobu's eyes and ears were split between the cell and the news.

"Okay, that was one of the organizers—"

"Mãe," Erik said holding onto Soliel's mother whose hands shook.

N'Jobu held onto the woman's arm and helped her sit down on the couch.

"What is happening?!" N'Jobu demanded.

"The women were having a meeting and the police went there to charge Soliel with inciting a riot and there was shooting. An officer was killed and—"

All eyes went to the TV as reports of the dead cop was announced.

"Where are they?" Bakari asked.

Three women were seated on the curb of a street in handcuffs and N'Jobu recognized them from being in his house days earlier. There was no sign of Califia or Soliel. Aunjanue wasn't seen either.

"Shoot out?" Andres said with an incredulous voice as the TV reporter made ridiculous claims, "My daughter would never have a weapon—"

"Shh," Mãe said patting his arm.

"Baba," Erik said.

His son stepped next to him and held his arm.

"It's okay, Son. Your mother is fine."

He almost convinced himself.

The threads were coming together to tell a story that N'Jobu didn't like. Cops raiding Soliel's organization. He could imagine Califia or Soliel popping off and the cops retaliating for accusations and calling out names for Lia's murder. They had to be on the run if that many police were parading in front of the TV cameras. They would've ditched their cell phones to keep from being tracked.

When the news report went to commercial, N'Jobu turned to face Andres.

"They won't be able to come here. Where can they go that will be safe?" N'Jobu asked.

He couldn't let on that he had the exact location of the women. Picking them up from wherever they were would not be a problem for him, but if they were in deep and actually did kill a cop, he'd have to get Califia out of the country.

"They would head out of the city," Andres said.

N'Jobu held onto Erik's hand. His eyes glanced at N'Jobu's beads and then they were on his father's face. The boy was quick.

N'Jobu ran through plans in his head. They would have to leave all of their belongings at the rental property. There was nothing there they needed. Erik had his mother's laptop there with him. N'Jobu would leave it with Bakari to take back to the States.

The landline rang.

They looked at one another and then Andres answered it.

The man listened to whoever was on the line and his body language relaxed. He hung up and took a deep breath.

"They are fine, but hiding out with Besouro in his apartment. They can't stay there long because the police will probably start locking down streets since a cop was killed. There is now a manhunt for them."

That meant they had names.

That also meant that Califia couldn't leave the country by plane or car. She was stuck.

Unless…

"We can get Aunjanue and Soliel to the Mantiqueira Mountains, but Califia would have to stay with them," Andres said.

Erik's body grew tense against him.

"No. I will get her out of the country," N'Jobu said.

"Man, how you gonna do that? They will have this place crawling with cops, and they will be out for blood," Bakari said.

"Baba," Erik murmured.

Marisol walked into the room rubbing her eyes. Mãe ushered her back into the room she came from napping in.

"I will get her out of here."

N'Jobu's words were final.

###

He was taking a huge risk.

N'Jobu had War Dog allies all over the planet, but what he was attempting to do now could risk the greater mission if it failed.

He stayed secretive as he rode in a cab with Erik and Andres.

Favors had been called in from Andres's cadre of capoeira supporters and close family friends. Spiriting away three wanted women was going to be a delicate task. The police already had a woman in custody who was Soliel's right-hand soldier and she wasn't speaking to anyone but a lawyer. Bakari stayed in Andre's home contacting lawyer friends back home and discreetly checking to see if there was someone who could help him with Brazilian law where it pertained to American citizens accused of crimes.

Changing cabs a few times and walking for the last leg of getting to Besouro's apartment was tough, especially for Erik whose anxiety about his mother spiked tremendously. Entering the back of the twenty-story apartment building, N'Jobu used his kimoyo beads to scramble cameras outside the apartment and inside as they rode an elevator.

He was able to breathe normally the moment Califia was in his arms.

"Jobu!" she cried out when she saw him.

He hugged her so hard that he squeezed the breath from her chest.

"Don't talk about anything, not in front of Erik," he whispered in her ear.

She nodded and he released her to comfort their son. Erik did his best to appear brave but it didn't stop a few tears from trekking down his face once he was back with his mother.

Time wasn't wasted and Andres gave Soliel and Aunjanue wigs that Mãe sent with him and a change of clothes. They waited an hour and then one of Andre's friends called from a hidden car out on the street.

"Cali," Soliel said.

All the women hugged. There were no tears among them, just reassuring touches and kisses. Andres ushered them out.

Besouro cooked for them and they watched the news. Erik held onto his mother until she made him go lay down in Besouro's bedroom.

"Show me your roof access," N'Jobu said.

Confused, Besouro took him to the stairs of the apartment and they walked up ten flights.

"How will you leave here?" Besouro asked.

"I have a plan. We'll be leaving later tonight."

"Why do you need to see the roof?"

"Don't worry about."

"Don't worry about it? Are you insane? How can I not? I have to make sure Califia and Erik—"

"I will take care of my family."

Besouro's eyes look heated.

"They are my family too. They all are. Even you."

The man's voice grew soft.

N'Jobu held out his hand and Besouro clasped it in his and shook it.

"Thank you for protecting them. I promise you; I will take care of them and send you word when we are safe."

Besouro nodded, but N'Jobu could see great doubt there. The man was terrified. And he was putting his own life on the line for harboring fugitives.

"I'm going back down," Besouro said.

N'Jobu watched the man leave. When he was certain that he was alone he tapped his kimoyo bead.

"Lixesha lokuba ndimke."

Indeed.

It was time to leave.

"Your Highness, we shall arrive in exactly one hour. We have your coordinates."

"Thank you, Yonela," N'Jobu said into his beads.

He walked back down to the apartment and joined his family inside Besouro's bedroom.

"Listen to me carefully," he said standing in front of Califia and Erik as they sat on the bed.

Their questioning eyes made him smile.

"We are leaving the country. At midnight."

"I can't get on a plane, N'Jobu. I can't even drive out of Sao Paolo," she said.

"What about our stuff at the house?" Erik asked.

"That can be replaced later. When we get to Oakland we'll have to stay at my apartment. Understand?"

They both nodded.

He touched Califia's hair and she wrapped her arms around his waist.

Ten minutes before midnight, N'Jobu gathered his family and walked them into the living room.

"Don't follow us," N'Jobu warned.

Erik and Califia hugged Besouro and he looked so lost and helpless to N'Jobu.

"Send me word," Besouro said.

N'Jobu nodded then herded Erik and Califia out of the apartment.

They all stayed quiet walking up the stairs and when they reached the roof, they stared at him.

"What's going to happen Baba?"

Erik's earnest eyes made N'Jobu pat his shoulder.

"You shall see, my Son."

Califia's eyes just took in the roof.

"Baba!"

Erik touched the gums on his lower lip. Califia stared at her arms and hands.

N'Jobu could feel the vibration in his body too and turned to face the sky.

"Mom, look!"

Erik pointed above them as streaks of neon blue lit the black sky.

"What…?"

Califia couldn't even finish her sentence as the sky above them appeared to ripple as if someone threw a pebble into a placid dark lake. They were all enveloped in the ticklish field of the multi-spectral camouflage shield. Erik held his fingers up to try and touch the shield but then a loud gasp escaped his throat and Califia's as a Wakandan Battle Cruiser shimmered into full view above them.

"Oh my God! Oh my God!" Califia shrieked.

N'Jobu enveloped her hand in his.

"Baba!" Erik shouted jumping up and down.

The large Cruiser spun around and hovered at the edge of the roof. A large ramp silently eased out from it and two soldiers walked down the ramp.

"Your Highness."

Captain Yonela Majola greeted him with gentle eyes. Her second in command Lt. Deyi looked around the roof to make sure it was secure. His eyes took in N'Jobu's family and when he stared at the Prince, he gave a respectful head nod in deference.

"No matter what happens, you did not see these two. Understood?" N'Jobu commanded.

"Yes, your Highness," they said in unison.

They stepped aside making room for him and his family.

"Come," N'Jobu said holding Erik's hand. Califia walked right next to him, the ship overwhelming her senses.

"I can't believe this," she whispered.

Onboard, the rest of Yonela's crew bowed to him.

"Where would you like to sit, Prince N'Jobu?" Yonela asked.

Erik's eyes made N'Jobu chuckle.

"In the front for now," N'Jobu said.

"We are on course to rendezvous with a Royal Shadow Fighter in Guyana in good time. We will have to stay in hover mode for a day before we can transfer you," Yonela said, "It is the only way I can keep this operation covert."

"That is fine, Captain," N'Jobu said.

Lt. Deyi guided Erik and Califia to empty high-backed gray seats behind the Captain's floating chair.

"Baba, it's not attached to anything. How is that possible?" Erik whispered.

"I will tell you later. We have to leave right away. Califia, are you comfortable?"

Califia sat back in her chair. She looked around for a seatbelt and then her eyes regarded his. He sat next to her and took her hand.

"Whoa," she yelped when the gravity belts secured them.

Her eyes gazed down at her waist and then she touched her shoulders.

"I feel something, but there's nothing here," she said.

Yonela took her position in the floating chair. The chair turned around to face them.

"May I, your Highness?" Yonela asked.

"Proceed," N'Jobu said, taking delight in his family getting a feel of his old world.

Yonela's eyes took in his family.

"You do not exist," Yonela said.

Erik's eyes were bright. Califia was cautious and a bit nervous.

"We are loyal to our Prince. We would die for him. We will get you home safe…"

Yonela's English was simple and clear. She slowed down to make sure they understood every word. She handed them kimoyo beads from her bracelet.

"Keep these on you. They will hide you in plain sight on board this ship. I can communicate with you while you have them. Understand?"

They nodded.

"Good. Welcome aboard."

Yonela floated back around

"At your stations!" she commanded.

The other soldiers took their positions and Yonela swiped her hand in front of her face. Touching a glowing magenta rectangle near her right hand, she took her index finger and thumb widening the rectangle. As she did that, the viewscreen window before them widened.

"Wow!" Erik said.

Califia's eyes were wider too as they took in the landscape of the city.

"May I proceed, Your Highness?" Yonela said.

"Proceed," N'Jobu said.

Yonela's left hand swiped another small floating screen and they all felt the engines rev and the Cruiser floated forward.

The smooth ascent gave them more spectacular views of Sao Paulo. Califia pointed to their left.

"Those are the Mantiqueira Mountains," she said.

N'Jobu held her hand.

"They'll make it, my love," he said.

"Erik," Yonela said.

"Yes?" he answered.

Yonela tapped Lt. Deyi's shoulder and the man stood up from his floating seat in front of Erik.

"Would you like to sit next to me?"

Yonela's eyes twinkled as she turned her head to look back at Erik. The gray hair peppering her short dark curls were the only give away that she was much older than she looked. She was sixty and barely looked forty.

"Can I Baba?"

N'Jobu's eyes met Yonela's. He hadn't been openly forthright with letting her know that this was his own family. He had told the Captain that they were a mother and child he was close to and that they needed help escaping undetected.

Yonela's eyes looked even gentler after she received confirmation.

"Go ahead," N'Jobu said.

Erik wiggled in his seat, and the gravity belt released him. He jumped onto the floating chair.

"Easy, JaJa," Califia said, still holding N'Jobu's hand.

"You see that button there?" Yonela asked pointing to a glowing yellow circle.

"Yes."

"Tap it two times," she said.

Erik did and the lights inside the ship grew dim until it was almost completely dark and just the glow of the night sky and the lights of the city enveloped them.

"Good job, young Prince," Yonela said.

Erik's eyes gazed at the woman, and then he looked back at N'Jobu in wonderment.

Yonela's fingers moved swiftly across her floating controls.

"Stealth mode engaged. Radio silence maintained…"

The rest of the soldiers went about their normal duties.

Yonela kept the cruising altitude low so that Erik could watch them travel over the country of Brazil. N'Jobu felt Califia squeeze his hand and when he looked over at her, there was water in her eyes.

"Come with me," he said releasing her from her seat.

He took her to the upper level of the ship where there were showers and sleeping quarters. Grabbing fresh white cotton loungewear from a closet, he waved his hand for privacy and several soldiers moved away from their section.

He helped her remove all of her clothing before taking his off and led her into a shower stall, locking the shower door behind them. Fully lit with plenty of room for the two of them, he took soap and shampoo from the dispensers and lathered her hair and body as she wept, the stress pouring out of her. He held her, and when she was rinsed off, he made her sit on the shower bench with him. Rocking her in his arms he allowed her to cry until no more tears came.

He pulled her into the body dryer and when they were ready, they dressed in the comfortable and clingy loungewear.

"This way," he said.

She followed him to an empty wall in a corner and watched him wave his hand over a section of it and a bed slid out from the wall.

"Lay down."

She crawled onto the small comfortable bed and he climbed in after her and wrapped his arms around her.

"When you are ready, tell me everything."

She nodded and fell asleep on his chest.

The hum of the ship rocked them both into a much-needed rest.

Chapter 30 HERE.

###

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[winchester-fantasies]

Even Better

Summary: After you’re almost attacked by demons at the dog grooming boutique you work at, Sam and Dean Winchester take you under their wing. When an unexpected member is added to your group, Dean realizes he may have feelings for you.

Word Count: 3876

Warnings: fluff, show level violence, gruff Dean, sweet Dean, some swearing

Pairing: Dean x Plus Size!Reader

A/N: This was written for an anonymous request: Can I request a dean x plus size reader where she a dog groomer and demons almost attack her at her job and dean and Sam have to watch her to make sure she safe, while they are protecting her dean starts catching feeling for her sweet, animal loving personality and confess his love to her when they get drunk one night! Sorry this sounds so awkward haha 😊😊 Thank you for your request! Hope you like it!! ❤❤

Winchester Fantasies’ Masterlist

The first thing you noticed when you walked through the door of the dog grooming boutique you worked at was the flickering of the lights you had left on overnight. You thought it was strange; you’d replaced the bulbs just a few weeks before. You stopped to watch the light fixture, flipping the switch off and then flicking it back on. The flickering stopped, but the next second you frowned as it started back up. You sighed heavily as you walked behind the counter, depositing your purse in the cubby under the counter. You’d probably have to end up calling the electrician. The last thing you or your boss needed was a short to have to deal with. 

You flipped open the scheduler on the counter. Your first appointment was with one of your usuals - a poodle named, Maxine. She was one of your favorites to work with and you couldn’t help but smile whenever you saw her name on the schedule.

You yawned and rubbed your bleary eyes. You sighed heavily. You really shouldn’t have stayed out so late drinking the night before even if it was your best friend’s birthday. You needed a coffee, and desperately. You seriously considered running over to the café next door and grabbing one of their German chocolate flavored coffees. But it would have to wait until later.

You had just stooped down to grab your name tag from the cubby when the bell over the door tinkled. You straightened back up, finding a man and woman standing a little ways from the counter, both dressed in suits.

You smiled in acknowledgment. “Good morning,” you greeted. “How can I help you? Do you have an appointment?”

The man eyed you up and down before clasping his hands in front of him. “Of sorts,” he said vaguely. 

You frowned in confusion. “Do you have a meeting with Margo?” you asked, glancing at the scheduler in front of you, searching for an appointment for your boss but finding none. 

“No,” the woman clipped. 

“Then why are you here?” you asked uneasily, suspicion forming in the back of your mind.

“We’re here for the shears,” the man stated as if you would know exactly what he was talking about.

“I’m sorry, but we don’t sell shears here,” you said. “If you go right down the street, though, there’s a….”

“Stop playing games!” the woman snapped. Her eyes were suddenly pure black. You screamed in terror, backing up and tripping over the chair behind you. You felt yourself falling backwards just as the door burst open. You caught a glimpse of two men rushing in right before you fell to the floor with a thud, your head making contact with the tile with a crack.

Your head was spinning as you struggled into a sitting position. You heard two agonized cries and a sound like sparks crackling in the air before two heavy thuds followed. Silence filled the building and you were about to attempt to get to your feet when one of the men who had rushed inside rounded the side of the counter.

His brooding, green eyes met yours, a look of relief crossing his face. “You okay?” he asked.

You nodded as he extended his hand to help you up. You eyed the dagger in his other hand cautiously, not trusting anyone. Especially after what you’d just seen.

“C’mon,” the man said in exasperation, motioning with his hand impatiently. When you made no move to take his hand, he rolled his eyes and pursed his lips, dimples forming on either side of his mouth. He resheathed the dagger before reaching out for you again. “I’m not gonna hurt you,” he reassured.

You looked at him carefully for a moment more, gauging if he was being truthful or not. Something in his eyes told you you were better off with him than those black-eyed freaks. You took his hand, his strength surprising you as he hoisted you up in one swift movement as if you weighed no more than a leaf. You weren’t exactly small. Not with your wide hips, curves, and thick thighs. 

“We gotta get outta here,” he said, jerking his head towards the door. You nodded, looking around for the other man who had come in with the one in front of you. But he was nowhere to be seen.

You glanced down to the two bodies on the floor, blood pooling beneath them. “Don’t look,” the man said, his voice gruff and authoritative. He reached for your hand, leading you outside. 

The other man was standing behind a black Chevy Impala, the trunk open wide as he rummaged through a duffle bag. He glanced up as you approached. He shot you a thin-lipped smile, dimples appearing on his cheeks.

You didn’t have time to return his smile as the first man opened the back of the vehicle and gestured to the back seat. “Get in,” he commanded.

You hesitated for a moment, staring into his face. Was it really a wise thing to get into the car of two strange men? 

You didn’t have time to think more about it or even protest as he all but shoved you into the back seat. “Get in!” he snapped again, slamming the door closed after you. “Sam! Come on! We gotta go. Now!” He rounded the car quickly before climbing into the driver’s seat. 

The taller one came around to the passenger’s side after a few moments, shooting you an almost apologetic smile as he squeezed himself inside.

The vehicle roared to life, the tires screeching soon after as your green-eyed savior peeled out onto the road. Soon you were heading south, the scenery growing denser and the population thinner. A sense of uneasiness once again filled your mind as you listened to the two men talk, their voices low and muffled by the rumbling of the Impala’s engine. Every once in awhile, the taller man would glance back at you, his brow furrowed and hazel eyes filled with concern. You didn’t know what was going on, but the longer you traveled the more questions arose in your mind that needed answers.

You licked your lips and darted your eyes between the two men, the one who’s name was apparently Sam, pulling his phone out of his pocket and opening his web browser. “Where are you taking me?” you finally dared to ask, your voice wavering.

“Somewhere safe,” the driver clipped, never taking his eyes off the road. 

You swallowed hard. You weren’t entirely sure you believed him, but nevertheless you nodded.

“I’m Sam, by the way,” the man in the passenger’s seat said, turning to look at you, his dimples once again appearing as he shot you his first genuine smile.

You couldn’t help but grin back. “(Y/N),” you said.

“Nice to meet you, (Y/N),” Sam said. “This is my brother, Dean,” he added, gesturing to the man beside him.

“Oh,” you said simply, not really sure what else to say.

“I’m sure you have a lot of questions,” Sam commented.

You huffed out a harsh chuckle. “That’s an understatement.”

Sam chuckled before turning back around and looking at his phone again. “We’ll explain everything. But right now, we need to get you to safety.”

You nodded again before settling back into the seat, wrapping your arms around yourself and looking out the window at the waning light.

**********

You must have fallen asleep because when you next opened your eyes it was completely dark outside and the car had stopped in front of a shady looking motel. You winced at the crick in your neck, rocking your head side to side, trying to loosen up the tight muscles.

You jumped just as the back door was pulled open, Sam stooping down to look inside. “Hey, you’re awake,” he said with a grin. “Thought I might have to carry you inside.”

You chuckled lightly before climbing out of the car and stretching your body, muscles aching from the stressful day. You followed Sam to Room 111, finding the room clean and surprisingly put together despite the off white walls and stained carpet. 

Dean was sprawled out on one of the full sized beds, arm under his head and eyes closed. You stopped, looking between the thinning sofa and other bed, biting your lip. “You can take the bed,” Sam offered as if reading your thoughts.

“Are you sure?” you asked hesitantly. “I don’t mind…” you said, gesturing to the couch.

“No, really,” Sam insisted. “It’s fine. I guess you don’t have a change of clothes do you?”

You bit your lip and shook your head. You’d left everything back at the boutique - your purse, phone, wallet...everything. You looked down at the knee length skirt and peasant top you were still wearing; the clothes on your back were literally the only possessions you had to your name.

“She can borrow one of my shirts,” Dean’s gruff voice broke the silence. You nearly jumped at the sound; you thought he’d already fallen asleep. Instead he sat up with a groan, his eyes tired looking. 

He stooped down to rummage through the duffle bag at the side of his bed, pulling out an old and faded Led Zeppelin t-shirt and tossing it to you. “Thanks,” you said, catching it and haphazardly folding it. 

“You wanna get a shower?” Sam asked gently. “Might help you relax after everything that happened today.”

You smiled your thanks and nodded before walking to the bathroom. The water pressure was shitty; the water itself barely lukewarm. And the fan in the ceiling did diddly-squat to help circulate air and by the time you were done showering, the small room was hazy with steam. 

You quickly dried off, folding your dirty clothes into a semi-neat pile before pulling on Dean’s t-shirt. It swallowed you, the hem falling nearly mid-thigh. You didn’t feel like you were a thicker girl; in fact you felt sexy.

You walked back out into the main room, finding the lights off and both Sam and Dean already in bed, covers up over their bodies. You tiptoed over to your bed, placing your clothes on the nightstand. You were about to pull back your covers when your stomach growled. You grimaced at the sound as it seemed to reverberate around the room.

You bit the inside of your cheek as you carefully considered what you should do. You didn’t have your wallet, but you thought maybe you had some loose change in your skirt pocket from when you’d stuffed it after getting gas that morning. You unfolded your skirt, quietly rummaging through its pockets, coming up triumphantly with three quarters.

You made your way to the door, silently unlocking and unchaining the door. You took one quick look at Sam and Dean, making sure you hadn’t woken them before slipping outside. The night was cool; the hint of fall in the air. Your bare feet padded across the cold concrete before rounding the corner, finding two snack machines crammed into the corner. 

You stopped at the first one, surveying the offered items. Most of them were candy bars and chips, which were to be expected you supposed. You knew you needed something more nutritious, but with nothing else to choose from, you finally settled on a Twix. You deposited the quarters, pressed the keys of the slot you wanted, and watched as it dropped to the bottom of the machine. You grabbed it up, turning and hurrying back to the room, the cold starting to seep into your bones. 

You rounded the corner again, but stopped dead in your tracks, your heart in your throat. There, not even three feet away, stood a Cocker Spaniel. Its hair was matted and body thin, but its tongue hung loose and happy-go-lucky and tail wagging. It couldn’t have been more than a couple of years old, judging by its height and the puppish-looking face staring back at you.

“Hey, there, cutie,” you crooned, walking slowly over to it, stooping down and extending your hand. Its tail went wild and it - he, you could now see - bounded over to you, practically jumping into your arms and licking your face with wild abandon. You giggled and petted him until he calmed down enough for you to check his collar. You frowned when you found none. “That’s strange,” you said, looking into his soulful, dark eyes. “Do you have a home, Fella?”

He licked your face once more in response. You chuckled before straightening and looking down at him. You glanced from him to your motel room just a few doors down from where you stood. You didn’t know if Sam and Dean would appreciate waking up to a dog, but you couldn’t just leave him alone and homeless. 

“C’mon, Fella,” you called, clicking your tongue and patting your leg. Fella immediately responded, loping to your side and easily falling into step with you as you made your way back to the room. “Be quiet,” you whispered, turning the knob and pushing the door open quietly. Fella bounded inside, making a beeline straight for Dean’s bed. “No!” you hissed just as Fella jumped into the bed, landing full force onto Dean’s sleeping form.

“What the fuck?” Dean bellowed, all but jumping out of bed. Sam shot up at the sound of his brother’s exclamation, his long hair askew and eyes dazed. You flipped on the light to see Dean sitting straight up in bed, his face a mixture of shock and confusion as Fella cowered on your bed, apparently having run away at Dean’s outburst.

It finally seemed to register that Dean was looking at a dog because his brow suddenly turned down into a scowl. “What the fuck?” Dean asked again, looking from Fella to you, still standing in the open doorway.

You swallowed hard as you turned and closed and locked the door behind you. When you turned back, both Dean and Sam were staring at you. “Uh, this...this is, Fella,” you said, trying to add as much pleasantness to your voice as you could muster.

Dean looked back to Fella who’s fear of Dean had apparently abated a bit, but who still sat, gauging the still scowling man suspiciously. “You can’t just bring a dog here!” Dean finally snapped, his green eyes blazing as he turned his wrath onto you.

“I...I’m sorry,” you stammered. “It’s just...he was outside. And it’s getting cold. And he didn’t have a collar and it’s not like I could just leave him out there.”

“No,” Dean said, his voice gruff, shaking his head staunchly. “Absolutely not. We’re taking him back to the bunk….”

“Dean,” Sam interjected, finally finding his voice after the initial confusion. “C’mon. We can’t just leave him. He doesn’t look like he’s been fed or had a home in weeks.”

Dean grumbled, his frown deepening before he settled back down, turning away with a loud huff. “Fine,” he clipped. “But we’re not keeping him. As soon as we figure this whole demon thing out and get (Y/N) back to her place safely, he’s gone.”

**********

Dean awoke the next morning to a pair of dark eyes staring into his soul. Fella’s tail was wagging as he scooted forward, his wet nose booping Dean’s before the dog’s tongue licked a stripe over Dean’s mouth. He shuddered and rolled over, throwing off the covers as he sat up.

He found (Y/N) and Sam still asleep, (Y/N)’s body sprawled out on the opposite bed, arms and legs both twisted at angles Dean would never be able to get out of. He shook his head before getting up and going to the bathroom. He was about to close the door when Fella decided he needed to join him, pushing past the half-closed door and stopping just a few feet away and looking up at Dean with pure adoration.

“What’re you lookin’ at?” Dean asked, scowling. He turned around, lifting the seat and relieving himself, feeling Fella’s eyes on him the entire time. Once he was finished, he jumped into the shower, letting the sweat and grime from the day before wash off. 

He’d almost forgotten Fella had decided to join him as he stepped out of the shower onto the grimy linoleum floor of the bathroom. He reached for a towel and started drying off when he felt something wet and rough meet the skin of his leg. Dean jumped away, looking down to find Fella languidly licking the water droplets off his leg. “Seriously, dude?” Dean asked, biting back the smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth.

Dean threw back on his boxers and t-shirt before exiting the room, finding both Sam and (Y/N) fully awake and ready for the day. (Y/N)’s face lit up as her eyes settled on Fella. “Hey, there, cutie!” she greeted, bending down and laughing as Fella threw himself into her arms and licked her face.

Dean rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t help but feel a tug at his heart as he watched (Y/N) interacting with Fella. Dean cleared his throat as he pulled out a fresh pair of jeans and a flannel and pulled both on before zipping his duffle back up. “We need to be outta here in ten,” Dean said, turning around and heading for the door.

Sam and (Y/N) nodded in acknowledgement and soon enough they were back on the road, heading for the bunker. Dean kept glancing in the rearview mirror at (Y/N). Her face was more often than not lit up in a wide grin as Fella stayed glued to her side. Dean swallowed hard, shoving down the foreign feeling in his chest and tried to ignore the butterflies he hadn’t felt since he was a teenager fluttering in his stomach. 

Along the way Sam gave her the whole monster spiel, her eyes widening in shock and fear as Sam explained that it was demons who had almost attacked her. Sam and Dean thought it was part of a deal that one of (Y/N)’s old coworkers had made with Crowley, the King of Hell; ancient and magical shears in exchange for a life of wealth and fame. But of course there was always a catch. Her coworker’s soul would be Crowley’s in ten years...but they didn’t tell (Y/N) that.

By nightfall they were back at the bunker. Dean climbed out of the Impala, going to the trunk and taking out his duffle and hurrying to the bunker’s entrance. He had to get away from all the overwhelming emotions swirling in his chest. He couldn’t decipher exactly what was going on, but it felt akin to the few times he’d been put under a spell.

His eyes seemed to have a mind of their own as he couldn’t seem to take them off her. He seemed to notice everything about her; the way her hair fell to her shoulders and cascaded down her chest and back; the way her eyes crinkled when she laughed at Fella or at something Sam had said - and god...that laugh. It was like tinkling bells. He bit his lower lip as his eyes followed the way her hips swayed as she made her way down the hall to the bathroom. Fuck, was she the finest specimen of a woman he’d ever laid eyes on. He frowned as she disappeared around the corner. When had he become so sappy? Fuck, he needed a drink.

He got up from the library table, going to the kitchen and pouring himself a good sized cup of whiskey. He took a big swig, relishing the sting as it settled in his stomach and almost instantly relieved some of his nerves. 

But in an instant his butterflies were back as (Y/N) walked into the kitchen. “Hey,” she said, her lips turning up into that gorgeous smile of hers. 

“Oh, hey,” he said, his voice coming out higher than he’d intended. He cleared his throat and gestured to the bottle on the counter. “You want some?”

“Uh, sure,” she said, coming to his side as he took a tumbler from the shelf and poured her a glass. She smiled her thanks before taking a sip and hissing. “That’s good,” she said. “Been a long time since I had whiskey.”

Dean smiled before making his way to the kitchen table and sitting down, (Y/N) joining him a few minutes later. “So you like animals, huh?” Dean asked, taking another sip of his drink.

(Y/N)’s eyes lit up and she nodded briskly. The next thing he knew, he was listening in avid interest as she explained that she had always loved animals and after she had graduated from cosmetology school, she had decided to invest in that passion and put her skill into practice.

By the time she was done talking, they had both almost finished the entire bottle of whiskey. His mind was fuzzy and all he could think about was how easy it would be to reach across the table and kiss her. 

He was still thinking about how her lips would feel against his when Fella sauntered in, immediately going up to (Y/N) and showering her with wet and sloppy kisses. She giggled, leaning down and kissing the top of his head that she had yet to clean. 

Dean smirked, that tugging at his heart happening again, this time stronger. “Who gave you the right to be so damn sweet?” Dean slurred. He hadn’t even realized he’d said it until (Y/N) looked up at him, her beautiful eyes filled with both mirth and confusion. 

“What?” she chuckled.

“You heard me,” he said, fiddling with his tumbler on the table. “You’re so sweet. And drop dead gorgeous, I might add.”

“Oh,” (Y/N) murmured, her cheeks growing red. She dropped her gaze, but the next second raised her eyes to meet his as he pushed back from the table and walked around to her side. Before she could even register what was happening, Dean had taken her hand in his and hoisted her up. He wrapped his arm around her, his hand pressed to the small of her back as he held her close against him.

He raised his hand to her face, his thumb tracing her cheek. “And I think I’m falling in love with you,” he breathed. Her eyelids fluttered in shock and he heard a soft but audible gasp leave her mouth. He glanced to her lips, so plump and supple. He locked eyes with her again, finding her pupils wide. “I could kiss you right now,” he whispered, his eyes darting to her lips once again.

They formed into a smirk before he looked back to her face, her eyes holding a sultry and enticing look. “Then why don’t you?” she asked.

And he did. Her lips formed around his own, the taste of whiskey on her tongue as she allowed him to deepen the kiss. 

It was just as he’d imagined. No, he thought, his grip on her tightening as she wrapped her arms around his neck.... This was even better.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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[ahtohallan-calling]

chapter 10 of don’t read the last page is here!

[kristanna / m / multichap / modern au with actress!anna and vetstudent!kristoff]

“I was a Boy Scout,” he mumbled, “I learned shit about tying knots, not…this.”

“You FaceTimed me just fine when I was in Romania.”

He glanced down at her as she kept giggling helplessly, then looked back at the phone, a faint flush rising on his cheeks. “…Sven helped me.”

chapter 10: twits

October dragged on, the only bright spot the easy afternoons and sweet mornings she spent with Kristoff on the few days a week he didn’t go to school by day and work at night. The studio that had been so excited to cast her in the Anastasia remake was dragging its heels, even when the trailer to the Netflix movie had dropped and immediately been a hit.

“This is normal,” her agent had reassured her. “They want you, kiddo, they just are waiting to make sure.”

“Sure of what, Sam?”

“Not gonna mince words with you, Anna. That you can carry a movie on your own. You’ve got the acting chops, but they need to know people will stay and look at you for two hours straight.”

“No pressure.”

“Honestly, there shouldn’t be. You already filmed it. Nothing to do now but wait.”

And wait she had for the last four weeks, trying not to think about it all too much during the still-agonizing days of sitting around waiting for Elsa to get off work or Kristoff to finish class or Sven to text her sure, come over, I’ll have the Wii ready and waiting.

Her one lucky break had come in the form of a night off for Kristoff the night before the movie was released. He still had classes in the morning, but at least if she had to spend the night lying awake with worry she wouldn’t do it alone.

“You need to sleep at least,” she told him as she brushed her nose against his as they huddled together under the blankets, both of them too torn between exhaustion and nervousness to do anything else. “You still have that lab in the morning.”

“I just don’t want you to be up all night stressing out alone.”

“It’s a good thing you live in LA, Kris. You’re so goddamn sweet the rain would melt you anywhere else.”

He snorted at that. “Can’t believe you call me the corny one.”

Anna giggled and gave him a quick peck on the lips. “Thank you, though. But I’m serious, just, y’know, snuggling and shit will help enough.”

“I’m serious, too.”

As it turned out, neither of them needed to be; when she had turned over in his arms so he could spoon her, the slow rise and fall of his chest against her back and the gentle kisses he kept placing on the crown of her head were enough to lull her to sleep in minutes. 

She woke up to the beeping of his alarm; somehow in the night she had ended up with her head tucked back under the blankets and her legs tangled around Kristoff’s. She groaned and buried her face in his chest. “Godfuckingdammit it’s today.”

“Morning to you, too, my love,” he laughed, lifting the blanket to get a peek at her scowl.

“Nooo, put the blanket back. Leave me here to perish in my cave of darkness and solitude.”

“I would, I really would, except Sven would kill me for letting his favorite Mario Kart buddy waste away.”

She huffed against his bare skin, wrapping her arms around his waist. “He only likes me more because you don’t lose to make me feel better anymore.”

“So? It’s still true. And anyway, I’m sure people loved the movie. It came out at midnight New York time, right? So maybe there’s already some reviews.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of.”

Giving up on trying to coax her out from under the blanket, he dropped it again and instead reached under to begin teasing the tangles out of her hair with his fingers. “Want me to check them for you?”

“Honestly, I just need to know what Twitter says. That’s the important thing these days.”

“Want me to hand you your phone?”

“No! Oh, god, no, I don’t think I could stand to read all the shit people are probably saying. This is Tampongate 2.0, I’m telling you already.”

“Okay, so I’ll make my own Twitter and check for you.”

“But you don’t do social media.”

“Will it make you feel better if I read things for you and tell you what people say?”

“…yes,” she admitted, pressing a kiss to his ribcage and smiling when he squirmed; he was ticklish there, something she liked to take full advantage of.

“Okay, then I’ll do it.”

He rolled over then so he could fumble with the lamp and grab his phone. She moved to lay her cheek against his chest, trying not to wince when she felt him raise his arm to look at the little screen. With his other hand he was still stroking her hair, and between that and the fact that he was always so warm, she had nearly fallen asleep again when she heard him huff out a frustrated sigh.

“Damn it,” he swore under his breath, and at last she crawled out of her blanket cocoon just enough to peek up at him.

He’d put his glasses on but had brought the screen up nearly to the tip of his nose as he tried to puzzle it out. “Why do I have to give it my contact list? I just want to see your stuff.”

Anna couldn’t help but laugh as she sat up. “Okay, Grandpa, just hand it to me, and I’ll do it.”

“No, I need to fight this battle myself,” he muttered, deadly serious as he tapped to the next screen. “Goddammit! Why do I have to put a picture?”

Now she was laughing so hard there were tears in her eyes. “You don’t have to. Just hit skip again. Kristoff, how have you survived this long?”

“I was a Boy Scout,” he mumbled, “I learned shit about tying knots, not…this.”

“You FaceTimed me just fine when I was in Romania.”

He glanced down at her as she kept giggling helplessly, then looked back at the phone, a faint flush rising on his cheeks. “…Sven helped me.”

“Oh my god. Oh, Kristoff, baby…” 

Another fit of laughter overtook her and only grew louder when he gave a grumpy little huff upon finally reaching his still-empty feed. “Goddammit, why is it blank? Anna, quit laughing and help me find you on here.”

“Just search for me. Surely you’ve seen search bars before, you have to have done something online in your life–”

“Ha ha. Okay, yes, I see it now.”

He started scrolling through the long list of Annas, his brows furrowed in concentration, and she burrowed back under the blankets, resting her face against his stomach and pressing absentminded kisses to it whenever she heard him make little noises of confusion. He was so focused on the phone that he didn’t even notice when her lips drifted lower, her kisses starting to linger longer as she reached his hipbone.

“Aha!” he shouted suddenly, just as her phone buzzed on the nightstand, and Anna jumped in surprise as he flung the blankets off of her head.

“Jesus, Kris, you nearly gave me a heart attack,” she teased, pressing one more kiss just below his navel, but his only response was a grin of satisfaction as he passed her her phone. 

“I did it,” he said proudly. “I twitted.”

“Tweeted.”

“I like twitted better.”

“You’re lucky I’m already madly in love with you,” she muttered, ignoring her phone in favor of returning her attention and her mouth to the little spot right above the waistband of his boxers that always made him squirm beneath her touch.

Next to her head, his fist clenched around the sheets. “Read what I said first,” he said, his voice strained but determined. “I didn’t go through all that for nothing.”

“Fine,” she said with a heavy sigh as she took her phone in hand and sat up, swinging one leg over him so she could straddle his lap as she read.

His hand was on her thigh now, stroking slowly up and down and making it hard to stay focused as she flicked the notification open and waited for the app to load. At last it did, and she clicked the notification with a smile.

One new mention:

@anna_a_actress I love you, baby! :) - @kristoff123456789

Suddenly her vision was a little blurry. “How are you so fucking adorable?” she asked, dropping her phone so she could lean down and kiss him. “Oh my god.”

He chuckled a little as he kissed her back. “Wow, first you call me grandpa, now you call me adorable…you really know how to get a guy going.”

“Well, I was trying to–”

His hips rolled up against her as he nipped at her bottom lip. “Do that?”

“Took the words right out of my mouth.”

“I thought you wanted me to check Twitter and see what people–”

Anna groaned against the already-flushed skin of his neck before pulling away. “Oh, fuck, I forgot about that.”

“Sorry– that was a mood-killer, wasn’t it?”

“Tragically, yes.”

He patted her hip. “I’ll make it up to you later. Here, show me how to look up what people are saying.”

She did so quickly and bit her lip. “You gotta promise to tell me the truth. Even if everyone hates it. Just don’t tell me, like, specific things, I don’t need to know if I’m a meme again or—“

He was already looking. “Do you want me to tell you now, or—“

“No! God, no, there’s no way I can face this before breakfast. Let me at least get some coffee down.”

She kissed his cheek before clambering out of bed. “Do you want anything?”

“‘m good,” he said, already back to scrolling. 

Anna smiled to herself as she pulled on the pair of old sweatpants she’d brought back from his parents’ house and kept here ever since for the nights she stayed over— more for Sven’s sake than anyone else’s. Even tightened, they hung low on her hips under her stolen t-shirt as she went into the kitchen, trying to think about anything but the inevitable failure of this movie. 

She had only planned on making coffee, but then waiting for the pot to brew was leaving her too much time to think, and so by the time she returned to Kristoff’s bedroom she was having to draw on every reflex from her waitressing days as she carried in a plate full of scrambled eggs and toast, two mugs of steaming coffee, and a bottle of whiskey she’d pulled out of the cabinet just in case. 

“Do you think this is the real Ellen Degeneres?” he asked, holding his phone up to her; his eyes widened in surprise as he took in the feast she was setting on the bed. “Wow. You really did appreciate me getting a Twitter, huh? Breakfast in bed and everything.”

“There’s tabasco on your half,” she said, taking his phone. “Oh my god, it is the real Ellen.”

“Oh, cool,” he said, already taking a bite of toast. “Will you get me her autograph when you go on her show? That’s her second twit about it, by the way, the first one said she loved it. So did all the other ones.”

She set the phone back down; her fingers were trembling so badly she was worried she might drop it in her coffee. “All of them?”

He had been trying to contain his excitement, probably for the sake of her nerves, but it spilled over now as he grinned and nodded at her, his hair flopping in his eyes. “I told you. You’re a star, Anna.”

They couldn’t linger long over breakfast, as much as she wanted to; Kristoff had a nine A.M. class, and Anna had errands to run before having Honey over for dinner that night. “I think it’s a date,” she explained to Kristoff as she got dressed. He had been on his way to the shower and stopped to watch her appreciatively, as if it were the very first time. She took her time rolling up her tights, his eyes tracking every inch of progress. “They set it up through me, but like, they both texted me at the same time asking ‘hey, what about dinner tomorrow with the three of us’ so, uh, kind of obvious, if you ask me.”

He came over to help her tuck her sweater into her skirt and let his hands linger on her hips as he leaned down to kiss her, slow and scorching. When he pulled away, she couldn’t help but pout a little. “Later, baby. I promise.”

“You’re lucky I’m already dressed, Bjorgman.”

“Really? Feeling kind of unlucky, myself. Could’ve used some company in the shower.”

He left her with a quick kiss on the cheek before heading down the hall to the bathroom. She smoothed her skirt back out, smiling to herself as she padded into the kitchen. Sven had already left for the day, but he’d left a post-it note on the counter that said, “Thanks for leaving me a cup, Anna :)”

“You’re welcome,” she said aloud, then winced at the mess she’d made of the counter. Well, it was their apartment, but she’d been the one who’d somehow used three pans to make scrambled eggs, and so she rolled up her sleeves and got to work scrubbing the dishes. 

She was nearly finished when she felt Kristoff come up behind her and press his lips to the back of her neck, his hands settling around her waist. She turned, bubbles still on her hands, and slid her fingers into his damp hair as their lips met. 

“I love you,” he murmured against her mouth.

“Love you back,” she said, her hands sliding down to his shoulders so she could pull him into a hug, inhaling the clean, woodsy scent of his soap and letting herself be warmed from the inside out as he embraced her.

It occurred to her then how much easier it would be if instead of his-and-Sven’s and hers-and-Elsa’s it was just theirs, but they’d only been dating for not quite six months and– well. Was it too soon? She didn’t know; she’d never made it too far.

She pulled back just a little and, to her surprise, found the same vulnerability, the same longing, in Kristoff’s eyes that she felt in her heart. Neither of them gave voice to it, but a smile crept over their faces all the same. “Love you,” she said again, because she could and because it made him smile and because she meant it so damn much she would say nothing else for the rest of her life and still be content. She had never felt like this before, not about anyone or anything, had never treasured something like this– and never felt so treasured in return. Kristoff saw her, knew her, inside and out; had looked over each part of her, even the raw, aching pieces she had tried to hide, and cherished each of them, and god, she could only hope she’d loved him just as well in return.

He kissed her forehead, as if to say you have. “Love you back.”

—

She was halfway to the grocery store when her agent called. “Sam!” she greeted him cheerfully. “How are–”

“Seven hundred fifty thousand.”

“Um…what?”

“Dollars. That’s how much the studio just called me to offer.”

She jerked the wheel, pulling into a gas station parking lot before she passed out. “I– for–”

“Anastasia. They upped their offer because they know how many others you’re about to get.”

When had she started shaking? “Because–”

“Remember that movie with Sandra Bullock and the blindfolds?”

“Um…Bird Box?”

“Yes. This is bigger, Anna. This is the first time my phone’s been freed up to call you all morning. People love the movie.”

“And– so–”

“Shit, someone’s calling me again. Listen– can you come in this afternoon to sign the paperwork? Assuming you still want to take this job, because if not, like I said, there’s about to be plenty of other ones on the table.”

“Yeah, yeah, of course, I’ll be right in, Sam, I–”

“Ah, shit, someone else is calling the landline– see you at two, okay?”

He hung up before she could say goodbye. For a long moment, she just leaned her forehead against the steering wheel, trying to comprehend the scope of seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars– for her, just for wearing a fancy dress and saying a few lines. The rest of her student loans, her credit card debt, Elsa’s student loans; she could go into any store on Rodeo and come out with too many bags to carry, could go back to the car salesman and this time pay cash for something new and embarrassingly shiny, she could buy a house–

A house. She could move out on her own if she wanted, maybe not pay for it all up front because this was still Los Angeles, but a mortgage would be nothing now if she wanted to stop renting, and she could furnish it and feed herself and buy a bed big enough to stretch from one wall to the other if she wanted– and maybe, if she was lucky, someone would even agree to share it with her.

She shot off a quick text to Kristoff telling him about the news; he was in a lab at the moment, so he wouldn’t respond for hours, but still she had to let him know. And there was something else to contemplate, in a day that had already been full of very big questions: when, exactly, had he become the first person she told about something, before even her own sister?

She didn’t know. She didn’t care. She pinched herself just to make sure she was really awake before starting the car up again and heading on her way. 

The first person to recognize her was a girl in a Stranger Things t-shirt in front of the bananas. She wanted a selfie, which Anna gladly posed for, secretly grateful that for once she had foregone wearing one of Kristoff’s sweatshirts out in public again. Next there was a guy by the bread who wanted her autograph, then another guy who saw her signing and said, “I’m not sure who you are, but this is LA, so why not?” and asked for it, too. And then the cashier started freaking out and said she loved the trailer and called her friend over even though she was in the middle of checking someone out, and then all the people in the checkout lines started craning their necks, and suddenly a huge group selfie was happening and someone was stepping on her toes, and she had been really really nice to all of them but finally she squeaked, “Uh, listen, guys, I have a meeting to get to–”

“Are you gonna be in another movie?” the girl in the Stranger Things shirt asked. Why was she still here? All she had in her cart were those bananas. “Is this a meeting with Netflix?”

“Uh, no comment?”

“Ohmygod, you are!”

“Um, well, I hope so, since I’m an actress. Anyway– bye!”

She took off at a clip, not realizing until she was already in her car and halfway up the road that she had left the bag with the avocados in it at the checkout lane. And she had promised to make guacamole– well. There was no way in hell she was turning back around for it. She liked people, really, but not when they were all crowding around her at once and asking her things she didn’t know the answer to and frantically tweeting about where she was. Elsa would just have to make do with plain tortilla chips.

A flashbulb went off when she pulled in to the agency parking lot, then two more as she walked in. A security guard met her halfway across the lot. “No fuckin’ photos here, assholes!” he yelled as he held one arm around her, blocking her face from view. “Sorry, miss. Sam sent me down here just in case. Normally we don’t have to bother, but damn, they’re persistent today.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, relieved. “You’re a lifesaver.”

“All in a day’s work,” he said, holding the door open for her. “Congratulations, by the way. Haven’t seen the movie yet, but my wife’s already texted me twice about it.”

She laughed. “Hope you enjoy it.”

Sam’s office was on the twelfth floor; she took the elevator ride to check her phone and found the screen full of notifications, so many she couldn’t seem to find the bottom. Scowling, she swiped it open and went to her messages– there were sixteen little notifications already, most of them from people she hadn’t spoken to since college. She had to scroll down to find Kristoff’s, something she hadn’t had to do since– well, since getting his number.

That’s amazing, sweetheart. I’m so proud. 

People are talking about your movie between classes. :) Someone asked me if you were really my girlfriend and asked for your autograph. What do you want me to say?

.

love you sm 💕💕

honestly can u just tell them no?

kind of already been a crazy day

.

No you’re not my girlfriend, or the autograph, or both?

The elevator dinged open to reveal Sam with his arms open, saving her from having to answer. She didn’t know how to answer.

“There’s my star!” Sam cheered, pulling her into a tight hug. She went gladly; he had been her agent since even before she had graduated, when she’d been looking for work as a background character and he’d been willing to take her on. He’d been a father figure to her ever since, guiding her through all the ups and downs and helping her in every way he could.

“You have no idea how relieved I am to see you,” Anna sighed, squeezing him a little tighter than normal.

“That bad, huh?” he asked, gently patting her back. 

“Worse.”

“I’ll take care of it, kiddo,” he promised. “But first, let’s sign some papers.”

—-

At dinner, she thanked her lucky stars that Elsa and Honey were too wrapped up in staring at each other over the tortilla chips– thank god Honey at least had brought spinach dip– to wonder why she was being so uncharacteristically quiet. They raised a toast to her movie being a success, and then another to her signing the new contract, and then another to “sevenhundredfiftyfuckinthousand dollars, Anna, knew you were a star the moment I first did your eyeshadow!” and by then their cheeks were flushed enough from the wine that she knew she didn’t have to make much more conversation.

She’d been looking forward to this, really; she loved her sister, and Honey was rapidly becoming a close friend, and ever since the trip to Disneyland she’d been pestering them both for details of their budding romance. But today, all she could do was wonder if Honeymaren had had to ever deal with getting recognized in the streets, how Elsa would respond if paparazzi started camping outside the door, what either of them might say if she suddenly admitted she’d been thinking of moving out on her own. They’d probably be grateful, honestly, judging by the way Elsa had not-so-secretly slid her hand under the table to sit on Honey’s knee.

“I’m gonna call it a night,” Anna said suddenly, and they both turned to look at her, blinking their way out of the lovestruck haze they’d been caught in.

“But you didn’t even eat your cake,” Elsa said, frowning. “And it’s your favorite kind.”

“I know, I just– um. Kristoff, promised to call, long day, you know how it is,” she said, already pushing her chair back in and heading for the door. 

She’d eventually texted him back, up to you babe you decide, and he’d said It’s okay, class is already over for the day. Call you after work?

Her phone rang at 9:01, just like it always did. “Sorry,” she said, not bothering with a hello, “that I waited so long to text you back about that thing.”

“Hello to you, too,” he said, amused; she could hear the jingle of car keys in his hand.

“I just, um. Felt really bad about that. But I really didn’t know what to say.”

“‘S okay. Figured it was something like that, or a meeting or something.”

“There was a meeting, too, actually. Got the contract all signed and notarized, talked to my new publicist, started coming up with a PR plan, all the fun legal stuff.”

“What else happened?”

“What do you mean? That’s the exciting stuff.”

“You sound…I don’t know. Like something’s wrong.”

She bit her lip. “I just, uh…god, this is going to sound so stupid and self-pitying, but like, at Trader Joe’s some people recognized me, and it was cool when it was just one person coming up at a time, but then I was trying to check out and a bunch of people swarmed me, and then like, a security guard had to help me get into the agency—“

“A security guard? Anna, are you okay?”

If she said no, the next thing she would hear would be his turn signal as he made a u-turn and headed across town to her apartment. It was tempting, but he had a full load of classes tomorrow, from eight to five. “I’m good, really. There were just some photographers.”

He was quiet for a long moment. “Did you ever want to be this famous?”

“No. Well, of course I did, but like…it was never about, you know, this stuff. I want people to like who I am on the screen, not, y’know, sneak a picture of me squeezing avocados.”

“I was wondering what that twit was about.”

“Please tell me you’re kidding,” she said, suddenly close to tears, but the only response was silence. 

Finally he sighed. “Sorry. Are you really sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah. But I just…can we just pretend this is like a normal night now? Just…tell me about your day, let me say some cheesy shit to you, tell me about what we’ll do tomorrow night.”

“Aye aye, captain,” he said, and she couldn’t help but smile. 

—-

The next morning, her plan to hide out all day was interrupted by her phone ringing at eight. She had finished talking to Kristoff just before ten and had spent the next several hours trying fruitlessly to sleep. Around six, she had finally succeeded, and so she was swearing when she tapped the red icon to make the stupid buzzing stop. 

It started again almost immediately, and she groaned as she reached across the bed to grab it. “Sam? We literally just spent all afternoon—“

“I know. But your publicist is here. We’ve already gotten three interview requests for you and a Hallmark producer breathing down our necks. Oh, and Twitter called to see if you have time to do the verification process today, and there’s a few designs here for potential awards show gowns, and— well. None of that is why I called you. I need you and the boyfriend here ASAP.”

“…Kristoff? Why?”

“We have to figure out our game plan before it’s too late.”

“Our game plan? Sam, what—“

“Shit, sorry, Hallmark guy again— I’ll explain later, gottagokiddobye!”

Eight-oh-five, and already today sucked. 

morning kris💕

sam wants us both for a meeting asap

i’ll pick u up from class?

.

Why me? Did I do something?

.

don’t know, honestly, don’t think so

something about a game plan

aren’t u in class?

.

Starting late. Professor dropped a liver again. 

.

ew

ew ew ew

idk how you do this shit

love you 

Try as she might, she couldn’t fall back asleep, not even after going for a long run, coming home and eating a turkey sandwich, and putting on Bob Ross. That usually worked even before the first happy little tree got finished. And Sam never did call back, so by the time she pulled onto campus, she was in a full-on Terrible Mood. 

And then Kristoff slid into the passenger seat and handed her a cup of hot chocolate. “We finished a couple minutes early. Thought you might need this.”

She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before taking a sip. “What’s it like being the most thoughtful person in the world?”

His cheeks turned pink. “It’s nothing, Anna, really. Just wanted to help if I could.”

She couldn’t resist kissing his cheek again before starting the car back up. “You never did make it up to me, by the way.”

“Make up what?”

“Yesterday morning, when you interrupted me trying to go down on you to ask about Twitter.”

Now his whole face was red. “Anna, you can’t remind me of that right before I’m supposed to be in some big important meeting.”

“We have time to pull over. I’ll tell Sam there was traffic.”

He looked tempted, but then he glanced over and saw she wasn’t smiling. “No, baby, let’s get this over with so we can stop worrying about it.”

He held her hand as they walked in to the building, eyes darting around to make sure there were no hidden photographers lurking. Thankfully, they made it in without incident and were quickly ushered into Sam’s office, where he greeted them with an unusually tense smile. 

The publicist— at least, she assumed that was her— was sitting behind his desk, too. Anna sat in the same chair she always had, and Kristoff sat beside her, looking as if they were in a doctor’s office bracing for bad news. 

Was it going to be bad news? Judging by the look on the woman’s face—

She squeezed Kristoff’s hand, and he squeezed back. 

Sam sat down and cleared his throat. “So. The two of you are, presumably, in this for the long haul.”

“Yes,” Kristoff said immediately, and a new softness appeared in Sam’s eyes. 

“Then we need to figure out our plan to handle your public relationship,” the publicist said, steepling her fingers. “Lena, by the way. Lovely to meet you both, sorry it’s not under less intense circumstances.”

Anna swallowed hard. “Has something, like, happened? Has someone—“

“No, no,” Sam said quickly. “But at the rate your star is rising, we have to start figuring out how to handle the…fallout. Sorry, dramatic word,” he said, seeing their stunned expressions. “But, well…we need to decide if your relationship is going to be public. Because sooner or later, if we don’t start being proactive, that decision will be made for you.”

Kristoff tensed beside her, his fingers tightening around hers. Sweet, endlessly selfless Kristoff who still blushed when she kissed his cheek unexpectedly and stammered over the small talk customers tried to make while he was at work— 

“It can be, if— if that’s what Anna—“

“No,” she cut in quickly. “No. Kristoff is— he’s— no. And I just…no.”

Lena raised her eyebrows. “So keeping the whole thing under wraps?”

“Yes. Some parts of my life need to stay just for me. Just for us.”

She heard him let out a long breath beside her; he never would have dreamed of saying it himself, would do anything he could to support her in any way possible, but she never would have forgiven herself if she hadn’t spoken up on his behalf. 

“Probably for the best,” Sam said, looking sympathetic. “Things are only going to get crazier, kiddo.”

Lena nodded. “They are. If you two are out together, you’ll need to hide your faces. Both of you. If they find out where you live, where you spend your free time, you’ll have to stop going there together. Date nights only outside of the city. Sleepovers only if you leave separately. And Anna…you have to take down that tweet.”

“What tweet?”

“The one that says ‘love you too’ to an account with no other followers. You’ll need to unfollow him, too, unless you want someone to notice him in the list and look him up and find where you both live and start camping out there.”

Kristoff paled beside her. “They can do that?”

“Yes. They could already be trying. I know this is a lot, but it’s just what we have to do.”

Lena leaned over the desk, her eyes serious as they met Anna’s. “I’ll do whatever I can to help you guys. But you have to be careful.”

Anna barely heard the rest of the meeting, which was thankfully short; all of her focus was on Kristoff beside her, the way his shoulders had sagged a little more with every word, the way his thumb had started circling over hers, the sadness in his eyes as they faced each other in the elevator on the way back down. 

He started to say something, but Anna interrupted him. “Can you drive? Sorry, I just— I don’t know.”

He kissed her forehead and took the keys from her hand. As soon as she was seated, she pulled out her phone, opened Twitter, and with a few taps deleted the only online evidence of their relationship. It shouldn’t have bothered her as much as it did, just deleting a stupid tweet and unfollowing an account he’d never use again anyway, but god— it was just supposed to have been a stupid, cute gesture, something for them to laugh about, and now—

Kristoff reaches over and squeezed her knee. “It’s gonna be okay, Anna. Really.”

Neither of them spoke again until they were back at his apartment, afraid to meet each other’s gaze. 

“Pizza?” Kristoff asked finally, but Anna shook her head. 

“Not hungry. You eat something, though, I’m just— just gonna shower, okay?”

She didn’t wait for a response before heading to the bathroom. She shut the door firmly behind her, stripped out of her clothes, turned the water on as hot as it would go, and immediately burst into tears. 

She bit down on the back of her hand, hard, as a sob threatened to escape her. Of course you would be selfish like this, the voice in the back of her mind hissed, of course you would get the job everyone dreams of and fucking cry about it because it means people give a fuck about you. Pathetic. 

God, she was pathetic, standing here in a shower so hot her skin was already turning pink feeling sorry for herself while her boyfriend who actually did something worthwhile was waiting for her to get her shit together, a million times more patient than she had ever deserved. All because of a stupid meeting, a few new rules, unfollowing him on Twitter— fuck, she thought, remembering again his proud smile as he’d figured out how the stupid fucking thing worked for her. 

Eventually the hot water ran out, and she wrapped herself in the towel and went to his room, pulling on the biggest shirt and smallest pair of basketball shorts she could find before coming back out, not caring that her hair was wet and would dry all wonky.

He was asleep on the sofa when she came in at last; he had changed into his sweatpants and switched into his glasses, which now hung precariously on the tip of his nose. A book was still open on his chest, held in place by one limp hand and already beginning to slide. She crept over and carefully eased it out of his grasp, setting it face down on the coffee table so he wouldn’t lose his place. He still didn’t move even when she removed his glasses and set them aside; it made her want to weep all over again, seeing the purple shadows under his eyes. She heard a faint creak from behind her and turned to see that Sven had come back in to the kitchen to get a cup of water. He nodded in greeting and beckoned her over. She tiptoed to him and offered him a weak smile. “Hey,” she whispered, and he offered her a fistbump.

“Hey, superstar,” he said. “Your movie is all anyone talked about at lunch today. You okay?”

Her lip wobbled, and before she could say more he pulled her into a tight hug. “It’s gonna be good, Anna,” he said, patting her back. “Kris told me about the meeting. That’s shitty, man.”

“Yeah. But it’s…for the best.”

“It’s gonna be good,” he repeated, and then hesitated for a moment. “I’m, uh, I’m not good at the, like, nice, emotional support shit, but, uh, he like, stayed up late to watch the movie with me last night because he was proud of you and shit.”

“But he has that eight A.M. class–”

“I know, I told him that shit could wait. But he didn’t want to. I guess, uh, I don’t know if that helps. But like…shit, man. I haven’t seen him be this happy before. So I hope you guys can make it work.”

“Me, too.”

He let go of her with an awkward pat on the shoulder. “Anyway, uh, I got work tomorrow, so I’ll just…go back to my room. But I’m here if you need me, you know that, right?”

“Thanks, Sven.”

“Anytime.”

When she heard his door click shut again, she turned and looked back at Kristoff; he hadn’t budged. She went to his room and brought back a pillow and blanket. She lifted his head just enough to slide the pillow under; he blinked blearily and mumbled, “Anna?”

“Shh, baby,” she whispered, kissing his forehead, “go back to sleep.”

His eyes were shut again even before she had laid his head back down on the pillow. She draped the blanket over him and had just started to pull away when she felt his fingers brush against her wrist. His eyes were open again, sleepy but clear. “Come here,” he said softly, and she did; he raised one arm, and she nestled against him, their legs tangling as she laid her head on his chest. He pulled the blanket back up over them both and curled his arm tightly around her, determined to shelter her even in his sleep.

“Love you, Kris,” she murmured, but the only response was a soft snore. 

[shibyn]

don't wake me up in the morning

the promised neverland | ray-centric, ageswap | 1.9k On the night before his sixth birthday, Ray cannot sleep.

He never got the chance to like toys. He was so scared of the future, so scared, so pressured by the idea of needing to prepare, he picked up books and buried himself alive in them instead of trying to play like the other kids. He doesn't have the time to play. "...okay." But he can allow himself this, can't he?

On the night before his sixth birthday, Ray cannot sleep. Maybe you could think it's because he's excited it's his birthday-- he gets gifts from everyone else, regardless if they're paper drawings or shared portions of dessert. He gets a whole cake dedicated to him, and people are extra nice to him. He gets to do what he wants, even if that's hide away in the library to read. Emma will, of course, drag him out to play a cursory game of tag because that's just how she is, but that's alright. It's his birthday. That in itself should be exciting. Maybe you could think that, but you'd be wrong. He turns over in his bed for the nth time, burying his face into the pillow. It nearly suffocates him, but at least it stifles the sniffles he's been trying to swallow down for the past few hours. Even though muffled, his sniffling are embarrassingly loud. It's stupid. He's being stupid. There's no reason for him to be like this-- crying and restless in the middle of the night. Yet, when surrounded by the quiet of the room, surrounded by all of his siblings sleeping, he feels so, so alone. Tomorrow, he turns six. Tomorrow, he becomes a product to be shipped out at any moment. He drags his arm roughly over his eyes. He's scared. He's going to look at breakfast tomorrow morning, at the bacon and ham, and think I'm next. He's going to be handed things from siblings and realize that the chances are some of those siblings are not going to be alive by this time next year. He's going to hide away in the library because he doesn't have time to play, he has to study, he has to prepare. He won't be shipped out. He can't. He's spent so long making sure he's doing okay on those stupid tests, doing great-- Mama wouldn't ship him off, right? They had a deal. They had a deal. But will a measly deal keep him from being shipped out? Mama has watched child after child step out of this place, never to enter again. She's lead them to their deaths. What's a deal gonna do? Stop her? If anything, he might be a priority-- he knows the truth of this place. She'll want to get the rat out of her hair, wouldn't she? It's his birthday. Then it will be Norman's, and then it will be Emma's. If he lags behind, he'll be next to leave. It's a crushing terror. He can't save Emma and Norman if he's shipped out. He can't save them. "...Ray?" His heart misses a beat. For an agonizing moment, he doesn't even dare to breathe. It's dead silent in the room. Then-- shifting of covers, like someone's getting out of bed. Ray unconsciously pulls his shoulders in tighter, tensing. He squishes his eyes closed and tries to force his breathing into something resembling sleep, even though his breath stutters and catches no matter how hard he tries. Idiot idiot idiot. Why'd he even think it's a good time to-- to-- to break down like this? He can't afford to be like this. Now he's here, and someone's heard him crying over-- over-- "Ray...?" His breath catches in his start. He tries rubbing at his eyes, tries getting rid of anything showing he was crying, but he knows its useless now. He rolls over and hopes to god it's not Emma or Norman there. He doesn't think he'll be able to explain himself to either of them. It's not. Instead, it's Conny. Conny's a little hard to see in the dark, but he's pretty sure she smiles something soft to him. Her hair's down for once, almost making her unrecognizable. In the dim light from the moon the blond almost glows. "Hey, Ray. Do you mind if I sit here for a little bit?" Her voice is light to avoid waking up anyone else, but after listening to the clock for the last three hours, he's incredibly glad for it. He doesn't trust his voice not to wobble or crack, so he just hums and shuffles around so there's room. He doesn't know if it's any better than its her rather than Emma or Norman-- she's one of the few older kids who still bother to dote on him, even when he's obviously distanced himself. "Are you feeling alright?" She asks. With a quick glance he notes that she's not really looking at him, instead more or less asking the question to the room. He supposes he can be grateful for that, even though it would be hard to even see the puffiness of his eyes in the dark. Momentarily, he wonders if she does know he was crying. He could sound like he's just got a stuffy nose and is having an awful time trying to sleep with it. But that's only wishful thinking-- although she's ditzy, she's more aware of things than she seems. "Mmm," he tries, rolling back onto his side, his back to her. If he keeps up the act, she might just pat his shoulder and be off. "Mmm," she mimics, though not unkindly. "Do you need me to grab any tissues? I think Nat has some spare in his drawer from when his nose bled last week." "'M good." "Do you need any water?" "'M alright." There's a pause. "Do you want to talk about it?" He tries reburying himself into his pillow. "Not really." It's not something he can just-- talk about. He can't just spill his stress and his worries about whether or not he'll be shipped out before he can even save Emma and Norman, he can't spill that he's sick of pretending everything's alright when someone's 'foster family' has been decided. Conny hums in contemplation. He peers at her from the side-- how would she even react if he were to, just-- say that every single one of them is to be eaten by demons? That every single one of their siblings, everyone they've loved, is already dead and gone and in some demon's stomach? He's put up with the burden of this secret for the past six years of his live-- what's a couple more? "That's alright," she whispers. She looks over her shoulder to him, smiling something kind. "But don't try to keep it all bottled up, okay? We're all allowed to cry sometimes." Ah. His throat feels tight, his eyes burn, and hell, something as simple as that shouldn't-- it shouldn't affect him this much. He's not even six yet. When was the last time he thought it was okay to cry? "Ah!" she says suddenly, eyes bright, "One second." She slides off the edge of his bed and quickly steps to her own, crouching before the dresser. To keep the drawer from making a disgustingly loud screeching noise, she has to pull it out agonizingly slow, but it doesn't deter her-- she reaches in and deftly pulls something out, holding it behind her back as she shuffles back over to Ray and maneuvering back onto the bed.   He pulls himself until he's sitting upright, swiping his arm over his eyes. Whatever she's holding is almost awkwardly too big to hold behind her back. It's gotta be important to her-- at least important enough to keep in her personal drawer. And Conny pulls out a stuffed bunny from behind her. It's obviously seen a lot of love. It's an off-white that's only from use, the ear has large clunky stitches from where he's sure it must've torn before, and the clothes are frayed and discolored. It's... a bit of a mess. Conny smiles sheepishly at the scrutiny. "He's seen better days, I promise!" she says, pulling gently to straighten the clothes and ears. "This is Little Bernie. I don't think I ever let go of him when I was younger." Ray stays quiet. She holds the plush with upmost care, like it'll crumble at her fingertips. She still dearly loves it-- that much is obvious just from the way she holds it. It was probably only because she got older that she parted ways with it. She turns to him, a small smile resting on her face. "I used to cry a lot when I was little. I mean-- I still kinda do, but y'know, thats besides the point-- I really lagged behind everyone else, I was clumsy, I wasn't very athletic or anything. I got really scared a lot that I would be left behind. Little Bernie really helped me calm down whenever I couldn't stop crying about it." She pulls at the ears absently, almost embarrassed. "And-- I know you're not really into stuffed animals or toys, but if you want, you can borrow him." Unintentionally he flushes at the proposition. Conny immediately sees this as a negative reaction, so she blurts in a flurry, "I get it, though! It's embarrassing! You really don't have to take him or anything, so don't feel obligated to! I just know you don't really want to talk, and you-- you could even imagine it as like-- a pillow or something, just to squeeze the stuffings out of, you know?" Ray quietly looks anywhere but at Conny. Sure, it's embarrassing-- but he's already embarrassed himself to the prime, being caught tear-y eyed and all. He's-- he's very touched, to say the least, to be offered something she loves so dearly. He never got the chance to like toys. He was so scared of the future, so scared, so pressured by the idea of needing to prepare, he picked up books and buried himself alive in them instead of trying to play like the other kids. He doesn't have the time to play. "...okay." But he can allow himself this, can't he? Conny almost startles. She blinks, owl-eyed, before beaming and holding out Little Bernie to him silently, like a passing of rite. Little Bernie, even after years of tousle and tear, is still soft. He's a little lumpy in certain places where the stuffing got squished to, a little stiff in places where something was probably spilled and dried on him. Even with all that, he's soft, and he's possibly the best thing Ray has ever held. "You can leave him on my dresser tomorrow morning, if you want," Conny offers. Ray just nods, holding Little Bernie with nearly the same carefulness Conny had earlier. "Thank you," he says, nearly a murmur. He can hear the smile in her voice. "No problem." She slides off his bed, ruffling his hair, and heads back to her own. Sheets rustle, the clock ticks, and soon enough he can hear her breathing even out to softly snoring. He pulls the covers back over him, Little Bernie still tucked into his arms. For minutes he just stares at the ceiling. He doesn't want to sleep. He doesn't think he can. Maybe-- Maybe he should've asked Conny to stay up longer with him, so he's not just accompanied to his thoughts. But that's selfish. Selfish. Deeper in the house, the clock strikes midnight. He listens to each gong, counting until twelve, and thinks that's how long I've live. He's six. He's only got six more years ahead of him, if he's lucky. Something winds up tight in his chest, almost threatening to burst. He clutches onto Little Bernie, worn but still soft, and curls in on himself.

[sourmarmales]

Found — Tokoyami x Reader

SOULMATE AU

Words: 2000+

Summary: You spent a large chunk of your life not knowing if your soulmate was even alive. Your tattoo never darkening, leaving you in a dark spot until the day you found him.

You lived in a world where everyone had a tattoo like marking just like their supposed other half, their ‘soulmate’. No other pair had the same marking. It became darker the closer your soulmate was to you, or lighter the farther away they get.

Around the age of 11 is when yours appeared on the back of your left hand, a pair of birds joined together with a crescent moon shape above it. You waited for the day it’d become the dark black you desired, but it was always a white or light grey.

You were currently 23 and it never even got close to a dark grey. It stayed a pale white. A lonely, ghostly white.

When you were 20, it had caused you to move from your family home and begin to isolate yourself whenever possible not being able to see the pitying eyes any longer.

Jealousy raged through you like a thick fog during this time but there was nothing you could do but wait.

But you soon enough you had found some happiness in your roommates.

You lived with your new friend Amiki and her soulmate Naoko, all of you just barely able to pay off your two-bedroom apartment together. They both had quirks, Naoko himself worked for a hero agency as a sidekick when possible.

You on the other hand…

You were quirk-less. You worked full time for the ‘Community Center’, only earning three dollars more than minimum wage. You did anything for them, being as that you weren’t the best at saying no. You were almost there pack mule of the company.

You stood up from the office chair and sucked in a breath as you stretch your arms high into the air, your back making a loud crack before you let your arms drop. You grabbed your jacket and purse, letting them lazily sit in your arms as you reach for all the paperwork on your desk, a few slid underneath and you decided to just pick them up tomorrow.

You stepped out of the small, almost closet-sized, room. The lights already off in the building, you slumped your shoulders and walked along the wall towards the exit, you straightened up once you heard laughing voices. You could see two figures standing in the lobby, the only part still lit up in the building.

“(Y/N)! There you are! I was looking everywhere for you!” Your supervisor called, you just stood in front of him, quirking an eyebrow. He and your shift lead snickered, bumping each other with their arms like they were both in on a secret joke.

“Why…?” You were hesitant to ask, you just wanted to go home, and knowing him for a while you already knew he needed you to do something that could have been done by anyone.

“I need you to go to the upper floor and set it up for seating around the table for fifty and around the wall for one hundred and fifty.”

“But I’m off for the night?” You mumbled in question and glanced at your shift lead who had a tentacle arm quirk. He could indisputably do the job in 30 minutes where it’d take you to triple that.

“I knew I could count on you. See you at eight tomorrow!” He shouted, choosing to ignore you. He brought his hand down on your back, hard, in what they would call a ‘friendly gesture’. The items you had flew out of your arms, scattering all over the ground. They just laughed as they walked out of the entrance, leaving you in the building alone.

You wondered why you didn’t quit but then it all came rushing to you, you couldn’t afford it.

‘You just have to be patient.’ You thought to yourself as you looked at your pale tattoo. ‘The day will come eventually.’

You slowly gathered the discarded belongings from the cold stone floor. You straightened your skirt and walked towards the elevator so you could just rush in and leave.

You headed to the upper floor, what was called the ‘Skyline Meeting Room’. It was only for big company meetings but there hadn’t been one scheduled for tomorrow so you thought the whole thing was a waste of your time.

You half-assed the setup and by the time you finally got to the apartment the time had already hit one in the morning. You forgot to lock the door as you headed straight to your room, not even managing to take off the business required black pencil skirt, dark blue button-up, and black two-inch heels, you fell into an uncomfortable slumber aided by your exhaustion.

Your dreams were filled with strange creatures of many colors and variety, a normal dream that you wouldn’t remember when you woke up.

The smell of burnt toast and the sound of shuffling in the apartment disturbed your rest. You rolled off the bed figuring it was time to wake up anyways. Cringing at the uncomfortably twisted clothes, you busted out of your room and straight into the bathroom, looking at the small clock hanging on the wall.

You eyes narrowing to focus past your sleepy daze, you could see the small hand on 6 and the big hand near the bottom. You decided it was around 6:30 in the morning and decided you would just rush your routine. You jumped in the shower, being quick to wash up before almost slipping out of the shower. Before standing in the mirror and brushing your hair and teeth before running across the hall to your room to put on some clothes.

You walked into the kitchen wearing a fresh new skirt and blouse, not wanting to put the agonizing heels on just yet. You bounced on your toes as you looked at the cereal selection in the cabinet.

A loud gasp followed by shatter made you whip around in shock. Your roommate stood staring at you with wide eyes her, her shoulder tense and her hands still in the original form when she was holding the now destroyed plate.

“Amiki what’s wrong?” You snapped out, your heart racing from the sudden loud noises.

“Your tattoo!” She screamed, her arm flying up, her other hand covering her mouth. You quickly brought your arm up seeing the marking an almost black. The breath caught in your throat, as you just stared at it.

“Oh my god!” You yelled out and she shoved you in pure excitement, you stumbling before catching yourself on the counter, holding onto it like it was your life support.

“You gotta go find him!” She yelled, a wide smile resting on her face.

You had the same look as you stared at your hand until the realization set in and your smile faded, your thumb rubbing over the marking.  “I have work I can’t-”

“Fuck work! Call in sick!” She placed her hands on her hips, eyebrows quirked in an angry look.

“Ami I… I can’t. I just have to hope he finds me.”

“Your work better be glad to have someone as dedicated as you.” She sighed, seeing the sad look that adorned your face. You both quietly continuing your morning routine with a few additional glances at your hand.

Once you got to work, you shoved past the large body of people in front of your work building, you held up your badge for the security at the door and they let you through with a grunt.

“Hey, what’s going on?” You asked the front desk assistant, she cocked her eyebrow, seeming irritated with your simple question.

“You’re joking right?” She almost snapped, you quickly shook your head and she brought her hand up, rubbing her temples before speaking quickly. “We’re hosting the annual pro hero meeting. I thought you would have known, seeing as that you have more clearance with these things than I do. Is that good?”

“Yes, thank you.” You quickly said, moving away from her station you headed up towards your ‘office’. You saw a small typed note on your door and yanked it off.

‘(Y/N), Come up to the Skyline Meeting Room and stand out in front of the doors. There is a cart of refreshments for our distinguished guests that will need to be distributed during the 15-minute break. Just stay put and wait for my instructions. -HK’

Your shoulders slumped as you dropped your belongings into your office before fast walking to the elevator. You walked up to the doors and stood next to one of the guards. You stood straight up and held your hands together, covering your tattoo in the process.

You watched as a few pro heroes walked into the room, but only one caught your eye. You watched as the jet-black pro walked past. He seemed stressed as he walked into the room, his eyes moved everywhere almost seeming to be searching the ground for answers.

You felt a small vibration a few minutes later and pulled out your phone, a message.

‘Bring me tea now.’

You grabbed the tea from the cart and slipped into the room, bringing in the tea for your boss as requested. You had your head down as you headed over to him on the sidelines. The meeting had already started. You handed him the tea and promptly walked out, standing outside the door, waiting for further instructions. Unknown to you of the eyes that followed you around inside.

As time went by you felt another buzz and quickly looked down to your phone, ‘A simple, ‘Bring in the carts’ popped up and you grabbed onto one of the carts, quickly pushing it towards the door, one of the security guards held the doors open as you moved the cart of refreshments. You nodded to him as you pushed it in. There was a large amount of what seemed like friendly chatter. You put on a fake smile as you walked around. You offered the drinks around, and handed them to people with your left hand hiding your marking for no real reason.

They all were super friendly, answering with pleases and thank you’s. All but two, Ground Zero who already had his reputation and Tsukuyomi who still seemed frazzled as he intently starred as you walked around the table.

Once you finished your rounds you walked towards the exit. You could faintly hear past the loud talking a chair squeal as it was pushed from somewhere with force, quick footsteps approached before your right wrist was ripped from the cart. The pro hero Tsukuyomi was staring at your marking intently.

“I’m sorry, but could you let go?” You whispered in shock, you paled a bit seeing the whole room was staring at you two, cameras pointed in your direction. It was more of his unexpected behavior that had everyone quiet.

You watched as the feathers on his head puffed up. He held onto your wrist, his thumb ran over your marking a few times before his hand slipped into yours in a smooth motion. The other moved to push his cape away from his arm, he twisted it towards you, his eyes never leaving yours. You could see the dark black tattoo on his forearm.

It matched yours perfectly.

You stared for a few more seconds before your head snapped up to look at him, he released your hands as he scooped you up in a tight hug. It didn’t take you any time to wrap your arms around his neck in pure bliss. He’s what you’ve been waiting for all this time.

Your eyes flooded with happy tears as he spun you around. As he set you down, his hands slid back into yours as he bumped his forehead against yours. Your eyes shut as you sat there for a minute, a wide smile on your face.

“Tsukuyomi! Tsukuyomi!” The press called at him.

He ignored them as he leaned into your ear, “I’m Fumikage Tokoyami.”

You whispered back yours, still dazed from the fast and unanticipated meeting of your soulmate.

A bombardment of questions flowed out like a dam breaking, the camera flashes were almost blinding.

“Is that your soulmate?” “Did you know she was here?” “Are you just meeting?” “What’s her name?” “What are you going to do now?”

He just stood blocking most of the camera’s from your view as his cape covered your side.

“Those questions will all be answered eventually. As of now no comment.” He said before pulling you around and pushing you out the door before they shut.

“(Y/N)! (Y/N)!” You supervisor called, you stopped and looked over your shoulder before turning around to face him. His face was red with anger. “And where do you think you are going?” He snapped and you looked at the ground.

“I was just-”

“You planned this didn’t you?” He growled steam pouring from his ears in anger. “You can’t just leave now!” “Yes, sir.” You mumbled, your hand covering your tattoo in instinct. Your body was then abruptly tugged to the side, you looked up to see a cloudy blackbird hovering over Tokoyami’s form

“She will no longer be working here. Effective immediately.”

[fflickerofhope]

Over again: Chapter 1

Based off of this amazing thread of prompts!

Alllll Narry

10:21 PM

Saturday September 15th, 2018

London, UK

NIALL

Beep………..beep…………beep………

The sound of the heart monitors mimicked my heartbeat as I walked down the hall of the hospital. I was practically tripping over my own feet as I tried to slow myself down from sprinting to the end of the hall.

“Last door on the left”. The phrase the nurse said repeating over and over in my head. I was oblivious to everything around me, tunnel vision on the wood door.

As I got closer I could see Anne leaning against the doorway with bloodshot eyes, sniffling into the phone pressed against her face. When she had called me, she apologized incessantly, knowing the pain it would bring me, but I was the first person she thought of to call, after Gemma of course.

“Oh darling, thank you for coming” Anne spoke softly in my ear as she put her phone down and embraced me. My body went stiff, not being able to speak from what I was about to walk in to. It had been nearly three years since I had seen her, and while I had loved her as my own mother, the circumstances of our reunion were unfortunate. “I’m talking to Camille. She’s in Paris but catching a flight back in the morning. You can head in, Gem’s there.”

So I guess Camille is still a thing. There hasn’t been much media on them recently, and that being my only way of staying updated on his life, I always had questions. I tried not to care, tried not to pay attention to the press, the girls. Didn’t even watch Dunkirk. But there was something about just hearing his name that made my heart freeze in my chest and my mind dart back to a place that once was.

Earlier that night

9:47 PM

“…..you know I’m really getting sick of this Ni” Hailee said into the phone frustrated.

“I know, it’s not that sim-“ I started, cut off by another line ringing in. I brought my phone from my ear to check the screen only to see Anne calling. Definitely the last person I ever thought I’d get a call from at almost 10 pm on a Saturday.

“Niall?”

“I, I gotta go, I’ll call ya back.”

I quickly ended the call with Hailee and picked up the call from Anne, anxiety instantly overcoming me. What could she possibly be calling me about for the first time in almost three years?

“Hello?” I answered timidly.

“Niall, darling, I’m so sorry to be bothering you at this hour. I know it’s been awhile, but it’s, it’s Harry, he’s –“

“What’s wrong” I instantly cut her off, panic washing over me. Even after all these years, I still cared deeply for Harry, and the thought of anything bad happening to him made me sick to my stomach.

“Honey he’s been in a car accident. Bad one. They have him stable now, but I thought you’d want to know, you know before the press got to it” Anne spoke softly, with pain in her voice.

As if it were 2015, my instincts kicked in and within seconds I was in my car. “I’m coming. Where is he? Where are you? I’ll be there soon.”

“We’re at St. Thomas’. Ring me when you get here, and drive safe darling, we can’t have anything happen to you too.”

As I hung up the phone, I felt tears welling in my eyes. Who am I? I haven’t thought about Harry in months. The sting was gone, I had Hailee now and I was happy, so I thought. My knuckles went white as I gripped the wheel and sped down the highway towards the hospital. I was thankful I had been in London this weekend, celebrating my 25thbirthday with friends and family, and was surprisingly home so early on a Saturday. The previous two nights had really done me in. I think it was the first year since the breakup that I wasn’t thinking about Harry on my birthday. How he knew me better than anyone, and subsequently always gave me the best presents. I still wear the vintage Eagles shirt he gifted me ages ago from the thrift store. It’s the one thing I can’t let go of.

I pulled up to the hospital minutes later, speeding into a parking space and jumping out of my car. It was only when I reached the door to the ER that I realized I had been running. I stopped to compose myself in an attempt to not show my emotions, and walked up to the front desk.

“I’m looking for Harry Styles?” I asked, out of breath.

“And you are? Oh, you’re, you’re –“ the nurse looked up at me knowingly and slightly surprised.

“Yes I am, now where’s Harry?” I snapped. I softened my face after realizing my harshness and apologized softly.

“To your right, last door on the left, Sir.”

I made my way around the corner immediately, my heart pounding in my chest. Anne said he was stable, but what does that even mean? Did he break anything? A gash to the head? Is he even awake? The worst possible scenarios came to mind as I trudged down the never ending hall.

And now here I am, after greeting Anne, standing in the doorway, looking at the lifeless body of my once lover, all scruffed and bandaged up with tubes and wires attached to every part of his body. Gemma sat next to him, head resting on the side of his bed, lulling in and out of sleep beneath the flickering fluorescent lights.

I crept up slowly and pulled a chair up next to Gemma, rubbing her back softly to not disturb her too much. “Hey Gem” I whispered.

She slowly lifted her head, blinking rapidly to adjust to the light and sniffled before realizing who I was. In that moment she threw her arms around me in such a warm embrace, it made me realize how much I not only missed Harry, but his family as well. “Oh Niall, thank you so much for coming” she breathed into my neck.

“Of course, of course, just glad I was in town. What’s his condition?” I asked, both wanting and not wanting to know the answer.

“Broken leg, two broken ribs, and a blow to the head. They concluded he has a concussion, but think brain damage is a serious possibility. They’ve put him in a medically induced coma for the night to keep him stable.”

Everything she told me took a minute to process as I looked over at the sleeping boy who was breathing through a machine. I reached out to touch his hand only to shiver at the cold skin I encountered.

Sunday, 9:15 AM

I woke up the next morning with my knees folded up to my chest, head resting against the window, in the most uncomfortable chair I’ve ever sat in. It felt like I was up all night, pacing the halls of the hospital, biting my nails, and looking for a sign of life in Harry. I must’ve been so wound up I didn’t realize I had fallen asleep.

“Niall darling, would you like some coffee?” Anne asked from the doorway. I noticed she had showered and changed and wondered if I was here alone all night. “Please.” I croaked out, clearing my throat.

I looked down at my phone to see 12 missed calls and 34 missed texts, mostly from Hailee. “Shit” I cursed under my breath, quick to text back an “I’m alright, I’ll explain later”.

The soft beeping of the heart monitor had me in a trance the rest of the morning. The three of us paced around the room waiting for an answer on Harry’s current state. Anne took calls from Jeff, Camille, and family. Gemma and I exchanged a few nostalgic stories, the ones I could handle talking about at least. After what felt like years, a doctor came in to check his vitals and decided he was stable enough to bring out of the coma.

“I want to warn you all that memory loss in common in cases like these. We don’t know how he will react when he wakes up, so please be mindful and let me ask him some questions to get started with” the doctor stated in an almost intimidating way.

Anne and Gemma sat at his bedside in anticipation while I backed myself into the corner, not wanting him to see me as he awoke. The process was slow and agonizing, but the first sign of an eyelash flutter and hand twitch had us all holding our breath. As he came to, Anne began to cry as Gemma held her close, watching over their family member. I watched from afar as Harry squinted his eyes open and landing on his crying mother beside him. He attempted a “Mum” but nothing came out after being hooked up to a breathing machine for nearly 24 hours. The look of confusion ran across his exhausted face, slowly turning to look up at the doctor quizzically.

“Mr. Styles,” he started, “you were in a car accident. You’ve been in the ICU at St Thomas’ since last night.”

I watched as panic set in Harry’s eyes. His breathing got heavier as he looked around and attempted to sit up, but fell back with a groan of pain. Anne reached her hand out to his arm in a soothing motherly way to try to calm him down.

“Mr. Styles, you need to stay still. You have a broken leg, two broken ribs, and a concussion.” Upon hearing those words, the panic didn’t fade from Harry. He tried to speak again with inaudible words until I heard a croaky “Where’s Niall?”.

My heart stopped. All I could hear was my heart pounding in my head. My eyes focused in on Harry as everyone else turned to face me. The first words out of his mouth after a coma were asking for me? Was he serious?

I stepped out of my corner timidly, and walked up to the end of the bed. My eyes were fixated on Harry’s face, watching his expression go from confusion and panicked, to relieved and emotional. Tears pricked his eyes as he lifted his arm up slightly to reach out for me. “Baby…” he whispered in my direction.

Baby. I hadn’t heard him call me that in three years. That word, coming out of his mouth, with that Cheshire accent, made my stomach drop. I instantly felt sick and stopped in my tracks as the years of our relationship flooded back to my mind. At that moment I couldn’t even stand to be in the same room as him, so I ran.