#season 2 au

[witchysolfan]

Me being silly and getting into Earthspark and introducing my Sari Sumdac as an alternative season 2 au antagonist later redeemed and adopted by girl dad Megatron oop

[tartarusknight]

The Fallen King and the King of the Freaks | Part 1

Ao3 Link | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16

Steve didn't have the heart to tell the kids about how Billy didn't back off after Max's threat. Not when they seemed to look up to him for some reason. So, instead, he stayed out of Billy's way as much as he could. But it seemed like the man was hunting him down. It got to the point that Steve dropped basketball.

Steve got used to being slammed into lockers and taunts from the people he used to friends with. So what if he wasn't top dog anymore? So what if he didn't have any friends his own age? So what if Nancy dumped him (ripped his heart out and stomped on it with bullshit)? So what if Billy left bruises on his body with well time jabs and kicks? Steve was an adult he could handle this...

However, as he was shoved into the janitors closet and hearing the lock click behind him, he thought maybe it was getting worse. He slammed his shoulder to the door but it didn't budge and he heard Billy's stupid laughter outside. "Enjoy your alone time, princess," Billy taunted.

Steve slid to the ground and tried not to panic. He wasn't going to freak out just because it's dark and he doesn't have anything to protect himself. He really wasn't going to. He wasn't that much of a loser that he was scared of the dark.

Then he started to cry. He normally was a silent crier, but normally, he wasn't struggling to breathe. He curled around himself and tried not to think of creatures with mouths that took up their entire head and opened like flower petals. Really, he was trying. But Steve just couldn't focus.

There was a soft voice outside the door that shook him from his isolation. "Hey man, you alright?" A dude questioned, and Steve tried to focus so he could answer. "Imma pick the lock, just gimme a minute. I've got ya," the voice was smooth, and Steve squeezed his eyes shut. He didn't really want to be seen at the moment, but he wanted out more.

The door clicked, and Steve crawled back so it could open. Eddie Munson was crouched there, a few things in his hands that he probably used to pick the lock. The known drug dealer looked frozen in shock at the sight of Steve, and Steve basically plowed into him to get out of the room quickly.

His brain was fried, and he really wanted to cling to Munson and let the calm voice focus him. Instead, he backed off and pressed his back to the wall, hanging his head between his thighs. "Thanks," he mumbled and hid his tear stained face from the other.

"Uh, it's um, not a problem... Usually, I'm helping others after you pick on them, though," Eddie's voice wasn't as soft as it had been. It made Steve wince and curl up tighter on himself. Of course, Munson would hate him...

"Never shoved anyone in janitor closets before," he said instead.

"Ahh, lockers then."

Steve shook his head, "You could really hurt someone doing that. What if no one found them? Or if they passed out or something?" He pointed out and finally looked up at the other boy. Eddie was just staring at him like he's never seen Steve before. "I never wanted to hurt anyone," Steve breathed out, but it came out more snappish than he meant it to.

"Right... so how come King Steve was shoved into the closet?" Eddie questioned and Steve looked away from him. "Did you sleep with someone's girl-"

"Jesus man, I get it! You hate me but can you fucking stop? Not everything that happens to me is my fault, okay?" Steve snapped, and Eddie flinched back. "Fuck, stop acting like I'll hurt you, Jesus. Billy's just an asshole who needs a punching bag, okay? And he learned that he can take he down, okay?" He gestured to the slowly healing bruises on his face.

Eddie was staring at him, "why you?"

Steve scoffed, "cause he can't take it out on his sister anymore? Cause he's an asshole with mommy issues? Or maybe just because he knows I won't fight back! I don't know, I'm not in his brain! I don't know what he thinks when he trips me in the hallway or throws a ball at my head in the gym!"

Eddie blinks and gets up to his feet, but then he holds out his hand in offering. "Come on, man." Steve takes it and lets Eddie pull him to his feet. He's still a little shaky, but he manages to stay on his feet. "I've been known to adopt lost sheep," he's guided away towards the exit and he's so shocked he doesn't fight it.

"Thought you hated me," He points out.

Eddie laughs, "eh, you can just buy me dinner." Eddie pauses for a moment, but Steve is already nodding. It makes Eddie grin, and he throws an arm around his shoulder. "Welcome to the land of the outcasts. Here I'm the king." He gestures to the group of people smoking by one of the picnic benches outside.

"You'll lose a few cool-dude points if you're seen with us," Eddie smiles like it's funny but Steve just feels bad. These were the people he never stood up for. These were the people he never looked at, just ignored.

Steve smiles and looks at Eddie, "you inviting me into the Munson cult?"

Eddie's grin goes sharp, "You gotta earn that. I'm offering you a starting point."

Steve thinks about how lonely he's been and how kind Eddie's voice had been. "So, how do I climb up the ladder? My only skills are giving rides, basketball, and hair."

"Don't forget the Harrington charm," Eddie grins and it's kinder. "Show us yourself, and we'll see from there." He whispers before turning to the group of people.

"Gentlemen, we have a traveler from the halls of royalty! He's come to bless us with his presence!" Eddie's voice is filled with so much emotion. Steve almost misses the way the group tenses up.

Steve might have a while to go before they trust them. But he thinks maybe it could be worth it. Especially as Eddie looks back at him with a smile that makes Steve's stomach flip. "Uh, hey," he smiles awkwardly, wiggling his fingers in greeting.

[klaineccfanficlibrary]

Hi, I'm the girl who asked for help with a fanfic first. ✌🏻

Damn I explained myself badly, I knew I have to improve my English. I meant that Kurt after having declared himself to Blaine and after being rejected fell in love with someone else. And Blaine at that moment realized that he too was in love with Kurt. I hope I was clearer, I'm so sorry.🤦‍♀️

HI - thanks for coming back to us. I am struggling to find that scenario, because I'm not aware of Klaine fics where Kurt started to like someone else when Blaine rejected him, in season 2.

In this one, someone else likes Kurt at Dalton, and it gives Blaine a wake up call.

Someone like you By rainjoyswritings

Summary: Never mind. I'll find someone like you. For a given value of 'like'. (Kurt loves Blaine, Blaine is oblivious; enter the OC

Potentially some au fics:

If I Had You by @klaineanummel

Blaine Anderson has been wanting to fuck his best friend up against a wall since the first time he laid eyes on him. The problem was always that Kurt wanted romance and a boyfriend, not a quick fuck, and Blaine didn’t do romance. Kurt’s new boyfriend, however, did.

~~~~~

Better Late Than Never by flyblckbirdfly

Five years in the future, AU where the boys have always been friends, but never romantic. On a night out, one gets hit on, causing the other to realize their true feelings after all this time.

~~~~~

He Sings Out a Song Which is Soft but it’s Clear by r_n_g_are_dead

Blaine Anderson Berry has had a crush on Kurt Hummel for years, but never had the guts to act on it. Things get a bit complicated when Blaine finds the other boy as not only a school mate, but his best friend. Things gets worse when another guy vies for Kurt’s attention. AU for S2 set during canon S2 (though there is some artistic liberty) and covers episodes 2x6-2x22.

Anderberry siblings. Also Kurt/OC before Klaine can happen. (Warnings for verbal harassment, mention of bullying/harassment, and Pav dies.)

Hope they are what you are looking for!

[arielleonland]

Six chapters into my season two Penelope-is-sponsored-by-the-Bridgerton-family Penedict AU~

[apinchofm]

All I Think About is You

T, 8.3k words, one shot, Fluff, humor and angst!

Secrets, friendships and love triangles - because nothing was simple for Miss Edwina Sharma.

Or Edwina meets a Prussian prince who has to go to war and an English Lord who hates said Prussian prince when she debuts.

This started as a one shot for @angel-starbeam and developed - enjoy!

[scordoesart]

Season 2 is right around the corner but here’s an au

Picking up from the end of season 1, Stede and the part of his crew that was marooned are sailing around trying to catch up with the revenge, but are ill-supplied to be doing so both due to the small size of the boat on the open ocean and that Stede didn’t seem to have much in ways of supplied with him when he left Barbados. I don’t think the marooned crew would consider Stede as their captain at this time (given that he abandoned them to the kraken!Ed). Stede would probably be avoidant in talking about where he’s been (in the “rules for thee but not for me” way he operates) other than he’s back to stay, has no money, and only what little experience he’s had in his brief time sailing as skills. They wouldn’t abandon Stede though, seeing him as maybe the only person who could fix this mess. Stede and his bunch get picked up by another ship who, turns out, is also looking for the Revenge. This ship is either operated or in the command of Bellamy (though he’s using a different name these days because he’s supposed to be dead). When Stede introduces himself, he’s somewhat met with “a pirate captain without a ship and that wasn’t mutinied upon?” questioning (some amusement there on Bellamy’s behalf), and Olu or all of the marooned people explains to their understanding what happened on the Revenge while Stede was gone to the best of their ability. The tale of the Revenge’s crew’s current state was left in just drives them both to want to find it even more. (A good chunk of this story is tracking down information to find the Revenge, which fortunately, Bellamy still has information sources in spades. Sometimes things just happen on the sea. Maybe they run into Jack again?). Bellamy may or may not be a less than open about who he’s chasing after on the Revenge (haven’t decided, or maybe it’s something that eventually comes out but isn’t said directly at first? Bellamy would have little reason to give up his many-year alias/charade to Stede and also strikes me as the kind of man to hold his cards close until he wants to play them). Stede gets to know more about Ed as a person from someone who knew him years ago without Ed there to curate ( Much like Jack and Ed, they act like no time has passed next they meet. I think they would have had a kind of rivalry but also an underlying respect for one another. or at least some base kind of comeradery) and also about pirating when money isn’t your background. Just to complicate things, because Stede and Ed have escaped the royal navy, pirate hunters have been sent after the Revenge (Hornigold maybe?). This is discovered at one of the ports they stop at for information. Time is ticking for them to find the Revenge. Stede no longer has the family inheritance money to lean on, and from the change in lifestyle he’s had to take to compensate, he develops a kind of understanding if not respect for Izzy’s steadfastness in duty of running the ship. ------------- Meanwhile back on the Revenge.... Things keep getting worse somehow. Izzy knows he Fucked Up (see walking on thin ice with Ed), but keeps telling himself Blackbeard is back and this is what he (Izzy) wanted. It’s what’s best for Ed. Izzy tells himself this, but even he knows it’s all gone wrong. He can’t face that reality because Izzy only finds the value of himself in serving Blackbeard. This wasn’t always true. It’s not something he’s ready to confront yet. Izzy is also managing (not well) the missing pinky toe whose stump is healing about as well as Lucius’ finger did. His swordsmanship has also suffered due to the lack of balance from its loss. He must hide all this to the best of his ability to keep up appearances, but of course things will go horribly wrong. Ed notices none of this of course; too wrapped up in his own grief and trying to be the Kraken for the one last reliable person (Izzy) he’s scared will leave him if he isn’t being exactly what Izzy expects him to be. After all, Stede disappeared on him without a word, Jack helped Izzy sell Stede (though ed probably interpreted it as selling both ed and stede) out to the British. Ed and Izzy haven’t been talking outside of strictly first mate-captain business talk. And even then, sometimes it’s Izzy (nervously but with a front to show the crew otherwise) managing without Ed. Lucius is living in the walls at this point and sees and hears much from people when they think they are alone. Ed’s fragile state and crying. Izzy’s struggles with his foot and brief forlorn expressions when he’s alone. Maybe there’s times when he’d grip the ring, saying nothing but mind going mile a minute to something Lucius wouldn’t know at this point. He could probably pick up that it’s a thought of someone missed. Lucius can’t keep a secret for long so he’d start conversing secretly with some of the crew. Jim perhaps? The two of them have a precident of secrets kept a  la season 1. Those that were part of the Revenge both don’t see a way out of this and start trying to plan for a means of a way out of this. Would there have been more crew transferred from the Queen Anne’s Revenge to the Revenge to fill out the crew with competent pirates? Maybe. Eventually though Izzy can’t ignore that this isn’t anything like the usual moodswings of  Blackbeard he’s accustomed to managing. Things aren’t changing and he’s already been dragged too deep underwater by the kraken to surface from the situation. Might as well continue to try and keep the rest of the crew afloat and working as they should be. ---------- (A maybe possibility of an event but not sure how it fits in characterization wise?) Lucius eventually reveals himself to Izzy (under funny accidental circumstances probably). Perhaps when things have gotten Really Bad for Izzy’s foot and he’s bed bound with fever and infection? Would Izzy admit to Lucius he didn’t think an infection would be the thing to do him in? Probably not, but maybe in such a situation he would? (I didn’t think through this scene too much, but maybe some more direct hints that there was someone else (Sam) for Izzy a lifetime ago? But since Izzy never really dealt with the loss other than just shove it down, he doesn’t really want to talk about it? This would provide an opportunity for those that were left from the Revenge crew to gain a kind of respect and the briefest of peaks beneath the demanding middle manager demeanor Izzy has. HOWEVER, this seemingly conflicts with two of the truths Izzy upholds for himself: Loyalty to his captain above all else, and, pirates all just in the process of screwing eachother over) ------------ Back with not the Revenge... Bellamy, Stede, and the rest of the marooned crew eventually catch up to the  Revenge with barely enough time before the pirate hunters arrive. If Stede hadn’t but it together by now just who Bellamy was looking for, it would be outright said who specifically is being sought after. (Stede probably wouldn’t put it together that the man he calls Iggy has the name Israel or may be referred to by the nickname Baz) Stede could say it’s him and he’s returned, but Ed wouldn’t believe him. By now, Stede looks quite different a man. No matter what Stede says, It takes a proper pirate boarding and takeover to get Ed to listen. Maybe Stede getting stabbed by Ed (just like he was taught) to get Ed to listen. The revenge crew on both sides wouldn’t want to fight their friends/companions. The jig is seemingly up on romcom logic where everyone is going to be okay. Maybe Ed boils over and Stede sees the Blackbeard the books he has tell of? Does Ed kill someone in his kraken rage or just think he killed someone in order for him to snap out of it enough to allow that emotional vulnerability to show again? (It would have to be him directly doing it, not throwing someone into the sea, or fire, or anything like that. As with when Jack was talking about Ed burning people alive in ep 8, Ed considered it the fire doing the killing, not himself.) There is of course a dramatic and emotional reunion of all the couples. Them all dealing with what happened in their own ways. Izzy of course is beyond words. Not knowing how to emotionally deal with 1) Sam being alive. Sam being here. 2) Stede Bonnet is back. 3)Pirate hunters (Hornigold?) on the horizon coming right for them. That third point would cut everyone’s emotional reunions short, but also be the only one of the three that Izzy has any inkling of how to deal with after years of shoving his own emotions down and never dealing with them. The fight to even get on the Revenge having caused enough fatigue that a fuckery has to be used to get away. Stede gets to showcase what he’s learned as a practical, broke, pirate (and that probably not enough if he creates the fuckery without assistance from others). There’s a grand kind of confrontation between Hornigold and the two captains who were once under his command. Stede gains a deeper understanding of the man that in many ways shaped Ed (and Izzy and Sam and Jack and maybe other figures that could have been encountered while looking for the Revenge such as Anne Bonny and Mary Reed). And then finally, the crew can start to unpack and sort out the situation. It’s a long process. The world, under normal logic, wouldn’t wait for them to sort such things out. Maybe romcom time makes a comeback and they can sort through at least a good chunk of it. Ed, for his part, does a lot of growth or at least tries to. In the end, Izzy ends up leaving with Sam for retirement. Ed tells him to go, be happy. Releases him from service (much to Izzy’s conflicted feelings on it). Izzy insists that no that’s a big mistake. Ed insists that’s what would make Ed happy (even if that too is a lie in some capacity?): to see Izzy finally have that same happiness with Sam that Ed’s now found with Stede. -------------- As for what happened between Izzy and Sam all those years ago... Years ago, Sam was sweet on Izzy when they were both serving under Hornigold. It was a whirlwind romance. Sam promised Izzy fine things and retirement together- something so rare for those in their line of work. It seemed like the stuff of fairytales, but something made Izzy give Sam a chance to make it a reality. I haven’t decided what the reason they weren’t sailing together. Izzy and Sam would have been on different ships under Hornigold’s command. Sam with his own ship and Izzy under Ed’s command. Maybe Izzy’s sense of loyalty to his captain was there (as instilled by Hornigold in all his men), but at the time, he wasn’t giving both of his hands to his job. One for the ship and one for his own interests. Maybe Ed was jealous and didn’t want to “share” Izzy with a someone else and he pressed the loyalty to the captain aspect? Maybe there was some other fuckery a la Ed afoot? Maybe Izzy, being torn between duty and love, said he’d go with Sam once Sam got the money needed for that retirement? That seems to conflict with the intensity of which Izzy holds loyalty though. Hmm.... In any case, after splitting off from Hornigold and some time passing, Sam ended up reported dead along with almost all of his crew in the sinking of the Whydah. (The timeline with Hornigold’s involvement and if he’s still alive even seems to be pretty loose at this point as far as OFMD canon goes in comparison to history. Therefore the timeline between Bellamy being elected captain of what once was Hornigold’s fleet, his independent ventures, and the sinking of the Whydah can be played with fast and loose.) Ever since then, Sam’s been working under another name to regain those funds, find Izzy, and give his love the retirement he promised. News of what happened to the Whydah and Sam eventually made its way to Ed and Izzy. Izzy never really processed the grief. Just bottled it up and dedicated his whole self to his captain. Both hands to the ship. (“The only retirement we get is... death”)

[klove0511]

It's Rest I Want Masterpost

Title: It's Rest I Want

Rating: T

Word count: 26,978

Pairing: Dean/Sam, Dean/Ruby (mentioned)

Warnings: Major Character Death

Additional tags: Grief/Mourning, Temporary Character Death, Pre-Slash, ghost!sam, Heavy Angst, Suicidal Ideation (mentioned), Alcohol as a Coping Mechanism, Season 2 AU, the Winchesters use their words (eventually), Canon-Typical Violence, Eventual Happy Ending

Author's note : At long last, the sequel is here! I had a blast writing this, and I am SO excited to finally get to post it. Thank you to the mods of the @spnproshipbang, because without your encouragement and this event this fic would still just be an idea. A huge thank you to my artist @imnot-evenhere. Their art is amazing, and you should go check it out. And finally, thank you to my betas @hello-starlingfics, @missroserose, and @samanddean76. Any mistakes left are all mine.

Summary: After John's betrayal results in Sam's death, Dean follows in the Winchester family tradition and swears vengeance on his father. The question is: is Sam really gone?

Link to AO3

Chapter 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Epilogue

Link to art post

Link to The Only Way Out AO3 | Tumblr

[turianmailman]

Soooo I'm super curious about Drosselmeyer's role in the Season 2 AU, since he *clearly* has one. (exploiting the fact that he says fakir reminds him of himself is so...) Looks like Fakir is extremely Going Through It, whatever it is!

>:) he most certainly does

i dont wanna get TOO meta cause spoilers but I always thought it was a little, um, EARTH shattering that the anime drops a lore bit that literally says that Dross was hired by world leaders at the time to WIN wars for them and god knows what else, and yknow I just wanna. Take a little peak into that.

Im also of the opinion that the ability that he and fakir share is both inherited AND trained, so anyone within the bloodline has some level of ...idk how to put it, reality self-awareness? Or awareness of how infitismal their lives are in the grand scheme of the universe? And then the rest comes from the "Erd" tree (that's just what I'm calling it lol) and what it does to the descendent varies wildly

So Fakir turned into a tree and had a little fun music video montage all naked inside the tree meanwhile Dross had something to this affect:

[wildlife4life]

Fuck-it Friday

Tagged by: @ebdaydreamer

So this is not a new fic to me because I've been working on it for a bit, but its new to you all. Its the first fic where I've ventured into the A/B/O universe. It is also a season 2 AU after Doug comes back and attacks Chim and tries to take Maddie, but doesn't succeed. Instead Doug gets away, and Maddie and Buck run from L.A. Shannon lives bitches! But the biggest part of this story is Buck finding out he's pregnant while on the run. Surprise! We can all guess who the father is. Anyway, below is the letter that Buck sends to Eddie. But does he receive it???????

Eddie,

I am so sorry that you have to find out this way, but Maddie and I have had to toss our phones twice because of Doug. But I had to tell you.  Let me start by saying, we are safe.  I wish I could say where but you of all people know I can’t. I really thought we would be home by now, so I could tell you this in person.  But Doug is relentless and apparently has higher connections than we originally thought. So again, I’m sorry and I never intended for any of this to happen.

I’m pregnant Eddie and its yours. Maybe it’s hard to believe. I’m still having trouble believing it. But those days we spent together in November…well life came to be.

It took some thinking and a very long, eye-opening lecture from Maddie, but I know how it all happened. I wasn’t lying back then when I told you I was on birth control.  What I didn’t mention was the fact that I had started it just a few days prior to my heat. Maddie believes it may have triggered it.  We’re not entirely sure. What I did learn is that the birth control I was on is adequate at best for male omegas and the only time we can get pregnant is during a heat. My previous doctor is getting an earful when I get back. That isn’t me saying I don’t want our baby, I do.

This probably the worst time to even be pregnant, but I am so happy and excited. I’m also so so scared. I wish I was with you and the rest of the 118.  I wish Maddie and I could come home.  I really wish that dog had ripped Doug’s throat out instead of a chunk of his leg. I wish for a lot of things. But my biggest wish, is that you could be here for everything involving the pregnancy. Check-ups, ultrasounds, the little flutters of movement, hell even the vomiting (why is it called morning sickness when it happens ALL DAY). I know how much you regret missing everything with Shannon and Christopher, and I feel awful that I’m putting you through that all over again. But until Doug is no longer a threat, I must stay away to keep our baby safe. Until then Maddie and I are recording everything. I’ll try to send more later, but its risky. I’m sure you’ve already heard; Athena believes Doug’s joined up with an Alpha group that believes in harsh traditionalism and are helping him track us down.  Which includes watching our friends and family for any clue of where we are.  Hide or burn this letter.  Hide the ultra-sound and don’t say a word to anyone until we return. I’ll try to write more and send what I can.

Eddie, I am so sorry. I really am.  And I’m not expecting anything from you, but I know you want to be a part of this baby’s life.  You are the most amazing father.  Christopher is going to be the best big brother.  Maybe you wish that this child was between you and Shannon again.  I kind of wish that too…

Our baby is completely healthy, and I’ll keep doing my very best to insure they stay that way.  It’s the least I can do considering the situation. I hope everyone is doing good.  Maddie and I miss you all every day.  We really hope Doug is caught soon and we can come home. And we will come back, I really believe that. I hope you and everyone else does too.

Stay safe, give Christopher a hug for me, and again I’m so sorry.

Buck

What do you think? I'm actually kind of excited for this because have I got some twists and turns and angst and big man little baby!

Tagging (not to be pushy!): @911onabc @alyxmastershipper@elvensorceress@bekkachaos

[lilacmoon83]

Operation Castle

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

The door to the detention block buzzed, as General Shaw swiped his badge and allowed the eye scanner to authenticate his identity. He walked down the dark hallway, his shoes being the only noise in the prison block. He approached his first destination and peered in on a blonde woman inside.

"Good afternoon, General Shaw," she said.

"Ingrid," he greeted in response.

"I trust that my information has garnered my freedom?" she asked.

"If your information on the location where you hid the scroll you used to slip into this world pans out…then yes, a discussion about your freedom may be on the table," he replied. She hissed and came into the light, wrapping her hands around the bars.

"You told me that I was free to go and be with Emma if I gave you the location of that scroll," she growled.

"And we'll discuss that further when I get the scroll and see if it is of any use to us," Shaw said.

"Besides, Ms. Swan has her parents now. I doubt she has any room in her life for you," he added, as he moved onto the next cell.

"Your information was limited to a land that was not part of the Dark Curse. All our real information has come from our wooden friend here," Shaw said, as a figure hobbled up the bars, revealing a completely wooden and adult August W. Booth.

"Without the book, we could have never come to know everything that we do about the other realms. Rumpelstiltskin was never very forthcoming and his tongue was much harder to loosen. But you have been singing like a bird, my puppet friend," Shaw said.

"Because you promised me the cure," August rasped.

"I have given you all the information you've asked for from the book that I can remember. You promised me one of the Dragon's cures," he pleaded.

"Yes…and we still don't know why the trigger reversed the magic that the Blue Fairy used to turn you back into a human child. It's more evidence that the trigger somehow punishes the liars and villains," he mused.

"Yet you jumped at the chance to help a likely enemy of your people for the chance to help yourself again," he added, as he produced a glowing potion from his jacket pocket.

"It would seem you have learned nothing, but the cure is all yours," he said, as he gave it to him. August scrambled for it and popped the cork, before downing the liquid. Shaw watched, as wood turned to flesh and August breathed a sigh of relief. The General opened the cell and let him out. August watched him wearily.

"And just so you know…I have learned. What's the catch for this magic?" he asked. The General smirked.

"You'll need another elixir every two weeks and if you want it, you'll work for me," he said. August sighed. He knew something like that was coming, but he was so desperate to be human again that he was ready to do just about anything.

"I'll be in touch. If you make contact with anyone from your land until I say it is okay, the deal is off and you'll end up in a wood chipper somewhere," Shaw warned, as he handed him a burner phone. August nodded and took the phone, before being led out by security.

"Let me out of here!" Ingrid demanded.

"Sorry…you told me of your powers and I can't risk you figuring out magic and plunging the world into an eternal winter," Shaw said.

~*~

After picking up the baby, they arrived home with everyone following. Emma opted to grab some takeout after getting Henry and soon, they were all gathered in the Charming living room, eating dinner and discussing the harrowing events of the day.

"We have to figure out what they're hiding. They know more than they're telling us," David insisted.

"We agree, mate…but you and I both know we'd never make it past that kind of security," Killian replied.

"He's right…I was their captive for three years. We must consider the possibility that there may be others," Rumple interjected.

"You think so?" Belle asked. He nodded curtly.

"I told them nothing during my time in their captivity, despite promises of freedom. I knew a lie when I heard it. Only when the magical anomalies began occurring did they reveal others had survived. Until I had that piece of information, I never considered cooperating," Rumple said.

"And others might not have that strength of will, especially if they're promised the right thing," David said.

"If we can figure magic out…then nothing they do matters. We can take down any security team and foil any of their attacks," Regina said.

"Magic worked fine in Storybrooke once you learned how to use it," Snow replied.

"What's your point?" she asked.

"She means that it didn't for you at first. What did you do to suddenly get it to work for you?" David asked.

"I…I went to my darkest place with the help of my mother's spell book. That's no longer an option," Regina replied.

"Maybe a magical object is the answer to activating it," Emma suggested.

"Which is great, except that if anything survived, they probably have it under lock and key," Regina replied. Emma deflated a bit at that. She was right…who knew if anything had survived at all and if anything did, they had no way to get to it.

"When you created the trigger, you should have warned me it could do this," Regina hissed.

"Except that I didn't create the trigger, dearie…nor the curse," he revealed.

"What?" she asked in surprise.

"We thought you wrote the curse?" David asked.

"No…it was written by a very dark being, who intended to use it much in the same way that Regina did. I am able to tell you everything about the curse, but the trigger is something of a mystery to me. I didn't pay it much mind, because I never thought you'd be foolish enough to use it," he said sternly to his old apprentice. She huffed at that. She was getting tired of being blamed for their predicament, even though she was the reason for it.

"Did you know this dark being?" Snow asked. He gave her a look and there was a long pause.

"Yes…she was called the Black Fairy," he said, offering nothing else at the moment.

"What happened to her?" Henry asked curiously.

"When she became a dark fairy, in pursuit of creating the dark curse, she was banished to a nether realm by the Blue Fairy. Only she knows of her motivations and how she came to be corrupted. Despite my attempts, the blue gnat has never loosened her foul tongue," he answered. He hated fairies and it was for a far deeper reason than they knew, but he wasn't revealing that to anyone anytime soon. He was being truthful about knowing very little about why she had done what she had.

"This is great…once again, we're nowhere," Regina said in frustration, as she watched Henry play with the baby and actually allowed herself a smile. Her son was helping him build a castle with his blocks.

"Yeah…this is a lot like the castle your Mom and Dad lived in," Henry cooed, as Bobby held up a block for him. Henry took it and put it on top. Unfortunately, the blocks toppled and fell to the floor.

"Uh oh…" Bobby said.

"It's okay…we can rebuild it, buddy," he said, as he started gathering the blocks again. With what happened next, time seemed to stand still for those few moments. Bobby giggled and clapped his hands, as several of the colorful blocks floated into the air around him.

"Oh my God…" Regina uttered.

"He…he can't be doing that," David said, equally stunned.

"He is the product of true love, dearie…if anyone has a natural aptitude for magic, it would be your children," Rumple said.

"Then how come Mom can't do it?" Henry asked.

"Theoretically, she can…we all can. Her natural ability gives her far more potential than us. But it may be that our minds and awareness are blocking our ability to harness it. The baby has no such hindrance. He's pure and innocent," Rumpe answered.

"They…they can't find out," Snow fretted, as she quickly swept him up into her arms and the fear in her eyes was palpable.

"If they find out…they'll take him away," she said, as she was almost panicking at this point. David was quick to pull them both close and kissed her hair.

"No…we won't let that happen," he said, as he looked at the others. The worry was palpable in his eyes too.

"We gotta figure out magic and soon," Emma said.

"You can't risk taking him to daycare anymore," Regina said. Snow nodded.

"Well…I don't have a job, so that won't be a problem until we have another creature or calamity pop up," she said.

"Yeah…we can't take the kid with us, but who can we trust?" Emma wondered.

"I can watch him," Henry said.

"I don't know kid…" Emma replied.

"We don't have much choice…" Rumple said. She sighed.

"You think you can handle it, kid?" she asked. He nodded.

"Bobby and I'll be fine," he assured them. They were satisfied with that for now, but Bobby figuring out magic before anyone else was causing serious anxiety. No one wanted to see some clandestine agency rip the baby away from his parents and turn him into a lab rat. But for that night, they agreed to disperse to their own homes and hope tomorrow would yield a solution to them being trapped in a world that soon might hate them.

~*~

"And you saw this?" the Knight asked the squire.

"Yes…I'm sure of it. I overheard them talking and saying that the lake was not quicksand and rather a portal. A portal that is staying open," the squire said.

"That's nonsense," one of the Knights spat, but the other one, who clearly outranked him, held his hand up.

"We do not know that for certain and no man, sane or otherwise, would jump into quicksand unless that's not what it was at all," the Knight reasoned.

"But if it is a portal…of what use would that be?" the other Knight asked.

"I don't know…but it is something that our Lord should be informed of either way," he said, as they mounted their horses and left to see Lake Nostros for themselves.

~*~

Neal had found a dive motel to stay at the night before and first thing that morning, he set out to find the place that Emma supposedly was working. He went inside the small shop on the block that was lined with many other small shops and looked around.

"Can I help you?" the receptionist asked.

"Yes…I'm looking for someone that works here," he said.

"Oh…do you need a bond for someone?" she asked.

"No actually…she's just an old friend. Emma Swan," he replied.

"Oh…I'm sorry, Emma no longer works here. She left for a new job a week or so ago," the woman said. He frowned and nodded.

"Thanks anyway," he said, as he turned to leave, when he caught the news on the television. He saw Tamara and Greg on screen, making some report from Time Square and he clenched his fist. He would find Emma…but first, he was going to make those two tell him what they had done, for he was sure they had something to do with all of this.

~*~

David peered into their son's room and sided up next to his wife, as she watched him play. He slid his arms around her waist and kissed her hair.

"Has he been floating any toys around?" he asked. She hummed.

"No…so far, it was just that once that we saw. But we know it's going to happen again," she replied.

"And we will protect our son. I know I promised you that after we got married that we'd never have to run again, but if it comes down to it…we will to save him," he said. She squeezed his hand.

"I know…" she replied.

"I don't want to leave you here alone…maybe you and the baby should come to Castle," he said. But she shook her head.

"No…as much as I want to stay close to you, it's too risky. It will look suspicious if we bring him to Castle and not to daycare and if he has another display of magic, then there will be no hiding it from them," she reasoned. He nodded and kissed her tenderly.

"Call me if you feel that something's wrong or even a little uneasy," he pleaded. She nodded and kissed him again.

"I will," she said, as she saw him off and then went back to Bobby's room.

~*~

"Where is that Principal?" Tamara asked impatiently, as they waited on their guest. They planned on interviewing the Principal from the school Mary Margaret Nolan had worked at and expose her identity first, which would easily lead to exposing her husband's identity as well. By the end of it, she'd have the public eating out her hand and turn them against those she would portray as dangerous.

"Are you sure the NSA released him this morning?" Greg asked.

"Yes…he called and said he was being released, because they have nothing to hold him on, unless they want it to go public that the NSA is involved in a cover up operation," Tamara answered.

"Yeah…he's fifteen late. Maybe he made a run for it," Greg suggested. She huffed and dialed his number and immediately got a message that the number was no longer in service.

"Dammit…he's ghosting us," Tamara cursed.

"Are you surprised? The NSA may have let him go, but probably also suggested that he steer clear of any high profile promotions or interviews. They can find someone just by pinging a cell phone. I'm sure he's more scared of them than us. He's probably in another state by now," Greg reasoned.

"What do we do now? We're on the air in five minutes!" she said hotly.

"I don't know…neither of us are real reporters. I liked it better when we were just stalking and eliminating those freaks from that damn town. And he still won't let me at that bitch that killed my father!" he exclaimed back.

"You know why…we're back in prison or worse if we step out of line. Now…we need a story or we're going back there!" she argued.

"You're the one that suggested we do some big story in Time Square! That's kind of the thing you should have a backup for!" he shouted.

"Don't blame this all on me. I'm the one that pulled you off the street and helped you find that damn town. You'd be nowhere closer to getting answers about your father if not for me," she growled.

"And yet…we're both still pawns. First for the Home Office and now for this…psychopath!" Greg said.

"Working for a psychopath…guess that shouldn't surprise me now," a voice said. Tamara froze and her eyes widened, as they turned to find Neal Cassidy standing before the.

"N…Neal?" she stammered. He smirked.

"Yeah…bet you think you're seeing a ghost, you know since you shot me and I fell through a portal," he said, as he came closer.

"How…how did you survive?" Greg questioned. Neal glared at him.

"Some friends found me and I spent the last three years trying to find my way back to my family, no thanks to you two crazy morons," he said.

"Neal…you and I both know how dangerous magic was and if you're back, you now know what it is doing to this world," she pleaded.

"Just shut up…you tried to kill my whole family and steal my son! And you're going to tell me where they are," he growled. She swallowed thickly and knew she had just moments before she was supposed to go on the air with some huge story that she didn't have.

"Wait…if you're here, then you had to come back through a portal. Where was that portal?" she asked. He scoffed.

"Like I'd tell you two anything," he replied. Before she could say more, there was a sudden tremor beneath their feet.

"What was that?" Greg asked, as they felt it again and it was stronger this time. Their eyes widened, as the concrete a few feet away cracked and a horrible shrieking was heard. They watched in disbelief, as a creature emerged from beneath the Earth.

"What is that thing?" Greg shouted, as they dodged the winged thing swooped down on them. It had snakes for hair, bat-like wings, and bleeding red eyes, with sharp fangs and claws as well.

"I think it's a Erinyes!" Neal cried, as he ducked the creature again. It screamed again and they held their ears in pain.

"What the hell is an Erinyes?!" Tamara shouted.

"More commonly known as a furie! They usually come to punish people for crimes and sometimes, even drag them to the Underworld!" he called back.

"What crime is it here to punish!?" Greg cried.

"You really want me to answer that with you two?" Neal cried back, as they ducked it again. Neal rolled away and looked around for something to use as a weapon. He found a discarded two x four near a dumpster and stood up, before swiping at it when it went by. It screeched, as he made contact and sent it flying into a building. It angrily bounced back and pursued them again. "Start filming!" Tamara said, as Greg got the camera and took cover behind a parked car, just as two black SUV's pulled up and screeched to a halt. Several people poured out of it and time seemed to stop for a moment, as shock came to them all.

"Neal?" Emma squeaked.

"Emma…"

[piperslovebot]

Is it a wonder I broke? Let's hear one morе joke

Then we could all just laugh until I cry

Nikki Velasco - Who's Afraid of Little Old Me

[witchysolfan]

So in this Season 2 AU, there’s a mystery surrounding a masked figure after Ghost was shut down. The figure has been causing trouble in various areas the cybertroniana and terrans are in as some of Ghost’s files were shared by Agent Schloder with the Maltos and Autobots. Looking into what Karen Croft was getting up to, what secrets she’s been keeping with Ghost, and what other plans there were. There was a hidden specimen deep in the labs Agent Schloder was unaware of a skeletal figure with cybertronian biology mixed with Earth. Possibly an unknown Terran unaccounted for but origins unknown. There’s a separate file of a young girl who went missing 6 years ago. Her name was Sarita Sumdac. Her connection with the new figure is unknown.

The masked figure is revealed to be Unicronian in origin as the presence of Unicron’s spark at the center of the Earth is discovered and the figure’s efforts to free him, which would result in the Earth being torn apart, provides motivation to stop the figure’s plans and bring the Decepticons in for help. As no one wants the planet they live in and are stranded on to be destroyed.

During one battle to prevent certain technologies from being taken away, the figure is about to shoot at Dot and an injured Megatron when Twitch intervenes.

That is when the connection between the missing ‘human’ girl and the agent of Unicron is revealed.

And that is the context for this scene right here.

[tartarusknight]

The King of the Freaks | Pt 4

(Yes I am too lazy to keep writing that long title so it’s been changed from now on...)

Ao3 Link | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15

Eddie was kinda pissed as he stabbed at the food on his tray. "You sure they said we can't?" Gareth question, and he sounded just as Eddie felt.

"They said that we couldn't do this week," Eddie said again, and he glanced up as Steve moved to sit down next to Jeff. He was pulling something out of his backpack and it was the first time since that first time that Steve actually sat with them.

"What can't you guys do?" Steve questioned as he pulled out a container of cookies and slid them over to Jeff.

Jeff lit up even as the others looked confused. "We can't do Hellfire this week. Apparently, the drama club needs the drama room this week." Jeff explains, and Steve pauses.

His face makes a hundred micro expressions before he shrugs, "You could do it at my house. I don't really care." Steve states and moves to stand back up hit Jeff pulls him back down. "Uh, what?"

He looks confused, and it's unfair because it seems like the moment they should be confused. "Three questions. First I thought you had swimming? Second, why would you let us do it at your house? Most parents think we are a cult, and I doubt your parents would think differently. And lastly, what's up with the cookies?"

Steve looks a little embarrassed as he's forced to stay there. But he meets Eddie's gaze. "First, I do have swimming, but I don't care. Come over that night or another if you really care. Second, my parents are in either Beijing or Belgium right now, so they don't get an opinion. And the cookies are for Jeff because he helped me last weekend. He can share, or he doesn't have to, I don't care."

Eddie blinks, "you'd let us be at your house without you there?"

"Sure, why not. I doubt you'll trash the entire place. And even if you do, there's not much you could do I haven't seen before. I've had enough parties to get good at cleaning up." Steve states, and Eddie looks at the others, trying to see if they're just as confused.

"That's amazing, dude! How about we get pizza, since you'll host?" Jeff offers, and Steve gives them a tight smile. Eddie's not sure if it's because of the topic of food or the idea that they're going to take him up on the offer. 

Steve nods and it’s a little sharp, “Right. Yeah just let me know date and time.” He pauses and goes back to his bag. He pauses before he can pull whatever he’s grabbed before steeling himself. “Here, just in case I’m busy.” He drops a key onto the table and practically bolts from the table. 

Eddie waits for him to come back and take the key with a sike. But he doesn’t, instead Eddie sees him dodge Billy’s foot and escape out of the lunch room. “Here I thought we were adopting him.” Gareth mused and picked up the key. Jeff smacked him and took the key. “Hey!” Gareth complains. 

“Yeah, I’ve actually been to his house so...” Jeff points out.

That gets Eddie back up and moving, “yeah. About that, what the hell?”

Jeff laughs, “I helped him cook. He’s been struggling with meet lately and you know my sister.” Eddie nods because it does make sense but at the same time it makes zero sense. “I bumped into him at the store...” Jeff trails off, “I think we need to try harder.”

“Harder?” Eddie squeaked and his friends gave him a look that he really wished he didn’t know. 

Jeff doesn’t let that stop him though. “Well, I thought it was bad enough going from top dog to the new top dog’s chew toy but the guy is struggling. He only had condiments in his fridge even though he told me he was a good cook, which he is. Apparently he has no clue��where his parents are at the moment. He had a guess but that was it. And! He has no clue when they’re coming back. I asked and he laughed it off saying maybe for Christmas. Christmas.”

“It’s not even Thanksgiving yet!” Grant states and Jeff nods. 

Gareth sighs, “I’ve been bothering him during my free period. Normally just working on shit next to him... but the dude is not okay. He squints when he reads like he can’t see it well. I’m pretty sure he’s been getting migraines since he fought with Billy. And I’m 80% sure he’s partially deaf in his left ear. Cause if I whisper on that side he never responds. But he will when I sit on his right.”

“He never eats lunch,” Eddie sighs. “He always tears his food apart to make it look like he’s eating. If his fridge is empty than he might not be eating that often.”

“Well shit,” Grant sighs. “But how do we help him without it being weird.”

Eddie presses his hands together under his chin to think. “Okay, so we stop with the subtle friendship and go for it. If we’re his best friends then maybe he’ll let us help him.”

“So operation make Steve Harrington friendship bracelets is ago.” Gareth grins and Jeff throws a grape at him. 

They already had access to the boy’s house. How hard could it be?

@zerokrox-bloglog @cyranyxx @adaed5 @the-redthreadd @lifeisnotsobadonceyoustopcaringceyoustopcaring @idontgetpaidenoughforthisshitorthisshit @failedstarsandgoldencloudsds @bisexualdisastersworldd @deadlydodoss @anythingyouwanttobee @nburkhardtt @bestwifehaverr @thehumblefigtreee @megzdoodlee @swimmingbirdrunningrockk @mightbeasleepp @bxlthazarar @autumnal-dawnn @chillichatss @nonbinary-eddie-munsonon @the-daydreamer-in-the-cornerner @eddie-munson-is-my-wifewife @a-little-unsteddiedie @sharingisntkaren @a-huge-nerdy-nerd @0o-queendean-o0 @beckkthewreck @vi-an-te @vampireinthesun @newtstabber @dinosareawesome2137  @spicemallow @hellomynameismoo  @luthienstormblessed @briceslayed @angeldreamsoffanfic @dbquills

[antigonenikk]

shades of cool

Billy is sort of insane. But Chrissy is too, so they make a good pair.

Or: (A Season 02 AU where Billy and Chrissy meet, fight demons, and fall in love. And not in that order.)

“Eventually, he grabs at her, and she feels tears. His or hers. They melt together. Jason’s blood leaves fingerprints all over her. She wants Billy to kill every person who has ever looked twice at her. She wants to keep him safe in a small room away from the world that has hurt him. She wants to run away with him. Far away. Out of this haunted town.”

Chapters 7/?

Word Count: 13224

Pairing: Billy Hargrove/Chrissy Cunningham

reckless driving - drug use - child abuse - eating disorders - unsafe sex - boys crying - love at first sight -horror

read on AO3

Chapter One Below

She saw him for the first time on a Tuesday. She remembered it was a Tuesday because she hated Tuesdays. On Tuesdays she had Cheer and then she had Pointe class in Muncee, which meant a one hour drive to the dance studio and then back, because Hawkins didn't have a dance studio. Well they did. But they didn't teach the Vaganova method there. And her Mom said that the Vaganova method was the only really good way to study ballet. So on Tuesdays she had pointe, which Chrissy tried to enjoy but secretly, shamefully, hated. She liked Pas de Deux classes much better, when they got to practice lifts with the boys. Where you got to fly. She felt that when you were raised up high by the male dancers, up to the ceiling, you were eternal. You were at the peak of the spectacle. You were an angel. You could not fall. No one could touch you. It’s why she liked cheering, too. Getting to be thrown up into the air, completely weightless for those few seconds.

But just normal pointe lessons rankled her. Her hair by that point was in a bun for three hours so her skull was aching, and she was hungrier than usual, and lightheaded from smoking so many cigarettes during break to keep up with the other girls and seem normal. So on a Tuesday morning the week before Halloween, when she woke up and looked at the clothes her mother had laid out, she wasn't expecting him. She wasn't expecting anything. Or thinking anything, really. Just doll thoughts. Put on shirt. Button in hole. Her mind was asleep where it liked to go a lot of the time, when it wasn't lit up with fire. In the mirror she put on the makeup her mother laid out. Pink eyeshadow today. Hair up. Earrings. Staring back at her was a face of someone she did not recognize. She could see this face in the halls at school on some other girl and it would be a complete stranger to her. Like a cut out of paper doll. A girl is there, she thought. Or something that looks like one. Her skin itched. She clutched her hands together. She clawed at her palms. She existed. She existed. It felt like a lie, like the more she repeated it the less real she became. On Tuesday she wasn't expecting anything. But she should have. Later it didn't seem fair for it to come so out of the blue. Like life was divided into two halves: before the Robin's Egg Blue, and After.

-

Her and Tammy were halfway from the parking lot to the front door of the school when it happened. Jason and Chance were approaching them, parting off from the rest of the team like lions going for the kill. And her, of course, the prey. Always. Chrissy wanted to groan. Her Mom wanted her really really badly to date Jason. Which she didn't get, because her Mom hated when she dated anyone. Like, literally refused it. And that was fine with Chrissy. If she had Mom she didn't need a boyfriend. Her and Mom were totally best friends. They did everything together. A boy wouldn't understand. Would distract her. But Mom wanted her to date Jason, and Jason wanted her to date Jason, and Chrissy felt so guilty because he was handsome but she just couldn't do it. She didn't want them to feel bad. She was dragging her feet. He just wasn't interesting. He was like everyone else. Boring. Boring. And wanting something from her. Wanting her performance. The problem wasn't him. The problem was her. She wasn't normal. She liked people, she liked a lot of people. But in a general sense, like, in the sense that she loved mankind. Individuals, she didn't want to get near. They crowded her, they wanted too much, they were confusing. She had to perform for them, all of them, all of the time. They wanted to touch her. She could do it for her Mom, but Mom was family. And suffering for your family is a lot easier than suffering for people you don't really know or care too much about.

Jason was approaching, Tammy laughing beside her, when the car pulled up. Robin's egg blue, AD. After the death of everything else. Blasting Motley Crüe, which she didn't recognize then, just thought it was noise that was l o u d. And the car speeding, tires fuming on the black-top. And then the car stopped. They were staring. It felt like the whole of Hawkins was staring. A red haired girl got out of the back and skated away. And then. And then. Sort of like the center point of the turning world, he appeared, and all motion stopped. Like the world slowed down, almost going in reserve. All of history leading up to this one moment. Blonde. Blonde. So Blonde. Only thought in her head. Oh no. She was fucked.

He had sunglasses on, and he was smoking a cigarette, letting it dangle off his lips like it could fall at any second, and he was so cool. Oh no. She turned away and kept walking and the world sped back up. Walking faster. Oh no. She looked back, couldn't help it really. He hadn't seen her yet, thank goodness. Just surveying the territory. He was dangerous. She could tell. He looked smug, and above it all. She had thought Jason was like a lion but she was wrong. This was a real apex predator. A snake maybe. Or a panther. He wasn't human. Which was the important part. He was much, much more. She wanted to be a lamb. Or a bunny rabbit. She wanted to lay down and let him grab her in his jaws and shake until her neck broke. That would be a good way to go. Just like falling off the top of the pyramid, but better. Because it would be something beautiful ending her life. And that counted for a lot.

She was almost running, panicking. She had never felt anything before like this towards her friends or her Mom or any boys who asked her on dates. It was coursing through her. White hot want.

"Wait. Shit, Chris, wait up!"

Tammy was grabbing her arm. Chrissy turned to her, and she could tell the mask was slipping, because Tammy looked scared.

"Are you okay?"

"I..."

She didn't know what to say. She loved Tammy, sort of. But distantly. She felt sick. She couldn't tell her.

"I'm fine!"

"Did you see the new kid?"

Chrissy nodded, mutely. They were inside now, so it was all okay. Approaching her locker. Was something wrong with her? Her heart wouldn't stop racing. Her whole body was on fire.

"He..."

She cleared her throat.

"He had a nice car."

Tammy laughed.

[angelswing236]

The next chapter of In You I Trust is up. Here's your excerpt:

‘I’m glad to have managed a moment alone with you, Lady Mary,’ he said, a smile on his face.

‘Oh? Well, I think we should really be getting back to the party, Sir Richard,’ she said as lightly as she could. ‘We wouldn’t want to miss all the fun, would we?’

‘Ah, I’m sure we won’t be missed for a little while. Or if we are, people will understand,’ he said, confidently.

‘Will they? Why?’ Mary asked, raising an eyebrow.

‘Well, they’re all men and women of the world and recognise when there is a connection between two people of a deeper nature,’ he replied, silkily.

‘Goodness, I’m not sure that is how I would characterise our acquaintance,’ Mary said, her voice and demeanour cool, hoping she was making it abundantly clear that he was presuming far too much.

He set his champagne flute down and stepped closer, narrowing his eyes as Mary edged slightly away. ‘You do insist on playing hard to get, don’t you? I think you enjoy teasing me, making me work for your affections.’

‘I can assure you, Sir Richard, I’m not playing at anything,’ she replied, an edge to her voice.

He regarded her silently. ‘No matter. No prize is worth having if it falls into your lap too easily.’

Taglist: @starryeyes2000