#she's the sweetest girl that could kill you on impact and I live her so much!

[via-rant]

The next day, they stocked up food for days. Canned fruit, wood for a controlled fire in the stove to heat up baked beans and other canned or bagged stuff, plus stuff that didn't need to be cooked, extra blankets, pillows, and lots of water. Gallons and gallons of water. The day after the house was covered in snow. And it all came in handy. He stayed when the snow melted. Which was another few days. He tried to skip some meals and showers, claiming he was used to it but Jason wouldn't let him.

Then he stayed another week telling him he would help him get his power back on. Jason thanked him when he did get it on. Leo almost left but when he opened the door hestopped. Someone was there. Someone he recognized all too well. His old phsychotic babysitter. The first person who ever tried to kill him.

Leo not celebrating any holiday for who knows how long, especially his birthday, will always be on my mind. Like no one cared enough and it was probably just more punches he took. I can imagine him telling the adults nervously that it was his birthday the first few years and them telling him they don't care or just a simple "So?" And he'd give up and eventually not care enough to celebrate it. What was there to celebrate?

Imagine him at school on Valentines day trying to ask a girl out and all she does is laugh at him as other kids say yes to others.

Imagine him watching other kids on christmas get gifts and make cards and santa letters and he makes one in class and when he hands it to whatever parent they scoff and tell him "Santas not real. Grow up."

Imagine him being homeless and him going door to door on Halloween holding out his grocery bag because he needs something to eat. He tells the people "Trick or Treat" so they don't feel bad for him and report him. All he wants is something to eat.

[kaibutsushidousha]

Thoughts on Yumizuka Satsuki?

This one has been in the box for a couple of months. When I got it, I sort of immediately got an idea of what I wanted to say, but didn't know how to say it. It was dumb Kazuradrop discourse of all things that made me put all the ideas in place.

The first thing about Satsuki is that she's the nicest and sweetest girl everyone in class loves. Do you know who else is this perfectly nice and respected? Fate/Grand Order's Miyamoto Iori. Because his FGO iteration "spoiler tags" his FSR characterization. Kazuradrop is toned down for the same reason. I've touched on this idea before a little.

Satsuki was a character made for her own omitted route, and for 23 years, we've only been seeing a spoiler tagged version of her that doesn't inform enough what she's about. That doesn't mean she isn't great as she is now though. Her little tragedy is more impactful and interesting than anything Akiha has to offer in her own route, and her parody content characterization as the forgotten and unrequited heroine makes for the best April Fools' TM ever produced.

But it does increasingly obfuscate the person Satsuki is shown to be in her first appearance. The meat of her characterization is how she had feelings for Shiki and held on to it for years without having any real conversation with him. She's someone who doesn't speak her mind and is persistent in her beliefs. Shiki saved her by doing something not normal, and that made her start projecting the freak that she always wanted to be and never believe she could. In reality, she doesn't know him at all and is in love with a character made up in her head. Her reaction to Shiki telling her to her face that he isn't who she thinks he is asking her to let believe whatever she wants. Even before becoming a vampire, Satsuki was already a girl that didn't mesh well with mundane reality.

So where are Satsuki's delusion getting at? I don't know. I still haven't played her route. But Nasu does comment about the contents of her route a little in the Geccha segments and the most interesting thing there is that it contains a design for Satsuki's full vampire form. This mixes interestingly with the characterization of the spoiler-tagged what-if version of her from Melty Blood, who has her whole vampire of justice shtick because she knows she'll never go full vampire as long as her heart remains human. Satsuki seems confirmed to feature her allowing herself to be a monster at some point. The more I think about the relationship between her morals displayed in the Melty Blood expansions, her implied feelings about the reality she lives, and her potential as a Dead Apostle, the more I feel like my comparison with Iori above was on point. Bonus points for the original Melty strongly implying Shiki had to kill her at the end of her route.

Another recurring motif that grabs my attention is how her powers characterize her as an antithesis to life. Satsuki was no one special as a living human, but as an undead, she can rise to the rank of Dead Apostle in less than a day and gets constantly compared in official materials to the Dead Apostle Ancestors, who are as high up the rank as her category can get. Then we have Depletion Garden, the Reality Marble that will surely be reworked into her Principle. Her mindscape outright erases the life force of the planet and everyone in her range. It always noted that she's not absorbing any magical energy, she's just "killing" mana. No one gains from it. Satsuki is, perhaps more than anyone else, a net negative to the world. Magical energy has already been used metaphorically for many different things (fantasy, vitality, hope, unpolluted air, etc.), so I can't say what Depletion Garden is supposed to mean yet, but Satsuki becoming her best self really seems to be a bad thing for literally everyone else.

[kornstreifs-storys]

AoR, A new Dawn, 6

Kuro and Kiara slowly walked back to the group, Dune saw them approach. They had actually done it, they had defeated the hollow. Dune could see that they wanted to walk faster, but they were to exhausted. "They really beat it." That had come from one of the Eevees they had saved, she stood on Torrents back and looked at the situation.

Kuro reached the others first, Dune watched him walk over to his bag and retrieve his medical equipment. He walked over to Torrent to check on the Eevees, as Kiara caught up to them. She let herself fall on her belly and let out a deep sigh. Dune nudged her side, "That was insane, how did you keep standing when your HP-barrier broke, I thought you always faint when that happens?"

Kiara smiled up at her, "Insane training. You just learn to take the impact and keep standing, but your still vulnerable." she grimaced, "If Kuros distraction hadn't worked that thing would have killed me. This was way to close." She looked at Dune concerned, "But enough of that, I didn't know you are this afraid of Tyranitars, or was it because it was a hollow?" Dune swayed her head, "It was both, a Tyranitar was responsible for the death of my parents."

Dune could feel a small warm snout at the back of her head, Flake had woken up. "Your mom died?" he asked, with a scilent voice. Dune nodded. Flake gave her a small hug, "Don't be sad, I'm here now and you won't leve either right?" Dune chukled a bit, but she could still feel the sorrow. "Your the sweetest child a mother could ask for, don't worry I don't plan do die a second time, though I might not get a choice."

Dune began cleaning Flakes fur and he purred, "Thanks mom." he murmured. Dune looked over to Kiara but she had fallen asleep.

Kuro shorly looked over to Dune but she was talking to Kiara, so he shifted his attention back towards the two Eevees the hollow had attackt. He walked over to Torrent, the Eevee that was still contious had carried the other from Torrents back and laid them down by the Gyarados side. Going by their Tailpatterns, they were a boy and a girl. The girl was the one still standing.

"Hey you alright? I'm a doktor, I'd like to check your wounds." The small Eevee looked up to him, she looked desinterested but there was sorrow deep in her gaze. "I'm fine," she answered, "and I don't think he needs your help anymore. He stopped breathing a while ago." Her voice sounded emotionless but Kuro new better, he had been the same after the clan had been destroyed.

He pushed the Girl aside and sat down next to the boy, she had been right, he wasn't breathing. Though that didn't mean that all hope was gone, at least not yet. Kuro retrieved his Pokemed to scann for a pulse, the signal came back negative. He grimmaced, not good. He got the Pokedex to see if it still reacted to the Eevee, it didn't. "Fuck" he wispered.

The other Eevee was watching him. He got his vitality scanner, this device was so sensitive it could scan a Pokemons soul, if it didn't get any signal all further effords would be in vain. He changed the batteries, just to be sure. He was down to his last pair, when they ran out he would need to ask Kiara to power his devices. He connected the electrodes to the young male Eevee and switched on the scanner.

The group sat around the fallen Eevee, the other Eevee had curled up at Dunes side, she was scilent. Kuros scanner had not registered a soul, the boy was dead. Flake had walked up to the samll body, the boy had only been a bit larger than he was, though Flake was big for his age. "He's not moving Mom." he had said to Dune, but she had only nodded. Now Flake was sleeping beside the other Eevee, apparently trying to comfort her.

Her name was Haru, that was the only thing she had told the group. That and the fact that the boy, had been named Aki. They all were scilent, they had come to help but they were to late and one of these young lives was now lost forever. Dune knew, that it had likely already been to late when they arrived, but she still blamed herself for not being able to move. Maybe if Kuro hadn't stopped for her breifly... she shook her head, no this wasn't helping.

She moved closer to Haru and nudged her gently, "I'm so sorry for your loss. If there is some way we can help please, tell us." She said. Haru turned to face her, "He was my twin you know." she said, "Shootingstar said, that this is a thousand times rarer than being shiny. We were always together."

At this Kuros ears perked up, but he remained scilent. Dune thought of ehr parents, "You must really miss him then" she replied, "Your really strong you know." Haru shook her head, "I'm not strong, but we promised us, that if one of us were to die the other would live on for the as well and I feel like if I give in to my sorrow I won't be able to keep this promise any longer."

Dune teared up at that answer, she gave the young Eevee a strong hug. "It's ok to be sad you know, it's an improtant part of greiving, don't hold back your sadness, or it will consume you later." She could feel Haru shake under her words and suddenly she started crying, scilently but heavy. She hugged her tighter. And both cried for a long time.

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

Start / previous / next Cover (ch. 2)

A very emotional Page, I hope I managed to convey the feelings properly. Dune is very emotional character, but I am not so I might have trouble writing her responces.

On an unrealated note, tumblr remove one of the text colors I was using, so decided to stop using colors for this novel, I hope that doesn't make it harder to read.

Anyway see you nex week.

[yuujism]

a curse like you (ryōmen sukuna x reader)

REQUEST:  Hello! I really love ur sukuna fics and i was wondering if i can request a yuuji/sukuna x fem reader where mc is a curse that sukuna knew from many years ago?? Can be fluff, smut or angst. Up to you 😁 thank you so much!! 🤗

| PAIRINGS:  ryomen sukuna x fem!reader

| WARNINGS: little suggestive but nothing bad, grammar errors

| WORD COUNT: 1,653

A/N: i focused this more on sukuna idk  if that’s ok with you !! if not you can send me a message or reqeust and tell me what did you expect so i can change it if i can😭!! anyway i like yearning and ex lovers to lovers prompts so uhh yea 😳 might even write this better with yuuji being more involved and more things happening lmfaosh !! i hope you enjoy!!  ʕ•́ᴥ•̀ʔっ

Sukuna was bored out of his mind.

These situations were becoming more recurrent now that the brat that called himself his vessel started becoming stronger and getting the hang of the use of cursed energy.

He could hear everything that happened during the fight: the swearing, the sound of flesh splitting open, blood splashing and some motivational speech every now and then.

This was all a routine for the King of Curses now.

When he felt the light in his flesh for the first time in thousands of years, he swore he would never feel something like that again. It wasn’t anything that deemed itself meaningful, but after centuries of not having contact with anything at all, that moment felt like pure ectasis. He didn’t really count with having to spend most of the time inside of a brat after that.

It was all boring now. Boring, boring, boring. 

“Sorcerers come pretty green now, don’t they?” 

Oh? 

He lifted his head way too quickly, almost giving himself whiplash even if it was impossible. 

That voice. Sukuna knew that voice well. Very well if he said so himself. 

This was the voice that would call him a King in a mocking tone, as if it was calling him the King of idiots instead of the King of Curses. The same voice that refused to let out the sound of his name, too proud and stuck up but whenever they were alone, feeling each other, it would slip out every now and then. A voice that would let out the sweetest pleads and moans whenever he would let his hands travel around that body. And it became the last thing he heard before he was cut into pieces and retained by sorcerers for decades, sinking into the darkness. 

And now, the owner of the voice, who he thought was dead, was standing there, in front of his vessel, with the biggest smirk on her face.

Y/N. The proclaimed queen of curses.

And Sukuna’s... ex.

Sukuna felt Itadori freeze in place, looking directly at you with fear filling his body. The curse couldn’t help but let out a chuckle. Even after thousands of years, your power was way too intimidating and immaculate Sorcerers of the old age would even avoid saying Y/N��s name in fear of summoning her, knowing damn well she wouldn’t hesitate to kill them for making bad use of her title. 

They could feel it. They knew you weren’t just a cursed spirit. You could talk and appeared out of nowhere without even making your presence known. You were probably at the same level as Sukuna. Or Sukuna was at the same level as you.

He really thought you were killed after he was captured, only remembering your revengeful words towards the sorcerers who killed your lover. After that, and for obvious reasons, he never heard of you. Not even in this new era where sorcerers spawned one after the other, never mentioning your name or any hint that lead to your survival. So to see you in front of him, safe and sound and impactful as ever, Sukuna felt relief.

Y/N’s eyes landed on Yuji’s restless ones, as if she was staring at his soul. Which, basically, she did. Her gaze passed all the way through his barrier and soul, finally reaching what she was looking for: Sukuna’s own soul and eyes.

“Damn, King, is that you?” in a blink of an eye, you were right before Itadori’s face, too quick for him to even react and even too scared. “Shit, you’re pretty fucked now, huh? All trapped inside a bag of human flesh.”

Before the girl with the hammer could strike your body after snapping out of her trance, you limited yourself to press a finger in the sorcerer’s forehead, smiling almost sweetly before sending her body flying back with extreme force against the furthest wall of the space, knocking her out. 

“K-Kugisa- Hngh!” Itadori’s words were interrupted by a hand wrapping around his neck, slightly lifting him from the ground as he struggled to move, too weak from the constant fighting with all the cursed spirits that came in a flood. 

“Now, now,” Your voice was too calm, almost tired, getting closer to Yuuji’s face “Why don’t you switch with the oh-so-mighty King of curses? Too scared to come out, huh, King?” 

Your tone ticked Sukuna in more than one way. You were still the same annoying bitch as before. 

If you wanna live you better switch with me, you damn brat.

“Like hell I would switch with you! You’re gonna kill us!”

“Oh, so you can talk with him within yourself?” You let out an amused snort, your grip getting tighter. “Ridiculous!”

Foolish human, she will kill you. Switch with me.

Even if his vessel dying didn’t mean anything to Sukuna, he knew he would never get the chance to meet you again, probably for another thousand years, and these sorcerers were too invested in vanishing him from the face of the earth. 

When Yuuji was about pass out, eyes half closing and his windpipe being pressed roughly, you noticed the way his skin started developing black marks in his face and along his body. You smiled widely when the small scars under the sorcerer’s eyes opened to reveal a red colour looking straight at you, the whole features of this guy in front of you changing to reveal what you were looking forward too.

Sukuna’s hand wrapped around your wrist, claws digging into your flesh as you both stared at each other with a mix of emotions: hatred, anger, amusement. And something more.

“Move.”

You dropped him, backing up a bit as he fixed the hoodie his vessel was wearing, glaring at the queen of curses. You didn’t change at all. If Sukuna had to be honest, you were as hot tempered and attractive as before. He could perfectly remember the way your body reacted whenever he touched the spots that drove you crazy A sly smirk appeared on his face as he noticed the same movement of fingers when you were restless, and he knew it was because of him.

“Nervous, Y/N?” Sukuna chuckled, walking to you to circle around your frame, looking up and down your body. “You know I don’t bite, baby. Unless you ask me to, that is.”

You turned around to look at him behind you, incredulous.

“Hah?” Your head fell back, letting out a louder than usual laugh. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, King. I’m just worried I’ll easily step on you while you’re in this vessel of yours.” Your hand started glowing with your cursed energy, raising an eyebrow at the way his indifferent expression didn’t flinch. “And even more now since you get dominated so easily.”

Once again, something in Sukuna ticked. If there was something he hated more than being looked down upon, it’d be the fact of not being in control of any situation. He never once admitted it, but your comments really got to him. He wanted to be praised and adored by you, queen who would never adore anyone but herself. This just made him even more infatuated by you. Perhaps even after all this time, he could make you say his name in a broken voice.

“You see, you shouldn’t be talking to me like that.” Your smile went away when a hand reached one of your cheeks, caressing it with such care you almost gagged. However, you couldn’t help the way your heart started beating faster. “Or do you think I don’t remember the way I made you submit to me?”

This time, it was you who twitched with anger. Sukuna’s hand grabbed your chin, his eyes falling on those delicious lips that committed the most sinful of acts and spat out the dirtiest of words. He was getting excited already, the fire within him starting to awaken after a long time.

When his face started getting closer to yours, you spat on him, the liquid landing on his cheek and laughing at his dumbfounded reaction after such action.

“A half-assed curse like you shouldn’t be talking to ME like that.” You snarled back, your arm swinging to attack the man in front of you. You almost chanted victory when your fist perfectly landed on the side of his face, making his head to turn to the side.

But when Sukuna turned to look back at you still with your fist against him, you gulped. There was no reaction, no injury that showed he was at least a little faced by the sudden attack.

This was it.

“Well, fuck.” You almost laughed again, expecting the worst to come when his eyes flashed with something dark, grabbing you by both sides of your head. All that time surviving for nothing. Keeping yourself hidden from every single sorcerer that walked the earth and now you were going to get killed by your ex-lover.

But instead of receiving the coup de grâce, Sukuna’s lips smashed against yours in a hungry manner, groaning against your mouth as your hands flew to scratch his arms in surprise, eyes open wide before the movement of his lips and strong hand in the back of your neck made you close them, not being able to fight back your own desires.

Sukuna missed this. Honestly, he missed any kind of physical touch but the fact it was with you again, made him realise it would always be you.

He was as calm as the silence surrounding you now, only the sounds of your heavy breathing filling your flushed ears. You were burning up, face red and glassy eyes. Sukuna smiled before slightly pulling your hair, head slightly falling back and taking advantage of this to place the softest of kisses in your neck. You let out a rather pathetic moan and he deeply chuckled.

“And a curse like you should know who is in charge here.”

[alwaysahiccupandastrid]

His Dark Materials - Season 2 Episode 7 *FINALE* (Thoughts and Rambles)

We have a LOT to unpack here oh my god oh my god

When I say I was screaming and yelling during the episode, I mean I was LITERALLY screaming and yelling

This post is mostly screeching and capital letters, you’ve been warned

“So cold” “life or death meant nothing” - well shit. Accurate description of a Spectre attack damn

I didn’t know what those creepy noises were at first and I was sat here absolutely TERRIFIED because it was creepy as fuck. Then I realized it was cliff ghasts because they said something that I recognized from the book and I was like “oh shit”

Pan and Will talking is the sweetest omg

The fact that Pan told him that Lyra thinks he’s as brave as King Iorek Byrnison :’)

“She’s the best friend I’ve ever had” “You’re her best friend too” - STOP, MY HEART

Lyra was awake and heard the whole conversation :3

“I’m no longer an aeronaut” :( “I’m an insect” - LMAO

Hester and Lee’s banter remains my favourite thing and now it’s bittersweet tbh...

“You could never be an insect, Lee” “Okay, hare” - bless them

Marisa finding where Lyra was staying and then finding Lyra’s coat?? And crying with it pressed to her face?? :’(

In case I haven’t mentioned it already, I am incredibly gay for the witches/their aesthetic/costume. Absolutely beautiful queens, all of them

Oh hi, it’s Mary and the two kids!

The fact that Mary helped them find their adults :’)

Also, “We like you miss” - BLESS

I’m kind of confused as to whether the blue flower petals are important or if it’s just her smelling them? IDK

“I’m close to my father, it’s time I found him” - OOF OKAY UMM ARE YOU SURE

“I let my best friend down” - Noooo Lyra, no you didn’t! :( Your dad is a terrible parent and killed him, that’s not your fault!

“Maybe this is how I let you down” - Well done, Asriel and Marisa, you’ve fucked up a perfectly fine child is what you’ve done

Will telling Lyra that she hasn’t let him down :3

That witch turning up because she was trying to warn Marisa about the spectres, only for Marisa to torture and kill her... oof

FUCKING MONKEY I CAN’T DECIDE HOW I FEEL ABOUT HIM

“She’s MY daughter” - Okay, damn, lady...

“EVE. She’s the mother of all” - OH FUCK YOU TOLD HER. OH FUCK OH FUCK OH FUCK

THE SPECTRE ATE HER DÆMON OMG NO THIS IS HORRIFYING WTAF

Seriously, the way the witch went so grey and lifeless and just fell to her knees and down... Urgh, my stomach is turning

Just when I thought I hated the monkey again, he starts whimpering because he’s afraid of the Spectres :(

“Stop whimpering” - DAMN MARISA YOU ARE A STONE COLD BITCH HUH

Pan being the damn voice of reason and telling Lyra they should stay with the witches like yes, Lyra, listen to him for once!!!

Okay but why are the Magisterium soldiers lowkey dressed like German soldiers from one of the World Wars???

I’m not really surprised that BBC left out the detail of Ruta and Asriel fucking when she found him to be honest XD

So the witches think that the Æsahættr is a person but it’s actually the KNIFE. AND THEY DON’T REALIZE. RUTA YOU DON’T NEED TO GO ANYWHERE, IT’S LITERALLY RIGHT THERE

“...That’s not my dæmon.” “Run.” - OH SHIT OKAY MY WHOLE BODY JUST TENSED UP

So umm Lee got shot and FUCK NO FUCK NO I’M NOT READY FOR THIS EMOTIONALLY THANKS

I LITERALLY DO NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN OKAY

“You’re either with me or against me” Umm he’s your dæmon?!?!

THE WAY SHE SCREAMED AT HIM OH MY GOD SHE’S FUCKING TERRIFYING HOLY CRAP

“What are you frightened of?” - oh, I don’t know, Marisa, maybe because YOU FUCKING SCREECHED AT HIM. MAYBE HE’S FRIGHTENED OF YOU

Also I love the detail of Marisa getting onto her hands and knees, sort of crouching and mirroring the monkey’s body language. I just love the parallel

The way the monkey flinched from her when she went to touch him omg :( No dæmon should be THIS afraid of their person (or at all?!?!)

Honestly, I find this series’ portrayal of Marisa fascinating tbh

“We have to do whatever it takes to keep her safe” - Umm, like maybe drugging her and hiding her in a cave for months? 🤔

Also in case I didn’t say this before, the fact she has complete control of the Spectres is fucking scary and always has been from the very first time I read the books

Okay so Lee is fully aware that he’s going to die if he stays behind but he does it because he knows that it’s the best chance of making sure that Lyra ends up under the knife’s protection (because Jopari will find her). All Lee wants is for Lyra to be safe and that hurts my heart so much, he loves this child so much :’(

“I love that little girl like a daughter” - LEE STOP MY HEART IS ALREADY BREAKING AS IT IS

NO NO NO NO I AM NOT AND NEVER WILL BE READY

Oh hey Red PAN-da (sorry I know I keep repeating that joke but honestly LOOK AT HIM)

“Once I change, you’ll stop changing” - OH SHIT. So we’re having THAT conversation then

“What do you think you’ll be?” “A flea I hope” - LMFAO I LOVE IT

“Is it Will that’s changing you?” “I think” - FORESHADOWING FOR AMBER SPYGLASS ANYONE?!

All the meanwhile, while Lee is dying and shit is going down, Ms Mary Malone is just chilling in a cave on a mountain by a waterfall, just reading

I literally struggled to watch Lee’s final scenes. I literally didn’t want to watch it because I cried reading it in the book, and I knew I’d be the same here

The fact that Lee HATES taking away people’s lives but he says “it’s theirs or Lyra’s”... I love him. He loves her so much.

“Think about anything, think about bacon!” - LMFAO I LOVE YOU HESTER YOU ABSOLUTE GEM

THE BULLET CLIPPED HIS SCALP AND I HAD A HEART ATTACK 

“This is my fault, isn’t it?” - NO HESTER NO DON’T YOU DARE BLAME YOURSELF DARLIN’, YOU ARE THE BEST AND WE LOVE YOU AND LEE LOVES YOU

I do this everytime I read the book and I did here even though I know what happens, but I was praying mentally that maybe Serafina would reach Lee in time... just maybe...

I’m really sitting here crying over Hester and Lee on a Sunday night, love that for me

Hester limping :(

“Don’t you go before I do” - FUCK YOU BBC AND PHILIP I’M SOBBING MY EYES OUT

“Oh how far we flew” - STOP IT. STOP IT RIGHT FUCKING NOW I SWEAR-

I literally yelled and cried out “NOOO” when Hester faded away and Lee died. I am so upset even though I KNEW it was coming. I am literally not okay.

Oh god no Will, now is not the time to be walking away from Lyra and that witch 

Also why is that witch asleep on guard?? Come on, love, do better, it’s not like these are the two most important children in all the universes.... 

To be fair to Marisa, I’d feel pretty invincible if I were climbing up a mountain while the Spectres were guarding me/on my side

WILL AND JOHN FINALLY MET AHHHH

“I was told I’d find my father here”  - YEAH AND THAT’S HIM WILL ASDFGHJKL;

I’m low-key disappointed that there’s no brawl between Will and Jopari here. Like they instantly recognize each other and... hmm. I know there has to be changes but still.

“Your mother, Will, where is she?” - Awww. John really didn’t stop loving her :’)

“My son... is the Knife Bearer” - oooooohhhhhhh

“You have a dæmon” - that’s right, Will. Don’t worry, you’ll get one next season

The way I audible went “oh shIT” when Mrs Coulter found Lyra fast asleep. Like I said, I knew what was going to happen but STILL

I’m not really surprised that those Spectres killed the witch who was supposed to be guarding Lyra and Will tbh like that’s what happens when only ONE witch guards two teenagers and that witch falls asleep

The way that Lyra panicked when she woke up and saw her mother stroking her cheek omg 

Off topic but I’ve only just realized that Jopari has a fucking man-bun LMFAO OKAY

The fact that Jopari tried to get back to Will and Elaine but couldn’t will always hurt me

“And you chose these people over your family?” - I MEAN-

“I’ve thought about you every day.” - Awww

So John tells Will that he has to go to Asriel and bring him the knife, and he tells him all about the war that’s coming and I have LITERAL chills because I’m so ready

“And then we go home?” “... And then we go home.” - RIP MY HEART OUT, IT WOULD HURT LESS

“I’m not strong enough” - yes you are, Will! I promise you, you are! And Jopari says, “Both of us were brought here” - exactly! You were brought there for a reason by fate or whatever you want to call it!

“Your duty was to be my father” - WILL REALLY CAME FOR HIS DAD LIKE THAT I GUESS

“Look what you’ve become without me” - Oh my god, just when I thought I wasn’t going to cry again

JOPARI HUGGING WILL, SEEING THE SOLDIER AIMING, AND THEN PUTTING HIMSELF BETWEEN THEM SO HE TOOK THE BULLET INSTEAD OF WILL ASDFGHJKL;

So in the book, Jopari is killed by a scorned witch who had once asked him to be her lover, but he had turned her down (because of Elaine and Will obviously), and she kills Jopari in front of Will and then he kills her (I think?). But here it’s just a soldier leftover from the Lee vs Magisterium fight, so... yeah. Kind of a little peeved about the change personally but whatever I guess.

“The night is full of angels, they will guide you now” - AHHHHH

Also, might just be me, but maybe that line would have been slightly more impactful if the scene had taken place at night

This show really said “fuck healthy parental figures” I guess

Except Will’s mum, she’s the best and if anything were to happen to her we’d all riot

SAYAN KÖTÖR FADING AWAY NOOOO I HATE SEEING DÆMONS DIE

Okay, last little gripe, but I just wanted to say that in the book, Will doesn’t realize it’s his dad until literally the last second before his dad dies - like they both realize and then BAM, Jopari is killed. And while I do love the father-son reunion, I am kind of annoyed by the change because it was such a huge punch in the gut in the book that Will searches for so long for his dad, only to lose him the second he finds him.

Serafina finding Lee’s body and kissing his forehead was yet another punch in the gut, thanks Pullman/BBC/BadWolf

The fact that Will had to bury his dad :(

Also, WILL WEARING JOPARI’S JACKET OH MY GOD MY HEART

Oof that shot of his amputated fingers...

So the narration, when it started I thought it was Jopari at first, like from one of his letters... but then as it continued, I went “hang on”, and then I said outloud “wait, is that ASRIEL?!”

DID MARISA REALLY PUT LYRA IN A FUCKING TRUNK?!? BITCH ARE YOU OKAY?!?

Will putting his hood up like his dad did just hits differently

Okay so um ASRIEL HI I WASN’T EXPECTING TO SEE YOU THIS SEASON OH MY GOD THE SCREAM I LET OUT

HIS MONOLOGUE BY THE WAY IS FUCKING ART AND A MASTERPIECE BUT I WAS TOO BUSY CRYING OVER JAMES MCAVOY TO WRITE THE WHOLE MONOLOGUE DOWN

Oh, hi Stelmaria!

It always makes me scream that this man is not only Lord Asriel now but he’s also fucking Mr Tumnus and MOTHERFUCKING BILL DENBROUGH LIKE HOW IS THIS MAN INVOLVED IN SO MANY OF MY FANDOMS?!?

ANGELS ANGELS OH MY FUCKING GOD-

“We stand with you, Asriel Belacqua” - AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

“Let us prepare for war” - FUUUUUUUUCK

(I was deadly serious when I said this was just me screaming and crying by the way)

I’m still reeling over the fact that Marisa put her daughter in a fucking trunk. Like I get you can’t exactly carry a drugged child about in the open but Jesus Christ, love, really?!?

Also Ruth Wilson / Marisa Coulter in a headscarf? *chef kiss*

The way that the screen went to black as she put the lid on the trunk down - SHIT OH SHIT GOOSEBUMPS

THE CREDIT SONG IS SO BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE IT HAS FUCKING ANGELS NOW I’M-

I WASN’T EXPECTING THE POST CREDITS SCENE OH MY GOD

ROGER?! ROGER! IT’S ROGER I’M NOT OKAY-

BBC YOU CANNOT JUST DROP THAT ON US LIKE THAT FUCK-

“What is this place?” - I’M SCREAMING SO LOUD I CAN’T HOLD IT IN

For anyone unaware, the reason I’m screaming so loud over the post-credits scene is because in TAS, while Lyra is drugged and in a groggy sleep, she has these visions of Roger talking to her from the Land of the Dead, which then later leads to her and Will actually GOING to the Land of the Dead and... well, the rest is even HUGER spoilers but YEAH I’M NOT OKAY.

Honestly, I’m just so happy and emotional because I’ve been waiting over a decade for a decent adaptation of not only NL but for TSK and TAS too, and we’re 2/3 there now. Just one more book/series to go... I wish we could have it now. I really hope that filming for the final one starts ASAP because if we have to wait two years just to see the conclusion to this series, I might cry.

This series is so amazing, and this season especially has been so incredible to watch. It’s been the highlight of my week for seven weeks, and I have no idea what I’ll do with my Sundays now that it’s over. I’ve asked for the DVD for S2 for my birthday already (since it comes out 29th December and my birthday is 13th January... just saying), and words can’t describe how much I do love this series. I know it sounds hollow since I say it about so many things I’m into, but this was such a huge part of my childhood and it’s one of my favourite fantasy series of all time. It’s truly one of the most incredible pieces of literature and now it’s making for incredible television... I love it so much.

[fantasticstoryteller]

New Amsterdam Chapter 56

Daredevil stood broodingly on the roof, like a living gargoyle protecting his small corner of the city from those who would prey on it. Head bowed slightly to allow his ears to hear even the slightest of wrong-doing in the city beneath him.

“Yoo-hoo! Double D!” called Wade as he tumbled into place on the roof next to the masked vigilante. “How are you—urk!”

One of Daredevil’s hands closed around Wade’s throat. “Deadpool,” he said stoically.

Deadpool pushed him away and he allowed it to happen. “Man,” said Wade. “What’s with the grabby-grabby?”

{Rude. We should shoot him.}

[We’re not going to shoot him. We came for his help, remember?]

{If you’d just let us kill the bastard—}

Daredevil sighed. “What do you want?” he demanded tersely.

“Oh. I see. Brooding and morose. Well, I didn’t come—heh heh—to talk to the masked Devil of Hell’s Kitchen, I came to talk to the Badass Blind Lawyer.”

“A lawyer.” Wade was certain that if Daredevil’s mask was emotive—or had, you know, eyes—the man would be rolling them. “Why do you need a lawyer?”

“It’s not for me!” protested Wade. “It’s for my boyfriend! Well, I think he’s still my boyfriend? He hasn’t broken up with me yet, and he needs a lawyer.” Wade paused. “And, uh, I’d appreciate it if you could pretend to be taking the case pro bono. I’ll pay you,” Wade added quickly, “but he gets a little—finicky about that sort of thing.”

“You—have a boyfriend.”

“Aw, and he’s the sweetest thing!”

[He might not still be your boyfriend. You did kidnap him.]

“I had to! He would die otherwise!”

“Is that what you need a lawyer for?” asked Daredevil.

{Please. As if we’d need help with that.}

[Given that your plan was to kidnap the hot boyfriend who loved us, yeah. We need help.]

“I can hear your curiosity,” taunted Wade in a sing-song voice. “But no. We’ve got it covered.”

[We do not, you costumed ass!]

“So what do you—your boyfriend, need a lawyer for?”

“I think his landlord is pulling some shady, and I mean super shady, Shady Pines, shit with his lease.”

“That’s—surprisingly appropriate,” said Daredevil slowly. “I’ll look into it tomorrow.”

“Thanks, mi amigo!”

“Now go away. I have things to take care of.”

“Things? What things? Maybe I can help?”

[Maybe you can make it worse.]

“You don’t know that! Neither of us know what’s going on yet!”

Daredevil sighed. “This gang is having a meeting with a new player. I need to see,” the vigilante continued over Deadpool’s giggles, “if it’s something I’m going to have to interfere with.”

“Well, give me the down-lo on the low-down, and maybe I can help.”

“Can you shut up?” demanded Daredevil. He took a deep, slow breath.

{Wonder if that helps him calm down?}

“Deadpool,” said Daredevil slowly, carefully. “I need to go in stealthy. I do not want them knowing I’m there.”

“No problem,” Wade drawled. “Let’s go.” Daredevil glared at him, but turned to lead the way.

[He’s probably realized that fighting you over this will be loud enough to alert the people he’s trying not to alert.]

{Be vewy vewy quiet. We’ah hunting Dahdevil.}

[Shut up!]

“Shut up!” hissed Daredevil, alerting Wade to the fact that he was humming the Ride of the Valkyries under his breath.

“Sorry,” hissed Wade as they snuck into the abandoned theatre. Well, abandoned by the officials, anyway. Judging from the clutter below, it seemed that squatters had moved in. Judging from the tagging on the walls, these were gangs.

[Odd. Why isn’t the outside of the building marked?]

That—was a good question. Wade watched carefully. There were several gang members lounging on what used to be a stage while even more hid in the shadows on either side of the stage.

{Look! They’re wearing the red scarves as belts!}

They were. Wade silently swung around Daredevil to get a better look. The one in the center of the stage was clearly the leader and even though he was lounging in an oversized beanbag chair, Wade could tell he was tense. They all were. Whoever this “other player” was, they were on edge.

Footsteps alerted Wade to the new arrival and he turned as a teen walked confidently towards the stage, huge wings tucked close to her back.

{Isn’t that the girl we raised in another reality?}

[You mean, ‘Isn’t that the girl Peter raised in another reality.’ I seriously doubt she’d still be alive if we raised her.]

The teen on the chair began a slow clap as she approached and she stopped just before the stage, still mostly shrouded in shadows. “If it isn’t our very own interferer,” the teen said as he heaved himself out of his chair. His hands shot into his pockets and Wade could see the handles of guns in them.

[She’ll be fine. Remember, she heals faster than we do.]

“Interferer?” drawled the girl. “That’s rich, considering what you’ve been doing.”

What was she talking about?

[If you shut up and listen, we might find out.]

“Not something we’ve been able to do. And we didn’t attack your little sister again.”

{She has a little sister?}

The girl spread her arms wide. “They’re all my little brothers and sisters,” she said before settling her hands over her hips.

Wade was many things. He was flaky, he was insane, he didn’t have a good grasp (or any grasp, really) on social norms. But he knew a perfectly balanced fighting stance when he saw it.

[Maybe we did raise her.]

“Oh, they are? Then where were you when we started?”

“Not here; that’s for sure. You never would have gotten as far as you did.”

“Do you even know what we’re doing?”

“Do you?”

The banter was light, almost playful. The looks and body language were anything but. Wade stared, fascinated by the scene in front of him. The boy had the high ground (literally), but it was clear the girl was in charge. How had Daredevil put it? The girl was a player.

But—when had that happened? As far as he knew, she’d been in town for less than two weeks. How had she gotten mixed up in this mess, whatever it was?

“I know about the demon,” said the boy as he leaned forwards. Wade shifted. He recognized that tone of voice; it was the same one those religious freaks who’d tortured mutant kids had used. “I saw it with my own eyes.”

“And it was tall, had eight legs, six eyes, and huge fangs,” replied the girl. She sounded—bored, of all things. “And you saw it transform right in front of your eyes, from a normal person you never would have looked twice at if you passed them in the street.”

[That was specific.]

The boy faltered and the girl nodded. “Yeah; I’ve seen it all before. You’re not the first to be roped into this, but I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure you are the last.” Even from the catwalks Wade could see the amber eyes glitter. “I have my own problems with that one.”

“Oh? And what about the seal?”

The girl scoffed and rolled her eyes. “There is no seal,” she told him firmly. “There never was a seal. You’re being used to create a horde of monstrous minions.”

“Better to walk at the Devil’s side than be in his way,” said the boy, recovering remarkably.

The girl sighed. “I adore how naive you are,” she told him. “I really do.” She paced a step forward. “Those things have been changed. Those things are being controlled by a power-hungry psychopath. Despite all of this—they still need to eat. What do you think they eat?” Another step forwards. “What do you think they’ll eat when that one no longer needs you?”

The boy’s eyes narrowed. “You’re playing with fire,” he told her, voice shaking. She’d clearly said something that hit him hard—but he wasn’t willing to back down.

“Oh, are you referring to the ten armed people you have waiting in the wings? Yeah,” she continued as he broke out into a sweat, “I hate to break it to you, but you’re toddlers attacking a tank. It doesn’t matter how many of you there are, I’m a tank. You can’t hurt me.”

The boy, despite being on the stage and using the height to tower over the girl, took a step back. There was something in that flat tone of voice, something with that subtle hint of exasperation, that showed she was telling nothing but the truth.

“We can try,” the boy said as he pulled out a gun. He shot her.

Daredevil tensed and leaned for a jump down, but Wade stuck out a hand to stop him. He knew the girl would be all right. She had to be—even if she’d grown up in another version of his world, she was raised by him and she wouldn't have survived if a mere bullet could kill her.

The bullet hit the pink leotard, sank inwards—and then bounced back as the girl rounded back out to normal dimensions around where the bullet had been. “This is armor you idiot,” she said as she reached out and caught the bullet. She lined it up on the palm of one hand before flicking it with the other. The bullet grazed the cheek of the boy in front of her—exactly as it would have if she’d shot it from a gun. Impressive, considering it was flattened out of all recognition from the impact with her chest.

“Just to warn you,” the girl said, “I have perfect aim. I didn’t want to kill you.” She gently rubbed at her chest through the material of her leotard and grimaced. “That is changing quickly,” she muttered.

Wade drew himself up to his full height. “You can’t kill these kids!” he announced in his deep, SuperheroTM voice before dropping down in full Superhero landing style.

“That,” commented the girl dryly as he stood up, “is so bad for your knees.”

“I know, right?” said Wade. “But everyone does it!”

“To be fair, most superheroes don’t live long enough for the repeated damage to be an issue,” the girl responded.

“Eek! Dark humor; me likey!” He gave the girl a high five before clearing his throat and donning the voice again. “Spiderman will be pissed if you kill these children.”

She sighed and rolled her eyes and chanted the next part in time with him. “Because with great power comes great responsibility.” She dipped her head for a moment and then looked at Wade again. “Yeah,” she said. “Heard that one a lot.”

He smirked. “I bet you have.” He turned to the boys who were staring at him. They all knew who Deadpool was, and they were hesitating to engage.

“Remember Deadpool,” the girl said impishly, “Spiderman will be pissed if you kill these children.”

[Forget the children. Spiderman’s going to be pissed about Peter.]

{But Peter isn’t pissed!]

“Stay with witnesses,” the girl said grimly. “Hopefully, the army isn’t too big yet.” She turned, gently bumped her fist against Wade’s shoulder and started to walk out. She paused. “I didn’t make a mess in your turf Daredevil,” she said firmly with a wave to the vigilante before continuing out.

“Daredevil?” asked the boy.

The vigilante dropped behind the boy, landing almost silently on the stage. “Yes,” he hissed.

[dontgotothenetherworld]

boo! rewrite (lydia x reader)

so i wanted to rewrite one of my first fics, to see how much my writing has improved, and boo! was the one that stood out to me. if you read the original, i’m sorry. i’m changing basically everything from the original except for the concept because holy h*ck was that painful for me to reread.

reader is barbara’s niece, and she enlists adam, an english teacher, to help her with her essay. unfortunately, it’s the day that adam and barbara die.

2118 words

cw: femreader. brief reference to suicide.

your eyes glazed over the shakespearean english. you couldn’t figure out what anyone was trying to say, and you weren’t entirely sure that you cared enough to try. but you hadn’t bought a no fear version of the play yet, so that had to count for something.

your teacher claimed she could tell when kids just googled a synopsis and such to write their essay, but you weren’t entirely sure. you were also scared of this particular teacher, so you didn’t really want to risk it.

you made it three more pages before giving up. you checked your phone to be greeted by a text from your friend, “we sold out of the no fears. i tried to save a copy for you but my boss wanted to sell it. sorry and good luck.” they sent. they worked at a local bookstore. the local bookstore. the only one in town.

you began to panic. it was saturday, 3:57 pm, and your essay was due on sunday at 11:59 pm. shit. you would probably be able to finish reading the book if you started now, but still remains the problem of understanding it. and all that before you even think about writing an essay, where you have to convince your teacher that you truly get all the inner complexities of england’s greatest writer, as well as applying it to your own life. shit shit shit.

you bit the inside of your lip, somehow convinced that if you just sat there and tried to figure out how you were going to get all of the work done, that miraculously you wouldn’t have to do it anymore. because that makes sense. all you need to do to solve a problem is think up the solution. no further action necessary.

you sighed, and prepared yourself for the “i told you so”s that would inevitably come, as you texted your uncle, adam.

adam always made it known to you that if you ever needed any help in english, that he could help you, but you always told him, “english is my native language, i won’t need any help.” like the smart ass that you are.

”i have to finish a crib for the o'briens, so i’ll have to split my attention, but yeah! come on over!” adam replied. “but i will not write your essay for you, okay?” he sent after a minute.

”thanks, adam! i’ll be right over!” you texted him back. you grabbed your book, your laptop, and your keys, and you were out of there.

you always found it odd how the two sweetest people you knew had the creepiest house in town. the house practically begged to house some vampires, and while you were pretty sure that adam and his wife barbara weren’t vampires, a part of you always hoped they were.

you tried to figure out how they could be actually undead, while you drove to their house. you assumed that adam would’ve had to become a vampire first, because if barbara were a vampire, then that would mean that your mom would also be a vampire, and that just didn’t make sense. but then again, adam doesn’t seem particularly ancient. although if he was from, say, shakespeare’s time, that would make sense why he would understand his work so much. and adam is an ap brit lit teacher… 

you shook your silly ideas off and parked in the maitland’s driveway.

even though adam said you would only have his divided attention, he pretty much abandoned working on the crib as soon as you walked in the door, already starting to explain the basic plot of the play.

barbara drifted in and out of the room, offering food everytime she did. maybe that was just further proof that she’s a vampire! wait, no. she would still have once been human, so she’d understand how often humans need to eat. also, shakespeare, not vampires! come on, you need to focus!

after successfully tricking adam into thinking that you had read the whole book, and he told you as many details as he could remember, he decided it was time for a break. you agreed. you needed a little bit of time to figure out how to best get him to write your body paragraphs for you. getting him to just explain stuff to you probably wouldn’t work, because he’s not the most concise person. and getting him to literally type them out wouldn’t work, because adam’s gullible, not stupid.

your aunt and uncle decided to show you around the house. they were in the midst of many renovations, and they wanted to show you what they had done so far, as well as what they planned on doing.

”oh, y/n, would you look at the wood on this banister? i know you don’t really care about all the little details like i do, but it’s just so gorgeous.” said adam.

you walked closer to the stairs, next to the couple.

unfortunately, that was the last thing you did as a living, breathing person. the floor gave out, sending the three of you into the basement. the fall killed you.

you were the first to catch on to that.

you came back as a ghost, because of course ghosts are real. and while the maitlands were screaming about the fireplace and how cold they were, you noticed that your heart had stopped beating. you noticed that your fingers were numb. and when you stopped breathing, you didn’t get lightheaded, nothing happened.

it had been a few days since then. there was a demon who offered to help the maitlands who came. but the maitlands didn’t allow you near him. one of the downsides to being dead is no sleep. you couldn’t lose consciousness if you tried. and you have. compounded with the fact that you were always drowsy, you were pretty sure that you were in a low level of hell.

you had taken to gazing longingly out the windows. you couldn’t go outside, lest you get eaten by a sandworm, whatever that meant, so you settled for this, hoping that the soccer mom walking her dog would look up and freak out when she saw you.

but no one ever saw you.

you considered seeking the demon out to ask him what actually happened when sandworms ate ghosts, but a flurry of moving trucks interrupted your thoughts.

the movers began dragging the boxes and the pieces of furniture into the house, as directed by a tall, bearded man.

you jumped up and glided down the multiple sets of stairs, to the front door.

as a new person walked in, you would scream, “boo!” as you crept up behind them. to no avail. no one as much as flinched.

you eventually gave up, and roamed the first floor. just looking for someone you hadn’t already tried to scare. sitting in the kitchen, was a red-headed woman. you said, “boo.” she looked up, like she had heard you, but then looked right through you. still invisible.

what’s the fun of being a ghost if you can’t mess with people? maybe you needed to just become a poltergeist. that could be fun, hurling cookie jars at these idiots. you chuckled to yourself at the thought of it.

you wandered into another room. a dining room, maybe? the bearded man from before was in there. you slipped a wine glass out of it’s box, and threw it at him. being a bad aim, you hit the wall about a foot to his right, but the point got across. the glass exploded on impact, making the man jump.

you smiled.

you turned around, to leave the room to find more people to torment, but the demon you were supposed to be avoiding was leaning in the door frame. “impressive.” he said.

”go away, lawrence.” you replied. he cringed at the name.

”what? don’t you want me to show you more ways you can mess with them?” he crossed his arms defensively.

”you’re a literal demon, so excuse me if i don’t trust you. and i’ve only just started throwing things at them, so i think i’ll stick to that for a while.” you glanced around the room for another way out, but there were none.

the demon grunted, and walked away, presumably to the attack to talk to your aunt and uncle again. you felt bad for them, but at least you didn’t have to deal with him.

you wandered into the living room, or was it family room? you never knew which was which and why they were two different rooms. but there was a girl, dressed in all black, flipping through a photo album on the couch. she looked to be about your age. this was definitely the first time you had seen her, so you decided to try to scare her using your old way, even though you were really itching to throw the candelabra that was on the other side of the room. you weren’t sure if that was from this new family, or from adam and barbara. it looked cool, though.

”boo!” you yelled.

the girl whipped her head around. her eyes found you immediately. “who are you and what are you doing in this house.” she demanded. she shut the photo album and stood to face you.

”wow you can both hear and see me, that’s a new one!” you exclaimed.

the girl narrowed her eyes.

”uh, i’m y/n. nice to meet you?”

”what are you doing in this house?”

”i- well, uh, this house used to belong to my aunt and uncle before the, um, died. and-”

”if you need to get any of their stuff, you better do it quickly before my dad gets rid of it.” she interrupted you. “but couldn’t you have done this before the house was sold?”

”you see, i was also in this house when my aunt and uncle died. all three of us were standing right about there,” you pointed at a spot a few feet in front of the girl, “and uh, we all died.”

”you’re dead?” the girl asked, her previous hostility turning to curiosity.

”yeah.”

”that is so cool.” she peered oddly at you.

”uhm not really. you’re the first person who’s been able to see me. i mean, i threw a wine glass at your dad earlier and that was kinda fun, but other than that… sucks, man.”

”oh.” the girl slumped over.

you walked closer to her, “what’s your name, by the way?”

her head bobbed back up, “lydia. you said you were y/n?”

”yeah.”

lydia poked your upper arm. “so you’re corporeal.”

”yeah.”

lydia blinked and looked around awkwardly. “does dying make you bad at conversations?”

”i don’t think so. all the other dead people i know are really chatty.”

”so it’s you that’s bad.”

”you are also involved in this conversation, lydia.” you snarked back.

lydia crossed her arms. “you said something about ‘all the other dead people’ you know. are you just talking about your aunt and uncle, or are there other ghosts haunting this place?”

”no and no? i’m not actually sure his dead or alive status, but there’s a demon here.”

lydia laughed. “a demon? that’s hilarious, tell me the truth.”

”you are talking to a literal dead girl right now, why would i lie to you?”

the laughter faded from her face. “you’re right. what does the demon want here?”

”i’m not really sure. he seems kinda gross, so i’ve been keeping away from him.” you wrinkled your nose, “but as far as i know, barbara and adam. that’s their names, by the way. my aunt and uncle. like, i keep accidentally overhearing him hit on them, and it makes me want to gouge my ears out.”

”yikes. that sounds awful. i can’t imagine what would happen if some weirdo started flirting with my dad. or just adults flirting in general is yuck.” lydia shuddered at the thought.

you went quiet.

”what’re you thinking about.” lydia asked.

you bit the inside of your mouth. “it’s just that… like, now that i’m dead, i’m stuck being sixteen forever. and i’m also pretty sure that i’m stuck in this house forever. so not only will there be no one ever to flirt with me, i have to listen to the adults flirt with each other.”

”if the demon is flirting with someone in front of their wife, i’m pretty sure that he’d flirt with you.” lydia suggested.

”i’d sooner rip his throat out.” you threatened.

lydia thought for a second. “well, it sounds like you need someone to fix that problem.” she said, softly. nervously.

@meangirlsx @meangirlmurphy @eliza-is-confused @boredomimi @book--butterfly

[buckysrighthanddoll]

Sweater Weather

This is for @holy-captain​ ‘s writing challenge! I’m sorry it took so long to get out, but this is one of my favorite works to date!

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Prompt #9: “I’m not going to get that sweater back, am I?”

Word count: 2700

Fall was your favorite time of year. The leaves, the cool breeze, the numerous pies and soups, and Halloween made your heart fond of the season. You loved lighting your candles and putting on large sweaters. You loved getting your favorite drink from the small cafe just down the road from your apartment. Everything about this time of year just seemed magical to you.

Bucky wasn’t too fond of the fall. He thought that the breeze was far too cold, and the weather shifted from sweater weather to heat stroke too many times in one day, and people were much too enthusiastic about the upcoming holidays. He much preferred the sweltering summer if he was being honest with himself.

Bucky likes to think that he met you twice. The first time he met you was when he returned from Wakanda. You were new, but you already made such an impact on many of the team’s lives. Tony thought of you as a little sister and would protect you to no end. Sam loved to joke around with you because your humor was very similar to his. You became Steve’s favorite workout buddy because you actually kept up with his rigorous routine and then sometimes even managed to push him to his limits. Clint taught you how to shoot his bow (“how much different can it be than my gun, really?”) in exchange for you teaching him how to defend against much more nimble opponents such as you and Natasha. And speaking of the red-head, she loved how you were a fair match for her when sparring. She found you just as quick, nimble, and flexible as she was, and you had some moves that she didn’t know. You both taught each other those moves, which made both of you stronger as fighters.

Bucky, you found, was your favorite person to get along with. The two of you were introduced to each other, and that had been that. You might work out together as long as Steve was there, or you might get him a coffee from the kitchen in the morning, but your interactions were limited. He was hard to get through to, and you loved a challenge.

If he was being honest with himself, he was almost intimidated by you. Nobody would understand that, though. You were the sweetest person in the tower. You made an effort with each and every person on the team. And your absolute favorite thing to do would be to get to know each of them, as long as they allowed you to. You had your fair share of trauma and turmoil that you would rather not talk about, so you understood what it was to not want to spill your life story to the new girl on the team. Bucky was so intimidated by your niceness and understanding, and he guessed it was because he didn’t really know anybody who was quite like you. Sugar and sunshine in a tight suit and hair slicked back. A walking lollipop in leather, Bucky would tell Steve.

You both loved to watch each other in action. It was the only way you both could take in observations about the other person while being subtle. He became attracted to the way you could break a man’s neck between your thighs, and you found it hot when he got up close and personal to his enemy with his favorite knife. Both of you fought differently, yet so similar. He avoided personal contact at all costs, but it was your first choice. You adored the adrenaline rush of personally delivering justice. But both of you had style and technique, and you each thought seven steps ahead. You were both articulate and concise in your kill (you hadn’t noticed until Steve brought it up-- “you fight like Bucky does, (Y/L/N)”).

Bucky met you the second time when he had a nightmare when he still lived in the tower. You were staying the night because you and Steve had watched a couple of movies after training, so Tony insisted that you take one of the spare rooms for the night.

You were in a similar boat. Your PTSD often made it hard for you to fall asleep and stay asleep, so you grabbed a small snack from the kitchen and sat at the bar. Bucky was screaming, loudly. So you sprinted to the source of the noise and found him thrashing around in his sleep, tears and sweat covering his face. You thought quickly and went to the bed, grabbing his leg and shaking it. You knew that when this happened to you, anybody who grabbed your arms or shoulders were definitely getting choked or pinned against the wall.

Bucky sat up in his bed, rough and short breaths racking his body. He took you in, a blush forming on his cheeks. “I get them, too,” You told him. You knew that he was embarrassed from being seen in such a vulnerable state. “I think the nightmares are worse than the actual torture,” You added on.

“You were tortured?” He asked. This was one of those subjects that you wouldn’t dream of telling Natasha or Clint or Sam, and Tony only got a glimpse of the information from your files from being recruited--basically along the lines of “abused growing up, captured by some HYDRA wannabes when they saw how you out-performed every single person in your unit when you were in the army”.

You sighed as you stood up and went to his bathroom and got a cold washcloth, coming back out and wiping at his forehead. “Yeah,” You answered. You didn’t particularly know how to talk about it, and you most certainly didn’t want to trigger him in any way, so you spat out the only thing you can think of. “It wasn’t no 70 years, but it was almost twenty. I kept all of the memories, which is shitty. They weren’t exactly advanced,” You laughed. Bucky knew that laugh. It was a hollow and empty shell of a laugh that he used when he was trying to make something sound like it didn’t have an effect on him. You were trying to play strong, and he could tell.

“You wanna go out to the kitchen? I could use some water,” Bucky asked you. You said yes and took the washcloth off of him. He took it from your hands and tossed it in the general direction of his laundry basket before standing up and walking with you.

You let Bucky talk about as much of his trauma as he wanted to tell you about. This was the most he had ever spoken to you--to anybody. He told you things that Steve didn’t even know. It occurred like that for a couple of months. You’d stay a few nights a month in the compound, listen to him rant, and pass on opportunities to talk about your past. You just weren’t comfortable with telling him yet.

A few dates later, Bucky had asked you to be his girl. The whole team helped him set up a magical date for the two of you, and they wanted this to happen for a little while now. Since they saw how well the two of you got along. Since they saw how much more you smiled and he talked to the others. You were both good for each other and the team noticed.

It only took a couple of months before you offered to have Bucky move in with you. He gladly accepted and moved in fully within a week.

You noticed how he loved to cook you breakfast, and he noticed how you loved to sing while you cleaned the house early in the morning. Of course, not as early as he awoke, but it was pretty close.

One particular night, you two stayed up extra late. This time, it was you having the nightmares, and Bucky woke you up to tell you that you had been sobbing heavily in your sleep. You sat up and told him some of what happened to you.

“I was abused growing up,” You sighed. “I was weak when I was little. The tiniest girl in my school, even though I was older than most of them. So not only was it at home, but it was at school, too. So I started working out in middle school. A lot. I got more fit than every girl in the school, and nobody touched me. I couldn’t do shit about my home life at that point, but at school, I was untouchable. It was rare to see a girl who was a 4.0 student and was a receiver on the football team,” You laughed. “So a lot of colleges wanted me. I got offers for partial rides, full rides, and a shit ton of scholarships from high school. I denied every single one and I went into the army.”

“I could not see you being a soldier,” Bucky smiled. “You’re like a walking lollipop. All sweaters and smiles, doll,” He added on. You playfully glared at him, smiling afterward and continuing with your story.

“I got deployed when I was nineteen. 1st Batallion--I was a sniper. So I was stationed in Iraq, and I was captured in 1995. It was a small group of ex-hydra workers who wanted their own operation, and I was one of five captured.” Bucky could tell that you were starting to get uncomfortable when your voice strained at the end of your sentence. “ They somehow got my files and saw videos of me training back in the states, and they thought I was the perfect candidate to receive their version of the serum. The other four didn’t make it. I barely did. And on top of that, the serum didn’t work. None of them did. I’m only strong because they forced me to weight train. I still didn’t look quite right because they didn’t feed me properly or have proper gym equipment, so I was disproportioned. They hated me and thought it was my fault that the serum wasn’t working, even though they didn’t work on anybody else that they captured. I was the only person who lived through every single version of the serum. And between it, they put all of us against each other, made us fight and torture each other. Exhaust us. Torture us more. Push us more. Put us away like dogs. Got us back out the next day.”

“I’m sorry, doll,” Bucky said, his eyebrows furrowed.

“Government rescued me in the fall of 2012. They were shocked that they found me. I was part of a ghost story that troops told to make sure that they were aware of their surroundings. At that time, there were two other young soldiers with me. A man and a woman, no more than twenty. Both died on the way back to the United States.” You readjusted yourself as you tried to meet Bucky’s gaze. “I went through a shit ton of therapy. Digging up repressed memories to try to find out who all was with me, repressing other memories if they could--it didn’t work. I still see a therapist, and I’m sure you noticed that, but it’s much better than it was four years ago.”

Bucky wrapped his arms around you, holding you tightly against him. You welcomed the warm embrace that signified safety to you, and you closed your eyes. You were proud of yourself for getting through the story without shedding tears. You hoped that your therapist would be, too.

“You’re so strong, (Y/N),” Bucky said into your hair. “And I’m very glad and thankful that you told me all of that. You’re never going back to that hell-hole, okay? Not only do you have me on your side, but you have the team, too. We’re going to protect you.”

“I love you, Buck,” you said, looking up at him. You gave him a soft kiss before laying back on the bed, inviting him to do the same. You both fell asleep rather quickly, and you felt much more secure with your boyfriend.

In the morning, you rolled over to find Bucky’s side of the bed empty, as you expected. You shivered at the fall’s cold morning, stepping over some discarded clothes from yesterday. You saw Bucky’s oversized black sweater, and it was calling your name. Bucky looked so handsome in it, and it looked so comfy and warm and oh-so-perfect for a fall morning like this one. So you threw it on, falling in love with it instantly. It was a nice, traditional sweater that Bucky had worn for team dinner yesterday. Yours was tossed not too far from his, the dull orange peeking out from underneath a pair of black leggings.

You decided to clean up the laundry first, taking off your sleep shorts and tossing them in the basket as well so that you were left in nothing but your thong--a knife tucked into it-- and Bucky’s sweater.

Gathering all of the dirty clothes from the apartment, you placed the overfilled basket on your hip as you padded across the wooden floor and to the laundry room to get a load started. As you approached the kitchen (which was on the way to the laundry room), you could hear the breakfast that Bucky was making. You saw an oatmeal container in Bucky’s hands as you passed wordlessly and then heard the same can after you disappeared behind the wall. You dropped the laundry basket and gripped your knife in fear as you ran toward the kitchen, stopping just to see Bucky gawking at you.

You lowered the knife and tucked it back into your underwear as you heaved a sigh of relief. “Are you okay, baby?” You asked as you stepped into the kitchen. Thankfully none of the oats spilled onto the floor, which meant you’d have to clean that much less.

“I--uh, yeah, I--it’s just--is that my sweater?” He stammered, making you blush. You tucked some of your hair behind your ear as you looked up at him sweetly, nodding your head. “Is that just my sweater?” He asked. You nodded your head again at him, smiling. “Come here, sweetheart,” Bucky smiled, holding his arms open. You smiled even wider and jumped into his arms as he picked you up, placing you on the counter as he peppered you in kisses. You giggled profusely--a sound Bucky could never grow tired of. “You look amazing in it, doll,” He said as he pulled away from you.

You blushed as you wrapped your arms around yourself, showing him just how cozy you were in it. “Thank you,” You said.

“I’m not going to get that sweater back, am I?” He asked you as you placed your arms on top of his shoulders.

You laughed and shook your head. “Not a chance, Tin Man,” You said, poking his nose with your finger. He narrowed his eyes at you, and you squeaked knowingly. You hopped off of the counter and to the opposite side of Bucky.

“Fucking Sam…” Bucky muttered.

“Actually, it was Tony,” You corrected. His eyes widened as he began to chase you around the apartment, completely forgetting about the breakfast just like you suddenly forgot about the chores. The chase ended with him tickling you profusely, which led to making out, which led to more laundry being tossed to the side (“James, I just cleaned up the clothes!”).

Bucky hated fall. It was far too cold, and then there were these damned team dinners that Bucky wasn’t a fan of, and don’t even get him started on the first signs of winter just around the corner. No, Bucky didn’t like the fall in the past. Now, falls would be filled with tickle fights and countless mornings of you in just that sweater of his. Now, falls would have unending smiles from you and someone to keep him warm at night. And, maybe falls would have memories of your engagement--Bucky was already starting to look for rings and perfect plans to ask you.

Yeah, Bucky thinks that he could get used to fall.

[just-jordie-things]

Hurt - Peter Parker

word count: 15,579 warnings: swearing, mentions of sex, it’s a really long fic I'm so sorry summary: set a year after the war, where (y/n) keeps herself too busy raising her little sister, Morgan, to have any time for things like grief or Peter Parker

+ based on this song

[ the needle tears a hole, the old familiar sting // try to kill it all away, but I remember everything // what have i become, my sweetest friend // everyone i know goes away in the end ] ___

(y/n) wasn’t sure how long she’d been knocked down, all she could really remember was collapsing after heading straight towards Thanos himself.  Covered in soot, and blood, and bruises.  She coughed, and pushed herself up on shaky arms, blinking to clear her blurry vision and look around herself.

Somewhere in the distance, she could see Carol flying in the air, and a… a pegasus? Was that a woman flying on a pegasus behind her?

She grappled around herself, trying to find the blade she must have dropped when she was knocked out.

“(y/n)!” A familiar accented voice called to her, one she hadn’t heard in five years, and before she knew it a red force took hold of an outrider that had tried to attack her, and ripped it clean in half.

(y/n) looked up, jaw falling slack in shock as she saw Wanda Maximoff, in the flesh, standing there in front of her.

“Here,” The witch spoke, walking towards her, a blade in one hand, the other extended out to her.  “You almost lost this again”

“W-Wanda?” (y/n) stammered as she slowly got to her feet.  Her entire body ached, but she was blind to the pain as she stared at Wanda in front of her.  “You’re here? Y-you’re really here?”

The Scarlet Witch grinned and nodded.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, we’ve got a war to win here”

And as soon as she’d appeared, she took off, flying off into the sky and out of sight.

(y/n) gripped her sword in hand and kicked one foot against the other, which was supposed to activate the repulsors.  Cursing when she didn’t take off right away, she kicked a little harder, and blast off, she was shot up into the air.  She was clumsy as she tried balancing herself taking down an airborne outrider with a solid swing of her blade.

Just as she’d turned to watch the severed creature fall to the ground, another one flew straight into her, it’s clawed fists ripping through her armor.  From the force of it’s attack her sword had flown out of her hand and thirty feet to the ground, leaving her defenseless.

In a last resort, she swung her leg up, increasing the blast of the repulsor, and effectively getting the outrider off of her, but the heavy burst of energy made the boot malfunction, leaving her with only one repulsor, which didn’t have enough energy to keep her in flight.

So now, she was spiralling out of control with random spurts of jumps into the air from the boot that did work.  She was screaming, limbs flailing, and she knew that soon she’d hit the ground, and it’d be all over from the impact.

But she didn’t hit the ground.

Instead, a force swooped up from under her, catching her, and was flying off again.

She looked up, breath catching in her throat and heart stopped in her chest, until the figure landed on the ground, setting her on her feet.

“Hey- hey you alright? Are you hurt?” Peter Parker’s typically panicked voice asked as the mask on his face disappeared, revealing him, and his messy hair, and sleepless, lovely brown eyes.  The ones (y/n) hadn’t seen in five years.

“Peter?” (y/n) panted out disbelievingly, before throwing her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly.  “It’s you- it’s-it’s really you?”

Peter, who thought he’d only been away a few short minutes, hugged the girl back carefully.  She was never much of a toucher, best friends or not, and besides her father being the most flirtatious and physical person known to man, (y/n) barely touched anybody if she didn’t have to.

But it felt really nice to hug her right now.

“I wake up in the middle of nowhere, and just as I realize that pretty much everybody’s gone, Strange, the wizard over there, runs up to me and says that you guys need us, and we gotta go ba-”

(y/n) cut him off, grabbing his face in her hands and slamming her lips against his in a desperate and fiery kiss.  He barely reacted before she pulled away, tears falling down her cheeks and she smiled at him, lips quivering.

Before either of them could say anything, Peter was passed off Thanos’ gauntlet, and the race to get it to Carol Danvers began.

(y/n) found her blade, slayed a couple of aliens, and then was off in search of her dad to tell him the news that Peter was back.

However within the next year, she would rarely see him. ___

knock knock knock.

(y/n) rolled over in bed and pulled the blankets over her head, ignoring the knocking on her bedroom door.

knock knock knock.

She still ignored the knocking, pressing her palm against her ear to drown it out.

“(y/n/n)?” A small and soft voice called from the other side of the door.  “Are you sleeping?”

Morgan.

“No, come in” She finally answered, and the door opened, closing again a second later.  (y/n) felt little hands grab the blankets so that her little sister could hoist herself up onto the bed, barely making it dip.

“Are you sure you’re not sleeping?” The six year old asked, almost making (y/n) chuckle.  Morgan climbed over her from behind, and poked her cheeks until she opened her eyes.

“Not really, kiddo,” (y/n) answered, voice strained from crying herself to sleep last night.  “What’re you doing up? It’s gotta be early”

“It’s six” Morgan answered, earning a quiet cuss from (y/n).  

“It’s too early for anything” (y/n) replied, and Morgan tugged at the blankets until she was allowed to lay under them.  

“Will you make me something to eat?”

“Now?” (y/n) groaned.

“No…” The little girl played with a stand of her hair.  “But… soon?”

Now (y/n) laughed quietly, pushing the girl’s hair out of her face and stroking her thumb over her forehead gently.  Something that when she was a baby, used to help her get to sleep.

“What do you want?” (y/n) asked with a groan, stretching and sitting up in bed.  Morgan grinned as she shoved the blankets off of her and padding back to the door.  (y/n) took her time, stretching, adjusting her pajamas before getting out of bed and following Morgan to the kitchen.

Pepper was probably getting ready for work right now, in the city.  Morgan had a rough time getting to sleep and threw a bit of a fit because of it.  Their mother often had to travel to keep Stark Industries up and running.  But (y/n) didn’t mind looking after Morgan, she never minded.

Although sometimes she wished that when she looked at her, she didn’t see Tony in the little girl’s face.

“What’re you hungry for?” (y/n) asked, and then yawned with a big stretch.

“Waffles!”

“Okay,” She chuckled quietly, gathering up the ingredients and the waffle maker.  “Anything else?”

“Cereal’s fine” A different voice answered.

(y/n) spun around, subconsciously tugging down the pajama shorts she was wearing when she saw Peter there, standing too casually by the kitchen table.  Her wide and surprised eyes travelled from him, to her sister sitting on the ground, arms wrapped around his leg.

“Didn’t wanna tell me we had company?” She asked Morgan, hands on her hips as she narrowed her eyes playfully.

Since deciding to live at the cabin with Morgan and Pepper, even though she was nineteen now and could go or live anywhere she wanted, she didn’t see much of Peter anymore.  He used to visit every day, and for a while he was even crashing there, when things were so difficult that Morgan needed somebody to look after her full time.

But as (y/n) began to put herself back together and move on, and Pepper went back to work full time, Peter became a little more distant.  More patrols, more focus on his classes at Uni, and suddenly his visits were spaced out, and sporadic.  (y/n) wasn’t sure when the last time she’d seen him was.

“Hey,” She said softly, walking over and pulling Morgan up off his leg, holding the girl on her hip.  “How’ve you been?”

He smiled at her, albeit sadly, but he smiled.

“I’ve been alright,” He answered, “Decided to take the day off of patrol to come visit my favorite girl,” He grinned at Morgan, who reached out towards him and made him put her on his shoulders.   (y/n) quirked an eyebrow at him before turning back around to make breakfast.  “Girls” Peter corrected himself.

“Mhm” (y/n) hummed mixing the waffle batter with water in a bowl.

“You’re staying all day?” Morgan asked, bending over the top of his head to hang down in front of his face, her long curls cascading in a waterfall of hair.  Peter laughed grabbed her sides, holding her upwards upside down and making her giggle almost uncontrollably.

“Sure, if your sister’s gonna let me” He said, setting Morgan down and looking back to (y/n), who shrugged a shoulder and nodded in answer, pretending to be too focused on waffles to give him an answer.

Peter sighed when she didn’t even look at him over her shoulder.

“Why don’t you go get dressed for the day?” Peter asked Morgan, who nodded in agreement, as she did to everything Peter asked of her.  She ran off to her bedroom down the hall.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to get me alone” (y/n) said once they were alone.

“You were always quite the genius” Peter said, leaning against the counter next to where she was baking.  (y/n) turned and gave him a bored look.

“It’s been a while” She commented, again, focused on making waffles.

“I know,” Peter sighed, raking a hand through his hair.  “Too long, and I’m sorry about that-”

“Don’t be sorry, it’s not a big deal” (y/n) shrugged again, and opened the waffle maker, putting the fresh waffle on a plate, and then filling it with the rest of the batter.  Morgan probably wouldn’t even be able to eat two whole waffles on her own, but better safe than sorry.

“It kind of is” Peter replied, even though she’d taken the plate to the table.  He grabbed the syrup from the cupboard and a fork, setting it next to Morgan’s spot on the table.

“It’s really not, Peter, don’t worry about it,” (y/n) replied, exasperated.  “We’re keeping busy just fine, time flies by-”

“It is to me,” Peter cut her off, making her turn around and stare at him, almost concerned.  “It’s important to me.  I’m supposed to be here, for you guys,” He said, catching her wrist before she could walk off to the kitchen again.  “For you” He added, quieter.

(y/n) froze in place, mouth opening, and then closing again.  Her eyes wandered to where he was holding her arm gently.  She pulled out of his hold, just as Morgan came running into the kitchen.

“Waffles!” She squealed, and (y/n) caught her, lifting her up and hushing her.

“You gotta be quieter hon,” She murmured before setting her down and letting her off to the table.  “So,” (y/n) sighed as her and Peter walked back into the kitchen.  “You want breakfast?”

“No thanks”

“It’s almost seven in the morning, now’s the time” (y/n) offered again, but Peter pressed his lips into a line and shook his head.

“No, I want to talk, (y/n)” He told her, making her frown slightly.

“We are talking” She mumbled, setting the bowl with batter scraps and her used utensils in the sink.

“That’s not… that’s not what I meant” Peter replied defeatedly.  She was always difficult, and after years of knowing her, Peter was certain that it ran in her blood.  But she was purposefully dodging him.

(y/n) nonchalantly put away the waffle maker and walked over to the table, ruffling Morgan’s hair before taking a seat next to her.

He hesitated before taking a seat across from the girls, watching with amusement as Morgan happily drowned her waffles in syrup.

“Alright, alright,” (y/n) said softly, taking the syrup from her sister and giving her a look.  “You better eat all that now, syrup waster” She teased.  Morgan retaliated by shoving a giant piece in her mouth, getting her face messy.  (y/n) rolled her eyes at the little girl’s drama.

“I’m not wasting it” Morgan said with a muffled voice from all the waffle.

Peter chuckled a bit at that.

“Don’t encourage her” (y/n) muttered, and he put his hands up in surrender. ___

After Morgan finished her breakfast, and (y/n) helped her clean up, the six year old declared that she wanted to go to the pond and feed the fish.  (y/n) agreed to take her, and helped her find clothes that were appropriate to be playing outside in.

“With Peter?” Morgan asked hopefully as (y/n) put a pair of jeans and a tee shirt on the bed for her to change into.

“Sure, sweetheart, if that’s what you want,” (y/n) sighed in agreement.  “Grab a jacket too, alright?”

Morgan nodded as (y/n) left the room and shut the door behind her so that Morgan could change.  She walked back into the dining room to see Peter standing by the table.  He somehow looked out of place, but like he belonged there, all at once.  He smiled when she walked into the room, her arms wrapping around herself.  A defensive gesture that Peter recognized.

“Morgan wants you to come with us to feed the fish at the pond,” She told him, and he nodded, happy to go.  “She’d like it a lot” (y/n) added quieter, getting the small tub of fish food.

Morgan came skipping into the room, jacket half zipped up and an eager grin on her face as she took her sister’s hand and dragged her to the door, Peter following behind.

The three walked the half a block from the cabin down to the pond.  There was a spot that was clear of weeds and cattails, so Morgan could get up close to the water and squeal as she fed the fish that swam in it.

Peter and (y/n) were sat a bit behind her in the grass.  Since it was early, it was still a bit chilly, but besides that it was a nice day.

“I want to come visit more often,” Peter told her while she was watching her little sister throw bits of fish food as far as she could into the water.  (y/n’s) attention was immediately drawn to him at the words.  “To see you guys, be in your lives more than I have been the last few months”

“I’m not asking you to do that,” (y/n) said, brows furrowing as she shook her head a bit.  “What about your classes? What about Spider-Man?”

“Neither of things are more important than you- th-the both of you,” He stammered out, cheeks flushing at his slip of tongue.  (y/n) caught it, of course, but didn’t comment on it.  “I just think that… that I should, that it’s the right thing to do”

There was a time that (y/n) would have begged him to do this.  Both years before the war, and just moments after it, she would have loved if he took a break for once and stayed with her.  But things have changed, so much so, she barely knew how to act around the boy.

They were in love once, there was no denying it.  

(y/n) had done everything in her power to bring him back to her, however, just as she’d gotten him back, she lost the first most important man in her life, her father, and had barely any time to rejoice in seeing Peter again.

She pushed him away, no, forced him away.  Out of fear of losing him too, out of her need to focus on raising Morgan, to move on and not have to worry about anything else.  She was sure she would break if anything else were to happen to those she loved.  Better to not love than to love and lose, right?

“(y/n)?” Peter spoke when she hadn’t said anything in response.

“I’m just… I’m not sure it’s the best idea, is all” She shrugged, and stared at the ground, fingers wrapping around a few blades of grass before yanking them out of the dirt.

“Because you want me to focus on Spider-Man or because you don’t want me around?” He asked.

She glared at him for a moment, biting down on her cheek to keep herself from saying something rash that she’d regret.

“No,” She answered in a mutter.  “It’s just not necessary”

“Liar”

Another sharp glare, but Peter didn’t flinch away from it.  Just when was about to say something else, Morgan came skipping over to the two, and they both put on happier faces.

“Here!” She thrust a handful of dandelions into Peter’s face, and he laughed as he took them.

“They’re beautiful kiddo,” He told her.  “Why don’t you go find some more?”

She nodded and ran off to pick some more, while he took the stems and began to tie them together.

“Besides how you feel about me, which is clearly undecided,” Peter told (y/n) once they were alone again.  “I want to help, you could both use it”

His eyes were focused on the dandelions as he spoke, and (y/n) studied him skeptically.  He was right, and she knew it.  Pepper’s in the city half the week, leaving a lot of the raising of Morgan to fall on (y/n), and as much as she loved her sister, it was tiring playing mommy.  Having Peter around would be a huge help.

“I can’t ask that of you” She said quietly, and finally he looked her in the eyes.

“The thing is, you don’t have to” He said, just as Morgan came back to him with more dandelions.

He tied a few more to each other, and placed the loop on her head, making her grin widely at the poorly made flower crown he’d given her.

“There,” He announced, smiling back at her.  “You’ve just been deemed princess of… the pond” He decided.

There was no doubt in (y/n’s) mind that this alone made Morgan’s whole day.  Her eyes lit up as she skipped along back to the cabin, picking more flowers, and weeds, the whole way.

“Okay,” (y/n) said to Peter as they reached the steps.  Morgan had run inside put together a princess outfit to go with her new crown.  “You should stay”

“You think so?” Peter asked excitedly.  He hadn’t been sure if she’d cave or not.

“Just for the night, we’ll take it from there,” (y/n) put her finger up before he could get ahead of himself.  “One day at a time, we’ll see what happens.  My mom comes back in a few days so maybe just for the time being-”

She was cut off by Peter tugging her in for a tight hug, taking her by surprise as she froze up for a moment.

“It’s gonna go great,” He assured her, and she loosely set her hands on his shoulder blades, gently hugging him back, before he pulled away.  “Things are going to go back to normal again” He said sincerely, staring into her eyes intently.  (y/n) was still in shock, and she didn’t know what to say, so she mustered up a small smile and nodded her head.

She wasn’t sure if she remembered what normal was. ___

Morgan had insisted on showing Peter the new dolls Pepper once brought her from New York City, leaving (y/n) to clean up and begin to work on lunch.

“This one’s named (y/n/n), like (y/n)” Morgan showed Peter, handing a doll to him that did have a few similar features.  (y/h/c) hair, (y/e/c) eyes, that was about it, but it was sweet of her to add.

“It does look like (y/n) doesn’t it?” He commented, petting the hair of the doll gently while Morgan dug through her tub of others.

“I have one for my Daddy too,” She said, tossing a bunch of dolls out onto the floor as she searched.  “It’s somewhere”

It felt like someone had a grip on his heart as he watched Morgan retrieve an Iron Man figurine, messing with the limbs to be facing the right way so it looked good before she handed it to Peter.  He stared at the plastic toy with wide eyes as he took it gently from the little girl.

“It’s my favorite,” She told him happily.  “All I have are a bunch of girls, and he gets to be the superhero”

Peter smiled, and handed her back the figurine, watching her smile as she carefully put it back in her box.

“Sometimes (y/n) plays with me, it’s really fun,” Morgan began to talk adamantly about the different stories they play though when they play.  Peter sat back and listened, even when she began to ramble so fast she was barely speaking English.  “She made me a dollhouse too!”

“Really?” Peter chuckled at the idea of (y/n) doing handy work.  It was a trait she never did get from her father, no matter how badly he’d wanted her to work in the lab with him for years on end.

“Yeah! Wanna see?” She asked, already standing up and leading him out of the room.  They passed (y/n) in the kitchen on their way to the living room, listening to soft music and making lunch.

“Where you headed?” (y/n) asked Morgan, who continued to drag Peter and yelled after her sister.

“To show him the dollhouse!”

Peter’s eyes widen significantly when Morgan finally brings him to where the dollhouse was in the living room.  The thing was as tall as she was, and definitely took a lot of work.

“Here it is!” The little girl proudly displayed it, grinning widely as she began to play with the few dolls in it.  Peter wouldn’t believe (y/n) had built it if he hadn’t been looking right at it.

“Wow,” He breathed, unable to think of anything else to say.  “(y/n) made this?”

The house itself had to be three or four feet tall.  With three stories of rooms built in, two or three rooms on each shelf.  Little doors and windows cut into the wood, each room a different pastel color.  Not to mention the doll sized-furniture, tables and chairs and beds and shelves, hell, there was even a tiny bathroom.  And it all scaled to the size of Morgan’s dolls perfectly

It was a little girl’s dream dollhouse.

“She even made all the furniture” Morgan answered, proud of her big sister.

“Wow” Peter said again.

He wondered when (y/n) had become so nifty with these things. ___

After lunch, Morgan and Peter were watching tv, while (y/n) left to call her mom.

“I hope you don’t mind,” She’d said when she told Pepper that Peter was going to stay with them for a short while.  “He kinda just sprung it on me, but he’s such a good help with Morgan that I-”

“I don’t mind at all,” Pepper told her.  “Peter’s always welcome, make sure you tell him that for me”

“Okay” (y/n) said uncertainty.

“Are you alright, honey?” Pepper asked, hearing her daughter’s off tone of voice and using mom speak right away.  “Are you and Peter alright?”

“We are things are just-” (y/n) cut herself before she could overshare on the phone.  “It’s just different now, is all” She finished quieter.  She could hear Pepper exhale on the other end.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart.  But it’s you and Peter, you guys will figure it out soon enough, I’m sure of it,” She reassured.  “You were always two sides of the same coin”

(y/n) smiled at that, knowing exactly what her mother meant.

“Have a good night, honey, give Morgan a kiss for me, alright?”

“Okay Mom, goodnight”

“Goodnight, love you”

“Love you too, bye”

(y/n) hung up the phone and slid it into her back pocket, taking a moment to steady her breathing.  Some nights when Pepper was out of town, she found it difficult to keep her emotions balanced.

When she collected herself, she left her room to join her sister and Peter in watching their movie.  A little quality time with them wouldn’t be so bad.

But when she walked into the living room, a Disney movie was playing, and they were both knocked out on the couch.  Peter had stretched out, and obviously had passed out hard.  Morgan sprawled on his chest.  (y/n) smiled at the sight, and tiptoed over to the sleeping pair.

When she lifted up Morgan, slowly and carefully as not to wake Peter, she ended up waking her in the process.  A small whine escaped her mouth from being moved in her sleep.

“Shh, shh,” (y/n) hushed as she held her against her chest, Morgan’s small arms wrapping around her neck as her head laid against her shoulder.  “I’m just taking you to bed” (y/n) whispered, stroking her hair as she carried her out of the room.

“I wanna lay with Peter” She whined, but was already falling asleep again against her sister.  (y/n) giggled quietly as she brought her into her room, shaking her head a bit at her attitude.

“Another night, maybe,” She said softly as she laid her in bed and tucked her in.  “Mama says goodnight, and that she loves you” She murmured, kissing Morgan’s forehead and pushing her hair back out of her face.

“Love you too, Mama” Morgan replied sleepily.

“Goodnight, Pumpkin” She whispered, leaving the room and shutting the door, not all the way, leaving just a crack open.

She walked back out to the living room again, grabbing a blanket for Peter, and gingerly placing it over him.  He stirred a bit, and she cursed herself for waking him up.  But a few seconds later he just repositioned and never opened an eye.

Just as she left, turning off the television and living room lights, he called out to her.

“Goodnight, (y/n)”

“G’night” She said back quietly, and walked back into her own room. ___

The next morning, just like the one before, (y/n) was awoken by a few soft knocks on her door, followed by harsher knocks when she didn’t answer right away.

“Come in Morgan” She groaned, and just like yesterday, the six year old came barreling in, and leapt up onto her bed.  Just as she was about to ask for breakfast, (y/n) wrapped her arms around the girl and held her tightly in her chest, making her wiggle around.

“(y/n)!” Her muffled voice squealed.  “(y/n) I can’t breathe!” She was giggling despite her protests.

“Can’t hear ya” (y/n) slurred, and began to pretend to snore.

“No! Don’t fall asleep! (y/n)! I’m hungry!”

“What was that?” She said, and faked another snore.

“Nooooo!” Morgan squealed again, kicking her legs against the mattress.  “Please, (y/n)!”

“What’d you say? Are you begging?”

“Yes! I’m begging you! Pleeaaase?”

“Alright, alright” (y/n) let her go, but just as Morgan started to get up, (y/n) grabbed one of her pillows and smacked it into her face, making her laugh aloud again.

The girls broke into a pillow fight, until finally (y/n) scooped her up and brought her to the kitchen.  Morgan hung over her shoulder, hair and arms dangling downwards along her back.  She made quiet excited noises every time (y/n) would turn sharply and her body would swing.

“What’re we eating this morning? I’m thinking…. Oatmeal”

“No!” Morgan screamed, and (y/n) hushed her.

“Pumpkin Peter’s still sleeping” She said softly.

“We should wake him up for breakfast”

“It’s alright, I’ll make him breakfast another time,” (y/n) assured.  “Right now I’m making breakfast for you and I”

“Okie dokie”

“So what do we want?” (y/n) asked, and sat Morgan on the counter.  “Girly, if you fall off, I’m gonna be mad” Morgan giggled as she swung her legs.

“I won’t,” She assured.  “Lucky Charms!”

“Really? No waffles? Pancakes? French toast? I’ll make you whatever you want” She offered, but Morgan shook her head.

“Lucky Charms!” She stated again.

“Alright, alright, cereal it is”

She made her sister the cereal, and then made a bowl of her own favorite cereal, and they ate together at the table.  Morgan was telling her about the dream she’d had last night when they were joined by the third party of the house.

Peter walked in, in his sweatpants and tee shirt, hair messy and eyes sleepy, and Morgan excitedly looked up at him.

“Hi Pete!” She greeted, and he ruffled her hair in greeting.  “You want some of my cereal?”

His brows furrowed, but (y/n) piped up to explain.

“She only eats the marshmallows”

Peter nodded, like it made perfect sense.

“Who doesn’t?” He replied, and Morgan smiled with her mouth full.

“I can make you something if you want, and there’s cereal in the cupboard” (y/n) offered but Peter shook his head.

“It’s alright, I’ll get something later” He answered, and yawned as he leaned his head on his hand.

“You don’t have to sleep on the couch, by the way,” (y/n) piped up, mindlessly stirring around her cereal and milk.  “There’s a guest room in the back, bed’s made and everything”

Peter smiled, and nodded in gratitude, too tired to form real words.

“He can stay in my room!” Morgan announced excitedly.  “We could have a sleepover!”

(y/n) laughed before she could stop herself, finishing her breakfast and taking her dish to the sink, still stifling her laughter.

“Maybe sometime,” Peter agreed, and Morgan cheered as she brought her bowl to (y/n), all the grain pieces of her Lucky Charms still floating in the leftover milk.  (y/n) rolled her eyes lovingly, and dumped the remnants to rinse out the bowl.  “Hey, could I use your shower?” Peter asked, running a hand through his messy hair.

“Yeah of course,” (y/n) replied.  “Morgan, why don’t you go show him the ropes?”

“You got it boss!” Morgan replied, and dragged Peter down the hall to show him how it worked.

A few minutes later she could hear the water running, and Morgan came padding back into the kitchen to get her sister’s help in picking out an outfit.  (y/n) obliged, and finished up her cleaning before following Morgan to her room.

“Can we go out for lunch today?”

“We went out for lunch a couple days ago,” (y/n) responded while she looked for a pair of little pants.  “We have food at home”

“But we have company” Morgan retorted, and (y/n) chuckled, finally finding a pair of yellow denim jeans to go with the top she’d picked out.

“And we have food for him too,” She replied.  “How do you feel about this?” She changed the subject and showed Morgan what she’d picked for her.

“If we go to lunch I wanna wear a dress” Morgan said, and it took every fiber in (y/n’s) being not to slap her hand to her forehead.

“Morgan, we’re not going for lunch-”

“Please?” She begged, batting her eyes and sticking out her bottom lip.  “It would be like a date”

Now that caught (y/n’s) attention more than the sad puppy face did.

“What do you mean ‘it would be like a date’?” She questioned.

“It would be” Morgan said simply and shrugged her shoulders.  (y/n) quirked an eyebrow, waiting for more of an answer than that.

“Morgan”

“Okay fine!” She gave in under the little pressure (y/n) had enforced.  “I want you guys to go on a date! Like in the movies!”

“Oh… Morgan…” (y/n) sighed, setting down the clothes, and sitting down on the floor on her knees.  “Sweetheart… we aren’t…” She didn’t know what to say, the little girl still had those big brown sad eyes on her face, and (y/n) wasn’t sure how to explain to her that the window of opportunity for her and Peter had long passed.

“Won’t you try?” Morgan asked, reaching towards her sister, grabbing her hair in small fists.  “Don’t you love him?”

Morgan’s definition of love was when the prince kisses the princess and saves the day, and then they get married.  But Morgan didn’t see why Peter couldn’t kiss her big sister and then get married.  It was clear to her that Peter had a crush on (y/n).  So what was stopping them?

(y/n) smiled, almost sadly, as she took her sister’s hands out of her hair and kissed them quickly.  “When did you get so grown up?”

Morgan smiled widely, taking her words as a compliment.

“Now, why don’t you get dressed” (y/n) said, finally able to change the heavy subject.

“Lunch?”

“Get dressed” (y/n) chuckled, ruffling the girl’s hair before standing up and walking out of the room, closing the door for her privacy.  Just as she turned to go get dressed in her own room, she crashed into Peter.

Who was very wet, very shirtless, and very cute.

He had a towel around his waist that he held even though it was secure, and his other hand grabbed (y/n’s) shoulder to steady her after she’d run into him.

“Oh my god- (y/n)- I’m so sorry-”

Holy shit all she wanted to do was run her fingers through his wet and messy curls.

“That’s alright, it’s alright,” She stammered out, and then coughed to clear the tightening in her throat.  “Sorry about that, I didn’t see you”

“It’s alright, I didn’t think you’d run straight into me,” Peter replied with humor in his voice.  “I was gonna swing home and get some clothes and stuff but I thought I’d ask you first”

“Ask me first?” She repeated, brows drawing together from her confusion.

“Well, to see if you were alright with me staying a little longer”

“Oh,” She said softly, not having expected him to ask permission.  “Yeah, yeah of course you can”

“You don’t mind?” He asked, just to be sure.  (y/n) shook her head, a small smile tugging on her lips.

“Actually, how about we go with you, Morgan really wants to go out for lunch, so we could grab a bite and show her around a bit, maybe?” She said, her hands beginning to wring together as she waited for his answer.  Peter grinned, nodding his head ecstatically.

“Yeah, that’d be great,” He said, and they stood there for a few seconds in silence, just smiling and looking at each other.  “Well I should- I should probably put some clothes on now”

“You should definitely do that” (y/n) chuckled as he spun on his heel and made his way back to the bathroom to put on the same outfit he’d had yesterday.

When the door shut, she let out a heavy breath, shutting her eyes and trying to get rid of the angst and butterflies that filled up inside of her.

“(y/n)!”

The girl shrieked when Morgan’s door whipped upon suddenly, revealing her in her outfit, and a big smile on her face from being able to make her sister scream.

“Don’t do that you bug!” (y/n) cursed, bending down and tickling her stomach.

“We’re going to lunch?” Morgan asked excitedly, and (y/n) sighed.

“Were you eavesdropping?” She scolded.

“Of course I was! And we’re going to lunch!”

“What on earth am I going to do with you?” ___

“I love the city!” Morgan exclaimed, taking (y/n’s) hand as the two walked together along the streets of Queens.

“Me too,” (y/n) replied.  “I miss living here but… I like the cabin better”

Peter had collected a bag of necessities for the rest of the week while he stayed at the Stark residence, and in the meantime, (y/n) was giving Morgan a mini tour.

The little girl had changed into a denim skirt, with a pink top.  Her long hair pulled into two buns on top of her hair, expertly done by her older sister.  But if it made Morgan happy…

“How much longer till we see Peter again?”

“He said he’d meet up with us when he’s finished, and then we can go to lunch”

“Well how much longer until he’s finished?” Morgan questioned again.

“Don’t know, honey,” (y/n) sighed.  “But I know there’s a park around the corner…”

“Yes! Let’s go let’s go let’s go!” She shrieked happily, dragging (y/n) in a direction she assumed was the park, only making (y/n) laugh.

“It’s the other way, love,” She said.  “Come on”

Morgan tightened her hold on her sister’s hand and skipped alongside her as they went to the park.

She played for what felt like hours, never tiring, always moving onto the next piece of playground equipment with the same amount of excitement.  (y/n) just smiled as she pushed her on the swings, took pictures of her going down the slides, and collecting pieces of mulch to spell her name.  Morgan was an interesting child, there was no denying that.

After a decent hour of nonstop play, Peter had texted them to let them know he was finished at his apartment and would meet them at the place of lunch they’d agreed on.  Morgan was more than happy to go eat and spend more time with Peter. ___

“How much longer until french fries?” The six year old asked for the millionth time.

(y/n) turned to her sister with a long, bored, glare.  She didn’t even have to answer for Morgan to know what she was going to say.

“Right.  They get here when they get here” The child huffed.  Peter chuckled at the girls’ ability to communicate without words.

“You two are funny” He commented, casually taking a drink of his soda and purposefully avoiding eye contact when (y/n’s) glare was directed towards him.

“(y/n) says I take years off her life sometimes” Morgan told Peter matter-of-factly.  (y/n) coughed while Peter let out a laugh.

“Does she now?” He asked.  Once again, (y/n) was glaring at him.  He glanced to her before back to Morgan.  “Yeah, I think she feels the same way about me” He joked.

The girl’s glare faltered for a moment, shortly being replaced by a smile.

“When you two put me in an early grave, you better stick around to take care of each other”

Morgan grinned at her, reaching over the corner of the table to throw her arms around her sister and hug her tightly.  (y/n) smiled and rubbed her back, relishing in the sweet moment.

Maybe raising a kid for half her week could get annoying.  But she wouldn’t give it up for anything.

When their food came, and the conversations continued on, (y/n) found herself loosening up and becoming more relaxed with the both of them, but mostly Peter.

A part of her was worried about it, about getting too close too fast, and falling for him all over again, which she knew couldn’t happen, because it couldn’t end well.  The other part of her, however, was too relieved and happy to care.

After they were done and (y/n) argued enough to be able to pay for their meals, they headed back home.  Peter was piggybacking Morgan, while telling (y/n) about the regular lady who bought him a churro every time she sees Spider-Man.

“That’s sweet, I don’t remember anyone ever buying me a churro for fighting crime”

“Interesting, seeing as you did it secretly” Peter mocked.

Morgan laid her chin on top of his head of curls, bored of the conversation.

“When do I get to be a superhero?” She whined, just as they got to (y/n’s) car.

“When you’re older, maybe” (y/n) said, helping her off Peter’s back and into the backseat.

“That’s no fair,” She whined, and (y/n) winked before shutting the door, and getting in the driver’s seat.  “You did it when you were young”

“I was mature enough to handle it,” (y/n) argued back.  “Plus, rules of the house have always been that if you want to wear the suit, you have to have half the brain to help build it”

Morgan made a pouty nose and pushed out her bottom lip.

“I’ll help you build it” Peter said, turning in his seat to look back at her.

“Really?” She asked, eyes blown wide with hope.

Peter shrugged a shoulder.  “Sure? How difficult can it be?”

“Rocket science difficult” Morgan replied with a sigh.

(y/n) looked up into the rearview mirror to see her sister in the backseat.  She smiled at her.

“Rocket science runs in the family, babes” She hummed.

Morgan grinned big the whole rest of the ride. ___

When they got back to the cabin, Morgan ran straight to her room to start coloring ideas for her own super suit.

“You want help unpacking or anything?” (y/n) asked as she brought Peter to the guest room he’d be staying in the rest of the week.

“No thanks, I got it,” He said, too focused on looking around the rather large room.  (y/n) nodded, about to leave him be, when he called her name.

“Hm?” (y/n) hummed as she poked her head back through the doorway.

“Are you really gonna let her… you know….” Peter made the little motions that activated the repulsors in the Iron Tech suits.  (y/n) giggled at the nerdy action.

“Someday, perhaps,” She answered, leaning on the doorway while he unpacked his clothes and reorganized them in the empty dresser.  “I’m not her mother, so we’d have to talk about the… idea… of building her a suit”

(y/n) thought about it for a moment, the idea of fighting crime with her family, like some sort of Stark themed Power Rangers.

“Why?” She asked him.  “You worried about us?” A teasing smile tugged on her lips, and Peter couldn’t keep a straight face at the cute expression.

“No,” He drawled.  “I was just curious, is all” He put all his attention on his unpacking, and (y/n) chuckled to herself, shaking her head as she leaned off of the door.

“I’m gonna go check on Morgan” She told him, and was already down the hall before he could say anything else.

Morgan’s door was open, but (y/n) still knocked anyways, earning her little sister’s attention from where she sat on her bed, paper and markers spread out all over the sheets.

“What’re you up to?” (y/n) asked, walking in and sitting next to her on the side of the mattress.

“I’m designing my Iron Girl suit!” Morgan declared, showing (y/n) the two she’d already drawn out.  

They were similar to their father’s suits, the same style anyways, each with a different color.  The first was pink, and the second was orange.  The one she was currently coloring was green.

“Looks like you can’t decide on a color,” (y/n) mused.  “That’s quite the dilemma”

“I want to wear a suit like yours,” Morgan sighed, and (y/n’s) smile faltered a little while Morgan’s brow furrowed as she looked over her markers for a new color.  “But I don’t wanna copy you”

A smile pulled on the older girl’s lips.

“Oh, come on, you don’t want one like mine, it’s just black and grey, that’s boring,” She told her.  “You need some color in yours!”

Morgan looked up at her big sister, seeming uncertain about it.

“But you’re cool, and your suit is cool, it’s probably why people like you so much-” She stopped talking when (y/n) laughed and shook her head.

“No no no, you got it all wrong sweetheart,” (y/n) explained.  “I’m cool because I have a sword.  And people like me because I do the right thing, fight for what’s right” She said.

“So… I need a sword?” Morgan asked, and again, (y/n) shook her head.

“No, what you need is practice.  But more importantly, growth.  Swords are heavy, but a lot of… weapons… are” She spoke carefully.

“Growth?”

“Mhm,” (y/n) hummed.  “You’ve got to learn, and grow, and figure out who you are before you go around fighting criminals”

“But I want to kick butt now” Morgan whined, making (y/n) giggle more.

“I know sweetheart,” She hummed.  “But you’ve got some growin’ up to do.  You gotta get through school, and then figure your life out, figure out if you’re gonna move away from me”

“I have to move away from you?” Morgan asked, already tearing up at the idea.

(y/n) smiled sadly and shook her head, before moving to sit properly on the bed, and pulling Morgan up to sit on her lap.

“No, sweetheart, you don’t.  And even if you do, not anytime soon,” She hugged her tightly and dropped a kiss into her hair.  “You think I want you to leave? Please, I’d never get anything done”

Morgan giggled, hands holding onto her sister’s arms as she leaned into the embrace.  It was like her little hands were tigging right on (y/n’s) heartstrings.

“Who would draw the pictures for the fridge?” (y/n) pretended to weep, and Morgan laughed loudly, turning around  and standing up, making herself eye level with her older sister.

“(y/n/n)!” She whined through her laughter, “That’s not all I do!”

(y/n) laughed, tickling her sides and booping her nose with her pointer finger.

“You’re right,” She hummed, before a wide shit eating grin replaced her features.  “You also have to clean your room!”

Morgan threw herself back on her bed dramatically, and (y/n) laughed aloud, getting off the small bed so that her sister could go back to her drawing.

“Alright, I’ll leave you alone, so you can clean up”

Morgan pouted, but it went away when (y/n) winked at her.

“Can we watch a movie tonight? All of us?” Morgan asked before she could leave the room.  “Family movie night?”

(y/n) smiled and nodded.

“Sure, honey,” She agreed.  “Anything in mind?”

“Disney!”

“As always” (y/n) smiled warmly, not surprised in the least. ___

Peter had finished unpacking his things and was lying on his bed, admiring the room.

Even for a cabin, Mr Stark was extravagant in his designs.  Right down to the minute detail on the frames at the ceiling and floorline.

Smooth, dark hardwood floors, a neutral blue paint on the walls.  There were two windows on adjacent sides of the room, silky curtains hanging in front of them, letting in only a sliver of light from the sunset.

He got up from his bed, walking over to the curtains and opening them wider, so that more of the light could pour into the room.

The sky was beautiful, pink and orange while the sun was setting, but he couldn’t even enjoy it, too lost in his own thoughts.  All he wanted was to compliment Tony on the house he’d built, which was supposed to be one of the easiest things in the world.  But it wasn’t.

He was finally pulled out of it by the loud sound of laughter echoing throughout the house.  (y/n) and Morgan’s laughter.

It was almost enough to make him cry, but he just smiled, and went back to sit on his bed.  Just listening to them laugh and talk about things he couldn’t really hear, he could just tell they were happy. ___

(y/n) was just about wheezing of laughter, hands held over her stomach as she doubled over, enjoying every moment of silence that passed around her.

Tony had rendered a new suit for Peter, and called the boy down to the lab to try it on.  (y/n) had only even joined in out of curiosity.  It was a nice, expensive, suit, but Tony was always proud of the ones he’d made for Peter.

Peter, poor, sweet Peter.  His only critique of the new tech was that it was ‘too tight on the ol’ web shooter’.

A beat passed before (y/n) burst out laughing.  Her father and friend however, were trapped in an awkward silence.  She only laughed harder at this.

“I-I- ohmygod,” Peter mumbled to himself in a panic.  “I’m so sorry- I am so sorry Mr Stark I didn’t-”

“No no, don’t apologize” (y/n) said in between giggles.

“Don’t apologize?” Tony repeated, looking to his daughter with wide blown eyes.  “Parker, you make another dick joke in front of me- no- to either of us,” He gestured wildly between himself an (y/n), “And you’re done, you’re out, got it?”

“Y-yeah Mr Stark I-I’m sorry, again, sorry”

“Yeah yeah, take that off and get out of here” Tony rolled his eyes as Peter changed back into his clothes.

Afterwards, him and (y/n) went up to the kitchen to make lunch, and she was still giggling every few minutes.

“Come on, it wasn’t funny, it was embarrassing,” Peter whined, sitting at the breakfast bar and hung his head.  “It just… slipped”

“Oh really? You expect me to believe that’s the first time you called it your web shooter?” (y/n) snorted, and Peter put his head down on the counter out of embarrassment.  “Awe, Pete,” (y/n) ruffled his hair before setting his lunch down in front of him.  She wrapped her arms around her torso and set her chin on his shoulder, kissing his cheek sweetly.  “It’s alright.  I think it’s funny”

“Yeah, clearly”

He lifted his head to look at her, to see her grinning at him ear to ear. ___

It was one of his favorite memories of (y/n).  It was one of the last times he’d seen her so happy, it was the last time she’d oh-so-casually kissed his cheek.

“Knock knock,” (y/n) announced as she knocked against Peter’s door frame.  She had a slight frown on her face as she looked at the boy sitting on the bed pitifully.  “You alright?” She asked him, and he nodded, pulling a fake smile she could see right through.

(y/n) cocked her head to the side in disbelief, and Peter looked away from her.  If she kept looking at him like that, he’d cave.

“Morgan wants us to watch a movie with her,” She told him.  “You up for it?”

“Yeah, of course” Peter got up, about to walk through the door when (y/n) stepped to stand in the way of the door, crossing her arms.

“Pete,” She murmured, waiting for him to explain himself.  “What’s going on?”

“I’m alright, just in my head is all-” He stopped when she frowned at him and shook her head, knowing it was more than that.

“Come on, talk to me, I know what grief looks like” Peter hung his head, eyes wandering to everywhere but her.

“Being here- I just- I would’ve told him…” Peter stammered and shrugged his shoulders uselessly, hands flying in the air as though he were surrendering to something.  (y/n) nodded, and took his hands in hers, holding them gently and placing them back at his sides, helping his shoulders to not be so tense.

“I know,” She sighed, squeezing his hands before letting go of them.  “There’s a lot of things left to tell him”

It was quiet for a moment, both of them mulling over everything that they’d wanted to tell Tony that they didn’t get to.

“(y/n/n)!” A holler from the living room, where Morgan was impatiently waiting, rang through the hallways.  “Peter!” She screamed again when no one had responded to her instantly.

Peter chuckled, and (y/n) smiled back at him.

“Ready?” She asked, and he nodded, following behind her.

Morgan had already put on the Fox and the Hound, and excitedly patted the couch for the two to join her.  As soon as (y/n) sat down, Morgan laid her head in her lap.  (y/n) steadily ran her fingers through her long brunette curls.

“(y/n/n)?” Morgan called, and (y/n) hummed, looking down at her with a comforting smile.  “I decided I wanted my suit to be red and gold,” She told her, still watching the movie on the tv.  “Like daddy’s”

(y/n) froze up for a moment, her hand stilling in a tangle of curls.  Her and Peter glanced at each other before looking back down to Morgan.

“I like it,” She told her little sister.  “It’s perfect”

Morgan smiled back at her, all too innocent, and then put her attention back on the tv again.

Halfway into the movie, Morgan was completely knocked out across (y/n’s) legs, and Peter and (y/n) weren’t all that awake themselves.

“I should take her to bed,” (y/n) finally said, lifting Morgan up in her arms.  The six year old was awake enough to wrap her arms around (y/n’s) neck, but too sleepy to walk herself to bed.  “Alright baby,” (y/n) breathed out, one arm wrapping under her, the other around her back, cradling her close to her chest.  “Let’s get you to bed”

Morgan whined a bit as (y/n) carried her.

Carefully putting her in bed, (y/n) pulled Morgan’s arms off of her and tucked her into the covers.  (y/n) kissed her forehead before leaving her room and shutting the door behind her.

She was going to head back to the living room when she nearly ran into Peter in the hall.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” She whispered, a shy smile on her face.  “I didn’t know you were up”

“It’s alright,” Peter chuckled, and rubbed the back of his neck, a nervous habit he’d always had.  “I was uh… I’m actually really not tired at all so I thought that maybe you’d want to um- I mean if you’re not tired either we could-”

“Pete?” (y/n) cut him off from his misery of stammering.  “You wanna stay up and watch something?” She asked, a wide grin on her face while he blushed and nodded.

“Yeah, yep, that’s what I was trying to say”

She laughed into her hand to muffle the noise as they walked back to the living room, plopping down on the sofa.

“Any ideas?” She asked, picking up the remote and flipping through the Netflix categories.

“Anything, as long as you stay here and keep me company” Peter answered.  (y/n) cheeks tinted to a rosy pink color, and she refused to look at him while she found a new Netflix Original that seemed good.

They got settled on the sofa, and for a little while actually watched the movie.

But it wasn’t too long before (y/n) grew distracted by the boy next to her.  And I mean absolutely focused on him when she knew she should be watching the movie.  Her eyes kept flickering over to him as discreetly as she could, admiring his profile while his attention was on the film playing.

(y/n) shifted in her seat, pulling her legs up on the couch and sitting criss cross.  She tried (and failed) to watch the movie, but at this point, she’d missed so much of it that the plot made no sense to her.

“What’re you gonna do when Morgan goes back to school full time?” Peter asked.  Something had happened in the movie to trigger the question, but (y/n) didn’t catch what it would have been.

When he looked over at her, she was already staring at him.

“You alright?” He asked when he realized this.  His brows furrowed and his expression was cute when he was concerned.

“Yeah,” (y/n) said, taking in a deep breath as she tried to collect herself.  “I guess I go back to working full time while she’s at school,” She answered with a shrug, when Peter seemed confused by her answer, she clarified, “I’ve been making parts, weapons, stuff for the army using my-... my Dad’s old tech”

Peter nodded, a smile on his lips at the thought of her building and tinkering like Tony did.  He remembered the dollhouse she’d made for Morgan, and it dawned on him that (y/n) had a real skill for the craft.

“Can you show me?” He asked.  (y/n) opened her mouth to decline, but changed her mind and nodded.

“Yeah, sure,” She told him, pausing the movie and getting up from the couch, leading him to the workshop.  It was really just an extra stall in the garage, but it had been the only space Pepper had allowed Tony to use.  “It’s not much” She told him sheepishly when she flipped the lights on.

Peter walked around and admired every little thing he saw like it was a museum.  For the most part, it was organized.  Tool boxes and shelves marked with the exact tools and parts that they held, so nothing could get lost.  But the work table was littered with things.  He chuckled at the idea of (y/n) even using a wrench.

“What?” She asked him, crossing her arms.

“I just can’t picture you in this element, is all” He told her honestly.  She frowned for a moment, but it was quickly replaced by a smirk.  She eagerly walked over to a large metal safe, tapping in the key code and pressing her thumb against the scanner, and then opening the doors.

Peter felt dumb for saying anything when he saw what was inside.

It was her suit, but he barely recognized it.

“It’s nanotech now,” She said proudly.  She took a cuff from the safe, clasping it on her wrist.  “Just like my Dad’s” She added.  Her finger tapped the cuff twice, and in an instant the suit was on her, mask and all.

It used to resemble the Iron Man suit, but now it was completely different.  The window-like areas over her eyes were larger, and it no longer had a glowing center, like Tony’s had.  Peter almost frowned at that part, the circular area was a hallmark of the Iron Man suit.

But (y/n) wasn’t Iron Man.

“So, what do you think?” She asked him excitedly, tapping the cuff twice again, and it disappeared.  When she put the bracelet back into the safe, the suit appeared back in it’s spot next to it.  She locked it up again for safe keeping.

“It’s- It’s amazing (y/n/n) I can’t believe you actually made that,” He told her, making her smile proudly.  “I’m sorry for ever doubting you”

She chuckled, ducking her head down almost bashfully.

“That’s alright,” She replied.  “Just don’t ever do it again” She added, and they both giggled.

And then they just stood there, not knowing what else to say, or do, and the longer they stood in silence, the thicker the tension between them became.

“Look I-”

“If you ever-”

They spoke at once, both trying to fill the silence with something, anything, and as soon as they’d spoken over each other they chuckled.

“You first” Peter told her.

“I uh… I was going to say that if you ever need reparations to your suit or anything that I could do it for you,” She told him, wrapping her arms around herself.  “You always had a tendency to break and tinker with things you shouldn’t be”

“One time,” Peter groaned.  “I hacked it one time, but you guys had safety gate on it!” She giggled at his antics, loving that he was still frustrated about the training wheels protocol on his original suit.  He probably didn’t even have it anymore.

“What were you going to say?” (y/n) asked softly, and Peter’s cheeks went pink when she’d brought it up.

“Oh I… I wanted to say I’m really glad to be here, with you, again” He said, shyly rubbing the back of his neck.  

(y/n’s) features softened at the sweet words, a small smile tugging on her lips as her eyes lit up with something he hadn’t seen in her in a long time.  Peter wasn’t so naive to not realize it was love, he knew it was.  He’d seen it there before, almost every day.  But that was years ago.

“I’ve missed you, a lot actually,” He admitted.  “And I’ve liked seeing you again is all” He shrugged like it was the simplest thing in the world, and maybe it was, but it’s impact on her was heavy, like a weight had simultaneously been placed and lifted on her chest.

She felt overwhelmed with emotions, ones she’d harbored and buried for so long.  Despair, relief, love, they all hit her, and they hit hard.

“Peter,” She mumbled out his name before stepping forward, hands reaching out for his face.  She’d grabbed him, pulling him down to her level.  His hands set on her waist as she was about to connect their lips, for the first time in a year, and he hadn’t realized until just now that he’d been craving that feeling of her lips against his ever since the day they’d reunited and she’d kissed him then, too.  Peter shut his eyes as her nose prodded his to the side, blindly looking for his lips with her own.  The anticipation was nearly killing him.

“(y/n/n)?” A tired voice called, and the two sprung apart like they’d been caught doing something illegal.

“Morgan?” (y/n) was confused as to what she was doing up at this hour, but she had a pretty good idea when she saw the tears on her cheeks while she sleepily rubbed her eyes.  Her favorite stuffed animal was in her other hand.  “Oh, love,” (y/n) murmured as she walked over to her sister, crouching down and pulling her hand from her face.  She cupped her small face in her hands, thumbs gently stroking over her cheeks to wipe away her tears.  “Come here”

Morgan stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her big sister’s neck, burying her face in the crook of her neck and beginning to cry again.

“I miss daddy!” She cried out, her small body trembling as (y/n) lifted her up, rocking her gently as she carried her from the garage, sending Peter an apologetic look on her way out.

“I miss him too,” (y/n) whispered back, stroking the girl’s hair calmingly.  “But baby, he’s looking out for you, you hear me?”

Morgan nodded her head, and held (y/n) tighter.

“He is making sure that you’re safe, and that you’re cleaning up your toys and eating your veggies… and telling your big sister she’s the best-”

“He’s not!” Morgan giggled at her sister’s teasing, her crying seeming to calm down.

“Oh, he is too!” (y/n) said playfully.  “Our daddy was big on validation, and I got it directly from him.  He would want you to tell me all day every day that I am the best!”

Morgan’s soft laughter continued as (y/n) laid her back down in bed, sitting on the edge of the mattress while tucking her in, and surrounding her by her stuffed animals.

“You’re the best,” (y/n) corrected herself, softly stroking the girl’s cheek with the back of her fingers.  “I love you so much little girl, and so does mommy, and so does daddy.  Always” When she leaned over to press her lips to Morgan’s forehead, her eyes screwed shut, holding back a few tears.

Tony used to tuck her in and kiss her forehead every night.  She longed to feel it once more, to appreciate it more than she had.

“Three thousand?” Morgan asked, and (y/n) chuckled sadly, a sort of sob coming out with her laughter.

“Yeah, love.  Three thousand.  Maybe even more”

Morgan smiled widely at that, shutting her eyes and rolling over to go to sleep.

“Love you too, (y/n/n)” She told her sister before falling back asleep.

(y/n) sat on the edge of the bed, just stroking the girl’s hair for a few minutes before she left the room.

Peter was waiting outside for her, and he gave her a smile as she let out a long shaky breath.

“You okay?” He asked her, while she closed her eyes and leaned her back against the wall, holding her hands to the side of her head.  (y/n) nodded, quickly and shakily.

“Yeah I just- I need a minute,” She sighed.  But instead of asking him to leave, her arms stretched out towards him, and pulled him closer to her.  Peter embraced her tightly, letting her bury her face into his chest while she caught her breath, trying not to cry.  “Thank you” She mumbled into his shirt.  He only nodded, cradling the back of her head and holding her as long as she needed to compose herself and feel better.

It felt like hours passed that they stood there, holding each other tightly.

When (y/n) finally pulled away, she wiped her eyes to make sure there were no tears, and pushed her hair behind her ears.

“Want to finish the movie?” Peter offered, and she nodded her head, following him back to the living room.

They got settled back into their respective seats, and (y/n) pushed play on the movie.

If she wasn’t lost before, she certainly was now.  She had no idea what was going on, or even what it was about at this point.  Her mind was buzzing with too many thoughts, mostly about the fact that she’d almost kissed Peter, again.  Why did she keep on doing that?

She ran her hands through her hair, trying to calm her down and get the tangles out.  Peter could tell that she wasn’t focused on the movie, and he looked over at her with worry on his brow.

“Hey” Peter called, gaining her attention, and it was clear that her mind had been elsewhere.

“Hey,” She said back, and turned her body sideways on the sofa to be facing him.  She laid her head on the top of the back cushions, staring at him with thoughtful eyes.  “Sorry I’ve been such a horrible host”

Peter chuckled, turning and mirroring her position, pulling his legs up to his chest.

“You’re not a horrible host” He told her, but she didn’t bite.

“I am too,” She argued back.  “These past few days I haven’t been focused, unless Morgan needed me and then I go into total ‘Mom’ mode and I’m not usually like this it’s just having you here-”

(y/n) stopped when she realized she was oversharing, big time.  But Peter looked amused by her rambling, a smile tugging on his lips as he waited for her to finish what she was saying.

“What, I throw you off balance?” He asked teasingly.  (y/n) giggled and shook her head, propping her head up on her hand and setting her elbow on the back cushions of the couch.

“No, it’s not like that,” She told him.  “I just feel like… I feel like I have to get used to you being in my life all over again” She admitted quietly.

Peter’s brows furrowed, and (y/n’s) heart dropped to her stomach, thinking that she’d said the wrong thing and ruined it.

“(y/n),” Peter said, reaching out and setting his hand over her free one.  “I’m sorry that I was ever out of your life, that you had to get used to me not being a part of it”

His thumb stroked softly over the back of her hand, and (y/n) glanced down at their hands,  lacing her fingers in between his.  Peter moved a little closer to her, making her look up at him again.

“I’m sorry,” He told her.  “Really.  I meant all that stuff I said earlier, I’ve missed you, and I want things to go back to how they used to be”

“Me too,” (y/n) mumbled back, her eyes flickering in between his.  There was a nervous smile on her face, and her heart was racing a million miles a minute in her chest.  “I miss messing with you all the time, Parker” She told him with an anxious breath of a laugh.  He laughed quietly with her, nodding her head.

“Yeah, I miss you messing with me” He agreed.

It was quiet between them for a moment, the two just shyly looking at each other and holding hands.

“I missed this” (y/n) confessed, her voice small, nervous to even admit it.  But Peter nodded, understanding exactly what she’d meant.

“Me too” He agreed.

A part of her thought that Morgan was going to walk in at this moment, needing (y/n’s) undivided attention.

She didn’t.

“You remember that night that we snuck into the facility’s pool?” She asked him, smiling at the memory.  Peter nodded, a bit confused by her bringing it up now.  “And doing backflips off the diving boards, swimming around and pretending we’re mermaids” (y/n) chuckled, wishing they could go back to that day.

“Yeah?” He spoke like it was a question.  “What about it?”

“I think that’s my favorite memory with you,” She said softly.  “It’s the first time we did anything together, it’s when we started being friends”

Peter smiled at her, making her blush and stare down at their hands that were intertwined on her leg.

“I don’t think I can decide on my favorite memory with you,” He told her, thinking it over.  “There’s the time you almost set the kitchen on fire,” He began thinking out loud, and (y/n) giggled.  “And when I took you swinging around for the first time-”

“That wasn’t fun, it was terrifying, but no way is that even an option as you favorite memory” (y/n) cut in, but Peter grinned back at her.

“It was fun for me, you were scared out of your mind, clinging to me and begging me to let you down,” Peter said.  “But you’re right, because there’s also the time that I got to show you how great Star Wars actually is, and when-” Peter paused for a moment, and (y/n) cocked her head to the side, wondering what he said.  “When I came back from the blip,” He told her quietly.  “And you hadn’t known we’d come back… and you kissed me”

If (y/n) hadn’t been blushing before, she was now.

“That might be my favorite” Peter said quietly.  (y/n) bit her lip to keep from smiling to widely from thinking about that day.  She looked down again at their hands bashfully.

“Yeah” She mumbled quietly.  Every few seconds, her eyes would flicker up to his, and then nervously back down again.

“Why are you so nervous?” Peter asked, chuckling to himself.  “It’s just me (y/n/n)”

(y/n) was never the nervous one.  She was the flirty one, she was the one who would kiss his cheek and hold his hand and tease him.  Peter was always the one who blushed and couldn’t make eye contact and had sweaty palms.  It was strange seeing her so uncertain of what to say or do.

“I know that’s why- that’s why it’s-” She sighed, looking up at him finally.  “It’s just different now.  It was so easy before, all of it, and now I- there’s just this- this pressure now because it’s been so long and-” She stopped, just staring at him for a minute, while Peter waited patiently for her to finish.  “And it’s like my feelings were just… on hold, like they never really went away,” She leaned forward, a little closer to him so that she could whisper.  “Peter I… I’m still in love with you” There was a crease between her brows and she shook her head a little.

Peter brought his free hand up to cup her face, his thumb stroking over her cheekbone.  (y/n’s) eyes fluttered shut as her forehead leaned against his.  She let go of his hand to wrap her arms around his neck, pulling him in closer against her.

“I should’ve told you, before everything, after everything, I should’ve told you” She mumbled, and Peter shook his head, both of his hands cupping her face now and drawing her in closer to him.

“It’s okay, I promise, I love you too” He said, and then closed the space between them, lips barely brushing over hers hesitantly.

(y/n) leaned in the rest of the way, gently kissing him.  It was a soft kiss, as if it was their first one.  And when they parted, her eyes opened to see he was already looking at her.  Peter grinned, before kissing her again much more passionately now, pouring all of his emotions into it.  Her hands tangled in his hair, and when she leaned back a bit, Peter helped her adjust to lie down on the couch, sliding over her body with ease, and not once separating their lips.

His hands roamed down to her waist, and (y/n) let out a sigh of content, her hands delving into his hair and carding through the thick locks.

Kissing Peter Parker was a direct trip to Cloud 9, and she wished that she’d been doing it since the war. ___

“(y/n)!” A loud voice screeched, followed by a knocking.  “(y/n)! It’s almost noon!”

The girl groaned and rolled over in bed onto her stomach so she could push her face into her pillow.  It didn’t do anything to drown out Morgan’s screaming and knocking.

“Maybe you should get up and make her breakfast, before she breaks down the door”

(y/n) leaned off of her pillow, glaring at Peter next to her.  He chuckled, wrapping his arms around her and tugging her into his chest.  She yawned, and snuggled in deeper, hoping that the warmth her surrounded her with would help her sleep through Morgan banging on the door.

“(y/n)!” Morgan whined, and opened the door, stomping inside.  She was about to jump onto the bed when she saw that Peter was in (y/n’s) bed with her.  “Peter? What are you doing in here?”

It was a rather compromising position, with Peter half naked and (y/n) wearing his shirt, the blanket they were sharing riding low on their hips.

“Hey- kiddo- g-good morning” The boy’s face went beat red, and (y/n) rolled her eyes, glancing over to her sister.

“You want breakfast, hon?” She asked, tugging Peter’s shirt down to cover herself as decently as she could, before sliding out of bed.

“Why is Peter in your bed?” Morgan asked while (y/n) guided her out of her room, chuckling nervously.

Morgan looked over at Peter, who was still awkwardly sitting there, cheeks pink as he waved to the girl while she left.

“We were hanging out” (y/n) answered, guiding Morgan out of the room a little quicker.

Peter sighed, laying back on the bed and holding his hands over his face out of embarrassment.

“Mommy and Daddy always shared a bed” He heard Morgan say with delight, and some of his embarrassment went away.

When he finally got up and put on a shirt and sweatpants, he walked out to the kitchen to find (y/n) making Morgan breakfast.  She’d put on a pair of shorts, which was only a slight disappointment to Peter.  It was still cute to watch her cook with his shirt on.

“But why were you hanging out without clothes?” Morgan asked.  Peter hung back in the doorway, out of sight from either of them, just to be amused by the scene in front of him.

“Because… it was very hot,” She answered lamely, and brought a plate of eggs over the table, setting them in front of Morgan, who immediately reached for them.  “Hey- don’t eat those yet, we’re having breakfast all together” (y/n) scolded before Morgan could take an egg.

“Family breakfast?” She asked as (y/n) went back to the stove.

“Yep” She said, and Peter finally walked in, greeting the both of them tiredly, before wrapping his arms around (y/n).  She smiled at him, but shrugged him off of her, giving him a pointed look before gesturing to Morgan at the kitchen table.  Peter muttered and dragged himself to the table to occupy himself.

“Are you marrying my sister?” Morgan asked him, narrowing her eyes in a skeptical way.

He’d seen that look before.  Tony had given it to him the day he’d realized that Peter was in love with his daughter.

Peter laughed, looking over to (y/n) who didn’t find it so funny.

“No, I’m not,” He told her, still giggling, but trying to hide it before (y/n) would smack him.  “What makes you think that?”

“Because you were naked in her room!” Morgan squealed, making Peter blush all over again.

“Alright alright, let’s keep the table talk appropriate, please” (y/n) said, giving Morgan a stern look, and then bringing over a few more plates of food.

“I was being honest,” Morgan mumbled, and (y/n) smiled softly at her, sitting across from her and next to Peter.  “You’re dating aren’t you?”

“Eat your breakfast” (y/n) ordered her sister.

They ate and talked about their plans for the day.  Morgan just ended up deciding that she wanted to go swimming in the pond and feed the fish.

She was tasked with putting on her swimsuit and getting ready to go down there while (y/n) and Peter cleaned up the kitchen.

“Hey,” (y/n) said softly while Peter was putting away dishes.  She gave him a gentle smile and wrapped her arms around his torso, hugging against his side.  “I didn’t mean- if I came across as rude to you at breakfast- I just- Morgan’s so young I’m not sure she’d understand-”

Peter leaned over and kissed her tenderly.

“It’s alright,” He murmured against her lips, and then kissed her again.  “You tell her whenever you want to, m’kay?”

(y/n) grinned at him as he went back to drying and putting away the dishes, and she continued washing them.

“And what is it that I’ll be telling her, hm?” She mused, quirking a teasing eyebrow at the boy.

“I was just going to ask you the same thing,” Peter laughed.  “Maybe… tell her that you’re dating Spider-Man,” He suggested, smiling at her, and making her smile back at him, a pink blush dusting her cheeks.  “Or sleeping with him, that’s fine too”

She stared at him with a dropped jaw, before smacking his chest with the back of her hand, only for Peter to grab it and tug her into his chest, tickling her sides a big playfully.  (y/n) began to giggle, squirming against his hold, trapped between Peter’s body and the counter.

“Peter!” She hissed in between giggles, and he finally ceased, grinning ear to ear at her, while she took his jaw in her hands and pulled his lips down to hers.

She could get real used to this.

Just as she was about to kiss him, the familiar sound of little feet running down the hall into the kitchen echoed, and (y/n) sighed, before pulling away and stepping out of his hold just as Morgan walked in, wearing her swimsuit and holding a towel around her shoulders.

“Well, you got ready fast” (y/n) said, making her grin, while (y/n) left to get ready to go.

The sooner she told Morgan the truth, the sooner she wouldn’t have to jump away from Peter every time she came into the room. ___

(y/n) dumped a small pile of fish food into Morgan’s palm, and then watched as Morgan went running back into the pond, throwing bits of food everywhere.

“You sure you don’t want to go in for a little dip?” Peter asked (y/n) as she screwed the lid back on the fish food and set it back down.

“You think I want to swim in that water? Disgusting.  I don’t think so,” She said with disgust in her voice.  “Morgan can swim with the fish, and the fish shit and dirt, all that she wants.  But no way in hell am I going in there,” Peter laughed at her antics, and leaned back on his elbows in the grass.  “You laughing at me? Mr Spandex Onesie?” She asked him tauntingly.

“That’s not fair- and it’s not a onesie! Or spandex-” Peter tried to fight for himself, but (y/n) was laughing too much for him to care.

“(y/n)! One of the fish touched my leg!” Morgan screeched with delight, and began to fling more fish food into the water.

(y/n) watched with a warm gaze as Morgan splashed around and threw fish food by the fistfull.

“I love her so much,” (y/n) sighed, leaning back on her hands and admiring her little sister as she squealed and threw bits of food.  “She’s one of the most precious people I know,” She told Peter, before looking over at him with a cheeky smile.  “Tied with you, of course”

He laughed, and set his hand over hers.

“You’re kind of ridiculous” He said.

“I’m also kind of your babysitter,” She said, raising her brows playfully.  “Out here keeping an eye on you and Morgan, making sure you don’t get into trouble, stuff like that”

“Oh really?” Peter asked.  “Is that how you feel?”

“Uh huh,” She answered with an affirmative nod, and a smirk.  “Sure is”

“Sure you’re sure?” He asked, and she pretended to think, before nodding her head.

“Yep… pretty damn sure”

“Awe, that sucks for you babe” Peter said, getting up off the ground and leaving (y/n) confused

“What, why-?” She was cut off by her own yelp, as Peter scooped her up and threw her over his shoulder.  “Peter Parker!” She screamed at him, thrashing around in his hold, but when it came down to it, he had super strength, and she didn’t.

Morgan turned and watched Peter running and carrying her sister toward the water.  She began to laugh hysterically, wading to the more shallow parts of the water as Peter ran in.

“If you drop in the water Peter so help me god I will kill you!” (y/n) threatened in between screams of both fear and delight.  “Put me down!”

“Yeah Peter, put her down!” Morgan clapped her hands together and jumped up and down in the water.

“Wait-!” (y/n) screamed.

“If you wish” Peter shrugged.  Next thing she knew, she was being dropped into the water.

Morgan was giggling while (y/n) emerged from the water gasping for air, and pulling her wet locks of hair out of her face.

“You’re in the water!” Morgan announced, and Peter was laughing from where he stood in the shallow water.  (y/n) glared up at him.

“Yes.  I am” She practically growled.

Morgan’s hands flew over her mouth as she giggled more, making Peter laugh louder as well.  He doubled over, hands over his stomach.

“You think it’s funny, Parker?” (y/n) asked him threateningly.  “You think it’s just so hilarious that I’m in the pond, soaked, in my clothes” She glared at Peter, and when he continued to laugh, she splashed at him.

“I’m sorry! You just look so cute when you’re angry and drenched” Peter teased, putting his arms up to shield his face from the water (y/n) was forcing his way.

“Get him (y/n/n)! Get him!” Morgan cheered on her sister, who gave her a wide smirk before turning back to Peter.

He began running before she’d started chasing him, trying to get a headstart.  He knew once she’d catch up to him, he was a goner.

Morgan followed behind the pair, but she was too small and too busy giggling to really keep up with the chase.

Finally (y/n) caught him pouncing onto his back and forcing him down into the shallow water.  She laughed proudly as Peter was soaked head to toe, just like he’d done to her.

“Gotcha” She told him with a wink, and leaned back to let him get up from the water and groan.  She was still laughing as she pushed his wet locks of hair off of his forehead.  He couldn’t help but smile back at her from the loving touch.

“I got you too!” Morgan’s squeal rang out, and (y/n’s) knees buckled as the six year old hurled her body against the back of her legs, wrapping her arms around her sister and shrieking with laughter.

(y/n) was laughing along with her as she caught her balance, before turning and lifting Morgan upwards, and rushing out into deeper water.  Dipping Morgan down into the water teasingly, (y/n) pretended as though she were going to launch her into the water, making Morgan squeal and beg her not to drop her.

“Please! Please (y/n) don’t!”

“Drop you?” (y/n) asked playfully, dipping her legs into the water.

“No!” Morgan screamed, and (y/n) dipped her a little further into the water, making Morgan squeal and kick around.  Just as Peter swam out to the two of them, (y/n) released her sister and watched her howl and paddle around in the water.

The smile on Morgan’s face told him all he needed to know.  She loved (y/n) just as much as (y/n) loved her.

He grinned at (y/n), making her furrow her brows but smile back at him.

“What?” She asked quietly, while Morgan was swimming after the fish.  “What?” She repeated with a nervous giggle when Peter just continued to smile at her.

He reached for her hand under the water, and intertwined their fingers, the dopey smile on his face permanently planted there.  After a moment he mouthed ‘I love you’.  Turning (y/n’s) small smile into a grin, and she squeezed his hand.

‘I love you too’ she mouthed back.  “Dork” She added affectionately.

Morgan swam back over to the pair, a proud smile on her face.

“I touched the fish!” She exclaimed, and the laughter erupted between the three of them again. ___

(y/n) was towel drying her hair at her vanity, after the long warm shower she’d taken to get the dirty pond cleaned off.  Her lips upturned uncontrollably as she thought about how nice of a day they’d had.

Since Pepper’s work schedule has taken over her whole life, it’s just been (y/n) and Morgan, and every day began to blend into the same grey cycle.

Having Peter here has changed everything.

“(y/n)?” Morgan walked in, and pulled herself up onto (y/n’s) bed.  “Will you brush the tangles out of my hair?”

“Of course,” (y/n) answered, getting her brush and comb, and sitting behind Morgan on the bed.  “Did you have fun today?”

“Yeah! I love feeding the fish.  And Peter’s really funny, I liked when he dropped you in the water,” Morgan said happily.  “He’s got a big crush on you”

(y/n) giggled as she carefully combed through Morgan’s wet locks of hair.

“Yeah, I can tell” She said softly.

“It’s so obvious!” Morgan exclaimed, and (y/n) just watched with amusement while the little girl threw her hands outwards.  “He couldn’t hide it if he tried, (y/n)”

(y/n) began to laugh more, finding it harder to focus on combing Morgan’s hair during this little outburst.

“I don’t know how you didn’t notice it,” Morgan went on.  “He’s always with you.  And you have sleepovers now?”

She kept talking, but (y/n) just couldn’t stop laughing, she could barely even hear what her sister was saying.  It was too funny that Morgan was worked up over Peter’s ‘crush’ on (y/n).

“- and he always- why are you laughing?” The six year old turned around and furrowed her brows at (y/n).  “Why is this so funny?”

“You’re cute when you’re all frazzled,” (y/n) teased, pinching Morgan’s cheek, and then going back to combing through the tangles in her hair.  “Reminds me of Dad…” She added quietly.  “He got worked up over Peter too.  Well, he got worked up over a lot of things” She chuckled.

“About Peter?” Morgan repeated, and (y/n) hummed.  “He knew that Peter liked you?”

“Oh sweetheart, everyone knew,” (y/n) giggled.  “Like you said, he couldn’t hide it if he tried” She said thoughtfully.

Morgan looked confused, and stared at her sister, waiting for an explanation that she could actually understand.

“Sweetheart…” (y/n) sighed, shutting her eyes and trying to find the right words.  “Morgan, I love Peter,” She admitted, gaging Morgan’s reaction, which hasn’t sunk in yet.  “I love him so much”

“I knew it!” Morgan squealed, leaping upwards on the bed and jumping excitedly.  “I knew it! I knew it!”

“Okay, okay! Calm down, monkey,” (y/n) teased, and grabbed her hands so she wouldn’t jump anymore.  “Truth is, we’re… we’re together now, Peter and I”

Morgan’s mouth made an ‘o’ shape, and her eyes went wide with excitement as she looked down slightly at her big sister.

“Really?” She asked, and (y/n) nodded, laughing quietly.

“Really” She murmured.

“Oh my god! Really!?” She asked again, and began to jump some more.

“Yes, really!” (y/n) told her.  “Seriously, for real’

“Yay!” Morgan fell forward and gave her sister a hug, (y/n) wrapped her arms around her tightly, smiling as Morgan began to congratulate her.

“Alright, alright,” (y/n) pulled her off and sat her back down on the bed.  “Let’s get the rest of those tangles out”

“Did you do true love’s kiss?” Morgan asked, while (y/n) went on to comb her hair.

“Oh definitely,” (y/n) answered dramatically, making Morgan wiggle with excitement.  “A couple times even”

“Ew!” Morgan squeaked.  “(y/n), there’s still cooties!”

“So I have cooties now?” (y/n) asked teasingly, and Morgan nodded her head rapidly.  “Oh really? Well then…” She puckered her lips tauntingly, and Morgan squealed, throwing herself off of the bed to escape from getting the cooties spread to her.

“(y/n)!” Morgan screamed and backed away from in (y/n), who dropped her comb and walked slowly towards her.  “No! No!” Morgan was begging her not to give her the cooties, but couldn’t help but giggle at how much fun it was.

The little girl bolted out of (y/n’s) bedroom, hoping to make a run for it and find a place to hide.

“Peeeeterrrrrr!” Morgan screamed.

After hearing the scream and the fast padding of little feet, Peter went into full blown overprotective mode and tripped over his feet trying to get to the source of the commotion, blindly thinking there was danger.

“What! What- what is it?” He panted when he found Morgan running into the living room, ducking behind the couch.

“(y/n’s) trying to give me the cooties that you gave her!”

Peter spun around on his heel as (y/n) walked into the room, hands on her hips as she sent Morgan a playful glare.

“Tattletale” She said, and Morgan stuck her tongue out back at her.

“You uh- you told her?” Peter asked, nervously his hand coming up to rub the back of his neck, but (y/n) reached out and took it, lowering it before he could give in to the nervous habit.

“I… might have let it slip…” She said softly, bashfully tilting her head to the side.  “Yes” She said quieter, with a sure smile spreading across her face.

Peter smiled back at her, pulling her by the hand and cupping his other hand over her cheek, he brought his lips down to hers and kissed her fully, and passionately.

For about two seconds, it was bliss, until-

“More cooties!?” Morgan screeched, and Peter and (y/n) were broken apart by their own giggles.

“You don’t want some of this?” Peter teased, pulling away from (y/n) to chase after Morgan, lifting her in the air despite her throwing her arms and legs around to fight him off.

“Oh nooo!” She squealed, laughing as Peter and both surrounded her, peppering her face with kisses and tickling her.  “You got me!”

(y/n) took her from Peter, pressing a kiss to her forehead and then looking up to him, standing on the tips of her toes to kiss his forehead too.

“I got you both” She said softly, admiring Peter as he smiled and blushed.

They were going to start over.  They were going to be okay.

They were going to be a family.

[ i am still right here ]

___

taglist:  @writings-and-stuff @rofromtheashes @tomshufflepuff @steve-avengers-rogers @vibhati123 @dark-night-sky-99  @hollandhours @drakonwild @imofficiallyobsessed @fussy-and-a-writer-sometimes

xoxo ~ jordie

[dannifielding]

Danni Regeneration AU

I had an ask, a little bit ago, who agreed with me that Danni appearing and regenerating for the first time in front of Ten and Donna would have been great.

Here’s the start. Expect more

“I know,” Rassilon said and his voice just really pissed Danni off. Even so, she felt herself moving slightly towards Koschei, a little scared of where he was going. “But you won't. I will give you the regenerations, you will take me with you and I will save her life.”

That was strange, and Danni frowned, confused. “Save my life?”

Rassilon's hand shot out before either of them noticed, a bolt of energy shooting out of his gauntlet and it hit her straight in the stomach. She screamed as she flew backwards, hitting the marble dome that housed the Eye with a crunch and she fell to the ground. Pain spread from the impact zone like tree branches, burning her from the inside out and her hands flew to her stomach as she held it in reaction to the attack. Her vision was white, her ears were ringing and everything hurt so much.

“Danielle!” a voice shouted, panicked and scared and she tried to focus on it, but she couldn't. All she could feel was the pain that her body was screaming at and the rabid warmth she could feel in her hands.

Koschei was on the floor next to her, cupping her face even as the dome opened like eyelids, slowly and groaning with the effects of being closed for so long. Her hands clutched her abdomen like it was her lifeline, but the red liquid was already soaking through her clothes. She was dying, and rapidly as well. He shot up, arm at the ready as his rage caused him the flash blue.

“What have you done?!” he screamed and Rassilon smiled evilly, which was something since he was the Master, and therefore the villain of any piece.

“Take me with you, and I can save you both,” he offered, like he was doing them both a favour and wasn’t the cause of the problem in the first place. “Without me, she will die.”

Koschei shook, torn between killing the man and trying to save Danni. He crouched, taking her roughly by her arm and pulling her up. She could barely hold her own weight, the light flickering in her eyes and he only had one chance. He hugged her tightly.

“Listen to me,” he whispered in her ear as she leant on him. “Look into the Eye for only a moment, press the button then close your eyes. I'll hold him off.”

“I'm not leaving you,” she slurred, her knees giving way and he caught her. He was so happy that he still had such a tight hold on her that she was ready to die than leave his side. However, there was absolutely no way that he would let Rassilon win. He was the Master. He always won.

“I'm right behind you,” he promised her. “Do it.” He turned to Rassilon, looking like he'd decided to accept. Rassilon obviously believed him, until Koschei pushed Danni onto the dome. “Never,” he declared and Rassilon's face dropped.

“Then you'll both die,” he retorted and Koschei shook his head.

“Not quite,” he promised. “Now, Danni!”

And as Danni forced herself to do as he told, one hand pressed on her stomach and the other poised over the big green button on the control pad, he began to fire as much energy as he could at the President.

Danni opened her eyes, looking into what could only be described as eternal, soul-destroying abyss and she pressed the button, her hand immediately shot out to grab Koschei, but feeling nothing but emptiness.

~0~0~0~

The Doctor was living the best life he had lived in a while. There was just nothing better than seeing the universe with someone by his side that enjoyed it just as much as he did. And boy, did Donna Noble enjoy life in the TARDIS. They both were grinning at each other, happily tired from their day exploring a monastery about 3500 years into Donna’s future, and a couple if lightyears away.

“Where to next?” he asked her. “A bit of sun? Or some greenery? I know a lovely little place where…”

Donna held her hand up, specifically the one with the bottle of wine in it. “Actually, I have a date with the sofa and this gift I was given by a couple of monks as an apology for almost locking you up.”

The Doctor frowned. “Wait, what? When did that happen?”

“When I spent ten minutes convincing them that you weren’t there to steal all the things you wouldn’t stop touching.”

He opened his mouth to protest, but then became too curious for his own good. “How did you manage that?”

“Oh, by just telling them that if you even thought something illegal, I would know and had permission to kick your arse.”

“Hang on a minute!”

She smiled her sweetest smile. “It worked, didn’t it, Spaceman?”

“That is not the point…”

He was cut off by a loud crash from the other side of the console. A golden light illuminated the opposite wall like a spotlight and Donna’s brows furrowed as she stepped towards it. “What on Earth is that?”

The Doctor reached out and grabbed her arm before she got too close. She glanced up at him and all of the fond happiness that was there had fallen away to a grave look. “It’s the heart of the TARDIS,” he told her.

“You mean, the thing that Rose looked into?”

He didn’t nod, instead he took a step closer himself. “Don’t look into it,” he warned. He had no idea what would cause the TARDIS to open herself up like that, but he knew that it wasn’t good, and it certainly had to be important. Something dangerous was about to happen and he needed to work out what, and fast.

There was a flash of light from within the golden glow, almost like the flash of a camera, and then a scream. A bundle of clothes and red hair skidded across the floor and hit the railings with a painful cry. The hatch on the console slammed shut and even though the levels of light returned to normal, the room felt almost dark in comparison.

He didn’t step forward at first, a little wary of what could travel through the heart in such a fashion. Donna, on the other hand, had no such qualms. “Danni!” she shouted, rushing over to the figure.

His hearts skipped a beat, and his eyes widened a fraction as he caught up to what Donna could see. Danni, on the floor, curled up like a wounded animal. He rushed over as well, dropping the floor next to her. Donna looked up at him from her friend, pale and terrified.

“Doctor, she’s bleeding,” she exclaimed. “What’s happened to her?”

“I don’t know, I’ve been here as long as you have,” he snapped rudely. He hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. She was pale, a different pale to normal. She was curled up and clutching her stomach tightly. He needed a better look, so he took her hands in his, ready to move them away. Then he saw the blistering, scarred burn on her wrist. “Her manipulator,” he breathed.

“What? Did that thing do this?”

He met Donna’s eyes again. “No, it’s gone,” he replied. He turned back to her friend, the woman who had wormed her way into his hearts long before he was ready to admit it. “Danni, Danni, can you hear me?” he asked.

“Koschei?”

Her voice was weak, but the word was clear and he swallowed back the dread that the word brought up. Had she could from the Valiant? He remembered the state she was in at the time vividly, though, and she hadn’t been injured then.

“No, it’s me,” he replied and her eyes opened. He could tell she was struggling to focus on him and he tightened the grip on her hands. “Hey, Danni-Girl,” he offered gently.

“Spaceman?” she asked and he nodded.

“That’s me. And look, Donna’s here too.” He nodded to the other ginger, who smiled as warmly as she could.

“Welcome back,” Donna told her. “You’re going to be just fine. The Doctor can help.”

“I’m sorry,” she slurred back. “I’m so sorry…”

“Hey, there’s no time for that nonsense,” the Doctor pretended to scold. He lifted her hands out of the way. Her top was in tatters, and it was easy to see the damage underneath. It was a miracle she was even still alive? How was she still alive?

“I know, let’s get you to the medi-bay and get this sorted,” he said, keeping as calm as he could. “Donna, could you…”

He didn’t need to finish his sentence, because Donna was immediately helping him get her off the ground. She couldn’t hold herself up under her own weight and it was only the two keeping her from falling back down.

“Koschei?” she asked again, this time trying the find the other Time Lord. He could tell Donna was confused by the name, but he nodded anyway.

“He’s right behind you,” he promised, if only to keep her moving. “One foot in front of the other, and we’ll be there in a jiffy.”

They tried moving her, but she felt like dead weight between them. Donna was already tearing up, as if she knew what was happening, but he refused to let it end like this. He knew Danni had more to come. He knew they had more to come and he wasn’t about to let her die.

“Theta,” she moaned in pain. “It hurts.”

“I know, but it’ll be over soon,” he yet again promised her. “Just a few more steps.”

Danni could barely think. This must have been what it felt like when the Doctor was regenerating. It was as if she could feel each part of her body shut down. Her blood was no longer running and her limbs were turning cold and numb. Each breath felt slightly further apart, her heartbeat slowing down. She pushed away from them both out of reflex and stumbled away, into one of the railings again. It didn’t hurt as much as it probably should have.

“I think…” she muttered. “I think something’s wrong.”

“It is, but we can fix it,” the Doctor told her, stepping closer. She shook her head.

“No!” she exclaimed, suddenly very afraid of him coming towards her. She didn’t have long left. She needed to turn around. She found the strength, turning to face him. She knew Donna was there, but she couldn’t see her. She only had eyes for the Doctor. The Tenth Doctor, the one that she never had. She loved him so much.

“I think…” she started again. “I think you should stay back.”

“No…” he started, darting forward as she screamed. Her head flung backwards as she exploded. Every pore on her skin blew, every cell in her body burnt away. The Doctor could only stare, dumbstruck as golden light poured from her.

Then it stopped.

“Well,” she declared with a voice she didn’t recognised. “That’s new.” And her new eyes rolled back into her new skull as she dropped to the ground, unconscious.

[singingforthepromises]

fruits basket - eps 15, 16 & 17 lb

ep 15:

aww both yuki and kyo are worrying over tohru. :( yuki wants to tell her that he’s the one who saved her that day and kyo wants to tell her... something? about her mom. i’m in pain. 

lol shigure sure knows what buttons to press to make the boys agree to go. 

this shot of them all in the car makes it look like they’re really a family going on a road trip. too cute. 

tohru thinks she made them angry, sweetie no you could never

they both just love her so much i’m ;a;

hatori reading <3 finally getting to relax

yuki and kyo are just the sweetest boys. 

rofl ayame is back. 

hatori is so done with ayamae and shigure’s antics skfjsfjs

hatori deserves happiness. I’m so mad at akito for destroying what he and kana had. 

he wants to look out for yuki, tohru and kyo i’m emotional. 

lmao poor ayame. he tries so hard but yuki’s not having it. XD

ooh mayuko is their teacher! 

ep 16:

arisa’s backstory episode? oh hell yes!

LMAO @ kyo blushing when talking about getting tohru a new swimsuit that even arisa calls him out. so cute!

haha shigure pls

omg kyo’s blushy face at seeing tohru looking at the swimsuits im gone i cant

these ladies looking at the boys like “these poor things” is accurate rofl

blue and orange. hA! 

pink works for sure lol

ooooooh kyoko was admired by arisa! 

omg look at little tohru! such a cutie!

ooh yeah, naturally, sometimes our idols aren’t what they appear to be. totally understand that.

kyoko just grew up and changed, that’s all. <3

poor arisa. she doesn’t really relate because she doesn’t understand a mother’s love like kyoko has for tohru. her mom abandoned her, and she has an alcoholic, neglectful father and turned to a gang to find that acceptance. really curious how she gets out of it, and what causes that change. 

ep 17: 

damn I hate seeing arisa get her ass kicked. :(

good job, tohru! <3

arisa admitting that this atmosphere is uncomfortable for her and knowing that she needs it is killing me. I’m so glad that she met tohru and later saki and that they’re friends. she was just a lost kid. 

aww them falling asleep on each other. 

kyoko finding them like that <3

lol arisa blowing off these girls. 

kyo and yuki threw one look and they freaked lmao

kyoko was such a good mother. not just to tohru but to arisa, too. 

arisa completely turned her life around, and I am so proud of her. it goes to show what happens when you have someone around who helps you and accepts you and takes care of you can make all the difference. 

omg kyoko donning the coat to go save arisa i love it. 

ARISA CRYING IM SAD.

akimoto getting kyoko was such a nice, good gesture. 

yeah, most people are killed for trying to leave a gang. so glad arisa got out of this mostly okay and that kyoko showed up when she did. 

I really love that kyoko’s presence, and her life, and her loss, affects this story on such a profound level. It could’ve easily been brushed aside that she was dead. We could’ve just learned that she was tohru’s mother and moved on. But even dead, she has a major impact on this story and its characters, and shapes who they are becoming (and who’d they become prior). It’s amazing to see. 

there we go! arisa being kind and positive towards these little girls, knowing exactly why they’re acting out, and coming from a place of compassion, sympathy and understanding.... it means everything. she was the best person to do that. 

oh my god. 

arisa learning to cook, taking care of her dad, making sure he’s cleaning up his act. amazing. I can’t gush enough about how this show frames change and how people can grow with the right people in their lives. 

[deaky-trash]

The Smallest Coffins Are Always the Heaviest | Part 2

Part 1

Pairing: Roger Taylor x F!Reader

Warnings: Swearing, angst, car crash, death (specifically of a child)

Word Count: 1k

TAGLIST: @toger-raylor @mrsmazzello @freddie-roger-brian-john @ken-yee-not @benhardyisdaddy

A/N: The last chapter got so much positive feedback and I’m so happy you guys enjoyed it! Now enjoy Part 2, which I wrote while awake at 3 am and while spending my free time as a human with a cold. Enjoy some angst, lovies!

Now that Y/N and Roger had four wonderful children, their lives had both slowed down and sped up. Y/N had occasional excavation trips that she had to take, and Roger still had the occasional tour with the band, but their kids had always been absolute saints and were sweethearts.

At this point in time, their oldest was only seven. Aubrey had her father’s blonde hair and his blue eyes. She was quiet, but was very sweet. Aubrey also had quite an obsession with animals. Y/N had gotten her a dog for her sixth birthday, too. A small tan pomeranian lovingly named Toffee by Aubrey herself. The damned dog was so spoiled both by the whole family, it lived a life of luxury.

Next in line in the Taylor-L/N lineage was Lucas at the age of 5. He was merely the exact polar opposite of Aubrey. He looked just like his mother. He was loud and pulled pranks on his older sister constantly. Y/N had to admit, he was a handful, but she loved him wholeheartedly anyway. Except for when he began pulling his little pranks on his parents. Then, maybe not so much.

Emily was the sweetest child. She was an angel, a saint sent from God himself in Y/N’s eyes because she never caused trouble, even as a four year old. Very calm and quiet. She never really came to Y/N and Roger in the middle of the night, never complained about her food like Lucas, and was always excited to go outside with her siblings and play.

Their youngest, Oscar, was just two and gave the couple heart attacks almost every night being the light sleepers they were. No matter what they tried to do, Oscar would crawl out of his crib in the nursery and begin playing with the loudest toddler toy in the house. They tried raising the walls of the crib, putting the toys in a box they suspected he couldn’t get into, but he would always manage to get out, find them, and wake up Roger and Y/N.

Families aren’t always perfect, right? They’re always going to have their flaws, their arguments, their not-so-well behaved children. Being parents of four was a tough task, but Y/N and Roger managed to get through the troubles.

June 19, 1984. The day that Y/N and Roger would never forget in a million years. Time seemed to slow down that day when they recalled it each time, wondering why that happened. How that happened?. Everything happening sluggishly. It was a relaxing summer day at first. The youngest three were taken to the park for a playdate with John’s own children.

Y/N and Roger were taking Aubrey to a much needed dentist’s appointment. Even though she was a sweetheart, she absolutely despised the dentist and would refuse to go, even if Roger tried to console her with the fact that he could have very well been a dentist himself without the band.

Pulling out of the parking lot went pretty well, considering Roger wasn’t wearing his glasses. Poor man was as blind as a bat, having to squint to see road signs ten feet in front of the car. Y/N had to assist her husband in reading a majority of road signs in parts of town he was rarely in, or in different towns.

Aubrey had needed braces, according to the dentist. Just to straighten out her teeth and make room for new ones to grow in where she had lost them prior. Aubrey seemed excited about getting braces. Most children wouldn’t, but Aubrey enjoyed the look of braces on other people. Hell, she can enjoy whatever she wants. That was Y/N and Roger’s philosophy on things. Whatever their children enjoyed (to a limit) they could do. They didn’t suspect a child would ever enjoy braces, though.

Roger was driving perfectly fine when it happened. It was a one-way road that didn’t end for a while. Aubrey was sitting behind the passenger side of the car, right behind her mother, enjoying some pleasant conversation with each other on the hot, summer day. “You know, why don’t we go get ice cream after we pick up your little brothers and sister, Aubrey?” Y/N suggested. “You did very well in the dentist’s office today.”

Aubrey nodded in delight, smiling softly into the rear-view mirror so that her mother could see the big grin on her face. Y/N smiled back to her daughter, but that would really be the end of those kinds of sweet, loving glances exchanged between mother and daughter.

It all happened so fast. Y/N can’t recall most of it. She was hit, too. But she remembers the bright red sports car. The person. Red-eyed and dazed. Drunk. She can’t help but cry each time remembering what had happened to her. To Aubrey.

Aubrey’s impact wasn’t cushioned by anything. She had forgotten to put on her seatbelt when she got in the car. There were small cuts all over her body from the glass in the window shattering when the two cars collided. All Y/N and Roger heard in that moment was the crash and the honking of loud car horns.

Aubrey didn’t scream when she was hit. She couldn’t. It hit her so hard, she didn’t really feel anything at all after the immediate collision. A sudden jolt of pain and then darkness.

Luckily, an employee at the cafe they were passing had seen the crash and called the police and an ambulance, but it was too late for her. Y/N had only suffered some bruising and a broken arm, but Aubrey? She was gone. Their little girl was gone. Roger couldn’t bear to watch as they carried her lifeless body out of the car, the white sheet covering her form, signifying that she had passed.

As paramedics tried to fix Y/N’s arm, Roger was sat on the curb, crying. He lost his little girl. He couldn’t believe his eyes. Aubrey was dead. He couldn’t help but wish he was the one killed instead of his little angel.

[medea10]

My Review of The Promised Neverland

[notameeksassenach]

Dirt in The Skirt - Chapter 4

Moodboard | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3

This goes without saying, but @theministerskat is amazing. She takes my word vomit and makes it so much better.

Dirt in the Skirt - Chapter 4 - Batter Up

Author’s Note: Mullach do chinn fút - That you may fall on your head

While the men are away, here on the home front, the women are heating up the fields! They find them everywhere, North, East, South, and West. Let’s not forget Canada too! The players from the new All-American Girls’ Baseball League! After a month of play, the shine still hasn’t worn off these Diamond Gals!

Introducing Annalise de Marillac, the Boston Beauty who steals more than just bases. No use trying to get past 3rd with her!

Lookout for Louise de La Tour, keeping the team centered from center field! Fly balls are no match for her!

With her husband in the Pacific, Marjorie finds herself in the right place, right field that is!

Then there’s pretty Claire Beauchamp-Randall, who plays like Gehrig but looks like Garbo. She’ll be sure to catch everyone off guard with her smile.

And Claire’s best friend, Geillis Duncan. That fiery redhead packs enough concentrated “oomph” to strike anyone out!

Last but not least, Mary Hawkins. When she’s not hidden on second base, she’ll hit it straight out of the park!

With three teams to choose from, you’re sure to find your favorite. Do you back the Boston Beauties? Heart racing for the Hillsborough Hitters? Running to see the River Run Belles? Get your tickets today for the All-American Girls’ Baseball League!

“And she’s out! That puts another win in the books for the Boston Beauties,” the announcer’s voice rang through the stadium at the end of the game. “Those girls can sure hit the ball!”

The girls gathered together in congratulations just outside the dugout. There was nothing like the rush of winning a game. One by one each girl shook hands with the members of the River Run Belles, before gathering their gear and making their way to the locker room.

“Um... Mr. Fraser? I’m Marjorie Mackenzie,” she said hanging back from the group, cautiously approaching the manager. “I play right field...for us, for the Beauties.”

“I see,” he responded, looking at his watch. He really didn’t have time to deal with team issues right now, he just wanted to get on the road. The sooner the team was settled, the sooner he could get away from all of them.

Unfazed by his lack of attention, Marjorie continued, “I spoke with my uncle last night, and well, he says that I can’t leave my son with him at home anymore. You see, my husband died when his plane was shot down. So, can I take my son with me on road trips? He’s the sweetest little boy. Everyone is going to love him.”

With a sigh, Jamie nodded in agreement. She was putting him in quite the spot. Say no and he loses a player and his reputation takes another nose dive. He could just see it now, the headline reading Major League Jerk - Manager Doesn’t Care About War Widows.

As the team made their way to their next game, Jamie couldn’t help but be lulled to sleep by the movement of the and the humming of the engine. Taking full advantage of the momentary reprise from listening to the gossip of the girls, Jamie closed his eyes and settled himself into his seat. With his guard down, the last thing Jamie anticipated was finding out just how cute wee Roger could truly be, testing his ability to show concern for his players.

In an effort to keep the young boy occupied while on the bus, his mother had given him a chocolate bar. It wasn’t long before the sugar high kicked in and Roger became far too hyper for the bus to contain. He was running up and down the center aisle, hands slapping the back of each seat as he passed by. Most of the girls tried not to give Roger the attention he seemed to be demanding. It was hard to ignore, however, when he made his way to the front of the bus and started messing with the team’s driver, Rupert.

It began with him shaking his seat. Unsatisfied when Rupert’s attention didn’t turn away from the road ahead of him, Roger took matters a step further. Without thinking of the consequences, Roger placed his chocolate covered hands over both eyes of the driver.

“What’s going on? Hey! Get this brat off me!” shouted Rupert, whose temper had been pushed too far by the young boy. Trying his best to ensure that no one was hurt, Rupert managed to maneuver the bus to the side of the road. Once parked, he jumped up from his seat and declared that he was no longer interested in the job, and promptly quit.

As the girls filed off the bus after Rupert, they all came to stand on the side of the road waiting for a resolution to their current situation.

“That kid is trouble,” said Annalise, crossing her arms as she leaned against the side of the bus.

“I’m sorry Marjorie, but I’m gonna have to kill your son!” announced Louise, bat in hand as she made her way towards the young boy.

“You canna catch me!” Roger taunted, sticking his tongue out. He began to run circles around his mother, who was doing her best to diffuse the situation.

“Louise! Act like the adult here!” chastised Claire as she made her way towards the group.

“Roger, come here lad. Have another chocolate bar,” Marjorie said, handing over the candy. Roger calmed himself long enough to get the bar unwrapped and into his mouth. Shrugging, she continued. “He really is a sweet lad.”

“Aye, and I’m the queen of Scotland,” joked Geillis.

Claire couldn’t help but chuckle to herself when she noticed Mrs. Fitz, already busy trying to rectify the situation. She could see the squat team chaperone trying to get Rupert back to the bus, arms flailing wildly as she tried to make her point.

It took a few coarse words from Rupert, but Mrs. Fitz eventually made her way back to the bus, shoulders slumped in defeat. Clearly, she had been unsuccessful in her attempts to get Rupert to continue in the employ of the All American Girls’ Professional Baseball League.

With a sigh, Claire made her way back to the bus, in the hopes of talking to Jamie about their situation. Knowing full well how quickly his temper could flair, she wanted to spare Mrs. Fitz.

“Jamie,” she said as she leaned over him. She noticed that he was still fast asleep. “Jamie!”

Still no response. Reaching out a hand to touch him lightly on the shoulder, Claire did her best not to startle him awake. What she wasn’t prepared for was his reaction to her touch. A strong hand gripped her wrist, as he looked at her under hooded eyes. Before she could decide whether or not he was truly awake, he pulled her into him, wrapping his arm around her waist. As she opened her mouth to protest, he silenced her with a kiss.

“Jesus H Roosevelt Christ, what was that for?” spat Claire, pushing him away and slapping his face for good measure. Claire took a step back and settled herself in the seat opposite him.

“Ah Dhia! Mullach do chinn fút!” Jamie yelled. The impact of her hand was enough to rouse him out of his sleepy stupor. Jamie sat there, staring at Claire, trying to piece together what would have caused her to be so upset with him.

“Sorry dollface. I didna have my wits about me, being half asleep and all.”

“Well, now that you’re awake. We have an issue,” Claire stated matter-of-factly.

“Aye, what issue is that, lass?”

“Rupert quit.”

“And who might this Rupert be?” he questioned her.

“The driver, he quit. And we have a game to get to!”

Jamie stood and made his way to the front of the bus. With a sigh he sunk into the driver’s seat, allowing his head to fall forward until it came into contact with the steering wheel.

Without so much as another word, Claire swiftly exited the bus and made her way into the company of her teammates.

“Claire, you gonna come with us then?”

“Where are you going?” she asked curiously. Without a bus driver, it was unlikely that anyone was going anywhere.

“A pub called The Blue Bull,” stated Louise.

“We deserve a night out, don’t we girls?” seconded Annalise.

Claire shot them both a look of concern. She knew there was risk involved. They had already been told that all team outings had to be cleared by Mrs. Fitz, and there was no way that going to a pub was on the list of approved social activities.

“Are you sure that is a wise decision? You know what Dougal said,” Claire reminded them cocking her eyebrow just slightly.

“Och, come now Claire,” Geillis said defending the other girls' decision. “Live a little! We aren’t stuck on the farm anymore, ye ken.”

“And just how do you propose that you get past Mrs. Fitz?” Claire continued to question.

“Geillis t...told us she could p...poison her dinner,” stammered Mary, a deep shade of red spreading across her face as she realized what she was saying.

“Poison?” Claire questioned, turning towards Geillis. “Really Gellie? Are you so desperate for a night out that you’d be willing to commit a crime?”

“Relax Claire. Ye ken I dinna mean to commit murder. Just a little something to make her wame weak. She’ll be fine!” Geillis said, trying to reason with Claire.

Throwing her hands in the air, Claire knew there was no talking the girls out of their decision.

“I know nothing about this plan. And for Christ’s sake, don’t get caught!”

“Thanks for the ride kid.” Claire was grateful to have found a quicker way to get to The Blue Bull.

“You can call me Fergus,” he said in a thick French accent.

As Claire began to make her way out of the car, Fergus did his best to stop her. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, turning her to face him once more.

“Milady. Why must you run off so fast? What do you say, we can slip into the back seat.”

“How about I smack you for being so forward?” she said moving away from his reach.

“Whatever floats your boat, milady,” he responded, winking at her as she made her way out of his car.

The Blue Bull was clearly the place to be tonight. The moment she opened the door, Claire was greeted with the sounds of a live band, playing a very cheerful number. She smiled to herself to see the delight of the team, who seemed to be taking up the entire dance floor. While some girls were grouped together, choosing to stay close to a familiar face, there were others who had ventured out and were dancing with an array of young gentlemen.

Claire smiled to herself. She was used to seeing the girls light up on the field, but this was something entirely different. Seeing them without a care in the world, without the pressure of trying to win each game, was reassuring to her somehow. As if the world they were in fell away for a moment, allowing them to find some joy among the death and destruction happening all around them. She couldn’t help but think of Frank, wondering how her life may have been different if the war had never started. Breaking from her reverie, Claire spotted Marjorie seated at a nearby table and made her way through the crowd to join her.

“Claire! Ye decided to join us after all?” asked Geillis who had clearly just made her way back from the bar, a pint in each hand.

“I’m not here for social hour,” Claire warned, making her way over to the rest of the team. “Dougal is on his way here. If he catches us, he’ll roast us for sure. That will be the end of the league for us!”

The excitement of the night was clearly at its peak, and Claire was greeted with a mass of blank stares.

“Did ye hear her?” Geillis said, trying to get their attention. “We’ve go’ to leave before we get caught. Let’s go lasses!”

Grabbing their purses, the girls said goodbye to the men they were dancing with and hurried to follow Claire out the rear entrance. Taking a moment to perform a quick headcount, Claire noticed they seemed to be a girl short.

“Did you bring Mary with you?” she questioned the group, unable to locate the missing team member.

“Aye,” said Geillis as she pointed over Claire’s shoulder.

Turning, Claire noticed that Mary had found herself at the corner of the stage, engaged in conversation with a young man. Brown eyes locked with hazel, as if there was nothing in the world but the two of them.

“Come now, Mary. It is time for us to go home,” Claire spoke softly as she gently placed a hand on the other girl’s shoulder.

“B...but I want to stay here with Alex,” Mary blushed, never breaking eye contact with the young man.

“It would be my honor to escort you home, Mary,” Alex said as he took her hand, placing a delicate kiss upon it.

“Thank you, Alex. But I think it’s best that Mary come home with me,” said Claire as she gathered Mary and ushered her towards the door.

“I find him most intriguing,” Mary confessed.

“Oh? And how is it that the two of you met tonight?”

“I dropped my hanky, and he picked it up. It was terribly romantic.”

With one more quick glance over her shoulder, Claire was satisfied that she had managed to keep her team out of trouble.

[cheyjnes-blog]

3 / 27 / 19 ━ your character’s mood for the day.

01. insomnia by daya. “i keep on hoping to find you, reaching in between the sheets, baby, it's only been one night, feel like it's been like a week.”

02. walk me home by p!nk. “there's something in the way i wanna cry, that makes me think we'll make it out alive, so come on and show me how we're good, i think that we could do some good, mhm.”

03. no new friends by sia, diplo, labrinth, lsd. “i got all i need in a world of doubt, we got our champagne dreams in an endless drought, we are the kings and queens seeking our aces out, we got all we need, no new friends now.”

04. here with me by marshmello, cvrches. “can i tell you something just between you and me? when i hear your voice, i know i'm finally free, every single word is perfect as it can be, ‘cause i need you here with me.”

05. so am i by ava max. “can you hear the whispers all across the room? you feel her eyes all over you like cheap perfume, you're beautiful, but misunderstood, so why you tryna be just like the neighborhood?”

06. talk by khalid, disclourse. “can we just talk? can we just talk? talk about where we're goin', before we get lost, lend me your thoughts.”

07. hold it in by the chainsmokers. “hold it, even though it kills you slowly, explosions, hidden when we're in the open, keep on smilin' until it's over.”

08. i can’t get enough by benny blanco, selena hernandez, j balvin, tainy. “crazy, i like that, you like that, so let's be crazy, the contact, impact, i want that daily, our breath getting deeper, deeper, lately, i like that, baby, ‘cause i can't get enough.”

3 / 28 / 19 ━ songs that remind your character of their children/child

to kelsea gomez jones;

01. blue by beyonce, blue ivy. “sometimes these walls seem to cave in on me, when i look in your eyes, i feel alive, some days we say words that don't mean a thing, but when you holding me tight, i feel alive.”

02. small bump by ed sheeran. “and you can lie with me, with your tiny feet, when you're half asleep, i'll leave you be, right in front of me, 'cause you are my one and only, you can wrap your fingers round my thumb and hold me tight”

03. sing to me by jhene aiko, namiko love. “you are my world, you are my world, my favorite girl, my, my, my, my, you are my world.”

04. mama’s hand by queen najia. “when I first laid eyes on you, when i heard your heartbeat too, oh i never knew, i could witness an angel so beautiful, from the very moment you arrived i felt something new inside, i developed a love that was so unconditional.”

to bennett gomez james;

05. i got you by ciara. “i got your back, i got you, i take your side, i lay my life down for you, i'll crawl over broken glass, i will stand in the flame, take the bullet, take the blows, i would take all the pain, anything, anything that you gotta get through, hey, hey, I got you.”

06. speechless by alicia keys, eve. “when i wake up in the morning babe, can't believe my eyes, sweetest little part of destiny, cause you are now in my life, there ain't no man or prize, can compare to you, ain't no words to describe the way that I'm feeling, when I look at you.”

07. count on me by burno mars. “if you tossin' and you're turnin' and you just can't fall asleep, i'll sing a song, beside you and if you ever forget how much you really mean to me, everyday I will remind you.”

08. promises by jhene aiko, namiko, miyagi. “you're getting so big now, you're making me so proud cuz, you are such a star and you know that you are.”

3 / 29 / 19 ━ a playlist for your lover or ex lover

01. here with me by marshmello, cvrches. “can i tell you something just between you and me? when i hear your voice, i know i'm finally free, every single word is perfect as it can be, ‘cause i need you here with me.”

02. the bones by maren morris. “when the bones are good, the rest don't matter, yeah, the paint could peel, the glass could shatter, let it rain 'cause you and i remain the same, when there ain't a crack in the foundation.”

03. just you and i by tom walker. “let's get drunk, i'll pour my heart out through my mouth, this year's been hard for us no doubt, let's raise a glass to a better one and all the things that we've overcome.”

04. no sleep by martin garrix, bon. “i don't need no sleep, ‘cause i'm already dreaming, already dreaming, say you'll never leave, because i love the feeling, i love the feeling.”

05. lay me down by sam smith. “can i lay by your side, next to you, you and make sure you’re alright, i’ll take care of you, and i don’t want to be here if i can’t be with you tonight.”

06. if i ain’t got you by alicia keys. “some people want it all, but i don't want nothing at all, if i ain't you baby.”

07. she will be loved by maroon 5. “i don't mind spendin' everyday , out on your corner in the pourin' rain, look for the girl with the broken smile, ask her if she wants to stay awhile.”

08. all of me by john legend. “'cause all of me, loves all of you, love your curves and all your edges, all your perfect imperfections.”

3 / 30 / 19 ━  songs that hit your character in the feels

01. afire love by ed sheeran. “darling hold me in your arms the way you did last night and we'll lie inside, a little while he wrote, i could look into your eyes until the sun comes up and we're wrapped in light, in life, in love.”

02. only 1 by layla russo. “i can't, be your, only one, no i can't, be your only one, ‘cause you look twice as good as anyone i ever met and your love is three time better, how could anyone forget, no i can't.”

03. make you feel my love by adele. “i know you haven't made your mind up yet, but i will never do you wrong, i've known it from the moment that we met, no doubt in my mind where you belong.”

04. close to you by rihanna. “nothing but a tear, that's all for breakfast, watching you pretend you're unaffected, you're pulling our connections, expecting me to let you go, but I won't.”

05. losin’ control by russ. “she's falling but she doesn't think he'll catch her, ‘cause her last relationship was a disaster, accusations everyday she didn't know why, all her calls would be ignored he's on his own time.”

06. sign of the times by miles knight. “just stop your crying, it's a sign of the times, welcome to the final show, hope you're wearing your best clothes.”

07. coaster by khalid. “maybe you weren't the one for me, but deep down i wanted you to be, i'll still see you in my dreams, alll the things that I did for you, just wasn't it for you.”

08. broken clocks by sza. “all I got is these broken clocks, i ain't got no time, just burning daylight, still love and it's still love, and it's still love.”

3 / 31 / 19 ━  a playlist for your character’s best friend

01. no scrubs by tlc. 

02. already won by kehlani. 

03. 7/11 by beyonce. 

04. do wop (that thing) by ms. lauryn hill. 

05. bad girls by m.i.a. 

06. run the world (girls) by beyonce.

07. break up with your girlfriend i’m bored by layla russo.

08. work it by missy elliott.

4 / 01 / 19 ━ road trip playlist

01. say my name by destiny’s child.

02. one two step by ciara, missy elliott.

03. super bass by nicki minaj.

04. pon de replay by rihanna. 

05. hollaback girl by gwen stefani.

06. mr. brightside by the killers.

07. billie jean by michael jackson.

08. that’s not my name by the ting tings.

4 / 02 / 19 ━ three songs that make your character cry… every. single. time.

01. i’m not the only one by sam smith. “i have loved you for many years, maybe i am just not enough, you've made me realize my deepest fear, by lying and tearing us up.”

02. stay by rihanna. “not really sure how to feel about it, something in the way you move, makes me feel like i can't live without you, it takes me all the way, i want you to stay.”

03. i fall apart by post malone. “she told me that I'm not enough, yeah, and she left me with a broken heart, yeah, she fooled me twice and it's all my fault, yeah, she cut too deep, now she left me scarred, yeah.”

[tjroewrites]

Sweet Reality

Pairing: Castiel x Reader

A/N: This one took a bit longer for me to spit out. I’m still getting used to writing one shots. Let me know what you guys think. Feel free to send me more!

Prompt: Maybe do a Cas x reader where Jack even as innocent as he is has figured out that the reader and Cas have feelings and just tells them about it and locks them in a room to deal with it? (thanks @clockworkmorningglory for the prompt!) 

Warnings: Blood. Use of grace. I can’t write anything without including angst. But a fluffy ending. 

Summary: Wraith’s can be a bitch to deal with.

Word Count: 5.7k

           It all started on one Friday morning.

           The night prior had been long. Y/N had hardly gotten a few hours of sleep. When she heard the first sign of movement from outside her bedroom door she waved the white flag, trudging out in her bare feet and pajama pants. Sam was munching on a bowl of cereal at the main table while Cas and Jack watched. All three of their heads turned at her entrance. “Morning, Y/N.” Sam smiled.

           Y/N grunted.

           “You good?”

           “Couldn’t sleep.” Her hair was a wreck. She could feel it as she scratched her head. Lack of sleep wasn’t an unusual occurrence. Most times she hid it well. Not today. “Tossed around all night.”

           “That was me last week.” Sam sipped his orange juice and licked his lips. “Room was too damn hot. Maybe try getting a fan?”

           “Maybe.” She yanked out the chair at the end of the table and plopped down into it, letting her head fall into her hands. Someone got up from the table. When she looked back up, Cas was gone.

           “Have you tried keeping inventory?” Jack asked. His head tilted slightly.

           “Keeping inventory?” Y/N raised an eyebrow. “How’s that gonna solve anything?”

           “I have heard that keeping inventory helps with falling asleep.” He said. Sam’s eyebrows furrowed.

           “Do you mean, like,” She racked her brain for anything that could be similar. “Counting sheep?”

           Jack sighed with relief. He nodded. “Yes. Flock inventory.”

           Sam snorted. “Man, it’s like having the original Cas around again.”

           A thick aroma filled the air. Was that coffee? Sam hadn’t made any. “Counting sheep has never been my thing. Just makes me think more.”

           “It is supposed to work. Maybe there is something wrong with your brain.”

           “Jesus, Jack, don’t need to point out the obvious.” Y/N smiled and rested her cheek on the table. Sam chuckled and took another bite of cereal. “You really have a way with words, don’t ya?”

           Her eyes slid closed for one moment. When they opened again, a white coffee cup and a carton of milk had been placed in front of her. Her head lifted. Cas was standing over her with a small smile on his face. “This should help.”

           Butterflies flew in her stomach. Y/N sat up straight and slid the mug toward her and let the steam fill her nose. A wave of newfound energy seeped through her. “Thanks, Cas.” Her face split under his stare.

           “My pleasure.” Cas stood over her for another moment before moving back to his place beside Jack. Sam had merely shrugged the entire situation off. Jack, however, could not decide if he wanted to glance at her or Cas. Y/N stirred in the milk and sipped the drink with a slight blush dusting her cheeks.

           Upon waking up at the crack of noon, Dean found a case. A few people had been murdered in New Mexico after showing signs of psychological trauma. More than likely a wraith. Y/N hated wraiths. Vampires, she could deal with. Shapeshifters? Small ball. But for some reason, any type of entity that thrived on the psychological breakdown and torment of its victim got to her. It was one thing to get your head ripped off by a werewolf. It was another thing entirely to lose your sanity before becoming a human milkshake for some creature. Disgusting.

           Ever since they had found Jack, traveling had become cramped. Sam and Dean usually took up the front bench, leaving the remaining three to fend for themselves in the back. Today was no different. Sitting side by side, Y/N was wedged in between both celestial beings as they made their way south of the states. It didn’t help that the road was bumpy. Every pot hole they drove over forced her shoulder into one of their bodies. Because Dean insisted on hugging the shoulder and Cas chose the right side, it made him the primary recipient of her blows. One in particular nearly threw her into the angel’s lap.

           “Sorry.” She muttered, gripping the back of Sam’s seat to steady herself.

           “No need to apologize. It’s not your fault that Dean insists on driving off road.” Cas punctuated his sentence with a pointed stare toward the front seat.

           “And put Baby in harm’s way? Not a chance.” Dean said. “Suck it up. What kind of girl complains about being sandwiched between two angels?”

           “That’s not the problem.” Y/N muttered. Cas snorted.

           “Dean, pay attention to the road.” Sam sighed. “You’ll get us killed.”

           “What’s it matter? Not like that means anything anymore.” Oh, here we go. One of Dean’s weekly rants. The entire car huffed out a groan as he continued. “Used to be ‘whatever’s dead stays dead.’ Back when things made sense. Now we’ve all died at least once. Can’t even count how many times Sam and me have kicked it. Why can’t things go back to bein’ simple?”

           “What planet have you been living on? Our lives have never been ‘simple.’” Sam said. “A Prince of Hell dripped his blood on my mouth when I was an infant and our mother burned on the ceiling. What part of that sounds ‘simple’ to you?”

           “The part where Dad stayed dead and demons were more of a mystery than a Nancy Drew book.” Y/N let her head fall back against the seat and stared at the roof. How much longer until they hit the town? Maybe Cas knew. “Now we got Lucifer’s kid ridin’ bitch in our car, a fallen angel, two ex-vessels of the Apocalypse and Y/N.”

           “Tell us how you really feel.” Y/N muttered at the ceiling.

           “All I’m sayin’ is that things ain’t like they used to be. Hunting isn’t just hunting anymore. It’s like lookin’ for a water hole in the Sahara Desert. Damn near impossible, but someone’s gotta do it. And sometimes I wish- “

           “Dean, watch out!” Sam pointed at a green traffic light that had turned straight to red. Dean hit the brakes with a lead foot and the entire car lurched forward, damn near skidding into the intersection. Burnt rubber filled the air. The four corner seats all had shoulder straps. The middle seat wasn’t so fortunate. The only thing keeping Y/N from hurling through the windshield was the meager little strip of fabric over her pelvic area. Her body smacked against the back of the front seat and dug into her collar bone. She thought her head had actually disconnected from her spine.

           “Jesus.” Dean muttered through clenched teeth. The car lurched again as it came to a stop, throwing Y/N back into her seat. With nothing else to grab onto, her fingers gripped Cas’ thigh to find her balance. She might as well have been run over by a car. “Where the hell did that light come from?”

           “Everyone good?” Sam asked. Y/N groaned in reply.

           “Are you hurt?” Cas turned her head toward him and inspected the damages. She hoped like hell he couldn’t hear her heart nearly thudding out of her chest. Or feel her temperature spike under his touch. She tried, and failed, to suppress a grunt when he touched her collarbone. It was definitely bruised. “Your chest is already swelling from the impact.”

           “Oh, c’mon, the girl bruises like a peach.” The light turned green and Dean started the Impala forward.

           “It might be easier if I focus on Y/N’s well-being and you focus on keeping the vehicle on the road.” Dean flinched like Cas’ words had burned him. Sam cleared his throat. In a moment his eyes were back on Y/N.

           “’S’fine, Cas.” Her lip tugged at the corner. “Dean just doesn’t know how to drive, is all. Nothin’ new there.”

           “Hey-” Dean clamped his mouth shut under Cas’ glare.

           “Stay still.” His callused palm caressed her cheek and that familiar warmth flowed through her veins like the sweetest drug. Cas’ grace. If this was how heroin users felt after shooting up, she might just become a grace junkie herself. She never tired of that soothing sensation that tingled through her muscles and danced along her bones. Her eyes fluttered shut as the aches and pains dulled in a moments time. “Better?”

           “Yeah.” Their eyes met and she swore she was flying. It was like the entire sky was trapped in his eyes. Another world entirely. A better one. Her breath faltered and her lips parted. His thumb, which still rested against her cheek, began to trace small circles into her skin, little patterns that she wished she could treasure for a lifetime. “Much better.”

           “Alright, let’s try not to kill each other, okay?” Sam said. It was like his voice had slapped them. Cas pulled away and Y/N straightened in her seat. “We’re maybe twenty minutes out. Some fresh air will do us all good.”

           “Yeah, I think so too.” Y/N sighed. But it wasn’t fresh air that she wanted.

           They spent most of the day investigating the town for any possible connections. Nothing stood out. Town as small as this one, everybody knew everybody. According to all three wives, the men would regularly meet at the local pub after their shifts at the factory. Belle’s. Sam suggested they check it out and ask around. Dean’s face nearly split in two at the mere thought of a drink.

           The joint was small. Crowded. The only tables available were those tall pub tables that were hardly big enough to seat a few fully grown adults. Only two were available. One near the door, the other closer to the bar.

           “Jack and I will sit by the door.” Y/N said. Jack furrowed his eyebrows. “See if you dashing young men can’t charm some ladies into forking over some information.”

           Sam snorted. “Yeah, we’ll see about that.”

           Most of the bar housed locals. That was clear to see. Conversation was heavy and smiles were plenty. Y/N sipped her beer and scanned the room for anybody that stood out. Nothing but muddy work boots and ratty t-shirts. Jack watched her for a moment before speaking.

           “Why did you want to sit with me?”

           Y/N set her drink down. Did he think she didn’t like him? She did spend a lot of time with the brothers and Cas. Maybe he felt left out. “Jack, you’re awesome. Why wouldn’t I want to sit with you?”

           “I just thought that you would want to sit with Castiel.”

           She felt her fingers twitch at his name. She grabbed her glass to hide it. “And why’s that?”

           “Because you love him.”

           Y/N nearly spit out her beer onto the table. She wiped her mouth. “I-I don’t know what you mean.”

           “I believe it’s a human term to describe an intense feeling of romantic or sexual attraction- “

           “I know what the definition is, Jack,” Y/N waved at him to stop. “I love all of you. You’re all like family to me.”

           “I did not think polygamous relationships were legal.”

           Y/N pinched the bridge of her nose between her fingers. This kid would be the death of her. “It’s not. I meant that I care deeply for all of you an equal amount. No sexual attraction what-so-ever. No romantic feelings. Period.”            

           “But, Y/N, I don’t think- “

           “Jack!” Y/N sighed in relief at Dean’s voice over the noise of the bar. They turned their attention back toward the boys, who were surrounded by four young women wearing very little clothing. One of the blondes was running her hand over Dean’s chest and giggling in his ear. Y/N could see the glint in his eye from across the room. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”

           “You heard him.” She kicked Jack from under the table. “Big brother wants to show his younger sib the ropes.”

           Jack looked like a deer in headlights. “Do those women have rope?”

           “Oh, they have somethin’ alright.” She kicked him again. “Go on.”

           Jack hesitated before making his way through the crowd toward their table. It was like a lion pouncing on its prey. A younger looking brunette began lavishing over the kid, wrapping her arm around his shoulders and pressing her cheek against his. His entire face turned a deep shade of crimson. Dean beamed with pride.

            Y/N’s eyes shifted, naturally gravitating toward Cas on the farthest right of the table. A woman was attempting to card her fingers through his hair. She might as well have been in his lap. Y/N felt her cheeks heat up slightly. But Cas looked more than uncomfortable, nearly leaning his entire body off of his stool and offering one of his typical ‘I’m-sensing-awkwardness-please-help’ smiles. It was kind of cute. Scratch that, it was very cute. Adorable, even. Y/N sipped her beer and smirked behind the glass.

            He must have felt her staring. Their eyes met across the room and he grimaced. ‘Help me.’ He mouthed. Y/N let out a loud laugh.

            ‘Not my problem.’ She mouthed back, shrugging. ‘Maybe she’ll give you a lap dance.’

            He shook his head so hard she thought it might fly off. Y/N giggled.

            “Something funny?” She turned her body in the stool to face an older woman above her. Her deep black hair nearly reached her belly button. Y/N stifled the tail end of her giggles.

            “Oh, no. Just laughing at my friends over there.” She jabbed a thumb back toward the table of guys. “I swear, they’re like a walking reality TV show.”

            “Men are animals, aren’t they?” She followed her thumb and sighed.

            “I’ll drink to that.”

            The woman offered a tight lipped smile. Her cheekbones were so sharp they could cut through metal. As was her chin. “Need another?”

            Y/N glanced at her half-empty glass and back toward the boys’ table. Dean was already on his second shot of scotch. Sam was twenty minutes deep into a discussion with a tall woman in a green sweater. Jack and Cas both looked miserable in their respective situations. Yeah, she should probably stay sober for this one. An escape plan might be necessary tonight. “Thanks, but I’m good. Judging by how things look over there I might be the DD tonight.”

            Y/N swore she saw the moment the woman’s eyes went dark. It sent a shiver down her spine. Something didn’t feel right. “I think they can take care of themselves. They’re grown men.”

            “Like I said, you never know.” She shifted about under her gaze. “Maybe another time.”

            A man brushed passed her and all but slammed into her shoulder. The woman came barreling into Y/N, nearly knocking her out of her stool. The woman’s thin fingers gripped her bare shoulders and her nails bit into her skin for a brief moment before she pulled away. “Jesus, walk much?” She called at the guy. He didn’t turn back.

            “Guess not.” Y/N muttered.

            “Sorry about that.” The woman straightened out her thick black turtleneck. An odd choice in clothes during the middle of July in New Mexico. Wasn’t she hot? “Told you men are useless.”

            “It’s fine.” The guys were watching her now. Cas had managed to shake his admirer off his lap long enough to give her a puzzled look. Y/N used it as an out. “Speaking of useless men, I think mine are ready to hit the road.” She grabbed her glass and gave the woman a tight smile. “It was nice talking to you…?”

            “Tamber.”

            “Tamber.” What kind of name was that? “Have a nice night.”

            “Be safe out there.” Tamber’s smile was anything but sincere. The ends nearly curled like a Cheshire cat. “This town goes crazy when the sun goes down.”

            And then she was gone. It was like the crowd swallowed her whole. Y/N scanned the bar a few times before slowly making her way back to the boys.

            “Who was that?” Dean scoffed. Most of the women had left save for the green sweater, who had pulled up a chair beside Sam as close as humanly possible. “Chick looked like she was straight out of Halloweentown.”

            “You saw her too, right?” Y/N slid in between Jack and Cas, setting her beer down on the table. Her palms were suddenly drenched in a cool, clammy sweat. She wiped them along her jeans. “Thought I was seeing things.”

            “You look like you saw a ghost.” Sam said. The girl giggled beside him, pressing her face into the sleeve of his shirt. Her entire face was covered in a light blush.

            “I feel like I did.” She wiped the back of her neck. The shorts hairs along her nape were drenched. She sniffed. “You guys find anything out over here?”

            “Whole lotta nothin’.” Dean said.

            “Well, I say we head back to the motel and re-group.” The idea of taking another sip of beer was enough to make her vomit. She shoved her trembling fingers into the pocket of her jeans and shifted from foot to foot. “This place is pretty cramped. I’m starting to get antsy.”

            “Are you alright, Y/N?” Cas asked. She forced out a laugh and looked at the ground.

            “Fine, fine. Think I might’ve had some bad chicken at that diner earlier.”

            “It did look kinda pink.” Dean drained the rest of his scotch.

            Sam began to exchange numbers with the green sweater while the rest of them polished off their drinks. The lights in the bar were way too bright. This was a pub, for God sakes. Why did they have to keep it so lit in here? A bead of sweat slid down her cheek and pooled on her jaw before dripping to the table. Cas eyed the spot and then looked back to Y/N.

            “You look so beautiful tonight.” He sighed. “There are no words to describe how radiant you look under these neon lights.”

            Y/N about broke her neck to stare at him. “What the hell did you just say?”

            “I said, we should think about leaving soon. You do not look well.” He tilted his head. “Y/N, are you sure- “

            “I agree with that. Let’s hit the road.” She all but sprinted through the crowd and broke down the bar door. The last thing she needed was anyone questioning what was going through her mind.

            Especially Jack.

            By the time they returned to the motel, she was inching closer to a catastrophic break. Luckily, she had her own room, which gave her an excuse to lock herself away from the others for the remainder of the night. She had been feeling fine before they drank at the bar. What the hell had changed?

           They decided to pool their ideas together and try to narrow down the list of suspects that they had compiled over the course of the investigation. The wives of the victims had pointed out multiple people of interest, most of them being fellow employees and a few childhood enemies. With every minute that passed, Y/N could feel her body slowly shutting down. Every nerve was on edge. Her shirt was soaked in sweat. Her breaths were coming out in short, staggered bursts. Faces were beginning to blur. She was starting to hear entire conversations that weren’t even being said. Until finally, she couldn’t take it anymore. She had to get out of there.

           “Alright, I’m turning in for the night.” She weakly pushed herself up from the edge of Sam’s bed and started for the door. Her knees could hardly carry her. “I feel like garbage.”

    ��      “Just lay down on my bed.” Dean jabbed his thumb toward the mattress closer to the bathroom. “Maybe you just need a nap.”

           “No, I really need to-” Her legs gave out as she reached for the door handle. Her body fell. But she didn’t feel the hard surface of the motel floor. Instead, she fell into Cas’ awaiting arms. He must have followed her from behind. “Shit.” She muttered.

           “I will help her to her room.” Cas hoisted her into his body and slung her arms around his neck. He was so warm. So solid. A comforting presence in this moment of need. He fumbled for the door handle and pried it open, carrying her with minimal effort toward her room a few doors down. Y/N pressed her face into his trench coat and took a deep breath. He smelled of tattered pages from an antique book, a Kansas summer breeze and fresh cut firewood. A scent so uniquely… Cas. They stopped moving and Cas shifted her in his arms.

           “Do you have your room key?” He asked.

           Y/N nodded. She felt like she was drunk. Freshman year of college drunk. “My wallet. Back right pocket.”

           “Can you reach it?”

           Y/N shook her head. A cheeky grin was pressed into his chest. “Guess yer gonna have ta’ get it.”

           Cas sighed. With the most gentle work of fingers he dipped into here back pocket and retrieved her wallet. “You are so tempting. Every part of you.” His voice was a deep rumble at her ear. A pleasant chill vibrated through her entire body. “Do you know how long I have admired you?”

           “Mmm,” Y/N hummed. “Tell me how ya really feel, Cas.”

           “What do you mean? I asked if you needed anything to drink. I don’t see how feelings play into that.”

           “Sure ya did.” Y/N giggled as he shoved the key card into the slot. He kicked the door open with his foot and pulled her inside. The bed felt like heaven under her back. The way he looked down at her was also quite the treat. She licked her lips.

           “Your face is flushed.” There he goes again. Stating the obvious. Did the kid have any sort of filter? “And your temperature has peaked. My grace should be able to help.”

           Oh, hell yes. She could use some of that right now. Her limbs hummed at the mere idea. “Bring it on, cowboy.” She slurred. He moved to caress her face when the door slammed closed.

           “What-” Cas jumped up and hurried to the door, attempting to pull it open. No matter how hard he yanked the door did not budge. He grunted. “How can a door be locked from the outside?”

           “And it will remain locked.” Jack’s voice carried through the wood of the door and into the motel room. “I have secured it with my powers.”

           “Why would you do that?”

           “I have heard this is an alternative way to encourage two people to admit their feelings toward one another. I believe it proved effective in a television show known as the ‘New Girl.’”

           “Jack, this is ridiculous. Y/N is ill. I do not think this is the time… “

           “The door will not open until your feelings are proclaimed.” Jack was firm. The room started spinning. “As Dean once said, your romantic frustrations are enough to drive him up the side of walls. It would be easier for us all if you followed your hearts.”

           “Jack- “            

           “I will return in another hour.” Jack’s footsteps faded away.

           “Jack! Jack, get back here.” Cas sighed, resting his forehead against the door. “I now understand how infuriating I was when I first came to Earth. I owe the Winchester’s far more credit.”

           “Cas…” Y/N’s stomach was doing flips. She rolled onto her side and groaned.

           He was at her side in a flash. “One moment.” Those warm fingers found her cheek once again and his grace flowed through her. She waited for something to change. Anything. But the sickening haze that had coated her didn’t fade with his touch. Cas noticed immediately.

           “You are not healed.” He huffed, his brows knitting together. He took her face in both hands and trained his eyes on her. His essence poured through her double time. More than she’d ever felt. Still nothing. “Something’s wrong. This should have worked.”

           “I knew I shoulda got that flu shot.” Y/N let out a weak giggle. “Just can’t trust doctors these days.”

           “I don’t think this is a human illness, Y/N. There are no communicable diseases strong enough to withstand an angel’s grace.”

           “Then what is it?”

           “I don’t know.” The dim light of the motel room seemed to further accentuate every feature of his face. The light stubble over his jaw. That small tuft of hair on the crown of his head that never seemed to settle with the rest. The laugh lines around his lips. Those lips. Lord, have mercy. Seemingly crafted by the Chuck Himself. Maybe it was her sick state of being. Or something worse. But in that moment, with her heart working double time and her mind damn near mush, she felt it hit her all at once. Her mouth moved before she could stop it.

           “You know how breathtaking you are, right?”

           She couldn’t read his face. Panic? Disbelief? Fear? Maybe all three? His eyes darted around the room before landing back on her. “What?”

           “You.” She breathed. Shut up, Y/N, shut up. “You’re just…amazing. All the time. And you don’t even try. You’ve been through so much and yet here you are. Still fighting. It’s inspiring.”

           A deep blush dusted his face. He swallowed. “Y/N, you’re sick. You don’t know what you’re saying.”

           “I’m fine.” And she was. Maybe his grace had worked after all. She felt ready to run a marathon. She settled for sitting up instead. “And I mean it. You are incredible, Cas. Anyone would be a damn fool not to see that. You’d be a damn fool not to see it yourself.”

           He looked everywhere but at her face. They were sitting at the same height now. Their thighs touching. Their lips inches away from one another. “Y/N, I don’t- “

           “I know this is a lot being thrown at you at once. But I just wanted you to know how I feel. How I’ve always felt. How I will always feel.” She placed her dry palm on top of his own. Her cold sweats had all but diminished. How had her shirt dried so quickly? “Jack was right. I have always felt a romantic draw to you. I’m just sorry it took me this long to say anything.”

           His eyes finally met hers. She sucked in a breath. Those beautiful, sea blue eyes. They knocked her flat on her ass every time. “I am glad to know you have felt it, too.”

           Y/N’s eyes burned with tears that threatened to fall. This was it. Everything she had ever wanted. Right here, in this low-end motel room in the middle of New Mexico. Her only wish in this crazy, fucked up world. “You mean it? You’re sure?”

           “How could I not?” His hand found her cheek again. She could feel his grace hum at her skin. Her eyes slid closed and a tear escaped. “You make me a better person, Y/N. You are my best friend. And I love you. Truly, I do.”

           “Oh, Cas.” It was a whisper against his lips. They were a breath away from one another. A breath away from what she’d always wanted. And now that she knew he felt the same, they could live this life together. Her own piece of happily ever after. She’d never ask for a single thing ever again.

           His fingers went rigid on her cheek. When her eyes opened, she saw the fear of God in those baby blues. And when she leaned away a scream tore at her throat.

           “Cas!” She leapt from the bed and looked down at him, watching in horror as crimson blood seeped from his chest and through his shirt. He looked down and back up again.

           “Y/N…” His voice was so strangled. It cracked halfway out. Y/N shoved the trench coat off his shoulders with his suit jacket following. The entire front of his shirt was now stained red.

           “No, no, what the…” She wasted no time with the buttons of his shirt. The fabric tore apart easily in her fingers. A button hit her in the cheek. How was this possible? They were the only two in the room. Had someone hidden a hex bag? Was this some kind of sick joke? But the gaping hole that stretched from his stomach to his collarbone was proof enough. A weak, purple glow shone from the center of the gash. His grace. A sob left her throat. “Cas, what the hell?”

           “Y/N.” A tear slid down his cheek. Its red tint was unmistakable. “Please… “

           “Can’t you heal yourself? Cas, tell me you can heal yourself.” She was practically huddled in his lap now. “Please, Cas, not now…”

           He took her hand between his own trembling fingers. A trickle of blood dripped from the corner of his mouth. She wiped it away and sobbed. “I’m sorry…” His body started slouching toward the mattress. No, God, not now. Y/N pressed her face into the crook of his neck and held him close, breathing him in.

           “Don’t leave me. Not now.” Her tears covered his bare skin. “I love you, Cas. I love you so much. Please stay… “

           “Y/N?” A distant voice called. She lifted her head at the sound of her name. It was like someone had installed a speaker system in the motel room. “Y/N!”

           Cas’ body had gone limp in her arms. She sniffed and looked around. No one else was there with them. Was there someone outside? Maybe it was Jack. He could bring Cas back. He had done it before. He could do it again.

           “Y/N!” It came again.

           Y/N let his body down gently into the mattress. She went to look down at him one more time. Her blood went cold.

           His face was gone.

           “Y/N!” Her eyes shot open. Her heart beat was off the charts. The world was dark. Why couldn’t she see anything? Where was Cas? She tried to move her body but a pair of hands held her arms.

           “Stay still. It’s alright.” She blinked a few times to put a face to the deep voice. It couldn’t be…

           It was Cas.

           “C-Cas?” Her voice was wrecked. She blinked wildly to clear the dark haze. No blood. No tears. Just those same vibrant blue eyes staring back. Her chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath. Her body was soaked in sweat. Her limbs shook violently under his touch. “You… what…”

           He shushed her. “Take a moment. You’re safe.”

           Her eyes left his face and darted around them. The motel room was gone. No bed. No off-white walls. Instead, she saw a window. Dark leather seats. The Impala. They were in the backseat of the Impala. The sky outside was pitch black, the stars twinkling like nothing was amiss. Cas had to keep re-adjusting his grip from the moisture on her arms.

           When her breathing had returned to somewhat normal, she met his stare once again. “The Impala?” She asked. He knew what she wanted to know.

           “Yes. We are parked in front of an abandoned mill outside of town.” Cas shifted above her. He had the opposite door open and was leaning in from the outside, most of his body covering her own. “Both of the wraiths have been using it as a base for some time now.”

           “Dead?” Y/N huffed. He smiled.

           “They must be. Or else you would not be conscious.”

           Her head tilted. She had been infected? When? Then she pieced it together. “The bar.”

           “I believe her name was Tamber.” Cas confirmed. “At least, that was what she screamed when she cut us off on the way back to the motel. She was very… persistent about taking you from us.”          

           “She infected me.” The victims had all been married men. How did she fit the M.O? “Why?”

           “She does not take rejection very well.”

           The married men must have all denied her advances. It was almost humorous. She snorted. “I was a target ‘cause I said no? Bitch needs to wake up. It’s 2017.”

           “I don’t think she will be doing much of that any time soon.” He smiled. “Do you need me to heal you? I was unable to while you were ill. Now that the wraith’s poison has subsided, though, my grace should work.”

           “No, I-” She felt her entire face drain of color. The motel. Jack locking them in the room. Her confession. “So, we never made it to the motel?”

           Cas shook his head. “You nearly passed out in the gravel outside of the bar. I was the only one fit to drive. The wraith cut us off before we made it back and we followed them here.”

           It was all a delusion. Tamber must have read her mind and used it against her. Her greatest desire. She tried to hide the heartbreak she felt in her chest.

           “Damn. Those wraiths don’t mess around.” She faked a laugh. She fought back tears. “Really thought we made it back.”

           “Y/N,” She wriggled underneath him and sat up in the seat. She managed a glance in the rear view mirror. Her hair was everywhere. Just like it had been that morning a few days before. Great. “What did you see?”

           Did he know? She had to have muttered something during her little episode. “Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to.”  

           “I want to know.” He slid in beside her and shut the door. She squirmed under his stare. It bore right through her. It was like he was looking at her soul. Her very essence. “What did you see?”

           Everything inside of her called out in agony. Begged her to shut up. But just like in her little hallucination, she couldn’t help her words. They tumbled out like an avalanche.

           “I saw you.”

           The air was heavy. Thick. He blinked a few times. She felt a deep, crushing weight pound on her chest. A single tear threatened to fall from the corner of her eye. She had to say something. Anything. Dig herself out of this hole she’d found herself in.

           Then his lips were on hers. Soft but bruising. His fingers tangled in her hair and pulled her impossibly close, their noses pressed together. She blinked wildly with her hands raised above his shoulders. Nothing registered. Was she still sick? But when he pulled away and his breath fanned over her face, it was all too real. Not like the gash he had in her delusion. This moment was real. A slice of sweet reality. Her hands fell to his shoulders as she stared at him. Her lips moved but no sound came out. He spoke for her.

           “I am glad to know you have felt it, too.”