#shes ok. but she's just so tired and still bed bound.

[girlhorse]

hard to realize no amount of burying myself in joyful things will get rid of my mom's diagnosis

[planetception]

Pain and Heartbreak - Paige Bueckers

My first ever fanfic! Sorry if it sounds bad, I'm just getting back into writing. Hope you guys enjoy!

Summary: Paige yells at you for being too clingy while Kk is on a live

Cw: Asshole Paige, hurt and no comfort, mentions of past verbal abusive relationship

pt 2

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You always believed that Paige was okay with your clinginess. She never showed any signs of annoyance or discomfort when you sat on her lap or buried your face in her neck during emotional moments. You were convinced she didn't mind your constant attachment, except when she had practice. Even then, she would call you whenever she had the chance, just to check on you and see how you were doing. You thought Paige was the most caring girlfriend, until she wasn't.

Things came to a crashing point one night when Kk decided to do a late night live. You had just returned to the dorm Kk and Paige shared, feeling exhausted and yearning for Paige’s warm embrace. As you walked in, you quickly greet Kk and the live audience before heading straight to Paige’s room. Opening the door quietly, you saw your girlfriend with her ipad propped up on her nightstand as she was half asleep. Giggling to yourself as you changed into more comfortable clothes before snuggling up to a sleepy Paige, your face found its usual spot buried in Paige’s neck, but when you did that she pushed you off of her.

“Not now Y/n.” She told you in a monotone voice as she got off the bed and headed out to the living room. You looked visibly hurt as you watched your girlfriend leave you all alone in her bed. Seconds later, you could hear Paige and Kk entertain the live as the audience asked questions and such. Once again you felt hurt as she was acting more like herself on the live than she was with you minutes ago. Shortly Paige comes back and immediately sighs as she sees that you’re still awake. “You’re still awake?” She asks monotonously, her blue eyes piercing into yours. You just nodded as she crawled into bed next to you, when you tried to cuddle with her, she once again pushed you right off of her. Now it was your turn to get annoyed by her actions as you sat up in her bed. “What’s gotten into you recently?” You asked her as she rolled her eyes at you. “What??” She sounds offended, “Nothing has gotten into me ok? I’m tired as hell and I want to go to bed. Is that so hard to understand?” Now she’s starting to talk to you like a child.

You just stared at her, feeling a sharp sting of hurt and embarrassment. It was as if you were a child being scolded by a parent. Paige, clearly exasperated, rolled her eyes and turned away from you in bed, her back a cold, unyielding wall.

“Pai-” You tried to get out before she cut you off immediately.

“Would you leave me the fuck alone!? God you’re so fucking clingy and shit, fucking pissing me off every goddamn day!” She screamed at you.

You just stared at her as tears began falling down your face. You knew that the live heard Paige just scream at you for being too clingy. Paige just looked at you with an annoyed expression and just belittled you even more.

“Great. Now you’re fucking crying. This is why she left you isn’t it Y/n? She probably got sick of your constant whining and pathetic neediness every second didn't she?”

At this point, tears were streaming down your face at an uncontrollable pace. You jumped out of Paige’s bed, hastily grabbing your belongings before bolting out of her room. You ran past Kk, who was frantically trying to apologize to her live audience for the yelling before quickly ending the stream. She knew immediately that people would be talking about this incident by morning and that Geno was bound to hear about it.

You walked down the street, replaying Paige’s hurtful words over and over again in your mind. Tears were still streaming down your face, leaving a salty trail on your cheeks, as your phone kept blowing up, you don’t even want to look at it right now. You knew that it was probably Kk asking if you were okay, or it was the media spreading the clip of the yelling around.

Eventually you reached your apartment. Walking inside you threw your phone onto the couch as you toppled to the ground sobbing uncontrollably. Paige never yelled at you like that before. She knew how your last girlfriend constantly berated you for the smallest things. This betrayal from Paige felt like a hot knife twisting in your heart, each tear a testament to the pain you thought you had escaped from.

You ended up falling asleep on the floor that night, exhaustion and sorrow overtaking you. When you woke up you reached for your phone with shaky and took a deep breath before checking your notifications. You had around 15 texts in total, most of them came from Kk, a few from both Nika and Azzi, and surprisingly none from Paige. The absence of her name felt like a fresh wound. The next thing you checked was twitter, the video of Paige screaming at you in the background of Kk’s live was all on your timeline. Most people were sympathizing with you, condemning Paige’s actions, while some people praised Kk for her handling of the situation.

The next thing you saw made your jaw drop, it was a statement from Paige’s twitter account. Her statement gave you mixed emotions, it was like she didn’t even feel sorry for what she did and that made your heart break even more.

“Hi this is Paige Bueckers and I wanted to deeply apologize for my actions that were heard in a live last night. This does not reflect how I am as a person and I am genuinely sorry for any commotion that was caused last night. While what I said may be seen as hurtful to some, but put yourself in my shoes in that instant and you would blow up too-”

You couldn’t even finish reading it before you threw your phone across the living room collapsing into tears once more. That marked the heartbreaking end of your and Paige’s relationship, leaving you with a sense of despair. After enduring two devastating experiences that ended in such familiar fashion, you swore off dating all together.

[valas-illyn]

When I come to, I'm laying on some kind of hospital bed. My hands are cuffed to the sides. I don't immediately remember where I was before this, how did I get here? Where is here?

The lights in here are low, but still bright enough. The now opening door reveals a comparatively blinding hallway, and a silhouetted figure composed of writhing vines. Something about the perspective seems off, but I can't make it make sense.

Someone, somewhere, in another room is scared, terrified even. Angry too. Bursting with emotions, they want to scream and sob and thrash and rage. It sounds like a lot.

I just feel tired.

The thing moves into the room, and the door slides blessedly shut.

Affini. That's the word. Suddenly the perspective clicks into focus and the room makes sense. Affini are 10ft tall alien plants with a penchant for keeping other sapients as pets, the room is sized for them which is why everything feels wrong. I'm tall for a human but I'm not that tall, the bed is human sized though so it must be on some kind of raised platform.

My mind drifts off again, lost in visualising the technical specifications for a 5ft high hospital bed. Extra trains of thought spinning off into imaging what other situations one would even be needed, or in the comical image of a human nurse trying to wheel one about. Yknow, they're always complaining that they don't have enough space on the wards, with a 5ft high one you could have modular bunk beds that just roll over each other, you could double the capacity of a hospital. You'd have to add teeth to each leg and an electric winder to hoist it up and down though. Maybe some kind of quick release mechanism for emergencies? You could-

"Petal?" The affini is standing over me, the voice is... Soft. Not quite feminine, but maybe feminine by their standards, what do I know? Do affini even have male and female? Well, it'll do for now. Her voice is a gentle rustling rasp that I can barely believe is capable of human speech. "Petal, it's time to wake up."

I roll my head towards her. The someone is getting loud again. "I'm awake." My voice is flat, lifeless. Too deep. It sounds wrong.

She seems to shrink, like she's slumped. Relief? Despair? Maybe she's just tired too. How do you read the body language of a bush? "Good, I am Luminara Verdis, fourth bloom. Pronouns she/her. What should I call you?"

I was right, feminine. I try to answer, but instead I just yawn. Long and deep.

"still a little sleepy? Let's give you something to clear those sedatives out of your system." *She leans over and a loop of vine extends towards my neck. A light glints off the end of a sharp, needle-like point dripping with something viscous.

Sudden and visceral. An emotion floods through me, but I couldn't put a name to it. I yell "No!" far louder than I intended as I throw myself away from her, straining against my bonds. I realise my legs are bound too.

The bed wobbles and she holds it steady with a vine, preventing me from tipping it over in my... Panic? Panic. That's what it is. Somewhere deep inside, a part of me sees the absurdly tall bed again and wants to chuckle, another part of me notes the axis of the tilt and the centre of gravity, and mentally confirms the platform hypothesis.

"ok, its ok petal. Calm down." She makes a show of taking the needle away but I keep my eyes in her. My breathing is ragged now. My ribcage feels like it's shuddering.

"No needles." My voice is as shaky as the rest of me, but I say it with some force. I would be pleased by that if only I knew why I seemed to be so upset.

I settle back into the bed and try to rub my face with my hand, only I can't because it's still cuffed to the bedframe.

"No needle." She agrees. Her voice is full of pity, sorrow. She's making an effort to be gentle with me, I can tell that much.

A voice in the back of my mind whispers "needle. Singular. No promises past now." I tell it to be quiet.

"i- I'm awake now." My voice is steadier now, my body more controlled. The panic has faded, gone off to that other room. I can ignore it now.

"I can see that, I'm so sorry for startling you petal but I promise you I'm here to help. What's your name?"

"I'm- i-" my voice falters as my mind scrabbles for answers. "I don't know. I can't remember, there- there was more than one I think?" I know I should be frightened, or concerned.by this. But I'm not. I dont have the energy for it now the adrenaline has worn off, instead I'm just... A bit perplexed.

If I could read plant faces... I'm assuming she is showing the concern that I'm not feeling. I had best stop that before it becomes something, like another needle. "I-it'll come back to me, it always does. I'm sorry, what was your name again?"

She shows me a smile and says "Luminara. Lumi, if you like."

I smile back and tug at my restraint again. I really want to rub my face and it's bothering me that I can't. "Why am I chained to the bed?" I try to hide the frustration from my voice, transmuting it into concern instead.

"it's for your own safety, flower. Do you remember what happened?"

I raise an eyebrow at her. She chuckles.

"I guess not. You were in an accident before we rescued you. You were badly hurt and terribly confused, and you kept trying to attack the vets. They didn't know if you would still be violent when you woke up."

That makes sense. I have brief flashes of pseudo-memory; fear, anger, terrible terrible pain. I dont think it was an accident though. It feels like it was going on for a long time...

I shiver, and shake the sensation from my head. I'm still tugging on the cuff gently, I'm not sure I can stop, the feel of it is keeping me calm.

"I don't think I want to remember... Could you untie me please? I just need to rub my eyes."

[bibibbon]

MHA chapter 427

I didn't think the chapter would be that bad but yeah it sucked ngl. 3 chapters left and I have no hope

Ok yep we're gonna start with Izuku and spinner. I guess I was expecting this conversation to be had but it all just felt iffy. Spinner crying out and lashing out was expected but it all feels hypocritical to me like spinner is also a murderer. At this point youre no better than eachother🤷‍♀️. Also the fact that no one tires to stop spinner from causing harm to izuku is low-key insane like?!?! Is it because you knew spinner who was bed ridden and heavily injured can't do it? Or is it because Izuku backed them aside and told them not to do anything as spinner was on the verge of attacking him. Also another point aside but I still don't get the whole shigaraki and spinner relationship I think it's underdeveloped and shigaraki saying his words only to spinner felt really empty. Spinner writing a book about the league to preserve their memories makes sense but glorifying tomura's actions not so much. Also does he even know if Dabi and the others are alive? Does he plan to contact them?

Let's GOOO corrupt hero society literally monetising a traumatic experience . Not sure what I was expecting when the chapter started but this wasn't it like how the hell are you gonna go around and ask the question who was Shigaraki tomura to you when people are probably heavily traumatised by their experiences. All of that felt like those fake and annoying tiktok interviews to be honest.

Overhaul deserves the worst forever yeah I really don't care for overhaul but I guess the ending was okay for him. Now that I think about it the anon that asked a question about enji and overhaul was really onto something because they really had similar endings. I hope that he never actually goes to apologise to Eri in person and that she forgets about him living her life.

Best thing about this chapter was naomasa . Yes Iam bias and every time I seen a naomasa fic with him being a mentor/father figure to izuku they never miss!!

Izuku again lacking intropsection and all might failing as a mentor yeah I cant say i didnt expect it but iam disappointed. Also is it me but did izuku get eye bags? Is horikoshi actually going to explore what izuku is going through or are we forever trapped not knowing? Also what about all might is he bound to a wheelchair like enji? It also seems like izuku and all mights relationship at this point is every much nonexistent

So bk and todoroki have fan girls?!?! The chapter ends in probably one of the worst tropes that I hate which is the whole fan girls thing. The fact that hero society still glorifies heroes is insane and it seems like those are the first years which the fact that hero schools are still having first years makes me head spin. Also shouldn't Izuku have fan girls if we go by the logic of bk and shoto having fangirls?

Really?!?! Is spinner the guy who also went through quirk discrimination calling shoji a "squid". This seems so hypocritical?!?! I also wish that it was both izuku and shoji that went there to meet spinner instead of it being just Izuku. Also shoji just deserves better than this!!

[creative-caramel-coffee]

Insignificant Injuries and Illness

Prompt: “Go back to bed before you hurt yourself.” (From Sombre Sapphics blog prompts)

Pairings: Wanda x R

Word count: 730

Summary: every time your left alone it ends in chaos

TW: minor injury, flu, coughing

A/n sorry I havent been very active work’s been kickin my ass

It had been three days. Three days and your bed was no more interesting than it had been when you first were bound to it by your girlfriend. Sure you were tired but boredom won out. Wanda had finally left your side to bring you some more soup and once the footsteps faded down the hall you knew you had maybe five minutes to satisfy the boredom for the first time in three days.

You stood shakily and waddled over to your desk still wrapped in layers of blankets. Carefully you moved the throwing knife off your sketchbook, cursing silently as your finger brushed against the blade and blood began to bead on your fingertip. Quickly you grabbed your small pencil case and the sketchbook and were about to get back into bed when the door opened. You stilled at the sound of the door. Wanda put on a stern expression. In any other circumstances you would have found it hot. But not when you were at risk of getting yelled at.

“Go back to bed before you hurt yourself.” she said stepping into the room holding the still steaming soup on a tray with some dayquil and a glass of cold water. Knowing she would find out one way or another you sighed throwing on a devilish grin.

“Too late already did” you grin before laughing still mildly delirious from the fever. You shuffled the stuff into your other arm and held up your bleeding finger. The red bead rolling down the length of your palm. Wanda used her magic to set the soup by the bedside and take your hand in hers carefully holding it to the low light due to your headache.

“Seriously?!” she exclaimed “ i left you alone for five minuets y/n” she shook her head. You grinned

“Which is five minutes too long babe” you lent in for s kiss when she dodged.

“No. Your going to be the death of me.” she placed her hands on your shoulders and guided you back to the bed as you began to sway. “Sit here and don’t move.”

You did as she said still cradling your finger as the blood began to run down your arm.

“I wont be the death of you if I die first” you called out as she went into the bathroom to get the first-aid kit. The words caught in your throat as you doubled over on the bed and hacked up a lung. The coughs tore at your chest which heaved at each strained breathe.

“Babe? You ok?” Wanda called quickly coming back out with the med kit. She used her magic to grab the glass of water and held it to your lips urging you to take slow sips. When you finally stopped you looked up to see her concerned face.

“Sorry” you rasped eliciting another short cough. She rubbed a hand between your shoulder blades.

“No. none of that. I know you don’t feel good love. Now let me see that finger.” she held out her hand and you put your hand in hers finger outstretched. She clicked her tongue.

“You did a good job on it at least.” she chuckled and began to clean it. You hissed at the antiseptic and Wanda paused as you began coughing again.

“Your doing so well babe just a little more.” she encouraged as tears built in your eyes at the pain in your chest. When she finished putting on the red bandaid, a gift you gave her for her first Christmas with the avengers, she placed a soft kiss on-top of the patch. Using her hand on your chest she guided you back into the pile of pillows.

“You need to eat something my love. Can i feed you.” you nodded feeling slightly hungry. Carefully Wanda held the soup in her lap and used her hand to guide the spoon to your lips. After you had drained half the bowl of the godly soup your eyes began to flutter closed.

“Rest babe. Ill be here when you wake up” she placed a kiss on your heated forehead as you fell into dreamland

MASTERLIST

[cryingatwindermerepeaks]

Little Raven x CG Charles

Set during X-Men: First Class. Charles has been busy with the other mutants but Raven can’t sleep without her Dada.

Word count: 1048

Not edited… sorry guys

🫂🧸📖

Raven couldn’t sleep. Her mind was racing a million miles a minute. Her body ached from training and her mind ached from the effort it took to not be herself all the time. She liked it this way, she reminded herself, it was better when she looked like this. But it didn’t feel better now. She felt small and scared, she just wanted her Papa. She knew she was supposed to be asleep but sleep kept running leaps and bounds ahead of her. Moira had tucked her to bed about an hour ago, usually Charles would do it but he was busy helping the others train. He was always busy these days. Once upon a time he would’ve tucked her in with a bottle and a story but now she had to get herself off to sleep like a big girl. It felt impossible. She wants to complain though, Moira was very nice for putting her to bed, she’d even braided her hair for her. Still, there was only one way she’d ever been able to fall asleep soundly and that was with Charles. She felt guilty, needing him so much. But everyone needed him now. And he’d been her’s first. Anxiously she grabbed her pacifier and Teddy in her fists before slipping out of bed. Part of her ached to run to Charles so the monsters under the bed wouldn’t grab her but the other part knew that she was the only monster in the room. Far more composed than if she had run, Raven made her way out of her bedroom. She found Charles in front of the fireplace, playing a game of chess with Erik. She felt really anxious now, so small compared to the two men. She shuffled her weight anxiously from foot to foot, hovering in the hallway.

“Raven?” Charles questioned as he looked up from his game, noticing her nervous figure in the door. “Didn't Moira put you to bed?”

“She did…” Raven whispered, looking down. “Couldn’t sleep, needed Dada…” she admired quietly. She clutched her Teddy to her chest and tightened her hand around her pacifier. Erik was watching her now too, it unsettled her a bit but really all she could focus on was Charles.

“Come here, darling,” Charles sighed, pushing back his chair and inviting her onto his lap. Raven smiled contentedly, hurrying across the room and climbing into his lap. It felt like the safest place in the world, with Charles’ arms around her and the soft lick of the fire warming her face. She slipped her pacifier into her mouth, feeling only the smallest bit of apprehension about being so small out in the open. On one hand she knew she should be big because it was easier for everyone but on the other she knew that here, where everyone was different, this part of her was most accepted. Charles placed a gentle hand over her hair, tucking her head against his chest. The soft, rythmic sound of his heartbeat was steady and calming. Charles continued to play the game around her, Erik wordlessly joining in again. She tried to follow along with their moves but it didn’t make much sense to her. It was ok, she didn’t have to think about big things when Charles was holding her. She clutched Charles’ shirt in her hand, fiddling with the soft fabric. She was tired, exhausted, and everything hurt. But Charles was rubbing his hand in soft circles on her back and he smelt like fresh linen and firewood so things weren’t too bad.

After he’d finished his game (he won) Charles adjusted Raven on his lap. “Ready for bed now darling?” She hummed, nuzzling against him.

“Bottle?” She requested shyly, very aware that Erik could hear them too.

“Yeah, we can get a bottle. Why don’t you hop to bed now, I’ll be with you in just a moment.” Raven nodded, climbing off his lap and heading to her room. Possibly the best part of the house was how much space there was, enough for her to have a seperate room when she was big and little. Her little room, her favorite room, was big and decorated for a child. There was a shelf filled with all the books Charles had bought her, a crate for her toys and a wardrobe specifically for clothes she liked when she was little. The bed was arguably her favourite part of the room, with a tall canopy and draping, white, chiffon curtains from each corner. When she was in her bed, curtains pulled around her, it felt like all the scary parts of the world couldn’t touch her.

Only a few minutes later Charles came in, holding a bottle in his hand. Raven smiled excitedly, reaching out for the warm bottle as he poked his head through the curtains. Charles handed it to her and she began drinking immediately. She could taste a bit of syrup that had been mixed into her drink which was nice, Charles only added syrup on very special occasions. He climbed in with her, slipping his shoes off over the edge and allowing her to curl up against his side. “I’m sorry if I haven’t been taking very good care of you recently, Raven,” Charles frowned. He tightened his arms around Raven.

“‘S ok,” she shrugged. “You gots to save the world.” She looked up at Charles with wide innocent eyes which truly believed he’d be the one to save them all. Charles wasn’t sure how he felt about that, the unwavering faith she had in him. Raven reached her hand up to fiddle with the buttons of his dress shirt and Charles gently smoothed out the hair which had escaped from her plaits.

“How about a story?” He suggested. Raven nodded, suckling softly on her bottle. Charles reached over to her bedside table, grabbing the copy of Charlotte’s Web which they’d been reading. As Charles read softly Raven was lulled into a peaceful rest. He carefully pulled her bottle away from her face, tugged the blankets up over her shoulders and pressed her teddy in her arms before slipping out of the bed. “Good night Raven,” he whispered softly with a kiss to the top of her head before slipping out of the room.

🫂🧸📖

[risingsoleil]

NSFW idea for Linzin (AU, Canon, Modern)

Tenzin observed Lin breastfeeding and became curious about the taste of her milk.

The four months after he and Lin welcomed their baby couldn't be described into words, except chaotic and exhausting. But at the end of the day, they were so enamored and full of unconditional love for their daughter.

Even with their families' help, there were several hiccups and there is bound to be more in the long future. But at four months, Lin and Tenzin were now starting to get a little bit of a rhythm in caring for Meilin.

Tenzin returned to the island with Lin's favorite pastries, and he expected that she's either feeding the baby or putting her down for a nap.

What Tenzin did not expect was Lin napping in the chair beside the bassinet. With her breasts fully exposed. He made sure to swiftly close the door behind him so no one else could see his view. His body reacted instantly to the sight of fuller breasts. They hadn't been intimate since before Mei was born, and Tenzin wasn't going to force Lin to cater to his desires.

Glancing at the bassinett, Mei slept contently without a worry in the world. Tenzin smiled and mouthed "I love you, sweetie."

Reaching for the sky blue blanket, he draped it over Lin protectively. The movement of it coaxed Lin out of her nap, and she groaned groggily. Tenzin knelt beside her and kissed her cheek.

"Hi Tenz..." Lin yawned.

"Hi love." Tenzin pursed his lips out for a kiss. "You fell asleep without your shirt on."

"No, I did it on purpose."

"Why?"

"She keeps pulling my shirt down and I'm tired of whipping out my boobs 50 times. It's just easier without a shirt," Lin answered, wrapping the blanket around herself.

"...Can you do that tonight for bed?"

Lin rolled her eyes and lightly kicked him. "They're not for you right now."

"They were mine before she was born. Getting fed by Mommy is temporary, but pleasure is forever."

Lin laughed. "Where do you come up with this?"

"I'm very intelligent."

"Right."

The baby whimpered and slowly, the whimpers became gradual cries. Lin shifted in the chair, her maternal instincts kicking in full swing.

Tenzin stood instead. "I'll get her, Lin." And his wife surrendered to his help, smiling when he effortlessly picked up their baby. Mei wriggled in his arms at first, but her cries didn't subside. "Hi honey. It's Daddy. Shhhh, what's wrong? Did you have a bad dream?"

Mei smacked her lips and moved her head toward his chest.

Lin sighed and threw off the blanket. "See? I told you not wearing a shirt is easier." She extended her arms out and brought their daughter to her breast. Lin winced for a moment as the cries immediately subsided with eager gulps and breathing. "Kid, I just fed you like an hour ago."

Tenzin chuckled and settled with observing the unbreakable mother and baby bond in front of him. Lin stroked the thick Beifong hair their daughter inherited from her. A baby hand reached up and rested on her breast and Lin grasped the tiny hand lovingly. Peering up, Lin noticed the dazed expression in her husband's eyes.

A smirk. "You wish this was you, huh?"

"It will be me. At some point."

"Yes, at some point." Lin extended her leg out to him. "I miss you inside of me."

"No need to rush if you're not ready."

Lin pouted. "That's not the problem. It's the fact that I'm so exhausted and achy all the time."

"Still so impatient." Tenzin moved closer. "Right now, I'm more curious what your milk tastes like that gets her looking like this."

Lin peered down.

Mei was drunkenly sleepy, eyes rolled back and a small smile on her face.

The parents giggled.

"You can try it after she's done."

"Okay...wait, what?"

Lin stared at him. "You can try it after."

"...Oh...ok."

"Are you not curious anymore? It tastes sweet."

"Now I'm intrigued."

"She's almost done I think, so just be patient."

Mei eventually stopped drinking and Lin slowly unlatched the baby. Grabbing the burp towel, Lin rubbed and patted her back until she heard a burp. With their baby back to her nap, Lin and Tenzin faced each other.

"..So how shall we do this?"

Lin grasped his hand and pulled him to the bed. "I want to be comfortable." She forced him to sit down and then she crawled on his lap, thighs settling beside his hips.

A moan escaped Tenzin at the weight momentarily pushing on his dick. Lin smiled slyly, snaking her arms around his neck. She adjusted her weight and Tenzin dug his hands into her hips, massaging her postpartum curves.

"Hi," Lin whispered.

"Hi," Tenzin parrotted, gazing up into the softest green eyes. Lin kissed him and he knew that was her signal to indulge in his curiosity. He pressed a kiss in her cleavage, then trailed open-mouthed kisses along her skin until his mouth found her nipples.

Lin hissed lightly as he sucked and--

Cough! Cough!

A gush of milk squirted to the back of his throat and several spurts splashed Tenzin and Lin.

Lin laughed, patting his back just like she does to Mei when she chokes on it. "Take it easy. And don't waste your daughter's milk."

Tenzin's cough died down, tongue licking his lips at the drops of milk. "I didn't know it could just squirt out like that!"

"That's why your kid chokes. Or it's because she acts like I starve her." Lin raised a brow with curiosity. "Well? How does it taste?"

"It tastes really good. I understand why she loves it."

"It's sweet, right?"

"It's....heavenly. Of course my wife has the best milk."

Lin rolled her eyes. "Whatever."

"I make that same milk drunk face, except you take my cream." Tenzin's smile dropped for a moment when another small wave of pleasure pressed into his groin.

Lin bit his lip. "Then give it to me."

[askthe-r-m-au]

Yall know what time it is...

Back at it again at Krispy Kreme uh I mean Ring-Misstress AU fic

I've been thinking about themmmmmmm

[Ring-Misstress Chapter 4: A "Grand" opening]

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Pomni walked back to the center of the Circus, cane in hand, and Hat on her head. This was the last night before The Amazing Digital Circus virtual game would be shown to the public in at least a few years! According to Caine, at least. He suggested they work late into the night before anyone could show up. That way, they'd have almost everything ready by the morning. Caine noticed his Co-host walking into the room.

☆Ah, you're back! The little guy's asleep?☆

Pomni twirled the cane in her hand like a baton.

♧Yeah, wasn't much trouble. Easier than I thought it'd be!

Caine chuckled proudly. The tension from the deadline always left when she walked in.

☆See? I knew you'd be great for this job!☆

♧Heh, yeah... hey... Are you sure you wanna do this the whole night??♧

Caine had dazed off until he heard her question.

☆Hm? Oh- well, of course! You don't require sleep, so we'll have plenty of time!☆

♧Well, sure, I don't need to sleep... but... what about you? Voz needs to sleep, don't you?♧

He paused for a second.

☆Well, we don't sleep, we recharge. But it does give of the sensation of sleep and its symptoms. At least, I believe it does...☆

It didn't make much sense to Pomni, but she learned not to question these sorts of things a long time ago.

♧Huh. Wait... where do you- uhm- "sleep" anyway?♧

☆Oh. Well, uh, I usually just find some secluded area, out of bounds...☆

Caine was beginning to feel drousy just talking about it. But, not wanting to leave so soon, he perked himself up.

☆Now is not the time to worry about that though, my dear! We have work to do!!☆

♧Well you do look pretty ti-♧

☆Me? Tired? Nonsense!! Now, let's get back work!☆

The conversation was cut short. They silently continued fixing up the place. But Caine looked like he was getting progressively slower with each glance Pomni took.

♧Are... you sure you don't wanna... leave now?♧

☆And... leave you alone?? Like I would do that!☆

♧What? You don't trust me?? I can do things by myself.♧

☆N-no! It's not that at all, my dear! You are absolutely great at what you do! It's just that I think if I left you to do all this yourself then that... would be terribly... rude... of me...☆

Caine was barely hovering in the air by now.

♧... You wouldn't wanna be in this state tomorrow morning, would you??♧

☆...Ok... just for a few minutes...☆

Caine was still hesitant to leave His friends side. He fought with every last bit of energy in him to stay awake.

☆ before i go... Wh-why don't we discuss some ideas for adventures?? Anything sound good to you??☆

♧Hm... how about... "Count the sheep?"♧

☆Great idea!! Let's test that. One... ...two... ...☆

Caine stopped responding.

He floated idly in place, nearly touching the ground.

♧Welp. That's two times I'm putting someone to bed.♧

Pomni smiled as she walked down the hallway, dragging an unconscious Caine into her room, and walking back out, hat on her head, cane in her hand.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[ENTERING "R.E.M." MODE...]

Caine opened his eyes to find himself in a darkly lit monochrome room. His vision was a bit fuzzy. The only things he could make out were a big red door and a misshapen box sitting atop a desk.

He hunched over the desk, looking at the strange box. One side looked different from the rest. It was pitch black.

Then it flashed white. It had a strangely similar look to the void. He leaned in closer. Then, a familiar sphere shaped character appeared in the center. Green strands of 1's and 0's growing around him...

_-°○You did this to yourself.○°-_

Oooookay, maybe he shouldn't be here.

Having no other option, he went through the big red door.

It led him back to the main area of the circus. Finally, a place he firmly recognized! Then he heard the sound of glitches rising from around him.

Maybe he would've been better off in the box room...

He looked up to see everyone had abstracted. Even the abstracts from the cellar somehow got out. Wait... everyone...?

♧C-cai-ªi-N-ne?♧

Caine immediately turned his head.

☆POMNI!☆

Her entire avatar was covered in glitches. She was holding on with her last bit of strength. She barely managed to speak.

♧It-t's... Iṭ'§...♧

He desperately tried to hold her head upright.

☆W-whats wrong, dear? Just tell me. I-I can fix it, I promise!☆

♧I-Tt-§...♧

_-♧ITS ALL YOUR FAULT.♧-_

The glitching code morphed into glowing eyes. Her body contorted until it was completely unrecognizable...

.

.

.

[FULLY CHARGED]

The ringmaster jumped from shock, only to quickly realize that he had been lying down the entire time. Of all the times he's entered a "dream state" as they call it, he had never experienced such a negative one. Nothing has ever made him feel like-

His train of thought immediately stopped. He heard a thumping noise. Actually, he didn't just hear it...

He felt it...

He placed his hand to his chest, presumably where a human heart would be. And sure enough...

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

How was this possible? He couldn't truly be... unless-

[PAPAA!! GETUPGETUPGETUPGETUPGETUP!!]

The door slammed open, and little Voz barged into the room. Shaking the end of the bed violently until Caine finally rose from his sitting position.

☆Alright, okay, I am! Now, what's the r- OH...☆

He looked around, recalling the events from the previous night.

[Mama had sent me to wake you...]

☆Has anyone already-☆

[Yup...]

Oh, how foolish of the ringmaster to be late to his very own show, leaving his bel- CO-HOST, yes, to do everything by herself...

☆Welp, time is really crunching, kiddo! We better hurry back!☆

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Pomni and the main cast sat around. Along with a few players. All of them took the appearance of mannequins, but each with distinct accessories. One with purple butterfly wings, one with a chicken's beak, a party hat, and a plauge doctor mask.

The player's each had names displayed over their heads, and they showed up whenever they would speak.

Osa: Man, it's been forever since they announced this game!! Can't believe we finally get to play this together!!

Aki: Yeah! This is gonna be fun, huh Zari?

Zari: ...you brought me here against my will.

Plauge: Honestly, I agree. This is stupid...

♧Now, now, everyone! There's no need to be so impatient! I'm... I'm sure the ringmaster will be here very-♧

Caine and Voz appeared center stage with a loud SNAP.

☆Pomni! I'm so, very sorry I'm late. We'll have to talk later. Now who's ready to woo the-!☆

Caine looked up to see only 4 players in front of them.

☆Crowd. ... Well, this is anticlimactic.☆

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

HOLY SMOKES I TOOK A LIL BREAK FROM THIS I KNOW BUT ITS OUT NYEAOW YIPPEEEE-

*Disintegrates into dust*

Also, huge thanks to my buddies Angii and sushi/vintage radio for letting me use our old tadc OCs for this! :>

Uhmm anyways asks r opened and... That's all byeee

[chaotic-super]

Live With Me - Chapter 19

Read it on AO3 here!

Kara leans back into the pillows as she watches Lena pace across the room, passing the foot of the bed over and over again.

“I just don’t understand why they won’t let us just go back to National City,” Lena complains, her voice hushed because the last thing she wants is for the infamous Cat Grant to know how much she can whine when she wants to.

“I know, baby.” Kara commiserates. “I want to get back there too, but if they don’t think it’s safe, then there’s not much we can do about it. It’s just a matter of waiting and finding out what we can whenever someone with information comes around.”

Lena sighs, her hands tangling in her own hair and pushing it back from her face. “How do we even know we can trust the CIA? Maybe they were in on the plan and this is just their way of getting rid of us.”

Kara fights the urge to roll her eyes. “Lena, baby, I love you but you’re spiralling. Come cuddle with me so we can work through all those scary thoughts in your brain together.”

Lena resists her charm, not looking in her direction so she doesn’t get tempted. “No, we have to cover our asses. We need a phone. Maybe we can sneak out and find one somewhere. I bet if we found a grocery store and asked to use their phone, they would let us. We can call CatCo and get through to Nia.”

Huffing a little, Kara pulls herself from under the scratchy sheets and pads over to Lena, her bare feet sticking to the floor in a way that makes her want to disappear up her own butthole with how gross it is. At least it’ll give them something to do later. They’re bound to get bored. She rests her hands against Lena’s forearms and stands her way so she’s forced to stop pacing.

“Lena, we’re fine. We’re ok. Well, not ok, but we will be. The CIA are completely separate from the FBI and the government. They have different goals as organizations. You know that. They’re protecting us, and I’m sure they’ll come and explain everything to us soon enough. They only brought us here last night and it’s still early. Cat isn’t even awake yet. Everything will be fine. You just have to have a little faith.”

“Faith hasn’t really been on our side much lately though, has it?”

“It has to be at some point though.”

Lena looks up at Kara with disbelief clouding her features, but Kara sees through it. Shining in those emerald eyes is something she loves to see. Hope.

Kara presses her lips to her forehead, wincing as her split lip makes contact with her skin, but she doesn’t let that stop her from kissing her a second time on the tip of her nose, loving the way she scrunches it in faux annoyance. “You might not have faith but I do, so just trust in me and I’ll lend you some of my faith.”

“I’ll always trust you.”

A head peeks around the door and makes Lena jump. She wasn’t expecting to see anyone show up in her peripheral vision, so she can’t help how a striking red blush crawls up her neck and cheeks at the thought of Cat knowing how soft and mushy she is, even though she’s already seen it all before.

“Well, if it isn’t you two and your infuriating need to be so close together that your skin will one day fuse and make you one giant lesbian.”

Kara’s head whips around to her boss. “Good morning, Ms Grant. How did you sleep?”

“Terrible. I would like the bed for a few hours as long as I have verbal confirmation that you didn’t do anything sacrilegious in it last night.” She strolls right past them and perches on the edge of it carefully, not yet willing to move and sit on it properly, just in case.

Kara shakes her head. “Uh, no. We just cuddled.”

Cat then proceeds to climb into the bed, wincing at the scratch of the sheets both Kara and Lena had to put up with last night and nuzzles into one of the pillows. She flippantly waves her hand in the air at them, her eyes closed. “You can let yourselves out.”

“Hold on.” Lena frowns. “I know you’re tired, but we need to discuss everything.”

With a hefty sigh, Cat flops onto her back, her eyes still closed. “No, we don’t. The CIA lady with the moustache told me she’d come by this afternoon to discuss everything with us when I saw her last night. Just relax until then, watch some TV maybe. Just leave me in peace.”

“You didn’t think to tell us that?” Lena baulks.

She doesn’t get a response though because Kara grabs her by the arm softly and leads her out of the room while Cat burrows herself down into the bed and completely ignores them in favour of trying to get some decent sleep. That couch is not comfortable.

Lena finds out just how uncomfortable the couch is when she throws herself down on it frantically, wincing at how lumpy it is the second she lands. “Ok, I feel bad for trying to stop her from sleeping now; this is awful. I’m actually shocked she didn’t wake us up to kick us out of bed.”

Kara shrugs, sitting down beside her and wrapping her arm around her shoulder to pull her closer. “She wouldn’t do that. She’s a lot of things, but she’s a softie at heart. She wouldn’t hurt a fly really, not unless it either has a good story or owes her money anyway.”

Lena croaks out a chuckle and nuzzles into Kara’s neck. “I was so worried about you.”

“Likewise. I was so scared about what they had done to you after they took me to another building and tied me to a chair.”

“What actually happened to you?” Lena asks.

“I met the president, and he wanted me to hand over all of my proof against the government to him, presumably to destroy it. He was behind the awful plans they had. He signed off on it all and didn’t want the word getting out. When I refused, he wasn’t too happy with me. He had two guards, sergeants actually. One broke the pen you got me as a gift, just to be cruel, and I was pretty upset about that, but I was admittedly more upset when he hit me in the face.”

Lena’s jaw tightens. “Then what?”

“They put me in a car and took me to another building. It looked a bit like an office building. They took me into a room where I was tied to a chair, and they hit me again before leaving me there alone. That was the scariest part. All I had was my thoughts and I just kept imagining what they would do to you. I was so scared, Lena. I was scared for you and Cat.”

Lena pulls Kara closer to her. Leaning back into the arm of the couch and pulling the blonde on top of her so her head rests beneath her chin. “And then they brought Cat to you?”

Kara nods, the movement sending Lena’s chin wobbling. “Yeah, then they brought Cat in and they tied her to another chair. They didn’t hurt her though. We just sat there for a while trying to figure out how to get out, and eventually, I realized that I could break my chair and get out that way. Cat picked the locks of our handcuffs, and then we started climbing out the window. We figured that leaving through one of the rooms upstairs would be safer than leaving through the door of the room we were in, but we were still part way up the side of the building when the CIA arrived and took us out of there.”

“I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

“Me too. What happened to you?”

Lena presses several kisses to the top of Kara’s head, needing the few seconds she earns herself to devise a good way to tell Kara what she went through. “I met General Lane.”

“Does he smell as bad as he looks?”

“What?”

“He looks like the kind of guy who has terrible body odour.”

“He does but I didn’t notice, so I guess that since he was sitting on the other side of the hotel conference room from me, I couldn’t tell. That room does have good ventilation though, so the jury’s still out on that one.”

Kara snickers and her laughs rumble through her body and against Lena’s chest, making her giggle too. “He definitely smells. I just get that vibe.”

“Me too. I would have paid more attention to it, but he was too busy trying to get me to buy into his schemes. I guess that he thought that since I bought out Lord Industries and that I’m a Luthor, I would be willing to do a whole host of very illegal and immoral things with him. I went along with it to try and buy us more time and to try and get more information on all of the plans. I made a deal with him that I would look over it all if he brought you and Cat to me so I could see that you’re alright, but before he could do that, the CIA came in and took me out of there.”

“It feels kind of anticlimactic, doesn’t it?” Kara asks, tilting her head up to look into Lena’s eyes. “We’ve gone through all that shit to try and bring these people down, then the CIA swoops in and takes them down in one day. It feels like we’ve been robbed of the chance to win after everything.”

Lena lets her eyes trail across the ceiling, particularly the water stain covering a large patch of it. “I guess so, and I’m sure I’ll feel that way later, but I’m just happy it is over for now. Well, I’ll be happy when we get confirmation from this so-called moustached lady that it is over.”

Kara gently scratches her nails over Lena’s arm, soothing her and smiling at the tiny sigh she manages to pull from the brunette’s lips. “Me too.”

-

Lena presses herself into Kara’s side as tightly as she can, more than a little afraid but unwilling to voice her concerns in front of a load of CIA agents. She’s not showing herself up like that. Not a chance in hell.

As she always does, Kara seems to just know. She always knows. She intertwines their fingers and grips onto her tightly, making a show of being afraid so she has an excuse to cling to Lena. Lena knows better though. She knows that Kara’s nervous but not terrified. It’s just a helicopter, after all.

They were flown into a CIA branch in Metropolis from the Motel this afternoon, where they spent a few hours reviewing their story and writing a written report of it all. Now they’re finally being allowed home, but the only private aircraft they would allow was a helicopter because, apparently, private jets are excessive. Cat tried to argue with them, but it didn’t get them anywhere, so here they are in a helicopter flying from Metropolis to National City, where they’ll land on top of the CatCo building.

Lena is sure she would be much better at this and much less afraid if it wasn’t so dark and they weren’t flying into the abyss, but she did insist on getting home tonight. She stands by that. She really wants to get home as soon as possible, and it’s definitely worth it, but that doesn’t mean that she’s not scared.

“How long will it take us to get to National City?” Kara asks through her headset.

“About an hour, just sit back and relax. We’ll be there in no time.” The co-pilot smiles warmly at her. “This is one of the safest forms of travel, you’re in good hands.”

Lena pipes up. “That’s true, but you don’t often see a helicopter in movies that doesn’t crash. It has a way of eating into your subconscious.”

The co-pilot laughs warmly. “That’s true, but I can assure you that this is nothing like in the movies.”

Lena nods and clings onto Kara a little more, tempted to try and climb into her lap to get away from the helicopter door. Kara is going the opposite way, trying to lean over Lena to take a look out of the window.

“Look at that view.” She marvels at the lights shining from all of the buildings in Metropolis and the way they are slowly lessening as they make their way out of the city.”

Cat stares out of her window. “It is a sight to behold. It’s no National City, but I must admit there’s a beauty to seeing it from up here.”

Lena wants to look but doesn’t dare, so she settles from slowly building up her courage throughout the rest of the flight, all so she can force herself to look out of the window for ten whole seconds when they get to National City and look out at the place that she calls home.

She manages it and has to say that even though she was horribly afraid the entire time, it was worth it. She’s glad she did it, and it’s a sight she’ll commit to her memory for as long as she can keep it preserved in her mind.

They land on CatCo’s helipad and get escorted inside, where a few more CIA agents are gathered in one of the conference rooms. A couple of them are in the lobby protecting the building, but none are roaming the halls. Kara figured that’s because they’ve already done a thorough sweep of the building and are satisfied that there’s no danger here.

They head right for Cat’s office, and when they get there, they see Nia spinning in lazy circles in Cat’s chair. She shoots up out of it when Cat clears her throat.

“Ms Grant, you’re back!”

“I am, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t break my chair.” She saunters around her desk and shoos Nia out of the way so she can sit down.

Nia moves her attention over to Kara and Lena, but her eyes get caught on Kara’s face. “Oh no, you’ve been hurt.”

Kara nods softly. “I’ll be alright though. I’m sure it’ll heal in no time. How did everything go here? Were you ok?”

Nia looks at her with disbelief written across her face. “Was I ok? Kara, you were kidnapped by the government.”

“And you were in charge of a media company in the middle of one of the biggest stories we’ve ever told with nobody around to help you.”

Nia blushes, suddenly bashful. “I was ok.  Franklin was a big help. I think I handled it pretty well. The FBI tried to barge their way in here, and by ‘tried’, I mean they did fully force their way in.”

“What?” Cat’s eyebrows practically raise into her hairline.

“Yeah, I just started a livestream and showed off their behaviour to the world. Soon enough, they were forced to admit that they didn’t have a warrant and were just being bullies while being broadcasted to the world. I then used that same broadcast to bring everyone’s attention to you guys and the way that those same people took you. It caused a lot of anger and worry for you guys, and I guess that attention got the CIA’s attention too. They arrived not long after with actual clearance and have been here ever since helping to clear up the mess that FBI made.”

Kara smiles and nudges Lena’s shoulder. “See, I told you to have faith.”

Lena ducks her head. “Yeah, you did.” She clears her throat when she realizes that Nia is watching them way too closely to be normal. “What?”

“You’re just so cute.”

“Oh, can I have my phone, Nia?” Kara asks.

“Yeah, I’ll go and get it. You want to call Alex?” Nia gets moving, talking to Kara over her shoulder.

Kara nods. “Yeah, I think she’d kill me if she found out she wasn’t the first person I called when getting back. That and she’s probably pretty worried.”

Lena takes the opportunity to sit down on the couch, and she leans forward to rest her head in her hands. “I’m ready to go home.”

Kara sits beside her, rubbing her hand up her back soothingly. “Me too. Is there anything we have to do here before we can go?”

Cat looks up from the laptop Nia was using. “I’ll handle everything. You two should talk to the agents and see if you need an escort or if you can just go. If you can, take my car. I won’t be leaving here tonight.”

“Are you sure, Ms Grant?” Kara looks up at her through furrowed brows. “You should rest too. You only got a few hours at the Motel.”

“I’m sure. I’ll try to get those agents out of my conference room and then sleep on the couch for a while. I’m far too restless to do anything good with myself at home though. It’s best I work for a while and get a handle on everything I can. I need that right now.”

Nia holds up their phones and keys triumphantly for a moment before setting them on the coffee table. “Here you go. You best call your sister, Kara.”

“I know. I’m actually surprised she’s not here, to be honest.” Kara’s heart sinks when she sees Nia grimace in response to her words. “What is it?”

Nia hums awkwardly for a minute, avoiding eye contact.

“Nia, just say it, you’re putting us even more on edge than we were before.” Lena raises a demanding eyebrow at her, her voice harsher than she means for it to be because of how tired and stressed she is.

Taking a deep breath, Nia comes out with it. “Alex is at your place. She has been staying there because the CIA had to go and search through your entire place to make sure it’s safe. She’s been tidying up after them since.”

Kara sags back into the couch, her head thrown over the back of it. “For fuck’s sake. Now we will have to redecorate again because the place feels gross.”

Lena sighs. “At least we know it’s safe now, and it’ll give us something to do on the weekends.”

“This is going to be hard to believe, but I like having lazy weekends that don’t include busting my ass painting.”

Snorting, Lena pushes herself up, ready to get going. Kara can call Alex on the way home. “You could’ve fooled me.”

-

Alex squeezes Kara as tightly as she can, completely ignoring the way she’s wheezing because she can’t breathe thanks to the tight grip she’s got on her little sister. “I’m so happy you’re alive.”

“Me too, but I don’t think I will be for much longer if you don’t let go.” Kara pushes back on Alex’s shoulders in an attempt to get her off her long enough to get a couple of good, deep breaths in.

“Sorry.” Alex says, letting go of her. “I was just worried about you. I thought they were going to kill you.”

Kara looks down at her feet for a moment before taking a shaky breath. “You and me both. It wasn’t a situation I’d like to be in ever again.”

Alex’s eyes widen dramatically. “Yes, I would very much appreciate it if you could avoid ever getting into a situation like that again, please and thank you.”

Lena chuckles dryly. “I will do my best to stop her if she tries, believe me, this hasn’t been a walk in the park.”

Kara presses her lips together tightly and Lena raises an eyebrow at her questioningly. “Got something to say?”

Puffing out a nervous breath, Kara tries to mask her increased breathing by walking off towards the kitchen. “I’m going to go and get a drink. Does anyone want one?”

“Kara, you can’t avoid us. Say what you want to say first.” Lena insists, catching her arm as she tries to pass her.

Licking her dry lips, Kara steels herself for whatever reaction she’s going to get. “I’m not sorry it all happened.”

Lena frowns at her, her eyebrows pinching and her lips angling down. “What do you mean?”

Dropping her shoulders, Kara continues. “I’m not sorry I dug into it and I would do it again. We saved a lot of lives by bringing it to light. That plan to start experimenting on humans was awful and I could never live with myself if I just turned a blind eye to something like that. I would make the same choice over again and if I ever come across anything like it in the future, I have to speak up. I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t.”

“I know you wouldn’t.” Lena can’t be mad at that, especially when Kara is speaking so passionately.

“I never want to put any of you in danger and when I started this case, I didn’t bring everyone into the loop right away when I should’ve. Maybe that would have helped or stopped some of the bad stuff from happening, but overall, I’d still have to take the case. I’ll always take the case. I’ll just take more precautions with it.”

Lena tugs on Kara’s sleeve, prompting her to stop rambling. “We know you will and we’ll always support you. We just also want you to be safe. We want to know that no matter what, we’ll be here and we’ll keep you as safe as we can. You just have to let us in.”

“I second that.” A voice calls out from behind Lena, startling the brunette and causing her to almost leap into Kara’s arms. “Sorry, Lena.” Kelly walks out, a glass of water in hand. She passes it to Kara. “I heard you say that you want a drink so I got you one. I was helping Alex tidy up.”

Kara smirks as she looks between Alex and Kelly. “Thank you. So, have you guys been here together the whole time?”

“Yeah, well, I was with Alex when she got the call about the CIA being here so I decided to come along and keep her company,” Kelly explains, taking Alex’s hand.

Lena has now recovered from the Kelly-sized jump scare and is now smirking at Alex, who is redder than a ripe tomato. “I bet you did.”

“Anyway, we’re both just happy you’re ok and we came to make sure nothing got damaged here. It was just a bit messy since they had to sweep the place for bugs and weapons.” Alex rushes out. “We should probably go.”

Kara shakes her head at that. “Nonsense. It’s late. You guys can take the guest room.”

“Thank you, Kara. That would be much appreciated. It’s late and I hate driving at night.”

“I could drive.” Alex argues weakly.

“I’m sure you could, honey, but I want to stay,” Kelly says and to Kara’s utter astonishment, Alex agrees with a singular nod.

Lena looks equally as baffled but also extraordinarily amused. “Now that’s settled, you’re free to just relax now. We really appreciate you guys coming over and doing that for us. We’re really tired though, so we’re going to head to bed and deal with everything in the morning. You can either go to bed or stay up and watch TV or something if you want to.”

Kelly smiles at them warmly. “You’re welcome. I’m glad we could help. We’ll probably head to bed soon too. Which guest room are Alex and I staying in?”

Alex flushes again as Kelly outs them as only needing one room, her ears ablaze.

“I’ll show you, follow us,” Lena says, directing Kara to head for the stairs with a hand to the small of her back, eager to get upstairs and get a proper night’s sleep in her own bed with Kara tucked safely against her, protected and loved.

-

The next few days are hectic. It's not the kind of hectic that comes from the government trying to murder them, but it's still pretty hectic. There are more interviews than they know how to handle, and given that it’s literally part of Kara’s job, that’s a lot. She knows how to handle herself, they both do, but when they’re forced to spend days doing nothing but recounting the same story over and over to a hundred different people, it’s too much.

They haven’t even figured out how to handle it themselves just yet, but here they are, forced to try and explain something they have yet to figure out themselves. Something they want to understand but haven’t had the time to process.

“How many today?” Kara sighs, rubbing at her eyes harshly as she tries to summon up the courage to sit up so she can take the mug Lena’s offering her, one filled with caffeinated goodness and way too much sugar.

Lena sighs and puts it down on the nightstand, sensing that her arm will go numb from waiting with it outstretched before Kara will take it otherwise. “I don’t know. Maybe we should call in sick or put them off for tomorrow. We haven’t had a break from it yet, and I think we deserve one.”

“I never thought I’d see the day when Lena Luthor would offer up a day off.” Kara smiles wryly for a moment. “But we can’t. If we put it off, we’ll just end up with a load more work waiting for us another day. We have to tell all those people these things for a reason. We’re helping clean up this mess, and I think it’s important.”

“It is, but so is your mental health.” She takes a breath before correcting herself. “Our mental health.”

Kara smiles up at her proudly. “Look at you looking after yourself.”

Lena sinks into bed beside Kara, cuddling up into her side. “Yeah, well, I have a pretty awesome girlfriend who becomes a nightmare to live with when I don’t look after myself, so I’ve been speaking with my therapist over the phone. I think she was surprised when I made the appointment because it’s been that long since the last time we spoke. I’m lucky she got me in so fast.”

Kara grimaces. “I think that’s probably because our faces are all over the news, so she knows you need it right now.”

“Fair point.” Lena gives in. “Still, she helped me realize that we need some time to deal with this without everyone interjecting and messing up our thoughts, so I think a day off is exactly what we need.”

“You think so?”

“I do.”

“Even if we don’t go to work, we won’t be able to find out who the latest government asshole is that got arrested. You know I live for those updates.”

Pressing her lips to Kara’s cheek gently, she trails soft kisses across her skin until they fall into a tender kiss. One that is promptly ruined by Lena blowing a raspberry against Kara’s lips.

“Ew!” Kara gasps and pulls away from Lena. “Lena!”

Lena cackles maniacally, falling onto her back and holding a hand to her chest. “Your face! That was so good!”

“Ok, now I definitely want to go to work.”

Lena’s laughs don’t stop, not even as she starts trying to talk between laughs. “I already called us both out.”

Kara grabs her mug and pouts, propping the pillows up behind her. “You’re mean and I don’t appreciate it.”

Lena trails her hand up Kara’s leg, starting at her knee and then slipping up her thigh, her fingertips sneaking beneath the fabric of her shorts. “Are you sure? If we stay home, we can really…work through our emotional baggage together.”

“Lena, we can’t fuck away our trauma.”

“We can try.” Lena smirks, shuffling closer, continuing to edge her fingers further up to where both of them want them to land.

Kara leans into the touch, her arms still folded over her chest and her head tilted away in faux indifference even as she does so. “I haven’t done my morning crossword yet.”

“I’m not stopping you,” Lena whispers, tugging at the waistband of the offending shorts. “Your puzzle book is in your nightstand drawer as per usual. You shouldn’t have an issue getting it, should you?”

Kara tries to focus, her hands faltering when she tries to grip the knob because Lena takes that exact moment to tug the shorts down to her knees and swipe her tongue against her clit. “Jesus Christ.”

“If that’s not the answer to a clue, I don’t want to hear it.”

“What?”

“What’s the answer to number one?”

“Across or down?”

“Surprise me.” Lena drawls, watching on joyously as Kara frantically flips through the book in search of a crossword she hasn’t done. It takes her a moment to arrange the pen in her hand and run her eyes over the words. “So?”

“Across is Benjamin Fr—” Kara gasps and loses her mind as Lena’s tongue gets back to work.

“Who?” Lena stops what she’s doing and takes that time to pull Kara’s shorts all the way off so she can lie down between her legs comfortably, her head coming to rest on her inner thigh to show that she’s not starting again until she gets her answer. “Who?”

“B-Benjamin Franklin.”

“Mmm.” Lena hums, her tongue getting back to work on the pretty, pink pussy she’s missed in all the commotion caused by people trying to murder them. This is a very relaxing change of pace. “What about down?”

“Down?” Kara gasps, her eyes falling closed as she drops her pen, her hand travelling down to nest in Lena’s messy hair, still tangled from sleep. It’s slapped away, and Lena snatches up the pen from where she dropped it on the sheets and forces it back into her hand.

Lena traps Kara’s thighs with her arms, pinning her in place. “Down.”

Kara writhes under her touch, trying her best to wriggle free from the tight grasp, to regain the ability to buck and grind, something she definitely took for granted. Now, she doesn’t stand a chance of taking a single thing that Lena isn’t allowing.

She drops the book and pen onto her chest, giving them up and reaching down a second time. She’s not sure if she’s trying to pull Lena closer or get away, but either way, she needs Lena to hurry up and stop teasing her before she implodes.

“Fuck, Lena. You’re doing a better job at killing me than any of those incompetent government dimwits ever did.”

Lena freezes. “Kara, my love?” She waits for Kara to peer down at her. “Too soon.”

“Sorry,” Kara mumbles, her hands gripping at Lena’s, trying to pry them away from her thighs, a task she’s completely failing at.

“Hands back up.”

“But—”

“No, hands back up,” Lena demands, her tone sharp to match the fingertips digging through the supple flesh of her thighs and into the steely muscle hiding beneath it. “If you aren’t going to be a good girl and fill in the answers for me, you can hold onto the headboard.”

All it takes for Kara to comply is Lena’s mouth trailing over to her thigh and her teeth sinking into her skin, albeit with a moan that would make a demon shake its head. She follows it up by finally releasing her thighs and sitting up to grab the puzzle book and pen.

She takes a look at the next clue on the page. “You answer correctly and you’ll get rewarded. Now, this is an easy one. The surname of the actress who played Rachel in ‘Friends’.” She finishes the clue with a lick to the teeth marks she’s left behind.

“Aniston.” Kara whines.

“Good girl.” Lena smirks, latching back onto her clit with a ferocity that forces all the air out of her lungs. She licks across it broadly before sucking it like her life depends on it, working her up as quickly as humanly possible, knowing all of the little tips and tricks to get her to cum faster than a teenage boy losing his virginity.

Kara is catapulted to the brink of insanity and then left there to teeter as Lena eases off, licking across her pussy in bold strokes, her tongue avoiding her clit more and more with each pass, thoroughly lavishing her lips and avoiding the little bundle of nerves that craves her attention.

“No…” Kara complains. “Lena, please.”

“Hush. I have to write your last answer in the grid. I forgot to do it. Remind me what the answer was again.”

“Aniston.”

Lena hums, picking up the pen with one hand and using the other to gently rub her clit in tiny, delicate circles, keeping her right where she wants her. “Next clue. The famous river that runs through London.”

“The…” Kara groans as Lena adjusts the pressure, giving her a little more just to watch her squirm. “You’re evil.”

“I know. Now tell me the name of that river, baby.” Lena twirls the pen playfully, reaching up to use the non-working end of it to flick her nipple. “I want to know.”

“The Thames!” Kara practically shouts. “Please, let me cum.”

Lena tuts, taking a second to jot down the answer before tossing it aside once more. “You’ve only answered three questions. Do you really think that’s earned you that kind of reward?”

“Probably not, but I want to drink my coffee while it’s still hot, so please hurry the hell up.” Kara gasps but peers down at Lena with a level of sincerity that the ravenette isn’t expecting.

“Yes, dear.” She drawls. “Do me a favour and move your hands down to your breasts. They’re way too perky to be left neglected, don’t you think?”

Kara doesn’t need telling a second time, her hands making their way up her pyjama top and grabbing her boobs with a ferocity that shocks even herself. Her fingers find her nipples and pinch them teasingly, matching Lena’s soft rhythm and getting harsher as she speeds up her tongue as her hands get acquainted with her ass.

Lena grabs handfuls of the cheeks that she’s missed so much. How long it’s been since she’s managed to get a good butt grab in should be a crime. “Ok, darling. Let’s make you cum so you can have your coffee.”

She attaches herself to her clit once again, sucking ruthlessly and adding just the tiniest amount of teeth, sending fire burning through Kara’s nerves and finally tipping her over the edge that Lena has kept her on for way longer than she expected her to today. “Fuck, Lena!”

“That’s it, good girl.” Lena coos, continuing to lick at her, unwilling to stop and move away from the delicious treat she’s found between Kara’s legs, one that is definitely her favourite. She’s half convinced she could actually survive from eating Kara out as her only source of nutrition.

Kara takes a long few minutes to come back to herself, using her shaky hands to pull Lena’s head away from her sensitive clit until her cheek is resting on her thigh. “Ok, this is a good morning.”

Lena hums, climbing up to lie beside her slowly and carefully before she reaches over to her own nightstand and grabs her mug. She takes a healthy sip before simply tipping it back and chugging the entire thing. She sighs as she puts it down once it’s empty. “Thanks for reminding me about the coffee. I hate cold coffee.”

Kara stares at her wide-eyed. “Did you make me cum quickly just so your coffee wouldn’t go cold?”

“Yep. I was planning on making you finish the crossword first, but you know I have to get my caffeine fix.”

“You’re definitely evil.” Kara pouts, drinking her coffee at a much more reasonable pace. “At least some of my crossword is done though. I’m not thanking you because you’re mean, but I am glad it’s got a few…” She peers down at the page. “Only three?”

“Three answers, only another twenty-three to go, it would have been more but you’re not great at multitasking. That’s a shame.” Lena leans over and pecks her on the lips before deepening the kiss and giving Kara the chance to taste a mixture of herself and coffee on her tongue.

Kara sighs against her lips and chases them as Lena pulls back. “I’m going to have a shower and then get breakfast started. Take your time with your puzzle.”

“I’m going to get you back for this.” Kara calls out to Lena’s retreating form.”

“I’m sure you will,” Lena smirks over her shoulder, disappearing into the bathroom with an extra sway of her hips.

Sagging back into the pillows, Kara pulls the duvet back over her bare bottom half. “This woman is going to kill me.”

Read the entirety of Live With Me on Patreon here!

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[ikeromantic]

CinderAlice pt 4

The winner of the IkeRev 1K AU story poll was Cinderella! Featuring the Black Army guys and Alice as Cinderella. These are the endings for each suitor. Pt. 4/4

Part 1 Part2 Part 3

The days turned to weeks and the season from summer to autumn. Lady Tremaine kept Alice so busy that she had no time for anything but work and sleep. She woke early every morning to begin, and fell into bed late into the night, so tired she barely managed to pry her shoes off before tucking herself in. 

Even with her demanding schedule and all the extra chores, Alice still heard rumors and gossip. The vegetable sellers at the market said Prince Ray was looking for a thief, and the dairy deliveryman said no, it was Sir Oswald hunting for a spy. The butcher told her actually, it was Sir Godspeed and he was seeking his lady love - a mysterious woman he spotted riding through town on a milk-white mare. 

Alice wondered if any of it had to do with her, but she dismissed the thought as silly. She wasn’t a thief or a spy and she hadn’t ridden any kind of horse through town. Maybe something had happened at the ball after she left, or in the days following. She didn’t know, and probably never would. 

That didn’t stop her from thinking about it as she moved around the dining room, preparing for dinner. Alice was lost in thought when . . .

Ray

A familiar dark gray cat darted through the open window. The kitty bounded over the table settings and flung itself under the hem of Alice’s apron. She bent down, a curious smile on her face. “Is that you, Ms. Belle?” 

Alice lifted her apron hem and took a peek at the pink satin ribbon around the cat’s neck. A small, gold tag dangled from it, with the name Belle written in lovely script. “It is you! Oh you silly little thing. This is a long way from the palace.” She scratched the kitty’s head.

“Hey.” 

She jumped, and Belle leapt up onto the chair at the sound of the voice. Her eyes went to the window, where Ray stood, a grin on his face. 

“Didn’t mean to surprise you.” He gestured to the room. “Is it alright if I come in?”

“Yes, of course.” Alice started to move toward the door, but Ray pulled himself in through the window. “Oh! Ok. W-welcome. Are you here for your cat?”

Ray laughed. “Well, she did run off. But actually . . .” He paused, his expression turning serious, “I was looking for you.”

“Me?” Alice startled all over again.

“Yeah. And you’re not exactly easy to find. You didn’t even give me your name, the night of the royal ball. So Belle and I have been looking around town for you for weeks. Trying to find the beautiful girl with a sweet smile.”

She felt her cheeks heat and her pulse began to race. “I’m . . . sorry?”

Ray took a step closer and reached for her hand. He lifted it to his lips and pressed a light kiss to the back of it. “I didn’t come to hear you apologize.” His lips grazed her skin as he spoke, his warm breath dancing over her knuckles. The touch sent a shiver through her that she did her best to hide. 

“I . . . then . . . what?” She stumbled over the words, too distracted by his touch to collect her thoughts. 

“I wanted to see you again.” His green eyes pierced her, his gaze felt as if he studied her soul. “Did you -” he paused and took a deep breath as if to steady himself. “Did you want to see me too?”

Alice nodded, a smile breaking across her face. “I do! I . . . I’ve been thinking about you every day since the ball! But you - you’re a prince and -” She gestured to the ragged clothes she wore, encompassing the whole of her position.

Ray pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her waist. “That doesn’t matter. I’m just glad I found you.” He grinned. “So . . . what is your name? Because I can’t call my girlfriend ‘the mystery woman’.”

She laughed and hid her blushing cheeks against his shoulder. “I’m Alice.”

“Alice.” He said her name with relish, as if tasting it. Ray’s voice was soft, husky. “May I kiss you, Alice?”

“Y-yes. Yes. I’d like that.” Alice tilted her face to him, her eyes fluttering shut as his warm lips gently pressed against hers in a tender kiss. 

When they parted, he still kept his arms around her waist. “Would you come to live in the palace?”

Her eyes went wide with surprise. She wasn’t sure what to say. “But then . . . Druzilla and Anastasia . . . who would cook and clean for them? And Lady Tremaine would be so angry with me.” Alice swallowed, suddenly nervous. The fact was, Lady Tremaine would be furious about all of this.

Ray shrugged, nonchalant. “I bet they can hire someone. And actually pay them.” He frowned at her rags. “Because from here, it looks like you do the work of four and get the pay of none.”

It was true, but Alice didn’t want to speak ill of her stepmother, and so she said nothing.

“I thought so.” Ray poked her forehead. “Don’t put their happiness in front of your own. If you don’t want to live in the palace, say so. But if you do . . .”

“I do.” She took a trembling breath. “It’s just so hard to believe.”

“You better start believing it.” He grinned and lifted her into his arms. “Let’s go. Come on Belle!”

The cat trotted after them as Ray went back out the window with her cradled against his chest. Alice hardly believed it was real. Rescued by a real prince. He was so dashing and romantic that she felt like she was in a fairy tale. 

***

Sirius

A well appointed carriage rolled up the Tremaine estate and stopped by the entry. The royal crest was emblazoned on the side, and the driver wore palace livery. Alice saw it from the kitchen window and hurried to untie her apron and dry her hands. But Anastasia must have spotted it too, and got to the door before Alice could. Druzilla and the Lady herself were only a step behind, all excited as the estate rarely had visitors of note. 

Anastasia opened the door, a polite smile on her lips and a calculating look in her eyes. “May I ask who’s calling?” She batted her eyelashes at the tall figure on the stair.

Alice felt a start of surprise as she saw the visitor from over her step-sister’s shoulder. It was Sirius Oswald, dressed in his official uniform and wearing a solemn expression. 

“Sir Oswald, senior advisor to the king. I’m here on a matter of import to the court, regarding the late Lord Tremaine.”

Anastasia took a step back and welcomed him inside. Druzilla and Lady Tremaine curtsied. Alice tried to, but felt entirely unsteady as Sirius’ gaze fell on her. She couldn’t help but remember what it had felt like to be held by him, her hand in his, as they danced. His warmth and easy affection, and the kindness he’d shown her. 

She ducked her head as he passed, hoping he wouldn’t recognize her in her filthy rags - and half hoping he would because . . . Alice refused to finish that thought. Girlish silliness. No, he was here on business and that was all. 

Lady Tremaine escorted him to the parlor, inquiring politely on his health and family. She bid Druzilla and Anastasia to accompany them and sent Alice for refreshments. 

Sirius did not seem interested in conversation, though he gave polite enough replies. When Alice came back with tea and pastries, he was fending off a too-friendly Druzilla.

She poured the tea and set out the milk and sugar. Just as she turned to go, Sirius’ hand shot out and took hold of her arm.

“You need to be here for this too. After all, you’re the Lord Tremaine’s only child.” He met her trembling gaze with gentle warmth, the violet of his eyes as soft as flower petals. 

“Umm. Alright.” Alice spared a look at Lady Tremaine. Her step-mother was near to quivering with rage. But she couldn’t defy the royal advisor, so she sat as far from the little group as she could, on a stool by the window. 

Sirius gave her a small smile before turning to look at Lady Tremaine. “The Tremaine estate came up in a review of property and inheritance tax. It appears nothing was paid after the Lord’s death and his accounts are being spent out at a high rate. This is concerning to the crown.”

“I - well, I am only a poor widow. I didn’t know there was something we needed to pay to the crown. After my beloved husband passed and left all he owned to me and his daughters -” Lady Tremaine tried to put a mournful expression on her face but it sat awkwardly there.

“He had only one beneficiary, Lady Tremaine.” Sirius interrupted, his voice firm and unyielding as stone. “And it was not you nor your daughters. He left everything to his only natural child, but each time the bank sent a trust letter to her, nothing was ever returned.”

Alice stared, not quite understanding. The Lady told her that her father left nothing for any of them. That the estate and all expenses were being paid from her own pocket, the money left from her family before she married. 

Lady Tremaine frowned, the false sorrow falling from her face like a discarded veil. “I do not know what nonsense you think you have discovered, but I can tell you my husband wouldn’t have dared -”

Sirius interrupted her again, pulling a letter from his pocket. It also bore the royal seal. “Per the dictum of the court and his majesty the prince, you are hereby evicted from this property. Your access to the accounts and incomes of the Tremaine estate are void. You will leave within the hour, or face arrest and imprisonment for theft.” He frowned. “The guards are here to see this royal decree is obeyed in full.”

As he finished, several uniformed men entered the room. 

Druzilla and Anastasia looked as shocked as Alice felt. They turned pleading eyes to her. Lady Tremaine, on the other hand, merely looked furious. She stood, gripping her skirt. “This will not stand! I have friends - family! With influence. You cannot come into my home and -”

“It is not your home.” Sirius gestured, and the uniformed men escorted them out.

Alice watched, still caught in a sense of complete disbelief. 

Sirius stood and crossed the space between them, crouching in front of her stool. “Are you alright, little lady? This must be quite a shock.”

“I - yes. I don’t know. Is all of that true?” She blinked at him, feeling suddenly overwhelmed.

“It is. Your step-mother tried to steal your inheritance.” He took her hand, stroking the back of it with his thumb. “When you ran from the ball, I tried to find you. I had to know who you were. And when I did learn your name, who you are . . .” Sirius sighed. “I found out all the rest too. I couldn’t let this happen to anyone, but especially not you.”

“Especially?” Alice felt a heat creep into her cheeks at the way he said that part. 

Sirius held her gaze, his eyes full of an unexpected affection. “Especially. I know we only just met, but I felt a connection to you. I can tell you have a kind soul. And . . . I wanted to see you again. Ever since I ran into you at the market, actually.”

Alice grinned. “I guess that was a lucky accident for me.”

“More so for me, I think. And then I got to dance with you at the ball.” He kissed her fingertip, his lips only barely brushing her skin. It was enough to send a wave of warmth rushing through her. “When things are settled,” Sirius paused as if unsure whether to say more.

“Yes?”

“I would like to see more of you. A date, if you are willing?”

Alice felt her heart fill to bursting. “I would love to.”

Sirius chuckled, a genuine smile lifting the corners of his lips. “You sound so sure. I’m glad.” He pressed another barely-there kiss to her fingertips.

Alice leaned forward, intending to kiss him on the cheek, but he turned at just the wrong - or perhaps right - moment. Her lips met his for just a breath. A pulse-racing, electric heartbeat, when the satin touch of his mouth touched hers and she felt every nerve in her body light up like fireworks under her skin so that when he pulled back in surprise, it left her aching for more. “I-I’m sure,” she breathed.

***

Luka

There was a knock at the servant’s entrance. Alice quickly dried her hands on her apron and hurried over to open the door. Luka stood there on the step. He was dressed in a suit like the one he’d worn to the ball, and held a bouquet of wildflowers in his hand. His ears peeked redly from beneath his hair and his cheeks were stained as well.

“Luka!” Alice felt so glad to see him that she wanted to hug him. But hugs always made him shy around her, so she restrained herself and just took his hand. She pulled him inside and shut the door. “I haven’t seen you since the ball!”

She couldn’t help but remember how different he’d been that night. The way he’d touched her when they danced, the look in his eyes. Alice glanced away, suddenly feeling awkward herself. 

He nodded. “I tried to come by. But you weren’t home. Or your step-sisters said you were busy.” His voice was very soft, almost hard to hear, and he was gripping the bouquet like it might try to run away.

“Lady Tremaine gave me more chores. I didn’t tell her I went to the ball, but I think she suspects. So . . . I really haven’t been around.” She gestured to the mess on the counter. “I’m supposed to be cooking now.”

Luka took a breath and thrust the flowers toward her. “These are for you.”

Alice took them, her fingers briefly touching his as he passed the bouquet to her. He snatched his hand back as if singed. “Th-thanks.” She wasn’t sure how to react or what she should do. Her feelings were a tangle in her chest, of friendship and something more, and so she just stood there holding them and looking at him.

“Do you . . .” Luka started to ask a question, but his voice trailed into silence. He fixed his stare on the flowers in her hand and tried again. “Do you like me?”

“I - of course?” Alice wanted to put into words the way she’d felt for years as his neighbor, her respect for how hard he worked. Her appreciation for the little moments of kindness he’d showed her. And now the magic they’d shared at the royal ball. Seeing him as something more than a friend. It made her nervous and excited, her heartbeat was racing and her tummy was doing flips. 

He frowned, searching her expression. Whatever he saw there must have encouraged him, because he continued. “You - you looked really . . . pretty. At the ball. But - you, you always look pretty.”

Alice felt her face get hot. “You did too. I mean, you looked really nice. You look nice now.”

“I . . .” Luka trailed off again, staring down now at his empty hands.

Alice turned and set the flowers down, intending to find a vase for them. She thought it would give him some privacy to collect himself. And her as well. Her chest felt tight and hot and tense, waiting to hear what he would say. She nearly jumped in surprise as she felt his arms wrap around her from behind, his chin resting gently on her shoulder. 

“I thought you would meet a noble and fall in love. And I would lose you.” He murmured, barely audible even at this close distance. “That’s why I followed you to the royal ball.” Luka took a trembling breath. “I love you, Alice. I was afraid to tell you.”

Alice felt her heart stutter in her chest. It thudded against her ribcage in a wild, galloping beat that matched the chaos of her emotions. “You . . . love me?” She turned in his arms, her back pressed to the counter. 

Luka nodded, too emotional to say more. 

The words warmed through her like the sun on a chill morning. She wrapped her arms around him to hug him back. “I - I love you too.”

He squeezed her tightly, his face buried in her shoulder. “I didn’t want to ruin our friendship . . . but I couldn’t keep it in any longer.”

“It’s ok,” Alice laughed warmly. “I just - I didn’t know. I thought you just saw me as a friend. I liked you so much . . . I didn’t want to mess it up.”

Luka laughed too, looking up at her. His eyes were full of sweet adoration. “Will you come stay with me, then, Alice?”

She felt her eyes sting with happy tears. “Yes.” 

He smiled, then shyly leaned forward and brushed the most chaste kiss to her lips, petal soft and warm and as sweet as honey. Then he pulled back, as if embarrassed. But Alice pulled him close for a second kiss and he didn’t seem to mind that at all. 

***

Fenrir 

The front door burst open. Alice hurried toward it, wondering what could be happening. When she got there, Fenrir stood with his hands on his hips while a few of his knights led her step-mother and step-sisters out. 

“What - Sir Godspeed - what are you doing?” Alice came to a stumbling halt right in front of him, a question on her lips.

He laughed and ruffled her hair. “Prince Ray and me found out Lady Tremaine and her daughters stole your inheritance. So she’s under arrest.”

She blinked, trying to process this piece of information. “My . . . inheritance? But . . . I don’t understand.”

Fenrir wrapped an arm around her shoulders and gently guided her outside to one of the garden benches. “After the ball, I went looking for you. You don’t make it easy on a guy!” He grinned at her blush. “But when I found you, all sorts of questions started poppin’ up.”

“Oh.”  Alice looked around the garden, at the profusion of flowers and the tiny butterflies that flitted from one end to the other. He’d looked for her, she thought, and it made something in her chest tighten. “But . . . why did you come looking for me?”

At this, Fenrir laughed. “I thought I told you when we were dancing! You’re a great partner. And I want to dance with you again.”  

His laugh tickled the hairs at the nape of her neck, and his joy was infectious. Still, something tugged at Alice’s heart. Just to dance with, she thought. Someone fun to see at parties. Surely there was more. She turned her head to study him, unsure how to voice this or if she even should say anything more. Afterall, they barely knew each other and yet . . . she felt a connection to him.

It was Fenrir she’d dreamed of these past few weeks. His eyes that held her own with such warmth. His playfulness. His strength. But she couldn’t assume he felt the same. 

“Hey! What’s that look for?” He tapped her nose gently. 

“N-nothing!” Alice felt her face go even hotter. “I’m fine being just your dance partner. When there’s a party. Or, you know, if you just want to go dance.”

Fenrir chuckled, and this time his laugh was low and a little breathy. “Who said I only want to dance with you, Alice?” His face was close to hers and those petal-pink eyes held a heat in them both tender and fierce. 

“Y-you . . .” Alice cleared her throat, but that did nothing to ease the tightness. Her heart thudded painfully in her chest, the sound of her pulse loud in her ears. Fenrir’s arm was still draped over her shoulder and every place his skin touched hers was electric. 

“I like you.” He was blushing now too, but he didn’t look away. His gaze was mesmerizing to Alice, and she felt pulled toward him. Fenrir leaned closer to her, his lips almost touching hers. “May I kiss you?”

She tried to say yes but the word tangled on her tongue and all that came out was a short, sharp breath. 

Fenrir understood though, a slow, heated smile turning his lips up at the edges just before he touched them to hers. His kiss was ferocious, full of a passion like a bonfire, devouring her with warmth and light. He pulled back after a moment, his breath trembling in the air between them. “I wanted to do that for weeks.” His look told her he wanted even more. 

Alice kissed him again, savoring the feel of his body pressed close to hers. There was nothing in the world as sweet as this, she thought. 

When he pulled back the second time, there was something desperate in his expression. A hunger at odds with his gentlemanly dress and manners. “I . . . gotta stand up now. Come on, partner.” He stood and held his hand out to her. 

“W-where are we going?”

“Anywhere. Everywhere. I want to have adventures with you, Alice. Will you stay by my side?”

There was only one answer to that. Alice took his hand. “Everywhere sounds good, as long as I’m with you.”

***

Seth

She let out a sigh. “I wish -”

“To see me again? Wish granted.” The now-familiar voice came from just behind her. 

Alice turned to see her fairy godfather standing there, an insouciant smile on his face. “Seth! You startled me. Again!”

“You look cute when you’re surprised.” 

She blushed at the compliment and looked away, trying to hide it. He had this way of looking at her that made her feel terribly self conscious. Alice cleared her throat. “Ok, but that doesn’t explain why you’re here. There’s no ball today. Just chores.”

Seth laughed, closing the distance between them without taking a step. “You were about to make a wish. And wishes summon fairies.” He tilted her chin up with a fingertip, forcing her to meet his playful, heated gaze. “So tell me, lovely Alice, what is it you wish for?”

“I . . .” Her throat closed tight around the words, unable to speak them because they would admit so much. And her dream felt impossible. 

He gently brushed a lock of hair from her forehead, fingers trailing along the side of her face. His touch was gentle and full of an unspoken affection as he waited for her to get up the courage to speak.

“I wish I was somewhere else, anywhere but here. I want to be happy. I want to feel loved, like I matter . . .” Alice trailed off after the brief outburst, feeling she’d said too much already. 

Seth’s smile was gentle. “Done.” And just like that, they were somewhere else. Alice saw a bustling street below, with market stalls and shops. Her eyes were wide with surprise as she looked around the room. It was a well appointed parlor, nothing as fancy as the Tremaine manor but very nice. There were flowers on the table in impossible colors, and the lamps were glittering magic crystals. 

“I’m afraid happiness is up to you. But I can promise you are loved. And you do matter.” His brown-eyed gaze was warm and intimate, his voice a breathy sigh. He took her hand and clasped it tightly.

Alice leaned into his comforting touch, his words soothing a hurt in her that she hadn’t realized was there. “Seth . . .”

He giggled and spun her around, breaking the moment before Alice could process what he’d said. “So, as your fairy godfather, I am giving you this lovely flat in Central. There’s a teahouse and a pâtissière downstairs, and across the street you’ll find a market with everything else a girl could want.” 

“That sounds nice?”

“Enough to bring a smile to your beautiful face?” Seth’s grin widened and he pulled her into an unexpected embrace. “And if there is something you want, you can just wish for it. Anything.” His words were playful, tickling against her neck. 

Alice slipped her arms around him, and Seth went very still. “What if what I want is . . . you?”

“Then you are a very silly girl.” His voice shook as he said it, and she could not see what expression he made as he hid his face in her hair. “Fairy Godfathers aren’t allowed to fall in love with mortals.”

Alice turned her face to kiss his cheek, putting all the affection she held for him into this one, gentle touch. “I want to know you, Seth. The man holding me right now, not the fairy godfather.”

He shivered, a sigh escaping his lips at her touch. “You might not like him . . .”

“I think I already do,” she countered. “He is kind and funny. And he makes me smile. Seeing him . . . makes me happy.” Alice laid her head against his shoulder, where she could hear the fierce pounding of his heart. “I’d rather have just Seth, than a fairy godfather.”

“Even if just Seth can’t magic you up a fancy gown and carriage?”

Alice laughed softly. “A friend is way more important than those things.”

Seth let out a breath, the tension leaking from him. “I hope I’m more than just a friend.” His hand brushed the nape of her neck, a teasing gentle touch that sent little waves of warmth through her. 

“We’ll just have to find out, won’t we?” Alice pulled back from him so that she could see his face.

“We will.” He grinned.

[byrdnight]

NEW KID, NEW PROBLEMS

"Wow, this place looks boring.”,a petite girl, of nine years old, blurted out; her cropped raven colored hair flowing in her face from the slight breeze. She seems tired, but also content, staring into this new towns’ blue sky as she steps out a small car.

Carefully lunging out the small car, a green Mercury, was a young woman, 21 years of age, slowly moving to the petite girls’ side. The woman let out a whispered sigh, as if relieved, and spoke in a calm low tone,”Yeah it may look boring, but it's safe. The safest place I could find. We won’t have to worry about anything bad or dangerous happening here. Hell, it's in the middle of nowhere! She bounded out, putting more emphasis on her words, What could happen here?”

The younger huffed out a chuckle as she heard her older sister's question.she smiled as she thought, well, anything. She rotated her almost sickly-thin body to face her older sister better.”You kidding? This whole scenario is like a horror movie waiting to happen!”, she laughed out, gesturing her thumb to the brightly colored town.

The elder snorted and swayed her head down to stare at the girl, and with a cheeky smirk purred,”Oh really? What's the gimmick? Town of cultists, cannibals or ghosts?” The smaller playfully pondered, turning and contorting her face into a thinking position similar to a cartoon. A devious smile swished from left to right on the canvas of the girls’ face,”Y’know they could be cannibals, she paused to set her eyes on the town again, the population is really low...how’dya think it got that way? The damn cannibals ate everybody! Do you think it's a family? I've seen a movie like that.” she could hear her older sister tsk and sputter as she spoke her last sentence. She let out a sigh, here it comes. She felt a minute slap on her shoulder.”Oh please Eris, you watch too many horror movies! That kinda stuff doesn't happen in real life, well, much.” Eris summoned a single elated Ha from the bed of her throat. The elder quickly raised her arm in authority and pointed at Eris sternly. “And another thing, you shouldn't be cussing,girly! I don't want these townspeople thinking I’m raising you wrong or something. I want them to think i’m a good guardian.” As she spoke, her tone eased.almost seeming nervous underneath her relatively calm exterior. Eris listened, she was always a good listener, clutching to details. She could she the details in her sisters face as she spoke, stern then cautious. She knew her sister had fears of others looking at them in a bad light, seeing. the worst of them and taking her away from her sister. Neither of them wanted that, especially after her older sister fought her her so hard in court. After the custody battle they thought it was best to move and start over, finally be somewhere stable and safe. She snaps out of her thoughts with a few blinks,

Eyes fixing back on her sisters face. A small consoling smile comes across hers. She folded out her arms and placed her hands solfly on her sisters shoulders,” hey, don't worry, ok? We’ll be fine. You're a good sister and a plenty good guardian. Lemme put it this way, I’d rather have you as a guardian than anybody else. You're good for me.”Eris lent her sister a worried smile and her elder chuckled.”You sound too smart to be a nine year old, thanks for the comfort ‘ya brat.” She ruffled Eris’ short messy hair, only making it more so, but Eris didnt seem to mind.Eris beamed, standing upright and very matter-of-factly, she gloated,” you're welc - hey! Am not!”She scrunched up her face and pouted, puffing up her cheeks and glaring up at her sister. Her guardian tried holding in laughter with the tip of her fingers.”Hey, maybe I was wrong, you do act like a nine year old. A pouty one,” she mused.

“Am not!”The tiny terror bauled out. But, just as she spoke, she froze in realization. She was acting exactly as in the way she said she wasn't. She closed her eyes,”ok...maybe a little. But still!” Her sister just snickered,” yeah, yeah kid. She sauntered behind them towards the car. C'mon, let's meet this mayor guy I talked to on the phone and get the keyes to our new house.”

Eris perked up and peered back at her sister cranking up the car. She spun around tightly, and almost bouncing into the car. As the eldest heard the backseat door close hard with a thud she glanced in to the rearveiw mirror.”Ey! Seatbelts.” Her charge rolled her eyes and buckled up,” yeah, yeah mom.” When the eldest heard the belt snap into place.cliktch.She knew it was ok to start driving into town.

**

“It looks even more fake up close.”

“Eris!”

“What!”,the younger snaps, sarcastically and sharply.

“No matter how fake this place looks, we are living here. So you're gonna have to get used to it. You and me both.” Eris smacked her lips, adjusting herself in her seat” yeah I know, I guess this places’ aesthetic just bugs me.”She heard her sister at the wheel, huffing in asmusement by what she said.Then she felt the car slowing, jolting and bouncing by the sudden change of speed. Eris was going to ask what was wrong but then her older sister piped up abruptly.”Woah, I think that's the guy. Uhm, the Mayor? I think thats our new house he’s in front of too.”Intrigued, Eris sat up and squished her cheek into the window. Widening her eyes in hopes to better see the man mentioned by her sister. As the vehicle came to a stop, she did.

A small man, about 5’5”, with a stocky build and a tan brown suit was standing patiently in front of a two story house at the edge of the neighborhood. He was an older man middle-aged at least with grey hair but none on the top of his head. Eris suspected he may be a worrier. He seems happy, like he doesn't have a care in the world. He seems content, and has a very comforting smile on his light brown face. Eris hummed in her throat,” he seems like he means well. Nice.”she trailed off into thought. Her older sister took notice of that, usually it meant her charge was thinking too much about too many things and couldn't hold a conversation. She furrowed her brow a bit as she unbuckled, or it meant that her little sister was doting on the past. Remembering bad people, especially the bad men of her life before the move. Unconsciously reminding herself of the pain she felt not too long ago. It ultimately means shes uncertain. Afraid. She decided to speak up to break her sister out of her analytical haze. She knew her little one was analyzing the man. Trying to find a flaw. A vice. Yeah, she’d speak up and spare the man her sisters gaze.”Well kid, let's get on with it, yeah?” She sighed, as if she was holding her breathe prior. Eris turned away from the window to look at her sister in the front seat,” huh? Ye-yeah. Let's do this thing, get it over with and all that.” As they both clicked the handles on the car doors her older sister huffed.

“Don't worry sis, she paused for a few seconds then spike up again,I promise life won't be a hassle here. No rampant drug use. No dangers. We’ll be safe. And you'll finally feel okay.”

-------------------

Hope you all like this! I wrote this in 2018 so I doubt it's up to my writing par now but I am hopeful I might continue it this weekend!! If doors have an OC so I hope that's not a deterrent or anything. But we get to the cabin characters soon:)

[onlygenxhere]

Hey there! Happy Friday!!

If you're still accepting prompts Sorry to text so late, can your dog come over? + Reggie/Carrie, please?

Dancing Queen

Sorry to text so late

Can your dog come over?

My dad is out of town and I’d feel safer with him here.

Reggie stared blearily at his phone. He’d already been asleep over an hour when the chirp had woken him. He could pretend he hadn’t seen the message. He’d just pulled down his notifications and not actually clicked on the text so she wouldn’t know if he didn’t respond.

But… it was Carrie and she wouldn’t text if she didn’t need something.

Han had been over enough in the past year to be comfortable there. Carrie had actually been the entire bands go to for keeping their animals when they were out on tour since she’d had to take a hiatus from her own rising fame after a scary incident with a stalker last year.

In fact her being alone in that house didn’t set will with him at all.

Reggie was nothing if not a good friend and he was too tired to wonder why she hadn’t texted Alex and Willie to see if Fosse wanted to come over or Julie and Luke to see if Fender or Gibson were available or even Flynn who had no pets but would surely come over if she asked.

He reached over and gave his best bud a pat on the head, “You up for a visit to Carrie’s?”

The golden’s tail thumped on the bed and he gave Reggie’s hand a deceive lick.

Ok then.

The man in black

Be there in thirty

He only added a black t-shirt to his attire of Star Wars pajama pants before grabbing Han’s leash and one of Luke’s energy drinks to wake him up on the way. Driving this sleepy wasn’t a good idea. Drinking the Monster probably wasn’t either but at least he’d be awake for the trip… and maybe the next three hours after.

Well, he had to get back home too. She’d only asked for his dog, not him.

He was practically vibrating by the time he punched in the code at the gate to let himself in, pulling up to the front door and sending Carrie a quick message to let her know they were here.

The front door opened and she was coming down the steps dressed in baggy pink pajama pants and a matching t-shirt before he was even all the way out of his truck.

Han bounded out after him, racing over to Carrie and jumping up trying to give her kisses.

“Han! That is no way to greet a lady!”

Carrie was laughing and trying to push the big dog down so she could pet him. “It’s ok. It’s nice that anyone is this excited to see me.”

Reggie frowned as he shut the door of his truck. “Are you kidding? Who wouldn’t be excited to see you?”

She waved her hand attempting to dismiss the comment as she finally got Han to sit and she knelt in front of him scratching behind his ears. “Who’s a good boy?” she cooed.

“Carrie?” Reggie stopped in front of her. “What’s going on? Where’s your dad? Hell where’s the staff you usually have here?”

She wrapped her arms around Han’s neck and looked up at him. “Dad is in New York for the weekend on business and we haven’t had live-in staff in almost six months.”

How did he not know this? He talked to Carrie pretty regularly he thought but apparently there were things she’d been leaving out. He nodded toward the house. “Want me to come in?”

Carrie ducked her head rubbing her check against Han’s soft fur. “You don’t have to. I have Han now… thank you.” She looked up at him and those big brown eyes looked so sad and lost.

“That wasn’t the question Care.” He reached a hand out to her and she took it standing up and looking him in the eyes as he asked again. “Do YOU want me to come in?” He wasn’t trying to imply more than the words he was saying but they both knew he was offering to stay the night too.

She nodded and took a step toward him. Han scooted out from between them and darted into the house, no doubt headed toward her room. Reggie took her other hand, holding them both.

“What’s going on darlin’?”

She closed her eyes and bit her lip shaking her head. “I just feel so stupid for being afraid of an empty house.”

“Carrie,” he squeezed her hands and waited for her to open her eyes. “There is nothing stupid about you,” he said softly shaking his head. “You have every right to be nervous about being alone after what happened.”

“It’s been almost a year Reg and nothing new has happened. Derek is still in jail.” She looked away from him. “I need to get on with my life.”

He didn’t know what to say, she wasn’t wrong but everyone got over trauma at different speeds. He pulled her into a hug, sliding his arms around her thin frame and holding her tight. “Just tell me what I can do?” They’d been friends for years and he cared about the woman in his arms more than he’d ever admit.

“You’re already doing it Reg.” she hugged him back just as tight. “You’re the best friend I’ve ever had.”

He felt his heart drop just a little at the word friend but that’s what they were and that’s what she needed. “Better not let Flynn or Julie hear you say that,” he said trying to lighten the mood.

“I didn’t message them.” Carrie pulled away from him and he saw the tears in her eyes. “I messaged you.”

He nodded, “And I’m here.”

She nodded again and let her hand slid down his arm till she could lace their fingers together. “Would you mind staying?”

He shook his head feeling like his voice might have left him.

Carrie took a step toward the front stairs pulling him with her. “Will you stay with me and Han?”

They both knew Han slept in her bed.

He licked his lips and nodded finding his voice. “Are you sure?”

She nodded, “Just to sleep.” A ghost of her usual smile found its way onto her lips. “For now...”

“Ok,” he followed her up the stairs and into her house shutting the front door behind them.

They got in bed that night, the dog between them, and they stroked his fur as they talked well into the morning. Reggie found out about all the fears and anxiety she’d been hiding from everyone and he confessed to her just how lonely he’d been feeling about living in a house with two couples. No matter how much you loved them.

They finally drifted off to sleep sometime around three with Han snuggled up between them but when the sun streaming in her windows finally woke him the dog was gone and Carrie was asleep in his arms.

It was the first morning of many they woke up together and the last time Reggie went to bed thinking he was only ever Carrie’s friend.

[littlemourningstar]

.

I’m scared. Terrified actually. I’ve been sick for weeks and new things keep popping up. My Covid tests have been negative which is good but it doesn’t change how my husband flinches when I cough too hard or how my neighbors must grab an extra bottle of disinfectant at the store after they hear me through the walls. It doesn’t change how I still have to be a person for everyone around me even when I’m so scared and so sick. I have to take the dog out and my husband needs groceries for lunch but I can’t drive because of the medications I’m on and my brother and sister in law have a two year old and a teething baby and need extra hands and now I don’t have hands to give them that aren’t covered in hives and so shaky I missed opening the car door three times before I got it. It doesn’t change that I’m paranoid of everything I eat and do in case I suddenly without warning developed a peanut allergy or an allergy to something else in our home and any moment I could go into shock and not have anyone to help me. My husband has to work and can’t take any more time off to take care of me and even if he could I’ve become nothing but a burden. I ask for so many little things all at once. I’ve been coughing and it’s annoying and I’m itchy so he can’t hold me and I’m stressed so I need support from him but I can’t ask that of him because I already ask for enough. I’m scared of going to bed at night because I’ll wake up covered in hives again and I’m scared to do anything but lay in bed or sit on the couch for fear I may collapse. My throat feels like it’s closing but I can breathe so that means I’m fine. I have to be fine. I’m a hypochondriac apparently so it’s obviously just stress and anxiety and not my looming death but it could be and that scares me.

My mom is too busy with my grandpa to worry about me so I just say I’m fine and my brother can say he loves having me over as much as he wants but it doesn’t change how I feel like an imposter in his home. I feel like I shouldn’t tell my niece I love her because it’s overstepping my bounds like I shouldn’t care so much about a child who isn’t mine because I made peace with not wanting kids and because I can’t have them. It would kill me if I did so I can’t.

I don’t have real friends anymore so all I have are the people I talk to online and they’re all going through other things and I’m just a burden. All the time. I can never seem to shut up when I talk about myself and I hate it I hate how much I talk about myself all the time but I just want Someone Anyone to know I exist and I’m here and I just don’t want to be scared anymore. I want to be okay again and I don’t know if I ever will be. I try so hard to be everything while simultaneously being nothing. Don’t take up space. Don’t complain. Don’t mention xyz. I’m tired. I just wish I could have a normal life.

I miss just being another weird girl in elementary school who had friends and an annoying older brother and a dad who still loved her and was still there and a mom who wasn’t as worn down by the things she’s taken on. A mom who was still emotionally attached and trying. Before I could realize I’d been abused and hurt and wasn’t safe anywhere before I’d been bullied to the point of no return before I’d ever thought about dying like it was a welcome payoff for all the suffering.

I’m so tired.

I just want to be ok.

I want to wake up without pain and sickness and grief.

If you’re reading this and concerned don’t worry yourself; I’m safe. Unless post nasal drip and hives kills.

I just wanna feel like a person again. Not a husk being held together with medications and a silly disposition.

I wish I could have seen my niece today. I miss when she calls my name and asks to play games. I hope she always loves me this much.

[currently-transcending]

A Twin Flame's Cry

Billy loved Eileen with all his might,

A love that burned, both day and night.

Through every storm, through every tear,

He held her close, despite his fear.

His heart had waited all his life,

To find his twin flame, his perfect wife.

Eileen, the one who made him whole,

The other half of his burning soul.

But Billy's past, so filled with pain,

Crept in like thunder, like endless rain.

Though sober now, his fears were strong,

Afraid he'd lose her all along.

Eileen, she loved him, pure and deep,

But walls around her heart did creep.

She wanted love, in tokens, signs,

Yet Billy gave her a wicked lies

He didn’t mean them, didn’t know

The devil had him already in tow

Every breath, each thought he'd spare,

Was filled with gratitude for her care.

But fears and drugs began to sway,

The bond they’d built began to fray.

He sought her dreams through broken means,

Selling his soul for golden schemes.

In shadows dark, he fought his fight,

But lost his way in the dead of night.

Mushrooms bursting, Roxie’s crushed

Inside his soul he was a mess

But worse a smile hiding this

He knew he deep down he was always less

Golden king better liar

Broke her heart like a peasant fryer

Time and chance again

She watched his end start to begin

Eileen, her heart, it turned to stone,

Brick by brick, she stood alone.

While Billy crumbled, lost in pain,

A storm within he couldn’t contain.

Sharing same bed, sharing frame

But 2 souls once bound

She held onto one, his no where to be found

She pushed him out

He left in shame

With no hope he’d ever be ok

Month of numbing, month of burning, months so many dark and dire

One flame had lost his fire

Yet deep inside, a love remained,

A flame that never could be tamed.

He fought the devil, every day,

Hoping she'd return like May.

Through sleepless nights and endless cries,

He longed to gaze into her eyes.

He prayed and changed, he sought the light,

To mend their love, to make things right.

For Eileen’s smile was all he sought,

The joy that only she had brought.

Twin flames, they’re bound, through highs and lows

A love that in eternity grows.

Drug sick retching, her curling toes

Wandering lost while she still grows

He went to rehab

Frodo the shire

She found happiness inside her

No sleep in weeks he was so tired

All the pain that once transpired

Amplified and burnt like myre

Though darkness tried to tear them down,

Billy wore his love as a crown.

He’d fight, he’d rise, no fear, no shame,

For Eileen, his heart would always claim.

Twin flames once lost, but never gone,

Their love, like fire, still burns on.

Billy and Eileen, hearts intertwined,

A love so rare, forever enshrined

Each petal soft, each thorn removed,

A sign that his devotion proved.

He sent them with a promise clear,

No more demons, no more fear.

She opened up the poem he'd written,

With every word, her heart was smitten.

He’d labored long, through nights of pain,

To show her that he’d broken his chain.

“I didn’t mean to rush, to hurt,

I’ve fought for you through his endless dirt.

I’ve healed the wounds that held me down,

And all I seek is your heart’s crown.”

If you sense any of this is a lie, you can leave and I will die

He promised faith, he promised care,

That in her soul, he’d always be there.

No more lies, no more doubt,

Just love and truth, he’d never flout.

Eileen felt a stirring deep within,

A spark that spoke of where they’d been.

Twin flames, they never fade away,

Their bond would light another day.

Could she trust him, take the leap?

For in her dreams, he haunted sleep.

She missed him, missed that sacred touch,

But was his love still just as much?

Billy, too, stood on the edge,

Each day without her, he’d pledge—

To fight, to grow, to never stray,

But still, his heart would wrench, then tumble and then lay.

There were moments he almost broke,

His mind in darkness, cloaked in smoke.

The world without her felt so cold,

He’d close his eyes, and dreams would fold.

Dreams of her eyes not money not gold

He couldn’t stand the thought of her,

In another’s arms, her love a blur.

But still, he fought, he didn’t give in,

His twin flame’s love was his to win.

He prayed, he worked, he healed his heart,

Knowing they’d shouldn’t be apart.

For Billy knew what lay ahead—

A future where their love was fed.

And then she smiled, she made her choice,

Her soul reached out, she heard his voice.

For in their hearts, they always knew,

Twin flames forever, born anew.

On her birthday, the moonlight shone,

And in that light, their love had grown.

Two flames ignited, one inferno bright,

Together, they birthed a new world’s light.

Billy and Eileen, legends say,

Are still the greatest love today.

Their story, told in stars above,

An endless tale of twin flame love.

[imperialmask]

Homeworld Bound Vol 1 (London Calling) Chapter 1: Azure

As he woke up, Dan Peterson heard a faint whirring noise coming from somewhere in the mansion. His blue face reflecting the sunlight, he sat up and looked around, the sun has just rose. Exhausted, Dan got out of bed and towards his en-suite to get ready for the day; He put on his morning clothes and headed out of his room to find whatever thing was making that hideous noise. The culprit was in the kitchen, he found it to be his sister Athena making a smoothie to a degree of success. He walks towards her to ask her a question but fails to get any words out past the loud WHRRRRRRR of the blender. When she finally notices him, she stops blending and looks at him.

"Oh, morning." She says, weirdly cheery for 6 in the morning.

"Yeah Hi, what are you making?" He asks.

"Just a berry smoothie like Mom used to make"

"Mom's berry smoothies were red, why's your's green?"

They both look at the concoction in the blender for a second before looking at each other. Athena has the oh so classic face of realising you have failed on something not serious.

"Whatever, want breakfast?" Dan asks her.

"Depends on what it is" She answers.

"Pancakes"

"I prefer waffles but sure"

Dan sighs as he goes to make pancakes. He grabs the flower, the eggs, the sugar, the butter, the milk, the pan and sighs. He stares into the pan contemplating, thinking about his life. He's in his 20s yet he feels 50, a mid life crisis is on the way. Oh god, is he gonna be dead by 40? Wouldn't surprise him, it'd probably be a stress heart attack or stroke. Isn't that how Grandpa died?

"You ok bud?" Athena asks, noticing his lack of making anything.

Dan snaps out of it to look at Athena.

"Yeah, yeah. Fine."

Athena hops off the counter and walks over to him.

"Go sit down, i'll make breakfast" She tells him. Dan looks at her skeptically before Athena looks up at him and notices his glare.

"I wont burn the house down!" She snaps, slightly offended.

"Ok, it trust you" Dan says before walking away to the next room over which is a dining room with a small sofa to lay on when relaxing. He falls onto it back first and stares at the celling. What's up with him today? Such a weird funk.

His phone bursts to life with a jarring ring. He reaches for his pocket and looks at it, slightly reeling from the sudden exposure of light. There's a call for him from someone named "Bubby", he notices the name and his face lights up with an immediate answer.

"Hey L." Dan talks into the phone.

"Hey-yo Daniel! How we feeling today bubba?" A woman answers on the other side.

"Like shit if i'm being honest Bubby."

"Bubby?" Athena shouts from the other room.

"Keep your mouth shut!" Dan shouts back, Athena laughs in the other room.

"Athena annoying ya'?" The woman on the phone asks.

"No, i'm just tired. I've spent months trying to get this promotion and Hudson keeps passing me up on it." Dan answers.

"Bubs, how many times have i got to tell you? March into his office, slap him in the face and tell him 'I am Daniel Peterson, Son of Jones Peterson, and i demand you promote me to squad lead and let me make my own squad'."

"It's not that easy. If i even dare mention my father then it'll just be a nepotism thing all over again, Dad doesn't need that right now with the election beginning soon."

"The Peterson name has weight to it outside of your Dad, they've been protecting Salem since before anyone can remember"

"I don't wanna go through my whole life relying on my family name"

"You still should march in there and tell him what you want, you gotta stop being passive about this Dan. Take the things you want in life!"

"Ok, ok. I'll do it." Dan sighs, defeated.

"Good to hear, i'm heading into work so i'll see you later. Don't come home with a no!" She tells him.

They tell each other bye and hang up. Dan walks back into the kitchen where a plate of waffles waits. He stares at them in confusion before seeing Athena turn around with a plate of blueberry pancakes, she smiles at him and puts them infront of him.

Dan starts to eat them, as he puts a chunk with blueberry in his mouth, Athena speaks.

"Cannibal" She jokes. Dan stares at her in annoyance.

Both of them hop in Dan's car to head to work. They drive out of the clean stone drive way and onto a clean fresh asphalt road on the side of Zeqko Mountain in the Altai Heights. The road barrier is a see through material, a blue field of sorts with white and yellow metal floating above it projecting it onto the side of the road. The duo calmly descended the mountain road, passing villas and mansions for the wealthiest men in town, the gold and marble sparkling in their eyes. Altai Heights was a monument to the decadence and hubris of society but god dam if it wasn't pretty. 3 mountains dedicated purely to the ultra rich, houses and parties to rival even Gatsby in scale, wealth insultingly displayed and flaunted on their pretentious Olympus.

Then they saw it, the shining city of Salem. A metropolis of the highest order, a modern Eden with towers unmatched in scale and beauty anywhere else on Earth. Vehicles whizz and whrrr out of its many roads, ports and hangers; blocks of buildings clustered together in batches blotted the horizon, stretching out for as far as anyone could see. A city of monsters, magic and wonders, founded eons ago by Witches fleeing the old Salem Witch Trials. Hanging above was the glistening Salemonic Barrier, a fierce wall that kept the outside world away from the city. Founded by their ancestors, the mark of the Peterson family was felt by every single person within the city. A whole world for 15 miles on either side all sealed off from prying eyes.

Dan and Athena travelled into the city proper, seeing all kinds of creatures but it didn't phase them, this was just life in Salem after all. They pulled into an underground garage and parked, getting out of the car and heading towards an elevator. Dan was in his sleekest suit, grey with white linings and a burgundy shirt to compliment his blue face. Athena was in a purple jacket with a white shirt and a green skirt.

Athena spoke first, "going straight to Hudson's office then?"

"Maybe we could hold off and get settled first-"

"Boop!" Athena presses a button labelled 79 and the elevator doors close. Dan glares at her, a little angry and Athena cheekily smiles at him. The elevator shoots up, out of the underground basement and up towards the 79th floor and towards destiny.

"so, what do you want again?" Athena asks.

"I want to be a squad lead. I got passed over 3 years ago for Radcliffe and now i'm the only one of the noble kids without his own squad. I'm an advanced grade, i'm a Peterson, i'm the Azure, i need my own room to move and my own people to lead or else what's the point of any of that, you know?" Dan monologues.

"Yeah, yeah. I mean i'm Advanced Grade, i'm a Peterson, why don't i get a squad too?" Athena sarcastically asks.

"Who'd you think i wanted to be my second in command?" Dan replies back. Athena's face lights up as Dan gets out on the 79th floor.

The floor was a grand office, a modern art deco kind of thing with green walls complimenting golden yellow bars streaking across them in a pattern that seemed to go nowhere and everywhere all at once. 2 large and grand wooden doors stood proud and shut like statues guarding the entrance way to a palace, engraved on them was an intricate pattern of a coat of arms. Next to it was a grand wooden desk as large as a canoe with somebody sitting at it, somehow the inherent wealth of the room didn't seem to affect the computer which was an outdated blocky thing that looked like you couldn't even run solitaire on it.

He walks towards the receptionist at the front desk, a small lady covered in wrinkles.

"Name." She croaned.

"Daniel Peterson." Dan spouted back.

"Not got a meeting. Get out." She spouts back after a brief lookover her notebook.

"Tell him its vital."

"No."

"What do you mean no?"

"He's busy. Go back to work."

"Lady, my name is on the line here!"

"He's busy."

Suddenly, a scrawny man with glasses walks through. Dan recognises and calls out his name.

"Moesby!"

"Daniel!" The man ecstatically calls back. "Boy, oh boy am i glad to see you pal, how've ya been bud?"

"I'm good, how's Hudson?"

"He's smoking right now, let me get you in he'd love to see ya." Moesby almost quite literally drags Dan into the office, as he walks away he smugly smiles at the grouchy receptionist.

Walking in, he sees an old man with greying hair smoking a cigar. A large scar goes down the left side of his face, across his nose and onto the right cheek. An aura of authority wafts around him like the smoke from his cigar, he turns to Dan and looks him dead in the eyes.

"Jones' Boy, How'ra ya?" He exclaims with a jovial yet relaxed tone; it was old and familiar yet still serious.

"Doing fine, not here for a social catch up though." Dan responds, casually anxious.

"What'd'ya want." The man asked in a more annoyed tone. "Hudson, I want you to make me a squad lead, new squad new everything. You passed me up 3 years ago when i'm just as capable as Red, i've proven myself time and time again. Remember Rio with those bandits? or Glasgow and the Avgnis? Volvograd, Cairo, Melbourne, Boston. Last week alone, i fought off Draco in Toronto, when Red did that he got a parade but when i put my neck out for it, i get a pat on the back. How many times do i have to put my life on the line for you to realise i'm ready for a promotion?"

Hudson stares at him, unimpressed.

"Pass me your work card." He simply asks. Dan gives it to him.

He holds it infront of Dan and points at his last name.

"If i promoted the golden boy of the Petersons, there'd be outrage. I'd promote you if it was up to me, but it ain't. Red's a treasure to Salem, he got the promotion because he saved the city from the Basilisk invasion 3 years ago. Your missions are top secret out of city affairs, they're important sure but they aren't as flashy as Red's. I can't give Salem a hero they don't want." Hudson tells him.

"So what should i do?" Dan asks adamantly, unshaken by this.

"Prove your nobilitas to the people, show them why you're a Peterson."

Dan looks out the window, contemplating how best to do this. He sees Moesby waddle over to Hudson and show him something on a tablet, they both look up and out the window at the blue sky before looking down again. Dan spots something, something yellow in the sky but it's tiny. He squints to look at it, Hudson and Moesby walk over to him with Hudson putting his hand on his shoulder.

"Been tracking it for a week when we found out it was gonna hit Earth." Moesby tells him. Hudson hands him the tablet which shows a grey cylinder of some kind and some data pointing to something about to crash into Earth from space.

"Wait, is this a meteor or aliens?" Dan asks, confused and slightly worried.

"Most likely of alien origin, be prepared for a fight." Moesby explains.

"It'll land just outside the city, we've been holding this one in our back pocket for ya." Hudson tells Dan with a smile. A wide smile stretches across Dan's face.

"When will it land?" Dan asks with too much joy for being about to get into a fight.

"In an hour. Get out of here, go get ready, you got a fight to prepare for!" Hudson tells him.

Dan hands the tablet back and runs out of the room. Moesby and Hudson look out the window again.

"Are you confident in this plan, sir?" Moesby asks.

"Adonis was the greatest hero of his time, if that man could reach even a 10th of his strength then it'll all go smoothly." He responds.

As he stares at the yellow orb hurling towards them, he smiles as he realises something.

"It's moving too fast." Hudson tells Moesby.

As Dan runs down to the armoury to grab his weapons, he notices Athena getting ready for training. Practically jumping up and down with energy, she looks at him confused.

"You alright?" She asks.

"There's an alien whose gonna hit the city in an hour, gotta stop it if i want that promotion." He answers.

"Oh shit, want some help?"

"Of course."

Athena grabs her bow and Dan grabs his shield. As the 2 get ready to leave, they hear a loud fwshing noise coming from outside, almost as if a plane was flying overhead despite the fact they're in a basement level. They look up in confusion before heading a loud bang and the ground rumbling, the 2 of them head up to the ground floor immediately and see everyone in a panic. They run outside to see a hole was made around the 40th floor of the tower, following it they look into the sky to see a similarly shaped hole bleeding a dark grey into the otherwise sunny blue sky, pellets of snow trickle from the hole like blood gushing out of a wound.

Dan's earpiece starts ringing in his hand, he puts it in and answers it.

"The UFO may have been moving a bit faster than originally thought. It crashed straight through the barrier and into Peterson Tower before landing just outside of town in Wolten." Moesby tells him.

"Me and Athena are going there now, we'll handle it." Dan replies back.

"Good luck to ya!" Moesby cheers before hanging up.

The 2 of them run off towards the crash site, no idea about the change this will bring to their lives.

[lilacastar]

Some things could never be understood.

Maybe Garret would never find the answer to why things were the way they were. Why no one wanted to see the signs, or care for a child in need. And it wasn't ok. But maybe acknowledging it was a step towards healing.

And finally, after falling down those spirals over and over, never wanting to think about the pain, Garret was ready to acknowledge it. He needed help. He was bound to be stuck in the same old cycle if he just kept coping in the same ways he had been. And how he was coping- well, hadn't been as bad as it could be. But it wasn't in any direction of healing.

It would start as a small little thing that would only grow. Ignore the little feeling, and keep ignoring it until you can't. Until it all bubbled over in a way that left an imprint for miles, all who were near could see. Because it wasn't just him that it affected, it hurt people he cared about. Maybe he was grown, but the child inside that never got to grow up still acted out. Such a confusing way to be- grown too fast yet still a child.

His phone began to ring, causing the splitting pain in his head to flair. He patted his pockets, which were found empty, then sat up to search the couch. The movement sent a surge of nausea through his system, but he mustered through and shortly found his device in the cushion.

[Incoming call: Liz]

For a moment, his breath caught in worry of what she could say. He hadn't been well to her, she had put in so much effort trying to help, but he refused to hear.

He accepted the call, but found he didn't even know how to start.

"Hey..." Her tired voice came through. Liz sounded like she had woken up a short moment ago, just as he had.

"Hey," He mirrored. It was quiet for a bit, the only sound being the static between the line. "You ok?"

"Yeah," She sighed, but her tone told the opposite. "I had like. A really shitty day yesterday."

"Guess that makes two of us," He smiled softly.

"I'm sorry for blowing up at you last night. I just- yeah. We're both stressed and tired. And I know you're going through some shit, so I'm sorry."

"I'ts ok, really. You were right about a lot of stuff. Everything, really."

"Are you though? Ok?"

"I'm-" He wanted to reassure her, make things better and tell her he was. It's what he would've done before the fight. But saying things to make her feel better, so he could be left alone, wasn't right anymore. And it wouldn't help him be better.

"I'm actually not ok." His voice trembled, but he kept going this time. "You were right about a thing going on with me, and I just never felt ok enough to talk about it."

"Is it ok now? I'm not going to pressure you."

He laughed, aggravating the pain of a hangover. "No, I'm not sure if I ever will be. Yeah, I'll never be ready to talk about it."

"Oh..."

"But I will talk about it anyway. Not being ready isn't going to stop me from trying anymore."

"Garret swear to god, you're going to make me cry right now and my head hurts so bad,"

"Lizzie~" He taunted. "Are you hungover after telling me not to drink?"

"Yeah, yeah, I ate my words." She groaned.

"You're such a hypocrite!"

"Oh my god, I know, I'm sorry."

"I'm just teasing. Cause I am- so very hungover right now."

"Garret!"

"Hey, you can't say shit now."

"We'll see about that when I come home, I'll always have shit to say to you."

"We're going to have a lot to say in person." He sighed. "I need help."

"It's ok to need help."

"No, I mean literally. If I get off the couch, I think I'm going to pass out."

"You couldn't even make it to the bed?" She couldn't contain the laughter in her voice.

"The bed felt too empty without you..."

"Ok now I'm really going to cry. Fuck, I miss you."

"I miss you too."

-

Despite Garret's instincts, despite everything inside telling him he's a burden for needing help, he let himself be cared for. Even though Liz herself was in pain and tired, Garret let her help him through the worst of it. And together they rested, hydrated, and ate what was safe.

Garret couldn't tell which hurt worse: Having thrown all of his model planes in a trash bag, or Liz's heartbroken reaction to seeing the aftermath. The shelves looked so empty and quiet without them, and it ached having been the very one to get rid of it all. But things could always be rebuilt. It would never be the same, and there would always be marks where the damage was done and repaired. But that was ok. It was a part of healing. And there were always new things to build in the future.

And through many bouts of uncertainty, shaking, crying, and comforting- Garret let go of what he'd been holding in alone for so long. He finally came undone, not just for Liz, but for himself. And out poured his heart. From the time of elementary to now, twenty-two years of silent trauma was finally heard.

And he could finally let go of the breath he didn't even realize he was holding.