#shut up sven

[svenska-ghost]

I can't wait for toxic(?) yuri this update

[shutupsven]

oh joy, (/sarcasm) i’m just now realizing i would be considered a victim of cocsa …

[joznii]

never rlly get used to skyrim winters

[celticcatgirl2]

“I’m a VICTIM of CANCEL CULTURE!!!”

[yours-the-author]

Stickmintober 2024 Day 2: Hats

Everyone and their mother has done the Llamas with Hats bit with their blorbo's, but they usually do the "that kills people!" one (which is a hilarious bit!). I decided to mix it up a little and do the bit from the episode where Carl sinks an entire cruise liner.

The idea of Burt, a notably lax and otherwise chill character, just deciding to go "screw it" and sink an entire boat while killing at least dozens, is extremely amusing to me. Sven is less entertained, but he made it to the life boat, so he should count himself lucky (that is supposed to be a life boat that they're standing on, by the way, I wasn't sure if that was obvious).

Day 2, done! Day 3 is tomorrow, but I'll have to draw the comic after work, so it'll likely be posted late like these last two days have been. Hope you enjoyed this!

[skijumpingf1]

STUNNING

[archangeldyke-all]

High school Sevika x Secret admirer Reader. Like Sevika keeps getting love notes from reader and she’s just like .. da fuq. She’s just too emotionally constipated to realise their love notes FOR HER. And reader (as well are) is so hopelessly in love with her.

okay OKAY this is so fucking cute i'm gonna make this the masc4masc childhood friends story too heheeh

lets just assume zaun has a underfunded shitty education system lol

men and minors dni

sevika keeps getting these stupid fucking letters.

they're written in glitter pen, usually on construction paper cut out into a heart. the handwriting is agonizingly neat, like whoever's writing them's spending hours getting their cursive perfect. they're always unsigned, and they usually contain some stupid, romantic compliment, like 'your eyes are the stars of my galaxy' and shit.

"whatcha got sev?" you ask as you catch up with her in the hallway, hipchecking her as she glares down at the latest of her growing collection.

this one reads 'sev, you're prettier than you let yourself think.'

sevika scoffs and crumbles the paper up into a ball.

"are there any other sevika's in this school?" she asks. you blink up at her.

"what?"

"like, does anybody else have my name? or is there a sev or a seven or a sven?"

"fuck are you talking about?" you ask.

sevika groans and shoves the note into your hands. "this!! i keep getting these stupid ass love notes. some poor sap's got the wrong fucking locker, or the wrong sevika, or something." she scoffs.

you don't laugh. sevika slows her walk to blink over at you.

you're... staring at her. almost like you're angry?

"what?" she asks.

you take a deep breath then shake your head. "n-nothing."

"nothing?"

"it's nothing." you insist, nodding. sevika glares at you.

"you're horrible at lying."

"and you're gonna be late to chemistry."

"so i'll skip." sevika shrugs and nudges your shoulder. "what's that look for?"

"you're so fucking stupid!" you shout. sevika jumps a bit. you huff, then smack sevika's shoulder as you storm down the hall. she jogs to keep up with you. "you-- you get these romantic, heartfelt notes, addressed to you, and you think; what? there's another sevika in school? you're fucking ridiculous!"

"wh-- you think these are for me!?"

"of course they are!"

"who the fuck would write love letters for me?!" sevika asks.

honestly, she's completely flabbergasted. you never struck sevika as the kinda girl who cares about stupid shit like romance, but apparently it means a lot to you.

"someone who likes you, you idiot! a-and you're probably hurting their fucking feelings by treating their hard work like garbage. this is like the sixth one you've crumpled up. you spit your gum in the first one." you huff.

sevika blinks at you. she didn't tell you about the notes until now.

you seem to realize this at the same moment, because your walking comes to a halt, your eyes stuck on something far away.

sevika starts to giggle. your shoulders shoot up to your ears. "shut up." you mumble.

sevika's laughter only grows. "oh, janna." she snorts and throws an arm around your shoulders, pulling you into her chest. "what, you gotta crush on me?!" she asks.

you glare up at her. "'y don't have to laugh about it."

"no, i'm not-- i just-- you're so fucking cool, you don't need to leave stupid notes in my locker, i already--" sevika cuts herself off. you giggle. it's her turn to fluster. "shut up." she demands. you giggle.

"c'mon. let's ditch and smoke under the bleachers." you suggest, tugging sevika toward the exit.

as you walk outside, sevika worms her wrist out of your grip and replaces it with her hand-- her fingers intertwined with yours.

"you should become a professional card maker."

"fuck off."

"i'm serious! they're impressive." she says. you groan.

"they're cheesy, i know, i just--"

sevika darts in and kisses your cheek.

you're so distracted by the feeling of her soft lips against your cheek that you walk face first into a low-hanging bar under the bleachers.

sevika cackles as you clutch your head.

taglist!

@fyeahnix @lavendersgirl @half-of-a-gay @thesevi0lentdelights @sexysapphicshopowner

@kissyslut @chuucanchuucan @badbye666 @femme-historian @lia-winther

@lavenderbabu @emiliabby @sevikasbeloved @hellorai @my-taintedheart

@glass-apothecary @macaroni676 @artinvain @k3n-dyll @sevsdollette

@ellieslob @xayn-xd @keikuahh @maneskinwh0re @raphaellearp

@iamastar @sevikitty @mascdom @nhaaauyen @annesunshiner

@mirconreadzztuff22 @veoomvroom @lushh-s3vik4s @katyawooga @lesbodietcoke

@strawberrykidneystone @vkumi @fict1onallyobsessed @dvrkhcld @sweetybuzz25

@sluttysierraaa @snake-in-a-flower-crown @ruiwonderz @littlemisszaunite @biblicalcrybaby

@blackgaladriel @nightlyconfusion @dancingqu33n17 @losernb @p1nkearth

taglist!!

@sevikas-baby @ghostscandys

[munsster]

i'm so so obsessed with the winter in hawkins series!! i love a loser!steve and the kids pushing the steve x reader agenda

LITERALLY ME TOO! i am so glad u like it. truly nothing and no one compares to poor babygirl loser!steve. and now because i’m crazy, i came up with a billion headcanons for winter in hawkins au.

robin was obviously definitely the first one to notice babygirls longing glances (does that make robin olaf or sven in this situation…)

of course, steve was catching strays from dustin long before but it was all conjecture for like the first month

once robin pinpointed steve’s desperation and utter infatuation with you, she was hooked and intent on finding dumb excuses for the two of you to be alone

aka robin is the WORST instigator and only encourages loser!steve

yes, she thoroughly clowns on him, but her heart says steve x reader ftw

the rest of the kids find out because dustin will. not. shut. up! about it

again, thanks to auntie robin only fanning the flames

(they came up with a group name for their shenanigans: the secret society consisting of everyone who thinks steve is her prince charming OR the prince charming project for short)

(dustin uses the full name every time)

(the main points at meetings include planning your wedding, drawing your future children, and anything anti-brad)

speaking of brad, steve still remembers exactly where he was when you told him you got a new boyfriend

he cried in his car after work that day

robin was in the passenger seat

she cried, too

that was really what spurred loser!steve on

before that, steve was minding his own hopeless romantic business, but the introduction of brad put emphasis on the ‘hopeless’ aspect

honestly, steve’s just glad he still gets to see you every weekend for game night

brad is not invited to game night

you don’t think he’d come even if he was

steve hates brad

regardless of br*d, steve is not shy about complimenting you on anything and everything

sure, it makes him a little blushy thinking about how you’ll react

with that dazzling smile he adores

and yeah, theres a tiny wobble in his voice when he gets your attention

but you don’t seem to notice

and if you do, you don’t seem care

(you always notice, and you think it’s sweet)

“i like your hair like that”

“really? thanks, stevie!”

oh he melts

whenever you compliment him back, he takes diligent notes

one time he wore the same shirt three times in one week just because you mentioned how it complimented his eyes

he also got a big head when you told him his sailor outfit makes him look dashing

sometimes the kids write out lists of really good and not at all embarrassing pick up lines

sometimes these lists suspiciously wind up in steve’s glove box or tip jar

one time a list appeared in his wallet

it’s weird that they practically pickpocketed him but it’s weirder that they had access to his wallet and didn’t take the twenty

robin has a secret scrapbook dedicated to you and steve

it has secret pictures (courtesy of el), ticket stubs, cute stickers, and random receipts

if you couldn’t already tell, everyone is very normal about the situation

steve gets to know you so well that you actually start saying things in tandem

he knows your ice cream order, your coffee order, what temperature you like the thermostat, the name of your first pet

he’s never been good at memorization but it feels so easy knowing it’s all attached to you somehow

he will often bring you random little flowers that seem so small in the palm of his hand

it makes him feel very proud when you tuck them behind your ear

even more so when you let him do it for you

one late summer night, steve hosts a sleepover

OR the kids begged and begged him to either ask you on a date or let everyone use his pool for the night and watch a scary movie and stay up really late and eat junk food

so because he’s a loser, steve hosts a sleepover

and his heart flutters when you show up on his dimly lit doorstep with a gaggle of children behind you

they push past the two of you and barrel straight towards the back door

you warn him, saying you’re pretty sure only two of them brought towels

he chuckles and assures you that they do this every time and he already has a stack set out

you laugh in response and he thinks this is what a heart attack feels like

just imagine how he survived the rest of the night basking in your company and the soft moonlight

you sat next to him during the movie and fell asleep on his shoulder and he swears he’s never been so still

and the movie was really scary

steve wishes brad wasn’t such a dick

especially because he’s made you cry now on a handful of different occasions

steve’s flattered that he’s the first one you call, but he’s heartbroken hearing your choked sobs through the receiver

it’s kind of like a routine the way you always apologize for dumping everything on him and the way he tells you he’d do it any time

for you

at this point, he doesn’t care how desperate he makes himself seem

he really cares about you

steve likes you, and brad could spare a couple teeth

but he knows you love brad blahblahblah que sera sera whatever

he should’ve asked you out when he had the chance instead of sulking and pining

robin still has hope three months into the relationship

she knows for a fact steve still has a raging crush on you

those big brown eyes give everything away

and the way he gushes about your phone calls and your cute sweaters

something happens and i’m head over heels

steve has your gift picked out a month before the holiday season

little does he know, you’ve got his picked out, too

“i saw this in a shop window and thought of you…”

“i remember you mentioning that you wanted one…”

they really are just two losers fated to fall in love

sigh

more like this

masterlist

[suddenly-stickmin]

"Uniform" Shut up Sven it's a stupid fez

[theemporium]

please Sirius with best friend reader, he gets jealous that someone asks her to the ball, so they have a fight and she's also angry with him bcus he didn't ask her first. idiots in love, happy ending pls

thank you for requesting!🖤

.

“SHUT THE FUCK UP!”

“I’M NOT KIDDING!”

“HOLY SHIT!”

Each and every exclamation felt like nails on a chalkboard to Sirius as he watched you sit amongst the other girls, a wide grin on your face that you couldn’t wipe off your face even if you tried. And you had been acting like such for the better part of the last forty minutes. 

And Sirius was losing his patience.

The Yule Ball had been all everyone had been talking about. Between the decorations arriving for the last few weeks and the new flush of students from France and Bulgaria, it was all anyone could focus on. What mattered more then who was going to the ball together and who was getting rejected?

Sirius, just like everyone else, had been excited about the ball. 

Until you had come running into the common room, rambling away about how some Durmstrang boy had swooped in and asked you out—some boy that was clearly known in the group considering each of the girls’ reactions. And it irked him.

No, it fucking pissed him off and he couldn’t understand why.

“Do you think—” 

However, you cut yourself off when you noticed the way Sirius rolled his eyes and scoffed for what seemed like the hundredth time in the last five minutes. You shot the girls a look before you moved closer to your best friend, your eyebrows furrowed together.

“Are you okay?” you asked, taking the seat next to him on the couch.

He flashed you a false grin. “Of course. Everything’s fucking peachy, why wouldn’t I be okay?”

You frowned a little at his snappy tone. “Merlin, who shoved a stick up your ass?” 

“Nobody,” he grumbled and waved you off. “Go on, don’t let me distract you from what stress Steven wants to see you in.” 

“His name is Sven,” you corrected and, for some reason, that only pissed him off more.

“Like I give a flying fuck anyways,” Sirius muttered under his breath, looking everywhere but at you.

“Seriously, what has gotten into you?” you asked him, a little pissed off yourself now as you turned your body a little more to face him. “Just yesterday you were asking me to help you choose dressing robes and now—”

“Now I’m not going!” Sirius blurted out, catching you both by surprise.

“What?” you shook your head. “Why?!” 

“Because!” he stated simply. 

“Because what?” you pushed further. 

“Because I wanted to go with you!” Sirius exclaimed, a little breathless from his own confession as he stared at you. And then his voice dropped a little softer as he continued. “I wanted to go with you but you are now going with him.”

Your face softened. “Sirius—”

“No, I get it, it’s—” he took a deep breath and gave you a strained smile. “Just leave it, okay?”

“You’re an idiot,” you murmured fondly.

“I already know,” Sirius sighed.

“I wanted to go with you too,” you told him.

“I know you—” Sirius paused mid-sentence, frowning a little as he processed your words before turning to you. “You what?” 

“I wanted to go with you, Sirius,” you repeated, trying to bite back your grin as you took in his puppy dog expression. “You were just taking your damn time to ask.” 

“You could have asked too,” he muttered out defensively before he let out a breath. “You would have said yes?” 

“I still would,” you shrugged.

“And dump Sven?” 

“In a heartbeat.” 

“Oh baby,” Sirius grinned and quickly jumped up to his feet, holding his hand out to you. “Just you wait, this is gonna be the best ball invite of your life.” 

You raised your brows in amusement, letting him pull you up. “Is that so?” 

“Mhm,” he nodded as he pulled you closer. “Gotta make sure everyone in this damn castle knows you’re my girl.” 

“Just don’t leave me waiting too long or I’ll really have to go with Sven.”

.

[blushblushbear]

Hi, so, I really liked your headcanons about the boys sitting on the reader's lap so I really wanted to ask for your headcanons for the opposite (the reader sitting on the boys lap in this. If you want to do it, of course.)

GET READY TO SIT ON SOME LAPS FAM!

Nimh: FLUSTERED. He's beet red, covering his face, very twitchy, just a flustered MESS. He's not pushing you off though-- but he WILL get more flustered the more you cuddle up to him, just be warned.

Volks: Also flustered. Trying to play it cool. Failing. Keeps looking away then looking back at you rapid fire. He both can't look and can't look away. Get cuddly or give him a kiss and watch him turn red all the way from his neck to the top of his face

Kelby: surprised and a little flustered but very excited! Immediately puts his arms around you and pulls you in for a kiss.

Eli: Another person whose happy to see you in his lap. Pulls you in and starts nibbling on whatever he has access to. You can't just plop yourself in his lap and NOT expect to have hands and a mouth on you! Wanna cross the lap bridge, you gotta pay the kiss toll!

Anon: Freezes up at first but eventually puts his arms around you. He's very adverse to someone else being the one to initiated physical contact, but he's surprised how little he seems to mind with you. Easy does it though, he's liable to get overwhelmed and not in a good way if you don't take it slow

Garret: Is immediately happy to have you there and pulls you right into a bear hug. Hope you weren't planning to make this a quick sit cause you're not going anywhere!

Dmitri: Goes all Pepe Le'pew about it. Immediately has his hands on you, kissing up your arm till he gets to your neck and face, pulling you in close, whispering sweet nothings into your ear. What, you can't just offer him such an invitation and expect him to NOT take it!

Ichiban: Gets SO SO SO cuddly. Leaning on you right away, arms around you, snuggling into you. Y'all are gonna be like this for a while, so get comfy

William: Also pleasantly surprised! Holds you but doesn't have his hands all over you the way some of the other dudes do. He does however take your hand and kiss the back of it while giving you and wink and inviting you to get more comfortable in his lap.

Myx: Pulls you in for a big excited hug, kisses your cheek and bunch, welcome to loving town! Population: the two of you!

Stirling: Surprised but not displeased. Is has his hands on you but is much more coy about it. A gentle but steady hand on your hip, a finger running a feather light touch along your spine. Come closer won't you, he usually doesn't carve the heat, but he suddenly is in desperate need of your warmth...

Scale: It's not often someone gets the drop on him like that. Or drops on him like that... the surprises is probably why he feels so flustered. Yeah--- it's defiantly that and not anything else! Oh, his hands? Oh uh, yeah-- y-yeah he can hold you he guesses. I mean, since you're already here--- HIS FACE IS NOT THAT RED SHUT UP

Sven: Another excited hugger! BRING IT IN DARLING! It's the biggest bear hug from the most lanky arms lol!

Cole: Freezes up at first. You definitely surprised him. Once he processes what's happening though, he gets the most wicked grin on his face. His arms slink around you and he pulls you in tight, his head resting on your shoulder as he looks up at you with a look that's just as hungry as it is crazed. 'Hello my love, didn't expect you to drop in. But since you're here, why not stay a while, dearest?' as his arms around you grip tighter.

Poe: Quietly flustered. Very surprised. Not sure where to put his hands. they end up in yours and he melts a little as he looks deep into your eyes. You always know how to make him feel so sentimental out of nowhere...

Cashew: FLUSTERED AND RED ALL OVER! Stammering a bit, not sure where to put his hands, they're kind of moving around awkwardly finding a place to land that is familiar but not just coping a feel. Very excited but he doesn't know what to do. Kiss him now and you'll probably end him lol

Seth: Just ends up excitedly chuckling as he pulls you in. If ye wish yourself free, you must answer his riddles three! And better hurry, his teeth are feeling hungry and your neck is looking pretty bite-able!

Reece: Might not fully notice at first. You settle into his lap and he fully lets you, adjusting himself to accommodate your presence. It's only when he finally breaks away from what his been working on that he notices you're in his lap and so so very close. Now he's all flustered, but he can't say he minds...

Logan: Another excited hugger. Maybe not as bear huggy as the rest but he's definitely pulling you in and holding you. You're probably about to get covered in kisses too so, watch out I guess lol

Aki: Happily surprised! Oh ho, what's this?? he didn't even need to catch the bunny! The bunny just hopped right into his lap! his arms go around you and he's going to find the most ticklish place on your neck to kiss you, then kiss you there until you cry from laughing!

Haru: Well, well, well-- isn't this a treat. To what does he owe the pleasure? One of his arms snakes around your shoulder in an instant and the other is raising the back of your hand to his lips. The whole time his eyes are all over you, probably making a mental list of where on you his lips should end up next. You just entered the fox's den and you're not getting out any time soon...

Fuyu: SURPRISED. FLUSTERED. FROZEN. But the moment your hand touches him he begins to melt. He's not sure what to do next but his arms go around you on instinct and he's pulling you in, nuzzling into your form and enjoying you warmth. He hates how much he's putty in your hands when you get affectionate but he also doesn't.

Ace: Happy, surprised, excited, a little flustered, not sure where to put his hands first! One arm ends up around your neck and pulls you into a flurry of cheek kisses. He's not gonna hold you hostage like some of the other guys will, but all the same, stay a while yeah??

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

Aita because I asked my friend to not name his kid the same name as my abusive dad because it triggers me?

✨👶🏼 so I notice myself, sorry but I have a mental disability so my grammar isn't great. Sorry if I sound weird.

So let's just call my friend Fred (23,he/him, trans man)and I'll call my dad's name Sven. Fred has one other child(1,m) who I'll call Winston and Fred's newest child (Unborn lol, we know its another boy) is with one of his partners Brooke(22, They/She, transfem nb girl). I also offhandedly mention my partner Rosey(25, Any pronouns, Genderfluid) a few times, Fred's other partner Alan (20s?, He/him, Trans man), and lastly Me (24, He/she, Genderfluid).

Me and Fred have been bffs for like 7 or 8 years and I and Rosey are godparents to Winston and Fred got pregnant again. This time from one of his partners Brooke , Winston's other dad isnt in the picture. Me and Fred are super close (nearly dated at one point but it was before Fred and Brooke got together the first time and we are no longer interested in each other like that.) and I've been following both of Fred's pregnancies just to make sure everything is ok (I'm not encroaching, I just get text updates on appointments and stuff. Fred's first pregnancy was rough.).

Without going into a whole timeline, Fred and Brooke dated a couple years ago for about a year but Brooke raised a hand to hit Fred (never made contact nor any other physical abuse however they used it as a threat) and was controlling over him, they broke up and lost contact and over the last year/year and a half, rekindled and Brooke says they've changed and Fred trusts them again. I still don't like Brooke for obvious reasons but I'm being civil and trying to let them earn my trust again. So far their relationship is fine and it's not my place to muddle so until Fred sets off alarms that Brooke has gone back to their old ways, I'm trusting my friend's judgement. Brooke has been doing great through this pregnancy.

Fred knows the gest about what my dad put me through and how abusive he was to me. He knows I can't even be near cigarette smoke because it reminds me of him. However, Fred doesn't know his name. It's not because Fred doesn't want to, my dad's name just never came up and i didnt realize he didnt know his name till a few hours ago.

Me and Rosey sat in a call with Fred, Brooke and Alan while Fred and Brooke were brainstorming name ideas (They wanted our input). Brooke suggested the name Sven. I wanna be clear, Brooke doesn't know my dad's name either so I don't think this was a way of attacking me or something sinister. The name Sven is standing in for is a very common name in my country, though it's not popular for us gen Zers, it is common for my dad's generation.

I obviously froze up a bit due to the mention of his name and although Rosey tried to bring it up, Fred and his partners are kinda known for interrupting (Usually not viciously) and they didn't hear her. Fred and Brooke chatted happily about what a handsome name Sven was and how they might just decide to stick with it here and now but they wanted to hear other options. I waited out till the end of the call when Alan left (I don't know them so I didn't want to accidentally tell them personal things about my history of abuse) and told Fred that Sven was my dad's name.

Fred gasped and quickly said he wouldn't choose Sven and that he was sorry he forgot his name. Brooke however said that that was not a good enough reason to not consider a name they both dearly loved not 10 seconds ago. I tried to tell Brooke about why my dad was a bad person and some of the lighter things he'd done (not in a trauma dump explicit way, just in a he did *insert form of abuse* way) but they shut me down and said it was their kid to decide the name of. Fred told him he was also a vote in the name and he didn't want to upset me unnecessarily. Brooke said they were done with the conversation and Fred said they'd talk about it later. Fred then said to me and Rosey that he'd handle it and ended the call.

After about 30 mins, I got a couple of texts from Brooke and Alan that I was a jerk for trying to push my triggers onto other people and causing a fight between them and Fred and it wasn't my baby to name. (Alan doesn't live with Brooke and Fred so Brooke told Alan first what happened.) I decided not to answer for an hour or so because I was already worked up and they both essentially called me an asshole for overstepping. Fred just says hes gonna handle them but now I'm just confused.

I can see where I might of overstepped but I wasn't trying to be controlling and even if they would of picked Sven, i would of still respected it and tried my best to get over it as best i can. Was I pushing my problems on others or was I just letting a friend know what that name might be a bit painful for me when the name was just a suggestion? I don't think I'm TA but I wanna see if I'm missing something?

(I just realized rereading this that there is some important context to be added; Sven is not a sentimental name to Fred, Brooke or Alan. It's not a parents or grandparents name that might need carried on, it was just a name they liked. I checked with Fred to see if that explained Brooke's anger or something and Fred said no, they just liked Sven. There also hasn't been any hostility before this with Brooke or Alan so I'm not sure where all this anger came from.)

What are these acronyms?

[nugatorysheep]

Glow Week yet again! This time for Rain! @glowweek (My thought was that this is immediately after it rained and they've gone out in the mud looking for weird stuff).

This one is a redraw of Aleth Romanillos' art but with Sven and Connor :3 Its a fun pastime of mine to make edits of official media and screenshots but convert it to their AU.

They're good target for edits because they look significantly different, but I can leave most of the background unaltered because they go through a lot of the same events that Steven and Connie do, in comparison to Leo who has a totally different vibe and early series of events or Druid who has 99 percent of his relevant story happen way after canon is over

Anyway I'll shut up lol

[thehumongouskargomice]

"that everyone wakes up again and we can talk about ski jumping again" really Sven REALLY??? would LOVE to see you talking about the actual comp once in a while otherwise just shut up at this point you've made your point more than enough 🙄

[grlwtskulltattoo]

Fly Low Carrion Crow - Chapter 2

Note: Just so you know, I’m completely winging this. I have some ideas for things that are going to happen, but for the most part, I’m just along for the ride.

Warnings: A slightly pissed off Irishman, a bit of pining. 

Pairing: Sihtric x OC (Octavia)

Summary: Octavia return to the clubhouse after leaving the bar. Sihtric is on the lookout for her, since she wouldn’t give him her number.

Wordcount: 3.5k

Part 1

The ride back to her side of town has Octavia’s head spinning. She still feels the racing of her heart, both from the adrenaline rush of being where she shouldn’t have been, and Sihtric. She can’t get his mesmerizing eyes and sexy smile out of her head. There is a part of her that wants to turn around just so she can see him again, and the other part just wants to drown out the thoughts of him. Knowing that nothing will ever come of it. Can’t come of it. 

She debates on whether she wants to go home, or go to the clubhouse. Either way, she’ll probably get hounded on where she’s been, whether it be from Brida and Ragnar, or the guys at the club. The clubhouse has alcohol, lots of it, and by now most of the guys should be passed out drunk. That decided, she turns down the street where the clubhouse and shop are located. The sign on the shop reads Ravn’s Customs. Octavia smiles as she thinks of her grandfather who started the business. It’s been in the family for generations, passing from him to her father, and now to her brothers. She still remembers tinkering with bikes and custom cars under her grandfather’s guidance.

The parking lot is still full of bikes, which isn’t a surprise. Thankfully Ragnar’s bike is gone, meaning he’s probably home with Brida. Octavia parks her bike along the row of other bikes. After shutting off the engine, she just sits there for a moment, giving her heart a chance to calm. Unclasping her helmet and removing it from her head, she hangs it from her handlebars. Taking a deep breath, she gets off her bike and walks inside.

Music is still playing inside, but thankfully not at a deafening level. Octavia shakes her head at the scene laid out before her. Clapa and one of the sweet butts are passed out on the couch, her sitting straddle his lap. Osferth is passed out on the pool table. Rypere is face down at the bar, about to fall off the stool. Halig is passed out behind the bar. She’s not sure where the prospects, Sigtryggr and Rognvaldr are, but they are going to have a hell of a mess to clean up in the morning.

“Yer back early…” Finan drawls from one of the overstuffed chairs, a bottle of Jameson in his hand.

Octavia shucks her leather coat, hanging it from the back of a chair. “Yeah, I didn’t like the vibe of the place so I left early.”

Finan notices the bruise on her arm and shoots up from his chair. “What the hell happened?” He strides to her, grabbing her arm to examine the mark.

Octavia looks at the bruise in surprise. She didn’t realize Sven had left a mark on her arm, even though his grip was tight enough for it. “It’s… It’s nothing.”

Finan’s eyes grow dark, as anger flashes in them. “The hell it is! Who the fuck did this to ye?” He demands. “I’ll kill the bloody bastard!”

“Finan…it’s fine… I’m fine. You’re not going to kill anyone. Some guy was just trying to get fresh with me. I handled it… it’s over.” Octavia grumbles, as she pulls her arm from Finan’s grasp.

“Tell me where he is… I’ll show him what happens when he hurts a member of our family.” Finan growls, seething with anger.

“Finan! No! I’m fine, just let it go.” Octavia hisses at him. The last thing they need is to start a war with the Midnight Raiders. “Just forget about it.”

Finan throws the bottle of Jameson at the wall, shattering it, and causing Octavia to jump. The rest of the men barely move at the noise. “Damn it, Tavia…They can’t just get away with that.”

“Finan, you’re drunk. Go sleep it off, before you do something stupid.” She argues back at him. Sometimes this overprotectiveness is a bit much, she thinks as she glares at the Irishman.

Octavia can see the trembling of Finan’s arms as his rage takes over him. She softens her gaze at him, knowing he still harbors feelings for her. Their brief period of dating left an indelible mark. On both of them. She wraps her arms around his waist and rests her head on his chest. The rapid pounding of his heart drowning out any other sound. After a few moments he slows his breathing and wraps his arms around her. Gradually starting to calm down.

Once the trembling of his body stops and his breathing is back to normal, Octavia looks up at his face. His features finally softening from the anger that took over him. “I promise, I’m fine….it’s nothing to get worked up over.” She softly tells him, before reaching up to grip his bearded chin in her fingers. Tilting his face to hers, she gives him a soft kiss. She can taste the whiskey on his lips, and it reminds her of wanting to drown out thoughts of Sihtric. “I’m going to bed, and you should too.”

As she lets go of the Irishman, Octavia gives him a soft smile. She feels a little pang in her heart at what could have been between them, had her brothers not put a stop to it. Before she heads back to the dorm rooms in the back of the clubhouse, she grabs a half empty bottle of Jack from one of the tables to take with her. She has every intention of forgetting about Sihtric from the bar. The sexy man with the mesmerizing eyes and a smile that gives her butterflies in her stomach. A forbidden fruit….

It’s been weeks since Sihtric has laid eyes on the beautiful woman from the bar. Tavia… He smiles to himself as he thinks about their brief interaction. She still hasn’t left his mind, and he is still determined to find her. To see her again. He regrets not following her that night, at least then he would have known where to look for her. Instead, he finds himself constantly scanning his surroundings at he rides throughout the town making his deliveries. Always on the lookout for a red Harley.

His heart skips a beat when he finally spots a red bike parked behind a diner in the center of town. Waving off the men he is traveling with, he veers off the main road to inspect the bike further. He can feel his heart pounding in his chest hoping that he has finally found her. Hoping that she wasn’t just a figment of his imagination. One that haunts his dreams at night.

Parking his blacked out Harley next to the red one, Sihtric quickly kills the engine. His fingers are shaking in nervousness as he fumbles with the clasp on his helmet in his haste to get it off. As he approaches the red bike, he examines it closely, remembering the small details he noticed the first time he saw it. The little skeleton guy wearing a helmet clinging to the headlight, seals it for him. This is her bike.

A smile lights up his face, as he tries to shake the nervousness from his body. He can’t explain this effect she has on him, he knows nothing about her, other than she is beautiful and playing hard to get. Taking off his kutte, he carefully folds it and places it in the hard case saddlebag on his bike. He doesn’t want to draw unnecessary attention to himself by wearing it. He knows some people get nervous seeing the patch on his kutte, knowing that the Midnight Raiders deal in shady business as do quite a few MCs.

As Sihtric strides to the door of the diner, he quickly straightens out his hair from the helmet and smoothes out his plain white t-shirt. Trying to look presentable. Of course his choice in hair style will surely get some looks. He enters the diner and stands at the hostess station waiting for someone to notice him. Glancing around at the other people in the diner, he’s a little disappointed when he doesn’t see Octavia right away. Maybe she’s in the back.

An older lady, with the name Sable embroidered onto her work shirt, finally approaches him. “Just one?” She asks as she grabs a menu and some utensils rolled in a napkin.

Sihtric nods. “Does Octavia work here? Can I be seated in her section?” He quickly asks hoping he doesn’t sound like a stalker.

Sable gives him a critical look, looking him up and down, before she gives him a nod. “Sure, sugar, right this way.”

Sihtric bites back the smile playing at his lips, not wanting to come off as too eager. The hostess leads him to a booth near some large windows looking out to the front of the diner. She gestures to him to take a seat, then she places the menu and utensils on the table. Sihtric slides in the booth and rests his arms on the table as he waits. His tattooed fingers nervously tapping the surface.

“Your waitress will be with you shortly…” Sable tells him before walking away.

Sihtric doesn’t bother looking at the menu. He’s not really here for food anyways, but he’ll buy something if it means he can talk to Octavia. He has a nervous look on his face and he can already feel the butterflies in his stomach. He has never done something like this, track down a girl he only met for a brief moment. He just can’t get her out of his head, and he’s really hoping that this time he can learn more about her.

Octavia is in the back banquet room bussing some tables, since their lazy bus boy doesn’t seem to want to do his job. When Sable taps her on the shoulder she nearly jumps. She’s still a little jumpy after that night one eye grabbed her.

“Hey, sweetie, you have a customer waiting for you at table three.” Sable tells her. “You don’t have to do that, I’ll get Aethelwold out here to finish cleaning this up. He’s supposed to be doing it anyways.”

Looking down at the tub of dirty dishes, Octavia lets out a little sigh. “Yeah, good luck with that…” She grumbles as she tosses the rag she was wiping down the table with into the tub. “Ok…I’ll go take care of the customer.”

Walking back into the main section of the diner, Octavia quickly wipes her hands off on the mini black apron around her waist. She pulls out her order pad and flips to a blank sheet. She puts a smile on her face before she looks up to greet the customer. However, she stops dead in her tracks as her face shifts to a look of shock when she sees Sihtric sitting at her booth.

Octavia almost turns around and walks away the moment she sees him, but she doesn’t want to make a scene at work. Swallowing down the lump in her throat, she reluctantly approaches the table. Sihtric giving her a sheepish smile when he sees her.

Fuck…

She can already feel her stomach doing flip flops as she glances briefly in Sihtric’s mesmerizing eyes. Octavia quickly looks down at her order pad with her pen ready. “What can I get you today?” She asks, trying to keep things professional.

“A moment of your time…” Sihtric softly asks.

Octavia glances away. “You really shouldn’t be here.” She says nervously biting her lip. 

If her brothers stop by, or Finan, or really anyone from the club, there could be trouble. Even though the diner is basically on neutral ground, if they figure out who he is, and that he’s here talking to her, they won’t hesitate to take him out back and teach him a lesson.

“I just wanted a chance to see you…talk to you.” Sihtric implores with a pleading look in hie eyes. “Please…”

“You just don’t give up, do you?” She scoffs, as she tries so hard not to look into his eyes.

“Not when there is a gorgeous woman involved. Please…sit, talk to me.” Sihtric isn’t above begging at this point.

“You stalking me now?” Octavia accuses, her body stiff as she tries to keep herself from giving into his charms.

“No, no…” He quickly shakes his head. “I just happened to ride by and saw your bike. Thought maybe I’d try again to get your number.” Sihtric gives her that same sly smile he gave her that night at the bar.

Fuck…these butterflies need to stop. This can’t happen. It’ll never work… Why does he have to be so damn cute…

“Yeah, that’s not going to happen. Still not giving you my number.” Octavia furrows her eyebrows at him. “Are you going to order something, or not?” She gives him a pointed look.

“Yeah, I’ll order something…if it means you’ll stay and talk to me. When’s your next break?” 

Octavia rolls her eyes, before looking at the clock above the kitchen window. “In five minutes.” She answers him.

“I’ll take a coffee…and I’ll wait.” Sihtric softly smiles at her.

“Ugh… Fine… I’ll get you some coffee.” She almost growls in frustration, as she writes the word coffee on her order pad. “Anything else?” When Sihtric shakes his head no, Octavia stalks off to get him coffee. While she’s in the back, she tells Sable that she’s going to take her break.

Taking the pot of coffee, a mug and a little bowl of creamer cups to the table, Octavia pours Sihtric a cup of coffee. She takes the coffee pot back to the coffee maker, before she reluctantly returns to Sihtric’s table. The diner is fairly quiet with it being between the morning and afternoon rush. As she sits down across from Sihtric, she tries desperately to avoid looking in his eyes, cause each time she does her stomach does that silly fluttering of butterflies. Instead, she finds herself constantly looking out the large window, keeping an eye out for any motorcycles that may ride past.

“You really shouldn’t be here…” she softly says again, before daring herself to look at him, to really look at him. 

Octavia finds herself studying all of his features, almost like she’s memorizing them. His wild dark hair, shaved on one side with beads along the top of his head, and soft curls mixed into the length. The scars on his forehead and cheekbone that takes nothing away from how sexy he is, it only adds to the dangerousness of him. His light mustache and goatee, and the tattoo on his neck that appears to go up the side of his head and disappears into his hair. And those eyes. She could get lost in his mismatched eyes, one slightly brown and the other slightly blue with an array of other colors mixed it. She notices that he doesn’t have his kutte on, and part of her is relieved. 

Sihtric takes a small sip of the hot coffee, before giving her another sheepish smile. He watches her study him, and finds himself doing the same, taking in her beauty. Her long dark brown hair that he wants to run his fingers through. Her gorgeous hazel eyes that look like a prism of color. Her small button nose and defined cheekbones that he wants to softly caress with his thumb. And her soft plump lips. Gods, those lips, that he desperately wants to kiss. He forces himself to glance away and take a deep breath as a shyness comes over him from the effect she is having on him. Biting his lip he tries to distract himself from the rush of arousal coursing through him. Gods she’s so beautiful…

“I was hoping I could take you out sometime, maybe to dinner?” Sihtric asks when he can find his voice again.

Octavia feels a war of emotions inside herself. She can feel her resolve slipping, the more she becomes entranced by Sihtric. She would love nothing more than to be able to spend more time with him, but the risks involved are just too much. She feels a little sadness that this can’t go any further, that she has to turn him away.

“I wish I could go out with you, but unfortunately I can’t be seen with you…. I can’t… I can’t be seen with someone from the Midnight Raiders…. It would cause a lot of trouble, for both of us.” She tries to let him down gently, without revealing too much about who she is and where she comes from.

Sihtric is crestfallen by her answer, but determined not to give up. He reaches across the table and gently takes her hand in his, rubbing soft circles with his thumb on the back of her palm. “If you’re worried about someone seeing us together, we can go somewhere outside of town. I hear there is a carnival in Lodi this weekend. That should be far enough away that no one will recognize us, if it’ll make you feel better. We can just hang out and have some fun together. Get to know each other a little more.” Sihtric proposes, he’s willing to do whatever it takes to be able to spend some more time with her.

Octavia bites her bottom lip as she mulls over his suggestion. Lodi should be far enough away that hopefully no one will recognize them. Does she dare take that chance? She knows if she agrees to go with him, that it’s only going to make it harder on herself. Once he finds out that she’s a Ragnarson, that they are enemies, this thing between them will end. She should just tell him now, and get it over with, but a part of her can’t bring herself to do it.

Releasing a soft sigh, Octavia gives in. “Okay… fine, I’ll go to the carnival…”

The way Sihtric’s face lights up and the grin he gives her, makes the flutter in her stomach worse. She can’t help but give him a timid smile in return. Gods, this is a mistake. I’m going to regret this. Just one date, can’t hurt, can it? Fuck….

“It starts Friday evening. I can pick you up if you want?” Sihtric asks, the excitement evident in his voice. The idea of Octavia riding with him on his bike, with her arms wrapped around his waist sends a rush through him.

“Friday evening will be fine, but I’ll meet you there.” Octavia doesn’t like the idea of not having her own way home in case things go bad.

Sihtric tries to hide the disappointment in his eyes that she won’t ride with him, but at least she has agreed to go out with him. “Okay…we can meet there. How am I going to know when you get there, if I don’t have your number?” He tries again to get her to give him her digits.

Nice try…. Still not happening…

Octavia gives Sihtric a little smirk. “Carnivals usually have a ferris wheel, right? I’ll meet you there, around, let’s say… seven. Should be just before dark.”

Sihtric nods his head, still bummed out that she refuses to give him her number. “Okay, yeah…I’ll meet you at the ferris wheel….” He looks down at their hands, his still softly holding hers. “Hey, can I borrow your pen?”

Octavia looks at Sihtric in confusion, but she reaches down in her apron to grab her pen. She slides it across the table to Sihtric as he releases her hand. She watches as he tears off a piece of the napkin holding the utensils. He writes something on the napkin before sliding it back to her along with her pen.

“Just in case you need it, here’s my number.” He gives her a little smirk.

Octavia can’t help the smile that lifts her lips as she looks at the numbers on the napkin before folding it up to stick in her pocket. She has no intention of texting him, but if it makes him feel better that she has his number then she’ll take it.

Glancing up at the clock, Octavia sees that her break time is almost over. “I should get back to work. You can finish your coffee if you want. Sable will take your payment up at the front.” She slides out of the booth, then smoothes out the wrinkles on her apron. “I guess I’ll see you Friday…”

Sihtric grins up at her, the happiness showing on his face. “Yes, Friday… I’m looking forward to it.”

Octavia gives him a soft smile, as she tries to hide the little bit of sadness behind it. She can feel herself falling under his spell just in the short time they have spent together. She knows she’s just setting herself up for a heartbreak when he finds out who she is and that they can’t be together. 

Just one date…then I’ll end this...

Note: If you'd like to be tagged in this let me know.

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Taglist - 

@cheesesandwichsanto

[aller-geez]

Blood Isn’t Always Thicker

written & illustrated by: allergeez 🖤

Hello yes this is my first Svelex fic, so hopefully I wrote them to @thekinkyleopard ‘s vision! A little bit over 8k words, lore heavy allergy snz Sven. Just a warning, there’s no snz until around 3K words, but I swear he makes up for it! Strong Language, snz obviously, allergies, family drama, etc.

Sven's gentle, purr-like laughter rumbled through the spare bedroom, the walls now adorned with posters of his favorite games and technology. The badger and himself had spent countless hours renovating the room, transforming it into a cozy "game room" where the Cheshire could stream to his heart's content.

“Alright guys, it is getting late here… I think I’m gonna end this stream for tonight and go bother Elex to go pick up some Taco Truck.. I’m starving!” The cat laughed again, a warm, charismatic sound that was accompanied by a slightly toothy grin as he placed the PlayStation controller onto the desk sitting in front of him, which was lit up with bright orange LED lights underneath it.

The choir of friendly insults that were thrown in the cats direction from others in the stream made him grin even wider, a wholehearted laugh rumbling from his lips.

“Hey! Shut the fuck up!” Sven adjusted himself in his— admittedly a little too expensive —gaming chair with a wave of his hand towards the camera, planting his feet firmly on the hardwood floor so the chair didn’t start to roll away.

“I told you, I’ll start streaming Red Dead Redemption 2 tomorrow! You’ll just have to wait…” The feline snickered, lifting his hands to adjust the custom headset sitting on his head, cleverly tucked away behind his thick teal fringe. Elex had surprised Sven with a custom headset that allowed him to wear it while his cat ears were still out, and it had been such a confidence boost for the Cheshire, although he wouldn’t admit it if you asked him.

“You could try sleeping, yknow…. Isn’t it like 4 am there? Don’t you have work in the morning?” Sven asked toward the camera, obviously getting another snarky reply that caused the cat to shake his head with another wide grin. “Well that’s on you, man. Personally, I’m gonna con the badger out of a super burrito so—“

A sharp, distinct cough from the doorway behind him ripped Sven from his playful banter to see the annoyed scowl on his boyfriend’s otherwise beautiful face.

The feline flashed the green haired man a sheepish smile before hurriedly facing the camera again, moving the cursor to hover over the ‘end stream’ button. “Okay, gotta go! Join tomorrow for some Red Dead, I promise~” Sven winked at the camera with a small wave, before ending the stream and quickly snatching off his headset.

“……how much of that did you hear?” The feline’s orange ears flattened to his head as he looked over at Elex again.

The badger had his muscular arms crossed over his chest with an increasingly disapproving scowl tugging down on the corners of his mouth around the sharp canines that jutted out from his lips just slightly.

“Enough……” The man stood silent in the doorway a second, and a tinge of anxiety flooded the cat’s chest. After an uncomfortably long few moments, finally the badger snorted a laugh, unfolding his arms from his chest and burying his hands into the pockets of his torn jeans. “okay but let’s get one thing straight, you aren’t CONNING a badger out of a super burrito, okay? I’ll go pick ‘em up, but that’s because you’re gonna be paying for both of us, AND calling in the order, alright, you little shit?”

The corners of Sven’s mouth instantly pulled up into a coy grin, and he raised his palms in front of him in defense. “Alright, alright, I suppose that’s fair~” The cat purred another laugh with a quick flick of his large orange tail, dropping his gaze to locate his cell phone among the massive amount of electronics around him.

“Call it in, I’ll go pick it up right now. I still have your card from earlier and I’ll use it to pay. You know what I like… and I swear to fucking god if they fuck it up again I’m going to swing on someone…” Elex tossed over his shoulder as Sven fumbled to unlock his phone.

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll call it in. Be safe!” He replied rather quickly as his boyfriend closed the front door behind him. When the feline finally got his phone unlocked, the notification of a new text message from an unsaved number instantly caught his attention. As quickly as he could, the cat opened it, his slitted eyes widening as he read the full message.

??? — Hello Sven, I hope this message finds you well… This is your Father. I know you’ve tried to keep this number from me, and I’ve been told that trying to contact you was a bad idea but I couldn’t help but try.

??? — I was wrong about you, Sven. I’m so sorry if I ever made you feel alienated from the family. That was never my intention. But honestly, everything I want to say to you couldn’t be fully conveyed to you through a text message…

??? — That’s why I want to invite you to dinner at the house on Saturday, if you’d be willing to come. You may read these texts and laugh and not even reply and I’d understand if that was your choice. But if you would be willing to hear me out and hopefully at least be on speaking terms, I would love to hear back from you.

Sven's heart raced as he struggled to swallow the lump in his throat. How had his father gotten his new number? He had made it very clear that he didn't want any contact with him...but then why did the message say "I was wrong"? Sven squinted at the words, his eyesight possibly failing him once again. But there it was, unmistakable. His mind swirled with conflicting emotions as he tried to make sense of the unexpected message. Was this a trap? Or was his father truly admitting fault? Sven didn't know what to believe anymore, and it terrified him.

The text took him so off guard that he had to lock his phone again and place it facedown on his lap, his orange slitted eyes drifting off as his thoughts raced through his head.

What was he going to do? Would he really be able to go back to /that/ place and eat a whole meal while being face to face with his dad and be patronized for god knows how long, just to MAYBE get a half assed apology from the man?

However desperately the cat wanted to gain a shred of acknowledgement from his father after he became invisible behind Draeko’s shadow, he had no idea if his psyche could handle the man that made him run as far away from the circus as possible and get a place in secret with Elex in the first place.

Suddenly, his phone that still lay face down on his lap began to vibrate wildly, jerking Sven from his thoughts and back to reality.

Lifting the phone to his face, Elex’s contact photo plastered itself across his screen, which made the feline curse under his breath, preparing himself for an angry badger on the other end when he answered.

A dull clawed finger answered the call, lifting the phone a good foot out from his ear, and before Sven could even say “Hello.”, Elex’s angry voice poured through the phone, causing the cat’s ears to fold flat on his head sheepishly.

“SVEN WHAT THE FUCK? DID YOU NOT CALL IN THE ORDER? CAUSE ITS GONNA BE A PROBLEM IF THIS FUCKING DICK IS LYING TO ME RIGHT NOW…”

“Lex! Sorry, sorry! I got distracted and forgot to call, my bad!” The feline cried out frantically, and the frustrated grit of the badgers teeth was audible through the phone, making Sven want to be as small as possible.

“There better be a good fucking reason, Sven..” Elex mumbled, and the sound of a car door slamming shut could be heard on the other end as the badger got back out of his car.

“There is, I promise I’ll tell you when you get here— you won’t fucking believe this shit…” Sven snorted, trying his best to sound nonchalant and mask the fact that he was honestly scared shitless over the entire situation.

— but Elex could sense something was off by the tone of his boyfriends voice, and decided to let up on the cat. Whatever the distraction was, it was clearly heavy and weighing on him.

“Just — fuckin’ A, you’re annoying..” Elex sighed dramatically, seemingly put out that he had to place the order himself.

“You love me~” Sven replied with that same faux nonchalance, making Elex silently cringe.

“Yeah, yeah.” Click — the line went dead.

Sven hung his head low, swiping up his phone and hiding it under the couch cushion as if that would make the situation any better. The silence of the house was almost deafening as he thought about how to tell the badger about the texts...

He needed to clean something. Anything.

A loud sigh escaped him as he got up from the couch, making his way to the kitchen. In all honesty, the kitchen was already almost spotless, but there was plenty of stuff that could use a wipe down. His heart raced anxiously as he grabbed a dishtowel and started on the counters.

Tap, splash, scrub, tap, splash. The sounds echoed through the otherwise quiet house as he went about cleaning up any and all messes he could find. The sink faucet squeaked with every turn of the handle, the dish soap smelled strongly of lemon, and the warmth of it against his palms felt comforting.

The humming of Elex's car in the driveway snapped him out of his thoughts once again, reminding him that the badger would be home soon. A cold shiver ran down his spine at the thought of seeing his face when he walked in, and having to open up to his boyfriend on that level... Being vulnerable was kind of a hit or miss with the green haired man.

He quickly rinsed off the sponge and threw it into the sink before taking a moment to straighten up around him; even standing on his tiptoes to wipe down the very top of the fridge.

Suddenly, the front door flung open, and Elex came charging through with both of his hands full of large styrofoam cups full of soda, and a white plastic bag full of various foods hanging from his arm, an annoyed scowl across his face. Although, instantly upon making eye contact with Sven, seeing the stress weighing heavy on his features and the wad of paper towels he used to wipe down the fridge clutched tightly in his hand, the badger gave a knowing sigh as he slammed the door behind him with his foot.

“I’m so sorry, Lex, I didn’t mean to—“ Sven started to explain himself but was quickly cut off as Elex set down the drinks and the bag of food on the counter in front of him with a loud thump.

“Nah, I don’t care about that shit. What I do care about is what the fuck distracted you so much. You’re obviously stress cleaning, so it has to be something.” Elex quickly snatched the paper towels from Sven’s hand, throwing them in the trash. “Now spill it before the food gets cold.” He demanded, eliciting a cautious breath from the feline, his bright orange eyes locked on the floor.

Well, here goes nothing…

“Well… you know how I got my number changed so my dad didn’t have it anymore, when I moved, right?” Sven asked quietly, pulling on a loose string on his jeans as he spoke.

“Err… yeah? Of course. It was a pretty fuckin big ordeal if you remember….” The badger replied, one eyebrow cocked with a puzzled look on his face.

“Well…” the Cheshire swallowed before continuing. “I got a text from him…. A few actually..”

“Oh, this aught to be good… what the fuck did that prick have to say?” Elex scoffed bluntly, leaning his back against the wall with a snort.

The cat’s heart was pounding in his chest as he spoke, "He invited me to dinner. Saturday evening, at his house," Sven mumbled, looking down at his feet. He took a deep breath before continuing, "I know I shouldn't go... but it's been so long since we've spoken... and I just want to see him... and maybe make things right..." He trailed off, biting his lower lip as his ears flattened against his head.

Elex rolled his dual colored eyes, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "Fuckin A, Sven. You're an adult now, you don't have to go crawling back to that asshole just because you feel bad. It's not like he'll actually apologize or anything," he scoffed again. The badger shook his head, disgusted with the idea of Sven even considering going through with this. "You know what he put you through."

"But it's not just that," Sven mumbled, looking up at Elex with pleading eyes. "I miss him... I miss— the circus, a bit…"

Elex huffed, leaning against the counter. "Well then," he started, "honestly, it sounds like you already made up your mind… But I don’t think it’s a good idea at all.”

Sven’s shoulders slumped in disappointment, although he knew from the beginning that Elex wouldn’t support him going either way.

“I mean, I haven’t replied to him yet, but… after really thinking about it… I can handle just one dinner on the very slim chance it’s not bullshit this time... And if he starts being his same ol self, I’ll just leave.” The feline shrugged, trying to put up the same faux nonchalant facade that he had tried earlier on the phone.

“I mean whatever, Sven. But don’t fucking hold your breath for that fucker to suddenly stop being an asshat to you out of no where. It’s been 26 years and he hasn’t gotten it together.” Elex shook his head with a sigh as he pulled a travel sized bottle of hand sanitizer from his pockets and squirted a small amount onto his palm before holding it out to Sven, who offered his hand. “You’re just going to get fucked over like always and he’s going to treat you like you wear a fucking helmet or some shit, and it’s going to be a disaster like it always fucking is.”

The cat’s tail twitched in annoyance at his boyfriend’s negativity, but he didn’t push the issue any further to avoid any arguments; instead he simply rubbed his palms together to sanitize his hands before silently removing his burrito from the bag on the counter.

“Thanks for this by the way.” He gestured to Elex with his unwrapped burrito before taking a large bite, to which the badger simply nodded as he removed his own food from the bag. “You’re fucking lucky I’m feeling generous today. Don’t let it happen again though.” The green haired man snorted, shaking his head back and forth as he sipped on the straw to his beverage.

As the two sat and munched silently on their food, Sven quickly typed out a reply to his father.

Sven - Hey, Dad. I just got your texts… uh, yeah… I’ll be there for dinner on Saturday night so maybe we can get shit off our chest and catch up.

Instantly the little blip in the corner began to show that his father was typing a reply. Typical.

??? — I’m so happy to hear that, Sven. Thank you for giving me a chance. I’m excited to hear how you’ve been. Dinner will be at 6 on Saturday. See you then.

Sven let out a deep breath as he finished his text to his father and looked up at Elex, who was already digging into his burrito as if nothing had happened. They sat in silence for a few more minutes, occasionally glancing at each other as they enjoyed the warmth of their food. Once they were done, they cleaned up the kitchen and headed to their room to unwind for the night. They both changed into their pjs, Sven donning a small tank top and shorts while Elex wore boxers and an oversized t-shirt. The room was cool despite the air conditioner running, but it made for comfortable sleeping conditions. They turned off the lights and crawled into bed together, cuddling close as they always did when it was time for sleep. Their bodies molded together like two puzzle pieces, two halves of one whole. For now, there was peace.

The room was dimly lit by the glow from the city outside their window, casting a soft blue hue over everything. The sound of cars honking floated in through the open window, mingling with the low hum of conversation from people walking by on the sidewalks below. It made Sven feel connected to something larger than himself—something grounding. He closed his eyes and tried to sleep but found himself unable to stop thinking about this decision he'd made that could potentially shake up his life in ways he couldn't predict; he tossed and turned throughout most of the night, trying not to wake Elex up, but he couldn’t stop his mind from racing.

The days leading up to the dinner were filled with countless arguments between the two. It was as if the tension in the air had a physical presence, making it difficult to breathe and impossible to ignore. They would start off fine in the morning, exchanging gentle nuzzles and soft whispers while they got ready for the day. But by the time they would end their days, tired and drained, their tempers would often flare up over minor things like leaving shoes in the wrong spot or forgetting to buy milk.

The cat, usually so patient and understanding, found himself snapping at Elex for no reason at all, and of course the badger would fire back. Sven was usually so level-headed and considerate, but instead he would lash out in anger over trivial matters that would normally be brushed aside. Their nighttime routine remained unchanged; they would cook dinner together, watch TV, and cuddle in bed before sleeping. But now it felt forced, like two strangers going through the motions instead of lovers sharing their space. The food they cooked together lacked flavor and sparked more arguments about whose turn it was to cook or who forgot an ingredient. The TV shows they watched would always be interrupted by sarcastic commentary or change of channel without notice. Their warm embrace before sleep turned into cold shoulders as they tried to find solace in their own thoughts instead of each other's touch.

Sven couldn't help but feel a knot forming in his stomach every time he thought about facing his father again after all these years. The last time they had seen each other had been tumultuous, to say the least. He just hoped that this dinner could be a fresh start for them both. However, part of him feared that it would only lead to more arguments and hurt feelings. As Saturday drew closer, so did their anxiety levels, making them both irritable and snappish towards one another.

That is— until Saturday morning (or, more accurately, 2 pm… but to Sven, it was morning..) finally rolled around…

It was his phone buzzing on the nightstand that finally woke the cat from his deep slumber. Opening one of his golden eyes groggily, Sven snatched it from the nightstand in annoyance and sat up, his teal hair splayed wildly in every direction. Still half awake, he squinted at the text message on his screen before clearing his throat to try and rid himself of the sudden itchy feeling that snaked down his esophagus. It was from his dad.

Dad — Hello Sven, just checking to be sure you’re still going to be here for dinner tonight? Looking forward to seeing you.

Clearing his throat again, Sven sniffled absentmindedly, rubbing the sleep from his eye with one balled up fist, using the other hand to tap out a reply. God, was he thankful for autocorrect.

Sven — Yeah, Dad, I’ll be there.

The cat left it at that, locking his phone with a loud yawn, his large orange ears flattening to his head as he swung his legs over the side of the bed and plopped his feet onto the floor with a heavy thud. Guess it was as good of a time as any to get up…

The night before had ended in another heated argument with Elex, and the badger had slept on the couch in the living room, allowing the feline to not have to be as worried of how loud he was being to avoid waking him.

Instinctively, Sven sniffled again before reaching up to scrub small circles into his nose with his palm. So itchyyyyy…

With a disapproving grunt, the cat pulled open the drawer to the nightstand shoved up against one side of the bed and fished out a blister pack of Claritin, half of the pack already punched out and foil hanging loosely from the back. He’d be damned if his allergies were going to choose today of all days to be a problem…

With a soft sniffle, Sven positioned the pack over his other hand, but before he managed to remove one of the small round pills from the pack, his breath snagged suddenly in his throat, a desperate gasp parting his lips before his head snapped downward with a soft, “Hehh.. n’gtx!”

The sudden, unexpected sneeze caused one of the cat’s nails to puncture the foil on the blister pack, one of the small round pills clattering against the hardwood floor beneath his feet before quickly rolling out of sight under the bed. But with the intensity of the buzzing within his nose, the Cheshire knew better than to assume the single sneeze was the end of it.

“K’tchh! Nnch! Nkch! — Hhh—! Ktch! Nkcht! Hh‘gsch!! Nngch!”

Wave after wave of sneezes overtook Sven as he tried to catch his breath, each one more intense than the last. "Ngt’chh! hptt’CH! h’gTShhHh! hiIh’nGkt!!" He couldn't seem to stop; his nostrils quivered maddeningly and his eyes pooled with allergic tears before they streamed down his face. Desperate to calm his overly sensitive nasal passages of the all encompassing sensation licking down the bridge of his nose, the cat frantically knuckled at his septum, but it didn't stop there; his nose still tickled mercilessly, demanding release.

“Hh—… H-Hhh—! H’NgXt! Hh‘gsch! God damnd it!” The cat hissed angrily once finally able to, quickly getting up off of the bed and darting into the bathroom with one hand cupped over his nose and mouth. He slammed the door behind him as hot tears of frustration began to stream down his cheeks, his head feeling like it was about to split apart from all of the sudden, intense sneezing.

Sven hated this feeling. The uncontrollable urge to sneeze; the intense tickling sensation in his nose that demanded his full attention and refused to go away no matter how many times he was caught up in an endless, desperate fit. It was enough to drive anyone mad.

“N’gxt—! Heh’n’gtx—!” The feline couldn’t even catch a break in the safety of the bathroom as another round of sneezes overtook him. He snatched a handful of tissues from the box on the sink counter and furiously blew his nose, trying to clear out the allergen that was causing this hellish reaction.

But no matter how much he blew his nose, it just seemed to make things worse. And with every forceful exhale, more tears leaked out of his eyes until he could barely see clearly anymore.

Fuming with frustration, Sven reached for a glass on the counter and filled it with water before yanking open the medicine cabinet and swiping yet another pack of Claritin from the shelf. He popped two of the pills from the foil package and threw them into his open mouth, chasing it all down in one gulp.

Even after multiple rounds of blowing his nose and sniffling desperately into tissues, the Cheshire could still feel that annoying tickle in his nose. It felt like there was something lodged deep within his sinuses that just wouldn’t budge.

Feeling utterly defeated, Sven slumped down onto the edge of the bathtub and rested his head in hands.

Why did he have to be such a fucking mess? Why couldn’t he have normal allergies like normal people, like dust or pollen? The cat honestly felt like the butt end of some sick joke from the universe to have such debilitating allergies to his own body.

With a suddenly very waterlogged sniffle, more hot tears began to sting at his eyes before spilling over his cheeks and splashing against the tile floor below him. How was he supposed to show up at his dads like this? It would be like asking for it at this point…

Suddenly, a sharp knock at the bathroom door ripped the cat from his thoughts.

“Sven?” Elex’s voice poured out from behind the thin, wooden door, followed by a few seconds of silence. When he was met with no response, the badger tried again. “—Sven?”

“Ghhh— go away..” Sven muttered softly, still sitting on the edge of the tub with his chin resting on his palms, followed by an almost inaudible gasp as his breathing shuttered. “Nnch! Nkch! Ktch! Nkcht!”

“You okay in there?” Elex’s concern was evident in his voice as he pressed for a response. The worry in his tone was enough to make the cat’s heart ache with guilt from the way he had acted towards the other the night before.

“—I’mb fide,” Sven managed to say, his voice muffled by the tissues he pressed against his face. “J-just dealigg with... allergies.” He let out another stifled sneeze, followed by a defeated sigh.

Elex’s gentle exhale was barely audible over the sound of Sven blowing his nose. “I’m coming in.” He stated simply despite the cat’s previous objections.

When he pushed open the door to the bathroom, he was met with the sad sight of his boyfriend huddled up on the edge of the bathtub, a wad of tissues tented over his nose and mouth and tears staining his pink cheeks. Any argument between the two the night before was easily forgotten.

“Geez, kid… One of those days?” Elex asked with a tilt of his head, a sympathetic expression on his face as he came to sit on the tub next to Sven. He couldn’t say he was jealous of the Cheshire’s plight, that’s for damn sure.

“Obviously…” The cat sniffled miserably, clearly getting lost in the sensation as he scrubbed at his sensitive nose, his large orange ears pinned back against his head in embarrassment. “Of course it w-would be— thhh— today—! Hh‘gsch! ngsh!” Growling in frustration, he blew his nose again, to which the badger offered a soft smile.

“At least that gives you a reason to cancel on your dad, yeah?”

Sven rolled his orange eyes. “Ndo, El. Cadcelligg dow would just prove himb right..”

Elex scoffed, crossing his arms across his chest. “Well, what the fuck are you going to do then? Going like this is definitely going to make you a target.”

The look that the cat shot his mate was like daggers, despite the red rimmed appearance. “See, I was hhh— hopigg it would b-be differedt thhh— H’NgXt! Hh‘gsch! k’gnsh! SNNRRFF!! —guh…”

Without even finishing his sentence, Sven yanked more toilet paper from the roll and blew his nose yet again, still to no avail, his expression getting more and more frustrated and hopeless as his fit continued.

This time, it was Elex’s turn to roll his eyes. As utterly adorable as his boyfriend was currently, he was also utterly stupid to think his dad was ever going to change.

Sven sniffled and wiped his nose again. His eyes were watering prefusely, his face red and splotchy from all the rubbing. He looked at Elex in frustration before slowly shaking his head. "I dod't dow, El. I guess I'll have to sugg it up add go."

Elex sighed heavily, beginning to get slightly annoyed at his stubborn boyfriend. He reached out to gently pat Sven's back comfortingly as he watched him struggle with his allergies. "If you say so," he muttered under his breath, knowing full well that it wasn't going to be an easy task for Sven. "You sure you don't want me to come with you? You know, for moral support?"

Sven shook his head again, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth despite his discomfort. “I'b sure it’ll be fide…," he replied between sniffles. “I thought you diddt wadt himb to dnow that were together, adyway.”

The badger’s expression turned up in amusement as he shook his head. “People live together without being in a relationship, Sven… Just tell him your room mate is coming with you, and the old man’ll be none the wiser.”

Sven’s shoulders slumped a little as he let an exasperated, defeated sigh escape his lips. “Fide… but if these Claritid kick id before I have to leave, imb goigg alode, alright?”

The badger raised his palms in front of him defensively, grinning as he rose to his feet. “Okay, okay. Just hurry up and get ready.”

Despite the embarrassment and discomfort, Sven managed to step into the shower and rinse off, letting the steaming hot water run over his body. The warmth felt nice against his skin, but it did nothing to alleviate the itching in his nose or the burning behind his eyes. He threw his head back and closed them tight, trying not to make too much noise as he gently washed himself. His allergies were relentless and already taking their toll on him, leaving him feeling weaker by the minute. Every few minutes he was forced to stop and endure yet another itchy “Nkch! Ktch! Nkcht!” before he could continue.

After rinsing off and patting himself dry with a towel, the cat emerged from the bathroom and into their shared bedroom. His large, fluffy orange ears hung low as he shuffled through his closet, trying to decide on an outfit that wouldn't make him stick out too much. The last thing he needed was for his father to make some snide comment about his choices or the way he dressed.

Sven finally settled on a simple pair of jeans and a plain t-shirt that would hopefully hide the fact that he was having an allergic attack. As he pulled them on, his movements were slow and clumsy; with every breath, he winced slightly from the sting in his nose.

His nose was still running slightly as he sat down on a stool at his vanity, reaching for a bottle of nasal spray. He squirted some into each nostril before inhaling deeply; the cool mist offered some relief from the fire burning within him. He took a deep breath and reached for a hairbrush, running it through his thick teal hair until it shone softly under the dim light of the bathroom.

Walking out of the bedroom, he grabbed his wallet and phone from the coffee table where Elex was sitting on the couch flipping through the TV channels with an absentminded air. Sven looked slightly better than when he'd gone in but the badger could still tell that something wasn't right.

"Well?" Elex asked without looking up at him. "Got everything you need?"

Sven nodded, rubbing at his nose as he walked over to stand by Elex on the couch.

The cat suffered through another itchy, sniffly “H’KngxsstSH! nXGtCHhh!” before responding, "Think I'm good to go. My nose is still pretty hhh— messed up though. Hopefully Dad will just keep his fucking mouth shut.." He sniffled sharply before standing up straighter, adjusting the neck of his shirt to make sure there weren't any wrinkles as he looked down at Elex.

“Sounds like that Claritin didn’t do shit, huh?” The badger asked knowingly.

“No, I just love sneezing my ass off...” The feline shook his head with a scowl, and the badger chuckled under his breath, shoveling his own belongings into his pockets and rising to his feet.

As they walked out of the apartment, Sven could feel every muscle protest as they navigated through the hallway and down the stairs. The scent of fresh paint filled his nose, making him want to sneeze even more but he managed to contain it with a few quick sniffs. The outside air was cool and crisp against his flushed cheeks while Elex held open the door for him - a small gust blowing by carrying with it the scent of autumn leaves burning somewhere off in the distance. The sun was low in the sky painting hues of orange and pink across the horizon; it felt like they were driving into a painting.

The ride was quiet save for the sound of tires against wet pavement and occasional gusts of wind that caused their car to rock ever so slightly. Sven sat rigidly next to Elex, his heart racing with anticipation as he wondered how his father would react to him bringing home the badger as his "roommate". He'd never mentioned anything about having one before—would he be angry? Disapproving? Or would he simply shrug it off like everything else and pretend like he didn't care?

They pulled into the driveway and killed the engine, stepping out into the cool evening air. A sudden rush of moisture hit Sven's skin as he shut his door behind him; he shivered slightly despite the warmth lingering beneath his clothes. His ears perched on the top of his head took turns swiveling to each side, taking in his surroundings. Suddenly, the Cheshire pitched forward into his shoulder. “N’gxt! Heh’n’gtx! Hehh—! n’gtx!”

Elex tossed him a glance. “Bless you.” But Sven simply waved him off.

After a few minutes, the front door flew open and a tall, slender man with a thick pair of feline like ears between his black curls and a large fluffy tail behind him began to jog down the driveway towards the men, and Sven’s ears and tail both sagged in embarrassment. His father’s expression held a broad smile, but there was an emptiness in those eyes that didn't match the joy on his face. He rushed towards them with open arms, engulfing Sven in a tight hug before looking past him to Elex with raised eyebrows.

"Oh! Hello there! I wasn't expecting a guest," he said cheerfully, even though it was obvious from the way he said it that he was anything but pleased about having visitors.

"This is my... room mate, Elex," Sven said awkwardly, avoiding eye contact as they walked inside together. His father led them through a maze of familiar hallways until they reached the living room where they sat down on a plush couch covered in worn fabric from years of use.

His father's tail swished back and forth behind him in a playful manner, his ears twitching with curiosity.

"Oh? A room mate, you say?" He smirked, setting two mugs of beer on the table in front of them.

"Well," he chuckled lightly, leaning against the door frame with his hands in his pockets, "I hope you two aren't planning on getting any funny ideas." His eyes darted towards Elex suggestively as he winked. He loved playing games like this; it was just one more way he could belittle Sven and make him feel small. He knew how much his son hated it when people thought he was 'different' or 'weird'.

The tension in the air hung palpably as Sven's father's words made their way through the room, causing the cat’s tail to stiffen and his ears to lay back flat against his skull. The badger crossed his arms over his chest defensively, glaring at the man who seemed so nonchalant about everything.

"Excuse me?" he snapped, a low growl in his tone as he shifted from foot to foot under the table. "I assure you, we're not planning anything “funny”. We're simply roommates—and very happy ones at that." He gave Sven a quick sideways glance before looking back at the elder man. "Your son has shown me nothing but kindness and respect, which is more than I can say for your treatment of him." His voice was icy but controlled, his fangs thinly hidden behind pursed lips.

Sven squirmed in his seat, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment and shame. He hated it when Elex stood up for him like this; it only made things worse.

His father's eyes narrowed at the comment, flashing with anger for a moment before he forced a laugh. "Oh ho," he chuckled darkly, "you think you know me so well, don't you?" He stepped forward, leaning down close to Elex's face so their noses nearly touched. The scent of his breath was sour from the alcohol he'd been drinking earlier.

"You think I don't care about my son? Well," he growled lowly, "you're wrong. I just want what's best for him — and what's best for him is to be strong."

He straightened up again and took a swig of his beer.

Sven winced, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand while glancing away from both men. He couldn't believe this was happening again. Why did everything have to be so hard with his dad?

Elex sat up straighter, eyeing the man warily but not backing down.

"I didn't say you didn't care about Sven," he replied coldly, "but your method of toughening him up leaves something to be desired." He gestured at Sven's flinching form. "Constant belittlement and humiliation isn't going to fucking make him strong; it'll just make him bitter and mistrustful."

The room fell silent as they all sat there staring at each other across the table.

“Ooooohkay, that’s enough of that…” Sven finally chimed in, punctuating his statement with a clearly forced, awkward laugh.

His father continued as nothing happened, leaving the room to serve dinner.

"Who's hungry?" he asked cheerfully, carrying over a large pot of steaming soup to the table. He ladled out bowls for each of them, the savory aroma filling the room. Sven glanced nervously at Elex, but his father hummed a tune, seemingly oblivious to the tension still hanging in the air.

The three ate in relative silence, slurping spoonfuls of the hearty vegetable stew. Sven's father made idle small talk between bites, asking about their work and interests. He seemed genuinely interested in getting to know his son's new roommate, though the lingering awkwardness made the conversation stilted.

As Sven sipped his hot soup, he could feel that familiar tickle begin to dislodge itself from deep within his sinuses and his eyes began water. “God fucking damn it..” he thought, “not now...”

The car tried to subtly wipe his running nose and blink back the tears, but it was no use. Despite his objections, his eyebrows knit together before he ducked to the side, away from the table. “Hh‘gsch!! Nngch! H’tshhkt!! ngsh! H’NgXt! Hh—! HeHh—! Hh‘gsch! k’gnsh! Ngt’chh! hptt’CH!!”

He started sneezing violently, nearly upending his bowl of soup. His father glared at him from across the table.

"Ugh, here we go again with the sneezing and sniveling," his father grumbled. "It happens all the time, Sven. When are you going to grow out of it?"

Sven flushed with embarrassment, hastily grabbing a napkin to blow his nose. "S-sorry," he stammered. "I can't really hhh—help it—! K’tchh! Nnch! Nkch!"

His father rolled his eyes. "It's those weak genes from your mother's side of the family. I keep telling you to toughen up, but you just keep sniffling and wheezing at every little thing."

Sven sank deeper into his chair, mortified by his father's harsh words. He wanted to disappear completely. Elex shot Sven's father an icy glare.

"Allergies are not a fucking sign of weakness," The badger barked sharply. "They're the result of an overactive immune system, not some kind of character flaw."

Sven's father snorted derisively. "Spare me the science lesson. The boy just needs to learn some self-control, that's all."

Sven stared down at his bowl, pushing his carrots around listlessly. He had lost his appetite, the soup now just a swirling reminder of his failure to meet his father's impossible standards. How could he have really thought this dinner would be any different? He still hadn’t even heard an apology from the man.

Elex opened his mouth to retort, but Sven interrupted before an argument could erupt. "It's okay, really," he mumbled. "I'm sorry for the interruption. Let's just enjoy the meal."

An uncomfortable silence settled over the table once more. The only sounds were the clinking of spoons against bowls. Sven's nose still tickled maddeningly, but he resisted the urge to rub or sniffle, not wanting to invite more criticism.

After several tense minutes, Elex could hardly contain his anger as Sven's father continued to belittle his son, just like the badger had predicted when the Cheshire first told him about this shitty dinner. As the cat stared miserably into his bowl, Elex knew he had to take a stand.

"Sven's allergies don't make him weak," Elex snapped firmly. "In fact, I happen to find his sensitivity and kind heart to be his greatest strengths."

Sven's eyes widened in surprise. His father let out an incredulous laugh.

"Oh, is that so?" he jeered. "And just how would you, a room mate, know anything about my son's character?"

The badger met the older cat's gaze steadily. "Because Sven and I have been dating for the past few months. And in that time, I've seen how caring, thoughtful and brave he is every single day."

Sven gasped softly. They had kept their relationship secret until now because Elex wasn’t out of the closet yet…

His father's eyes blazed with anger. "Dating? Don't be ridiculous. I won't have my son gallivanting around with the likes of you!”

"The likes of me?" The green haired man retorted. "What's that supposed to mean? Is it because I'm a badger? Or is it because I actually care about your son's feelings!?”

Feeling the tension in the room grow to a fever pitch, the Cheshire flew to his feet, grabbing Elex by the arm. He could feel the badger’s muscles flexing under his tight grasp, rearing up quickly for a fight.

“L-let’s jhhh— ngsh! Hh‘gsch! Let’s just go, El.” Sven choked out between each itchy sneeze that he tried to muffle into his closed fist.

Elex shot one last glare at Sven's father before following Sven's lead and rising from his seat. He kept a protective hand on the Cheshire's back as they headed for the front door.

"Don't you dare walk out that door!" Sven's father shouted after them. "If you leave now, don't even think about coming back!"

Sven paused with his hand on the doorknob. For a moment, his shoulders slumped dejectedly. Elex gave him an encouraging squeeze.

"It's okay," the badger said gently. "Fuck him, kid. We've got each other. That's all we’ve ever needed."

Sven turned and gave Elex a small, grateful smile. Then he threw open the door, and the two of them stepped out into the cool evening air.

As soon as they were outside, Sven doubled over with a characteristic fit of rapid-fire sneezes. "H’NgXt! Hh‘gsch! k’gnsh! Heh—! Ngt’chh! hptt’CH! h’gTShhHh! hihh’nGkT—!”

The badger sighed with a smile as he shook his head, already sliding into the driver side of his car, anxious to get out of this particular level of hell. “Bless you, kid. Who would have thought those allergies of yours would be so problematic, huh?” The green haired man chuckled softly as Sven slid into the passenger side with a small frown.

“Stop callin’ me kid, I’m older than you.” The cat sniffled, buckling his seatbelt before glancing over at Elex sitting next to him, a glint of admiration in his orange eyes.

After a second of silence, the badger finally cracked.

“What the fuck are you staring at me like that for?” He asked with one eyebrow cocked.

“You didn’t have to come out to my dad like that…. I know that was a touchy subject for you…” Sven replied with a soft smile, reaching out one thin hand to rest on the badger’s thigh and give him a grateful squeeze.

“Yeah, well…. I love you, kid. And I won’t let anyone think they’re going to talk to you like that. Not even your shit eating dad.”

“Thank you, Elex. I— hhh—N’gxt! love you too…“