#since it's the closest thing i have to a home town park and it's closing down soon

[bumpscosity]

too scared to go off anon but we are mutuals and i love seeing your posts about the disney rides and such. its like peeking in a window to something i know nothing about but enjoy seeing on my dash regardless

HAI MYSTERY MUTUAL!! glad ya like it! disney parks are a hyperfixation so it's always fun to post about for me :)

[jaylver]

ROCKLAND — P.SH

synopsis: almost like a nightmare, park sunghoon plagues your present just as much as your past regrets had done. however, this time around, you and him decided to right your wrongs one last time.

pairings: non-idol!sunghoon x afab!reader

genre: exes to lovers, miscommunications, angst, second chance romance

warning(s): profanities, brief mentions of smoking, drinking, partying and alcohol

wc: 8k

a/n: i'm BACK. this has been in the works for far too long because of the constant writer's block so i'm not sure if it's good or not, plus it's my first exes to lovers so please be nice <3 greatly inspired by gracie abram's "rockland", so do give it a listen too! please leave a feedback and reblogs are greatly appreciated! muah xx

masterlist | © jaylver all rights reserved.

If there was one thing you’d regret forever in this lifetime, it would be ending things with the love of your life.

You admit it, you’re selfish. Selfish for wanting to leave the town you grew to hate, selfish for prioritising yourself and chasing your dreams, choosing to leave the people you loved instead. Painted a villain in the eyes of many close to the person you once went home to and even the man himself. But, how could he fully blame you when he was equally selfish too?

Park Sunghoon thought keeping you in the cage of this small town was going to make him a happy man. He often fantasised about the possibility of you and his future together, completely pushing aside the thought of you leaving, until it actually happened.

He was angry. He let himself be consumed by his own feelings and mindlessly projecting his anger and blame on you, while you regretfully did the same.

Pools of tears and venomous words spewed out of impulse left you scarred and broken down. It was a bad ending that you’d see in movies coming to life. The moment you had everything packed and goodbyes said, you figured leaving was for the best, now that your ex hates you and his friends who probably felt the same. 

It was a shame, though. Heading to somewhere far from home with a heavy heart knowing you didn’t have the chance to see him once more. Frankly, you were a coward, and so was he.

That explained why returning back home was the scariest thing you had to face in a while. 

It was ironic, wasn't it? Coming back to the place you wished for years to escape and actually doing so, but eventually having to return after you dropped out of the college that you've been praying and praying to get into, only for it to be overwhelming and the city lights couldn't compare to the starry night of your hometown.

You suppose you got the thing you wanted, but it just wasn't what you imagined.

Freshly twenty-two and out of school, you figured home was what you needed in your next step before deciding if you should re enrol. However, you find yourself not having the guts to face your family and friends, not after the promises turned out to be empty. 

"You should quit smoking," 

Yunjin, your cousin and practically your closest friend growing up, was just a distance away when you spotted her, leaning against her car with a cigarette in hand. You found it amusing how she didn't cave into vapes instead in this day and age. 

"Y/N!" She pushed the bud of her half smoked cigarette into the wall, then started jogging towards you, her dress flowing in the wind and boots making obnoxious clicks against the ground. There was a sense of relief in her eyes, her usual smile that you missed graced your presence. "God, I missed you, things aren't the same without you here,"

In the span of a few seconds of her hug, you took the chance to digest her words. Did that mean the traditions you've upheld are now gone? Parties, trips to the beach, all those? 

"What?"

Yunjin pulled away, still managing a small smile. "I don't think things were ever the same since you left … and after you broke up with Sunghoon,"

You blinked, looking away into the distance. "I don't think I'll be welcomed,"

Yunjin scoffed, slapping your arm and scurrying to get your bags. "Don't say that! So not true. Everyone in the family is waiting for you to be back—"

"And talk behind my back about my failure in graduating? Yeah, no,"

‘‘That’s not going to happen,” Yunjin sighed, struggling with your bags and declining your help, but you still forcefully grabbed some knowing she’d eventually crumble. “I think they’ll get it,”

Would they?

Once you are settled into the car, bags successfully loaded into the trunk, you let yourself melt into the comforts of Yunjin’s passenger seat, finally getting to close your eyes and drift away. You thought it was best before having to face everything and everyone once again.

“What’s your plan now, anyway?”

Without opening your eyes, you envisioned a distant image in your head. “Take my time off and see if I’d like to re enrol or not. If I don’t, I’ll just go plan B,”

“Which is?”

“Accept the job offer in London,”

Yunjin almost hit the brakes out of shock, the news that came from you felt like it had hit her in the face, but somehow, she managed to keep her cool and not get you both killed. “What?” she shrieked.

“What?” you questioned back, sounding nonchalant as if this was just another normal offer that didn’t seem particularly significant. But it was.

“You have a job offer in London and you’re coming back here,”

“I left the city for a reason, it’d be stupid to go to another one right after,”

Yunjin exhaled, blinking in stupor. “Right,”

“How’s … everyone?”

Yunjin knew you weren’t referring to your family. Of course you’d know how your own family was doing, that’s a no brainer. What you were trying to mean was your old friend group. You couldn’t blame them for being mad at you, after all you were only a part of it because of Sunghoon.

“Heeseung’s graduating soon,” this was the first update you’ve gotten from Yunjin after those years away. It took you every will not to ask her about them, but here you were now, finally giving in. “They’re still the same, nothing’s changed,”

“What about him?”

Yunjin seemed hesitant, obviously holding back something that she didn’t want you to know. “I’m not going to explode upon hearing, you know that, right?” you joked lightheartedly, but secretly dreading hearing about him.

“I think he’s seeing someone,”

“Good for him,” 

Would it be a crime to admit that you still missed your ex? Something in you was wishing you could rekindle a connection again now that you’re back, but all that hope shattered. If he had already moved on, why couldn’t you? Even after knowing how he probably hated and resented you for doing what you did, you still couldn’t bring yourself to hate him back. 

“That’s all?”

“You want me to go full crazy ex mode? You’re insane,” you shook your head, smiling a little, hoping Yunjin didn’t notice the speck of sadness swimming in your irises. “Whoever she is, I’m sure that I would like her … if I were slightly nicer,”

She let out a ‘tch’ in response, though grinning. “What are you going to do with them around? There’s no way you’d be able to fully avoid them,”

“What can I do? I’ll just have to coexist.”

Coexist was a funny word. How were you able to do that when you couldn’t even fully get over Sunghoon in the first place? Thinking about meeting him in flesh already made you feel like doubling over and projectile vomit. That was how pathetic you were, what a shame. 

Settling in was easy. It was natural to be back home, way better than being in the noisy city and constantly surrounded by a bunch of fake friends. The question of why you left in the first place started burning your mind as you tossed around trying to sleep, but it only persisted to bug you. Then came the thoughts of Sunghoon and the friends you left behind, which prompted you to be fully awake, sitting up in bed.

It wasn't the greatest idea to reach for your phone and search for his contact name, just to recall the day you deleted his number. Yet, your memory never failed you, remembering the digits like it was first instinct, fingers already typing his number. Your thumb hovered over the green call button, a haze in your mind.

Inevitably, you shut your phone and dug your head into your pillow. He would've laughed then, if he had seen this happen, the exact moment of you almost caving in and finally saying the sorry you never gave him.

The pictures you saw of him on social media here and there made you wonder how he was and if he had already forgotten about you. There were a few recurring appearances of a girl that seemed to linger by his side in group pictures that caught your eyes. Who took your bed when you left? Who laughed at everything that he said? Was it that girl?

Just like the time you first had a crush on Sunghoon, you stayed awake thinking about him, except this time around, you were filled with regret instead of hope. 

"Heeseung asked me about you,"

Yunjin's random confession in the middle of the day had surprised you. Lee Heeseung, the best friend of your ex who you swore hated your guts, asked about you? Shocker.

"What did you say?"

"I said something along the lines of you figuring out life and just chilling here until the time comes," Yunjin shrugged, and you nodded slowly. "But there's something he said that made me a bit … confused?"

"What?"

"He said they wanted to see you again," 

You raised your eyebrows, a hint of scepticism flashed over your eyes. "They want to see me? Tell me a better joke next time, thanks,"

"I'm not joking! I mean, he did say excluding Sunghoon, but the other guys wanted to know how you were now that you're back," Yunjin winced a little at the mention of your ex, but you waved it off.

"Are they treating me to dinner or something?"

"Well … no. But Heeseung asked me to bring you to their next party, which is in a few days," Yunjin's gaze softened, hand patting your back. "You know you don't have to come if you don't want to. I mean, after all that happened with you and them and Sunghoon,"

You let out a small sigh, absentmindedly fidgeting your fingers. "It's all in the past now. I'm sure Sunghoon has moved on with another girl, and maybe—just maybe—the guys do hate me less."

You never went to that party Yunjin mentioned.

It was hard to admit but you knew, deep inside you, you were afraid, too cowardly to face the people you once knew. Instead, you chose to linger around like a lost soul in a town full of the ghosts of your past. 

It didn't help that the party was also in Sunghoon's house. How did they expect you to go in the first place? You thought you'd never step foot in there after you broke it off with him, and you were adamant on keeping it that way, but your heart got the worst of you.

On the night of the party, you drove around the neighbourhood, eventually stopping across the street of his house. You didn't know what got to you to do so, but you guessed reminiscence and bright lights coming from the house were the reason. The music was loud, people were coming in and out of the house, and the only thing you could think of was him.

That thought alone was enough to have you drive away, leaving the house further and further away into the background just as the memories of him being pushed into the back of your mind.

Rotting in your bed wasn't how your early 20s were meant to be spent, and avoiding almost everyone most definitely wasn't the case either.

Your family and Yunjin were the only people you saw daily, as for the friends you once had, they were long forgotten or didn't even bother to reach out. Except for Heeseung and the others.

That, to you, was a really funny thing to think about. People who stuck by you after the break up and swore to be your closest friends didn't try contacting you once you moved back, knowing damn well word traveled fast in the town; whereas the friends you thought hated you were the first to reach out.

"I'll go to that party," you said to Yunjin on a sunny afternoon tanning session by the pool, sunglasses sitting on the bridge of your nose, hiding the apprehension in your eyes.

"Really?" Yunjin almost jumped out of her seat. It was a party she had brought up days ago, still persistent on taking you out. At least this time around, it wasn't in Sunghoon's house, but her friend Chaewon's. "That's great! Chaewon and the girls are super nice, you'll love them. Let's pick a nice outfit for you, okay?"

Yunjin was by far the most enthusiastic one between you and her. She was picking out dresses and tops, literally rummaging through your closet for anything, and you had to remind her it was just a college party. So, you settled for a skirt and a plain top. 

"Will you be okay? I'll stick by you," Yunjin had her arms around you, standing by the front door of Chaewon's house, hearing the music blaring from the inside.

"I'm fine—I think I'll be fine—I just don't want to run away from everyone anymore," it was mostly true, you thought it was inevitable to hide all the time, that wasn't how you're going to spend your life living.

"If there's anything, tell me, okay? We'll leave if you're getting sick," Yunjin gave your arm a final squeeze of assurance before crossing the threshold. 

It was the same as every party you've gone to. Loud music, drunk college kids, liquor and beers strayed around, it reeked of your nightmare in a nutshell there. 

Yunjin's friends were all as lovely as she had promised. The host herself was wobbling on her feet but managed to grace you with her humour. There was Sakura and Kazuha that you learned were foreign students. 

Throughout the night, you were stuck by Yunjin, going from circle to circle and introducing yourself or recognising some of your past school mates. But, almost inevitably so, Heeseung, Jay and Jake had made an appearance too.

"Y/N," Jay was the first to call your name, causing you to turn your head at the familiar voice. 

Your thoughts during then were jumbled into a mess. The people you were fighting to avoid were standing in front of you, all of which were much different than the memories you had of them in mind. 

Three of them had grown taller, gained some muscles and matured in many ways. Jay's hair was dyed pink, Heeseung got new piercings and Jake had a tattoo on his finger. It was strange to admit they're the same people you knew despite feeling the complete opposite of familiarity.

"Hey—" you were cut off by Jay closing in and pulling you into a hug, this for once was something you remembered about him.

"We're so glad you're back," he whispered into your hair, squeezing you tight. It reminded you then that you were friends with him and the guys before you even dated Sunghoon, that connection was deeper than it seemed, and for it to be severed just because of a breakup was gut wrenching to realise. "We're sorry, Y/N, we're so sorry,"

His apology was genuine, that's for sure. Once you pull away, you let both Heeseung and Jake take turns to hug you, whispering apologies into your ear. It was odd, to accept their apologies and having to start afresh. You held onto them, just taking it in. To forgive was a big step, but maybe it was your first step.

You sat there, catching up with them and slowly getting comfortable just like the old days. Heeseung graduated and got a good job offer, Jay and Jake were still studying, both of which were in the same university. You were relieved there was nothing too awkward between you and them, or else you would have regretted your choices.

The night continued on with a few small talks and eventually you had to excuse yourself to the toilet. You wondered how Chaewon's house was so big, with halls that seemed to never end, or it could just be the effects of alcohol.

Stumbling around, you held onto the walls, passing by rooms occupied by people probably doing something unspeakable. You thought your peace of mind would be intact until the end of the night, but you were wrong. Upon turning a corner, you froze.

It was Sunghoon. It was him.

Grief was a funny feeling, especially when it comes to someone you once knew. You stared at him and there he was, like a ghost from your past coming back to haunt you. He was the shell of the person you loved, and you couldn't help but grieve the person he once was. What was he like now? 

Before you could even turn around and make a run for it, his wandering eyes landed on you. He had the same thought process as you. Realisation, panic, sadness, confusion all mixed into a heap of feelings. 

Your feet started moving on its own, as you stepped back, he took a step forward. Your breath became ragged, heart thumping hard and blood pumping in your ears. He was nearing, and you were running away, it was the same as before.

"Y/N!" He called out, and all it took was him to say your name again to have you stop in your tracks. Gosh, you were pathetic.

He was standing before you now, closer than he was a moment ago. It was then you realised how much he had changed too. 

He was taller, smile lines etched much deeper into his face, almost changing along the same wavelengths with the others. There was something different about the way he looked at you, however. From love in his eyes that eventually changed into hatred was now filled with longing and confusion.

"Y/N," he repeated, disbelief evident in his voice, as if he couldn't believe you were there. 

"Sunghoon," you blinked, a frown unknowingly making its way to your face. You let a few beats of silence pass, conflicted and nervous. "I—I should leave,"

"No—!" his hand reached out for you, but you didn't feel his touch. He didn't dare to touch you, letting his hand linger before pulling it back to his side. "I mean, you don't have to leave,"

"I thought you hate me,"

Sunghoon's gaze fell to the floor, jaw clenched and eyebrows furrowed. He met your eyes once more. "I should hate you, shouldn't I? But I don't think I do, I never did,"

You blinked, a little surprised, a little hurt. All along he had made you think he hated your guts but he actually didn't? "Oh," you seemed to have lost the ability to talk or to compute a proper sentence.

You thought of the things you wanted to ask him. If he was still angry at you or if things were working for him. But, what came out was the question you've stored in the back of your mind instead.

"Are you with someone new?"

You figured he didn't expect such a question from you, much as you didn't expect yourself saying it. It was an itching thought, one that made you look like a typical ex, but you couldn't help it.

"I'm not," he sounded almost exasperated, as if having to squash down this rumour for the thousandth time.

"Oh … oh," you didn't know what to say, averting your gaze away from him and finding comfort in the wall behind him. 

Sunghoon paused, gaze following yours, looking reluctant whether or not to continue the conversation, but alas, he did. "How have you been?"

"Bad," you laughed a little, and Sunghoon's ears perked at the sound of it that he hasn't heard for ages. "You?"

"I quit skating,"

That was surprising. How could he have? Skating was his dream, his past, present and supposed future, but now, it came crashing down. You didn't know if you should feel sorry for him, as you have been a part of his journey, but one bit of you also seemed to have started mourning the changed Sunghoon that stood before you.

"Why?"

He shrugged, hands slipping into his pocket with a solemn look. "I lost interest. I'm into music now, I'm in a band with the guys,"

You heaved a breath, a deep one. Ironic it was that he was doing music now when he was the one criticising you in the past for wanting to pursue it. Who even was this person? With a new appearance came a new personality, he was much further away than you thought despite the physical distance.

"You've changed," you didn't know what prompted you to say that, maybe it was the disbelief or the denial that he was someone new, but whatever it was, neither of you could deny the fact that he did change. "I'm scared of the person you've become,"

A beat passed, an unreadable expression on Sunghoon's face that you couldn't distinguish even though by now you thought you'd know every one of them. 

"And I'm scared you're still the same."

Seeing Sunghoon that night seemed to have altered something in your life. Somehow, he was everywhere you went. 

Who was working at the register? Sunghoon. Who was at the park? Sunghoon. Who was at the party Yunjin managed to drag you to? Sunghoon.

It was haunting.

All those little encounters didn't mean you talked to him like normal, though. The awkward tension in the air still remained, seeing each other only reminded you and him both of your pasts, and you hated it. That explained why you were having a hard time seeing him at another party you were at.

Yunjin was much more of a party goer than you expected, and she successfully convinced you to go to all of them. It was fun until you got drunk and started being emotional. Your efforts of hiding from Sunghoon that night failed when he barged into the empty room you were sobbing in, whether it was accidental or not, you didn't know, you wished to not know.

"Y/N?"

His voice brought back the times he called your name. Both the good and bad ones. You stared up at him from the ground, tears welling your eyes. The person you were looking at was someone you thought was a soulmate, but now stood as someone closer to a stranger than a friend.

"W–what are you doing here? Why are you crying?"

The alcohol messing with your brain was processing his words, but what came out from your lips was the total opposite of an answer. "I'm sorry, Hoonie," 

Sunghoon's eyes widened at the nickname, the privilege that only you had. He kneeled down, taking a seat on the ground opposite you, a visible distance in between.

"I hate this—us—I feel like if we gave it one night, to talk, to just feel—you'd hate me less and make it alright," you choked back the sobs building up in your throat, the dizziness making you unaware of how Sunghoon reached out only to hesitate and pressed his hand back to his side. "Just wish that we could fight now, I'd hold you on the comedown …" your voice faltered, head leaning onto the wall.

"Y/N, you're drunk, we can talk this out another day," Sunghoon striped off his jacket and covered your exposed thighs with it. "Just … don't avoid me. I–I don't hate you, I just hope we can have a decent conversation without thinking about the past,"

He admitted it, how the two of you had secretly been thinking about the past, letting it be a big wall in between instead of growing from it. Yet, you could tell the unspoken anger and sadness still lingered, choosing to pour out gradually and unknowingly.

"Bet you wish you never even met me," you started slurring, hand gripping onto his jacket tightly. "I can't blame you, I broke your every heartbeat," your eyes were shut, images playing in your mind, not knowing the saddened look dawning on Sunghoon's face.

"Let's get you back."

In your sleep that night, you saw him. He was there, so far yet so close, and just like reality, he was hard to reach, harder to understand compared to before. He was a knife cutting deep, leaving a mark that constantly reminded you of the past. 

How could you even make everything go back to the way it was?

Sunghoon was on your front door step the night everyone was out for dinner except you. 

You hadn't expected him to turn up, thinking it'd be you that stood at his doorstep instead as you still had his jacket from that party (which you do not want to think about again).

"Sunghoon. Hey," the door was opened and you leaned against it, trying your best at hiding the hint of pining in your gaze. 

"Oh, hey," he greeted back rather stiffly, dressed in a simple attire with the classic white Lacoste sneakers that he always wore. "I–I wanted to—"

"Take your … jacket?" You cut him off half way, nerves wrecking your brain.

A beat passed, Sunghoom visibly gulped. "Y–Yeah, my jacket,"

"I'll go grab it for you," you jerked your thumb over your shoulder, awkwardly scurrying back in to retrieve his jacket and coming back to see him chewing on his bottom lip, seemingly nervous. "Here. Thanks for it,"

"No problem," Sunghoon coughed, grabbing the jacket but absolutely paying no mind to it. His stare was straight at you.

"That's all, right?"

"Yeah,"

"Yeah," you echoed, hating the sudden rigidness between the two of you. "Bye then, Sunghoon,"

"Bye," Sunghoon said, looking dazed. Weird.

You saw him backing away and decided to close the door, but before you could even do so, a force had stopped you from closing it. Not a force, much rather a hand, his hand. The door was pushed open, and you physically jumped at the suddenness of it. Your eyes met Sunghoon's sorrowful ones.

"Don't push me away, Y/N, not again,"

"Sunghoon," 

He made his way in, closing the door behind him and you let him. Was this seriously happening?

"You said you wanted to give us one night to talk, so I'm here now. I didn't care about the jacket, I cared about you. I hate seeing us like this, it's like we're strangers," Sunghoon let out a frustrated huff, eyebrows furrowed.

"We can't just pretend nothing has happened between us,"

"So you want me to hate you instead? You're saying as if it's easy, Y/N, feelings don't work that way!"

"Then how do we go back to how it was? We can't, that's the truth. You're not the same person I used to know,"

"Cut the bullshit. I'm the same as I was, maybe just a little different than I was years ago, but that doesn't change anything. When does that ever stop you from loving?"

Were you too scared to love?

Sunghoon ran his hand across his face, wetting his lips. "You’re scared of change, and I don’t think that’s something new about you,” 

Ouch.

“But I really wish you could let it all go. I don’t hate you, nor do I harbour any anger regarding the things that happened years ago. It hurts, it did, but seeing you now made me feel the opposite of all those emotions,” Sunghoon took a deep breath in, and you were holding yours. “I think about you a lot, actually. I regretted a lot of the things I said and done, and I wanted to say I’m sorry. I’m sorry for not being there for you and giving you the support you needed. I should've fought for us and not leave, I–I—" Sunghoon choked, unable to hold in his overpowering emotions anymore.

You didn’t say anything, instinctively closing in and pulling him into your arms, letting his head lie on your shoulder, ignoring the feeling of his warm tears soaking the fabric of your shirt. "I'm sorry too, for leaving you so easily,"

You stood there with Sunghoon in your arms, inevitably crying along and sobbing out your own apologies, the ones you had owed him and hidden all these years. He held you tight just as you did, and it felt like the nights he had you in his arms whenever you cried. You eventually calmed down whereas Sunghoon was still composing himself, avoiding your gaze.

You took the opportunity to hug him again, tighter and firmer this time, as if trying to stop him from running away. 

"Can we start over? I don't want us to be strangers," 

You heard a sniffle, then a shaky breath of relief. "I'd love to,"

Pulling away, you locked eyes with him. They were twinkling brighter than the stars in the skies outside, filled with a spark of hope. "I'll make us some hot tea. Do you want to … stay over?"

"Can I?"

"I really want you to."

It didn't take more to convince Sunghoon to stay, all you had to do was ask and he'd listen. 

That night, you and him hid in your room, talking for the whole night until the break of dawn. Nothing about the way he talked had changed, nor his laughter or the crinkles around his eyes when he smiled. He told you about the band and some side gigs, offering to bring you to some too. 

You laid there in bed laughing all night, occasionally peeking over the side of your bed to check up on him who slept on the extra mattress, only to meet his eyes and freeze. 

The red string of fate tying you and him together was beginning to reform.

Not feeling dread every time you saw Sunghoon was a new start for you. In fact, you were glad to see him. 

The misunderstandings and complexity built up over the years were finally addressed, leaving you to peace and a small hope of rebuilding what you had with him. But you kept that thought away for now, holding onto the pieces you had at the moment.

"Come to one of my gigs," Sunghoon made a trip to your house on a random afternoon, a box of your favourite chocolate covered strawberries in his hand. He never forgot anything about you, didn't he?

"Are you bribing me or asking me?" You said despite accepting the box, your heart squeezing at the thought of him remembering the littlest details about you.

"I'm asking you but also offering a gift," he let himself in, almost like always, and you didn't even notice, just letting him do so. "I saw it and I thought of you so I got it,"

"Thanks," you waved the box a little, setting it down on the table and leaning slightly against it. "You still remember," 

His gaze softened. "Of course I do," his hand by his side was itching to reach out, but it never did, instead, he played it off by giving you a smile. "So, what do you say? This Saturday, watch our gig at the pub," 

"Are you singing?"

"I wish I did," he laughed, and you momentarily recalled the times you had karaoke sessions with him. Curse reminiscence. "I play the bass, Heeseung's the front man," 

You nodded slowly, picturing them as a band and smiling slowly. You've missed them, and it was then when you realised it. "I'll go,"

"Really?"

"Obviously, do you want me to say no?"

"Well, no," Sunghoon chuckled, quite literally unable to hide his excitement from the way he's grinning widely. "I'm just … glad, and surprised, and happy,"

You bit back a smile, shaking your head at him. "Text me the details, will you? I don't want to miss it."

Saturday rolled around quickly. You and Yunjin were sitting in a corner of the pub, beers on the table and whispering gossip about some of your high school classmates. High school might've ended years ago but gossip never stopped.

"Alright, folks, the next act is someone you already know, they are not strangers," the manager of the pub stepped onto the small stage, announcing Sunghoon and the guy's band. "Please welcome … April Nights!"

April? 

You bit your tongue, an odd feeling boiling in your stomach. April was the month you broke up with Sunghoon and left for university, it was more than just a coincidence for him and his band to have 'April' in their name. All you knew was the sinking feeling never went away.

"You alright?" Yunjin noticed your silence, casting a worried glance at you.

"April …" you mumbled, eyes staring straight ahead at Sunghoon who was setting up his bass on stage. "There must be something behind it,"

"What?"

"Nothing,"

You shook away that feeling currently eating up and put your focus on Sunghoon instead. It wasn't your first time watching him perform. It has always been him on ice in a big arena, but now it was him on a small stage at a dingy pub.

Sunghoon's eyes wandered all over the room, finally landing on you, a smile spreading on his pretty face. You managed a small smile, waving a little to let him know you're there, you're actually there and not a figment of his imagination, a dream that he has been wishing on for far too long.

The first song they played was an ABBA song. To be specific, it was your favourite ABBA song that you would listen to with Sunghoon in the past. Was it a coincidence?

You knew Heeseung had a vocal of stars, but to hear it for the first time in years was sending you into heaven. However, you failed to keep your focus on him, redirecting it to the bassist. You couldn't stop looking at Sunghoon, and his gaze wouldn't leave yours either. 

The second song soon came by, and at that point onwards, you knew it wasn't a coincidence. It only took two songs for you to realise that Sunghoon had prepared a set list of your favourite songs. The band was currently playing Iris by The Goo Goo Dolls, a song you had loved ever since forever.

You shouldn't be feeling light headed, but you were.

The set ended almost a few hours later. It was filled with your favourite songs, undoubtedly. The whole time, you were truly holding your breath, especially when Sunghoon was holding your gaze.

While people were filing in and out of the pub gradually, you stayed. It was well past midnight and Yunjin's cheeks were pink from the alcohol, wandering off to join Heeseung and the others. You, on the other hand, were sober as hell, waiting for Sunghoon with nerve wrecking anticipation.

"Hey, hey, hey. How did we do?" Sunghoon slid into a seat like an apparition appearing out of thin air. You jumped a little, but melted into a smile at the sight of him.

"You guys were great," it was genuine, because they did do amazing, probably more than just amazing. "'April nights', an interesting name,"

Realisation dawned on Sunghoon's face, he swallowed thickly. "I—yeah. April was an interesting month,"

"The set list …"

"Right, the set list," he chuckled, shifting on his feet a little nervously and stiffly. "I figured since you're here I'll play some of your favourite songs,"

"Oh," you let out softly, not knowing what else to say, this was something you found yourself acting around Sunghoon now. "That's … nice,"

Sunghoon gouged your expressions and the tone of your voice, a slow frown etching onto his tired face. "Did you not … like it? I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable,"

"No, it's not that! I'm just—" you paused, thinking of an appropriate word to describe how you felt. Frankly, you didn't know your exact feelings. "—surprised and … confused?"

"Confused?"

"Sunghoon, we're exes, and you pulling this isn't exactly helping—this—" you gestured to the space between you and him. "Us,"

Sunghoon was silent for a moment, occasionally opening his mouth to say something just to close it before he could. "I—maybe I read it all wrong, I thought—you know what, forget it,"

"Don't. Just tell me," you reached over for him, but didn't touch his hand. "What are we? We're not exactly best friends nor are we enemies. I don't want any tension between us and I don't want you to think you have zero chance at all," you breathed, searching for his eyes. "I would want us to work out again, if that's what you want too,"

Sunghoon's eyes glistened with a spark of hope, relief washing over his face. It was an answer to his question. "I want us to work out. I want us to have another chance," his hand reached out for yours the first time since you've seen each other, feeling the warmth of his touch that you were no stranger to. He carefully and gently intertwined his hand with yours.

"We'll always find our way back to each other."

It was odd but comforting to know that nothing has changed when it came to you and Sunghoon.

Sunghoon brought you to your favourite places, ate your favourite dishes, did your favourite activities as an attempt to rekindle everything back. Safe to say it was working.

Just like the first dates you had together, you felt yourself having the same bubbly feeling internally, the same giggles you caught yourself having after a stupid joke he made. Despite all that, over the course of a few weeks, it had you wondering about your relationship with him.

"Will you date him again?" Yunjin could tell you were struggling, even if you didn't say it, it was still quite evident.

"What's with the sudden question?"

"Well, considering he has taken you out on so many dates and still hasn't asked you to be his girlfriend again, I could tell you're troubled,"

"Okay, mind reader," you grumbled and shifted in your seat, hating how right she was. "He said he wanted to give us a chance again, so I was expecting that—you know—we'd get back together soon,"

"Your 'soon' seems a bit urgent, but I don't blame you," Yunjin shrugged, gaze softening at your words. "I can tell how much love there still is between the two of you. It's natural to gravitate towards each other, but time, time is what you need to heal the scars, Y/N. It's been years, give yourself time."

You suppose giving yourself time truly was what you needed. But when you mentally said you needed space, you didn't mean wanting Sunghoon to ignore you. 

That's right. He was ignoring you.

How did you know? Apparently, the hard way.

Calls, messages were all brushed aside. You didn't even see him physically. At one point, you considered him dead, but seeing him at a party proved to you that he wasn't.

"What the fuck is your problem?"

Cornering him was a challenge, but being headstrong and slightly buzzed, nothing could possibly stop you.

"Y/N?"

"Wow, I'm surprised you remember my name," you seethed, almost stumbling forward and throwing a punch at him. "So, we're playing the game where you get back at me and ghost me after all that we've been through lately? Sweet! Could've given me a head's up though,"

"What? You're the one who's planning to abandon me just like before!"

"What are you even saying?" 

"Your email, Y/N. I saw your email. How you have a big job in London and you just can't wait to join, throwing me away like a summer's fling right before you leave,"

"You're not making any sense, I'm not accepting that role!" You were heaving at anger at this point, matching the fumes emitting from Sunghoon's ears. "You dickhead! I'm literally throwing my dreams away and you're here thinking I'm leaving you again? Is that what you thought of first? Oh, maybe you could've just asked me, but you didn't, just like the past,"

Bringing up the past had triggered something not only in you but him. He blinked, keeping silent but chewing anxiously on the inside of his cheek. 

"You never changed, huh?"

You heaved a deep breath, shaking your head a little, not to answer his question, but at him. 

"Well I guess that makes the both of us."

"I fucked it up, didn't I?"

The night after the confrontation, you woke up on Yunjin's couch with a hangover thanks to your habit of drinking your problems away. Remembering Sunghoon's face and the feelings you felt literally had you shrivelling back into the couch, a deep frown etched on your face.

"Partly, yes, but mostly, no," you felt the couch dip beneath Yunjin's weight as she joined your side, a warm cup of coffee in her hand. "He fucked up first, but I think it's all just a big misunderstanding,"

"I don't we've healed from it," you took the cup from her and drank from it. "He's scared of me leaving and I was considering leaving again. Maybe we're just not meant to be,"

Yunjin sighed, moving her body closer to you and placing a comforting hand on yours. "If you're not leaving, that means you're staying, which also means you get to make it right. You get to have time to mend it all unlike the last time,"

"I have to make it right, don't I?"

A nod of confirmation from Yunjin was all you needed to know your next step. So, you decided to show up at his gig in the same exact pub without thinking through it twice.

"He's not here tonight," Heeseung looked thoroughly puzzled by your sudden appearance, and it seemed none of them knew about the small altercation you had with Sunghoon. 

"Really?"

"Yeah, he's been acting a bit … off. We asked him to take a night off, maybe you should give him a call."

If only it was that easy. 

Walking back home with a dejected heart was not the plan you had in mind. A part of you even thought this was truly the end, maybe he reached the conclusion of going no contact and you have no choice but to accept it. Was this karma?

It didn't help that you walked past the park that you and Sunghoon used to run off to back in the past.  The exact bench which you and him sat on still resided there. Your curious mind led your legs towards it, taking a seat and remembering all the memories you shared with him. 

Being alone under the night sky and getting accompanied by the dim light coming from the street lamp had given you a chance to rethink your choices about coming back home, whether it was worth it to see Sunghoon once again and try for the closure you never got. Well, look where it got you now.

The ruffles of the leaves got you snapping your head towards the direction of the noise, but it only landed on a figure.

"Y/N?"

You squinted, waiting until the figure walked under the streetlamp to distinguish that it was … Sunghoon. You should be feeling glad now that he was there in front you, but why were you feeling the exact opposite?

"Sunghoon? W–what are you doing here?" You stood up, watching him getting closer, the anguish in his face was clear.

"I–I … I went to look for you," he started, carefully and slowly inching closer until there's a comfortable distance between you both. "You weren't home and I thought … that was it,"

That was a fatal flaw you and him shared, wasn't it?

"I went to the pub to look for you too," your voice came out in a hushed whisper, breathing becoming ragged. "And you weren't there, so I thought … I thought it was the end too,"

"Fuck's sake, I know I said this many times but I'm sorry, Y/N," he sounded desperate, apologetic and almost exasperated. "I'm sorry for assuming things and ignoring you, I guess I never really got rid of the avoiding thing. I'm just … scared of you leaving me and I can't accept it again,"

"I'm not leaving, Hoonie," you were the first to reach out, to touch him and pull him into your embrace. "I didn't think you'd see that email so I never said anything about it. But I'm not leaving, okay? Not this time, never again. I'm here and I'm staying,"

You heard Sunghoon's quiet breathing next to your ear, his calming heartbeat thrumming against your shoulder. "I'm sorry, I really am, Y/N. I said I wanted to make this right but why does it feel like I'm fucking it all up?"

"You're not, Hoon, trust me. If I have to be honest here, both of us have past scars that aren't healed yet. It takes time, one step at a time, and that was what I learned. I think we're not fully healed from the past," you held onto him tighter, spilling all your hidden truths. "We can make it right, but first, we have to forgive ourselves, forgive each other and move on,"

Sunghoon pulled away a little, but his arms still remained around you. It was the first time you were ever so close to him since the split, wholly vulnerable and showing him your truest emotions. 

"I forgive you," he whispered, pearly tears threatening to spill from the edge of his eyes. "And I'm sorry again,"

"I forgive you too," your grip on his jacket tightened, a small comforting smile appearing on your lips, one that Sunghoon reciprocated. 

"I don't think I'll ever stop loving you," he confessed, a little out of the blue, but it was something he needed to get out of his system before he burst. "Those years when you were away, I see you in everyone else, I don't think anyone could ever compare. I still love you even after this long,"

Your mind was in a haze upon hearing his confession, sincerity and longing hidden in his words but evident in his eyed. For a moment, you thought of what you could say, but nothing came to mind, so you did the first thing your body told you to. You kissed him. Actually, it was more of a peck, a simple quick peck that was enough to shock both him and you.

"I'm sorry!" You saw his wide eyes and wondered if it was a good time to have even done that.

Sunghoon melted into an expression of adoration, a wide smile etched on his lips, as if in both disbelief and relief that you kissed him. "Don't be sorry," he stepped closer, only an inch measured the distance between you and him. The space became smaller when he leaned down, eyes flickering down to your lips. "Can I?"

Was this happening? "Yeah," 

Sunghoon didn't waste any moment in meeting your lips with his. It was natural, easy, for you to kiss him just like first instinct. The amount of desperation, sadness, anger and love were poured into the way he kissed you. There wasn't any urgency, but it spoke louder than intended.

It was short, but it was enough to let the both you know the true feelings you harboured for each other. By the time you pulled away from him, you felt his eyes on you, a giggle erupted from you unexpectedly, and he started joining in.

You really looked like a lovesick fool standing under the streetlamp with your lover. 

"Do you want to stop by that old spot we used to go to?" Sunghoon suggested, a little shyly this time.

"The one nearby?"

"That one,"

"Let's go then." you nodded, casting him a soft smile. 

Sunghoon didn't say much, but his hand did the talking by reaching for yours. He held onto it tightly, intertwining his fingers with yours and swinging your interlocked hands as you walked. He might've not said much, but you could tell how he felt.

Feelings might be complicated, and  making amends with the history behind a broken relationship was equally challenging, but what mattered most was getting back with the one who you called your soulmate, your lover, your best friend.

( © jaylver all rights reserved. do NOT copy, plagiarise or edit my work and repost whatsoever. once discovered will be exposed and blacklisted. )

☆ permanent taglist (open):

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[leahnardo-da-veggie]

The public transport is alive.

Gotta be real, the first thing I thought of was the cat bus from Totoro :)) Y'know, this fella:

But knowing you, you meant horror, so one slice of that coming right up!

Let me tell you: Do. Not. Take. The. Last. Train. I'm deathly serious here. Wait- No, stop! Don't walk away! It's almost midnight, don't get on the red line! Please, you have to believe me. Take a cab home tonight. Or better yet: Walk! Stretch your legs. 

Oi! You just walked away. Why would you do that? I know you think I'm high on drugs or something, but I swear I'm telling you the truth!

…And you're walking away. Damn it. You're not even gonna ask me what happened to make me say that? No? Alright, I guess I'll just talk to the wall, then.

So, it all started on a dark and stormy night. I was visiting my sister, see? She lives two towns over, and she'd just gotten a promotion. She's a manager now, believe it or not. My little old Susie, the district manager of all the Walmarts ‘round here! 

So we broke out the celebratory Jack Daniel's and had a good tipple. Well, it was more of a glugging session, really. I was righty wasted by the time she'd sent me back to the station.

It was emptier than our bottle of whiskey, even though the last train had yet to pull in. I smoked a couple while I was waiting, and thanked God that the night wasn't too cold. It was misty though, enough so that I couldn't make out the outline of my puke on the train tracks.

When the train finally arrived, it was midnight. My ride home was a rusty old thing, screeching to a halt like the screams of a thousand damned souls. That description was more accurate than I'd liked.

I stumbled abroad and onto the seat, eyes half closed. It sure did feel softer than usual, plush and squishy and… warm?

The realisation only hit me as the doors closed. My drink-addled reflexes did nothing to save me from being trapped in a warm-blooded train. In fact, they confirmed my suspicions, when I slipped and fell onto fleshy floor, outstretched fingers just short of the door.

I lay there, in a stupor, as the train rumbled to life beneath me. A heart warmer than my wife's bosom pulsated in thump-thuds, shaking me to the core. I gotta be real honest with y'all. If I hadn't been drunk outta my wits at the time, I probably would have died. I would have panicked and screamed and been eaten by the things that lurked in that train.

As it was, I lay on the ground for the two-hour long trip home, dimly aware of slavering monsters dripping their bloodlust onto my hair, of slimes crawling over my semi-conscious body, of abominations with too many eyes. The floor was red like a heart, and I admired the bulging blood vessels beneath it, content to not consider what it all meant. The walls of the train grew tighter all the while, convulsing around me like intestines, dripping juices down my clothes, soaking me in acid death. At every stop, a million motherly mouths announced the station. Now, I haven't gone to church since Maud left me, but that's the sorta thing that makes a man wear a cross ‘round everywhere.

Not that I needed to, in the end. God— or something close enough to it, anyway— sent me an angel. An angel with a gas mask, reeking of ammonia and motor oil, a woman with eyes like a thousand grinding gears in a grand factory and wings of the sort of oil that made fish float to the surface in droves. She stepped onto that train, and I felt it wither away. 

She was a congested highway, the bloat of eating too much fast food. When she picked me up, I felt grimy and polluted. Her sigh was like a mass layoff by a cruel multinational corporation. The angel of nature's death saved me, and I thanked her for it.

When I awoke, it was with an earsplitting headache, lying on the bench at the park closest to my house. My clothes were soiled with slime and oil and worse things besides, but I was alive, and that was all that mattered.

I- What do you mean, ‘are you sure it wasn't a bad dream'? Are you doubting me? I'll have you know, Mr Wall, that I, Pablo O'Hara, am no liar! Why, I used to be respected, back in my day. 

In fact, Mr Wall, I'll tell you the story. So, it all started on a dark and stormy night…

This, too, is taglist worthy:

@coffeeangelinabox, @dorky-pals, @calliecwrites, @kaylinalexanderbooks, @shukei-jiwa

@thewingedbaron, @pluppsauthor, @cowboybrunch, @wylloblr, @possiblyeldritch @ramwritblr, @urnumber1star, @tragedycoded, @bigwipscholar, @ratedn

@vampirelover890, @possiblylisle, @illarian-rambling, @the-ellia-west

@finicky-felix, @evilgabe29, @glitched-dawn, @rivenantiqnerd, @dragonhoardesfandoms

@drchenquill, @everythingismadeofchaos, @owldwagitoutofyou, @dimitrakies, @beloveddawn-blog

@riveriafalll, @the-golden-comet, @rascaronii, @trippingpossum, @real-fragments

@xenascribbles, @unrepentantcheeseaddict, @the-inkwell-variable

(Anyone else who wants to get added can tell me in the comments, pm me, or send me an ask about it!)

[spaceprincessem]

another lil coda for day 4 of robstar week. i kind of re-imagined the time during the brotherhood of evil plot where the titans were split across the world. loved the idea of the team having lil meet ups and late night calls and just taking whatever they can get to be with each other @robxstar

day 4 - downtime

how we touched and went our separate ways

The hot Nevada sun is just beginning to set beyond the horizon when Robin parks his motorcycle outside of a small diner. There’s a sign right off the road letting passerbyers know that Las Vegas is only 60 miles southeast and Death Valley 50 miles west. 

It’s one of those places no one really notices; a last chance run of the mill restaurant to get something decent to eat before you’re stuck in the middle of the desert. Beast Boy swears by their mac and cheese and rhubarb pie.

(Robin’s not really sure where the hell they get the rhubarb though, but the diner is sitting at a crossroad and stranger things have happened.)

It’s the closest meeting point for the whole team, and despite the short window of time they have before their (seemingly) never-ending mission to unite Titans across the world against the Brotherhood of Evil, they take whatever they can get to see each other.

It’s difficult getting all five of them together. 

The past few weeks have consisted of quick dinners or a few stolen hours in each other’s company. Robin was lucky enough to see Raven a few days ago when they passed through the same town. They got coffee and video chatted with Cyborg before their missions called them away again. 

He hates the team being so divided, but the quicker they get this done the sooner they can all go home. 

And Robin really misses being home. 

They’ve all opted for street clothing in their public meetups, not wanting to draw attention or risk the Brotherhood attacking them during their small moments of peace. 

He’s pretty sure he’s a little early, possibly the first one there until he looks up through the window and spots Starfire sitting at the counter sipping a milkshake. She’s dressed in jeans and a colorful crop top sweater with space earrings Beast Boy gave her as a gift from a shop near Area 51.

Robin swallows the sudden flutter of nerves that never cease to leave him be when he sees her. His heart is equally traitorous, thumping against his chest, pulling pulling pulling him to her. He follows the tug, easily falls into her gravity — her magnetism — like he was born for it.

And sometimes he thinks he was.

They may be from different worlds, but whatever stardust made them is one in the same.

Some Journey song is playing on the Jukebox — Separate Ways (World’s Apart) — and Robin smiles at the irony of it. Starfire is tapping her finger against the glass in time with the music, her focus lazily held by two dude bros tripping over themselves to talk to her. His fingers tap the small of her back and stay there like a warning that the boys clearly take heed of. 

Starfire turns, lips spreading into that dazzling smile as she leans into him, like maybe she’s caught in his gravity too. 

“Hi.” He says, softly.

“Greetings.” She replies, gently laying her hand on his arm.

Being here now, so close and yet never close enough, Robin realizes how long it’s been since they’ve seen each other.

He realizes how much he fucking missed her.

He wants to touch and take and taste every part of her, like a man starved for oxygen. With the way her eyes sparkle in the orange hue of the setting Nevada sun he knows that she feels the same.

He’ll never forget the first time they kissed.

It was just after one of their more dangerous missions that required a tag team. The appearance and sabotage of Madame Rouge quickly complicated things and it was one of those rare times they barely made it out alive. 

Robin can still sometimes feel the way his heart ripped right out of his chest when he thought he lost Starfire. When she appeared at his side seconds later, bruised and bleeding, he didn’t stop to think; he simply let his instincts — his wants and desires take over. 

Her blood was sharp and strangely sweet on his tongue, the taste of her seared in his brain forever. The hunger, the dire need to take more more more somehow melted into soft sacredness, like something holy. Robin wanted to take his time memorizing the way her lips perfectly slotted against his own and how kissing her was the easiest thing in the world.

Like they were made to fit this way.

Of course, they couldn’t keep the hunger, the animal desire, at bay for long. He needed her in every way imaginable and she needed him just as much.

They haven’t had time since then to just be. To be around each other and hold each other and enjoy this new step in their relationship. They’ve survived off of late night calls and text messages when they can help it.

Robin’s known for a while that he loves her; something he’s not allowed to say or even think about for too long right now.

Maybe someday. 

Someday.

“Beast Boy will be mad if we order pie without him.” Robin finally says as he takes the seat next to her.

“I have been patiently waiting for you all to arrive.” Starfire chides gently, but her smile takes out any of the heat in her words.

“Here I was thinking I was early.” He grins, leaning in for a quick, soft press of their lips.

Starfire tastes like chocolate malt and whipped cream and something so magical it simply is not made of this earth. She hums against his lips before moving to press her own against the corner of his mouth.

“I believe flying is faster.” She teases.

“Well Raven can teleport,” Robin pouts, “and she’s not here yet.”

As if summoned by her name the small bell on the door rings and they both turn to see Raven heading over to where they are seated.

“I’m right on time.” She says, taking the other seat next to Robin, giving him a pointed look.

He withers a little under her stare, but it’s cut by Starfire’s giggle and Raven eventually giving in by smiling. Cyborg and Beast Boy join them just as the waitress pours Robin a fresh cup of coffee.

“I’ve really missed y’all,” Cyborg says after their order’s been taken. “I’ve even missed BB’s bad jokes.”

“Don’t get him started,” Raven says flatly, but the pink tint to her cheeks gives her away.

“Cyborg,” Beast Boy says dramatically, “have I not added you to my meme chat? I’ll have to amend that immediately.”

Cyborg’s phone pings and he quickly scrolls through it, his shoulders shaking as he tries not to laugh.

“This is just you trying to teach Star how to use memes.”

“And,” Beast Boy grins, “it’s working.”

“Beast Boy recommended we all watch the, and I quote,” Starfire says somewhat seriously, “the cinematic masterpiece that is Shrek when we all get home.”

“Lord help me.” Raven mumbles.

Robin joins in with Cyborg’s laughter as Beast Boy scoffs in Raven’s direction. Starfire just watches with amusement, her fingers catching Robin’s under the counter for a moment.

“Movie night when we get home,” Robin says, as he picks up his fork with his free hand, “sounds like a good plan.”

His friends all smile in return and they all take their time eating, wanting the night to last just a little bit longer.

“Does anyone know how the hell they get all this rhubarb out here?”

[nightynightghoul]

Stabbed

Since I'm not good enough to write good smut, I decided to write whatever came to me in October, so have this. It's short and sweet. Not proofread.

Swiss and Dew take Phantom to a bar to let him have some fun. Some humans looking for a fight get the best of Dew's bad mood. Or..

940 words about Dew being stabbed in a bar.

Notes: Alcohol, Dew in bad mood, knife, stabbing, murder, implied murderghouls. (Let me know if anything else has to be tagged here. But I mean, the title says it all.)

Dewdrop was never known for being particularly nice. Sure, he was a sweetheart with those close to him, but the day he smiled at a stranger would be the day hell would freeze over.

Tonight, that would come to bite him in the ass, well and good. Not that he would’ve behaved differently had he known.

Phantom had convinced him and Swiss to go to one of the small bars in the town closest to the abbey. For Swiss and Dew this was a small, dirty dingy hole in the wall like many others they had been to, but to Phantom, the flat beer still tasted like a novelty. 

This was supposed to be easy, one of those little kind things Dew did for his pack. Go with Phantom to a bar, so the little quint could have his fun, let him get a little tipsy, then drag him back home with Swiss. This was supposed to be such a boring outing, Swiss chose to drive them and not drink. Mainly to let Dew ease the foul mood the crowd of humans put him in with some alcohol.

After parking and soothing Phantom’s nerves about the drunk humans, the three of them walked in. No band was playing tonight in the makeshift stage, instead the old bar speakers were playing some clubby song neither of them knew. All bass and no way to discern the lyrics.

Dew ordered a beer for himself and let Swiss take care of Phantom and his drinks. He started questioning why he had even come here. Sure, he loved his pack and the little quint had grown on him rather quick. But this bartender was also quick to remind Dew why he never visited this place. 

A middle aged man, scruffy beard. He stank of sweat and his breath was rank with cigarette smoke. The beer he served was no better. Dew’s mood was already souring, only for the man to insult him as he tried to pay his beer with a 20 note. 

Before Dew could react or insult the man, he heard Phantom laughing with Swiss. He reminded himself why he was here in the first place. He couldn’t make a scene. At least not yet if he wanted Phantom to have his fun.

He took a deep breath and dug deep in his pocket. Then dumped the wad of coins and crumpled bills on the sticky counter. The bartender took the money, grumbling something about how dumb Dew must be. 

Deep breath.

About two hours in, Dew was on his fifth beer. Just as flat and warm as the first. He was nowhere near drunk, but the alcohol in him was already eating away at his composure. 

Some loud voices made him turn to look back at the bar entrance. A group of young men, probably no older than 20 walked in. They pushed other people, spilled some drinks and walked up to the bar. Clearly they were looking for a fight, trying to rile someone up. It didn't matter who, so long as they got their action.

Swiss looked at Dew. A warning in his eyes. “Please try no to ruin this for Phantom”, he mouthed at Dew.

He could be patient, he could at least avoid the annoying kids. A smoke break seemed like the right choice. He got up from the bar stool and started walking out. Unfortunately for Dew, one of the stupid kids blocked his way.

Clearly high on who knows what, he spat out something about how this “skinny shortstack” was probably too scared of them and how he was running away. Dew simply walked past, taking out a cigarette and his lighter.

He stood outside in an alley, the cold night air on his face. He really wanted to go home now, at least so Phantom could leave this outing on a high note. A few minutes later, Phantom walked out to find Dew. He seemed excited to share some new finding about humans with him.

Behind him, that same annoying group of humans. The stupid bastards pushed Phantom, making him almost fall. 

That’s it, this was Dew’s excuse. After all, it’s three demons against some humans, what could go wrong?

Dew moved away from the wall he was resting on, his cigarette burning to nothing in his clenched fist. He placed Phantom behind him and stood defiant, mainly to let any of them swing first so Copia didn’t nag too much about covering again for mangled humans.

Said and done. One of them took the bait and lunged at Dew with his fist. The human managed to get Dewdrop on the jaw. He let his glamour fade, then smiled at them with his fangs.

Dewdrop grabbed the human by the throat, digging his claws deep into his flesh. Then dropped him, letting him wriggle and sputter blood on the floor. Maybe it was the cheap alcohol, or whatever they were high on. Another human approached him quick. Dew really thought he would get another fist to the face, or maybe a kick, but not this.

A searing pain bloomed in his side, then the silvery glint of a knife crossed his view. The human, probably too surprised he had actually stabbed someone, dropped the knife. Dew’s hand pressed on the wound, but the growl that followed was not his. 

Swiss loomed behind the foolish humans.

Just as expected, poor Copia nagged on and complained about having to cover for them again. But in the end, Phantom did have his fun, so did Swiss and for once Dew as well. Even if he got stabbed for it.

[thedisablednaturalist]

People should get reimbursed for commute time

If it takes someone over an hour to get to work, that should be part of their pay.

Many people have to commute long distances/through areas of slow traffic because they cannot afford to live closer to their workplace. This is also why work from home is a big thing.

If corporations want people to return to their offices, they need to make it appealing enough. I'm not going to fight through traffic for 2 hrs in my free time just to sit at a computer all day, when I could just stay home and don't waste that time.

Corporations would be forced to invest in local affordable housing, perhaps even affording housing credits. They would need to invest in local infrastructure (which in the US is falling to pieces) and improve public transport in their area (faster commute -> less cost to the company, less cars on road -> traffic moves faster, employees without cars would still be able to get to work). Also people would be less stressed and actually take the time to drive safely because they wouldn't feel the need to rush. It would make companies actually take an interest in how their workers get to work and investing in local communities.

I live sort of near DC. We have a HUGE amount of workers commuting into the city and its surrounding cities. Retail workers also have to commute to these cities and suburbs because they cannot afford to live in those areas. My boyfriend commutes an hour to his part time job at a kennel in a rich town. A lot of people live in the more affordable, lower income, far away areas in the nearby states because housing prices in my area are fucking insane. I knew someone who commuted 2+ hours to work and 2+ hours back. There are people who drive even more than that.

And where do these employees have to live? Food deserts. Crumbling infastructure. No parks, no walkability, no public transport, bare bones everything. Only the cities which only the few can afford have basic infrastructure. And even the people living there have to commute to OTHER even richer areas. There's a ton of places where housing developments have just been shoved and are surrounded by nothing but farms. There's nothing local to do, so everyone goes to the closest town and city. It's also why you see a lot of older towns have abandoned main streets. Why have your business cater to the 100 people who live there when you can be in a city with thousands?

There has been some recent interest in paid commute times. 1 2 especially with corporations trying to get workers to go back to the office. Personally, I love working in my office because having a separate space outside my home helps me keep work and home separate and allows me to focus easier since I'm not in "home mode". I don't have room for an office in my parents house so working from home kinda sucks rn even though it would help a lot since I'm disabled. But it is nice being physically near my coworkers, even if it gets annoying sometimes. Also many jobs involve fieldwork (like mine!) which can't be done remotely anyway!

There would be incentive for corporations to keep their employees close AND provide more remote work options for those living farther away. As well as matching pay to fit rent/housing prices in the area (or vice versa).

Also there needs to be something done about corporations having their entire workforce sourced from another country entirely, working for pennies. But that's an even more complicated situation that I don't have experience in.

[princesspastel8]

Chapter 12

Third POV

Another week has passed. Things have been quite quiet lately, and nothing to major in Eboni's life taking place. The therapy sessions are still in full swing, much to the teen's dismay. The bright side is Tiffany is finally leaving town to join her husband, Daniel, for work.

However, Eboni had to promise not to skip her sessions unless informing Tiffany beforehand if she couldn't attend. The reasons also had to be reasonable in the eyes of her foster mother. Eboni didn't like that sort of attention. She still didn't trust Tiffany. Something within her is preventing her from doing so.

Maybe it's the fact that the teen only has two people she'll ever consider her parents. Even after so many years since their studden passing, they still hold a special place in Eboni's heart. So much so that it leaves no room for any possible parenteral figures.

Eboni is currently waiting for the final bell to ring, signaling for the weekend. Luckily, the office that holds her sessions is closed on Fridays and throughout the weekend. It gives the teen some time to finally catch up on her 'me' time. Once the bell rings, all the teenagers storm out of the classroom, Eboni staying behind for a bit- waiting for the halls to clear out some.

Taylor walks into the room, waving at Eboni- Iris, coming in a few minutes later. The three have grown close after bonding over their near death experiences with the serial killers. Eboni has come to enjoy their company, laughing together and discovering new things about the other. She's come to realize she has many things in common with these girls.

Although the teen notices the secretive air that still looms around the two, she doesn't mind. It's understandable, considering Eboni is the new one within the friend group. Besides, she has secrets of her own - her biggest being Jeff.

The teen hasn't heard anything from the killer, nor has she felt watched. The closest hearing from him would be the news channel explaining its new homicides of the week. With each passing day, that feeling of longing for him grows more and more.

"Any plans today?" Taylor asked after blowing a bubble with her chewing gum.

"Not really. Might stop by the skate park. I road here on my rollerblades, So." Eboni answers with a shrug, standing from her desk.

"Damn girl! Ya know how to blade?" Taylor smiles, her rich country accent coming through.

Eboni places her bag over her shoulder before nodding her head. "Yeah. Do you?"

"Nah, only once in a while. Iris, though, is the shit! She's the one who taught me." She grins, nudging the shy gothic teen.

"I-I'm not that great. My big sister taught me when we were really young. I just m-made it more of a habit than she did.." Iris smiles softly, twiddling her fingers.

"Oh ya, right! I forgot. Let's stop by ya place ta' grab our shakes. Fuckin' hope Luna is there!" Taylor said, full of excitement.

"Luna?" Eboni questions while the three make their way through the empty halls and out the front door, her skates hand.

"My older sister." Iris said, smiling kindly.

"Yeah man she's fuckin' awesome!" Taylor exclaims.

"Mhm..." Eboni hums, placing on her rollerblades and helmet. "Lead the way."

"Iris house not that far. She lives a few blocks down." Taylor explains, walking along the sidewalk with Iris right next to her.

Eboni stayed a few feet behind, glancing around her surroundings so she'll remember her way to Iris home. The teen envys Iris. She wished she had a sibling. Eboni was never told why her parents didn't have more. She faintly remembers her parents always calling her their 'miracle child'. Thinking back, her mother probably couldn't conceive any more babies. Eboni's parents only showed happiness, love, and joy around her, so she couldn't pinpoint when they've found this out.

The three arrived at Iris home, the gothic girl unlocking the door with her keys. "Luna, I'm home! A-And brought a new friend over!" She said happily, taking Eboni's hand, leading her to the kitchen.

When in the kitchen, Luna turns away from the stove - smiling kindly at the three of us. "Hi, you guys! I'm glad you made it back....."

A pause, then a sudden eerie chill in the air the moment Eboni and Luna locked eyes. Eboni could feel it, her eyes staring straight into her soul. So unnerving, so annoying. The teen clenches her jaw, never breaking eye contact.

Iris watches wearily. Taylor, however, looks excited, knowing excatly what's taking place. She pats Iris shoulder to help soothe her. It's been a while since she witnessed her big sister in a deep trance.

After the long stare off, Luna breaks out of her trance- smiling nervously at Eboni. "Would you like to spend the night?"

Taken aback yet still uneasied, she answers sharply through her mask, "What?"

Taylor laughs, walking towards Luna, and takes her into a bear hug. "Ya vision thingy kicked in, huh?"

"The fuck is going-"

"M-My sister... she's always been rather special. She's able to see into a person's soul. Luna can see where a soul stands with light or darkness, its past and warning events of the future to come." Iris explained, hoping it would calm Eboni's growing uneasiness and frustration.

Eboni froze, turning to stare at Luna in horror. Could this mean she saw....everything? Everything she's been trying to hide, trying to keep from her new friends? This woman found out about her obsessions? Her desires? That day with Jeff....just from looking into her eyes?

"No...fucking way." Eboni thought to herself, slowly trying to back out of the kitchen.

"Wait! I'm sorry. It's....something I can't really control. I won't speak nor tell anyone what I saw. I promise Eboni." Luna said, her tone calm.

"Y-Yeah...alright, whatever. Are you guys gonna get your skates or what?" Eboni grumbles, trying to rush them.

"Be back in a bit! Come on, Iris -" Taylor said, dragging her away up the stairs.

Eboni was left with Luna, who still wouldn't stop looking at her. "Fucking- what is it!?" She snapped.

"Eboni....Listen carefully. I know your nature in how you may respond, but please stay here for the night. If you leave now, your life will never be the same. It will become much worse than you believe. You're playing with fire, which will end with you getting burned to ashes, so pl-"

The teen begins to laugh, pulling down her mask- Luna seeming unbothered by her scars. "I don't know what you're on, but I'm not staying here. I can protect myself."

"No, Eboni, you aren't listen! You'll turn into one -"

Luna was interrupted by Taylor and Iris, returning with their skates and helmets. "Let's roll!" Taylor cheers once the two put everything on.

Eboni moves towards the door, turning around to glance at Luna. She snorts at the look of worry in her eyes. Pulling up her mask, she spoke, "Nice meeting you- witch."

Her friends didn't hear since they were already outside. Luna was left stunned at the fact that Eboni was able to figure it out. The signs were obvious to her. Luna's strange ability, the odd decor around the house, the smell of burning sage, and of course, that weird smell coming from the huge pot she was standing over. All signs point to witch. At this point, nothing really surprises Eboni in what's real and what's not.

The three didn't spend much time at the skating park because of the unwanted attention they were getting from local boys. After punching a few assholes in the nose, the three skates over to a local cafe. They chat among themselves, eating large slices of cake and juice.

After that, they went shopping at a few stores, Taylor doing most of the shopping since both Iris and Eboni prefer shopping alone - for personal reasons, neither voiced to the other. Once the sky become shades of pink and purple, the three go their separate ways- wanting to get home before dark.

Eboni unlocks her front door, locking it behind herself. She takes her rollerblades and helmet off, making her way up the stairs to her room. The teen tenses, confused as to why her bedroom door is open with her light on. Her door was locked from the outside before she left for school. Slowly walking down the hall, she reaches into her sweatpants pocket, grabbing her knife.

Luna was right. She should've stayed over. Eboni can indeed protect herself, but if tonight's events are supposed to drastically shift her life for the worse- then she understood the fear she saw in Luna's eyes before leaving. However, what Eboni saw caused more humiliation than fear.

There stood Jeff, his white hoodie coated in fresh blood, his black locks wild, and his ruby eyes wide and crazed as before. He turns his attention from the paper in his hands to Eboni.

Stretching his signature smile with a grin, he speaks, "Been awhile, huh princess?"

[bunnygirl678]

@alexlestar

was gonna respond on the post but i got wordy lmao, so below is the weird HOA/POA i grew up in

sooooo the town i grew up in was more of a resort community than a city (i think it was considered a village?? idk the post office still hates the name when i try to mail stuff) and when i was a kid the HOA (although i believe we called it a POA property owners assoc, cause at the time it was mostly vacant lots we didn't have neighbors for like the first 14 years lmao)

it was mostly vacation homes/retirees, the first 5 years we were there there were no kids besides my younger sister and i and a few people down the way, but now with the austin sprawl this place has grown, my father has one of the few vacant lots left, but it is next door to his house and keeps the view of the lake so he won't ever sell.

this is a lake community, it had a guard, and for a while you couldn't get in without having the sticker or being approved, it is no longer like that, but the POA paid for a ton of amenities, which at the beginning thats all it was there for, we were close enough to austin that things were still kinda artsy and stuff so no one worried too much about lawn lengths or cars in the yard.

But despite having the worst house in the whole community (and now it's even worse as my father has let it fall apart) i grew up getting to do really cool stuff because of the POA

we had a massive pool, it went to 11 feet, kids from the town over would try to jump the fence cause it was so awesome, a nice park, several boat ramps, a golf course that residents could golf for free, but had to rent the cart or pay a fee if you used your own, so we roughed it lmao, 3 tennis courts, a library (tiny and unmanned i used to do homework there so i didn't have to be at home lmao), a gym that was actually extremely high tech, a rentable conference room, and we got a discount at the floating restaurant and a discount on a boat slip (we had a sailboat which is why i know), but it was a 20 minute drive to get to the next town over, and it was small, 45 minutes to get to the closest HEB, the school was the 3 towns combined and even with that many my graduating class was like 64?

Back then it was the ideal POA/HOA like totally worth it, and if all hoas were like that i'd encourage the hell out of them. i think they got more picky but i havent lived there since 2012 and i don't really talk to my father

Here's the thing, that is not the norm...

Once i was an adult i've lived in multiple hoas, some silly rules (and these are the type where you have no amenities they exist to police you and thats it)

no cars in the driveway it was a $300 dollar fine!!

no holiday decorations with color, so no colored christmas lights, only the white ones

there was one that had a rule about windows being open

my ex husband's current neighborhood is trying to pass a no pick up truck rule, he is fighting that one

no more than 2 pets, so if you had 2 dogs and a cat you'd get fined if they found out

brown grass was fined (this was california too which is in constant drought and you are only supposed to water certain days)

no parties

you had to have the outside of your house powerwashed yearly and submit the receipt

one tried to ban children, we moved around that time so i don't know what happened, i'm assuming it did not pass

my absolute favorite was the one who had a no delivery rule, so you couldn't have amazon packages or take out delivered, i'm sure that went away in 2020 but we'd already moved

[happy-mokka]

Tag Game!!

ˏˋ°*♡➷ get to know me ༊*·˚

(I was tagged by @santacoppelia <3 muchas gracias!)

rule: name your favorite movie, character, animal, drink, song, season, book, color and hobby

Ok, let's do this...on a side-note: I'm VERY bad in making decisions when I like so much stuff equally...you should see me in a restaurant with a huge menu... :)

Movie:

Favorite: E.T. I soooo love movies...if I really have to choose 1 favorite, then it has to be "E.T." (Sorry "Jaws"...it was a close call...). I watched this as a six year old in our small town cinema when it came out 1982 (yes, I'm THIS old^^).

Recent: "Everything Everywhere All At Once" In the recent-section it's definitely "Everything Everywhere All At Once". Breathtaking movie...so many things at once... ❤️

Favorite character:

Aziraphale. (Took 1st place by storm on angel's wings)

Waymond Wang. (Bascially me in asian)

Malcolm Reynolds. (Funny, Goofy, Selfish on the outside but his heart on the right spot.)

Animal:

Dogs (better humans) Cats (when they feel like it, they cuddle the whole day, when not they don't give a shit...sometimes I admire that, even if I can't...not give a shit I mean) Parrots (so intelligent, brilliant therapists when you just need someone to talk to who only replies with "wwwwaaaaak. idiot.")

Favorite Drink:

Coffee. Nothing comes close. Black, no sugar. I also love to collect all kinds of weird cups for that matter... When I'm with my family and closest friends, the coffee comes as a "turkish coffee" (or "mocha" or I believe sometimes "demitasse" in the States?). We're from the Balkans and inherited that from the Ottomans and on top of this my sis-in-law is Lebanese...

Over the day it's otherwise just water or all sorts of teas.

Song:

Oh gosh. Same as with movies. I just love almost all genres and favorites change on daily basis depending on mood, weather, ...

Some picks:

Season:

Spring Everything blossoms and nature just explodes from winter slumber...

Fall / Autumn Colors, colors, colors...sensory overload.

Books

Again sooo tough. But anyway, I'll try:

"The Lord of the Rings" - J.R.R. Tolkien Blew me away when I was 15 and a regular 2-year read since then...

"The Witching Hour" - Anne Rice Was my first Anne Rice and read basically all her work since then and still own the larger part of it in my shelf.

"Good Omens" - Neil Gaiman I must admit I only recently got to him, but currently digging through his other works as well...

Color:

Green, Blue, White

Hobby:

Books Fiction mostly of all genres, some poetry (Shakespeare ❤️)

Movies Going to the cinema regularly. Love to see things on the big screen and the whole package that comes with it incl. the smell of fresh popcorn... Love all genres including subtitles.

Photography Totally unprofessional. Just love to picture moments on a walk in the park or walking home from the office. I see something that captures my eye, I have to stop and take a snapshot... Who's interested, come by my Insta "happy_mokka"...

tagging, without any obligation and with all the pleasure:

@uncleadelheid-will-eat-your-soul @eugenoid-remade @littlelodell

[lazeyangelarchive]

Kids in the Dark chapter 1

They weren’t kidding when they said ample parking day or night..and that ample parking was in the old mall parking lot, a group of teens surrounding barrels with flames roaring in them. Trucks and cars blocking the worst of the cold wind from the harsh Colorado winter. Winter in South Park was like any other day, snowy and cold. It was hardly ever green in the small town, the only green they ever saw was on some snow covered trees or patches where the snow managed to melt on a warm day.  But as of now, the snow was pushed away to make way for the various couples curled up together on blankets and tarps.

Four boys however stood around one barrel off to the side, not talking, two playing on their phones, one listening to music while being half asleep and the last one just staring up at the stars above. The one staring at the stars finally looked down and around at his friends before sighing softly. “ You guys should check out the stars,” he said softly. One of the  heavier set ones looked up from his phone and cringed “ Shut the fuck up Kenny” he said before going back to his phone. Stan looked up from his phone and then up at the stars, smiling softly “ It does look pretty cool dude” he said as he nudged Kyle who was curled up under a blanket, half asleep and leaning against Stans legs, mostly just his ushanka and red hair peeking out from the blanket burrito. The redhead grunted a bit and looked up at them before taking a headphone out

 “What the fuck Stan?” he asked as he rubbed his eyes. He saw what the raven haired teen was looking at and looked up at the stars, a small smile spreading across his lips as he enjoyed the little twinkling balls of gas millions of miles away of course that could be from his slight drunkenness. Cartman glanced up and shrugged before looking at his phone and hummed “What the fuck! Bebe just changed her status to single. What the actual fuck? That fucking bitch” he said before frowning “We agreed to be just complicated for now” he said as he huffed and went back to scrolling. Kenny nudged him and frowned “ Dude just leave it for now, and enjoy the night. '' he said as he chuckled “ For all we know it could be our last one together” Kyle chuckled a bit at that and shook his head “Dude,we have been together since like… kindergarten” he said as he moved to offer his now open headphone to the one above him. Stan took it from him and put it in before nodding “ Yeah, we’ve done everything together,so there's that. Also Cartman, we all know she's only with you because youre the closest thing she can get to Clyde, where else will you find a dumb fatass” he said with a soft chuckle, earning a small ‘ Hey’ from the pudgy redhead below him. Kenny shrugged a bit and smiled “I just don't want it to fade anytime soon. One of us could die tomorrow, or two…or all of us” he said softly before looking around at them. Cartman frowned at that and rolled his eyes “ Jesus fuck Kenny, why do ya gotta be so fucking morbid.” he said as he shoved past the other and started walking away “ Screw this shit i'm going home, this fucking stupid shit is boring anyway” he said as he started walking towards his car. Stan flipped Cartman off as the other walked off and sighed a bit “ Fuck Cartman, he never thinks anything is fun anymore” he said before looking down as Kyle piped up “ It is kind of boring though, think about it. Everyone is here by themselves or on a date and we came together, no wonder everyone thinks we are all gay” he said before chuckling. Kenny flushed a bit at that comment and looked back at the heavy set boy walking away before nodding a bit, his heart sinking as he watched him walk away “ Yeah…but hey, we are here with friends at least, it counts right? Platonic date?” he joked as he looked back at the others who were already focusing on the song they were listening to. He sighed a bit and looked down before kicking at some snow by his foot, watching it melt as it got close to the fire barrel. “ Great talk guys, riveting conversation” he whispered before turning away slowly and started to walk away. He sighed a bit and stopped to glance back at the two a few times, seeing that they didn't even notice that he wasn't there anymore. He shook his head a bit  and started to walk home, making his way down the street, checking his pockets for any type of cash he could use to get a coffee. He pulled out two pennies, a paperclip and a hair band that was Karens, he groaned and shoved them back into the pocket of his parka before shivering against the wind. He didn't want to be home just yet, his dad and Kevin had a huge fight before he left earlier. He felt bad for leaving his mom and Karen but he couldn't handle it, he felt like Tweek, too much pressure, He walked the road slowly, walking towards the storage place before making his way down, kicking a small block of ice along before it flew into the street. He looked at it for a second before making his way. He heard his brother outside, shouting drunkenly at something when he got close to the house. Kenny sighed a bit as he walked towards it and saw his brother just as the older one knocked the rest of a bottle back, and with it his balance making him fall back onto his ass hard.  “ Shit Kev” he mumbled before jogging to him. “ Mother…fucker” Kevin groaned as he rubbed his back a bit and looked at the bottle in his hand, seeing that it was now smashed from the neck down. “ Motherfucker!” he said as he threw the rest of the bottle away and looked up at the blonde “ Kenny ken…Hey~!” he said as he waved to his little brother. He looked at the house and pointed to it “ Dad kicked me out again…can I sleep with you?” he asked as he looked up at him Kenny sighed and nodded a bit before moving to help him up, “ Just don't be loud, I have school tomorrow” he said softly. Kevin snorted a bit and shook his head “ Why don't you ju-just drop out like me?” he asked, having hiccuped in the middle of him talking. The tall male moved a bit and leaned on his brothers shoulders a bit, petting the others blonde hair after pulling his hood down “ heh…you're hair is so fluffy” he muttered Kenny shook his head and sighed before looking down, “I cant do that to Ma, besides I gotta be a good role model to Karen, and quit touching my hair Kev, you know I hate that ” he said as he walked to the front of the rundown house “ Meet me at my window” he said as he shoved his brother back a bit as the brunette tried to follow him towards the front door. He knocked gently and looked in as the door opened a bit to Karen. Kevin could be heard behind him as he smiled and drunkenly waved to Karen “ Hey KareBear!” he said loudly only to get shoved in the face by Kenny to make him walk towards the side of the house. His heart broke a little as he saw her sporting a new busted lip, he closed his eyes and sighed before moving to gently cup her cheek .She looked around for a second before looking up “ Dad is passed out again” she said softly “ He started to beat Ma…I tried to stop him.”

Kenny nodded a bit and sighed before patting her head “It's fine, you did good but it wasn't your place to step in. I know it was scary, but you should have called me. But for now go to my room, help Kev in through the busted window and watch out for the glass on the floor” he said softly. She stopped and looked at him “ Why is it broken?” she asked softly. He shrugged a bit “ Lets just say the night terrors were pretty bad the other night” he said, not wanting her to know it was from his head being shoved through it by their dad the night she was sick and kenny tried to go get medicine for her after stealing money from their dad. She nodded a bit and went to do as she was told, making sure to prop the door against the frame so it looked closed. Kenny sighed and looked around the room, seeing their mom passed out on the couch, sporting a new broken nose with a tampon shoved up both nostrils. He shook his head and looked around for his dad, seeing him on the floor in the kitchen, he hummed a bit and kicked his side with the toe of his worn converse, hearing a slight groan from the older man “ …Ass” Kenny mumbled before walking towards his room, hearing Karen giggled softly as she tried to hush their drunken older brother. 

Kevin was laying on the floor gently poking at her legs, pinching her knees as he used to do when she was little. He smiled softly and watched her laugh, it was angelic to the brothers hearing their younger sister be happy and relax. Kenny had now slipped into the room and fixed the door. “ You know dad will find out about you in here if you keep hiding in here, I can't hide you forever” he said softly. Kevin nodded a bit and looked up at his brother. “ Yeah yeah I know.” he mumbled before closing his eyes. 

Kenny sighed and looked at Karen “Come on Kare, you can sleep here with us” he said as he moved  to turn the lantern off and walk to his bed. He moved and laid on the mattress, feeling Kevin move to the bottom and tucked himself under the bottom of the blanket as Karen and Kenny got the top half. The three cuddling close for heat, Kenny shifted a bit and rolled to his side as he looked out the window up at the moon, wondering what the others were doing or better even, how they were doing. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It hadn't been more than twenty minutes after Kenny left did Stan look up and notice that the blonde wasn't there.” huh…guess he went home” he said as he looked down at the redhead who was asleep again against his legs. He sighed a bit and shifted his feet slightly to try and wake him back up “ Yo…dude” he said softly “ It's getting pretty late” he mumbled. Kyle groaned a bit and rubbed his eyes before slowly blinking and looking up at him, seeing Stan's face in the golden light of the fire “ Hmm….okay” he mumbled before fixing his ushanka before slowly getting to his feet. He hummed and stretched his arms up above his head a bit, his back cracking a bit before he fixed his hoodie to cover his belly a bit more again. “ How long was i out?” he asked as he scratched his head under his hat Stan shrugged a bit and looked down at his phone before seeing a text from Wendy “Dunno dude maybe in total like an hour” he said as he moved a bit and turned away to text her back, smirking slightly as if it was a flirty teasing text. Kyle groaned a bit and clapped at him “ Dude sext Wendy later, let's go see if there is anything else to drink here” he mumbled. Stan shook his head a bit “ You know I don't touch that shit, and you shouldn’t either, you already downed a six pack by yourself” he said to the redhead. Kyle groaned a bit “ Whatever “ he said as he moved away and shuffled to another group to seek out more booze. Stan frowned a bit and shook his head a bit, not knowing why Kyle got a sudden attitude towards him. “ This will not end well” he mumbled softly as he followed his half drunk friend around. “ Kyle…dude…kyle stop” he said as he grabbed his arm, “ Just stop for a second” he said to him as the redhead whipped around to him, a flare of anger in the hothead's emerald eyes quickly fading as they cooled while looking into cool blue ones. “ Why? Why should I stop? Its a fucking party isn’t it?” Kyle asked as he picked up a bottle that seemed to be half empty, he shrugged and went to take a sip. Stan's hand quickly covered it before it reached the others lips “ Because you are resulting to drinking from others drinks…” he said as he took the bottle and set it down. “ You're making me worry dude. You don't normally drink either…” he said softly “Besides I'm the one with the alcohol addiction genetics, not you” he said trying to make light of it.

Kyle pulled his hand away and moved to keep walking, looking agitated with how the other was acting “ Fucking hell Stan just..let me drink okay?” he said as he moved to the truck with the coolers on the tailgate, he wanted to see if there was anymore beer in them. “ I’m fine, besides I walked here” he mumbled. Stan stood in silence at first before tilting his head, clearly something worse was going on with the redhead at this point, “Gah! Fuck!” he said in exasperation before following him a bit “Kyle stop, seriously, you know you can talk to me right?” he said as he jogged a bit to catch up to the portly redhead. “ Kyle you know drinking isn't good with your diabetes” he moved and slammed down the lid to the cooler that Kyle opened a bit. “ Jesus fuck Stan I fucking know, I have my insulin in case I need it” he said as he shook his head and moved to another cooler. “Just leave me alone,” he said as he looked at him and grabbed a drink from it, quickly cracking the large can open and chugging some of it. “ I’ll be fine, go…bang Wendy or some shit” he said as he shuffled off towards the barrel they started at. Stan frowned and watched before looking away. He wanted to leave but he had to stay for Kyle, in case he needed him. He shuffled along behind him and stood by him. “ Hey dude… I didn't…shit…” he mumbled as he watched Kyle sip from the can “ I'm sorry dude” Stan said softly, looking towards the fire barrel in front of them. “ I just…want to make sure you're okay.” “ Why don't you just mind your own Stan? '' the redhead said as he sipped the can again. “ You don't have to worry about me all the time, jesus. We aren't kids anymore” he said as he looked at him. Stan was a bit taken aback by that and tilted his head “ Ky…” he wanted to say more but just stopped talking and looked into the fire. “ Fine” he mumbled softly. 

How did a night that started out great with originally five friends, Butters having to leave early due to a curfew with his parents, end up with now two. If friends was even what they were now, Stan couldn’t tell anymore. He felt betrayed by the redhead, in a sense that hit harder to his heart than he could say. He looked over at Kyle who was nearly done with the can already, swaying slightly on his feet. Stan moved a bit closer and set a hand on his back “ Dude..lets get you home” he said softly before taking the can.

Kyle nodded a bit and groaned softly before leaning into the other “hmm… yeah maybe…” he said before looking over at Stan and moving away from him. “ I can walk myself home” he said as he shrugged away from him and started to talk away. Stan sighed and watched him stumble away, “ What the fuck has happened to us?” he asked softly to himself as he watched the redhead nearly trip over Red who was asleep in the middle of the parking lot. 

Stan looked down and sighed before looking at his phone, seeing a rather dirty picture of Wendy, he rolled his eyes and just deleted the picture, not  really wanting to see that right now. He was just watching his best friend leave without him, drunk and clearly hiding something that was eating at him. 

“ Seriously what the fuck happened to us?” Chapter 2

[fragmentaryremains]

#first the impressive rat repelling program and now this#what IS up with Alberta??#ruby thoughts#i might need to ask

Oh! If you're interested in learning more, I might be able to help! So to start with, the main thing about this graphic … it's not entirely true. Yeah, this map is almost certainly misrepresenting data from Parks Canada—it's counting ALL wildlife incidents as wildlife attacks. Given that the classification of wildlife incidents covers a pretty broad range of behaviours outside of being attacked, it shouldn't need to be said that the data on this map is more than a little suspect. Sometimes the truth is a little more boring, unfortunately…

(EDIT: I'm editing this to add in a little note on my own misinformation here. I had originally stated the data on this graph represented wildlife encounters. However, it actually represents all wildlife incidents, which is a different thing entirely)

(yeah, that's my bad … remember kids, two wrongs don't make a right!)

That does still leave us with the question of why Alberta has so many wildlife incidents though. After all, the next closest province—British Columbia—has had only 293 wildlife encounters across the same eleven year period. Alberta's had more than ten times that amount!

So what could be the reason for such a massive increase? The most likely reason is because there's a large amount of space where human activity and wildlife habitat occupy the same area. Alberta's home to Banff and Jasper National Park, as well as the towns of Banff, Jasper and Canmore. All three of these towns offer stunning views of the Canadian Rockies—as well as close encounters with the wildlife. From elk venturing into Canmore backyards to posing with bears for cameras, there's no shortage of ways to encounter wildlife in these towns.

Adding to that, there's also the relative ease of access to this wildlife, especially by people who may not have as much experience with such animals. This is especially the case with Banff and Canmore. It's an hour and 40 minute drive to Banff from the Calgary International Airport (or an hour and 20 minute drive to Canmore from said airport). Given that the Calgary International Airport is the fourth busiest airport in Canada, it's not a stretch to say that people who want to come to those towns can get there pretty easily. Jasper is a bit further from its closest airport—it takes about 4 fours and 17 minutes to get from the Edmonton International Airport. But it's still doable if you don't mind the trip. All in all, the main takeaway here is that not only is there space to encounter the wildlife, said space is very accessible—especially for people who are travelling to see the wildlife or are unfamiliar with said wildlife (and thus might not know how to avoid it).

Aside from that, there's probably some other minor factors to this too. For instance, Alberta is home to Waterton Lakes National Park, which is home to a variety of wildlife (including a large population of deer that are habituated to humans). And both of Alberta's large cities aren't completely isolated from large wildlife. Both Calgary and Edmonton have the potential for wildlife encounters with animals like grizzlies and moose. Edmonton in particular is notable since it has the largest urban park in Canada in the form of the Edmonton River Valley which goes right through the city's downtown—that's likely why that moose was able to get downtown in the first place!

So in summary, the main reason Alberta is so high on that map is because of misrepresented data. The second reason Alberta is so high is because there's lots of opportunities to encounter wild animals. From national parks to river valleys, whether you're a local or just visiting, Alberta has plenty of opportunities. So make sure to stay safe and give the wildlife their space!

As an aside, if you're interested in learning more about Alberta, maybe check out @battle-of-alberta? It's no replacement for the in-depth knowledge provided by websites, articles, reports, courses or books (or any other media that I didn't include here). But I think it does a good job of presenting both information and "vibes" in an approachable and thoughtful way. It's not a substitute for actual research, mind you. But as a jumping off point, it's somewhere to get started (especially since some of the more informative posts point the reader to additional sources to further investigate).

Most common wildlife attacks by Canadian province

[sensationaltrainreading]

I was downtown because I needed a book.

I needed a book for a class I was taking in the fall, and because I was a facilitator, I needed to read the book over the summer. This class was being taught by one of the new age hippy professors, who had chosen a book I couldn't find at at Waldenbooks or B Dalton. The closest Borders was in San Francisco, and online ordering wasn't really a thing yet, so I was downtown for the new age bookstore.

Unfortunately, they hadn't heard of this book either, so I was going back to my car empty handed.

Three blocks to the right, cross the street, two blocks to the left. Shit, no, this wasn't where I parked.

Okay, back to the bookstore and try again.

That's when I met this guy. He said his name was Brandon or Brian, I don't remember now. He was a little shorter than me, and also a college student, though he was going to school locally and I was just in town for the summer.

We got to talking, and he asked me out. I wasn't doing anything so I said sure. We'd go bowling that night. I'd meet him at the bowling alley.

By that time we had made it back to my car. We exchanged numbers and I said I'd meet him in a few hours. I went home and told my parents that I wouldn't be joining them for dinner, and that I'd struck out at yet another bookstore.

We went bowling, and it was fine. He paid for the first game and I paid for the second. He wasn't used to girls paying for anything on dates. He was really religious. There was definitely not going to be any second date.

We went to leave and my car wouldn't start. My car was over 30 years old, so this was a fairly common occurrence.

I went back to Brandon/Brian who was just getting into his car and asked him if he'd be willing to drive me home. I wasn't planning on ending the date like this, but I figured it would be quicker than trying to find a payphone and then waiting for my dad.

His car had a digital display dashboard that showed how fast it was going. I'd never seen that before and said that it was impressive. He said it was just one more thing that would break.

He dropped me off and looked over the top of his glasses, asked if I needed any more help. I told him no, my dad would be able to take me back to the bowling alley and would get my car working again. He asked if he could see me again and I said I had fun, but realized I really wasn't ready to start dating again yet.

He called my house several months later, but by then I was already back at school.

We went bowling once in, like, 1998 so I didn't really think of him until this summer when my dad was in the hospital and getting transferred to hospice.

There was so much going on, both at the hospital and at the assisted living facility where my mom was, and where we were trying to get a room for my dad too. We wanted it to be close enough to my mom's room that she could get herself back and forth between the rooms on her own.

We also wanted it to be far enough away that she wouldn't have to pass "dad's old room" every day after he was gone.

I was at the hospital with my dad, coordinating things there and being the point of contact for everyone on the hospital side of things.

My brother was at the assisted living facility with our mom, being the point of contact for everything on that end and coordinating getting my dad admitted there.

I was talking with doctors and nurses and social workers. I was also trying to get my FMLA claim started so things at work would be okay. When my dad was awake here and there, I wanted to be sure he knew one of us was there. The discharge nurse gave me some paperwork and told me to go down to the pharmacy to pick up his discharge medications.

The hospital chaplain arrived just then and wanted to talk. I asked if we could walk and talk since I needed to pick things up. He offered to show me the way to the pharmacy.

The chaplain was wearing a face mask, and was a bit shorter than I am. He asked a lot about my dad's religious upbringing and mine, and about my dad's hobbies and what sorts of things he enjoyed. He looked over the top of his glasses and he asked how I was doing. He asked a lot about what kind of support I had, where I lived, what my home life was like, and that's when I remembered where I had seen that look before.

I took a glance at his hospital name tag. It said Brandon.

And this, unfortunately is a story without an ending. I did not ask the hospital chaplain if we'd gone on one date together in 1998, so we will never know if he was the same guy.

But thanks, Brandon/Brian for helping me find my way more than once.

[lomfenny]

I wrote a thing.

Day 1

First foot over the threshold, and I already want to set the place on fire.

It's nothing wrong with the house. It's a fine house. Small, cozy, close to work. And free too, as it is an inheritance. From my uncle who isn't dead. Yet. He's in jail, but not in death row. It's just that he won't last. I know him like that.

This is his summer home, up here on a hill, just a scooch over from the rest of civilisation. I wonder if the people here knew him. If they remember him. If they've heard.

Maybe that's it. Maybe it's the burden of living in a space that a life-taker inhabited. Maybe it's the burden of knowing that I'll think about it later on, likely on a bad day.

Well, nothing to be done about that. It's a fine house after all. Small, cozy, close to work. And free too, as it is an inheritance. It'll just take some cleaning up. Remove some cobwebs, some dust bunnies.

And that ant hill near the door.

Day 3

Maybe the sun will set the place on fire for me. I didn't know this place got so hot.

I have a soda, long since warmed by the weather and my hands. I hate my hands now. I also have mango cubes. I got them from my closest neighbours. They brought a fruit basket over yesterday, wanted to welcome me. They're nice. They're new. They never knew my uncle.

My sister hasn't called yet. She said she would.

I've taken down the cobwebs because I don't like spiders. They come into my spaces, build their own little webs, spin their little lives. They don't discriminate in how they catch the flies and the mosquitoes and the butterflies. The pests, the parasites and the proper.

A mango slice falls out of my hand, lands next to the ant hill. I should remove that. But it's hot, I'm lazy, so later.

Later.

Day 7

I don't hate my job. It's at a convenience store, and the owner is nice. Mr Gates have me a free chocolate today.

I don't hate the town, either. These people don't know me beyond "new person". They haven't asked where I live, so I don't have to lie. I like not having to lie.

There's a community college in the town. I don't go to school anymore, but I tip my hat to those who are willing to die for 4, 5, 6 more years. Sometimes, students come to the store. Some older than me, some younger, but all within my age range. Makes them talk to me. Think we'll relate with each other just because we're all from the same generation and none of us has died yet

I talk to them. Don't give them discounts, though, even when they ask. I've only had this job for five days, can't do that. Won't.

When I get home, I look at the ant hill. There are ants there, as always. I think of removing it, as always.

I go in, as always.

Day 16

I've made a friend. He says we're friends, my sister says the things we've done are things friends do. She didn't call, I did.

His name is Terrence, says I should call him Terry. Thank goodness, Terrence is too many sounds, releases more air than saying Terry does. This is the true way you measure word length. Not with letters or syllables. With how much breath and energy you need to refer to another human being, to acknowledge another existence besides your own. Everyone has a limited number of breaths. Save yours for shit that matters.

Terry goes to the community college. He came in and started talking. Didn't shut up. Didn't ask for a discount, though, so I didn't write him off. Gave me a cookie, even.

He took me to a park, we fed ducks, domestic shit.

It's good shit.

Day 20

Mr Gates have me a free orange. Says I should stay healthy.

It's juicy.

Day 21

I met some old ladies at the park. They have tiny dogs. They're cute and tiny. The women call me cute and tiny.

But I'm not.

Day 29

I don't hate this town.

Terry and I are dating? I think? Kissing is what you do with someone if you're dating them, right? Unless you're married. Then, it's just to remind yourself that you own someone.

He invited me to a party at his friend's house. I don't know anyone there. I don't remember anyone there, afterwards. Everyone's a little drunk, a tad stupid, and a smidge less stressed.

Good shit.

Day 33

My sister comes to visit. It's a long drive, I didn't expect her to come. She has a new car, red like barbeque pit embers. It burns my hand under the sun.

"How are you liking it?" She asks me.

"I'm liking it."

"Better than home?"

"..."

"Okay."

We share melting ice-pops that Mr Gates gave me.

"That's so ew!"

She's pointing at the ant hill near my door. It's bigger now, and a couple of ants have come to lick at the drops from from our ice-pops.

"Lets go inside." I tell her. Wouldn't do to fight the ants over leftovers. Not in this heat.

Day 42

My neighbours invite me over for dinner. Say a young person like myself should have people with them around dinner time. They don't ask about why that is not the case for me.

I like them.

They're nice.

Day 58

My mailman doesn't feel nice. He doesn't sound nice, or smell nice, or look nice or look at me nice, but this is too much to explain, and I can't just say he ain't nice based on these few observations, so I say he doesn't feel nice.

I catch him as he's about to drop some letters in my mailbox, so he just gives them to me instead.

"How you like the house?" He asks out of the blue.

"Fine." I hope to escape conversation with him. He doesn't feel nice after all.

"Your uncle said the same thing. Never stayed long, though. Thank God."

Under the sweltering heat, I freeze, unable to move as the mailman walks away. Only when I can't see him anymore do I start to speedwalk back to my house, flipping through letters as I go.

I pass by the ant hill, dismissing it and the letter from my cousin, asking if I want to visit her anytime soon.

I go up the stairs, dropping the rejection letter from the university I applied to and refusing to pick it up.

I burst through my room door, holding the damning one.

"Your Uncle, Weston." It says on the front.

Like I don't know the fucker's name.

Day 61

Everybody knows. This town is a small one, the mailman is popular. Thus, everybody knows. And everything changes.

Like it usually is every time juicy news gets revealed, it starts with whispers. In the store, at the park, on the way home. People on the streets who recognize me whisper about me and shuffle away when I get too close to them. Close being within four feet. The old ladies won't let me pet their dogs anymore.

But I don't hate this town. It's still a nice town. It's no one's fault that my uncle abducted, abused, and annihilated several, several people in his life.

No one's fault, I think.

My fault, the people think.

Day 70

Terry comes over to my house for the first time. Ever.

"You live here alone?" He asks after he's done inspecting my ground floor.

"I have ants."

Terry laughs like he thinks I'm joking.

We watch a movie, eat some cookies. He puts a hand on my thigh sometime around nine pm and says he hasn't seen upstairs yet.

I'm not dumb.

We go upstairs.

He leaves the next morning.

Day 80

It feels like days are simultaneously longer and shorter now. As temperatures climb higher, tempers grow shorter.

A customer snaps at me, tells me to watch myself, lest he call the police on me. For what? I don't now. But I know it's meant as a threat, so I watch myself.

Terry doesn't invite me to anymore parties. I get the feeling it's less of his own choice. But we still hang out.

My neighbours still invite me for dinner.

I don't hate this town.

Day 87

My uncle sends more letters. I don't read them, I don't need to. The contents fall from the lips of residents who seem to care less about me overhearing their conversations.

The mailman is reading my letters. He's not even bothering to be careful or discreet about it. Such audacity is a mildly respectable.

I pass by a couple and the man tells his partner that "Weston Fisher had other properties. Maybe other bodies are there."

"Old Mr Fisher says he'll never talk to the police, never tell them where all the bodies are! My cousin told me this!" Is what I hear at the park from some eleven year olds.

"Are you going to see your uncle?" Is what an older woman outright asks me at work.

I don't act like it doesn't gaze me because I can't act to save my life. I'm not a theatre kid. It shakes me and quakes me and throws me to the ground to get tossed around like salad.

But it's not like I can just move. Moving is expensive! I still have my job, and my dating friend Terry, and my house with it's stupid ant hill so I can't move yet.

Day 90

Some of the college kids come by, try to follow me home. I lose them by heading towards the police station.

They smelt like drugs.

I change course after they're gone, go straight home with my grocery bag. Mr Gates gave me a discount and I bought food and toiletries and a can of bug spray.

It sits in my kitchen, unused because I'm lazy.

But, I find a single ant wandering my floor as I come out of the bathroom.

Ants have great smell, great sight, great strength and great speed.

None of this stops my shoe, though.

Day 103

My neighbours very politely asked that I don't come by anymore. They never say anything about my uncle.

I don't like them.

They're nice.

Day 118

"Why you never answer him, huh?" The mailman asks me as he hands me my unsealed, read letter.

"Guess." I respond.

He watches me go inside.

He isn't nice.

Day 130

"Should I — should I ask about your uncle?"

I look at Terry, wondering what to say here. "Do you want to ask?"

"Not particularly, no."

"Then don't. Or do. Do whatever pleases you, dude."

"You please me."

"That line is three words too long."

"I'm three too long, but you never complain."

"Shut up."

Endearing. Charming. Handsome. Unchanged. Terrence is longer than Terry.

It's worth the breath to say.

Day 150

Terrence is out of town for a month. His aunt had a baby and the timing matched up with a family reunion. He worries about leaving me, because Terrence is sweet. I tell him to get out.

Mr Gates also has to leave town for a bit. He's visiting his daughter in university. Funny enough, it's the same one I applied to. He makes me promise to look after the shop, saying he'll being me a souvenir from his trip. I tell him everything will be fine.

Day 151

Some of the college boys jump me on my way home. Drag me to an alley, ask unnecessary questions about my uncle and whether I'm a murderer like him, get nothing in reply, beat me up and make it home in time for dinner while I begin a long trek uphill, made that much harder with bruised legs.

Day 152

It happens again.

Day 154

Terrence calls. He asks whether I'm fine. I say yes while holding an ice pack to my stomach.

Day 155

I order tasers and pen knives and other self defence tools.

But I can't bring myself to use them. Frustration makes me curves the bullies taunt me.

Criminals only cry when guilty, they say.

I think of my uncle, teary eyed and droopy the last time I saw him.

I stop crying.

Day 160

I'm woken up in the middle of the night. I don't know what it is yet until I throw off my bed covers and discover ants, the tens of them, crawling over my legs and sheets. I

It's not disgust that fills me, or discomfort or irritation. It's a rage that can only be defined as pure.

How dare they?

How. Dare. They!

Because I haven't bothered to clean up my crumbs, crumbs that they sustain themselves with.

Because I haven't used my insecticides to decimate their home.

Because I haven't paid them much mind, because I've ignored them this long, they dare to come attack me! To disturb me!

How dare they mistake my negligence for benevolence?!

Day 161

I message Terrence and Mr Gates, ask them when they'll be coming back to town. Terrence says in two days, Mr Gates says in four.

Good.

My house is finally on fire. I predicted this, don't know why I bothered putting it off for so long.

The flames eat at the structure, pieces crumble down to ashes. It's beautiful.

It's the starter.

I walk away from the house, my body coated in flames. Squirrels and insects flee from my blazing form.

What? did they think I was normal? Did they the I was mortal? Because I catered to the whims and followed the general rules of society.

I am the incarnation of Iphrit, the son of hell.

I am beyond these ants.

Day 162

I don't hate this town. Hatred is such a tiring emotion. It is a finite fuel, an ignition point.

I dislike the town. This is my fuel. It is infinite and will last.

The entire town is on fire. The police station, the suburbs, the park. Everything.

Except for Terrence's house, Mr Gates' house, and the store. I like those two, I won't destroy them.

I stand at the top of the ant hill that once was this town. I have doused it in my fury.

They wanted my attention.

God help them, they have it.

[themculibrary]

Amusement Parks Masterlist

Anything Goes (And Usually Does) (ao3) - tisfan bucky/tony E, 2k

Summary: A night at the fair, anything and everything goes...

A Whole New World (ao3) - Icylightning pepper/tony T, 18k

Summary: For last six months Tony and Pepper were looking for a child to adopt but luck wasn't on their side. Until one day, Tony receives a letter from five year old Peter Parker.

Best Ride In Town (ao3) - ChasingMuses bucky/zemo E, 13k

Summary: Bucky's pretty sure there's not much better than a disheveled, slightly desperate Zemo. He's not wrong but he's going to have to make up the public embarrassment that the Baron suffers. Thankfully, he's up to the task.

Candy Floss (ao3) - Captain_Loki clint/natasha G, 1k

Summary: The Avengers go on a team building trip to an amusement park

Disney World (ao3) - Kenzie_Marvel G, 9k

Summary: Natasha and Tony takes Yelena and Peter to Disney World, cute chaos ensues. :)

ferris wheels (engine failure) (ao3) - MAVEfm G, 1k

Summary: He can't stand Coney Island or the way his whole body feels like it's caught in a current, or the way Mantis is looking at him.

For A Smile (ao3) - FujurPreux steve/tony T, 9k

Summary: Tony's scientific quest to make Steve smile goes to interesting places when he tasks a new AI to help him with the logistics.

Honey Honey Rock the Boat (ao3) - HisaHiru steve/bucky T, 5k

Summary: A date at the amusement park, Steve and Bucky being lovey dovey... What could go wrong? Nothing. Except Tony (and friends) decided it was time for them to step in and play detective. Sam wanted to go home already.

(I Can't Let This Go) I'm On My Way (ao3) - kototyph steve/bucky T, 4k

Summary: “Do you, uh… d’you want to go in?” he asks. Jeez, he’s nervous. He doesn’t think he’s been this nervous since 1940 and asking Mary Margaret to come dancing, standing out on her stoop with all her brothers and sisters watching and Bucky egging him on from under the stairs. She’d turned him down in front of God and country and even slammed the door in his face.

Steve really, really hopes Bucky’s not about to slam the door in his face.

It's 3am and We Must Be Lonely (ao3) - monicawoe steve/bucky T, 2k

Summary: Steve and Bucky go on a motorcycle ride to Coney Island in the middle of the night. The amusement parks are closed but that doesn't keep them from having some much-needed fun.

Ride (ao3) - Azure_Waves bucky/darcy E, 2k

Summary: When Darcy's car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, she's happy James is with her. It would be okay if the amusement park they'd broken down in front of wasn't closed (and creepy!), but hey, she has good company at least.

Rollercoaster (ao3) - AmethystSong steve/tony T, 7k

Summary: Thor prompts the Avengers into going to an amusement park, comedy, chaos, and romance occur in that order.

Superheroes (ao3) - enigma731 G, 11k

Summary: Clint has more than a few concerns about Tony's new Avengers themepark. Trouble is, no one wants to hear them from the focus group's "least marketable Avenger." Looks like he'll just have to investigate for himself. As usual.

the closest thing (ao3) - daisylincs G, 6k

Summary: A mission with Coulson and May takes an unexpected turn when Daisy finds out that a) they tricked her into taking a day off and going to an amusement park, and b) everybody at said amusement park seems to think they're a family.

The Person on the Other End of the Line (ao3) - imgoingtocrash G, 3k

Summary: Flash gives in to an immature impulse that leaves Peter injured enough that they call his emergency contact, Tony.

[stormikitty]

@ohmygodletmesignup

Okay so Paulina and Danny are dance partners and Paulina is half dragon, which is basically a given with me, and they're both kinda punk I guess? Danny being punk just makes sense because GIW+Vlad+Walker. Paulina has essentially become part of Danny's found family as much as Sam and Tucker at this point. None of them trust the government/anyone working with the government/any authority figures.

Paulina, while outside of Amity, gets Klarion to stop attacking the YJ team (from the cartoon) by saying the team is with her (Danny saved Teekl recently and Klarion doesn't wanna do anything to upset Danny, so attacking people who are with someone he's close to is something he doesn't wanna do). The team has never met Paulina before this, but she just saved their asses from Klarion and got him to turn against the Light, so they play along. The team soon finds out that Paulina doesn't have control of her powers (remember she's half dragon) and soon enough she actually joins the team.

It quickly becomes apparent that Paulina doesn't trust superheroes. They ask her why she joined them.

Paulina knows Danny's not safe at home. She knows he's not even safe in Amity Park. She knows there's a very high chance of him being vivisected at any time, especially if his parents find out what he is. She knows Ellie is out there on her own somewhere and she's in danger if she's even in America. She knows the situation that's already impossibly bad could get a hundred times worse at any moment. Some of the people she's closest with are very big targets for the government sanctioned genocide happening in her town. She won't be able to do anything to help if she's alone. She needs allies unless she wants to be left completely powerless to protect her Horde. The Justice League works with the government and can't be trusted. But the Team? She's not sure. They've disagreed with and fought the League before, and they don't work directly with the government as far as she can tell. She might be able to go to them for help and get the to keep it from the league if she has to. She wants to find out how much she can trust them first though. And for now they're at least helping her figure out her powers.

I'm still not sure about how to word Paulina's response to the team's question, so I'm gonna skip that for now.

Kaldur makes a social media post about how the closest thing he has to a celebrity crush is someone on the internet with a very small following with the username of AstroHaunt. (It's Danny.) Paulina sees this and asked Kaldur if that's his real social media account. It is. Paulina knows Aqualad was Danny's celebrity crush when he was 13, but she's not sure how he feels about him now.

Sam and Tucker show Danny Kaldur's post and he tells Paulina that if it's real, she can give Aqualad his number, since Danny knows she knows him.

Danny would describe his type as people who are strong minded, in control, and could kick his ass. Paulina would describe Danny's type as toxic assholes who are interested in him for the wrong reasons if at all and who will only hurt him.

She doesn't know if Kaldur will be good for Danny or if she should trust him less now. She gives Kaldur Danny's number, but decides to keep an extra close eye on him now.

(I might reblog this with more later or make a separate post. There's definitely a lot more to say about it. Anyone know a good name for this AU?)

Anyone wanna hear about the DPxDC AU that's been spinning in my head for the last couple days? (It has a lot to do with the version of Paulina that exists in my head, which is very different from canon and from how most people seem to think of her. It also has to do with the Young Justice cartoon and Cold Current.)

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Feels Like Home

Derek sat outside of the small coffee shop watching young couples, overworked mothers, and tired college students come and go. He held his own steaming cup in his hands. His jacket pulled tightly around him, his scarf wrapped around his neck. It was a bit too cold to be sitting outside. Not many others were and not for long, but Derek needed this. He needed something to kill the whirring in his chest. It felt like a hurricane under his skin. At first he thought it was him being homesick but when he visited Beacon Hills, nothing was the same. Stiles had joined the FBI. Isaac had moved to France. Lydia went off to some fancy school. Scott became a vet in Los Angeles. His house had been torn down and was now being turned into a park.

The feeling only continued to get worse. He felt restless. He had been traveling since he split from Braden almost four years ago. He never stayed anywhere long because it felt wrong. Nowhere felt like home anymore. He was a drifter with nothing to root him into place. He'd even visited Cora for a few months before having to move on.

Now he sat at a small coffee shop in New York City seeking comfort in the faint memories he'd made here years ago with Laura. They'd sit at this very table and people watch for hours. Laura would make up stories about the bickering couple that walked by, or the teenagers seeking their caffeine high for the day.

Derek watched a mother with their teenage daughter walk by. He imagined what Laura would say about them.

Perhaps she'd claim the mother was lecturing her daughter about choosing boys over her grades while the daughter ignored her in favor of texting her friends.

The thought brought a smile to his face. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The cold November air burned his lungs. The sun would be setting soon and it would be too cold to people watch. He tipped back the last of his coffee and stood to make his way...somewhere. Back to the hotel he was staying in? That thought made his chest tighten. Perhaps he'd find something to occupy himself on the way.

He tossed his empty cup into the nearby trash and headed down the busy sidewalk. He was never a fan of big cities. It had too many scents and noises. Laura said that was what made it the perfect place to live until they knew they were safe from hunters.

Derek tried not to breath too deep as he continued down the sidewalk. He let his feet carry him aimlessly through the crowded streets, navigating traffic and pedestrians with ease, until he found himself standing at the entrance of central park.

Laura loved to go running here. It was the closest thing to home at the time. Derek had rolled his eyes claiming the handful of trees didn't compare to the reserve. He stood by that even now. Though lately even the reserve didn't feel like home.

He closed his eyes and imagined Laura's laughter as she taunted him for lagging behind. She had always been faster and stronger than him.

"Derek?" A familiar voice yanked him from his memory.

He opened his eyes to see Stiles Stilinski walking towards him from the park's entrance. He looked older than the last time Derek had seen him. His hair was longer and his jaw more chiseled. He had stubble that shadowed his chin and cheeks. It was a good look.

"Dude, what are you doing here?" Stiles asked, coming in for a hug.

Derek reciprocated the hug awkwardly, still caught off guard by the sudden appearance of an old pack member.

"I uh, I'm in town for a bit," Derek answered lamely. He didn't know what he was doing here. Chasing old memories in search of comfort? That wasn't something he wanted to admit to.

"How long?" Stiles asked shifting a bag on his shoulder.

"I'm not sure. What are you doing here?" Derek had thought Stiles was in Virgina.

"I took a job here about six months ago, working with the local FBI."

"Oh. That's great." Derek forced a smile. Stiles seemed different. Happy maybe.

"Are you busy?" Stiles glanced around as if expecting to see someone else with Derek.

"No, I was just..." Derek gestured to the park.

Stiles raised a brow but didn't pry when Derek didn't elaborate.

Derek's chest warmed. He forgot how understanding Stiles was. He never had to explain himself to him.

"Well, I was thinking of grabbing something to eat. If you have the time...you should join me."

Derek smelled the caution in Stiles' scent. He smiled. "I'd like that."

Stiles beamed. He'd clearly been expecting a rejection.

-

As they walked, Stiles caught Derek up on his life. Derek listened intently being sure to ask questions to keep the conversation on Stiles.

It wasn't until they were seated at the table in the small Italian restaurant that Stiles gave Derek a pointed look.

"So are we going to continue to avoid talking about you or are you gonna tell me what you're doing in New York?"

Derek dropped his eyes to his lap where he had laid his napkin. He smoothed the creases of it before looking back up at Stiles.

"Is something wrong?" Stiles' tone dropped into worry as he leaned forward.

"No. I'm fine." Derek gave a small smile at Stiles' concern.

Stiles narrowed his eyes but didn't argue. Instead he waited for Derek to continue.

"I've been here about a month. Laura and I lived here for a while after the fire."

Stiles nodded. "Right. I remember."

"I umm, guess I'm just missing her." Derek dropped his gaze back to his napkin. He plucked at a loose thread as he continued. "I've been traveling a bit. Just came from visiting Cora actually."

"I figured you'd settle down somewhere, build a pack." Stiles frowned.

Derek's lips pulled into a line. "I haven't found anywhere that feels...right. Ya know?" his eyes came up to meet Stiles'.

Stiles shifted in his seat. "Yeah. It's hard to find where you belong when everyone you know is scattered to the wind."

Derek nodded. "I went back to Beacon Hills recently."

"Nothing is the same." Stiles shook his head.

"Yeah, it felt...strange," Derek agreed.

"Do you talk to anyone from Beacon Hills anymore?" Stiles asked.

"Not really, no. Cora is the only one. You?"

Stiles nodded sadly. "I talk to Scott on occasion. Lydia sends emails sometimes. I even got a postcard from Isaac once though that was three years ago now. Haven't heard from Cora or Malia in several years. I actually ran into Jackson and Ethan while on a case last year, but I didn't have time to catch up."

"I should have reached out." Derek smelled the disappointment on Stiles. It was familiar. It reminded him of the early days in Beacon Hills. Stiles usually smelled upset or disappointed or worried.

"I uh...thought about reaching out myself. I looked you up in the database but..." Stiles trailed off.

"Why didn't you?" Derek pressed. He wondered how he would have reacted to a random call from Stiles Stilinski. He imagined he'd have been pleased.

"I figured if you wanted to talk you'd reach out. I know how important your privacy is to you," Stiles shrugged, reaching for the water in front of him.

Derek's chest warmed once again.

"I would have liked to hear from you," Derek admitted.

"Why didn't you reach out?" Stiles dared ask, his eyes lifting to meet Derek's.

"I heard you got out. I had a lot of demons chasing me for a while. Once I finally shook them...I realized you were probably better off."

Stiles gave a derisive snort.

"It's good to see you though," Derek said with a sincerity in his tone that caused Stiles to look up with a frown. "It's nice to see someone...familiar."

"Yeah. It feels...comfortable." Stiles smiled.

Derek cleared his throat. "So you live nearby or..."

Stiles allowed the subject change. He knew Derek would say more when he wanted to. For now he'd allow him to avoid whatever he was trying to avoid.

-

After dinner, Stiles and Derek stepped back into the cold air. The sun had set well beneath the horizon, making the cold bite through their clothes, sending shivers down their spines.

"So are you staying nearby?" Stiles asked, pulling his coat tighter around him.

"Uh," Derek glanced to the Hilton Garden Inn. "Yeah. Not far."

Stiles blinked at Derek. "I'm sorry, are you staying in a hotel?"

Derek dropped his chin to his chest.

"Oh my god, Derek." Stiles threw his arms up. "You've been here a month."

Derek shrugged. He hadn't even planned to stay here that long but he didn't know where to go next and he hoped that if he stuck around long enough it would start to feel like home. It didn't.

"Come on, you're staying with me. I have a spare room you can use." Stiles turned to walk down the sidewalk but Derek didn't follow.

"What?" Stiles frowned when he noticed Derek wasn't behind him.

"I haven't seen you in years."

"So?"

"So we're not friends anymore."

Stiles' brows raised. "I'm offended."

"I just meant..." Derek trailed off with a sigh.

"If you're worried about me taking you back to my place, I bought you dinner first." Stiles gave a teasing grin.

Derek rolled his eyes but couldn't help the smile that pulled at his lips.

"Come on, you'll have your own bathroom. I won't hog the TV and you get the house to yourself while I'm at work," Stiles pressed.

Derek squinted at Stiles. "You're serious."

"Dude, yes. Now come on, it's freezing. We can swing through and get your stuff on the way." Stiles started down the sidewalk again. This time Derek followed suit.

-

Derek wasn't sure what he expected when he walked into Stiles' apartment, but it was not this. The small living room was decorated in warm browns and deep reds. The microfiber couch was a chocolate brown, draped in a dark red blanket. The walnut coffee table sat between the couch and the fake fireplace where the TV hung. On the walls were framed pictures of Stiles' FBI certifications and his dad in uniform. The room smelled strongly of Stiles and sandalwood.

"Make yourself comfortable." Stiles hung his keys on a hook by the door before laying his bag on a small table below them.

"It's nice." Derek's eyed trailed to the small kitchen where a bar with two stools separated the living room from the stove. On it sat a bowl with two overripe bananas and a single apple. The fridge held pictures of Scott and Stiles from years ago along with a wedding invitation for a couple Derek didn't know. The sink was void of dirty dishes minus a single solo cup.

"This is the bathroom," Stiles gestured to a door just inside the hall. "And this is your room." He pointed to a spacious room with a queen size bed in the middle. It was decorated in deep blues with baseball pictures on the wall.

Derek thought he recognized a couple of the posters from Stiles' room back in Beacon Hills.

"My room is there." Stiles pointed to the other end of the short hallway.

"You're sure you don't mind?" Derek asked.

"Stay as long as you like." Stiles held his arms out. "Mi casa es tu casa."

Derek couldn't help the frown that tugged on his brows. He didn't even know what home felt like anymore.

"So yeah, the bed is good to go cause I never have company. Uh...there are towels in the bathroom closet. I don't have any soap or shampoo but I can get mine if you-"

"I stole the hotel toiletries," Derek interrupted.

Stiles blinked at Derek. "I'm sorry, what?"

"I took the shampoo and soap from the hotel." Derek held up his duffel bag.

"I was already concerned by the severe lack of luggage but now you're telling me you've just been using hotel soap?"

"What's wrong with that?" Derek frowned.

"Nothing. I just...you've been in town for a month."

Derek shrugged.

Stiles cocked his head in a way that Derek remembered well. It was something he did when he was putting together clues to solve a case. "Okay, well I'll let you settle in." He took a step back as if to show he was giving Derek space.

"Thank you, Stiles," Derek said, a sincerity to his tone that Stiles didn't hear often.

"Course." Stiles smiled but it didn't quite reach his eyes.

Derek watched him close himself in his room, leaving Derek standing in the hall.

-

Derek woke late the next morning. He'd slept better than he had in weeks. His muscles were less sore than usual. He padded into Stiles kitchen in his pajama pants to see the apartment empty. Laid on the counter was a note from Stiles.

'Had to be at work early. Should be back by five. Hope you slept well. Make yourself at home.'

Derek smiled down at the note before opening the fridge. His smile grew at the sight of a pack of Pepsi, a jar of pickles and an old box of cold pizza. He should have guessed Stiles' fridge wouldn't be stocked. He shook his head before heading back to his room. If Stiles was going to allow him to stay, the least he could do was buy groceries.

Two hours later Derek had hauled all the groceries up to Stiles' apartment, covering his kitchen counter in jars of pasta sauce and boxes of noodles. Bags of rice and chicken stock. Anything he thought Stiles might need or use.

He put all the food away in what seemed like the correct places before checking the time. Stiles wouldn't be home for a few more hours.

The whirring in Derek's chest made him close his eyes. He recalled what he would do when he was bored at home while Laura was at work. Cook.

"Well I did just go shopping," he muttered to himself.

He pulled out a couple pots and pans that he'd come across while searching through Stiles' cabinets. They looked almost brand new.

-

Stiles stepped out of the elevator and was hit with a smell so good his stomach rumbled. He realized he was starving. He'd skipped lunch in favor of trying to solve his latest problem. He would have to see if Derek wanted to grab dinner with him because he was certain he didn't have anything to make.

He opened the door, only to be hit in the face with the smell from the hallway. Derek was in his kitchen with a towel tossed over his shoulder and a spread of several different dishes laid out in front of him.

"Just in time. Hungry?" Derek asked, pulling the towel from his shoulder and wringing it between his hands.

Stiles stood stunned. "What—"

"You didn't really have anything so I went to the store and then I was feeling...well I thought maybe you wouldn't mind." Derek gestured to the dinner he'd made.

"Wow. This is...Derek...I don't know what to say. Thank you."

"I didn't know what you liked so I made a few different things. This is Cheese stuffed mushrooms. This is butternut squash gnocchi with sage brown sugar. This is pork tenderloins with caramelized pears in a pear brandy cream sauce. And these are sautéed baby root vegetables." Derek pointed to each dish.

"Dude." Stiles hung his keys and dropped his bag. "One, what did I do to deserve this? And two, when did you learn to cook like this?"

Derek pulled out two plates. "My mom taught me and Laura. I used to cook for Laura when she was at work. It helped keep my mind busy. And as far as deserving it..." he spooned the different dishes onto one of the plates before setting it in front of Stiles. "You gave me a place to stay."

Stiles' stomach rumbled once again.

"Sounds like you're hungry," Derek held back a smile.

"Dude, I could kiss you, this is amazing," Stiles said around a bite of mushroom.

Derek's head dipped bashfully. "Glad you like it." He reached for a bag on the counter and pulled two bottles out.

"You'd be proud, I bought shampoo." he held up one of the bottles that was indeed labeled 'Shampoo'.

Stiles laughed, a pleased look on his face.

Through dinner Derek listened to Stiles' day, happy to have company. He missed Stiles' ramblings and fun facts. It took him back to long days researching at the loft.

"So I would ask how your day was but..." Stiles gestured to the kitchen. "I think I know."

"I hope you don't mind." Derek set his fork on his now empty plate.

"Are you kidding? If I had known you could cook, I would have hunted your ass down way earlier." Stiles took his and Derek's plate to the sink.

Derek's chest warmed at Stiles' words. He liked that Stiles enjoyed his cooking. He hadn't cooked for anyone since Laura. It felt good.

After dinner, Stiles worked on his case so Derek busied himself with a Sudoku book he'd bought from the store earlier.

Stiles, who was flipping through the pages of his file, paused and looked over at Derek who was sitting cross legged on the end of the couch. He wore a plain white tank top and grey sweatpants. The sudoku book was folded in his left hand. It was the most domestic he'd ever seen Derek. His stomach fluttered. It was strange having Derek in his space but he enjoyed it. It felt right.

"You're staring," Derek said, not looking up from his book.

"I was just think how odd this is, having you here."

Derek looked up, his shoulders straightening.

"But also it's so...natural. Almost like...you belong? I dunno, sorry if that's weird." Stiles turned back to his file.

"It's not weird. I know what you mean. It's familiar but also...not." Derek relaxed his shoulders. The scent on Stiles was contentment. He had worried he'd been too quick to fall into the comfort of Stiles' house. But something about being in Stiles' space was...relaxing.

-

Stiles walked into his apartment to the smell of garlic and onions cooking. "Honey I'm home," he called playfully.

Derek turned around, the towel tossed over his shoulder like it so often was. "Hey, you're home early."

"It smells amazing." Stiles peered over Derek's shoulder where he was sautéing garlic and onions in a pan of oil.

"It won't be ready for another thirty minutes," Derek apologized.

"Dude, you don't have to have it ready when I get home." Stiles laughed shaking his head.

"I like to though." Derek shrugged, pushing the vegetables across the pan with his wooden spoon.

"Well I appreciate it." Stiles stepped back and grabbed a pepper from the cutting board. "Can't wait to see what you're gonna create tonight, Gordon Ramsey."

Derek chuckled, shaking his head.

"Gonna go shower."

Derek turned to watch Stiles retreat into the apartment. It had been almost two weeks since Derek had started staying with Stiles. He'd settled in quickly and found that he wasn't waiting for his next move.

He glanced around. His favorite mug had a place on Stiles' counter next to the coffee maker. His books had made a home on the new bookcase Stiles bought. A second hook had been hung next to Stiles' keys for his own. His clothes were folded next to Stiles' on the dryer. His herb plants lined the balcony.

Their lives had intertwined so easily. Derek found he enjoyed gardening and cooking while Stiles was at work. On weekends the two would get coffee and take walks through central park.

Derek placed a hand on his chest. The whirring force of the hurricane that had taken up residency under his skin had simmered. Being here with Stiles was the first time that feeling had gone away. He wondered at what point it had started to dissipate. Had it been when Stiles gave Derek a spare key? Had it been when Stiles started leaving notes regularly for him in the morning? Had it been when Stiles asked Derek's opinion on the new couch cushions he bought?

Derek considered what it was about Stiles' space that made him so comfortable as he finished dinner. By the time Stiles had finished showering and joined him in the kitchen he'd decided that it was just Stiles. He'd always been comfortable around him and felt safe. Stiles had even at one point been his anchor.

Suddenly Derek whipped around to face Stiles who was taking his seat at the counter.

"What's wrong?" Stiles frowned at Derek's panicked expression.

Derek didn't know how he hadn't realized it sooner. Stiles was his anchor. He'd been searching for something to ground him for years. And the entire time it was Stiles.

"Derek?" Stiles slid off the chair and reached for Derek's forearm.

Derek closed his eyes as Stiles' soothing touch washed over him. A warmth spread through him.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Stiles squeezed Derek's arm gently.

Derek opened his eyes, collecting himself. "Nothing. I just forgot an ingredient for dinner. But it's fine." He turned away from Stiles.

He tried to push down the panic but now that he realized that Stiles was what had been missing from his life he didn't know how he could leave. He knew it was only a matter of time before Stiles wanted Derek to move out. But Derek didn't want to leave. Stiles felt like home, something he'd been searching for for a long time.

"You sure?" Stiles pressed, his eyes narrowed.

"Yeah. Come on, let's eat." Derek put on a soft smile and made Stiles' plate.

Stiles reclaimed his seat.

Derek was thankful Stiles didn't pry. He guessed though by the frown on his face that he didn't believe Derek.

Stiles told Derek about his day over dinner like he did every night. Derek did his best to pay attention but all he could think about was how much he'd miss this.

"Dinner was amazing as usual." Stiles took his and Derek's plates to the sink.

"I'm thinking of getting my own place," Derek blurted. He'd seen a neighbor down the hall moving out the day before. Perhaps if he could stay close to Stiles he would remain grounded.

The plates slipped from Stiles' grip and clattered loudly in the sink. He cleared his throat.

"Oh?" Stiles turned on the water.

"An apartment down the hall opened up." Derek swallowed.

Stiles took in a shaky breath. He knew this day would come, he'd just hoped it wouldn't be so soon. "Okay." He fought to keep his tone even.

Derek tried to decipher the different scents on Stiles. Disappointment. Anger. Understanding.

"I've taken up enough of your space and—"

Stiles cut the water off and turned to face Derek, causing him to cut his sentence short.

"You're not taking up my space Derek. This is your space too." Stiles' tone was sharper than he'd intended.

Derek didn't respond.

Stiles wiped his hands on a towel and sighed. "If that's really what you want then okay, but please don't feel like you're doing me any favors by moving out."

Derek's brows furrowed. Did Stiles really want him to stay?

"Look, I get it; you don't stay in one place long. But don't move into the apartment down the hall for a few months if you're just planning on leaving again. Stay here. When you're ready to move on, then...okay. But it's stupid to get another apartment temporarily," Stiles continued.

"I didn't mean to upset you." Derek couldn't ignore the irritation in Stiles' scent.

"You didn't."

Derek noted the lack of skips in Stiles' heartbeat. He wasn't lying.

"Then what did?"

Stiles looked at Derek and sighed. "I did."

Derek's frown deepened.

"I got comfortable having you here. I knew you wouldn't stay and yet I still..." Stiles trailed off. "It doesn't matter."

"It matters to me." Derek took a step towards Stiles.

"Having you here has been..." Stiles licked at his licks. "Honestly, it's been incredible."

Derek's chest warmed at Stiles' words.

"It feels like you belong here and I don't know why. I love having you here. I love your coffee cup next to mine. I love your books on my shelf. I love your sudoku puzzles. I love your herb plants on my balcony. I love watching the game with you. I love getting coffee and watching the pigeons on our walks. I love—" Stiles cut himself off.

Derek took another step towards Stiles. "I love those things too. But what happens when you tire of my things in your space? Or when you..." he swallowed. "Meet someone."

Stiles scoffed. "Yeah."

"I'm serious, Stiles."

"What are you running from?" Stiles snapped, catching Derek off guard.

"What?"

"You've been all over the place. You never stay in one place long. You were staying in a hotel." Stiles threw his arms up.

"I'm not running from anything."

"Then what are you looking for?"

Derek's lips pulled into a tight line.

Stiles would normally back off, sensing Derek didn't want to talk about it, but this time he pushed.

"You've been searching for something. What is it?"

"Home." Derek said, barely above a whisper.

Stiles wasn't sure what he'd been expecting Derek to say but it wasn't that.

"Oh. Well...I don't want to stop you from finding that." He spoke just as quietly.

"Stiles." Derek took a step forward.

Stiles took a step back, bumping into the counter behind him.

"I'm gonna be honest with you because you deserve to know." Derek pulled in a slow breath. "I found my home. Here with you."

Stiles' mouth fell open.

"I realized it earlier and...it scared me."

Stiles didn't dare move or speak.

"You're my anchor. Have been for years. I just never realized that this torrent that I've been trying to quell wasn't a storm at all. It was a hole."

Stiles swallowed. This had to be a dream.

"This." Derek gestured around the apartment. "You. It feels like home."

"Then why are you trying to leave?" Stiles dared ask. His voice a whisper.

"Because I'm afraid if I don't leave now, I won't be able to later."

"Then don't ever leave."

Derek frowned.

"I didn't realize what was missing in my life until you showed up. When you're here I feel...better."

Derek's ears pricked for any hint of a lie.

"When you left all those years ago, you took a piece of me with you. Now that you're back...I don't want you to go."

"Really?" Derek searched Stiles face for any doubt, listened for any hesitation.

"Derek." Stiles stepped forward and the smell of worry, and anxiety singed Derek's nose. "I don't want your shampoo bottles to be in the spare bathroom. I want them to be in mine."

Derek's lips pulled into a fond smile before surging forward. His fingers clutched at the sides of Stiles' face as their lips connected gently.

Stiles' hands gripped at the t-shirt Derek wore, holding him close. Dizziness swept over him. This wasn't real. There was no way Derek Hale was kissing him.

Derek pulled back, keeping their foreheads together.

"Does this mean you'll stay?" Stiles asked between them, his hands still gripping at Derek's shirt.

"As long as you'll have me." Derek closed his eyes relishing in the comfort and warmth of Stiles' presence.

Derek's shampoo fit perfectly on the shelf next to Stiles', much like the rest of his things did in Stiles' apartment.

Consider buying me a coffee, I would really appreciate it!