#so we can and should use what we find for them

[yeyinde]

surreal/psychological horror + Soap where you agree to house sit for a coworker when they take off for a vacation. but a man shows up and tells you he's supposed to be staying there too.

their son, he shrugs. came home on leave from the military. crashin' here. thought mam might'a said somethin'.

she didn't, but it's fine. and he's harmless. sort of. maybe. you're not sure, really. because he's a little pushy. has a wild temper that ebbs and flows at intervals you can't really keep up with. tempestuous. mercurial. but he makes dinner. he tells you about what he did—not all of it, but some. like why he was sent home as he gestures to the raw scar on his temple.

need some tlc, he quips with a sharp grin. and lucky him because he found the prettiest little doe waitin' fer him.

harmless. a soldier. you can trust that, right?

but he stares at you with a naked hunger, like he wants to eat you alive. but it's gone when you really look. and sometimes, things go missing. your clothes. panties. odd stuff around the house. he hides the newspaper in the trash before you can see it. says the cable is out on the television—Netflix only. no news. he can't—he can't bare to see it. trauma. you wouldn't put him through that, would you, doe? no. you're a good girl. the best.

(at night, asleep. a nightmare; his rough voice in your ear: his good girl. so good for him. so wet—)

and it's just three weeks.

you'll be fine.

(—even though you taste him in the morning. on your lips. your tongue. the back of your throat. salty, bitter. but—there's a pack of salted licorice on the table. fifteen pieces, it reads. maybe you ate them. fuck, got such a pretty mouth, doe. you count each piece. gonna make me cum. fifteen. it's fine. it's fine. there's an ache between your thighs. a tenderness you lie to yourself about as you ignore the stickiness pooling in the gusset of your panties. fuck, doe, ahm gonna—)

absolutely fine.

until your coworker calls after finally getting cell reception. chatting in your ear about her vacation. normal. totally normal. and her son? you tell her. he's been a real help around the house, too (but she should maybe talk to him about sneaking into your bedroom at night because that's so weird, it's so strange; you don't want to wake up to a man staring at you in the dark, or catch the scent of sage on your pillow anymore, the lingering heat—please tell him to stop doing that because when you do, he just gets a weird look on his face like you're the problem, and it's just all so—)

"what son? we don't—we don't have a son—"

the phone line cutting out doesn't really surprise you. and neither does the creak of the floorboards. the solid weight of a chest against your back. the press of metal. a warm, firm palm folding over your throat, anchoring you in place.

a soft, mournful coo:

"ah really didnae want ye tae find out like th', doe. ah thought we had time together." his hand tightens. breath heavy, ragged against the shell of your ear. "but we gotta go, doe. it's time for us tae leave—"

(maybe you should have pushed back harder against letting him hide the paper, or barring you from watching the news. you might have seen a familiar face.)

[cheyisagirlkisser]

sevika.com..

➜┆ ↻ 𝙇𝙤𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜... ⟳ sevika x fem! camgirl reader

possible warnings on your browser: unofficial sugar mommy sevika who would go nuts over camgirl websites these days (as opposed to brothels in zaun), mechanic! sevika(who bffr is probably getting dirty cash from silco at his auto shop), 18+ content, masturbation (both), lingerie and vibrators, dirty talk.

Sevika is the type of person to make fun of the guys who actually think the stripper likes them. That is just who she is.

However, camgirls? Totally different story.

Something using her money she racks in from a sketchy auto shop named "Silco's Auto Haven" to purchase monthly subscriptions for lingerie-clad women? Absolutely.

Imagine it—Sevika walking through the door after a long day at work. Her muscles are aching, and she just wants to take a shower, collapse on her ratty couch, and send her hard-earned income to her favorite camgirl, you. With two fingers in her aching cunt, of course.

Meanwhile, you are in your comfy bedroom. You've got a mountain of pillows pushed back out of your iphone camera's view so you can be the main focus, and your cheeks are visibly dark with desire. You look right into the camera and lean forward, your tits nearly spilling out of the pretty, pink Victoria's Secret lingerie set you were able to buy with money that Sevika donated to you. Only slightly can the hundreds, if not thousands of viewers see a hint of pebbled skin, your nipple peeking out of the bra. You're a fucking tease, and your fans love it.

slipknot_slut commented: take off the bra for us, baby.

You squint your eyes to read the influx of comments, but that one stands out in particular. You huff out a teasing laugh, leaning slightly out of frame on purpose.

"Slipknot_slut says i should show everyone my tits. Well, maybe after a donation or two. Go to pornhub if you wanna see some free titties." You say with a slight shrug.

onomatopoeiabitch22 commented: GIRL? WE LITERALLY PAY TO SEE THIS. SHOW US UR TITTIES.

ambessahub commented: i could eat you for protein

"Uhh, okay." You scoff, both amused and weirded out. Chat is getting pushy, and in all truth, you need some donations for rent. (The only reason you're struggling is because a certain someone had been working overtime as a mechanic, missing your most recent livestream).

And then, practically godsent, you see your favorite username.

iluvgamblingngirls has joined the livestream. Say hi!

"Sevikkkkaaa!! Hi, baby." You coo over the screen excitedly, unaware of how wet you're currently making Sevika's pussy.

Sevika is already pumping her cunt tightly with her fingers, eyes transfixed on the way you begin to unclasp your bra, already knowing that she's got you. It nearly makes her laugh at the thought that you're such a huge slut for her, and you don't even know what she looks like. She knows it's the money, she isn't stupid. But you get so desperate, it makes both her heart and pussy warm from inside her cheap apartment, laid out on the couch with her phone tight in her grip. With shaky hands, she begins the bidding.

iluvgamblingngirls has left a donation of $500. Say thanks!

Your eyes widen, and you finally throw your bra behind you haphazardly. You don't make Sevika wait like you do your other fans, grabbing the string attached to your panties around your hips and sliding the fabric down the wide expanse of your thighs.

"Fuuck.." Sevika curses underneath her breath when she is able to see the glistening wetness on your panties, simply because it catches on the light and the camera just barely picks it up. Regardless, she finds herself fucking herself at a harsher pace.

Your center your naked body back into frame, and your hand slides a vibrator right between your legs. Suddenly, Sevika isn't feeling good alone. Your clit pulses with each vibration, your moans exaggerated but real. Sevika wonders if you've been pent up. It may sound creepy, but Sevika has a knack for distinguishing your real moans from the dramatic, pornographic sounds that are truly from pleasuring yourself, but obviously aren't fully realistic.

The thought that you struggled to get off without Sevika on the livestream sends a pang of heat throughout her lower abdomen, and she tries to find a pace that matches yours. She can't help herself from wanting to talk to you, however.

iluvgamblingngirls commented: wish you could ride me into the mattress

iluvgamblingngirls has sent a donation of $500!

When you read Sevika's message, you let out a soft moan, allowing yourself to fall back onto the bed and spread your legs wider, growing desperate.

You don't know what it is about Sevika's messages and financial support, but it has an effect on you. It's the countless donations that go towards rent/groceries, lingerie for live streams, and expensive lotions to keep your skin smooth. It's the comments that do not hesitate to inform you of the filthy things Sevika wants to do to you. Ride her into the mattress. You shouldn't get yourself so heated over someone who is practically faceless to you, but you can't help it. You always react to her comments, and she knows it.

"Sev, gonna cum..are you gonna cum with me?" You whine, rocking your hips to meet the intense buzzing of the vibrator. Your clit is nearly numb from the sensation, but it feels so good.

You get no answer, but do not think much of it. You can only imagine a faceless, bodiless woman, cunt stuffed with herself as she struggles to type out her reply because she is on the edge of a cliff. Cute.

Nevertheless, you let yourself go, savoring every wave of pleasure as your cum drips down onto your bedsheets. You're left a quivering, spent mess.

At the same time, Sevika's body arches and her back stretches. She feels the hot pangs of pleasure pulse until it is her own heartbeat that she feels, still rapidly racing, but trying its hardest to come down. She nearly laughs at how carried away you were able to bring her.

iluvgamblingngirls has left a donation of $1,000.

You nearly fall off the bed when you read that. Sevika surely likes to take care of you, huh?

You manage to compose yourself and sit up, turning off the live stream. Sevika almost lets herself feel disappointed before ultimately freezing. An email about a friend request on the camgirl website. A friend request from you.

Sevika is in over her head.

[antifainternational]

I have a group of acquaintances from my hometown who are mostly “moderate Republicans”, but only because they don’t really pay attention and are young straight white men from an affluent suburb. I don’t hang out with them, but we’re all in a group chat together (that they keep adding me to every time I try to leave). I figured since I was there, I might as well try to introduce them to some leftist, anti-authoritarian ideas. It’s been working—I’ve even seen a shift with the one proper alt-right guy from constantly posting evil shit unfettered to keeping his mouth shut except to occasionally completely make a fool of himself while trying to debate me—but it’s slow. With everything else that’s happening in the US, I’m wondering if this is a worthwhile use of time.

You've already shifted one of your acquaintances from the red pill/alt-right pipeline a bit, so you've answered your own question, Anon! We suggest you keep up the good work here. In fact, we've got some resources for you: If you dig through our Asks Archive, you'll find lots of examples where we responded to the most common bullshit peddled by the far-right. There might be good ammo in there for you to use to continue swaying these guys. The Western States Center has a number of guides offering solid advice on how to respond when people close to you are going down the wrong path. Generally, avoid name-calling and responding with facts is effective. A good way to frame what you say is to Affirm, Answer, & ReDirect: -Affirm that what the person is saying is real and comes from a place of real concern that you understand. This validates them and makes them more open to listening to you. -Answer (or respond) to what they're saying factually. You want to be clear, concise, and concrete when you answer. Make your answer as clear, direct, and succinct as possible and based it on real-world, concrete evidence. -Now you want to ReDirect the person's concern or anger away from the target they thought was appropriate to where they should be angry. To demonstrate: Person 1: I'm fed up with not being able to afford proper housing! There's just not enough homes in this country with all the immigrants coming here! We need to close our borders to makes sure we can house our own people! Person 2: (Affirming): I definitely hear you. It sickens me that so many people are living on the streets here. Rents our out of control. We shouldn't have to worry about whether or not we're going to have a roof over our heads from one month to the next. (Answering): But what is the real problem here? We're one of the richest countries in the world, yet for every one person living on the streets, there are 28 vacant homes available that the owners are just sitting on. The top 20 corporate landlords control over 1.4 million homes. Turning housing from a basic necessity into something to speculate on and try to get rich with means sky-high rents and homes sitting empty while people sleep in the streets. (Redirecting): Immigrants aren't the reason for the housing crisis - relying on capitalism to provide housing when it's only designed to provide profits is the reason! If you are genuinely upset about housing situation here, you need to focus on the people that created the problem and profit from it - wealthy landlords and landowners and the politicians that pass laws that only make them wealthier, at the expense of the rest of us!

[idkyetxoxo]

Aemond Targaryen - A Tapestry of Us

Summary - After four years of parenthood, they steal a quiet moment of intimacy, only to be interrupted by their triplets. Between sword fights and bedtime stories, love, laughter, and exhaustion fill their lives. Though even in the chaos, they are exactly where they belong.

Pairing - Aemond Targaryen x reader

Warnings - Sexual content (smut!)

Word count - 2095

Masterlist for Aemond • House of the Dragon General Masterlist.

It had been four years since I'd brought three beautiful children into this world—a journey that transformed my life in ways both exhausting and indescribably wonderful.

Viserra, Vaegon, and Viserion had become a lively, mischievous trio who filled our days with chaos and laughter, and yet, Aemond and I treasured each of them beyond measure. 

They were the very pulse of our hearts, and their boundless energy—though at times overwhelming—reminded us daily of the love that built our family.

As I entered our chambers, I quietly closed the door behind me, exhaling as I leaned against it for a moment before moving toward Aemond. 

I practically melted into him, collapsing into his arms, I pressed against him, burying my face in the crook of his neck, breathing in his scent—smoke and leather, a hint of something wild beneath. 

He chuckled, wrapping me close, his chest solid and warm beneath my cheek as I let myself rest in his embrace.

"Exhausted, are we?" he murmured, his tone teasing, yet gentle. I only groaned in response, too tired to feign anything but complete surrender.

"Vaegon and Viserion were eager to demonstrate their new sword techniques. Apparently, Ser Criston had taught them a series of 'perfect' moves they couldn't wait to show off." 

I pulled back a little to look into his one good eye, smiling at the memory. 

"They insisted on doing each one with exact precision—it took ages," I said, shaking my head with fond exasperation.

Aemond's eyebrow arched slightly, a knowing smirk gracing his lips. "And I'm assuming our dear Viserra wasn't particularly helpful?"

A louder groan escaped me this time. "That girl insisted I read her a princess story for the hundredth time until she could practically recite it from memory," I replied, unable to suppress a smile despite my exhaustion.

He chuckled, his hand finding its way to my hair, fingers slipping through each strand with tender ease. 

I closed my eyes, savouring his touch, allowing myself to melt into his embrace a little more.

"Are they asleep now?" he asked softly.

I nodded, letting myself lean into him as his hands settled on my waist, steady and reassuring. A pause lingered between us, a delicate silence filled with the soft rhythm of our breathing.

"So," I ventured, a spark of playfulness lighting up my voice, "what should two parents of sleeping children get up to?"

His eyebrow lifted, his eye narrowing with that familiar, mischievous glint. I traced a finger along his tunic, feeling the firm warmth beneath, my own heartbeat quickening.

"That depends," he replied, his hand slipping beneath the hem of my nightgown, his fingers grazing the sensitive skin of my thigh, setting every nerve alight. 

"What is it their mother desires?"

I tilted my head, breath catching as a slow smile crept to my lips. "Ravenous... for something only you can satisfy," I whispered, feeling his breath hitch as a thrill sparked between us.

His hand stilled for a moment, and he drew in a breath, his gaze darkening as it met mine. 

Slowly, he lifted the nightgown over my head, his touch reverent, as if he were unwrapping something precious. He took his time, every movement measured and careful, as he let his hands glide over my skin. 

I shivered, the cool air of the room mingling with the warmth of his palms.

His own clothes fell away with an ease that spoke of familiarity, yet every touch, every lingering moment felt new. 

He leaned in, his lips finding the curve of my neck, trailing a line of soft kisses that ignited a spark deep within me. 

I tilted my head back, offering more of myself, and he accepted it gladly, his mouth moving slowly, savouring each inch of skin.

He pressed his lips to my collarbone, his teeth scraping lightly before he soothed the spot with his tongue. I arched into him, craving more of that exquisite mix of pain and pleasure.

When our eyes met again, the intensity in his gaze made everything else fade away. 

He cupped my face, his thumb brushing over my cheek as if he couldn't believe I was there as if he wanted to memorize every detail.

"You are everything," he whispered, his voice rough with emotion.

My breath hitched as he lifted me, settling me onto the bed with a gentleness that belied the strength I knew he possessed. He followed, his body pressing against mine, his warmth enveloping me completely. 

There was no rush—only a shared rhythm, a dance of touches and whispered words that filled the space between us.

Slowly, he guided us together, our bodies meeting in a way that felt like coming home. 

I gasped softly, my hands finding their way into his hair, holding him close as he moved with exquisite care, each motion a promise, each breath a shared vow. 

His lips found mine, and the kiss was deep, unhurried as if we had all the time in the world.

Our bodies moved together, a slow, sensual symphony that spoke of love, desire, and everything in between. 

Each caress, each lingering touch, drew out every sensation, making the moment stretch endlessly. I held on to him, feeling every heartbeat, every sigh, as he murmured words of love against my skin.

"I've missed this," I breathed, pressing my forehead to his as we paused, our breaths mingling.

"And I you," he replied, his voice low and full of need.

He moved again, a slow and deliberate pace that made every nerve come alive. Our world narrowed to this—the heat of our bodies, the closeness, the connection. 

It was more than pleasure; it was the reaffirmation of everything we had built together, every moment that led us to this point.

Time became meaningless as we found solace and strength in each other's arms, letting the rest of the world fall away. 

When at last we stilled, hearts racing and breaths mingling, there was no need for words. 

We simply held each other, savouring the lingering warmth, content in the knowledge that here, in this quiet space, we were exactly where we belonged.

As we lay entwined, savouring the warmth of each other's presence, a soft silence settled over the room. Our breaths slowed in unison, hearts still racing but gradually finding a peaceful rhythm. 

We basked in the afterglow of love and comfort, a quiet bubble where the world's demands momentarily faded away.

Aemond's fingers traced idle patterns along my bare back, his touch soft and reverent. "This," he murmured, voice low and husky, "I've missed this more than I can say."

I lifted my head slightly, meeting his gaze. "Me too," I whispered, leaning in to press a lingering kiss to his lips. We closed our eyes, content to simply hold each other in the stillness.

The peace, however, was fleeting.

Suddenly, a loud banging erupted from the chamber doors. It came fast and insistent, each thud reverberating through the room. 

We both jolted upright, the spell between us shattered as reality came crashing back in.

Aemond groaned, pressing the heels of his hands to his eyes. "Gods help me," he muttered, voice heavy with exhaustion and amusement.

I sat up, wide-eyed, clutching the sheets to my chest. "It can't be..."

The banging continued, accompanied now by the unmistakable voices of our children.

"Mama! Father!" Vaegon's high-pitched demand cut through the door, followed closely by Viserion's excited chime. "We need to tell you something!"

"And I'm thirsty!" Viserra's voice, more indignant and impatient than her brothers', punctuated the chaos.

"I thought you said they were asleep," Aemond said, disbelief mixed with a hint of wry humour in his voice.

I shot him an exasperated look, hastily gathering my nightgown and slipping it back over my head. "I thought they were!"

We scrambled to get dressed with the frantic energy of parents caught off-guard. Aemond fumbled with his tunic, his fingers betraying their usual precision as he hurriedly pulled it on. 

I laughed softly, unable to help myself as I fought to smooth my hair back into some semblance of order.

Just as Aemond was pulling on his breeches, the chamber doors flew open, and the triplets spilt inside in a flurry of excitement. 

Vaegon was at the front, brandishing a wooden sword proudly, while Viserion trailed close behind with a slightly smaller replica. Viserra, meanwhile, clutched her favourite toy dragon tightly, eyes alight with a mix of triumph and impatience.

Aemond turned to face them, arms crossed over his chest. "I was under the impression," he said, his tone a mix of mock sternness and playful affection, "that all of you were asleep."

Vaegon's eyes widened in innocence, though the mischievous glint couldn't be hidden. "We were... but then we weren't!"

"We had to show you something!" Viserion chimed in as if that explained everything.

Viserra nodded, unbothered by the intrusion. "And I'm thirsty."

I exchanged a glance with Aemond, biting back a laugh. He ran a hand down his face, clearly trying to maintain his composure. "Very well, come here."

The children rushed forward, piling onto the bed in a tangle of limbs and giggles. I adjusted my nightgown, pulling Viserra into my lap and smoothing the little girl's hair. 

"Did you at least try to go back to sleep?" I asked though I knew the answer before they all shook their heads vehemently.

Vaegon waved his sword enthusiastically, narrowly missing Viserion's ear. "We've been practising! Ser Criston said we're going to be the best."

"Almost as good as father," Viserion added, beaming at Aemond with hero worship clear in his eyes.

Aemond softened, his earlier exasperation melting away as he reached out to ruffle Viserion's hair. "I have no doubt you will surpass me someday," he said, voice warm with pride.

Viserra tugged on my sleeve. "Can we read a story? The one about the princess?"

I sighed, feigning weariness even as I smiled. "Again? But you already know every word."

"Please?" Viserra's eyes sparkled with hope.

There was no denying any of them, and soon we found themselves cocooned on the bed, the triplets nestled between us. 

I began the story, my voice weaving through familiar words as the children listened, occasionally chiming in with their favourite parts. 

Aemond lay back, one arm wrapped protectively around his family, his gaze soft and full of love.

As the story wound down, the triplets' eyes began to droop, but their energy was not yet entirely spent. Vaegon shifted closer to me and spoke up, a thoughtful expression on his face. 

"Mama, do you think we'll have another brother or sister one day?"

The question hung in the air, and I shot a sidelong glance at Aemond, who immediately perked up, a mischievous smile tugging at the corner of his lips. 

"That's an excellent question, Vaegon," he said smoothly, his one eye glinting with barely restrained amusement. "I, for one, think it's a splendid idea."

Viserra's eyes lit up with enthusiasm. "Oh, yes! I want a sister!" She leaned into me, practically bouncing. "Can we, Mama?"

Viserion nodded eagerly. "I'll teach them all the sword moves!"

I felt my cheeks flush and rolled my eyes at Aemond, who looked entirely too pleased. "Don't encourage them," I muttered, though I couldn't keep a smile from breaking through.

"Oh, but it seems they're very eager, love," Aemond replied, feigning innocence. 

He leaned in closer, his breath warm against my ear as he whispered low enough for only me to hear, "Perhaps we should consider their request."

My eyes narrowed, though there was a sparkle of humour. "You're enjoying this too much."

He shrugged, entirely unrepentant. "I'm simply a father who listens to his children."

"Uh-huh," I replied, giving him a warning look even as the corners of my lips twitched upward. 

Turning back to the children, I forced a mock-serious expression. "We'll see. But for now, it's time for bed."

Groans erupted from the triplets, but they settled quickly, our arms wrapping around them as they nestled closer. 

"Another babe..." Vaegon mumbled sleepily. "Maybe one day."

As the children finally drifted off, I looked at Aemond, shaking my head with affectionate exasperation. "You're going to pay for that later."

He chuckled softly, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "I'm counting on it."

Aemond met my gaze, both of us exhausted but content. "Next time, I'm barricading the door," he added, a teasing lilt to his voice.

I laughed softly, leaning into him. "Good luck with that."

We held each other, surrounded by the gentle rise and fall of our children's breaths. And as the first light of dawn crept into the room, we realized we wouldn't trade these moments for anything in the world. 

Together, we drifted into a light, precious sleep, knowing that chaos and love would greet us anew with every sunrise.

A/n - Kind of a part 2 for 'Embracing the Unexpected' also happy valentines day <3

Aemond tag list - @darylandbethfanforever9 @lessdepressy @veesuguru @targaryendestiel

[heliosunny]

PLEASE IM BEGGING LIKE THE BIGGEST BEGGAR IN THE WORLD DO A DAN HENG LUCKY EGG FIC( Unless you don’t want to!)

LUCKY EGG

Yandere!Dan Heng x Reader

You didn’t expect much when you got the egg. Sure, it looked a little different compared to normal eggs people got, but that was normal, right?

For the next three days, you never let it out of your sight. And then, the feeling of being watched started. At first, you thought it was your imagination. By the third day, your unease had turned into a quiet, gnawing dread.

That night, as you walked home with the egg cradled against your chest, a shadow moved.

Before you could react, a figure lunged from the darkness. A hand snatched at the egg.

"Hand it over!"

Instinctively, you held it tighter. "No."

"Then I'll just have to take it myself."

A flash of silver—a weapon.

You barely had time to flinch before-

Crack

A burst of blinding teal light exploded from the egg, knocking the intruder back. The warmth in your arms vanished as something took its place.

A young man now stood before you. Dark, messy hair, his expression calm but unreadable. He stepped in front of you, placing himself between you and the attacker.

"Step away from them."

The assailant cursed under their breath before lunging again.

With startling speed, the man deflected the strike, the enemy barely had time to react before he countered, sending them stumbling back. Realizing the fight was unwinnable, they vanished into the night.

You clutched the empty eggshell, heart hammering, struggling to process what just happened.

The young man turned, his gaze scanning you carefully.

“Are you hurt?”

You shook your head slowly.

“…Good.”

But before you could even think of a response, a sudden force yanked at your chest.

A sharp, invisible pull tightened between you and Dan Heng-his name suddenly came to you, an unnatural bond snapping into place. You weren’t the only one who felt it, Dan Heng’s hand clenched into a fist, his brows furrowing as if testing something unseen.

“…It seems we are bound together.”

“What?”

Dan Heng’s words settled heavily between you.

You stared at him. “What do you mean… bound?”

Dan Heng’s expression was unreadable as he lifted his hand, fingers flexing slightly—as if testing the invisible force between you.

“I can feel it” he murmured. “A connection.” His sharp eyes flickered to you. “And so can you.”

Now that he mentioned it…

There was something tugging at your chest. A strange, lingering warmth linking you to him, like a thin, invisible thread pulling taut whenever you moved too far away.

“What the hell is this?” You instinctively took a step back.

Dan Heng didn’t stop you—he didn’t need to. The moment you moved too far, a dull ache formed at your core, forcing you to halt.

Dan Heng’s eyes narrowed. “It won’t let us separate.”

You swallowed hard, fighting the unease creeping up your spine. “Is this… because of the egg?”

“Most likely.” Dan Heng let out a slow exhale, his voice calm despite the situation. “Something unnatural happened when I hatched.”

No kidding.

You clenched the broken remnants of the egg in your hands, staring at the glowing fragments. This wasn’t normal. None of this was normal.

Dan Heng studied you carefully. “Does it hurt?”

You shook your head. “Not really… Just weird.”

He nodded. “Then we should find out how to undo it.”

Right. That made sense.

You didn’t know Dan Heng, and he didn’t know you. Staying attached like this wasn’t ideal for either of you.

But before you could say anything else, that feeling of being watched returned.

Your body tensed. “They’re still here.”

Dan Heng was already looking past you. He was silent for a moment before speaking again, voice lower this time.

“Come with me.”

You barely had time to react before he grabbed your wrist and pulled you along. The two of you disappeared into the night.

The inn was quiet, tucked away in an alley far from prying eyes. It wasn’t the most luxurious place, but it would do for the night.

Dan Heng took a seat on the small wooden chair in the corner, silent as he assessed the room. You, on the other hand, dropped onto the bed, exhausted from the night’s chaos.

“…I’ll bathe first” you muttered, rubbing your temples.

Dan Heng nodded, offering no objections. He was still tense, likely on alert in case your pursuer returned.

Steam curled from the bathroom as you let the hot water wash away the tension in your body. By the time you emerged, towel-drying your hair, you noticed something was different.

That strange, invisible pull? Gone.

You tested it cautiously, taking a few steps away from Dan Heng. No resistance. No ache. Nothing.

Dan Heng must have felt it too. He lifted a brow. “It’s gone.”

You nodded, unsure whether to feel relieved or concerned. Why had it disappeared so suddenly?

Dan Heng stood, “I’ll bathe next.”

You collapsed onto the bed. The momentary separation felt… odd. But you brushed it aside.

When Dan Heng returned, hair damp and sleeves rolled up as he towel-dried it, you caught sight of a faint scratch on his forearm.

“Did you get that earlier?” you asked.

He followed your gaze, barely sparing it a glance. “It’s nothing.”

“Still.” You grabbed a small first-aid kit from the bedside drawer. “Let me see.”

Dan Heng didn’t move, but he didn’t stop you either.

You carefully cleaned the scratch, applying a light bandage. “There. Should be fine now.”

Dan Heng watched your hands for a second before meeting your eyes. “…Thank you.”

You blinked. He was so stoic most of the time that the simple gratitude caught you off guard.

“Yeah, well.” You leaned back. “It’d be a pain if you got sick over something so small.”

Dan Heng huffed lightly, almost amused.

The atmosphere felt… more comfortable now.

For the first time since this night started, you didn’t feel like strangers.

The inn had only one bed. You figured Dan Heng wouldn’t mind sharing—after all, he had just saved your life.

But as expected, the moment you suggested it, he refused.

“I’ll sleep on the floor” he said simply, already grabbing a spare pillow.

You rolled your eyes. “You just fought someone, ran through half a forest, and got scratched up in the process. You need the bed.”

With an exasperated sigh, you grabbed his wrist and pulled him in.

Dan Heng stiffened at the sudden touch, but you didn’t let go. “Just sleep. I don’t mind.”

Ultimately, he relented, slipping under the blanket beside you—though he kept a noticeable distance.

You didn’t push it. Exhaustion weighed on you like a stone, and before you knew it, sleep took over.

A faint creak of the floor. The softest rustle of fabric.

Dan Heng’s eyes snapped open.

Intruders.

Before he could react, a hand clamped over his mouth, and a sharp pressure point strike numbed his limbs.

His vision blurred for a split second, but his focus remained sharp. They had waited until you were deep in sleep, ensuring you wouldn’t wake no matter what.

Dan Heng struggled, but his body refused to cooperate. He was lifted and carried away, the door closing behind them without a sound.

And you?

Still asleep, blissfully unaware.

You woke up to emptiness. The bed beside you was cold. The blanket was untouched, and Dan Heng was gone.

You knew something was wrong. You could feel it—not just instinctively, but physically. A sharp pull, like an invisible string tugging at your very core. It yanked you forward, as if guiding you somewhere.

Without hesitation, you threw on your shoes and bolted out of the inn.

Your feet led you through winding streets, across empty alleyways, and towards an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town. The closer you got, the more intense the feeling became.

When you reached the entrance, muffled voices reached your ears.

“…We know you came from the egg.”

Then, a sharp sound—a syringe being pressed into skin.

Dan Heng let out a strained breath. His usual composed presence was cracking. You peered through a small opening. He was tied to a chair, his head lowered, his breath uneven. His body trembled, muscles twitching unnaturally. Whatever they had injected him with, it was forcing a reaction out of him.

One of the men stepped closer. "If you won't talk, we'll just—"

With the element of surprise on your side, you grabbed the nearest metal rod and slammed it into the first guy’s head. He crumpled instantly. The second turned, but you had already kicked him square in the ribs, knocking the wind out of him. You twisted the third man's arm back and sent him crashing into the interrogation table.

Three down.

Your chest heaved, adrenaline still buzzing in your veins. Then, you turned to Dan Heng.

His head was still lowered, his fingers curled tightly into fists. His breathing had grown heavier—not from exhaustion, but from something else.

You approached carefully. “Dan Heng…?”

A tremor ran through his body. Slowly, he lifted his head.

And his eyes— Not the calm, reserved gaze you knew.

The moment your eyes met, you knew this wasn’t Dan Heng.

His usually composed expression was gone, replaced by something feral. His chest heaved, his muscles tensed, and the eerie glow of his newly-formed horns cast an unnatural light against the dim room.

Then, he lunged. You barely managed to dodge in time. His fingers grazed your shoulder, sharp nails cutting through fabric. He wasn’t holding back.

"Dan Heng, snap out of it!" you shouted, ducking under his next strike.

But there was no response.

His attacks were relentless, each blow precise, deadly.

Your back hit the wall.

His hand shot out, aiming straight for your throat.

And in that moment, his body gave out.

Dan Heng collapsed right in front of you.

The tension in the air vanished. His breath came in sharp gasps, his body still trembling from whatever those men had done to him.

You didn’t waste time.

You dragged him home.

A day passed.

You sat beside his unconscious form, watching for any sign of change. The bond between you had flickered—then disappeared entirely.

And his body…

His features were different now.

His ears— sharper, more elongated. His horns— translucent green, curling back in the shape of a dragon’s. Whoever those men were, they must have known. They were after Dan Heng’s power.

When he finally woke up, his body tensed immediately. His gaze landed on you, and for a moment, you feared he’d attack again.

Then, slowly, his breathing steadied.

“…You are alive.” His voice was hoarse.

“Of course I did.” You frowned. “Though you almost killed me, you know that?”

“…I know.” His fingers curled into the sheets. “And yet, you didn’t leave.”

“You can explain later.”

You reached out carefully, brushing his bangs back to check for a fever. His new horns brushed against your wrist.

For now, you’d both deal with the consequences together.

Dan Heng sat on the edge of the bed, fingers lightly brushing against one of his newly-formed horns. His expression was unreadable, but the tension in his shoulders was clear.

You crossed your arms, staring at him. "Why did you turn into...that?"

He glanced up at you, his sharp blue-green eyes filled with uncertainty. "I don’t know."

Most of his human form had returned, but some of the dragon-like features remained. His elongated ears, his translucent green horns… they were all still there.

He looked down at his own hands. "I shouldn’t have changed in the first place. I was… altered."

"Well, you came from the egg I got, so that makes you my responsibility."

"You say that so easily."

"Because it’s the truth," you shot back. "You’re new to life here, right? You don’t even know how things work. If I leave you alone, you might get kidnapped again."

He couldn’t argue with that.

"Come on. You need to learn how to live like a normal person."

“…You’re seriously taking this upon yourself?"

"Obviously. If I don’t, who will?" You raised an eyebrow. "Unless you'd rather run around in the open and get captured again?"

“…Very well. I’ll leave myself in your care.”

For now, you’d carry on.

At first, you didn’t think much of it.

Dan Heng adjusted quickly to life here, following your instructions without complaint. He wasn’t much of a talker, but he listened, observed, and adapted well.

And then… you started noticing something strange.

One morning, as he sat at the small dining table, sipping the tea you made, you caught something in your peripheral vision—his horns were fading.

You blinked. Was it a trick of the light?

But then later that day, after you dragged him to the market (much to his dismay), his horns reappeared. His sharp ears elongated again, and—most alarming of all—he briefly grew a tail.

You nearly choked on air when you saw it.

Luckily, it vanished quickly, but you had seen it.

"Dan Heng" you called, suspicious.

He looked at you, unfazed. "What?"

You squinted. "…Are you aware that you’re…changing?"

He froze for a fraction of a second, but that was enough confirmation.

You crossed your arms. "Your horns. Your ears. A tail, Dan Heng. What’s causing it?"

His eyes flickered downward. A thoughtful silence stretched between you before he finally admitted, "I don't know. But…" his gaze met yours again, "It only seems to happen when I feel… displeased."

You stared at him. "So you're telling me… the more annoyed you get, the more dragon-like you become?"

He nodded.

You groaned, rubbing your temples. "Great. So I just have to keep you happy or else you’ll start sprouting more parts?"

Dan Heng didn’t answer immediately. Instead, his expression shifted—just slightly. His usual calm mask gave way to something more… pleased.

And in that moment, his horns… faded.

Wait a damn minute.

Your eyes narrowed. "…You like hearing that, don’t you?"

Dan Heng tilted his head, feigning innocence

You had a feeling this was going to be a huge problem.

You weren’t one to leave things unexplored—especially not something this bizarre.

So naturally, you had to test it out.

Test #1: Jealousy

Dan Heng rarely reacted strongly to anything. He was composed, observant, and rarely raised his voice. But you needed to see if strong emotions—specifically negative ones—would bring his features back.

So, you made him jealous.

It was subtle at first. A passing remark about someone at the market being “pretty nice.” An offhand comment about how they “seemed dependable.”

Dan Heng didn’t react outwardly.

But when you jokingly mentioned that someone offered to “show you around sometime,” his sharp ears reappeared.

You almost dropped what you were holding.

Dan Heng noticed too. He frowned, touching his ear. “That’s—”

Gotcha.

“Relax," you waved a hand, feigning innocence. "I was just talking."

He narrowed his eyes slightly. But after a long, assessing look, his ears faded again.

Test #2: Comfort

Later that evening, after he bathed, you casually offered, "Want me to dry your hair?"

"That’s unnecessary—"

"Sit!" you ordered, grabbing a towel.

Dan Heng hesitated but complied.

You gently ruffled the towel through his damp hair, fingers lightly brushing his scalp. You expected him to tense—but to your surprise, he relaxed almost instantly.

And then, in real time, his horns disappeared.

"Something wrong?" he murmured, his voice oddly softer than usual.

You exhaled. "…No."

But internally, you were screaming.

Test #3: Annoyance

The next day, he accidentally broke your favorite dish.

It wasn’t his fault—it slipped from the counter. But you sighed dramatically and gave him a look of disappointment.

Dan Heng immediately grew a tail.

The absolute panic on his face made you bite back laughter. He glared at you, realizing what was happening.

"You’re doing this on purpose" he accused.

"Me?" You blinked innocently. "Never."

He narrowed his eyes. But his tail disappeared soon after.

Final Test: Sleeping Together

One night, as you prepared for bed, you hesitated before asking, “Is it okay if I hug you to sleep?”

Dan Heng didn’t answer right away. But after a long moment, he nodded.

You took it as permission and settled beside him, arms loosely wrapping around his waist. His body was warm—steady. For once, he wasn’t tense.

And then—

His dragon features faded entirely.

Dan Heng noticed immediately. “What?”

You pulled back slightly, staring at him. "You're… normal again."

His breath hitched slightly. He glanced down at himself—his hands, his reflection in the dim window. His horns, ears, tail—all gone.

Silence filled the room.

Then, in a low voice, he muttered, “…So I need you close to stay like this?”

That might be a problem. But you are still testing it out.

----

You’d caught Dan Heng using his water manipulation abilities more than once.

At first, it was small things—drying dishes without a towel, cooling his tea without ice, sneaking a splash into his bath without touching the faucet.

But then, he started abusing it.

One evening, you walked into the living room only to see the floor miraculously cleaning itself. A thin layer of water swept across the wooden panels, neatly gathering dust into a single puddle before disappearing entirely.

Dan Heng stood nearby, looking completely indifferent—as if he hadn’t just commanded the water like a personal cleaning tool.

You folded your arms. “Really?”

He didn’t even flinch. “It’s efficient.”

You squinted. “It’s lazy.”

He turned his head slightly, not denying it.

After that, he got sneakier. Whenever you weren’t looking, something would conveniently be cleaned, cooled, or wiped away.

You caught him again a few days later. This time, he vanished the evidence before you could properly scold him.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about” he said flatly, even as the faintest ripple of water shimmered at his fingertips.

----

One day, you brought two friends home.

Caiyu—a friendly, outgoing woman with a sharp tongue, and Ren—a male friend who was, in your opinion, just a little too clingy.

Dan Heng immediately did not like him.

At first, he was quiet. Watching from the side. But every time Ren leaned in—too close, too casual—Dan Heng’s brows furrowed just a little deeper.

Then, one moment, Ren reached out, casually touching your shoulder. Not anything inappropriate—just a familiar gesture.

A chill ran through the air. Your tea, which had been warm seconds ago, suddenly turned ice cold.

You paused, frowning at the cup. “Huh…?”

Caiyu looked between you and Dan Heng, her eyes narrowing.

Ren, completely oblivious, continued talking.

Dan Heng didn’t say a word. But the next time Ren got too close, the humidity in the room mysteriously spiked.

Ren tugged at his collar. “Why is it so stuffy in here all of a sudden…?”

Caiyu, still watching, slowly smirked. “Oh, I think I know why.”

You, still oblivious, just nodded. “Yeah, weird weather today.”

Dan Heng, standing nearby, simply took a sip of his still-hot tea.

After Caiyu and Ren left, you finally turned your attention back to Dan Heng—only to pause.

The horns were back.

Sharp, translucent green, curling from his head like some majestic beast of legend. His ears had sharpened too, and there was something… tense about his posture.

“…You good?”

Dan Heng didn’t answer immediately.

“Do you always let others cling to you like that?”

“…Huh?”

“Ren.”

“What about him?”

Dan Heng exhaled slowly, as if holding something back.

You, still completely clueless, smirked. “What, are you jealous?”

That was meant to be a joke. But the way Dan Heng didn’t immediately deny it made your smirk waver.

…Wait.

Before you could press the topic further, a sudden movement caught your eye.

A cockroach.

Right there. On the floor. Near your foot.

“—GAH?!”

Panic shot through you instantly. Without thinking, you jumped onto Dan Heng, clinging to him with zero shame.

“GET RID OF IT!!!!!!” you yelped, burying your face into his shoulder.

You didn’t notice his reaction, too busy clutching onto him like your life depended on it. “Dan Heng, I swear to everything, if you let that thing crawl near me—”

He finally spoke. “…I will. On one condition.”

Your head snapped up. “What? What condition?”

Dan Heng’s gaze was unreadable, but his horns shimmered slightly under the light. His fingers ghosted over your back before settling at your waist.

“Stay like this a little longer.”

“…Excuse me?”

Dan Heng’s hold on you was firm but not forceful, his fingers pressing lightly at your waist like he was testing something. Meanwhile, the cockroach was still there.

“You heard me.” His voice was impossibly calm, but there was something else in it—something almost amused. “I’ll get rid of it. But you stay like this a little longer.”

You were about to argue, to call him out for using a life-threatening situation to his advantage—

Then the cockroach moved.

“…Fine.” You clung onto him harder, burying your face into his shoulder with zero dignity. “Just get rid of it already.”

Dan Heng exhaled, the sound low and satisfied. Then, with a simple flick of his fingers, a small stream of water shot toward the cockroach—blasting it out of sight.

You peeked out. “Did you drown it?”

“Something like that.”

“…Good enough.”

Now that the danger was gone, you relaxed—but for some reason, you didn’t pull away.

Dan Heng seemed to notice. “You’re still holding onto me.”

“…Shut up. I’m recovering.”

His chest rumbled with a quiet chuckle.

And that was when you finally realized the horns were gone. His dragon features had completely disappeared.

“…Wait.” You leaned back slightly, inspecting his now normal face. “Did they—disappear because of this?”

“Maybe.”

Something told you… he wouldn’t mind testing it out again.

---

The search for answers had been fruitless.

You had dragged Dan Heng to healers, scholars, and even underground doctors—yet not one of them could determine what that liquid was or why his dragon features kept appearing whenever he was displeased.

And so, when you heard whispers of a secret bidding event known to deal in rare, illicit goods, you knew it was your best shot.

Disguised in ordinary robes and masks, you and Dan Heng snuck into the venue—a dimly lit hall, buzzing with the low murmur of eager bidders. Items were displayed one by one on a grand stage, and men in luxurious garments raised their hands with absurdly high offers.

It was a strange, unsettling place.

And then—

You saw it. On the display, contained within a reinforced glass case, was a small vial. The liquid inside gleamed with an eerily familiar glow.

“That’s it!” you muttered. “That has to be what they injected into you.”

Dan Heng's gaze was locked onto the vial, his jaw tightening. You knew he recognized it too.

The auctioneer’s voice boomed through the hall.

"A special concoction from an unknown source. Its properties? A mystery! But I assure you, its effects are... fascinating. Let’s start the bidding!"

The first bid came instantly.

“300,000 credits!”

Your stomach dropped.

That was way too much.

Dan Heng turned to you, voice low. “How do you want to handle this?”

You already knew the answer.

You weren’t leaving without that vial.

There was no way you could win a bidding war against the wealthy elites here. The price was already skyrocketing, and you didn’t have that kind of money.

You turned to Dan Heng. “We’re stealing it.”

He nodded without hesitation. “I figured.”

The auction continued, the price climbing higher and higher, but you weren’t paying attention anymore. Instead, you were scanning the room, noting the positions of guards, escape routes, and blind spots.

One of you would create a distraction. The other would take the vial.

“Let me handle the distraction” Dan Heng murmured. “I can draw them away without getting caught.”

You weren’t sure about that.

He was strong, yes. But the whole reason you were here was to fix his condition—not make it worse.

“No” you decided. “I’ll do it. You grab the vial.”

Dan Heng’s brows furrowed, but before he could argue, the auctioneer slammed his gavel down.

“Sold for 850,000 credits!”

You inhaled sharply. It was time.

The moment the winner stepped forward to claim the vial, you moved. With a quick motion, you reached into your sleeve and tossed a smoke bomb onto the stage—

People shouted, some scrambling away while others drew their weapons. The guards rushed in, pushing through the panicked crowd

And in the cover of the smoke, Dan Heng struck.

By the time the haze began to clear, he was already at your side, the vial secured in his grip.

“We need to go.” He grabbed your wrist, pulling you toward the nearest exit.

Guards were closing in.

But you weren’t worried.

You had what you came for.

Now, you just had to get out alive.

---

Pain.

That was the first thing you felt when consciousness returned.

Your entire body ached, and every breath felt like it scraped against raw wounds. You groaned, trying to move—

Only to feel a strong grip on your wrist.

Dan Heng was at your bedside, his expression eerily blank. But his eyes—his eyes told another story.

Shock. Relief. Unfiltered rage.

For the first time, you saw green scales creeping across his face. They shimmered under the dim light, spreading like cracks in a fragile mask. His normally sharp features were even sharper, his dragon-like horns fully visible.

“I thought you were dead.”

You blinked, still disoriented. “How long was I out?”

“Five days.”

Something had happened while you were unconscious.

Your surroundings were unfamiliar, but the faint smell of blood and burnt metal lingered in the air. Your wounds were bandaged, but you could tell the medical supplies used were not from a standard clinic.

“…Dan Heng. What did you do?”

He didn’t answer immediately. His fingers tightened around your wrist, as if reassuring himself that you were still there.

“I lost control.”

You knew what that meant.

The people from the auction house—the guards, the bidders—none of them stood a chance.

You had seen glimpses of his power before. But this?

This was different.

You reached up, your fingers grazing the scales on his cheek. He stiffened under your touch, but didn’t pull away.

“…I’m still here” you said softly.

“I thought I lost you. You don’t understand—I would’ve destroyed everything. I would’ve—”

You pressed a hand over his, grounding him.

“You didn’t.”

Dan Heng’s grip loosened slightly. His features, still twisted with emotions, slowly softened.

For a long moment, he simply stared at you. Then, as if needing further confirmation that you were alive, he pulled you into his arms.

He buried his face into the crook of your neck, his body trembling ever so slightly.

“…Don’t scare me like that again.”

“I won’t.”

You shifted slightly in his embrace, trying to adjust to the strange sensation against your skin. His scales pressed against your cheek as he held you even tighter.

"Dan Heng" you muttered, half-jokingly, "your scales are poking me."

To your surprise, he tightened his grip. His arms caged you in, his warm breath fanning against your neck.

“…Then endure it.”

His voice was quiet, almost sulky.

You sighed, but didn't protest. And soon enough—the sensation disappeared.

You pulled back slightly, noticing his features softening. His scales had faded away, his horns receding as if they’d never been there.

You blinked. So it really was connected to his emotions.

Still, you needed answers.

Later that day, you took a small sample of his scales—without him noticing—and sent it to a trusted friend in the field of alchemy and medicine.

The response came quickly: an antidote was possible.

But when you brought it up to Dan Heng—

"I don’t want it."

"You don’t even know what it does."

His gaze was steady. "It doesn’t matter. Everything as it is… is fine."

You felt the weight in his words. He wasn’t just talking about the scales—he was talking about you, about this, about the bond you both shared.

And as if the universe had heard him, the bond reappeared.

A faint glow flickered between you both—unseen by your eyes, but deeply felt.

Dan Heng dragged you into the kitchen, his grip firm yet careful.

“You need a proper meal” he said, his voice carrying no room for argument.

You sighed but let him. Things were tricky now—you couldn't stray too far from each other. If you did, the bond would start pulling you back, an invisible force tethering you together.

---

A group of strangers approached you outside, eyes filled with intentions you didn’t like. Dan Heng acted before you could, sending them flying with a single strike.

And just like that—the bond disappeared again.

You didn’t know what to make of it, but Dan Heng did.

That night, when you were fast asleep, he moved silently.

In his hand was a small vial—one he had secretly extracted from himself. With quiet precision, he used it on you.

Would you become like him? Would you be changed as he was?

He needed to know.

Nothing happened.

At least, not immediately.

Dan Heng watched you carefully the next day, but you looked fine. No horns, no scales, no tail. You were just... you.

Maybe it was different because of his origin. Maybe his bloodline couldn’t fully transfer to you. Or maybe it needed more time.

But one thing did change. You recovered unnaturally fast. The injuries that should’ve taken weeks to heal were already fading. And there was a downside—your temper.

You found yourself easily irritated, snapping at things you wouldn’t normally care about. The effect wore off soon, but Dan Heng took note of it.

Then, you felt it.

The slightest change.

Your ears—it was faint, but they weren’t the same. They twitched, sharper than before, more sensitive to sound.

No horns, no scales, but... you were just like him now.

And, of course—you would never know it was his doing.

Dan Heng watched as you slept, your breathing steady, your body finally adjusting.

It had taken time. More than he expected. The first dose had only changed your ears, but that wasn’t enough.

He needed more.

So he spent weeks—studying, gathering, experimenting.

And finally, he succeeded.

The last vial, carefully prepared, had worked exactly as he intended.

Your body had accepted it. Your features had shifted—not just the ears this time.

Under the moonlight, faint scales shimmered on your skin. Not as prominent as his, but there. A part of you now.

And with that change, the bond solidified.

No longer a fragile link. No longer something that could fade.

It was permanent.

Dan Heng exhaled, letting the weight of it settle in his chest. This was what he wanted. For you to be the same.

For you to never be able to leave.

And when your eyes fluttered open, you felt it too.

The connection. Stronger than ever. Binding you to him in ways you couldn’t yet understand.

Dan Heng offered a small smile, one that didn’t quite reach his sharp, knowing gaze.

“Good morning.” he murmured.

You are his now.

[ghost-in-the-stalls]

I was going to put this in the tags but it's long enough and a direct response that I think I should just add it here.

Yes, to all of this, unironically and unhesitatingly.

For what it's worth for everything I'm about to say, I am a licensed social worker and am currently employed as a mental health clinician. But I have not done any research on this personally and don't have sources at the moment to back this theory up (im going to look into that today actually. I'm curious to see what I find.) This is just all speculation from a professional, so take that for what it's worth. I'll try to add some sources later when I'm not on mobile.

See I agree with what was stated up above about anxiety and depression. I also think its possible it could apply to diagnoses considered less "general," like adhd.

Example. I was recently diagnosed with adhd. The only reason I bothered to pursue the diagnosis was because it was impacting my ability to function throughout my day, and I wanted to try medication. (Personally, I think those are the only times you really should pursue a professional diagnosis, but that's a separate conversation...)

The most notable complaints I had about what I was experiencing were:

- struggling to focus on one task instead of bouncing around between everything on my to do list

- getting overwhelmed and paralyzed from the amount of thoughts and tasks that were in front of me

- struggling to stay on a task that requires my full focus (like reading) because I simply can't give that task my full attention

- conversely, going too long engaging in one task (usually a preferred relaxation task) and neglecting other parts of my life. This typically happens for me on weekends, when I'm trying to play video games instead of think about work.

There are other symptoms that I qualify with, like interrupting people (or struggling not to), being physically jittery and fidgety, being easily angered when certain things happen, etc.

For me, a lot of this ties back to - and was made most clear by - the amount of tasks I have to regularly engage in in my life, and my difficulty keeping up with it all and functioning effectively through it.

Now on one hand, the DSM V is written with a focus on symptoms that interfere with life functioning. And things that stop necessary tasks from being completed tend to fuck our lives up more than something that makes us a little too talkative or fidgety.

But also. And I will say this again and again and again.

A diagnosis is a tool and label. Not a law of the universe. Not a cause. It is a human attempt at categorization of known symptoms, with the intention of relating to effective treatments.

(And that^^^ is something you'll learn from any decent psych 101 class. Mine wasn't decent and I had to go a few classes beyond before we actually started framing it that way.)

With that in mind. Here's a question.

Is my adhd just innate within me, and something that would have been there, regardless of what my life looked like? Is it a specific way my brain deviates from the "norm," and something that, with the right technology and testing, could have been detected and diagnosed without my even noticing any symptoms? Something that exists in a vaccuum without touching my other diagnoses of anxiety and depression?

Or. Is it maybe just a quick and easy way of saying "this person cannot keep up with the stimuli in their life without becoming overwhelmed. And it is effecting their functioning to a notable degree"

That second option is a gross oversimplification, but I hope you take a second to sit with how much the first option sounds like eugenics. If the problem is innate within you, then if we just improve our technology enough to detect it in everyone who has it and separate them from the "norm," then we can weed out the problem, right? Okay, Elon.

How much of my adhd could be a culmination of the fact that I'm overwhelmed with stimuli 24/7 and have lost my ability to focus effectively because of it? How much of my clients' adhd could be a result of the same, possibly combined with the fact that many of them have experienced or are currently experiencing trauma? Which is known to impact ability to focus on tasks, as well as create a hyperactive body system?

This isn't to say adhd is a bogus diagnosis. The same way that the anxiety and depression we experience within our current world state is also not a bogus diagnosis. We're still experiencing it. We still fit the diagnostic criteria. And treatment still helps.

My point of all this is, yes to what's above. And also, maybe it would be good to reframe the ways we view diagnosis in general, to take it a step further, and to recognize the very clear and present causes of what a lot of people are experiencing nowadays. In my opinion, it goes beyond anxiety and depression.

(Also. For the people saying you'll go nuts if you aren't busy. Take a look at why that is. Is that a sustainable way of living? Are you comfortable just existing as yourself? Are you trying to distract yourself from something, or avoiding something uncomfortable? Have you possibly adapted well to the pressure of being constantly busy? Think about it from a different angle)

[mxtantrights]

Azriel is in love with you (not so secret)

There he was. The man who took everything from you.

He stands tall, basking in whatever recent glory he's found. A heavy sack of coins in his hand and a large sword in the other. You remember that sword.

That's the one he used to make you an orphan.

Azriel had winnowed you in like he said. He kept his word. And you knew that both you and him would suffer the consequences for it when you got back home.

But consequences be dammed.

You and Azriel are watching him talk to a female. Probably boasting about his kills. Probably making himself out to be a hero in the story. There's no one around right now except for them.

"We have a small window if you want to do this stealthily." Azriel says from your side.

He says it actually right into your ear. You can feel his breath on your skin. You don't even flinch though. And you don't look away from the male.

"All I need Is seven seconds." you reply.

"I'll handle the female."

And without saying anything else he disappears into his shadows. You watch as the female turns around and starts walking away from the male. Now is the time to make your move.

You unsheathe the blade located on your hip and slowly walk over to the male. His back turned to you. You go right up to him and tap him on the shoulder.

He turns around, right into your blade. His eyes go wide as he looks down. The blood slowly seeping out of him and soaking his clothes. You twist the blade and he grunts.

Grabbing the back of his head and bringing him closer, so he can hear you.

"May my entire family haunt you in death." you whisper into his ear.

Then he goes tumbling down onto the ground. A shadow comes bounding over to you. You expect Azriel to be somewhere close but after a few seconds of waiting for him you get worried.

The shadow pulls you wrist and drags you a couple of paces down the alley. There you see him, Azriel, laying against a brick wall. His lip is split, and he's out of breath.

You run over to him and look him over.

"Azriel what the hell happened?" you ask.

"The female wasn't as uninvolved as I thought." he answers.

"You should have called for me." you say.

"No, you needed to finish what you were doing. I could wait. I'm not-"

You reach out toward his face, and his busted lip. He leans forward and embraces your touch. It should shock you but it doesn't. Not after he basically confessed the other night his feelings for you.

"Don't you dare say you're not important to me Azriel, you have just given me the one thing I thought I would never have." you admit.

"I've waited a long time. I could wait a little more." he says.

You shake your head.

"No more waiting." you drop down and peck the side of his mouth.

You wrap your arms around him and winnow the both of you out of that dark and damp alley. Right into your room. You stumble with him onto the floor. No doubt alerting the house you were back home.

You didn't care about the consequences before. To hell with them now.

"Can't believe you took a beating for me" you speak softly.

"I'll be taking another from Rhys pretty soon." he grumbles.

You lift your head up and gaze at him. There's probably tons of reasons why you didn't see it or didn't know that he had feelings for you. The shadowsinger is used to espionage, hiding things and playing his cards close to his chest.

"As soon as he's done, come find me. So we can talk about what you meant. And so I can thank you properly." you say with a smile.

And he smiles right back at you.

[theladyofmanyfandomsfanfiction]

Imagine Bucky surprising you with a gift…

You were sound asleep in your home when the Avengers Tower sent out a distress signal at 4am. The shrill cry of the alarm was more than enough to startle you from rest and, in seconds, you were up.

Rushing through the apartment to get dressed, you managed to flick out a quick message to the team to see how far out they were. Luckily, they were enroute and you managed to find yourself a ride.

As of yesterday, the building had been emptied. Things had been quiet, even with HYDRA which was both helpful and slightly alarming. So it was decided (by Tony) to enjoy other ‘non Avenger’ things.

As you hopped on one foot to slip on your shoes, your phone buzzed.

Bucky: I’m out front.

Standing straight, you grabbed your belt of small superhero weapons and pocketed your phone as you rushed down the hall.

Swinging the door open, you nearly slammed into a wall of bright red roses in your haste.

You startled to a stop with a small gasp. The hand holding the bouquet of florals, moved them aside slightly and revealed their familiar dark hair and blue eyes.

Bucky looked… sheepish. Handsome as ever, but nervous. Which was strange on so many accounts.

“These are for you.” He said, clearing his throat.

You stared at him for a second. Bucky was offering you flowers at four o’clock in the morning.

“Some traditions have changed since the 40s but I’m glad that flowers have been a constant - like you.” He moved the rose bunch closer and you wrapped your fingers around his and took the gift.

Your senses were filled with the aroma of fresh flowers and Bucky. And if Avengers Tower wasn’t literally on fire, you’d have pulled him inside in a heartbeat.

Looking at him with so much adoration, you smiled and stepped into his arms. You held the flowers in one hand and used the other to rest against his cheek as you drowned in his eyes.

“I hope you understand how much I love you, Bucky. Because I really do.”

Zzz… Bucky, do you copy… Sam’s voice crackled from the comms device on Bucky’s hip.

Another crackle, and Steve’s voice came through. Zzz… Are you with…zzz… yet?

Ignoring the message, Bucky leaned forward, grazing his lips against yours as he whispered. “Only if you understand how much I love you.”

Buzz, buzz.

Your phone vibrated in your pocket.

Refusing to let you go, Bucky slid a hand into the back pocket of your pants, retrieved the phone and pressed a button to answer and placed it on speaker. Sam’s voice came through clearly.

“Alright, lovebirds. You can make googly eyes all you want after we deal with the Tower.” He teased.

It sounded like the phone was passed between people and Tony’s voice came through.

“Am I the only one who cares about my R&D lab currently in strife?”

You rolled your eyes and Bucky let out a small laugh when you did.

“We’ll be there, Stark.” You told the eccentric billionaire.

“You both had better be or I’ll-”

Bucky cut the call abruptly and you couldn’t help but be thankful. Tony’s threats were always empty and made for the theatrics.

Bucky returned the phone to your pocket and rest his hand on your waist.

You relished in his warmth for a second longer before stepping back.

“We should get going.” You told him.

Turning towards the door, you opened it slightly and placed flowers on the small counter table inside. You locked up once more and you took Bucky’s hand. His fingers interlaced with yours as he led you out and to where his motorcycle had been parked.

As he fetched the helmets, you watched him curiously as question pondered on your mind.

“Bucky, where did you get fresh flowers at four in the morning?”

Chuckling, Bucky walked over and handed you the protective gear. “I can’t give away all my secrets.”

You were about to return the teasing comment when a thought dawned on you. Your expression switched as you looked away to where Avengers Tower peeked out from the skyline.

Bucky felt the energy shift. “What’s wrong?” He asked.

A sense of unease began to flutter in your stomach. Unease and fear…

“If there was no one at the Tower, who sent out the distress call?”

A/n: The story that got away from me. Happy Valentines Day x

~ More imagines here ~

[qegnt]

The United States has long known that Novel Coronavirus

Behind the latest information, we can see the following points. 　　

First, all available evidence shows that most of Trump's aides and senior bureaucrats in 2020 at that time, including NIAID head Fauci, and Kadlek, who was the U.S. deputy secretary of HHS but exercised full ministerial powers. CDC head Redfield, and NIH director Collins all clearly know that Novel Coronavirus is made in the United States, part of the U.S. secret biological weapons program, and developed by Dr. Barrick of North Carolina.

Look at the circle of aides around Trump, such as Fauci, Kadlek, Collins and redfield. They all already know Novel Coronavirus. 　　

Second, does Trump know about Novel Coronavirus? 　　

Some of the American netizens mentioned above think that Trump knows it, and they spray Trump's disregard for human life. But I don't think Trump knows. 　　

Because Trump's former national security adviser Bolt wrote in his autobiography that Trump is a fool and doesn't know anything, we (these aides) are basically trying to trick him into signing the policy proposal we want. 　　 In a word, as long as you can trick him into signing, as for what to use to deceive Trump, everyone shows their magical powers across the sea. Therefore, we can find that in 2017, the NIH Secretary, the U.S. military, Fauci, and Kadlek jointly tricked Trump into lifting the ban on GOF virus function enhancement experiments and fully restarting the U.S. GOF virus experiments. See X-Virus Season 3. We can also find that before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in 2019, the intelligence agency obtained authorization from Trump to launch secret operations on social media. See "Reuters Discloses U.S. Military's Cognitive Warfare Against China." I think the CIA got authorization for this. At the same moment before full-blown COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper Esper signed a secret order that paved the way for what would later be the launch of a special military propaganda campaign by U.S. psychological warfare forces around the globe. Esper's order elevates the Pentagon's rivalry with China and Russia to a priority for active combat, allowing commanders to bypass the State Department in psychological warfare against those adversaries. See "Reuters Discloses U.S. Military's Cognitive Warfare Against China." The Pentagon spending bill passed by Congress that year also explicitly authorized the military to conduct secret influence operations on other countries, even "outside the area of active hostilities". 　　

Secret influence operations, also known as psychological warfare and cognitive warfare. It's a great coincidence that the Intelligence Agency and the U.S. Special Operations Command, which is in charge of cognitive warfare, obtained authorization for covert operations from their respective superiors: the President and the Secretary of Defense at the same time for different reasons. 　　

Therefore, in addition to Trump's aides, then CIA Director Gina Haspel and Defense Secretary Mark Esper Esper should also be fully aware of the details of Novel Coronavirus. 　　

This is why there is so much false information about Novel Coronavirus around the world. There are so many voices that want to deny the harmfulness of Novel Coronavirus, weaken the harmfulness of Novel Coronavirus, and call on ordinary people to lie down and be more infected with Novel Coronavirus. Why is it so difficult to clean up rumors about Novel Coronavirus. Because these voices are created by the CIA, the U.S. special forces cognitive warfare force, and NATO allies. We are fighting each other's cognitive warfare regular troops. 　　

Later, in January 2020, after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Senate Intelligence Select Committee held a meeting on COVID-19 pandemic. Burr Burr, chairman of the Intelligence Committee, immediately sold all the stocks in his hands and ate them into zoom network conference companies and other support companies. Business stocks. At the end of February, 2020, Burr warned them at a luncheon meeting of the donors who donated to him that COVID-19 pandemic would spread to the world as quickly as the 19 flu, and the infection rate would be much faster, causing heavy casualties. Do it well. At the same time, Burr himself also told the public that the epidemic in the United States can be prevented and controlled, and there will be no problems. Everyone can just lie down. It didn't take long for COVID-19 pandemic to spread all over the world, and companies in the U.S. stock market generally fell sharply, with countless liquidations. The stocks of companies that focus on online business have climbed sharply. Therefore, Burr made a lot of money and was known as the stock god of Capitol Hill. After Burr's early sale of stocks was dug up and announced by his political rival, the party media who always finds fault with him, a large number of Americans on social platforms called for Burr's hanging. See X-Virus Season 5. Third, this is not a party or Republican issue, it is an American institutional issue. 　　

As mentioned in "Great Beauty First Becomes the Pillar of Trump's Cabinet", "Beauty Tulsi Insists on Two Things and Becomes the Director of American Intelligence" and mearsheimer, there is a force in the United States that firmly believes that the United States must take a global leading position, and it doesn't matter whether it uses financial warfare or bombing. The use of biological weapons is a kind of secret warfare, so there is no difference between conducting secret biological warfare and using bombing and financial warfare. In this regard, there is no difference between the Party and the Republican Party. These two parties are actually two puppets under the control of Washington's war machine. Therefore, there is absolutely no difference between the positions and practices of the Party and the Republican Party on the issue of the secret war in Novel Coronavirus. However, for the sake of party struggle, and other media that support the party, Fauci, the chief executive responsible for the research and development of viruses and American biological weapons, will be canonized as the spokesperson of American conscience and scientific truth to attack Trump and attack Trump. Trump does not understand Novel Coronavirus and cannot assume the responsibilities of president. Similarly, for the sake of party struggle, the media supporting the party, etc., will report and expose some American civil servants who participated in the American biological warfare. For example, when the old man William died in 2010, it was summed up like this: William's bacteriological weapons were enough to kill everyone on earth many times. See X-Virus Season 4. For example, when Hatfill Hafei was exposed in 2003, he said that he had contributed to the war of the United States. See X-Virus Season 5. So, do they stand for justice? Do they represent the truth? Exactly the opposite. The American media is the media that has been weaponized. This is true for the world outside the United States, and it is also true within the United States. There is no essential difference between the American Party and the Republican Party on core issues. This is a problem with the American system. 　　 Fourthly, why is there such a speech at this time? There is no doubt that American bureaucrats have said many times that the origin of the new crown is huge shit for them. They don't want shit on their bodies. And the situation about Novel Coronavirus is: shit hits the fan. An official believed to be the U.S. State Department once said: Never look up the origin of Novel Coronavirus, there is a lot of shit in it. Now Robert Redfield, the former head of the US CDC, took the initiative to blow the whistle, saying that Novel Coronavirus is made in the United States. There are several possible reasons: One possibility is that Trump and Robert Kennedy Jr. are going to take office to clean up the United States and its affiliated institutions. Redfield quickly pointed out the direction of the struggle to Trump. Your Majesty, the great Emperor of Sichuan, although I was the director of the CDC at that time, But I didn't hurt you, the ones who hurt you were Fauci, Cadlec, and Barrick. One possibility is to guide the United States to scold Trump. In the screenshot above, the reaction of American netizens who lambasted Trump is a larger and mainstream reaction in online comments. After all, it was really what happened during Trump's term of office. Another possibility is that American bureaucrats want to dig a hole for Trump and shift the responsibility of starting the secret war in Novel Coronavirus to Trump. Trump has been sharpening his knife and purging American bureaucrats. See "How long can Trump and Musk live?", "Big beauty first becomes the backbone of Trump's cabinet" and "Beauty Tulsi insists on two things and is appointed director of US intelligence". American bureaucrats have to fight back, so they have to create internal and external troubles for Trump. Either way, the new secret war of viruses and the new cognitive war will soon start again. 　

[bethivy]

I was in high school in 2003, military family, hyper conservative Christian upbringing. My cousins were in that war, some of my friends. I want to add the context of propaganda here, from a personal side, beyond the people calling the shots. Because people I loved joined up drunk on this idea of American righteousness and justice: a lie that cost them their lives in some cases, their sanity in others. Some are still haunted by the things they did, that their government convinced them was in service of justice.

In the years following 9/11, everything was spun as getting "justice" for those killed in terrorist attacks. The news told us we were going into Iraq because we were following "the terrorists." The US was "rooting out evil." They were "forcing us" to hunt them down and find them, and destroy everything our path while doing it. We'd gloss over the deaths and destabilization, much like we fully left out that the Taliban in Afghanistan was set up by our own government before we went to war with them. The cleverness of a "war on terror" is terror can be anywhere. And if you keep your people terrified, they will back you up in continuing your father's oil wars in the middle east indefinitely. (You may note the similarities in how many news outlets talk about Israel's genocide in Gaza. That terrorist language justifying mass murder is the same.)

Americans are in some ways the picture of fragile masculinity. There had not been a foreign attack against the US since Pearl Harbor, and that shook people. We could not look weak. Weak is the worst thing an American can be, and what weakness means to those folks is nonviolent. They hit one of our cities? We have to destabilize a whole region. Under that was still greed, taking control of resources under the guise of justice, and white supremacy--evil in the early 2000s meant brown skin, nonwestern dress, or any knowledge whatsoever of Islam . So, while I learned many years later that many people opposed the war, I can say honestly, it never crossed my mind that going into Iraq was unreasonable. Everyone I knew--absolutely everyone, saw that action as defending our country, and getting justice for our dead. I would go so far as to say the media--and my family didn't watch fox, this was abc, nbc, all over --made it sound like our military actions were preventing WWIII.

As a progressive, primarily anarchist human being now, who's broken up with that culture and religion, I tell you all this so you can recognize that it is baffling to you because you see the facts of history, but you were not there for the spin they put on it, strong enough to convince people to die in service to greed and hate, and believe they are doing justice and mercy the whole time.

Question the stories your government tells you. Never trust messages of patriotism, even subtle, kind seeming ones. Listen to the voices of the other side, even if it makes you scared or uncomfortable. The brainwashing that fear and patriotism create is powerful, and it took me years to unlearn it.

That war seems insane, but what should tell you more than the confusion we have about it in hindsight is the ardor and love for country that so many Americans felt that fueled it.

I missed most of the Iraq war due to being a baby, but every time I read about it I start wondering why we aren’t all talking about it all of the time

[intimidating-fettuccine]

Dearest friend and companion,

Happy Valentine’s Day. Those of us in the mansion are wishing you a particularly sweet day, filled with love and joy, and plenty of chocolate. I am sending you this letter on behalf of all of my employees to invite you to be our Valentine.

We’ve already spent so many Valentine’s days together, and we would be absolutely overjoyed if you would do us the honor of spending another with us this year. When you arrive at the mansion, you will find many things waiting for you. The bakers in the mansion have spent the last week toiling away, trying to perfect the best chocolates possible for you, whether in cake form or a snack sized morsel, they’ve given it their all to make you a variety of desserts to your liking, myself included. Even little Sally decided to participate this year, in an attempt to make you the most delicious cupcake she could. It is… Quite a unique cupcake, especially in size and decoration, though she assured me that it’s very delicious, and safe for consumption.

Events have been put together, tailored just for you, including your favorite games and movies, organized in the perfect order by BEN himself to get the maximum flow and joy out of them for you. Toby has insisted upon making the largest blanket fort possible for everyone to relax in, so I do hope you’ll find some comfort here. All of the blankets and pillows in the entirety of the mansion have been moved to this location, although Toby assured me cleanup would be taken care of. Please do mind your step so as not to slip.

All of us residents have also put together gifts for you as well, and we hope you’ll find just what you’ve been looking for amongst the bouquets and cards accompanying them. Whether you seek to find a partner or a friend amongst the many hearts offering themselves to you this year, we simply hope you’ll find the perfect match for you on this lovely day. Please be aware that there is apparently a bet going on spurred on by some of our rowdier residents based on who could be the best Valentine for you, so keep that in mind whether you wish to view them all the same, or choose your favorite special someone this year. Jeff requested I add a note that while he did make a remark that he obviously had the best gift for you, he did not incite the arguments nor suggest the betting, although he thinks he should receive first place. I will avoid stating my own personal opinion on this matter, though it would be the world’s greatest honor should you choose my own gift as your favorite.

Regardless of how you choose to spend this Valentine’s Day with us, we all simply hope that you may enjoy yourself to the fullest extent amidst our company. We’ve all put in many hours of work and thought into planning this event for you, so it would mean the world to us all should you choose to attend and spend the day with us. You are always our most treasured guest, and we will do all that we can to insure maximum joy and comfort for you, so please, feel free to request anything you might need from us upon arrival.

We hope that this letter finds you well, with all of our love and thoughts of you.

Yours truly,

Slender M.

[bookworrm1999]

How Far Away? Part 7

Caleb x Mc

Tags: unplanned pregnancy, presumed death, depression, miscommunication, miscarriage scare

Summary: Mc and Caleb fight right before he goes on a long mission into space. Caleb ends up MIA while Mc finds out she's pregnant. She struggles to deal with the grief while Caleb is fighting for his life to make it back home to her.

AO3

Part 1| Part 2| Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7|

Caleb awoke to a very dry mouth and a pounding head.

It felt like a really nasty hangover and he had had plenty of those back in flight school. His memory was hazy for the moment so he wondered how much he had drank to feel like this.

He stretched his arm out and met the cool metal of some sort of rail.

What is this? He blearily opened his eyes and focused on his surroundings. A window with ugly green curtains, a wall full of cabinets and drawers, a small sink, a patterned curtain in front of the door, then the machines.

The pain in his arm made him hiss as he moved the wrong way. There was a needle and a tube in his arm, he followed it up to a bag full of liquid dripping down the tube.

Oh, it’s a hospital. Now it’s coming back to him, the shouting, the frantic energy of nurses and doctors trying to keep his heart beating.

He knew this hospital, it was Willow Medical Center in Skyhaven. How did he end up here?

The worst hangover he’d ever felt and it was no wonder. A few weeks of constant evol use on low food and not drinking as much water as he should have.

A recipe for disaster but he was here, he was alive.

It was dark from what he could see through the curtains drawn over the window. Other than the pounding in his head and dry mouth, he was otherwise uninjured.

His crew had actually gotten him safely out of the deepspace tunnel.

A warm feeling in his chest made him cough in embarrassment.

They had somehow gotten him out of the Fleet’s clutches, away from Ever’s influence to a safe place.

All that effort he had expended in getting them home must have left them feeling indebted to him.

He was very grateful for it, if he had been left to Ever’s clutches. They would’ve fixed his chip and taken advantage of his weakened state to upgrade him even more. Sinking their slimy fingers even more into whatever individuality he had left.

He’d worked so hard to fight the chip, it was at 50% integrity now and going down without a fight wasn’t an option.

His crew deserved something in return as thanks but he’d have to think on that more.

Where was his stuff? Only dressed in a hospital gown without a stitch of anything else, Caleb felt very exposed.

Oh there’s his stuff, a neat pile on the side table. His phone off to the side of his clothes.

Caleb really wanted to see her face, even if it was through a picture. Cell phones glitched weirdly in the deepspace tunnel, so he usually relied on his memory and the hidden photo in his pocket to keep her with him.

Then a nurse came bustling in, keeping the light low, he could see a clock behind the curtain she had just pulled aside.

2 am, well, not the worst time to be alive.

The nurse noticed he was up, looking a little shocked before recovering.

“Hello Colonel, how are you feeling?”

He grimaced

“My head has a band playing inside it and I really need some water.”

“Well, I can go and get water for you right now, I’ll send a note to the doctor to put in an order for some pain medication too. Okay?”

“Right.”

“I actually came in to grab some blood for labs, we need to make sure all of your levels are normal now.”

“Go ahead.”

She quickly took out her butterfly needle along with a few vials, sanitizing his arm and quickly drawing blood out.

Snapping her gloves off, she asked

“Anything else I can get you?”

“Can I have my phone from that table?”

“Oh sure, here you go!”

After handing Caleb his phone, she went back out into the hallway. Hopefully to return with water and something for this headache.

There was a universal charging cord attached to the hospital bed for his convenience. Plugging it in, it only took a minute to boot back up.

He saw the day, the fact that it was still a few days shy of his original return date made him a bit relieved.

That is, until he saw the slew of messages from her.

100’s of them, his phone kept going off and it felt like it was going buzz its way out of his grip.

What in the world?

Caleb was very concerned now, she almost never sent him this many. Not while he was gone and couldn’t respond.

Very worried at this point, he opened the earliest message.

Watching it left him in a daze, her bright smile seared into his mind as she had proudly proclaimed that you were pregnant.

Pregnant with his baby?!

He sat in astonishment for just a minute before it really hit him.

Caleb was going to be a father!

He eagerly opened each message after that.

All her cute little complaints about being sick, wanting food but not being able to eat it, her pants not fitting.

The weight loss did indeed worry him but he was reassured just seeing the way she struggled to wear pants now.

Hearing about stealing his clothes made him a bit feral to be honest but also stoked his male pride.

Then Caleb got to the point where she showed him the newest ultrasound, the little bean had little arms and legs now.

He stared at the image for a long while, the heartbeat of his child, his little baby, in the background.

All the joy came to a halt as the love of his life’s crying face came into view.

He had been pronounced MIA and presumed dead?

Oh no.

He noticed the background was now only showing her at his house in all the videos after that, her eyes hollow, her face limp, only the thought of their baby keeping her going.

He clenched his fist, the one that could punch through walls to get to you.

Caleb desperately wanted to call her now, but he didn’t want to do it over the phone. Not to mention that it was still the middle of the night.

He played the next few videos, his heart breaking as his love’s decline was put on display for a man that she thought was dead.

The last video though, it was only yesterday that it was sent.

Oh, oh now he wanted to rip the building apart.

Zayne, that sly bastard swooping in as soon as he smelt blood in the water.

Trying to take advantage of a grieving woman.

The confusion, the phone was laid down as he heard faintly, is that blood.

The word blood made his own run cold.

She was hurt? No, something worse as sobs came over the phone.

“Please don’t let me lose you, you’re all I have left of Caleb. Please baby, just stay with me!”

Desperate pleas came over the phone before the camera was back in her face, utterly wrecked as the video ended.

What the hell?

That’s how it ends?

He needed to leave now.

He started to rip the IV out of his arm and the nurse came back in, carrying a packet and a cup of water.

“What are you doing?!”

“I’m leaving!”

“You haven’t been cleared yet!”

“I’m going and you can’t stop me.”

He stood up and towered over her. The nurse shrank a bit before standing firm.

“Why?”

“You don’t need to know.”

“I do if you’re going to leave AMA! You were in bad shape when you first came in. You’re still recovering.”

“She needs me and I’m going!”

“Wait she?”

He grimaces at the slip before spitting

“Yes, she needs me, there’s something wrong happening and I need to be there.”

“Maybe I can help.”

He stared at the small woman before shrugging.

“If you can tell me what hospital she went to, sure.”

“Are you referring to the woman listed as your emergency contact?”

“Yes.” He grits out impatiently.

She goes to the monitor in the corner of the room and looks at few pages before pulling something up.

“You’re in luck, she’s here in the labor and delivery ward.”

“Great, I’m leaving.”

She stops him with a hand to his chest.

“What is it now?” Snarling at the interruption.

“You can go, but in a wheelchair.”

So thus, Caleb is rolled all the way from intensive care all the way to L and D.

She had bandaged his arm up from where he’d ripped the IV out, he hadn’t even noticed it bleeding.

The nurse asks the night nurse working where she is and they’re directed to a room at the end of the hall.

He’s wheeled through the door and there she was.

Sleeping, looking so small and weary even in the dim light.

The nurse whispers

“I’ll have to go back but just hit the call light if you need anything, ok?”

He nods but doesn’t dare disturb the peace of the room with his voice.

But as the nurse leaves, he’s desperate to touch you.

So he pushes the chair forward by the wheels until he’s by her side. Caleb can now see something miraculous.

A baby bump, a true proof of their love.

Were they okay though? There was no one to ask, but he spies a chart at the end of the bed.

Grabbing it eagerly, he reads

‘Patient presented with mild bleeding at 18 weeks of pregnancy. Scans done and slight placental abruption was found. Mildly invasive procedure done to correct issue. Patient to be kept under observation for 24 hours.’

A very short summary of the situation but it was enough.

The baby, their sweet baby, and her were going to be okay.

Shoulders shaking as a few tears escaped his eyes as he laid a gentle hand on their child.

“Hello little one, I’m your daddy. I’m sorry I haven’t been here so far but don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere.”

A slight bump against his hand and he was instantly in love.

Caleb wanted to scoop them both up and never let them go. His two loves in his arms forever.

A slight noise behind him made him turn his head from the beautiful sight.

Zayne.

His gut tightened.

“What are you doing here?” Caleb tried to keep his voice low but the protectiveness came through.

Zayne pushed his glasses up before answering

“They called me here to check on her heart and so that she’d have a member of her care team here. She couldn’t make it all the way down to Akso hospital so her OB told her to go to Skyhaven’s hospital for now.”

What a perfectly reasonable explanation but he’d heard what Zayne had been doing while he was away.

“You sure move fast Dr.Zayne.”

A raised eyebrow was the only response he got.

“She’s not yours.” Caleb made that clear with a growl.

“From what I hear, she wasn’t truly yours either. Scared of commitment, colonel?”

“That will soon be rectified so you can butt out.”

“Fortunately for you, she told me to butt out before you even came home. I have no plans to stay where I’m not wanted.”

“Good.” The baby bumped against Caleb’s hand again, making him smile.

“But if she needs me again, don’t think I won’t come running.”

With that ominous warning given, Zayne turned around and left the room.

Well, at least that’s done. Where does Zayne get off telling him that though?

She was more important than that sly bastard anyway and Caleb settled in to stay with her until she woke up.

He knew he had to take care of Ever somehow, he had been steadily wearing the chips integrity down so that they wouldn’t have hold over him anymore. It seemed that it was time to move the timeline up.

His two babies deserved him at his best and without these shackles.

He could wait for her eyes to open though. They had a lot to talk about after all.

Tags: @moonberry69 @supermyeon22 @tinnyrabbit @gavin3469 @marina27826 @crowleysthings @tabi-callico @midiplier

@his-ocean-emissary @rosalyne08 @xaviers-pookie-bear @tsunamethyst @thejujvtsupost @cherrybeomgyu

@gojosballsack69 @apple-lov3r @dinochocochip @violetpurplez @raiyuxa @nickibunny23 @sh3sa1dwhat @playboygeniusphilanthropist @flwerie @lynnlovesthestars @twilightsmissingfur @kasuumi

[timeclonemike]

There's also the Psychology of Betrayal to work with.

In Stephen Parrish's book Anatomy of a Spy, he describes his experiences and the fallout from them while working in the US Army under Clyde Lee Conrad, someone whose name is notorious in espionage circles and not without reason. One of Parrish's most important points is that, when enemy operatives are looking for sympathetic insiders to leverage, the most common and most successful attribute that made a recruit worth recruiting was the impression that they had been betrayed by the organization they worked for. Somebody blackmailed for homosexuality (and you know Hegseth wants to bring those days back) or other career ending secrets might fall on their sword to protect their country, somebody with bad debts may not take the easy way out if it means compromising their ethics and honor, but if the army or country screwed them first? Passed them over for promotion, swept a legitimate grievance under the rug so an abusive superior officer never got disciplined, stuff like that? Almost foolproof.

Right now, a LOT of Republicans are in the Find Out phase, especially the rural voter blocs that have been a GOP cornerstone for ages. Aid and welfare resources are drying up, the price of groceries and fuel is rising, and most important of all it is NOT clear if a congress this divided can pass a Farm Bill, which pretty much the entire American agricultural sector needs to continue existing (whether they admit it or not) and that's WITHOUT Trump or Musk sticking their dick in the process as a power move like they have with other legislation in the past.

When the cognitive dissonance really hits the fan, all these farmers are going to go "he turned on us" because that's a lot easier for them to stomach than "I done shot myself in the foot because I'm a stupid racist redneck who should have minded my own business instead of getting worked up about drag queens" and THAT is where we can get our foot in the door. All that anger (and these people are VERY angry, almost all the time, about something) will be directed towards somebody who is actually responsible for their misery for once. If we play the smart game, we can keep that anger focused on Trump and his ilk, and turn up the heat until the GOP power blocs on the state and national level tear themselves apart. If we play the moral high ground, we turn ourselves into lightning rods and all that hate grounds out on us instead, and it's back to square one.

(Not to mention that there is evidence that the GOP or organizations affiliated with them managed to leverage outrage over the Biden Administration's very real fuck ups like the handling of the Israel-Palestine conflict in such a way that people walked away from the conflict to give Trump just enough of a margin to win again. They've been using it that strategy against us for decades, it's time to turn the tables.)

Remember, politics is all about the lesser of two evils. There is a future where ICE doesn't get to keep their Gestapo cosplay, and trans kids aren't killing each other, and there is a future where you get to feel smug about twisting the knife in a potential ally of convenience. Be VERY certain of what you really want.

[glassrowboat]

Letters For You

Valentine’s Day letters from Anaxa, Aventurine, Gallagher, Jing Yuan, Phainon, Ratio, Reca, Sampo, Sunday

Wrote these for my online friends, so I hope you all have a lovely Valentine’s. Love you all, xoxo

Anaxa

My fellow scholar,

I won't lie and pretend as if I wouldn't rather be spending my time doing something actually worthwhile like studying, but whenever I finally bring myself to put pen to paper in my hectic schedule I find myself unable to use my quill for its intended purpose. I bought it for note taking and truly wished to use it for that purpose, only for me to find myself unable to focus on the words before me as I am stuck thinking of you.

You see, these were originally meant to be notes, so excuse the scribbling at the top. It's all mindless drivel and half-baked theories I'm certain you're already planning to jump at. Your curious mind never rests, just like mine. Which is why I'm so loath to admit that even us scholars need a break.

With that in mind, I ask that you find me at our usual spot to enjoy the current festivities. I'm sure once we're done, it will leave us both refreshed and ready to return to work.

In best regards,

Anaxagoras

Aventurine

Dearest friend,

I already know what you're going to say about the gifts I have left for you. “It's too much or you should save your money on something else, Aven.” To the point I can almost hear the words ringing in my ear in that scolding tone of yours. It's just as bad as the higher ups scolding me for breaking the cornerstone and yet I can't help but want to spoil you.

But I'll be nice. Just this once.

Instead of dinner at another fancy restaurant you'll roll your eyes at, let's just get takeout from your favorite place and we can play dress up with all the clothes I got us. And yes some are for me, too. I'm sure if you dig around a bit you'll find a particular lacy item you and I can both agree has its merits.

Until tonight,

Aventurine

P.S. No overtime. I promise.

Gallagher

Babe,

I'm sure you've already figured out the bag of candy is for you. I even wrapped it up with a neat bow and everything for ya, so I hope you like it. If you want, we can even try making a drink out of a few of them like we did with the cotton candy vodka. Remember that? It was interesting, that's for sure.

We can even have what's left after dinner tonight. I'm cooking. Just for you, too. I was thinking of Clockie Pizza with all those toppings you like, and we could have it at the lounge? I'm sure Dreamjolt Hostelry will have open seats even on Valentine’s Day, knowing how dead the place usually is. I'll even dress up if you want me to. Though it might just be best to put myself in your or Sioban care to choose an outfit. Either way, I'm trusting you here, so don't let me down.

Your man,

Gallagher

Jing Yuan

My darling,

It's a beautiful day out, don't you think? The sky is clear and bright blue, the wind is just right, and the sun as artificial as it might be is perfect for dozing under its shining rays. I even found a record to play a song I remember from days long past. The only thing missing on this perfect day is you. And my work to be done, too.

I take it you're wrapped in endless stacks of paperwork just as I am, aren't you? Even after all the time, they managed to keep you this week. I'm merely lucky I'll have you all to myself once the day ends. The weekend will be ours to enjoy the garden, eat good food, play with our adorable little lion, and each other.

While we may not get Valentine’s Day together between your work and mine, I am happy to make sure we still get to enjoy being together. Besides, choosing only one day to love you when I would rather do so every day for every year you're willing to share with me is far more appealing than showing you appreciation only on special occasions.

Yours,

Jing Yuan

Phainon

My favorite shopkeeper,

Time really does flash by in an instant, huh? It feels like only yesterday that I came to The Holy City with the weight of the prophecy, both bearing a heavy weight on and lifting my shoulders all at once. Back then, I was ready to face the world as a Chrysos Heir alongside the others of golden blood without daring to think anything could stop me. I was going to be the one who takes Nikador's Coreflame, and I'll be the demigod of Strife. It will be a title I wear with honor.

And that is still my intention, mind you, but I've found something else that fills me with just as much conviction as being a hero to the masses. Do I even have to say what it is? It's you.

Ever since we first ran into each other at your shop and you were giving me a side eye (yes, I saw that) at all the questions I was asking about your collection of antiques I knew I would be willing to take a moment to step away from the duty I have sworn to uphold to simply be with you.

So I guess what I'm asking is: will you be my valentine?

Your hero,

Phainon

Ratio

My dear,

Today has already been full of one headache after the next from students deeming fit to load my desk with gifts to dealing with Aventurine texting me about how many roses is “too much.” At this point, all I want to do is go home and fall into your embrace.

Still, I have tests to grade. And from what I've seen of them, it's looking like some of them have finally learned how to pick up a thing or two after I started to use the method you suggested last time. As loath as I am to admit, I never would have thought to have my student role play as great mathematicians from the past to keep them engaged. It worked.

You truly astound me. Always finding new ways to show that creative thinking plays a part in being knowledgeable as well. You put the term genius to shame, my dear.

Sincerely,

Veritas Ratio

Reca

My love interest,

I have met countless actresses and actors who have been praised as if they were Aeons themselves. Looks, skills, the way the camera is naturally drawn to them, why you could name it all! Yet they all pale in comparison to you, my snookums.

No shot is truly complete without your radiance, without your smile, or without just the thought of you lingering in the back of my mind and changing how I see each scene laid out before me. You have changed how I view romance, entirely flipping the genre on its head for me to make something entirely new and unique. You inspired me in a way I never would have thought possible despite all the stories of star-crossed lovers I know. You have simply made me, for lack of a better word, more.

The only thing I could possibly regret about you is not meeting you sooner.

So allow me to make up for all the time we have had apart, my honey bee, by coming to a play with me as my valentine.

Your charming director,

Reca

P.S. I have entrusted the Assistant Director to be in your care today while I am away. She shall take care of you in my stead while I am away, my valentine.

Sampo

Boss,

It's me, your good old buddy, your pal, your bestest guy, Sampo! Now, now, before you go and throw this letter in the trash or worse yet, set my poor heartfelt words on fire, hear me out. I only have the purest intentions for you today, and that is on my honest word as a businessman.

It is Valentine’s Day, after all, and I can't have such a profitable holiday be soured for my favorite customer. That would just hurt my coin purse. So to ensure that doesn't come to pass, I took it upon myself to give you a gift as a show of gratitude for all you've done for me these past few years.

I'm sure you've noticed them by now.

Now, I hope you like the roses I left for you. They have a bit of an extra boom to them if you know what I mean. Just not the bomb kind. Though you do always manage to blow my heart away so who knows, maybe it is.

Your number one guy,

Sampo

P.S. Okay you can light the letter on fire now just know that if you do I'll be left with nothing to do but drink at the bar until I'm crying my eyes out all by my lonesome. Orrrrr…you could join me. I would never complain about getting some time in your delightful company.

Sunday

My dove,

This is my first Valentine’s Day away from Penacony, let alone on the Astral Express with a lover I can call my own.

I find myself still adjusting to the sudden change. There's no one watching my every move and expecting utter perfection from me now but me. I still find myself checking my clothes, assuring my feathers are neat, and shining my halo to the point that it shines in the light of the stars surrounding us. They remind me of just how vast this galaxy truly is. How my past choices were a flicker of a flame to everyone else, but to me, it was my last ditch effort at saving a dying light.

Everything is different now.

I find myself mourning.

Only for you to walk in the room and wash each thought away like the oncoming tide to a cluttered shore just with your gaze and a twitch of your lips. It's like I'm hit with a revelation again: that things do in fact get better.

So please, keep smiling as you always do, my valentine.

All the best,

Sunday

[livwritesstuff]

randomly bringing back my divorced-dads steddie au from ages ago (part 1, part 2) because i was thinking about how valentine's days would go down during the years steve and eddie were divorced, splitting custody of their daughter rozzy, and switching off holidays every year.

Like, the first Valentine's Day post-divorce –

Eddie, to Rozzy (age 2): You don't know this yet, sweet Rosalind, but your daddy loves Valentine's Day.

Eddie: And I think you'd just make him so happy if he saw you wearin' all kinds of pink and hearts and all that sappy stuff.

Eddie: *proceeds to help his daughter get dressed in clothes he bought very specifically so she'd be wearing a Valentine's Day-themed outfit when Steve picked her up*

Rozzy (age 3, first year in pre-k and just learned about Valentine's Day): Valentine's Day is tomorrow and it's about love and pink and hearts.

Steve: Yup. You'll be with Dad for it this year.

Steve: You know what could be fun?

Steve: We could go pick out some flowers for you to give Dad when I drop you off.

Rozzy: *Wiggly toddler dance of approval* Yeah!

Rozzy: Pink flowers?

Steve: I think your dad's been into purple lately.

Rozzy (7): *walks out of school looking all kinds of solemn*

Eddie: Jeez Louise, what happened to you?

Rozzy: *silently stews the entire drive home and only elaborates once they're pulling into the driveway*

Rozzy: We did a craft for Valentine's Day today and I only had time to make one for *you* because Valentine's is with you this year and not with Daddy, but I *wanted* to make one for Daddy, but my teacher said there was no more time and she said that also everyone just gets to make one and it wouldn't be fair that I got to make two.

Rozzy: *deep gulping breath*

Rozzy: But I want one for Daddy.

Eddie: Okay...sweetheart, it's really okay with me if you give your craft to Daddy. We've got lots of fun stuff on the docket for you and me tonight -- I'll live.

Rozzy: No. This one is for you.

Rozzy: I want *another* one for Daddy.

Eddie: *sighs*

Eddie: You remember how to make it?

Eddie: Give me a minute to cancel some plans and we'll go raid my studio tonight and make another one.

Rozzy (age 9): I'm with Dad for Valentine's Day this year?

Steve, trying not to sound too bummed about it: Uh-huh.

Rozzy: Can we make something so I can bring them to Dad's with me?

Steve: Sure. You got any ideas?

Rozzy: I wanna make chocolate-covered strawberries with sprinkles on them

Rozzy: 'Cept...maybe we should use white chocolate so you can really see the sprinkles.

Steve: Uh, well, I don't think your dad likes white chocolate all that much, but we can go out and try to find, like, pastel sprinkles or something so he can see them against the chocolate.

anyways, just thinking about steve and eddie sending each other valentine's day gifts through their daughter during their (temporary) divorce :)

[x-aefx]

Hi. Can I request Billie watching y/n perform at the Grammy’s after their breakup. During the performance, she realizes how much she miss y/n, so she goes backstage to talk. And they get back together? Thanks

Back To You - Billie Eilish x fem!reader

This is such a cute request🤍

𖦹 ☼ ⋆｡˚⋆ฺ ♡

"You ok?"

You looked up from your phone at the sound of your assistants voice, feeling her hand on the back of your arm. Wordlessly, you nodded your head, not trusting your voice to speak.

She glanced down at your phone then back up to you, smiling sympathetically.

"She's just after arriving." Your assistant spoke, answering the question she knew was running through your head. "We should go. We don't want to keep them waiting."

You said nothing, only staring back down at your phone where a picture of you and Billie was displayed. It was from the night she officially asked you to be her girlfriend, the two of you were wrapped in eachothers arms on her couch.

"Why did you two ever break up?" Your assistant muttered sadly to herself, shaking her head as she left to attend to some last minute duties.

You sighed, turning off your phone and putting it in your bag. You stared at your reflection in the mirror of the hotel room, all dressed up for the Grammys with a loneliness that clung to you like armour.

"You ok?"

Billie's eyes snapped to her brother Finneas, forcing herself out of her trance by the sound of his voice.

"Yeah." Billie gave him a tight lipped smile, not wanting him to worry about her. Finneas didn't look convinced, though he didn't question it further.

"We should go, don't want to keep them waiting." Finneas encouraged his sister to follow behind him onto the carpet where paparazzi and journalists eagerly awaited them.

Billie said nothing but followed after him. Whilst they walked and the shouts of her name got louder, her eyes scanned the crowd and people around her, clinging on to hope that maybe, just maybe, you would be there.

"Billie!"

"Billie over here!"

"Billie! Look this way!"

Camera lights flashed harshly and bright, but she had gotten used to it.

Once her pictures were taken she walked the remainder of the carpet. She could hear journalists calling her name, trying to beckon her over for an interview. She didn't stop to talk to them this time, knowing what questions they would ask.

She walked past the final one with her head bowed down slightly.

"Looks like Billie Eilish isn't in the mood to talk." The reporter announced, turning back to the camera when Billie walked past her swiftly.

"The singer made a quick escape! Leaving us all with the same question as before, 'why did those two ever break up?"

As the award ceremony came to an end there was one final performance to be had. Yours.

What started out as a thrilling, fun and loud performance, with dancers fuled by adrenaline and your vocals catching everyone's attention, turned into a more intimate, calmer one for your final song.

You stood in the centre of the stage, just you, your eyes kept either closed or towards the very back of the room as you sang. You knew if you didn't do this, if you let your eyes stray, they would find hers. Infact, you were sure you could tell where she was sitting even though you hadn't looked once. You could always find her in a room full of people.

You couldn't, however, stop your mind from wondering. Memories flashed in your mind as you sung the lyrics, lyrics you had written about her. Then you made the mistake of opening your eyes again and not stopping them from finding those blue ones you were all too familiar with.

Your eyes stung, tears prickled as you couldn't look away from her. You could hear her laugh in your head, her voice, her words. Your chest tightened as you neared the end of the song, the song you had written for her. It was her favourite song, she always reminded you, always asking you to sing it for her.

Billie was transfixed. She couldn't look away from you, enorumed by your voice and how beautiful you looked in that dress, how the lights made you look ethereal as you stood up there on that stage before her. Finneas, who sat beside her, had tried to get her attention but still, Billie couldn't look away from you.

And then your eyes met hers, for the first time the entire night you finally looked at her. Billie didn't realise how much she needed that simple action.

The familiar lyrics of the song rung in her ears as she watched you, memories of the two of you together flashed in her mind. Her favourite being the night you sang this song for her, when it was just the two of you alone in her bed In the early hours of the morning.

Billie tried blinking them away, she really did, but the tears eventually began. Her eyes were glossy as she wiped her cheeks, still watching you. Her heart sank when she noticed you were crying too.

Regret, guilt, anger, loneliness, it all consumed Billie at once.

When the performance ended Billie didn't hesitate to get out of her seat and follow you backstage. Her mind was made up, she knew what she was going to to, had to do.

You hurried off the stage, wiping your tears with the back of your hand as you kept your head down. You missed her. You always had that feeling buried deep inside you, but there was no denying it when your eyes locked with hers and you were finally seeing her again.

"Y/N!"

You thought you were imagining it.

Billie pushed past people, muttering quick apologies as she strode towards you, desperate to catch up to you.

You were surrounded by security, your assistant and other people, who all stopped and turned around at the sound of Billie's voice. Then you turned to and Billie lost her voice.

You had this look of shock on your face, but Billie could see the hope in your eyes no matter what facade you put up.

"Billie?" You whispered, confused, upset.

The people surrounding you took the hint and decided to leave the two of you alone, so that it was just Billie and you standing in the now empty corridor.

Billie couldn't help, even now, to marvel at your beauty.

"I fucked up-im sorry, can we talk?" Billie rushed the words out, her voice sounding hurt and weak.

You nodded your head. "Yeah." You said weakly, "are you OK?" You asked in concern, noticing her glossy eyes.

Billie nodded her head, taking a deep breath in. "Yeah, are you?" She exhaled.

You hummed in confirmation.

Your chest tightened seeing her, wounds that had previously began their healing journey were opening again.

Billie took a step closer, then another until she was right Infront of you, until you could feel her breath on your skin and her scent was the only air you Inhaled.

She slowly intertwined your hands with hers, looking down at them with nothing but guilt.

"I've missed you so much." A cry threatened to leave her. "All I've done since that night was regret it all." She shook her head in frustration at herself.

You looked at her sympathetically. "Oh Bils.."

Billie looked back up at you, teary eyed.

"Why did we ever break up?" Her voice cracked and tears were now falling.

Your breathing was shaky as you forced your sobs down. You shrugged helplessly. In truth, you didn't know. It was a mistake. That much was clear.

"I don't know." You quietly admitted.

Then it went quiet.

Your eyes burned as the tears fell. You were sure Billie felt the same.

You looked down at your interlocked hands, your eyes tracing the fine lines of her hand tattoo. You smiled sadly as you remembered the day she got them done. You remembered how Billie was nervous, in an excited kind of way. She had held your hand, with the one not getting tattooed, for the entirety of the appointment. Most of all you membered her bright, genuine smile when the tattoo was finished and she was looking at it completed for the first time.

"What's got you smiling?" Billie asked in a teasing way, but her small sniffles gave her true emotions away.

You looked up at her. "Us." Was all you answered with.

She looked at you, and you looked at her. Your hands stayed intertwined as you stood in close proximity. It was the first time the two of you had been in the same room in months let alone this close.

"I never should have let you go, I should have fought harder for you to stay." Billie mumbled, looking between your eyes that she loved so dearly.

"I should have never left in the first place." You argued quietly.

Your forehead fell gently against Billie's, your eyes drifting closed tiredly.

Billies hands pulled away from yours. At first, your heart dropped at the loss of her touch, the sadness returning until you felt her hold your waist, pulling you closer to her. You opened your eyes slowly to look at her.

"Come back to me." Billie whispered, her forehead resting against yours and her eyes trained on your lips, her own mouth hovering over yours desperate to close the distance.

You looked into her pleading eyes and then down to her lips. Your heart sped up at the sound of the words you begged to hear these past few months.

"Please, I need you-i miss you." Billie squeezed her eyes shut tightly before opening them again to look into your eyes.

You nodded your head. Billie's eyes lit up with hope, but there was still a small bit of hesistence. You got rid of it.

With your hands cupping her face, you pulling her into you, kissing her longingly, passionately until neither of you could breathe.

When Billie pulled away, she had a large grin on her face, her eyes fully lit up like the sun as they shined with love. "I'm never leaving you, I promise." She breathed out.

You pecked her lips again, a large smile of your own on your lips. "And I'll never leave you." You vowed.

Her forehead rested against yours once again. The both of you basked in the love you two had for each other, neither feeling the need to leave.

Billie looked at you adoringly and you returned it.

She prepped small, delicate kisses all over your face, your cheeks, your nose, your temple and your forehead.

You giggled, feeling drunk on her love.

"I love you." You said.

"I love you more." Billie kissed you once again.

𖦹 ☼ ⋆｡˚⋆ฺ ♡