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keferon · 2 months ago

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Two Peas in a Pod: part 4/?

Hopefully the dialog isn't confusing.

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"Still dizzy?"

"Not really," Jazz answered with a comfortable smile, though stole a quick glance over to the gate. The first since Blaster had arrived for the morning routine. The other mer wasn't awake yet last he saw, but he was shifting more. The medication had obviously long worn off by now, but Jazz still hoped they weren't in too much pain.

But Blaster noticed and it prompted him to pause his checks to ask, "did he wake up last night?"

"Kinda? He could have been talking in his sleep though."

"Hm, there's a good chance he'll be up soon, then."

Jazz's expression of his usual cheerfulness shifted, just slightly and if it had been anyone other than Blaster, they would have missed it. He flipped the clipboard over in his lap and rested his elbows against his crossed legs.

"You're nervous," Blaster pointed out gently and gave Jazz an encouraging smile. "Is this about their injuries, or is this about making a friend?"

The mer's face soured and he looked away. "I thought I wasn't supposed to ask."

"That was about the gate, and I'm sorry about that." It was just the two of them on the pier, but Blaster still practised a surveying sweep of the area with what looked like stretching. Then with a lower voice, he continued, "The Vet Chief wanted to fully isolate them from you, to keep them in a transfer-crate, at least until the injuries had a low risk of reopening. I argued that it would put them under a lot of undue stress, and you because you knew the Mer was here. Which is part of why it took so long for–"

"–and it's fine to say this now?" Jazz snapped and turned back to him with a small scowl.

"Jazz, how many staff members were in your area yesterday? When we talked about the gate?"

He paused, trying to recall. Blaster was with him and the group that went into the bay had five… seven?

"There was thirteen, Jazz," he supplied, knowing that any answer coming would be incorrect. It was a lot of people, and with Blaster already known for making waves on the regular, the sudden addition had eyes and ears on him. That, and because he had fought so hard against the 'great idea' brought up in the first meeting after emergency treatment had ended. "You didn't even clock the vet on standby at the pier entrance."

Jazz huffed and laid out flat, resting his chin on his crossed arms. Okay, so he wasn’t paying attention to who was around. "Then what is it about the gate? I get the bit about climbing the walls, but…"

"That one is on me, I was – am – being overly cautious. Not of you, but of others misunderstanding your excitement or anxiety as aggression. And I know how persistent you can be when something catches your interest. But that's not the point, what is, is that if the team reports you showing signs of aggression, they'll… remove him."

Now looking worried, Jazz glanced from Blaster to the gate. "But what if he shows aggression?"

"We're expecting that, at least at first." Blaster wanted to reassure him, but there were still too many unknown variables. "Unknown place with an unfamiliar face, and likely limited communication. There is bound to be backlash."

Jazz looked down with an expression of growing despair, before dropping his face against his arms. His words muffled, "so whether he stays or not depends on me being able to talk with him."

Blaster reached out and placed his hand on the orca's shoulder. "Listen, buddy, this might be hard to hear. But let me explain, okay? … So far it looks like there are no issues and the current plan is to have him released once he recovers." As he feels Jazz tense, Blaster frowns in understanding and begins to rub his shoulder to comfort him. "There is only one reason that the aquarium wouldn't go through with it, and honestly, I don't want that to happen. It's all sorts of fucked up and would only make things worse– but I don't want you to distance yourself from him. I want you to try and befriend him."

"… why," Jazz asked weakly, cursing him for telling him the truth – for reminding him of the truth – for breaking his small piece of hope of not being alone anymore. If he was going to be taken away, if he was just going to lose him no matter what, then it would hurt less if he just ignored him.

All sorts of answers bounce around in Blaster's mind. From wishful thinking – because I want you to go with him. To long term goals – anything we could learn could help Mers everywhere. But he settled on as close to the truth as he could. "Because I'm trying to make sure that no matter what happens, it's the best result for both of you. But I can't do that if the two of you can't at least work together. So, I'm asking you to try."

"Right," because he doesn't need to be kept here to survive… he just needs time to heal. Where I – "–right. Okay, I'll try… but where do I even start?" Jazz took a deep breath to compose himself before he lifted his head.

"Well, why don't we see if sleepy-head is waking up? Maybe he'd like breakfast." Blaster offered, first with a reassuring smile, but then twisted it into something more mischievous. "And maybe you could find out if he's got a beautiful name, too."

It took a second to realize what Blaster was getting at, and for the first time in his life Jazz felt bashful. "W-what are you talking about?" He hid it terribly.

"He's beautiful~" he whispered dramatically, and Blaster learned that mers could in fact blush.

—

When Blaster left to get food for the wild mer, Jazz calmly made his way over to the view port. Only to be taken by surprise, he was looking directly at Jazz. Though, glaring, might be more accurate with how his face was pulled tight with focus and the sheer intensity of his stare.

But otherwise, they were completely calm. Jazz wasn't sure if that was a good sign or bad. Yet, it didn't stop his nervous excitement from returning. He waved with one of his best smiles – one without teeth – and greeted him with a friendly, "hello!"

What he got in return was a slightly more intense furrowing of their brow – irritation or confusion?

"Oh! Sorry, habit." Jazz switched to mer. {Hi!}

The tension didn't leave his face, but there was slight movement and, again, Jazz didn't know how to interpret that. But he did answer, {||၊|။||||•။၊|။|။|၊|။||၊၊၊|?}

"Uh…" Yep, didn't understand any of that.

Then the door opened on the edge behind them and Jazz for a moment thought that it would startle the wild mer. But they didn't even flinch. And while their eyes remained on him, Jazz was fairly sure now that they had been using their sonar to track the human's movement.

"Are they still asleep?" Blaster asked, puzzled.

"Nope, very much awake." He shifted lower to try and get more than the man's boots in his sight.

"Ah…" He sounded uneasy and began to make small careful steps around the edge closer to Jazz while he spoke as calmly as possible. "Well, I'm going to keep talking, just so you don't think I'm trying to sneak up on you."

When he reached the point where he was straight across from the wild mer, they lifted their head to turn their glare on the human. Blaster to his credit did not flinch, but he did freeze. "Whoa– that's – wow, t-that's quite the look."

A series of slow clicks came from them, but their lips did not move. Jazz didn't think it was echo-speak, as it reminded him of his own searching clicks when he was trying to get a better picture. "Oh! I think he's trying to see what you have."

The wild mer glanced to Jazz, becoming silent once more before looking back up at Blaster.

"Fair enough, alright new buddy, I'm going to be real slow about it okay?" Back to narrating his actions calmly as he knelt down. Showing the long pole with a thin, blunt hook, "just an arm I don't mind losing if you decide that you don't like the breakfast I brought," and poured out the fish from the bucket.

Still the wild mer glared, unblinking and watching every little movement.

"Okay… I'm not sure what to make of this, so far everything has been nothing like previous encounters."

"Ya, didn't you say he'd be freaking out?"

"You got anything to calm or reassure our new buddy here that I ain't going to hurt him?" Blaster was doing his absolute best at trying to remain calm, but even his hands were starting to tremble under the pressure the wild mer was giving him. He wasn't even moving, just watching, but it felt like the human was being stalked.

Honestly, Blaster was probably one bad move from being lunged at. Though, if that was the case, he had maybe one chance to get away. The hammock would throw him off on the first strike, the supports could probably take two or four hard thrashings before it snapped under the mer's strength. Injuries be damned, this mer was in peak physical condition.

Jazz gave a small chirp to try and gain the other's attention, and failed, but continued with trying to talk. {It's okay, you're safe.}

He was given a very tiny dip of his finial facing the gate – a tell that he had heard him?

{You're safe,} Jazz repeated.

The mer didn't look away, but he did at least respond. {•၊၊|•|၊|။။၊|။•|||။||||။၊|။•၊၊||၊|။||||။•၊|။•၊၊||၊|။||||။၊|။•} Though, far too fast for Jazz attempt to understand.

"I'm hoping you two are talking about your favourite fish." Blaster joked to cover his nervousness.

Jazz sighed and admitted the truth, "I haven't a clue to what they're talking about…"

"Just let me know if I should run, kay?" He shifted slowly on his knees, trying to find a comfortable spot without making himself too vulnerable.

But Jazz hadn't given up yet. {Hungry?} He tried instead.

More chirps and clicking that didn't translate.

{Hungry? Yes? No?}

The heavy huff that came from them caused Blaster to flinch, but the mer finally focused on Jazz. There was clear irritation in their face now on top of glaring. And the damns broke, he started ranting at him loudly.

"Hey, don't yell at me, I'm trying okay!?" Jazz glared back, not backing down. Though wasn't all that intimidating with him just having a little porthole to look through.

"Jazz, buddy, please don't aggravate him." He, after all, was the one in the room with the wild mer.

"He fuckn' started it!"

Silence came quickly as the wild mer plunked his face into the soft floaty that had been his pillow. Blaster would have found it utterly hilarious if not fearing for his life currently. With another heavy and long huff, the wild mer looked back at Jazz, still glaring, but slightly less than before. {•|||။||||။၊|။•၊၊||၊|။? Yes? No?}

Jazz blinked at him for a moment, depending on the question, no could be a yes. {No…?} He answered tentatively instead.

{It's safe? Yes? No?} And he pointed his nose towards Blaster briefly, but clearly wasn't happy about it.

{Yes!} Jazz nodded vigorously and smiled for extra encouragement. Out of all the staff, Blaster was safe, Jazz held some trust in the human after all. {[Blaster] safe.}

"What about me?"

"He asked if you're safe and I told him you were. Relax a bit or something to show him."

Easier said than done. Blaster cursed, but did his best to ease the tension from his shoulders and smile a little. Even, daring to slowly lift a hand to wave.

The mer did not seem convinced, but his glare lessened some more and looked over the human with more curiosity than before.

{Hungry? Yes? No?} Jazz tried again.

There was a long pause, but they sighed and answered. {… yes.}

"Progress!" He cheered and then stuck his hand through the little window. "Blaster, hand me one of the fish. He's hungry, but I have a feeling that he'll trust you more if he sees me eat what you have."

"Okay." He made sure that it was clear as possible what his intentions were. Taking a fish under the gills, Blaster looped the blunt hook in and out the mouth. Then, very slowly, began to feed the length of the pole towards Jazz's waiting hand. Once Jazz felt the tail touch his palm, he grabbed it and waited until Blaster twisted enough for the fish to slip free. Then the pole was just as slowly drawn back.

The whole time the wild mer watching the exchange intensely.

Jazz pulled the fish over to his side, chirped for the other's attention before he swallowed it whole. Smiling once more as he said, {safe.}

Blaster had to admit, he was surprised when the mer shifted slightly in the hammock, and then cautiously held out his right hand. The glare never left, but this one felt like a threat, that if he messed this chance up, there would not be another.

Though this was the first time Jazz had been able to see any of his injuries. The colourful tape-bandages almost covered every inch of his skin from his hand up to his bicep. It reminded him that just yesterday he had been mortally wounded. Which was probably a key reason the wild mer seemed so calm, they had only started to recover and every action was either painful or exhausting. Likely both.

Jazz watched closely as Blaster went through all the careful steps as he had with Jazz and held the fish out. The only difference, was that the human's grip was loose, just in case the wild mer decided to try and yank him into the water with it. But they didn't, doing exactly as they saw before, allowing Blaster to release the fish and retreat. The whole process was so slow that the wild mer's arm started to shake from being held out.

But both Jazz and Blaster let out a breath of relief as there had been no backlash.

He eyed the fish in his grip with a mild sneer before he swallowed it and then held out his shaky hand for another. It was clear that the pain was getting to him, but nothing in his expression showed weakness.

The feeding got easier and quicker as Blaster relaxed a bit, not fearing that a normal pace would come off as threatening to the wild mer.

When the shaking got bad enough, the mer rested his arm back in the hammock, but kept his eyes on the remaining fish. As if to convey he wasn't finished, just needed a break. Blaster was more than happy to comply and gave him a few praises, even if they didn't understand.

"Hey," Jazz called gently, chirping for the other's attention. He waited until they looked his way, then pointed at himself. "Jazz," and then to the human, "Blaster," and back to himself once more, "Jazz," before pointing to the other mer with a questioning tilt of his head. He hoped it was clear what he was asking for.

When the silence stretched on for a bit, the human also joined in. "Blaster," to himself and to his mer, "Jazz."

There was a brief moment that Jazz could see that they were working over something, opening their mouth a few times before the sound of a sharp zip came out. "… 'tzz?"

Jazz snorted, before breaking into a few chuckles. "Ya, missing the Ja, but you'll get there. I'm Jazz." He placed a hand over his heart.

The gesture was reflected, {•၊||၊။}

It was his turn to try and work out the sound in his head. Jazz tried the word out soundlessly on his tongue once. It was like a popping roll? {•၊||၊၊၊၊၊?}

{•၊||၊။} they repeated, firmly correcting him.

"Nice to meet ya, {•၊||၊၊၊၊၊}!" While the mer scowled at him for not even trying to fix his pronunciation, Jazz just smiled brightly.

"So... what is his name?" Blaster asked for a translation, very interested in the development between them.

Jazz laughed, "I have no idea."

______________________________

Don't ask about my attempt to make sound-wave-like-text, it's gibberish, lol, and going forward only •၊||၊။ (Prowl) & •၊||၊၊၊၊၊ (Prowler) will be used until Jazz has a English (common?) name to attach an understanding to.

Keferon, I just wanted to say that every comment or tag you leave on the fic is like serotonin being injected into my veins. Every silly little image is like rolling down a grassy hill in the warm sun while I laugh with manic joy. When you add art, it's like an adrenaline shot to the heart that makes me want to run across the globe just to frantically wave hello with both hands, give you a hug and run back to get started on the next part.

And the next part will be Prowl joining Jazz in the main pool and Jazz learning just how fast he is, even while injured. >:)c

-GLC

𓆝 Previous 𓆟 Next

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Me looking in my inbox and seeing that there's two peas in a po

Odjndgdjdkfhdkm PLEASE. Blaster is so nervous EVERYONE IS SO NERVOUS Ooohhhnooo he's gonna freak out and kill everything he can reach oh no we all know how all those wild stupid creatures are oh no watch out While Prowl is trying to blow their pancakes with mind

And I juswannasay I love it so much ehehejgknfbfkdn THE SOUND WAVE SPEACH? I LOVE THE LOOK OF IT EHEHEH

Always a big fan of creative ways of showing imaginary languages. This thing?? ||ll•|Il It looks hella stylish >:O

Aaannnndd I got excited and made some art hehe

#maccadam #transformers #apocalyptic ponyo #jazz #prowl #jazzprowl #blaster #Blaster is slowly but steadily growing on me....huh #kinda torn apart with his design because technically all staff has to wear swim suits around pools. But also the whole Blasters design?#it screeeeammms “big hoodies and jackets”. he is SO blocky in canon. I can't imagine him in a swim suit lol #also IM SO FUCKING EXCITED FOR JP TO GET IN A SAME POOL OHOJFNFB ITS GONNA BE SO FUN #I love how you write them #I LOVE how I read the fic and from time to time I go #“huh I didn't consider that before”#like. I loooove when characters in a fic can do stuff in a way that is smarter than what I expected #and I have this little “oh wow okay” moment #it's not even about big plot. just. little things haha #also ahahahah I love how Jazz keeps “talking” to Prowl while simultaneously having NO idea what are they even talking about #like of course they have to have their first argument before they can even properly understand each other. My favorite JP flavor right here #fuck wait I need to add important tags before I run out of the space for them #ponyo jp writing #GLC #............I just realized I drew almost identical sketch with Jazz and this tiny ass window......#the pose is literally the same but it's drawn from scratch. lmao. oh well #Blaster is actively fearing for his life is the only real one here😔✊#Ohhhhoho Prowl is about to see how fucked up Jazz's situation is #everything. how he is too thin how his fins are curled and fucked how he has to perform for humans EVERYTHING #This fic is a fucking national treasure of this blog I tell you

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kenmakodz · 1 year ago

Text

CANDID LOVE ˙✧˖📷

06. brain food ☆

writing in-between cuts!

a quiet knock on the door catches your attention, which was previously focused on scrolling through random shows on Netflix. a weird feeling, you get. an emotion that seems to be the love-child of excitement and nervousness. there's no time to run away from these feelings, though, so you get up and open the door for the poor boy who's been hauling 3 bags of food.

"my god" he sighs, setting the bags down on the coffee table. "i think my stomach has eyes. there's no way we're finishing all this in one night." you laugh, noticing how he's holding his arm out of pain. "i've definitely done the same, more times than i'd like to admit-- here, sit down for a bit." gesturing to the couch, you sit down and pat a spot relatively close to you. he takes this offer with open arms, considering he'd walked pretty far. "sorry i took a while, hopefully i didn't keep you waiting too long?" his hands fidget together as he takes in your room. it's the size of a triple, but you have it to yourself. it's quite surprising how nice the school treats transfer students, considering how main students are usually shoved into a tiny room with 2-3 other people. you place your hand upon his; a ballsy move, but you know how it feels to be anxious about things. you don't want him to be anxious with you. "it's fine, really. i don't mind waiting for you." you smile, moving your hand back to it's previous position. embarrassment clearly runs through his body, but to you he just looked starstruck. after a moment of pushing these feelings back, he returns your smile. "i'm glad, then. um, can we eat? i fear my stomach is going to wrinkle up if we don't." "yes yuuta, we can eat."

"okay, okay. this seems good for now, i think?" he sits back from the laptop you two have been sharing, taking a second to re-read the outline. your eyes scan the page as well; it's a very.. rough outline. you start laughing at the last few lines, where he'd begun to give up on being professional. after all, only you two will see this draft. "why are you laughing?" he pouts, thinking you're making fun of the ideas laid out. "oh relax," you lean back with him, realizing he's gotten much closer than before. "i can just tell that you were rushing writing the final scene." his head whips to you and a hand clutches his chest, feigning shock; a sarcastic gasp falls from his lips. "how could you! we worked very hard on this!" your hand pushes his away from his chest, the both of them landing on his lap. "oh, shut up. i'm just teasing." he huffs anyways, a facade you've become accustomed to. after all, one of your best friends is nobara kugisaki.

reaching to a stuffed dog to your side, you hand it to him. "here, will an emotional support dog help?" he sighs, wrapping it in his arms. "i suppose." laughing again, you sit up and grab the laptop once more. "you're so dumb." he grips the toy more, you don't realize it, but he likes the way it smells of lavender just like you do. "what are you doing now, don't you think its enough for tonight?" you stop to think, after sending the draft to your phone. "well, we'll need to send casting calls to the neighboring schools sometime soon.. but i guess we can be done for now." he closes the laptop for you and places it on the table once again, looking back. "good, we can do that another time-" his sentence is cut off due to his phone practically blowing up in the room over. "sorry," he starts, getting up and handing the stuffed dog back to you. "let me go check on that."

"hey, sorry again. my friends were blowing up my phone for some reason." he comes back into the room where you two were sitting before, unsure if he should sit back down. he can't read your face, and you can't read his either, despite you both feeling the same way. "it's okay. you can sit back down if you want to stay a bit longer..?" you look down for a split second, anticipating the rejection he was about to give you. "i was looking for shows before you got here, but i couldn't find a good one." you try to convey what you say as a question, but it almost comes out as a plea. he doesn't say anything immediately, and you almost get upset? looking back up, you realize he's already getting ready to sit back down with you. "i'd love to stay. i also have an amazing suggestion for a show." your eyes light up, and it feels like the room filled with more air the way you both sighed with relief. "oh really?" you tease him, as he takes back the toy he'd left with you. "lay it on me then."

fun facts -> TWO PEOPLE PINING FOR EACHOTHER BUT NEITHER KNOW IT!!!! a classic trope. chefs kiss. yuuta offered to go get snacks not only because he was starving, but he also needed time to calm himself down before going to y/n's dorm. he was scared. scared that he'd say something stupid, give her the ick, embarrass himself. you know, the works. once he got there though, it felt like he never wanted to go home again.

-> GOD I LOVE THEM SO MUCh. screams. kicking my feet like a little girl writing this chapter.

previous, masterlist, next [07. i hate men (except you two)]

taglist is open! @just-a-girlblogger @moryymor @swissy23 @hvnyacoded @sereniteav @k4romis @jayathelostdragon @h3rmess @olivandeee @lysaray @ari3000dontcare @raechu11 @marifujioka @nyxlai @sonicsolos @saltypuffin1040 @r0ckst4rjk @h8ani @lmaolmaolmao @maya-maya-56 @mittensdun @adrenova @pnkblueberry @morgyyyyyyy @chososwh0r3 @lunecqm @r4veeen @arivsx @levlucs-kiru @mellozhi

if you are in bold, i am unable to tag you :( and if i forgot to add you, PLEASE YELL AT ME

⤷ © kenmakodz

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powerfultenderness · 18 days ago

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Cw: dog death 😭

Love at first sight was a thing of fairytales. Something only children believed in. Children and König. How could he not when he fell in love with you the moment he laid eyes on you?

He was driving home on a rainy night and two cars ahead of him there was a little accident. He heared the blaring horn, heard a heavy thump, and saw both cars come to a sudden halt.

The first car sped away while the one in front of him turned on its hazard lights and pulled off to the side of the road.

He almost kept going, but he saw you rush out of your vehicle and into the ditch, so he pulled over too to see what was going on. Not a dent on your little car, so it must not have been a collision.

Over the rain and another passing vehicle, he heared your sweet voice. "I know, I know, poor baby." Followed by weak dog whines.

When he was close enough, he saw you wrapping your coat around a medium sized dog. Undoubtedly a stray, unloved by most humans but you gingerly lifted the thin dying animal while continuing to mumer soothing words to it.

He glanced back at your car, it was small and probably didn't have the space for the dog.

"There's an emergency vet not far from here. Put him in my truck and follow me." His first words to you, instead of a greeting.

"Ok!" You nodded and he helped you up the ditch, popped open the back of his SUV and gently helped you transfer the dog.

No other words were exchanged between you until you were both seated in the waiting room and you start sniffling again.

"They took him in quickly, I'm sure he'll be ok." He tried to console you but you continued to stare down at the half empty intake form on your lap.

"...All I can fill out is my billing information." Your voice was quiet and on the verge of breaking.

"Billing information?"

"They have to charge someone and I don't even know if it's male or female."

"I see. How much will it cost?"

You sighed and slid the pen into the clip at the top of the board, "hopefully not a lot..."

König stared at you for a moment. You looked so despondent, soaked and shivering from the rain, eyes shining with tears that threatened to fall at any moment.

He gently put his hand over one of yours and you finally looked up at him. And in your worried eyes all he saw was love. You loved so freely and openly for a sad creature that had no connection to you and in that moment he wanted to protect you from the cruelty of the world. He wanted experience that kind of love, to see the world return it to you, to shower you with it.

"Let me take this up there."

You nodded and whispered your thanks as you handed him the clip board.

As soon as he turned, he heared another sniffle from you. You were trying so hard to be strong and not cry in public.

When he got to the receptionist's desk, he asked her to change the billing information and offered to take over the bill instead.

You were so lost in your anxieties that you didn't even notice it took him longer than necessary to drop off the forms.

"I am so sorry." You spoke up an hour later, the both of you freezing the nervous tapping of fingers and feet.

"Huh?" He was confused, it's not like you were the one that hit that poor dog.

"I never introduced myself." You explained before you offered up your name, though he already saw it on the forms he walked up.

"König," he replied and shook your hand, so soft and small compared to his.

You smiled at him, it was weak but polite, "well thank you so much for all your help, König. But," you glanced out the large windows at the stormy night, "It's getting late. You dont have to stay."

You looked back at him, expecting him to agree and take his leave, instead he shook his head and risked reaching out to you again.

He put a hand on your arm, touch just as gentle as before. "I want to. I am worried." About the dog, yes. About you more.

You politely smiled at him again and nodded. This time you put your free hand over his and gave it a gentle squeeze. His stomach flipped as he realized you were trying to comfort him.

He had been right. You were a kind, compassionate, sweet soul. With no ring on your finger and (he assumed) living on a single income. He vowed then, to himself, to take care of you. Today he saw your sad and polite smile. Tomorrow and every day after he would make you smile for real.

It was another two hours before the vet stepped out into the waiting area, a grim look shading her face.

She called your name, given to her by the receptionist, and calmly walked over to you and König.

He kept a steady hand on your shoulder as the vet explained that the dog didn't make it.

"Poor puppy," your gasp and cry were muffled by the hand that you slapped over your mouth.

Both he and the vet pretended not to be affected by your tears and wavering voice as you excused yourself to the bathroom.

"Sir, I am so sorry. We did everything we could," the vet apologized again. She mistook you and König as a couple. He didn't do anything to dissuade her of that. That wasn't important right now.

"Of course. I understand. We understand." He was certain you didn't blame the veterinarian team and wouldn't want them to think that you did.

"But, I do not think she is in any state to drive. Especially in this weather." The rain hadn't let up at all. "Is it alright to leave her car here over night, so that I can drive her home?"

"Yes, yes, of course!"

A couple of minutes later you returned, eyes red and puffy and face damp. "I. Uh." You weren't sure what to say.

He didn't let you stumble over your thoughts for long. "Please, let me drive you home."

He was clearly concerned, genuine worry etched on his face and in his eyes. "But, but my car-"

"I already talked to them, it's alright to leave it here. We can pick it up tomorrow."

König was a stranger. But after tonight, after all the help he offered, you felt like you could trust him, so you nodded. "Alright."

He shielded you from the rain with his jacket on the short jog to his truck. He turned the heat up higher than he usually liked just to keep you from shivering.

He walked you to your door and when you admitted that you weren't going to be able to sleep and that you didn't want to be alone, he sat down with you in your living room.

He awkwardly cleared his throat when you started crying again. "Is it- may i- ach, hug?"

You didn't laugh at the clumsy question. You just launched yourself into his arms and cried into his shoulder.

He held you, rubbing soothing lines down your back, until the tears stopped. He continued to hold you as you apologized for crying all over him. He still held you as you fell asleep. And he would hold you for the rest of his life.

#könig x reader #x reader #i needed some angst #blame the period hormones

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drghostwrite · 2 years ago

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Hey um… can we please get the Alex Vause x Reader from ages ago?? I’m desperate for new OITNB stuff…

My summer rewatch has me thirsty as hell.

Hehehe this is why I write... tbh I didn't think too many would be interested but I started it anyway just waiting for the right moment.

Summary: Alex Vause is the readers ex and reader is now a successful FBI agent married, with a baby on the way and they need Alex’s help with a case. what happens when two ex-lovers collide and now have lives of their own.

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You sat in the makeshift office of a conference room looking over the drawing boards and trying to make sense of the case at hand, your agents were out in the field and here you were reduced to scut paperwork because being 6 1/2 months pregnant doesn't coincide with proper fieldwork. You decided to stay back and look over the files one more time and hopefully pull out some leads, While looking over the files you got an idea, your ex-girlfriend, Alex Vause a glorified drug lord whom you met in prison.

Now to give backstory she made a deal that she could get on parole if she helped the prison with an undercover op but they told her only one agent was going in, happens that you were deep undercover and no one including prison staff knew about you. You quickly learned the rules of the yard and started to become pretty known as to not be messed with, at least one too many fights or turning the most sought-after advances away will do that. You took a liking to Alex quickly and she began to express feelings for you, when she got out and your operation was done you told her everything and she left Piper in the dust, you worked well for years until you got the offer to transfer with the bureau and work for the BAU and you took it and Alex didn't agree, resulting in a pretty bad break up.

---time jump---

Now you were watching as a uniform escorted her into one of the interrogation rooms, you saw as Emily and Reid quickly made their in and started the investigation but not five minutes later they were back out in the hallway, and Emily was bee-lining for you. You didn't tell anyone but JJ that you knew her and so you wanted to keep it that way.

"What's up Prentiss?"

"Our witness in room one doesn't want to talk."

"Lawyered up?" asked JJ.

"Nope she just doesn't want to talk to anyone, but ex-criminal and all I can see why."

"I'm sure I can sort something out, maybe me and Rossi or Derek." JJ offered.

"The tough guy act won't work on her," you said not looking up from the file you held in front of you.

"You sure because she's giving a pretty tough exterior in there." Emily explained.

"Trust me I know it won't work."

"Look Y/N I get that, and I get that you're in charge but I've been doing this longer, I'm sure one of us can get her to talk." Emily snapped back.

"Yea, Y/N can." JJ scoffed at Emily's response.

Emily and JJ exchanged looks, "Is there something there?"

JJ slowly looked at you as you nodded.

"Once upon a time....send her to my office instead." you trailed before laying the file down and making your way down the hall, pulling your jacket over your shoulders. You sat in your office at your desk and waited as soon as the door cracked JJ peeked her head in and allowed Alex to step through, at first you could see the tough exterior.

"I think SSA Sinclair has it from here so I'll step out."

"Thank you, agent Jareau."

You studied Alex as she explored your office, her back turned to you, "Unit Chief SSA Sinclair, so this is what you turned into, some big FBI hotshot, and let me guess Agent Jareau is your girlfriend, or wait is it Agent Emily Prentiss, the one that could pass for my sister." she said sharply

"Alex?" you gently replied, She turned at first her eyes were sharp until she looked at you and she could see your bump silhouetted by your tight tank and the jacket, the silver band that perfectly accented your tanned skin, immediatly her gaze softened almost showing hurt.

"You...You're pregnant."

"26 weeks..."

"And married?"

"Yea, she was great, you would've loved her."

"What did she do? ...would've?"

"She was a charge nurse at a local ER, she um passed away four months ago after I found out about the pregnancy."

"How?"

"She had cancer and the baby was a last resort, one last shot to have a normal life together, little did we know it would be two months before she passed."

"I...I...wow," she said speechless.

"Alex I'm sorry."

"For what, turning your back on me and getting everything you ever wanted... Y/N I never would've been able to give this to you."

"I wasn't asking you to..."

"Love, they never would've let you take the job if you were still with me. Director of an FBI task force and married to an Ex-drug lord, yeah right, a girl can only dream."

"Alex..."

"I'm sure that's not why you called me here though."

"No I need some help with this case, but please I want to talk."

"Okay, what's the case about?" you explained the case to her and talked over it for a couple hours before you figured out a lead and quickly alerted the team, you made sure they knew that you were still working on some things so even though they can go look into it you'd stay behind.

"So back to earlier, you wanted to talk?" Alex brought your past statement back up.

"Umm... yea I think we ended things roughly."

"I mean we did but what is there to talk about."

"Alex..."

"Y/N I'm still in love with you, I still think about you. You were one of the best things to happen to me, I had Piper yes, but we were so toxic to each other and I left her for you. You showed me a whole new side of myself one that I really embraced and I still do, you showed me how to love and I owe you everything for that."

"I... I don't know what to say." you looked into her eyes that filled with longing.

"Alex I still love you, I would've moved heaven and earth to marry you and be here with you today."

"See and that's the problem, you were so strong and driven, I knew they would take your career if you married me so I had to end things."

"You knew... how could you know that?!" you bit back.

"Because Y/N I lived in the real world not this protected career minded, innocent bubble."

"And you're saying I did... I would rather be happy then spend my life wondering."

"So you're not happy, with your big job and fancy office?"

"I didn't mean that." you stood to your feet.

"So what did you mean, you would've been happy living a life married to a criminal because that was our future, no promotions, no fancy offices or houses or cars, none of it."

"But I would've been with you..." you yelled back cutting her off, "God, don't you get it, I would've been with YOU, Alex." Before you could say anything else she stood over you and her lips were on yours, she placed her hands on your hips pulling you closer and deeper into the kiss. Your baby bump brushed against her waist and it sent shivers down her spine, if only that was her baby in there, she deepened the kiss more and backed you up laying you on the couch, she ran skilled fingers down your sides, as you arched your back pressing your bump into her again. Gentle silky lips met yours as you both savored the moment, you arched into her a little more and she felt your bump move as you baby kicked. You then pulled away, "Alex, I don't..."

"Oh My God You're wife... err ex-wife... or I'm sorry." she panicked.

"It's not your fault."

"No I shouldn't have done that, I mean Jesus you're still wearing the band." she placed her head in her hands.

"Alex, look at me," you held her hand, " I wear the band in remembrance she would want me to be happy, in fact, she told me on her deathbed that she wanted me to find someone to be happy with again."

"But Y/N the job, and the baby, you don't want me."

"I want nothing more than you. The job I can make arrangements with, the bureau is hiring ex-criminal consultants for some high stakes departments, and the baby, well it's going to need more than one parent to help raise it." You slowly grabbed her hand and lowered it so she could feel the baby move.

"Really?"

"If you're up for getting to relearn some things I think I'm willing to give it a shot."

"If it means I get to have you back then I'm willing to do anything," she said pulling you into a hug.

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Okay, my little peeps let me know what you think and if you want another part or maybe another Alex Vause x reader fic the inbox is OPEN!!!

For my other requests they are currently being worked on as fast as possible but I'm working on a pretty big one and it might be multiple parts.

#x yn #pregnancy #oitnb #alex vause #alex vause x reader #orange is the new black #fluff prompts #angst #angst with a happy ending

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sissylittlefeather · 1 year ago

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Time for a little brain break! I'll come back to How the Web Was Woven soon!

Lover Doll: A Danny Fisher Story

A/N: I know this is like the least creative name for a Danny Fisher (from King Creole) fic but whatever lol. This is a dirty (and borderline inappropriate oops) little thing I wrote just for the hell of it. Hopefully some of y'all enjoy it. I like to imagine this is where Danny gets his affection for older women 🤭

Warnings: 18+ minors DNI!, inappropriate relationship (BUT EVERYONE IS OF LEGAL AGE), kissing, cussing, fingering, oral sex (f & m receiving), p in v penetrative sex, unprotected sex, swallowing

Word count: ~2.5k

Unfamiliar with Danny? Here ya go:

You were nervous to start teaching in the beginning, but by your third year you'd settled into your position fairly well. At 25, you finally felt like you had enough years between you and your high school students to make your authority legitimate.

And then they transferred Danny Fisher into your class. Danny had struggled in school, so he hadn't graduated when he was supposed to. That meant he was 19 when he sauntered into your math class and sat at the back. His heavily-lidded eyes and flyaway hair were enough to make you swoon, but you tried to look away.

He ignores you for the most part, until you call him by name to answer a question. You're determined to treat him just like any other student, despite the way your stomach flip flops when you look at him.

"Aw, Miss, I don't-" Just then he glances up and makes eye contact with you. Your cheeks flush and he loses the second half of his sentence. A couple of seconds pass and you realize what's happening.

"Never mind, Danny. Anyone else know the answer?" Class continues like normal until the bell rings at the end. He's in your last class of the day, so you're prepared to drop into your chair once all the kids leave, but he stays behind.

"Miss, you got a second?"

"Sure, Danny. What do you need?" You ask, heart in your throat.

"I didn't know teachers could be so young."

"Oh. Well, yes, I suppose."

"And pretty." You feel the blush rise in your cheeks again.

"Did you have a question?" He seems to be searching for something he can ask.

"Can you help me with those equations from earlier?" He smiles and his dimple catches you completely off guard. Then, he sits down at a desk in the front of the room and opens his math textbook.

"Oh, sure, Danny." Without thinking, you lean over the desk to see which questions he's talking about. When you do, he can see down the front of your dress. He takes a quick peek and then looks away, clearing his throat. You realize what just happened and stand up as quickly as possible. Now it's his turn to blush. He stands up from the desk holding his book in front of his lap, you suspect in an effort to hide himself.

"I have to get to work. We'll have to look at the equations another time." He smiles again and hurries from your room. When the door closes behind him, you can't help but laugh.

******

You continue this way for a month, with him staying after school as often as possible for tutoring. But what starts as a mild flirtation gets stronger and stronger every time.

At one point he accidentally calls you "honey" when he gets frustrated with a question. He instantly apologizes, but you just laugh. Secretly, you love it and wish he would do it again.

You know it's wrong. He's your student. But he's also a grown man and your reaction to him is uncontrollable. You're used to 17-year-old boys who are basically big toddlers. Danny is only two years older than that, but he's worked more hours than you have. Nothing about him feels like a boy.

******

One day, you stand looking out the classroom window while he's at the blackboard. You're feeling particularly sorry for yourself and the situation you're in with him. The attraction is undeniable, but nothing will ever come of it. He notices that you seem sad today, so he puts the chalk down and walks up behind you. He stands close enough for you to feel his breath on your neck. You can tell by the way he stands there that he wants to touch you, to put his arms around your waist or his hands on your hips, but he doesn't. Not yet.

"You alright, Miss y/l/n?" You take a deep breath before answering him. You wish he would touch you.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just..." You turn to face him and he's even closer than you thought. You look up into his face. All he would have to do is lean down a few inches and his lips would be on yours.

"Can I..." His eyes flick down to your mouth. You're just about to tell him yes when he leans in just enough and presses his lips to yours gently. His hands shake a little, but he reaches out and puts them on your hips. He pulls back for a second, checking to make sure you don't want him to stop and then kisses you again, more passionately this time, sliding his hands back behind you and pulling your body in close to his. You break the kiss and pull back away from him.

"Danny, wait. This is wrong."

"Wrong? It doesn't feel wrong?"

"I'm your teacher." You look down at your feet.

"Hey." He tips your chin up with his hand and looks into your eyes. "Listen. You're a woman. I'm a man. This feels right to me. Does it feel right to you?"

"Yes." You nod. "But that doesn't mean it is."

"Y/n... can I call you by your name?" You nod again. "Y/n, you make me feel things I've never felt before. That can't be wrong."

"Oh, yes it can. Surely you know..." Then a thought occurs to you. You look at him with your head cocked to the side. Then, you walk backwards away from him and perch on the edge of your desk.

"Danny, you say I make you feel things you've never felt before. Have you ever been with a woman?" You try to look into his eyes but he avoids you. He looks down and tries to hide the fact that he's blushing.

"No." He answers with a tone of slight annoyance. Then he looks back up into your face. "But that doesn't mean I can't or won't. I want to. I want to be with you."

"Oh, Danny. I'm just not sure that's a good idea. I am your teacher-"

"Then teach me." He wraps himself around you again and kisses you deeply, his tongue sliding into your mouth. "Teach me, please." He whispers when he pulls back from the kiss.

Your eyes flick between his and you want nothing more than to say yes. Your body is screaming at you to kiss him again and rip his clothes off. You know it's wrong, but you're not sure if you care anymore. Can something that feels so right really be wrong?

Finally, you nod and he looks at you eagerly. His hands go to your hips and he pushes against you as he kisses you passionately. He kisses down your neck and reaches behind you to unzip your dress. He pulls the top of your dress down so that you're only in your bra from the waist up. You push his t-shirt up and over his head and off. His chest has the smallest patch of soft hair and you're reminded how young he is. But just when you're about to back out again, he pulls your hips away from the desk and lets your dress fall to the floor at your feet. Now you stand there in nothing but your bra and panties. He takes you in slowly and looks at you hungrily like he might devour you if he could.

You nervously glance at the classroom door. It's closed and you know that by now the building is empty. And then a thought occurs to you.

"Don't you have to be at work soon?"

"No." He responds firmly and dives into a deep kiss, his hands running up and down your body. They tremble slightly, but he hopes you ignore it as he slides them up to hold your breasts. You reach down and feel his hard cock pressing against his jeans. When you touch him, he backs out of the kiss and whimpers a bit.

"Danny, do you know what happens next?" You ask quietly as you stroke him. He grunts and nods.

"Yes, I do."

As if to show you that he does, he slips his fingers, still slightly trembling, under the waistband of your panties and pushes one finger into you. You moan softly as he adds a second finger and pumps them in and out of you slowly.

"Yes, don't stop." You whisper. He nods and keeps working his hand as you close your eyes and continue to stroke him through his pants. After a few more seconds, you use both hands to undo his zipper and push them down his legs. He steps out of them and you look at him in just his underwear with his hand in your panties. He might be 19 and a virgin, but his body is that of a man and it elicits a physical response from you that he can feel with his fingers. He smiles and kisses your shoulder gently.

You reach back and undo your bra, letting it drop to the floor. He stops moving his hand for a second as he takes in your naked breasts. You put your hand back on him and feel his cock twitch. He whimpers again.

"I want to kiss you, but not on your lips."

"Where, then?"

"Everywhere." He looks into your eyes almost pleadingly.

"Then kiss me, Danny." He kisses your mouth once before leaving a trail of hot kisses on your neck down to your chest. He runs his tongue in a circle around one nipple and ghosts his lips across your skin to the other one, pulling it into his mouth gently. But he doesn't stop there. He gets on his knees and kisses down your stomach, pulling his fingers out of you and dragging your panties down your legs. Then, he leans you back against the desk a little and spreads your legs, kissing your center. He leans his forehead against your lower stomach.

"I've never done this before. How do I... what do you...?"

"Just kiss me. With your tongue. Here." You put your finger on your clit and rub it in circles, so he will know what to do. He nods and leans forward again, pressing his mouth to you. He begins to move his tongue over and around your clit and you have to bite your lower lip to keep from crying out.

"Like this?"

"God, yes, don't stop!" He smiles and presses a finger into you again while he licks you. He pumps his finger in and out while he moves his tongue feverishly on your clit. You feel the coil of your orgasm tighten in your belly and he keeps on licking you. The coil snaps and you gasp.

"Yes! Yes! Oh, Danny, yes!" You moan as quietly as you can, while you come hard in his mouth. He feels your walls flutter and pulse around his fingers.

"W-w-was that good?" He looks up at you from his place between your legs and you almost melt.

"Yes!" He smiles and kisses your hip and then stands up, wiping his face with his hand. You push his underwear down and watch his cock bounce free. He closes his eyes and bites his bottom lip when you reach out and palm his dick, sliding his foreskin back.

"You're sure this is what you want, Danny?" His eyes pop open and he looks at you desperately.

"Honey, I've never wanted anything more." He lifts you by the hips and sets you on the desk. You pull his hips in between your legs and line him up with your entrance. He holds you and pushes into you slowly, grunting when he fills you fully. His cock is bigger than you expected and you moan at the sensation of him hitting the most sensitive place inside you. He pulls back and pushes into you again deeply. Then, he picks up the pace a little and starts to slam his hips into you passionately. Your breasts bounce with his rhythm and he leans down and kisses your chest again while he fucks into you.

"Yes, honey, goddamn, that feels good." He puts his hand on the side of your neck and runs his thumb over your lips. His hips pound into yours over and over, his cock sliding in and out of you rhythmically. He looks down at the place where you're connected and groans. The sight of himself moving in and out of you is enough to almost push him over the edge. But you're not finished with him yet.

"Oh, no honey, what're you doing?"

You push him backwards out of you and then around to the chair on the other side of the desk. He falls into the chair and you crawl on top of him, one leg on either side of him, and sink down onto his dick with your hands on his shoulders. "Oh." He moans breathlessly as you begin to bounce on him. His hands go to your breasts, squeezing them gently and teasing your nipples with his thumb and fingers.

"Do you like this, Danny?" You ask, your voice dripping with desire like the sweetest honey. He nods and whimpers, leaning forward to kiss your neck.

"Yes, I love it." He whispers as he nuzzles you just below your ear. You switch to rolling your hips, pushing him deeper and deeper inside you. He puts his hands on your hips while you ride him. "'M bout to come, doll."

You stand up off of him and he whines desperately.

"No..."

But then you get on your knees and put your mouth around his cock and he inhales sharply. You bounce your mouth on him vigorously and then pull all of him into you, letting him hit the back of your throat.

"Oh, fuck, y/n!" He cries out as he comes hard in your mouth and you swallow it down. You lick around the head of his cock one last time and then stand up. He pulls you down into his lap and cups your face in his hand.

"Honey, that was..." You smile and he kisses you softly. He presses his forehead to yours. "Thank you."

You sit there like that naked together for a while before you speak again.

"Danny, we can't tell anyone about this."

"I know. We can do it again sometime, though, right?"

"I don't know. We probably shouldn't have done it this time."

"Shhh." He holds your face again. "Yes, we should've. You mean more to me than just this. I think I'm fallin' for you." You feel the tears gather in your eyes.

"Oh, Danny..."

"I am. So stop sayin' it's wrong." You kiss him again and he holds you tightly. Finally, you stand up and start to gather your clothes, tears falling down your face silently.

"Why're you cryin', doll?" He stands up and you look into his eyes.

"Because I'm falling for you too." He wraps you in his arms again and you cry against his chest. You know that nothing can come from this, but right now, he's yours and you're his.

In this moment, nothing else matters.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Taglist: wasn't sure on some of these, so sorry if I tag you and you didn't want to be tagged!

@ccab @elvisfatass @elvisalltheway101 @aliypop @18lkpeters @dkayfixates @ashtag6887 @your-nanas-house @deniseinmn @joshuntildawn13 @lookingforrainbows @60svintage @littlehoneyposts @epthedream69 @tacozebra051

#elvis presley fanfiction #elvis fanfic #elvis smut #elvis presley fic #danny fisher #Danny fisher fic #Danny fisher fanfiction #king creole #elvis presley smut #elvis fanfiction

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spacebaby1 · 11 months ago

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Hi babe 🥹 I love your vlog!

Can I request a Gojo oneshot where the reader is a foreigner and new to Jujutsu High? Like she was just entering high school and then Satoru falls in love with her as soon as he looks at her?

I also have another idea but I don't know if you like it. I was also thinking about Satoru's lifelong friend reader. Where he has feelings of love for her but she doesn't seem to realize it. And then Suguru's defection happens, and the reader wants to leave with him 😫

I really don't know if you're going to read this, I love you very much and I love your vlog, I'm always watching it! Greetings from Venezuela 🇻🇪

Omg hello! Thank you for supporting! I really love the second idea and I would love to write it soon🫡💙enjoy, hope you like it!

Standing in front of the huge school building, you read the paper in your hand over and over; Jujutsu High. Yes, it was the building, your new school, but looking around, it seemed haunted and way too quiet since no one was around. You have just transferred to this new school, in the new country far away from your home and didn't know what to do. With a sigh, you walked inside the building, hoping to find someone and ask them for help, and that's exactly what you did.

Walking down the empty hallway was terrifying; your just joined being a sorcerer back in your home country for less than two months and they already decided to send you away since the higher ups needed more sorcerer in japan. Most of the classes were empty as you walked and that's when you heard a sound of talking and laughter and you followed it happy that the building isn't completely empty. Entering the class you saw two boys who immediately turned their head towards the door when you opend it. The one sitting on the chair has his hair in a messy bun while the other was wearing dark sunglasses and had white hair. "Uh, I just transferred here. Sorry to bother you but can you show me where to find the principles office?"

The open with white hair had his jaw slightly open while the one with black hair got with a small smile, "Welcome, I'm Geto suguru and this is Gojo Satoru. Sure we can show you the office." You smiled and followed Geto as he lead the way and Gojo joined him whispering something to Geto to which he elbowed Gojo and murmured a slight "shit up, don't start."

They walked few corridor down till they reached an office, "thank you for helping me. That's very kind of you." Geto simply smiled with a wave and grabbed Gojo by the collar as they walked away. Goja smiled and waved at you as Geto pulled him.

The meeting was brief with the principal and you were happy to get some sleep after the long flight. Falling on the bed you let out a long sigh and without another minute you feel asleep. Only to wake up earlier than everyone or as you thought. After getting dressed in your workout clothes you decided to go for a morning run even though you weren't familiar with the area you thought that you'll stay close; wrong idea as you got lost while running. You sighed when you realised that you had left your phone in your room. So you decided to walk back and hopefully you'll find your back, another back idea. You accidentally walked further into the woods, a sound of footsteps made you turn and that's when you saw it a curse running towards you; your body went numb as you couldn't move. The only reaction you gave was trying to cover your face with your hand but the loud bang made the curse disappear. Your heavy breathing was all you could hear before you looked up to find Gojo standing in distance from you with a concerned look on his face, "you okay?" You pouted before running to hug him for saving you as you cried. His cheeks were burning red but he played it cool by hugging you back and chuckled, "ah, of course you are okay, I saved you." You looked at him with teary eyes and he swears that something screamed in his heart at how cute you looked to which he gripped his arms tightly around you, "thank you." You whispered making his blush and giggle.

#soft gojo #gojo satoru #satoru gojo #Satoru gojo x reader #fluff gojo #fluff #jujutsu kaisen #gojo x you #jujutsu kaisen fluff #gojo jjk #gojo x reader #gojou satoru x reader #satoru x you #satoru x reader

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javierpenaismyhusband · 6 months ago

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Chapter One: Nice to meet you

Joel Miller x M!Reader You

Chapter summary: After overhearing a group of Death Eaters plotting to kill Harry, I quickly flew to the Order’s safe house to warn them. Upon arrival, I only found Sirius, so I shared the details of what I had heard with him. He immediately called for everyone to gather, and soon my uncle Remus arrived. Concerned for my safety, he asked if I would like to come live with him, and I eagerly agreed, relieved to leave the dangerous situation behind. As school began, I met a new student named Joel, who had transferred to Hogwarts. To my surprise, the reason he had come to the school was eerily similar to what the Death Eaters had discussed.

Chapter Warnings: Mantion of cuts, every character is 18+, mantion of death and murder, not smut in this chapter

series masterlist

Two days before the start of term, I found myself strolling through the heart of London, hoping to enjoy a quiet morning before the inevitable chaos of Hogwarts resumed. The air was crisp, touched with the lingering warmth of late summer, and the streets bustled with the usual Muggle energy an endless stream of people hurrying, chatting, lost in their own worlds. I stopped by my favorite café near Regent’s Park, ordering a coffee and savoring the rich, warm bitterness as I took my first sip.

I’d been looking forward to this brief calm, just me and the city, before I traded it for the stone corridors and crowded common rooms of Hogwarts. But as I walked down the avenue, enjoying the rare sense of freedom, something strange caught my eye.

Across the street, half-hidden in a pocket of shadow, three men were huddled together, dressed head to toe in dark robes that felt out of place even in a city as eclectic as London. I slowed my pace, pretending to check my watch while stealing a closer look. The robes were heavy, unusual for the warm weather, and their faces were obscured by dark masks metallic, almost glinting when the sun hit them just right.

A sharp, uneasy feeling crept over me. Death Eaters. In Muggle London.

My heart beat a little faster as I watched them. The thought that it could be Death Eaters seemed absurd yet, as I kept my eyes on them, the more certain I became. Their movements were too coordinated, too deliberate. One of them glanced over his shoulder, and I quickly looked away, hoping I hadn’t been noticed.

They started to move, slipping through the crowd with unnerving precision, their heads turning this way and that as if they were searching for someone. Something. I forced myself to breathe, clinging to the calm I’d felt just moments ago. But as I watched them drift toward a side street, any remnants of that calm were replaced by a fierce determination.

This wasn’t a coincidence, and I couldn’t just walk away. What if they were planning something dangerous? In Muggle London, with no one else around to intervene? I knew I had to act.

With my coffee cup still in one hand, I pulled out my wand with the other, glancing around to make sure no one was paying attention. I whispered a quick incantation, sending a subtle, silver message into the air that would alert the Order of the Phoenix. Hopefully, someone would respond soon. I held my breath as the silvery wisp disappeared from view, off to find the nearest Order member.

I kept my wand low as I began following the three figures, careful to keep my distance as they moved deeper into the alley. The air felt colder here, and I could smell the faint tang of smoke and damp stone. My footsteps echoed, muffled by the hum of the city beyond, but in the narrowness of the alley, every sound felt amplified.

I knew the risks. I’d read enough to understand the power of Death Eaters and what they were capable of, even if I’d never faced them myself. But here I was, two days from returning to Hogwarts, risking my neck by tailing suspected Dark wizards through a darkening London alley. The thought brought a grim smile to my face.

I slipped quietly toward the cracked window of the abandoned building, keeping low and out of sight. Through the grime-streaked glass, I could see the three men huddled close, their voices hushed but sharp. I strained to catch their words, picking out fragments that sent a chill down my spine.

“He’s back,” one of them said, voice reverent and laced with fear. Another nodded, his mask glinting in the dim light.

“The Dark Lord’s orders are clear. He plans to kill the boy.”

My breath caught. Who were they talking about? Harry Potter? Or someone else entirely? Either way, this was serious—and proof that Voldemort had truly returned. I needed to get this information back to the Order, fast.

Just as I started to ease back, a hand shot out of the shadows and clamped onto the collar of my shirt, yanking me back with bone-jarring force. I barely had time to process what was happening before I found myself face-to-face with a Death Eater. His masked face loomed above me, his eyes narrowed with a predatory gleam as he pressed his wand to my chest.

“What are you doing here?” he hissed, voice dripping with menace.

Fear shot through me, but I tightened my grip on my wand and acted on instinct. I thrust it forward and shouted, “Expelliarmus!” His wand flew out of his hand, spinning through the air before clattering against the stone floor. His grip loosened just enough for me to twist away, heart pounding as I bolted down the alley.

The Death Eater roared in anger, and I could hear him shouting for the others. More footsteps joined his, echoing off the walls as they chased me down the narrow, winding streets. I glanced over my shoulder just in time to see one of them raise his wand, aiming for me.

I whipped my wand back and shouted, “Stupefy!” A jet of red light shot from my wand, forcing the Death Eater to duck, but I didn’t stop to see if it hit. Another curse flew past me, sizzling through the air and striking the cobblestones just ahead, sending fragments of stone up into my face.

I turned sharply, casting a quick “Protego!” as I ducked behind a stack of crates. The shield charm deflected a flash of green light that would have hit me square in the back. Heart pounding, I shot another “Stupefy!” over my shoulder, hearing it connect with something solid and hoping it had slowed at least one of them down.

But the footsteps kept coming. A curse sizzled past my ear, close enough to make me flinch as I sprinted down another twisting alley. I gritted my teeth and threw a “Confringo!” spell behind me, causing an explosion that showered the alley with debris, briefly blocking their path.

I turned down a narrow side street, pressing myself flat against the wall as the footsteps grew distant, drowned out by the city’s hum. My breath came in gasps, my heart racing as I clutched my wand tightly, my mind still reeling from what I’d overheard.

I didn’t stop running until I’d reached my flat, barely pausing to unlock the door before I threw myself inside. My mind was racing, but I knew what I needed: my backpack and my broom. I slung the pack over one shoulder, grabbed my broom from where it leaned against the wall, and sprinted up the stairs to the roof, taking them two at a time.

Once I reached the top, I paused, breathing hard, and pointed my wand at myself. “Disillusionment Charm,” I muttered, feeling a cold, trickling sensation slide down from my head to my feet as I disappeared from view. The spell wasn’t perfect, but it was enough to blend into the morning sky and avoid drawing attention.

Straddling my broom, I kicked off from the rooftop, feeling the rush of cool evening air whip against my face as I rose above the buildings. London sprawled out below, lights twinkling like stars against the dark. I kept low, weaving through the night’s shadows, my eyes fixed on the distant safe house where the Order of the Phoenix held their meetings. I had to get there before those Death Eaters could report back or catch up.

As I approached the familiar street, I glanced around to make sure I was alone before pulling my wand out and muttering the spell under my breath. The enchanted charm began to take effect, and slowly, the two Muggle buildings on either side of the hidden apartment seemed to shudder. With a deep rumbling, they began to shift, almost as if being nudged aside by an invisible force. Bit by bit, they moved apart, and between them, an entirely new building seemed to materialize from thin air.

The house appeared slowly, squeezing itself into existence as if it had been hiding in plain sight all along. The dark, towering structure of the Order's safe house loomed into view, its crooked, old-fashioned windows glinting dully under the streetlights. Weather-beaten and ominous, the door finally came into full sight a worn, black door marked with a tarnished silver serpent knocker.

I took a steadying breath and stepped forward, heart pounding as I placed my hand on the cold brass handle, feeling the magic hum beneath my fingers. With a final glance at the empty street behind me, I pushed the door open and slipped inside, leaving the concealed house to meld seamlessly back into the Muggle cityscape.

As I closed the door softly behind me, the house settled into a heavy silence, shadows flickering along the dimly lit hallway. I made my way to the kitchen, the familiar creak of the floorboards underfoot adding to the eeriness. When I stepped inside, I found Sirius there, alone, nursing a mug of coffee, his gaze distant.

“Hey,” I said quietly.

He looked up with a start, his hand twitching toward his wand before he relaxed, a faint smile replacing his initial surprise. “Merlin’s beard, you scared me,” he muttered, letting out a breath.

“Sorry,” I said, taking a few steps toward him. “Something happened… something I thought you and the Order should know about.”

At this, his expression hardened, the playful glint in his eyes replaced by the serious, focused look he wore during meetings. “What happened?” he asked, setting his mug down.

I took a seat across from him, gathering my thoughts as the weight of what I’d overheard settled in. I started explaining everything about the Death Eaters, their mention of the Dark Lord, the plan to kill someone they called "the boy." Sirius listened in stony silence, his gaze never leaving mine, his jaw clenched tighter with each word.

When I finished, he gave a slow nod, the flicker of worry unmistakable. Without a word, he raised his wand and sent a streak of red light shooting from the tip, a silent summons for the rest of the Order. Then, with a quick flick, he conjured a steaming mug of tea, which floated smoothly over to me.

“Drink up,” he said, his voice quieter now, but with a hint of reassurance. “Sounds like you’ve had quite a day.” He settled back in his chair, his eyes never leaving the doorway as he waited for the others to arrive.

As the minutes ticked by, the atmosphere in the kitchen thickened with anticipation. I sat with Sirius, the weight of the news I’d shared lingering in the air between us. Every creak of the floorboards, every distant murmur from the hall sent my heart racing, and I could sense the urgency in Sirius’s posture as he leaned forward, waiting for the others to arrive.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the door swung open, and the rest of the Order began to filter in, their expressions a mix of concern and curiosity. I watched as they greeted Sirius and exchanged anxious whispers, the tension palpable.

Just then, the door burst open again, and my uncle Remus rushed in, his eyes wide with worry. When he spotted me, he crossed the room in an instant, gathering me into a fierce hug that nearly knocked the wind out of me.

“Oh my goodness, are you okay?” he exclaimed, pulling back just enough to look me in the eye, concern etched across his features.

“Yeah, Remus, I’m fine,” I reassured him, managing a small smile despite the adrenaline still coursing through my veins. “Really. It’s just there was a situation.”

He studied me for a moment longer, his gaze searching for any signs of distress. Once satisfied, he gave a relieved nod and squeezed my shoulder gently. “Thank Merlin. I heard there was trouble, but I’m glad you made it back safely.”

The kitchen began to fill with the familiar faces of the Order, each one casting glances in my direction, their expressions shifting from curiosity to concern as they realized I was there. I could feel the energy in the room shift, a mix of camaraderie and urgency as we prepared to share what I had witnessed.

After a while, the door creaked open once more, and a familiar group of faces stepped in, bringing a sense of comfort and camaraderie into the room. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and the twins, Fred and George, filed in, looking around with curious and slightly worried expressions. Their arrival seemed to ease some of the tension, and I managed a small smile as I waved them over.

“Hey,” I greeted, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. Having them here made the room feel a bit warmer, a reminder that I wasn’t alone in all of this.

Ron’s brow furrowed as he looked around at the gathering. “Hey, what’s going on? We got told it was urgent.”

Hermione’s eyes darted to me, her gaze sharp and questioning. “Is everything alright? You look… well, like you’ve been through something.”

Harry was silent, but the understanding look he gave me said it all. He knew the weight that came with news like this. Ginny stood beside him, watching quietly, while Fred and George exchanged glances, already whispering guesses to each other with a mix of seriousness and mischief.

“I’ll explain,” I replied, casting a glance at Sirius, who gave me a small nod of encouragement. “It’s… a lot. But I wanted to make sure everyone was here before I start.”

We headed upstairs to the room where I was supposed to spend the night. It was small and cramped, with a few spare beds shoved against the walls, but it felt comforting to be surrounded by my friends. They gathered around, sitting cross-legged on the beds and the floor, their faces eager but tense as they waited for me to begin.

I took a deep breath and recounted everything I’d seen—the Death Eaters in the alley, their whispered conversation about the Dark Lord’s plan, and the unsettling certainty in their voices. As I finished, I glanced at Harry, whose face had grown more serious with every word.

“So, yeah, that’s all of it,” I said, feeling the weight of the words settle in the room. I looked directly at Harry, trying to convey just how serious this was. “Harry, you need to be careful. They were talking like it was all already planned, like it was time to make a move. It sounded like you’re the target.”

Harry’s expression was unreadable, his gaze fixed on a spot on the floor. Hermione put a reassuring hand on his arm, her face pale but determined. “They’re getting bolder,” she murmured, glancing at the others. “If they’re already operating openly in London…”

Fred and George exchanged dark looks, their usual cheer dampened. Ron, beside me, clenched his fists, his face a mixture of anger and fear. Ginny just sat quietly, watching Harry with concern.

“Thanks for telling us,” Harry finally said, his voice steady but low. “We’ll be careful. We’ll all have to watch out for each other.” He looked around the room, meeting each of our gazes with a determined look that made the danger feel real but bearable.

As the conversation wound down, our nerves settled, and soon we were talking about anything but Death Eaters and danger. We laughed about Fred and George’s latest prank ideas, speculated about what classes would be like this year, and shared a few complaints about the mountain of homework we knew was waiting for us. It felt good to just sit there, surrounded by my friends, letting the usual worries of school and friendships take over for a while.

But then there was a quiet knock on the door. We all went silent, glancing toward it as it creaked open. My uncle, Remus, stood in the doorway, his expression warm but a little more serious than usual.

“Hey, can we talk for a moment?” he asked, his eyes meeting mine.

“Yeah, sure,” I replied, pushing myself up from the bed and giving the others a quick nod.

I followed Remus into the hallway, curious about what he wanted to talk about. We stopped a little ways down from the others, and he turned to face me, his expression softer than usual, like he had something important to say.

“Look, I know you’ve been managing on your own for a while now,” he began, a hint of concern in his voice. “But things are getting… well, more dangerous out there. And with what’s happening, I’d feel better if you weren’t alone.”

I felt a flicker of hope rise in my chest as he continued, his eyes meeting mine with a mix of warmth and caution. “I was wondering… if you’d consider moving in with me. I know it’s a bit of a change, but I think it might be safer.”

For a moment, I was speechless. The idea of leaving my grandparents' house had always felt like a dream. They’d taken me in, sure, but it had never felt like home. I’d wanted to get out on my own, but Remus’s offer that was different. It was like a chance at something I hadn’t had in a long time: a real family.

“That sounds… amazing,” I managed to say, a smile breaking through. “I’d like that, Remus. A lot.”

He smiled, relief clear on his face. “Good. We’ll work it all out. I’ll make sure everything’s ready for you. Just… know that you’re not alone in this. We’re in it together.”

I nodded, feeling a sense of comfort and belonging that I hadn’t realized I was missing. With a grateful smile, I followed him back to the others.

The night passed peacefully, the quiet hum of Grimmauld Place giving me a sense of safety I hadn’t felt in a while. When morning came, I woke to the smell of breakfast wafting from the kitchen, and soon enough, my friends and I were huddled around the table, chatting over plates of scrambled eggs and toast. We laughed about the upcoming school year, threw around guesses about what new adventures might await us, and just enjoyed each other’s company, trying to push away thoughts of danger for a while.

After a few hours, Remus entered the room with a smile, a twinkle of excitement in his eyes. “Everything’s ready,” he said, looking directly at me. “Let’s go get you packed.”

My heart skipped a beat. It was happening, I was really about to leave my grandparents’ place and move in with him. I grabbed my broom, and Remus and I stepped outside, where the morning air was cool and crisp. I kicked off the ground and soared into the sky beside him, the wind rushing past as we flew over the rooftops of London. The city stretched out beneath us, its quiet hum almost peaceful from this height. Flying always had a way of clearing my mind, but today it carried a weight of anticipation that made me feel both nervous and excited.

We finally reached my grandparents’ house, and as we landed, Remus gave me a reassuring nod. I took a deep breath, following him inside. My grandparents were waiting for us in the living room, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and calm. Remus spoke to them, his tone steady and gentle as he explained the situation that with everything going on, it was safest for me to stay with him. I could see them processing the news, exchanging glances before finally nodding. They understood. In a way, I think they were relieved.

Afterward, Remus and I headed up to my room, where everything I owned was scattered in familiar disarray. I took one last look around, feeling a mix of nostalgia and relief. With a flick of his wand, Remus began to pack my things, books flying neatly into my trunk, clothes folding themselves before tucking into place. I joined in, and together we worked to get everything in order, our wands moving in a quiet rhythm that made the process quick but strangely satisfying. Bit by bit, my room emptied, transforming from my familiar mess to a blank slate.

Finally, I stood beside my packed trunk, the room now feeling unfamiliar and bare. I was ready.

Remus put a hand on my shoulder, offering a smile. “Let’s head home”.

The next two days passed in a blur of excitement as I settled into my new room at Remus’s place. Every evening, we’d sit by the fire, talking about Hogwarts, sharing stories, and just enjoying each other’s company. For the first time in a long while, I felt like I had a true home a place that was warm, safe, and my own.

But then the morning of the Hogwarts Express arrived. I woke early, my nerves and excitement tangled together. I made my way downstairs, where Remus was in the kitchen, a pot of tea brewing on the stove and breakfast already laid out. He looked up as I entered, smiling in that quiet, thoughtful way he had.

“Big day,” he said, pouring tea into a mug and sliding it over to me. I nodded, managing a smile, though I could tell he was studying me carefully.

After breakfast, we finished packing my trunk and double-checked that I had everything. Remus tapped my suitcase with his wand, shrinking it down so I could carry it easily. As we were about to leave, he paused, his face unusually serious.

“Listen,” he said, putting a hand on my shoulder. “Be careful this year. I know I’m being overprotective, but something’s… well, I just have a bad feeling. Things have been getting more dangerous, and I want you to keep your wits about you. Promise me you’ll be cautious.”

I met his gaze and nodded, feeling the weight of his words. “I will, Remus. I promise.”

At King’s Cross, the platform was bustling with students and their families, and the scarlet Hogwarts Express loomed ahead, ready to whisk us back to school. Remus walked me toward the barrier, his expression still clouded with worry. He gave me a hug, holding on a bit longer than usual.

“Remember, if you ever need me, I’ll be here,” he said, his voice firm but soft. “And I’m just an owl away.”

With a final wave, I pushed through the barrier and stepped onto Platform 9¾. The excitement in the air was infectious, and I couldn’t help but grin. But in the back of my mind, Remus’s words echoed. Be careful. The danger was real, and even here, I’d have to watch my step.

With my heart pounding, I climbed aboard the train, ready for whatever the year had in store but with the quiet assurance that, no matter what, someone had my back.

I made my way down the narrow corridor of the train, searching for familiar faces. Finally, I spotted Harry, Ron, and Hermione in a compartment near the middle of the train, already deep in conversation. I slid open the door, and they looked up, breaking into grins.

“There you are!” Hermione said, moving her books to make room. I settled in beside them, my trunk tucked into the corner.

“So how was it, living with Remus?” Ron asked, raising an eyebrow. “He let you have your own place to sleep, right?”

I laughed, shaking my head. “He’s actually great. He gave me space but always made sure I had what I needed. It feels… like home.”

Harry’s face softened, though there was a touch of envy in his expression. “I’m jealous,” he admitted quietly, glancing out the window for a moment. “I’d love to be with Sirius. But I know… I know it’s too risky.”

We all fell quiet for a moment, feeling the weight of what that meant. Harry’s gaze drifted, but then he looked back, a small smile tugging at his lips.

“Well, at least I get to live through you,” he said with a grin, nudging me. “Remus seems like he’d be brilliant to live with.”

“He is,” I said, feeling a rush of gratitude. “Though he gave me this whole lecture before I left, telling me to stay on my guard this year. He said he had a bad feeling.”

Hermione frowned thoughtfully. “I don’t blame him. There’s been… whispers about You-Know-Who’s followers. And after what you overheard the other day…” She trailed off, a worried look in her eyes.

The train rattled forward, carrying us closer to Hogwarts, and we settled back into conversation, trading stories and laughing as the countryside sped by. Despite the undercurrent of unease, being here with my friends felt right, like no matter what was coming, we’d face it together.

We arrived at Hogwarts as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, amber glow across the castle’s stone walls. The train slowed to a halt, and we stepped out onto the platform, joining the steady stream of students making their way toward the castle. I took a deep breath, feeling that familiar thrill as I looked up at Hogwarts, its towers silhouetted against a sky that was quickly filling with stars.

The path to the castle was illuminated by lanterns, their golden light flickering softly as we moved along. By the time we reached the main entrance, the castle seemed almost alive the ivy-covered walls, the tall windows spilling soft light onto the grounds, and the distant sound of voices and laughter made everything feel like a welcome home.

After leaving our luggage in our dorms, we separated for a moment, Harry, Ron, and Hermione heading off to Gryffindor Tower, while I made my way down to the Hufflepuff basement. The common room greeted me with its familiar warmth, the earthy smell of herbs and wooden beams, cozy chairs arranged around a crackling fireplace, and a ceiling adorned with hanging plants that swayed gently in the warm air. I quickly set my things by my bed, smiling to myself. There was no place like Hogwarts.

Once settled, I made my way to the Great Hall, where students were beginning to gather. As I stepped inside, I felt a surge of awe at the sight. The enchanted ceiling mirrored the night sky above, scattered with stars that twinkled in the vastness, casting a serene, celestial glow over the Hall. Hundreds of candles floated mid-air, their soft light bathing the tables in a warm, golden hue. The banners of each house hung proudly along the walls, their colors rich and vibrant.

I spotted Harry, Ron, and Hermione near the Gryffindor table and joined them, my eyes still drawn to the magic surrounding us. The air was thick with excitement, whispers filling the Hall as everyone awaited the Sorting Ceremony. First-years lined up nervously by the doors, their faces a mix of wonder and anxiety. For a brief moment, I found myself lost in the magic of it all the timeless enchantment of Hogwarts, a place where every year brought something new and extraordinary.

The Sorting Ceremony began, and we watched as the nervous first-years approached the Sorting Hat one by one, each receiving their house to cheers and applause. Just as the last of the new students had taken their seats, Dumbledore rose, his gaze sweeping over the Hall.

“And now,” he said, his voice carrying easily across the room, “we welcome a new fifth-year student who joins us from Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please welcome… Joel Miller.”

A murmur rippled through the Great Hall as all heads turned toward the entrance, where Professor McGonagall stood beside a tall, lean boy with dark hair and a scowl that suggested he wasn’t thrilled to be here. His face was marked with bruises, and his intense gaze flicked across the room with quiet defiance. He didn’t seem particularly social in fact, he looked downright angry.

Hermione leaned over to me, whispering, “He’s our age a fifth year.” There was a hint of surprise in her voice as she watched him walk up to the stool.

Joel sat down, his posture tense, and Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on his head. After a brief pause, the Hat shouted, “Hufflepuff!”

Our table erupted in applause, welcoming him warmly, though he barely reacted as he made his way over and took a seat among us. I couldn’t help but notice how he kept his head down, a hint of tension still in his frame. There was something mysterious about him, and despite his guarded demeanor, I felt a spark of curiosity.

After the feast, we made our way down to the Hufflepuff common room, the excitement from the Great Hall still buzzing around us. The room was warm and welcoming, with its low ceilings, earthy colors, and the gentle glow of enchanted lanterns casting a soft light across the space. We headed straight to our dormitory, where the beds were already made up, each with thick blankets and soft pillows that practically invited you to collapse into them.

As everyone else settled in, I noticed Joel standing awkwardly near the door, looking around at the beds with a wary, uncomfortable expression. He seemed out of place, his eyes darting from bed to bed like he didn’t know where to start. I cleared my throat softly and gestured to the bed next to mine.

“Hey,” I said, giving him an encouraging smile, “you can take the bed right here, next to me.”

He glanced up, his expression softening just slightly. Nodding, he moved over and placed his things down, mumbling a quiet, “Thanks,” while keeping his gaze down.

“No problem,” I replied, hoping he’d feel a bit more comfortable. It couldn’t be easy, transferring in the middle of school, let alone to a completely new country. As he settled in, I could see some of the tension ease from his shoulders, and I figured maybe he’d start to feel at home here soon enough.

That night, sleep didn’t come easily. I lay awake in bed, the dormitory quiet around me as I played with my magic map, watching little dots move about Hogwarts. The names drifting across the parchment kept my mind occupied for a while, but eventually, my eyelids grew heavy, and I drifted off.

The next morning, the sunlight streamed in through the small window above my bed, waking me. I took a quick shower, the cold water jolting me fully awake, then went back to the dorm to change into fresh clothes and my student uniform.

As I stepped into the room, I noticed Joel already up, fumbling with his shirt, looking lost in thought, his expression somewhere between nervous and… hurt. The bruises on his face hadn’t faded overnight; the shadows under his eyes and the cut on his lip were stark in the morning light.

I hesitated, then crossed over to him. “Hey,” I said, making a circular gesture around my face, “need a hand with… this?”

Joel looked up, clearly caught off guard. “No, no it’s fine,” he muttered, avoiding my gaze. But the tension in his voice was obvious.

“Come on,” I said, trying to sound reassuring. “I’m pretty good at this, I promise.”

He glanced at me, then nodded, resigned, and sat down on the edge of his bed. I raised my wand, making sure to hold it steady. “Take a deep breath,” I told him, and he did, closing his eyes as he exhaled slowly. I cast “Episkey,” watching as the bruises on his face faded, his nose aligned with a quiet crack, and the cut on his lip knitted itself back together.

He winced slightly, but when he opened his eyes, there was relief there. “Sorry if that hurt,” I said, offering him a small smile. “Feel better?”

Joel touched his face, nodding. “Yeah… thank you.”

“Anytime,” I replied, glad to see the tension in his face ease.

After helping Joel with his bruises, I moved to my own bed and started getting dressed. I straightened my Hogwarts robes, feeling the weight of the black fabric settle around me, the Hufflepuff crest a comforting badge over my heart. I tugged on my tie, checking its neatness in the mirror, then tucked my wand safely into my pocket. By the time I was ready, Joel stood by the door, looking slightly more at ease in his own uniform, though his gaze still flitted around, taking in every detail of the unfamiliar room.

I leaned back, giving Joel a friendly grin. "So, what classes do you have today?" I asked, hoping to break the ice a little more.

Joel looked down at his schedule, his brow furrowing slightly as he studied it. "Uh, looks like I have Defense Against the Dark Arts first, then Herbology, a free period, Transfiguration, and History of Magic."

“Hey, looks like we’ve got the same classes,” I said, feeling a spark of excitement. “How about I show you around? Hogwarts can be a bit… overwhelming at first.”

Joel gave a slight nod, some tension easing from his shoulders. “Yeah, that’d be great.”

We left the Hufflepuff common room, stepping out into the winding stone corridors, alive with the energy of the morning. The castle seemed to hum with life, enchanted suits of armor shifting as we passed, portraits whispering from their frames, and the occasional ghost drifting lazily through the walls. We made our way toward the heart of the castle, where the Great Hall stood grand and welcoming.

The Great Hall was awash in morning light, soft golden beams filtering through tall windows, casting a gentle glow over the long tables where students gathered for breakfast. Above us, the enchanted ceiling reflected the clear dawn sky, tinged with pale pinks and oranges as if the sun had just kissed the horizon. Joel's eyes widened as he took it all in, lingering on the enchanted ceiling with the wonder of someone seeing magic up close.

After breakfast, we ascended the grand staircase, the stone steps cool and worn beneath our feet. Just as we reached the first landing, the staircase began to shift, sliding to the left in a slow, graceful arc. Joel grabbed the railing, a mix of shock and wonder flashing across his face.

“They like to move,” I chuckled. “Hogwarts likes to keep you on your toes.”

We continued upward, passing a row of portraits who murmured and gestured as we passed. One in particular—a medieval knight in heavy armor gave a grand bow, his armor clanking. “And these,” I said, nodding toward the painting, “are the portraits. They’re good for directions… if they’re in the mood.”

Our next stop was Defense Against the Dark Arts. I gestured down the hall where Professor Lupin’s office was tucked away. “You’re going to love Lupin,” I told Joel as we lingered by the classroom door. “He’s one of the best professors here actually teaches you spells you can use.”

We moved outside to the greenhouses, where the air was warm and rich with the scent of earth and herbs. Sunlight streamed through the glass, illuminating rows of magical plants in various stages of bloom. Some vines stretched toward us as we walked past, their leaves almost seeming to wave, while the faint hum of enchanted bees filled the air.

Next, we took a detour past the Gryffindor common room, hidden behind the portrait of the Fat Lady. I mentioned that Harry, Ron, and Hermione stayed there, though we didn’t linger long.

Then we reached the Transfiguration classroom, filled with a quiet, magical energy. “Professor McGonagall teaches here,” I said, gesturing to the enchanted objects carefully arranged around the room. “Strict, but one of the best. She’s a master of her craft.”

In the library, the aisles seemed to stretch on forever, each shelf crammed with ancient spellbooks and worn scrolls. The vaulted ceiling arched above us, and a soft, reverent silence filled the air, only occasionally broken by the rustle of pages. Joel gazed around in awe, his eyes lingering on the intricate stained glass casting colored light over the ancient tomes.

Finally, we walked out to the courtyard and down toward the lake. The morning was calm, a gentle breeze stirring the grass as we passed the towering castle walls, the lake’s dark surface reflecting the distant outline of the Forbidden Forest.

By the end of the tour, Joel looked less guarded, a faint smile on his lips as he glanced over at me. “Thanks for this,” he said quietly. “I think… I’m really going to like it here.”

“Good,” I replied, giving his shoulder a gentle pat. “Hogwarts has a way of feeling like home. And trust me, it’s full of surprises.”

With a bit of time before classes, I turned to Joel, giving him an encouraging smile. “So, we’ve got about half an hour before the first class starts. What do you say we grab a drink and meet my friends? They’re good people, I promise.”

He hesitated, glancing down at his shoes. “I don’t know…”

“Oh, come on,” I coaxed, nudging him lightly. “It’ll be fun. I promise.”

He studied me for a moment, weighing his options, then gave a small nod. “Alright, why not?”

“Perfect!” I grinned, and we made our way back down toward the Great Hall.

The morning crowd was thinning out as students drifted off to their first classes, making it easier to navigate the hall. I grabbed two goblets of pumpkin juice, handed one to Joel, and led him to a quieter corner of the hall where my friends were waiting.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were chatting at the end of the Hufflepuff table. They looked up as we approached, their faces brightening as they saw us.

“Hey, everyone, this is Joel,” I said, gesturing to him. “He’s new here, just transferred from Ilvermorny.”

“Welcome to Hogwarts,” Hermione said warmly, giving Joel a friendly smile. “Same year as us, right?”

“Yeah,” he mumbled, his gaze flickering to each of them, seeming a bit overwhelmed.

“Glad to have another fifth year around,” Harry added with a nod, offering Joel a small, welcoming smile.

Joel relaxed a little, his shoulders easing as he took a seat beside us. We spent the next few minutes talking and laughing, helping him settle in and get comfortable.

Ron leaned forward, curiosity getting the best of him. “So, Joel… why’d you come here?”

Hermione elbowed him gently. “Ron,” she whispered, her tone scolding before she turned to Joel with a softer look. “You don’t have to answer that.”

Joel gave a faint, reassuring smile. “No, no, it’s alright,” he replied, pausing to gather his words. He shifted, glancing down at his hands for a moment before meeting our eyes again.

“In my old school,” he began, his voice quiet but steady, “there were… some dangerous people. They were followers of you know who.” He hesitated, swallowing hard as if the memory weighed on him. “And just a few days before school started, I overheard them talking about… a plan. They kept saying how they were going to kill some boy.”

His eyes clouded, and he let out a shaky breath. “It was… it was big. I didn’t know the details, but it sounded serious. So, I did what I thought was right, I went to tell a friend, someone I trusted. But…” He clenched his jaw, a flash of pain crossing his face. “They must have been watching me, because as I was telling him, they came from behind and attacked.”

There was a brief silence as we took in his words. Hermione had her hand over her mouth, and Ron looked slightly pale. Joel let out another breath, as if bracing himself.

“My friend… he’s in a coma now. He’s alive, but…” His voice trailed off, and he seemed to get lost in his thoughts for a moment. “After that, my teacher got in touch with Dumbledore. Asked if there was a way I could be… safer here.”

Joel’s gaze dropped again, and he finished quietly, “So… here I am.”

No one spoke for a moment, absorbing the weight of his story.

The three of us exchanged uneasy glances, the realization hitting us all at once. Then we turned back to Joel, who looked between us, picking up on our tension.

“Is… everything okay?” he asked, brows knitting together in confusion.

I cleared my throat, trying to find the right words. “Uh… how do I put this?” I started, rubbing the back of my neck. “Three days before school started, I overheard something too. A few Death Eaters or whatever you call them over there were talking about… killing a boy.” I glanced apologetically at Harry. “Sorry, Harry.”

Joel’s eyes widened as he processed this. “Wait… so you’re the one they’re after?”

Harry gave a small nod. “Yeah, that’s what we think,” he said quietly, the weight of it thickening the air around us.

Joel’s face tightened, understanding dawning in his eyes. “So, we were both targeted by the same people… for the same reason.”

"Looks like it," Ron muttered, glancing uneasily between Harry and Joel.

Hermione leaned forward, her voice low and serious. "That means whatever they're planning is bigger than we thought. And they’re getting desperate."

Joel nodded, looking down at his hands with a hardened expression.

“I want to help,” Joel said, his face set with determination. Then, with more conviction, he repeated, “I will help.”

We shared a quick look and nodded in agreement.

“Let’s go find Lupin,” Harry suggested.

“Professor Lupin? Why him?” Joel asked, glancing between us.

“Uh… we’ll fill you in on the way,” I said, motioning for everyone to follow. We headed down the dimly lit corridor toward my uncle’s office, anticipation buzzing between us. But as we reached the door and opened it, we stopped short.

Remus was standing by his desk, hurriedly packing up his things. Across from him stood a woman who looked like she’d stepped out of a nightmare. She wore a sickly pink cardigan, with a brooch pinned perfectly in place, and her expression was so sweet it was almost venomous. Her round, pale face was framed by tight curls, and her thin lips curled into a twisted smile as her sharp gaze snapped toward us.

“Where do you think you are, barging in without knocking?” she demanded, her voice high-pitched, with a falsely sweet edge that made the hair on my neck stand up.

We exchanged confused glances. Remus gave us a subtle shake of his head, silently urging us to stay calm.

“Um, sorry, ma’am,” I said carefully, keeping my tone respectful.

“That’s more like it,” the woman sneered, pulling out her wand. With a flick, our uniforms transformed in an instant: ties tightened, shirts tucked perfectly into our trousers, and our hair slicked back neatly as if we’d been groomed for a portrait. I clenched my jaw, feeling my collar pinch uncomfortably around my neck.

Remus glanced back at us, expression unreadable as he gathered his things. With the woman’s sharp eyes following every move, he made his way out of the office. She shut the door firmly behind her, leaving no room for questions.

We followed Remus down the hallway, uneasy and frustrated. “Remus, what just happened?” I finally asked, struggling to keep my voice steady.

He sighed, glancing over his shoulder at us. “The Ministry has… dismissed me. They’ve decided to replace me with Dolores Umbridge.”

“They can do that?” Harry asked, a mix of disbelief and anger in his voice.

Remus gave a weary nod. “Seems they can.”

“What happens now?” I asked, the weight of it all making my voice softer.

Remus offered a small smile, though his eyes held a sadness I hadn’t seen before. “Don’t worry about me,” he said, resting a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “Everything will work out. And if you need anything, you know how to find me.”

“Uh, actually, Remus,” I began, glancing at him meaningfully, “we have some news about the day I got attacked. Could you arrange for a meeting in Hogsmeade? Maybe with the others?”

He considered this, nodding thoughtfully. “I’ll do my best. When it’s safe, I’ll send word.”

With that, he gave us one last look before disappearing into the corridor.

I turned to the others. “Alright, what lessons do you all have?”

Ron scratched his head. “I’ve got Potions first, can’t wait to deal with Snape.”

“Same here,” Hermione chimed in. “Though I’d rather be brewing a potion than sitting through History of Magic.”

Harry rolled his eyes. “Lucky you. I’ve got Divination, so Trelawney’s probably going to predict my ‘imminent doom’ again.”

I sighed, glancing at Joel. “Well, looks like we’ve got Defense Against the Dark Arts… with Dolores.”

“Good luck, mate,” Ron said, smirking. “You’ll need it with that one.”

The others just nodded sympathetically, and with a quick exchange of glances, we all headed off to our classes.

As we made our way down the corridor, a familiar, sneering voice cut through the chatter. “Hey, watch it, weirdo,” Malfoy spat as he bumped into Joel, eyeing him with disdain.

“Yeah? Watch your mouth,” I said, stepping in front of Joel, my gaze hardening.

Malfoy scoffed, crossing his arms. “Or what?”

Without warning, Joel muttered, “Flipendo!” and with a flick of his wand, Malfoy went sprawling onto the floor, his robes tangled around him.

Furious, Malfoy scrambled to his feet, aiming his wand at us. But before he could cast anything, I shot a quick, “Expelliarmus!” Malfoy’s wand flew out of his grasp, clattering to the ground.

Joel stepped forward, looking down at Malfoy with a fierce intensity. “Next time I see you, it’ll be the last,” he said, his voice low and steady, his eyes locked onto Malfoy’s in a way that made even me shiver.

For a moment, Malfoy just sat there, wide-eyed and speechless. Finally, he stammered, “When I tell my father about this…”

Joel made a subtle but intimidating move forward, and Malfoy’s voice caught in his throat. Before he could finish, he scrambled to his feet and took off down the corridor, Crabbe and Goyle close behind, shooting terrified glances back at us.

Joel watched them retreat, his jaw set. “Guess we’re ready for Defense class,” he muttered with a slight grin, tucking his wand back into his pocket.

We walked to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, sharing a glance and taking a deep breath before stepping inside. Finding seats near the back, we settled in, glancing around at the plain, orderly rows of desks, waiting for the lesson to start.

Not long after, Dolores Umbridge glided in, her smile as fake as the pink cardigan she wore. As she moved down the aisles, her wand flicked, and with each motion, a thick textbook labeled Defensive Magical Theory for Beginners appeared on every desk. The title alone made my blood boil.

I couldn’t hold back. “A beginner’s book?” I said, my voice louder than I’d intended. “The Dark Lord’s back, and you’re teaching us from a beginner’s book? This won’t help us defend ourselves!”

I felt Joel’s hand gently tug on my shirt, silently urging me to calm down, but Umbridge’s expression was already twisted in irritation. She turned to me, her smile nowhere in sight.

“Do not dare raise your voice in my classroom,” she said icily. “I will decide what is appropriate for you to learn. Not… rumors or half-truths from misguided students.”

“It is true,” I shot back, barely thinking before the words left my mouth. “You’re just a coward who doesn’t want to believe it!”

A deathly silence fell over the room as every head turned, eyes wide with shock. Umbridge’s face turned a sickly shade of pink, her eyes narrowing dangerously.

She stepped toward me, her voice a venomous whisper. “Detention, Mr. …” Her gaze flicked to my name embroidered on my uniform. And I suggest you watch your mouth, or you’ll find yourself spending a lot more time with me after hours.”

I clenched my fists, biting back the words I wanted to say. Joel shot me a warning look, his hand tightening around my wrist under the desk.

Umbridge straightened up, adjusting her cardigan with a prim little smile. “Now,” she continued, as if nothing had happened, “open your textbooks to chapter one. Today, we’ll begin with a theoretical approach to basic defensive spells.”

As the class ended, students filed out of the room, relieved to escape Umbridge's oppressive atmosphere. I turned to Joel, who was gathering his things, and gave him a nod. “Go find Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Tell them what happened. Let them know about… this.” I lifted my arm slightly, already feeling the weight of the looming detention.

Joel nodded, his eyes flashing with concern. “Alright. I’ll find them and fill them in,” he said quietly. He gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze before heading out into the corridor, casting one last glance back before disappearing around the corner.

With a sigh, I tightened my grip on my bag and walked the opposite way, making my way to the gloomy path toward Umbridge’s office. Detention with her wasn’t just a punishment; it was practically a trial by fire. But I wasn’t going to back down not with everything at stake.

As I stepped into Umbridge’s office, the air was thick with the scent of floral perfume, almost masking the underlying bitterness of something darker. She greeted me with a twisted, saccharine smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“Good evening,” she purred. “Please, take a seat.”

I sat down, the chair creaking under me as she slid a piece of parchment and an ornate, sinister-looking quill across the desk.

“You’ll be writing a simple line for me, just to help you remember,” she said, her voice as sweet as poison. Her eyes gleamed as she added, “I am a liar. One hundred times.”

My jaw clenched, and for a moment, a sharp retort rose in my throat. But I bit it back. This wasn’t the time. Instead, I took the quill, dipped it into the ink well, and placed the tip to the parchment. I barely finished the first word before realizing with a shiver that the ink wasn’t just ink—it was something far worse. Each letter seared into the back of my hand as if cut by a knife, and I felt the sting spread through my fingers.

I forced myself to breathe, ignoring the sharp pain, and continued writing, every letter a silent promise not to break under her gaze.

By the time I finished, my hand was throbbing, blood trickling down my arm from the fresh, stinging cuts. I forced myself to keep a straight face as I left Umbridge's office, determined not to give her the satisfaction of seeing any pain.

I found the others waiting in a quiet corner near the Gryffindor common room. Their faces shifted from concern to shock as I held out my hand, showing them the deep, angry cuts scarring my skin. Hermione’s eyes widened, and she immediately reached out, gently taking my hand in hers.

“Stay still,” she murmured, her tone soft but firm. She drew her wand, and with precise, delicate movements, began casting healing charms. Slowly, the pain lessened, though I could still feel the dull ache underneath.

Joel clenched his fists, his voice tense as he said, “You need to tell Dumbledore about this. She shouldn’t get away with it.”

I looked up at him, feeling the weight of his words. Dumbledore might’ve been able to put a stop to Umbridge’s punishments but involving him could make things even more complicated.

I shook my head, meeting Joel's concerned gaze. “No, I have a feeling that I’ll get my own chance to take her down. Just need to wait for the right moment.”

Joel frowned, looking unconvinced. “Okay, but… you should still tell Dumbledore. This isn’t something to keep quiet.”

I could see the worry in his eyes, and for a second, I almost reconsidered. But I knew how far reaching Umbridge’s control was. Still, I gave him a small nod. “Alright, fine. I’ll go now.”

Hermione gave my hand a gentle squeeze, her expression softening. “Good. You shouldn’t have to go through this alone.”

Taking a steadying breath, I turned and headed down the hall toward Dumbledore’s office, hoping I could find a way to make my voice heard without giving Umbridge too much ammunition.

As I made my way to Dumbledore’s office, I reached the familiar stone gargoyle that guarded the entrance. I whispered the password, and the gargoyle sprang to life, shifting aside to reveal a spiraling staircase that began moving upward. The stairs turned slowly, with a smooth, rhythmic motion, carrying me higher into the heart of the castle. Lanterns cast a warm, ambient glow on the walls, making the shadows dance and lending an air of mystery and magic to each step. The staircase seemed alive, like it understood the weight of every secret and story it had borne over the years.

At the top, I faced a large, polished oak door. I knocked, and Dumbledore’s calm, steady voice called out from within, “Come in.”

I knocked on Dumbledore's door and stepped inside when he called me in. He was sitting behind his desk, looking as composed as ever, though his eyes twinkled with curiosity.

"What's on your mind?" he asked, his voice gentle but attentive.

I hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "It's about Umbridge. I... may have gotten into some trouble today."

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, waiting for me to continue.

"Well, I kind of told her that she's a coward for not believing that…" I hesitated, glancing around, "you know, the Dark Lord's back. And that she was too scared to admit it."

Dumbledore chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You shouldn’t speak to your teachers that way, you know."

I looked at him, half-expecting a reprimand, but instead, he added with a smile, "But I must admit, I can’t entirely disagree with you."

I couldn’t help but smile back, feeling a little less anxious. "Well, it got me detention. But it wasn’t the usual kind of punishment."

I pulled up my sleeve to show him the fresh cuts on my arm, crisscrossing the words I am a liar in red, though the wounds were already starting to fade. "Every time I wrote that phrase, a cut appeared on my hand. It just wouldn’t stop."

His expression turned serious as he looked at my arm, but his voice stayed calm. "That’s certainly concerning," he said, more to himself than to me. "I’ll have a word with the Ministry about this." He looked up at me, his eyes soft. "In the meantime, try not to give her more reason to punish you, alright?"

Dumbledore paused for a moment, his fingers tapping lightly on the edge of his desk as if considering his next words carefully.

"She may not teach you all what you truly need," he began, his tone low but deliberate, "but you, on the other hand... you have the opportunity to teach them."

He blinked once, as though weighing the weight of his own words, and then smiled, a knowing glint in his eyes.

"Don’t let her methods hold you back. When the time comes, you’ll know how to handle it. For now, though, keep to yourself and stay focused."

He gave me a small, encouraging nod before letting me go, his eyes thoughtful, as if he knew more than he was willing to share at that moment.

I nodded, feeling the weight of his words, but also a strange sense of purpose settle in me. It was as though I was already stepping into something bigger, and I was ready for whatever that might mean.

"Thank you, Professor," I said, before turning to leave, the door closing softly behind me.

Next Chapter

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anglophiletraveler · 3 months ago

Text

In My Life

Chapter 43

Thank you for your patience and support! This chapter was a bit stubborn for me and gave me a few fits. Hopefully you enjoy it!

Weeks later, Ross was starting to feel better, but not completely. There were those days that when he thought he was back to his normal self, then his body would laugh at him and say ‘oh no, not yet’ and he would have to lay down and take a nap. His last follow up appointments with his surgeon and pulmonologist, didn’t feel promising to him. They both told him that it would take months for him to fully recover and that his lungs were susceptible to pneumonia and asthma, so he would need to be careful especially in the winter months when the temperature gets to be bitter cold.

Today was one of his better days and he, Caroline and Dwight were going to go to the orchestra to watch his favourite cellist play! He was excited to be getting out of the house for something other than therapy or doctor appointments. He still hadn’t shopped for a replacement vehicle for his beautiful car that was totaled in the accident, so Dwight and Caroline were picking him up.

“Cheers mate, thanks for picking me up,” Ross said.

“No problem, mate. How are you feeling?” asked Dwight.

“Ah, today is a good day. I hope the doctors soon clear me to get back to work.”

“Ross, I keep telling you, don’t rush your recovery!”

“I know, I know, but it’s been over a month. I don’t know how much longer they’ll hold my job.”

Caroline looked at Ross questioning, “Surely they won’t fire you. It’s not your fault you were in an accident.”

Ross sighed, “Probably not, but the longer I wait to go back, the harder it will be to get back into the groove, and also, I was supposed to start working with a new secretary. Jenny was transferred to another department, so I’ll have that to deal with when I go back. Apparently they’ve already hired a new secretary for me.”

“Well, how about going back part time at first, the first week or so. That might be a good way to work your way up,” Caroline replied.

“Oh that’s a good idea Ross. Maybe you can tell your doctors that and they will let you go back to work sooner,” Dwight suggested.

“Yeah, I’ll call them tomorrow. Thanks Caro!”

“You’re welcome. At least with you being off we’ve been able to keep on with the wedding plans. Not too much longer now!”

“Yes, yes the wedding…” Ross’s tone changed.

Dwight looked up in the rear-view mirror, “Aw don’t tell me you’re getting cold feet now.”

Ross shook his head, “No, I’m just worried if we have enough time to pull it off, and I’m worried about mum. Da said her last labs didn’t come back very well, so I’m worried about that.”

“Well, we’re here now, so just concentrate on the concert, yeah?”

Ross smiled, “I’ve really been looking forward to this!”

Ross beamed with pride through the whole concert. His eyes never left Demelza and her cello. She’s worked so hard all of her life to get where she is and he was more than happy to be her supportive partner. The applause from the audience stirred him from his trance signaling the end of the concert. The lobby was full of happy patrons and music lovers. Soon Ross spotted a happy Demelza in a beautiful black gown with white sleeves and bodice. Ross kissed her and wrapped his arms around her and kissed her neck again, and whispered in her ear, “You were magnificent!”

Demelza pulled back from him, “Oh Ross, you can’t hear me over the other musicians!”

“Oh but I can, love. I can hear your cello through everyone else.” Demelza touched his face with her hand and gave him a long kiss.

“Alright you two, knock it off. I’m starving, let’s go get something to eat!” Dwight announced to the couple.

“Alright, alright!” Ross answered back, “Are you ready to go, my love?”

“Yes! I’m starved too!”

Ross kissed Demelza’s temple, “Well, let’s find a place for my favourite cellist!”

Caroline had already made reservations at a very nice restaurant for the two couples.

Demelza was looking around after they were seated at their table. “Caroline, I’ve never heard of this place. It’s that fancy. I thought we were just going to the pub?”

Caroline was skimming the menu, “Oh nonsense. I thought we all deserved to be treated after what Ross has been through, and after what you’ve been through seeing him through everything in the hospital. Plus, you look beautiful in your gown from the concert, too beautiful for a pub. And I’m paying tonight so feel free to get whatever you want.”

Ross and Dwight gave each other a look like they weren’t sure of who was paying for what.

“Darling, you don’t have to pay the bill, I can pay for the four of us,” Dwight whispered to Caroline.

Caroline didn’t bother looking at Dwight, “Darling I know you can, but I want to pay for it,” she finally looked him in the face and smiled. Dwight just smiled and went back to scanning his menu.

Ross cleared his throat as if to clear the air, “Well thank you Caroline, that’s very sweet of you.”

“You’re very welcome Ross. I am in the mood for some meat. I might get a steak for a change. What about you Demelza?”

“Oh gosh, I’m having a hard time choosing. Everything looks delicious. What about you Ross?”

Ross raised his eyebrows, “Actually, steak sounds good to me as well. You know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you eat a steak, Demelza?”

Demelza smiled at Ross, “Probably not. I don’t usually order it because I can never get it cooked the way I like it, so I’ve kind of stopped ordering steak.”

Ross’s brows were furrowed again in question, “How do you like it cooked?”

“Well done.”

The other three gasped at the same time to Demelza’s statement, as if she had just said she had killed and buried a body! Then they all laughed.

Dwight chimed in, “I like my steaks medium well, but well done is a bit for me.”

Demelza shook her head, “Nope. Can’t do pink at all. It’s a nasty reflex from my childhood when my father made me eat raw meat, and now that I’ve got that image in my mind, I’m going to have pasta I think.”

Ross took her hand and kissed it, “I’m sorry, love. And you know what, I think I’m going to have pasta as well, with some shrimp.” Ross didn’t say that he changed his mind because he would’ve ordered his steak medium rare.

Finally the server came over and took everyone’s order. Dwight raised his glass, “I would like to make a toast to Ross and Dem and their upcoming nuptials and the start of a wonderful life together.” Everyone raised their glasses to the toast. Demelza and Ross leaned in and kissed after the toast.

Caroline couldn’t help herself with more wedding talk. “So Demelza, you have a fitting on Tuesday, do you want me to go along for that?”

“If you’d like. You don’t need to. Oh and Ross we need to go to Cornwall next week to meet with the caterer and the baker that is making our cake. So make sure you have that in your diary,” Demelza reminded Ross.

Ross pulled out his phone, “Yes, I have it down. I guess I should go back to work after that so I don’t have to ask for the time off. I feel bad that we aren’t going to have time off for a proper honeymoon.”

Demelza shook her head, “I’m not worried about a honeymoon at all. I just want you healthy and on the dance floor.”

Caroline smiled at the couple when she remembered, “Oh I’ve sent out all of the invitations, but I wasn’t sure if you still wanted to invite your uncle’s side of the family, in particular Francis and Elizabeth?”

Ross made a big sigh and sat back in his chair, “Well, we for sure need to invite my Aunt Agatha, Uncle Charles and Verity and her boyfriend Andrew. As far as Francis and Elizabeth…” he made a weird face, looked at Demelza, and finally said, “I don’t know if they will want to come to the wedding after my mother slapped Elizabeth in the face!”

Everyone dropped their forks and looked at Ross. Demelza spoke first, “What the hell Ross! You didn’t tell me that!”

Ross still had that weird face, “Didn’t I? I thought for sure I told you about that. So yeah, the day that mum and da went back to Cornwall, they went straight to Trenwith to talk to Elizabeth. Everyone was there, Uncle Charles, Aunt Agatha, Francis and Elizabeth. And they let Elizabeth have it for calling me and basically causing the accident.” Ross turned to look at Demelza. “Elizabeth started getting mouthy with mum about you and how I shouldn’t marry you, and mum slapped her across the face! I couldn’t believe it when da told me. But I don’t know what you want to do about inviting them.”

Caroline had a big smile on her face, “Holy shit! Good one Grace, good for her. Saved me and Demelza from getting to do the bit!”

Dwight was grinning as well, “I can’t believe that you mild and mannered mother slapped Elizabeth! Wish I could’ve seen that!”

Ross chuckled, “Me too mate. So Dem, what do you think of inviting them or not inviting them?” Demelza bit her lip, “I’d really rather not. Is that mean of me?”

Ross shrugged shoulders, “I don’t think so. Prior to all of this I would’ve said let’s invite them, but not now. I don’t want her there, and I’m sure Francis won’t come without her. Maybe we’ll get lucky and Charles won’t come either.”

“If it helps you any, I wouldn’t invite them either. It’s your day and the last thing you want on your wedding day is drama,” said Dwight.

“Well said Dr Enys. Alright, so I’ll not send that invitation! Ah and here comes our meal! Perfect timing!”

The couples were quiet for a moment while everyone dug into their meals. Caroline ordered the steak, Dwight the chicken and Ross and Demelza the pasta with shrimp. Ross kept watching Demelza out of the corner of his eye. He loved watching her eat. She enjoyed food, any food so much. Her eyes had a special sparkle whenever she would dig into a plate of pasta or a box of her favourite Chinese, and then her eyes would close with love for the flavour of the food.

“Ross….Ross…” Dwight was trying to get Ross’s attention.

Ross finally snapped out of his thoughts, “What’s up mate?”

Dwight smiled, “Where were you just then? I was asking you what you’re going to do about a new car since you have to go to Cornwall next week?”

“Oh, good point. I guess I’m… we, are going car shopping tomorrow. Right babe?” He looked at Demelza.

“I guess. I don’t have anything to do before rehearsal. I think I’m going to put off my driving lessons until after the wedding, because things are starting to get crazy with wedding plans. I have no idea what to look for in a car besides colour.”

Dwight yelled out, “Speed! Get a fast car!”

Ross shook his head, “Lot of good that did me with my last car. Don’t worry Dem, we’ll figure it out.”

Ross and Demelza were back in their cozy home after a long day and evening. Demelza always loved coming home to this house after a long day. She felt safe within those walls, nothing bad could touch them there. Ross was taking off his suit when he let out a moan.

“Are you alright, Ross?”

“Hmmm yeah, just glad to be getting out of these things. I guess I’m going to have to get used to wearing a suit again sooner than later.” He was standing behind Demelza hanging up his suit coat.

Demelza turned around and began to unbutton his shirt for him, while looking him in the eyes. She pulled his shirt out of his pants. She still had a lock on his eyes with a smirk on her lips, running her fingers through the lush black curls on his chest. The couple hadn’t resumed their lovemaking since Ross’s return home, mainly because he still had some pain in his chest and his knee. But hopefully that pain was gone for the most part.

Ross couldn’t break her spell, and he didn’t want to, “What are those eyes saying?”

“They are saying make love to me Ross. Take me.” Ross’s breath catched at the statement. Slowly Demelza turned her back to Ross and he took his cue and slowly unzipped Demelza’s dress to reveal that she wasn’t wearing a bra or knickers. Ross gasped when he realized there was nothing underneath her dress other than her alabaster skin and her black stilettos.

“Bloody hell Demelza! If I would’ve known that you weren’t wearing anything under that dress all night, I would’ve made our excuses and come home straight away after the concert!” Ross’s chest was breathing heavy now. He grabbed her face with his hands and kissed her lips softly but strongly. Demelza was unbuckling his pants and unzipping them. She pulled at his arse while the pants fell to the floor, “Rross…” “Oh dear God Demelza…” She backed him onto the bed and pulled his pants and briefs off all the way, and then tipped him backwards so that he was laying on the bed.

She lowered herself so that she could slowly lick all the way up Ross’s chest causing him to shudder. She did it again, whispering in his ear, “Here I am Ross. Are you feeling alright?”

“Oh I’m feeling just fine, baby,” Ross growled.

“I’m so glad.” She pulled off her heels and then joined him in bed.

Ross quickly flipped her so that she was underneath him, with a devilish grin, “Now that’s more like it.” He started on her neck which was her achilles heel. She couldn’t handle it when he nibbled and sucked on her neck, but yet she wouldn’t have it any other way. She had one hand in his dark curls and one hand clutching his ass cheek pulling on it signaling what she really wanted.

Ross chuckled at her pulling on his ass, “Not yet my love. You need to be more patient. I want to try and make this last and make it really good for you.”

Demelza sighed in frustration, “I don’t have that kind of patience tonight!”

Ross threw his head back in a laugh, “Well that’s just too bad, love.” He bent down to give the redhead a long kiss. She opened her mouth to let his tongue in to explore her mouth and then Demelza started giggling.

“You laughing at me, love?”

“No, it’s just your tongue tickled me! I’m sorry!”

Ross raised an eyebrow at Demelza, “Tickled? I’ll show you ticklish!” And he proceeded to tickle her on her sides causing her to really squirm and giggle.

“No! No! Please stop Ross! Stop it please!” Finally Ross stopped tickling her and started paying more attention to her breasts. He looked in her eyes as he lightly ran a finger around a nipple, “You are so beautiful Demelza. I’m so grateful for the second chance at the life that I get to spend with you.” He lowered his mouth to her other breast and gently sucked on it, running his tongue around the nipple, while pinching the other nipple with his fingers. Ross’s caresses and touches are filled with tenderness and love for the woman he’s going to marry.

The redhead pulled her legs up to wrap around Ross’s waist. His hand wandered to her thigh and caressed it causing Demelza to shudder. “Oh Rrross”. Ross’s head dropped back in passion. He loved it when she said his name like that. “Say it again. My name. Say it again, love.” He continued to lift her leg so that he could lay kisses and loving bites on her thigh. Demelza gasped, “Rosss! Please!” Ross chuckled and moved to pay attention to her other thigh, causing Demelza to whine. “Ross, stop teasing me!”

“Oh you are rather impatient tonight. You need to relax and enjoy yourself.” He leaned down to place a kiss on the soft skin just above her copper curls. He gently laid his head on her belly and inhaled her scent, and closed his eyes, “I love you so much, Demelza.” He was gently running his fingers up and down her thigh. She lovingly guided her hand through his curls, “I love you too.”

Demelza felt a tone shift in his voice just then. Since he’d been home from the hospital, Ross had occasionally made remarks about being grateful to be alive, and taking advantage of his second chance at life. She hadn’t realized until recently how scared he had been while in the hospital. She knew how scared she had been and everyone else, but she had forgotten to take into account how scared he must have been. He hid it well from her trying to keep her calm, making jokes about his condition, occasionally encouraging Demelza to go home and get rest. How could she not have noticed that he was just as scared as she was!? Some fiance I’ve been she told herself. She was so wrapped up in her own fears, that she didn’t pick up on how scared Ross was.

“Ross…”

“Yes, my love.”

“I’m sorry for not realizing that you were scared in the hospital.”

Demelza felt the caressing from his fingers stop. Ross let out a trembling sigh. Soon after that, she felt something wet on her skin. Could it be tears? Was Ross crying? “Ross are you…?” He turned his head so that he could look up at her, his eyes had tears in them. “Oh my love, come here,” she asked.

Ross scooted up so that he could lay in her arms, “You caught me. Yes, I was scared in the hospital, but I didn’t want you to know that I was scared. I didn’t really get scared until the whole thing with Elizabeth, and my breathing got worse. I was so scared that I was going backwards in my progress, and that I was going to be put back on the vent. All I wanted was, to get out of that hospital and be… home in your arms,” more tears were leaving Ross’s eyes. Demelza tried to pull him closer and hold him tight. She felt him trembling, which was a new feeling for her, really for the both of them. “Oh my love, I’m so sorry that I didn’t catch onto what you were feeling. You needed me in a way that I didn’t see. I’m so sorry.”

“No, you don’t need to apologize. You didn’t realize what I was needing, because I didn’t want you to see what I was feeling. I didn’t want you to know that I was afraid. I wanted to protect you and be there for you, and be macho,” Ross was wiping the tears from his cheek. Now Demelza was crying! They looked at each other crying and started laughing at themselves. This was a new experience for the couple. Ross has always been Demelza’s rock, her pillar of strength even though she’s always considered herself to be a strong woman. She was the one who took charge of her life when the cello came into her life. It gave her a pathway out of her father’s life and that house that wasn’t a home. But now she’s realizing that she needed to not just take from Ross, but to give back to him and be his rock as well.

Demelza held his hand and lowered her forehead to rest on his, “Right. So I have an idea. How ‘bout you and I let each other know how we’re feelin, like if somethin worries us, or scares us, so we can be there for each other. You know I can be a tough person, even though I might be weepy sometimes. But you don’ ave to be strong and macho for me and protect me if you’re worried ‘bout somethin. Deal?”

Ross sighed and closed his hazel eyes, “But, I feel like I should protect you from certain things.”

“I’m sorry, what century are you living in Ross? I don’t need protectin, I just need you to be open and honest w’th me, so that we can work things out together. Understand?”

“Well, I thought that’s what we had been doing?” Ross asked.

Demelza kissed each of his eyes, then she moved down to leaving kisses on his cheeks, “Well, we do most of the time, but when it comes to something serious like your health, will you promise me that you’ll share your feelings with me. Pretty please, love?” She moved to nibble on his ear, then his neck, her hand making its way down that fabulous trail of dark hair.

Ross was starting to breathe heavier, “Judas! Whatever you say, love. Just don’t stop what you’re doing! I’m all yours Mrs. Poldark!” Demelza giggled at the effect her attentions was having on Ross. “It’s been way too long Demelzzaah,” Ross’s head fell back as he lost himself in Demelza making love to him.

A week later at Trenwith…

“Are you serious? We didn’t get invited to Ross’s wedding?” Elizabeth was shouting at Francis after the invitations arrived for Charles and Aunt Agatha, but there wasn’t one for the couple.

“Well what do you expect, Elizabeth? Your phone calls caused Ross to have a very bad car accident, not to mention this need you have to still meddle in his life. If anyone should be upset about not being invited, it should be me. I am not happy with you at all with these stunts you’ve been trying to pull Elizabeth. Honestly, I think you’ve forgotten that I’m your husband and that I’m the one you left Ross for all those years ago.”

Elizabeth scowled at Francis, “Don’t remind me,” and turned on her heel and stormed off.

#aidan turner #poldark #modernpoldark #ross poldark #work in progress #eleanor tomlinson #demelza carne #demelza poldark

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purplekoop · 3 months ago

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To go with my prior new superhero gal, here's her partner both in and out of action: a massive pop star in both fame and stature, who channels the power of positive emotions to protect those around her!

...don't ask about her name either, that's also TBD.

Originally just an unsuccessful aspiring singer, she was struck with a mysterious ball of energy from space that infused with her DNA. Originally uncertain on how her body changed, she soon realized she was a living energy reactor, fueled by positive emotion. Quite literally powered by love and joy, her power is generated by any strong positive emotion nearby, but the potency is increased if the feeling is specifically towards her. She can then channel her internal energy reserves in a number of ways, such as firing it as an projectile blast, creating targeted forcefields, or transferring a small amount of the energy into someone else to briefly enhance their physical capabilities. However, the most striking effect of her powers is that when enough of this positive energy is built up, her body mass increases to accommodate all of it. With this increase in size comes even greater increases in strength and durability to match. She can also use some energy to increase her size even further willingly, though after some time she will gradually revert to her prior state unless she manually dissipates the excess energy to shrink back down faster.

After using her powers for the first time to stop a supervillain, she gained a notable surge in popularity from the appreciative public. Using this new publicity (and accompanying physical boost), she made connections to jumpstart her career as a pop star. Her exploits in music made her just as much a national icon as her heroics did, though most of her earnings in music go to funding charities. At this point, the constant positive energy from her fans have stretched her internal energy reservoir to a point where her current resting height is over 12 feet tall, which certainly helps her stay visible while on stage. To really excite the crowd though, she can easily reach kaiju-scale sizes with the audience's hype, though this of course needs the right venue.

While naturally cheery, and always outwardly a beacon of positivity on the stage or when saving the day, she privately has doubts about her capacity for either. She doubts she's earned her fame, chalking up her success to getting lucky with her powers, despite all the work she's put into her singing before and since getting them. She's also often anxious when in action, always scared to cause collateral damage or make a wrong choice that ends up hurting someone.

Along the way though, she encountered the (similarly presently unnamed) speedster while in action, and the two quickly found they worked well together on the field, covering the other's shortcomings. After enough days saved together, they started to meet outside of work and got to know each other better. Not long after that, they realized just how strong their chemistry was, and soon became a power couple in more ways than one.

(for a size comparison, here's a little doodle of those two with a nondescript stick man for scale. Pardon the pop star's early design and blurry image quality.)

so I'm pretty happy with this one, and I imagine at least a few of y'all will be too. I'm not 100% set on this exact design, the outfit and hair could use some work to me and I couldn't get the exact proportions I wanted (the legs feel a little stubby in the end result), but overall I'm pretty satisfied for now. Hopefully we'll be seeing more of these two soon (ideally with. names.) along with some more heroes and villains in this universe. Got some older ideas I'm excited to bring back in this new, more open-ended setting, so look forward to those soon!

#koop's oc stuff #my art #still the same currently not quite named superhero stuff #edit to tag better later

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crookedfivefingers · 9 months ago

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Ahhhhhhhh hello fellow tenmartha shipper!! I was wondering if you had any fic suggestions? I'm slowly making my way through the tag on AO3 and it's pretty hit or miss...

Also if you haven't checked her out yet, Haleine Delial over on FF.net is the top tier tenmartha writer and I wish she would transfer her stuff over to AO3 where it would get the attention it deserves 😭

https://m.fanfiction.net/u/1248996/?a=s&s=0&cid=0&p=1

Also also, I found a gold mine of fic on live journal over 10 years ago when I was desperately searching for content. This is a permanently open tab on my phone and hopefully you enjoy it if you haven't seen it already!

https://persiflage-1.livejournal.com/306664.html

Hiii! I've been enjoying your journey through my posts! 💜 And thank you so, so, so much for the recs—FFnet is pretty much the only place I haven't bled dry for TenMartha content, so I will definitely be looking into those!

As for my recs...

2/12/25: I will soon be making a new, more organized rec list that stands on its own! If you have recs you don't see here, send them along and I'll add them to the list :) I also downloaded every fic listed here as a PDF, making them readable if Ao3 is down! When I get the new rec list up, each PDF link will be placed beside the link to the fic itself. This is just temporary!

Oh god, okay, so full disclosure: I tend to only read/write smut-containing fics (unless written by a friend or specifically recommended to me), as I am an animal—so my choices are severely limited in that sense… I also don’t read “established relationship” fics, so that’s another limit. But YES. I absolutely have some recs, I apologize if you’ve already read them all!

(This is by no means a complete list)

First just want to highlight my two faves:

wandererinthefourthdimension—In my opinion, the absolute tippy-top of the best of the best TenMartha writers. (I think I've possibly love-bombed her a bit too hard in my obsession with her works, but) she is exquisite. From dynamite characterizations to possibly the hottest smut I have ever read, she is OUTSTANDING. Here are a few:

Bliss

Informed Consent (has an amazing WIP sequel)

Alive (WIP—but for god's sake, read it)

HDUC—Pretty much anything by this magical smut goddess. Good god, this person needs to be on Ao3 as well, but can only be found on FF. It's quite tragic. Here are just a few of my favorites:

(I recently downloaded all of HDUC's fics as PDFs and put them in a folder in case FF.net catches on and figures out just how explicit her content is! Bonus: You can read them when Ao3 is down)

Craving

Contrition

Formalities

Brilliant

Diminished

Some more excellent content:

⭐️ = Added after original post

⭐️ Dream Time During the Apocalypse by rickmaniac101

⭐️ Echoes of Salome by radiantbaby

⭐️Moon Landing by TheGoldenAge

⭐️ Five Times the Doctor Wanted to Kiss Martha Jones in 1969 [And the One Time He Did] by radiantbaby (all ages)

⭐️The Art of Surviving by Nekare

⭐️Break Us Apart, Bring Us Together by Nekare (teen)

Our Lack of Social Skills by zauberer_sirin

Time Enough for Love by nonelvis

Lust in the Dust by Pax in Paradoxo

As Hot as a Wandering Sun by lastnightagain

In Half Light by rose_quartz_cave

Of Great Consequence (self-rec; WIP)—co-written with @pax-in-paradoxo The Purpose of Repose (WIP)(If you’re not too bothered by a fic that involves Ten & Rose as well)

A Shadow in the Human Heart by augustrain (DARK as hell—heed the warnings—and not nearly as smutty as anything else I've posted here, but still so so so good; brilliantly written. It's abandoned as well, but ends at a perfectly fine place for it to end)

I hope there's at least a couple here that you've never read and can enjoy! 💜

#doctor who #martha jones #tenth doctor #tenmartha #ten x martha #10martha #fanfiction #fic rec #dw fic #tenmartha fic recs #ten x martha fanfiction

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jake-whatthefisgoingon-kiszka · 8 months ago

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Here we officially have part 1 of our miniseries! I hope you enjoy, and I promise we will finally be meeting Sam soon…

Pairings: Danny Wagner X Sam Kiszka (eventually) *slash

Warnings and tags: as always 18+ only, scram minors! Not much for this part either besides a bit of cocky attitude, little bit of animosity being shown, rivalry, enemies to lovers, some swearing, college AU, tennis club AU

Word count: ~1400

Practice went well for Danny’s first time joining the team on the courts. He made sure to exude enough strength and coordination that his teammates knew he was someone to watch out for, but he didn’t show off in a way that would put any targets on his back. At least not yet.

By Saturday, he was more than ready to start his challenge match against Zach, the first person up on the ladder before him. It felt impractical to have to go through everyone on the ladder to get to the one he really wanted to face, but he was assured many times from the club president that it was the only way to progress.

“Going to be a good game today?” Adam asked Danny when they both showed up on the court at the appointed time.

“Hopefully a quick one, let’s get this underway” Danny replied, setting up his spot on the bench nearby.

“So what’s your deal?” Adam questioned curiously, watching the way Danny prepped for the game as they waited for Zach to arrive by making sure his shoes were tied, his grip tape was wrapped tight, shock absorber was still in good shape, and stretching a bit. “We’ve been playing with the same guys on this team for two years now, challenges are made all the time but everyone’s pretty much set on the ladder now, hasn’t been much moving besides the graduates, but you think you can climb the whole thing in just one month?”

“I am going to” Danny smiled, his words ambitious but his face still showing a hint of boyish wholesomeness.

“You’re gunning for the number one spot then? That won’t be an easy task. Sam’s held that spot since joining the team his first year” Adam set to explaining, “Hadn’t been a freshman at the top in a long time, or anyone capable of holding their spot for this long either”.

Danny wasn’t phased by his caution. He’d heard the rumors of the infamous Prince of the tennis club since transferring to this university. Though he was on the team at the last school he attended, there wasn’t much excitement or popularity for their club like there was for the one here.

With the season starting the championship winning tennis team was a hot topic amongst his classmates, and Sam was apparently an even hotter topic. Though his so-called ‘fan club’ Sam had sounded more like a cult following from Danny’s perspective, only a little bit annoyed every time his name ultimately came up with the subject.

When Zach finally arrived, Danny wasted no time with formalities. He greeted him kindly and they flipped a coin to see who would serve first. Danny was heads, so by fate he lined his sneakers up next to the white line, threw the palm sized yellow ball into the air, and even with the sun shining in his eyes he nailed the far left corner of the service box and aced his opening shot.

Danny held the advantage the entire game while hardly breaking a sweat. Poor Zach when he quickly realized he was in a game way out of his league, gave up by the second set, but Danny appreciated his sportsmanship as he held out as best he could until the match was over.

“That was…” Adam trailed off, his hands on his hips and an unbelievable smile on his lips. When he agreed to witness these challenge matches today he came with the intention to gauge Danny’s capabilities, and he had effortlessly exceeded all expectations. He was skeptical before, but now Adam seriously did consider that the top spot on the ladder may be in jeopardy.

Danny took a break on the bench, pulling his hat off to let his curly head of hair breathe while he took long sips from his water bottle. “So when can we set up the next one? Tomorrow okay?” Danny questioned.

Adam was amazed once more. Danny hadn’t even won the second match yet and he was already confidently talking about playing someone else. “I mean, like I said I’m free, but if you keep challenging like this people are going to start talking”.

“That’s fine” Danny stood back up and secured his hat again as he noticed his next opponent approaching the courts, Dylan.

“Let them talk”.

Thursday was beginning to wrap the week up and Danny had resolved himself to acknowledge that this would be only his second but already his last practice with Team B. Of course he had won the two challenge matches on Saturday, then he had two more on Sunday and Monday, which meant by this weekend when he challenged the next two players on the ladder that he would officially have made it to Team A.

He didn’t hold back at practice, and attention was starting to be drawn towards his court as he drilled with the top player on the team. Their challenge match had already been scheduled , Saturday at noon, and by the looks of it now Danny was sure to be the clear winner.

“Well I look forward to my redemption in a few days” Thomas sarcastically approached Danny from the other side of the net, still trying to catch his breath as practice concluded.

“Don’t worry, I’ll go easy on you” Danny smiled genuinely.

Even if his plan meant he couldn’t feel remorse for all the guys he had to go through to get to the top, it didn’t mean he was an asshole. In fact, Danny quite liked everyone he had met so far. He only hoped the next team would take his rise as cordially as this group had.

“Hey, if I can actually ask you a favor?” Thomas stopped him as they headed into the locker rooms, continuing when Danny gave him an easy sure. “Do you think we can move the match this weekend up an hour? There’s going to be another one later that day and I don’t want to miss it”.

“Oh, you’re witnessing a match that day too?” Danny questioned as he put his things away in his locker.

“Right” Thomas laughed, “there will be plenty of witnesses for that match. It’s Sam’s first challenge of the season”.

“Sam?”

“Yeah, the guy on the top of the ladder. He doesn’t get challenged very often but when he does it draws a pretty big crowd. Can’t wait to see who the sorry sucker is”.

A crowd? Danny thought to himself, wondering how many people would really want to take time out of their Saturday afternoon to watch a game of tennis that didn’t really mean anything. He agreed anyways so long as the club president was going to be okay with it as well.

“By the way, that’s your locker?” Thomas raised a brow and pointed at the tiny space Danny was standing in front of. He sounded slightly concerned, like it wa supposed to be off limits or something.

“Is that a problem?” Danny looked the locker over then back at the other man with a confused look on his face.

“No, it’s nothing” he brushed it off and they agreed to meet at eleven instead on Saturday.

Danny’s fifth challenge went just like his first, and second and third and fourth… admittedly he was getting tired of spending so much time playing on his time off, but then again that was the point. The coaches created the ladder as a way to encourage all of the players on the team to continue practicing on days when it wasn’t mandatory, and so far it had proven to be good motivation.

Or maybe motivation wasn’t the right word to use. Danny was quickly learning that it was more of a spectacle for some. Soon after his match was over he noticed more and more people filling in the bleachers at the courts, until soon they were nearly full like there was an unannounced tournament about to take place. Though the only thing he knew of that was happening today was Sam’s challenge.

“Hey, what’s everyone here for?” Danny caught Adam in passing just before he ran off to join the mass of waiting onlookers.

“Are you going to stay and watch the next match?” He asked, like he didn’t even register that Danny didn’t understand what was going on or why everyone was so excited.

“I wasn’t planning on it?” Danny tried again to dig for more details, “should I?”

Adam smiled widely and leaned in so he could lower his voice in case there was a coach anywhere nearby that didn’t need to hear this. “If you are, you have to place your bet”.

Danny’s brows furrowed in even more confusion, “Bet?”

“Come on, I’ll introduce you to Jake and Josh”.

Tags: @kultavalo @musicislove3389

#greta van fic #greta van fleet #danny wagner #sam kiszka #Sanny gvf

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valentine-writes · 2 years ago

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Could you write something about hanahaki disease with Johnathon ohnn? (Could end in angst or fluff either is good :3) no rush ofc, i love your work!!!

choking on flowers.

「 tws + notes: open ended ending, implications/mentions of death (but no Actual Death), unedited, OOC, interpretation of hanahaki may be slightly diff (i haven't heard of this trope thing in a hot min ngl so im not the Greatest With This), pre-collider even though his holes generating flowers is a silly thought which i giggled abt while writing this, present/past tenses are fucked up cuz i changed formatting halfway, angst?? 」

「 gn!reader, (unrequited) romantic relationship </3 」

↳ ft. johnathan/johnathon ohnn

author's note: THANK U SMMM!! (∩^o^)⊃━☆ lowkey 4got thiz thing existed lolz,, and while hanahaki aus are no longer My Thing, i wud b lying if i told u i didn't eat hanahaki ficz up in middle school ＞︿＜!! sooo,, here we go!!! hopefully this is ok,, many apologies for how short it iz aauwgwhwh

this is the third time you've called him today, trying to reach out. the first two times, he had thought he was strong enough to ignore you.

he was wrong. the minute his phone rang out that third time, he practically scrambled over to it just to answer. pathetic.

"you haven't been at work for what,,, almost two weeks now?"

the concern in your voice makes johnathan want to keel over dead instantly– not like he's far from it anyways. he pulls his phone away as he lets out a weak cough. you barely hear it from your end of the call.

"...sick." is all he manages to rasp out, his sore throat preventing him from speaking further. even if he could manage to talk more, he wouldn't know what else to say. how would he tell you? the call ends prematurely. you know you're not going to get more out of him, and he knows that it's better to keep you in the dark about his situation.

to tell you about how his unrequited feelings have manifested into something much more than both of you can handle was completely and absolutely out of the question. how was he supposed to explain he had been coughing up your favourite flowers? johnathan would rather let it kill him.

not only was he humiliated by the sheer intensity of his yearning– he knew you'd end up feeling guilty about it. yet, a part of his heart ached, wishing that he was selfish enough to tell you. maybe seeing you cry over him would give him some semblance of love.

that was an awful thought. he promptly pushed it aside. he'd never want to make you cry.

he could only laugh at how frustrating his situation is. it was inescapable, his fate inevitable and ever nearing– and no one to tell.

he had never felt so alone.

at least i'll have flowers for my funeral, he thought in the deafening silence of his home, finding the energy to let out a weak chuckle over the thought.

–

a few days after the call, his phone buzzed, receiving a text from you:

i'm coming over'

straightforward, at least.

'what if you get sick?' he messages back, trying to generate excuses to keep you away.

you reply swiftly, before he can come up with anything else, unswayed by the idea of potentially catching his illness which, unbeknownst to you, wasn't really transferable anyways. 'we'll wear masks then. omw.'

lovely. you were stubborn as ever. at least you gave him a heads up.

he noticed you made no attempt to keep your distance from him as you dropped off his little care package.

all neatly put into a little basket was some fresh fruit you had insisted he needed, as you rambled over the importance of vitamin c and immune health, a sweet little card filled with "get better soon"s filled by his coworkers at alchemax most of which he knew probably didn't really care all that much, a few packages of cough drops you had been a sweetheart to actually choose ones which had bearable flavours, a blanket, a few snacks, and... flowers.

if you had known exactly what illness, he doubted this choice would have been made. he stared at them silently, finding some sort of humor in the mortifying irony.

you said an awkward goodbye at his door, about to turn around and head off– before hesitating for a second.

"johnathan?" the way you looked at him, eyes filled with tenderness and worry– maybe it wasn't so bad after all, for you to be the death of him.

"...yeah?"

you didn't say anything further, instead, choosing to communicate through impulsively squeezing him into a tight hug.

you pull away just as quick as it had happened, yet the warmth of your embrace lingered a little longer, even as you headed out the door. something about you caring so much made it hurt more.

johnathan wondered why you even cared, why you were so persistent about looking out for him– knowing that he'd end up watching you slip away from him again, leaving an ache in his heart nothing could remedy.

he couldn't blame you. not sweet, kind, thoughtful you. he was the idiot, the careless fool who yearned for something he couldn't have.

maybe in another life, he thought to himself.

#atsv #across the spiderverse #atsv x reader #the spot #johnathon ohnn #johnathan ohnn #johnathan ohnn headcanons #johnathan ohnn x reader #johnathon ohnn headcanons #johnathon ohnn x reader #the spot x reader #the spot headcanons

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c-e-d-dreamer · 2 years ago

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Barbarian Bat: Part Two

A/N: It is sadly the last day of @nessianweek but I have had so much fun writing lots of fics and reading lots of fics! And I want to thank everyone for reading part one of this silly little AU earlier this week. Hopefully, you all enjoy part two, and I'm hoping to update with part three soon. :)

Previous Part // Next Part // Read on AO3

The trek through the snow is awkward and quiet, Cassian leading the way and Nesta trailing behind, trying to keep up with his long, easy strides. He slows to a stop each time that Nesta’s steps trip up, each time her foot sinks too deep, but he doesn’t turn back to look at her. He merely waits for her to regain her footing, to dig her snowshoe out, and then they continue on through the dark and the mountains of white.

If the entire journey to the spaceship is going to be this way, Nesta isn’t sure how much longer she’ll be able to take before her anger and annoyance really get the best of her. She remembers taking the journey once before, when all the women were given the knowledge transfer so they would understand the language the sa-khui spoke. It had taken almost a day between the spaceship and the main cave that they now call home. A day of awkward silence. A day of this tense energy that’s thrumming in the air between them. A day of her stupid khui vibrating and singing away, the damned thing still not shutting up.

As they walk, Nesta looks around, trying to recognize any landmarks from that previous journey, but everything on this planet looks the same. It’s all endless waves of white, snow reaching as far as the eyes can see in every direction. It’s only broken up by the strange bushes on this planet, by the purple and pink wispy stalks that are meant to be some kind of trees.

Perhaps she’s seen that particular cluster of trees before?

But any familiarity Nesta swears by vanishes as she takes in the rocky cliff face they’re walking toward. Under the pale light of the two moons, the snow covered rocks look especially looming and ominous, like sleeping giants waiting to wake, to rise. It has a shudder skittering up Nesta’s spine, and she hurries her steps enough to stick close to Cassian’s side as he walks parallel to the cliff face.

He makes it about halfway along the cliff face before coming to a stop before some sort of small opening, the abruptness of it almost sending Nesta careening into his back. She scowls and glares at his shoulder blades as she almost trips over her own feet, her snowshoes sinking deeper with her effort to stop quickly. She doesn’t let up even when Cassian finally turns over his shoulder and looks at her again, letting him feel and see all of her ire.

“Stay here,” Cassian tells her before slipping through the opening between the rocks, a cave Nesta realizes. He doesn’t stay inside for long, stepping back out into the night and gesturing with his hand for her to enter. “It is safe.”

But Nesta doesn’t move. She stays rooted to the spot and crosses her arms across her chest. “I thought you were taking me to the Elder Cave.”

“It is too dangerous to travel that far at night. We will rest here then continue the journey at first light.”

“How do I know you’re even taking me to the Elder Cave? That this isn’t some trick where you pretend to go along with what I want.”

Cassian’s eyebrows dip low at the accusation, his mouth pinching as he crosses his own arms. “Do you not trust me?”

“No,” Nesta answers matter-of-factly, unable to stop her scoff even if she wants to. “Human men, those weird green alien men, the basketball head alien men, even giant blue alien men… you’re all the same. You’re all just men.”

It’s more information than Nesta means to share, a part of herself that she hadn’t meant to hand over so easily. She’s never been good at any type of openness, any type of vulnerability. She’s always preferred claws and masks and armor. Snap and snarl now, and no one will ever ask questions later. Push someone out the door, and they never have the opportunity to leave.

But Cassian has always seen through her every defense, her every wall, ever since she stepped on this godsforsaken planet. She feels it now as Cassian’s eyes sweep over her frame, stripped bare, every crack, every nick, every bruise to her soul on full display. It’s as though he’s cataloging her every expression, tucking each reveal from her away.

“Give me their names, then,” Cassian finally speaks.

“What?” Nesta whispers, blinking in confusion.

Cassian steps closer to her, the breeze carrying with it the heat that always seems to radiate from him, the scent of low burning embers and what Nesta has always sworn was pine. He’s close enough that Nesta has to tilt her head back to continue to meet his gaze, a fire practically blazing across his expression. His hand reaches up in the space between them, a whisper of his touch skating along her cheek, before he seems to think better of it. His fingers curl back into his palm, hands settling into fists at his sides instead.

“Give me the names of these men that have hurt you, and I will find a way to hunt them down, to shatter every bone in their bodies for ever laying a finger on you.”

The declaration has Nesta swallowing hard, even as her traitorous heart skips a beat between her ribs, even as her khui starts singing again. “Don’t make promises that you can’t keep.”

“Then I will make a promise that I can keep. I will never hurt you, Nesta. I swear it,” Cassian says, pressing a hand to his chest, to where his own khui answers.

He says the words with such conviction, with such earnestness on his face, that Nesta doesn’t know how to respond. Words tangle on her tongue, clogging the back of her throat and battling with the emotions swirling like a storm in her chest until all she can do is try desperately to breathe around them. There’s no stopping that cold and cruel voice whispering in the back of her mind, digging its claws in with doubt and hesitation. Even if she wants to believe him, even if she wants to speak those words, she’s been burned too many times. She knows exactly how this will play out in the end. So she merely presses her lips together, wraps her arms tightly around herself like that will help hold herself together.

Cassian sighs softly at her extended silence. “If it will make you more comfortable, I can stay outside the cave for the night.”

“I thought you said it was dangerous. Snow-cats and all that,” Nesta reminds him before chewing at her bottom lip and turning away from his piercing gaze. “It’s fine.”

Before she can change her mind or take the words back, she ducks down and steps into the cave. It’s certainly small, clearly meant to just house a single hunter for the night. There’s a designated area for a fire, and when Nesta squints through the dark, she spies a few supplies like fuel and spare spears tucked neatly along the far wall. The way the walls seem to press in around her has Nesta’s hackles raising, especially when Cassian steps inside just behind her with his tall frame and wide shoulders, but she takes a deep, steeling breath, refusing to give in to those swirling shadows within her.

She spots where Cassian set down their packs, and she cuts across the small space to them, more than happy to have something to do with her hands. She unties her furs from her own pack first, unrolling them out across the cave floor and straightening them how she likes. She chances a glance over her shoulder, watching as Cassian strikes flint to start a fire.

An orangey glow flickers to life in the cave, casting shadows and shapes across the walls and floor. The firelight bounces off the dark strands of Cassian’s curls, his hair pulled back and tied off with a leather strap. It draws emphasis to his horns, to the plates and ridges on his arms and the way they shift along with his flexing muscles. Nesta finds herself tracing the dark colored lines and swirls across his blue skin, Cassian one of the few sa-khui with tattoos.

As if he can feel her attention on him, Cassian turns his head, meeting her gaze. Nesta is quick to snap her own head back around, swallowing down the heat threatening to creep up her neck, the way her heart skitters and skips for a moment. She grabs for Cassian’s pack to distract herself, untying his furs and laying them out in what little space remains of the cave floor.

“You should try and get some sleep,” Cassian’s voice breaks the quiet. “If we want to leave for the Elder Cave at first light.”

Nesta knows that he’s right, so she takes a moment to tug off her boots and her various outer layers of leathers, damp from the cold and the snow, and rests them near the fire so they can dry. It leaves her in just the long, loose leather tunic she wears beneath, her legs exposed. She can feel Cassian’s gaze on them, goosebumps prickling across her skin in the wake of his attention, so she quickly slips beneath her furs.

She burrows deep into them, tugging the furs up and around her shoulders as she turns to face the cave wall. Nesta has never done well in the cold. Back on earth, she always kept her thermostat higher than most during the winter months, always had plenty of blankets on her sofa to pile on when she curled up with her books.

And of course now she’s stuck on a planet literally covered in snow.

Even with the furs wrapped tight around her, even with the heat of the fire, Nesta can’t help but shiver. She nearly jumps out of her skin when another layer of furs is gently placed atop her. She cranes her head enough to watch Cassian move away and back to the space where she had laid out his own furs earlier, her lip finding home between her teeth.

“Won’t you be cold now?” Nesta dares to ask, fingers toying with her now extra furs.

“I will be fine. I have slept in worse conditions,” Cassian dismisses, getting comfortable against the cave floor. “Go to sleep, Nes.”

Nesta sighs softly but she rolls back over and tries to get comfortable herself. She watches the way the shadows flicker and dance across the stone of the cave wall from the fire, and tries to focus on emptying her mind. This whole night has already been bad enough, and the last thing she needs is another round of nightmares to make things even more awkward between her and Cassian. She squeezes her eyes shut and keeps her breathing a steady in and out, in and out, until finally the blissful darkness sweeps her away.

~ * * * ~

Nesta blinks her eyes open slowly, sniffling softly as she rubs at them and tries to reorient herself. It takes her a moment to remember where she is, to remember the events of the previous night. Resonating with Cassian. Making the trek to this hunter cave. She presses a hand against her chest, but her stupid khui is surprisingly silent.

With a quiet huff, Nesta sits up, rubbing at her arms against the chill. A glance around the cave tells her that the fire has banked to just embers. It also tells her that she’s alone in the cave, Cassian nowhere to be seen. That fact has Nesta frowning, and she scrambles out of her furs, grabbing her now dried clothes and yanking them back on. She heads for the cave opening and the privacy screen still in place, her anger already beginning to spark at her supposed escort being MIA.

“Ho,” Cassian’s voice sounds from outside, and Nesta freezes. That’s the greeting the sa-khui use with one another, which means…

“Ho,” another voice answers, followed by the sounds of footsteps in the snow coming closer.

“I am surprised to see you out on the trails so early,” Cassian comments.

“I wish that I came with good news,” the other sa-khui explains. Azriel’s voice Nesta realizes. “Rhys is furious. He has accused you of stealing the human female to force resonance.”

Shit. That’s definitely not good news. Rhysand had made it very clear to the tribe about how the women who had crashed on the planet here were to be treated, had set very firm rules and very strict punishments. If he thought Cassian had kidnapped her, that meant he could banish Cassian from the tribe. And it would be all her fault. Guilt churns in Nesta’s gut, and she squeezes her eyes shut to try and fight off the wave of sickness.

Cassian lets out an annoyed huff. “I did not do that. You were there.”

“I know. Luckily, when I told them what had happened, how she tried to leave on her own and you tried to stop her, that you went with her to ensure she was safe, Feyre was not surprised. She said that her sister would do something like that, and many in the tribe agreed. They do call her the stubborn one. The scary one.”

“Do not call her that,” Cassian all but growls, his tone fierce.

Azriel lets out a pained gasp as though he’s been shoved hard, a moment passing before he speaks again. “I am sorry, brother. I know that you have a soft spot for her.”

“She is hurting. It is very clear. I do not know why no one else can see it.” Cassian sighs, his voice dropping quiet enough that Nesta has to lean even closer to the privacy screen to hear him. “I just wish to help her.”

His words, the unwavering sincerity of his tone, they have Nesta’s chest tightening, her traitorous heart skipping between her ribs. None of the men back on earth ever spoke of her like that, least of all when they thought she couldn’t hear them. She’ll never forget the words she overheard in school. The words Tomas would sneer with his friends behind her back.

Cassian barely even knows her, and still he defends her, still he declares how he wants to help, and he says it all without an ounce of doubt, without any hesitation. It has something suspiciously like hope threatening to bloom and take root within her, tying like a golden thread tighter around her heart and flooding warmth through her veins. Nesta tries to swallow hard around the feeling, around the way it thrums and purrs.

She realizes too late that it’s actually her stupid khui thrumming, realizes too late that the sound gives away the way she’s practically pressed up against the privacy screen and obviously eavesdropping. She scrambles away and to the other side of the cave, knocking her elbow back against the stone wall in her haste. She slumps down to the floor, curling her knees up tight to her chest as if smothering her khui will make it shut up.

“Do not worry,” Cassian’s voice startles her, and she snaps her head toward the cave entrance just in time to watch him slide the privacy screen back into place behind him. “I have made Azriel swear not to tell anyone about our resonance.”

“Thanks,” Nesta mutters; although her khui starts singing anew. Whether touched by the gesture or in protest, she’s not sure.

“But Rhys and Feyre have demanded we return right to the main cave when we are finished at the Elder Cave.”

“Okay…”

Cassian opens his mouth as though he intends to say something more, an emotion passing across his expression that Nesta can’t quite pinpoint, but he seems to think better of it. With a shake of his head, he settles near what remains of the fire, placing the quill-beast in his hand down in front of him. He tugs a knife free from his belt, skinning the small animal with practiced ease and slicing the meat.

“I’m not hungry,” Nesta tells him when he places a few pieces on the meat atop the embers to cook.

Cassian’s grip on his knife tightens, a muscle in his jaw ticking. “I do not believe you. You need to eat, Nes.”

“You said we would leave at first light for the Elder Cave.”

“I will not escort you until you have eaten something first.”

“Fine,” Nesta snaps, turning to yank her furs close enough that she can begin rolling them up. “I don’t need you anyways. I never asked you to escort me. I’ll go to the Elder Cave by myself.”

“Good luck finding your way,” Cassian drawls.

When Nesta finishes securing her furs to her pack, when she finally turns to look at him again, Cassian is smirking. It’s a challenge if she’s ever seen one. They both know she doesn’t know where she’s going, both know she’d just end up wandering aimlessly through the snow. It has her bristling, has her eyes narrowing as a scowl twists across her face. With a frustrated huff, she tosses her pack to the side.

“Has anyone ever told you you’re annoying?”

Cassian’s smirk morphs into a full blown grin at the retort, and he picks up one of the now cooked pieces of meeting, holding it out in offering. “Not nearly as much as since you have come into my life, but do not worry. I like it.”

Nesta snorts, but she scoots closer to take the meat. “You like when I insult you?”

“I like this game we play. I like the way your eyes blaze. The pink that floods your skin here…”

Cassian’s hand reaches up between them as though to demonstrate exactly where he means, but his fingers just barely brush the skin of Nesta’s cheek before he freezes. Just that single, simple contact has a shiver skating up Nesta’s spine, has her breath hitching in her lungs. She can’t tear her gaze away from his, from the way his glowing eyes seem to bore straight through her. She swears she can feel the energy crackling in the space between them, just as surely as she can hear both their khuis singing away.

But Cassian seems to jolt back to himself, clearing his throat awkwardly and dropping his hand back down to his side. He turns his attention away from Nesta, focusing back on cutting the rest of the quill-beast meat up and popping the pieces into his mouth. Nesta nibbles on her own piece of cooked meat, trying to will her still thundering heart to calm.

“That sort of makes you a creep, you know,” Nesta finally comments. “Noticing all that. It’s almost like you admitting to watching me all the time.”

The comment draws a soft laugh from Cassian, and he offers her a sidelong smirk. “I cannot be blamed for always wanting to watch you. You are the most beautiful female I have ever seen.”

“Wow,” Nesta drawls sarcastically, rolling her eyes. “Does that line work on all the females you’re interested in?”

“The only female I am interested in is you.”

The words have Nesta swallowing hard and she tosses her last remaining bite into the fire. “I’ve eaten now. Are we going to the Elder Cave or not?”

Any good natured teasing between them, any hint of returning to the way things were before their resonance, it crashes around Nesta in the blink of an eye. Cassian’s smirk falls away, his entire expression hardening again. He shoves his knife back into his belt with enough force that she winces, but he pushes to his feet and begins to move about the cave, using snow to put out the embers of the fire and grabbing his and her packs.

Nesta can do nothing but pull back on her cloak and boots, can do nothing but follow him back out into the snow and biting wind. The two suns shine high above in the sky, but with their small size and pale light, they provide almost no relief against the cold, and Nesta wraps her arms tight around herself, just barely holding off a shiver. If Cassian notices, he doesn’t say anything. He shoulders both of their packs, letting out a sound somewhere between a grunt and a grumble, and then they’re off.

If Nesta thought that their trek the night before was terrible, it’s nothing compared to the rest of the journey. They hike in silence, Nesta trudging through the snow just behind Cassian. By the time the Elder Cave comes into view, Nesta has never been more happy to see that stupid spaceship, her chest heaving from the steady exertion. Cassian pauses just outside the large, main door and ramp that acts as the entrance, his shoulder tensing for a moment before he lets out a breath.

“I will wait out here for you,” Cassian offers, not even meeting Nesta’s gaze. “I am sure you do not wish for our khuis to give away our resonance.”

“Good idea,” Nesta murmurs quietly.

Nesta offers Cassian one last look, but the sa-khui male keeps his gaze firmly on the line of trees around them, his arms crossed over his chest. With a soft sigh, she walks up the ramp and steps inside the large main room of the spaceship. She finds just Jurian sitting around the fire, skinning what appears to be a hopper. He looks up when Nesta enters, but doesn’t say anything. There’s always been a strange, almost unsettling, wildness to Jurian, especially since he spent so little time with the main tribe. It has Nesta keeping her distance rather than stepping closer.

“Is Vassa here?” Nesta asks, refusing to back down from the way Jurian’s eyes narrow, the sa-khui male still slow to trust anyone outside his mate.

Jurian still doesn’t say anything, but he lets out a quiet grunt and turns his eyes toward the door that leads deeper into the spaceship. The meaning is clear enough. With a quiet thanks, Nesta heads through the doorway and into the winding hallways. She steps around holes in the floor, making sure to give a wide berth to any crumbling walls and crushed doors, and follows what sounds suspiciously like someone singing a Taylor Swift song.

When she turns around another corner, Nesta finally locates Vassa, the redhead toying with the wires of some sort of panel in the wall. Vassa pauses what she’s doing when she hears Nesta, but her friendly smiling of greeting morphs into a confused frown when she glances over Nesta’s shoulder and finds the rest of the hall empty.

“Nesta? What are you doing here? Did a whole group come?”

“Just me,” Nesta explains, raising her chin and straightening her spine. “I came to use the medical machine.”

Vassa’s eyes sweep over her, confusion growing. “Medical machine? For what?”

“That’s none of your business. I just need to use it, okay?”

“Well, if it was working, which it isn’t, I would need to program it to do what you need.”

The world seems to stop spinning beneath Nesta’s feet, everything crashing down around her as she swallows hard. “The medical machine isn’t working?”

“It started smoking the last time I tried turning it on, so definitely wouldn’t recommend climbing in there,” Vassa explains with a shrug. “I might be able to fix it, but it’s probably going to take awhile since I don’t exactly have a manual handy, so if you need something super urgently? Not happening.”

Nesta lets out a quiet, defeated scoff, closing her eyes and tilting her head up toward the sky. This can’t be happening. This cannot be happening to her. She’s not sure what sort of grievances she must have committed in another life, why the Mother has apparently seen fit to issue this sort of punishment, but it’s clear the gods are laughing at her now. Bile starts to claw its way up her throat, and she swallows hard around it, shoves down the panic threatening to well up in her chest. With trembling fingers, she pulls out the IUD from the small pocket in her clothes.

“Is that…” Vassa starts, leaning closer to see. She glances up at Nesta’s face, as if looking for confirmation, before letting out a bright laugh. “Come on. Your periods can’t be that bad that you need an IUD still. Our khuis help with that now. Besides, that was probably keeping you from resonating. Now you can have a hunky alien husband like Jurian.”

“So what?” Nesta snaps, her temper beginning to flare at this turn of events. “You won’t help me then?”

Vassa sighs, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms. “I can try and fix the medical machine, but just know that it probably won’t make much of a difference. Our khuis are living organisms, remember? Now that it knows how to push your IUD out, it will just do it faster the next time.”

Nesta hates that she’s right. Hates that it’s a fact she’s been pointedly ignoring since she first realized what had happened back at the main cave. A fact she’s been running from since she resonated with Cassian. But there’s no more running, no more denying, and there’s certainly no reversing it.

Vassa keeps speaking, her lips moving as she says something else, but Nesta doesn’t hear a word of it. She doesn’t hear anything over the ringing that takes up home in her ears, over the rushing and pounding of her blood. She clenches her hands into fists, her nails biting into the skin of her palm, but it does little to help ground her. Already, she can feel herself spiraling, falling down beneath the crushing waves until it hurts to breathe, until she’s sure that she’s going to drown and no one will hear her scream.

It’s like an out of body experience, like being on the outside looking in, as numbly, Nesta turns on her heel. As she walks back through the winding halls of the spaceship. As she walks out through the entrance and into the sun and the snow beyond. As she walks and walks and walks. She doesn’t know where she’s going, where she will go, but Nesta knows one thing with absolute certainty.

She needs to get out.

—

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