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annakie · 6 months ago

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Fixing the House, Chapter 3: All These Things That I've Done

Part One: I Do Not, In Fact, Have the Power

Part Two: Let’s Spend Lots of Money!

Part Three: All These Things That I’ve Done (YOU ARE HERE)

Part Four: I Really Want to Stay At My House

A little interlude.

Part Five: Power Down

Part Six: You Will Leave Some Paint

Part Seven: Backwards to go Forwards

Part Eight: Master of Bathrooms

Part Nine: Within a Room, Somewhere

Part Ten: Rooms With No View

Part Eleven: Big Bang Room Part A and also Part B!

Part Twelve: We Can Make It On the Outside

Part Thirteen: Mauve Haze Symphony

Part Fourteen (A) - In the Kitchen

---

It's been almost a week since my last post and, believe it or not, home renovations continue!

TBH I have a fuzzier memory of what got done when so some of this may be guesses, but it's more or less accurate!

Last post was Thursday morning! All day Thursday the porch was worked on, and by that night, or maybe Friday, it had all the decking on it!

Part One: It was Thursday Yet!

I'd left my car out of the garage that day because I knew they needed to do some work in the garage for the roof and to more easily get to power. That night when I was going to move it back into the garage, my next door neighbor, on the side that already had the fence, came out to talk to me.

She first gushed about how great the front of my house looked. I was so happy and proud! She did tell me that I needed to cut my bushes in the front back, which, I do need to have that done, lol.

I showed her all the work getting done and she was really happy for me. We ended up talking about the fence for the first time, really, and she told me that she disagreed with her husband about putting the "ugly" part of the fence outside, too, but as he built he he told her he wanted to see the pretty side. OK, whatever. It didn't matter now, but it was good to hear. :)

She also told me that back when I had my house broken into in like 2009, her husband saw them leave my house and CHASED THEM! They went two blocks to the apartment complex nearby. He saw what apartment they went into!! He called the police and told them EVERYTHING.

Apparently even with an eyewitness and the EXACT LOCATION OF MY STUFF the police just did not give a fuck to follow up. Man, I wish I'd have known that fifteen years ago when it happened. Just... absolutely infuriating. How fucking useless, cops. NO thank you very much.

Anyway, that was a good time, and the longest conversation we'd ever had.

Part Two: Blurry Happenings on the Weekend.

Either Friday or Saturday, I think Friday, Jose and Maria resumed work on the fence, AND FINISHED IT.

Holy shit, I had a fully enclosed yard. I was SO excited. I was practically giggling.

Here's a picture!

ALL of the junk is cleaned up and the rest of the chain link fence removed, but I'll save a full clean pic for the last update.

The alley side looks SO PRETTY!! And will be prettier when it's stained!

Also awesome is that i have a streetlight there that shines RIGHT into my backyard. It's already nicely lit. But I have plans for more lighting!

Not long after they left and I talked to Joel for awhile, I headed to Home Depot to buy a few things that we needed. Some of it maybe Joel should have paid for but I thought of it and I was there, so I bought the stuff.

First stop was the paint department. I brought the old can of paint for the living room wall and asked for a sample size of that. Turns out there were two colors that had had that same name and number. WHY, BEHR, WHY? I truly couldn't tell which was the right one from the picture. So, I just had them mix them both up. Ugh.

I also brought what I thought was the color I used in my bathroom and had them get me a sample of that because I needed to do some touch-ups. When I got home, I realized that that was actually the color I used for my doors. So I gotta go back and fix that. :p

I bought house numbers that need to go on the back of my fence (city regulation). I bought a new light to replace the porch light that broken. TBH it needed replacing, and I also wanted to make sure I got one I liked so I was fine paying for that. I got a gallon of white paint to paint my garage door, and a painting kit/tape since I didn't have any anymore, it'd been a long time since I painted. Oh, also some nice iron door handles to put on my gates so it'd be easier to pull them closed.

I'd bought a few things online over the week including new cushions for some of my patio furniture. So I when I got home from HD, I broke those out and was absolutely THRILLED to just chill out in my backyard that night for a bit.

I left the patio door open and let Fry and Pemily come hang out on the patio, too, since they now had no way to escape out of the yard. Neither of them are the escaping kind anyway, but I still never felt safe letting them hang out outside much at all, maybe one of them at a time for 2 or 3 minutes. But neither of them are good climbers so they had absolutely no way to get out now. Fry LOVED getting to explore a bit, and Pemily mostly stood near the door or near me, but it was a good experience for them.

I just want to also re-state that the little pole in the middle of the patio will be removed at some point when we no longer need the extra bracing.

I just sipped on my huge mug of water and truly enjoyed my backyard for the first time, pretty much ever, in 21 years of living here.

I believe Saturday while he was working on the fence, the roofers returned and did the first bit of putting the shingles on the patio. They didn't finish, there was some extra work to do at the "crease" where the roof met the Patio, but a good bit of it was done.

This is the pic where you CAN'T see the rest of the work that needed to get done. But most of the junk is removed!

-----

Part Three: No-Work Sunday

Sunday I visited my parents, and so no work got done.

On Saturday I'd told Joel that I wouldn't be home Sunday because I was going to visit my parents. I said they were leaving and it'd be the last time I'd see them for a few months so I HAD to go. I thought he asked me where they were going, so I said where, which is a several hour drive away. He asked when I'd be back, so I said Sunday evening. Hilariously, he was very confused because what he'd actually asked me is where do they live now, and the answer to that is about an hour away from me. He didn't understand how I'd be driving like 7 hours to visit them and then be back that same evening, lol.

My bad, I didn't listen well enough.

Sunday it also rained for the first time since the week of the storms that kicked off all this work, and we needed it. We wanted to do the fence staining that day while I was out but couldn't happen.

And then it rained Monday. The roofers returned Monday, though, and finished the roof!

We hadn't put a gutter on the back roof, but it was raining when I was home Sunday night it had rained it was clear we needed a gutter. The rain was dripping off the wood facing, and most of it came down hard at the place where the big slant of the roof met the patio roof.

So Joel and I talked about it, and agreed to each pay half to get a gutter put up. It was fair.

Part Four: Odds and Ends

Monday Jose came and took care of a lot of the odds and ends. Fixed the ceiling in the garage... did I mention a roofer also put his foot through the garage? Again, he was fine, but just a second hole in the garage wasn't my favorite thing. But it's fixed, no big deal!

This hole is no longer there.

He fixed the bathroom light that had come loose. This is obviously before it was fixed.

He put the new light outside on the patio against the wall. I need to take a picture of that!

There's a little hole near the patio that needs to be filled in with dirt from elsewhere. I put some cute little solar lights I'd bought around the hole to mark the hazard.

I had bought little cat doors. Buster and Peter had both figured out how to get into the yard again, but I'm sure it's a pain for them. Also, I HAVE to have a window in the fence where the water meter is so that the water department can come by and read the meter, so I'm just putting a cat door there, too. The boys (and hopefully the possum, who I haven't seen since the fence went in) will have an easier way to get in and out.

But we can't put those in, or the gate handles, or the house numbers, up until we can stain the fence. But it rained Sunday and Monday, and last night. So, no stain yet. Tomorrow, probably! I picked the color out just based on a picture, and I like it, and my neighbors like it, so hopefully I'll have pictures soon of it looking great!

The living room hole also got worked on yesterday and today. More spackle went up, and today he came and did the texturing on both the wall and ceiling. Tomorrow I think it all gets painted and it'll be like it never happened!

Part Five: I... Might Get the Power?

Back on Friday, Joel, Jose and I were discussing the porch and Joel suggested that I get a patio light installed in the patio instead of just the light on my house, and maybe an outdoor ceiling fan/light. That was a great idea. I didn't know if I could afford it, though. The budget was already gone, and my reserve savings, which isn't much, was really started to get low, too. But, honestly, I did want that fan and a couple of other things.

The problem was that we can't finish the patio until the wiring is done for any electric stuff going on in it.

I texted Joel's electrician Friday night, he said he'd get back to me but didn't over the weekend. When Joel was there Monday, he called Alberto, the Electrician, for me and he said he'd be by today (Tuesday.)

Tonight, after work I fell asleep on the couch watching Make Some Noise (I was real tired, ok?) Fry woke me up by coming to cuddle with me and it was really sweet. And then the doorbell rang around 6:15pm.

Heeey, it was Arturo! He had been doing a job in Fort Worth and apologized for coming so late. It's cool.

So we went to the patio, and he gave me a price I was shocked at was so low (though I had no idea it would cost, I just figured more than that) to wire things up for the fan and then install it after the porch ceiling was on. He also then whipped out his phone, had me pull up Amazon on mine, and directed me to a really good price on a fan he thought would do the job well. That also cost way less than I'd assumed it would. Awesome.

I also wanted an electric outlet on the patio, since there was none. I pointed out where the washer/dryer was opposite one part of the patio, he said no problem, and gave me the price for that outdoor outlet with a waterproof cover. Fantastic.

Since everything was pretty reasonably priced, I then showed him the master bath, which honestly I haven't really used in years. There is no outlet in there and the shower is a dumb size/shape so I practically only have one bathroom in a 2 bath house. He said he could cheaply put a new outlet next to the lightswitch. GREAT.

And then the big thing. The Office (aka what most people use as their living room.) There is NO LIGHTING in this room. I mean, I have a lamp here on my desk and I put some LED lighting behind the TV but neither of those is much. It seems RIDICULOUS that there's no lighting in this, the room that should be the living room. After some discussion, we settled on what I ALWAYS WANTED, for the last 21 years, some recessed lighting with a dimmer.

I wanted to cry from joy. It's another expense I didn't plan for, but all together the price is VERY reasonable for what I'm getting, way less than I dreamed it would be, and it's resolving several of my biggest gripes about the house, plus upgrading the patio significantly.

Tomorrow Arturo is coming to wire the patio for the fan/light so Jose can get back to finishing the patio, and he'll be back to install everything else when the Patio is ready, so late this week or sometime next week. FINE WITH ME!

Part Six: Conquering the Mountain

I have a terrible confession to make: My garage has been a horrible mess for many years. I tackle it a bit sometimes, but uh... not enough. Honestly, was embarrassing this week every time this week anyone needed to do anything in it. Plenty of space to park the car but uhhh... not much else.

The worst part of it is Laundry Mountain. Really, two mountains. No, there's not pictures of the garage past what you've seen. Very cropped. Honestly haven't put my clothes away in my bedroom in years, it all just gets washed and thrown on Laundry Mountain and I just pick what I want to wear off of/out of the mountain. It's... not great. And has been going on uh...longer than I'm going to admit.

The house itself sometimes gets a bit cluttered (tbh it's on the cluttered side now but I've been decluttering lately and it's gonna get back to organized pretty soon) but nothing like the garage.

It is A Problem.

Joel kind of jokingly scolded me about it and said he could get some guys to come haul all the junk out for a reasonable rate.

I told him maybe, but I needed to get the stuff out that I wanted to keep first.

Tonight, I started tackling the bigger pile of Laundry Mountain.

I threw out two medium-sized trash bags of mostly old, shitty clothes that like, the elastic rotted out of, or were just worn out or stained. Also, just some legit junk mixed in there.

I sorted and bagged up another trash bag of clothes to donate.

And then everything I might want to keep, which, tbh, was way too much, got dumped on my spare bedroom bed. Not the best solution, but it's a good place for it to be so I can sort again in the A/C and be close to where stuff can be put away. I'm thinking of it as one round of easy choices, and then a second round of taking inventory so I can choose the things I REALLY want / have room for and will do a more aggressive sort before putting away what I really want to keep.

I think I made it through about half of the bigger mountain in two hours. The hot water heater & washer/dryer are now completely accessible and the walkway to the door into the house is clear instead of just having a path.

it's a start! I'm proud of me.

TBH there's other reasons I'm proud of me lately that I'm not ready to post about, but maybe someday soon. But that other reason was really feeding into the clutter problem before I tackled it, and now that it's way more under control, getting the house to an amazing state is much easier. All of the work being done is the rest of the motivation I needed.

Anyway, need to head to bed now. Another update probably when all the actual work with Joel, Jose and Arturo is done!

#personal post tag thingy #fixing my house #fixing the house

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phil-fuckin-lewis · 5 months ago

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David Sylvian 💙

"In Love With My Friend"

> 1978 <

You were fixing your makeup, you wore some glamorous purple dress, then you finished and now sat on the bench and when you less expected, Sylvo gets in

He looked at you, suprised

"Wow, S/N! How can you look so... oh my god!" He smiled and walked towards you, who smiled

"Thanks David, i appreciate that!" You smiled

"You look GORGEOUS! S/N you should look at yourself more than once!" He exclaimed and turned you to the mirror

And now you were looking at yourself in the mirror again, you did REALLY look gorgeous!

"I don't know where you got this dress but it was not a bad choice. It fits really well with your body shape." David smiled and looked at you, again from your head to your feet

You smiled again, you could see David turning around and grabbing something from some of the tables around his dressing room, then he comes over to you

You looked at him by your mirror view, he had a hair brush with him, he started brushing your hair softly

"Your hair's beautiful!" He smiled as he brushed your hair

You didn’t even reply, but by the blushing, it was clear that it kinda made you happy

"I won't brush it much" David stopped brushing your hair

He embraced you by behind your back and you blushed, so did he!

— She's so cute! I want her for me!" David's thoughts said to him himself

You smiled and feels him leaning his head onto his shoulder, then you did the same. The view of his bleach blonde hair to your hair color made a nice match

Also the different haircur models

You spent 2 minutos embraced with Sylvo, when someone knocks on the door

He opened the door and said :

"Oh, hi! Steve! What's going on?"

"Well, nothing happened. I was just looking for you. Anyways, time to go! We're done with everything. Rich, Mick and Rob had left already" Steve said

"Oooh, okay!" David said and then turned back "Hey, S/N!"

"Yeah?" You turned over

"Wanna come with us?" He asked

"Of course i do!" You smiled and grabbed your backpack

He smiled and took your hand with his, everyone left David's dressing room

The other members have already left, and now there was just you and the Batt brothers

You all got home, Steve closed the door and David sat on the couch

"S/N!" Steve called ya

"Oh! What?" You turned joined him in the kitchen

"There is this chocolate right here, i decided to give you because it was the only one left, also that i know you love strawberry flavoured desserts. So, take it! That's yours!" Steve smiled

"Ooh, nice. Thank you, mate! That's so sweet from you!" You smiled

Steve was not in love with you, but he was also your best friend so of course he would give something really sweet, like ; exactly, some chocolate!

You drank some water and then sat next to David in the living room, he said :

"Oh hey, lovey!"

"Hello again!" You smiled and hugged him

"Is there any leftovers? I'm so lazy to make dinner!" Steve said as he opened the refrigerator

"Oh god, lemme go there" David said "And Y/N, have some rest, you need it"

"I really do!" You giggled and got up, holding your backback

You got into David's room and then you wore your pijamas after having a soft and warm bath, you brushed your teeth and then you got hair down and lied down on his bed

You covered yourself with a blanket, then David got into his room

He smiled to see you and then :

"Hey, love... dinner's almost done, would it bother you to get up and go?"

"Oh, no it wouldn't! I'm going" You got up

You walked downstairs with him and everyone had dinner, it was delicious and then everything was sleeping

David embraced you while you slept, and that's how he fell asleep

•

First time writing a Japan/David Sylvian fanfic, really happy

Hope you like it, mostly Japan and David fans

I worked hard on it and i hope it's worthwhile 🤍

- Maria 🤍

#japan the band #david sylvian #newromantic #70s #80s #glamrock #richard barbieri #mick karn #steve jansen #robdean #adolescent sex album #1978 #japan the band fanfic #david sylvian fanfic

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shivunin · 2 years ago

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more kissing prompts?! fenhawke - an abrupt kiss that you melt into after a moment of hesitation 😌

Always kissing prompts!! It's my favorite prompt list to date c: Thank you, by the way! And here you are:

Poppy Red

(Maria Hawke/Fenris | 1,273 Words | No warnings) Hawke and Fenris's first date

It should not be odd to see Fenris on her doorstep.

He’d stood right there a hundred times—or perhaps a thousand was more accurate—and the paint on the door bore marks from his gauntlet. She was fairly certain at least some of the graffiti on the kitchen table had been carved by the same gauntlet on some drunken night with all her friends in attendance, and he’d certainly spent the night in her bedroom.

So—yes, he’d been to the manor before. But he’d never come for the express purpose of wooing her before, and that made it all feel new again.

“Hello,” Hawke said, a little breathless, and Fenris stared at her through his hair.

“Ah,” she said after a moment, stepping to the side to swing the door open, “Come in. I’ve sent the others away for the evening so we could have some…well. Dinner should be simple enough to serve, as long as you don’t mind the humility of the offering. It’s been some time since I’ve had to cook.”

She was babbling. Stupid old habit. Maria closed her mouth tight, pursing her lips while he went on looking at her.

“Should I…” she began, but Fenris shook himself at last and stepped inside, carefully wiping his feet on the mat and producing a fistful of flowers from behind his back.

They were red; he’d brought her flowers in her favorite color.

“Oh,” Hawke said, clasping her hands to her chest and rocking up onto the balls of her feet, “Are those…did you bring me flowers, Fenris?”

“I—yes,” he said, his voice rough, and thrust the posy in her direction.

The tips of his ears were...positively red, nearly as red as the flowers in his hands. Hawke felt a sweet little thrill in her heart and took a step closer.

“They’re beautiful,” she said emphatically, taking them from him and burying her face in broad, flat-petaled flowers, “But—poppies? Wherever did you get poppies in Kirkwall?”

“There is a garden behind the manor,” he said, shifting his feet back and forth uneasily, “I…do not visit it often, and it is overgrown. I had thought—but do you like them?”

“I love them!” she said, clasping the stems in both hands, “I didn’t think that you—but they’re lovely; of course I adore them. Thank you, Fenris. Truly.”

“It seemed…fitting,” he said, smiling faintly before ducking his head, “Ah—you mentioned a dinner?”

“Oh!” Hawke said, turning on her heel and heading for the kitchen, “Yes. I made a stew—I’m afraid anything much more complicated is beyond me. Is that alright?”

“It is more than I would have had at the manor,” he said, following her on near-silent feet.

The kitchen was her second-favorite room in the manor after the library. Something about its dark rafters and its broad fireplace reminded her of the kitchen in Lothering all those years ago. The smells of the herb bundles hanging from the ceiling added to the feeling and she took a deep breath of them now, the bittersweet notes of poppy mixing with the sharper smells of rosemary and dill. Fenris hovered in the doorway while she retrieved a jar, filled it with water, and arranged the flowers inside.

He’d brought her flowers.

“Can I get you something to drink?” Hawke asked, and glanced up to find that his eyes were fixed on her in that intense way he sometimes had.

“What?” she asked, hands stilling on the stems, “Is something wrong?”

“No!” Fenris barked, and when he shook his head a lock of pale hair drifted over it, “No, I—you…you look…lovely this evening.”

Hawke looked down at herself. She’d worn a dress just in case, but stew had been more difficult than she’d recalled. There were streaks of flour about her waist, and she’d run out of time to do her hair. It was gathered loosely in a leather cord now, several shorter pieces in the front escaping the queue along her back.

Well, she’d thought despairingly when he’d knocked on the door, he’s seen me with brains in my hair and my intestines on the floor, surely a bit of flour can’t scare him off now.

It appeared that she’d been correct.

“Thank you,” she said, “And…you as well. You look...nice.”

Fenris was wearing the same thing he always wore, but he, too, looked down at it as if he’d never seen his clothing before. Not…not her best work, she had to admit; surely there’d been something else to compliment him on.

It was just—well. He was always so handsome; she really didn’t think other clothes would have made a significant difference. It still would have been Fenris wearing them, so he would have looked lovely regardless.

Rats—maybe she should have said that to him.

“...Thank you,” he said after a moment.

“Can you get the bowls?” Hawke asked brightly, still shaking her head at herself inwardly.

Why was this suddenly so hard? There were few people she knew better than Fenris, and she thought the same might be true of him. They’d known each other for six years now, had been through just about every horror known to Thedas together, and they certainly didn’t run short on passion if the night before last had been any indication.

What if that’s all this is? She wondered as she stirred the pot of stew, What if it will be too awkward to try for more than lovemaking? What if he doesn’t want more? She’d thought—but maybe she’d been wrong.

Hawke knew a lot about being wrong.

Before she could wander further down this unfortunate path of thought, a pair of hands caught her shoulders and spun her around. She barely had a moment to take in Fenris’s faintly desperate expression before he was kissing her, his lips hard on hers, his hands gripping her shoulders.

It wasn’t a great kiss. If she was being honest, it wasn’t even a good kiss. But after the initial shock, Hawke melted into it as if it was the best one she’d ever had. Fenris matched her, his shoulders loosening slightly, his lips softening as they moved over hers. The kiss had been hard to begin with, but it sweetened now, as Hawke angled her head and deepened the contact softly.

At last, Fenris pulled back with a sigh, his hands stroking over her shoulders once more before falling away.

“There,” he said quietly, “I thought I’d forgotten something. Is that…better?”

“Worlds better,” Maria said, beaming at him, and leaned forward to kiss him again. It was even easier this time, and he caught her hip when she would have stepped away again.

“Thank you,” Fenris said solemnly; for a moment, she thought he might be thanking her for the kiss, but he went on, “For welcoming me into your home.”

There was a weight to the words that she couldn’t quite place; some double meaning she would need to puzzle over later. For now, though, Maria shrugged and reached past him to take the bowls from the table.

“You’re welcome anytime you please,” she said, and handed him a full bowl, “Though I can’t say I’m especially gregarious in the mornings.”

“Yes,” Fenris said dryly, handing her the second bowl, “I noticed.”

They smiled at each other for a moment before he let go, both caught in memories of yesterday morning, but at last Hawke turned away again to serve herself dinner.

No—this wasn’t so bad after all. They would figure it out.

We are, she thought as he pulled her onto his lap and wrapped an arm around her waist, figuring things out quite nicely.

#fenris #fenris dragon age #maria hawke #fenhawke #fenris x hawke #da2 #da fanfic #my writing #finished halfway and then i had to go make dinner! but here it is #thank you so much for the prompt <3 I love writing these two #I feel like they have so much history and so many layers of thoughts and feelings for each other #it would be such an difficult shift to build a relationship on all that after everything #difficult but lovely of course c:#shivunin scrivening

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princessmacedon · 2 years ago

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They're friends, so of course they know eachothers schedules; It's all too easy for Chad to drop in between classes, enough time to give Maria her gift, enough haste to cite their own classes as reason to book it if they start freaking out like some loser. It's all too easy to spot her leaving her class, easy to quickly intercept her with a quiet call of her name.

"Hey, Maria." He fidgets, briefly, brown eyes flickering away as he clears his throat; Meets her eyes again, makes an effort to not burrow into his collar.

"Here." he hands her a little package, an envelope tied with ribbon on top of a small, flat box. "I didn't forget, yeah? Happy birthday."

A little smile, just for her, even as their face warms. When she opens the package, she'll find a black headband decorated with handmade fabric flowers — a bit like white forget-me nots, if you squint, the envelope containing a quick sketch of her at a market stall; A fragment snagged from memory.

"Oh! Chad?" They're friends, so of course they know each other's schedules -- and that's what sets Maria's eyes aglow. Curiosity, gladness, and oh, she can't help it; she's just a bit hopeful today as well. This isn't where his classes usually take him this time of week, after all, and while birthday wishes aren't the be all, end all of friendships, she cannot help but find a warm, gentle delight in them.

"What's this?" She asks, receiving parcel and paper with a ginger touch, handling them as preciously as she holds them in her heart. There's no expectation of an answer, but the question softens the way her lips curl at the corners. He's fidgeting again. Rose-colored eyes stay fixed to the box in one of her hands, but the other rises to her mouth, catching the quiet giggle that escapes her.

"Hee hee... Yeah!" Eyes flick back up to catch his quiet smile, returned full-heartedly with a toothy grin that splits the landscape of her expression. "I wish I could open it now..." Distantly, a bell tolls, reminding her just why she can't; nevertheless, she spares a moment to hug the gift to her chest, bursting with affection. Though she has no reaction to offer him right now, there's no doubting he's just handed her a great treasure. "Thank you so much, Chad!" Another moment spared to playfully poke his shoulder. "Really, truly! I'll open it when I get back to my dorm -- but don't miss class, okay? Heeheehee."

(The next time they see her, surely he'll notice the new hairband she's sporting; even if he doesn't, they'll surely catch her eye, and earn themself a beaming grin from across the hallway and a finger pointed to draw attention to the fact.)

#lycianlynx #gonna be a bit slow answering birthday asks but thank you everyone ;; w ;; <3 #and thank YOU leoleo!! :] <3 #me zoning out at 2am and then seeing the notif on my phone (softsmile)#{ birthday 2023 #princessmacedoodles

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69why-am-i-doing-this69 · 2 years ago

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Someplace Quieter

Aesop Sharp x OC

Description:

An American auror transferring to the British Ministry of magic for some peace of mind. She first has to undergo supervision under oath of not meddling in the British affairs. It was only a benefit to the ministry to place her under the supervision of the former auror now potions professor.

Notes:

He's here

Chapter 1

Chapter 2 – A Pleasant Conversation

The Gala was the last event from the exhibition, only those tied to the auror division could attend. It was a way to mingle with other aurors and to allow the new recruits a way to relax after their demonstrations. It started at the break of night, which certainly came to once my battle with Maria was concluded. It was all a blur really, I don’t exactly remember how I manage to squeeze in this dress so fast, hair fixed into an updo, and face primed for a fancy event. I didn’t even get to look at myself in the mirror until it was almost finished. All I had left to do was to put on the crimson gloves that went to my forearms, but I got distracted by my appearance. My hair put into a lower bun with two strands that framed my face. Red dahlias and perennials littered throughout my hair, vibrant with the contrast of my black hair. Very fitting. I wonder if they were familiar with my firearm. My dress certainly matches but with a subtle red bordering on pink with golden accents mimicking flames. It felt more like I was promoting my house colors than my affinity. After I felt enough time has passed, I put the gloves on, paying close attention to my injured hand to lessen as much pain as possible. With a final glance in the mirror, I exit the changing room to be met with Derrick leaning on the wall, waiting.

“It’s the woman of the hour. You looked wonderful out there.” He smiles at me, bouncing off the wall to extend his arm, which I gladly took. His sweater vest was exchanged for a three-piece suit. Looking regal suited him best.

“Thanks to your Pepper Imp no less. What made you think of that?” I grin back. His smile always tends to spread in others.

“Well, after the whole dorm incident and scouring through each line in the rule book and every asterisk in the margins, I didn’t see anywhere that restricted a nice snack before the arena. Your use of it in battle was just as a surprise to me as everyone else” he jests, earning himself a quiet laugh from me while I brought my gaze to the floor. It probably caused a stir for my opponent.

how’s Maria?” I look up him as we walk to the ballroom. All I got from his initial response was a pained expression.

“She made quite a fuss, trying to disqualify you to no avail but she won’t pass up the gala, or any gala in that matter,” He sighs. I quickly took note to avoid her during this event. A silent pause took its course as he instantly tries to rectify it. “Don’t mind her though, it’s not going to do you any good to worry about her. Use this event to relax, socialize with your peers” he reasons which was met with my eyes rolling at him.

“That’s your thing Derrick, I’d rather be back in my apartment” Dreading of the forced small talk with other aurors.

“To what? Talk to your plants? Is your Moly is sulking again?” he chuckles. I flicked his arm that had no effect on him as we reach the ballroom. It was decorated according to my affinity due to the outcome of the event, each piece of decor sporting some kind of red. At our entrance, the guests immediately raise their glasses to me, except for one. Maria dawned her light blue colors, which made her stood out from the sea of red. It really suits her. She was adorned with multiple silver accessories; it even had silver encrusted hair net. If only I could wear such things without it harming me. her eyes me with her powerful glare. I grinned back at the guests nodding my head towards them with acknowledgment, shooting Maria an apologetic smile. The crowd then continues with their own activities as Derrick withdrew his arm lingering to hold my wrist. “I mean it Nani; I don’t want to go find your hiding spot when you meet with Professor Kim tonight to meet the president later” he commands before turning to mingle with other guests.

I did what I was told, forced smiles, small talks, meaningless conversations that I couldn’t be bothered to remember; hell, I’m unsure if I remember their names and faces. I didn’t know how long it took but if it weren’t from the arena battle hours prior, socializing really drained me. Looking over to the bar, I would’ve killed for a glass of Ogden’s fire whiskey but it’s a risky idea with my affinity paired with my nerves. It’s too warm, too loud with everyone here, I wanted to leave but it would be rather rude of me. Instead, I opt to go to outside, the cool breeze and the lack of people surely would calm me down. I open the balcony doors, walking towards the balcony occasionally separated with tall columns and large bushes growing on top. Peering below, you could see the city of New York, it was pretty, but anything looks as much with a cloudless night sky. With Absent mind, I lean on the column next to me counting the stars above.

Derrick would be disappointed if he found me here, not that I care really. It was the usual banter of our friendship. He would tease me for my lack of social lifestyle just as much as I would for his incessant ramblings to people. It was amusing at times, hearing him recount many of his stories during his time at Ilvermorny the amount of times that I have, it was a funny joke to recite it in its entirety before he could.

My distracted thoughts dissipate as three men in a joyful conversation took place at the fence next to mine, only blocked by the column I was huddling next to. A shock of panic went through me as they had no idea I was there. It immediately struck me that they were from the British Ministry gave away quickly from their accent. I can clearly hear what they’re talking about, but I didn’t want to be thought as if I was eavesdropping on them. I didn’t know if it was wiser to remain in place or to quickly take my leave. I glance at the doors leading back to the ballroom but immediately grimace at the idea of more small talk. Instead, I gather my dress will be pressing myself to the column waiting for these men to finish before going back to my prior position.

I did my best to not hear what they were saying, directing my attention back to counting all the stars in the sky. Their conversation was rather dull, focusing on their current matters in the United Kingdom. It dawned on me how little I knew of the wizarding world and how much more I wanted to know about it.

My hands throb from the constant thorns stabbing me as I pick the strawberries off their stems, lightly tossing them on the mound of strawberries in a basket fiddling with my fingers to soothe them before my next task. I groaned in pain trying to lift the basket weighing almost just as much as myself. I didn’t mind but I also didn’t have a choice to. I would get some bread with the money from this job tomorrow since I snuck some strawberries for myself. It was wrong since they weren’t mine but at least I didn’t have to starve today or tomorrow. Heaving the basket in the vast strawberry farm, I was greeted with a spotted owl sat firmly on a strawberry bush with a letter in its mouth. “weird” I thought to myself slowly placing the basket back down on the ground, not daring to break eye contact with the owl. “Is that for me?” I asked, pointing to myself with the owl hopping in response. I hesitantly walked towards the owl that remained stationary on the bush, slowly removing the letter from its beak. Once it came into my grasp the owl quickly flew away. Looking skeptically at this letter I got, I chose not to mind it as I had to finish picking these strawberries; stashing it in my pants as I lifted the basket again with a grunt.

The day was over and paid the little money I could get. I had nothing better to do other than to sit on the dock and count the stars, but my mind was focused on other things. Pants rolled to my knees as my burning feet dipped into the cool lake. I turned the letter over and over before I finally gathered the courage to rip open the neat covering. I opened the folded letter to see a peculiar logo and bright letters that said Ilvermony School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A school for witches and wizards? I never heard such a thing. I continued reading.

Dear Miss Davis,

With great honor, we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. We await your owl no later than July 31st. Please find the enclosed list of all necessary books and materials.

Term begins on September 1st.We very much look forward to receiving you as part of the new generation of Ilvermonry’s heritage.

I looked at the next parchment, reading all that was listed. I have no clue what this even means or what these objects are. I huffed in annoyance, putting the contents on my lap while mindlessly swirling the water below me with my feet. I don’t even have an owl, so what do I do now?

My attention is brought back to the situation next to me as I hear a couple steps walk away from my position. Thinking they have left, I removed myself from my tight position by the column. Leaning back to peek at a pair of men entering the ballroom. I glance back at their previous spot only to be met with a man’s stare while he leaned on the fence. His stern look making me jump back behind the column out of his sight.

“Oh my,” I gasp. Quickly gathering myself to explain this situation and peering over the column again. “I promise I wasn’t listening, swear on a thunderbirds back,” I defend myself, making a surrendering gesture with my hands. His stare softens into a low chuckle.

“Never heard that one before” He responds, with a low-pitched English accent. I went stiff with how soothing it was. I took a moment to gaze at his features, brown hair that fell to his neck with bushy eyebrows that gave him a stoic look. Merlin, was it alluring. If his face and voice wasn’t enough his attire certainly is. I start flush at the revelation. He clears his throat before continuing, “Aren’t you supposed to be in there?” He motions to the ballroom.

“I was told to make an appearance given that it was in my honor, and I technically have an appointment here” I shyly peep. My hands found solace in each other, soothing the burned hand to ease the nerves I was feeling. “Banquets and ballrooms are not my kind of leisure” I finish, leaning on the column next to me. He accepted that response turning his focus back down of the city.

“It isn’t mine either, but I got convinced to come and my peers wouldn’t live down my absence to an extraordinarily rare event. I wouldn’t have either to be honest.” He moves slightly, opening a spot for me to stand next to him.

“It was that big across seas?” I didn’t know how interconnected the wizarding world is.

“Given the odds, it would be a shame to miss it. A lot of the quidditch debates around pubs switched to this.” My eyebrows furrow hearing that. Quidditch debates involved a lot of player stats, broom quality, and quidditch plays. It would be difficult to make a tangible argument with the very little information about us.

“I’d like to hear their arguments,” I grin, “I’m sure their logic behind it was structurally sound.”

“If so all of our bridges would collapse,” he rebuts, causing me to laugh. His gaze averts from the city to me.

“Who was favored?” I question. He took a minute to ponder the thought.

“It was half and half really, but I’m sure your half is relishing at the news of your win” He answers, flashing me a slight grin which I returned gladly.

“A stroke of luck” I quip, resting my elbows on the fence holding my face in my hand while peering down the city alongside him. “And maybe a pepper imp,” I added, glancing at his face. My face couldn’t resist a smile from his chuckle.

“Give yourself some more credit, your abilities in combat can’t only be derived by luck.”

“But the pepper imp saved my ass in the end,” I confess dejectedly. Even though I was declared the winner, I still feel like my skills are unprepared for the field.

“And that didn’t contribute to your winning?” He tried to reason.

“I guess it does,” I relent to him.

“A bit unorthodox I must say but very clever.”

“Living to the thunderbird house name,” I laugh.

“And your opponent? She surely spent no time trying to rally against you with her entrance,” he took a glance back inside the ballroom.

“I wouldn’t expect anything less from her, it’s quite typical reaction between a Wampus and a Thunderbird,” I respond. His somber face turns quizzical from my lack of context. “Our houses,” I add rashly,” We have a bit of a rivalry when it comes to quidditch and duels”. His expression softens a little, still unsure of the situation.

“How so?”

“Ilvermorny houses are determined by which aspect of ourselves that calls out to them. For a Thunderbird it’s the soul, which students tend to have a more adventurous personality while Wampus favors the body, which attracts warriors,” I pause trying to piece together centuries of the rivalry history. “Given our different approaches in these subjects, Wampus focusing on practicality while Thunderbirds are bolder in their tactics. I’m sure you can imagine the discourse it causes” I explain, recalling the many debates I’ve heard during class. “There isn’t a year that goes by without a controversy in quidditch about a particular thunderbird strategy,” I finish, trying to contain my grin, relishing those memories back in Ilvermorny.

“I can certainly see why,” he smiled back, “it’s a slight contrast to the Hogwarts for sure, how exactly are students placed?”. I can feel my face brighten when trying to recall memory of being sorted. I never felt so amazed that such a thing could exist in this world.

“Of course,” I beam turning my entire body so my side leans on the fence with one elbow resting on it, facing him completely. “In the entrance hall, there’s a slightly elevated circle in the center of the room and all the new students would gather at the bottom of the steps of it, the upper classman will stand on the common areas above them”. I start using my hand to shape a scaled-down size of the room using one of my hands to encircle the spot in the middle. “There would be a gordian knot engraved on the surface with four pillars of our house mascots carved on top. Each student would stand in the middle and wait for a pillar react to them and they all do different things”. I glance at him while recounting the sorting process. He listens intently while grinning at me, the New York breeze brush through his hair. With that, I lost my train of thought, wriggling my fingers in attempt to find my place. “Thunderbird would flap its wings, the wampus would roar, the horned serpents crystal would shine, and the pukwudgie would raise it’s bow” I finish. That was the entire process but quickly, I remembered the most interesting cases of students being housed. “Oh,” I exclaim, his eyes unwavering, “every year there’s at least one student that causes multiple pillars to react, there’s even an urban legend that goes around about a student getting every pillar,” I finally conclude, rubbing my hands together.

“And what happens then?” Invested in the whole thing. Mimicking my posture, now facing one another though he rests his chin on his hands while mine accentuate what I’m saying.

“They get to choose what house to go to,” I say, “It’s a rather long process, especially when those happen. It’s an honored tradition that all the upper classman would skip class for the day. Friend groups would even pull sticks, the short end of the stick would be the one to grab food from the cafeteria.”

“How long did it take you to be housed?”

“It didn’t take long at all to see the thunderbird flap its wings; I’d say less than a minute. The longest I��ve witnessed was maybe an hour and a half, he was a nervous wreck the entire time, but both the horned serpent and thunderbird wanted him,” I say, smiling at the memory. My smile fades as I realize how much I’ve been talking. “But enough about me, how about Hogwarts?” I turn to him with elation to know more about the wizarding world.

“Ah, not as visually appealing, but each student wears a talking hat” he said simply. My face flinches, disheartened at the lack of detail.

“Just a talking hat?” I pitifully ask.

“Well, no. he sang a song before the sorting ceremony. A new one each year” he adds, my face lightens at the thought.

“How lovely, I’m sure music would’ve been nice for our nerves during in our opening ceremony,” I say to him envious. “How are your houses separated?”

“It’s not determined by a certain part of our bodies for sure but by the traits you value most.”

“And yours?” waiting eagerly.

“The Slytherin house is ambitious,” he trails,” and Gryffindor brave, Ravenclaws are intelligent, and Hufflepuff are loyal,” he finishes explaining. “Though I’m a bit impartial to my own.”

“And why’s that?” flashing him a smile.

“Our house resides in the dungeons,” My face scrunch. Dungeons are usually a sad dilapidated place. “But our windows were submerged from the lake so we’d get to see the marine life, occasionally a giant squid would greet us,” he notes, his hand that was resting on the fence outstretched towards me. My mouth went agape.

“Giant squid? How big is giant?” I ask, mindlessly grabbing his hand with both of my own.

“Students had to be weary on their brooms, just in case the squid stretched his tentacles,” he responds just as clueless.

“Maybe I should accept a position at the ministry,” I humor him.

“For Hogwarts?”

“For the squid,” I laugh, he follows along with me. Once our laughter has settled, his face turned pensive.

“You haven’t accepted anything yet?”

“It’s up in the air. Given my little quirk, I can go anywhere really. I’ll most likely be heavily recommended to stay here as it’s where the headquarters is located plus my former defense professor is pulling an arm and a leg for me to meet the president,” I answer, unsure of what other thought I had on the matter. “What’s it like in the ministry?” wanting to know more about his work.

“Not as publicized for certain, though I can imagine it’s similar everywhere,” his heads tilts to recall. “The only big thing is that guns are prohibited.”

I roll my eyes at him, “of course not but-,” I was cut off short.

The sound of the door opening made both of our head’s snap. There stood Professor Kim, making no move forward, waiting for me to take action. My face went blank laced with disappointment. “Professor,” I acknowledge turning back to the man next to me. “It appears that I’m needed,” I whisper to him. Only now noticing my hands wrapped around his. I let go of them, anxiously rubbing together.

“I should probably find my partner. If I were to guess, he’d be emptying an entire barrel of whiskey” He jokes, causing me to laugh quietly. I held out my hand for him to shake.

“I hope to see you again at these things Mr.…” I trail, a flash of an embarrassment through my entire body. I never even got his name.

“Sharp, Aesop Sharp,” he says, gently shaking my hand.

“Mr. Sharp,” I acknowledge “Nani Davis.” Withdrawing from each other as we both walked to the doors. I stop in front of Professor Kim, not hearing a word he’s saying. My attention solely focused on Aesop’s figure disappearing from the into the crowed and from my sight.

#aesop sharp #professor sharp #aesop sharp x oc #hogwarts legacy

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doitwrite · 2 years ago

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From The 3 A.M. Epiphany

Exercise 11: "THE CHEERFUL SPECTATOR. “Introduce to yourself a narrator intimate to a story but outside it as well…This is a lot like The Reluctant I (Exercise 1), except in this exercise place an observer outside the stream of a story, but just outside. (In The Reluctant I, the narrator should be very important to the story.) 800 words”

The Quick-Fix Couples’ Hair Salon

Mack rubbed his hand over his matted hair in frustration, and I winced as I took in its sorry state in the mirror.

“I tell ya Juno, it ain’t easy bein’ married.” Juno nodded sympathetically as I nudged Mack’s hands out of the way, attacking his hair with a wet comb.

“I mean, it’s not like I killed someone! I just forgot to tell her that I—”

“—was going to the bar with his friends! Again!” Maria’s shrill voice was audible even over the sound of the hair dryer, and her two-inch long acrylic nails threatened to take one of Juno’s eyes as she waved them wildly. He dodged, then shot me an exasperated glance.

“Okay, and what did you say?” I smiled as I untied her ponytail. Juno was the therapist, and I just did hair. At least Marie bothered to brush hers once in a while, so I didn’t have to

wrestle with the unruly curls as he continued to complain.

“It was the only time I’d ever forgotten about our anniversary, you know! Once in twenty years!”

“Mm-hmm.” Juno scribbled something down in his notebook. I eyed my comb, which now had a few broken teeth. Another fallen soldier, I sighed as I tossed it over my shoulder into the trash with its brethren. Time for Plan B. I snatched the bright green bottle from the top shelf of the rolling cart as Mack ran out of steam and lay back.

“And did you apologize?” Juno asked.

“No! I honestly didn’t see what the big deal was, ya know? I mean—”

“I can’t believe that he was so selfish!” Marie kicked her feet. “And to think that I even dressed up all nice!” Her face crumpled, and Juno retrieved a tissue box from the corner.

“Thank you, dear.” She dabbed at her running mascara. Her hair was straight, so it was going to be difficult getting it to fluff up. She was going to need a round in the perm machine if I was going to get her the sort of volume she was asking for.

“It was once in twenty years! Give a man a break.” Mack grumbled. I sighed as I wrestled another comb through his hair. It was like trying to brush a shag carpet.

It was Juno’s turn to look at me smugly before he turned his attention back to Mack.

“Mack, this sort of thing means a lot to ladies. I’m sure you love her very much, but you should try to apologize for forgetting. I’m sure she’ll forgive you.”

“Apologize…” he muttered. “Huh.” He stood up suddenly from the chair, his hair still a tangled mess. He slapped down a few bills at the desk and swept out the door. I was about to run out after him and insist that he come back so I could fix his hair, but a few second later Marie stalked in through the door, and the look on her face made it clear that we had better drop everything and assist her right that second or there was going to be hell to pay.

***

“I’m sure he didn’t mean to forget,” Juno soothed as I guided Marie over to the machine.

“Didn’t mean to forget!” she screeched. “We’ve been married for twenty years! I’m going to call that douche and give him a piece of my mind.” She clawed a phone out of her purse. Juno winced as I positioned the machine over Marie’s head.

There came a crash from the lobby. The door to the salon had been thrown wide open. Mack’s huge frame filled the doorway. I flinched when I took in his rat’s nest of hair, but Marie had gone quiet, staring at her husband with a stunned look on her face. His arms were crammed with an explosion of color—daisies, tulips, and roses.

He spotted Marie immediately and made a beeline for her, then threw himself onto his knees.

“Marie, baby, I’m so sorry that I forgot our anniversary. I’m so lucky to have you, and I promise I’ll make it up to you!”

Silence. I realized I could smell something burning and quickly turned off the perm machine.

“Oh, Mack! Sweetheart!” She leapt out of the chair, and the couple collided in an explosion of petals.

“Wait! Your hair…”

“Oh, Juno! Georgina! Thank you so much!” Marie tossed a handful of twenties at my receptionist, Sheila, as Mack carried her out the door.

I stood there for a moment, a comb dangling from my hand. Juno got up from his chair and stretched, then came over and put his arms around me.

“Another job well done,” he mumbled into my hair.

I snorted. “For you, perhaps. Did you see the state of their hair?!”

He snickered. “Hey, as long as we get paid."

It was just another day at The Quick-Fix Couples’ Hair Salon. (“Where We Fix Your Hair And Your Relationship!”)

#not my prompt #The 3AM Epiphany #writing #writing exercise #cw: swearing

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stuckylibrary · 3 years ago

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Group Ask 192

What is a group ask?

Previous Group Asks

AO3 Search Tutorial

Please reply to this post if you know one of the fics mentioned in this ask. Thank you so much in advance!

Anonymous 1 asked:

Hi,! This was an infinity war fix it. I think steve was stranded somewhere after he and tony fixed everything and he calls bucky. He’s in the hospital for a while and everyone’s alive and in the end, carol comes, turns out she saved him before or something. Thank you!

Anonymous 2 asked:

Do you know of a fic, possibly A/B/O, where Steve had Bucky’s kid after waking up from the ice? I think Bucky spies on them repeatedly throughout the mostly CATWS fic. Thanks for your help 😊

Anonymous 3 asked:

Can you help me find a fic it was where when Steve got the serum he was only affected during the day and at night he was still skinny steve and it's also (partially) post tws?🙏❤️

Anonymous 4 asked:

hiii i’m looking for a fic in which bucky was a merman/siren. all i remember is that it was VERY angsty and bucky’s tail was red. he had human legs as long as he didn’t get wet.

Anonymous 5 asked:

Hi i was wondering if you could help me find a fic where steve and bucky had a fling but bucky got sent to war and when he comes back steve has a girlfriend.

Anonymous 6 asked:

Looking for a fic called "a happy wife is a happy life"? or a title something like that. I can't seem to find it. Thank you in advance

genderenvycas asked:

hello! i'm looking for a fic i really enjoyed, and the only scene i remember was Bucky borrowed a pink hairtie from someone and clint questioned him about it and bucky said he didn't need "manly" colored things to be secure in himself. might have been a 5 things style oneshot.

Anonymous 7 asked:

i'm hoping that the fic i'm searching for hasn't been deleted. all that i can really recall is that it begins with the 2012-era avengers at some sort of event, and from a rooftop, bucky (as the winter soldier) lines up his shot and hits steve's shield. it's been a few years since i read it but i'm still hoping it's around somewhere. thanks in advance!

Anonymous 8 asked:

Helloo! Im looking for a fic and maybe you guys know of it? I read it a very long time ago and it was soo gooood. I think Bucky was a royal of some sort but he was kind of a rebel and his best friend was a scrawny nerdySteve and he was in love with him but Steve was dating Peggy URGHHHH I totally forgot what most of its about but if you can help me find a fic like that that be amazing! Thank uou!

scaryloyalstarkid asked:

I don’t remember a lot but I’m fairly certain that Steve was a photographer and Bucky was a model. At some point, they sort of finally start to get together and then Bucky gets in a bad car accident and loses his arm and gets the metal one and Steve is trying to help him work through it.

Anonymous 9 asked:

Hi! i’m looking for a fic where steve had been having panic attacks and hiding them? I think Bucky found out after seeing Jarvis’ footage of Steve panicking on the roof? thanks!

captainhotass asked:

i'm looking for a very specific fic that has pregnant bucky, he is fired from his job and he uses matt murdock as a lawyer for that, i'm pretty sure steve is an architect in it and the howling commandos are definitely in it, as a construction/contracting company.

Anonymous 10 asked:

There was a story I read before that I'm trying to find again. Bucky is recovering and realizes he is gay. One day at a press conference he is asked about a girlfriend but says "I'm gay." This confuses Steve who tries to explain to Bucky that he isn't gay.

Anonymous 11 asked:

Hello, I'm looking for a fic, Steve is an Alpha and Bucky is an omega, tjey are Best friends and Bucky wants a baby so he asks Steve to BE the father. Sam is also with Maria, they might BE even married. Natasha and Clint too. The baby is a Girl and Steve proposes to Bucky afrer birth.

Anonymous 12 asked:

hi! i’ve been looking for a fic for sometime and for the life of me i can’t find it i tried everything. it’s ABO, Steve is an omega and Becca’s roommate and becomes sexfriend with Bucky and have BDSM sex where Steve is a kitten, and at some point Steve gets pregnant and they have the baby. Steve’s diabetes is very present in the fic and it was long and so so good but i can’t find it anywhere ! thank you so much for your work (:

#group asks

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sleepyxcocoa · 3 years ago

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Maria RPG Headcanons

Hello again! Thank you for all the likes and reblogs, they're all appreciated! I’ve got to say, Maria is quite the fun character! I love her color palette(I’m weak for pink ok?) so coming up with a costume for her was quite fun! As of right now, Maria's card is my favorite! Here are my headcanons of Maria in @azure-wolf-227’s Hamefura RPG AU.

Because she didn’t have enough money to hire someone to make a high quality medic uniform, Maria crafted her own by modifying a newer dress and using scraps of outgrown clothes.(this is why her outfit is similar to the one in the OG Hamefura universe with some modifications) Her medical kit, on the other hand, was provided for by the Magic Ministry.(If you are wondering why the Ministry is being stingy with Maria, their finances have been pouring into...er....more urgent matters....)

Maria decides to become an adventurer in both universes to support her mother and to try to make her proud.

In Hamefura, Maria has a sarcastic and witty side of her, and can be surprisingly pessimistic at times. This side of her is mainly shown towards the capture targets, namely Geordo.(he annoys her the most) In Fortune Lover, on the other hand, this side of her is never shown due to her not having other friends and she felt that she needed to please the capture target, thus she felt she couldn’t be sarcastic around them because they could think of her as rude.

Both versions of Maria are reserved, but the degree of it varies.

In order to conserve her magic, Maria uses light magic for emergencies only. If it is possible, she will use the tools in her medical kit to fix injuries.

Maria has a special “attack” she can use on her enemies. The attack involves her saving up enough light energy, and then suddenly releasing all of her light/healing magic. This helps heal her teammates while temporarily stunning/blinding her opponents. However, she becomes drained after this attack, so players have to use it wisely. Additionally, the effectiveness of the attack can depend on how much magic Maria has released and saved.

Maria at first cannot create energy swords, shields, or force fields, due to the fact that she only trained herself to heal others rather than actually applying it to the battlefield.

Maria is physically weak in the beginning, but with the help of the capture targets, she becomes stronger throughout their journey.

If her relationship with a capture target reaches a certain level, there will be a cutscene where she and the capture target eventually come up with ideas to combine their magic to create more effective attacks, which the player can use if both their HP and magic is high enough.(I also added Bakarina because I can see Maria doing this with her and Bakarina being confused as to why but goes along with it)

Geordo: Geordo and Maria both combine their fire magic and light magic to create a supernova(a ginormous star that explodes) that can burn and blind the enemies, while healing party members.

Keith: Maria distracts the opponent by blinding them with her “flash bomb,” while Keith manipulates the dirt/clay beneath to create omnidirectional Earth walls that can crush the enemies.

Alan: Alan creates a “floating river” surrounding the battlefield that protects allies while blocking enemies, while Maria uses her power move to create multiple refractions, stunning the enemies.

Nicol: Nicol creates a wind barrier that can hurt the enemies while protecting them, while Maria combines it with her light magic to heal all party members inside the barrier.

Hamefura Katarina: Maria uses her light magic to increase the amount of plants within their vicinity, which allows Katarina to use the enormous amount of fauna to bury and push the enemies deep underground, suffocating them.

#maria campbell #my next life as a villainess #hamefura #destruction flag otome #anime #otome game no hametsu flag #alternative universe #artists on tumblr #hamefura rpg au #rpg elements #rpg au #fortune lover

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killerskillercaptain · 4 years ago

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Forget Me Not - part II

this work is based on this request by anon

pairing : levi ackerman x reader

wc : 1037

themes : reincarnation au, canonverse to modern au, Levi and Reader both reincarnate in modern au, Levi remembers his past life, reader does not.

warnings : mention of car accident

a/n : everyone is reincarnated here, enjoy !

"Thank goodness you're awake !" said the small young woman entering the room.

She spoke with a soft voice, her hair was a candid ginger color and her eyes were big and bright but full of concern for you.

"How are you feeling doctor ?"

Doctor ?

Oh right, you remembered now, this is the hospital you work at, that's why the room felt familiar, this was one of those rooms were patients would rest after a surgery, you just never actually laid down in one of those beds. You still didn't recall how you found yourself here but you remembered the name of the young woman standing in front of you with a worried look.

"Petra, how did i get here ? What happened ?"

Petra's eyes grew bigger with worry, as if she didn't believe you just asked this question. You always liked her, she was younger than you, and just an intern but she was sharp, efficient, well-mannered and you remember you were impressed by how much recommendation letters she had when she first got here. She also showed a lot of respect to the hierarchy, which is something you appreciated.

"You got hit by a car"

"Really ?" you barely remembered.

"Yes, apparently you were crossing the street when that happened, but it's nothing serious really, you just had a concussion, you were conscious when Oruo and Gunther from the emergency service brought you up here, you must have slept that's all"

You listened only partly to her explanation, pain still shooting through your head.

You couldn't remember the said accident but everything came back to you slowly : you were a surgeon at the Maria Hospital, you lived alone in an appartement on a main avenue and Petra was your intern.

Still holding your head and groaning, you tried to get up.

"Maybe you should rest a little more doctor !" said Petra nervously.

"No, i'm okey, i just need some aspirin and coffee and i'll be back on track. You talked about a concussion, did you do an x-ray ?"

"Yes, everything is fine don't worry"

"Great"

Putting your slippers on, you managed to walk out of the room, making a bee line to the coffee machine tucked in the corner of your service. Pushing some coins down the machine's insides, you heard the familiar clicking of money then another mechanical echo followed by the sound of hot liquid being poured down.

You picked up the cup and let the steam overwhelm you for a moment, drowning the usual background noise of the hospital.

One, two, three. You counted down before opening your eyes again and allowing your senses to take in your surroundings : chatter, cries, the sound of things rolling around, feet shuffling in every direction, and overwhelmed nurses answering the phone.

****

It was 5 pm when you got out of the hospital, you decided to go home early today to get some rest, but also because Petra couldn't stop telling you to. You swung your cardigan over your shoulder, fixed your hair, did a quick stop by the toilet, grabbed a bottle of water at the same coffee machine and stepped foot outside.

It was the beginning of fall, and you enjoyed the shy breeze caressing your face softly, pushing aside some strands of hair. Looking for your car, you suddenly remembered you didn't drive it to come to work today, you had decided to walk instead. You mentally thought that maybe if you had taken your car as usual you wouldn't have been hit by a car. But who knows, maybe if you drove here you would still have gotten hit by the same car, the universe does play some tricks on you sometimes.

With doubled precaution, you were about tot cross streets when you noticed some police cars with their flickering lights and two cars, a red and a black one. The black car had hit the red one from behind and crashed its bumper on it. Petra did say that you got hit by a red car, so it must be that one. You approached the group of people looking at the scenery, and upon hearing what was being gossiped, you understood that the vehicles were still here because the police took ages to come.

The man who apparently was the driver of the red car that hit you was standing, holding his head in his hand as a police officer-very short in stature and visibly pissed-was scribbling something on a note.

More and more people passing by were stopping to watch the scene, which lead to more chatter.

"Tsk ! shut up" said the short policeman, probably more pissed at the commotion than the car crash.

The driver who hit you, suddenly recognized you and his face changed its expression quickly.

"Miss ! Miss ! Hey miss ! You're completely fine right ?"

This threw you off guard and you felt like you were being put on the spot, with so many eyes darting toward you now.

"Y-yes, i'm alright."

"See ? See officer ! She has nothing ! It wasn't that big of an accident !"

But the officer wasn't listening to him anymore, he was looking at you with an intensity that made you uncomfortable, he stared at you with wide eyes and an expression you couldn't quite decipher. He almost looked...shocked to see you.

What's wrong with him looking at me like that. You thought

"She's completely fine officer ! I didn't cause any more harm, so could you ease up a little bit-"

This snapped the short man out of whatever he was in, interrupting the driver.

"You don't get to tell me how i do my work asshole" he spit back at the driver.

Wow, he's so rude, and so angry. You thought, shocked and amused at the same time by his attitude.

You decided you had nothing to do here anymore and turned around.

Once the drivers parted ways, and all legal formalities were done, most of the police cars were gone, except for one vehicle.

The short police officer was still standing right where the collision happened, looking at spot where you were just a minute ago before disappearing inside the crowd. His arms hanging on each side of his body, still baffled

"I finally found you"

part II, next : part III

129 notes · View notes

fanmoose12 · 3 years ago

Text

the devil you know

Сharacters: Hange Zoe, Levi, Moblit Berner, Zeke Yeagar, Armin Arlert

Genres: Action / Drama

Summary: Can you still miss a person, if everything you knew about them was a lie?

Сhapter 7/?

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Сhapter 6

Life had never been particularly kind to Hange Zoe. Tragedies and heartbreaks followed her ever since the day she was born – kicking, screaming and nearly killing her own mother. Her mother never recovered from that blow, her health diminishing while vexation with her own child grew.

That day gave a start to Hange’s life – and to the endless stream of misfortunes she had to face.

Those misfortunes frequented, the amount of bad days increased as Hange was becoming older. But even as a child, driven solely by curiosity and fascination for the world, uncaring of the workings and the rules of the society around her, she had her fair share of frustrations. They usually appeared when her father was around – luckily, due to the nature of his work, he very rarely was. Hange didn’t know her father well, he was always absent, always somewhere else, doing something incredibly important, shaping the future of their country. He was many things - a leader, soldier, hero. But he was not a father. Hange had but a few memories of him, and after all these years she had forgotten the sound of his voice, couldn’t for the life of her remember if his hair was as brown as her own, or had she inherited that vivid color from her mother. But what Hange could never forget, what was etched into her memory for all eternity was the look in his eyes – full of incomprehension, bewilder, disappointment – that he always aimed at her. No matter what she did – excitedly gushed about her studies, showed him a shiny rock she found or urged to go and see the frog she caught, her father had the same reaction, always told her the same thing,

“I expected better from you, Hange.”

Those words were the first dagger that was buried in her chest. But it was far from being the only one.

Her father died before she reached her eleventh birthday. And despite the mourning clothes mother had forced her to wear, despite the endless eulogies she had to sit through, Hange didn’t feel the same sadness that everyone around her did, she didn’t – couldn’t – share their pain or understand their grief. Her father meant something for all those people, but to her he was just a stranger, an unpleasant one at that. When he died, a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Without him, it was so much easier to breathe.

But her sorrows, her frustrations— sadly, they didn’t end with her father’s death.

Once Hange finished her studies, completed her training, she was sent to the outside world, far away from Marley. And for a moment, for one fleeting moment, she was happy, excited to do what she always wanted – learn and explore. But she was not meant to busy herself with research, to familiarize herself with different cultures, she was sent to these distant lands as a soldier, a weapon of great Marleyan Empire. Instead of books and quills, she held a rifle and a knife. And the only thing she learnt was how much blood her motherland was spilling on the foreign soils.

Sleep was coming harder to her after that, her dreams were haunted by visions of red, by screams of pain and anguish. She had become a soldier, her hands made for creation were now covered in blood. Her brilliant mind was now broken by the horrors she had faced.

And so Hange decided to cover herself in thick armor, to hide behind a smile and false happiness. The bad days persisted, losses following after her like a shadow, chasing like an infatuated lover, but she didn’t let it break her, continued moving forward with her chin raised high and her lips curled up.

However, despite the positive attitude she had adopted, there were lots of days Hange considered bad, awful even – the day when she learned just how Titans were created, what price Eldians had to pay for that; the day when she realized that her teacher, brilliant Tom Ksaver was one of those so called shifters, that his days in this world would end abruptly; the day when she received her first wound and spent the night in infirmary, wallowing in pain; the day when she killed another human for the first time and saw the light fading from someone else’s eyes; the day when Wall Maria fell and she witnessed just how much destruction and devastation she helped to bring to this little island; the day when Mike and Nanaba died; the day when her squad perished; the day when she had to leave Paradis behind; the day when she was brought back.

There were lots of days Hange considered to be bad. But nothing – absolutely nothing – could compare to the fucking shit show that was waiting for her next.

___

This fateful day was off to a good, if only slightly weird, start. As always she was woken up by a knock on the door. However, this one was very different from Moblit’s – less rhythmic, and much louder. In fact, it didn’t sound like a knock at all, more like someone was kicking the door repeatedly.

Confused and still sleepy, Hange rolled from the bed and went to greet her guest, not bothering to put her glasses on. Behind the now opened door she found… a shape that could or could not belong to a human. She raised her hand, mumbled a quick ‘sorry’ and darted back inside the room, blindly searching for her glasses.

Once the specs took their rightful place on the bridge of her nose, Hange returned back to the shape that now took the form of a young, blonde man. She trailed her gaze down, to the tray he was holding. There were plates with pastries, omelet, sandwiches, sausages and a cup with brown liquid that had steam coming out of it.

“I’m sorry,” she spoke through her confusion, “But do I know you?”

“Not… yet?”

Hange couldn’t understand if his words were meant to be an affirmation or a question. Nevertheless, she took a step back, letting him in.

He went straight to setting up the table, humming under his breath as he did so. Hange watched him work, not knowing how to feel – puzzled or amused. She tried to catch the boy’s gaze and ask for his name, but, considering the amount of food he brought and how exquisitely delicious it looked, Hange already had a pretty solid guess about the persona of her visitor.

“Be my guest,” he gestured to the table after he finished setting it. Then, as an afterthought, he added, “My name is Niccolo.”

“I guessed it already,” Hange smiled, taking a seat. Her stomach growled, as the delicious smell of homemade food entered her nostrils, her mouth filling with saliva even before she took a fork in her hands. She forced herself to look away from the food, however, directing her eyes at the man who had prepared it all. “Thank you for the food, but may I ask what is the occasion?”

Niccolo didn’t answer right away. He took his time, dragging the chair to sit on the other side of the table, then absentmindedly fixing the napkin and pushing the plate closer to Hange.

She didn’t urge him, patiently waiting for him to start talking. She had a feeling that whatever he came here to tell her was going to be extremely interesting.

And Niccolo didn’t disappoint.

“I’ve spent most of my life hating Eldians. Like every good, conscious Marleyan, I believed them to be devils and abominations. When these people captured me I thought it’d be better to die than live among them. But then I’ve got to know them better, I cooked for them, I’ve talked with them, I… grew to like some of them.”

He took a pause, and Hange used this moment to push some food into her mouth. Just as she expected – it was finger-liking good. And it tasted even better, because she also had an intriguing story she could listen to while eating.

“And there is one person that I like most of all, more than anyone I had ever met. I’ve realized my feelings long ago - perhaps, they were born the moment that I set my eyes on her, perhaps, it was destiny that brought both of us together. And to think of it – a Marleyan and an Eldian. If someone had told me years ago that I’d fall for a devil from Paradis, I’d probably punch that person in the face, but look at me now…”

A Marleyan and an Eldian? Hange had heard that story before. Hopefully, Niccolo’s would have a happier ending.

“I wanted to confess to Sasha for a while now, but the time was never right, and I kept stalling… You know, I thought there was no reason to be hasty. but then Jean told me what happened during the attack on Liberio, how I almost lost Sasha and my chance to tell her how I truly feel, so…” Niccolo looked Hange in the eyes, his gaze shining with the love he had for Sasha. “I came to say thank you. For giving me another chance.”

Oh, what a sweetheart. Hange felt her chest warm at the sight of such devotion. She always was a sucker for a young, tender love.

“And?” she leaned over the table, eyes alight with curiosity. “What did Sasha say? She returned your feelings, right?”

“Um.” Niccolo brought a hand to his neck, rubbing the back of it. “I didn’t do it, didn’t, eh, confess. Yet.”

“And when—”

“Today,” he said, confidence returning to his voice. “I planned a dinner for Sasha, invited her family and friends. Actually… I wanted to invite you as well.”

Despite regret that spread through her, Hange curled her lips in a comforting, gentle smile. “Not the best idea, but I appreciate the thought. And,” she added, her smile turning into a cheeky grin. “I’ll be expecting another visit from you, where you’ll share all the details.”

Hange wished she could see it for herself – Niccolo standing before Sasha red in the face, stuttering his undoubtedly sweet confession, Sasha gasping, with her mouth opening in shock, their audience watching it all with a mix of mortification and amusement. Hange wished she could have the privilege of being the part of that audience, alongside a certain Captain, who would cringe horribly at the scene, unfolding before their eyes.

Hange wished— for many things. Alas…

“I’m sure your plan will work out perfectly, but just in case,” Hange winked, snickering, when she saw red spread through Niccolo’s cheeks. “Good luck.”

“Knowing Sasha’s friends… I’ll need all the luck I can get. But for now, I also need to get going, the dinner won’t prepare itself. So thank you once again.” Niccolo stood up, bowing his head. “For everything.”

“Make Sasha happy, that’s all the thanks I need.”

Niccolo nodded, showing her a smile. He headed to the door, and just before he left the room, Hange gave him thumbs up, wishing him luck once more.

As the door behind him closed, she slumped back in the chair and continued munching on her breakfast, a blissful expression appearing on her face.

So… not only a great cook, but also a romantic? Sasha was such a lucky girl.

___

Her next visitors were just as unexpected, and their conversation - a lot less pleasant. It was in that moment that Hange started to suspect that this day would take its rightful place in the collection of her awful ones. But she was far from knowing just how horrible it had the potential to become.

The moment that Armin tumbled inside the room without knocking, throwing the door open in his haste, and Mikasa trailed after him, her pace much slower but just as unsure, dread settled in Hange's stomach.

"Hange-san!" Armin was speaking in a quiet, but barely controlled voice. His chest moved rapidly, as he struggled to keep his breathing slow and even. Hange swallowed her worry, her thoughts running at a lighting speed. What could possibly have happened to make him so panicked? She chanced a look at Mikasa - the young girl wore the same guarded expression she always did, but her eyes kept shifting from side to side, hands clasped together tight enough to make her knuckles white. "We need to talk."

Hange gave them a cautious nod and stood up from the bed, the book she was reading moments ago all but forgotten now. Pieck's warning was loud in her mind, as her fear grew. Marley... they couldn't have attacked so swiftly, right?

Hange gestured for her guests to take their seats at the table that stood near the window. Absentmindedly, she wondered where Moblit was. He didn't show his face to her even once this day. What could he be so busy with?

"Your guard told us that you had a visitor today," Armin stiffly began. "Mind telling us who that was?"

Hange frowned, cocking her head to the side. If the guard told Armin about the visitor, didn't she also mention that it was Niccolo? The cooking boy had to be known around the barracks, if he was that close to Sasha.

"Niccolo came by, he wanted—"

"You mean, Marleyan came by." Armin corrected.

"Sasha's and your friend, if I understood properly," Hange protested.

"But he's Marleyan. Just like you."

So, Armin was accusing her. And not only her, but Niccolo too. Accusing them of conspiring, but for what purpose? By which means? Against who? Hange was so confused. Hange didn't understand. Armin was always so rational, so coolheaded. What could possibly make him so frantic? What drove him to such desperation, to such wild guesses?

"Armin..." any other time, with any other person who trusted her just a fraction more, Hange would have taken their hand in hers. She'd caress it gently, try to calm them down, but in Armin's state... Hange worried that it'd make matters even worse. "Armin," she repeated, lowering her voice ever so slightly, making it sound more trustworthy. "What happened?"

Armin didn't answer, lowering his eyes - in shame or indecisiveness, Hange couldn't guess. And so Mikasa took the word.

"Chief Zacklay is dead," she said. And if that wasn't mind-blowing enough, she added, "Eren escaped from the prison."

"Fuck."

What else was there to say? Everything was turned on its head - Paradis' biggest defender seemingly had gone completely off the rails. Hange wondered if the threat of Marley invasion was still the scariest crisis the island would have to face. The absence of the clear answer was… unnerving.

“We don’t know what to do, or where to look for Eren. That’s why… Armin hopes that you’ll shed some light on that.”

Armin hopes – an interesting choice of words. He didn’t think, didn’t speculate, didn’t hypothesize. He hoped – exhibited a desperate, illogical kind of feeling. So… it was that bad, huh?

“I know nothing about it.” Hange said truthfully. “As you’re aware I’m not even allowed to leave this room.”

“We know.” Mikasa agreed softly, pressing her hand to Armin’s. “But it’s hard to come to terms with it.”

“He is your friend.”

Hange didn’t understand what they were going through, she never had someone that close to her destroy the trust between them, but she knew it wasn’t easy. Eren had changed, Eren had already lied to them once, but he was their friend, they’ve spent years, believing him and in him. They couldn’t change their opinion of him in just one night, they couldn’t let a few mistakes kill what they had created over the course of their lives.

She couldn’t help but wonder if that’s how her friends felt. Was it just as hard to believe in her betrayal? Did Moblit and Levi feel just as lost and unsure? Were they just as desperate to come up with a reason for her behavior? Whatever they did, whatever they felt, Hange hoped she would never have to learn about it. She was miserable enough as it was.

But Eren knew what his friends were going through, had to be aware of the consequences of his actions, of what he was doing to his friends, how much he was hurting them. What drove him to his decision then? What happened to the boy with bright eyes and big heart?

“Do you have any idea what Eren is going to do?”

“I don’t think it’s Eren’s doing, Zeke is probably lying to him, but…” his eyes were still cast down, his finger weakly tracing some vague shapes, when Armin muttered, “Hange-san… do you by any chance know what rumbling is?”

Hange froze. Her throat constricted acutely, creating a quiet, choking sound. For one second, one terrifying second her heart stopped, ceasing its usual rhythm.

Rumbling? Did she hear correctly? Was Armin speaking the truth, did he mean what Hange was worried he meant?

Rumbling.

A short, but scary word. One that was mentioned in but a few frowned upon books. One that was only whispered amongst the members of Titan Society, too horrifying to speak it loud and clear. The word that meant death, the end of everything they knew about their world.

“We were meant to experiment with it,” Armin explained, wriggling his hands. “Nothing too serious, nothing too… devastating. Just a showcase of the power we yield, to keep the other nations on their toes. To keep them away from us. But ever since Zeke had appeared, Eren became so…”

Even since Zeke had appeared, Eren had decided to act on his own, distanced himself from his comrades and friends, joined forces with his brother. Hange would have believed, would have been convinced that the boy she once knew was incapable of such cruelty…

But Liberio, the heart of her homeland was standing in ruins. And it was Eren’s doing.

She narrowed her eyes, gave a scrutinizing look first to Armin, then to Mikasa. Hange really, really hoped that she was wrong. Against all sense, she hoped that they would drive away her doubts, that Eren’s closest friends knew him much more intimately than she ever could, that their opinion of him was right and just.

“Do you think he is capable of proceeding with it?”

“No,” Armin answered.

And the same time Mikasa said, “Yes.”

Yes, said the girl, who was in love with Eren, who was devoted to him above anything or anyone else. She said yes, spoke it quietly, in pained voice. But without a shadow of a doubt.

Hange shuddered.

She— they had to stop this. Somehow. Anyhow. Before it was too late.

"Eren can't activate the rumbling on his own," Hange mused out loud, biting at her thumb.

"Right," Armin confirmed. "He needs the bearer of the royal blood."

And that was good, that meant not all hope was lost. To go through with the rumbling, Eren had to find Zeke, and Zeke was out in the woods with Levi. He would never get away from Levi, and so the world was safe, but—

Zeke wasn't the only one with special blood. There was also—

Fuck.

"Historia, where is she?"

Armin's eyes widened, a gasp escaping him as he came to the same conclusion as Hange. "She arrived in the town... This morning."

And that was the morning Eren decided to make his escape. Hardly a coincidence.

"You don't think..." Armin began tentatively, his eyes pleading Hange to say that it was a joke, that she was wrong in her assumptions. She wished she could give him that reassurance.

"I don't know."

She didn't know what Eren's plan was, what was his goal, what was Zeke’s role in all of this. She didn't know what means Eren would use to ensure his success.

Would he go to his brother, would he trust him enough? Or would he go to Historia and risk hurting his friend?

And how Eren would get to them? Both Zeke and Historia were heavily guarded - Zeke as the hostage, Historia as a Queen and a future mother. But who was the easiest target?

With Levi being in charge of Zeke, Historia was an obvious choice, unless—

Hange swallowed heavily.

Unless Zeke was planning something too - some rouse, or a play, something that would fool Levi, make him lose his focus.

Make him lose Zeke.

And if that worked—

"Where is Historia?" Hange repeated that question. Hidden in the forest, theoretically, Levi was safe. He could hold his own in a fight against Zeke, Hange has seen him do just that in Liberio, even if some part of it was a spectacle. She also had seen Zeke after Shiganshina, personally tended to his wounds that refused to heal properly because of the amount of his injuries. Back then, every hiss of his was like a melody to Hange, a miniscule payback for the carnage he had born.

Zeke was far away from Eren, guarded by Levi. Hange had to trust him with that task. She had to hold onto hope that Levi would be safe. But Historia... Historia was another matter. She was here, close, and as good as her security was, they were not on par with humanity's strongest. They had to protect the Queen first.

"Historia chose this day to arrive because of Niccolo's invitation. She's probably in his restaurant, along with the others." Mikasa said.

So she wasn't alone, surrounded by soldiers and friends. Would that be enough to hold off Eren? Possibly, although, Hange wasn't sure.

But Eren was not alone, he had followers, the ones Moblit was so worried about. Would they be just as amicable? Would they not hurt the ones Eren cared so much about?

"Historia is our main priority. We have to go to the restaurant and make sure that—"

"We?" Armin interrupted.

Hange deflated. Of course, how could she forget? She wasn't their superior, their commander, their friend. There was no we. She was an outsider. She always were.

"I didn't mean to—"

"No." Mikasa curtly said. "We need you, Hange-san. We do," she repeated to Armin, who was already opening his mouth with a protest on his tongue. "We need all the help that we can get."

Armin studied Mikasa for a moment, then turned to face Hange, regarding her pensively. The intense look of his big blue eyes was unnerving, almost impossible to hold without flinching. There was a man Hange once knew with the same intent gaze. Oh, how she wished to see him again. He'd know what to do in a shitty ordeal they were facing right now.

"You're right," Armin sighed at last. "We might not have same goals or even enemies... but our concerns align. With you on our side, our chances are much higher. So, Hange Zoe," Armin offered his hand for a handshake. "Will you help us?"

An unlikely alliance then, huh? Hange could work with that.

She shook his hand with a smile.

___

Something was turning, twisting inside Hange on the way to the restaurant. Even the air seemed stiff, the landscape outside of the carriage bright, pretty but ominous all the same. Liberio - her city - looked just as lively before it got crushed.

And today, right now, she couldn't get that image out of her mind. The streets she walked through hundreds, thousands of times; bakeries she visited day after day; parks and playgrounds she admired from afar - everything was now gone, turned into debris, into nothing but broken stone and crushed glass.

And all of it - all the destruction, pain and blood and death - all of it was a courtesy of one Eren Yeager, the boy with bright eyes and passionate soul.

Would the same thing happen to another city? To all the cities in the world? To hundreds and millions of—

Hange took a deep breath, stopping herself before she screamed in fury, ripped something apart, overturned the carriage, or worse - started crying.

No. Nothing of the sort would happen to the other countries or their people. They would stop this— this catastrophe and Eren, and Zeke, and whoever else was involved. They would not allow another tragedy.

In the meanwhile, Hange did her damnest to focus on small, trivial things - the inside of the carriage, the bumps on the road, the subtle similarities between Mikasa and Levi, the sunbeam playing across Armin's face - anything to keep her mind from other, much scarier things. It didn’t really work.

"We are here," Armin announced, cutting through her morbid thoughts. He put a hand on her elbow - a tentative, but heartfelt gesture. Hange wondered just how disturbed she must have seemed to earn it.

"Let's go," she shook off all the worries, all of her fears. They weren't needed. They would slow her down, serve as a distraction, nuisance. And today, she had to be on her best. "We have no time to spare."

Mikasa and Armin seemed to be of the same opinion, and so the three of them left the carriage and started moving towards restaurant's entrance.

The place was much bigger than Hange had imagined it to be. She expected to see something small, but snug, something homely. But Niccolo's restaurant was grander than most buildings on Paradis. It didn't quite reach the luxurious and exquisite nature of restaurants in Marley, but— clearly, that was Niccolo's inspiration.

The restaurant - as big as it was - was packed, the merry sounds of laughter were heard even from the courtyard. People were celebrating, people came here to have some fun. Hange knew just how rare those instances were. And she hated being the one to put a stop to it. But she'd rather ruin someone's day and be wrong about her assumption or ruin someone's say and be right, than— Than not ruin someone's day, be right and waste precious time.

The three of them walked through the dark brown door, and instantly Niccolo stood in front of them, appearing seemingly out of thin air.

"Armin, Mikasa! I didn't think you'd make it! And you brought Hange with you!”

The happiness on his face was so endearing, so genuine. Hange was wrecked with sympathy for him. Niccolo was just a boy, who loved a girl, and decided that today of all days he'd make his feelings known. Unfortunately, the day he had picked turned out to be one of Hange's bad ones.

"Congratulations once again," Hange made sure to put on an extra gentle smile, in vain hope that it would soothe the effect of her next words. "But that's not why we are here."

"No?" the happiness was gone from Niccolo's face, suspicion overtaking it, but only for a second. Next came anger. "I thought we were over this," he leveled, glaring at Armin. "I thought we've already discussed everything you wanted. And I'm not going to deal with this bullshit again. Not today."

Niccolo whirled around, his leg raised to, no doubt, dramatically storm out. Mikasa's gravelly voice and a tight grip on his wrist stopped him. "If you don't want to ruin this day for Sasha, then take us to Queen Historia. Right now."

Oh. Even Hange felt shivers at that tone of voice, and the threat wasn't even directed at her. Was Levi teaching her his tricks? Or was every Ackerman just naturally good at being so scary?

Niccolo yanked his hand out of Mikasa's grasp, massaging it with a wounded expression. He didn't try to argue once again, though. And soon Hange, Armin and Mikasa were following after him to the banquet hall.

He took them through the lengthy hallway, past kitchen and washing room. At the edge of it, Hange could see two familiar figures - one tall, another short. They were standing next to a wooden cupboard, snickering quietly to each other. As they came closer, Hange realized that Jean and Connie were holding several bottles of wine, clearly having trouble choosing which one to open.

"Niccolo!" Connie yelled out, waving the bottles over his head. "Which one is better?"

"That's not for you, you idiots!" Niccolo snatched the bottles from their hands, his retort vicious— and more shaken than the situation truly called for. Any other day, Hange would have found it weird, would have paid more attention to it. Any day, but not during her bad day.

So she shrugged it off and after giving Jean and Connie a painfully awkward wave, continued following after Niccolo.

Once they were inside, Hange couldn't help but marvel at the amount of people gathered. There were lots of civilians, none of which Hange could recognize. And among them, there was a sea of green, representing the members of Survey Corps. Most of these faces were known to her. One of those faces in particular swiftly left the conversation he was having, gluing himself to her side.

"Hange-san? Armin? What is going on?"

Moblit had his mouth open, his eyes shifting between the three of them. Hange didn't know what he had seen there, what face she was making, but Moblit didn't ask another question, silently falling in step with them.

Sensing the change in the room, Jean and Connie hurried to do the same.

They all stopped in front of the table in the corner - one near the window and with a nice bouquet standing on it. The table was occupied by two - giggling Sasha, who was retelling some story in a rather animated fashion, and Historia, who listened to her friend with a joyful smile.

Looking at her, Hange couldn't help but be amazed. Last time she saw the girl, she had just become a Queen, still doubtful and unsure in her position. And, although, the woman before her eyes didn't look exactly royally – what, with her simple dress and long, loose hair - but Historia had certainly grown, become tougher, more confident in her abilities. However, she was still as pretty as a picture, and the motherhood had enhanced her beauty even further.

"Your Majesty," Hange was the first to take the word, but after that she faltered, not sure how to proceed further. Should she bow? Kneel before the Queen?

She was spared from making that decision. Because right in that moment, right when she was meaning to open her mouth and explain everything to Historia as curtly as was possible— her day turned from simply bad to straight up shitty.

"You!"

Familiar voice. The anger in it wasn't unusual too. Never before it was directed at her but—

Hange recognized the pride of Marley, the future Warrior right away. It was all she was allowed to do before getting promptly tackled to the ground.

"Traitor! Liar! How could you do that to us! How could you side with the devils?"

Gabi kicked and punched anything she could reach, accentuating her every word and accusation, but the blows were barely registered by Hange. She felt no pain, only huge amount of relief.

Gabi was furious, Gabi was loud. Gabi was alive and well.

A month, a whole month she spent worrying about these kids, only to have fate throw them back together in the most ludicrous way possible.

“Gabi,” despite her kicks, despite her loud shrieks, Hange smiled happily. She pulled the girl closer, wrapping one arm around her, while her other went to softly brush the girl’s hair. “Gabi, are you alright? You’re not hurt?”

“And why would you care?” Gabi suddenly sniffled, voice muffled by Hange’s shirt. “You never cared about us, did you? Only about those devils!”

“Gabi…” Hange sighed, finding herself at a loss of words. How could she explain something so complicated? Something she couldn’t understand herself?

Luckily, an unexpected help arrived.

"Don’t judge too harshly, child. You may not understand it yet, but humans' hearts are tricky things. No rules apply to them, they never listen to reason. They don't act like we want them to. They create emotions, make our lives brighter, and at the same time... So much more confusing. And accusing someone of caring for the wrong person… it’s just not right."

Hange looked up, surprised to see a middle-aged man standing before her. She was fairly sure that she had never met him before, but his eyes, his manner of speaking... Somehow, they were familiar.

Before she could connect the dots, however, her attention was ripped away once more, this time by Niccolo's deep voice.

"Eldians, Marleyans," he scoffed. "All of us are vile, devil is in each and every one of us. We're all imperfect, but all of us yearn to find the place where we belong, where we're loved. We don't choose who these people would be, we love others for what they are, not what they represent, or what side of the conflict they come from. And if loving my enemy is treason, I’ll gladly go down as a traitor."

Niccolo glanced back, meeting the eyes of the one he had dedicated this speech to. Hange caught Sasha’s bewildered, loving look and smiled, feeling her eyes go misty.

So, Marleyan and Eldian? Was a union like that even possible? Four years ago, on the dawn of the day when she left the one she loved the most behind, she'd say that it would never work out. But... times were changing, right? For the better, or so, at least, Hange hoped.

"Hange-san..." Moblit crouched beside her, painfully awkward. "Erm..."

Oh right. Only now, Hange realized that she was still lying on the floor. And that in on itself wasn't so unusual, but most of the times... she didn't have a ten or so pairs of eyes watching her.

Hange cleared her throat. Then, as absurdity of the situation caught up with her, snickered quietly.

"Hey, Gab," she stroked the girl's side. "Would you mind letting me get up?"

Gabi rose on her elbows, considering Hange. The frown on her face didn't vanish, but— her eyes weren't so full of rage anymore - clearly, the speeches had left an impression on her.

"I'm still mad at you," she said, lip stuck out petulantly. "But... I'm glad that you're here. Because it means they're coming for us, right? Commander Magath and Reiner— Reiner will save us, right? We just need to wait for a little longer, until they arrive."

They're already here, Hange wanted to say. If Pieck came, there was no way that Reiner would want to sit that one out— or be allowed to, anyway. Marley was coming, their guns blazing. But in the room full of members of the Survey Corps and Queen herself, Hange couldn’t say that, wasn’t yet ready to betray her country like that. She could only kiss Gabi's brow and promise, "You will be alright."

Reassured, Gabi nodded and let Hange get up. As soon as her feet had touched the ground, Hange found herself with someone once again wrapped around her. This time, however, the embrace was that much warmer and a lot less violent.

"Falco," she carded her fingers through his sandy blonde hair. "I take it you've missed me too?"

"You can't imagine," he spoke, his face pressed to her stomach. "Going on missions with Gabi is a torture! I could barely keep up with her!"

"You'll learn with time," Hange looked back, exchanging a look with Moblit. "It's not that hard to deal with annoying shits like us, right, Mob?"

He tugged at his collar, strategically evading her curious eyes. "Perhaps, after a very long while..." he reached out, patting Falco's shoulder. "And with the help of a good alcohol stash."

"Oi!" Hange slapped his arm. "He's only a kid!"

Moblit shrugged. "He has to know what is waiting for him."

"Don't listen to him," she gently consoled Falco. "He's joking."

Although... Hange had to agree with Moblit on that. If Falco continues running after Gabi like that, he'd have his first grey hair by the age of fifteen.

With the boy still clinging to her, Hange surveyed the room, swiping her gaze across Sasha and Niccolo, who stood side by side, wearing identical, enamored expressions, to Connie and Jean, who were whispering something to one another, and finally to Mikasa and Armin, who hid Historia behind their backs.

Right. She didn't come here for a cheerful reunion. The fate of the world was at stake. Hange pulled herself together and— pulled Falco away from her.

"Sorry, dear," she fondly ruffled his hair once again. "I need to go now, but I'll get back to you."

Could she do, though? Could she return to these kids, ask them to be placed under her care? Should she do it, considering that she didn't even know what was going to happen to her, where would she be one hour from now? Was it wise then to drag kids along with her? They were sharp and strong, more than capable, and they did survive on their own for so long— wait.

How did they manage to survive on a foreign soil, all by themselves? And why they were here today, in Niccolo's restaurant of all places?

"I guess these ducklings are yours?"

Oh. The familiar man that Hange had never seen was back, now standing in front of Hange, showing her a kind smile.

"We haven't been introduced, but it's hard to mistake you for someone else. Hange Zoe, right?"

"Right," Hange shook his warm, calloused hand. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Braus."

"The accent was a dead giveaway, huh?" he laughed, the corners of his eyes crinkling. He had a nice laugh, Hange decided, deep, heartfelt and genuine. She liked Mr. Braus, just as much as she liked his daughter.

"I understand that you're the one who had taken care of my ducklings," Hange giggled, catching Gabi's very much unamused look. "Thank you for that."

"And thank you for saving my daughter's life. For that deed I could never repay you."

"That was... that was nothing. I did nothing, just happened to be in the right place, in the right time."

"It's only because of you that we're here, celebrating, instead of mourning. So," he gripped her shoulder tightly, his brown eyes staring into hers intently. "Let me express my gratitude, for that is the smallest thing that I can do."

"I think," Connie inserted himself between them, his mischievous smile lighting up the room. "This calls for a toast!"

No more than a second later, Jean had produced a bottle of wine, opening it swiftly and skillfully. Once the bottle was dealt with, he filled a glass with wine, thrusting it to the person standing closest to him. Which— happened to be Gabi.

She took all but a tentative sniff from the glass, before it was roughly yanked out of her hands. The drink splashed everywhere as Falco hurried to finish it, before Gabi caught up and took it away from him.

There was just as a couple of droplets left, everyone watched the scene in amusement, until—

Until Niccolo screamed.

He pounced from his place, wrestling the bottle out of Jean’s hands. “It’s not for you, morons! I told you not to touch it!”

Ice spread through Hange’s veins, as she heard the desperation in his voice. If her first thought was the right one… she had to make sure of it immediately.

“Who that wine was meant for?” she seethed, grabbing Niccolo by lapels of his shirt, suffocating him in her white-knuckled grip and currently not caring about it. Everyone in the room tensed, Sasha jumping closer to them, but Hange didn’t care, ignored all of them completely. “Who that wine was meant for?” she shouted, shaking the boy like a ragdoll.

“F-for the military officials! It’s the good stuff, expensive, it was meant only for them!”

The good stuff, the best one they got, Hange reasoned. The next question was pointless, she knew the answer already, was the one who came up with this idea in the first place, but— Niccolo was a good guy, a sweet boy in love with a kind girl. Hange wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt.

“What’s wrong with the wine?”

And that was it. That’s all she had to do to get to the bottom of it. One short, simple question, and Niccolo crumbled. He didn’t try to fight her, made no attempts to protect himself. He hanged his head in shame, avoiding the dozen pairs of eyes that now were boring into him.

“They made me do it,” he whispered, his hands, his lips— his whole body shaking. “I had no choice, you wouldn’t understand—”

Oh, but Hange did understand. Better than Niccolo knew. She knew how it felt to be forced to follow the current, accept every cruel tide. She knew just how frustrating, how painful it was to lose control.

So yeah, Hange understood. But she could not excuse.

However, she had no place to judge as well, she herself was a reason for so many tragedies and disasters. She couldn’t judge, and she didn’t have the time for it. The deed was already done, now they had to try and undo it.

“Who gave you the orders?”

The spine fluid, injected into wine, came from Zeke, that Hange had no doubt about, but Zeke was far away, deep in the forest, under Levi’s watchful eyes. So who had redistributed the wine? Who was the betrayer, the real culprit?

“It’s—”

He didn’t get to finish. For only now Hange had realized what had happened moments prior. Falco drank the wine. Falco. Drank. The. Wine.

Her heart thumping, Hange pushed Niccolo away, grabbing Falco’s hand instead. Armin, Mikasa, the Queen, let someone else deal with that shit, for now she had to try and delay the inevitable. She looked around, her eyes wild, mind racing. “Where— where is the bathroom or— or a—”

“I’ll show you.”

It was Moblit’s quiet, reassuring voice. He gripped her elbow gently, taking her away. Hange let herself be led, rubbing soothing circles into Falco’s palm all the while. She didn’t know what do, wasn’t even sure that spinal fluid can be taken out of someone’s system, but she’d be damned if she wouldn’t at least try. Falco, sweet, smart Falco, he didn’t deserve this. He didn’t deserve to be turned into a Titan, a mindless creature with no loyalties and feelings. Hange wouldn’t allow it, she was ready to do the impossible and then more to save the little boy.

Once they reached the bathroom, Hange set out to work - took off her coat, rolled the sleeves of her shirt, sat Falco down on a stool, pushed his head under the faucet, instructed him to try and rinse all the wine out.

It was possibly entirely pointless, Hange was pretty sure of it— but. What else could she do? Sit tightly and wait for the young life to vanish?

"That thing in the wine..." Moblit spoke up - calmly, but defeated, as though he had already surrendered to whatever tragedy that would befall him. "It's bad, isn't it?"

Hange tensed. Hange jumped to her feet, fisting her hand into Moblit's shirt so desperately, the fabric creaked in protest.

"Moblit," she croaked, her voice shaking, broken, eyes begging him to say that he was joking, that his inquiry was simple curiosity. "Moblit, did you drink that wine?"

"It was served at every government meeting. I couldn't refuse."

No. No. Hange couldn't believe, didn't want to believe it, Moblit— not Moblit, she didn't want him to fall victim to this, become another casualty in her long, extremely bloody career. Anyone else, but not— not him.

"It's the same tactic we used in Ragako village," she explained numbly. "Back then it was gas, this time the fluid that turns people into Titans was added into wine. It activates after Zeke screams."

"Ah," Moblit shook his head, a faint smile on his lips. "If - when - I turn, you could experiment on me. Just— don't give me a stupid name like Sawney or Bean, I'd like, I think, I'd like to be called Moblit. If I'd still have some semblance of consciousness by that time, if not - you can call me whatever you—"

"Shut up." Hange choked, tears gathering in the corners of her eyes. She ignored them, glaring fiercely at him. "Shut the fuck up, Moblit, you will not turn into a Titan, I will not allow it, I'll do whatever I can—"

"Hange-san," he smiled, and it broke her heart. "It will be okay."

It won't. Because it was her damn creation, made to defeat faceless, unknown enemies. And now it was used against people she cared about.

She had to do something about it. With a start Hange realized that the solution was... fairly easy.

"Avoid Zeke at all costs." She told Moblit, urgency turning her speech more frantic. "Don't go near him, try— try to get away if he gets into city—"

But Zeke couldn't get into the city. Zeke couldn't get out of the forest at all, couldn't make a single move without Levi knowing it.

Levi was the solution. He would keep Zeke under his guard, he would keep Moblit, and the rest of them, safe. Hange finally could take a breath.

But the calm didn't last for long.

As soon as she returned to Falco's side to check on the boy's condition, a loud crash came from somewhere deep within the restaurant. Hange heard the sound of hurried footsteps, then a concerning scream.

She exchanged a look with Moblit. Both of them started running at the same moment.

When they tumbled inside the main room, they froze in shock.

Sasha's family, members of Survey Corps and among them— soldiers with rifles. Hange scanned the room once more, her eyes travelling further, to the table by the window. She breathed out in relief - Historia was guarded by Connie and Jean. At least, the Queen was safe.

But not the rest of them.

"Squad Leader Moblit," the ginger head took a step towards them, a too wide smile plastered on his face. Hange didn't like that man and his smile. And the gun in his hands. The gun that was now aimed at the ceiling but could be very well aimed at Moblit, or anyone else in that room. “You’re the one I need.”

Moblit inched closer too, his chin held high and eyes defiant. Hange didn’t miss the fact that his movement hid her behind his broad shoulders. Oh, loyal, caring Moblit. How could she leave him to his fate?

“I’m here,” he leveled to the redhead. “What do you need me for, Floch?”

If it wasn’t for the gun in his hands, or the smile on his face, the way Moblit spelled his name – the obvious aversion, unhidden contempt was enough for Hange to understand that this Floch guy wasn’t very nice. And, despite the Wings of Freedom on his back, he certainly wasn’t Moblit’s friend.

So. That was one of the famed Yeagerists? And the rest of them, the ones that held civilians on gunpoint were the part of the same group? Hange was so not impressed.

“You’re buddies with Captain Levi,” Floch continued. “That means you know exactly where he is hiding.”

“Perhaps.” Moblit nodded. “But what makes you think that I will tell you?”

Floch’s smile grew, and the gun that was held lazily in his hand, pointing at the empty air, moved. It was lowered down, its barrel now staring right at Moblit. But the gun didn’t stop there, it moved again, shifting just a little to the side. To where Hange was standing.

“Hange Zoe, right?” Floch tilted his head, so he could look straight at her. “I didn’t have the pleasure to make your acquaintance before, but I’m glad that life threw us all together. Especially now, for you see…” he lifted a hand, and a soldier took his place, his rifle raised, while Floch paced from side to side. “I’m not allowed to hurt them,” first he pointed at Jean and Connie. “Or her,” now at Historia. “I’m, however, allowed to do with the others whatever I want. And since hurting our dear Squad Leader Moblit wouldn’t bear the needed results…” he spread his arms, shrugging helplessly. “No one would miss a traitor, right?”

“Don’t you dare!” Moblit surged forward, shoulders shaking from the unbridled fury. But he made no more than a few steps, before he was immobilized, two soldiers coming from behind to grab his arms and twist them painfully. Moblit didn’t back up even then, continuing his fierce resistance. “Leave her out of this!”

“Ah, yes,” Floch chuckled to himself, observing Moblit’s struggling with morbid fascination. “The luck is surely on our side today. You will be useful after all, Hange Zoe. We will take you with us.”

No sooner than these words left his mouth, Hange felt a pair of hands around her, subduing and enabling to make a single move. She thrashed, she kicked, but to no avail.

“Floch—” Moblit grounded, pulling on his restraints.

“Don’t you worry,” Floch squeezed Moblit’s shoulder, showing him a look of feigned affection. “No one is going to get hurt, if you cooperate.”

No. They couldn’t cooperate. Cooperating meant leading Floch and his bunch to Zeke, and that meant leading them to Levi.

“Mob! Don’t listen to him! We can’t–” instinctively, momentarily forgetting about the arms that held her down, Hange reached out to him, trying to catch his eyes.

But Moblit turned his face to the other side, avoiding her gaze. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled. “I can’t let you get hurt.”

Ah. Hange’s heart sunk, while Floch clasped his hands in delight.

“I’m glad you’ve made the right choice! And now,” he raised a finger, and Hange with Moblit were forced to move forward. “Let’s get going!”

___

Outside, the weather changed. The sun hid behind the heavy, grey clouds, the rain was now steadily falling down, creating puddles under their feet.

The gloomy weather further enhanced the trepidation inside Hange. The feeling, the certainty that something was going to get very wrong and very fast persisted, forcing her to grab the reins of the horse tighter, in vain hope of providing some miniscule outlet to her ever growing anxiety.

Despite the fear, Hange spurred her horse forward, doing her best to ignore the rifles pointed at her back. It was proving to be quite a vexing task, when the said rifles kept pushing her to move even faster but— it wasn’t the worst situation Hange had found herself in. That time when she and Zeke were captured by the enemy forces and put inside a fortified prison was so much worse. The prison had anti-Titan artillery surround the perimeter, they were alone and cut off from their allies. And still they managed to escape. Compared to that, a few Yeagerists were nothing.

Although, Hange had to admit – the stories did them no justice. In reality they were a lot more vile and disgusting.

But, apparently, Levi still trained some of them. And, boy, did he teach them well. One soldier behind Hange kept huffing, cursing the weather under his breath. Hange waited, and when he once again got distracted by the mud that splashed on his boot, she thanked Levi for his absurd obsession with cleanliness and acted, stealing that little moment for herself.

“Hey,” she leaned closer to Moblit who was riding right beside her, and whispered to him in a voice just slightly louder than the sound of the rain. “Remember that thing we did during Erwin’s coup-d'etat?”

Moblit winced, anxiety reflecting in his eyes. “When we punched people that were armed with rifles?”

Hange grinned. Atta boy, of course, he remembered. “I’ll give you a signal,” she nodded discreetly and returned to her previous position, now directing all of her attention on their fearless, redheaded leader.

“So Zeke is your main goal, right? You don’t actually need Historia?”

Floch scoffed, rising his nose up in distain. “The Queen is a back-up plan.” Wow, getting information out of them was that easy? Some devoted followers they were. Hange continued listening, eager to know what else Floch would reveal. “We’re not sure what exactly is going to happen, and Eren… doesn’t like hurting his friends.”

They weren’t sure what was going to happen. Only for these words Hange was ready to throttle each and one of them. What was going to happen? Mass destruction and death, a lot of unnecessary deaths.

But did these children care? Of course, they didn’t.

And would Zeke care about it? Hange wasn’t sure. Zeke was many things – cruel, violent, heartless, he never cared that much about other people. However, he was his father’s son, and, as much as he had loathed Grisha Yeager, Zeke still carried around the hero complex that his father fought so hard to plant inside him. Was it possible then that Zeke would be against the rumbling? Was it possible that he didn’t know of Eren’s true intention, that he blindly trusted his little brother?

Was it possible that their goals didn’t align? If so… then Zeke was a key player in this game of chess. He was a powerful figure they had to get on their side. If Hange could talk to him—

A loud sound, a crashing bang interrupted the flow of her thoughts, making her jump in the saddle.

That noise, it was similar to a thunder, but not quite. Hange knew that sound all too well, was the one who created the devise that was activated with the very same sound.

It couldn’t be— that noise couldn’t come from a thunder spear explosion. But… what other explanation was there?

“Let’s head there!” Floch commanded. “Something must have happened.”

Hange’s heart raced as they inched closer and closer to the place where the sound had come from. It wasn’t hard to find, the gory sight of the poor, wounded horse and the blasted cart was easy to spot.

They approached it slowly, and suddenly Hange froze, her eyes landing on something near the riverbank. Something that looked a lot like a body – a short one with strong stature and black hair—

“Moblit,” she whispered, begging him to clear her suspicions, to reassure her that she was mistaken.

But Moblit pursed his lips, and shook his head – brief, but resolute.

For a second, Hange froze, overcome with desperation and fear. Her heart stopped too, if just for a moment.

Levi, he couldn’t— but what if he did?

Ignoring the insistent shouts and strict orders to come back, Hange jumped off the horse, scrambling to get closer to the riverbank and to him.

She fell into the mud, uncaring of her clothes, of the mud she was splashing around. She felt nothing, the rain, the river, her captors, it all faded into background. She cared for nothing else, except the limp body in her hands.

Oh, please, please, please.

Her hands trembled as she turned the body to face her, careful as she could be. A bloody mess, her personal nightmare stared right back to her.

And in that moment— Hange felt her heart break, ripping, shuttering into thousands pieces. She thought she knew loss before, she thought she knew what pain was.

She was so wrong.

#i think it's the longest chapter of this fic for now?#so ummmmm enjoy!#levihan

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justlightlysedated · 4 years ago

Note

Soulmate 51!!!

51. Your soulmate’s current thoughts about you will show up on your skin for a short while.

Miss you, miss you, miss you, appears across the back of his left hand, a light tingling sensation like someone was passing their finger across his skin announces their presence just as Michael picks up his beer.

A warmth fuzzy and soft, simmers in the pit of his stomach, and he bites down on the smile that wants to spread across his face.

Instead he drops the beer back on top of the table, and closes his eyes thinking, I miss you, so much more.

When he opens his eyes, feels a little shocked to see Maria sitting across from him.

It had been almost six months since their break up, and with all of the restrictions in place thanks to the quarantine, Michael hadn’t had to try very hard to avoid her.

He hadn’t even heard her truck come up, probably too distracted by Alex. It’s been a while since Michael has fully embraced their soulmate bond, and over the last couple of months he and Alex have been leaving more and more messages on each other, deliberately thinking them at each other.

After hearing Alex sing that song, he couldn’t exactly keep his thoughts to himself, and when he’d run out of the bar, feeling a weird sort of embarrassment at the fact that everyone could see his thoughts spread across the backs of Alex’s hands and up and around his neck, almost like a collar.

Alex hadn’t followed after him, but the words, me too had settled around Michael’s left wrist like a snug bracelet.

"Is there something I can help you with, DeLuca?" He asks, covering the back of his hand with his other hand, almost automatically, so used to keeping the words that had sporadically appeared on his skin while they were dating away from her.

She opens her mouth and then closes it, brow furrowing, and looking a little frustrated, like the conversation isn’t going the way she thought it would.

Michael takes in the way she keeps licking her lips, and her shifty eyes, and her fidgety fingers, and the fact that her leg is bouncing so much the buckle of her boot is hitting the metal legs of the chair.

And then he tilts his head to the side and takes in her outfit, something that he might’ve noticed right off the bat several months ago. She’s wearing one of those short jumper things, that he’s pretty sure he’s heard Isobel call a romper, in a brown color that very nearly matches her own skin tone, the neckline plunges all the way down, exposing a line down the middle of her chest with a thick black belt around her waist. Her hair was left curly and messy, the way that it usually looked in the mornings before she showered and took a straightener to it, the way that Michael used to tell her that he liked it.

She’s not wearing a lot of makeup, but the fact that she is, along with everything else, paints the picture of why she’s here for Michael, and Michael can’t help feeling both incredulous and a little bit angry.

Before he can say anything, Maria pushes her shoulders back, making the slit in the romper widen as she looks at Michael from beneath heavy lids.

"How've you been?" She asks instead of getting to the point. "It's been a while."

And the way she says the last sentence erases any doubts that Michael had in his head.

Maria was here not as an ex who was once a friend to check up on him, but as an ex who wants to keep reaping from the benefits of their failed relationship.

Michael hadn't been lying to Maria when he told her that he loved her, and it had hurt so much when she'd told him that it was over.

But it had hurt even more when Alex had told him that he was leaving, and it was then that Michael realized that while he did love her, he loved Alex more, and in a way that was completely different.

If Maria left today, and didn't talk to him again, Michael would go on living his life, maybe a little sad for a while, but he'd get over it.

If Alex decided to never speak to him again, Michael wouldn't die, but it would feel like he was.

It was that easy and that simple. So it's easy and simple, to grab his beer and take a long swig and then speak.

"I'm doing fine," he says, voice clipped, trying to copy how Alex talks to strangers who won't leave him alone at the bar. "Things are rough, yeah, but that's the same everywhere these days."

"I hear that," Maria says, chuckling a little and then making a hand at his beer. "You're not gonna offer me one?"

"I would," Michael says, taking the last swing of his beer. "If the beer was what you were here for."

Maria raises both eyebrows at that, almost like she hadn't expected to be caught out so soon, or like she'd been expecting for Michael to play along with her.

She tries to pull an innocent face at him, and then sighs, leaning back in her chair, and crossing her arms over her chest.

"Fine, you want the truth? The truth is that it's been months and I am a girl with a healthy sex appetite, okay? And my choices were either going to a super spreader event, the two numbers on my phone that I would consider only under dire circumstances, or someone who wouldn't mind having sex with an ex."

She says the last choice, voice a little breathy and gives him a pointed look that would've worked on him months ago, but it barely makes a flame flicker now.

"When did I ever give you the impression that I wouldn't mind having sex with an ex?" Michael asks, honestly interested in the answer.

Maria gives him an incredulous look back, as though the answer should be obvious, and it hits him almost like a ton of bricks to the solar plexus.

"You're talking about Alex?" He asks, feeling even more incredulous.

"Obviously," she says, and then clears her throat, batting her eyelashes. "I know it's technically not the same thing, but I know you still had feelings for me when we broke up, and breaking up didn't just make my feelings disappear, so I was hoping you wouldn't mind, giving me a helping hand."

"DeLuca," Michael says, trying to sound earnest and kind. "I'm flattered. Really. But the answer is no."

Maria blinks at him a few times like he'd pulled a rabbit out of his hat, "Are you serious?"

She gives him a look like he would be an idiot to reject what she's offering, and there is a small part of him that is yelling at him to take the offer, because sex is sex, but he doesn't listen to that part because there is an even bigger part reminding him that Alex is coming back and that things will be different when he gets here.

"Yeah," Michael says, looking at her evenly.

Her eyes fall away from his face, just as he feels a tingling sensation across his forearm.

Michael lifts his arm to see the words as they appear.

Not possible.

Michael sees her noticing the words that must appear, and her eyebrows almost shoot off her face in her clear surprise.

"So that's why?" She says, sounding like she just figured something out. "You found your soulmate."

"I've known who my soulmate's been for a while now, DeLuca," he says. "Knowing that it was him didn't make it any easier for us to be together."

Maria frowns, "Your soulmate is a guy. But I thought that Alex was the only guy you've ever been interested in."

She says it with conviction like in the months that they dated they talked about their exes, but she never asked, and Michael never brought it up.

"I'm not straight with an Alex exception," Michael says, and he can't help the sneer when she fixes him with an incredulous look. "I'm bisexual, and I've been sexually attracted to and sexually involved with plenty of more men than just Alex."

Maria makes a face at that, like she doesn't understand, but Michael isn't a sex ed teacher, and he's not going to pull up charts and explain to her what she doesn't understand.

"What about Alex?" She asks, looking angrier by the second. "You're going to break his heart with this whole soulmate thing."

"Like you didn't come here with the intention of breaking his heart by propositioning me," Michael retorts.

Maria colors slightly, but doesn't back down.

She opens her mouth to keep speaking, probably to defend herself, but Michael shakes his head a little.

"Listen, Alex has nothing to worry about because he has a direct line to my thoughts about him at all times."

He gives her a pointed look and it still takes her a moment to realize it.

"Alex is your soulmate," she says, sounding both shocked and defeated.

"Yep," Michael says, popping the p, and wishing he still had another beer out here.

"How long have you known?"

"Since we were seventeen," he says and she makes a rude noise at the back of her throat.

She stares at him for a moment, stupefied and angry, "This was never going to actually work between us, huh?"

Michael just licks his lips, and gives her a helpless look, "Some things just aren't meant to be."

She nods her head sharply at that and then gets to her feet.

"Sorry, for bothering you, it won't happen again," she says and then turns to leave before Michael can say anything.

And then turns back around, "And please, don't tell anyone I was here. Me knowing that I fell low enough to do this is more than enough."

And then turns and actually makes it to her truck this time.

Michael lets the icy hurt that spreads across his chest at her parting words slide away.

Instead he looks back down at the words fading on his arm, and lets the warmth of knowing Alex is somewhere else thinking about him and missing Michael as much as Michael misses him, fill him up, chasing the rest of the chill away.

#malexprompts2021 #this one has mentions of miluca #but it's in the past #this fic is pettier than the previous one #its set during the year jump and is maria trying to proposition michael and michael just shutting that shit down #cause maria is way too bitter for someone who was the one who broke up with michael #and so now my own personal headcanon is that she tried to start something up again #and michael was just like nah #anyway hope you like this my love!!#im already halfway done with one of the other ones you sent me 🥰🖤💖👩🏾‍🤝‍👩🏼

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mxvladdy · 4 years ago

Note

I can't stress enough 'wows' in tve way you write along with the fact that it's you first few posts (i think? Pls correct me) can you do luci mammon and satan with a reader who takes naps bc of overthinking? They just tug their sleeves and shot them a tired look, while looking down shying away. Also, have a nice day and take the time to be yourself!

Aw thanks fam! I am fairly new to posting my works, I tried twice before this with two different writing blogs but I deleted them both bc I felt discouraged. I’m older now and I feel a lot better about my writing, so third time the charm and all that lol! I’m so glad you like my writing! I know I need some work on grammar and expanding my vocabulary.

This was a super cute prompt ;.; I hope I did it justice!

Lucifer

He is a mix of jealous and pissed. He wishes he could fall asleep so easily when he gets inundated with too many things at once. But also- just don’t do that? Where were your manners?

He starts noticing your little peculiarity in class. Specifically that you tend to nod off in advance alchemy and rune scripting. You were being so studious, jotting down notes, ask great questions. Next thing he knows you're out like a light.

He is shocked for a moment before he will wake you up. Your wide doe-eyed frown does nothing to him. JK his hearts clench at your wounded look.

He makes the other brothers report to him about your behavior and odd sleep habit. Were you ill? Was this just something humans did? Devils, was Belphie rubbing off on you?

They all say the same thing. One moment you are working hard or talking to them about a topic you are passionate about, and the next you are yawning hard enough to pop your jaw and shyly asking to lay down.

Well-he can’t have that.

If you are going to fall asleep around anyone it’s going to be him.

He sets up remedial lessons with you after dinner to make up for the work slept through. You sit by him at his long ornate desk while he tutors you on what you missed.

You weren't having any problems, you even finished a few pages. He is proud and then-

“I can almost hear those gears slowing my dear.” Lucifer interrupts himself mid-explanation of Zosimos of Panopolis and Maria the Prophetess's theories of alchemy in human medicine.

You jerk awake and turn to him blinking owlishly. "Yeah, I just need to lay down." You admit.

Lucifer eyes you critically. This was sudden, were you ill? You had been fine moments ago, bright-eyed and enthusiastic. He cups your face, turning it from side to side. "So suddenly? We haven't even discussed the properties of mercury yet." You hum letting your eyes droop. He was always so warm.

"Hour nap break? Please?" His stern gaze softens at how your nose scrunches up cutely as you yawn.

“Very well.” He relents letting you slick over to his couch. You flop over face first with a grunt of satisfaction. You toss and turn for a while, moving his pillows around unsatisfied.

“Luci-” You call in defeat. He ignores you at first. If you wanted to nap fine, he would get some work done in the meantime. “Luci~” You say again. You could see his brow twitching. “Lu-”

“My dear,” He shoots you a withering look. “You are treading a thin line. If you have the energy to call for me you have the energy to study.” You say nothing at his brisk tone, instead of opening your arms to him to join you. “You tempt me.” He purrs hiding his smile behind his paperwork.

“Learned from the best.” Lucifer shakes his head laughing at your smug reply. He glances over you to his grandfather clock. Hmmm-perhaps he could spare a few minutes. He rises elegantly discarding his tie and waistcoat to his abandoned chair. Running a hand through his hair he snorts at your little whistle.

“Move.” He commands. You shake your head patting your belly. “I will crush you.” He laughs but lays over you regardless.

“Good-you’re warm.” You say muffled in his shirt. Wrapping your arms around his middle you drift off. Lucifer holds you close, running a still gloved hand up and down your side. Perhaps he should bring out some more complex topics next time. If this was the outcome-

Mammon

He noticed you get drowsy before in class. Your cute little head jerks as you nod off, hands rubbing at your face as you fight to stay awake before giving in to the need to sleep. It was adorable- not that he was watching you because of that! He was just doing his job of looking out for you

Ye-that was all.

Honestly, he thought you were just like him. He never cared for the books being forced on him in class. Boring useless crap in his opinion. He much rather sleep through a lecture on stats too.

Now books on photography? That's where it's at. He has a legitimate passion for it.

He likes being behind the camera just as much as he likes being in front of it. Though he doesn't snap photos often.

He doesn't need more beratement from his brothers than he already gets. Sides, he just feels like they would look down at this like everything else he does.

He'll share his hobby with you though. You at least seem interested in it. He'll show you his collection of vintage to high-tech cameras and talk your ear off about the makes, models, and features.

You nod along and ask questions from time to time, smiling along with Mammon while he prattles on about color theory next to you on the floor.

He was just getting to Auguste Lumiére when he feels a gentle bump on his shoulder.

"O-oi!" Mammon starts, shaking his shoulder to rouse you. You look up at him, blinking the sleep from your eyes. "Was...was I that boring?" He deflates a little, all previous excitement gone in a flash. You had seemed so interested...

"What? Oh, no. No Mammon I'm sorry. It's really all fascinating," You grab for his sleeve so he couldn't run away. "It was just a lot of information all at once. I just got a bit overwhelmed."

"So you fall asleep?" He raises a brow not believing you for a second. Who falls asleep when something is interesting? He'll admit he's fallen asleep while listening to Levi talk about a new anime or Asmo with a make-up release. But that's because it had been boring. "Is that like a human thing?"

You shrug snuggling closer. "I don't know- but it's a me thing. Give me five? I'd love to hear you talk more about your collection, promise."

Mammon glows scarlet at your words. "Of course you do!" He puffs out his chest excitedly. “I got great taste.” You nod into his shirt before drifting off again. He tilts his head slightly to look at you chuckling internally when your breathing and heartbeat slow down. Damn, out in seconds. Well, better get comfortable.

Uncrossing his long legs he picks up the camera he had been showing you. The old Polaroid lens reflects his face back at him. He remembered the day Land had debuted this marvel of engineering. He just had had to get his hands on one. It was useless now, he had much better quality cameras than this old thing, but he remembered you reminiscing about your human friends and their portable camera. Would you take some pictures with him too? He would take one now, but the sound of the flash would definitely wake you up.

He fiddles with it for a few more minutes, opening and closing the film canister and checking for any parts that needed fixing as he waits. You stir at his side a few minutes later with a little mew of satisfaction. Mammon hears your joints creak and pop as you stretch. "Morning." He says sarcastically, earning himself a light punch to his shoulder. "Ready to continue?"

You nod eagerly, perky and aware. At least for the moment.

Satan

He didn't really notice at first the pattern of your behavior.

You would come over for book club. Which was really just him reading his current novel and you picking something at random to gain a little random knowledge.

You would find a comfortable position on his bed, curl up nice and small and read. Then after a bit yawn and start to snooze.

He first thought it was the atmosphere of his room. It was quiet, warm, and the sound of flickering candles and the rustle of paper sometimes caused him to doze too.

But when it starts happening outside of class he notices.

Hmmm….this is new.

He looks it up in his human anatomy books and finds nothing.

He's not particularly worried about you per se. You always bounce back quickly after a quick snooze.

Then you start dozing when he is talking… >:(

Like his brother/dad he is a little miffed at first but then your behavior reminds him a cat and he loves you 10x harder now

Satan stops in his pacing of the back gardens. His book of poetry hanging limply in his hand. He had been reciting some of the most fascinating lines of work from Lord Byron's later works and wanted a human's perspective. He had thought you were interested. You never complained before when he asked you out here. Perhaps you were just being polite all those times before. Anything to soothe wrath. He snaps his book shut sharply, take some perverse satisfaction in the way you start out of your light sleep at the noise.

"Why'd you stop?" You ask wiping at your face.

"No point talking to someone that doesn't wish to listen." He snaps tersely.

"Oh-Satan, no I was listening. It...it just got to be so much so fast." You flush. “You had some great points going, I just needed a minute.” He watches your eyes grow heavy again, and it dawns on him.

"Do you just sleep when overwhelmed?" He asks incredulously. In all his years with humans, this was new. You shrug making grabby hands for him to move closer. He scoffs but moves into your space. You grab at the hem of his shirt and pull him down to sit next to you. He goes willingly getting comfortable by your side. You eye his lap longingly, hands clutching around his coat sleeve. “Fine-” He rolls his eyes. “Come here you odd thing.” You smile in triumph and crawl into his lap. Once settled you nuzzle into his warm chest.

“Wake me up in ten? I want to hear more about your conversations with Byron.”

“I’ll hold you to it.” He kisses the top of your forehead, opening his book to read again with one hand. You hum at his soft kiss, returning it sleepily with one of your own before passing out again. Ten minutes go by in an instant and Satan looks down at your peaceful face. He smiles to himself, perhaps he’ll let you sleep for a little while longer. You’d need it for his next point.

#obey me #obey me lucifer #obey me mammon #obey me satan #obey me prompts #cute!

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beomglocks · 4 years ago

Text

sk8ter boi ; c.bg

summary : he was a boy, she was a girl. can i make it anymore obvious?

pairing : skaterboy!beomgyu x reader

warnings & other : reader already has a child with yeonjun ok, beomgyu still pining after all these years, based off queen avril lavigne’s sk8ter boi song, listen while reading if you want

w/c : 2.1K (i may have gotten carried away)

"where'd you get that note and roses from?" your friend maria asks you when you get into class. you wipe away your smile quickly, already knowing who the mystery person was. "i don't know."

yeah, of course you knew. how could you not when the boy oh so clumsily shoved them in your locker while you were literally turning the corner. he tried to act like he wasn't doing anything but he was clearly caught. he tried to play it off in the best way possible and smooth talk his way into a conversation with you but you shut him down due to the bell ringing.

"oh- oh ok sure...yeah," beomgyu stumbled over his words, nervousness eating away at him with you being here. "yo gyu you coming? i just finished fixing my drum kit," his friend, jeongin, calls him over, interrupting your already over conversation.

"you should go...but thanks for whatever you just threw in my locker," you laugh. he nods hesitantly, rubbing the back of his head with his hand. "dude," jeongin now stands in your vicinity. he looks at you and beomgyu before pulling away his best friend to where the spare band room was.

"well open the letter, we wanna know who your little secret admirer is," maria says, leaning onto your desk. your other friends agree, eager to know who was pining over you. you laugh nervously before opening it. you're not sure how they'll react to finding out that it's beomgyu.

you see, you wouldn't exactly call yourself the prettiest girl in the school but hell it sure was close. almost everyone would compliment you every day even if it was something minor like a change in your nail color. you kind of prided yourself in that, not to gas yourself up or anything.

someone like beomgyu...well. he wasn't exactly the ideal guy, to put it simply. he was a skater boy, he hung out with the "simple boys" who skated and did music and hung out around the skate parks after school. he wasn't the scholar type like soobin or the athlete type like yeonjun, he was simple.

you liked simple but your friends didn't. they had preferences for people like soobin and yeonjun, not people like beomgyu. you could probably guess they felt like beomgyu was the bottom of the barrel, like a roach on their foot not worthy of their time.

you pull the letter out of the envelope. for some reason without even trying, you could smell his cologne all over it. you want to smile at the obvious try hard gesture but your friends don't allow it. "what the fuck is that smell, it's so strong," maria gags. you roll your eyes at her dramatics. "it doesn't smell that bad."

"yes the fuck it does," she retorts. "just see what it says." you read over the letter, smiling at certain parts where you could tell he'd done his research on the things you liked. "it's from beomgyu," you say when you finish the letter. you already knew this anyway but maria's eyes go wide and she suddenly snatches the letter from your grasp. "hey!"

"CHOI beomgyu?" she asks while she reads the letter herself. "yeah?" you confirm.

your other friends mumble amongst themselves and you can hear some snicker. "y/n you could do so much better. beomgyu is like a street rat or something. don't do that to yourself," she laughs like it's the funniest thing she's ever said. you don't think beomgyu's that bad but you also don't stand up for him, simply biting your lip as she continues.

"he barely comes to school and when he does all he does is sleep. he skates with those other weirdos and thinks he's gonna make it big with his shitty guitar playing- i mean have you heard him?" she rolls her eyes, throwing the letter back on your desk. "you should go out with yeonjun, i think yall would be a cute couple. the prettiest girl with the coolest guy, your babies would be so damn cute."

"babies?!" you laugh at her ridiculousness. "yes! have you seen choi yeonjun?" she sighs in content. "anyways, don't pay beomgyu any mind because he's not gonna make it in life. go for someone like yeonjun and please for the love of god throw that letter away!"

you never did throw the letter away. you sigh as you think back to your high school years. you had just found it hidden behind one of the closet drawers while you were looking for valkyrie's binkie. she was crying so much since her father had gone out for the day and you were stuck taking care of her, as always.

you wonder how beomgyu was doing. you both talked after the fact but fell off during college since he had gone off to do his own thing. you didn't know what that thing was but you were proud of him nonetheless. you finished high school, went to college, got a good paying job, and were now married with a kid. all at the young age of 21. the typical life, you figure.

you're snapped out of your thoughts when you hear your child crying in the next room. "shit," you mumble to yourself. you leave the letter in your drawer and head back to the living room with the binkie. "valkyrie~" you sing song.

she continues crying, not giving a fuck about your efforts to calm her. she was usually a bit of a daddy's girl. "val please stop crying," you exasperate. "daddy's not coming home until late today. cut me some slack babygirl."

you slip the binkie into her mouth but her shrill cries go right through it. "let me go see if you need a diaper change," you mutter.

before you can even get up from the couch you hear your phone ring from somewhere in the couch. "shit where did i put my phone?" you put valkyrie down to look for your phone but it stops ringing before you can begin searching. you wait for it to ring again you find it between the cracks of the couch.

"oh hey mari," you say in confusion. after high school ended, you and maria kind of fell off along with all your other popular friends. you still had that clout all throughout college given who you were dating but you kind of strayed away from her. you guys were still on speaking terms though but this call was odd since it had been months since the last time she called.

"GIRL-" she pauses for a moment, still as dramatic as ever. "what it is mari? val won't stop crying she needs attention," you sigh, looking over at your daughter. her cries had gotten softer but she was still grumpy about not being with her father.

"girl turn on your tv to MTV right now- like right now before you miss it!" she says hurriedly. "this better be good you know i dont watch those shows," you say into the phone. you place the phone between your ear and shoulder so you can hold valkyrie while watching whatever it was that maria wanted you to watch.

then you see it. "is that-?" you begin. "CHOI beomgyu! yes girl!" maria finishes your sentence. she's right. there he is, the boy you were just thinking about was on your tv screen. "he's famous?" you ask.

maria sucks her teeth, "apparently after high school and like a year or two of college, he dropped out to pursue a music career and i guess it worked out for him." you nod even though she can't see you. "he signed with a label and now he's in like some super fucking famous band, look at him," she continues.

you stare at your tv screen in silence, watching beomgyu have the time of his life on the MTV stage. he really did get good on his guitar. the camera pans to the drummer and your eyes go wide when you see jeongin. wow, they really stayed together this whole time.

"he's fine as hell," you admit. you hear maria cackle on the other side, "you said it, he looks so attractive playing guitar like that, look at his fingers."

"ok alright maria, i have a child right next to me," you say. she laughs again, "anyways, i got tickets to their next show. you wanna come with?"

you're not sure how you managed to convince yeonjun to stay home with the baby while you went out with maria to this concert, but you did it. he was skeptical of letting you go out with what you were wearing which is why you both argued before you eventually stormed out to go anyways.

when you met up with maria outside the venue she looked up and down with a knowing smile. "i thought that pussy belonged to mr. choi yeonjun? what're you all dressed up for?"

"dressed up?" all you were wearing was a black and white bandana for a top and tight leather pants and comfortable shoes. "do the pants really have to hug your ass like that though?" she jokingly slaps your butt and you glare at her. "that's what yeonjun said," you mumble to yourself.

the concert goes smoothly and you're glad you actually got to see beomgyu in person and playing guitar. one thing about choi beomgyu is that he will play guitar like it's his last day on earth. he plays with so much intensity that you almost feel bad for the guitar.

you could almost feel how the crowd's energy in this packed room transferred to the members. if it was even possible, they started to play with more vigor.

at some point, beomgyu was full on immersed in his own playing. his once fluffy hair was now soaked with sweat and covering his forehead and eyes. he kept headbanging along to the beat while skillfully moving his fingers along the strings of the guitar.

during the middle of one of their songs, beomgyu took the center stage for his guitar solo. it was a fast paced riff that just seemed to give the song more life. his head is down so that it's solely focused on the guitar but once he finished the hardest part of the riff he looked up smugly. the crowd went absolutely mad when beomgyu bit his lip during the rest of his solo.

you had to admit the boy had stage presence, you practically almost re-fell in love with him.

after the show, you and maria went to get refreshments at the nearby bar. beomgyu seemed to already be there talking to one of his members so you took this opportunity to speak with him. you wonder if he'll remember you after all these years but you take your chances.

"beomgyu!" you shout over the music that's playing in the background. he whips his head around to the sound of his name being called and smiles lightly when he sees you. when you get to him, he subtly looks you up and down, taking in your body and attire. "y/n is that you?" he says, his voice laced with something teasing.

"you remember me?" you ask him with a smile. "how could i forget a face like yours," he smiles, leaning back. you laugh and he smiles. "i just saw you on stage, i never thought you'd become this huge! congrats!"

he nods, "yeah, i always wanted to make it big you know." he trails off, looking over you again like he's entranced somehow. "so how's life? you still with-"

"yeonjun...yeah we um- we have a kid...now," you finish nervously. did he really have to bring yeonjun up right now. "a kid?" he says, surprised. "let me see."

you show him a selfie of you and valkyrie that you took at a time when she wasn't completely hating your existence and wanting to cuddle her father instead of you. he laughs and leans back once again, "she's cute like you, she definitely got her mom's features."

"yeah and she's got her dad's attitude," you say, mostly to yourself but beomgyu catches it. "oh yeah! i wanted to say, i really like that one song you played, uh- fairy?"

"fairy of shampoo? yeah we added our own little rock twist to it," he says. "you know the lyrics are actually about y-" your phone cuts him off and you apologize, turning away to answer it. "what is it yeonjun"

beomgyu sighs in frustration when he hears you say that. when you finish talking you turn back to him and he has his eyebrow raised in question. "looks like my fun is over," you laugh dryly. he nods in understanding, "before you go though, let me get your number so we can catch up sometime."

you agree, not wanting to pass up the chance to reconnect with your now famous friend.

"maybe we'll see each other around gyu," you smile, beginning to walk away.

he smiles at the old nickname, waving you off, "i sure hope so."

#beomgyu imagines #beomgyu reactions #beomgyu drabbles #beomgyu drabble #txt imagines #drabble #tomorrow x together imagines #txt headcanons #beomgyu headcanons #txt reactions #txt scenarios #beomgyu timestamps #beomgyu fic #beomgyu x reader #beomgyu fluff #fluff

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haliyam · 4 years ago

Text

Asset

zeke x reader/oc, slight levi x reader/oc

summary: Levi slips into the Liberio internment zone during the festival and finds himself distracted. (Season 4 and manga spoilers ahead)

Reader does have a background that’s hinted at, default name Lucy, but if you have the InteractiveFics browser extension, please feel free to use it to change your first name! This is actually part of a series I'm hoping to write (brain willing lol), but this can stand alone too.

AO3 link if you prefer to read there

hello! i haven’t been on tumblr in a while but stumbling back into aot made me need to write something, and everyone’s fics and gifs here are amazing!

Jean looks around, tilting the brim of his hat forward just before they cover his eyes. “You sure about this, Captain?”

“Nothing wrong with making sure they haven’t caught on,” Levi nods, adjusting the lapel of his jacket. “Or that that bastard hasn’t changed his mind and informed on us to his superiors.”

Jean’s eyes flicker to his at the very thought. He spots a familiar hesitation in them, but it’s quickly fettered away with a nod. When Levi is sure he has nothing more to say, he returns it, and Jean departs for the crowd with a casual swagger that belies his doubt.

Levi hasn’t asked them their opinions on this operation. Of course, they’ve all offered it anyway—but Hange has decided, and he trusts their decision. On that point, the Scouts had all agreed.

Today the internment zone gates are open to all visitors, Eldian or not. Triangular streamers of all colors canopy the streets, and flutes and drums and instruments he’s never heard sound out in joyous cacophony in the near distance, tempting curious ears from beyond the gates. The festival is definitely a trap—but admittedly, a beautiful one. He’s never seen this much cheer since Historia’s ascension, or maybe since they retook Wall Maria. Back then he hadn’t exactly participated, much less left his quarters until it was later and Hange insisted he show himself… but this celebration is in full swing. Between Jean, Connie, and Sasha, Jean was the best choice to bring along. He’s the most likely to stay on track.

...Which is why it shames Levi when he’s caught off guard staring into a stall filled with all kinds of … food, he can only guess. Onyankopon introduced them to new desserts, but this is different. Bright and vivid, the tangy scent of them fills the air, but they’re not lollipops or candy or chocolate. He was supposed to turn the corner into an alley right before this one when he spotted it, and now…

“Here.”

A packet of one of the strange desserts is shoved into his face so quickly that he almost darts back. He reins it in at the last minute, only fixing a glare upon whoever dared invade his personal space like that, much less present themselves as a threat.

You.

A young woman in a simple dress, hand clasped around a packet of mouth-watering orange-yellow strips of the stuff.

“Here,” you smile politely, apparently unfazed by the suspicion he levels at you.

“What is that?”

“Dried mangoes,” you reply, taking a step or two closer to let your arm relax. “You were looking at them, right? They come chocolate-covered, too, but I say try these before the other variants.”

He doesn’t answer. The people manning the stalls beneath the vivid tents in the festival have all been overly friendly, but that’s par for the course, and they know to turn to their next prospective customer when he quickly walks past. Damn his own eyes. They almost make him regret his rule not to accept anything from anyone unvetted. “No thanks.”

Now you give him a different look. A curious one, which makes him almost curse under his breath. He’s supposed to blend in; not draw attention to himself. Levi turns away, heading down the road again and meaning to turn for the alley once he’s shaken you, but you’re already walking next to him.

“Have we met?” you ask, still looking at him.

“No.” He thinks he would remember if you had. And this isn’t good. Now you’ll try to commit his face to memory.

But you look away instead as you bar his way once more—down, to be specific, so you can fish a small piece of the dessert from the packet and take a bite. “Not poisoned,” you promise, clearly biting back a grin while you pause to chew. Infuriatingly, you begin to mirror his squint. “You aren’t from around here, are you?”

He stares at you, and is still deciding between bewilderment or irritation when you continue, “It’s not a bad thing. I’m glad that you decided to drop by.”

“What?”

At least the look he gives you makes you recoil just a little now. That’s more what Levi is accustomed to. But it doesn’t stop you from talking. “You’re not from the zone,” you answer, motioning to his bandless left arm. “Not many outsiders want to come, in spite of the festival… so thank you for giving it a chance.”

You extend your arm again, your hand and the packet almost touching his chest in this renewed offer.

He really shouldn’t be doing this. He should be pointing you toward a distraction and leaving, or otherwise putting you off to the extent that you voluntarily leave him alone yourself. But the hope in your gaze is too tender to spoil, reminds him of too many in the past who deserved more than him to be here now—or it’s the festival getting to him.

With a sigh, Levi takes a strip of dried mango from the packet and watches your lips curve upward into a bright smile. He shakes his head, barely just stopping from rolling his eyes as he thinks about how you probably picked a dessert far too sweet for his tastes—but he’s in for another shock when he takes a bite and finds it sour instead. Well, sweet in parts and sour in others. It’s different, but he doesn’t dislike it at all.

It must show on his face as he chews, which is terrible, because you take it as an invitation to speak again. “They’re from the southeastern archipelago. Eldia never conquered much of that continent—and thank goodness for that,” you seem to add quickly for good measure, “but it did pick up a few of their delicacies. It’s common Eldian fare whenever they’re in season.”

“I see,” he says, just to be forgettable. “Thank you.” It’s likely that being rude will make someone like you remember him more, and that isn’t his goal here today. As he swallows the strip (it was too small), Levi almost doesn’t notice you nudging him forward toward the next stall. But he does, and he gives you a look. “What do you think you’re doing?”

You grin sheepishly, knowing you’ve been caught. “I never meet non-Eldians within the zone. Especially none like you. I'm going to tour you around the stalls a little - I know the scents might be confusing, and the armbands are… well. But there are good, honest people here.”

“That so?” the remark is aimed toward you, because his suspicions remain, but he realizes his mistake when your eyes look even more earnest than before.

“There are. And good food, as you can tell,” you say proudly. You offer him the packet again. “Let me show you.”

He should really get going. He and Jean mean to rendezvous in an hour, and he still hasn’t left the festival grounds.

But the look in your eyes tells him you’re going to be very annoying if he refuses. Or maybe that’s what he tells himself when he lets you.

This is how Levi finds himself guided around the festival that afternoon, getting all sorts of history lessons on food (and tea) as he tries them - but only bites, and very reluctantly of course, because he doesn’t care to get too full before tonight, when his stomach has already begun to turn. It’s that he knows he has no right to enjoy himself with the novelty of this event, with the optimism in your quiet laughter when he balks at the spicy undercurrent in the skewer of meat you have the audacity to stick into his hand. Not when he knows what’s going to happen tonight. Not when he doesn’t even know your name.

You tell him, finally, when you take a break by a quiet corner in the festival. Over here they’re selling older Eldian art pieces, some painted and others carved figurines, and the scent of lacquered wood faintly invades his senses. He gets a brief respite only when you lean closer to him to let a passing merchant through. Lilies. “I’m Lucy. I thought you should know the name of your tour guide.”

The name sounds familiar. It’s probably a common one he heard during their last visit.

You’re holding your hand out to him, expectation now in your gaze. He’s clearly spoiled you.

Levi stares at your hand. He doesn’t care to shake it, but again—better to be forgettable. He wracks his mind for a name.

“Kenny.”

Kenny? Levi inwardly sighs.

“It’s nice to meet you, Kenny.” You exchange a good, solid handshake, but you are quick to pull away immediately after. Why? Has he been compromised?

He hopes not, as you give him a reassuring smile and look ahead. At the far, far end of the next avenue is the plaza where the crowds will settle tonight, but you can’t see it from here. “Are you here for Willy’s play tonight?”

“Isn’t everyone?”

“Between you and me,” you say, leaning just a bit closer again as you move on from the area and smile at a waving shopkeep, “It’s probably going to be boring. I would leave after the festival.”

Levi looks down at you, meets your gaze with a critical eye for the first time since your meeting. He ignores the way the afternoon sun sets a golden highlight around your hair. “You think so?”

If you notice, you deflect his look with a little snort. “The Tyburs,” you almost spit the name, with a venom not unfamiliar to someone in his line of work but uncharacteristic enough of what he’s seen of you that he spares you a blink. “The Tybur family’s official policy is to leave the rest of the Eldians on the wayside while they live in their beautiful estates. Why speak now?” Your hand, gentle all this time paying the vendors, passing him food, tossing it in your mouth, now clenches at your side. “He’s a coward. So…”

You trail off, biting your tongue as you turn away briefly. Hatred is something far too familiar for Levi to balk at, and so he doesn’t. Because it wasn’t hatred he saw in your eyes, but a strange defeat. He has to wonder, but he stops himself before he can. That will be moot after tonight.

“He’s saying something now,” he replies blankly, letting you hear the shrug in his tone. He doesn’t really care to defend someone with only a few hours left to live, but maybe he feels guilty for knowing even that much. Death has always been a certainty in his life, but the how and the when? “Some people never say anything at all.”

His words break you out of your stupor. It appears you weren’t really talking to him after all, but now he wishes he bit his tongue. The idea of you leaving before the play actually sounds like a good one, and he should not have gainsaid it.

“I suppose you have a point,” you say, looking slightly abashed at your outburst. Sighing, you gesture around the area. “So what do you think? Not bad for a home of devils, right?”

The question has him turning toward you so sharply that you begin to squirm under his gaze. The truth is you’ve been able to deflect his uninterested, even hostile expressions so far, but this one is new. His eyes are walled off for the most part, but a telling indignation flashes across his grey eyes so quickly you wonder if you even saw it. He sees it in the way you search them.

You gulp and then clear your throat. “I lived here when I was younger,” you explain, appearing both frightened and encouraged. Ultimately unable to withstand his gaze, you start to walk again, down the road toward the plaza.

He hardly notices himself following suit. “You left?” You were allowed to?

“My family isn’t from Liberio,” you admit, slowing to keep apace. “I came here to join the Warrior program when I was little.”

Now the expression in his eyes is indecipherable, but curiosity gives it the smallest edge as his gaze flits to your armband. Pale grey, almost white.

“I didn’t make it,” you say, quickly, since bringing up Marley’s prized Warriors with anyone from outside of the motherland is an awful idea this soon, “so I was called back home. But I had fond memories of this place, all things considered, and now I’ve chosen it as mine.”

A strange feeling now worms its way into Levi’s chest. He’s already managed to shut off his thoughts and apprehensions about tonight’s operation - they can’t afford doubts, after all, and anyway those have never stopped him from getting the job done - but it makes him uncomfortable.

“Where do you live?” Will you be spared the worst of it?

You look surprised, but you smile all the same. “A few blocks from here. An old doctor and his family let me stay with them when I was little, and I still stay there now. Now I… work at the hospital in the zone.”

“You’re a doctor too?”

The question seems to dismay you. “Not exactly.”

He frowns before he can help it. “You’re pretty dodgy for a tour guide.”

Now you can’t help but laugh in what almost looks like offense. “Me? I’m the one who’s been talking about myself, between the two of us,” you say, your indignation diluted with your ringing mirth. It sounds clearly over the din. “I don’t even know where you’re from!”

“You do. Not here.”

Levi feels the side of his mouth quirk when you laugh at such a small remark, but you manage to get a hold of yourself before he can respond.

You meet his gaze again, shaking your head in disbelief, and something appears to click in your mind as your lips part with revelation.

“You’re a war veteran, aren’t you?’

Levi graces you with another blink. “What?”

“I won’t ask where,” you promise again, raising a hand in surrender. “You just remind me of someone I’ve met at the hospital.”

He quirks a brow. “How should I take that?”

“Oh! Not as an insult!” you laugh again, covering your mouth, but your lips are pursed, still stifling another smile when you lower your hand. It takes another moment for you to compose yourself. “I meant rather that… you have soulful eyes.”

His soulful eyes stare straight at you, utterly deadpan. “Soulful.”

You stand by it, clearly suppressing mirth again. “Soulful.”

Levi sighs with some exasperation, as if to wonder how his life choices have led to him having to put up with all this, and it must be the most you’ve gotten out of this man since you interrupted his consideration of those snacks. Somehow you can tell that even his irritation should flatter you. “Anyway,” you say, when he seems resigned to all this, “if you aren’t completely sold on watching the play tonight, maybe you can drop by the hospital instead.”

Levi narrows his eyes at you. “Why would I do that?”

“Well… we don’t get visitors often. But the patients always appreciate them.” After a pause, you add, “Not always. But even just sitting with them is something.”

His furrowed brow relaxes. Not that he’ll be able to say yes - not that he wants to - and not that he’s ever cared all that much for bleeding hearts. It’s really more the determination in your gaze that gets him. Like you’re not exactly going to take no for an answer, or worse, and maybe closer to his heart, that you refuse to let the possibility cross your mind.

“There’s one patient I would love to introduce to you,” you continue, when you catch the hesitation in his silence. “He calls himself K—“

“Lucy?”

A familiar voice calls your name from amid the crowd. The smile that simply illuminates your features as you turn to look over your shoulder draws Levi’s eyes to yours rather than to your mouth this time.

Before you can look, a pair of arms encircles your waist, a beard nuzzling your neck while you squirm and laugh, trying to elbow your way out of the embrace to no avail. It’s token resistance that leads only to his nose nudging at your jaw, mouth grazing your neck. “Zeke, stop!”

“So this is where you’ve been hiding,” he murmurs, his glasses nudging your cheek, whisper tickling your skin. “Meeting ran late. You know how Magath is.”

“I know,” you say as you manage to wrangle your way out of his grasp. “But please don’t do that in front of my new—“

You glance to the side with an apology ready for him, but Levi has disappeared. Your hands grasp Zeke’s sleeve for balance as you get on your tiptoes, but you cannot spot his hat among the crowd.

“—friend.” You frown. “He was just here.”

Zeke quirks a brow. “Who?”

“Kenny,” you say. “He was wearing a dark suit and a fedora. Just a little taller than me, black hair… you didn’t see him? And—are you all right?” You reach for his fingers, kneading at the pads of them with yours. “Your hands are so cold.”

Zeke shakes his head, dismissing your second question. “A little taller than you,” he enunciates instead, withdrawing his hands to make a show of stroking his beard. “So did I see another runt? The answer is no, sorry.”

You give his hip a light smack. “I’m not a runt. I’m taller than Pieck!”

“By an inch.” When you make a face at him, Zeke smiles, hands pawing at your shoulders before running down your back and pulling you to him, your chest flush against the wall of his stomach. “Do you want us to look for your Kenny?” he asks, his thumb ghosting your lip.

“He’s not my Kenny,” you give him a look, even though he knows his hands are already giving you other ideas. His other one is stroking your waist. “I just thought he looked lost.”

“My bleeding heart,” he says fondly. “You can’t save everyone.”

You shoot him a look that he ignores. This isn’t the place to get into that discussion, so you shrug it off. “I guess I was imposing on him. At one point he seemed like he’d rather drink rotten milk than listen to me. I just thought we’d built a rapport...”

Zeke snorts. “Okay, okay. I’ll listen to you.”

You squint at him. “Don’t let me twist your arm.”

He grins, leaning closer to whisper in your ear. “I think I let you do a lot more to me than just that, Miss Blanchard.”

The flush that predictably spreads across your face makes him laugh, that warm, hearty chuckle that makes your knees weak. He bends down to touch your lips with his, smiling when you seek his mouth to deepen the kiss. Your hand fists around his shirt, the slightest hum of enjoyment from your throat drawing him further into your thrall, but the nudge of a passerby makes him pull away after a moment. His lips envy the disappointed pout that seizes yours as he closes your hand around his. Zeke lifts it to plant a more chaste kiss to your knuckles in apology.

“But before all that,” he says, “how about that festival date you promised me?”

Zeke gives you a questioning look, as though a part of him might actually doubt that you’ll say yes. Really it’s that he wonders if you’ll still gaze at him with those tender eyes this time tomorrow, but you can’t possibly know that.

You shrug, intertwining your fingers with his. “I’ll let you twist my arm.”

“You let me do a lot more—“

“Yeager...”

“Heh heh.” He withdraws his hand so he can wrap an arm around you instead as he guides you back to the heart of the festival. “I ran into the others while looking for you. The kids wouldn’t shut up about some good wrap nearby—and while their faces were full of pizza. What do you think?”

You lean against him, unable to help the warmth that you practically radiate as he holds you. He knows it too, pulling you closer. You shrug him off briefly to take a last glance around for Kenny, but he really is nowhere to be found.

Ducking back under Zeke’s arm, you smile. “Why not?”

Out of sight, trying to stave off the nausea, Levi watches the pair of you walk away from beside one of the many festival stands littering the avenue. How couldn’t he have realized who you are? Lucy is the name of the asset that sack of shit wants retrieved before the operation begins. He had wondered why, thought it some political ploy that would come into play later on. He didn’t expect the reason to be so... mundane.

He can’t believe he almost felt worried. He knew there had to be something strange about you, ignoring how he was clearly trying to get away. Had you been taunting him? A trap, just like this festival?

It hadn’t seemed like it. Your smile appeared to be genuine.

Not that it matters. He gets smiles all the time that he doesn’t care for; why should a beautiful woman’s remain with him or be any more noteworthy than another’s?

Dismissing the sight lingering in his mind’s eye, Levi turns for his true objective. He’s wasted enough time.

...And anyway, any person who would take up with that monster probably has some skeletons of her own.

Levi supposes he’ll find out later.

---

Thank you for reading! :)

The series I mentioned planning should be zeke x reader/oc, but because levi is very tempting, I'm also planning/considering a levi/reader AU (or ending??) of the ending post-rumbling (we'll see).

EDIT: This is a oneshot which can stand on its own, but if you're interested in a series I've posted the first two chapters of interim, the first of the Zeke-centered fics I mentioned I intended to write! It's a prequel that starts in Liberio after Zeke, Pieck, and Reiner come home post-S3. It'll go into Reader/Lucy's relationship with the Warriors, particularly Zeke, + how exactly they ended up where they are here in Asset. Levi makes a return appearance once we get to the sequel to Asset, going into the Raid on Liberio and onward.

EDIT 2: And if you'd like something completely Zeke-focused in the same year as Asset, here is a short fluff oneshot to accompany art I commissioned of Zeke and Lucy. It will have Lucy's appearance there (and I suppose her appearance is a spoilerish for the family name which you will discover in interim chapter 1), so if you don't want to see what she looks like then don't click it or just scroll down before the art loads. XD these trivial moments takes place some time before Asset, but still within the month that passes between the end of the Marley Mid-East War and the Raid on Liberio.

#zeke x reader #zeke x oc #zeke yeager x reader #zeke yeager x oc #zeke jaeger x reader #zeke jaeger x oc #levi x reader #levi x oc #levi ackerman x reader #levi ackerman x oc #slight #eventually maybe #zeke yeager #levi ackerman #jean cameo because i love him #aot #snk #haliyam #asset

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