#the description is a jest i do not hate him i think hes a funny guy

[leopardsealz]

grrrrr hate this dude

[thepinkdreamganjaqueen]

Subway Obsessions Arthur's POV ch.1

Arthur Fleck POV x Fem!Reader  

Masterlist 🩷

Summary: From Arthurs POV. It's just another night on the subway. A typical ride on the Gotham train on his way home from a long day of running errands and away from his tedious depressive thoughts. Perhaps he would catch a glimpse of the woman he could only seem to catch in passing, the woman he��d been secretly watching, following, fantasizing about nightly. Perhaps the unending misery that is the city above had him thinking of change, of something new to obsess about. Something to draw his mind away from the blistering and the mundane. Would he finally get the courage to talk to her? 

Warnings: SMUT, NSFW, 18+, MINORS DO NOT INTERACT, public exhibitionism, subway cruising, swearing, stalking, obsession, mentions of violence, fem!reader, romantic smut, fluff

A/N: Beginning to a series? Who knows. May add things later. First fic, btw! I'm hyper fixated now, so expect more. This is something I've been mulling around with for a while. I've done this story from both the readers' POV and from Arthur's because I can't get enough!! So, make sure to read both! I loved writing from this perspective so much, btw! Literally! Send ideas, edits, etc. my way!! And be nice please. The first chapter is mostly fluff/ descriptive plot/character building. Cheers! Enjoyyy!

Word Count: 3.9k

SERIES: Subway Obsessions 

CHAPTER 1: Chance Meeting 

Today was another mundane day. Arthur had been out earlier in the evening running errands for his mother. Picking up T.V. dinners at the grocer and medications for him and her at the local pharmacy. Still, getting around the city was a chore in of itself. He figured the subway would be the easiest and quickest way home. It was nearing 10 o'clock pm. His mother would be worried, and it was getting late. He knew the dangers of roaming Gotham city at these hours. His mother used to say, "That's when the colorful people come out." A way to make something serious, completely unserious. Still, he knew the dangers and tried as hard as he might to keep his wits about him. Easier said than done when you're a man with a neurological disorder, apparently so many people hate you for. He wished they’d understood or tried at least.  

He always pondered why the people of Gotham were so... well so mean! Everyone he encountered save for the very, very few were just assholes to him. Perhaps it was the political climate? With Thomas Wayne running for government placement, it probably didn't help. Make the rich richer and the poor poorer he thought. Perhaps it was the state of the city itself, the infrastructure, the lack of resources. He sure has been on the wrong end of that stick one too many times. "Good people suffer Happy," his mother would say. But he never understood why it had to be that way. Life was circumstantial. He didn't ask to have what little he did. He didn't even ask to be born and thought life was the real joke.

It doesn't have to make sense to be funny! He jested internally. Because its fucked! And there lies the comedy for those broken enough to see, yet perhaps healed enough to laugh at the pain. Because, what else can you do?  

His mind wandered through these endless fields of thought when a train car stopped in front of him. He had been standing on the platform disassociating for some time. Perhaps he even forgot where he was for a moment, ruminating over the wrongs of life and playing them out differently in his head. The things he didn't say or do, what he could have done differently... 

The brisk hiss and click of the air brakes as they screeched to a halt brought him back to reality. He blinked a couple of times, waiting for the doors to open. As he did, a disheveled looking figure pushed past him while exiting. He burst out in a cry of compulsory laughter and stepped on the train. He was in the last car and immediately noticed it was bearable, as bearable as riding the subway can be he postulated. 

In his search for a seat towards the end of the train car, he noticed a large putrid looking spill in the back. It melted off the seats and slid across the aisle. It looked sticky. Best to avoid that then, he thought. He opted for a bench seat away from the offending area and sat down, crossing one leg over the other and leaning back, arm outstretched on the head of the seat next to him. No one was in this car except for him. He found a moment of solace and drank it in, filling himself with the noiseless satisfaction of silence and peace when a warbled voice broke over the loud speaker. He couldn't really understand it, but the semblance of words spoke what sounded like “platform 19”. It was all he could understand through the robot whine. He felt anticipation rising within him. 

At approximately 10:15 p.m., the doors of the subway train broke open with a gush of cold night air. At the other end of the subway, he watched as a woman stepped onto the train like a fawn. Scared and unsure of where to go or sit. She was bright and colorful; she immediately caught his eye. Was this what his mother meant by colorful people? He thought to himself. He quickly realized it was her! The girl he had fantasized about daily and nightly, hoping to catch her on the train but only seeming to in his thoughts and dreams, remembering her face, her scent that penetrated her surroundings. He had tirelessly followed her the first time he saw her. She was the only person to smile at him that day. He had to know more and had to know why. But she wasn't always on the same train. He always hoped to run into her and had almost given up, thinking she must have been some sort of hallucination he created for himself to lessen his own pain. But there she was.  

She looked different tonight. She looked like a predator, displaying colors brightly in the face of possible danger. She was a force; he felt the atmosphere change as soon as she stepped in through the steel doors, a thickness lifted in the air and he could feel himself tense in his seat. His clothes were suddenly uncomfortable, his collar too tight, his hands, sweaty. She always looked beautiful when he saw her, she always looked content and comfortable. Hair in a messy bun with strands falling about her face swayed by the wind that surged through the train car. Sweats he could still make out her figure through, leaving him wanting more every time, it drove him crazy! But today she looked like she was straight out of the films on the TV! He thought to himself. She made him think of glamour, it's the only word that truly fit, like the old films he would watch with his mom. Wow! Was she a sight to see, a cool pristine liquid flowing over his burning eyes. A soothing image of pure proclivity. An unknown sense of calm swept over him. 

He watched, frozen, as she cautiously observed the train car searching for a seat. He looked at her from top to bottom. She was significantly smaller than him, petite, probably around five feet three he gauged. Fuzzy black boots, blue jeans tightly hugging her figure, full thick thighs, his mouth began to water - he thirsted for her, wanted to drink in her every essence. He felt a lump in his throat as he tried to choke it down. A tight black shirt under a small cropped pink sweater with red hearts all over. It perfectly displayed her large soft breasts. Brown curls bounced about her shoulders as she walked, strands of them fell daintily on her face and cheeks. As she walked, she would flick it away with a quick movement of her head. The way she did that, moving her hair out of her face without using her hands. It made him tingle in all the right places. His mind raced. What else can she do without using her hands? he thought.  

There was something pink in her hair too, he saw as she walked past. She didn't notice him at first. Most people don't he thought to himself. Although this thought disappointed him, he didn't fault her for it. He had the urge to make her notice him. To be a presence and to be objectified by her, he only wished he could hold that kind of power.  

As she passed, the scent he had come to know as her- wafted past him, he sucked in through his teeth sharply. It was heaven on earth. Stimulating. He would follow that scent hoping to find her, mercilessly searching. It was like a drug, an aphrodisiac, and he felt his cock spasm. She was eyeing the seats towards the back where that odd spill was. A butterfly he thought. It's a pink butterfly in her hair. He immediately felt like a school boy again, fawning over and wanting to get the attention of the pretty girl and for her to return it.  

"This one's fine!" He blurted out, not really knowing what he was saying. She turned around, her beauty, dark, striking, and he found it hard to speak again. He stammered and was able to get the lump out of his throat to follow up with; "I don't know what that is back there but these are not so bad" his voice felt cracked but he tried to contain his composure, he didn't want to scare her off. He was the only other person on the train, and it must have jolted her since she didn't see him at first. Plus, she probably thinks I'm some kind of creep or weirdo, he thought to himself. There was some truth behind those thoughts, but that didn't make him a bad person, he thought. All day, he spends trying to have a nice day to make himself and others happy, trying to think good thoughts, trying not to let the bad influence the good he can salvage. 

"Oh, thank you!" A sweet voice broke the monotony of thought, and immediately he was flung back into the present. She made her way to the seats laid out in front of him. A row of sideways seating. He watched her sit gracefully, slowly, like a calculated ballet dancer, he thought. Every move fluid, every move perfect. When she sat, she arranged her things on the seat next to her and settled in. He wondered to himself where she was going. Why she had so many bags, why she was riding the subway so late, as a woman, she should be terrified. This city is not safe, especially for someone as strikingly beautiful as her. She was like a beacon of light, too bright to stare at, but he was drawn to her like a moth to a flame and simply couldn't resist the allure. 

She actually sat next to me! He thought. Only one seat away, actually next to me. But that wasn't all. She saw him, noticed him, heard him, and listened to him. The weight of these simple gestures made his hands sweaty, and he tried his best to remain aloof. The doors of the train opened on the other side of her, and a breeze blew her hair behind her and over her face. He couldn't help but see her, every aspect of her. He studied her every move, every inch of her body. He wanted this to last, for this image to never leave his mind.  

The wind that blew past her carried on it her scent. He was suddenly overwhelmed by the sweet alluring scent of peach? No. Some kind of berry? No. When the doors shut and the pressure created another breeze, the scent wafted to him again. Taking it all in, he identified the smell as watermelon. Some kind of fruity smell filled his senses with the feeling of euphoria. It was intoxicating. He wondered what it would be like to be pressed up against her, inhaling her deeply. He looked down with a deep sigh when he looked back over. She was moving a strand of hair out of her face and caught a glimpse of her looking at him as well. Her cheeks flushed instantly, and she broke her gaze. She was fire, burning too hot near him, and he wanted so badly to play, to burn himself, engulf himself in her flames breathlessly.  

He tried to come up with something to say, anything. How do I talk to her? What would I even say without sounding stupid? He thought. He watched on as the florescent lights above her flickered. It lit up parts of her he hadn't seen upon first observation. Glitter decorated her collar bones and cheeks. Her sweater was slightly unzipped. He could see the peeking out of her cleavage. Sparkling with glitter, so pretty, she reminded him of the stars of the night sky. Unmistakably beautiful, yet so. Far. Away. He had been working up the courage to say something to her, to hear her voice again, he didn't want to forget it. A symphony replayed in his mind. He needed more.  

He stumbled over his words, "Sorry, I-it's hard for me to talk, I meant to introduce myself. I'm Arthur, " he said in the kindest, most unassuming voice he could muster. She looked up and locked eyes. They burned his insides like hot coals. He anticipated her reply, not knowing if she would even engage in conversation with him. "No worries!" She spoke in a reassuring way that made his heart flutter. "I know how it can be, trust me!" She sounded genuine. Kind. There was something underneath her voice, though he couldn't quite conceptualize. Fear? Doubt, maybe? He wanted to take it away.  

"I'm Y/N. Nice to meet you, Arthur!" Again, her voice beaming so light and so lifting. She reached out to shake his hand that he had offered. Her hand was small and was practically swallowed by his. Her fingers were warm, sweeping softly over his palm as she grasped his hand in hers. It's a simple thing, he thought. It was a small touch, but it was enough to make him crumble inside. She felt so nice! "Y/N," he said. "I like that." He lamented. Such a beautiful name. But everything about her was beautiful. Her presence was wholesome and welcoming. Is this real? he pondered. Thoughts took over again, and not knowing how to continue the conversation, they sat in silence for a moment as he worked up the courage to speak again. 

Moments passed that felt like a lifetime, but he was content in her presence, soaking up her aura. As he went to ask her a question, she moved to speak as well. Catching each other off guard, Arthur profusely apologized "No it's okay, go ahead," he said, not wanting to interrupt her. "No, no, that's okay, what were you going to say?" She insisted back. Her voice was small and mousey, she seemed so shy. Why would she be? She screams confidence and power. Even in her apprehensive movements, she seems calculated, he thought to himself. He stole another glance at her. Her eyes sparkled reminiscent of a smokey quartz gem in a bracelet he once saw in a shop window. A thought of her adorned in nothing but gems crossed his mind. He tried to hold onto the image before it left his mind's eye. He felt a flush in his cheeks again, and his eyes darted. He couldn't look her in the eyes for too long. It made him nervous. He was working up the urge to speak again, to say something, anything.  

He broke the silence and asked, "So what brings you to ride the subway so late at night? Aren't you scared?" He uttered jokingly. After saying it, he felt immediate stupidity. Why would I say that? He thought and started an inner spiral. As if seeing his reaction to his own question and wanting to ease the tension building within him, Y/N said, " Well, I work at the Gotham shelter overnight. So, having to ride the train every night, I guess, I've gotten used to it for the most part. But, yeah, I do get scared sometimes. The city can be super sketchy, and I've been attacked twice already, so I had to buy mace and stuff to try and protect myself."  

The words spilled out of her mouth like a wave of glass, he couldn't fathom her ever saying this of all things, it was jolting for him and triggered something within him he had tried so long to hide. His mind raced. He felt anger and rage well up inside of him it hardened his sternum and burned in his throat. He became stiff but was unaware. The spiraling began to start again. This city was ruining people, hurting people, good people! He thought. She helps people, and then people hurt her?! Pieces of shit! He screamed internally. The emotions he felt were at war within himself. He felt rage for her pain and suffering at the hands of this city's denizens, he felt fear for her life knowing she rides the train every night, he felt regret, why couldn't he have been there to help, to do something? He all but took the pain on as his own, it soaked through to his core. He too had been at the mercy of some of the worst people he has ever had the displeasure of encountering in this god forsaken city, he too had been attacked, hurt, mercilessly tortured by these fucking terrible people.  

Lost in his train of thought and looking straight ahead he couldn't help but sternly say in sympathy "These people are just fucking terrible!" She must have noticed his change in demeanor at this declaration. He suddenly felt a warmth cross his leg, and lightly squeeze. It was smooth and comforting. His concentration broke completely. Pulled out of a trance by her as if the thoughts were just zapped out of his brain. His eyes quickly darted back to her where they followed the length of her shoulder, to her arm, and from her arm to her hand that rested upon his thigh. He felt the muscles in his face relax, his shoulders dropped, jaw unclenched. The sheer power she had over him he thought. The warmth emanating off of her palm was like security, a blanket of nostalgia. He couldn't remember the last time he felt what felt like love, like connection, or attachment. He couldn't help but see flashes of images in his mind, her moving her hand closer to his cock which had began to throb. He tried to brush away those thoughts but they plagued him. She was touching him. Something that never happens to him. He immediately craved her touch, he wanted more, he wondered how that would be possible. He thought this couldn't be real. Not this time.  

Once again, breaking his thought pattern she spoke, and he gave her his full attention. "Yeah, but I'm ok now!" She said in a reassuring tone. Her voice, like petals on velvet. Soft, gentle. "You're here now! And so, I feel safe." Safe? He thought, with me? Like she trusts me? He could feel the negative thoughts start to brim to the surface of his mind but quelled them by responding instead. He needed clarification. The words she spoke just didn't make sense to him. He couldn't see why she would or should trust him, although he so badly wanted her to, for this to be true, he needed it to be. He suddenly felt the urge to never leave her, to always be by her side. He would watch, he would follow, and he would do anything for her.  

He only imagined what it would be like to know her both romantically and intimately. "You feel safe? W-with me?" He spoke haphazardly, unsure of the answer he wanted to hear, hoped to hear. "I do." She looked into his eyes sincerely. His heart leapt into his throat; he couldn't breathe. She was so fucking beautiful. He wanted to grab her, to feel her against him. He shifted his legs at the thought. Looking up at him like that weakened him in so many ways. Most noticeably, in his pants, where he tried to conceal the results of his dirty thoughts. "Then I will protect you Y/N" he proclaimed proudly. A shy smile touched her lips and she continued to gaze into his eyes. He smiled back. I make her feel safe, he thought. She is comfortable in my presence. No one even bothers talking to me, no one ever wants to talk to me. He had the urge to speak once more but couldn't find the words.  

Before either of them could speak, the subway speaker rang out once again in that barely audible robotic toned voice announcing the next stop as the harsh brakes squeaked heavily to a stop. As if anticipating her to leave, he just as quickly stood up and offered out his hand. "Thank you," her voice sang. She turned to face him, her small stature looking up at him once more. He held his composure but felt the heat well up inside him. "It was so nice having someone to ride the train with tonight for a change!" She cheerfully exclaimed with a smile.  

She had grabbed her things and had let go of his hand. What sweet bliss it was for the few seconds he had held it. Her fingers, so dainty and soft. The train screeched to a halt, and he instinctively grabbed her hand again and put his other hand at the small of her back to steady her. He could feel the soft curve of her spine. He slowly moved a pinky closer, hoping she wouldn't notice, tracing the line of her jeans as he did, feeling the line of her panty through the fabric. He quickly pulled away as she exited the train. He had held back. He wanted to do so much more. He wanted to turn her around, grab her face and kiss her, shove her onto the subway seats, and have his way with her, make her cry out. He wanted her to miss work. He wanted her to quit! He wanted her all to himself.  

This moment was too perfect. It felt like a dream. As she stepped off the platform and began to walk away, he stood as the doors shut, helplessly watching her as she slowly walked. Unable to stop time. As the train brakes hissed and cranked, he saw her stop and turn around. She had stepped to the doors, but it was too late. He watched on as her figure shrunk into the distance as the train traveled once again into the dark tunnel. He waved. He would see her again. He would make sure of that. Platform 19. He thought, I'll remember this time. 

[solomonish]

way to go mc, you’ve allowed yourself to be poisoned (nowdateables)

CW for: descriptions of food and eating, brief descriptions of choking-like symptoms. (mainly in the intro, though the individual stories mention coughing, (light) blood and fainting). there will be talk of food and keeping an eye on what is being eaten in the individual character stories as well.

find the brothers here!

When you start coughing:

You’re at a sort of banquet when it happens, which is as embarrassing for you as it is horrifying for him

At first, the brother nearest you just assumes you’re choking, but just as your coughing gets loud enough to attract attention you’re already falling to the ground, covering your mouth.

Diavolo immediately moves towards you but he’s ushered away because nobody realizes it was a fumble on the new chef’s part and can’t take the risk of it being some kind of botched assassination attempt, and some of his staff have to drag him away as he watches helplessly over his shoulder

He sends Barbatos to check on you and sees him kneeling beside Simeon, who is already focusing on you, when he leaves the room.

Taking care of you afterwards:

What he couldn’t do when you were facing the brunt of the poison, he makes up for in taking care of you afterwards.

You wake up in a soft bed, much bigger than any you’ve ever been in before. He’s not touching you, but he is watching you as he lies on his side next to you, propping his head up on one hand. His eyes seem to glow in the dark room, and you think for a moment “huh, funny how this should be something that scares me to death.”

Diavolo is normally a pretty boisterous guy, but when he sees you’re awake and smiles at you, you see the softer, more serious side of him.

Diavolo tries to insist that you either go to the human realm for care or allow him to bring someone, but you point out that the whole program he’s got going on is a little abnormal and it would probably take too long for them to adjust.

He settles for someone you know, like Satan, Simeon or Solomon. He treats them with such firmness, though, you see their eyes flicker to you like “?? is this the same person?”

Diavolo is with you every spare moment he can get: in between meetings, cancelling any non-essential tasks, taking paperwork into the room and sitting with you while he does it

Lucifer probably has a sleepless week ahead of him, picking up his slack :(

Is very gentle with you and lets you take as much time as you need off from school

Afterwards, does thorough checks on his cooking staff and starts drafting mandates to add human-safe options in any restaurant or other eatery you choose

even asks for your input on any human dishes you think should be recreated. the food industry may hate you but hey, now you get to eat the Devildom version of your favorite food wherever you go!

When you start coughing:

Barbatos would never accidentally poison you. He is too practiced in his diligence. He would also never allow you to accidentally poison yourself - the watchful eye he keeps on the prince is not reserved for him.

If you were to somehow be poisoned, accidentally or due to the ill will of somebody else, he wouldn’t be in the same room.

That’s not to say he isn’t immediately alerted and, if he’s close by, he’s making his way to you immediately.

Barbatos has a relatively calm and even pleasant demeanor, but the solemn frown he has on his face when he enters the room silences any chaos your fainting might have caused.

Taking care of you afterwards:

When Barbatos needs to give stellar care, he just defaults to the royal treatment. lucky you, right?

He doesn’t have the most time to stop by and check on you - and the brothers probably whisked you away to the House of Lamentation before he could offer you a place closer to him. (they have the Devildom’s most capable medical staff on hand, yes?)

He definitely does visit you - sometimes Diavolo arrives under the guise of having to talk to Lucifer and lets Barbatos go to you, others he just shows up.

Definitely scrutinizes every little thing the brothers are doing for you and then decides to do things himself.

Soon enough he has traded out your pillows and blankets for much softer ones from the palace, and he makes sure you’re equipped with any potions or even human painkillers you may need while your body recovers.

If you ask him why he’s getting so into it, he just says “What can I say? I only know how to give the best treatment. I’ve had plenty of practice with My Lord.”

When he bends down to press a kiss to your forehead, give him a smirk and ask “oh? is this part of the special treatment Diavolo gets too?”

He’ll just give you a wry smile. You’re lucky he’s still got to treat you gently. “Save such jest for Lucifer, my dear.”

When you start coughing:

He probably did it himself

Everybody already knows his reputation with preparing food, and after you live for however many years and plant names change, you forget some of the names of what is and isn’t poisonous to a regular human.

When you start coughing, he isn’t even concerned - it’s more of an “ah shit, here we go again” reaction because he’s used to this

It isn’t until you fall on the floor that he gets...suspicious.

“Come on MC, don’t you think you’re being a little dramatic?” He asks, not even bothering to hide his disappointment

It isn’t until you don’t answer and he can hear you practically wheezing that he realizes what he’s done

He kneels down to the ground beside you and rubs your back in an attempt to show that he realizes what is going on and looks at the counter, where some of the ingredients he used are still sitting

He stares at a devildom plant that looks suspiciously like mint for a few moments before it clicks that it’s well liked in the devildom for the intense burning sensation it gives

Taking care of you afterwards:

Solomon is as adept at poison remedies as he is at accidentally poisoning people. (he wasn’t always immortal, after all. he’s had to live with his dangerous curiosity way before he figured that out.)

He’d keep you in Purgatory Hall for the first day, seeing the sorry state you were in.

Would offer you his bed to rest while he sits cross legged on the ground next to you, back against the bed with a spell book. Sometimes he’ll crack open an easy one and talk you through some of the simpler spells, and others he reads it for himself while you rest.

Isn’t big on the proactive care but all you need to do is say his name and he’s ready to get anything you need <3

Only tells the brothers that you’re staying the night because he doesn’t want them to kick the door down. Only tells them why because Asmo started making assumptions in the group chat

Everybody afterwards will tell you that honestly, what else did you expect to happen? It’s Solomon’s cooking, MC. Really.

Solomon figures you’re fine figuring out what foods are safe on your own, but since it was someone you supposedly trusted that poisoned you, he finds himself eyeing any food given to you by a friend. However, since HE was the one who actually poisoned you, this most often ends in intense stare-offs that you have to break up

When you start coughing:

Angels don’t have to be as careful as humans - after all, their lives and bodies aren’t nearly as fragile as yours is.

He doesn’t notice that there’s something in the dish you can’t eat, but he does notice the moment you realize something is wrong.

Watching a human realize that they’ve just put their life in danger is a horrible thing, and the look in your eyes sent his blood pressure skyrocketing before your coughing even got super bad.

He can see your lips swelling and that’s when he looks at the salad on your plate.

He doesn’t dare leave your side, and instead opts to send an emergency message to EVERYONE.

Surprisingly, the “MC. POUSOND. NOW. 💀” gets the message across fairly efficiently.

Taking care of you afterwards:

Being under the care of an angel is a heavenly experience indeed.

Simeon is allowed to stay with you while you recover, offering you multiple soothing drinks and chapsticks to help alleviate your pain.

He keeps your room clean and cool so your environment is as peaceful as can be!

Any gifts the brothers offer, he gives to you personally.

He jokingly offers to spoon-feed you, and if you take him up on the offer you’re both blushing by the end of it.

Once you’re better, he’ll find you at lunch and cheerfully remind you to look what’s on your plate. if you brush him off, he’ll just smile and say something like “don’t you remember what happened last time?” but his smile says something dangerous

When you start coughing:

HE. FREAKS. OUT.

Most likely to think this was a direct attack on you and he’s ready to throw hands. Simeon has to place a hand on his shoulder to get him to calm down.

His voice gets higher the more he fights to get close to you, and Simeon starts gently leading him away while sending concerned glances over his shoulder

Taking care of you afterwards:

The first time he brings you sweets and the demons feel the need to check it over and refuse to give it to you he almost cries

He’s not the one who hurt you, and he worked hard on those!!

Simeon tells him that your stomach might be upset still and that makes him feel a little better, because at least he didn’t directly offend you like that.

Will get “angry” (read: pouty) if you don’t let him PERSONALLY inspect what you’re eating for anything poisonous

Can be found at the kitchen table in Purgatory Hall, hunched and asleep as he drools over cookbooks with human-safe recipes 

[thinkingisadangerouspastime]

You've done maiko and kataang headcanons (which I love btw). I was wondering if you have any for zukaang?

these are a long time coming, anon, so i hope you enjoy! sorry they took so long!

- aang loves doing zuko's hair. braids it, puts it up into a bun, brushes it - anything and everything he can do, he will. zuko, of course, loves it all

- they alternate vacations between ember island and air temple island

- aang has a massive sweet tooth, which can be hard to deal with in the fire nation (since they love their spices), so zuko hired a ton of bakers from the earth kingdom to make desserts for whenever aang is there

- zuko also got katara's help in teaching him how to make fruit pies for aang (although a more accurate description would be them both learning together); aang definitely cried when zuko presented him with one for the first time after he'd had a stressful day with meetings and the like

- they exchange letters all the time! aang being the avatar and zuko being fire lord means they don't get to see each other in person as much as they like, but when iroh suggested they regularly write letters, they immediately latched onto it

- aang will make zuko dance with him whenever possible. zuko never succeeds at getting out of it (and he has fun every time, anyways, so his complaints are all in jest). zuko also loves just watching aang dance

- aang asked him out first; zuko genuinely had to sit down to process the thought (poor aang nearly had a heart attack because he thought zuko would hate him for asking)

- zuko does everything in his power as fire lord to help aang restore the air temples and preserve information about his people (he sits down with aang whenever possible, too, just so he personally can learn more)

- zuko loves when aang kisses his scars, though the first time aang kissed the one on his chest he cried

- obviously, zuko is prone to jealousy. his boyfriend being the world's most wanted bachelor does not help. aang thinks it's both funny and adorable, but just to ease zuko's anxiety/frustration he tries to hold his hand in public and in general keeps himself close to zuko

- zuko gets a little flustered with drastic pda, but he initiates simple pda all the time and is very relaxed with aang regarding their intimacy in private

- zuko does not like going on glider rides. he much prefers appa or druk. aang pretended to be absolutely devastated when he found on and zuko panicked as he tried to explain why he didn't like them (aang reassured him soon afterwards with a kiss that it was no big deal)

- aang gives zuko massages (zuko holds way too much tension in his body), which zuko absolutely melts into

- aang loves when zuko peppers his face with kisses, and zuko never refuses when aang asks. zuko himself likes longer kisses; aang certainly does not mind indulging him

- aang is always bringing home hurt animals to take care of. zuko tends to be exasperated at first, but the second he sees aang with whatever little creature it is he can't help but cave in and help

- zuko likes to be the big spoon because it makes their matching scars line up almost perfectly

- their first kiss was at the southern air temple; zuko was helping aang survey the grounds to get the gist of needed repairs, they stayed overnight, and as they were sitting and talking around the campfire while stars twinkled in the sky around them, before they knew it they'd both leaned in, aang cupping zuko's face and zuko placing his hand on top of aang's as they kissed each other slowly, softly, naturally (yet with the fire of a supernova)

[aggresivelyfriendly]

Chapter 1- I saw Emma Kissing Santa Claus!

Hi all! If anybody is still there/ I’m caught up in this song. It’s given me the idea for like seven chapter- here is the first. MERRY CHRISTMAS 🎄🎁! The rest will be late, like those gifts that trickle in when the glow of the holidays is getting hazy. We need Christmas cheer to linger after this year, so I’m gonna publish as I write! Enjoy! And share!

They talked about it later, years after their lives had taken off into space in opposite directions, the moment they knew.

Well, the moment he knew.

"Wait, what?" Emma asked, looking up from the hollow she'd found between his arm and chest when the December air found the crevices in the windows and chilled their skin. She'd get goose flesh and he'd run his hands up and down her limbs to warm her, then pull the flannel up and over them, no matter how warm he was from doing all the work near their end. "We kissed? When we were TEENAGERS?"

"Well, I was technically a teenager the first time we slept together too."

"We didn't sleep."

Harry wiggled his eyebrows at her and smirked, "Oh, I know."

"Oh my god, I really don't remember this!" She turned all the Christmas parties she'd attended at his mum's house over in her head. Emma figured she'd been at the annual event every year since she was 15 or 16, the age he says he was when they kissed. She has almost three years on him. Maybe she was 14 at the first one. That one she recalls well, She's pretty she still had braces. Nobody kissed her. If her math is good, it's her last Christmas before moving. "No wonder you were so ballsy last year!" She slapped at his chest and he grabbed her hand and kissed her fingertips.

"Nah, that was more to do with last year. I was just flush and nobody had turned me down in so long I didn't think anybody ever would again."

"I did!" She at least pretended she wasn't captivated.

"You did. At first!" He reminded her and bit her fingertips before sucking them into his mouth. "Made myself irresistible evidently." He wiggled his eyebrows.

She rolled her eyes thinking back at his dogged flirting. He'd found multiple reasons to be near her and had found her close enough to the mistletoe and was charming enough that she accepted the kiss he negotiated out of her as inevitable. Negotiated, that was laughable, he laid one on her and it overwhelmed her reason. Emma thought she played it cool enough, though she remembers they held hands for the the 10 minutes after, at least.

She accepted the other things he was offering on the strength of that kiss, and the fact that since he'd slipped his tongue into her mouth so seamlessly, convincingly, all she could think about for the hours intervening was what else his mouth could do.

While she replayed the memory of that first kiss, the one that counted for her, another blurry memory flashed in her mind.

"Oh! Was it underneath the mistletoe, too?"

Harry rolled his eyes, and her beneath him in the same breath. "You were under the mistletoe the second time!"

"I was mistletoe adjacent, at best." She sighed, she meant to jest, but his long lean body pressed along the length of her clouded her mind and convinced her she wasn't tired anymore or too tipsy off champagne.

"The first time, was me under the mistletoe."

"I kissed you?"

"You did." He confirmed with another kiss.

"How'd I kiss you? Like full on?" She was a little mortified she'd kissed little Harry.

Gemma would have killed her. Would still! That was why she and Harry always just flirted at the party and met up at the inn when the wine had everybody off their head. Nobody knew, it was their Christmas surprise. The secret she looked forward to all year.

"Well, you weren't brave enough to slip me the tongue." He stuck his tongue into the corner of his mouth; that was too attractive by half.

"Hmph." Was all Emma could come up to answer with. "Did I say anything?" She smoothed her hands up his back.

His face got dreamy, and he seemed to be reliving something. "Yeah, you told me 'you're getting cute little Styles.' I always hated that nickname, but I felt a little taller that night."

Harry was descriptive, which was funny considering he could be so quiet at times, but he was quick and he knew a lot of words, more than her. He was working on his third language. He would basically narrate while they fucked and it drove her crazy when he'd describe how she looked and felt and what it was doing to him.

"What do you want to ask?" He pressed his nose to the place her collarbones met and she could fill him growing between her legs.

"How'd you know I want to ask something?" He was too observant.

He reached up and pulled the lip she didn't realize was between her teeth free. Ahh.

"Ask." He kissed the lip still imprinted with her teeth marks.

"Tell me about it. Describe it, like you do for me when you're inside me."

He blew out a breath, "Should be easy, I obsessed over it for ages after, before even."

"Before?"

"Yeah, I have had a crush on you since you were 12 and started coming round with Gem." He revealed.

"No, I don't believe it!"

"I loved that you already had your whole life planned out and you were sooo smart and then the next year you had boobs."

"That started out so well." She almost protested, she had boobs at 12!

"I was very impressed by the boobs, you wore this sweater—" she clapped a hand over his mouth.

"No more talking unless it's about that party."

He smiled at her and his eyes went soft at their corners, his dimples were suggestions of a deep feeling. "I think you had this idea, like this was your last Christmas here, in Holmes Chapel—"

She had had that idea. She'd intended to leave for a summer term in Sweden that spring and wasn't sure she'd be coming back. And she'd always loved that party, and Gemma's family. Even Gemma's goofy weird brother who was getting cuter and more confident. "Why do you say that?"

"Dunno," he tilted his head and his mouth flattened out and his eyes went somewhere else, he was looking at her but not the version in front of him. "I think you reminded me of my cousins' when they could first drink. Seemed like you were just throwing caution to the wind, letting it fly. Like you had nothing to lose, cuz this place was about to be a memory."

Emma could only find the energy to stare, she thought she nodded. He was spot on, but she wasn't even sure she could have articulated those feelings then. And she hadn't been that reckless ever before or after that day.

"I'd been watching you, and like I said, had a crush for years, um, and like, you were wearing that shiny top, like liquid silver and your long brown hair was all curled up and your cheeks were red with your merry making and I'd always loved your laugh. You're usually so calculated—"

"That's not a nice word."

"I don't mean it like a bad thing, like maybe a better word would be careful. Like all your moves were preparation for the grand future you were working towards. But when you laugh, it all falls away. Tears leak from the corners of your eyes and you bend at the waist and just lose it. That night you did it a lot." He kissed her knuckles. "Did you notice I was kind of shadowing you that night?"

"Honestly, not really, I was kinda out of it, or maybe really in it instead of 5 years ahead." She always was at least a week ahead in her mind. In the actual moment, she was usually just ticking that day's checklist off to get to the next thing.

"Yeah. I could see it, you were really in your body, and it made me want you more." He laughed. "The only other time I ever see you like that is...ah..."

"Go on!" She jostled his shoulder.

He bit his lip like the imp he was and said, "When we fuck, it's like when you laugh, there's no tomorrow, or next semester, or internship you have lined up, just the next orgasm on the horizon."

She knew she was blushing but she ducked her chin and shrugged. She couldn't deny it. She could feel that when he moved inside her, when they moved together, it was like when she really lost her head and laughed at something. Better, more. Emma definitely did not tell him it was never like that with anybody else.

Not her college boyfriend, or the Danish guys she'd enjoyed over their version of freshers, and certainly not the completely nice guy she'd been dating for two months back in Amsterdam. Not one of them made her get out of her head the way Harry could. They'd be following every direction she gave them from tongue placement to tempo and she'd be observing the feelings as opposed to experiencing them. But even remembering her first kiss with Harry was a sensory experience. She gave him direction because that's who she is, but she's fairly certain even if she didn't, he'd be able to get her off just by watching her.

She wondered if it was the same as her. He was more cerebral than anybody gave him credit for. Maybe if he talked more about the kiss she'd find out.

He caught her chin, "Where'd you go?" He asked with dopey green eyes.

"I'm just trying to remember." Emma lied. "Tell me more, maybe it will come back to me."

"Oh, from my memory of the proof of your breath you may never remember." Emma could feel her cheeks heat. She had really tied one on, she was absolutely rough the next day. Utterly useless.

"Yeah, I wasn't sure I'd ever be here again."

"In Holmes Chapel? Really? You thought you'd never come back?"

"I always wanted to leave so bad, I genuinely thought I wouldn't miss it."

"But you did? You do?"

She nodded. She didn't want to explain that the first time she was way more homesick than she expected and this year, well, this year she wanted him for Christmas again.

He gave her this face then and a kiss that made her think he really was a mind reader, his crystal ball in the shape of her body.

"Not everyday." Take that Mr. Intuitive.

He gave her a smile that looked like a wink and started talking, "Like I said, I'd always just found you so impressive and you were always so pretty. But you came back from Amsterdam different."

"It was all the bike riding," she deflected and ran her hands down his arms to his lower back.

"Nah, it wasn't your body. That's always been nice. You just seemed like you were so happy and it was coming out of your pores."

"With the mulled wine?"

"Yeah! Definitely the mulled wine." He kissed her one then pressed his mouth to hers," Might have been your legs."

She snorted, "See it was the biking."

"You also had them out!" He defended. She had worn a daring skirt. "And maybe the biking." He laughed with her. "You also did that snort laugh I'd only heard through the walls during sleep overs and I was kinda tracking you."

"Stalker." He made a face. "Sorry probably not a joke to you." They didn't really talk about the peculiarities of his job. He was just Hometown Harry to her. Gemma's little brother. Her Christmas gift wrapped in deliciousness the last two years.

"I didn't really mean to, honestly. Was just like water to it's path."

"That's poetic." She teased.

"Hey, I'm a songwriter."

"I'd like to see evidence of that." Emma raised an eyebrow.

"You will." She wanted to ask but he just kept going. "Wanna know the funny thing? I never really had to look hard to find you." He went on. "You always seemed to be in the corners of my eye, like a dream I was trying to remember.

"I kind of remember that." She rolled her eyes and summoned some courage, "You looked different, and I tried to ignore it, but the more wine I had, the more I found myself comparing you to the boy I remembered from two years before."

"Hadn't been that long. I was with Gem when she told you goodbye."

She cringed. "I don't think I really looked at you that day."

"Oof, good thing I have crowds of people to stroke the old ego." At least the laugh seemed genuine though his eyes were a little dull.

"I was really remembering you in your red jumper from two parties before."

"Tell me about that party- we got off track talking about the last one." Last year she remembered In technicolor.

"Where were you the year after?"

"Studying, of course."

"Yeah makes sense." He pinched his lip, then bit hers.

"I remember thinking your jumper suited you so well and—"

"Matched your eyes."

"Yeah." She could feel the wonder of his eyes.

"But by midnight I saw that guy Spencer with his arm around your waist. Went to get a drink and was sulking with my own wine when you passed me. You had this look."

"Drunk?"

"Mischievous." He raised his eyebrows and bit his lip, "And then you pointed to the mistletoe."

"And said, 'caught you.'"

"You do remember!" He accused with a still annoyingly attractive chicken neck.

"I didn't, but I'm having a sense memory now." She widened her hips so he fit in like a piece of ikea hardware.

"Care to relive it?" He was trying to sound nonchalant, but she could see the hopeful blush.

She answered him by fitting her lips between his perfect ones and giving a lighter pressure than she had for two Christmases, waiting for his direction of how her bold move had turned out. He moaned and she sucked just a bit like she suddenly recalled. She really thought that was a wine fueled daydream, she swears. And then her mouth opened on a gasp and she slid her tongue against his and licked into his mouth before sliding her nose to the other side of his. The kiss depended until it was all over them and they would have wound up naked if they hadn't been already.

"This is different."

"We can re-enact it a little bit more faithfully later. It can be your Christmas present." Emma whispered between kisses.

"Nah." He was actually blushing, all the way down. "You're my gift."

[piraticalarchive]

“Pardon me, love.” Words are uttered with nary a second thought, gaze staying fixed on the clock above the diner’s bar as ringed fingers brush the barest of touches against Ruby’s arm in an effort to shift her weight, to slide past her without further fuss. The lass takes offense to such a thing if her reaction is anything to go by, and Killian draws back with a huff of breath, jaw clenching at the way she recoils from him. Granny’s is crowding rather quickly, filling with the charming denizens of their quaint little prison that find solace and momentary sanctuary from their illustrious mayor inside its walls - and not even a man such as he will deny them that. The hush that falls across the full space would be almost unnerving, had he not been used to it. Killian Jones has worn many disguises over the years - Regina’s attack dog, just happens to be the most recent.

Monikers are funny things - sometimes vile in intent, sometimes full of affection .. and for once the former pirate is glad of the rumors that dog his steps, the tales of just what he is capable of when it comes to those who risk losing their leader’s favor... they allow him a moment to breathe, an opportunity to simply vanish. No one would be daft enough to follow him, not even Leroy - or that damned idiot Smee .. and lips twitch in the corners, drawn up in an amusement that is lost to any but himself. Sunlight dances across the all but vacant streets, black boots falling with determined step as each stride brings him closer to his goal. For a moment, he falters - heart sinking at the idea that this time might be different, that, this time, the other man might not be there. 

But, aye, he is. Guy’s dark hair ruffles in the wind, no doubt blowing into his eyes in the way that the older man has always hated - and a sound bubbles up from Killian’s chest, laughter haunted by a suppressed scream, hovering against tightly clenched teeth as if making every attempt to break out. Tongue presses to the inside of one cheek as the pirate turned dog steps closer, teeth chewing at the edge of a rum flavored lip. Blue eyes study the other man’s back, flickering past the hair gathered along the nape of his neck - and for a moment Killian feels his courage stutter, shoulders already conceding defeat to the fight he is destined to never win. 

“Don’t want to do that, mate.” One brow quirks as boots suddenly carry him forward, head cocking to the side as he regards the other sitting so quietly. Perhaps he’s interrupted something, perhaps he’s pushed himself into a place where he’s not wanted .. but his wall has cracked the tiniest bit, and he finds himself not yet ready to shore it back up. “Toss those bloody things your food, I mean. ” Head gestures to the sea gulls loitering nearby, eyes flickering over his once knight’s face before turning out towards the sea - ever careful to not watch too closely, ever careful to not look into Guy’s own. A man such as Killian Jones had often found himself wondering what endless torment, really was - but now, speaking to the one you love like no other, seeing the lack of recognition when they look at you - aye. He’s learned that that’s a special state of being damned. 

“I took pity on the bloody bastards once. They played me for a fool. Mob mentality, as it were.” Weight shifts as he turns to face the older man once more, gaze careful to settle along the curve of his collarbone as heart beats a thunderous rhythm at the memory of marks he had once left there. Marks he’ll probably never leave again. “Not as bad as squirrels, mind you .. but definitely one of the world’s more conniving creatures.” A smile accompanies the jest, sad and slow as if loathe to admit any history behind such a confession, loathe to allow the hollow in his chest to ease its ache with  hope once more. “Aye. Tell me something, Gisborne - “ The name tastes strange on his tongue, tastes of the blood that rises like bile along the back of his throat as he chokes back what he really wants to say, what he’s always said. Perhaps it’s foolish to pry into the other man’s life - Regina’s warning had been clear enough. 

Fail me .. you fail him. 

But, Obedience to another’s rule has never been his forte, expectation instead settling about shoulders like a weight he can’t escape .. so Killian presses on, confident that his reputation, as always, has proceeded him. No one in their bloody town is daft enough to defy the right hand of Regina, and pointed questions are not something that fall entirely out of his job description. “You come here a lot .. to the docks, I mean.” It’s too much to think there might be some hidden reason, to think that maybe there’s something left that draws the former knight to the pier like a siren’s call .. and Killian flinches, shamed at his inability to push such thought away. Boots take a step before he can stop them, closing the distance between them but still he hesitates - he won’t push, not yet. The words, when they come, are lighter than he expects them to be - years of practice at hiding deep wounds has helped his heart learn to bleed where it can’t be seen. 

“Planning a rebellion or something similar, I take it? Perhaps wondering how easy it would be to simply cast yourself into the water and escape from whatever ails you? Aye. I’ve been there.. and I feel inclined to warn you, that, alas - it’s a lot bloody colder than it looks.”

[milkiijustwrites]

hello keith :3 !! i know i’ve said this a thousand times but oh my GOD ur blog is so <333 !!! /pos /g

i’d like genshin impact match up yess 🐝

my pronouns are he / they. i identify as genderfluid so i often fluctuate between fem and masc presenting. i use the labels androromantic / demiromantic and omnisexual— don’t b afraid to ask me what they are mhm YES

i don’t mind a female or a male match up, though i do tend to favour the males

i often hide my true person under a front of faux diffidence, although genuine to some extent. i’m quiet and reserved to mostly everyone during first encounters; i do make an effort to amuse them with jests or small talk at times.

once gained enough trust to drop my shittily forged facade, i become absolutely unhinged. i will run my mouth like it’s in the special olympics and that’s your problem :) . i entertain talks of mostly any subject, and i’d say i’m a pretty good conversationalist and listener.

i’m always sure to maintain the comfort of the other, and it’s mainly my priority to make them laugh. if i don’t have much of a liking towards the person, im very easy to drain out. but if it’s someone i favour, i could talk all the shit my body can hold.

ehhh, i’d say i provide good emotional and moral support? im pretty compassionate and understanding, and im always more in tuned to handling emotional situations anyways, albeit that does not mean im weak regarding in ones that require logic. either way, im always free to dish out therapy sessions like free food samples mmm naurr 👨🏻‍🦲

i’m a big people pleaser, and sometimes i depend on the other person to initiate comfort. i don’t often voice out my vexations or what not because i feel like it’s nothing. i do willingly take on and resolve others problems with genuine concern for them , but i grow resentful when they’re not there for me in turn, even though i made clear there was no need for compensation. this is mmm yes not a sexy trait of mine but a prominent one regardless.

i’m also very self doubtful so on days where i’m less sure of myself, i’ll start pushing others away with the mindset that they secretly hate me.

i also say i forgive you regardless of whether i truly do or not? i often feel pressured into doing so, as i’ve been in multiple occasions in my life. this may lead to resent building up.

i’m so sorry if it’s more fixated on the bad parts of myself ? HELP i cant think of any other better traits 😰

anyways thank you!! and i hope you have a nice day <3 remember to hydrate !!

HIII! thank you for participating in my event!

A/N:HII <3 NO YOURE EXAGGERATING , and yes, genshin match it is :D hope you have a great day as well <33

I match you up with...

venti

So I read through your description, and the first thing that came in mind is , man you're the kind of friend everyone wants ， but also the friend that no one understands the most

I feel like no one truly understands what you're actually thinking, and that reminds me of venti! He could be very goofy on the outside, but I feel like there's something inside of him that no one understands.

So poof , match

Like imagine both if you just being crackheads, and just goof around

Gosh I love yall's couple vibes so much

The funny and friendly yet mysterious couple

WHAT A DYNAMIC

When you feel pressured or sad or stressed, venti will not show how much he cares for you, but will secretly find a way to make you feel better, he doesn't want to invade your inner mind you see <3

" bark I'm a duck , ahaha- I'm feeling pretty hilarious "

[kamidesai]

Discord thread featuring: Kam & @timmyteehill

Mentions: -

When: June 24th ‘20 before Tee and Kam were official

Where: Tee’s apartment

Triggers: -

Description: Kam comes over to cook for Tee

Kami

Kami did at least shower before deciding to take the bus into the northern part of town. It was always so interesting, watching the slummier parts of town turn into more grand, upscale buildings, and shops. There weren’t even any bus stops by the residential area, so once he was let off at the last stop, Kam dropped his skateboard, and took off towards Tee’s place. He was kinda sweaty when he finally got there, but he was wearing a black mesh tank with shirts, so he managed to shiver when the door opened, and he was hit with the AC. “Heyyy...” he muttered while pulling off his sunglasses. “Sorry it took me a while off the bus.”

Tee

Tee was secretly glad that his roommate/ex was still in France as otherwise it would have probably been a little awkward to explain Kami to him. He tried to clean up the place a little even though he knew the other probably wouldn’t even notice. He was quick to go open the door once there was a knock at his door. “That’s okay. You should have called though, I would have picked you up from the bus stop.” Tee usually used his car to get anywhere but he knew the bus stops in the residential area weren’t very frequent and he knew he should have known Kami would have a way to go to get to him.

Kami

“It’s cool.” Kami just shook his head, looking around as he entered the place, and gawked around him. Of course it was way nicer than his tiny ass apartment. He placed his skateboard right by the door, and then proceeded to take off his shoes to be polite and shit. He could have manners!! “Hey. Have you eaten? I can cook.” Kam had no idea what was even in Tee’s kitchen, but there had to be something he could throw together, right?

Tee

Tee had to bite back a smile at how polite Kami was being. He knew this place wasn’t really anything like the tiny place they used to share when he was still in college and determined not to use his parents’ money. Things were different now that he had his own business and income was more forthcoming. “No, I haven’t actually.” Tee wasn’t sure there was actually anything the other could use in his kitchen since he tended to live on precooked meals and takeaway but hopefully he would be able to find something to work with. “Um...I have pasta and...a can of sauce?” he said, trying not to feel too embarrassed. “Sorry, you know I’ve never been much of a cook. That hasn’t really changed.”June 29, 2020

Kami

Kam snorted when Tee said he had pasta and a can of sauce, because that just...poor guy. Thank god Kam loved to cook. He’d be so miserable if he had to live off canned sauce. “I can do something with it. Do you have any spices, herbs?” He asked while brushing past the man, not even waiting for his answer before he was snooping through his cabinets. “Wish you would have let me teach you how to fuckin’ cook.” He laughed, and found said lone pasta, and can of sauce.

Tee

So many people had tried to teach him to cook in his life and it just never stuck. His parents tried, when he was a kid, but the cooking “lessons” somehow always turned into an argument between him and his brother until they gave up. He and Monroe also talked about cooking lessons at some point, for him to learn how to make donuts but that also never happened. Tee was always so busy with work that he figured cooking was time wasted when he could just order takeaway. Although even he could admit it was pretty bad that he had no idea if he even had spices and herbs in the cabinet. “What can I say? Living off of take away and packaged meals isn’t that bad”, he shrugged. “Spares me a lot of time as well.”

Kami

“Ugh. That hurts my soul, Timothy. My. Soul.” He said dramatically, his hand on his chest as he looked the other male over. Kam shook his head, and then went back to what he was doing. He found a pot, and got the spaghetti noodles in generously salted water, and then began getting everything he needed to doctor up the sauce. “Let me get some home cooked food in you. You’ll realize the error of your ways!” It really was worth the effort to consume food you actually enjoy. It was simply a gift to yourself.

Tee

Tee rolled his eyes but he had to admit that it felt good to have someone cooking for him once and to have some company. He and Loren might share the apartment but they actually didn’t get to see each other very much, both busy with their own things. So this was nice. “Realising the error of my ways doesn’t mean I’ll magically be able to cook, you know”, he teased. “Maybe I’ll just have to start calling you to cook for me every time I get hungry.”June 30, 2020

Kami

Kami busted out a laugh when Tee made his statement about this not meaning he would magically be able to cook. That was funny, damn. “You got funnier over the years.” He teased the man, dumping the famous can of sauce into a pan he’d found in the cabinet while the noodles were on to boil. “No, you need to learn young Tee. We all have room to learn something new.” He informed him, feeling the need to give his own advice to the therapist for once.

Tee

“Are you saying I wasn’t funny before? Now that’s just hurtful”, he shook his head. Tee watched the other work his magic, trying to make some mental notes over what he was doing. It didn’t look too hard but Tee also wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up burning the kitchen if he even tried it himself. “Well, would you look at that. I got funnier over the years and you got wiser. Who would have thought?”

Kami

It was funny, how opposite he and Tee were from eachother, and yet sonehow they just seemed to...work. Kam loved the way they balanced eachother out, the chemistry was addicting. Not that he would say that outloud. He didn’t even pretend to be offended when Tee made his own joke, instead he just nodded with a laugh as he began getting some garlic, and onion powder into the sauce, along with oregano, and sea salt, before taking a taste. “You’re right. It’s mind blowing. Taste this.” He held the spoon out to his ex boyfriend, wanting his opinion on the matter.

Tee

Tee tasted the sauce being held out to him on the spoon and his eyes widened because that was just delicious. “Holy shit, that’s really good!” It was hard to believe that could be made with a can of sauce and some herbs. He couldn’t help but think that this was all so domestic. Cooking together (okay Tee was just observing but that’s besides the point), getting to compliment Kam on a dish well cooked...he really needed to remind himself that they were not the same as they were years ago before he ended up doing something stupid.

Kami

“Of course it is. And easy, too.” He reminded the other, giving him a wink while he finished up what he wanted to do with the sauce. It was thick, but on purpose, because he had a certain way he liked to bring everything together in the end. “Now, here’s a trick.” He held up one finger to the smaller. And then grabbed some tongs to grab the pasta from the boiling water, letting most of the water drip off before he was twisting it down into the sauce to cook together. “Little bit of that pasta water really brings the sauce together.”

Tee

Tee raised his eyebrows as he was promised a trick. In reality he knew that the chances of him actually cooking anything in the future for just himself were slim but he was at least going to try and learn something. It was sometimes embarrassing to say that he had a degree and a masters but couldn’t cook much more than a fried egg. And cereal. But did adding milk to cereal even count as cooking? Probably not. Tee watches as his ex combined the pasta with the sauce and it was true that the pasta water was making the sauce look better. Or at least, that’s what it looked like to his untrained eye.July 5, 2020

Kami

Kam turned to look at Tee once everything started cooking together, a small smirk on his lips as his eyes moved over the other’s features. Tee was so...beautiful. Those eyes...those lips. There were so many things that Kam enjoyed about the man’s face, the thoughts alone would take too long. He almost hated how strongly he felt about it, mostly because he just...sometimes he missed him is all. “Taking mental notes? Cause I expect you to recreate this from scratch.” He teased his ex, smirking in jest shortly after as he began plating their food.

Tee

“Are you sure you’re willing to risk food poisoning just so I can test this?” he asked, raising his eyebrows. Considering he once almost managed to burn a pot of water, he couldn’t see how any attempts of cooking he made could be that successful. But if his ex was willing to try and risk it all, Tee wasn’t going to argue with him. He got out cutlery and tried to set the table to the best of his abilities, watching as Kam set their plates down. “Do I get to judge the food on a scale of one to ten or do I say it’s good no matter what it tastes like?” As if he hadn’t tried the sauce already and loved it.July 7, 2020

Kami

Kam laughed when Tee made his little joke about food poisoning, and again when his ex asked about the food rating system. “If you must judge, then I won’t stop you. If it’s anything less than a nine though, you’re wrong.” He informed Tee while pointing at him with his large slatted spoon before he was serving them each a plate. “Sit, eat. I’ll get the drinks. Do you have wine, mayhaps? A nice red is perfect with pasta, don’t you agree??”

Tee

"I guess I'll keep my judgement to myself if it's anything less than a nine", he shrugged, even though he knew it probably wouldn't be the case. If the food tasted as good as it smelled then he was in for a treat. "That sounds like a great idea. There should be some on the counter over there. Not sure if it's going to be up to your very high-class tastes but red wine is still...wine." That made no sense but whatever. Tee picked up his fork and took a bite of the pasta making a low moaning sound while chewing. "Yep, this is definitely not less than a nine."July 10, 2020

Kami

Kam wasn’t surprised when Tee seemed to enjoy the sauce, because despite there not being many things in life that Kam was confident about, cooking was one of them. It was a natural gift that he’d had from such a young age, and he could honestly do it with his eyes closed. “Glad you like it.” He glanced over at the wine in question soon after taking a few bites of his own food, and fixed them both a glass. “It’s hilarious that you think I have high class taste.” He snickered, walling back over to sit their wine in front of them on the table.July 11, 2020

Tee

Tee took the glass from Kam and had a quick sip of the wine. “Well, things change so can you blame me for worrying about your tastes changing too?” he shrugged. As he kept eating, he couldn’t help but want to bring up a subject that he worried might make the other uncomfortable but...they came up with a safe word just for that after all. “You should really consider...getting back to doing this professionally? Cooking, I mean.”

Kami

Kami was having such a good time honestly, even with their playful banter as normal. It didn’t bother Kam that Tee had such a sharp tongue, that he was constantly trying to get under his skin. It was a part of his personality, and one he usually had a particular version of for the people he liked. Of course though, he had to go into advice mode, now, as if it was really the right time. Kam didn’t want to talk about begging back into cooking, he wanted to eat, and then smoke a bowl. Apparently that was too much to ask. “I don’t have the experience to do what it takes to be a head chef somewhere decent. It would take years of sous cheffing, and kitchen cleaning. I hate that shit, and I’ve already gotten so far with my tattooing. I dunno. Maybe someday. It has always been my dream to go to culinary school. I’ve been saving for years.”

Tee

Tee wasn’t going to pressure him, after all he didn’t know much about the workings of becoming a chef and Kami clearly knew what he was talking about. It was just a pity to him because he knew how much the other enjoys cooking. But he was also a great tattoo artist. “You have gotten very far with tattooing. I remember it like it was yesterday when you were begging to do a tattoo for me until I caved in. Turned out pretty good”, he smiled, running a thumb over the little alien face above his elbow.July 12, 2020

Kami

Kam laughed when Tee commented about the tattoo he’d been given, Kami wrinkling his nose because he would never not be a perfectionist about that. It wasn’t bad for his first, but he could do so much better. “Yeah...I wish you’d let me cover that up with something better.” He mumbled before getting back into his pasta.July 17, 2020

Tee

Tee bent his arm to get a better look at the small tattoo on his elbow and looked up at Kami with furrowed eyebrows. "Why do you want me to cover it up? It looks really good, just what I had in mind when I talked to you about it. And besides, it reminds me of happy memories so I think I'm going to stick to my little alien face", he shrugged. "I was maybe thinking of getting another one though."July 18, 2020

Kami

Kam smirked when Tee refused to get the tattoo covered up, because even if he was iffy on it, it meant a lot that Tee still loved it so much, and don’t want to get rid of it. It was also adorable that they both had alien themed tattoos. Kami himself felt like an alien half the time, so. “What’re your thinkin’ of gettin���?” He asked the man before eating some pasta.July 20, 2020

Tee

Tee had gotten the tattoo a few months after his parents passed away. He'd been thinking of getting one for a while and with a boyfriend practising with tattoos, it made sense to let him do it. It was a time where his relationship with his brother was at its worse. He could never understand why his brother was so adamant on blaming him for his parents' accident and Tee was feeling low enough to believe him. The cruel words from someone who was supposed to be family never failed to hurt him and he was feeling more of an outsider than ever. Maybe that's where the idea to get an alien tattoo came from. He and his brother stopped talking shortly after he got his tattoo but it never lost its meaning. "So this is going to sound stupid but hear me out, okay? Since I have a tattoo under one elbow I was thinking of getting another tattoo under the other elbow. So they're sort of matching, you know what I mean?"July 26, 2020

Kami

Kami looked at Tee like he was weird when he said his idea sounded crazy, because he didn’t see how that sounded crazy at all. It was a good idea, and of course he didn’t mind a bit to do it. “I think that sounds like a great idea. Makes sense. A lot of people want to keep their tattoos with some sort of flow, or mirrored way of placement. We can definitely do that. It’d look sick.” He assured the other male with a smirk, and then he suddenly remembered what they were here for. “You done eating? I can’t roll us a joint.”

Tee

Chances were that Tee would have done it even if Kam said it wasn’t a good idea because once he got something in his head, it was difficult to get him to change his mind. It was still nice to get validation though. “Great! I’ll text you at some point so you can see when you have a free slot and I’ll come over to get it done. I just need to figure out what I’m going to get.” Tee took the last bite of pasta then pushed his plate away. “Yeah, I’m done. You do that while I clean up”, he said, already picking up the plates and cutlery and taking them to the sink.

[butterfly--empress]

VanQua Week Day III: Merge...

This is a small part from my VanQua Vampire/Fairy AU Story. Those in the Vanqua discord server already read this weeks ago. But I wanted to share this for VanQua week so I would have something to submit for the occasion. Happy reading!?...maybe...*throws long ass one-shot at tags and runs away!!

Story under cut!

“Can’t you find some idiot Fae to create an unbreakable bond with?”

The question caught her off guard, “An unbreakable bond?”

There was a sigh and she was sure, Vanitas rolled his eyes as he turned around to face her, “And you say I’m the uncouth one! An unbreakable bond, Duchess! Well I suppose you Fae call it something else? That ancient magic where two people merge their souls as one?”

Recognition lit up in her eyes, “The ribbon of fate?”

“Ugh, even your naming conventions are saccharine! Yea, that! No lucky sap to come to your rescue?”

If she had someone, she wouldn’t be in this mess, desperate for a way out of it that didn’t involve her taking Vanitas’ suggestion seriously, if only as wishful thinking, “That magic isn’t something a lot of people can do just willingly Vanitas. There’s a reason why that spell is forbidden, it has consequences. I can’t just magically wish all my problems away with a spell that’s not guaranteed to work!”

He smirked, amused by Aqua’s plight and he couldn’t help jabbing at it, “Ah, that’s the problem with you Seelie, you don’t know how to just take what you want. All this worry over complications of the heart, it’s pathetic.”

“It’s not pathetic!” She yelled this time, he shouldn’t grin, but he couldn’t help it. He struck a nerve and he felt some sort of sick glee getting Aqua all riled up. Something about the way her face made all those expressions, fascinates him. The spicy tinge to the scent of her sweet blood also made him feel heady with hunger.

“It’s not pathetic to want to be in love! To be married to someone who loves me, truly! Even if I did create that spell with someone willing to help me, all I would do is condemn myself to a fate worse than death! Only true love can cast that spell without bringing any harm to the casters.”

He didn’t know jack about love and joy, most of the time, he felt Aqua would be so much better without all her positive emotional baggage. What was the point of love if it was no different from hate or pain or sadness? Girl stuck to her principles, Vanitas guess that must count for something.

“That’s a Fae problem, if you knew any Vampires you wouldn’t have to worry about a thing,” and now he was helping her when he had no reasons to care. He had no reason to even sit and entertain her inserting herself into his life, and after a few months? He hasn’t tried to stop her yet.

“Vampires haven’t been around in ages, not after the wars,” he’s not surprised she doesn’t believe him. Her face is questioning him but there’s also hope? Some form of curiosity mixed with wishful thinking?

“And what is different about performing a ribbon of fate spell with a Vampire? Is that even possible?” Aqua was skeptical, what were the odds that she would meet a true Vampire? And what were the odds that Vampire would even deign to help her?

“Unbreakable bond and yea, it’s possible…if you don’t mind the consequences of course and unlike your weak true love bond you can always break the contract, no harm, no foul.”

“I suppose you know actual Vampires that lowered themselves to help a fairy in need?”

“I don’t know about all that, but I know things,” he got quiet after that. He glanced at her as she stared out in space before looking his way. Her energy had spiked, “Spit it out, I can almost smell that curiosity burning in your aura.”

“How does a ribbon of fate-”

“Unbreakable bond.”

She rolled her eyes, a little annoyed at being interrupted, “Whatever, how does it work between Vampires?”

“Between Vampires, it’s usually about forming temporary truces, not to invade another vamp’s territory. Sometimes clans are formed to strengthen the bloodline but there’s always an order of the masters and the servants, no different than you Fae’s silly attempts of playing at polite society.”

He continued, gold eyes looking up at the full moon, “As for anyone else? It depends on what you’re creating the bond for in the first place. Asking a vamp to sully a part of their soul usually requires an equal exchange, if the vamp in question even finds you worthy,” Vanitas moved close to Aqua, invading her personal space, he smirked, “That can be your submission, your blood…your life.”

“You’re just making that up!” She got up off the satin alcove seat, putting some distance between them and wondering why her face suddenly burned at his proximity.

He shrugged, “Fine, don’t believe me, I don’t really care, it’s not me who’s stuck between a rock and a hard place. I’m lucky, I don’t have to ever worry about following along to society’s strict obligations.”

She glared at him, “Are you making fun of me?” Vanitas could be callous, she knew that, and she learned to ignore it, most of the time but sometimes, she really wished he learned to tone it down.

“You are very entertaining; I’ll give you that.”

“This isn’t funny! I don’t!” The smirk left his face and he didn’t know why he was feeling shame. Aqua looked sad, like she was on the verge of crying, “I don’t want to be stuck in a loveless marriage…I love Terra, but I don’t want to marry someone in love with someone else and I don’t want to be given away to…to that man!”

Fury slowly crept into him at the mention of Aqua being with someone else. He was not in the mood to question his reactions to Aqua’s resistance to being tied to someone she didn’t love, “You know, the reverse works too.”

Why am I doing this? Why am I telling her this? I don’t even care about her problems! He had his own issues, none he was ever willing to share with Aqua. Making the excuse that he was hoping she’ll take his bait and be smart enough to figure out what he was, just so he could have free reign to her blood, wasn’t his only reason for doing this. He didn’t know the reasons, just that he felt this instinct, that wanted to have Aqua, “Hehe, if a vamp asked you to create the bond, they become subservient to your every command, but you have to offer something they would want to keep them in the contract.”

A smirk graced her face and something about that, made his heart stir, “What if I were to take what I wanted?”

“Hmm?” Oh, the Duchess had his apt attention now.

She sat back down next to him, looking him in the eyes, “You told me, us Seelie fairy don’t know how to just take what we wanted, well, what happens if I were to just take what I wanted from a Vampire? What then?”

“I dunno, other than they’ll be a loser for becoming subservient to a fairy without getting something in return.”

“What if I were to offer to give up a part of myself before that?”

“Well the possibilities are endless, you might actually chain your souls together and that sounds too much like your pathetic ribbon of fate magic, Fae.” Being eternally chained to someone didn’t sound like his idea of a fun time, being under dear old dad’s household was torture enough.

Didn’t stop the thump, thump of his heart wondering what would that be like, being merged with someone like Aqua, “Why? Know any losers you can chain down? Here I was, thinking you were wholesome and everything I hate about the light, I recall your plan was to form a temporary bond with some poor sap to get your pops off your back, and then voiding the contract while making a break for it far away from your controlling father.”

“Would it be uncanny of me to say, it sounds delightfully tempting?” It sounded too good to be true but Aqua wasn’t going to even fancy all she was told. She still didn’t believe anything Vanitas said but she appreciated his roundabout way to make her feel better.

“Would it be bizarre of me to say; I’m almost scared.”

She laughed, smiling at Vanitas with a soft expression, “Thank you Vanitas, you’re very sweet to make me feel better.”

His face got hot for a quick second, “Now hold on! Who said anything about making you feel better? I’m just telling you how it is,” what was up with her and her incessant need to think he was being, ‘nice’. Everything he said, carried a selfish motive, he didn’t know how to be nice, to be kind or any of that other junk if it didn’t serve him some gain in return.

“Of course you are.”

Silence reigned between them that night, a slight breeze blowing about as they sat together inside the balcony hidden from the rest of the world. As she watched the young man take a relaxed pose upon the old red satin alcove, she wondered not for the first time about what he actually was.

The thought of him being a real Vampire crossed her mind but that had to be unlikely. True those beings were still around but after the wars, they kept to themselves, opting that the best way to keep peace was to remain far away from cities dominated by Fae folk and those in league with the Fae. Many generations later and people talk about the Vampires like they never existed. Whole information about them, gone within the quiet of one night.

Vanitas wasn’t of the Fae, he didn’t carry the dark aura of a Spriggan, she was certain. But he was not of the Werewolves nor of Kitsune, neither a Serpent of some kind or an elemental. He didn’t fit the description of any known supernatural beings and that, made him quite dangerous. He did talk like he knew an awful lot about Vampires even if he was only doing it in jest.

I’m sure he was told that by someone or read some tale about it to try to ease my worries in his own odd way. There’s no way, a boy younger than me was able to find actual insight about Vampires. Especially when that information is rare to come by.

“You’re staring.”

“I’m thinking.”

“You’re always thinking, if you’re that worry, can’t you just tell your old man no?”

“I wish it were that simple.”

“Well, I guess you better start looking for a Vampire, Duchess or it’s your funeral…”

In the silence that stirred between them, Aqua’s eyes widened at a sudden epiphany. She had her suspicions for weeks now but there was nothing conclusive about Vanitas’ origins other than a sprinkle of hints that he was vastly different from other folks.

“Well, I guess you better start looking for a Vampire, Duchess or it’s your funeral.”

None of which had to do with his darkness. On the surface, the aura of his essence felt just as dark as any Sprig or other being of the dark arts.

Albeit carrying a more dangerous and volatile undertone, he hid from her. The boy was haughty and was not shy about showing off how strong he was whenever she teased or mocked his strength and power.

So, realizing this whole time, Vanitas was holding a lot of his true power back surprised her. She had to admit to herself, it did unnerve her. Beings of darkness naturally had that effect on creatures of light and every instinct in her body told her to run! To get away because she hated to admit she was at a lost to gauge how truly strong he was!

The not knowing part made her nervous and still, she remained, sitting here in this same deserted balcony hidden from the rest of the world, by his side as they take in the approaching twilight. Their own little sanctuary, the only thing that made coming to the balls held at Disney Castle fun.

Aqua wasn’t sure what was going on, but it seemed to her, the king and queen’s adopted son, was having his own rebellious stage of refusing to accept any marriage proposal his parents picked for him by accepting them all and throwing huge extravagant parties for every maiden that was chosen.

Crowned prince Sora was known to be a good child and never gave the king and queen any real worries. Aqua felt almost bad for king Mickey, Sora was working hard on turning that man’s ebony hair gray. She also wondered was their treasury safe from Sora’s wrath? Five, sometimes eight balls within a month or two was the norm, when trying to gain a prospect for marriage but twenty was excessive.

I’m rooting for your happiness Sora. While Aqua silently cheered on a mutual comrade in arms for the right to freely fall in love, Vanitas just thought the whole thing was hilarious.

“Who would’ve thought that goody two shoes had it in him?”

“Even the strongest willed have their limits.”

“All this noise over love, hmph.”

“I commend him, he’s never strayed away, always did what his parents asked of him and all he wants is to have just one thing and he’s fighting for it. I think it’s honorable.”

“I forgot, I’m speaking to the choir.”

She glared at him, not liking his sarcasm. She was already on edge since her unpleasant spat with her father, feeling hopeless about her situation. The last thing she needed was Vanitas telling her how foolish she was to still believe in love when everything about her predicament screamed the opposite, “What is your problem? You’re always talking down on people who feel and want love! You make it sound like I should feel ashamed of feeling love! Of wanting it!”

“My problem is I think love is weak!” he glared at her, love this and love that. What was so special about that feeling anyway? All he saw was how much Aqua was hurting from it, her love for her father, her love for Terra, what has it gotten her? “You talk about this love and how great it is but it’s also the thing holding you back! It’s also the thing hurting you.”

She would be better off just telling everyone to go to hell and doing what she pleased. But she wasn’t like that, Aqua didn’t know how to just say no to people and that’s why she was stressing herself near illness because she feels it’s her duty to please her father even if she didn’t want to be tied down with some stranger.

The thought of that just pisses him off and it truly was a testament of him, being around Aqua that he was learning how to hold back his anger. Strong feelings of resentment coiled down to his core, “I don’t get it, you Fae speak so highly about your love and all those positive feelings of light, but you live in a world of set rules and obligations that make you unhappy. If love is so great, then why are you so determined to allow yourself to be basically handed over as some noble’s plaything?!”

She held herself back from smacking him for being callous. Glaring at sunshine gold eyes that glared back, she took in his posture. He was almost snarling, shoulders hunched like a wild animal, like a cat, his palms balled into tight fists and she couldn’t mistake the slight glint of very sharp pointed fangs being bared at her. The bite of his words stung but it was almost like he was angry for her, though she could tell he was angry with her.

For some reason, Aqua couldn’t fathom, that made her feel suddenly ashamed and that shame wanted her to soothe away Vanitas’ anger. It wasn’t her fault she was being forced against her own wishes, into a political marriage and somehow, hearing those words from Vanitas…he was acting like it was a betrayal. She shook her head, noticing he started talking again.

“Is it because of your love for your father that you have to sacrifice what you want? Is that how it works Aqua?”

She could still feel the waves of anger, perhaps a bit of bitterness there as well but what would he be bitter about. He talked as if he knew it all, as if he knew her and her relationship with her father when in reality, he didn’t know anything at all, “Have you really never felt love before Vanitas?”

She couldn’t conceive the idea that no one had ever known of love and happiness, even Spriggan knew joy. An unreadable expression passed over his face before he cruelly smirked at her, turning his back towards her, “Hmph, there isn’t a memory in time that I ever felt this love. And if there was? I don’t want to remember because I don’t need it. I refuse to give up what I want or sacrifice my needs for others. I don’t want to feel weak and foolish.”

Their little area filled with tense silence and Aqua decided to sit across from Vanitas who seemed to be brooding. She exhaled, deciding to let it go and not let his words get to her. So what if she was foolish, so what if she sacrificed her wants to make someone else happy? It’s not for a lack of trying that she tried to beat her odds no matter how futile.

She was tired of fighting, tired of fighting with her father, tired of fighting with a boy who didn’t understand. Aqua balled the fabric of her blue silk dress in her hands. I don’t want this! I don’t want to marry that man or any man I don’t love!

Physically the fight left her, but mentally, Aqua was determined to find a way out.  

“Well, I guess you better start looking for a Vampire, Duchess or it’s your funeral.”

At that thought, she looked over towards him, really taking him in as she remembered every conversation, every little spar, every little quirk that made Vanitas, Vanitas. And the wheels in her mind began turning, that sentence from their last meeting pulling her into a downward spiral of hopeless wishing and hopeless want…

Aqua had to bite back the grin on her face, it wasn’t everyday she saw Vanitas’  face look adorably innocent and she didn’t want to tell him that, having a feeling he’ll find it as an insult, but watching him sniff the air for a scent only he could smell and looking like a curious cat had her internally squealing.  

He blinked before a smirk spread across his face, “This is a first.”

The statement had caught her off guard, “What?”

He bared his teeth at her, the innocent face, turning menacing while stirring fear and excitement in her, “You’re the first Fae whose blood I tolerate smelling…”

The last time she met the Earl when he came to her home.

“Ah the pretty little bluebird came to greet me, such a surprise.”

She returned his bow with a curtsey and a false smile. She already didn’t like the way, he came strutting in, like he owned the place. She didn’t like Braig at all, he always looked like he had ulterior motives. It was hard to believe sometimes that he was a Seelie and not of the Spriggan.

“Father always said to treat our guests with upmost respect, even if they don’t deserve it.”

He stepped closer to her and she took a step back, not liking him invading her personal space. He grinned, his stare, looking her over with interest, “Beautiful and a spitfire, your future husband is going to have a handful with you.”

Refusing to cower, Aqua met his eyes head on, straightening her back, “Well, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about, since it’s a problem for my husband in the far, far future.”

She was dismayed to know he wasn’t fazed, in fact his whole demeanor looked downright gleeful at her defiance, “Then I guess we’ll have to work on that now won’t we bluebird?”

Aqua quickly backed away from him at that confession. There was no way Eraqus agreed to this? He had to be playing with her. She knew her father had become like a madman, desperate to get her married but he had promised after the situation with Terra he would give her time.

Her back pressed into a wall in the corner near the steps leading upstairs and the Earl, stepped close enough to disrupt her personal space, he reached up with a white gloved hand, curling a wisp of her blue hair between his fingers, “Aww, don’t look so shocked, you’ll break my heart, your father thinks we could be a good match.”

At those words, Aqua pushed Braig away with enough force to make him stumble but not fall. She started running to her father’s office, trying to ignore the Lord’s mocking laughter at her plight.

“You made a match for me with him?!” Eraqus stood up, startled from Aqua bursting through his doors. Angry and hurt blue eyes stared up at him, wanting answers.

“Aqua, the Earl has a clean reputation, is a veteran war hero and is Lord Xehanort’s most trusted second in command. There’s no other man other than Terra that I trust to keep you safe.”

“You hardly know him!” Keep her safe? Keep her safe from what? She didn’t understand Eraqus’ sudden need to constantly insist on keeping her safe. He mentored her to be an exceptional warrior, she was on equal footing with Terra and can hold her own.

Eraqus himself deemed her better suited to take his place as Duchess when he retired and aside from small disturbances here and there, things were peaceful. No one heard any rumors of war and Lady Maleficent hadn’t made a peep for years since living under house arrest in Radiant Garden.

“But I do know my dear friend and I trust him.”

“You trust Lord Xehanort but not me? Do I even get a say in this?” She met the Duke sparingly, but she had no real impressions of him, other than she knew him as her father’s closet friend. He seemed to be a halfling, part Seelie, part Spriggan and looked like he had a lust for the darkness.

“I don’t understand why you’re doing this?” She lived with her father all her life and she never gave him any reasons to doubt her or find her distrustful. Aqua tried to search her mind for anything she’s ever done to upset Eraqus that he would push for this, “Why are you suddenly possessed with marrying me off? I knew that sooner or later you would push for a marriage for me, but I thought you would have given me time to get to know my betrothed.”

“I just will feel better if you were already married, I’m sure with time you would change your mind about Lord Braig.”

She didn’t want to marry him, she didn’t want to get to know him, that man made her queasy. She didn’t trust him at all, and she didn’t trust Lord Xehanort, but her father wouldn’t listen to her concerns about the Duke, “What have I done to upset you?”

“Aqua, please-”

“You’re not treating Terra or Ven this way, why me!” She would be lying if she said it didn’t irritate her at times, how the boys were able to get away with certain things, while Eraqus treated her almost with kid gloves, especially when she was the responsible one and had to keep Terra and Ventus out of trouble.

“Is it about the accident I had when I was twelve?” he had been more overprotective since that day, hardly ever letting her have room to breathe. If she wasn’t going on missions or being invited to keep the young princess of Radiant Garden company, Aqua was made to stay at home. In all that time, not once had she ever argued or rebelled against any of his wishes.  

“You started to treat me different from before. I thought it was because you were just worried about me since my recovery took a long time but now…I don’t want to marry Lord Braig.”

“I let it go when you told me you did not want to marry Terra because he found someone else. I will not this time, you will marry him as I ordained it.”

“But-”

“That is the end of the discussion, please leave.”

Looking at her father as he closed and locked his doors, she glared, determination fueling her resolve.

“Well, I guess you better start looking for a Vampire, Duchess or it’s your funeral…”

After that, Aqua made a visit to Lady Belle, looking for a solution to a hopeless wish…

The odd fascination with her blood…

She grabbed Vanitas as he walked away from her and he quickly snatched her wrist in his hand. She could see he was struggling to keep it together, they had been talking like always and she thought she said something to offend him. Not wanting him to leave, she reached for him but now she didn’t know how to read him, he snarled at her, “If I were you, I’ll stay away.”

“Is that a threat?” This push and pull between her and Vanitas, this impulse she had that wanted to challenge him, see what he would do, scared her and made her blood pulse in her veins.

“Yes.”

“What? You’ll drain me dry of my blood?”

That ominous smirk returned before he schooled his face, staring at her so fiercely, “I just might if you keep teasing me, trying to be on my best behavior or is it that you want to tempt me to sate your curiosity?”

Her heart sped up because that is exactly what she wanted, to see if his talk of drinking blood was true or if he just loved putting on a façade of the demonic vampire.

His fingers caress her wrist and he brought her arm to rest on his warm cheek, pressing his ear to her wrist, “I can hear your life blood singing, calling to me Aqua, should I dine to take a taste?”

She was positive if she told him yes, she would be a goner…

His distaste for the sun even though his skin is naturally sun kissed and he has no problems walking under the sunshine. His body warm that it almost was hot to the touch, even though the presumption was Vampires were supposed to be cold, like touching death. The way he shies away from silver, the way his already eerie gold eyes seem to flash red at times. The merciless way she saw him kill a wayward spirit. There had been glee and a rush of anger and then a chilling, detached sense of emptiness, no remorse or guilt.  

All these things scared her, but in these few months, Aqua got a little glimpse into Vanitas and how he worked. He was a familiar constant in her life and for all the cons and few of the pros she could easily list for why she shouldn’t be so near, why she should stay away from him, she stayed.

Aqua felt herself being naturally drawn to him, Vanitas was familiar and unchanging, even if he was hostile and crude most days, he hadn’t ever truly done anything to drive her away. He humored her by listening to her rants, her wants and wishes by pretending he cared and wanting to help. It was those little things he did that Aqua appreciated, he didn’t have to listen to her prattle. He was well within his right to leave her alone to deal with her own problems, but he didn’t. There was no mistaken, he did things for his own amusement, his own selfishness, but even in all of that; she wanted to believe there was more to him than what he showed the world.

“Vanitas?”

“And after staring at me for ten minutes she finally decides to ask me a question, would wonders never cease to amaze?” He had his eyes closed as he laid back and she had to wonder how he always knew when she was looking at him.

“Don’t be a wisecrack, I just have one question and I’ll leave you to continue sulking in your alcove.”

“I’m not sulking but ask away oh mighty empress.”

“Vampires, do you know how they make the unbreakable bond contract?”

He opened one gold eye, smirking at her, “Back to this are we? I thought you didn’t believe me?”

“Can you just humor me? Please?”

He sat up, turning to face her, “Alright, it can be done any number of ways but if you’re looking for the fastest and easiest way to undo the contract, you simply do a blood oath. Prick a finger, cut your hand, shake it on.”

“I see…”

She looked away from him, she was thinking and somehow that made him nervous, “What is it now?”

“Is there any reason other than maybe having access to someone’s blood that a Vampire would willingly enter into a contract?”

Silence, Vanitas looked at Aqua with a frown than looked away, shrugging.

“Well, I guess you better start looking for a Vampire, Duchess or it’s your funeral.”

Vanitas was familiar and at times he scared her, but she feared the Earl more. Vanitas didn’t try to butter her up or use fancy words to try to deceive her, he didn’t call her pet names and give her sly smirks that had underlining meanings.

What you saw is what you got. She walked over towards him, standing in front of him, watching him look up at her with unease but also questioning what she was going to do next.

“Do you still crave it? My blood?”

Vanitas glared, getting up to walk away from her, on reflex, Aqua grabbed his arm and he paused staring at her like a cornered animal. “What are you getting at?” he shoved her off, feeling his hackles rise.

A sane person would try their luck at running away. A sane person wouldn’t try to find a reason why a Vampire would divulge information that could trap them with someone, selfishly wanting to break free of their own prison.

“I grant you permission Vanitas to partake of my blood when you need it,” she stepped closer to him as he moved back, she could feel his darkness, feel his anxiety and his fear, feel rage and uncertainty.

A smirk and then that crazy laughter she only heard but once seeped out of him, “Bravo Duchess! I can’t believe you actually fell for that! You actually believed me about Vampires and now you think I’m one? Okay Aqua you got me good!”

Aqua wasn’t sane, she was desperate and determined and if she had to be confined into marrying someone she didn’t love, she would do it her way.

“Ah, that’s the problem with you Seelie, you don’t know how to just take what you want. All this worry over complications of the heart, it’s pathetic.”

He wasn’t good at masking his negative emotions at all, when he was in a state of true fear and she hated herself for what she was about to do.

“You can hate me for all time, and I wouldn’t resent you if you do but please, help me and for as long as I’m alive I won’t ask you of anything else!”

She had grabbed his face, the softness of her hands, stunning him before he felt her warms lips pressed hard to his. His eyes widened in shock, while hers were shut tight in a frowned grimace, tears cascading down her face. Trying to get a bearing on his senses, Vanitas moved to push Aqua away, but it was futile, the magic of that accursed bond had already began. A wave of so many negative emotions burst from him, suffocating him, all because of this foolish girl! It intermingled with her own aura of light, surrounding them both in a sphere of fluorescent colored lights that reminded him of the sky during the hours of dawn and twilight.

A grand magic circle glowed, pulsing like a heartbeat beneath them and chains made of gold ascended, wrapping around them, twisting and turning to form around their bodies until the chains eventually stopped to gather around their chest area where their hearts lay and while the chains had gathered and melded into Aqua’s left arm, they did the same in Vanitas’ right arm. A lock with no discernable keyhole manifested, keeping the chains that locked him with Aqua together.

When it was over, the chains disappeared, the magic circle vanished and Vanitas stood there in bubbling rage as he glared at Aqua who fell to her knees on the ground, head bowed in shame.

Tonight, was the first real night he had wanted to harm her. He had tolerated Aqua and all she was out of boredom and later on, out of genuine curiosity. There were times she pissed him off, like a lot but he was always surprised by how much his anger and annoyance with her, never had amounted to the point of wanting to physically hurt her. Yes, in the very beginning he thought of what it would be like to just drain her blood for her power, it wasn’t everyday he had an actual taste for a Fae’s blood. They smelled either too sour, salty or carried an unpleasant odor but Aqua? Just a sniff of her blood, had his fangs elongating for a bite.

She had sort of become a familiar fixture in his life in such a short time that after a while he didn’t care about if it was her tolerating him or him, tolerating her.

But tonight? He was beyond angry at what she done, and he couldn’t even lift a finger to carry out his impulse to maim her! Not because he was weak, not because she was his friend but because she had successfully done the impossible. She merged their souls together, they were bonded for the rest of their living lives and pain to Aqua, also meant he would feel that pain

Everything was just fucking great!

“Congratulations are in order! You’re the first Fae to outsmart a damn vamp! I hope you’re ecstatic!” Vanitas watched with no small feeling of victory as she continued to sit and sob. He just felt…sad, hopeless and annoyed.

“Tch, you really have no idea of what you’ve done do you?”

At that, Aqua quiet her crying, sapphire eyes looking up at him with guilt, “I can’t go back on my word, this bond I’ve created won’t allow me. Even though I know your subservient to me, I too am to you, I can’t take advantage of you so don’t worry Vanitas.”

Aqua finally lifted herself up off the cold marble floor, “But I don’t understand one thing?”

“And that is?”

“Why didn’t you stop me? You could have stopped me, and you didn’t have to tell me how to trap you. I think I never outsmarted you at all.”

He frowned, “I don’t know! I just know I’m very pissed off for letting it happen anyway!”

He could feel everything, not just his own emotions, her feelings as well were coming through loud and clear through their newly shared bond. And her aura, he couldn’t discern his own from hers anymore, her soul was literally chained to his and even if Aqua decided tomorrow or a week from now that she wanted out of this, she was shit out of luck unless she wanted death.

And because he’s a selfish bastard he wasn’t going to oblige her, if he had to deal with getting the short end of this merge, he was going to make her suffer too.

“I know…thank you will never be enough, and I apologize for involving you into my mess.”

“As long as I can have a taste of you whenever I want, we’re even.”

A slight blushed colored her face, she knows he meant her blood but still, why did he have to word it that way? Vanitas stared at her with an inquisitive look before looking away.

Embarrassment? I definitely felt that and something else? Man oh man, this feeling her feelings along with mines is going to give me a headache. He turned to Aqua with a smirk, walking by her to go back inside, “Well come on, no time like the present to give your old man a heart attack, I’m just itching to see the face he makes when he founds out his precious daughter sold her soul to the devil!”

Better to find humor in other’s suffering, that was the only way he was going to cope with what just happened. She sighed, hearing Vanitas’ manic laughter get further away. Fighting Eraqus was not going to be pleasant at all but at least now, he couldn’t make her marry that awful man. Aqua was nervous, worried and still feeling a little bit guilty. A prick of a finger or a small cut in the hand if she had just only asked might have sufficed but fear and the urge to do what she did, felt it was better this way. She sealed her fate to a hostile Vampire to get out of an arranged marriage. She smiled, the irony not lost on her that she just married herself to Vanitas and there was no love to be had between them at all.

As she walked to catch up with her little husband whose face seemed permanently set in a constant frown or menacing smirk, her heart felt lighter. She wouldn’t ask Vanitas of anything and she would never expect him to love her but in time, perhaps she could do things to show him how much she appreciates his sacrifice.

[queen-of-the-willows]

The Garden’s Children

Hooooo boy, here we go!

My first short story for this blog, and I've never been so terrified of something so mundane.

I'll be honest, I feel like there's something more I could've done, and I’m not sure what it is,  but I hope y'all enjoy it nonetheless

The word count is 4795

Oh, and a special shoutout to @truewanderer77445 , @araniladin , and @wallpatterns for their support and help while I was making this

Part One

Staving off negativity takes too much effort. Especially when everything is objectively, unequivocally negative. Still, Alaric always appreciated a challenge--even if they came suddenly--and hoping in spite of everything was the only thing he could do now. Standing here at the Garden House’s door with little knowledge on what to expect, he could only hope that this visit would go well, even more that he wouldn’t make an absolute fool of himself or the kingdom.

Even if the kingdom would be at fault if I did, he thought and sighed. There was no point in blaming anyone for this predicament. Well… maybe there were a few who could be put to blame, but thinking about that was useless now. In this moment, he had a task, and he would see it through.

Still wary, he knocked on the door, to which it opened immediately, and a young, silver-haired woman greeted him, eyeing him with a strange look. “Oh,” she said, “can I help you, Sir?”

“Good Afternoon. Yennifer Havoc, correct?” Alaric replied, continuing after she gave a slow nod. “I’ve come to examine this Garden’s Children for the monthly report.” She raised an eyebrow at that, her eyes widening.

“Oh? I’m sorry, you must be mistaken. I didn’t realize I’d be seeing a different watchman.” There was no anger or accusation in her voice, thankfully, just general surprise. He knew how she felt. “I thought I’d be seeing Sir-”

“Sir Biron,” he cut her off, something she didn’t seem appreciate. “Apologies, again,” he gave a small bow. “He had business to attend to.”

“Business?” There was accusation this time, and her smile wavered. “And no one thought to tell me?”

My thoughts exactly. He struggled not to sigh--again; yet another issue with the last-minute change was that no one stopped to tell him what or how to explain it. He’d only been given general information about this Garden, about the Caretaker, and one very stern order from Biron.

“I suspect that no one realized how long he’d take before it was too late. I was only notified that I’d be filling the role for him two days ago.” Tense silence followed. Her smile had completely vanished, and instead she bore a scowl that she was undoubtedly trying--and failing--to hide. He was resolving himself for what could possibly lead to an argument with a complete stranger when she finally spoke.

“Fine,” she all but spat with a wave of her hand. “Let’s just hope you can get the job done as any other can.” With that, she led him inside.

“I’ll have to apologize again for this. I’m sure you don’t appreciate surprises in these events.”  She waved off his apology. “Little can be done about it now. I suppose we’re both lucky that this is but a courtesy report.”

Is it? That’s what he’d thought at first--it was the right month for it--but from the way Biron had treated it, it seemed his very reputation hinged on this.

“If it’s any consolation, I was told a little about you before I came here, at least,” he said as they walked through the hall.

“Splendid,” she replied, “if only I could say the same about you, Sir.”

He realized he never introduced himself. “My name is Alaric Anson. It is nice to meet you, Yenni-”

He could barely finish her name before she stopped walking and interrupted him. “Havoc.”

“Pardon?”

“While you are here, you will address me as Ms. Havoc, Sir Anson.” She breathed an agitated sigh and folded her arms. “Am I understood?”

She waited for an answer, her impatience suggesting she’d dealt with this numerous times. Did she make the children call her that as well? Finally, Alaric spoke: “of course, Ms. Havoc.”

With a satisfied nod, she brushed past him, guiding him further into the house.

“They couldn’t have told you much if you don’t even know common courtesy. Tell me, who said what about me?”

“Biron made sure to give me basic information when he could. He did mentioned that you were a very… stern woman.” Well, he chose words much more generous than “stern” or “strict,” but Alaric was sure that got the point across just fine. In fact, with Sir Biron’s description, he’d suspected Havoc to be much older. But despite her hair, he was surprised to find that she couldn’t have been much older than him. And, other than her adamance on how she was to be addressed, she didn’t seem that bad; her reaction to the sudden change was much calmer than he expected, even if that was all he had to go off so far. She did, however, surprise him when she chuckled after his reply.

“Of course he did. Anything else?”

“That you have a strange, yet strong connection with the children.” So much so that you try to hoard them.

Bringing up the children may have been a mistake; as soon as she spoke of them, her earlier scowl returned, and her arms tightened across her chest. “Bold of him to speak of them,” was all she said. It was a risk, evidently, to push the topic further, but the most his curiosity would let him do was deviate ever so slightly. “Speaking of which, where are they?” They’d been walking through the house the whole time, even passing what he suspected to be rooms for some of the children, but he never saw any.

“The six meant for the presentation are waiting in the class wing. I suppose you at least know how this is supposed to go.”

Right. This month’s report was really just meant to make sure that the children were making progress. That the Caretaker was doing her job. A “courtesy” for both the children and the kingdom. Short and simple.

“I believe so, despite everything,” Alaric said. “I’ll be seeing them one-by-one, correct?” She nodded, breathing what sounded like a sigh of relief.

“What else, if I may ask, has Sir Biron said about me and my children? I didn’t realize he had someone who was willing to listen to his grievances.”

In all honesty, “willing” wasn’t truly the right word. Maybe if “begrudgingly” was placed before it, it would be more appropriate.

“Nothing much beyond that,” he lied. “Just that you bond well with them.” That, and you try to keep them from their servitude to the kingdom for as long as possible, you hide as many as you can during courtesy visits, you make deals and conspire with them for once they become Promised Children, you sully his image and name and speak down to him whenever he arrives, that if I don’t get at least one child out of your Garden during this month’s report, you’d win again and he couldn’t have that… the list went on and on, so much so that Alaric was almost furious that his mentor spent more time giving him “warnings” that scarcely applied to him than, say, any useful information. The only thing relieving him was the fact that this meeting was going well, which was probably only because he was amusing the Caretaker. He couldn’t imagine what kind of petty qualms this woman had with Biron, especially since she appeared to be so calm. They must have been plentiful, however, because Havoc all but rejected his words.

“No, that doesn’t sound like him. He’s very long-winded. You should know that if you’re friends with him.”

“Friends,” is a strong word, my dear. Nevertheless, he couldn’t outright deny it, only correct it, even as he did nothing to hide the grimace on his face.

“He’s my overseer, actually. A mentor, of sorts. He’s been teaching me for a few months, now.” Alaric sighed. “But yes, he is long-winded. Yet, I can’t help it if he talks for so long that I drown him out, now can I?” That was probably a mistake, speaking ill of his superior--even in jest--with a woman that he undoubtedly hated. Still, though, it was nice to speak a little freely of him. Fun, even, if not risky. Even so, a change of topic would probably be best.

“I suppose you can’t,” Havoc said. “But that’s enough for now. The class wing is just around the corner. We’ll be one room down from the children. Would you mind waiting inside while I fetch the first one?

Alaric shook his head. Taking one last moment to conspire? He doubted the thought, of course--even considered it funny. But that didn’t make this arrangement any less strange. True, the children would be presenting their abilities by themselves, but still… he wasn’t allowed to see all of them together?

“Good.” The Caretaker’s mood had brightened as the two talked, but his compliance seemed to do her the most favor as the two walked into an empty classroom. “I’ll only be a moment. Let’s hope we make a good impression.” Alaric sighed when she left.

“One child. Just note that you deem one child as ready for their training as a Promised in the report.”

There were, of course, many things wrong with that order, the most glaring being the fact that this was a courtesy report, one where Garden children are barely deemed ready to leave their home. And Havoc was able to choose the six children for this presentation, meaning she just as easily could’ve chosen the least impressive. Or, at the very least, demanded that they hold themselves back. If that were the case, he could report that the Caretaker was doing a poor job in teaching and training the children, which would do far more damage than having one child leave. But why would he want that? Because she hides children when watchmen come? Because she does so when Biron comes? If anything, he understood. He barely knew this woman, and she already seemed much more pleasing to be around than his mentor could ever hope to be. He could hardly take the demand seriously, much less now that he was actually here. The only thing keeping it in his mind was his mentor’s adamance. If he believed his apprentice ignored his demand, there’s no telling how angry he’d be. For the time being, Alaric supposed, he could simply wait and see how everything would play out, and at the very least, hope that no matter his choice, he wouldn’t have to be barrated for more than two hours.

 Part Two

           The breeze blew steadily--if not a little harshly--throughout the room, and Alaric almost feared that the girl would knock something over. He blinked so much that he could barely see her at the front of the room. His short hair was already blowing wildly about, and he had to hold his notebook and pen in place for fear that they would fly off the table. Soon enough, though Havoc waved for the wind to stop. The girl lowered her arms, and the air immediately went still.

“Thank you, Kylie,” Havoc said as the girl bowed.

Wind manipulation. He wrote down the girl’s name and ability in his notebook, writing more as Havoc spoke to him. “Her power is rather promising, but the only issue is that it tends to… escalate when she uses it too much. She’s fine with creating a steady breeze, but any more than that, and she’ll lose control and wind up summoning a wind storm.” His pencil abruptly stopped at “control,” and he raised his eyebrows at the Caretaker. She didn’t seem to notice, somehow, even as she stared him down.

“Don’t you think…” he trailed off for a moment, wondering how she could look so calm after what she just said.

“Wouldn’t training in the kingdom help her handle that if she’s already showing signs of promise?”

She shook her head, furrowing her eyebrows. “You would send a storm to a kingdom, with strangers who have no clue what could set her off?” she asked. “She’s already struggling now, with someone who knows and has taught her well.” Havoc placed a hand on her chest. “Can you imagine what would happen if she were taken away in the middle of her training? It’s best that I handle her until she makes further improvements.” He couldn’t argue the sense in that, even less so when he looked over to Kylie, who seemed to nod in agreement when she noticed his gaze. But he chose to keep silent, and went back to his writing as Havoc called for the next child.

The next presentation was a replica of the first; the boy came in, Havoc introduced him, and he presented his talent. This one���s name was Neil, and he could forge a fire from his very palm. According to Havoc, he still needed to be taught on effectively using his flame for different purposes. “Won’t he be able to do that in the Kingdom?” Alaric asked.

“He will make more progress if I am the one helping him. He’s comfortable with me, and thus, willing to learn more. It’s the same case.” His insistence on mentioning the Kingdom was obviously agitating her, so much so that he wondered if he should keep at it for the rest of the presentations. He felt it unnecessary to anger her, even though prying would continue to do just that. Even so, prying was a part of his task, wasn’t it?

“I don’t see you writing that down.” It wasn’t a threat, but something in Havoc’s stare snapped him out of his thoughts. He hastily noted her words in his book. He didn’t lift his head when she sent Neil for the next one, only doing so when she actually appeared.

“This one here is Viridian.” A young redhead holding a small pot to her chest presented herself to the front of the classroom, taking a deep bow before looking at her Caretaker.

A prop? It wasn’t much, but she was the first one to bring something with her.

With a nod of approval, “Viridian” nodded back and sat cross-legged on the floor with the plant resting in front of her. She put the tip of her fingers to the dirt and closed her eyes, pushing further into the soil with each breath. Soon, a green stem sprouted from the pot and steadily grew along with a bud that slowly expanded. When it leveled with the top of the girl’s head, the bud unfolded itself, and a large sunflower beamed at the two.

Viridian stood, and was about to bow again before Alaric’s clapping threw her off. It was a soft, steady sound, and yet she stared at him wide-eyed as her cheeks turned red to match her hair.

“Wonderful. Viridian, was it?” Timidly, she nodded, and nearly spoke before Havoc interrupted.

“Apologies for cutting in, Sir Anson,” she said, “but this presentation is long enough without you talking to the children.”

She sent a glare in Viridian’s direction, and the startled girl put her head down and bowed as she was supposed to.

Perhaps he made the air too tense after all. He simply wanted to compliment the child, make an attempt to change the atmosphere. And besides, this was his first time speaking with one. Even so, just doing that put Havoc on edge. Perhaps she knew of his intent, or at least, that of his superior. If so, maybe addressing it wouldn’t hurt.

“Apologies, Ms. Havoc,” he said, “I just thought that it’d be much more productive for the report to speak with the subjects of it instead of-”

“Instead of their Caretaker?” The one who has been overseeing their collective growth?” Havoc raised a brow at him, almost goading him to challenge her. He looked over to Viridian, who only dared to take a quick glance at him without so much as moving her head. With a nod and a small sigh, he gestured for Havoc to continue.

“Cultivating her ability proved to be difficult,” Havoc said, looking the girl over. “She could hardly grow a weed when she first started. But, with enough patience and concentration, she managed to boost her progress in such a short time that it even impressed me.” It was short-lived, a “blink-and-you’ll-miss-it” moment, but he swore he saw her smile at the girl. If her “progress” was enough to make this woman happy, then it must’ve been promising. Instead of replying, Alaric simply took notes.

When he looked up, he saw that Havoc appeared to be waiting on him.

“Is something wrong?” he asked.

“You don’t have any questions?” There wasn’t anything in her voice but confusion, much like when she first saw him. For a reason he couldn’t quite discern, that was almost relieving.

“Well… I suppose I could ask how you managed to help Ms. Viridian progress her talent.”

“Oh! I-” Alaric’s attention snapped to none other than the girl herself, who was suddenly staring at the two with wide eyes. She obviously wanted to continue, but she’d caught Havoc’s attention as well, and her glare cut her off.

“Yes, Viridian?” he asked, hoping a warm, if not slightly pleading smile to Havoc would be enough to garner permission. It was the closest he’d get to asking her “please.” The Caretaker stared between the two, incredulous at them both. She probably wasn’t expecting any of the children to speak, and he wondered if they weren’t either. Even he was shocked.

Shocking him further was Havoc’s answer; albeit begrudgingly, she nodded for the girl to continue.

“Oh… well…” Viridian must have been just as surprised as he was as she gathered herself. She wrung her hands and twiddled her hair as she spoke. “Well, Yen-... Ms. Havoc helped me with my focus. She told me that I couldn’t sprout anything because I was thinking too hard about it, so she helped me practice blocking everything else out.”

“Is often the case with children,” Havoc stepped in when the girl was finished,  “they can’t focus on what they’re doing with their talents at first. They’re either caught up by the prospect of failing, or become frustrated much too quickly when they feel they are failing.”

Alaric wrote quickly to keep up with their words, satisfied at the notes when he was done. “And you help break them from those habits,” he said. Havoc nodded. The silence allowed him to ponder for a moment, before he looked to Viridian.

“Well, it’s good to have such a methodical Caretaker. I’m sure there’s much more you could learn from her. Thank you, Viridan.” The girl remained still, flushed, and cast a glance to Havoc, who nodded at her. With a nod back, she took her pot, the flower now towering over her, and left the two waiting for the next child.

“Thank you,” Alaric said, breaking the silence. “For letting her speak. She seems like a fine student.”

Havoc didn’t look at him--her stare remained glued to the large chalkboard at the front of the classroom--but he could see the smile that crept across her lips. “She’s a shy one, but she’s learning to get past her nerves. I’m surprised she even spoke.”

Because she’s shy, or because you probably told her not to? He was again amused by the thought of her speaking--or, “conspring,” according to Biron--with the children.

“And thank you,” Havoc said, interrupting his thoughts. “For the compliment on my teachings.” He almost forgot he’d done that. “You’re welcome,” he said, his smile never leaving. “It was simply an observation, though.”

“Well, I appreciated it nonetheless.” If there was anything he had to give to their Caretaker, it was that they obviously respected her. If Viridian’s appraisal of her teachings were anything to go by, short as they were, he understood.

Soon, another girl holding a small, ornate box stepped in, taking the place of those before her. She was the second one to bring an item with her, other than Viridian.

“Ah, Tabula.” Havoc beckoned her over, and the girl walked to where the two sat. Alaric studied her, curious. She was the first child to approach them like this, the others being perfectly able to showcase their ability at the front of the room.

Gingerly, the girl--who he now realized was wearing gloves--put her box on the table between him as Havoc pulled up a stool for her. She sat, opened the box, and reached in, pulling out-

A dead bird?

Havoc grimaced at the thing, and it took all he had not to join her. Only the girl, Tabula, regarded the creature with something other than disgust. If anything she seemed to do so with affection. Out of all of the… quirks he’d seen and expected from the children, an affinity towards dead things had certainly not been one of them.

“Apologies, Ms. Havoc, but…”

Havoc held up her hand, silencing him. “Don’t worry, Sir Anson,” she said, “it’s apart of the presentation.” Her voice was calm as usual, but her expression told him that she simply wanted to put that bird back in its home as soon as possible. Finally, something they could truly connect on.

With a nod from her Caretaker, Tabula took off her gloves and hovered her hands over the bird. Before long, a green, wispy essence circled around its target, and with each cycle, it seemed to respond. Its head twitched, and he could almost hear a small chirp coming from it. Its eyes burst open, its head tilting back and its neck craning, its wings spreading in sudden, jerking motions. Soon, its body followed suit.

Alaric watched watched in fascination--as well as a hint of horror--as the bird, half-rotted and swathed in a green substance, flitted its wings, as if preparing to take flight. Instead, though, it bounced around the table, leaving a trail of waste and mucus as it did, tweeting a cacophonous song from a torn throat.

“Like the others, Tabula has improved immensely in her abilities,” Havoc said, trying to hide her dismay at the now-dirty table. “Before, she was unable to make anything move. Though, I will say that she’s only come so far, and is currently only able to fully animate small animals and insects.”

Havoc’s summary allowed Alaric to pull his focus away from the bird and onto his notebook.

Can only animate small animals. If this small animal was enough to unsettle the both of them,he feared what anything bigger would do. Would he have to handle children like this in the future?

Would he have to handle Tabula herself? He wondered what Havoc would think about such an idea, but decided to keep the question to himself.

“That’s…” he tried to summon an honest word, but one that wouldn’t harm the little girl all the same. She watched the bird with an elated rapture, almost as if she wasn’t the one controlling it.

“That’s astounding, Darling.” Her glance flew to him, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw the bird’s do the same. “Thank you!” she beamed. “I want to make a zoo when I leave, even though Ms. Havoc says that I can’t.” The Caretaker raised her brow at Tabula, who lowered her head, an amused, if not mischievous smile playing across her lips.

“Well, I’m sure it’ll be a lovely zoo.” Assuming she was ever allowed free use of her own powers. The rules around the Garden’s Children and their abilities were tight enough, and with a power like that at her disposal, it’d be a wonder if she were allowed to use it for anything other than at the Kingdom’s request. There’d be a tight leash around her, especially if she remained so recklessly fascinated with her own ability. Seeing how happy she seemed now, though, it was almost sad imagining such a thing.

Nevertheless, Tabula’s smile grew wider when she looked at Alaric, and she turned to Havoc as if to confirm his hopeful words, only to be subdued by her scolding glare.

“Anson,” she said, turning to him, “if you could refrain from encouraging this one any further, I’d greatly appreciate it.”

He agreed. Both to avoid argument, and because encouraging something such as this would undoubtedly see him scolded by both his peers and mentor if they knew. Especially his mentor. Still, seeing Tabula beam at him made it worth it, and he could see that even Havoc was warmed by the sight.

“Apologies,” he replied with a nod. “If Tabula here is done, I’d like to see the remaining children you have on display.” With that, the little necromancer put her gloves back on, and the bird dropped back into its cold, deceased state not a moment after. He almost felt sorry for the thing, and wondered what it must have been like to suddenly reawaken as it did, then banished the thought altogether.

With great care, Tabula put it back into the box and closed it, promptly leaving afterwards.

The remaining two children were no less of a spectacle. One was a boy with wings that Havoc ascertained were still growing, and the other was a girl with a voice so enchanting that he nearly fell asleep. Havoc pointed out that getting her to use her ability on others was a struggle, and it’d take some time before she was completely comfortable taking an order to do so. Their names were Malakai and Pandora.

“Well then,” Havoc said as the final student left the two alone, “I hope you found this watch to be especially fruitful.”

“I’m not sure what the standard usually is,” Alaric replied while flipping through his notebook, “but I will say that seeing everyone was quite the treat. I must thank you, Ms. Havoc.”

She waved away his thanks, shaking her head. “It’s a necessity, Anson. No need to thank me.”

“Even so,” he paused, unsure of his next words, unsure of if he should even press the issue. “Even so, you were much more accommodating than I thought you’d be. Despite everything.”

“Despite what you’d been told?” Aside from when she chuckled in the hall, this was the first time she smirked at him. He returned with a smile. “That, and despite my behavior. I saw that I annoyed you with the first presentations.”

She didn’t deny it outright, but shook her head. “You were doing your job. If Sir Biron was the one giving it, I can’t fault you for that.” She knew about the order. Definitely. Either she was very perceptive or he was simply that obvious. Or both.

“We never saw eye-to-eye, as you can probably guess,” she continued, “and last month that truly came to a head. The last thing he said before he left was that I’d pay for looking down on him, and that I wouldn’t be able to keep my children holed up forever. I see he wasn’t able to see that promise through, but I never thought he’d have someone else do it for him.”

“....oh.”

“Oh?” Havoc looked almost surprised as he did. “You didn’t know?”

He shook his head. He guessed that this whole ordeal stemmed from some rivalry between those two, but his mentor had conveniently left out that detail when he was “informing” him. It made sense, when he thought about it, as to why Biron would deem it unnecessary to tell him, but still… it was nice to know what sparked this specifically.

“Well,” Alaric spoke slowly, almost chuckling at his next words, “he’s going to be very disappointed.” He took a moment to smile at her confusion before continuing. Looking closely, though, he could see a hint of relief as well. “You’re children are growing well, but from what I’ve seen today, they still need your presence to steer them into becoming Promised. They should all stay with you for as long as necessary.” He began writing as he spoke, quoting himself. It wouldn’t hurt to have a written argument at the ready to help him against Biron. Silence filled the air after he was done talking, the only sound breaking through being his pen on paper until Havoc’s voice joined it.

“Thank you,” she said. “Truly, I appreciate it.”

When he was done, Alaric closed his notebook, gathered it alongside his pen, and stood. “No need to thank me, Havoc. I’m simply doing my job. For both of our sake’s though,” he’d begun making his way to the door, and stopped in the frame. “Let’s hope that I’ll be able to be your watchman again in the future. Maybe even for an official report. I’d love to see the rest of the children.” With that, accompanied by a smile, he left.

For this, he could tell, he’d definitely be getting a lecture well over two hours.

[vonseal]

what im weak for this week

yet again, im dumb so we have two weeks worth! i’ll be on top of it next time, i promise!

this is real long, forewarning, but you guys are such good writers sooooo

(from now on, im keeping a running draft that i will just post once a week, this takes so long when i wait two weeks omg)

two boys; one bed by fivepixelphan

(tbh this sounds like it’s going to be dirtier than it is) (and in case you’re wondering, it’s 0% dirty, 100% cute) i love socky and i dont love unrequited feelings and so i was pretty covered in this fic, because it’s SOCKY WITH A HAPPY ENDING! all i wanted was a happy ending while reading through this fic, so bless fivepixelphan for coming through for me! <3

faking it by koutarous

when moonbin needs a fake boyfriend, who does he choose? obviously eunwoo because binu lives forever in our hearts!!! this sort of reminded me of coffee prince, without the whole “eunwoo is a girl holy cow” type of thing going on, which is just fine with me! i love the plot, because it’s corny and cliched and that’s legit my middle name (corny and cliched - it’s no longer Vonseal). please please please read this! it was just perfect!

you & me by sanhasbinu

why do i expect happy fics, all of a sudden there is an influx of angst and my heart is being ripped from my chest. sanahasbinu has been on here before with an angsty fic (cotton candy, check it out), and i thought maybe i wouldn’t have to deal with the pain anymore, but i do. i do. and i love every second of the heart-wrenching feels (i’m 21 and i still use feels unironically, lord save me).

i saw an angel by parkjinwoes

SOMEONE GIFTED SOCKY TO ME!!! i cried reading it, it was long and funny and sort of sad at times, i just wanted them both to be happy together, but then this line: However, Yoon Sanha is also terrible at keeping secrets and feelings to himself. Oblivious to him, Park Minhyuk is too good at doing that. THAT MADE ME REALIZE i gotta trudge through the sad first before getting to the happy. but when i got to the happy, BOY OH MAN it was definitely happy. big recommendation right here!

centaurea cyanus by A_N_D_Y

I WAS SO SCARED OMG. usually with these hanahaki type of fics (tbh i still dont fully understand what the hanahaki thing is or how it came about, but i’ve read three astro fics relating to this so i may or may not be a sorta-expert), someone ends up dying??? annnnnd i really thought death would come in this fic. and i dont want to tell how it ends, but pls understand binu is forever alive and well within our hearts (and maybe the fic, i may or may not be giving away the ending)

shopping list by Shinigamibutter

when she releases cute myungjin, she really release cute myungjin. i mean, this was so fluffy and domestic and i just wanted it to go on forever and ever. never before has a shopping trip been so interesting!!! never before has it filled me with such joy and happiness! also BUTT GROPING YES (you guys learned my weakness)

like a game of hide-and-seek by kimtaehyungsleftpinky

frat boy jinwoo is something i never knew i needed in my life, but good golly, i did need it. coupled with cat owner myungjun (also my weakness - cats and myungjun, how dare) this fic was just perfect??? i want to know more about their relationship and  “I don’t like your cat.” Jinwoo muttered and looked at Marco in disgust. Myungjun gasped and covered Marco’s ears as if the cat had understood what Jinwoo had said. this just made my entire day, that’s a me thing, hashtag relatable.

our own space travels, shall we leave? by spaceviolet (vividplum)

MINHYUK IS THE TRUE MVP OF THIS FIC. i wish i had barista minhyuk all the time. but we have more socky (i am REALLY loving this sudden rush of socky fics, you guys rock!) and SANHA GETS STOOD UP and i’ll punch whoever stood him up. but minhyuk is ready with the correct drink order, bless this barista, and his pals are hilarious and i just had a lot of feelings for this fic <3

soft rock by birdbrainberke

soft pebble minhyuk, so soft and so in love with yoon sanha. this is the socky sequel (is it a sequel?) to the broken bones fic i posted and raved about recently, and oh my good golly, i love this so much. i love the insight to minhyuk’s character, and the reasons he does the things he does and says the things he says. also he is #savage towards bin, which cracks me up, and i love birdbrainberke and all his beautiful, wonderful fics <3

blood, sweat & tears by jiminaddiction

(is this a bts reference? i’ve only heard three bts songs, but i think this is a bts reference?) so im a little nervous about this one because it’s got some crazy tags that make me scared for the future. I DO NOT LIKE SADNESS AND PAIN and i think i’m going to get it. im a soft, meek marshmallow, and i finally found some Moonrock and I KNOW THERE WILL BE SADNESS AND PAIN. but i think i can trudge through, i will be strong!

cliche by Shinigamibutter

THIS IS SO SOFT AND CUTE BINU how do you write such cute and soft binu??? idk, but i love the little descriptions of bin’s smile and eunwoo’s absolute infatuation with him, like this is short and sweet and it pierces my heart with the cute, bless u for this!

the sweet ride home by diametrical

idk if you guys know this, but i love kids and i love families and i love astro, so when you just combine all three of these into one, im just a melted pile of gooey feelings. binu and eunwoo as a single dad kills my heart it just melts it all completely. this was so well-written, too, and i found myself ready to sacrifice someone to get more of it (i jest only slightly).

made in the a.m. by koutarous

tbh mj is me drinking - i’ve been forbidden to drink at work events anymore because i am easily drunk, i am not sorry for my low alcohol tolerance and neither is mj, apparently, because he does it regardless. i didnt expect the MYUNGJIN BUT I GOT THE MYUNGJIN and i may or may not have just fallen in love with it???? bless u for writing this (underage drinking = big no no)

secret by j_kwanboo

JINCHA!!! JIN. CHA. tbh thats all that i need sometimes, some good ol jincha (flashback to jinjin calling eunwoo pretty and my heart melting, that was so cute), and this is cute jincha and also SANHA LOSES HIS INNOCENT EYES, PLEASE SPARE MY CHILD!!! i really loved this fic, i laughed at it and i will hug poor sanha and give him back his purity.

who wrote the book on goodbye? by Rach4040

when i was younger, i thought i was so mature for liking that dear john book by that-fantastic-romance-author-whose-name-escapes-me, but then i realized i hate those goodbyes for lengthy periods of time, so by all accounts i should hate this, but i can’t because it’s cute and pure and it is a little sad, but i know it will be happy in the end!!! <3

train to busan astro au by @glowingjinjin

i am still very mad at this whole fic, do not read if you value your heart in one piece, im not even kidding i just cried over this a lot and im waiting for some cute myungjin, lanna, or else i might punch someone in the face, not naming names at all, but even going back to link this fic made me get flashbacks and i feel empty inside thinking about it. how dare u. dont read this, on second thought, it’s painful.

UPDATED FICS FROM LAST TWO WEEKS -

problems with pastry by sanhasbinu: im glad mj survived war  ^o^ ^o^ ^o^ ^o^

hide and seek by Mintwho (NaCltyRy): mj, why do you gotta be this way??? also why do you gotta write a fic making me choose between my bias and my bias wrecker, like im so sad

the year we met by  fivepixelphan: MY HEART IS SLOWLY BEING MENDED IM DYING IN CUTE FEELS NOW

medley by sassysavagesanha (RedJusticeLibra): i get so hyped whenever this gets updated, you always deliver such cute socky!!!

stray romance by Alette: MJ: im an adult i cant just come willy-nilly. ROCKY: eunwoo has boyfriend. MJ: im coming willy-nilly. i love.

and if you ever have anything you think i need to check out, hit me up with that fic, fams. i dont even care if it’s your own. i check a03 regularly, so if it’s something posted elsewhere, pls let me know!

[coldmagnussprouts]

Paint my nails like one of your french girls (Cole Sprouse x Reader Imagine)

Pairing: Cole Sprouse x Reader

Description: You’re really not a fan of Cole Sprouse but you find yourself waiting for him outside a hotel in Vancouver because you were dragged by your best friend. When you finally get to meet him, he paints your nails and suddenly you’re twitter famous!

Warnings: None

Word count: 9,930

A/N: HI guys! This is my first imagine, I would really appreciate your feedback. And if anyone is interested, I can do a follow up on this story. Also, I am currently writing a fanfic featuring Cole Sprouse x OFC X Dylan Sprouse. 

My best friend, who also happened to be my twin brother’s girlfriend offered to pay for my flight and accommodation, in exchange of me tagging along so she can meet her childhood crush, Cole Sprouse. I complied because, do I really have a choice in this situation? Anyway, we’re only staying for 2 nights and then we’ll fly to Quebec to meet my twin brother and parents. They’re celebrating their wedding anniversary there.

I’m not really a fan of Cole or his twin brother or any celebrity in particular. To be honest, I’ve only seen an episode or two of their show ‘sweet life’. And the only reason I got to watch it was because I was over at Bianca’s doing our homework back in 5th grade. Disney or any other channel is not allowed in my home, except Discovery, Nat Geo, Animal Planet and BBC. So growing up, I never really developed an affinity with celebrities.

-

The girls who were waiting with us outside the hotel, ran frantically near the entrance while screaming their lungs out. So while waiting, I rummaged through my bag and saw a bottle of nail polish. I took it out and to cure my boredom, I decided to paint my nails.

Bianca excitedly grabbed my hand, disrupting my nail painting - causing me to paint across my 3 fingers. Now there’s a goop of nail polish all over my hand. I rolled my eyes so hard, I swear I could see my brain.

I was in the middle of figuring out how to fix my polish when Bianca called my name, waving at me with her phone.

“Y/N! Please help me take a picture with Cole!” Bianca shoved her phone to me, I felt her hands in tremors. With the nail polish bottle on my left hand, I snapped a few photos of her with Cole, not even looking at the screen. I handed the phone back to Bianca and she eagerly browsed through it. I walked behind her still pondering on how to salvage my nails when someone approached me.

“What would you like me to help you with?” came from someone I wasn’t expecting at all. I was quite surprised that when I look up, Cole was right in front of me.

Flustered and absolutely clueless, I replied nonchalantly.

“Uh, you could paint my nails?” I said, but it sounded more like a question.

He grabbed the bottle of nail polish off of me, and held my unpainted hand. He started to paint my nails and blew at them, while he smiled to no one in particular.

Alright, first of I wasn’t really expecting he would. I mean, I was just being polite and maybe a little bit sarcastic. Ironic I know, but verything happened so fast! Next thing I knew the girls formed a circle around us whispering loudly to each other.

“Oh my god, how could I not think of that?“ 

“She’s good!“ 

"Cole brush my hair please!”

Suddenly all funny requests were thrown at Cole. He just laughed at them, and when he was finally done he placed the nail polish on my other hand.

“I think I did better than you.” He said when he saw the messy nail paint on my left hand. He stared at me with dreamy eyes and charming smile. I just realized right then and there why these girls are mad about him. He is quite a looker, but most of all, he is genuinely kind.

He then proceeded to smile at the cameras, as I get pushed further to the back by the girls who wanted their turn to take pictures with Cole.

I stepped out of the crowd absolutely dumbfounded. I searched for Bianca and found her chatting up Cole with the rest of the girls.

I walked back to the café at the corner of the hotel and ordered myself an espresso. Man, that was intense and to be honest large crowds freak me out. I decided to sit at the table in the corner while waiting for Bianca.

A couple of minutes passed, I saw Bianca walked in the café, smiling from ear to ear. She sat in front of me and started to show me pictures on her phone.

“I took a video of Cole painting your nails!” She blurted out and pressed play.

First of all, I was never a camera person. Secondly, I specifically hate seeing myself in a photo, because I just look completely awkward. So when Bianca played the video, I saw myself looking utterly horrified with my mouth open, I swear I saw a fly went through. I was totally irked because I couldn’t  stomach seeing myself in a photo, even worse a video! I grabbed the phone from Bianca and turned it off.

“Aw Y/N come on now, it’s funny. And you look adorably starstruck!”

“No I wasn’t!”

“Yes, you were.”

“No, I wasn’t. I don’t even know him.”

“Yes you do.”

“Oh god! Bianca, you’ll never stop won’t you? I’m exhausted! We’ve been waiting outside for like 4, 5 hours? Just for a few pictures with your Cody, Cole, whatever?! Are you happy now?” I was frustrated and drained to say the least.

“Of course I am! I finally get to see him!” Bianca screeched, drawing all the attention to us.

I placed my hand above my forehead to cover my face, petrified from the attention people were giving us.

“Shhh! Calm down please. You’re embarrassing the both of us.” I said while I looked around, thankful that the crowd in the café were back to minding their own business.

“Fine, let’s go. And give me back my phone please.”

“Here. You better delete that video you took of me, or I swear!” I warned Bianca.

“Swear what?” She asked in jest.

“I’ll put pillow on your face while you’re sleeping!” I threatened her.

To which she just shrugged, smiling to herself as held my hand while we walked out of the café.

-

Cole’s POV

I slipped into the cafe just by the corner of the hotel I’m staying at. I actually love seeing my fans, they are one of the reasons why I went back to show business. It’s just inspiring to see that people appreciate what you do. But although I would love to spend more time with them, after 18 hours of straight taping, I really need a coffee break.

I saw “nail polish girl” the moment I entered the café. She was covering her face, looking utterly embarrassed on something her friend said. I made my way to the counter and overheard their conversation. She really stood out from the crowd, maybe because she requested for something no one has ever done before. It’s kind of funny and charming to be honest.

I was thinking of approaching them but hesitated due to the fact that I might draw some attention which kind of defeats the purpose of me being here. So instead I proceeded to order my drink. Curiosity building up in my head, she’s special I guess. Come to think of it, I didn’t even get her name.

-

Your POV

I headed to the bathroom for a quick shower when we got back to our hotel room. While Bianca was still busy gushing over her photos with Cole.

When I stepped out of the shower I saw Bianca grinning on her phone and I know that face. That conspiring full of intent look on her face. I’ve seen that many times before. And I will find out whatever ploy she’s up to.

My phone started to sound with incoming notifications, like someone’s been spamming me with texts. I for one don’t receive that much texts. Either it’s from my parents, or my twin brother. But I doubt they’re too free to text me that much. I stared at Bianca, completely knowing that this is her own doing.

My eyes widen by the sight of twitter notifications. Another thing to know about me is that, I barely use my twitter. In fact, the only reason I have a twitter was because Bianca created it of her own accord, without even my consent. She said she needed 1 more follower to reach her thousand. So I, being the bestest friend in the world, complied. Also because she’s already created it and won’t let me delete it or her account will have 1 less follower. The only tweet I’ve ever done was “Hello world.” due to Bianca’s constant nagging that I should tweet something or people will think I’m a bot. Which is why I tweeted that, to spite Bianca. Because bots and “Hello world” being the default greeting of sites in the interweb. Anyway, back to my twitter, there’s so many mentions of my twitter handle and suddenly my followers increased from 1 to now 500 and counting.

“Beee-yung-kuh! What did you do?” I asked her sternly.

“I made you meme famous! You’re welcome!” She stood up and headed to the bathroom for her turn to shower.

I was absolutely mortified to say the least, did I mention that I hate drawing attention to myself? With my hair still dripping wet, my body only wrapped in bathrobe, I sat on Bianca’s bed - that’s my evil move, to dampen her sheets - I braced myself and unlocked my phone.

“Holy guacamole!” I exclaimed to myself when I saw what Bianca tweeted, which gained about 3k of RT’s now.

Twitter

@Bianca'sTwitterHandle: Paint my nails like one of your french girls! @colesprouse @YourTwitterHandle

Retweets:

OMG! Is @YourTwitterHandle the new GF of @colesprouse??? I SHIP THEM!!!! <3

@colesprouse please do my nails too!!!! Ugh PNAIT MY WHOEL BODY!!!!

@Bianca’sTwitterHandle is @YourTwitterHandle and @colesrpouse together????

I'm SHOOKET! But what’s their ship name? @colesprouse @YourTwitterHandle

I wanna see more pics of them! Write me some fanfics, anyone? @colesprouse @YourTwitterHandle

Meet nail polish girl, @YourTwitterHandle. Sassily asked @colesprouse to paint her nails. 💅🏻

Isn’t @colesprouse just amazing? Such a total dreamboat! #BAEGOALS #DREAMBOAT

Here’s @colesprouse being such a total dreamboat, painting @YourTwitterHandle’s nails like a boss!

When bae @colesprouse would do anything to please you @YourTwitterHandle . Like paint your nails! #dreamboat #baegoals

DM’s:

Please take care of Cole!!!!

Can you please post a photo of you and Cole??? We’re just so glad he’s happy and in love!

Who are you B*tch! Get away from Cole, he’s mine!!!!

-

I locked my phone and threw it at my bed. I don’t know how to handle this kind of thing. I’m certainly not prepared for this. It’s all Bianca’s fault. My phone won’t stop buzzing. I picked it up again to set it on silent mode when I saw this on my screen:

@colesprouse is now following you!

I cleared my notifications and instead of putting it to silent, I turned it off. And waited impatiently for Bianca to come out of the bathroom. Oh she is so dead!

She was humming happily when she stepped out, even shaking her booty, purposely ignoring my deadly stare. I grabbed a pillow and threw it at her. Head shot! Hah!

“Y/N!” she screamed my name. Her eyes were fiercely giving off lethal vibes as she threw the pillow right back at me.

“Why. Did you. Tweet. That?” I said in between dodges as we both hit each other with pillows.

“You. Are. No. Fun!”

“I am. Telling. My brother. About. This!”

I dropped the pillow and dived for my phone on the bed. Bianca pulled my leg to stop me from reaching my phone but I managed to grab it before I was pulled down on the floor. We fought with just our bathrobes on. Her arms and limbs were all over me like a koala bear. I pulled her hair, escaping her clutches and ran towards the door.

I stepped out of the room panting, I held the handle to stop Bianca from getting out, and as I was pulling the door hard I accidentally shoved someone who’s walking by the hallway.

“Sorry!” I turned around to face the person, and saw Cole standing flabbergasted, his mouth agape. I followed his eyes as they scanned me from head to toe. When our eyes met, sudden realization hit me! I was only in my bathrobe!

“Hey you’re uh…”

“Y/N!” The door flew open revealing Bianca shouting my name. “Oh hey Cole!” Bianca said as grabbed my shoulder and tried to pull me back in. She paused and looked back at Cole again, her face full of surprise.

“Cole? What are you? Doing. Here?” She paused unsure of how to put her words properly into a sentence.

“I’m staying here? In this hotel.” Cole replied, scratching his head.

I silently made my way to the door, with my arms clenched to my waist to avoid exposing my naked body underneath the robe but before I could even step in.

“Would you want to go out for dinner?” Cole asked Bianca I supposed, my back was facing him.

“Oh Cole, that’s so sweet of you. But I’m actually taken. I have a boyfriend. But I’m a big fan!” Bianca said in a chirpy manner. She then grabbed both my shoulders, turning me back around to face Cole. I swear I never prayed so hard to all the gods wishing the floor would swallow me up.

“Actually, I meant to ask. Uh, Y/N? That’s your name right?” Cole asked  with a smile forming in his face.