#the fine line between an excuse for revenge and a reason to wake up you are NOT seeing it

[leafiion]

I think abt saphira a lot.. head in my hands

[neoheros]

how would haikyuu boys handle falling in love feat. kuroo + akaashi + tsukishima !!

kuroo tetsuro

being in a relationship with him is just a pretty chill experience tbh

i feel like kuroo wouldn’t really date anyone he’s not close to on a comfortable level

people be like: omfg he looks like a player tho

he’s literally not ???? like y’all telling me this man doesn’t look like the idea of having to interact with people he doesn’t know repulses him ? bye

he’s not ignorant, he just isn’t the type to get out there unless necessary yk?

he’s got a good friend group and he’s totally satisfied with that !!!!!!

so when he was 100% sure that he saw you as somebody he’d want to be more than friends with he was just like :0

kuroo at 5:37 am, thinking of that one time you handed him a bottle of water first: oh— oh shit

he doesn’t act on it first though because y’all have been friends for so long and what if you don’t like him back ???

he didn’t wanna ruin the thing he had with you because you were literally the only one who tolerated him sending tiktoks at 4 am in the morning

kuroo: omfg have you seen this one yet

you: bro it’s almost 5 am are you on crack

but eventually he got tired of just staring at you and admiring you from afar and having to make up some excuse when you catch him cause he just really likes looking at you :(

you: bro stop staring at me

kuroo: no, your face bothers me

you: due to personal reasons i will make you pass away ❤️

so one day he just decides to shoot his shot yk?

if you reject him that’s fine, he’ll just have to send numerous tiktoks to wash away the awkwardness afterwards

like he’ll be upset about it because holy crap he flat out adores you at this point but he’s also got a sense of boundaries and will totally respect your decision

BUT !!!! when you told him you liked him too he just 🥺👉👈

this man had the goofiest grin on his face for weeks on end and his heart is all over the place because all the things he imagined in his head to do with you is finally gonna come true !!!

don’t be fooled though !! nothing will change from your friendship !!! you’re still both really chill with each other except now y’all can hug and kiss and !!!!!

kuroo: don’t i look kinda good in this picture though

you: not really, let me take a better one

kuroo: stop taking me out of frame

in retrospect, it’s really fun to be in a relationship like the one you two have because there’s not much things to disagree on and the dynamic you both have just go so well !!!

there’s also not a lot of new things to do or be uncomfortable about because y’all have already done everything as best friends !!!!!!! it’s 🥺

you, seeing kuroo staring at you: what’re you looking at me for

kuroo, unnerved: you’re so pretty

you, caught off guard: it’s my time to pass away now i see 😌

you two joke around a lot but that doesn’t mean you two take whatever you say to heart

somewhere along the line, this made kuroo a bit worried on how you took his intentions though

he knew you were cool with messing with him but sometimes he wonders if what he says ever gets to you

so one night while the two of you are eating frozen yogurt in his car, you in his hoodie and just straight up vibing to the tiktoks that played as background music

he looks up, spoon in his mouth, “you know that i love you, right?”

“you’re so cheesy,” you tell him, laughing while you scroll up to the next video on the fyp

he leans back in his seat, eyeing you under the single yellow light of the car

you, barely looking up from your phone: i love you too though

akaashi keiji

being in a relationship with akaashi is quite literally the most gratifying thing

he’s 97% of your wise decision making and you’re very much thankful for that

when he first met you he honestly didn’t know what to think

his first impression of you? an indecisive impulsive mess

his second impression of you? a very cute indecisive impulsive mess

there’s not a single doubt that he was crushing on you H A R D

he doesn’t pay attention to it though because he knew how crushes often worked and most of the time they didn’t really work out

but the more he looked at you or stared at you from afar with a silly grin that he doesn’t even realize, everyone around him notices just how silent you make him

leave it up to the fukurodani volleyball club to be the best matchmakers in the world

so one night while akaashi was chilling in bed he gets a text from bokuto telling him about an impromptu team hang out sesh

akaashi: it’s 7 pm ..?

you, in the group chat: theres never a wrong time for milk tea !!!!!

when you sent that everyone else in the chat was just so frickin ecstatic because now that you’ve confirmed you were going, it’s obvious that akaashi was now too

he arrived like 2 minutes early from the designated time and the way it wasn’t at all shocking when no one else arrived except for you

akaashi: well they totally bailed :/

you: hey at least now we have a list of people to take revenge on when the purge strikes

it’s okay though because the two of you make most of the night anyways !!

you never thought sitting outside of a 7/11 at 7 pm on a friday could be fun but as you sat there with boba tea and a ramen cup with one of your closest friends next to you, you were just !!!! so frickin soft

akaashi on the other hand didn’t feel anything but utter nervousness the whole time

it was so cold under the night sky and you were so close to him, he’s praying that you take the redness on his cheeks from the weather and not from the rapid racing of his heart

bokuto texting him: bro i swear to god if you’re not taking this chance to shoot your shot i’m >:(

he’s so nervous because it actually was an ideal time to tell you how much he liked you

plus he’s pretty sure that you were eventually gonna notice just how often he glanced at you whenever you came to their practices or in general

so he’s like fine then !!! he’s gonna do this tonight and if you reject him then he’s just gonna have to deal !!!!

akaashi, anxious: hey i really li—

you, cutting him off: i like you a lot and i’m pretty sure bokuto did this on purpose because he knows and i’m sorry if it wasted your time !!!!

akaashi, less anxious: oh

HE !! DOES NOT HESITATE !!! TO REASSURE YOU !!

he just smiles softly and tucks your hand in his and tells you he’d like to walk you home that night

after that something just changed between the two of you

suddenly he’s walking you home everyday with little forehead kisses before he leaves

going grocery shopping with him when you run out of food at home because he’s the only one who knows about your secret snack stash

akaashi: you don’t need that much yakult

you: ? don’t be alarmed but i think we just found the reason of our first fight

whenever you go out with him to shop for anything at all, he always has to be the person in front when you walk because he’s the one pushing the cart with his left hand while his right is tightly interlocked with yours

you just stray behind him, pointing out all the things you’d like and he’s the one who decides if it’s worth to buy because you’re absolutely sure that you’d be dead broke if you were left alone

akaashi: this hoodie looks cute, do you wanna try it out

you, recalling the four sweatshirts you haven’t returned to him: nah i have enough

sometimes you’d get in the cart whenever the grocery store you’re in is mega big and he’s just gonna have the most unbothered face as people eye him because he’s pushing a fucking cart with a person in it

you’d get worried though thinking that you’re too heavy for him to push around so you insist to get off but he just doesn’t let you because you were so cute and 😤

akaashi is just so frickin soft when it comes to you like most of the time when someone idly mentions your name a smile immediately comes up to his face and he doesn’t even realize it

he also almost always wake up to numerous snaps of you at 3 in the morning just doing the most random things

he goes through them with such a silly grin and has to fight the urge to screenshot all of them cause u were so FRICKEN cute

akaashi, looking at a photo of you with tears down your face from 4 am: that’s my baby 👉👈

everyone around y’all are just on the fence about the two of you dating since neither of you really cleared what was going on ???

you were scared to call him your boyfriend because there was never really a discussion about it and you didn’t want to come off as assuming

but one afternoon right before he left when he dropped you off at your house, he just stopped and looked at you and you were so confused

akaashi, taking off his sweatshirt and giving it to you: the news said it gets cold tonight

you, on the verge of tears: oh 🥺

tsukishima kei

he’s a salty little shit who complains 24/7 and that’s about as canon as it gets

BUT but !!! if there’s anything tsukishima is good at and i mean anything !!! it’s being observant and keen on the people around him !!! ESP TO YOU !!!

at first you were always just kinda there ?

like he noticed your presence cause you shared classes with him and you were also at his practices a lot cause you and kiyoko would walk home together

so he knew of you but didn’t really know know you, yk?

but then one day yamaguchi came to him introducing you because apparently he’s the only one left on the team who hasn’t met you and it may or may not be because you were low key scared of him

it’s all good though cause once you two shook hands and talked he became more open to actually including you in his life

you guys made out to be good friends considering that you balanced out his snarky attitude with your even worse comebacks

like they weren’t really all that clever but it’s annoying enough to get him to shut up when you want him to

everyone on the team was super surprised at the fact that you were able to talk to tsukishima like that but also they were like: “please don’t ever stop???”

so you became from someone he barely realized was there to always looking for you first when he enters a room

yamaguchi: you know some people would call that having a crush 😗

and he’s all confused cause he knew that the possibility of him getting through high school without having a crush was very slim but jesus christ a crush on YOU??

tsukki, internally: god has favorites and it is not me 💔

but when he gets over the idea that it’s completely revolting to like you like that he realizes something click and suddenly it wasn’t an annoying idea to see you romantically

so in full tsukishima style he asks you out and was pretty surprised when you said yes but you weren’t cause he wasn’t even mildly subtle at hiding his intentions

you: does this mean you won’t be mean to me anymore 🥺

tsukki: no but that’s a nice try ❤️

even when the two of you started dating, he didn’t really want anything to change cause he liked the dynamic he had with you

he was very relieved that you weren’t easily offended and you didn’t really get on his nerves a lot

you guys were hot heads but you also respected each other 🥺

something you quickly became accustomed to after dating though is being codependent when it came to sleeping

you’re usually always over at each other’s houses and his mom is totally over the moon at the fact that his son found someone like you

so every afternoon after school you two are at either houses and just chilling and vibing because school do be very tiring tho

most of the time naps happen and even if it is super hot outside and you’re on the verge of a heat stroke, you just can’t get comfortable unless you’re touching him yk?

tsukishima’s probably the same since he really likes it when his leg is over yours or when his arm is touching your arm

you, under a blanket against tsukki’s back in extremely warm weather: it’s hot

tsukki, sweating: yeah

you: so anyways

he didn’t even realize how much he’s used to you being there when he falls asleep that at night when he actually needs to rest and you’re not anywhere near him he just can’t ???

tsukishima, snapping you a picture of him with tired eyes at 2 in the morning: you ruined my life

you, just as tired, quickly replying: uno reverse card bitch

so it’s 2 am and neither of you can fall asleep and it’s just an entire frenzy of tiring yourselves out

the two of you end up facetiming and just talking endlessly about random thoughts and perspectives on people

his voice is 100% groggy and every 2 minutes he’s yawning but he really likes it when he’s talking to you because it’s always better when it’s you in the mix

he’s telling you all about how he thinks dinosaurs are super cool and fantastic that when he realizes you’ve fallen asleep he’s just like 🥺

he stares at the screen for a while, suddenly regretting that he wasn’t there to make sure you were comfortable

he’s got the softest smile on and he doesn’t even care that he’s staring at you while you’re asleep cause you just looked so peaceful and warm and sweet

tsukki: that’s my baby 🥺

he feels another yawn come up and he ends the call, hoping that the tone won’t wake you up when he does

at this point he’s also on the verge of falling asleep and he’s very glad that he talked to you because you always knew how to get him out of things like this

tsukki, texting you: thanks for falling asleep on me SNAKE

tsukki: love you, gn <3

[ocean-stuck]

A very long ??? post (+ some Arthur stuff)

Thinking ‘bout the scant information we have on ???, and what that might tell us about what it is plotwise and thematically.

So. ??? has exactly 3 appearances in the entire series. The Ghost flashback, the opening of Freaking Out, and...

well, you know.

These are all pretty brief, and they don’t really give any insight into its motivation (if it’s even sapient enough to have one), but its mechanics are readily apparent and there is the faintest scrap of backstory implied in Future, more on that later.

For now, let’s talk possession.

??? seems to gravitate toward the emotionally distressed. Envy may or may not be a preferred one, given Arthur’s mental state in the Ghost flashback and the association of green with envy (with the release of nearly every video, I’d spot at least a few not-very-sharp-eyed casuals who dismissed the green of Arthur’s possession as symbolic and failed to realize ??? existed at all; Future is the only one where this hasn’t happened, since at this point it’s literally impossible to miss). More notably, it also appears drawn to interpersonal distress, to people whose relationships are deteriorating. Both of its (sapient) targets, Arthur and Mystery, are at points of social turmoil when it enters them, and both, for varying reasons, opted to bottle their issues rather than discuss them.

(Also, this bat no one cares about. Presumably non-sapient stuff is easier by nature. I mean, it commands that hand just fine.)

This also speaks to how ??? manages to overwhelm Mystery so easily, compared to Arthur who lasted long enough for Mystery to forcibly excise it and was aware throughout, despite the former being an ancient and powerful nine-tailed kitsune and the latter a normal human. Arthur is lonely from being the third wheel and not wanting to hurt anyone’s feelings by talking about it. Mystery is bleeding out, has just watched his ex-partner possibly die (or so he believes) at the hands of his ward, who herself has just been seriously injured by said ex, and in trying and failing to prevent that same nightmare scenario has left the guys unattended, who last he saw one was trying to murder the other. Like not to invalidate Arthur but there’s a bit of a gap in severity here.

(image by artsy)

That still leaves some questions, though. How did it reach Mystery from such a long distance? Last we saw it, it was loitering outside the cavern. It could’ve followed Shiro, if not for the fact that it’d’ve had to keep pace with a high speed car chase while moving entirely on foot (hand?). Why is it still attached to the hand at all when it could surely find some random animal with less awkward means of locomotion? What was it doing at the cavern in the first place?

I’ve seen people speculate that remaining in the arm lets it remain connected to Arthur via his prosthesis, and while there’s definitely something fucky about that thing this seems strange to me as an explanation. The prosthesis consistently sparks yellow, Arthur’s own color, rather than green, with the only exception being while in direct contact with Lewis (pink). Speaking of, the prosthesis seems drawn to Lewis when active, which would be odd if ??? was trying to do harm through it since...what could it possibly do to a near-invulnerable ghost with power over fire and lifelike illusions using the body of a relatively fit but still normal human?

It could be that Mystery sealed it in the arm to prevent it from doing further harm, and this binding slipped as he became physically and emotionally vulnerable, while also giving ??? a magical line to Mystery for it to exploit. It’d answer the distance question as well.

I think there’s more, though.

I’ll save myself a paragraph or two and just plug this edit of a certain Future shot for the nth time.

Each stream seems to correspond to some form of harm done to a person significant to Mystery. We know or can intuit half of them (though this doesn’t seem to be the first time Vivi/Mushi or Shiro have been seriously harmed); the others, while not explained, match the rest of the cast’s secondary colors (which itself raises questions)...except green, which isn’t linked to any of the major characters except ???.

Has there been some deeper history between ??? and Mystery (haha rhyme) that we haven’t been let on until now?

Loved ones appear to be connected in essence as well as emotionally, at least when supernatural beings are involved. This essence can be drawn on and tracked.

Shiro uses this to locate people, though still has to physically travel in order to reach them. But ??? is a different sort of entity; it may be that it has more direct access to Mystery’s soul as an incorporeal being.

After all, one can affect someone at a distance with their essence on hand.

(??? being familiar with Mystery would also recontextualize this little surprised reaction it has to Shiro; it knows who she is, rather than just being wary of her as a stronger entity.)

This possibly points to a deliberateness to its actions in the Ghost flashback, to what happened being more than happenstance. But there’s still too little information to discern why, if so. Revenge for something? Power? Possessiveness? Was possessing Mystery the endgame the whole time? If so...now what? Why did it still linger around the cavern after the fact when everyone except Lewis had gtfo’d?

There’s not really anything to go on vis a vis motivations, so I’m not really gonna pursue this line further.

Some Funky Fresh Thematic Stuff

If Ghost can be said to be a cautionary tale about failing to communicate one’s emotional needs, ??? could be thought of as the interpersonal havoc that results from letting such issues stew too long.

Arthur keeps quiet about his loneliness and ends up vulnerable to ???. Mystery intervenes to prevent ??? from doing further harm, but by then the damage is done. What was once a typical relationship hurdle has become a full-blown traumatic event that creates a rift between the gang, particularly between Arthur and Mystery and between everyone and Lewis.

Furthermore, sealing ??? doesn’t stop things from collapsing, only prolongs it. Lewis is hurt and pissed and literally comes back with a vengeance. Shiro, one of Mystery’s failed pacts, is drawn into it trying to force him into whatever relationship they used to have. The mistakes of the past catch up, and Mystery’s loved ones nearly eat each other alive.

And at the end of it...??? is back.

I think if the gang wants to make it out of this one, it’ll take them confronting their pains and the ways they’ve failed each other in order to reconcile. By extension, I think saving Mystery is gonna be an everyone deal (including Shiro, who seems to be slowly waking up to her mistake when Vivi vibe checks her), though I think one in particular is likely to shine.

Arthur, the least assuming one of the main cast, the last person to have fallen under ???’s spell, who inadvertently enabled the plot through his insecurity, and also the one who’s bent backwards the hardest trying to fix what’s been broken since.

It’s like...poetic or something.

Also, I want an excuse for Arthur to do electric magic.

[alastaircarstairsdefenselawyer]

on the topic of alastair apologizing... let's talk about the Academy. idk, here's my two cents.

EDIT: thank you to @alastairxcarstairs for pointing out that Alastair's hair was natural at the academy, not bleached. I have made a few edits in red! I don't think it changes the idea of my post too much, but it does raise some complications as something that we know has affected alastair deeply (vs a comment about his father & clive which were things he was already feeling and whose traumas to not lie in a comment made) and I think honestly might be one of the only ways for a reconciliation between the two of them, to recognize that they both used shitty ways that the world works against them to hurt each other deeply, and that wasn't right. (also can the two queer "icons" learn to not be racist please & thank)

this got... ridiculously long. I'm sorry. feel free to disagree with anything I've said, it's just my conclusions from what I've read an my own experiences. theres a lot of discussion of bullying, death, and alcoholism.

alastair really didn't say much to or about kit and thomas (except the rumor, which I'll get to in a second) at all. he called thomas names, but it wasn't something that ever really bothered thomas and I think that's probably because alastair never said them with malicious intent.

he said a lot of shit to and about james and his family, none of which james deserved. that's something he needs to atone for.

most of his bullying (except the rumor) with matthew was reciprocated. they both talked shit to and about each other. it doesn't cancel each other out in a way that means it never happened, but its not really something anyone has to atone for imo, just more of a "we both treated each other like shit and that was stupid, let's move on from it and not do it anymore."

the vetis demon... it was a prank. a cruel, scary, idiotic prank. it wasn't alastair's idea, but he went along with it and he helped. obviously it was something very distressing to james and matthew, but they're both fine. I'm not saying alastair should get a pass for it, but clive literally died. they were 14/15 and as someone who lost a classmate at that age, there's a weird sort of guilt about it, even when you had nothing to do with their death. alastair learned the consequences of his actions the hardest way possible, and I don't think people recognize that enough. we don't know much about clive at all. he acted like an asshole, sure, and he was definitely naive and arrogant (a vetis demon???) but we don't know how he treated alastair. was he kind to him behind closed doors? was he always cruel? did he bully alastair? we don't know. regardless, I'm positive that alastair has a lot of complicated feelings about it, and a fuck ton of guilt. because HE can be a better person. HE can apologize and move forward and travel the world and fall in love and get his heart broken and do all of the things that people do after they finish school, and clive never will. alastair learned his lesson, and james and matthew can be reasonably certain that he'd never try anything like that ever again. while he could certainly still apologize for it, I think thats something they can assume at this point without him saying it.

the second one was deliberate, matthew knew that alastair had already told him it was Clive's idea, but he WANTED to get until alastair's skin. he WANTED to make alastair hurt more. he was a child (they both were), and he was upset, and he wanted to make alastair hurt. and he did. alastair snapped.

and, finally, the rumor. the first thing to recognize is that alastair was in a bad place when he said that. he said that because he was in a bad place. all of those^ complicated feelings had just started (clive had literally just died) and to make matters worse, everyone's fathers had rushed to the Academy in wake of the incident except for Elias (thomas pointed this out). then matthew showed up. he started out by calling alastair names, fine, typical. then he said "Has no kind soul thought to inform you that your hairstyle is, to use the gentlest words available to me, ill-advised?..." strike one "...A friend? Your papa?" strike two. then he said "Though I cannot help but wonder whose idea their nasty little trick was" even though Alastair had already explained that it was Clive's idea and why, strike three.

the first one was just racist. maybe he didn't mean it to be, but we know that alastair was self conscious about his hair because of how dark his features are and how alienated he feels as a non-white boy.

the second one was an unfortunate coincidence imo. matthew had no idea what alastair was going through at home or that he was particularly upset about Elias that day because he'd been forced to watch all of the other boys with their fathers.

in matthew's eyes, what he said there SHOULD have been just another throwaway insult, but he was blinded by his privilege as a white boy with loving parents, and anyone who knows alastair's situation can see that it anything other than just a throwaway comment.

I'm explaining all of this not to excuse what alastair did but show how the rumor scene was atypical from his usual bullying. we haven't SEEN enough on paper to make that observation, but we can infer from all of this that that was not how alastair normally behaved. that was how alastair behaved when he was pushed over the edge, that's it.

while he said awful things about Thomas and his parents and Matthew's parents, he was never trying to hurt them, it likely didn't even cross his mind. he didn't start that rumor, and I doubt he even ever actually spread it. there's no evidence that he would be someone to spread rumors like that (something very speculative and secretive, vs something obvious and well-known like what he said about tessa), especially given the rumors around his own family. he only repeated it to matthew because he was pushed out of his limits. it's most likely that he heard the rumor, ignored it, and the ONLY time he has ever spoken it was to matthew that day.

he said it to hurt matthew. that was his only goal. that was his only motivation. he wanted to make matthew HURT. and he did. he really, really did. I think he could see it as soon as he said it. CC has said that he regretted what he said as soon as he said it. he hurt matthew in ways that can never be undone, and I think he knew that as soon as he said it because he has been hurt that way, too.

so, no, I don't think alastair actually owes thomas or sophie or gideon or charlotte or henry an apology for what he said beyond "I caused this person you love very much irreparable harm" because while he said awful things about them, he never did anything to actually hurt them (beyond hurt matthew).

to say that alastair owes matthew an apology... feels a little cheap to me. I don't think alastair will ever genuinely apologize to matthew solely because he doesn't think that what he's done could ever be forgiven. even if he were to become a fucking saint, even if he became the nicest, kindest, most giving man on earth, there is nothing he can say or do that can undo the pain he's caused.

what happened to charlotte and her baby is NOT alastair's fault, nor is matthew's alcoholism (because we could play the blame game all day then - because if it weren't for Elias would alastair have been pushed past his limits? is it his fault? if his alcoholism is because of his brother's death, was all of this just Yanluo's fault in actuality? but that was all in revenge for Wen Yu exterminating a nest of demons, so maybe it's her fault, then? it would never end, and that's not even TOUCHING mother hawthorn's involvement). matthew MUST be responsible for his own actions and choices.

but alastair caused a harm to matthew's psyche that can NEVER be erased. he will carry until the day he dies. alastair may have not intended to hurt him in such a profound was, but he did, and he knows it. he crossed a line that cannot be uncrossed.

this doesn't mean that alastair can't be redeemed or that he can't be a good brother-in-law to james and a good partner to thomas or a good person in general or even that him and matthew can't move past it and learn to tolerate each other. but in his eyes and matthew's, forgiveness is too weak of a concept for what he has done, and I doubt he will even ask for it.

[silver-mist]

BTS In The SOOP EP4 - HOBI’s REVENGE (The full recap)

I havent done a recap since Ep 1 and technically that wasnt a recap but more for fun. However, after watching today’s episode, I felt inclined to share some thoughts as I found this to be such a lovely and heartfelt episode that truly exemplified not only each member and how they are as well as dynamics between them so im making this exception. This may be a long read for some but if you make it to the end then ❤️and feel free comment. Welcome to a summary/analysis of my thoughts throughout this episode full of cute moments between certain member “ships”. I put that in quotations to point out that I look at these platonically in a friendly way (with the exception of 1 lol) but also as a way to emphasize how each member looks to another as different likes and circumstances arise. We all can fully see that OT7 truly have a special bond unlike other idol groups who pretend for years only to be discredited later. However, it shouldnt come as a surprise that some members are closer to some than others and that isnt a bad thing, just like we all may have that 1 or those 2 people we wanna tell first when you have a major life event or need to just talk. That is the main reason for my recap today, to talk about these and how it genuinely warms my heart because even though they may not act like their full real selves here, after all, this will be seen on broadcast by the general public and not just fans, this is probably the closest we get to their domestic normal selves, no narrative, no event or photoshoot to prepare for, just them doing things as they go. 

We start off after the dinner scene where everyone has dispersed into their own thing. Cue to V sitting by himself in the main house about to sing karaoke. As anyone who has followed him along the years, you already know that he often prefers his own “me” moments and its just cute to watch him start singing to his hearts content that its even pointed out by his hyungs as they sit outside further away chatting. Its nice to see him happily enjoying whatever he feels like doing with no care in the world but I do shy away from calling him an introvert as he can be the social butterfly. 

We then cut to Namseok sitting outside, drinking some beer, having a heart to heart. The rap line has obviously been close for a long time but the way Hobi speaks about his chat with Joon that night and how it feels natural and not awkward shows you that they gravitate towards one another vs possibly some other members in terms of lets say normal adult discussions where its not about jokes or laughter but just growing up and responsibilities or random hobbies and its a beautiful thing to see. Between Hobi wishing he could sing (I think he has a lovely voice and should try it out even when he thinks he isnt good) to Joon talking about writing in a journal or feeling like this is a break they should have where they retire, its cute, its normal non celeb talk, and just a moment between 2 likeminded friends. I’ll finish off this scene with another *Joon should just not touch things in general* moment when he drops the mosquito defector and all Hobi does is smile and reply... 

(Friendship Goals...)

Jimin decides to join shortly after but doesnt have a beer in hand, the hyungs are quick to point that there is some in the other fridge but Jimin dismisses it and goes to sit as all he wants is to be in their company awww. He mentions that he will take some cold medicine and Hobi immediately questions if he’s feeling unwell to which he replies that he is in fact not feeling well. This cause an immediate reaction of concern from the hyungs as Joon tells him to put his hood on to evade a bit of the cold air and Hobi insists in a serious manner to not disobey and do as they say after jimin says its fine. Double awww 🥺

Their night ends with Minimoni heading out to another mini tournament of ping pong because why not, Jimin trying to convince Hobi to watch them because awww, and Joon telling Jimin to not torture Hobi like that 😂. Joon reading the room and knowing its not his thing cracks me up, baby mochi just wants him around haha.

The scene then cuts to the next morning where we finally see Yoongi waking up from him sleep nest in the search for water. He is still out of it as he cutely blames someone from taking his water to only realize a few moments later that that someone was him 😂.

Lil meow meow cutely wobbles out of his camper to go get a drink only to suspiciously look around like he’s spotting the cameras. Perhaps to make a Yoongi Part 3 impromptu advertisement??? We all know how good he is at those 😂. He finally asks himself “What should I do”. Story of my life he probably thinks in his mind... meanwhile I go, just rest. 

We then cut to another episode of the Chronicles of Jin: The “It’s still Hot” saga where I genuinely wonder why he still chooses the tent when im sure another arrangement is possible but do you boo. As always, the forever RJ representative cutely wears his pj’s as he heads to the main house not before stopping to do the most random thing ever... 

The editor’s caption speaks for itself lol.

He finds his way inside to stumble upon baby Tae still kinda sleepy looking complaining to the sink where dishes were left unwashed the prior night. His annoyance cracks me up and then he starts to play with a mini skillet/stove? and we finally get a moment of Tae cooking... yayy. He cutely complains as the rice is not staying together and tests out the sugar level to then realize it needs more and its adorable. Hobi wakes up and heads downstairs to encounter Jin at the piano again and cutely heads towards Tae to smack his butt and ask for some food, cue VHOPE cuteness, which later continues when Hobi wants to time Tae’s food with his jog haha. Tae again complains about the dishes and proceeds to drag a chair closer to the stove because I guess the 2 second distance from the table is too much? 😂Cute..

Back to 2Seok which to what I have seen in videos is not often, agreeing to go for a jog as well as disagreeing on how to go about it. Jin is like America (we go out to the store in sweats with unruly hair and not give an F LOL) and Hobi is like Korea (Where everyone dresses nice no matter what the occasion) Side note* this is my perspective as an american who has visited korea, they just do fashion better over there and I want to buy it all ☺️. I guess Hobi ends up finally convincing Jin to change because next thing they are out and about in their morning jog.

Back to baby Tae and random inexplicable moment of the episode #2... He removes the plate from the chair then proceeds to sit on the floor to taste his treat when the chair is now empty...🧐😂

2seok is now on their jog down the road and Hobi stops to rest on the side with Jin judging him “We only ran for 3 minutes and you already want to rest?” LOLOL. He then proceeds to take some of Hobi’s water and insists on carrying the bottle back because it makes him look good on camera. LMAO Jin, stay humble always... 😂. Hobi just does a literal SMH.

Cutscene to the view where different rooms are shown at once and I spot the second room next to Jungkook in the floating house with the door open.. Hmmm who opened it I wonder? Was someone using the room??

Back to V being his cute self enjoying his “me” time. He proceeds to play again with the rc boat and I almost panic a little at what seems like he may fall into the water trying to place it there. Good thing he doesnt but he gets the wrong control remoter and rushes back to get the right one. Once it finally moves its like all is right in the world. Cute. We get a short glimpse of him in the floating house and seeing that Jungkook is still fast asleep.

We then see Yoongi back at the top house heading in to read his book, shortly after the 3 amigos V, Hobi and Jin are walking in as Jin previously mentioned he was hungry, cue to start of meal prepping. 

We finally see the final member we havent seen wake up, baby mochi in all his fairy like self is still in bed. Tae is the first to open the door to his room and proceeds to cutely jump over him, play around, get pushed back and complain and then just lay on top of him with his butt facing the door. Excuse me while I melt in cuteness..my VMIN heart... ❤️

Only to literally do a 180 and LAUGH my ass off when Hobi walks in, sees them there and just goes NOPE.. walking out 😂

Apparently 2seok have decided on their meal plan and the ever so helpful ray of sunshine seems at a loss on how to set the charcoal on fire, note that he could have asked Jin but he heads to Yoongi for help (Bring in some SOPE love :)). Either way here I was hoping Yoongi would just chill and it seemed like that was the plan until he saw Hobi’s lostness and eagerness to help so he decides to step up again and help out. It’s kinda evident he didnt plan to when he goes “Oh ok” after being told what they plan to eat but proceeds to jump in at Hobi’s lostness in terms of making a fire. Cute. 

Cue back to Hobi disturbing the soulmates and whatever little cute slaps Tae was giving Jimin to probably wake up to ask him to fetch the torch because hes finally done running between the houses like last episode lol. The ever obedient Tae obliges immediately, Jimin remains in bed. 

Were back at the main house and maybe not every caught on but its ADORABLE how Joon goes out with the plan to play with the boat like Tae but leaves it abandoned to see where all the other members are. Note, he is for some reason limping all of a sudden and I think it may have to do with why he left early for personal reasons, I hope he was ok. Potential theory, could Jin slapping the boxer bag have anything to do with it? 🧐.

Anyways, even with his leg issue he literally walks around to the other house, checks on all members and ends up back at the main house sitting next to Jungkook, encouraging him as he is building a glider and then ultimately telling him he will keep him company by sitting next to him and reading a book. Even takes care of him by bringing him a drink. Awwww KookieMonster ❤️

anddd were back to the others in the upper house. 

SOPE taking the lead with building a fire..

TAEJIN figuring out the fish with Tae sporting an adorable hat and looking lost but still willing to help his hyung. Cutely Tae later makes Hobi aware on how this is his first time putting a knife on a fish and learning that a fish’s life is previous. AWWWW.. 

Its the little things that I like to point out, the members gravitate towards who they feel more in tune with. Tae to help Jin and Suga to help Hobi although the opposite would have be interesting to watch lol.

We then get Yoongi thawing out the ribs, Hobi trying to get veggies and LITERALLY pulling out the roots of a poor plant 😂, Yoongi legit pulling up a chair to read while cooking (poor thing haha), Jin crying because hes wasting the fish fillet as hes still learning, Joon adoringly looking at JK while he continues building his glider like a big brother, JK finally giving up and whining that hes gonna ask Hobi for help (HOPEKOOK cutely building a glider? yes please), JK looking over to see what Joon is reading, giving up again and ultimately moving out with Joon looking up like “You leaving me?” and then looking at the camera LOL. 

The 3 cooks up in the upper house are busy in their own thing when Jin asks for the location of the wrapper with SOPE rapping in return making a joke about them being the “rappers” haha. 

Back at the main house Taekook are cooking together. It makes me laugh at the difference between the hyungs cooking above. For starters, JK is cooking sausage for some time but I legit wanna teleport myself over there to tell him “Hey, cut it in pieces, you are burning the bottom of it but the inside is still raw” 😂... thankfully he does that eventually.... Meanwhile little sweet Tae is getting fancy on us and bringing his wine habits into the mix making an appetizer and struggling to open the Jamon packet even though (as the camera clearly zooms in on) the scissors are right next to him...These two are funny. 

Finally someone acknowledges that Jimin is still alive somewhere LOL and its none other than Yoongi who says it out loud in the kitchen then passes by his room but instead of waking him up just cheers him on then walks away haha (YOONMIN ❤️)

However that lasts for about 2 seconds before Yoongi comes back and ask Jimin to gather the others from the other house for lunch as the other members are busy and Jimin listens obediently by rolling over and calling Joon and with a hoarse voice letting him know Yoongi’s instructions. Poor Jimin, he sounds unwell 🥺. Joon goes to gather the younglings, Tae makes it up and decides to decorate the cheese with a red umbrella only to look dissatisfied and make it a blue one lol. They then have some random cuts of moments because JK’s sausages appear on the table but we never see him walk up and then he magically walks out the house but dont show any of that.. hmmmm. I’ll leave my thoughts at that since some people might understand what im alluding to :). 

Yoongi is taking out the ribs and accidentally drops a piece and we get the following reactions;

Yoongi: little scream 😱

Joon: Just use the 3 second rule 🙂

JK: Just wash it and then recoat it with more sauce and that should fix it 😄

To which Yoongi can only look slightly flabbergasted at the suggestion and throws it back “Do you wanna eat them?” hahaha

They all finally gather at the table including Jimin and I see that both him and Joon look a little off, I hope they got better soon after but for sure they seemed sick. Jin sweetly talks about always wanting to make the dish he prepared and how complicated it is and refers to it being a hard dish to make for a Family (the BTS bond is one of a kind). All the members admire the sampling of food, Jimin calls out the cuteness of Tae’s umbrella on the cheese, JK helps Jimin break the ribs apart, Tae tells everyone to try his appetizer, the member’s cutely all aww and ohh when they find out he cut the melon 💜, everyone but JK and Tae seem to know the dish, Hobi and Jimin cue to immediately try it for their friend so he doesnt feel left out, after trying it he cutely asks Jimin how it tastes and waits for his response, another awww, soulmate responds with its diff (which probably isnt his taste but eats it anyway for him ) lol and it zooms out with someone asking (sounds like Jin?) what they will have for dinner to have another member whom I cant tell reply LETS STARVE.  These clowns 😂but I get it, it took like hours to cook each meal.

They get ready to clean and apparently prep something for dinner with Joon washing the dishes and eventually asking Jk for help who is busy cooking rice eventually summoning Jimin who heard his name with Jk cutely smacking his butt to tell him Joon called him to then Jimin telling Joon not to worry and he will take over ( I reread this whole sentence and ran out of breath haha but then again im not here for proper grammer.. oopps). This leads us to a sweet domestic Jikook moment where he asks JK to help him dry the dishes and the other obliges and they just fall in routine.. just cute.

Joon heads back to the main house to pack and I honestly think he probably was heading for a doctor check up, he just seemed out of it 🥺

Jimin gets done with the dishes and ends up next to Tae as the soulmates cutely discuss the game he is playing and Tae announces his kills and loses.

Jimin is then next to Hobi in the other house who is getting ready to customize his shoes, he asks Jimin to join but he doesnt seem enthusiastic to the idea so Hobi just goes “I’ll just do what I like” and to me sounding a little sad since this isnt the first time hes asked Jimin to do an activity with him lol. Before walking away Jimin starts singing a song about it. Yoonjin are back again as buddies down the lake fishing and we get a sweet after interview of Yoongi admitting he is not interested in fishing but he does it because Jin invites him. You KNOW you only do those kind of things for your closest friends or family and that was sooo sweet. YOONJIN goals!

Back at the house we see that Jimin ultimately decided to join Hobi and we get cute JIHOPE moments. Im glad because I honestly got the vide since the beginning of in the soop that he wanted to spend more time with Jimin and hadnt had the chance. They both decorate a shoe each and are careful not to splatter on each other. I also spy with my little eyes... an Iphone?? tsk tsk tsk.. all the others are at least trying and Jimin is like nope hahahaha. If that was indeed a samsung then my bad.

Next thing we know JK and Jimin are harmonizing and sounded just beautiful, can we get another subunit please? I know they did Who and We dont talk anymore but a legit korean song.. anyone? Ok.. moving on haha

Now here is a group I havent seen hang out together often, I  know yoongi mostly keeps to himself but I was wondering if we would see any interactions longer than just passing food or related to meal prep between Yoongi and JK/Tae but here we are, the 2 kiddos singing and the hyung just watching on. Yay..

We later see Jimin revealing his excitement over the art project and im glad he enjoyed doing that with Hobi.

Hilariously enough, not long after, while deep into another song, Yoongi tells Jk that he needs to get out to pack. Jk’s reaction? Proceed to continue singing and kinda ignores hahaha. Cue to the camera angle still showing JK doing his thing and an exasperated looking parent *aka yoongi* just staring at him like 😐

They all head to pack their belongings and we fast forward to them playing games in the upper house. While Jimin is packing he walks out and asks to no one in particular where his hanbok piece is, then sees Jk playing in with the VR and proceeds to go up to tickle him cutely (domestic much? 🥰). This is ironically followed up by mischievous Tae wanting in on the fun by standing up from his spot and moving behind JK and after what seems like thinking it over, carefully tugs his pants down but not with the intention to actually pull them. JK laughs at this and goes “You shouldnt do that” hahaha. Which begs the question, did he know who tried to pull a fast one on him? LOL  

Everyone is back to their usual roles, the 3 cooks prepping the dinner, the maknae line just doing their thing between JK still in the VR game and Vmin cutely playing games in the corner. Yoongi seems like he NEVER rests, poor thing. He sees them prepping the ramen and suggest they add meat and ends up cooking meat. He is such a DAD and im all for it. While all this is happening there is a whole ruckus in the background and we hear the maknae line having a blast but only get a short glimpse of what is happening when the camera is still on the cooks. Apparently Jimin is now on the VR game and Jk decides to mess with him by taking a controller away and putting it behind his back, as Jimin tries to reach out to find it somehow, mischievous Tae is back at it and steals the other and moves it all the way to the other side presumably above the food shelf LMAO. I gather from the way that Jimin reaches UP and not straight out when reaching towards JK and the controller that this is DEF not the first time this has happened and when it has JK played the “I am taller and you cant reach this” stance, so of course Jimin’s instinct is to reach above his head hahaha.

They finally get down to eat and they all run to the table, I spook a cute Jikook moment of JM sitting next to JK and pulling the chair up leaving little room LOL, then Hobi still needs help so Jimin proceeds to go in to help with JK not far behind and a cute JiHopeKook hug alongside a Jikook sweet moment (I see that waist caress there JK 👀🥰😂😏) and they all make it back to the table with their meals ready. Tae makes sure to remind Jimin there is also meat for him to grab. Aww, ive lost count of the times that these two have been looking out for the other and its just so subtle but sweet af. 

Its time to finally go homeeeee. They all decide on who’s going in what car and then suddenly Jin remembers to check his fishing rod. 

Now... you may be wondering why I called this Hobi’s revenge. Well well well.. I want to say that slowly, Hobi decided to butter Jin up by hanging out all day long to eventually go full betrayal mode muahahaha. I kid I kid. But as life turns out, Hobi was presented with an opportunity to return the favor of Jin’s BV4 master plan to abandon him in New Zealand. Well well well... how the tables have turned. He tells his plans to the other nearby and they immediately agree 😂. Cue to a total pandemonium... Hobi rushing them in, Yoongi slowly walking to his car because of course he aint gonna run, Jimin trying to drag his suitcase, Tae running from the house in a cute manner probably going hehehehehe as he hears the plan, Jungkook walking up to them with no idea whats going on, having like 1 second to understand it, and then immediately running unsure of what to do until Jimin goes “Help me load this in!”. 

Jin finally approaches and they get in in time and start driving off. Jin finally goes heyyyyyyyy and cant believe what is happening, shouts out Yoongi, like you cant do this to me LOLOL. You can see Yongi’s big ass smile through the windshield which is even funnier. For a second he stops and it seems like Yoongi decides to have mercy on him, even open the door for him to stick his suitcase in. Hobi, Jungkook and Jimin seem to believe it as they are seen walking back up away from the car guessing the plan is a no go. That is until Yoongi goes full AGUST D and says “Who's the king, who's the boss?”... JK but lets just pretends he says that 😂, and literally does start driving off. Jihopekook see this and run their asses back to the car like little kids and laughing all cute as can be HEHEHEHEHE and they end up leaving Jin there LOL. Revenge is a dish best served cold and you just got served Jinnie.

Legend says Hobi slept well that night. 

The end. 

Hope you had fun reading this long post, probably will never do another since it took forever but I had fun making these gifs and pics and typing in my 2 cents hahaha. Borahae everyone 💜

[innenofutari]

On Goro Akechi’s morals and forgiveness (character analysis, but also just a very rambly post)

Akechi is… a very interesting character, I have no doubt about this. Also my favorite of course, if you hadn’t figured that out yet by this giant text you’re about to read (sorry). I have a lot I want to talk about in regards to him since he is so intriguing and we actually don’t have that much info about how his thought process works so it leaves a lot of room for speculation.

In any case, in this meta in specific I’m going to be talking about Akechi’s...morality(?), forgiveness and his relationship with regret. I’m not sure if that’s the best word to define this but I’ll roll with it for now. I’ll try to be fair and talk about things as I personally see them, it’s totally fine if you don’t share my views! Now, onto the actual meta.

Starting off, as people are obviously aware, Akechi is a morally gray character, a darker shade of, but he’s a sympathetic and tragic character nonetheless. That much is undeniable, he was written to be sympathetic, even if I’d argue Atlus did a pretty poor job of it in Vanilla (he was still my favorite ever since then though lol) but he’s reached his true potential in Royal, which makes me immensely happy to see. I get so unbelievably happy whenever I see people saying Royal changed their perception of him and started to like him more! But even then, there are a lot of people who just can’t forgive him for what he did, and that’s only natural. I personally think that, if you don’t try to sympathize with Akechi and truly, truly try to understand his mind and history, you’re doing him a huge disservice. But, forgiveness is something that everyone is free to think and decide if he deserves it or not. In Akechi’s case, I feel like forgiveness is something much more personal to the player, and this shows between the Phantom Thieves too.

There is a visual novel I hold very close to my heart called Umineko no Naku Koro Ni (which I’ll be quoting relentlessly throughout this entire post) that illustrates what I think better than I could put into words, so I’ll be quoting that scene with a few tweaks for better context:

“You said you understood the culprit’s motive.”

“...Yes.”

“Is that motive… a satisfying explanation for why they’d [commit murder]?!”

“Who knows. That’s for you to decide. Even if I say it’s satisfying, that doesn’t mean it will satisfy you. …You have to decide that for yourself.”

I really like this. It reminds me a lot of Akechi’s situation. I firmly believe that this has no “objective”, “most correct” answer to, just your personal feelings, which are the most important. I, as a player, do forgive Akechi, I want him to have a happy ending, another chance at life, manage to live happily with Akira and have some fun for once. That’s what “forgiveness” means to me in this situation, but while some people may empathize with Akechi, they still can’t forgive him. They think he should stay forever in jail or die since he cannot be redeemed in any way in their eyes. Where do I wanna go with this endless blabbering you ask, and I respond, I just want to try and see Akechi’s actions through two different lenses.

Well, I personally don’t like downplaying the crimes he committed and dumbing it down to “he was being manipulated” because, even if this is not false, it is not entirely correct either. Akechi is so fun to speculate about because he’s a character who is always clashing against himself in various ways as if he was in a constant state of internal turmoil, and this is not very different.

Akechi himself made the choice to go to Shido. It is extremely unlikely that he didn’t know he was going to be using his new powers for murder. He may have been very young, but despite the fact that he was a child forced to mature prematurely, he knew exactly which type of person Shido was. When he walked into that deal he was aware of the consequences and had fully made peace with the fact that he’d be taking another person’s life. Now, I’m not saying that Shido never manipulated him because he did, but not with that particular choice. 

This alone tells plenty about Akechi’s morals. I believe that Akechi indeed has some level of empathy for other people, but I sincerely doubt he feels especially bad about the Okumura-like people he had to kill. He might feel bad for the family of the victims or just feel nauseated with himself, however, he doesn’t regret a thing. As if he had grown numb to it. ...Until a certain point, that is, but I’ll talk about that later.

I would also like to elaborate further on Akechi’s continuous conflict with himself, and this particular piece of Maruki’s confidant immediately reminded me of this:

He’s talking about Akira here, but isn’t it interesting to note that Akechi’s internalized and externalized realities are, in contrast to Akira’s, the farthest they could possibly be from each other? His sense of justice, childlike desire to be loved and seen as a hero, in contrast to the cold-blooded murderer he had become? It’s like there are two people fighting it out inside of Akechi’s brain (lol) which must cause him a lot of distress. I don’t believe that Robin Hood is a ruse or that his Detective Prince façade is entirely fake. The way I see it, they are his ideal, which he strayed so far away from he lost grasp of who he himself is.

In my opinion, Akechi has never cared about fame the slightest bit, he used all of that as an opportunity to act out the person he wished he was, just and virtuous, while still being the feral murderer and bloodstained person he is today. These are two integral parts of him that he has never known how to reconcile. It’s interesting to note that in the third semester he was the one who since the beginning advocated firmly to return to the harsh reality but he had spent the entire game living in the comforting “detective prince” dream he made for himself until the engine room scene happened. 

With the third semester context, the engine room becomes so interesting because that scene is akin to Sumire finding out she’s not Kasumi. It’s a cold bucket of water thrown straight to Akechi’s face and telling him to wake up from this lie he made to comfort himself and face reality: he is no hero. Despite the fact that he is, too, a victim, he is simultaneously a murderer who perpetuated with the cycle of his father’s aggressions and he cannot escape that fact. Worse, he was being manipulated all along and his revenge plan and arguably his only reason to live AND justification for his actions was completely crushed.

Once again, this Umineko scene illustrates what I think Akechi’s situation up until that point was like:

Akechi rationalized every awful, inexcusable thing he did as, “It’s for my revenge’s sake” and ran with it. He was incredibly blinded by his hate and ignored the weight of the consequences of his actions up until that point where everything came crashing down right in front of his eyes. There is no excuse and no justification for that.

However, Akechi was also abused himself. There is no excuse for what he did, but is getting back at the person who took everything from him so reprehensible a thought? Is wanting justice against someone who essentially ruined your life not understandable? Many people like to say “cool motive still murder” or things of the like, but I’m asking you again to put yourself in his shoes.

Yet AGAIN with a Umineko screencap:

I played this the other day and one of the first things I thought of was Akechi. A lot of people draw parallels between Akechi and Adachi, but that’s just so damn wrong and make me lose my hair so much and become completely bald because that couldn’t be farther from the truth and I’m gently asking you to reconsider. In the pic above, Adachi would fit the “homicidal maniac” mentioned to a T, and while Akechi is by absolutely no means free of guilt and much less a stellar person, his crimes were moved completely by his heart. 

For the people who use his choice to become Shido’s hitman to say Akechi does not deserve any kind of forgiveness and that he’s a murderous maniac, I ask you to at least think of what state of mind he was at that moment. Think very hard about it, imagine how completely bleak life must have looked like then, to the point that he risked everything on murder.

This is nothing more than my speculation, but I believe Akechi’s thought process at that moment was something along the lines of, “I have nothing to lose since my (current) life is completely meaningless". It was as if he had reached such a numb state he chose to forgo all his morals and humanity in pursuit of at least one thing that would give his life meaning, that being his hate for Shido, which I also think was the only emotion he ever truly understood well ever since his mom passed.

Since Akechi is all about conflicting emotions though, I would also like to remind you how vulnerable Akechi really is to any kind of affection. His “childlikeness” that Robin Hood represents was, by all accounts, still there. Akechi has a desperate need to be loved while simultaneously putting up walls and wearing masks, making it extremely difficult to have any kind of meaningful relationship. This is something that Shido thoroughly takes advantage of, too.

That’s also why one of his lines to Akira hit so much harder for me, following this reasoning. “If only we had met a few years earlier,” expresses many emotions at once. If Akechi had known something other than misery and hatred during that period of his life he would not have latched so thoroughly to that revenge plan. Akechi simply had nothing to lose, since he had nothing at all.

I mentioned earlier that Akechi doesn’t regret a thing, which I still think it’s true. Before he had met Akira, he truly did not regret a thing, but meeting Akira caused him a lot of strife because not only Akira is a person whose whole existence flaunts everything Akechi could have had if he hadn’t fallen into fate’s trap, but Akechi also experiences happiness through his connection with Akira. Hanging out and talking to him truly makes him happy, and it’s something more genuine than he’s ever known. Yet, it’s too late, because his choices were already set in stone and he had already pulled the trigger with no way to take any of the bullets back.

That’s why Akechi is so confusing, so controversial and sometimes uncomfortable to think about. There is no clear line between good or bad, he just is something in the middle. Akechi is both a person who ruined a lot of people’s lives with no regard whatsoever to the consequences but also a victim rebelling and retaliating against the person who took everything from him and made his life a living hell. That’s why it’s so hard for not only some players to form opinions about him but also downright uncomfortable for the Phantom Thieves to think about. There is no objectively best answer for what he deserves. It just doesn’t exist. Should he spend the rest of his life in jail, or dead, because his crimes were inexcusable? Or should he be given another chance at life to learn to be happy? It’s entirely subjective, and that’s why he’s so great to think or discuss about. 

Aaand that’s it, I’m grateful you read so far, hope I didn’t piss anyone off, also not gonna pretend this wasn’t very self indulgent because of the amount of times I quoted Umineko in it. Anyways, thank you!

SIDE NOTE: I didn’t write this recently, it had been sitting on my drafts for some months now and I found it again today and decided to just release it into the wild because why not? I think this was meant to be much longer than it is and to elaborate more eloquently on a lot of points I brought up (like the PT with Akechi) but alas, I lost the train of thought and so it Perished.

[stusbunker]

What Lingers Within: One

A Supernatural Fan-fiction Mini Series

Featuring: Dean Winchester x Reader

Written for: @thisismysecrethappyplace

Prompt: Amnesia

Word Count: 1615 (This was originally a drabble)

AMAZING BETA’ing by: @itmighthavebeenintentional​

Lovely aesthetic and beta’ing by: @thoughtslikeaminefield​

Summary: Reader witnesses the impossible and is thrust into the world of monsters. Unbeknownst to her, Dean has to face the consequences of old choices. Set in season eleven.

Warnings: Trauma as a witness to a show level violent case. Angst.

^*^*^

               All sound morphed into a dense absence, mere gentle rumbles around you as your thoughts spilled over the terror of the last two hours. It was over; you were safe. But that didn’t matter, because your body and mind were still processing, and the weight of the memories fought against your every rational belief. 

               Vampires were real. Stephenie Meyer was fucking right. Well, almost right; daylight barely affected them. The image of Chase, your co-worker, slumped beside the dumpster was peaceful compared to the sight of the monsters as they tore into the girl from the sandwich shop who had stepped out for a quick vape break.

               Somehow you dropped the trash and made it back inside. Sputtering it all out when Katelyn insisted you show her what you were talking about. The cops got called and that was when the real shit hit the fan. 

              They barked at you, patronizing and full of disbelief. Of course, you knew how it sounded, but the bodies told no lies. No one knew what to say to you and so they said nothing. 

              With the rest of the day’s work left for some untouchable future, you got yourself home in a fog. Suddenly trapped in a perpetual state of in-between, you crawled into bed, fully clothed and let the darkness claim you.

^*^*^

               “‘What seemed like a Halloween prank call quickly became a horrific afternoon on the Westside yesterday. Two victims found on the scene were drained of blood and covered in what could only be bite wounds. Police admit to increased drug activity in the area, but’---- yeah, they aren’t going to call it what it is. So, you wanna take it?” Sam called over his shoulder.

               “Vamps with a death wish? Hell yeah,” Dean agreed, leaning over to look at the laptop screen.

               They were on the road in less than an hour, the Impala rumbling east as Sam delved deeper. One name popped up in every report under witness, sinking his stomach. It could have been worse; it could have been in the victim box. Though he had sworn to never speak of her again, Dean needed to know what they were walking into.

               “You know maybe we should just pass on this one,” Sam offered awkwardly.

               Dean recoiled and gave Sam the side eye. “You find something else? I mean, they’re not usually this obvious, but these vamps are dropping bodies, Sam.”

               “Yeah, I know, it’s just--- look, I should’ve read more before we got on the road. But now that I have, I’m not sure this is the right case for--- you.” Sam was digging himself deeper the longer he talked.

               Dean’s eyebrows hitched. “You wanna try that again?”

               “It’s just, the only eye-witness is somebody we know, Dean,” Sam sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

               “So--- who is it?” Dean tore his eyes from the road completely.

               Sam pursed his lips and glared at his brother. It took Dean longer to piece together than Sam thought it would, but it had been four years. With everything that Dean had been through the past few years, it shouldn’t have surprised Sam.

               “You promised,” Dean swallowed the rest of the accusation.

               “I know. I didn’t---,” Sam was cut short.

               “Yeah? Well...” Dean trailed off. With a dejected sigh, he rubbed the back of his fingers over his three-day-old stubble. “At least it isn’t an Amara thing she got dragged into.”

               Sam paused over the silver lining, noting how the engine grumbled under Dean’s heavy boot.

^*^*^

               Waking to heavy knocks on your apartment door, you resurfaced. 

               The strain from the day before faded with groggy waking actions. As you scanned your room for the time, you realized you had slept straight through into the next day. You pointedly ignored your phone; work could wait. You straightened your shirt and stumbled down the short hallway, trying to guess who could be on the other side of the door. Looking through the peephole, you were at a loss. 

              Two guys in suits stood outside. Suddenly nervous you did something wrong, you called out. “Who is it?”

               “FBI, Ms. We have some follow up questions from the incident yesterday,” the one with long hair replied. His voice was soothing, so much more so than the police at the scene. 

               The horror flooded back into your mind and you put your weight onto the doorknob to steady yourself. Your eyes closed against the onslaught. You shook your head against the rush of warmth, and took a deep breath as you pulled the door open.

               The two agents bowed their heads slightly, IDs open and eyes almost apologetic as you put on your best listening face. The scruffy one lingered in the doorway when you gestured them inside. They seemed to have a silent conversation behind your back, and you tried not to read into it, playing with your bedhead as you decided to make a pot of coffee. 

All cops liked coffee, didn’t they?

               “Nice place,” Agent Colfax, the long-haired one, complimented.

               “Thanks, I’ve only been here a few months, but I like it,” you replied, leading them to the small table in the kitchen. 

                They seemed to dwarf your minimal furniture, filling a space that you generally ignored. You remained standing as they asked their questions. Not once did they belittle you or what you saw. Despite their bulk you felt at ease, free to answer honestly. They assured you they were trained to handle this type of assailant. They didn’t confirm or deny your assumptions.

               “I think that’s all our questions for now,” Agent Colfax looked to his partner. “Unless you have anything to add, Agent Berkman?”

               The scruffy one cleared his throat; it wasn’t until then you realized that he hadn’t spoken the entire time. “You said you moved here a few months ago? Any particular reason?”

               His voice was like crunching leaves, rich and satisfying in its resonance. Confused by the change in subject you looked to the ceiling for clarity. “Honestly? I had a pretty bad break up and I guess I needed someplace I could make my own.”

               He swallowed. “Sorry to hear that.” 

               He gave you a reassuring smile, but it fell flat. That was until his green eyes held on to yours, almost like he was searching for something. They were bright and attentive, nearly hypnotic. You felt a warmth spread over your cheeks and down your neck, but it wasn’t from embarrassment; it was welcome comfort after everything you had just re-lived. You felt intensely safe.

               “Right--- thank you for your time,” Agent Colfax interrupted, breaking through what could only be described as a staring match. 

                You blushed, pulling yourself out of the trance. You showed the agents out and decidedly locked and deadbolted the door.

^*^*^

               Dean was trying to hide the way his hands were shaking as he opened the driver’s side door. Sam was watching him with something between annoyance and pity, but Dean wasn’t up for the commentary. Seeing her again after so long was like having bricks stacked in his gut while every thought in his head evaporated.

               On the way to the medical examiner’s office, Sam broke the silence. “She seems good.”

               Dean glared.

               “Other than seeing people being killed by vampires, I mean,” Sam finished.

               “Because we just left her place, I’m giving you a pass, Sammy. But mention her again and I will break your fucking nose,” Dean hissed.

               “Whoa, hey! I’m just saying she’s safe in a quiet, normal life, Dean. Isn’t that what you wanted? When you had Cas...?” Sam pressed.

               Dean hit the steering wheel. “I don’t know what I wanted, but it wasn’t this!” Dean’s eyes left the road and speared Sam to the spot.

“I wanted her out of this stuff, man. Not half-broken and alone in a new city crawling with vamps who don’t even play by the rules.”

               “So, we take care of it,” Sam eased off, head tilted and brow imploring. “She’ll be fine, Dean.”

               Dean dragged his hand down his lips. “Yeah, she better be.”

               They sat in silence the rest of the trip, rush hour slowing them down. By the time they scoped out the bodies it was dark. Working a perimeter from the crime scene slowly gave them the location of the nest, an abandoned subway station accessible through a crumbling sewer maintenance shaft. The vampires stood no chance against a revenge-fueled Dean Winchester. Sam agreed to leave the bodies, five in all, as an underground fire would cause an immediate investigation. Who knew when the skeletons would be discovered anyway.

               By the time they got back to their motel, it was too late to buy beer, which gave Dean the excuse to head out for a drink. After showering Dean suggested the hole-in-the-wall down the block. Sam reluctantly let his brother head out alone, claiming he was just going to call it a night. 

               Dean drove right past the bar and Sam watched him do it. They both knew where he was going, it was a practiced dance; build a wall but ignore the window.

               Dean sat in the Impala and stared at her apartment, he even laughed at himself for a spell. He watched the colors from her flat screen shine against the violet night, morphed by the floor length curtains. 

               She always liked a space to have a lot of natural light; she would’ve hated the bunker. That didn’t matter now. She was home safe. But being Dean, he needed to double check. 

               Flask in hand, Dean continued to pine for her the remainder of the night, lost in memories of a time when they were almost happy.

^*^*^

Tags: @flamencodiva​ @dolphincliffs​  @dontshootmespence​ @thoughtslikeaminefield​  @fangirlxwritesx67 @dawnie1988​ @mrswhozeewhatsis​ @cosicas-cuquis​ @foxyjwls007​ @tumbler-tidbits​ @defenderrosetyler​ @ericaprice2008​ @princessofthefandomrealm​ @wingedcatninja​​

^*^*^

Read On: Chapter Two

[hunter-the-sad-skeleton]

“Award Ceremony: AKA; Old Director’s Revenge.”

Hunter smiled, sitting in the darkness by a table, under a lone spotlight-the only one she had ever been in in her life-and folded her hands in her lap patiently. “Come on, buddy! I’ve done a lot for ya, ya can spare one eensy weensy, tiny winy, miniscule timepiece, right?” Hunter asked, voice slowly slipping into insanity. Hatkid shook her head no.

“I need them to get home, Miss Burkes. If ya don’t mind, I need that timepiece now and I’ll be outta your-” Hatkid started.

“Oh? Truly? After everything I’ve done-Everything I’ve given you despite what LITTLE my section of this studio has to offer-you can’t part with one timepiece depsite already having-what, 15?! Sorry, buddy, But if ya want it back, I’ll have to be COLD AND LIFELESS ON THE FLOOR, CAUSE I SURE AS PECK AM NOT HANDING OVER THE ONE THING THAT COULD SALVAGE MY CAREER. JOEY, TIME FOR PLAN B!!!!!” Hunter snapped, eyes almost looking like kaleidoscopes.

“B-But you said that was in case of emer-” Joey started.

“PLAN B, NOW!!!!!!!” Hunter yelled.

“But-” Joey started.

“FINE!!!! I’LL DO IT MYSELF!!!! WHY ARE ALL CROWS SO PECKING USELESS?!?!?” Hunter snapped, shutting the lights off once again, eventually being replaced by a singular bright light alternating between blue and red.

“A-A-A-A b-b-b-bomb?!?” Hatkid yelped.

“RECOGNISE THIS LIL’ BOMB~? I, *HEHE* ‘BORROWED’ IT FROM THE CONDUCTOR’S SET~!! THIS TIME THOUGH, IT’S ATTACHED TO YOU INSTEAD OF HIS WORTHLESS TRAIN~!! IT’S GONNA BLOW IN A FEW MINUTES, SO YA BETTER HURRY AND EITHER USE ONE OF YOUR BELOVED TIMEPIECES TO REWIND BEFORE THE BOMB WAS WIRED AND AGREE TO LET ME KEEP THE TIMEPIECE OR FIND A WAY TO DEFUSE THE BOMB~!! YOUR CHOICE, ‘LASS’~!!!!” Hunter cackled.

The Conductor peeked out of one of the sides at the arena. “Hunter?!? What’s The Meaning Of This?!?” he snapped.

“CROWS, KEEP ‘EM AT BAY WHILE I HANDLE THE KID!!!!!” Hunter ordered, eyes still rippling with anger and emotion.

Grooves peeked out the other side of the arena, shocked at the events occuring before him. “Hunter, darlin’, I’m sure we can talk this out if ya would just calm dow-” Grooves started.

“SHOVE IT, TUNA BREATH!!!!!!!” Hunter snapped.

“LASS!!!! THAT IS NAE HOW WE-” The Conductor started.

“SHOVE IT, DI!!!!!!” Hunter yelled.

The Conductor’s heart stopped for a moment. “Conductor darlin’, get your head in the game! We need to help the little darlin’ out!!!” Grooves called.

“Aye, but how...?!?” The Conductor called back halfheartedly. Grooves tilted his head in concern.

“Darlin’, are you okay...?” Grooves called.

The Conductor shook his head. “Aye, ‘M fine. Yer on figuring out how to apprehend Hunter and I’ll find a defuser for the bomb.” The Conductor said.

(Timeskip a bit!)

Hunter hopped back onstage as Hatkid fell to one knee, catching her breath. “Awww, what’s wrong, ‘Darling’~? Ya can outrun a train set to explode, but ya can’t outrun a crow whose growth was stunted~? How sad can ya get~?” Hunter taunted.

“NOW, CONDUCTOR, DARLIN’!!!” Grooves ordered. Hunter yelped in surprise as The Conductor hopped over the side, rolling into the arena and over to Hatkid, defusing the bomb with ease.

“YOU LITTLE PECKNECK!!!” Hunter growled. As Hunter was about to run at The Conductor, two flippers grabbed under her arms, holding her back. “HEY!!! WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA?!?” Hunter snapped.

“Not this time, darlin’!!!” Grooves said, holding her back. Hunter flailed her legs around in an attempt to get lose, but it wasn’t working.

“Lass-” The Conductor started, but Hunter didn’t make any motion or anything to show she was listening. “Lass-” He started over, still the same result. “HUNTER PLATINUM BURKES, STOP YER SQUIRMING THIS INSTANT BEFORE I BREAK YER LEGS SO THAT YE DO!!!!!!” The Conductor yelled, voice echoing slightly. Hunter stopped at the voice raise, having heard him raise his voice before, but never to THAT level.

“Yes sir.” Hunter squeaked.

“Good. Cause I wouldae, had yer not stopped.” The Conductor snapped. He squatted down to her height, scowl clear as day on his face, despite the lack of eyes. “Now then; START. TALKING. NOW.” The Conductor growled.

“How much do I need to dumb it down?” Hunter scoffed, rolling her eyes. Hunter yelped as The Conductor grabbed her chin roughly, forcing her to make eye contact despite not having eyes.

“LASS, DONNAE PUSH ME BUTTONS. THIS IS SERIOUS. YE ALMOST MURDERED A CHILD. THAT COULD GET YER IN LEGAL TROUBLE.” The Conductor growled.

“Like YOU TWO are any better.” Hunter scoffed.

“LASS-” The Conductor started.

“What does she mean?” Hatkid asked, confused.

“Oh, that’s right!! They never told ANYONE HOW I split UP FROM THEM!!” Hunter said, faking cheerfulness.

“Lass, that was years ago, we’ve apologized for it multiple ti-” The Conductor started.

“YOU GAVE NO WARNING, CONNIE!!!!!! AT LEAST GROOVES WAS GONNA PUT IT NICELY!!!!!! BUT NO, YA HAD TO BE A HUGE PECKNECK ABOUT IT AND NOT SOFTEN THE BLOW WHATSOEVER!!!!!” Hunter barked.

“What does she mean?” Hatkid asked, worried.

“Lass, it doesnae mat-” The Conductor started.

“They cast ya in REBOOTS, kid~!!” Hunter butted in.

Hatkid’s thoughts went spiraling. “What...?” Hatkid gasped. Hunter giggled, sounding more unhinged than joyful.

“Yes sir-ee~!!! I helped them out with the originals, but then I got my own studio, so I got kicked from them in fear of-what were your words again, Conductor~?” Hunter taunted. The Conductor’s gaze fell to the floor. “Oh yeah~!!!! ‘we donnae want yer to be stealin any of our story ideas lass, so yer getting removed from our projects’~!!!!!!!!” Hunter grinned maliciously.

“Darlin’, me and The Conductor here have grown past that-besides, the darlin’ there did as fine a job you did, maybe even better!” Grooves grinned.

“Ooooooh, so I wasn’t good enough?!” Hunter barked. Grooves frowned.

“Ya know that’s NOT what I meant, darlin’.” Grooves scolded.

“Oh really?” Hunter growled.

“Lass, that’s-” The Conductor started.

“I’m sure the only reason that your movies got such a high rating was because penguin representation is so low nowadays that penguins were happy to see themselves in the entertainment that they enjoy~!!” Hunter mocked.

“Lass-” The Conductor repeated.

“Peck, I bet that if ya didn’t take the ‘little darlin’ ‘s debt away, she wouldn’t have helped ya to begin with~!!” Hunter teased. Grooves frowned slightly.

“Lass-” The Conductor growled.

“I’m sure she only helped ya outta pity~!!!” Hunter sneered.

“LASS, THAT IS QUITE ENOUGH FROM YOU!!!!!!” The Conductor snapped. Hunter frowned. 

“It’s the truth and ya know it, Con.” Hunter grumbled.

“What HAPPENED to ye, lass?! Ye used to be so kind, caring, upbeat-even yer colours were brighter...! What happened...?” The Conductor asked.

“What happened...? What HAPPENED? What HAPPENED?!?!? MAYBE WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT AFTER TAKING CARE OF MY FAMILY SINCE I WAS SIX, I WAS LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO BE PROUD OF ME!!!!!! GROOVES WAS EASY TO PLEASE, BUT YOU-THE ONE PERSON I HAD THAT WAS CLOSE TO A FATHER FIGURE-I COULD NEVER MAKE YOU PROUD OF ME, NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRIED!!!!” Hunter barked. “I JUST wanted to amount to something, and I did, for a few months, but then ya went and ripped it away from me....! It DEMOLISHED my mental state, but therapy never helped. I always thought it was my fault-that I did something out of line-but soon enough, I realized that I wasn’t to blame, but it was you two. So I held a grudge...And that all was kept bottled up until...well, now...” Hunter explained.

“Ye...wanted me to be proud of ye...?” The Conductor gasped.

“Stupid, I know...” Hunter scowled.

“Wait, you never had parents?” Hatkid asked sadly.

“No, all I had were lumps of feathers that were poor excuses for parents. Like, yeah, they’d do stuff to keep me alive ‘n’ stuff, but only the bare minimum.” Hunter scoffed. Hunter chuckled darkly. “At least I kept the Hookshot I got from Train rush...!” Hunter chuckled sadly. The Conductor’s heart stopped.

“Lass, ye didn’t-” The Conductor started.

“I did....! It didn’t work though...Darn low ceilings...” Hunter chuffed. The Conductor nodded at Grooves and he put Hunter down gently.

“I trust ye not to do anything dumb.” The Conductor said, kneeling down to her height. “Donnae break that trust.” He warned. He pulled her into a hug, patting her on the back.

as The Conductor got up, Hunter got up, pulling out a knife. “CONDUCTOR, LOOK-” Grooves started before getting interrupted by an electric zap sound. Hunter dropped onto the floor, out cold.

“Sorry I had to do that, Lass. Sometimes, ye cannae reason yer way outta things.” The Conductor lamented.

“A zap disc...?” Hatkid asked.

“Leftover from one of me older movies; Eggtrocities up on spy tower. I kept ‘em in case I’d need ‘em in future. Wish I didnae have to use it on her, but some people just donnae wanna see reason.” The Conductor sighed.

“What’re we gonna do when she wakes up, Conductor, darlin’?” Grooves asked.

The Conductor took a deep breath. “Apologize.” He stated. “Apologize, and make it up to her.” The Conductor said.

“It’s....a little late for that, darlin’.” Grooves winced. The Conductor giggled and Hatkid smiled, recognizing it.

The Conductor pulled out a timepiece. “Is it now~? Lass, do ye mind if we~?” He asked.

“Nah! You’re all fun to be around! Besides, it’s for Hunter! She deserves better!” Hatkid beamed.

“Aye, that she does, Lass.” The Conductor smiled.

Hunter curled up into a ball, snoozing softly.

“That she does....” The Conductor smiled softly.

[redcrossroads]

Alone Is In The Past Family Is Now

@plaidsleep I’m your secret santa for @dgmsecretsanta2k19! Your prompts were a godsend and I hope you’ll enjoy what I wrote. I wish you a Merry Christmas and hope you’ll have fun reading this~.

Also, lots of gratitude for the wonderful team hosting this event! Happy holidays everyone!

Summary: It’s Wisely’s first Christmas with his family since reincarnating. They’re a noisy bunch of eccentrics and while he loves them he’s not a fan of enduring the Christmas party Sheryl will force them to attend. Having accepted his fate as he doesn’t find any excuses believable enough to explain his absence, he doesn’t expect Tyki to kidnap him straight out of bed first thing in the morning.

„What’s the point of this?”

Snow crunching underneath his boots Wisely makes a face when smoke is blown into his face. The smell of tabaco is sharp in his nose, his sense dialed up quite a notch due to his genes. Another sharp breeze of icy wind ruffles his hair and he mourns the loss of his scarf shielding his forehead from the cold in this weather.

“Can’t you guess, Mister Lack of Privacy?”

���I don’t need to guess.”

He huffs as he tugs his hands into his pockets. Eying the people pushing past them with thin veiled annoyance. The thoughts tumbling inside the minds of these simpletons are nothing but a headache in the making. Huddling a step closer to the Tyki in hope of distancing himself from the on slaughter of people Wisely lets his lips curl into a smirk as he glances up at the man busy sucking smoke into his lungs.

“It’s not like you’re difficult to read. Your mind is an open book to everybody willing to take a look with barely any words written on the pages.”

“Careful now. I’m not above leaving you out here to fend for yourself.”

It’s a half-hearted warning at best. But it’s one Wisely choses to heed for once. After all the trouble the man went through to get him up and dressed for the weather without anyone noticing them sneaking away for the day when Sheryl would be out for blood since they would miss the Christmas ball he’s planned is enough of a gesture of kindness to mind his manners for now.

He’s grateful for every second he’s away from all the horrid Christmas singing Road will force the family to take part in. Itchy clothing far too formal for his tastes and Sheryl insisting he’d dance with Road to represent the family while ignoring the deafening noise of the upper class and the girls making eyes at him.

Tyki could have went out without him in the first place. Which of course doesn’t mean Wisely won’t be throwing him under the buss if his adoptive father comes looking. Or worse if Road came looking for them. Shuddering at the thought of what would be another tantrum of the painful sort, he tries to block out these thoughts.

“Are you cold?”

Tyki blinks, glancing down at him with outright amusement tugging up the corners of his mouth. The cigarette hangs between his lips, burning away in the cold winter air.

“No, just thought of what Road will do when she finds out we went to the Christmas market without her.”

Wisely grins when Tyki ends up choking on an inhale of smoke, thumping him on the back. He gets a glower in return before an arm pulls him closer around the shoulders, pulling him into a headlock as Tyki rubs his knuckles viciously over his head. He yelps in protest at the rough treatment of his hair, feeling the sting of his scalp.

“Ow, ow, ow!”

“Not so funny now, is it genius?”

Tyki drawls out as he lets up with his fist. The smug grin on his pale face tinted with blotches of pink from the cold is an irritating thing to see.

“Didn’t see that coming, huh?”

“Bugger off!”

Puffing out his cheeks Wisely scowls. The arm settling loosely around his shoulders is a comfortable weight but he has half a mind to shrug it off to show his displeasure. He glares at the people daring to send them dirty looks, wishing he could melt what little amount of brain they had without attracting attention.

“Next time I’m going to blurt out your embarrassing thoughts to everybody at the dinner table. Every single one. No matter how vile or dirty they are.”

“Sure, go ahead. I’m not ashamed by pleasure.”

Tyki winks, taking out his cigarette before flicking it into the snow.

“I’ll tell Desire you love him. I wonder how he would react if I tell him how much his little brother thinks about getting his hugs—”

Tyki’s smile slips from his face. Dread in its former place. “You wouldn’t.”

“Are you sure?”

Wisely’s grin is full of teeth. Tyki shakes his head, shuddering at the thought as he steers them into another direction. They take the left turn at the cross road, the Christmas lights getting brighter as decoration fills up the streets beyond the single lights they passed.

Ribbons of red hung upon small trees lining up the sidewalk into the market place. Ornaments of golden paper hung from the branches, flickering in the bright lights of the street lamp. A large tree stood in the middle of the place with a golden star at the top and little angels of wax fastened upon the pine needles. The bustling of people marching from one booth to another made the place seem crowded. Children were laughing, running around while throwing snow as they sung off-key Christmas songs and lullabies to the wind. The smell of sweetness coming from the central is drawing people in like moths to a flame.

Tyki lights up another cigarette.

“I’d say stay close to me so you don’t get lost but I doubt I’d be able to lose you with what you’re wearing.”

Frowning as he glanced down at his outfit Wisely raised a brow.

„Got a problem?“

„No,“

Tyki makes a face, lips curling as he blows out a cloud of smoke into the air.

“As long as I don’t have to wear one. I’m all for not giving a shit about appearances but that’s where I draw a line.”

“You’re just jealous the Earl made mine with more care than yours.”

The sweater is a deep forest green, knitted by the Earl. In the middle of the chest is a replica of his demon eye in monochrome colors while small pieces of glitter were stuck onto the center. It’s warm and comfortable and it’s the first piece of clothing made for him by another person.

He wears it with pride.

“It’s hideous.” Tyki says, disgust wrinkling his nose and Wisely sticks out his tongue as they observe the people wandering about.

“It’s perfect.”

He’d never make the Earl sad by refusing to wear his gifts. The others ought to follow his example. It’s not as if the twins could look any more horrid with their makeup than they do now.

“Fine, fine.”

Flicking away ash as he draws his arm away from Wisely’s shoulder to brush his hair away from his face with his free hand, Tyki holds out his hand.

“Let’s go. We can’t stay in one place for long.”

“Really?”

Letting out a sigh Wisely narrows his eyes at the offered hand but takes it into his own nonetheless. Lean fingers curl around his own with surprising strength before their joint hands are tugged into the pocket of Tyki’s coat to keep them warm.

“I’m not a child.”

“You’re my nephew. Can’t have you running off now, can I?”

Not waiting for an answer Tyki drags him towards the masses of noisy people buzzing around not unlike a stingy wasp out for a fight. Wisely scowls as people brush past him, their shoulders nudging him to make space for themselves. Giving them the evil eye, he tries to block out the mindless noise.

“We should buy some sweets for Road.”

He offers, squinting at one of the booths selling candy. Knowing her it’d make little difference to the crime they committed in not taking her along with them but her temper tantrum of violence would be softened a bit with the peace offering. Perhaps enough bribery will get the job of distraction done and he’ll manage to make it to the Earl’s bed to hide for a nap.

“Good thinking. I knew I took you along for a reason.”

The praise falls flat in the face of teasing. Not appreciating being treated like a dog Wisely digs his nails into Tyki’s palm hidden from view and relishes in the wince the man gives.

“More like dragged me straight out of bed to kidnap me.”

He mumbles into his scarf warped around his neck instead of his head knowing a turban would attract too many stares in the streets.

People would take a second glance at that, but not at a starving child begging in the streets.

Humans really are the worst sort of sinners.

His line of thought is interrupted as Tyki rolls his eyes, tugging him to stand in line at one of the booths. The chatter around them fades into static noise as he focuses his attention on Tyki’s voice.

“By the time you managed to get your ass out of bed Sheryl would be breathing down our neck.”

“That didn’t mean you had to yell to wake me up.”

The perks of having a soundproof room for his headaches could also be a curse. Wisely’s not planning on letting go of that. As soon as the holidays are over, he’ll get revenge.

“Be thankful I didn’t pour water over your head.”

Wisely opens his mouth to reply but their conversation is cut short as they’re at the front of the line. Tyki buys a variety of sweets, from chocolates to Christmas crackers and roasted almonds and cookies.

“Do you want anything?”

“Not from here.”

The plump man behind the counter twitches at his rudeness but doesn’t comment on it as Tyki stuffs the package of sweets into his other pocket and walks off with him in tow.

Snow beings to fall and the children near them stopping in their giggling to shriek in excitement.

Wisely grimaces at the sound.

“C’mon, let me treat you to some hot chocolate.”

Tyki seems to notice his worsening mood and the beginning of the headache forming. Offering no protest Wisely finds himself holding a steaming cup of pure sweetness as the woman behind the counter of another booth coos at the apparent act of kindness.

“Is that your son?”

“Afraid not, Miss. He’s my nephew.”

Tyki sighs as he crushes the butt of his cigarette with his boot, looking like he mourns the loss of nicotine on his tongue. Wisely scowls, sullenly sipping on his drink as he watches Tyki lean against the counter to chat up the woman.

Cupping both hands around the hot cup, he buries his nose into his scarf, narrowing his eyes in impatience.

He manages another five minutes as he lets the chocolate coat his tongue and chase away the chill of winter before the high sound the woman produces with her laughter grates on his nerves and he clears his throat. The snow flakes landing inside his cup make the appeal of a hot drink tasteless.

“You’re wasting your time, uncle, not only is she married and thinking about cheating on her husband, she’s also got another guy on the side. I doubt you’d want to catch the disease she’s worrying about either.”

“Why you little—”

“Alright! That’s enough, let’s go.”

Tyki spins him around, taking his shoulders before shoving him as far from the spluttering women yelling curses their way as he can. Cup flying from his hands Wisely lets himself be pushed along a safe distance until he digs in his heels.

“You’re annoying when you’re grumpy.”

“Your flirting is tacky. You could have done that at the party as well. But you dragged me out into the cold with the promise of a good time. All I see are noisy brats.”

Tyki frowns, still holding him at the shoulders but facing him now. They ignore the curious glances from the passersby with ease. His brows furrowing as he looms close before he nods and pulls away.

“Do you have the medicine from the Earl with you?”

“No,”

Wisely whines, the throbbing of his skull not easing up with all the noise around. He tugs at Tyki’s coat sleeve.

“You dragged me out the door before I could get them.”

It’s no secret he’s prone to headaches with his demon eye. But unlike last time, this one came didn’t come from a fight but from an overload of mindless information spinning around his ears. The cold doesn’t help. He wants his bed, warm and save and quiet. Maybe with the Earl’s squishy form hugging him close. It’s been far too long since he’s had this family, so he’s not ashamed off his neediness.

Even if it can be a bit too much from time to time. He’s getting used to the new personalities trying not to get them mixed up with the old ones he knows and the fact he was the last to join the party of their siblinghood stings inside his chest.

“I guess this time I’ll take the blame. Is there anything I can do?”

While the question sounds exasperated Tyki’s eyes are a soft amber, the frown on his face full of barely concealed concern as he reaches out to brush off the snow on his shoulders and head. Hands running through his hair, gently messaging the scalp, it does little to help with the sharp pang of pain inside his mind.

“Got the short end of the stick as the only Noah likely to suffer from headaches of all things.”

“—Then again, maybe I should’ve asked before I dragged him along.”

“Wouldn’t have been much of a surprise…”

“…wanted him to have a good time.”

“Instead of hiding away and boring himself to death at some sleazy party—”

“Can’t stay holed up in his room all the time—”

“Not really. I’ll let you know if I can think of something that’ll work other than the Earl’s medicine.”

He offers a wry smile, cheeks flushing a bit at the thoughts he’s read. Warmth chases away the biting cold and gratitude blooms in his chest at the thought of no longer having to spent his time rotting away on the streets. Tyki blinks at the change in his mood, narrowing his eyes before he grins.

Wisely startles as he’s pulled along the streets with no warning. They leave the Christmas market behind in favor of Tyki dragging him along and for a moment, he thinks Tyki must have seen Road or another member of the family to flee at such a quick pace.

It’s not the case when Tyki takes a sharp turn after several streets, drags him forward and trips him face first into a pile of snow.

“Cold things can cure headaches, don’t they?”

Throwing a snowball in Tyki’s laughing face is Wisely’s answer. His laughter is cut off as he gets a mouthful of snow and Wisely doesn’t hesitate in scooping up another one to hurl it at the man. It hits him in the throat. Tyki hisses at the sharp sting of frost before he offers a feral grin.

“You’re going to regret that.”

It’s a threat and the next snowball Wisely throws goes straight through the man.

“Shit.”

Tyki chuckles, eyes gleaming as they crinkle with mischief. A grin stretches across his face from ear to ear and Wisely flinches at the sight.

“Oh yes. Let’s see how this will work out for you, smartass.”

“Hold on, that’s cheating!”

Wisely is running across the open field they managed to find, scarf becoming loose and flying over one shoulder in the breeze. Warm puffs of air cloud his vision as he pants from the exercise, cursing as he hears the crunching of footsteps in the snow behind him come near.

“Too bad for you I’m an expert cheater.”

Tyki shouts, tackling him into the snow. Wisely shrieks as he faceplants into the coldness. Tyki’s weight on his back is heavy and warm and no matter how hard Wisely buckles and tries to crawl away the man doesn’t move an inch. He kicks out when a hand dumps snow on his head, rubbing it in as his face is pressed onto the ground.

“Get off me!”

“Or what?”

Good question. Wisely grunts as snow slides down on his back.

“I’ll make your head explode!”

Tyki pauses. His voice is uncertain when he speaks and Wisely doesn’t have to try to read his thought to deduce what he’s thinking.

The weight on his back shifts nervously. “Can you actually do that?”

“Are you willing to find out?”

He spits out through clenched teeth, lashing out with a fist. He gets Tyki right in the side of his throat. The man chokes, hands flying up to shield his neck as he topples off of Wisely’s back to the side. Rolling over, so he’s lying on his back he waits until Tyki’s wheezing for air is down to normal breathing again.

Minutes pass as they lay in the snow, letting it soak through their ruined coats. Over their heads is a blanket of grey, shielding what little sun might’ve shined through the dark clouds from sight. Snow continues to drift to earth, melting upon making contact with their skin as they breath invisible clouds of hot air into the early morning breeze. Their chests rising with each beat of their former excitement of a chase.

Wisely nudges Tyki’s shoulder with his own. “Thanks.”

“For what?”

Tyki asks, pursing his lips as he turns his head. His hair is curling at the edges, framing his face in a wild fashion from the row they had. Pale skin pink and glossy from the water of melted snow he looks like a drowned cat with the way he blinks the flakes from his eyes, some clinging to his hair.

There’s a limit to obviousness…and you’ve surpassed it Joyd.

“I’m not spelling it out for you if you can’t figure it out yourself.”

Sitting up Wisely brushes the snow from his clothes. His sweater and coat clings to his back and the sensation of drenched clothes on his skin is disgusting. He wrinkles his nose as he stands.

“Not sharing what you know kind of makes you useless.”

Tyki grumbles as he picks himself up but there’s no bite behind his words.

“Sheryl will have a fit when he sees us like this.”

“I hope you haven’t crushed the candy for Road in your fall. She won’t be pleased if you did.”

Tyki blanches, checking his pockets with an urgency lacking all of his fine grace. Wisely smirks when the cursing starts, watching the man pick out crumbles of cookies with a look of pure terror on his face.

“Shit. I’ve got no money left.”

“That’s too bad. Good luck in telling her what happened.”

He doesn’t wait for a reply as he rushes down the street. He ignores Tyki’s shouting as he runs back to the main street, pushing past the people with barely a glance to see if Tyki is following.

His priority is getting to safety. His advantage is he knows Desire will look for Joyd first, which will give him additional time to make it to the Earl’s bed. A safe heaven where no fighting shall take place. An unspoken rule nobody dared to break.

Too bad Tyki won’t make it there in time.

Hours later under the bright lights of Desire’s over the top decorations with Road in his arms swaying to the beat of one of the cheesy Christmas songs she’s taken a liking to, red dress swaying from side to side, he sees Tyki walk in with a suit. His face twists into a grimace when Road winks and he scurries out of sight. Despite hating the formal clothes he wears, the people chattering around him, the stuffy hot air and the loudness of the obnoxious orchesta shattering his eardrums Wisely finds himself smiling.

“What’s up with that? You hate parties.”

Road’s eyes are brighter than the lights illuminating the room, a thing only happiness manages to capture and bring forth on her face. Wisely shrugs, smile stuck to his face as he sighs.

“Don’t make me answer questions you already know the answer to. It’s exhausting and you’re the only one here who knows anything aside from me. Playing dumb is more Joyd’s thing.”

“Already choose a favorite, I see.”

Road chuckles, lips twisting into a smirk that has him fearing she’ll stomp on his feet despite having the ability to see it coming.

“Tyki is rather endearing. I’m sure he’ll be willing to sneak away with you as soon as Daddy will leave him out of sight. I might be willing to distract him for you.”

“Why?”

“Don’t be a hypocrite, Wisely.”

She chides as the music comes to a stop. Not giving him the chance to make a choice she drags him away from the dance floor, heels clacking with every step.

“I like seeing you happy. Family is special, you know?”

Standing on her tip toes, she plants a kiss on his cheek leaving a bright red mark before she skips ahead and clings to Sheryl’s arm. Tyki glances up and when their eyes meet Wisely rubs at his forehead, gesturing towards the double doors across the room with his head and gets a grin in return.

“Come Daddy, dance with me! Wisely isn’t feeling well!”

“Of course, my dear!”

Road’s a horrible liar, Wisely thinks fondly as Tyki plays along and they flee out the double doors so he might get some fresh air to feel better.

In the last few years he’s never felt happier.

[lailannajacobs]

Roman Holiday pt. 7

Pairing: Loki X Reader

Summary: Reader gets sick and, in dealing with their cold (that’s taking longer to shake than usual), they begin to see that maybe there’s more to their usual sparring partner than they originally thought. Maybe, getting sick was exactly what they had needed?

Warnings: fluff and um, explosions! 

Word Count: 3k

A/N: Hi!! So I thought this bit was ready for you guys but then decided to rewrite the whole thing, seems to be a habit with this series! I got inspiration for this chapter from another wonderful anon (or the same?) and am super grateful for all the feedback, suggestions and comments xxxxxx P.s the next chapter’s going to get a little angsty <3 

After an hour of learning how to be a decent enough shot to finally test out your arrows, and over another hour of almost blowing off Loki’s head each time he caught them, you had enough information to fix the problem. Late evening sun trickled into your lab, glinting off the pristine metal. It made it harder to see what you were doing but you refused to darken the windows. The first time you had done that, it was as if you had been back in that tool shed excuse of a lab and you had practically bolted from the room. You didn’t mind making your job a little harder if it meant that you could see outside and know that you could just get up and go if you wanted.

But that kind of light meant that you had been in the lab for so long that you had missed supper without realizing it. Your stomach growled in confirmation. The arrowhead in your hand was almost finished so you told yourself the same thing you had repeated all afternoon. Just this last one.

It didn’t surprise you that you had worked all afternoon, finally glancing at the clock at eight thirty. What was hard to believe that you had spent over two hours with Loki in the archery range. It shouldn’t have surprised you seeing as you spent an hour sparring with him every second day, but you were all the same. And what was even more surprising was that it had actually been…fun.

A soft knock sounded at the door.

“Clint, they’re not ready yet. If you tell me you’re only going to be back tomorrow morning, you’re only get to get your precious toys tomorrow morning.”

“I don’t believe he’s back yet.” Loki answered.

You whipped your head up, practically dropping the arrowhead. Your heart lurched at the thought of having to start from the beginning with this one, but you managed to steady everything. Loki leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed and his foot crossed over the other. You might have been tense and surprised, but he was relaxed and easy.

“What are you doing here?”

“Am I not allowed to be?”

“No.” You thought about it for a moment then shrugged and got back to your work. “Actually you can as long as you don’t bother me.”

He huffed a little breath.

“But seriously, why are you here?”

“I could hear your stomach growling from across the hall.” He explained.

You cut one of the wires and tucked it into a small metal pocket with your tweezers. “I know technically that’s not true but I can’t say you’re wrong.”

“I brought food.”

You looked up in surprise but managed to keep ahold of your work this time. “You brought food?”

“That is what I said.”

“I know. I heard.”

“Then why did you ask?”

“Because I don’t believe it.”

With a deadpan expression, he lifted a pizza box.

You didn’t know what to say, so for some reason you blurted out, “I can’t eat a whole pizza by myself.”

He looked down at the box then back at you. “Does that mean you don’t want it or…”

Your stomach growled in response. “No. I mean yes I do want it.” The arrowhead felt heavy in your hands, “but I can’t actually pick it up so just give me a second.”

“Don’t rush,” he said walking into the room and placing the box on the far end of the table, “the delivery time was a second so it should still be warm for a while.”

You smirked despite yourself and watched as he turned to leave. When he was in the doorway a thought occurred to you.

“Loki?”

He stopped.

“Thank you.”

You heard a another huff of a breath that my have been a chuckle and then he was gone. Your stomach growled again. Just this last arrow and then you’d eat.

Small Town Pennsylvania: About three Years and Five Months Ago

“When you said we were going on a mission, I wasn’t expecting some no name town in the middle of Pennsylvania…Not that I’m complaining.” You quickly added into the com before Clint could think you were being ungrateful.

Somehow you doubted he would think that. The excited grin on your face on the ride here had been kind of hard to miss.

But despite how excited you were, you were just as nervous. Steve had deemed you mission ready two weeks ago but didn’t want to send you on anything overly dangerous or exciting for your first one. Raiding a small Hydra base for weapons, and information you weren’t classified highly enough to know, was low enough on the danger list that you were allowed to go.

Apparently there was little security and Steve wanted the place blown up once you were done so it was the perfect first mission. You could already feel the high coming on at the thought of blowing something up and leaving destruction in your wake.

The road you had been on was surrounded by pine trees, and you had had to walk about a mile off the road just to get close to the base without getting caught. The entire base, surrounded by an electrical fence topped with barb wire, was visible from where you were perched at the top of the hill. From afar, it kind of looked like a prison.

Clint came up and crouched beside you, practically giving you a heart attack. Even if you had been expecting him, you were still too jumpy. You needed to get a hold of yourself or you were going to get yourself killed.

“How are you feeling?”

You shrugged, “A little nervous.”

“Doesn’t show,” he answered, peering through the trees in a way that reflected his alias. “Your crazy looking grin does a good job at masking it.”

You lips spread further. “I was getting tired of being cooped up all day.”

“I get that. But you know, if you think you need help, let me know right now. I need to know what you’re ready for before our lives are on the line.” There was no judgement in his voice, only business.

You knew Clint had a family somewhere and he needed to stay alive for them. This was about more than keeping yourself alive. You had to help keep him alive too. The thought of almost killing Bucky flashed through your mind but you pushed it away just as quickly as it appeared. Being distracted would get you all killed. Well most of you anyways. Dying didn’t seem to take with some.

You glanced over at Loki who hadn’t said a word the whole ride here. The tension between him and Clint was palpable but Loki had taken every command with a curt nod. At first you had been surprised that he had been so cooperative but apparently his freedom was tied to his behaviour and you guessed he had decided that being an avenger was better than being in prison.

“I’ll be fine but seriously, thank you. And anyways,” you tried to tone down your smile from crazy to reassuring, “I can’t have you losing all your explosive arrows doing my job. It just seems like a waste to me.”

“Yeah well maybe you can think of something that will solve that.” He got up and was about to take off but thought the better of it for a second, “(y/n), get ready. It’s almost time.”

You nodded and felt the grin tugging at your lips again. Clint was going to think you were crazy.

Loki pushed off the tree to follow and paused beside you.

It was barely long enough for you to hear the words, “don’t mess up” before he was walking again, steps away from Clint.

You fingered one of your smaller explosives but knew you couldn’t direct it at Loki. You couldn’t jeopardize the mission, and you knew deep down that you didn’t actually want to kill him. You were on edge right now, that was all. But one day he’d get a taste of his own medicine. Beating him while sparring would be your revenge for all of his quips. You could taste the victory. You knew you were strong enough to do it.

Settling in, you waited for the signal. Your part didn’t come in until the end of the mission and it would be a long wait. Something Clint had said rung through your mind. Maybe you could fix his little arrow problem.

You tinkered with the explosive in the arrowhead the next morning, thoughts stuck on yesterday - on the god of mischief in particular. Distractedness and explosives weren’t a good combination so you scolded yourself every time your mind wandered. But for some reason, it was harder than you would have guessed. At least you were only dealing with minor touches right now.

“Well, well, how’s my favourite bomb expert?”

“I thought we went over this Clint,” you kept your gaze on the tip in your hands, trying to suppress a smile, “I can’t be your favourite if I’m the only one you know.”

“It doesn’t change the fact that you’re still my favourite.” he said, walking into the lab.

“I’m just finishing the last of your fancy new arrows.”

“I’m ready to see what you’ve got.”

You didn’t bother to look up. “I tested them out yesterday and hit a couple speed bumps but I’m pretty sure I fixed them so all I need now is your stamp of approval and then they’ll be mission ready.”

“That’s great (y/n). But speaking of missions, why aren’t you on one?”

“Sick.” You replied, welding the arrowhead to the shaft.

“Bummer. So which one is this?” He held the arrow between his thumb and fore finger balancing it up and down so that it looked malleable.

“Stun. The ones over there,” you nodded to your right, “are the explosive ones. They’re marked with different coloured tapes but I figured you’d let me know how exactly you wanted them identified. I also grabbed one of your old bows and added a detonator.”

He put down the arrow and found his old bow, looking at it like an old friend. Running his fingers over the front part, he found the detonator and pretended to press it. He had learned the hard way never again to press a button without permission.

He nodded slowly, seeming pleased. “How’d you know where to put it?”

You grinned. “I guessed.”

“See, (y/l/n) this is why you’re my favourite.”

“Want to go test them out?”

His grin widened so that he looked like a child on Christmas morning.

Before you could get up a large bang resounded through the compound and laughter filled the air. Suddenly you realized just how quiet the place had been, as orders were being barked - from the sound of it, Maria’s - and the usual post mission bustle filled the air.

“Looks like our friends are home.” Clint’s smile only grew. “Want to go say hello first?”

Small Town Pennsylvania: About three Years and Five Months Ago Cont.

You hurried through the building, dropping your explosives in the areas that would cause the most damage. The blueprints they had given you the day before were old and outdated but you had brought enough extra explosives to make up for any miscalculation. You only had two smaller explosives left  - small balls that were meant to cause a chain reaction rather than cause a large amount of damage.

Glancing down at your watch, you picked up the pace. The bombs weren’t set up on timers because you didn’t want to blow up any members of your own team, but you still had a time frame to stick to. You weren’t going to be late on your first mission.

Your adrenaline rose higher and higher the closer you got to escaping the building. That explosion, that high, was coming and you couldn’t wait to set it off, especially knowing that what you were doing was now for a good cause.

After turning the last corner into the small hangar that lead to your rendezvous point outside, you spotted a lone guard. His gun was out and he crept along the edge of the wall, looking for someone to riddle with bullets. You stopped and held your breath, afraid to make a sound. You tried to quash the panic bubbling in your throat but you weren’t doing a very good job. How could you think you were ready for a mission when you only had a month’s training? You were going to get yourself killed. What the hell had you been thinking?

With a deep breath, you took in your surroundings. Think, you told yourself, think. He had a gun. You had a gun too but odds were that he was a better shot. Although the space was open, there were enough crates strewn across the hangar that you could make it to the opposite side from where he was, and maybe even pass without being seen. The runway on the other end, the trees and the grey sky taunted you from the other side. Getting by on a maybe didn’t guarantee getting out alive and you needed to get out of here.

You glanced down at your watch and realized that you weren’t as empty handed as you had thought - literally. The guard was now about ten feet further away. You took in a deep breath and whispered the words that had gotten you through the month of intense training. The words that had gotten you mission ready. I am strong, I am smart and I can do this.

You sent your first explosive rolling across the hangar, toward the place where he had first been when you had entered. The sound made him turn as you scurried across the other end, ducking behind crates for cover. Your footsteps weren’t nearly as silent as the Black Widow’s but it was good enough to get you halfway out.

When the guard kept walking you tossed your last bomb and watched it roll into position. He glanced back but wasn’t as wary this time. It wasn’t like anything had exploded, and he had a target, you realized, seeing Clint and Loki under the shadows of a large tree.

The guard just needed to get into range to shoot.

You picked up the pace, caring less about how silent you were. You had a plan. You didn’t know how good of a plan it was but you’d stick to it anyways if it meant keeping those two idiots alive. All you had to do was get far enough not to blow yourself up in the process.

The meet up point was off to the right but so was the guard so you kept left. Clint seemed to be arguing about something, his hands waving as he talked to Loki, but you didn’t risk alerting them through the com.

The guard lifted his gun and took aim.

You panicked.

You weren’t quite far enough yet but he was going to shoot.

“Hey! Asshole!”

The three of them turned to face you, the guard’s gun now trained on his new target. Before he could squeeze the trigger, a blast from inside the compound went off. His moment of hesitation gave you the second you needed to get out of the blast zone when the smaller ones went off. Although smaller, the impact of the blast was strong enough to send the guard flying through the air. You could feel the heat of the blast and the wind felt like it was trying to throw you off balance but you were far enough away that you kept strong and steady, striding across the ground towards the unconscious body.

You bent down, grabbed him by the collar, and dragged his heavy body along the pavement. Debris and smoke filled the air and you could still feel the heat of the blast. All you wanted to do was smile, but your teammates stared at you wide-eyed so you kept your adrenaline in check and masked the high from your face.

Flames were still coming out of the building but you knew it wouldn’t last long. You had calculated for large destruction but a short burn period. The nearest fire department wouldn’t have any trouble putting it out, despite how small town this was.

You let go of the guard’s collar, dumping him onto the ground in front of Clint. “I don’t kill people, but whatever you guys do with him is your business.”

Your heart was at a thousand beats a minute and everything inside you shook, but in a good way. Maybe you were made for this after all.

Clint looked at you with a proud expression on his face and you, only slightly, gave into the smile you had been hiding so that you wouldn’t look too crazy.

Loki had a look on his face that you had never seen before. It was hard to tell what it was. It could have been a countless number of emotions but for all you knew, he could have just been bored. A part of you wanted to say that he was stunned and impressed, but that was probably wishful thinking.

Either way, when you walked passed him you couldn’t help but whisper, “I forgot to mention earlier, I don’t mess up.”

Part 8

[sir-adamus]

Ozpin has lived too long. When you've existed for thousands of years you see everyone as transitory and ultimately disposable. Of course the same with Salem but she's supposed to be the evil one.

it’s honestly not just that, all that life has also made him an asshole - he claims to have made ‘more mistakes than any man, woman or child on this planet’, yet whenever he’s actually called out on shit that is actually his fault, it’s deflected (Pyrrha and Gretchen’s deaths? ‘they made their choice’. keeping secrets? he has his reasons) or he runs away rather than take responsibility for the situation he’s put everyone in

like the backstory makes Salem - the bad guy - more sympathetic, and Ozpin significantly less so because all it demonstrates is that even his justifications for his actions are lies

“i lie to you because i’ve been betrayed in the past” yet the first thing he does to Salem is lie (and for significantly less reason - Salem lies about what happened to her because she’s afraid of the judgment she’ll get from the one good thing that’s ever happened to her, he lies because the god who put her in that situation in the first place said she’s a big ol’ meanie and it’s totally her fault too) and then he betrays her instead of, i dunno, talking to his wife and trying to reason with her when she’s pushed by a single impulse (caused by something that she never chose because she jumped into that pool to try and die and didn’t know it wouldn’t work), so even his excuses for why he lies are lies

and it’s not like he really had a problem with the whole ‘use force to put people in line’ thing either, because he does it again millennia later to beat all the other monarchies into submission during the War (even forcing his ally, the ruler of Vacuo, to kneel before him, what a team player), dismantle them and construct his school system so he can rule from behind the curtain even after reincarnation

and he acts like he’s the sole thing between Salem and the world being destroyed but like, it’s not remotely true - Jinn says herself he spent most of the stolen lifetimes he got just doing nothing and running away from his problems (and he drank at least one of them to death, what a hero - imagine that poor guy waking up a prisoner in his own body watching the alien force that stole it destroy his life and unable to do anything about it) and the whole ‘learning to live with his hosts’ thing is implied to be a more recent development

and he’s built up this Huntsman and Huntress thing to reinforce it, because he’s the mind behind it and they’re ‘the protectors of the world’ but like, they’ve only been around for 80-ish years, and before that the world was getting on fine - to the point that the world has only now been thrown into chaos again because Salem’s forces shattered that facade

but time and again he sends people to their deaths, knowing full well it’s utterly pointless, but more than willing to lie, omit the truth and blackmail people (Pyrrha was never given a choice, it was an ultimatum) into doing it anyway

it’s like the god of light vs the god of darkness - the god of darkness is a destructive dickhead, sure, but his brother is far worse because he screws people over and then insists he’s the good guy, that you should be grateful that he didn’t help jack shit

Salem just wants revenge against the shitheads that took everything from her, which isn’t even really something you can fault her for when you have that context

[writtenfan]

~Hunting Horcrux’s ~

                               “To keep you safe..”

Severus x Reader Imagine

Request:  If it's alright, can you do a Snape x reader where Dumbledore sends them horcrux hunting (this would happen before Harry Potter Half-blood prince and Deathly hallows). They agree and Snape unfortunately can't do anything because Dumbledore says the reader will be fine. The reader comes back with a horxcrux, yet looking injured. Snape tends to their wounds and scolds them for agreeing to such a thing, but being thankful they're back. (Just basically fluff and angst :))

((Thanks for the praise earlier anon! Excuse the wait...I’m trying to catch back up on the requests and your first! Enjoy!))

“Understand that this isn’t an easy task…but I wouldn’t ask for your help if I didn’t believe you could take it (y/n)…do you think you’re up for the task?”

You nod your head, “yes, I am..”

“Excellent… you’ll be accompanying my friend Kingsley Shacklebolt, he’s an  Auror and will make sure you're as safe as possible while you grab something I suspect to be related to Voldemort himself…”

“You mean a Horcrux. Correct?”

“Yes…a Horcrux…”

“I told you where you’ll be headed earlier… you’ll meet him in Hogsmeade and go from there…understand?”

“Yes, Headmaster...understood...”

“You may call me Albus...” he chuckles “I feel that my name is perfectly fine for you to say”.

“Yes… of course Albus, sir…it’ll take getting used to, but I’ll try...”

“No worries, that’s the least of what you should worry about…”

He reaches out and places his soft hand on your shoulder, looking at you with remorseful eyes. “I can’t mention how grateful I am that you wanted to help us, and so very persistently I might add. Y/n…the more people we have aiding our efforts to keep the world safe…the better…I’m just sad that we have to worry about such a threat in the first place…”

You smile meekly, “It’s all right headmaster, Albus…I’ll help any way I can…starting with this...”

“I think not!”

You both turn your focus to the door behind you,

Standing beside the closed doorframe in the shadows stepped forth stern piercing eyes that made your heart ache with regret. His arms folded against his chest his black robe sweeping behind him as he stepped into the candlelit light in the middle of Dumbledore’s office.

“Severus…you weren’t supposed to hear this…” Dumbledore sighed sadly, taking his hand off your shoulder and moving towards the silent fuming challenge of the man before him, holding his hands behind his back.

“I can’t let you do this, Albus!” He roared, as he loomed over the old man.

“You can’t do this to me. Especially after what you failed to do for me the first time!” his lips quaked along with the rest of his body, he threw down his fists clenching them so tight you could see his veins pulsing.

“Severus, I-”

He snapped his eyes to you, “SILENCE!” you snapped your lips shut, furrowing your eyes angrily as he focused back on the distraught somber eyes of Albus Dumbledore.

“Did you even THINK, to ask me before including (her/him) on all of this? Did it even cross your senile mind?!”

“…Severus, (y/n) came wanting to help against our situation, I did not seek-”

“-No, no you didn’t!” he hissed through his teeth. 

“You could have simply said you didn’t need them. But no. You choose the only person I love to put into danger…well no. Not this time Albus, I’m not letting you jeopardize their safety by putting them right in the line of fire. I’m not letting them get hurt, or killed for the sake of your stupid quest for pendants and charms…”

“You understand that it's not that simple Severus…” Dumbledore whispers as he stands his ground against the rage-filled form of the man you loved. His face is so red with anger you didn’t think he’d let Dumbledore leave the room…

“I don’t care.” His hand reached for his wand.

“Severus!” you shout making him jolt his hands back to his sides. You point a finger at him “You have no say in this!” you growl walking up to his shaking figure.

“This is my choice, Severus… this isn’t just your battle. It's mine. I will not let you constantly put yourself in danger to pretend you’re a bloody Death-eater just to slow down the eventual return of that sodding monster.

You tremble as you force yourself to spit out the truth of what is coming, and you grind your teeth in anguish as the reason for doing this rushes inside you at full force… 

“This…”  you gesture to a phantom place behind you. 

“This will put a stop to all that…. If I find the Horcrux… I’ll be one step closer to having you be safe”.

Severus stirs at your words and stops towering over Albus, his eyes filled with wise distraught.

“y/n…” your name escapes Albus’s lips, though you interrupt him sharply.

“…Not having to worry about you…or anyone else ever again! That’s what I want, and I’ll do so, by doing this!”

Severus bounds to you, his cape snaps in the air behind him, his hair fluttering against his face, he grabs you by the shoulders with firm hands and shakes you.

“THE ONLY THING YOU’D BE DOING IS MAKING YOURSELF A TARGET”.

“Dumbledore has many other little pawns to use for this task.” He slits his eyes at Dumbledore who continues his silence and pained gaze then turns back towards you and opens his mouth in a snarl, “me, included….”

His chest heaved rapidly as his voice lowers close to a whisper “Don’t you understand what will happen if, and may I repeat, If…. you get this Horcrux... “

“If you even manage to survive any horrible curse The Dark Lord uses to protect it, the eyes of every Death-Eater will be on you…They’ll know you…they’ll figure out who you are and come for you in revenge. Don’t you understand!?”

Sweat rolls down the side of his neck as he digs his fingers painfully against the back of your shoulders, you grab onto his wrists pulling him off you, which makes him stagger in confusion.

“That won’t happen Severus.” Pipes the stern soft voice of the headmaster besides you.

He reaches a hand toward him, but Severus snaps back, in disgust.

“(she/he), won’t get any unwanted attention, there will be more Auror’s there than just her, like Kingsley…this event is under prying eyes, not a single soul will know of this venture besides those involved and you. (She/He) will be fine”.

“Fine!?” 

His whole body continues to shake in anger, his eyes switching between you and Albus spatially. “Your words mean nothing Albus” he growls turning back towards Dumbledore making him take a step back.

“absolutely, nothi-“

His eyes snapped shut. 

It was sudden, all the anger on his face melted in an instant and his body grew still. You rushed to him as he dropped, and you held onto him tightly as you guided him towards the floor gently.

Your lips quiver “What happened?” you dart your eyes to Dumbledore pleadingly, and he seems just as shocked as you. You look down at the limp man in your arms. “Severus... Severus!”

You notice a figure standing in the now open doorway of Dumbledore’s office and pointed to where Severus once stood.

“That will give you some time”. It grumbles, stumbling towards you and Dumbledore who doesn’t seem phased by this occurrence. “I knew he would make more of a fuss than I wanted…” You snap your hand to your wand and point it at the man. Who raises his free hand defensively?

“Woah, oh, hold it. Don’t worry dear, just a bewitched sleeping spell. He’s perfectly fine.” He gruffly says as he leans on his banged-up wooden cane. You lower your wand and study the peculiar man, who wipes his nose, nonchalantly as one of his eyes fake and strapped onto his face, darts around wildly.

He lets out a chortle, “That man needs this rest anyhow. With all, he deals with.

“Now, come-on”. He straightens up and gestures for you to follow as he turns towards the door. “Kingsley’s waiting…”

“This is…Mad-eye Moody…another Auror..” Dumbledore sighs, looking at you as you cradle Severus’s head on your lap watching your fingers moving his black long hair from his face.

“Even though I think this was very unwise of him to do…”  

Mad-eye rolls his…eye and leans against the doorframe

“This may be your chance if you really want to take it... (y/n)”

“I’m having second thoughts on having you do so…but it’s all up to you (y/n)…are you willing to continue?” 

He gestures to the sleeping figure in your arms. “Despite…Severus’s wishes?”

You look down at Severus’s slumbering face and run your fingers on the sides of his cheek and lean forward to kiss him on his forehead, before pointing your wand to him,

“Wingardium Leviosa…”

He rises gently off you and you position him on the couch in the office's corner.

“…for his sake…yes. Let’s go. Let’s hurry.” you let out a sigh and walk towards Mad-Eye pointing at him a stern look on your face. 

“Then you wake him right back up understand?”

“Yes, ahem...of course…” he grumbles as he follows you out the door.

                                                 2 days later

Dumbledore woke him. You could hear his shouting from the ground level. Mad-Eye was punched physically and then with magic, apparently.   They also blew up a statue, you learned.

You’re in the infirmary now, being cared for by a nurse who works for St/ Mungo’s but is also a part of the Order of the Phoenix. Your injuries were many but not drastic, they only demanded attention for a day or two to keep in check.

You feel too guilty to see Snape; you don’t want to talk to him in fear he’ll be mad at you for going, anyway. You knew he would. Being at Hogwarts, where he was, made it worse, but again you had missed him terribly. You had gotten the Horcrux. You were back, and you were safe perhaps that would quell him.

“Sit back love… let me apply this ointment real smooth-like.” Spoke the voice of your nurse who placed a smooth translucent pink paste on your wounds that chilled them like ice. The nurse gave you a smile as he raised his hand to your forehead. “You’re looking well”. You smile in response, “Thanks for the help…” He grins and returns to a small desk on the other side of the room.

“Let me in.” you hear a gruff tired voice from the other side of the door.  

The doors flew opened and Severus ran into the middle of the room, in front of your bed looking around ceaselessly. When he spotted your meek eyes, he ran to you and wrapped his arms around you pressing you against his chest, running his hand in against your hair.

“(y/n…y/n…)..your safe…you’re…” he stuttered “I’m so glad to see that your safe…tha- that you’re…”A few tears roll down your cheek as you hold on to him tightly getting off the bed so you could hold him tighter.

“I’m sorry Severus! I’m so sorry…but I did it…I did it for you…it’s here, its soon to be gone…I’m sorry…I’m-“

“shh-shhh-shhh…” he shushed as he kissed your forehead with cold trembling lips.

“I don’t care. I don’t care about the Horcrux…”

He pries you off him suddenly holding you by the sides of your arms firmly.

“DON’T DO THIS AGAIN. I don’t care about anything- everything else doesn’t matter if you leave me…nothing matters understand?! You can’t do this again! I won’t let it. I won’t let it!”

You nod your head tears flowing down your face “Yes- yes. I won’t- I promise. I won’t. I won’t…”

He pulls you against his chest again his breath stuttering as he breathed out.

“We have enough people (y/n), risking their lives every day… I don’t want you apart from that. Because even the thought is my death…I can’t lose you. Understand?! So, don’t you ever, do this to me again. Don’t you ever. Do this…again…” his eyes are wet, and you kiss them and continue to kiss his face crying.

                                                A week later…

“Did you put the solution on your arm?”

“Yes, Severus. I did.”

“Good, sit down and let me see.”

“You don’t have to do this every time Severus.”

“Hush….Let me see.”

You raise your arm weakly and he takes it in his hand and rubs his fingers softly against your skin, inspecting dull dark marks on your skin, leftover. You point to a wine bottle sitting on the counter, “Is that from Mad-eye?” He growls in response and pretends as if he didn’t hear.

“So yes…” you chuckle, as you read the note on the bottle aloud

“…should have left you sleeping almost took out my other eye.”

Severus slit his eyes and looked up at you, as you were fighting back a smile.

“Ok….ok…sorry..” you reply softly as a chuckle escaped your lips. “…he shouldn’t have done that…made you sleep an’ all..”

He lets your arm drop and you wince with a smile on your face. You watch Severus walk over to the counter and whisk the bottle as elegantly as you’ve seen a man pick up anything, but you were used to this…it made you smile.

“What a weak apology and such a waste of mediocre wine…. I wouldn’t want to drink a single thing that deranged ogre laid a hand on.” he slams the bottle back on the table and it clanks loudly.

“Hey.”

Severus turns towards you with a solemn expression. “What?” You beckon him to come closer with your finger. He rolls his eyes but comes to you. What is it?” he sneers. You smile. He raises an eyebrow, ready for any foolishness to come. Although you say nothing and continue to stare lovingly into his eyes. He crossed his arms as grunts. “Say it.”

He mutters a slight grin appearing on the corner of his lips. “Kiss me.” You say leaning your forearms against his chest, pressing up against him.

He stares at you for a while, then licks his lips.

“…Kiss you?”

You bounce lightly on the tips of your toes and force your smile to simmer down. You lean off him and try your best to give him the most seductive eyes you could.

“Yes…kiss me…”

He looks away as if trying to not get roped into your (e/c) eyes and sighs.

“You want me….” He grins and looks back at you “…to kiss you?...”

He’s playing with you now. His voice was soft and rumbly, its seductive charm made you yearn even more for him to press his lips against yours.

He licked his lips again.

“You want me to kiss…those soft….” He pauses.

“Little.”

He slides his hands over your waist and pulls you gently towards him…

“…lips of yours, do you?” His voice ends in a dull mumble…

You chuckle nervously; he was making this tension tear into you on purpose.

Oh, he knew how to make you suffer.

“Should I?” he asks arrogantly.

You furrow your eyes, and he grins even more.

Then...he leans forward...

“I think… I will…”

He presses his lips against yours and you feel the soft warmth. The way he kisses you is so…polite, he doesn’t press too hard yet instead seems to play with you, gently rising you’re your lips periodically only to kiss you once more, he holds his hands against you’re the nape of your neck as he guides you to spin in a slow circle with him. He pulls back slightly, and you try to follow him, but he leaves your lips as he stares lovingly into your eyes, 

“My sweetheart…my heart…my love...my everything…”

He continues to call you pet names as you both spin in a leisurely circle as if dancing to a song.

[haloud]

the stumbling phase of the midnight waltz

ao3

Alex makes one stop before he hits 285 and leaves town for a few days in Albuquerque with his old unit. Liz meets him at the Crashdown’s back door, but she doesn’t hold out her hand for the key he’s trying to give her.

“Does he know you’re giving me this?” She asks, arms folded, gaze levelled at the cracked rubber of the old UFO Emporium keychain instead of anywhere near Alex’s face.

“Life is too uncertain; we’re big on emergency contacts these days. Kyle won’t be back from his conference until after I get back. Turns out he’d rather it be you than Max or Isobel. All he said when I asked was ‘she gets it better.’” Alex shrugs. “I trust you, too. I didn’t press him.”

Liz lets him hand her the key and shoves it quickly into the pocket of her robe. This isn’t a responsibility she ever expected, not an honor she ever thought to receive. After the way Michael reacted when circumstances forced them together into his lab, she had mostly expected—made her contingency plans—for Isobel to encourage her to forget what she saw. And the temptation is there—to make copies of the key; to sneak in when she knows it’s empty; to break all sorts of trusts to scratch the what if at the back of her mind. What if there’s some secret hiding away to help Rosa? To help Mimi? To protect her father?

A couple miles away and a hundred feet underground, Michael thinks in what ifs too. Alex and Kyle are right to want someone to have the ability to check in. Project Shepherd may have been an illicit operation, but operatives could still be out there. Employees from Caulfield looking for revenge. Other aliens like Noah. What if Liz can’t be trusted after all? He’ll change the locks, of course, once Alex and Kyle come home. Whatever damage she can do in the interim they’ll have to deal with one-on-one.

He’s almost looking forward to it. Secrets and science both, Michael thinks that Liz Ortecho just might be his best match.

--

Day one, Michael doesn’t even notice the bulk of it pass. It’s stuffy and hot like a forge in his underground lab because one of his fans got busted. The heat should be unbearable. He already wasted half the day moving temperature-sensitive items to his much-less-secure trailer, so he should be worn to the bone with anxiety. But mostly he’s just glad to have something to do with his hands, something to do with his brain. He strips off his sweat-soaked white shirt, knots his hair on top of his head, sets his tongue between his teeth, and gets to work.

It’s an okay day, all things considered. He straddles his stepladder to get at the right angle to reach the back panel, and with a few awkwardly-angled cranks of his wrench, the fan comes back online with a crunch. He falls back against the wall and lets out a whoop of relief as stale but moving air teases the tiny curls that have escaped from his bun to cling to his neck. Satisfied, he grabs his phone from the nearby worktable and snaps a few selfies. Himself, flush with triumph and the haloed halogens of his bunker, smudged with grease and his own honest sweat, his hand sliding suggestively through the trail of hair on his abdomen.

Neither Alex nor Kyle respond, and when Michael pulls himself out of his hole in the ground to look for a shower, the sun hasn’t even finished setting.

Alex could be driving if he and the guys decided to have a night out, Michael thinks while he soaps himself up mechanically. Or at a restaurant, a bar, somewhere where he wouldn’t be looking at his phone. Kyle is definitely busy, definitely surrounded by people he wants to impress. It was stupid to even send the pictures in the first place. Michael ducks his head under the spray and turns it straight to cold and doesn’t step out until his knees start to shake.

Bare-skinned and shivering in the chilly night air, he wraps his arms around himself, but he just stands staring at the wide, soft bed the three of them share. Using the shower or the kitchen as a tool is one thing, but the bed, the couches, all the spaces where life takes place—it feels like Alex’s first, then Kyle’s history, something they share together. Without either of them there it doesn’t feel right.

Fighting down the anxiety beating wings against his ribs, he wrestles into a pair of shorts and a t-shirt and stalks outside, across the ground to where his Airstream stays parked almost all the time, these days.

The moment his back hits the bunk, he knows he’s made a mistake. It would feel a little like grief, a little like loneliness, to wrap himself up in a duvet meant for three and try not to scream into the silence. But here, in the one place that’s been something like a home to him, he can’t breathe at all. No one echoes off these walls but him. He knows with the heart-attack certainty of himself a half-decade past that if he closes his eyes he’s gonna wake to an American flag and a hole in the ground.

He scrambles out of bed, bruises his knees on the metal sheet floor. He spends the night sleepless in a corner of the lab.

--

Day two, Michael gets a dozen or so texts, a half-dozen unanswered calls. Not that he’d know; he left his phone under the bed, so the weight of silence didn’t hit so heavy. He takes Isobel out for lunch because if she sees him she won’t freak out if he doesn’t answer his phone all day.

Kyle rolls his eyes every time he’s sent to voicemail and decides not to worry. It’s not unusual for Michael to bury himself in the lab, and it only makes sense that he’d be even worse about it with no one to keep tabs on him. Everything will probably be fine.

Alex almost hits the city limits before he takes a deep breath and decides to turn back around. Someone would have called him if there was trouble; Michael would be mortified if Alex burst in like the world was ending just because he forgot to check his messages. He’d blame himself for “ruining” Alex’s vacation.

Everything will be okay.

--

The knock comes first, then the key scrapes in the lock at three a.m. on the third night. The numbers and diagrams have just started swimming off the page.

“Don’t be dead, Michael,” Liz calls down. “One undead alien per town is definitely more than enough.”

The smell of fresh fries and boozy milkshakes precedes her down the ladder. Her eyelids look as dark and heavy as Michael’s feel. He drops his pen and goes over to take the drinks from her before she falls and breaks her neck and finally gives Max a reason to take him out.

“What are you doing here, Ortecho?”

She snags her shake back from him and takes three long gulps before she answers. “Electricians kicked me out at the hospital, and I didn’t have anything delicate enough in progress to give me an excuse to stay. I figured I’d find you here. If I have to take a break then so do you.”

“Says who?” Michael says, already digging in to the fries and flying sauce. Turns out it’s probably been even longer since he’s eaten than it’s been since he slept.

“Says Earth rules, obviously.” She wobbles a little big, and Michael shuffles over to clear a spot where she can sit.

“Oh, Earth rules. My bad. The ‘mad science’ pages were missing from my orientation packet.”

“Damn. They just can’t get anything right these days, huh?”

“I’ll drink to that.”

They knock their Styrofoam cups together, and Michael says a silent toast to understanding.

--

Liz is a good friend—or the kind of person who tries to be, which is just about the closest thing Michael has ever had to the real thing, and more reliable to boot. Isobel is always, incontrovertibly, Isobel; Max is something else entirely. He and Maria, they were a mistake made twice over, and it makes it hard for them to share a space these days, but there will always be an understanding there between them that once made them think they’d be good. Michael has a support system now, after all those years alone. He has his people, people who care about him.

Alex hasn’t even been gone a week, and none of it is enough. He’s got feet crawling under his skin; he’s got the shakes like an addict, and Michael knows from addiction. More desperate than he’d been that first night, he roots around in their bed for a little hair of the dog, but no amount of secondhand scent will ever be a strong enough hit. He stretches out one of Kyle’s tight henleys and curls up like a dog in front of the empty fire with only Alex’s leather jacket as a blanket. Sleep never comes, or it comes in bare, panicked snatches. There’s nothing to dull the scratching in his skull, not the booze, not the acetone, not the grasping hands of a stranger.

There’s just him, and he’s less than nothing in the yawning face of loneliness. Always has been.

Is the specter of pride enough? Kyle’s uncomplicated, unselfconscious excitement for the progress Michael has made? And Alex—Alex is so steady, so strong, Michael can still feel him all around him, and it should be, should be—

But Michael has never been good on his own. Never been good enough at ignoring all the clamor and chaos in his head, the whispers that they’re never coming back, that Alex’s unit could be compromised, that Kyle’s all alone in a crowd and it’s not safe, that without Michael there to stand at heel they could get hurt in so many stupid, accidental ways.

Michael whines and grinds his face into the rug. The muscles of his back twist and twitch as he tries to flex out the tension pulling him apart. He could call Alex. Wrap himself up in his warm, vital voice, in the sound of his breathing. It would be a few moments of relief. But Alex deserves better. He deserves to be able to take a few days to meet up with people so important to him without worrying that Michael will hurt himself or piss on the floor.

He’s not even sure what day it is. He’s been afraid to look at his phone, afraid to see that less time has passed than it should, afraid he’ll be weak and have Alex ringing on the other line before he can stop himself.

For most of his life, Michael has been a staple at the Roswell branch library, a tourist in every section and a local in some. Science fiction, of course, and physics, astrophysics, and psychology. He found himself in books, tried for a while to therapize himself when there was no one else who could or no one else who cared. Codependency, trauma, abandonment, avoidance, he has the words for the things raking at his insides, but no way to make it stop.

His burning mind gives out just as the sun comes up, and he falls asleep with his arms covering his head.

--

It could be the fourth day; it could be the fifth. Michael thinks counting would be pathetic. He wraps himself in a heavy old quilt and sits in the weak morning sun, searching for peace. His hands ache for the weight and feel of silken smooth wood; his mind aches for the quiet. But that phantom pain is too old now to inspire any self-pity.

He folds one hand over his heart. Clutched in its palm is a battered black-and-red pick, one its owner never noticed was missing from its stolen case. Over the last decade, he never buried it with the other memories that hurt too much. He wore it over his heart instead, like dog tags. It centers him now, like it has before, when it was less than a splinter of hope that he’d ever get to have what he has now.

Alex will be home in a few days. He can make it that far.

He’s made it longer and longer before, after all.

--

On the sixth day, a car pulls up to the cabin. The day is dark gray; it’s probably morning still, but Michael’s internal clock wishes he could crawl back into bed. It’s quiet; the car’s approach barely pricks at the edge of Michael’s hypervigilant hearing. It drops dread into his stomach; he doesn’t feel like dealing with Max or Isobel today. Doesn’t feel like much of anything, really. He feels how he thinks being sick must feel, and he’s so sapped of energy that standing barefoot in the kitchen eating dry cereal is a Herculean effort.

The footsteps on the stairs make an uneven beat, but they’re firm and steady. There’s a jingle of keys, then the catch of the lock, and

And Michael can’t breathe, he sways forward and only just catches himself with a hand on the counter, flinging his bowl into the sink so he can wrap the other arm around his middle, and

“Guerin?” Alex call into the cabin, his voice light and warm and happy to be be home and oh god

Michael’s mouth opens and closes, but no words come out. He clutches at himself; he rubs his hands over his own arms like he can prepare his touch-starved skin for someone else’s touch. He gulps down enough oxygen to feed his brain. He turns on the water to hide the sound. He composes himself before Alex follows it to him.

“There you are,” Alex says from the doorway. There’s a smile in his voice; his footsteps are eager as he crosses the room. He leans his hip against the cabinet and bends in to look at Michael’s face through the curtain of his hair. He’s not smiling now. That little line has appeared between his brows. His arms are folded, and his thumb runs back and forth in the crook of his own elbow. Michael grits his teeth, ducks his head, and his knuckles go white on the countertop.

Even so, his voice comes out gruff but normal sounding when he says, “You’re back early. Everything all right?”

“Mm, yeah. Fisher had some sort of emergency and a few of the others took it as an excuse to break early. Reconnecting with the guys is important, but it’s not easy for everyone, you know?”

“Fisher ok?”

“Oh yeah, it was just his…ferret, or his car or something, and—Look, Guerin, look at me.”

The small part of Michael that likes the hurt because it’s familiar holds him still, waits for the kick. What he gets instead is Alex speaking again, impossibly soft, “May I touch you?” A single, jerky nod, and then the pad of his thumb touches the sharpest part of Michael’s jaw. His palm follows it, a broad, gentle stroke against the side of Michael’s face that sets him shaking, all of him, lips and hands and knees.

Like he can’t help himself, like it’s all he’s ever wanted, like it’s basest instinct, Alex’s other hand mirrors the first, cupping all of Michael’s mind between them, gentling him and pulling him forward so their foreheads press together.

“I missed you,” Alex says. Their breaths mingle together, and it’s enough to keep Michael’s lungs working.

“Oh yeah? That sucks. I barely even noticed you were gone,” Michael pants. Alex’s shaky laugh is everything, so he leans in and devours it, bites at his mouth, sucks at his tongue. Alex lets him work, eggs him on with gasps and groans and fingertips teasing the aching roots of Michael’s hair.

Finally, after Michael’s kisses have gone all sloppy and slow, Alex pulls him back and holds him still and says, “Are you ready for me to tell you what you need?”

God yes. Please. The words alone are almost enough to get Michael floating.

Alex grips the scruff of Michael’s neck heavy and Michael keens soft and whiny and pathetic, choking on air and desperation. It’s not enough, this single point of contact; he wants to be collared, full-body, and kept, and owned. Leashed so Alex always knows where to find him, even if some deep-down instinct tells him to go chasing. Tagged so any goddamn stranger who picks him up knows he’s not for them.

“You’ve been neglected this past week, haven’t you, Guerin?” Alex asks, low and dangerous against the shell of his ear. Michael tries to shake his head—tell him no, no, it’s not possible, it’s all okay now that Alex is here—but Alex is holding him too tight for him to get any traction.

Alex grips him tighter, and his trembling thighs give out.

“You look good down there, but that’s not what I had in mind for you today. And I had a long time driving back to think of how I’m going to make it up to you.”

“Anything. Anything you want, that’s all, I don’t care—”

“Shh, I know. I know. You’re so good to me, Michael. And because you’re so good, here’s how it’s going to be: you’re going to let yourself come, and I’m not going to stop until I think you’ve had enough. That’s how I’m taking care of you tonight—making you feel so good it hurts.”

Giddy fear chases boneless surrender through Michael’s blood—a familiar emotional cocktail Alex inspires in him. Nothing hurts, and it tastes better than acetone at the back of his throat.

He sways forward—almost faceplants into Alex’s crotch, but sure hands divert him to the side and press his face into the hollow of Alex’s hip. The scent there is heady and addictive. Michael’s eyes flutter shut; saliva pools beneath his tongue.

“You get to pick how you want it first and last. What do you want?” Alex says, re-settling his hands firmly on Michael’s shoulders.

There’s only one real answer. Michael pulls back just enough to look Alex in the eye, though it makes his body cry out to be back curled against the warmth of Alex’s thighs. Holding that safe, dark gaze, Michael grinds the heel of his hand into the flannel-covered bulge of his cock and drop open his bruised-red mouth.

Alex grins at his reaction, satisfied, knowing. He presses his thumb to Michael’s tongue; the eager muscles at the back of his throat work to swallow around nothing at all.

“I thought that might be your choice,” he says, “But first, undress us both. I want to feel you—all of you.”

Michael presses a grateful, worshipful kiss to the inside of Alex’s wrist, tasting the delicate skin there with just the tip of his tongue, before standing up. How does Alex always just know? Michael needs skin on skin tonight; needs to find a heartbeat wherever his hands land without having to search it out through layers of protection. Skin on skin will also make this go much faster; Michael is too raw, too needy for anything else, and his sensitivity will turn painful that much quicker as well. But it’s worth the cost to feel real again.

Michael’s own clothes are disposed of quickly, his pajama pants stripped and launched telekinetically across the room. With Alex, though, he takes his time, and Alex takes his time with him. Michael smooths his palms across the cotton-covered planes of Alex’s chest; he rolls the shirt up slowly and bends to kiss and nuzzle at each new inch of skin revealed. In return, Alex feeds him his fingers one by one, letting him stretch his jaw and taste his fill. Michael traces Alex’s belt buckle with his fingertip; he fumbles a bit at the clasp when the smell of new leather fills his senses. He unties Alex’s laces and sits obediently as he steps out of his shoes. Alex rewards him with a long tease of a kiss.

The sound of Alex’s zipper is thunderous in the quiet room. Michael almost misses the challenge of peeling him out of those tight-tight jeans he used to wear, but this is good too, the looser fit letting Michael keep all his movements dreamy and slow. Next, he rolls off Alex’s underwear, finally revealing his cock—hard and just starting to bead wet at the tip and Michael licks his suddenly dry lips. But he’s good; he won’t lean in and drink his fill until he’s given permission.

“Excellent, Guerin; you did so well,” Alex says against his lips. Michael moans weakly at the touch, at the praise. It’s hard to walk as Alex leads him to the bedroom, where Michael kneels beside the bed as Alex follows the methodical steps to care for his leg. Then finally, finally, Alex spreads his thighs and welcomes Michael in between them.

There’s a reason this is one of Michael’s favorite things, and it’s this: with Alex’s hands in his hair, his head settled in the cradle of Alex’s hips, the whole world melts away. There’s no sound from outside the window; there’s no exposure in the back of his mind waiting to jump at new hands on his back. The whole world is right here, in the barest rhythmic flex of Alex’s hips, in Michael’s own sounds of pleasure. There’s only one taste, only one scent, and it’s heaven.

Alex indulges him for a while, long enough to build up a friction-heat in his soft palate and coat his chin with drool. “This is about you,” he says, “So you can come as many times as you want. But you can’t make me come just yet.”

Michael whines in disappointment but doesn’t protest. Alex always gives him what he needs. He feeds his dick back into Michael’s throat and lets it rest there until Michael brings himself to his first orgasm of the night. In the aftershocks, Alex pulls him in close and whispers love against his skin. Michael drifts in the waking sleep of Alex taking care of him. Here, he can be as small and safe as he needs, feeding the trust that’s always been there between them and has at last been watered and brought to light until it’s big enough to hold them both.

The day goes on, nothing but the two of them and their bodies twined together. For Michael’s second orgasm, Alex takes him hard while Michael clings to the headboard and arches all the way off the bed, begging in snatches of a half-dozen languages he only learned so he could be filthy. Third, he keeps himself still, keeps himself good, lying there and taking it as Alex sucks him down and past the point of raw pain.

“I want one more out of you,” Alex says afterward, rubbing soothing circles into Michael’s chest. It’s too much, it’s going to be too much, but Michael’s toes still curl and he’d be purring if it was possible. If Alex says he can do it, he can do it.

So Michael goes onto his belly with his knees beneath him, ass lifted and presenting as Alex fucks him like something precious. Michael’s eyes blur with tears; his head is swimmy and light. Everything aches; everything in him feels like new, like being Alex’s again.

--

He sleeps for a while. Heavy and good. Alex stays beside him the whole time and gets through a solid few chapters of a book he’s been meaning to read, until his own eyelids grow heavy and he succumbs to the living temptation that is Michael Guerin warming his bed.

They have things to talk about tomorrow. No matter how much it’s wanted, needed, or deserved, it’s too hard for them to be apart after everything they’ve put themselves and each other through. One day this codependency will become a far uglier thing.

But those are thoughts for tomorrow, and healable ones. Right now, he finds himself falling asleep next to Michael made fucked-out and fluid, and there aren’t any other thoughts that matter.

[dyde21]

‘I live in the apartment below yours and I keep getting your mail this needs to stop dammit’ Percabeth!

Thank you for the prompt and sorry for the delay! This took a while to get out. It was very fun though! I really like how it turned out! 

XxXxXxXX

If you had to ask Percy, he would sayhe was a pretty average guy when it came to intelligence. He wasn’ttoo smart, nor did he really think himself too dumb. But for the lifeof him, he could not figure out why Amazon hated him. Or, morespecifically, why it just lied to him consistently. His friend Piperhad finally convinced him to sign up for Amazon Prime, and he finallyunderstood what all the hype was for around it. Having thingsdelivered to his doorstep was amazing. Especially considering itsaved him a trip on the sketchy-at-best subway, and hauling whateverhe bought up to his fourth floor apartment.

Rather, coming homeafter a long day of classes, followed by his volunteer work at thefire station, and finding food and supplies just waiting for him topick up felt like a gift from God. At first he had been hesitant, nottrusting the general New York population to not steal his stuff forobvious reasons, but slowly he found his packages were always safeand waiting for him. So he had been ramping up his orders, slowlyrelying less and less on physical shopping.

Everything wasseemingly perfect, except for one small thing.

Hispackages were always aday late. He had absolutely no idea why either. They always said theywere delivered, but sure enough there’d be nothing waiting outsidehis door. The first time it had happened he had freaked out, but whenhe woke up the next morning, he kicked the box when he was leavingfor classes. Figuring it a fluke, Piper had convinced him to give itanother another try, and sure enough it happened again. His packagewas missing the first day, only to show up in perfect condition thenext. The same thing happened the time after that. And the one afterthat. And the one after that.

After a while,Percy just accepted it as normal. A side effect from living in NewYork, he supposed. If you got hung up on every weird thing thathappened to you in that city, you’d go insane.

So for now, Percyjust planned his life around things arriving a day later. Emails liedto him, his mail had it’s own sense of timing, and Percy was onceagain, victim to the seemingly endless amount of weird shit in hislife.

So when his copy ofhis new game was delivered a day late, he wasn’t too surprised. Whatdid surprised him though, was the very angry note scrawled on top ofit.

“STOP BUYING THINGS.”

Picking up thepackage, Percy quickly went inside before he set it down on thetable.

Did his packagejust yell at him? Maybe Amazon did hate him after all.

Setting it down onhis table, he stared at it for a moment. The handwriting was nice.Like, definitely hand written with care, which was an odd contrast toit’s angry message. Unsure of exactly how to respond, he threw thenote away before opening his package. He figured it could have justbeen an annoyed neighbor who was tired of hearing the deliveryman.He’d ask Piper about it later anyway. Starting up his new game, Percytried to push it out of his mind. He wasn’t going to figure anythingout just by stressing out over it. Sending a text to Piper, hefigured a long day of gaming would be just what his mind needed toget over it and relax again.

When he foundanother note on his next package, Percy finally started to freak outa bit.

“I’M SERIOUS. STOP.”

He texted Piper,who immediately rushed over. By the time she got there, Percy wassitting with the package on the table again.

Piper stared at thenote for a moment. “A girl wrote that.” She offered, before shepaused. “Maybe you should stop ordering.”

Percy groaned,leaning back on the couch dramatically. “I have to give up theblessing of Amazon because someone hates the delivery guy? This soisn’t fair.”

Piper rolled hereyes, nudging him to scoot over so she could sit down. “Let’s see.Every time you order a package, it shows up a day late. Recentlythere’s started being a threatening note on it as well.” Shesummarized, thinking. “When do the packages arrive late?”

Percy thought for amoment. “Either late at night or early morning. It’s never therebefore I go to bed that day, but always there by the time I wake up.”

Piper paused,cracking open her Arizona iced tea and taking a sip. “You know whatthis calls for, right?”

Tilting his head,Percy thought for a moment. “I need a new apartment?”

Rolling her eyes,she gently slapped him upside the head. “No! You need to set atrap.”

Percy squinted hiseyes. “Have you been binging Sherlock again?”

Piper squared hershoulders. “Maybe. But that has nothing to do with this. If someoneis delivering this package late consistently, you just need to catchthem in the act. Order another package, next time it’s delivered,wake up super early then wait outside. That way when the package isbeing dropped off, you can catch the delivery person and ask himwhats up, and figure out why she is leaving an angry note with you.”

“What if she’sdangerous?” Percy asked after a moment of consideration.

Piper raised aneyebrow, glancing at him. “You’re a volunteer fire fighter in greatshape, in a small hallway, surrounded by plenty of people who willcome running if you call for help. I think you’ll be fine.”

Percy pouted.“You’re not concerned for my health at all. I thought we weresupposed to be best friends.”

Piper justshrugged. “I promise to visit you in the hospital if something goeswrong.” She offered, before reaching forward to grab thePlayStation controller.

Percy just sighedand grabbed his laptop, starting to browse Amazon. At least he had anexcuse for an impulse purchase this time.

XxXxXxXxX

Slamming his alarmclock with perhaps a little too much force, Percy groaned and rolledover. He really, really hated waking up early, and getting up at 4:30felt like a sin. No one should be up this early. Still, rememberingwhy he had to get up after a moment was enough motivation.Literally dragging himself out of his bed, he forced himself to walkto the door. He pulled on a shirt, ran a hand through his hair,grabbed his phone and keys, then opened the door. Sure enough, therewas no package yet. Pausing for a moment, he figured he had no optionother than to just sit and wait.

Pulling out hisphone, he scrolled through twitter for a bit, checked snapchats hewas behind on, sending one to Piper for good measure just to prove heactually woke up on time.

Twenty minuteslater, and Percy was now bored and tired.

His eyes feltheavy, his usual habit of still being asleep at this time wasstarting to catch up to him and he felt his body settle down. Hetried to fight it, but a few minutes later and Percy was out cold,bundled up against his door.

When he did finallyawake, it was to someone shaking his shoulders. A very pretty girlwith curly blonde hair and stormy gray eyes was staring at him with acomplicated expression, her lips tight in a line like she couldn’tdecide what to say. After a moment where Percy just stared at her,still 70% asleep, she finally spoke.

“You drool whenyou sleep.”

XxXxXxXxX

When Annabeth camehome to find yet another amazon delivery box on her doorstep,she seriously began to consider if she could adapt to life in prisonfor committing murder.

Seriously, she haslost track of how many times someone else’s packages had shown up ather door. At first she had found it amusing that it was a simplemistake, but then it kept happening over and over again. How couldthis “Percy” not realize?

Between studyingArchitecture in college, and working in a cafe, Annabeth reallydidn’t have the time, or motivation to deal with drama with anotherresident of her apartment complex, so she just found out hisapartment from the clerk in the lobby, and dropped it off on her wayto her early classes the next day. Problem solved.

At least, it shouldhave been. With any normal person, it surely would have been, right?They would have realized something was up and realized that thedelivery address was wrong.

But no, whoeverthis Percy was either hated her, or didn’t care enough to fix it.

Annabeth had beentempted to keep the package for herself, but she didn’t really playgames and judging by the label, it was some game she had never heardof. Well that, and the fact it’d be stealing and all that.

So she had justmade the habit of dropping off his packages and hoping he’d get thehint eventually.

When Annabethtripped over the package going into her apartment, she decided she ithad been the last straw. Calling her friend Jason, she wondered whatthe worst thing she could do to the guy while still avoiding legaltrouble. Instead of being her accomplice, he had decided to be thevoice of reason like the goody two-shoes he was, and told her towrite a note.

Annabeth would goto the grave before she would admit the fact that that had simply…never occurred to her. Her frustrations had lead her down the path ofpetty revenge before any more reasonable alternatives had presentedthemselves.

Decided to take hisadvice, she left a simple note. Straight forward and to the point,just like her.

On the back of thenote she made sure to leave her name and explain that the floornumber was wrong on the shipping address.

Problem solved!

With a smile on herface, she made sure to drop the package off in the morning on her wayto class, feeling a weight being lifted off her shoulder. A monthslong irritation was finally gone.

At least, she hadthought so.

When she came homea few days later to another package, she had let out a sound thatJason had only described as an “unholy shriek.”

She was glad herfriend had decided to study with her that day, otherwise she very maywell have done something stupid.

He had suggestedwriting another note, and taping it to the box. Maybe it had gottenseparated from the package before “Percy” had seen it.

She had writtenanother note, perhaps a little more… aggressive, than her previousone, but she had had a rough week, so sue her. Hopefully he didn’tactually…

Making sure to flipit over, and once again explaining how the wrong floor was on hisshipping address for Amazon. She also included her name again.

Satisfied thatsurely this Percy couldn’t make the same mistake again, Annabethtried to distract herself with studying and once again hoping thatthe problem would be solved.

It turned out theonly thing worse than coming home to a package that she feltobligated to deliver, was never knowing if there was going to be apackage waiting for her. The anticipation was killing her.

On the bright side,that anticipation didn’t last long. Three days later and she foundanother package outside her door. Coincidentally it was around thenthat Annabeth decided Jail might not be so bad after all.

She had calledJason, and together they decided that she would just settle it onceand for all. Instead of leaving the package and a note, she wouldknock on the door until he answered and just settle the confusion inperson. No more passive-aggressive run arounds. Jason had offered tobe there as well, feeling a bit nervous about his friend confrontinga stranger early in a morning in New York, but Annabeth had waved himoff, promising that despite how frustrated she was, she was justgoing to talk to him, and she carried pepper spray with her always.

That’s how Annabethfound herself walking down the annoyingly familiar hallway, runningover the explanation she had planned out in her head over and overagain. It’d be short, simple, polite, and concise. The problem wouldbe solved, and if not she’d talk to Amazon support or the apartmentmanagement. Turning the corner, whatever plan she had vanished fromher mind when she saw someone leaning against “Percy's” door.

She hesitated for amoment, unsure of how to react, before she slowly made her waytowards him. Judging by the rise and fall of his shoulders steadily,he was asleep.

Was he locked out?If he was, Annabeth suddenly found it a lot more plausible that thiswas all a giant, and annoying, misunderstanding. Hesitating, Annabethwasn’t sure how to actually wake him up.

Calling his namemight be weird considering they’ve never spoken before. Kicking himfelt wrong, even if it would have felt a little right… Pausing, shesquatted down in front of him, reaching out only to pause in front ofhis shoulder. Biting her lip, Annabeth gently nudged his shoulder.

The young manslowly stirred, seemingly coming to life as he looked at her, clearlystill mostly asleep. The mess of raven colored hair on his headcontrasted his the sea green eyes that blearily studied her. Atrickle of drool ran down the corner of his mouth, and despite themix of emotions in her, some part of her long-time single mindregistered that he was actually deceptively cute.

Remembering she washere on a mission, she ordered her brain to begin her preparedspeech.

“You drool whenyou sleep.”

…Shit.

That wasn’t part ofit. Abort. Abort. Abort. The whole situation had just caught her offguard, and her train of thought was already off the tracks and onfire in a ditch somewhere.

“Sorry.” Theboy offered quickly, scrambling to stand up before he slammed hishead into the bottom of the doorknob with a loud thud, causing him tocollapse back to the ground, rubbing the top of his head as he groan.

Annabeth bit back alaugh at his expense, biting her lip to hide a smile. Her hands wereawkwardly in front of her, stuck between wanting to help, and notexactly know what to do or say to this stranger. “Are you okay?”A normal statement this time at least.

The boy nodded.“I’m… fine. Ow. Just a mild concussion probably.” He muttered,before something seemed to click in his mind. “Are you… the notelady?”

Annabeth noddedslowly, glad the conversationwas finally heading in the intended direction.

“Pleasedon’t hurt me.” Percy offered, still rubbing the top of his head.

Annabethwinced. Writing notes while upset clearly wasn’t a good idea. Even ifit was annoying, shehad meant to actually threaten him. “I wont. I just… Ilive in the apartment below yours and I keep getting your mail thisneeds to stop dammit.” She erupted suddenly, glad to finally getthat off her chest.

Theboy stared at her confused, and Annabeth could practically see thegears aligning in his head. “Wait, all my packages have been goingto you?”

Annabethnodded, exasperated.

“Didyou get my note?”

Percypaused. “The threats?”

Annabethstared at him. “On the back of those, I explained everything andgave my name.”

Percylooked off to the side, rubbing the back of his neck. “I kindathrew them away after seeing the threat. I didn’t flip them over.”

Annabethcouldn’t believe him, but she also couldn’t completely blame him.Annabeth wouldn’t exactly want to examine any “threats” she gotherself.

Annabethjust dropped her head into her hands. “I can’t believe how longthis went on.”

Percyjust let his head fall back against his door. “So I messed up theshipping address.” He muttered, his face flushing red. “I reallyshould have noticed that.”

Annabethjust gave him a look of disbelief. “What did you think happenedwith all the packages?”

Percyshrugged. “I had no idea, but they always showed up the next day soI figured I would just let it be.”

Annabethjust sighed, but couldn’t exactly blame him once again. Annabeth haddealt with her own share of weird stuff in her life, sometimes notquestioning things was the best option.

Annabethjust sighed. “Well fix it please. Also… you might wanna lay offyour orders.” She offered with an eye roll.

Percyjust laughed sheepishly. “I”ll fix it tonight, I promise.”

Nodding,Annabeth stood up, suddenly finding a lack of conversation to talkabout.

“Aslong as this is fixed…” She offered, a little lamely.

Percystood up suddenly. “Wait… can I get your name at least?”

Caughtoff guard, she nodded. “Annabeth Chase.”

Percysmiled, offering his hand. “Percy Jackson.”

Rollingher eyes, Annabeth shook his hand. “I know.”

Pausingfor a moment, Annabeth waved before she started to walk away,figuring the situation was resolved.

“Hey…”He interrupted again, hesitance in his voice clearly.

Annabethturned around again, raising an eyebrow at the clear stress he seemedto be feeling.

“Dinner…I feel bad for having you be my courier for so long. Can I get youdinner to make up for it?” He asked, only making fleeting eyecontact as his gaze flickered everywhere else. She noticed his cheekswere flushed, and that only caused her own cheeks to feel warm.

Hereyes flicked over his form.

Well…he was cute. At least a little. Plus he did kinda owe her…

“Areyou free around 7? That’s when my shift ends.” She offered, tryingto keep her voice steady. She was so out of practice withstuff like this.

Percynodded, perhaps a bit too eagerly. “Meet you in the lobby?”

Annabethnodded, flashing him a smile before she waved to head off to herclass.

Thesecond she left the building, Jason found his phone exploding with alot of frantic texts.

Ifshe had seemed a little distracted during classes that day, Annabethwould just insist she had a lot of her mind. When Jason pointed outthe small smile she seemed to be wearing the whole day, she justkicked his shin and mumbled out something about being relieved thatan annoyance was gone.

WhenAnnabeth finally made her way down to the lobby, her heart wasgripped with fear for a moment that he wouldn’t actually be there,and this was all some cruel prank for her threatening notes.

Sureenough though, she found him chilling in one of the large chairs. Hewas dressed for a casual night out, much to Annabeth’s relief as shehad gambled that was the proper dress attire for the night as well,and he had seemingly attempted to comb his hair. It hadn’t done muchto restrain the messy black locks on his hair, but she appreciatedthe attempt.

“Ready?”She asked, raising an eyebrow.

WhenPercy saw her, his eyes lit up and he hopped up. “Of course!”

Annabethwasn’t exactly sure how she expected the definitely-not-a-date to go,but he had taken her to his favorite pizza place. It also turned outthat he was surprisingly easy to talk to. She had found out he alsoattended her school, was attending for marine biology, volunteered asa fire fighter, and got way too excited about surfing. Shefigured it would have been a quick dinner, but she was definitelysurprised when she had noticed two hours had passed with themchatting in that pizzeria.

Ithad been Annabeth’s turn to be bold when they exchanged numbers atthe end of the night, and Annabeth was pretty satisfied that she hadmanaged to make a new friend.

Atleast, until she woke up a few days later and found another box infront of her door. Before she could smash his door in and throw it athim, she noticed something was different about this box. It actuallyhad her name on it.

Cautiouslyshe opened it up, unsure of what to expect. What she found made herheart skip a beat.

Insidewas only what could be described as a care package.

Itwas a combination of her favorite chocolate, a box of her favoritetea, the new romcom she had fallen in love with, and a finding nemoplushy. All things she had mentioned liking off handedly to Percy’squestions during their dinner. Never in a million years would shehave expected him to actually remember what she had said, let aloneget her a gift. At least aside from the plush, that seemed to bePercy’s own addition.

Ithad taken her half the day to figure out just what to text him inthanks. Her message had been simple, but a few days later Percy wouldwake up to find a package of his own waiting outside his door.Luckily Annabeth had seen the content list enough times on hispackages that she had a pretty good idea of what he liked, aside fromwhat he had mentioned on their dinner.

Whenshe had received a text that was little more than a string ofexclamation points and random capitalized letters, she figured shehad guessed pretty well.

Shortlyafter she had received an invite to go bowling with Percy and hisfriend Piper, Annabeth may had agreed a little too quickly, aftersecuring an invite for her friend Jason as well.

Thenext morning Annabeth had found another package waiting for heroutside. Opening it with a sigh, pulling out her favorite chocolate,Annabeth finally caved and bought Amazon prime as she began browsing.Snacking on the chocolate with a small smile, Annabeth figured she’dprobably get plenty of use out of Amazon prime as she made sure tosave a secondary address to her account.

Afew years later, Annabeth would be glad she no longer had to worryabout getting someone else’s mail when Percy and herself startedsharing an address.

XxXxXxXxX

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it! I really love the idea of Percy and Annabeth sending packages back and forth occasionally as flirting. Anyway, this was one of the many prompts I have in my inbox, feel free to suggest more from THIS LIST.

[ourlittlesecretokay]

3, 7, 8 (I love these btw)

Thank you!! I combined the last two, because I have executive control and a power complex

The way you said “I love you” with a scream

The way you said “I love you” as a thank you

The way you said “I love you” as an apology

“I don’t see why you care so much!”

“I don’t care!” She punctuated the statement by a shove, knocking him back a step.

“Fine, if you want to be a child about it, that’s fine.” He waved the papers in the air, equal parts exasperated and exhausted. “Pardon me for, oh, I don’t know, caring about your opinion!”

“I don’t see why you would bother! I don’t care!”

“Evidently!” But then she was slamming the kitchen door in his face, and even if he wanted to, he couldn’t let it drop.

“No!” storming in, he let the door bang open, “You do NOT slam doors in my face!”

“Since when?” Turning to face him, she stood stiff, her arms crossed. Didn’t he have sense enough to leave her alone?

“I told you I’d take it out if it bothers you so much!”

“I’m not bothered!”

“You are LITERALLY only hurting yourself here!”

“What, are you offended I’m not more jealous?”

“Jealous? We’ve moved past jealous into enraged. Jealous would be much more reasonable! I could work with jealous!”

“Well I’m not! You do whatever the hell you want!”

“Oh my g- It’s just a script!”

“A script which YOU wrote.”

“No, not me, i-”

“Sorry, not you, whatever fucking alias you’re using for this one!”

“Language.” The corners of his mouth turned down, still finding the time to reprimand her. “I asked if it was going to be an issue, and if it’s not-”

“It isn’t! I genuinely do not see why you would possibly think I’d have an issue with it.”

“Well now you’re just overdoing it. Seriously? It’s just a play. It doesn’t mean anything.”

“Of course it doesn’t! God, you’re so stupid!”

“Fine, you know what? I’m keeping it in. If you’re so OBVIOUSLY unperturbed by it, then it won’t be a problem!”

“Fine!”

“Fine!”

They stood in silence, neither one looking at the other.

“It’s shitty writing anyway,” she muttered, just loud enough for him to hear.

“EXCUSE me?”

“I said, it’s shitty writing! You’re a bad writer!” Her finger jabbed at his chest. He scowled, irritated beyond belief.

“Oh, because you could do so much better?”

“I could! Who even talks like that? God, if the audience isn’t already nauseous from watching you makeout with someone on stage, this dialogue will put them under for sure!”

“That-” he gestured with his finger, trying to keep his anger coherent, “is uncalled for!”

“Oh, and I’m the oversensitive one? You’re the one throwing a hissy fit over an honest critique!”

“You’re not being honest nor fair!”

“What can I say, maybe you’re a bad influence after all.”

“Look,” he held his hands out in surrender, “I’ll take it out. All you have to do is say you want me to.”

“I! Don’t! Care! I’m just trying to keep you from embarrassing yourself. It sounds like you’ve never met a woman in your life! I mean, honestly,” snatching the papers from his hand, she began to read aloud, “‘Now that I know you exist, how could I ever survive without you?’ What the hell is that? No self-respecting woman would ever say that!”

“Maybe they would, if they weren’t so impossibly callous.”

“Callous!”

He shrugged, “I’m only speaking hypothetically. If you choose to take offense to that-”

“Okay, then what about this,” she jabbed at the paper irately, “explain just what the hell this is supposed to be.”

“It’s a love scene.”

“It’s something, alright. ‘You tremble beneath my hand like a shivering mollusk?’ Honestly, who talks like that?”

“Don’t be mad simply because you don’t have the soul of a poet!”

“Oh my god,” she shook her head. “If you’re gonna exploit loopholes in our marriage, at least have the dignity to do it right!”

“It’s a play, it doesn’t mean anything!”

“But you wrote it!” She slammed the script down on the counter, “You sat up all night and imagined how it would feel to sleep with another woman, wrote it down, terribly, I might add, and plan on sharing it with everyone while I sit there trying very hard not to look like an idiot while you make out with some lady on stage!”

“So it DOES bother you?”

“Yes it bothers me!” She lifted her hands up, exasperated, “It bothers me so damn much! It bothers me that you are so much more concerned with how things look for you that I can go to hell so long as I make you look good while doing it!”

“It’s not that deep-”

“No, it’s not! That’s the problem. You’re so fucking vain, anything beyond an inch of depth puts you out of your league. You want to kiss women on stage? Fucking whatever. Just write something better than a Shakespearean porno opening.”

“You think it sounds like Shakespeare?”

“I think that you’re an incomprehensible idiot!”

“Watch it!”

“No, it’s okay, I’m a fucking idiot too! I should have known better than to love a man who’s more in love with his ego than me.” She slammed the papers against his chest. Catching them in his hands, he looked at her quietly. She took a shattering breath in, gritting her teeth. Feeling rather awkward, he cleared his throat.

“Do you really think I wrote a play just to cheat on you?”

“I don’t know. Maybe,” she shrugged, not meeting his eyes, “I’ve never pretended to understand you.”

“No offense, but if I wanted to cheat on you, I would just do it. Do you think writing plays is easier than just kissing someone?”

“With dialogue like that? Yes.”

“That’s cruel.”

“It’s true.”

Stepping forward, he caught her face between his hands, brushing her hair back, “You’re impossible, you know.”

“Hey, I-”

“No, it’s okay. I like my women difficult.”

“Not the line to use right now.”

He laughed, amused at her irritation. “Do you really think I would be so unkind?”

“Yes.”

“Poor Violet, so mistreated by her unkind husband.” Still smiling, he kissed her forehead. “It would be poetic though, wouldn’t it? Using theater both to catch and leave you?”

She scoffed, “Maybe you should write a play about that instead.”

“Maybe.” He paused, quiet. “I can’t believe you think my play is bad.”

“Well, it’s not IRREDEEMABLE, persay. It’s just… not good.”

“You wound me, Countess.”

“You deserved it.”

“Perhaps I did.” Amused, he kissed her lips. “Although, in the future, may I recommend just admitting your infatuations? It would save us both a lot of time.”

“Infatuation might be too strong a word.”

“Obsession? Adoration? Passion?”

“You’re pushing your luck.”

“Let’s see how far it takes me then.” Smiling, he kissed her again, leaving the script forgotten behind in the light of her favor.

The way you said “I love you” as a thank you

The way you said “I love you” as an apology

“I’m FINE.”

“Nope,” she pushed at his back, trying to steer him back upstairs, “you most certainly are not.”

“I don’t see what you’re so upset about. It’s not-” his protest was interrupted with a hacking cough.

“It absolutely is, and I will not have you germing up my nice clean house.”

“I’m not even sick.”

“Then you won’t mind taking a day off anyway.”

“I’m not-” but then she was shoving him into the bedroom, a woman determined, and he knew there was no point in arguing. “Fine. If you want to do all the work yourself, be my guest.”

“Sounds good. Now please, try to get some sleep.”

“If anything at all happens, you come and get me.”

“What’s going to happen? I swear, you’re so paranoid.” Tugging off his jacket, she pushed him towards the bed.

“Will you at least bring me food? I might as well get something out of this.”

“Sure. Just, please. Stay put.”

“If you insist,” he clicked his tongue, more amused than annoyed.

She didn’t become worried until it became two hours since she’d last heard from him. Usually his silence indicated some sort of nefarious plot, and now she was worried he had actually managed to sneak out. However, when she came up, food in hand, she found him pale and sweating in a shallow sleep. He awoke when she carefully set the mug on the table beside him.

“Violet,” he whispered.

“Yes?”

“I’m dying.”

“You’re not dying.” Lightly, she pressed the back of her hand to his forehead. “You have a fever, but you’re not dying.”

“I’ve been poisoned.”

“You’ve not been poisoned.”

“After everything, this is how it ends.”

“Okay, actor man.” She handed him a glass of water, “Here, drink this.”

“And so I go,” he closed his eyes, his voice low and hoarse. “Not with a bang but a whimper.”

“Alright. I’ll go pick up some cough medicine. Try to drink that entire glass by the time I’m back. Do you want anything else?”

“Whiskey.”

“Not whiskey.”

“You can’t refuse a dying man his last wish.”

Not bothering to respond, she opened the window, letting in some fresh air, “If you’re up to it, take a cold shower. It’ll make you feel better.”

“You’re a terrible nurse.”

“Something tells me you’re an even worse patient.”

“I crave the release of death.”

“Okay, I’ll be back.” She patted his head placatingly, shutting the door quiet behind her.

He could not remember the last time he had been so horribly inconvenienced. He was a busy man; he didn’t have time to get sick. Quarantined to his own sweaty solitude, the minutes ticked into hours. Eternities flew by, dizzy and achy timeless expanses. He didn’t know it was possible for your very bones to ache.

It had finally caught up with him; every single terrible thing he had ever done ever, and now he was paying the price. Damn her for leaving him in this state. It was as if she didn’t even care. Maybe he would die, just to show her. Then she’d be sorry. His revenge fantasy easily turned over to a daydream about her as a more sympathetic nurse, crying over his lowly state, stroking his face and remarking upon how very very brave he was. He closed his eyes, the pressure in his head pounding against his skull.

When he opened them again, the light had moved across the walls. It took him a moment to realize he had been sleeping, for all the good it had done him; he was just as tired and groggy as before. Looking over, he saw her placing some more things on his bedside table.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you. How are you feeling?”

He shrugged feebly, forcing out a weak cough.

“Well, I’m glad to see you’ve fended off death thus far. Here, sit up,” pulling at his shoulder, she managed to get him somewhat less horizontal. “Take this.”

“What is it?”

“It’ll bring your fever down.” She dropped a white pill into his hand.

“I’d much prefer a cyanide capsule.”

“I’m sure you would.” Handing him the glass of water, she stared at him until he successfully swallowed it. “And let me get this, you’ve sweat clean through it.” She tugged at his shirt, snapping the buttons open and pulling it over his shoulders. Grateful for the cool air, he lay back down, exhausted and dizzy but mostly embarrassed at being so entirely undone.  

“I’m not helpless, you know.”

“I’m aware.”

“I’m still a lethal force.”

“Of course.”

“I can handle myself.”

“I know.”

He almost felt bad for being so irritable, but it was utterly beyond his control. His own body was conspiring against him. He heard her move a few more things around and then she cleared her throat quietly, touching his arm lightly.

“Alright then. If you need anything-”

“Wait,” he caught her wrist, holding her beside him. “Can you stay?”

There was a moment’s pause before she responded. “Sure.” The mattress sank beside him as she perched on the edge, stroking her fingers over his hair, “Should I just be quiet, or?”

“No, keep talking.” His voice was more mutter than speech. “It’s nice.”

“Do you want me to read to you? I mean, I can, if you want.”

“That depends. Do you have anything good?”

“I absolutely do.” He heard her shuffling things around once more and then, settling gently, she began to read aloud, her free hand still stroking his hair, “Miss Adela Strangeworth stepped daintily along Main Street on her way to the grocery. The sun was shining, the air was fresh and clear after the night’s heavy rain-”

“Wait, wait,” he stopped her, “are you sure this is good? Because it sounds like it’s gearing up to be absolutely awful.”

“Trust me,” he could hear the smile in her voice, “it’s good.”

“Alright. But if it’s boring, that’s on you.”

“A risk I’m willing to take.” Clearing her throat, she began again where she had left off. “Let’s see… The air was fresh and clear after the night’s heavy rain, and everything in Miss Strangeworth’s little town looked washed and bright.”

“Violet?”

She sighed, “It won’t get any better if you don’t let me get anywhere.”

“No, it’s not that. I just… love you, is all.”

Smiling, she stroked his forehead, brushing his hair back. “Feeling guilty about yelling at me?”

“Somewhat. But mostly I just thought you should know, since this is the end and all.”

“Oh, of course. Should I continue?”

“Please.” Closing his eyes again, he let her carry on.

It was well into the night by the time he awoke next. She was still beside him, her finger tucked between the pages of the book where she had left off. The silly girl had fallen asleep in her clothes. Quiet as he could manage, he sat up, pulling her shoes off for her. She stirred, groaning awake.

“What time is it?”

“Late.”

Rubbing at her eyes, she sighed, “How are you feeling?”

“Pretty terrible. I’ll survive, though.”

“Glad to hear it. God, why is it so hot in here?”

Smirking, he reclined again, pressing a kiss to her forehead before pausing, pulling back ever so slightly, “Violet?”

“Yes?”

“You might want these,” reaching over her, he guiltily handed her the bottle of pills.

She sighed, “Perfect.”

“I love you.”

“I know, I know.”

He kissed her forehead again, her flushed skin hot beneath his lips, “Anything I can do to make it up to you?”

“Here,” smirking, she handed him the book, settling against his shoulder, “you can take a turn.”

“Fair enough.” Leaning his cheek against the top of her head, he waited for her settle, and then as softly as he could manage, he picked up right where they had left off.

[justasmallbloginabigklainefandom]

Great OMGCP fanfics

All the Sights of Paris by writingonpostcards

Eric and Jack meet atop the Eiffel Tower. It's the beginning of a few whirlwind days together, but Eric's leaving soon. How much can really happen between them in just a few days?

--

Jack holds out his hand and Eric takes it. Instead of shaking it like Eric was expecting, Jack pulls him in gently, and kisses him once on both cheeks. “See you around,” Jack says with confidence.

Like breathing was easy by lillaseptember (part 7 of a series)

Jack has a panic attack. Bitty (and the kids) help him through it.

--

“We have seven kids downstairs who all think you’re their hero. And it’s not because of the reasons you think it is. It’s because you pick them up from practice with the same terrible puns every Tuesday, actually listen to what they know is their ridiculous teenage gossip, let them win wrestling matches in the most dramatic way imaginable, watch Aristocats with them 17 times in a row, kiss their injuries better, memorize presidents with them, make that godawful mac ‘n’ cheese for ‘em.”

Set Your Old Heart Free by IBoatedHere*

Jack doesn’t find Bitty after graduation. They don’t kiss. Jack doesn't go to Madison for the 4th. They still fall in love.

falling into place by furyofthetimelords

Your soulmark doesn’t settle until you’ve met your soulmate.

Neither Jack or Eric notice when it happens.

Irreplaceable by JustLookFrightenedAndScuttle

Bitty gets too wrapped up in his worry that his relationship with Jack could cost Jack too much.

Breakaway by AntarcticBird

The first time Jack sees him is at the beginning of his sophomore year at Samwell, a completely normal Monday night, and at first he thinks he has gone insane.

Excuse Me While I Kiss This Guy by PorcupineGirl

Jesse Snowden knows all the best restaurants and gourmet food shops in Providence, so when Jack Zimmermann starts bringing in incredible baked goods, he's eager to find out where the new bakery is. When he meets the man behind the pies, he decides that there's no way Jack could really appreciate this guy's talent the way he does, even if they are friends. He starts hiring Jack's chef on the side, in the hopes that maybe once Bitty's done with college he'll come work for Jesse.

Good thing there is absolutely no way whatsoever that Jesse could possibly be misinterpreting this situation.

Mother’s Weekend by rosepetals42*

Hello there! Long time, no see (my bad I know) but, here: an Alicia Zimmermann-centric piece as she goes to Parents’ Weekend during Jack’s freshmen year. [focus on Alicia, Jack, and Shitty] 6k

Imagine being a tadpole though by rosepetals42

Outsider POV, zimbits, canon-compliant, 2nd person, 4k ish, yes this got way longer than expected

when it’s over (you’re the start) by onawingandaswear

Jack goes to sleep in Providence next to his boyfriend and wakes up in Montréal to discover he’s been in a coma since 2009. Refusing to believe Samwell, Bitty, and the Falconers were all a dream, Jack tracks down the real Shitty, Lardo, Ransom, and Holster to find they’ve shared the same group hallucination for years. Now, they’re on a mission to find Bitty, the love of Jack’s non-existent life, and the only member of SMH they can’t seem to get in contact with.

ABC by alphardhy

effort, n.

It is worth it.

Jack and Bitty's relationship told through short dictionary entries. (The title is quite self-explanatory, really.)

Ice Crew Please! by rosepetals42*

Jack Zimmermann was drafted first by the Providence Falconers when he was eighteen years old. He is good at hockey. Very good. His team won the Cup his second year and now, in his third year, they are looking good. Jack should be on top of the world. And some days, he manages to convince himself he is.

He’s not, of course.

Enter the Ice Crew.

a tale of love and how it finds you by nightswatch 

Bitty sees Jack Zimmermann almost every morning, but he’s never said a single word to him. Honestly, Jack Zimmermann probably doesn’t even know that he exists.

Revenge is best served @ by Perpetual Motion (perpetfic)

The ESPN hockey anchors take a cheap shot. Bitty takes one back.

i'll see you with your laughter lines by the_one_that_fell*

Eric Bittle was fourteen when his soulmate died.

They'd never even gotten to meet.

Hold on Forever by an orphan account (part 2 of a series)

Eric Bittle doesn't think he's going to be standing at his boyfriend's sledge hockey game holding a sign that says, "Yo, Go To Prom With Me Jack Zimmermann," at almost thirty years old and yet...here he is.

these hands are meant to hold by worth_the_risk (part 1 of a series)

There are a select few times over the course of Jack and Shitty’s friendship when Jack, frozen like the Pond in January, has to be told to move.

Plans For The Future by ticktockclockwork

Contrary to popular belief, when Jack was spiraling, things did not move in slow motion. The frantic beating of his heart was anything but slow; the rapid fire thoughts pinballing around his mind almost incomprehensible in their speed.

In therapy, he'd often heard people describe their attacks as a slow motion train crash, a suffering drawn out experience that they were helpless to stop.

But for Jack, while ’train crash’ was definitely apt for what he felt, it was anything but slow and, in fact, he was usually the one at the controls.

All this to say, Jack was in a very bad place.

The Little Things That Give You Away by annathaema (moony)

"S'fine," says Jack, trying to keep it hidden from Shitty. "I wasn't really doing anything, just-"

"Knitting!"

--

Jack has an unusual hobby, but it helps.

Alive and Loved by Piehead

Bitty has depression. He lives with it.

Love Is To Be Made by DoubleNegative

“Jack turns in a slow, aimless circle in the middle of his living room. Blank white walls. Bare floor. A sofa, a TV, a coffee table: just the basics, really. Well, no wonder it doesn’t look like home; he can’t blame his apartment’s sudden coldness and its empty echoing spaces solely on the absence of one Eric R. Bittle. It just… doesn’t look like anyone lives here. It doesn’t feel like anyone lives here. He has no idea how to change that.”

(Or… Jack comes home from Madison to an apartment that doesn’t smell like cinnamon, and teammates who don’t know what he means he says ‘swawesome. It feels like it should be easier, turning the place he lives into a home and the people he plays hockey with into teammates. But even ‘easy’ things have always felt harder than they should.)

Puck Aversion: The Birth of A Goalie Superstition by Betweenthepies (Reikiari)

Every hockey player has their thing. Goalies? Even more so. So what is Chris Chow's? He will never touch a puck with his bare hands. (Five times Chris Chow won't touch a puck and one time he does.)

one of the gays by heyfightme

Bitty isn’t even sure whether he wasn’t meant to hear. It’s a party, and they’re all public, and it’s Bitty’s Haus too. More than that, it’s Bitty’s kitchen. There’s no discernible secrecy in operation.

“I mean, Bitty’s gay. One of my best friends; he put these curtains up.” The girl Holster is talking to – brown curls, white jeans, suntanned shoulders – looks to the curtains and coos, “Aww, that’s so cute.”

Bitty’s neck twinges.

—

in which bitty and jack are like: [sarcastic laughter] straight people

Wizarding sports by prongsyouignoramus and awfullyruby (not really a fic)

so @prongsyouignoramus and I had a convo that spun into a full blown hc so I thought I’d share this in the hopes it will one day inspire a fanfic author  *nudge nudge, wink wink*  or just for funsies, I guess

just two kids without their jackets by the_one_that_fell (3 part series)*

Jack makes a difficult decision and finds a new calling.

and not waving but drowning by the_one_that_fell (part 1 of a series)

Jack considered himself an Icarus of sorts. He never thought he’d learn to love the sun.

like a handprint on my heart by the_one_that_fell*

“Dude, we’ve got an over-competitive golf dad, a badass art freak, a pre-med lax bro on the verge of a breakdown, a chronically naked rugby player, a beat-boxing giant, and an itty-bitty, baking figure skater - there’s no way we came together accidentally. This wasfate.”

“Or it’s the normal progression of human beings making friends. Chill out, bro.”

(Or, the one where no one plays hockey, but it still manages to bring them all together.)

the messes of men by decinq (4 part series)

His first year in the NHL isn't easy, but Jack has spent his entire life playing through the hurt.

My Words on Your Skin by There_Once_Was_A_Girl (no. 1 in a 6 part series of standalones)*

Jack and Bitty have a unique soul connection, they can write back and forth to each other by writing on their own skin. They know each other long before they've ever met. But when Jack overdoses Bitty thinks he's lost the love of his life forever.

Your Fake Name is Good Enough by DoubleNegative

Eventually Jack came back to himself, as he always did, shaky and exhausted but alive, and Shitty wrapped up his rambling story. “Anyway, man, that’s why if you ever have kids you shouldn’t make bets with your hedge fund buddies on their names. You’ll end up with a son named Barnaby Sylvester Knight, and trust me, that is no way to start a father-son relationship.”

“That’s a pretty awful name,” Jack whispered. “Thanks, man.”

Shitty just squeezed him tighter and didn’t protest at all when Jack finally drifted off, drooling a little on his pillow.

you’ve got my number by ambrosius*

It’s not as if Jack was totally inept when it came to technology. He could handle his Tweeter (Tweety? Twits? Twitter? Did it really matter?) just fine and if he’s honest, he much preferred texting to calling most days. So when he gets added to a group chat full of strangers, well, he’s pretty sure he can handle whatever comes next.

Graduation Day by IBoatedHere

It takes Jack 50 days to finally see what's been right in front of him for the past two years.

Will Wonders Never Cease by PorcupineGirl*

Eric has landed his dream job: social media manager for the Providence Falconers! Not only does he get paid to tweet, for an NHL team at that, but it’s a job where he’ll be able to make good use of his magic - when nobody’s looking, of course. Everyone on the Falconers is a joy to work with… with the notable exception of Jack Zimmermann. Eric understands that Jack doesn’t like social media, but he could certainly be a little more polite about it.

Luckily, Eric has support from his Samwell buddies, as well as his best friend - a man whose face he’s never seen, and whose name he doesn’t know. They met on an online forum where witches can gather anonymously, since it isn’t safe for them to advertise their existence in a world where magic isn’t trusted. They’ve been friends for years now, but Eric is only just starting to realize that he might have deeper feelings for someone he can never meet face-to-face.

i didn't know i was lonely til i saw your face by dharmainitiative*

Still rebounding from a breakup, Derek Nurse moves into a loft in downtown LA and attempts to navigate living with five former college hockey players.

Or, a New Girl AU.

if you're going through hell (keep going) by onawingandaswear*

Eighteen years ago, Samwell suffered the tragic loss of one of their most promising young athletes. Ever since rumors have circulated that the school is haunted by the ghost of Eric Bittle. At least, that’s the only way anyone can seem to explain why the locker rooms smell like freshly baked apple pie on game days instead of the usual, omnipresent hockey funk.

Now in the twilight of his career, Jack Zimmermann is facing his own mortality and the last item on his bucket list?

Return to Samwell and disprove the rumor that his long-dead boyfriend is haunting Faber Memorial Rink.

And you may ask yourself, well, how did I get here? by RabbitRunnah

Bitty goes to bed after his "lucky shot" having made a decision. When he wakes up he ... is not where he expected to be. He has a career, and a baby, and -- this is the biggest surprise of all -- a husband who looks a lot like Jack Zimmermann.

And you may say to yourself, my god, what have I done? by RabbitRunnah

The last thing Jack Zimmermann remembers saying to Eric Bittle is "lucky shot." That doesn’t explain, at all, why he just woke up in Bittle’s bed.

A companion piece -- this time it's Jack's turn to get a peek at his future -- to And you may ask yourself, well, how did I get here?

Inertia by foryouandbits

At the age of seven, Eric Bittle is tackled so hard in peewee football, it feels as though he's been knocked into another dimension. At the encouragement of his father, he avoids contact sports until he receives a scholarship to play hockey at Samwell University. The result is the same: every check on the ice hurts so much that Eric hallucinates another world. Eric spends the rest of his freshman year attempting to prove himself to his captain and his coaches. He questions his worth, his talent, and his sanity, and in his search for answers, he uncovers long-hidden secrets that change everything he has ever known.

Merry Christmas, I'm Yours by RabbitRunnah

It takes Jack only a couple months after graduation to realize he's in love with Bitty.

It takes him almost 20 years to actually do something about it.

(Or, five Christmases Jack and Bitty spend together.)

right as things grow by wit

Loving and longing, one thousand miles apart: the summer of 2015, in which Jack realizes what he wants just in time for it to get on a plane and leave for Georgia.