#the idea of agatha sometimes seeing people bound together by magic

[aparticularbandit]

That moment when you realize a thing and you should have put it into a fic earlier because it would have been cooler if you'd built to this revelation but you didn't know until the end and dangit deadgumit. OH WELL.

[heliads]

Best Kept Secrets (Part Two)

Based on this request: “Wanda and the reader are married and the reader mom is Agatha but the reader does not know that…Then Agatha watches the reader having a good time with her family and Agatha is happy but sad because we get another flashback of the reader snapping their finger in order to destroy thanos and his army.”

part one / masterlist

Cameras continue rolling, boom mics lower. Episode begins.

Y/N looks around, at their family gathered nearby. There’s a white and red checked picnic blanket tucked around them, a water bottle sloshing noisily in their lowering grasp. Y/N’s wife, Wanda, is speaking to their two twin sons, Billy and Tommy, who are delighted over a grasshopper they’ve spotted among the emerald stalks beneath their feet. To any unsuspecting passersby, the scene would look perfectly normal, and it should be so, yet there’s still a cloud of unease lingering over Y/N’s face. For a second, Y/N didn’t think they were back at the Westview park but instead in some unfamiliar place.

It had happened just as Y/N was reaching for the water bottle. They had been kneeling, right hand outstretched, and then the scene had shifted around them. The sky had turned an ashy gray, the dew-drenched grass broken up into rubble and debris. Y/N had been kneeling in that same position, hand outstretched, but there was something wrong there, something that had filled them with this strange determined terror…

Y/N is jolted back to reality when their young son, Billy, turns to her with a concerned expression. “Is everything alright? You look too unhappy for a fun picnic.” A gentle smile slips onto Y/N’s face like a well-worn glove. “I��m fine, don’t worry about me. I was just finishing up my lunch. Speaking of which, it looks like you boys are done eating as well. Is there anything else you’d like to do while we’re here?” Tommy nods excitedly, bounding up from his position on the picnic blanket. “I saw the coolest dragonflies and bugs around us.” 

Wanda laughs. “Doesn’t that sound interesting! Here, take these. You can catch us some insects to study.” With a flourish of her hand, Wanda turns two wooden serving spoons into identical butterfly nets, and hands one to each twin. They look at each other in excitement then dart off into the grass, swinging the nets with enthusiasm, if lacking somewhat in coordination. Y/N gives Wanda an amused stare. “What about the spoons?” Wanda waves a hand dismissively. “I can turn them back later. Sure makes packing easier to just change all the cutlery into toys.”

The audience laughs at that, and Y/N grins. “Speaking of which, let’s speed up the packing of the picnic basket.” With a gesture of their hands, all of the plates and utensils fly into the wicker basket in a flurry of purple sparks. Wanda nods appreciatively. “I’m going to have to learn that trick.” Y/N stands up, glancing around her at the paths leading out of the park. “Just curious, did you see Agnes walking around? I could have sworn I saw her just a few minutes ago.” Wanda frowns. “I don’t think so. Are you looking for her?” Y/N glances around one last time, then shrugs. “Not anymore, I guess.”

Billy, having just successfully snared a dragonfly, calls over to Y/N. Y/N walks over, admiring the insect with their son. Billy considers it one last time, then turns over the net and releases it. Y/N watches it go. “That’s a good choice. As much fun as it is to study interesting things, you always have to let them go in the end.” Billy nods sagely. “You know, I finally get why you and Mom work so well together.” Y/N smiles questioningly. “Why is that?” Billy stares out over the park, looking for more winged insects. “She always has so many thoughts in your head, and yours sometimes don’t show up at all. She’s noisy and you’re quiet, and it works out.”

Y/N tilts their head to the side, looking over at Billy. “What do you mean, I’m quiet?” Billy shrugs. “I can’t hear as many of your thoughts. It kind of reminds me of Agnes, actually. She does the same thing.” Y/N’s brow furrows, but they still allow a fond expression to cross their face. “Look at you go, using your powers. I think it’s amazing that you can tell all that already.” Billy beams, glad for the compliment, then races off after a recently sighted butterfly.

Y/N watches him as he chases after it, raising his net high in the air to successfully entangle the butterfly in the woven fabric. Y/N’s smile disappears from their face, however, as they watch the butterfly struggling in the net. As it flutters around, looking for a possible escape, the bright violet of its wings seems to darken, almost vanishing into empty gray. With every flutter of its wings, the purple leaches from the butterfly.

There’s another sight in Y/N’s eyes now. Y/N can still see that electric purple hue circling around something, can still see it trembling and disappearing into nothingness. But the violet isn’t clinging to a butterfly’s wings this time. No, it’s around a hand, Y/N’s hand, and it’s vanishing as Y/N’s heart rate seems to slow, because as the purple fades away so to does she, which means that Y/N is-

Y/N’s eyes widen, dragging them back to reality as Wanda walks up next to them. Wanda frowns at the look on Y/N’s face. “Are you alright? You look worried. I thought Billy specifically requested that you have a good time.” Y/N laughs at the joke. “As much fun as that sounds, it’s a lot easier to change someone else’s emotions than to fix your own.” Wanda makes a face at the camera. “You have no idea.” Laughter ripples down from the audience, and Y/N looks around for a second as if trying to find out its source. 

Wanda puts a hand on Y/N’s shoulder, gently steering them back to face her once again. “You are feeling alright, yes? I just want to make sure everything is under control.” Y/N looks back at Wanda, but their expression is still tinged with unease. “It always is with you around, isn’t it?”

Cameras cut to B-Roll footage. Screen fades to black, but shortly opens on a new scene- Wanda and Y/N’s bedroom.

Y/N lies awake, staring at the ceiling. Beside them, Wanda sleeps peacefully, but Y/N seems unable to share in her quiet rest. Y/N closes her eyes, as if considering something, then slips silently from the blankets and out of bed. Wanda starts to stir, but then Y/N flicks her hands towards the cameras, and they turn away, shut down. Wanda returns back to her deep sleep, no longer concerned.

Cameras are unresponsive. Scene cuts to black.

Y/N quickly dons a pair of comfortable clothes before heading out of the house and down the block. They can still hear Billy’s voice echoing in the recesses of their head- I can’t hear that many of your thoughts. It kind of reminds me of Agnes, actually. She does the same thing. Y/N knows why Billy can’t hear their mind, it’s because of Y/N’s magic, but why would Agnes have the same ability?

After a couple of quiet knocks, Agnes’ front door opens. Agnes looks startled to see Y/N standing there, and hurriedly gestures for them to come inside, quickly shutting the door behind them. “Not that I don’t love spending time with my closest of friends, but can I get a reason for this late-night visit?” Agnes glances around her, but Y/N holds up a hand. “Don’t worry about the cameras- I shut them off. Nobody can see us right now.” Agnes’ head jerks up. “You know about the cameras?” Y/N inclines their head. “Only every now and then. I think I lose my memory of them sometimes because certain people want me to forget.”

Agnes nods in agreement, then a sudden movement outside in the street catches her eye. Agnes turns her head slowly to face the window and curses softly when she sees a figure moving down the street. Y/N follows her gaze. “Why is the mailman out doing his route? It’s the middle of the night.” Agnes grimaces. “Wanda must have sent him out to see where you were. Even unconsciously, she can still tell that you’re looking into things that you’re not supposed to know about.”

The mailman is almost at their window when Agnes’ hand moves almost imperceptibly, and the man looks the other way, avoiding Agnes’ house completely. Y/N’s eyes dart to Agnes’ hand, at the brief flash of indigo electricity that had danced around her fingers. “You have the same magic as I do. How is that possible?” Agnes faces Y/N with a look like a caged animal. “Why did you call me Agatha on our last visit?” She counters, and Y/N sighs. “I don’t know. It just came into my head. Now tell me- do you really have the same powers as I do?”

Agatha- for it is truly Agatha now- holds up a hand, allowing the purple sparks to flicker between her fingers. “It’s less of a power and more of a learned ability.” Y/N’s brow furrows as they consider this, and then their eyes widen. “I’ve never seen anyone with that same ability, and I shouldn’t ever, unless-” They break off, staring at Agatha. “I thought my mother abandoned me long ago. I thought she was dead. But she’s not, is she? She’s you.” Agatha nods once, and Y/N looks overwhelmed.

“You’ve known all along. You knew that I was your child and you never once looked for me? You could have told me when I first arrived. You could have never left me at all. Why do it then, for fun? Because you were sick of me, even though I was too small to know what you were doing?” Agatha winces like she’s been slapped. “I didn’t want to leave you! I had a coven, a coven with strict rules, and they made me give you up. I didn’t know who you were until a week or so ago when you arrived here, I swear it. I would have found you long ago had I known.”

Y/N’s breathing is harsh in their chest. “Do you mean it? You would have stayed with me?” Agatha nods. “Leaving you was one of my worst regrets. It haunted me every day.” Y/N stands there, as if in a trance, then rushes over, flinging their arms around their mother. Agatha seems frozen in place, then slowly wraps her arms around her child to return the embrace. “I’m so sorry, Y/N. I never meant for this to happen.” Y/N nods. “I know. It’s alright now.”

Cameras return with a shower of ruby sparks. Scene opens in the Maximoff-L/N family kitchen.

Tommy is standing alone at the kitchen table, fixing himself a peanut butter sandwich. His brother is off in his room, trying to teach himself a new card trick he’d seen their Uncle Pietro do once. Y/N walks into the kitchen, and glances over at their son. “How’s the sandwich?” Tommy nods, his face a mask of complete concentration. “I have to get it just right. The perfect sandwich is key to the perfect day.” Y/N raises an eyebrow. “I can understand that. How do you know it’s perfect?” 

Tommy carefully smears a last dollop of peanut butter onto his sandwich, reverently placing the two pieces of bread together. “I just know. With the right toastiness of the bread, and the crunchy peanut butter, perfectness was practically inevitable.” He snaps his fingers in satisfaction. Y/N flinches, staring at Tommy’s hand. Inevitable. The snap. Wait-

Another hand is snapping its fingers, another hand clad in a large golden glove. No, it was not a glove but a gauntlet. It’s not Y/N’s hand this time, it’s someone else’s, and someone else’s voice declaring that they were inevitable. And then there’s a voice coming from behind the figure, who whirls around in outrage, and it must be Y/N’s voice speaking now. Y/N replies, but most importantly they snap their fingers as well, the cloud of purple magic over their hand lit up by six gems spangled into the gauntlet on their own hand, and-

Wanda walks into the room again, forcing Y/N to return to the present moment. Wanda takes in the sight of Y/N, about to head through the door. “Where are you heading in such a rush?” She asks. “I was heading to Agnes’, actually.” Y/N says, and Wanda frowns. “Why do you keep bringing up Agnes? First at the picnic, then again here. I mean, she’s just our neighbour, right?” Y/N glances over at her. “Does it really matter? I just want to see her.” Y/N starts to turn away towards the door, but Wanda reaches out an arm to block their path. “Actually, I was thinking we should have a talk. Let’s go into the other room.”

Wanda’s hand is enclosed around Y/N’s wrist, practically dragging them away into a spare bedroom. Once the door is shut behind them, Y/N snatches their hand back from Wanda’s grip. “What’s gotten into you?” Wanda scowls. “What’s gotten into me? Y/N, you’ve been acting very strangely the last couple of days. I think you need to relax.” The word seems charged with some sort of energy, and Y/N takes a step back, as if to avoid it. “Are you trying to mind control me?”

Wanda’s lips tighten. “Why would I do that?” She says, forcing a laugh. Y/N raises an eyebrow. “Well, of all the ways to deny mind control, I have to say that was the least convincing.” Wanda folds her arms across her chest. “You sound paranoid. Why would I want to control your mind?” Y/N starts to pace back and forth across the room. “That’s the problem- I don’t know. I don’t know a lot of things, actually.” Y/N stops walking, and faces Wanda again. “I can’t remember anything about my life before we got to Westview. I know about my powers, and I know about you, but that’s it. Why is everything else a blank?”

Wanda frowns. “Aren’t I enough for you?”  Y/N sighs. “You’re more than enough, Wanda, which is why it hadn’t occurred to me before now. I just keep feeling like something is wrong, and I need to wake up and figure out what it is, but every time I try I feel like you’re always there to stop me from remembering.” Wanda’s concerned expression shifts into a colder stare. “Don’t try to make me the villain. I will always care about you most of all, before anyone.” Y/N can’t return her gaze. “I wish I could believe that, but I keep starting to remember things. I think something happened to me, but I can’t remember what it was. You won’t let me remember what it was.”

Wanda’s eyes flash with ice. “I will do what I want. I’m doing everything to protect you, and I don’t know why you can’t be content with that.” Y/N’s face hardens. “I can’t trust you anymore, Wanda. You won’t let me.” Y/N strides to the door, throws it open. “I’d come up with one last snappy comeback for the show, but I suppose you’re in charge of all the scenes, aren’t you?” With that, Y/N storms away, leaving Wanda standing there in shocked anger.

Cameras focus on Wanda, who is reassuring the twins that everything is fine. Cameras do not pick up Y/N L/N, who is moving quickly towards the barriers of the town.

Y/N’s blood is pumping through their veins, surges of adrenaline making their eyes glow violet with power. There’s something on the tip of their tongue, a discovery that needs to be made. So, Y/N heads for the edge of town, towards the street where they first arrived in Westview. As they approach the city limits, Y/N’s head tilts up in awe. There’s a line designating the edge of town, and beyond that, a tall barrier glistening with magic. No other human would have been able to see it, but the magic of centuries of witches run through Y/N, and their eyes can pick up details that no one else can see.

Y/N comes to a stop in front of the town boundary, and reaches out a hand. Where their fingers touch the barrier, scarlet light is replaced by indigo. With a movement of their hands, Y/N draws aside the barrier as if it were a curtain, the light changing into purple wherever she walks. Through the boundary, Y/N can see the town beyond, but it lacks the charming simplicity of Westview- instead, there are armored vehicles and encampments, all of them military. Scores of soldiers stand guard, watching her approach. Just as Y/N fully steps through the boundary, however, they collapse to the ground.

Pain swirls around Y/N like a storm. As Y/N watches, fragments of their very being begin to drift away. It’s as if Y/N is being eroded by time itself, a statue being carried away to dust and rubble in the span of seconds. There’s a shout from across the encampment, and a woman with dark hair runs up to her. The woman - Darcy, Y/N can read her mind - is restrained by guards, but in a weakened gesture Y/N uses her abilities to pull the soldiers away from her. Darcy sprints up to Y/N, but she seems unable to save them. Y/N croaks out a question. “What happened to me?” Tears fill Darcy’s eyes. “You died in the battle against Thanos. You sacrificed yourself to save all of us.” As Y/N hears Darcy’s words, a sense of clarity seems to enter them, and Y/N’s eyes clear at last, even as her body breaks down into shards of pure magical energy.

Cameras stay on the Maximoff-L/N home, where Wanda and Agnes sit with the twins. Recordings do not pick up the incident currently occurring on the Westview boundary.

Billy turns to his mother suddenly. “Mom, something’s wrong with Y/N. I can hear their thoughts in my head.” Wanda looks up at him. “What do you mean?” Billy looks terrified. “Y/N’s in pain, so much pain. I can hear them screaming. Mom, I think Y/N is about to die.” Wanda and Agnes both rise at the same time, expressions of terror mirroring each other. Agnes murmurs something about having to go, and she quickly disappears out the door while Wanda does her best to locate her spouse. Wanda flings out her arms, eyes flashing scarlet with the magnitude of the power she is about to use. Around Westview, the boundary begins to expand.

As soon as Agatha closes the front door behind her, she instantly vanishes, appearing in the space near the boundary. She stares with an open mouth as the barrier surrounding the town glows an angry crimson, and glides forward across the ground. After a second, the boundary leaves behind a single body, lying alone in the grass. Agatha runs to it, and has to choke back a scream at the sight of her child.

Y/N should have healed. They should have started healing, they should not be in this much disrepair. Y/N is lying crumpled on the ground, watching their body begin to disintegrate away. Agatha kneels over her child. “What’s wrong? Why aren’t you getting better?” Y/N smiles up at her. “The power of the Infinity Stones cannot be undone forever. I was called to die long ago, and Wanda can’t reform me for much longer.” Agatha shakes her head, tears starting to course down her cheeks. “I’m not ready to let you go. Not yet. I just found you.”

Y/N’s eyes glow with warmth, and they place a trembling hand on Agatha’s cheek. “We were never supposed to meet, so any hour together was already on borrowed time. I’m grateful to have this much.” Y/N’s head tilts to the side, as if listening to an approaching sound. “Wanda is coming. You’ll have to go before she gets here, because she doesn’t know who you really are.” Agatha is shaking her head in refusal. “I can’t leave you here. I can’t let you die.” Y/N’s hand clasps onto Agatha’s, gripping it tightly. “None of us can really die, not forever. I’ll stick around, even if it’s on the other side. Now go, before it’s too late.” Agatha takes in one last look at her child, then vanishes into the empty air, just as Wanda bursts into view on Y/N’s other side.

Wanda falls to the ground beside Y/N. “I didn’t want this to happen. I should have told you everything. Y/N, you-” Y/N cuts her off gently. “It’s alright, Wanda. I know. I died at the battle against Thanos, and I would like nothing more than to be able to come back and stay here with you, but life has a way of not always following through.” For a second, the dying Avenger thinks it’s raining, until Y/N realizes that it’s just Wanda’s tears falling onto their cheeks.

Wanda forces back a sob as she watches Y/N’s body begin to dissolve away. “What do I tell the boys when you don’t return? How are we supposed to keep going?” Y/N smiles at her, pure and lacking in the bittersweet tinge that had always tainted it before. “The boys will have you, and that’s all any of us needed. You’re the one that will always matter, Wanda, even after I’m gone. I knew that when I met you, and I’ll know it even after I close my eyes.”

Wanda leans over, presses her forehead to Y/N’s. “I love you, Y/N. I love you so much.” Y/N laughs, the sound slightly tinny as their chest turns to ash. “I love you too. I’ll see you soon.” Wanda closes her eyes and kisses Y/N softly. When she opens her eyes again, she is kneeling alone in the middle of a grassy field. Y/N has finally been laid to rest.

Cameras begin to refocus on the Maximoff-L/N home, but there’s a flash of scarlet and they turn off, disappearing into the night. They are no longer necessary. Wanda leaves the studio, tears still drying on her cheeks. It is time to rebuild.

wanda maximoff tag list: @mionemymind​

[diaryofabeautyfiend]

This chapter is a monster so I’m splitting it up into two parts. If y’all wouldn’t mind letting me know if you’re still reading this, I would appreciate it forever.

Small Time Witch (21) part 1

Most of the time when Loki remembered his dreams they were of you or his mother. Sometimes he dreamt of his coronation as king of Asgard with you by his side. The last several nights he would wake up frantic having dreamt of Asgard in ruin. Ragnarok was imminent. He tried several times to reach Thor to no avail. He would go to Asgard in the morning.

You rolled over half asleep reaching out to the warm body that wasn’t there. This is the third time this week Loki had a nightmare. “Lok?”

“In here” he called from the den.

“Another nightmare?” You hugged him from behind. He kissed your hands.

“I don’t think they are nightmares. I think they are warnings. I can’t get in touch with Thor. I’ll have to go to Asgard in the morning.”

“Can I come?”

“I’m afraid not. I don’t know what’s happening and I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I can help.” You let a little spark jump between your fingers.

“I know you can, Pet. At worst something terrible is happening and I’ll have to help. Which means I will be too distracted worrying about your safety to fight. At best I’m just having nightmares, I’ll see the healers and I’ll be home by the next day. I promise.”

You pouted but didn’t argue. You hated seeing him this worried. You made him a cup of tea and sat with him until he was ready to go back to bed. When you yawned for the third time he tried to get you to go on without him.

“That’s it. Off with you” he said over his book.

“I’m not tired. I want to stay up with you. Hey, Loki, I can put you to sleep like you used to do when I had nightmares.” You slid your hand into the waistband of his pajamas and started stroking his cock. It was only a matter of seconds before it was hard and throbbing in your hand. He always responded so well to your touch.

You didn’t even make it into the bedroom. He bent you over the arm of the sofa and pounded you silly. He made you cum three times before he was able to meet his release. After all that you were a half dead mess. He was still wide awake.

“Shall I carry you, my queen? I’m quite strong you know?” He pulled you from the couch and all but dragged you to bed.

“How are you still so awake?” He shushed you as you climbed under the covers. “Don’t leave me. Get in bed.” You rested your head on his chest and fell asleep before he could turn off the light. Sleep never came for him.

In the morning he made you breakfast and woke you with his tongue diving into your snatch. Your all time favorite wake up. You sat on his lap throughout breakfast. He insisted. It was like he couldn’t get enough of you. Since you returned from Alfheim you hadn’t been apart for more than a few hours. Not knowing when he’s return was making you both a little antsy.

“How will I know you’re there?” you asked impatiently.

“You’ll know. The pull will not be as strong.” His voice was low and somber. You both hated that thought.

“How will I know if you’re hurt or worse?” He grabbed your chin and looked into your eyes.

“If I die, you will too. Remember? The rings keep us bound. They’re still Yggdrasil. My soul is still there.”

“How comforting. What if I take it off to wash my hands and that’s the moment you die. Will I still die?”

He rolled his eyes, “Yes. The moment you return the ring to your finger. You’ll be bound to a dead soul.”

Your stomach was in knots. “Good. Because if you die I’ll find you and drag you out of Hel myself. I’m not feeling good about this, Lok. Let me come with you. Or don’t go. We’ll try Thor again.”

Loki sighed deeply. My my, you were peevish this morning. “Y/N. I have to go. I will be back. I love you more than anything. Much more than Asgard. I promise if anything happens I’ll get out of there and come right home. I promise.” He kissed you deeply. He didn’t want to let go. He looked worried. “I love you, Y/N. Not even death can change that.”

“Please don’t say it like that. I love you too, Lok.” He called for Heimdall and he was off.

You tried to occupy yourself but your mind kept going back to him. After your third cup of tea you decided to go relax in the yard. You grabbed a book and a blanket. You read the same sentence a few times and finally gave up. It was no use. That was it. You had been coupled for so long that you forgot how to be with yourself.

It was really no surprise how broken up you were about Loki being away. You were the same way when you and Andrew broke up. This was different. You and Loki weren’t breaking up. You were blissfully happy. You still had a nagging feeling in your chest that something wasn’t right.

That night you dreamt of a world burning down around you. You tried to get to Loki but you couldn’t in time. Every time you closed your eyes you saw his lifeless face looking back at you purple bruised and bleeding. It made you physically ill.

You did everything in your power to reach Loki. Nothing worked. You searched through his books to try to find a way to access the Bifrost. That was either magic Loki couldn’t do or he didn’t have it in his books. You stumbled across one book titled The Joy of Interstellar Space Travel. When you opened it the pages looked a little off. You place your hand in the center and it went right through the book into a little hole. This must be where Loki kept the tasseract and now it’s gone. Your brain flew into a panic and you started shouting for Heimdall.

You had to stop Loki from doing whatever stupid thing he was about to do. Heimdall never answered. Maybe Strange could get you there. You ran into the kitchen to grab your keys when you heard Loki’s voice.

He looked like he had taken a beating. Exhaustion wracked his body. You tried to touch his face but your hand went right through. He was too weak to make his double corporeal.

“Oh, Loki.”

You could see the tears streaming down his face. “Y/N, I’m not going to make it home. I know I promised and I am so sorry...”

“No” you shook your head furiously, “you promised! Come home. Please!”

He shushed you and cursed himself for not being able to touch you. “I don’t have much time. I need you to warn Wanda and Strange. Tell them Thanos is coming for the stones. You have to hurry. He already has two.”

“What do you mean? If you go I go. I won’t be here to tell them..”

“Yes you will. You have to take off your ring.”

“No! Loki! No! I’m coming with you. I’ll find you in Hel.” You were trembling violently and sobbing. Nothing he could say would calm you.

“You have to. Please. This wouldn’t be happening if I hadn’t taken the tasseract. It’s my fault. Half of our people are gone. I need you to do this.”

“Fuck everyone else. We’re supposed to spend eternity wandering around the afterlife together. We said vows. If you didn’t mean it then....”

He could see logic had escaped you at this point so he got more forceful. “Stop being such a fucking brat and do as I say! Take off the damned ring! NOW. You need to live. You just have to. I’m sorry that this is happening but you shouldn’t be made to suffer because of me.”

He may as well have slapped you. Both of you were prostrate with grief. With every ounce of strength he had he forced his double to solidify so that he may feel you one more time. He placed his hands on the side of your face and made you to see him.

“I love you. Please say you love me. My little queen. Tell me.”

“I love you, Loki. Please don’t leave me. What am I supposed to do without you?”

He took a deep strained breath. Blood was trickling out of his nose and his eyes were rimmed red, “Live.” He snatched the ring off your finger and fizzled out.

You screamed his name like a wild banshee and summoned a wind that knocked everything off the walls. You couldn’t feel your body tumbling to the floor. You couldn’t breathe. You were certain for a split second your heart stopped. The blood rushing through your ears was so loud you couldn’t hear your phone ringing. You held out your hand to bring it over. On the other end was Wanda’s panicked voice.

“Y/N! What happened? Y/N!”

Your voice was very calm and monotone, “Thanos is coming for the stone. You have to get Vision out of there. Loki’s dead. Thanos has the tasseract. I have to call Strange.”

You hung up and dialed Strange’s number. No answer. Your television clicked on. You hadn’t turned it on. The news story flashed on the screen saying that New York was attacked. Thanos was already on his way.

You stayed on the kitchen floor clutching your ring and you cried. There was nothing else you had strength for.

🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆

STEVE

The Quinjet could not carry Steve to New York fast enough. He paced the entire time they were in the air. He kept trying your phone but it was going right to voicemail.

“Pick up, damn it.”

Wanda assured him you were still alive. She couldn’t concentrate long enough to feel you. He called Ororo.

“Captain Rogers. Good to hear from you. What are we looking at?”

“A mad titan coming to earth to collect stones that will help him wipe out half the population.”

“Must be a Tuesday,” she said in jest. “How can we help?”

Steve let out a deep sigh, “We stopped some of his followers in Belfast. I’m sure you saw they captured Tony Stark in New York. Truthfully I have no idea. Ororo, is Y/N alone?”

“She is. She won’t let anyone in the house. Agatha can’t get through the magic she put up. She’s umm...” her voice faltered, “she’s in so much pain. Jean can’t get through to her. Logan has stationed himself outside. When we first got there all we could hear was her screaming. She won’t let us help her.”

“Ok. We’ll be in New York in a few hours. Let me know if anything changes.” He hung up and braced himself against the wall. Bucky put his hand on Steve’s shoulder to comfort him. “Buck, when we land I want you to go straight to Y/N.” Bucky nodded and paced the floor with him.

As soon as they got back to the compound Steve tried calling you again. This time you answered but didn’t say anything. He could hear you sniffling on the other end. “Y/N, Bucky is coming to get you ok? You need to let him in.” You didn’t answer him at first. His heart was breaking for you. He squeezed his eyes his eyes shut, “Come on, Princess, I know you can hear me. Say something.”

“Ok” Click. At least that was something. Bucky grabbed some keys and found the car they belonged to. He raced to you as fast as he could. When he pulled up Logan greeted him.

🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅

“She won’t let anyone in” Logan huffed.

Bucky advanced towards the house. He was scared to death that you were going to kill him. “She knew I was on the way. What’s stopping you from getting in? Will it kill me if I try?”

“Not exactly. It’s just that when you get close you can’t move. Like your body won’t advance or doesn’t want to. I can’t explain it accurately.” Logan was flustered. He had been trying to get to you for hours with no luck.

“Can she hear us talking or should I call her phone?”

“She can hear.”

The front door and windows were open. You were sitting on the couch staring at the wall. You looked so lost and pissed. Really pissed. The most scary thing is that you looked like you were scheming. Murderously scheming. Bucky hoped that none of Loki’s stupid tendencies rubbed off on you.

He got as close as you would allow and he spoke softly. “Hey, doll. Steve sent me to get you. We don’t want you to be alone. But if you don’t want to go I will sit here and wait as long as you want. But, I haven’t watched this season of Drag Race. If you want to let me in I can watch with you. I brought the essentials.”

Agatha perked up, “Keep going, Bucky. It’s working” she whispered.

“I have Funions from the gas station. I know you like road trip snacks. I also have peanut butter M&M’s and Oreos. If you have some ice cream we can make milkshakes. I have bourbon if you want to make it interesting. Not the fancy kind. That rot got Irish shit that burns when you swallow....”

“I hope you brought enough for everyone” you finally said. Bucky stood up and gingerly stepped into the doorway.

“I have plenty. Didn’t know how long I’d be here. Can we come in?”

“Door’s open, Buck.” He walked in quietly and sat on the couch.

“Everyone calm down. I’m not going to flip out. Sit down. Eat. I have leftovers in the fridge. Wolfie have you ever seen Drag Race?”

After a few drinks and lots of snacks everyone was ready to get some sleep. Ororo, Jean and Agatha headed back to the school. It wasn’t a long drive. You promised to call in the morning. No way Logan was leaving you. He set himself up in Thor’s room. Wade found the other bedroom. Bucky offered to take the couch but you asked him to sleep in bed with you.

He shot Steve a text. Instead of texting back he called.

“Hey. How’s it going over there?” Steve was very anxious. He didn’t know how to talk to you.

“Fine. I’m going to see if she’ll get some sleep. Agatha made her some tea. Said it had a mild sedative. I’m going to sit up with her.”

“Is she around? Can I talk to her?”

“You’re on speaker.”

It was quiet for a moment. “Hey, Steve. I’m ok. Well I’m not ok. I’m fucking gutted. I’m ok for now. I’ll go back with Bucky in the morning.”

“Take your time, sweetheart. We do kind of need all hands on deck though. I know the girls are dying to see you too. Get some sleep ok?”

“Ok.” and you clicked off the phone. “Has he always sounded like a worried mother or is that new?”

“Be nice” Bucky scolded. “He’s just worried. We all are. I’m going to shut off the light ok? Sleep.”

You held on to Bucky the whole night. You fought against the sedative for as long as you could but it finally won. As soon as you closed your eyes, there he was. Loki’s face was purple bruised and bloodied. His neck looked broken. His eyes were open and just stared unfocused. You tentatively reached out a hand to touch him but you pulled back.

You wanted to hit him, to scream in his face. You couldn’t bring yourself to move. Finally, you crawled towards him and situated yourself where you were laying against his chest. You used to fall asleep listening to his heart beating. There was only silence. You pulled his arm over you and tried to will him to wake up. When you squeezed him harder he turned to dust in your arms. You screamed and, judging by the look on the three men’s faces, you were screaming for real.

“Sorry, guys. Bad dream.” You settled back down and kept having the same dream. You didn’t scream anymore. You just held him as long as you could.

🟠🔴🔵🟣🟢🟡

The next morning you sent Logan and Wade home. You promised them you would be ok and that you wouldn’t murder a Titan without calling them first. You and Bucky chatted on the car ride back. The conversation was light and took your mind off of things.

When you got closer to the compound you got quiet. Seeing everyone again was making you feel anxious. Bucky held your hand. It felt like the first time you visited the compound with Wanda. Loki made you feel so safe.

You were trying to keep your emotions in check but when you saw Wanda, all of that went out of the window. She wrapped you in her arms and you melted down. “We were really happy.” Was all you could say. She and Nat took you upstairs so they could help you take a bath.

Bucky plopped in the chair. Steve looked at him like he wanted to ask a question but he was reluctant.

“How did she sleep?” he finally asked.

“She screamed in her sleep all night. Every time I thought she settled down it would happen again. The three of us took turns keeping watch. She electrocuted Wade once when he tried to shake her awake. It was pretty funny. She’s not ok, Steve.”

Steve signed and rubbed his face, “Shit. Why don’t you go take a nap and we’ll meet downstairs in a couple of hours?”

Already nodding off, Bucky didn’t have to be told twice. Steve paced outside of your door wanting to see you so badly. Finally Nat came out to get you some water.

“Does she want to eat? Can I see her?” He followed Nat down the hall bombarding her with questions.

She put her hand on his shoulder, “I know there are probably still feelings in there but you have to reign them in. She just lost her husband. Let her grieve before you swoop in.”

“I’m not swooping. Who is swooping? Wait! Husband?! They’re married?”

“Yes. Apparently he figured out a way to share his immortality with her. In doing so some elf priest split their souls and intertwined them together. If she puts back on her wedding ring she dies. It’s complicated.”

Steve’s head was spinning. He was still trying to understand the very simple fact that you and Loki were husband and wife.

“Does she want to see me?” His voice was small and timid.

Nat rolled her eyes, “Just go, Steve.”

He opened the door slowly and peered around the corner. You were sitting on the bed with your head in your hands. Wanda was rubbing your back.

He had never presumed that his relationship with you was on the same level as what you had with Loki. He did not share your twin abilities to know what the other is feeling. But this time, he could feel the despair drifting off of you like a fog.

He knelt beside the bed to try to see your face. You didn’t acknowledge him but you didn’t pull away. He had no words of comfort to give you. He could not take your pain away. He could only offer support.

“How can I help?” he whispered. You sat up and took his hands in hours. Your face was haggard and your body somehow looked frail.

“You can’t. I know it’s your nature to try to fix things but you can’t. Just be my friend.”

“Then that’s what I’ll do. Wanda, why don’t you go check on Vision? See how the plans are coming. I’ll stay here.”

Wanda was reluctant to leave. She promised not to go far. As soon as the door clicked closed Steve got into bed with you and scooped you into his lap. You buried your face in his shirt and screamed until you passed out. He held on to you as tight as he could to absorb as much as you would give.

The whole team hovered outside of your door until Steve came out. “She’s asleep. Let’s go hash this out. Let her get some rest.”

[fell-in-love-didnt-you]

Worth Fighting For: SnowBaz Fanfic

There’s something Simon finds completely unsettling about noise.

It’s piercing, loud, and too much of a sensory overload. However, the lack of noise is also quite unsettling. He doesn’t know which he would prefer if he had to choose. He does know, though, that anything other than the deafening ring that’s blaring right now would be amazing.

Just seconds before, everyone was talking. They were all pestering him, getting into his personal space, asking if he was alright or if he needed anything. Eventually, Baz got them to leave the room. Agatha was the last to leave, having to be dragged away by Penny.

“And what the hell can you do for him that we can’t?” she had yelled at Baz.

“Agatha,” Penny insisted, clasping a hand around her upper arm, “now is hardly the time!” Dev and Niall had looked back from their place on the stairs, perhaps considering if they needed to step in. “Come on,” Penny continued, looking Simon in the eyes with a look that conveyed a silent, upset apology.

“Fine!” Agatha had shouted, breaking her arm free from Penny’s grasp and pushing past Dev and Niall, bounding down the stairs and into the night.

“We’ll come ‘round tomorrow,” Penny murmured. Then, as if she thought better of what she had said, she added, “Well, perhaps just me, and I can collect Dev and Niall as well.”

“Thank you, Penelope,” Baz rasped out, his voice long gone, “for everything tonight. We’ll see you tomorrow.” With that, Penny quietly walked out of the doorway and down the stairs, and Baz closed the door.

This leaves them where they were now. Simon looks up at Baz, holding the cold icepack against his bruising cheek and swelling jaw. Baz turns around from his place against the door and walks over to Simon, sitting on the chair opposite him.

“I know that they were all bombarding you earlier with this question,” Baz begins, “but are you really okay?” Simon nods, stifling the groan he feels at the pulsing pain. Baz brings his hand up, lightly taking the icepack away from Simon’s face and inspecting the damage. “That was such an idiotic thing you did,” he adds.

“I was protecting you,” Simon insists, reaching out his bruised knuckles and lightly running his finger over the several cuts above Baz’s eyebrow. “The spell they cast at you was weak, but you were hurt. What else was I supposed to do?”

“Maybe assess the situation first,” Baz suggests with a hint of disdain very present in his voice. “You’re right when you say that the spell was weak. But that also means I could’ve easily handled myself.”

Simon shakes his head, this time failing to conceal his pain. “That’s not what matters here. They hurt you, and it wasn’t like I was going to wait and ‘assess the situation’. I guess I just wasn’t considering the fact that people who have friends will be helped when you punch them.”

Baz gets a sarcastic chuckle out of that, then replies with, “You may be brave, but you’re such an idiot sometimes.” He then murmurs, “Get well soon,” and Simon immediately feels a rush of warm magic spreading soothingly into the side of his face.

“Thank you,” Simon whispers. He hums at the aftermath of Baz’s magic flowing through him. It’s not like his own that’s all burning and smoky and harmful. Baz’s magic is like the soothing heat of a fire after a harsh snowstorm. It lingers and runs through Simon’s veins slowly, spreading a previously unknown warmth everywhere.

When Simon opens his eyes, Baz is looking at him quite seriously. The cuts above his eyebrows have dissipated, which makes Simon think that Baz used that healing spell on himself as well. “Simon,” Baz utters, and his voice is smooth again. It comes from low in the back of his throat, and he continues. “I know that you know that not everyone is as accepting and enthusiastic about this a Penelope has been. Hell, I didn’t even get to tell Dev and Niall. I’m pretty sure Dev’s intuition was enough for him, but I think Niall was in the dark. And I think Penelope was the one who went and said something to someone.

“All I’m saying is that you can’t expect everyone to love this.” He clenches his jaw and bites his lower lip, which Simon has noticed he only does when he’s thinking about something rather difficult. “You can’t fight everyone who doesn’t agree with this. With us.”

Simon nods numbly, though he wishes Baz was wrong. He wishes that he could shake people’s shoulders until they understood that this was the same love everyone else who didn’t have to come out has to give to their partners. Simon wishes he could break down the invisible barrier that history put up between people like him and Baz and people like Penny and Micah. (Even though Penny isn’t technically as straight as a pole.)

“Okay,” Simon agrees, closing his eyes and nodding once more. “I understand.” Baz smiles weakly, and Simon is sure that he feels the exact same way. It’s actually probably worse for Baz. Simon knows he grew up in a home with enough closets to get lost in, and he knows that Mr. Pitch hasn’t exactly accepted the idea of Simon ravishing his one and only son. Though his stepmother is quite nice, even if it just is so Simon doesn’t feel like a raging lunatic in their mansion.

Baz brushes his thumb over the spot where Simon’s bruise was and licks his bottom lip again, this time slow and deliberate, like he’s debating on whether or not it was a good move. Slowly, Simon leans in closer to where Baz’s face was already close and closes his eyes. Baz doesn’t wait, moving in as well and meeting Simon halfway.

Simon realized long ago that kissing Baz was so amazingly different than kissing Agatha. Kissing Agatha was easy, and it always felt like somewhat of a chore. Kissing Baz is easy, but it’s also the hardest thing he’s ever had to do. It’s more difficult than ancient texts that he has to decipher in class, easier than breathing, and just about as difficult as a maze is. Simon has to keep his hands low but also know when to move them but also know when too much is too much for Baz and himself alike.

So when he pulls back, it’s not because he doesn’t want to stay. It’s because that’s the only way he knows to keep Baz. Simon is constantly terrified of ruining…this…whatever that may be. They haven’t actually asked to be boyfriends, and Simon knows that should be the furthest thing from his mind right now. He should be worrying about the trouble he could get in for fighting or about the test he has to study for, if he’s even allowed at the school by this time tomorrow, but all he can think about is Baz. And Baz’s lips. And Baz’s lips on his own.

“You should rest.” It’s Baz who speaks, and it’s after a minute of knowing silence passes between them. A silence that’s comfortable, where Simon’s eyes are closed, and their faces are only centimeters apart. If he wanted to, Simon could reach out and pull him back in for another kiss. ‘Just one more. For me.’

“I know,” is the whispered reply from Simon. “I should do a lot of things. Like not fight complete arseholes where anyone could see me.” Baz just smiles that one. It’s his smile that says that he’s trying not to laugh because Simon is a dork and not funny and…and Baz runs out of things to tell himself after that.

“Sleep, Simon,” he mutters, standing slowly and outstretching his hand. Simon takes it, walking to their two beds to make one that they share together. Simon strips of everything but his boxers, slipping into the silk sheets that Baz’s family always sends him to school with. He makes fun of it every year they come back, though this year it was definitely playful. Baz joins after a moment, making Simon scoot over until his back is pressed comfortably against Baz’s front.

“Goodnight, Snow,” he murmurs into the skin at the nape of Simon’s neck.

“Goodnight, Baz.”

[andonewillbringhisfall]

Disengaged

Based on a soulmate AU prompt from this post which said:

‘you think you have a sleepwalking problem but it’s really just the universe trying to bring you to your soulmate when your mind is disengaged’

SIMON

Ever since I met Agatha, I kept hoping I would wake up one day at the door to the Cloisters, unable to get past the wards even in my sleep, but it hasn’t happened. Even when we started dating in fifth year, I’d always still wake up in my own bed at the top of Mummers House. During summer breaks I used to dream about waking up to find Agatha knocking at the door of whichever home I was staying at, using the magic of soulmates to know where to find me, but she never came. I thought maybe the magic wasn’t as strong there, but that doesn’t explain why I never left my bed in my sleep the entire time I was at Watford.

So when Agatha tells me she wants to break up at the beginning of eighth year, I don’t put up much of a fight. I finally have to accept what my subconscious has been telling me all along – Agatha isn’t my soulmate.

AGATHA

I’m relieved when Simon seems to agree with me that we aren’t soulmates. I’ve known for a long time. If I’m being honest, I’ve probably always known, but I dated Simon anyway because what else was I supposed to do? He’s Simon Snow, and together we’re the perfect golden couple. I knew all along that we weren’t meant to be together. I was never disappointed when I’d wake up back in my own bed rather than clawing at the door to Mummers House, blocked by the wards, so I think I always knew that it wouldn’t happen. I’ve always woken up exactly where I fell asleep, whether I’m at Watford or at home, and it used to worry me. Now I think maybe I don’t have a soulmate, and maybe I’m better off that way. People have walked into traffic and fallen to their deaths in oceans because they were looking for their soulmates. At least this way I know I’m already whole and I won’t have to lose myself looking for someone else.

It broke my heart a little bit watching Simon all these years, always hoping to wake up at my door, and how I knew I could never be what he wanted me to be. And still he kept hoping. And I’ve finally decided that there’s no point doing this to both of us when we both know we’re not meant to be together.

I hope we can still be friends.

PENNY

I used to worry that I’d wake up one day when a teacher caught me sneaking into Mummers House in my sleep and I’d have to explain how I got past the wards. When it became obvious that my soulmate didn’t go to Watford, I was relieved. That is, of course, until I met Micah. It was one night in fourth year when everyone in the Cloisters was woken by a pounding on the doors. A bunch of people went down to investigate, probably hoping whoever was banging on the doors was there for them. It was useless trying to get back to sleep even after the door had been opened and the pounding had stopped. Micah was still standing in the entrance, fast asleep, now motionless and still unable to get through the wards. One by one we left to go to breakfast, and I realised he woke up the instant I walked through the door. He blinked and looked at the stream of girls in confusion, before shrugging and walking back to his room.

It was only later when I met him properly and we started talking that I knew for sure that it wasn’t a coincidence that he woke up as soon as I was in the same room as him. These days I have to lock the door to my room and hide the key inside a puzzle box to prevent myself from walking out the door and catching the next flight to America in my sleep. It happened once in sixth year, and I was lucky someone noticed that I wasn’t quite awake and stopped me before I got on the flight.

I worry about our future sometimes. I know Micah and I are going to have to live together, otherwise we’ll spend our whole lives trying to fight our way to each other in our sleep, and it’s bound to end in disaster. I can’t leave England; not when Simon needs me and the Humdrum is still a threat. But maybe Micah can move here, or someday everything will be alright and I’ll be ready to make a life somewhere new.

BAZ

The one good thing about being Simon Snow’s roommate is that he can’t figure out that he’s my soulmate.

I think he’d hate me even more if he knew, fate be damned. If we weren’t roommates, he’d probably wake up one day and find me curled up at the foot of his bed, fast asleep. At least this way the magical forces drawing us together are already satisfied that we’re close enough, in the same room, and Snow is none the wiser.

I wasn’t sure for a long time that he actually was my soulmate, no matter what I felt. I kept hoping that I’d wake up someday in some other boy’s room, or preferably halfway across the country, but it never happened. Then one day in the Christmas break when Snow was already back at Watford and I was supposed to stay with my family for another few days, I woke up on the floor next to his bed. I’d walked to the train station and travelled all the way back to school in my sleep. Thankfully I woke up before Snow did, picking myself up off the floor and hurrying back to my own bed. I told him I’d decided to come back early. My family was suspicious, I think, about my sudden and unprovoked decision to leave early, and in the middle of the night. But as usual, nobody said anything to me.

As long as we’re still living in the same room, Snow will never have to know. And I don’t need to worry about after, because one of us will be dead, and either way Snow will be rid of me forever.

 SIMON

I don’t know where I am. It’s night-time. As my eyes adjust, I realise I’m standing under a bridge, surrounded by large rocks. Not rocks, I realise, as I peer closer at one which seems to be draped in a dressing gown. Numpties.

I can’t remember how I got here. I remember being in the Catacombs, looking for Baz, who is still missing after three weeks. I was casting every finding spell I could think of, even though by now I’ve realised that he’s probably not in Watford. I was exhausted from all the sleepless nights, and I think I remember collapsing back in my bed, still with nothing to show for my efforts.

And now here I am in the middle of the night, in a numpty den under a bridge. I summon up my sword instinctively, though I’m not sure if the numpties are dangerous. As far as I know they’re just very stupid and always cold. Since I’m made of magic and fire, it seems like a bad idea to wake them (I assume they’re sleeping – they’re not moving or making any indication that they’re awake).

I pick my way through the numpties, trying to find any clue as to why I’m here. This is the first time I’ve ever woken somewhere unexpected, and my first thought is that I might have been halfway to meeting my soulmate when something woke me up. Possibly my survival instinct stopping me from strolling obliviously through a gang of numpties, who technically count as magickal creatures though I’m not sure if there’s anything magickal about them.

I’m about to give up on finding anything useful when I see the coffin tucked under the bridge. I tense up, lifting up my sword as I creep slowly between the sleeping numpties towards the coffin. Beside it is a plastic cup with a bendy straw stained with something that looks suspiciously like blood, though it’s too dark to see clearly. What, or who, is inside the coffin?

Fully alarmed now, I approach the coffin with my magic burning up my arms, my fingertips sparking. I’ve got the coffin halfway open when I hear Penny’s voice in my head telling me it’s a stupid and dangerous idea to open it. But I’ve come this far, so I open the coffin all the way. The lid is heavy, but with the magic burning up in my palms I manage to lift it without any trouble.

And it’s… Baz.

He looks awful, gaunt and limp and stained with blood and who knows what else. He looks dead, and I almost cry out before I realise that his chest is rising and falling, painfully slowly. My sword dissolves in my hand, and I know I need to get him out of there, but I’m afraid to touch him. My hands hover uncertainly over his body, and suddenly he’s all cleaned up, his tennis whites spotless. I realise my magic did that just because I thought it. I think that I want him to get better, and I see cuts and bruises heal themselves all over his body. But he still looks gaunt, and I realise he needs food. The numpties must have been giving him blood, and in some part of my mind I realise this confirms that he’s a vampire, but I’m too scared to give that much thought. He still looks like he could be dead. I feel for a pulse to reassure myself, and then I lift him out of the coffin, cradling his long body in my arms. It should be uncomfortable, but he’s so thin that he’s too easy to carry. He still doesn’t wake up. Not knowing what else to do or who to call for help, I start walking back the way I came.

BAZ

The dark is endless.

I don’t know how long it’s been. Three weeks? Four?

My head hurts. I don’t even have enough energy to cry. The numpties haven’t brought me blood in what must be a day or two, and I feel parched. And I’m hungry. So, so hungry.

I struggle to breathe. I don’t want to wake up back to this nightmare. I don’t want to smell the blood and filth and complete lack of fresh air inside the coffin.

Fresh air…

I inhale deeply. Fresh air. I can feel wind on my face. I become aware of movement, rocky, like the coffin is rushing down a river, or speeding on the back of the car. Or I’m being carried in someone’s arms.

My eyes fly open. I see stars, hundreds of them, spread out across the night sky. I’m definitely outside, unless I’m dreaming all this. The air feels too good to be part of a dream. Someone’s carrying me, one arm around my shoulders and one underneath my knees. I’m tucked securely into their chest. I see two moles scattered on his neck and I know before I let my eyes reach his face who it is who is carrying me.

Simon Snow. Simon has come to save me.

I look up, at the face I’ve been seeing in my mind for all these weeks I was stuck in that coffin. The only thing that kept me sane. His bronze curls. Those blue eyes, so alive, now filled with tears running down his cheeks. He doesn’t seem to realise.

‘Simon,’ I whisper.

Then I black out.

PENNY

Simon has actually found Baz.

One of his searching spells worked, he told me, and he found Baz in a coffin in a numpty den. Baz says he was kidnapped, and that the numpties asked his family to pay a ransom, which they wouldn’t. He thinks someone bribed the numpties to do it. Numpties aren’t smart enough to come up with a scheme like that for themselves – and what motivation would they have to ask for ransom money? To pay for hot water bottles? It seems unlikely.

Seeing Baz so helpless seems to have knocked all the fight out of Simon, even though Baz is almost back to normal with his usual scathing remarks and insults. Simon insists that we have to find the kidnapper. In the meantime, he’s hovering over Baz, refusing to let him out of his sight. It’s not very different to what Simon usually does, as far as I can tell, except this time he worries that someone is out to get Baz, rather than that Baz is the one who is up to something.

I suppose it’s a nice change.

BAZ

Simon babbles constantly about finding the kidnapper – it doesn’t occur to him that the Mage could be one of the suspects – and all I can think about is how he found me. How magic or fate or something brought him to me. How he saved me, because he’s my soulmate.

Snow still hasn’t made the connection. He thinks it was a finding spell that led him to me.

It’s almost like he cares about me, though I know that to him this is just another mystery to solve. I can’t get the image of his tears out of my head. I send him all the usual sneers and I keep antagonising him, but he doesn’t even seem bothered by any of it. And I know he knows I’m a vampire, which he hasn’t said anything about. He watches over me constantly, sometimes even keeping vigil when he thinks I’m asleep.

I think about telling him. ‘Have you considered that you were at the numpty den that day because I’m your soulmate?’ I think about it all the time, when he’s being overprotective, when he and Bunce pull up a whiteboard and start brainstorming the kidnapping, when he follows me down to the Catacombs. I think about falling asleep down there and waiting for him to find me and realise what it means.

And then my mother shows up.

SIMON

Find Nicodemus. That’s what Baz’s mother told us. When he sees her, and he realises that she’s real, it’s the first time I’ve ever seen him cry. He’s embarrassed about it after, and he lies in his bed staring at the wall. At first I leave him alone, knowing he’s got a lot to think through. Then I tell him that I’ll help him find Nicodemus. And later, after we’ve called an official truce and have been researching with Penny and found the article about his mother’s death, Baz invites me to his house for Christmas. And I’m relieved that I can still keep an eye on him. Keep him safe. So of course I agree to go.

But first, I visit Ebb.

BAZ

I break down as soon as I leave the vampire den.

My future. That’s where I’m going to end up. It’s better than I deserve.

Snow lends me his magic, and we fly through traffic and out of London.

SIMON

The fire is reflected in Baz’s eyes, and that’s how I know it’s all around us.

‘Go,’ he says.

‘I won’t. I’ve never turned my back on you, and I’m not starting now.’

I don’t know what else I can say to convince him. He isn’t a monster, he’s not one of them, but he won’t listen to me. Why should he? It doesn’t matter that I rescued him from the numpties, it doesn’t matter that I’ve been helping him find his mother’s killer. After all, I’m nothing but his nemesis. Why should he listen to me, why should it matter what I think?

And suddenly I know why it matters.

Because it wasn’t a spell that led me to the numpty den. And it wasn’t my instinct that woke me up. I woke up because I’d found my soulmate. And the reason why I’ve never gone walkabout in my sleep before is because he was always already in the room with me.

He’s my soulmate, and I’m his, and we’re both going to walk out of this fire alive.

BAZ

‘Simon…’ I say.

And then he kisses me.